Work Text:
Werewolves and vampires: sworn mortal enemies since the dawn of time. Wolves were the apex predators, single-mindedly hunting and killing vampires. They saw them as a nuisance that needed to be purged. To them, a vampire was a creature of lies and deceit, using beauty to charm their victims into a false sense of joy, before sucking them dry of their blood. Vampires were parasites. Vampires could not be trusted.
They are incapable of love.
On the other side of the battlefield, newborns were taught to fear as much as to loath the murderous monsters. Wolves were savage and sadistic, using brute force to crush bones and tear limbs apart. They showed no qualms about murdering even children and the helpless. Their sole purpose in life was to destroy vampires by any means necessary. They could not be reasoned with. They were feral.
They are incapable of compassion.
Well. That’s how the old stories went, once upon a time.
Junhui wonders what his vampiric ancestors would think if they could have seen into the future. Thousands of years down the line. What would they say if they knew that nowadays, their two kinds live together in harmony. No, okay, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration. It’s impossible to completely erase millennia’s worth of hostility and hatred, but for the most part, they do, in fact, coexist within the same space with minimal bloodshed. Nonetheless, his ancestors would probably have a conniption if they knew that Junhui not only went to school with werewolves, but he’s also got a big fat crush on one.
In all honesty, though, how can anyone blame him? Junhui may have been born with supernatural beauty and charm, with the power to influence people’s thoughts through his glamour, but that doesn’t mean that he, himself, is immune to nice things. And boy, is the object of his affection nice—in every sense of the word.
Jeon Wonwoo is the campus heartthrob for a reason, admired by thousands—wolves and humans, alike. With one particular blond vampire at the forefront of his (not so) little fanclub (although Junhui keeps his crush under wraps. He doesn’t want to be ostracized). The alpha is the closest a living being can come to perfection. Since freshman year, he’s landed on the dean’s list and never left it. He’s tall, handsome and friendly, albeit a little reserved around people outside of his circle, but always kind. He’s also the ace of the track team, having won their school numerous medals. If Wonwoo had been a vampire, or even a human, Junhui’s parents would have almost certainly tried to meddle and play matchmakers. Alas… Jeon Wonwoo is an alpha werewolf, and Junhui’s a pureblood vampire. It doesn’t get more forbidden than that. Adding the fact that Wonwoo has no idea Junhui even exists, and it’s the perfect recipe for hopeless pining.
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
“It is so sunny!” Minghao grumbles around a yawn. He adjusts his hat and pushes a pair of fashionable sunglasses up his nose. Even through the tinted lenses, Junhui sees his cousin scowl at him. “I’m never going to be able to keep my eyes open at this rate.” He drops his backpack in the grass and follows suit, scooting back until he leans against the large tree trunk. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming out here in this weather.”
“Come on, Hao.” Junhui settles near him, pulling out his physics notebook and a pencil. “We always come here to study.”
Junhui loves Serenity Mall in the botany department. The lawn is lush and impeccably kept, and the gardens nearby bloom year-round with different flowers. The floral scents that float in the air never fail to lift his mood and relax the tired muscles. There’s always a nice breeze blowing through the area, too, and the lawn is far enough away from the lecture halls that it’s relatively quiet with little foot traffic to disturb them while they do homework.
Admittedly, today, the sun is shining very brightly, but the shades of the maple trees offer a very nice refuge. Unlike popular belief, vampires do not combust under sunlight, neither do they shimmer like diamonds. Maybe it’s a product of evolution and mutation, but their kind can freely walk around during the daytime. They just get a little more lethargic when it’s too bright. His cousin is especially sensitive.
Yawning again, Minghao shakes his head. “No.” He lowers his sunglasses to pin him with a look over the top of the frame. “We only come here on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon,” he corrects the statement. “Because that’s when the track team has their practice, and you get the chance to ogle at Jeon Wonwoo in a muscle tee.”
Blushing violently, Junhui gasps and whisper-screams, nonsensical sounds slipping past his lips. He frantically waves his arms in the air as if to dissipate the words and prevent them from reaching a certain alpha’s ears several yards away. Cautiously, he glances around them, but none of the other students nearby pay them any attention, too busy napping or doing their own homework. He breathes out in relief.
Minghao rolls his eyes, pushing his glasses back into place. “How long are you going to keep this up?”
“My admiration shows no sign of waning,” he responds, feigning casualness despite his heart skipping a beat. That happens often whenever Wonwoo is mentioned.
“I need to buy you a dictionary. The correct word is ‘infatuation.’”
Junhui harrumphs. Crossing his arms over his chest, he turns away from his cousin. If he takes advantage of the occasion to look toward the field to find a certain black haired alpha in the crowd, well, that’s just second nature at this point.
Wonwoo is stretching his shoulder, bringing one arm over his chest, while the other is bent at the elbow. He’s chatting with his teammates, and his smile is blinding. Junhui can’t decide which is more distracting: his face or the flexing biceps. And yes, he’s wearing a gray muscle tee, but that’s neither here nor there.
“Why don’t you just talk to him?” Minghao asks.
Doe eyes widen in shock. Whipping around, he sees his cousin leisurely drawing a benzene ring as if he hadn’t suggested something prosperous. “Absolutely not!” Junhui shakes his head. “Are you crazy? I can’t do that!”
“Why not?”
“He could hear me.”
The pen stops. Minghao looks up, genuinely perplexed. “Is that not the point of a conversation?”
Groaning, Junhui cups his face into his palms. “No, I—Never mind.” He shakes his head again, sighing as he drops his hands back into his lap. “This is fine. I’ll keep brooding and love him from afar.” As he speaks, he turns over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of Wonwoo once more. The alpha is laughing at something his friend is saying, and his nose scrunches up cutely. Idly, Junhui wonders if he’ll ever get to see that sight up close one day, to be the person to prompt such a reaction out of the alpha. A small pang pricks his heart.
Perhaps sensing his mood, his cousin decides to poke fun at him to distract him. “Who are you, Edward Cullen?”
It works.
Gasping, Junhui faces Minghao in indignation. “Edward Cullen is gorgeous. He would never have this problem.”
“Jun, have you ever looked at yourself even once in your life?” he gestures vaguely in his direction. “You do own a mirror, don’t you? I mean, I know there’s that myth that vampires don’t show up, but we do. Just in case you didn’t know.”
Junhui gives him a flat look. “Do you take me for a child?”
Not missing a beat, Minghao laughs. “Yeah, most of the time.”
To prove just how much of a child he isn’t, Junhui plucks a handful of grass blades and throws it at his cousin. The short, green leaves flutter in the wind, never even reaching Minghao’s shoe. The younger vampire stares at the blades falling back to the ground, unimpressed. “Exactly.”
Frustrated, Junhui kicks his feet and groans, falling back onto the tender green lawn. He stares up at the canopy of leaves, watching them sway with the breeze, contrasting nicely with the blue sky. “Do I need to remind you that he’s a wolf?”
“No, I heard you the first 17th time.”
“Well, then, there you go,” he says in lieu of an explanation.
“But you’re always singing praises about how nice and kind he is,” Minghao points out, going back to his chemistry packet.
“Because he is!” Junhui insists, folding his hands over his stomach. “But that’s toward other wolves and humans. And cats.” He turns his head to look at Minghao. “I’ve never seen him interacting with one of us. What if he secretly hates our kind, but he’s too polite to be vocal about it?”
Minghao rolls his eyes. “You’ve been stalking the guy—”
“Admiring!” Junhui interrupts with a shriek, but his cousin continues as if he hadn’t spoken up at all.
“—for nearly a whole year, and that’s all the intel you gathered? Lame.”
“You’re lame!”
Minghao heaves a sigh. Abandoning his homework for a moment, he digs into his bag to fish out a few bills. “Here,” he shoves them toward Junhui.
Hesitant and confused, Junhui sits up to take the money. “What for?”
“Go over there and buy me a blood pouch. A-.”
Lifting his head, Junhui eyes the vending machine in question. It’s installed with several others, all lined up by the entrance to the locker rooms. Which so happens to be where Wonwoo is currently standing with his team. Junhui gulps, stomach swooping.
He turns back to address his cousin. “But you said you didn’t like blood pouches from the vending machines,” he stalls.
“Well, I changed my mind.” He shoos him away with his free hand. “Now, go. I’m thirsty under this heat and brightness.”
“Hao…” he tries to give him a pleading look, but Minghao is a heartless monster who’s immune to Junhui’s antics, so he ignores him, completely immersed in his work.
Stomach twisting itself into knots, he chews onto his lower lip. A simple task. He can do this. The bills crinkle within his palm, a little like his lungs when he tries to breathe. He puts on his hat and sunglasses. Unlike his cousin, the sun doesn’t bother him too much, but these accessories aren’t meant to protect him from the harsh rays. They’re his only means of turning invisible. He’s going to blend into the crowd, a faceless nobody that won’t attract attention from anyone, especially the campus heartthrob.
With the weight of the entire world sitting on his shoulders, Junhui trudges forward. As soon as he leaves the cushiony grass and steps onto hard pavement, he lowers his face and adjusts the brim of the hat. His heart is creating a racket, and his stomach has all but eaten itself. But it’s okay. There’s a lot more people around once he crosses through the gardens. Their scents will cover up his. More importantly, there are plenty of shrubs and bushes surrounding the sports field—aromatic plants. Maybe due to a mutational fluke that ended up getting passed down generations, vampires tend to smell like certain plants. It’s believed to be an evolutionary defense to deter wolves, since the ancient predators often associated plants and herbs with poison. Supposedly, ages ago, a whole clan was spared from complete annihilation because their scents was nearly identical to wolfsbane.
Of course, nowadays, matters are nowhere as dire. Their kinds might not be best friends, but they do coexist well enough. Their noses have gotten used to it, and aside from the very rare jolt of surprise from a particularly strong scent they might come across, both wolves and vampires just move along. Nevertheless, Junhui still hopes that his scent will go undetected if he sticks close to the shrubs and doesn’t draw attention to himself. Keeping his head lowered, he walks through the open gates to reach the field. The blood is pounding through his ears, turning the chattering around him into a din of white noise. No one pays him any attention. Perfect.
He lifts his face slightly, pinpointing the vending machines. Just over a few dozens more feet. Proving that miracles do happen, the sport team starts to move toward the track, away from the locker rooms and vending machines. Junhui could have wept with joy as he watches out of the corner of his eye. The wolves, rowdy and loud, laugh as they playfully shove each other. Among them, Wonwoo sticks out like a sore thumb.
No, like a god among mortals.
He’s tall, taller than the majority of the team. Only a couple more people are of similar height. He has bulk, too, and the width of his shoulders causes butterflies to swirl in Junhui’s tummy. Yet, despite the impressive physical traits, what sets Wonwoo apart is the aura surrounding him. He’s a very reserved man, bordering on shy on occasions, but there’s an air of confidence and charisma about him, of authority and domination. It’s there, just simmering below the surface. Junhui doesn’t know much about wolves aside from what’s been taught in school. But looking at Wonwoo, he can understand why alphas are so sought after. He’s captivating, and Junhui finds himself mesmerized every time.
A whistle blows, snapping the lovesick vampire out of his daydream. The coach is talking. Junhui doesn’t pay attention, scurrying toward the vending machines. His fingers tremble as he pushes the buttons and inserts the bills into the slot. He gnaws on his bottom lip, breath staccato, while he watches the spring slowly uncoil around the blood pouch.
“Come on,” he mutters quietly. “Come on, please, hurry up.” Just a few more revolutions, and he’ll be able to grab the drink. He’ll be gone before Wonwoo even realizes that he’s been here at all. He’ll be able to remain just another person in the crowd, sharing a campus and nothing else.
The wind shifts.
In his periphery, he glimpses the blond locks flutter under the brim of his hat.
Oh, no.
Stunned by fear, Junhui freezes when he suddenly senses the back of his neck burning. He doesn’t know how he knows—maybe a remnant from the days gone by, a gene passed down by his ancestors to try to keep him alive—but he knows. This is how prey feels like before it’s taken out. The tiny hairs on his arms stand on ends, and he’s shaking, a full body shudder. If he’s going to get killed, he should at least see by whom.
With trepidation, he gingerly turns over his shoulder.
Only to squeak, hands flying to his mouth.
Jeon Wonwoo is staring right at him.
Junhui has never been under the scrutiny of a wolf. Of course, going to school with them, it’s impossible for them not to see Junhui and verse versa. But those have been brief glances and casual glimpses. No wolf has truly looked at him, never this directly. His breath grows shallow, his heart thunders and threatens to choke him. Yet, a… pleasant tingling runs through his body, and his stomach swoops happily. Is his body confused? Conflicted over what to do? His instincts are shouting at him to run away, but his humongous crush on Wonwoo is telling him that he’s overjoyed at the attention.
They hold eye contact for what seems like a million years. While Junhui goes through ten different stages of confusion, Wonwoo remains stoic, expression flat and unreadable. The only indicator that Junhui can grab onto is the shift of his eye color. When Junhui had initially turned around, they were their usual warm brown. But gradually, the brown bleeds away. Gold floods in, bright and intense.
Wonwoo takes a step toward him.
A loud thump from behind Junhui breaks the connection. He jumps, heart in his throat as he whips around. Realization hits. The blood pouch has finally landed at the bottom of the machine. That entire encounter couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds, but Junhui feels like he’s just run around the whole planet. Not waiting a second longer, Junhui grabs the pouch and flees at high speed.
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
After the vending machine incident, he unintentionally crosses paths with Wonwoo four more times. That has never happened before. There’s a reason why Minghao teases him about stalking Wonwoo. Junhui is usually the one who follows the alpha around at a safe distance to admire him out in the open, with lots of people around them. He knows the specific times Wonwoo has practices, and he shows up to events that Wonwoo is meant to attend. All of the information he has is common knowledge. He doesn’t actually do any stalking, but it’s been working splendidly for him over the past year.
So when Wonwoo suddenly shows up outside of York Hall after Junhui’s morning lecture the next day, the latter nearly has a heart attack. Later on, he spots the alpha while on his way to the student center, seemingly heading straight for him. The day after, while Junhui stands in line to buy a cup of milktea to take his blood capsules, he senses the familiar tingling. Sure enough, when he turns around, he finds Wonwoo already looking at him through the vitrine as he walks toward the door.
Why is he coming inside??? He doesn’t even like sweets!
Then, just this afternoon, after lecture, their TAs returned their tests. Junhui lingered behind, not wanting to be squished in the stampede. The next class began to file into the large room, which was to be expected. What jolted Junhui out of his skin was Wonwoo walking down the steps. Although to be fair, the alpha appeared just as shocked as Junhui when they made eye contact. Their lectures were back to back, and yet neither of them had known until now.
Regardless, Junhui reacted as best as he did the previous three—four, if he counts the vending machine incident—times he unexpectedly ran into Wonwoo on campus.
He bolted.
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
“You can’t keep running away every time he so much as looks at you,” Minghao says.
They’re in their apartment. His cousin has just gone shopping, and he’s now carefully opening each tea container, cataloguing them into his little cupboard. Soonyoung lounges across the couch. He’s meant to be studying for his upcoming stats quiz, but he’s munching on cheeseballs and slurping loudly on the straw of his cup of blood. A new drama is playing on his laptop. Chan is still in class, though, so Junhui hasn’t started cooking dinner yet. Instead, he sits at the kitchen counter, lamenting his woes for his clan brothers to hear.
“How else am I supposed to ensure that my heart doesn’t explode?” he questions genuinely. “Besides, how do I know he’s not secretly plotting to murder me?”
Soonyoung laughs loudly. “Why would you come to that conclusion?”
“I don’t know!” he throws his hands into the air. “Why else would he suddenly show up around me?”
“Maybe he just wants to say hi,” Soonyoung suggests, sitting up. He rests his arms over the back of the couch to look at Junhui. “Get to know you and stuff.”
“Well, then why doesn’t he just say so?”
Minghao snorts out a laugh, incredulous. “Because you keep running away!”
While Junhui pouts, his clan brothers laugh.
“Stop being a baby. You like him, and Wonwoo finally noticed you. He’s clearly trying to talk to you, so stop running off and hiding. Do I really need to tell you how counterproductive it is for you to run away from your crush?” Minghao asks. “How are you ever gonna make any progress?”
Soonyoung nods. “He’s right, babe. You should be running straight into his bed.”
Face turning instantly scarlet, Junhui shrieks. “Hoshi!”
“Sorry. I meant arms.” Soonyoung pops another cheese puff into his mouth and smiles, eyes turning into little slits.
With a groan, face still aflame, Junhui drops his head to the counter. The cool surface feels nice against his feverish skin. “You guys aren’t helping at all.”
“Why don’t you talk to Mingyu?” Minghao suggests.
“Mingyu?” Junhui repeats. He doesn’t understand how talking about his love problems with the younger boy can help. “He’s not even majoring in psychology.”
Minghao laughs, shaking his head. “No, that’s not what I mean. Out of all of us, he’s probably the best person to go to for some tips about wolf behavior.”
“But isn’t Mingyu human? Oh, is he friends with a lot of wolves?”
“His maternal grandfather is an alpha.”
“What!” Junhui sits up, eyes wide. “No way! Your boyfriend is part wolf and you never told us?”
“Oh, I knew,” Soonyoung chips in, finishing up the blood in his cup. “Chan does, too.” He gets up to throw it away.
Betrayed, Junhui spins back to his cousin. “You told everyone except me?”
Minghao rolls his eyes. “I did tell you.”
“No, you didn’t! I never knew!”
Fixing him with a look over his glasses, Minghao says, “I did. I told all of you. You’re the one with selective hearing. The only wolf you’re interested in is Jeon Wonwoo.”
“Oh.” Deflating, Junhui laughs sheepishly. “Sorry…”
Next to him, Soonyoung snickers, ruffling the blond locks affectionately.
Sighing with exasperation, Minghao continues, “Anyway. I’m sure Mingyu will be more than happy to answer your questions. Just text him and meet up.”
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
Junhui does exactly that. At lunch the following day, he and Mingyu meet up at the Diamond Creek dining hall. They have the best fried chicken, and the two friends each grab a full tray before finding an empty table. While Mingyu washes down the chicken and fries with a can of soda, Junhui does the same but slurps down a cup of O+.
“Awww, you have a crush on Wonwoo?” Mingyu coos after Junhui retells the short version of his plight. “That is so cute!”
Embarrassed, Junhui hides behind his hands. “Please don’t make fun of me,” he implores. He can already feel his cheeks burning his palms.
“I’m not, Jun! I promise!” He chuckles. “I just think it’s really adorable, especially since—”
Hearing the strange pause, Junhui lowers his hands to check on his friend. Mingyu’s smile has stilted, brows pulled together. He’s looking at something over Junhui’s shoulder, making weird faces. However, when the concerned vampire turns, he doesn’t see anything unusual. Just students and a few staff members lining up to pay for their food at the register.
“Mingyu?” he calls, gently tapping his hand. “What’s wrong?”
As though woken up, Mingyu shakes himself off. He looks away swiftly. His grin returns, canines flashing. “Oh, sorry, Jun. So, Hao told me you have some questions about wolves?”
“Uh, yeah.” That was weird. Maybe he saw a spider or something. Humans do tend to be squeamish about bugs. Shrugging it off, Junhui resumes their conversation. “Um. Do you… Do you know Wonwoo well?”
“Sure, we’re friends.” Mingyu nods. “We live on the same floor, too. He’s really nice.” Picking up his soda, he takes a few sips.
“So…” Junhui twists his fingers together. He feels really dumb asking, but he has to be sure. “So, you don’t think… that he would… try to murder me for looking at him, do you?”
Upon hearing the question, poor Mingyu chokes and nearly spills his mouthful of soda. Coughing, he grabs a napkin. “Oh, my god, Jun.” He’s laughing, which is terrible, because he’s still coughing.
“I’m so sorry!” Junhui apologizes profusely, tapping the younger’s back and rubbing in large strokes to help him get over it. “I didn’t mean to—Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah.” The fit over, he settles back with a soft chuckle, wiping at his tears. It’s uncertain whether they’re caused from the coughing or laughter. Maybe both. Junhui’s mouth forms a small pout, which prompts Mingyu to coo again. “Aw, Moon Jun. You’re so funny. No matter how cranky Wonwoo gets, he’d never commit murder,” he laughs like it’s the most hilarious joke. “Especially when it comes to you. You’re great!”
A funny feeling swirls in his tummy. Junhui does his best to tuck it away and temper himself. Mingyu is his friend, and he’s just being nice because he likes Junhui. It doesn’t necessarily reflect Wonwoo’s feelings. He’s just glad to know the alpha doesn’t want to kill him on sight.
Speaking of sight.
“Do you know what would cause a wolf’s eye color to change?” he asks. “Wonwoo’s eyes went from brown to gold.”
“Oh, yeah.” Mingyu nods. “It depends on context, but basically, it signifies a strong emotion.”
“A strong emotion,” Junhui repeats. “Positive or negative?”
“Both. That’s why context matters. It can be fury or happiness. Bloodlust or you know…” Mingyu’s voice turns shy and embarrassed. “The other kind of lust.” By the time he’s done speaking, both of them are blushing.
As if to distract himself from his own embarrassment, Mingyu reaches across the table to pinch Junhui’s pink cheek. “Aahhh, you’re so cute, Moon Jun!”
Whining, Junhui swats at his hand. “Stop! You promised not to make fun of me.”
“I’m not! I just—” he freezes, hand still hanging in the air.
At that moment, Junhui’s nape tingles in a very familiar way. He whips around, eyes wide, to see Wonwoo finishing up paying. A tiny part of his brain registers that Wonwoo likes ramen. The larger part of his brain shouts the alarm that the alpha is heading their way. Junhui is not ready for this. Breath hitching, he turns around.
“I gotta go,” he tells his friend, hands a blur as he gathers all the trash and his tray. “Thank you for talking to me. I promise I’ll pay for lunch next time.”
“Wait, Jun—”
“I’m really sorry. Bye!” He runs like the wind. Faintly, he hears Mingyu calling after him, but he’s already halfway across the dining hall. Too distracted by his escape, Junhui doesn’t notice the way Wonwoo watches after him. He also misses the glare the alpha throws toward an apologetic Mingyu.
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
The night air is cool and refreshing as Junhui ascends the hill. On the northern limit of the campus, before they cross over to the woods, there’s a hidden path. Human students aren’t permitted to take it, the administration fearing they might get disorientated and lost. Or worse, fall down the ravine. There aren’t any street lamps around here. It’d be impossible for humans to see where they’re going. Junhui, on the other hand, has no such qualms. He loves taking nightly walks in the area, partly because it is so dark and isolated. At the end of the path, he’ll reach the top of the cliff where he gets a breathtaking view of the ravine.
The sight is a lot more picturesque in the daytime, of course. Under the sun, the colors are much more vibrant, and the wildflowers growing among the unkept grass can be seen dancing to and fro with the breeze. However, sometimes, Junhui prefers the night. It’s calm and peaceful. When he looks up at the moon and the stars, their glow is gentle. He doesn’t feel exposed. Instead, his muscles relax, and he breathes it all in: the sweet jasmine, the wild herbs, the crisp dew, the comforting earth. Reaching his destination, Junhui shuffles out from behind a bush of rosemary. The contact causes the fragrance to waft into the air, and Junhui smiles, fingers caressing the tiny leaves as he passes by. There’s an old wooden bench, worn from use, that overlooks the ravine. He takes a seat, reclining back until he spots the stars winking at him.
He wishes they could help him figure out what’s going on with Wonwoo. He knows he’s being an idiot and a scaredy-cat, running away all the time. But he just doesn’t know how else to react. Things used to be so much simpler before. Before he listened to Minghao and went to buy his stupid blood pouch.
He likes Wonwoo.
That part hasn’t changed despite all the confusion.
What does Wonwoo want with him?
According to Mingyu, it’s not murder. Could he simply want to say hi, like Soonyoung guessed? But why? Junhui is just a vampire. One who freaks out and runs away all the time, apparently. Why would anyone in their right mind, much less Jeon Wonwoo—alpha wolf extraordinaire—want to make the effort to get to know him?
Heaving a sigh, Junhui closes his eyes. He needs to clear his mind. Mulling for a bit, he remembers one of Jihoon’s songs. The lyrics seem appropriately ironic to his situation, and he laughs to himself. Breathing in, he steadies his voice. Then, he sings.
His voice carries easily on the wind. It’s barely above a whisper, but surrounded by nothing but the quiet soundtrack of the night, it echoes through the ravine.
Junhui breathes, listening to the last notes fade away.
It’s quiet again.
No, it’s not.
With a jolt, Junhui shoots to his feet and spins around. Rustling in the bushes causes him to take a step back cautiously. Only for his foot to crunch on the gravel and send a few pebbles down the ravine. Shoot. Worry knotting his stomach, he forces himself to stand still and listen. Whatever creature is creeping around the bushes, it’s big. A mountain lion? Junhui sniffs the air, but all he smells is wild herbs. As long as it’s not a bear, he should be able to escape. A vampire’s speed is nothing to scoff at. He just needs to make sure he doesn’t get pounced on. He doesn’t think a vampire would make for a tasty meal. Unfortunately, by the time the wild animal realizes it, Junhui would probably be in tatters.
Gingerly, he looks behind him at the sheer drop. He gulps.
Suddenly, a huge figure emerges from the shadows.
Junhui gasps audibly, heart stopping altogether as he whirls around.
It’s not a mountain lion.
Junhui swallows. His heart restarts, beating at twice its normal rhythm.
It’s a wolf. An alpha.
Wonwoo startles upon seeing him, dark eyes widening a fraction. With all the wild herbs growing in the area, he probably encountered the same issue as Junhui. He couldn’t have picked up any other smell.
They stand immobile, staring at each other. Eventually, Wonwoo slowly approaches, keeping his eyes trained on Junhui as though afraid of spooking a small animal. When it’s clear that Junhui isn’t going to freak out and fall to his death, Wonwoo stops a couple feet away.
“You’re not going to run away from me this time?” he asks, dark brow arched.
Junhui winces, an apology perched on his lips. All things considered, his behavior was nothing short of rude. How can he just run away from someone who just wanted to talk to him? Embarrassment and shame settles over his shoulders. “I’m—”
And that’s when he sees it. The slight upturned tick at the corner of Wonwoo’s mouth. The glint in his eyes, bright in the darkness. Junhui is being teased. By Jeon Wonwoo.
Oh, dear heavens.
Breath hitching, Junhui suppresses the need to clutch at his chest. Instead, he tries to speak slowly to hide how badly he wants to crawl under the bench to hide. “You’ve sort of got me cornered,” he admits.
That playful little smirk flashes again as Wonwoo takes a step closer. “If I’d known that was the solution, I’d have done it sooner.”
Junhui swallows, trying to breathe. A bad idea. Now that he’s close, Junhui can pick up his scent apart from the herbs. His knees nearly turn to jelly as the notes of bitter peach, a touch of musk, and something exclusively Wonwoo tickle his nose. He wants to be smothered by it.
“I’m… sorry,” he mumbles. He’s not sure what he’s apologizing for: running away every time Wonwoo tried to approach him, or getting attracted to his scent. Maybe both. At any rate, he can’t look him in the eyes, dropping his gaze to the bench.
“Don’t be. The chase was worth it,” Wonwoo says.
Junhui doesn’t think he’ll make it home. He’s going to die from a heart attack. Or maybe he’ll fling himself into the ravine.
A hand comes into view. He glances up to find Wonwoo smiling at him. It’s a gentle smile, open and friendly. Sincere. “I’m Jeon Wonwoo.”
Brain on autopilot, Junhui reaches for his hand to shake. He wishes he could savor the incredible moment. Instead, his mouth decides to ruin it. “I know.”
A dark brow arches.
As if zapped by lightning, Junhui stammers out, “I mean, I know you—your name because you’re the campus heartthrob and everyone’s in love with you. No!” He presses his hands over his mouth, horrified. “Please forget I said that. I mean, I know who you are because you’re on the track team, and everyone knows you, and I’ve been to all your track meets, so I know—Wait, I only went to watch you compete and cheer you on! And um, I’ve, uh, I’ve seen you around campus, too, and uh, yeah. I swear I’m not a stalker.” Good heavens, Jun, shut up!
Wonwoo nods, biting back laughter.
Unable to face the consequences, Junhui crumbles. He hides behind his hands and collapses onto the bench with a small whiny cry. His life is over. He just word-vomited all over the werewolf he’s been pining for the past year. He doesn’t have to fear Wonwoo showing up randomly anymore. Not only is Junhui a vampire, he’s a dork and a loser, too. Please, can the earth open up and swallow him now?
He doesn’t get his wish.
Instead, he hears Wonwoo shuffling over and taking a seat at the other end of the bench. His voice is deep but soft as he says, “If knowing someone’s name makes you a stalker, then I’m guilty of the crime, as well.”
Junhui whips around so fast, he almost falls off his seat. Doe eyes pop open. “You know my name?” he asks in disbelief.
Smiling, Wonwoo reveals, “We had Ancient Greek Lit together.”
“We did?” Junhui’s brows knit together, trying to recall that piece of information. He took that elective last year. It was a small class, held in one of the discussion classrooms rather than a lecture hall. Wonwoo was definitely not there. There is no way Junhui would have missed him.
“Well.” Wonwoo chuckles. Junhui decides it’s his new favorite sound. “I say that, but I had to drop it after just the first meeting. My waitlisted class opened up, and it took precedence.”
“Oh.” That makes sense. Wait. “Wait, but you still remembered me?”
Wonwoo smiles. It’s still gentle, but the little glint in his eyes flash. “You are quite difficult to forget, Junhui.”
He’s blushing so much, he thinks he’s glowing brighter than a street lamp. Wonwoo said his name. He can die happy.
They sit in comfortable silence for a moment. Wonwoo is probably enjoying the night, but Junhui needs time to recuperate and stuff his soul back into his body. Once his heartbeat returns to somewhat a normal rhythm, he peeks over at his companion. Wonwoo is fidgeting with a camera that he hadn’t noticed before (because of all the freak-outs). Like Junhui, the alpha has no issue with the dark, navigating the little window with ease, inspecting his previous shots.
“You’re into photography?” Junhui asks quietly.
Wonwoo hums, smiling. “This area is so quiet and different at night, I’ve always wanted the chance to photograph it.”
Junhui nods. “Yeah, it’s really pretty.”
Looking up, Wonwoo meets his gaze. “Yeah. It is.”
Warmth creeps up his neck and spreads over his cheeks. Junhui drops his gaze, squirming. Nonetheless, a small but happy smile blooms across his lips.
“Not many people know about this place,” Junhui says.
Wonwoo agrees. “To be honest, I didn’t realize there was a path leading up here until tonight.”
“Really?” Junhui tilts his head. “Did you come upon it by chance, then?”
Chuckling ruefully, Wonwoo answers, “I heard singing coming from the top of the cliffs. It was so alluring, I couldn’t hold back the intrigue. Were we by the seaside, I would have believed that a siren was luring me away.” Wonwoo watches Junhui hide his pink cheeks behind his hands and laughs softly. “Turns out it belongs to a cute and shy vampire.”
Junhui really is going to perish tonight, no doubt about it. Wonwoo might not shred him to pieces like his ancestors once did to his kind, but the result will be the same. Junhui’s death.
“You have a beautiful voice, Junhui.”
“Thank you,” he murmurs, risking a peek from under his lashes to smile in gratitude.
Wonwoo flashes him such a fond smile, Junhui can’t repress the small shiver of elation running through his whole frame. He curls his arms around his torso to keep himself from exploding out of giddiness.
“Oh, are you cold?”
Before Junhui can respond, Wonwoo is already shrugging out of his jacket. He carefully drapes over Junhui’s shoulders. The scent of bitter peach fills his lungs, and it takes all of his self-control not to bury his nose into the jacket. He definitely wants to be smothered in this scent, preferably by Wonwoo himself.
To not appear like a complete freak and creep the alpha out, Junhui slowly pulls the jacket close and stuffs his arms through the sleeves. Even though he and Wonwoo are of similar height, the jacket is baggy on him, and the sleeves reach the center of his palms.
“Looks good on you,” Wonwoo says, watching the elated vampire drowning in his jacket. For the briefest of moment, his eyes flash gold. But Junhui doesn’t notice. He’s too busy swooning.
Giggling quietly, Junhui basks in the happiness. “Thank you. But aren’t you going to get chilly?”
He shakes his head, assuring him, “Wolves run pretty hot. I don’t need it for warmth. Being friends with Mingyu, it’s become a habit to carry a jacket with me, just in case he spills something on me.”
Junhui giggles, recalling all the clumsy adventures he’s shared with his friend. Fidgeting with the sleeves again, he says, “For once, I’m thankful for his clumsiness.”
Wonwoo responds with a smile. “Yeah. Me, too.”
Since Wonwoo is under the assumption that Junhui is cold, he suggests for them to head back to campus. Junhui almost corrects the misunderstanding, but that would mean giving him back the jacket, and Junhui doesn’t want to part from it, yet. The walk back is short. Too short. Even though they don’t exchange more than a few sentences about the most mundane topics, Junhui feels like he’s floating. It’s not that he doesn’t want to talk. There is a ton of things he wants to say and ask, but every time he opens his mouth, he simply gets so flustered, he fears that he might make a fool of himself again. So he keeps quiet. Next to him, Wonwoo seems content just walking side by side, looking over at him every so often.
They arrive at Wonwoo’s apartment building first. Through the clear glass doors, he can spot a handful of wolves hanging out in the lounge. Wonwoo stops in front of the main doors. This is where they part ways. Disappointment weights heavily over his shoulders. Especially when he starts to remove the jacket. A large and warm hand resting on his upper arm stops him. Surprised, Junhui looks up.
“Keep it,” Wonwoo says. “You’ve still got a few minutes to go before you reach your place, right?”
The dazed and dopey smile Junhui gives Wonwoo still lingers on his face when he enters his apartment. He’s just closed the door and locked it, toeing out of his shoes, when Soonyoung appears out of nowhere and accosts him.
“There you are, young man!”
Junhui yelps, plastering himself against the door. “Oh, my god—Hoshi! You scared me half to death!” he huffs, finally calming down.
Unrepentant, his clan brother snickers. He stops swiftly, sniffing the air. Oh, no. Wearing a knowing smirk, Soonyoung turns to him. “So where have you been, babe?”
“I told you. To the ravine,” he answers, trying to push past Soonyoung to go further into the apartment. His brother doesn’t stop him, but he sticks close.
“Is that so? Then why do I smell wolf on you?”
“It’s not what you think—” Junhui tries to keep his voice level.
“Come on, babe.” He points to his head. “Who are you fooling with that sex hair—”
“It was windy!” Immediately, Junhui runs a hand through the blond strands, fingers catching on the knots and tangles.
“Explain your flushed skin.” He cups his face.
“Oh, my god.” Junhui is ready to cry. He flails, arms waving all over the place to dislodge Soonyoung’s hold. “It’s from the heat. It’s hot under this jacket!”
“And whose jacket is that?”
By now, both Minghao and Chan have been alerted of his return. They pop their heads out of their respective bedrooms.
“It’s Wonwoo’s jacket, okay!” Junhui admits at last, chest heaving.
All three vampires stare at him with loose jaws.
“No way,” Soonyoung breathes out. “I was just messing with you. I didn’t realize—”
Minghao blinks the shock away. “I hope Mingyu gave you tips on safe sex—”
“Noooooo!” Clapping his hands over his ears, Junhui drops to the floor, curled up into a ball. “Nothing happened! We didn’t… We didn’t do anything!”
“What?”
“We ran into each other on top of the cliffs, and he thought I was cold, so he let me borrow his jacket. Nothing else happened.”
There’s a pause, then Chan says, “But we don’t get cold.”
“Argh!” Junhui cups his burning face. “I know, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.”
He hears his clan brothers snicker, and he groans.
“But seriously.” Soonyoung takes a seat on the carpet next to him. “Nothing happened? Not even a goodnight kiss?”
“No!”
“Aww.”
Minghao snorts out a laugh. “Why do you sound more disappointed than Jun?”
“Because! I want him to get plenty of vitamin D.”
Junhui screams into his hands.
Once he calms down (and Soonyoung gets tired of teasing him), the three of them do offer sincere well wishes.
“See?” Minghao pats his shoulder. “Talking to him wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“I knew you could do it, Jun.” Chan cheers. “It took a little bit of time, but I’m glad things are working out. Slow and steady, right?”
“Yeah, babe. I’m really happy for you. Maybe next time, instead of giving you his clothes, he’ll be peeling yours off.” (Guess Soonyoung wasn’t finished after all).
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
“What should I do?”
“About what?”
The twins are lying across his bed, playing on their phones. Actually, Junhui was already in bed, vegetating after a brutal series of three midterms, when Soonyoung came home and crawled into his bed to cuddle. Midterm season is vicious to all species.
He gestures to the folded garment he had set on his desk. “Wonwoo’s jacket.”
It’s been about a week since their run-in at the ravine. He’s seen Wonwoo on campus a few times, but he hadn’t had the jacket with him. He couldn’t just carry it around with him on the off-chance that he’d see Wonwoo and return it, right? (Okay, so it’s less of a hassle and more of a precaution. Junhui didn’t want the temptation of sticking his nose into the jacket and breathing in his scent like a creep). As a result, he still hasn’t given it back.
“Didn’t you say he likes to hang out at the ravine at night, too?” Soonyoung asks, scrolling through Jihoon’s feed and liking every single picture.
“Yeah, but he hasn’t shown up there the last few times I went.” Chewing on his lip, he wonders, “What if he’s avoiding me?”
Soonyoung laughs. “What? Why would he?”
“I don’t know.” Shrugging, he curls around his pillow. “Maybe he realized a friendship between a wolf and vampire is futile.”
“I highly doubt he’s thinking of friendship,” his brother mutters.
Junhui elbows him.
Soonyoung pretends to be hurt, groaning dramatically and clutching his stomach, even though Junhui hit his arm.
“You’re terrible at giving love advice.”
“Listen.” Soonyoung props himself onto an elbow and looks down at him. “You talked to Mingyu, right? No wolf, much less an alpha, is gonna get all golden-eyed because of friendship feelings.” He rolls his eyes. “He’s probably just busy getting his ass kicked by midterms just like the rest of us.” Soonyoung gives him a hug. “Tomorrow’s the last day—thank goodness!—so how about you head over to his place in the afternoon to return the jacket?”
“Is that okay?” Junhui hesitates. “I don’t have his contact. Showing up out of the blue might be a little weird.”
“Have Mingyu help,” Soonyoung suggests easily. “It’d probably be safer, too.”
Junhui remembers the wolves hanging out in the lounge. Wonwoo hadn’t said anything, but he had firmly stopped in front of the building, not wanting Junhui to go inside. He nods at Soonyoung. “Okay.”
“And maybe bring along a little something extra for him, too.”
“Like what?”
“Lots of lube and cond—”
Junhui pelts him with pillows. Soonyoung cackles, retaliating with tickles. The older of the two yelps, laughing as he jumps out of reach. He runs to the opposite end of the room, grabbing his stuffed black cat to use as a shield.
Soonyoung laughs, rolling up to a sitting position. He runs a hand through the messy silver locks. “Okay, fine. Maybe that’s a bit much.”
“You think?” Junhui laughs, shaking his head. Patting the little black cat, he places it back onto his bookshelf. “How about… What if I… cooked him something?”
“Oh!” Soonyoung’s eyes light up. “That’s a great idea! Your cooking is delicious! If he isn’t already smitten with you, he definitely will be after he eats your food!”
Shy, Junhui waves off the praise with rosy cheeks. “You’re exaggerating, Hoshi.”
“No, I’m not! Don’t you remember how much money we raised in high school thanks to your crepes?”
“Yeah…”
“Although, believe you me! I’m sure your alpha wouldn’t be opposed to devouring a certain blondie for dessert~” he sing-songs.
With a scream, Junhui jumps back into bed, and the two resume their pillow fight. Later on, Minghao and Chan return to the apartment to find the twins sleeping soundly, cuddled up like kittens.
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
Mingyu
hey jun
im rlly sorry im running late
my experiment isn’t cooperating!!!
are you still cooking?
i’ll come walk with you as soon as im done!
🐶🥰
Junhui pockets his phone and blows out a breath through his bangs. Well, now he’s in a bit of a predicament. He’s been too antsy to sit in his apartment alone, waiting for Mingyu to finish with his class. So he’s packed up all the food containers, along with Wonwoo’s jacket, and went out for a walk to get rid of the restlessness. As far as timing goes, he figured he’d meet up with Mingyu right outside of the building, and the two would go in together. Now here he is, standing by one of the benches in the courtyard, looking up at the tall building. He could just go back—the walk isn’t that far, but what if? His fingers curl around the handles of the bags. What if Wonwoo is home right now? The food is still warm. Wouldn’t it be nice if he could eat it right away? A nice ending to the tough week of exams and papers?
He thinks back to all the times he’s run away from Wonwoo, and cringes. Maybe it’s time for Junhui to be brave. He won’t run away this time.
Resolve set, he squares off his shoulders and takes in a deep breath. Going inside, where wolves reside, is still rather intimating. For safety reasons, he’ll take a peek. If no one is loitering in the lobby or lounge, he’ll sneak in to find the RA. They should be able to help him locate Wonwoo’s apartment.
It’s a little past 5 o’clock on a Friday afternoon, hence the near empty foot traffic. Most students out of class have already started their weekend, some don’t even show up to afternoon classes. Junhui’s never paid it importance, but now he’s glad. When he peers through the glass panes surrounding the ground floor, he finds both the lobby and the lounge empty. He breathes out in relief as he pushes open the door.
The woodsy scent characteristic of wolves hits him in the face. It isn’t overwhelming nor unpleasant, but it is quite strong. He wrinkles his nose, unused to such a concentrated dose. He should hurry up before it gets too much.
Usually, the RA’s apartment is somewhere easy to find and access, so it shouldn’t take too long to poke around. He sees the elevators immediately, along with an open door leading to the stairs. Next to the lounge is a narrow hallway. That’s probably it. Just as he starts walking toward it, the entrance door opens. For a split second, Junhui hopes it’s Mingyu.
It’s not.
“Holy shit! What the fuck is that smell?”
A group of three enter the building. They look like the typical arrogant rich boys, enrolled into a good school for the prestige and none of the academics. They scowl and grimace, glancing around distractingly.
“It is rancid. Ugh. Disgusting!”
“Fuck, what if the smell sticks to my clothes? I have a date tonight.”
Junhui wills himself to blend into the walls. He peeks at the open doorway to the stairs. Can he sneak in there before they notice him?
“Oh. Well, no wonder it’s so repugnant.” The voice is too close.
Junhui spins around, eyes widening as a wolf with bleached blond hair looms over him.
“A little vampire snuck in,” he grins, sardonic, canines seemingly gleaming under the fluorescents.
Yelp stuck in his throat, Junhui backs away, hitting the wall with a thud. He doesn’t even register the dull pain radiating from his head. His eyes flicker to the other two wolves, wearing matching expressions, slowly crowding around him. On any other day, he could probably hold his own against them. But not here, in their domain, and certainly not against all of them at once. He should have waited for Mingyu.
“Haven’t your parents ever told you how dangerous it is to walk into a wolf’s den?” The sarcasm is heavy. He’s relishing in the fear he’s causing.
“What are you doing here?” the redhead asks. His tone is casual, but his grin is sharp. “Maybe we could help?”
“I-I-I-I’m just l-looking for Jeon Wonwoo—”
“Oh, yeah!” The first guy snaps his fingers. “Now I remember you.” Mean and vicious, he jabs a finger into Junhui’s sternum and laughs. “You’re that pathetic, wide-eyed leech who followed Jeon home last week. Clearly, he wasn’t interested in more, but looks like you didn’t get the memo. Then again, what can we expect from a lower life form, right? It’s not your fault. Ticks don’t have brains. You guys are just dumb, blood-thirsty pests.”
The rest of the pack laugh along, cackling like hyenas.
Junhui can’t breathe. His eyes prickle. He’s always known about the hostility between their kinds, but never in his life has anyone gone out of their way to humiliate him like this.
“So what is it?” the blond alpha continues, “He was nice to you once, and now you think you’re actually worth something?”
Shame coils with the fear, pulling down Junhui’s head. He squeezes his eyes shut. Unconsciously, he clenches the handles of the bags more tightly, crinkling the paper. Six pairs of ears perk up at the noise. With a swish, the bags are yanked out of his hands. Junhui jolts, reflexively flattening himself even further against the wall as he watches the alpha hand the bags to the third guy.
He peers inside, sneering. “You brought him food, too!” he coos mockingly. “How absolutely fucking sweet.” Face hardening, he shoves the entire bag into the nearby trash can.
Doe eyes, brimming with tears, stare unseeingly. A sob lodges into his throat.
“Don’t delude yourself,” the blond alpha says quietly. It sounds like nails on a chalkboard. “No matter how hard you try to worm yourself into it, there’s no room for you in our world. Your kind doesn’t belong anywhere near ours. Filthy parasites,” he spits out. “We should have driven you into extinction thousands of years ago.” Faster than a blink, he slams a hand around the base of Junhui’s throat.
Junhui stills, too scared to even breathe. One flick of the wrist. That’s all it’ll take. One snap.
“Here’s some friendly advice,” he grits out. “Don’t come back here. Because the next time I see you, it won’t be just a stake that I’ll plunge into your heart. Do you understand?”
Junhui runs.
He runs, and he doesn’t look back.
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
“Jun, please come out and tell us what happened,” Minghao asks softly, knocking on his locked door. “Mingyu called. He’s really worried about you, too.”
Curling up further into a ball under his blanket, Junhui swallows down the lump stuck in his throat. “Tell—” He clears his throat, wiping roughly at his wet lashes. “Tell Gyu I’m really sorry for worrying him, but I’m fine. I just… I just want to sleep.”
“Junnie.” It’s Soonyoung. “Babe, open the door. At least come out and have some dinner.”
“I’m fine, I promise, you guys.” He sniffles. “Go eat without me.”
There’s a pause on the other side, before he hears them sigh. “We’re going to leave some blood capsules in the kitchen,” Minghao says. “Make sure you take them, okay? We’re here for you whenever you’re ready to talk.”
A few moments later, he hears rustling and shuffling, followed by the jingling of keys. His clan brothers head out for dinner and lock the door behind them. The apartment is completely silent. Junhui closes his eyes, a cold shudder wracking through his body at the memory—the humiliation, the terror, the absolute hatred directed at him.
Even though he doesn’t want to believe it, he can’t help wondering: has Wonwoo ever thought of him as… a parasite? If he hasn’t, will he in the future? Maybe that guy was right. Maybe hoping for any kind of relationship between a wolf and vampire was delusional.
Werewolves believe that vampires are incapable of love.
Junhui wishes it were true. Then, he wouldn’t be feeling the acute pain in his chest right now.
He must doze off at some point, because the next thing he knows, his phone is ringing. He groans, rubbing at his face. The tear tracts have dried, and they pull at his skin. Groggily, he sits up and pats around his bed, searching for the device among the folds of the blanket and the numerous plushies. Mingyu’s name flashes across the screen, and his stomach sinks. He’s been ignoring all of Mingyu’s texts the entire afternoon. He feels guilty for worrying his friend, but he really doesn’t have the mental capacity to talk to him right now.
His finger hovers over the button, ready to reject the call, but he pauses. What if Mingyu is calling because something happened to Minghao and Soonyoung at dinner? Panic and worry winning over exhaustion and heartache, Junhui picks up.
“Mingyu? What’s wrong?”
“Junhui.”
He freezes, eyes widening. His heart all but lurches out of his chest as he registers Wonwoo’s deep timber.
“Are you in your apartment right now?” the latter asks, voice carefully neutral.
Mind spinning, Junhui nods. Only remembering a second later that Wonwoo can’t see him. “Y-yes,” he replies, voice barely above a whisper.
“Please come down to the square.”
“What…? But I...” He holds the phone a little tighter, glancing around his room. He doesn’t want to go anywhere right now. Especially when his emotions still feel so raw. He’s hurt. And afraid.
Wonwoo lets out a small sigh. When he speaks next, his voice is unbelievably gentle. “I know you’re scared, sweetheart, but please trust me. I won’t let anything or anyone hurt you.”
Wonwoo.
Warmth blooms through his chest and spreads through his limbs. Junhui hangs his head, hand still clutching the blanket to his torso. Despite his best effort, his eyes prickle again, and his throat grows thick. “Okay,” he agrees at last.
The scene that greets him as soon as he exits his building has Junhui halting in his tracks. He literally has to rub his eyes, blinking several times before he can believe the sight is real and not some hallucination. Night has fallen, but the campus lights are bright, casting their cool white glow around the square. It’s empty saved for the three wolves. To the right, off in the periphery, Mingyu stands next to the low wall, gaze hard and expression closed off. In the three years Junhui’s known him, this is the first time he’s ever looked… scary. But he’s not looking at the confused vampire. He’s glaring at the center of the square, where a familiar blond alpha is kneeling. Behind him, Wonwoo stands with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes are a bright gold as a low snarl rumbles in his throat.
Flabbergasted, Junhui can only stand rooted to the spot as he takes it all in.
The wolf on the ground has his head bowed, hands resting on his thighs. Upon closer inspection, though, Junhui picks out the details on his battered face. His left eye is swollen, the flesh red, bordering on purple. His nose is broken, blood smeared across his cheek. His lip is split. The pristine dress-shirt he’s been wearing earlier in the afternoon is now torn, buttons missing, flecks of dried blood splattered across the fabric. The hands on his thighs are fisted, knuckles white from the tension. They’re raw, scrapped and bruised, too.
Immediately, Junhui tears his gaze away from him to assess Wonwoo. His shoulders sag in relief when he notices that Wonwoo is relatively unharmed, with the exception of his knuckles. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how the kneeling alpha got into this situation. But how did it come to this? And why are the three of them here?
“Kang Daejin has something to tell you, Junhui,” Wonwoo states, cutting into his bewildered thoughts. “Isn’t that right?”
Daejin growls lowly in the back of his throat. He looks up from his position and pins Junhui with a glare so vicious, the latter backs away on instincts. His eyes glint, the gold unmistakable. Breathing heavily, he grits his jaw. His upper lip pulls back from his teeth, and the canines flash.
Without warning, Wonwoo roars out his name, the fury barely contained. “Apologize!” he snarls.
Junhui jumps, eyes popping even wider than they already were. His heart beats in staccato, blood thumping against his ears. He’s never so much as heard Wonwoo ever raise his voice before, always so kind and gentle. The contrast is simply too jarring, he can hardly come to terms with it. But this is Wonwoo in full alpha. And it’s not just Junhui who’s affected.
Daejin flinches, and despite the clear reluctance, his head bows even deeper. His entire body is shaking, all the muscles tense and taut as he attempts in vain to disobey Wonwoo’s order.
“I…” Daejin starts, voice strange and warped. He sounds like he’s swallowed broken glass. “I… apologize.” Breathing hard, chest heaving up and down, he grimaces. It’s like Wonwoo is physically forcing the words out of him, bending his tongue and lips to form the syllables. He tries to fight it, but it’s all in vain. Wonwoo isn’t letting up until Daejin gets the final words out. “For… threatening you and… scaring… you.” Sweat beads up and rolls down the sides of his face, the short blond hair are matted together. “I’m… sorry…”
Wonwoo grunts.
Daejin collapses on the ground like a puppet with cut strings. He wheezes, gasping for breath.
“Nice job, Daejin,” Mingyu strolls up and yanks him back to his feet. Junhui has to wonder if his friend is honestly only partially a werewolf. “You did so well, you got a private meeting with the school!”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?” Wonwoo asks, concerned.
“Yeah. Coups is meeting me around the corner.” Turning to smile at Junhui, he adds, “He didn’t want to freak Jun out, so he’s waiting over there.” He gestures with his chin at the next building.
Touched, Junhui smiles. “Thanks, Mingyu.” He knows the younger boy didn’t just come here to back Wonwoo up. He wanted to make sure Junhui was okay, offering comfort.
When Mingyu passes by him, the younger gives his shoulders a quick hug. “Everything is going to be okay now, Moon Jun.”
Junhui smiles. “Thank you.”
As he watches Mingyu drag an unsteady Daejin away, he senses Wonwoo cautiously approaching him. Bitter peach surrounds him, pleasant and soothing. Junhui turns to face him.
“Are you okay?” Wonwoo asks, as gentle as a lullaby. If Junhui didn’t witness with his own eyes and ears, he’d never believe this was the same person, capable of breaking another alpha.
Smiling, he nods. “Yes. I’m not the one who got into a fight.” Gingerly, not wanting to exacerbate the injuries, he picks up Wonwoo’s hand to study the bruises and lacerations. “Does it hurt?” he asks, lifting his face.
“Not anymore,” Wonwoo replies, thumb stroking over the back of Junhui’s hand.
A healthy blush dusts over his cheeks as he drops his gaze and smiles timidly. “Thank you.” He breathes the words out against the alpha’s hand as he finds a spot without broken skin. “But I’m sorry that you got hurt.”
Wonwoo shakes his head. With the back of his free hand, he caresses Junhui’s cheek. “I don’t regret it. I’d do it again without hesitation.”
“No!” Junhui cries out, still cradling his hand. “You shouldn’t. Please.”
Clearly unsatisfied, Wonwoo holds his gaze for a moment. At last, he says, “We’ll see.”
Junhui pouts. As touched and grateful as he is that Wonwoo came to his defense, he doesn’t want him to get injured. “Stubborn,” he mutters, and he hears the alpha chuckle quietly.
Squeezing the fingers surround his, Wonwoo asks, “Do you want to take a walk with me?”
“Okay.” Junhui releases his hand, but Wonwoo continues to hold it as they start off. A happy smile stretches across his lips as he lowers his face in hopes of hiding it.
They head toward the cliffs and the ravine, and somehow, it doesn’t surprise him. After a moment of comfortable silence, Junhui asks in a small voice, afraid of breaking the serenity around them.
“How... did you find out about Kang Daejin and his friends?” He risks a peek to asses Wonwoo’s mood, but the latter simply sighs. The hold around his hand tightens minutely, as if reassuring himself that Junhui is currently safely within his grasp. Junhui’s heart flutters happily.
“After returning from class, I saw him and his friends loitering in the courtyard, smoking, like usual,” Wonwoo begins. “I didn’t think much of it when he followed after me into the lobby. It wasn’t until he called me over to the lounge to give me back my jacket that I sensed trouble. I asked him why he had it, when I gave it to you.” He glances at him. “Instead of answering my question, he started ranting about vampires, spewing vile insults and vulgarities. His friends only made matters worse by boasting about what they did to you, and I just... snapped.”
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Wonwoo closes his eyes, willing himself to calm down. His whole body is shaking with the effort to repress the lingering anger. Worried, Junhui wraps his free hand around the alpha’s, eyes big and round as they settle on him. Gradually, the tension loosens, and Wonwoo breathes out. He looks over; his gaze has returned to their warm brown.
“When I regained full consciousness,” he says, clearing his throat. “My knuckles were wet and sticky with blood, and Mingyu was struggling to yank me off of a battered Daejin.”
Junhui can’t even begin to imagine how scary the situation must have looked. He had only gotten a small glimpse of an angry Wonwoo earlier, and that had been enough to nearly knock him off of his feet. To be in his presence when his alpha takes over entirely would probably be traumatic, especially in the context of a fight. Had Mingyu not been there to stop him, Wonwoo’s alpha might very well have torn Daejin to pieces, inflicting permanent injuries.
Just like how it is impossible for vampires to stop consuming blood, wolves cannot completely curb their killing intent once they perceive a threat.
Junhui should be terrified. And while he can’t repress the small shivers, he knows Wonwoo beat up Daejin because of him. Wonwoo was protective of him. There is nothing to fear. (The sprits of his ancestors are probably tearing their hair out at his lack of self-preservation, though.)
“You won’t get in trouble, will you?”
“No,” Wonwoo assures him. “Had it been an unprovoked fight, then it would be different. But as it stands, he was in the wrong, and my actions were justified. The school doesn’t take kindly to people with the mentality of Kang Daejin and his friends. I’m sure the administration is happy to kick them out permanently, with a legitimate reason, too.”
Junhui nods. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t get hurt,” he says, picking up his hand. He gently strokes over the bruised and scraped knuckles. “Aside from these.” He shoots him a mock glare.
Wonwoo laughs. “They’ll fully heal within a few hours. Don’t worry.”
“Still, though...” Junhui mutters in a small voice, pouting to himself.
Smirk evident in his teasing tone, Wonwoo asks, “Will you kiss them all better, then?”
Junhui squeaks, flushing head to toe. He stammers, mouth forming incoherent words and sounds as he looks at everywhere but his left.
Next to him, Wonwoo bursts into laughter and bumps their shoulders together. It’s not until a few seconds later that Junhui realizes Wonwoo has successfully distracted him from the fight and the minor injuries. Since Wonwoo seems to want to move on, Junhui will respect his decision (even if he still doesn’t like it).
“Now I know Mingyu was with you, but why did you call me using his phone?”
“Oh.” A little sheepish, Wonwoo glances over at him and chuckles. “I broke mine.”
“Really? When?”
They take the hidden path, winding through the wild grasses to ascend the hill.
“I was holding it when Daejin and his friends were talking, and… yeah…” He sighs.
To keep the mood from souring, Junhui offers cheerfully, “I’ll buy you a new one!”
Wonwoo seems amused as he looks at him, the corner of his mouth lifting up. Yet, he shakes his head. “That’s kind of you, but no. I’ll be the one giving you gifts.”
The top of the cliff comes into view, and they emerge onto the ledge. The view is as breathtaking as expected. A few crickets chirp here and there, and far away, an owl hoots. But otherwise, it’s very quiet. Just the two of them seemingly on top of the world.
Junhui chuckles. “Is that a wolf rule or something?”
“Sort of.” Wonwoo matches his smile as they take a seat on the bench.
This time, though, their sides are pressed together. Wonwoo’s heat seeps through the layers of clothing, and Junhui basks in it. Content, he leans against the strong shoulder. Wonwoo lets go of their joined hands to wrap an arm around him, bringing him in even closer.
“I’d like to court you, Junhui, if you’ll let me.”
With a jolt, Junhui sits up and stares back at him with round eyes. His jaw hangs loose.
Chuckling, Wonwoo chucks his chin affectionately. “Is it really that surprising?”
“I…” Junhui doesn’t know how to speak anymore. Or think. He just feels giddy. Millions of butterflies flutter in his stomach, and his heart all but bursts out of his chest. Nevertheless, the last sane remnant of his brain pushes forth to say, “But I’m a vampire.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed.” Wonwoo lightly runs his fingertips up and down Junhui’s arm, smiling indulgently at him.
“Aren’t you… Aren’t you afraid that I’m incapable of love?” Junhui has no idea what he’s even saying. Here’s Jeon Wonwoo, the guy he’s been in love with for a whole year, wanting to court him, and he’s blabbering nonsense. Why is his brain trying to sabotage him? Maybe Soonyoung was right. Maybe Junhui should have just kissed him.
Lifting his hand to first stroke his cheek, before cupping it, Wonwoo leans in close. “That’s never crossed my mind,” he admits. “But I’ll look forward to you proving how wrong those old beliefs are.”
Junhui looks up from under his lashes, cheeks warm. “Okay.”
Wonwoo grins so wide, his nose scrunches. It’s the most adorable sight Junhui has seen, and his heart skips a beat. By the way Wonwoo chuckles and caresses his cheek, he probably heard it. For a long minute, all he does is gaze at Junhui like the latter has hung the moon and all the stars. His touch is so tender and gentle, it’s like he’s cradling a soap bubble, careful not to shatter it. But it’s not lost on Junhui. How every few seconds, his gaze dips down toward the rosy, heart-shaped lips.
The longer they stay like this, the harder it becomes for him to breathe. In spite of it, his whole body thrums with excitement.
“Are you still scared?” Wonwoo asks.
Junhui understands why he’s hesitating, so he smiles as brightly as he can. He reaches up to squeeze Wonwoo’s wrist. “I’ve never been afraid of you, Wonwon.” To prove his point, he scoots over that tiny space. Any more and he’ll be climbing into the alpha’s lap.
Wonwoo doesn’t back away. On the contrary, he pulls him in, one hand still cupping his face, while the other slides down to the slim waist. His movements are slow and deliberate, unhurried.
When their lips finally touch, Junhui sees stars. It’s not so much fireworks, as much as the sensation that finally, at last, everything is falling into place. He curls his fingers into Wonwoo’s shirt as the alpha kisses him sweetly. It starts with slow and languid movements, easing Junhui into it. Wonwoo can probably hear the erratic beating of Junhui’s heart, and he wants to make sure it’s caused by excitement and not fear. If Junhui had the mental capacity to form words, he’d tell him to keep going and kiss him some more. Since he can’t with words, he leans into him, hoping Wonwoo understands.
He does. Wonwoo glides his fingers into the blond locks, angling Junhui’s face to deepen the kiss, tongue licking over the seam.
Junhui opens willingly for him, head swimming with bliss and euphoria. Wonwoo nips and nibbles the plump bottom lip, before diving back in. Junhui feels like he’s floating off again, only tethered to earth by Wonwoo’s hands around him, and his own grip on the alpha’s shirt. When Wonwoo’s tongue unintentionally swipes over one of his fangs, a moan bubbles out of his throat. His cheeks flush red, but he doesn’t even get the chance to feel embarrassed.
With a smirk, Wonwoo squeezes his waist and repeats it, just so he can hear Junhui sing for him again, swallowing down all the sweet sounds he makes.
He has no idea how long they kiss for, but his lips are throbbing, and his whole body feels on fire. As if sensing that he might need a break, Wonwoo slowly draws back. He chuckles when Junhui blindly chases after him, asking for more kisses despite the sensitivity. Wonwoo indulges, as Junhui knew he would, pressing a few more kisses over the red-bitten lips.
Dazed, it takes Junhui a few seconds to flutter his eyes open. He finds himself, unsurprisingly, halfway in Wonwoo’s lap. He giggles, shyly tucking his flushed face under the alpha’s chin while he catches his breath. As easy as moving a doll, Wonwoo picks him up and settles him completely over his lap, Junhui’s thighs bracketing his own.
“You really are the campus heartthrob,” Junhui mumbles, still a little loopy as he presses himself close enough that their chests touch. “Even your kisses are perfect.”
Laughing, Wonwoo runs a hand up and down his back, sending pleasant shivers through his body. “I’m glad you approve, kitten, because I’d like to kiss you a lot more from now on.”
The blush on his cheeks seem to be permanent, but Junhui giggles and nods as Wonwoo does just as promised.
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
That weekend, Wonwoo invites Junhui over to his apartment, and the latter offers to cook dinner for him, since he never got to eat the food the first time. They meet up at Junhui’s place in the afternoon first, because his clan brothers are nosy. And because they’re concerned. But mostly because they’re nosy. Out of them all, only Chan acts like a normal person when making a new friend. Minghao drills Wonwoo like a parent before the first date with their daughter, and Soonyoung keeps winking and giving out innuendoes.
After what felt like a million years, Mingyu finally comes to the rescue. He distracts everyone with food, while planning some kind of trip for the summer. Junhui does not stay to listen, instead taking the opportunity to grab Wonwoo’s wrist and run out the door. They stop by the market to buy ingredients.
“Your clan brothers are very funny in their protectiveness,” Wonwoo comments, pushing the cart while following after Junhui.
“I love them to bits, but they are terribly embarrassing,” he mutters. “Except Channie. Channie’s great. But that whole fiasco with Hao and Hoshi was probably their payback for all the times I complained and whined about my love troubles.”
“Love troubles?” Wonwoo repeats, clearly interested and amused as he smirks.
Junhui winces. “Uh... yeah...” He stops in front of the meat section, pretending to be engrossed by the shiny plastic wraps.
“Would you like to elaborate?” Wonwoo walks up to him, effectively blocking him from escape. He’s stuck between the horizontal refrigerators and the alpha’s front.
“It was just... Uh...” Junhui swallows thickly. “Nothing much?”
“No?” A set of hands settle on his waist.
Junhui shakes his head, bitting on his lower lip to keep the squeak from escaping.
“And here I thought I could have helped,” Wonwoo sighs, as though greatly disappointed.
Cautiously, Junhui looks over his shoulder to meet the alpha’s gaze. “What do you mean?”
“Hm. It seems to me that a lot of your troubles stemmed from your unfamiliarity with wolves and our customs. Perhaps our anatomy and physiology, too?”
Junhui thinks back to all the questions he's wanted to ask Mingyu. Most of which never got answered, because Junhui spotted Wonwoo in the dining hall and ran away. He’s about to voice his confirmation, when Wonwoo speaks again.
Mouth right by his ear, voice low enough to make Junhui’s toes curl, Wonwoo suggests, “Maybe we could work something out. I could give you a private lesson in wolf anatomy if you give me one on vampire. What do you say, kitten?” The hands around his waist squeeze.
Junhui flails, completely flustered. He grabs the nearest tray and brandishes it in the air. “Do you like chicken? Let's have chicken!”
Wonwoo cracks up, wheezing as he clutches at the side of the shopping cart to keep himself standing upright. He’s laughing so hard, tears flow out of the corners of his eyes.
Still red and burning under his clothes, Junhui tries to calm his heart rate as he huffs, staring at the alpha. He throws the chicken trays into the cart. “Hmph! I should feed you shrimp for dinner, instead.”
After finally catching his breath, Wonwoo tries to walk up to him again, but promptly stops, raising his hands in the air when Junhui threatens him with a French baguette. “All right, I apologize for teasing you,” he says, and although there is mirth, his tone is sincere. Junhui lowers his weapon. This time, when he comes up and swings an arm around his shoulder, Junhui leans into him. Wonwoo kisses his temple affectionately.
The rest of the shopping trip goes on without any further squabbles, and the couple head back to campus with their loot, going straight to the wolf living quarters.
Truth be told, Junhui’s stomach still quivers anxiously as they approach, and the building comes into view. He knows he has nothing to fear with Wonwoo by his side, but it’s hard to repress the instinct to run. Perhaps sensing his unease, Wonwoo leads him to a secluded part of the courtyard, where he presses him agains the brick wall and kisses him silly. He also takes the opportunity to scent him thoroughly. Junhui’s nose isn’t as sensitive as a wolf’s, but if even he can smell how potently bitter peach covers him, then he must really be drenched in Wonwoo’s scent. The thought puts a dopey smile across his lips as Wonwoo steals another kiss.
They run into a few wolves in the lobby, the latter throwing a few curious glances at him, which is to be expected. But one whiff of him, and they all scatter. Although maybe it has to do with the low growl reverberating in Wonwoo’s chest as he swings an arm possessively around Junhui’s back. Whatever the case, they make it to the sixth floor without encountering anyone else.
Inside the apartment, Junhui meets Coups—Seungcheol—for the first time. That instinct to flee from an unknown alpha surges again, but as soon as Seungcheol flashes him a dimpled smile, Junhui’s fears evaporate.
“Nice to meet you, Junhui,” he extends out a hand, which Junhui shakes with a bright smile.
“It’s nice to meet you, too. And thank you for—”
“Don’t mention it.” Seungcheol continues to smile warmly at him, but there’s a hardness to his eyes at the mention of Kang Daejin. “He and his friends won’t be able to hurt you or anyone else again.”
Junhui nods. Wonwoo told him that the wolves were expelled, but maybe there was an even worse punishment. It is probably wise not to ask too many questions.
Glancing at Wonwoo while the younger alpha sets all the groceries on the kitchen counter, Seungcheol rubs at his nose and chuckles. “You sure you got all of him covered? I think you might have missed a spot by his pinky.”
Wonwoo gives him a flat look. “Aren’t Jeonghan and Jisoo waiting for you?”
Laughing, Seungcheol shakes his head and pats Junhui’s shoulder as he moves past him. He grabs his keys and wallet on the table. “Have fun, kids!” And just like that, he vamooses out of the apartment. But not before throwing out over his shoulder, “I expect all the furniture to remain in one piece when I come back. And be careful not to get a noise complaint!” then closing the door.
Wonwoo clicks his tongue.
Sporting rosy cheeks, Junhui putters around the kitchen, prepping the food. It’s one thing for Wonwoo to tease him. For Wonwoo’s friend (whom he’s just met!) to think the two of them will inevitably do the deed once alone? Yeah, that's a whole different new level of embarrassing. Too distracted, Junhui ends up cooking too much food. He forgot to make adjustments. Initially, he was under the impression that Wonwoo’s friends at the apartment would be sharing the meal with them, too, so he bought enough ingredients for four people. Now that it’s only the two of them, there’s going to be a lot of leftovers.
At least, that’s what he thought. But by the end of the meal, only scraps remain. Wonwoo ate three servings all by himself. And they were pretty sizable portions, too. When Junhui shares his awe, the alpha laughs and ruffles his hair.
“You underestimated a wolf’s appetite.”
“I’m going to have to remember that the next time I cook for everyone,” Junhui says, partly to himself, as he helps Wonwoo carry the dishes to the sink.
“No need.”
“Huh?”
Wonwoo turns on the faucet and grabs the sponge, pouring soap over it. “I don’t want them eating your cooking.” Not understanding why he’d say such a thing, Junhui looks at him, blinking, mouth parted slightly. Laughing, Wonwoo pecks his lips. “I’m not good at sharing.”
Junhui crumbles into giggles. “You’re so silly.” He shuffles over and hooks his fingers into the belt loops of the alpha’s jeans, propping his chin over his shoulder. “I’ve liked you for a whole year. That’s not going to change.”
Wonwoo hums, glancing at him. “And as soon as I approached you, you ran away.”
Whining, Junhui burrows into the crook of his shoulder. He knows Wonwoo is teasing, but he still cringes at his past self. “Please forget about that.”
“I don’t know, kitten,” he says breezily. “I was really hurt.”
A pout and kitten eyes meet his gaze over his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Wonwon.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than that to heal my wounded heart.”
“Then what should I do?” he asks in a tiny voice.
“I’m a pretty reasonable man,” Wonwoo shrugs, grinning. “I’ll accept daily payments.”
Laughing, Junhui swats him half-heartedly. “Fine. We can discuss payment plans after you’re done.”
No payment plans are discussed later on, but there is a lot of cuddling on the couch, which fits Junhui just fine. He talks Wonwoo’s ear off about everything and nothing, giggling into his hands when he recounts something particularly funny or embarrassing. All throughout, Wonwoo adds comments here and there; occasionally, he poses questions. Mostly, though, he just listens. He smiles so fondly that a few times, the breath gets stuck in Junhui’s throat. No one has ever looked at him with that much tenderness and affection. And his touch mirrors his gaze as he strokes Junhui’s hair, nuzzling into his nape.
“I’m sorry for talking so much,” he says sheepishly.
Wonwoo chuckles and leans in to peck the moles dotting his cupid’s bow. “You’re adorable, kitten. I love listening to you.”
Junhui beams, hugging him.
Returning the gesture, Wonwoo says, “I have something to give you.”
“Hm?” Junhui sits up and tilts his head. “What is it?”
Slight hesitation crosses the alpha’s expression as his eyes dart around the apartment. “It’s… It’s in my room.”
A small jolt runs through his body, and his eyes turn round.
At the reaction, Wonwoo laughs, pinching his cheek. “It’s not a euphemism. The box really is in my room.”
Feigning disappointment, he pouts. “Aww, so does that mean there’s no sexy time for dessert?”
Wonwoo snorts out a laugh, standing up and pulling him along. “‘Sexy time’?” he repeats.
“What’s wrong with calling it that?”
“Nothing.” He shakes his head, going down the hallway. “But we’re not having sex until you can actually say it properly.”
“I can’t even argue,” Junhui mutters. “Because then it’ll look like I’m a nympho or something.”
Wonwoo cracks up.
The alpha’s room is very neat without looking like a robot lives in it. For the most part, the layout is very similar to Junhui’s own room, furnished with the basics like all other campus living quarters. Nonetheless, Wonwoo’s personality and interests peek through. On his desk, there’s a computer with a purple keyboard and set of fancy headphones, perfect for gaming. His camera, along with its accessories, rest in the corner of the desk, pushed toward the wall so nothing will fall off. The shelves are stocked full of books, with a few little figurines littered throughout. Junhui goes to poke at a purple fox in glasses.
A little jingle sounds off, the familiar ringing of an alarm. He turns to see Wonwoo sliding his new phone out of his pocket to silence it.
“Did you have something to do today?” Junhui wonders. “I can come back later—”
“Oh, no.” Wonwoo walks to the window and lifts the drapes to the side. “It’s just a reminder to myself.”
Peering around him, Junhui finally notices the small flower basket sitting on the window sill, basking in the soft glow of the day's last sun rays. It’s the perfect spot, actually. Bright, but not under direct sunlight during daytime. Carefully, Wonwoo moves the basket to his desk. With the movements, a light and delicate fragrance floats into the air. Wonwoo reaches for something under his desk. When he comes back up, he’s holding a plastic watering can.
“I love plants and flowers,” Wonwoo says, tipping the spout toward the thick and soft moss growing around the stems to keep the soil moist. “But I’m not very good at remembering to water them.”
Junhui giggles, walking closer. “You must really love these little guys to set up reminders to yourself.” Leaning over with his hands on his knees, he studies the pretty arrangement. He recognizes the sprigs of lavender, the main source of the lovely fragrance, along with white pygmy roses and wild lemon grass. Interspersed are lobelia, the tiny blue flowers almost hidden. Despite the alpha’s reservations about the watering, the plants are thriving. Grinning, he looks up at him. “You’re a very dedicated Plant Dad!”
For some reason, Wonwoo doesn’t quite meet his gaze as he fumbles with the now empty watering can. He clears his throat, scratching at his ear. Wait, are the tips growing pink? “That’s… That’s because they smell like you,” he eventually confesses with a sheepish smile.
Stunned, Junhui stares at him with wide eyes, then looks back at the little basket. Wonwoo bought these flowers specifically because of him? And he’s been taking extra good care of them for the same reason? His heart skips a beat. Or several.
“Now I don’t feel so bad about taking forever to return your jacket,” he mumbles.
Wonwoo chuckles, ruffling his hair. “I’ll let you have another one if you want. Just take your pick.”
Junhui beams.
While he lets Junhui explore the rest of his room, Wonwoo puts the flower basket back to its original location. Then he goes to his desk drawer and pulls it out. A second later, he retrieves a blue box the size of his palm. He waves Junhui over, and the latter perches himself on the edge of the bed.
“Is this…” Junhui looks from the box up to Wonwoo’s face. “Is this a courting gift?”
Wonwoo smiles. “Yes, it is. You know what it means if you accept it, right?”
He nods, belly swirling with butterflies again. “I’ll accept it, but just for the record, I already like you.”
“Noted,” Wonwoo says quietly with another smile, handing it to him. “I hope you like it.”
Hands shaking with anticipation, Junhui runs the pad of his fingers over the fuzzy, velvety fabric. It’s clearly a jewelry box. He gnaws on his bottom lip as he carefully lifts the lid to reveal a dainty silver chain. “Oh!” he gasps. “It’s beautiful.” Reverently, he picks up the little stone dangling from the chain. He’s never seen anything like it. Two colors seem to swirl and blend into each other, almost like smoke: purple and blue. Tearing his gaze away, he finds Wonwoo already watching him. “Thank you, Wonwon,” he grins.
As though finally able to release his breath, the alpha smiles, too. “You’re welcome, kitten.”
“Can you help me put it on?” he holds out his wrist, but Wonwoo chuckles and picks up his hand to kiss it. “It’s not a bracelet. It goes around your ankle.”
“So it’s an anklet?” he asks. That’s different. “Why did you choose an anklet for me?”
With a groan, Wonwoo catches him by the waist, and they fall back into bed. Junhui squeaks in surprise, but giggles as he settles next to his boyfriend, holding the box to admire the gift. Still hugging him around the waist, Wonwoo sighs, warm breath fanning across his nape.
“The first time I saw you, you were wearing capris, and your ankles were bare,” he confesses. “You were just so… beautiful, and yet, adorable at the same time.” He sighs, shifting until they lay side by side. “I’ve seen vampires before, and I’ve interacted with a handful of them. But there was just something so mesmerizing and captivating about you.” Shaking his head, he looks at him. “During the entire class, all I could think about was how pretty you’d look wearing an anklet, how the light would catch when you moved.”
Junhui can’t believe his ears. He gapes at him. “You’ve liked me… for that long?”
Wonwoo smiles ruefully in response, squeezing his hand.
“How come you didn’t try to talk to me until two weeks ago?”
“Back then, I only knew your name, and we never had any other classes together,” he shrugs. “I tried to look for you, too, but I had no luck. Plus, I didn’t want to cause any trouble by going around asking. Vampires are already wary of wolves. The last thing I wanted was for a rumor to start about me bullying you.” Idly, he brushes a blond lock of hair out of Junhui’s eyes.
The thought of Wonwoo bullying him (or anyone) is so funny, he can’t help laughing.
“So I had sort of given up on ever finding you,” Wonwoo goes on. “Until you suddenly appeared before me at practice, like a miracle.” He chuckles, caressing his cheek. “Still as beautiful and adorable, although you don’t wear capris anymore.”
“I’ll wear capris every single day from now on,” he vows, prompting the alpha to laugh, pulling him close. He buries his nose into Junhui’s throat, breathing him in.
“You don’t have to go that far,” he tells him. “I’ll like you no matter what you wear, kitten.” Then with a smirk, he adds, “Or nothing at all.”
Flustered, Junhui swats at him, then hides his face against the strong chest. He smiles to himself when Wonwoo laughs, and the sound echoes in his ears. “What’s that little pendant?” he asks, pointing to the stone.
“It’s native of Easthaven, the land where my pack originates from.”
“It’s so pretty. Plus, it’s a little piece of you.” Leaning up, he kisses his nose. “I really love it.”
“I’m glad, kitten.”
“Let’s put it on.” Junhui sits up and rolls up the leg of his jeans, then he holds it out for Wonwoo to clasp the thin chain around his ankle. “So cute!” Sitting back, he moves his leg this way and that, admiring the gift from different angles. After a few seconds, he scrunches up his face. “Hmph!”
“What is it?”
Not responding right away, he stands up and unbuttons his pants. Wonwoo is too busy gawking, jaw hanging open, to react immediately. By the time he shakes himself out of the stupor, Junhui is pants-less and very proud. He throws the jeans to the floor and looks down at his ankles. The shirt he’s wearing is baggy, and the hem covers his butt, but his legs are completely exposed. Wonwoo can’t stop alternating his attention from the miles of golden skin to his face. Not that Junhui even notices, so engrossed in the chain around his ankle.
“What are you doing?” Wonwoo finally finds his voice, albeit gruffer than normal.
“Well, it kind of defeats the purpose of wearing it if we can’t see it,” Junhui says simply. Backing away a few steps, he gauges the space, deeming it enough for pirouettes. The stone hits the metal, and a delicate tinkling sound echoes. Junhui giggles, stopping. “Well?” he asks innocently, fixing his hair. “What do you think? Does it look as nice on me as it did in your imagination?”
Wonwoo doesn’t respond. He’s staring at Junhui, unblinking. Worried, Junhui hurries back over, kneeling on the bed and peers into his face. On the very edge of his irises, a thin ring of gold starts to bleed through the warm brown. Only then does he notice how much thicker and more potent Wonwoo’s scent has gotten.
As soon as the realization hits, Wonwoo grabs him by the wrist and tugs him back into the bed. Junhui squeaks, landing on him with a small oof! Wonwoo hugs him tightly, a low rumble vibrates through his chest.
“You really have no idea what you do to me,” he mumbles, burying his face into the crook of Junhui’s shoulder.
His heart is erratic, matching with Junhui’s where their chests are pressed together.
A little out of breath, Junhui cards his fingers through the black strands, resigned to his fate as Wonwoo’s new body pillow. Giggling, he opens his mouth to ask if his boyfriend is okay. But then he hears Wonwoo mumbling something under his breath. He strains his ears.
“ 3.14159265358979—”
Junhui explodes into giggles, legs kicking. “Oh, my god—”
A warning growl cuts in, and Junhui presses his lips together. A few titters slip past.
Wonwoo takes a deep breath, then releases it in a huff. Eventually, he inches out to face his giddy boyfriend. He scowls, although there is no heat whatsoever, only repressed fondness and tender exasperation.
Junhui grins and leans in to kiss the frown away. When he pulls away, Wonwoo cups the back of his head and keeps him in place, deepening the kiss. He doesn’t release him until Junhui is all glassy-eyed and loopy. The side of his throat stings a little from the nibbles, but he doesn’t mind. “That was quite a reaction,” he sighs happily, tucking himself against Wonwoo’s side, hand on his chest.
“I don’t know how you expect me to stay sane when I have a half-naked Aphrodite in my bed,” he mumbles, hand sliding under the baggy shirt.
Giggling, Junhui blushes and traces over the alpha’s features with his fingertip. “But you’re too handsome to be Hephaestus, and you don’t have anger management issues, so you can’t be Ares, either.”
Wonwoo snorts out a laugh.
“If we’re going to pick godly Greek couples,” Junhui starts, tapping his chin as he thinks. “I’d prefer Hades and Persephone. Hm? What do you think?”
A breathtaking smile stretches across his handsome face. Wonwoo cups his cheek. “You’ll be the spring to my winter?”
Grinning just as wide, happiness bursting from his very pores, Junhui nods. “Season after season.”
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
Several Months Later.
“Sixty-two. Sixty-three. Sixty-four…”
The air conditioning kicks in, the fans whirring quietly in the background to disperse the heat generated by the fifty or so bodies occupying the gym. Thank goodness for the invention of the HVAC system, Junhui thinks. A true miracle of the science age. With summer at its peak, baking the building from the outside, and the werewolves each stoking their own little oven while they work out, he would have long suffocated. Junhui sends a silent thank you to the vents and fans.
Wonwoo had once told him that wolves ran hot. He wasn’t kidding. Junhui’s palm burns as it’s pressed to the narrow strip of skin between Wonwoo’s muscle tank and the waistband of his track pants. Truth be told, the heat is bordering on uncomfortable, especially with his lower core temperature, but he doesn’t want to move. Instead, he tugs the hem of the shirt down, using the fabric as a thin barrier. It’s still incredibly hot, but bearable.
Wonwoo continues to count quietly under his breath, working through the reps like a pro. He’s completely unbothered by his boyfriend’s presence.
Junhui doesn’t mind. He knows the athlete needs his concentration, so he keeps his lips wrapped around the straw of his milktea cup and doesn’t interrupt. Wonwoo will give him plenty of attention later. For now, Junhui sits with one leg crossed over the other, leaning some of his weight on the hand resting on the small of Wonwoo’s back to steady himself. Every time the alpha pushes up, then lowers himself down, the elegant chain around Junhui’s bare ankle twinkles prettily.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Junhui looks up at the familiar voice. “Oh, hey, guys.” He pops the straw out of his mouth and smiles.
His cousin blinks, eyes flickering from Wonwoo working through his pushups, to Junhui daintily sitting on his back. Hands gesturing toward the couple, he sputters incredulously. “This… This is what you’ve been doing whenever you told us you were going to the gym with Wonwoo?”
Soonyoung cuts in. “No, but that looks really fun,” he remarks with genuine interest, cupping his chin with a hand. “I wonder if Jihoon would let me try it next time we go together.”
Next to him, Chan chirps in, “You have such good balance, Jun! How do you not slip off?”
“Probably a lot of practice,” Mingyu replies. “I’m impressed, too!” Before Junhui can comment, something catches his friend’s attention across the room. “Oh! My favorite machine just opened up!” Flashing a smile, he waves at them and rushes off. “I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
“Oh! Wait for me!” Chan runs after him, leaving the two vampires with the couple.
“Well?” Minghao prompts, clearly expecting an answer to what Junhui thought was a rhetorical question.
“Yes?” He shrugs. “We’ve already grown past the age of maturation,” he reminds him. “It’s not like I can lose weight or gain muscle mass anymore, so what’s the point?”
With an exasperated sigh, Minghao pinches the bridge of his nose. “You’re supposed to exercise to stay healthy, you brat.”
Sticking his lower lip out, he huffs. “I get plenty of exercise on the regular. I’m as healthy as could be!”
Wonwoo finishes his set and reaches up with one hand to tap Junhui.
“Oh!” Quickly, he stands up. “Good job, Wonwon.” He hands him a clean towel, followed by a water bottle, which he’s already uncapped while Wonwoo wipes off some of the sweat.
“Thanks, kitten.” Wonwoo downs the entire bottle and tosses it into the recycling bin nearby.
“You lazybones,” Minghao mumbles, shooting him a side glare.
“Oh, come on, Hao.” Soonyoung throws an arm around their clan brother’s shoulder. “Jun doesn’t necessarily need to go to the gym for exercise.”
“Yeah!”
The small blip of satisfaction that comes from having Soonyoung take his side against Minghao quickly fades, as his best friend turns his full attention on him. It’s unnatural. A glint sparks in his eyes as they scan him from head to toe, then back up again. A slow and manic grin starts to stretch across his lips. The tiny hairs at the back of Junhui’s nape stand on end. He has a very bad feeling. That face often precedes trouble. Most oftentimes at Junhui’s expense. He takes a cautious step back, bumping into Wonwoo. The alpha has been quietly watching their interactions, the corner of his lips upturned.
“Hoshi,” Junhui says slowly. “Whatever you are thinking, do not—”
Minghao alternates his sight from one twin to the other. “What’s going on?”
Still wearing that infuriating grin, Soonyoung shrugs. “Nothing. Just an observation.” He draws in the air with a finger. “Considering the fact that new hickeys always appear before the old ones fade away, I’m positive that Wonwoo gives Junnie a pretty rigorous workout in private. Isn’t that right, babe?”
All the blood drains from his face.
With a repressed shriek into his hands, Junhui drops to his haunches on the floor. Wonwoo chokes on air. Soonyoung cackles loudly, wheezing for breath. Minghao spins on his heels and walks off to find Mingyu and Chan.
“I can never show my face at the main gym ever again,” Junhui laments, voice muffled as he curls up under Wonwoo’s comforter. The alpha is lounging in bed next to him, an arm thrown over the lump.
“It’s not as bad as you you think, kitten.” He pats a spot that he estimates to be Junhui’s shoulder.
“It is!” the latter insists with a whine. “Did you not see all the heads spinning toward us?”
“I did, but to be fair, they only turned around to check on the situation, because they heard you scream out of nowhere. None of them heard what Soonyoung said.” His voice is so comforting and patient, Junhui feels the tension in his muscles gradually loosening. But then Wonwoo adds under his breath, “Besides, it’s not like he was wrong—Oof!”
Face burning anew, Junhui smacks him.
Wonwoo groans, pretending that the hit actually hurt. Junhui knows he’s faking, because rocks do not feel pain, and Wonwoo’s abs are made of granite.
“I can’t believe you’re taking Hoshi’s side!” he reproaches. “You’re mean, and I hate you.”
Wonwoo shifts to his side, one leg lightly swung over Junhui’s. The hand he doesn’t use to prop up his head, he uses to pull the Junhui lump against his side. “You hate me?” he asks lightly.
He receives an resolute nod, fluffy blond hair bouncing at the top of the opening. Instead of getting offended, Wonwoo chuckles lowly and presses a kiss to the crown of his head. “Well, I love you a lot, kitten.”
In his cocoon, Junhui melts. He bites onto his fist to keep the soft mewl from slipping out. He’s supposed to be angry, darn it! (He knows he’s behaving like a brat, but this is all the alpha’s fault. This is what Wonwoo gets for spoiling him rotten.) He shuffles closer, and he senses Wonwoo smile against his hair.
“I see.” Wonwoo sighs, speaking as if thinking aloud. “Well, then. If you hate me that much, I guess I have no choice. I’ll stop touching you.” Before the words fully register in Junhui’s bewildered mind, Wonwoo actually pulls away. The familiar weight of his arm is removed from around him, and the warmth on his side dissipates.
With flourish, Junhui flings the comforter off, ignoring how wildly the golden locks fall over his face. “You really are the meanest alpha on the whole planet!” he grouches, glaring as hard as he can (it’s really difficult to display hatred toward someone you love so much).
Laying on his side, head propped on a fist, Wonwoo watches him, unaffected by the (non-existent) heat of the glower. He blinks. “Is that supposed to scare me?” he asks, calmly picking out the errant strands of gold, so he can have an unobstructed view of his boyfriend’s face.
Junhui hisses, baring his teeth.
“Cute. I have fangs, too, you know?” he flashes a grin, although only his human canines are seen.
As a matter of fact, Junhui does know about Wonwoo’s other set of fangs. The ones long enough to press against his lower lip. Junhui has come to learn very quickly into their relationship, that Wonwoo is a very gentle alpha (despite the brutal beating he gave Kang Daejin). Teasing and playful, but always sweet and loving. And that applies to every aspect of their relationship, from the way he looks at Junhui, to how he speaks to him and takes care of him on a regular basis.
However, it is never as notable as when they’re intimate. The first time they had sex, Wonwoo had been so gentle, Junhui had burst into tears from all the overwhelming emotions. No one has ever treated him so preciously before. Like a treasure worthy of protection. A piece of art to gaze upon and admire. Every kiss they share, every mark pressed into his skin, every moment spent together—everything overflows with affection.
When Wonwoo holds him in his arms and whispers those three little words, Junhui believes in unconditional love.
With that said, Junhui knows Wonwoo is holding himself back. That perfect and immaculate self-restraint of his, by the time they get to the 3rd or 4th round, it starts to slip. That’s when Junhui gets glimpses of his alpha, the animalistic core of his instincts. In the dark, it’s bright golden eyes that stare down at him. The grip around his hips and waist gets tighter; the thrusts into his body turn sharper and intensified; the marks left on his neck and thighs more numerous. Besides the increase in possessiveness and aggression, Junhui notices the fangs. They elongate and pricks at his sensitive skin when Wonwoo kisses him. Sometimes, the sharp points draw blood, and Wonwoo laps it up.
Once, he bit down a little too hard, breaking the skin over Junhui’s neck where his shoulder slopes. A deep and guttural growl had reverberated through his chest as he eyed the bite mark, pupils dilated to the point where only a very thin ring of gold could be seen. Junhui had laid across the sheets, panting, skin tingling, heart thundering. After that, Wonwoo fucked him so thoroughly, Junhui passed out.
He may be an amateur when it comes to werewolf cultures and practices, but he knows the basics. The reason behind Wonwoo’s behavior in response to the bite at that particular spot: mating bites. Like the name suggests, it’s when an alpha is ready to claim their partner and make them their mate, bonding the two for life.
Following the anklet, Wonwoo has lavished Junhui with numerous courting gifts. Junhui has a whole collection by now, ranging from cute knick-knacks and figurines he displays on his shelves, to pressed-flower bookmarks and plushies. Those, Wonwoo always thoroughly scents, before they ultimately end up on Junhui’s bed, keeping him company while he sleeps, surrounded by his alpha’s scent. As happy as he is whenever Wonwoo presents him with a gift, though, he has to wonder how long courting rituals usually last. Is it different for them because Junhui is a vampire, thus an aberration to the usual course? Do they simply continue like this, never taking the next step? What even is the next step for a couple like them? The only wolf, besides Wonwoo, that Junhui is close to is Mingyu, but the boy is practically human. Whenever he talks about his future with Minghao, he mentions marriage. That’s not helping to shed any light on Junhui’s situation.
Mind having already forgotten all about the embarrassing incident at the gym, Junhui asks, “Do wolves ever mate with non-wolves?”
Clearly, the sudden question takes Wonwoo by surprise. But quickly, he seems to connect the dots and understand how Junhui came to such an inquiry. He smiles, shifting them until Junhui lays on top of him. He laces his fingers behind his boyfriend’s back.
“So you’ve seen him, hm? My alpha.”
“Yeah.” Junhui nods, chewing on his lower lip. Wonwoo reaches up to pry it out with his thumb, tracing over the plump flesh with the pad of his finger. “I think…” he starts, a little timid. “I think he likes me.”
A raucous laugh fills the space as Wonwoo strokes his cheek. “Understatement of the year.”
Junhui smiles. That’s an encouraging response, he thinks.
“Yes, on rare occasions, wolves do take non-wolves as mates,” Wonwoo replies to the question.
“Will you?” The words escape before he can put a stop them. Junhui winces.
Wonwoo smirks, a clear sign that Junhui is about to be teased. His tummy swoops. “That depends. I’ve been head over heels for this ethereal blond vampire for some time now. I wonder what he’ll say if I asked him.”
After the millionth time Wonwoo showers him with praise and compliments, Junhui should be used to it. But his cheeks still tinge pink as he ducks his head, hiding the timid smile. “I might… know... what his response will be.”
“Oh?” Large, warm hands slide under the thin t-shirt, pushing the material upward as they move. Junhui sighs contently.
“Mm-hm.”
Wonwoo sits up, taking Junhui with him. His hands leave the t-shirt to grab his boyfriend by the thighs, hitching him up his lap. A moan tumbles from Junhui’s parted lips. He loves how easily Wonwoo moves him about, like a simple rag doll. It makes him feel small and precious. He squirms, ass grinding down on the undeniable bulge, which grows by the second as he keeps moving. Saliva collects in his mouth in anticipation of the alpha’s cock, the taste and weight of it on his tongue.
“Won’t you please tell me?” Wonwoo kisses the side of his throat, trailing his lips down the smooth column, only stopping to suck a mark into existence. One hand holds onto the side of the dainty waist, while the other slips back into the shirt. Fingertips, as light as a feather, graze over the unblemished skin.
Junhui arches his back, eyes already turning glassy as he smiles coyly. He raises his arms, helping his boyfriend remove the t-shirt over his head. “How badly do you want to know, alpha?”
In one smooth move, Wonwoo surges forward to kiss him. In the next second, Junhui lands across the bed, and his pants get ripped into tatters. He yelps, giggling as Wonwoo slots himself in between his legs. The chain jingles delicately, and Wonwoo runs a hot palm from his ankle up to his hip, where he yanks his underwear down and tosses them over his shoulder. The alpha’s shirt soon joins it.
“I thought you liked seeing me in capris.” He eyes with chagrin the torn pieces of fabric littering the floor. “And those were my favorite pair, too.”
Wonwoo covers his body completely, the weight familiar and comforting. “I’ll buy you new ones,” he promises right as he claims Junhui’s mouth once more. “But I like seeing you naked best.”
The witty retort dies on his lips as a moan tumbles out. Wonwoo hitches Junhui’s legs over his wide shoulders and shoves a pillow under his lower back. Then he pushes his thighs against his chest, practically folding him in half. He’s fully exposed this way, completely at the mercy of his boyfriend’s hungry gaze. Wonwoo takes a moment to appreciate the sight before him, fingers pressing into the supple flesh of Junhui’s thighs.
“So utterly beautiful,” Wonwoo mumbles, voice laced with deep arousal. “All mine.”
“Yours.” Junhui moans, tucking his flushed face against the pillow as his hole clenches on air. “Please, Wonwon.” He hears Wonwoo hiss, before the bed dips and the sheets rustle.
Even when Junhui knows what’s coming, the first swipe of Wonwoo’s hot and wet tongue across his hole never fails to make him cry out. Blindly, he grips at the black mop of hair, keeping the alpha’s face between his legs as his hips cant, shallow breaths punched out of his lungs.
“Won... W-Wonwon—Ah!—”
Wonwoo grunts, but shows no sign of relenting. He eats Junhui out like it’s his last meal on earth. The obscene, wet sounds combine with Junhui’s high-pitched mewls, interspersed with broken syllables of the alpha's name. In the depth of his mind, past the haze of euphoria, Junhui recognizes the signs.
Today, it seems, Wonwoo isn’t going to give him his knot until Junhui comes from just his tongue alone.
Wistfully, Junhui touches his neck and sighs, “You didn’t bite me.”
They still have about twenty minutes before the alpha’s knot goes down. To the best of his abilities despite the limited mobility, Wonwoo has managed to clean them up and maneuvered them into a comfortable position to wait it out. Junhui is once again laying on top of his boyfriend, Wonwoo’s arms loosely around his lower back. Gently, mindful that Junhui is quite sore after four rounds, Wonwoo nuzzles into his hair, pressing a kiss against his forehead.
“I did, kitten,” he insists. One of his hands lightly smacks at the ass he’s still buried inside.
Junhui whines. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” He doesn’t need a mirror to see that he’s covered in bite marks, one especially distinct on his butt. Thank goodness, they’re on summer break. He has no idea how he’d be able to sit through a whole lecture.
“Are you that eager for a bite?” Wonwoo asks, teasing but fond at the same time. He kisses the pout away.
“I’m a vampire. I love biting!”
Wonwoo laughs, tucking a golden lock behind his ear. “Have you actually bitten anyone?”
“No…” Why would he ever need to find a blood donor, when he can go to the grocery store and buy blood in bottles and gallons? Humans buy milk; he buys blood.
“Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.”
In retaliation, Junhui chomps onto his shoulder. It’s not a hard bite. It doesn’t even break the skin, but Wonwoo, once again, pretends that it actually hurts, groaning and grimacing exaggeratedly. Junhui swats at him, despite the small smile making its way onto his lips.
After a few quiet moments, Junhui pokes at his cheek. “Wonwon.”
“Hm?”
“Why…” his voice gradually turns more quiet and unsure the longer the speaks. If Wonwoo had been human, he probably wouldn’t have heard him at all. “Why… didn’t you... bite me… there?” Raising his face to finally hold eye contact, he wonders, “Is it because… I can’t actually be your mate?”
“What?” Wonwoo’s eyes widen in alarm, and immediately, he squeezes Junhui to him, peppering kisses all over his face. “No, of course not, Junnie. You’re wrong. Very wrong.”
Junhui’s never felt so happy about being wrong. “Then how come?” he asks. He folds his hands across Wonwoo’s chest and sets his chin there.
Wonwoo sighs. He’s trying to find the correct words to express himself, brows knitted. “There is nothing I want more than to make you my mate,” he starts. “But…”
Frowning, lips protruding into a pout, Junhui mumbles, “I don’t like buts.”
A smirk flashes. “I like yours, though.” He runs a hand down and squeezes.
Pink-cheeked, Junhui hits his shoulder. “Wonwoo! We are having a serious conversation!”
Still chuckling, Wonwoo picks up the hand that just swatted at him and kisses the knuckles. “I’m sorry, but you looked so worried.” He draws invisible patterns into the small of his boyfriend’s back. “I promise I’m not reluctant to bite you for any other reason than your wellbeing.”
Confused, Junhui furrows his brows. “Huh?”
“Once I bite you, it’s over.”
“Over?” he repeats, doe eyes turning even more round. “Like, game over?”
“Yes.”
“So I’m going to die?”
“What?” Wonwoo bursts into laughter.
The sudden movement causes his dick to shift inside Junhui, and inadvertently, the tip presses against his prostate. Sparks shoot through his veins like fireworks. Junhui gasps, clenching down on instincts. Wonwoo groans, hands flying to grip at his hips. It takes several seconds for the lingering sensation to pass, the two needing the time to recuperate.
Once Wonwoo regains proper senses, he explains, “You are not going to die. I meant that once I bite you, you’ll be stuck to me forever. That kind of game over.”
“Oh.” He blinks, then a giggle escapes. “You really scared me for a second there.” He traces over Wonwoo’s face, and the alpha closes his eyes, basking in the gentle touches. “That doesn’t sound like an ending. And even if it is, I see it as the first step toward a very happy ending.”
Even before he opens his eyes, a smile is already stretching across Wonwoo’s lips. The look he regards him with is so fond and tender, Junhui’s tummy quivers, and a pleasant warmth settles around him. “Okay. No regrets?”
“I regret running away so many time before you caught me.”
The two laugh, recalling their rocky and silly first encounters.
“When’s your next rut?”
“Beginning of August, why?”
“August.” Junhui thinks, mentally pulling up the calendar. “That gives us about two weeks to—”
“Wait.” Wonwoo grips his upper arm to gain his attention. “You want me to bite you during my rut?”
“What? Aren’t you supposed to do it during a heat or a rut?” he wonders. “Or did the internet lie to me?”
“No, it’s not that.” Wonwoo shakes his head. “A heat or rut is recommended because it can help dull the pain of the bite for the omega, but your brain chemicals won’t work the same. We don’t have to adhere to my rut schedule.”
Now, another question pops up. “When we first started dating and your rut came around, you said it was too soon for us to spend it together, which was fair.” They hadn’t even gone past kissing at that point. It made perfect sense that Wonwoo would be cautious. But now? As Soonyoung so nicely pointed out, the two of them a have a pretty regular and rigorous ‘workout’ routine. “Is there a particular reason you don’t want to spend your rut with me?” He pouts. “Is it because you think I wouldn’t be able to keep up?”
With a sigh, Wonwoo rubs at his face and looks heavenly. When he looks back, he says, “I’m going to go out on a limb here, and assume you’ve never been with an alpha during his rut.”
“Yeah, but it’s not any alpha this time.” Junhui smiles innocently, full of trust. “It’s you, Wonwon. So how bad can it be, right?”
Wonwoo gives him a flat look.
And really, Junhui should have heeded the warnings that his boyfriend keeps handing out to him from that day on, all the way until August 2nd. Wonwoo gives him plenty of opportunities to back out, to reschedule, but of course, stubborn as Junhui is, the more Wonwoo tries to prevent him from doing it, the more he wants to.
He reaps the repercussions shortly after.
Wonwoo in rut is a beast.
A wild animal.
A… wolf.
Go figure.
Junhui wants to roll his eyes at himself, but he literally hurts all over.
Still, even though every inch of his body screams in pain, he can’t find any trace of regret. Especially not when he glimpses at the perfect teeth indentation on the side of his neck.
Wonwoo finds him standing in front of the bathroom mirror, admiring the bite. Shaky fingers reach up to very lightly graze over the puffy pink flesh, barely healed. The alpha’s saliva had stopped the bleeding and closed the wound, but it’ll take a few days for the bite to fully heal.
Strong arms wrap around his waist, and a soft kiss is dropped to his shoulder. Junhui lowers his hands to settle them over his mate’s. Wonwoo meets his gaze in the reflection, and the two share matching expressions of pure happiness.
“I love you, kitten.”
“I love you, too, Wonwon.”
∘⋆․⊹․∘⟡˖*⊹˚୨❀୧˚⟡˖*⊹∘⋆․⊹․∘
About a month later, just before the new academic quarter begins, Wonwoo takes him out to dinner at one of their favorite restaurants in town. It’s their own little celebration, just the two of them. Last week, all of their friends had gathered together for their housewarming party, although it wasn’t actually a house. He and Wonwoo simply moved dorms. The building is still on campus; it’s just tailored to mated couples attending school. Not that it stopped Soonyoung from dramatically crying and clinging to his clan brother as if Junhui had moved across the globe and would never return. Needless to say, Wonwoo was not amused (which might be partly why Soonyoung pull such a stunt in the first place), and he spent most of the day peeling the vampire off of his mate. Everyone had a great time in spite of the silly antics.
“Ahh, the food here is always so delicious!” Junhui praises, patting his tummy.
Wonwoo nods. “Indeed. Ready to head out?”
“Sure!”
Afterward, they head for the rose gardens. They’ve already visited the exhibition several times during the summer break, strolling through the beautifully kept gardens and admiring the thousands of different flowers in bloom. This time would be the first visit after dark, when all the fairy lights and lanterns are lit.
Just like all the times before, Junhui alternates between walking hand in hand with Wonwoo, and running off when a particular rose variety catches his eye. Wonwoo patiently follows, camera raised to his face to capture Junhui’s joy on film. Not to be outdone, Junhui also arms himself with his phone to snap pictures of the two of them (along with a few shots of Wonwoo acting particularly silly or adorable).
Eventually, they reach the center of the simple maze. A huge but intricately carved fountain sits before them, water droplets catching the light and shining like tiny diamonds.
“I have something to give you, kitten,” Wonwoo says, squeezing his hand.
Giggling, Junhui turns to him. “Okay.” He recognizes the phrase. Wonwoo prefaces all of his courting gifts with it. It seems silly now, considering their relationship, but hasn’t it always been a little silly? Wonwoo has never needed to court him. Junhui has been ready to offer him his heart from the very beginning. Nevertheless, the ritual has now become something very special to them.
“This will be the final courting gift,” Wonwoo tells him, and it does surprise him slightly, but he doesn’t think much of it. “So I made sure to make it count.”
Smiling, Junhui leans into his side and presses a kiss to his jaw. “I’ll love it no matter what it is, Wonwon.”
Wonwoo returns the smile, scenting him lightly. “Even if it’s a pinecone?”
“A pinecone?” Junhui laughs. “Sure. I’d love a pinecone!”
“Ah, then, I’m sorry to disappoint you, kitten. I didn’t get you a pinecone.”
Junhui giggles into his hands at Wonwoo’s feigned sigh of regret.
The tittering comes to an abrupt stop and morphs into a gasp when Wonwoo holds his hand and gets on one knee. Junhui presses his free hand over his mouth, vision turning watery at the edges.
As it turns out, the last courting present comes in a small, violet jewelry box, which Wonwoo opens to reveal a silver band—an infinity ring. The gems sparkle under the glow of the lights. They are almost as bright as Wonwoo’s smile when he hears Junhui stutter out a “Y-yes,” through the rush of joy.
No sooner has Wonwoo slid the ring onto his mate’s left fourth finger that he’s caught in a tight hug. Junhui tucks his face into the crook of his shoulder to hide his pink cheeks, now aching from how much he’s grinning. Laughing, Wonwoo cups the back of Junhui’s head, gently coaxing him out of his favorite spot.
“Forever,” Wonwoo whispers, staring into his eyes.
Junhui smiles into the kiss. “Ever after.”