Chapter Text
Human men were ew.
It was a truth universally acknowledged and yet Wooyoung wanted it to be known that he did not discriminate like that. He had spent a lot of time contemplating what he wanted from a mate and had come to the conclusion that he should not only give other hybrids, but also humans a chance. Details like that should not matter as long as they would be good to him. Except for dogs. Dog hybrids were mean and stinky and Wooyoung had standards.
But apart from that Wooyoung swore not to look too closely at the ears of his future mate and neither would he pay attention to the possible lack of tail. Instead it was important that they were kind and strong. Caring for Wooyoung and their future babies should be number one priority, obviously.
Wooyoung had been on his own for a while now and while he was fine—a lie he told himself to only cry himself to sleep some nights of the week—it would be great to find a mate and be less lonely. Maybe even loved. Having a second pair of hands to help collect food and a second pair of eyes and ears to look out for dogs or the occasional creepy human who for some reason really wanted Wooyoung to get into a van, yes, that would be greatly appreciated.
Yet what Wooyoung craved most were arms to hold him when it got cold at night, or when he was sad, or just because the arms wanted to. He also wanted to offer the same in return. Wooyoung was great at holding things. Holding a mate could not be much different and he wanted it so badly he had to be good at it by sheer determination alone. Besides, Wooyoung was not getting any younger.
Then again, his eomma had looked incredibly beautiful as she aged even when the illness took her. Wooyoung was blessed with amazing genes. Meaning he probably had time after all, but he wanted his mate now.
Wooyoung had been stuck in his musings, lazily draped over one of the stronger branches of his favourite tree in the small park he had deemed his home for the past summer, puffy dark tail swishing back and forth as he mindlessly scanned the few people passing on the trail under his hideout, when the moment finally came after all. Afternoon nap forgotten, deemed unimportant for the first time in his life, Wooyoung whipped his head around, the tip of his black ears twitching as he smelled it.
He smelled him.
So tempting, so safe. Wooyoung’s teeth hurt. The scent was unlike anything his sensitive nose had ever encountered, which made sense, because it was unmistakably the scent of his mate, and they had never met before. Today would be the day. Silently, Wooyoung’s previously bored expression slipped into a little grin, fangs and all. Countless days had been dedicated to waiting in this tree. Whenever Wooyoung had been granted a few spare hours from a busy day of trying to survive in the city, he had been scouting, hoping, that he would finally be presented with a worthy mate, but up until now everyone had been lacking. They smelled bad, were too small, too old, too wrong.
This time though, this time Wooyoung could feel it would be the right one and he had not even seen him. Full of giddy excitement Wooyoung’s hands flitted around, making sure his offer for courtship was ready as his eyes scanned the empty pathway for the first sighting of his mate.
A moment later a man in a dark suit turned the corner, obviously choosing the way leading directly under Wooyoung’s tree because this was fate, and, oh, a gasp, Wooyoung was captivated. He had always been picky—as he should be—but he was perfect, Wooyoung noted with stars in his eyes.
Human (thank God Wooyoung was so openminded), short black hair, broad shoulders and strong arms that seemed to be designed to fit around Wooyoung’s body, and such pretty eyes, almost cat like and also just gorgeous as a whole. As the man got closer Wooyoung also noticed the tightly furrowed brows, the hunch in his posture, a certain tiredness in his gait. While a bit sad that his mate was having a bad day, Wooyoung also concluded that the man obviously needed Wooyoung as much as he needed him. Mates took care of each other; they made bad days better.
It was now or never.
Jumping into action Wooyoung was so excited he nearly slipped on the rough bark, which was something that had never happened before. He was very sure footed. A talented climber. His mate would be pleased with him. Quickly grabbing his prepared courting gift—a fresh flower for effort and a nice stone, because stones were forever—Wooyoung lifted it to his lips for a gentle kiss good luck and a soft “I hope he likes it” before wrapping the end of the string around his left hand and slowly lowering his courting gift down towards the path.
Wooyoung nearly died with anticipation, heart beating out of his chest, tail uncontrollable behind him, when the human disappeared out of sight right when he stepped directly under Wooyoung and the thick branch he was perching on.
Wooyoung heard a faint “What the fuck”, but more importantly felt the tug on the line indicating that his courting gift had been accepted. Elated, nearly crying now that he would never have to be lonely anymore (and he had been so so lonely), Wooyoung let the soft string go, getting on his feet to make his way down from the tree.
Time to meet his mate.