(Don't worry, it's safe) Right Here in My Arms
Title: (Don't worry, it's safe) Right Here in My Arms
Rating: NC17
AU: werewolf
Warnings: homophobia, gore scenes, violence (a lot of), swearing, mentions of sex, rimming
Beta-ed by JustABitDramatic <3
Summary: What happens behind Alpha’s bedroom’s doors after they rescued Kyungsoo from witch’s spell it’s only theirs to know.
Pre-JGMR, kray past. Begins somewhere in 19th chapter of JGMR. For better understanding I suggest reading "Just give me a reason" first.
Dedicated to KINNEYTAYLOR6
The title is (like first story's in this au) a line from One Ok Rock's song called "The Beginning". It's not song fic thought.
He was already lying in the bed for a while inhaling his mate’s calming scent from Yixing’s pillow and receiving energy from the gathered and safe pack when he heard room’s doors opening. The soft noise of material rustling reached his ears. He didn’t need to change his position of lying on his stomach to know that Yixing had just undressed while a small path of his discarded pieces of clothes leading from doors to their bed followed in his wake. He received a soft nudge to the arm and the telepathic command, “Move”. He turned to the left and in no time the warm, naked body of his mate was cuddled to his front. By habit he reached behind, grabbed blanket and put on top of them. With his free arm, he hugged his mate even closer to his body and buried his face in his soft hair. Yixing’s direct scent was stronger and better than from their bed covers. It calmed and relaxed him until he sensed rapidly growing notes of distress in his scent.
“Yixing, relax. We will deal with everything tomorrow and for that we need a lot of energy, so sleep, love. You’re probably as exhausted as I am.” He said aloud.
“That witch… what she may possibly want from our submissive… ” Yixing’s smaller body slightly trembled. Like himself, his mate never shows his vulnerable side to anyone beside those moments when they were only by themselves. It’s not that pack will revolt or lose they trust in Alpha couple. It just isn’t in a werewolf’s nature to show their softest side to anyone other than their own mate. And there are some matters that should not leave their own small world. Like the reason why Yixing’s face hardens after just mentioning the witch when he’s in front of pack and why he trembles in Kris’ arms when they’re alone.
“Xing, we got him in time. Kyungsoo’s safe with Kai in the room next to us.” He said. “We’ll get her. I won’t allow anyone to hurt what’s mine without punishment.” He assured.
“That witch…”
“Shhh. I won’t allow her anywhere close to you. I’ll protect you this time.” Kris promised. He poured some of his Alpha’s powers in these words. Especially last two. This time. After all of these years it still was like a splinter in his pride, pricking him and reminding about that time when he was unable to protect the one person for whom he cared the most. He still remembers that night perfectly. It almost always comes back in his nightmares, especially when he’s away from pack and his mate.
The night he almost lost Yixing to witches.
***It was the second autumn since they mated. The second autumn of him, the mighty Wu Yifan, fearless warrior, former general of the Chinese emperor’s army, decedent of dragons (literally), following his mate, Zhang Yixing, wherever the smaller one went. Two years of almost constant blue balls. He was still surprised that they didn’t simply fall off. Ever since they mated, almost nothing followed with Yifan’s plans.
They met in a soldiers’ camp where Yixing was a doctor. It was during what will be called many years after in history books as the First Opium War1 when British troops invaded Chinese ground. Within second after he laid his eyes on the young man in dirty medical robe, he knew what he has found. Mate. The beast in him was singing his wolfish song in happiness. They finally found what they were craving for the last few centuries. If the beast had been in control he would have went straight to the boy and claimed him. Right there, in the middle of that military camp. But he was a hunter, the top of the food chain, he was the one in control of the situation; he was a strategist. So for several days in his wolf form he observed the boy, or more likely stalked him, gathering any information he could find.
The first thing he noticed was that boy was slim, too slim. War never came along with full stomachs but he expected doctors to have bigger portions of meal than the other soldiers. That was until he saw said boy sharing his dinner with two hospitalized men. A few times, he also saw the boy skipping, or rather forgetting about meals, while napping in the corner of the hospital tent or checking on his patients. It made Yifan so frustrated. He wanted to just go straight to his mate and shove some food into his pretty mouth.
The second thing he noticed was that the boy had under his care the hopeless cases. He never ate with others, he just took his bowl and came back to the tent with his patients. He was helped by a boy even younger than himself with one eye covered with a band. The other doctors and soldiers only came to his tent to bring in new patients after the most recent attack or to take away corpses. Yifan noticed how people acted strangely around him. Most of them were avoiding him or treating him like he was invisible. No-one ever touched him which pleased the beast in Yifan but his human side, experienced in war, questioned it. Normally people at war craved for the close proximity with other living human beings to remind themselves that they are still alive. But here most of them treated his mate like a leper.
Yifan once saw that during one of the really hot days (probably the last of that warmth with autumn already rushing upon them) when the helper opened the tails of the tent, one of the old dying soldiers were refusing to be fed by him. When the doctor sat next to the man and raised a spoon with food to his mouth, the elder with his good arm pushed away the bowl and slapped him. He yelled a few sentences but with half of his mouth covered with a cloth and a significant distance separating Yixing’s tent from himself, Yifan couldn’t understand the words. It peaked Yifan’s curiosity as he wanted to know the reasons for this attitude and the best way to do this was to ask around. But he couldn’t just waltz into the camp and demand answers. The camp wasn’t big by anyone’s standards so everyone more or less knew each other. The sudden appearance of an unknown man would probably result in a bullet in Yifan’s ass or worst - head. While the first wasn’t a big deal unless the bullet was silver, well, it was still quite painful, and the second, which was more possible, he wouldn’t be able to recover from. Ever. It was war. Spies were crawling everywhere. So he waited for the new consignment of weapons and soldiers coming to the camp in order to blend in with the others.
His chance happened few days later. As he expected, it was easy to blend in with clothes stolen from the stock tent (he didn’t want to rob any dead bodies - their clothes were full of insects almost moving on their own, so no thank you). At first it was little bit strange for him to be once again human and clad in materials, his skin even more sensitive than it should. He was too long in wolf form but during war it was safer and easier to survive. As a wolf he was faster, more deadly.
Beast suggested that if they’re already in human form they should go straight to their mate, take him away from this shit hole, claim him and change him - to free him from human fragility. But Yifan first wanted to check his background and learn more about him. And well, charm or court a doctor. In the evening he sat with soldiers, a mix of old and new recruits, around a campfire and took out his knife to casually clean and sharpen it when he spotted his mate entering the medical tent.
“Hey.” He casually called to the soldiers sitting next to him. “Who’s that guy?” He indicated with his head to medical tent.
“Who?” Asked one of older soldiers.
“You mean the one who just went into that tent?” Asked another.
“Yep.” Yifan confirmed.
“He’s a doctor. And that’s what we call the Death’s Tent. The doctor and his boy toy are the only two that ever come out to eat on their own two legs.” Answered oldest soldier sitting on the opposite side of the fire.
“Boy toy?” Asked Yifan. Beast slightly groaned. He didn’t like the sound of it.
“You’re new here so you don’t know the story, kid. But I will give you good advice: don’t get too close to this doctor. He’s soiled with death. And well, he’s peachy2.” Yifan raised a confused brow at this. “He doesn’t like pussies, if you know what I mean, kiddo.” Said the oldest soldier and burst out loud laughing.
“Actually, he should be hanged for that, in my opinion.” Interrupted the other soldier. “One of the merchant’s sons from Changsha accused him of seduction and adultery. Man fucking another man is just disgusting. Sick even. But it’s a time of war and he’s a doctor so they spared him from prison and let him take care of dying folks. Poor them.”
“So that’s why he doesn’t eat with us?”
“Kid, are you serious? Do you want to catch disease?” Said older soldier with disgust.
Shortly after that, the others dispersed to their own tents after the guards’ nightly shift was announced, leaving only Yifan next to the fire and a few others spotted around the camp. He needed to think about the gathered information. He didn’t even notice that a few hours had passed and the old soldier came out of his tent. It reminded Yifan that his shift had just started. He got an idea. He convinced his partner to go back to sleep because he could handle everything on his own. The older man didn’t protest too long and even promised extra food for him during next meal as thanks.
Yifan quickly checked the camp to see if everyone was sleeping and quietly slipped into Death’s Tent. The air inside was quite stuffy and stale. With his strong werewolf senses it was almost unbearable to stand the stench of death and decay. But if everything works along with his plan he’ll soon be out. He almost immediately spotted the doctor in the corner of the tent sitting on a pile of rags with a blanket around himself. His ‘boy toy’ was lying in the middle rows of bunks completely out. Yifan bended over his mate and shook his arm firmly.
“Doctor, doctor!” He whispered with faked urgency. He was answered with an incoherent mumble.
“Doctor! I need your help! Only you can help me!” Yifan whispered again. He added a dramatic tone to his voice and shook the doctor’s arm harder. He had centuries to master his acting skills.
The boy gasped and with still half opened eyes he stared around. He immediately looked up and gasped again due to the close proximity of Yifan and his hand still on his arm.
“Doctor, I need your help!” He repeated again seeing that he finally has all attention from the younger. The doctor suddenly stumbled to his feet.
“What happened?”
“Some animal injured my partner. He’s in the woods. He went to pee and hasn’t come back for some time so I…” Yifan was relating a made up story while the doctor stopped him.
“Lead me to him!” Said the doctor impatiently.
“This way!” Yifan led them from the tent into the thickest bushes in which before, still in wolf’s form, he was observing the camp and knew there was a good place to hide. But he was still surprised at how quickly the doctor swallowed the bait.
“Soldier, not so fast! I can’t see nor hear anything! Are you sure your partner is here?” Asked the doctor, slightly out of breath. He hadn’t even noticed when Yifan changed direction and approached him from behind. He pushed the doctor onto the closest tree which he barely caught before smashing his face into the tree’s surface.
“What…” He started but stopped, frozen. Yifan caged the younger between the tree and his body, closely pressing his front to the younger’s back and nuzzled the doctor’s neck. He inhaled deeply, almost getting drunk with his mate’s scent and their close proximity, his eyes had probably turned golden with his beast close to the surface. With delight he moaned loudly. But his happiness what short-lived as suddenly almost all of the doctor’s scent was covered with the sour stench of fear.
“What do you want?” His mate asked trembling in his arms.
“You.” Yifan answered simply, but apparently it wasn’t the right thing to say as his mate started to fight for freedom out of his arms by throwing his fists in a weak resemblance of punches.
“Let me go! Let me go!” He yelled trying to free himself or at least turn to face his opponent. He achieved only the second as after a few minutes of helpless fight, he was now face to face with Yifan who didn’t even twitch. The doctor was out of breath and stopped for a moment.
Yifan tried to get closer by few centimeters which made doctor fight again with newly found energy. Yifan couldn’t help himself as he smiled at the younger, who was still punching his chest in a futile attempt at freeing himself. Even if the situation was helpless, his mate kept fighting. “You’re perfect.” He thought.
The doctor suddenly stopped and looked up to see his attacker’s face but could only make out the blurred outline as it was too dark in the bushes. His own showed utter disbelief which was perfectly visible due to the shining moon. Yifan realized he said his thoughts out loud and repeated them. His mate’s eyes just went wider. With slightly opened lips, breath puffing uneven clouds and darkened cheeks, Yifan found him cute and was unable to resist anymore. So he leaned and kissed his mate but was not met with any response. He pulled back unhappily to see the doctor’s face. The younger still looked as astonished as seconds before but now with even darker cheeks and wet lips. Yifan didn’t see it coming but felt it for sure. He was slapped hard in the face. Well, this wasn’t part of his plan.
“Fuck off! I won’t sleep with you, asshole! Let me go!” Yelled the now very angry doctor.
“Fine. For now.” Said Yifan and stepped aside. The doctor quickly took a few steps to the side, looking at him warily and angry. Yifan still found him cute like this but he quickly noticed that his mate was taking small steps in the rocky ground to make the distance bigger between them. At the same time he was getting further and further from the camp.
“Tents are the opposite way.” He said and pointed with his thumb himself behind. The doctor loudly snorted and took long and quick steps to the direction showed. After just a few, his foot got caught on some protruding root. Thanks to Yifan’s reflexes, the doctor didn’t meet the forest ground face to face. But on the other hand he wasn’t very pleased with elder’s hand around his middle either. Yifan sighed loudly.
“You’re hopeless.” He said and with one swift move he slung the smaller’s body over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?!” The doctor almost squealed. “Let me down!” He punched Yifan’s back.
“Stop or I’ll drop you.” Yifan informed calmly. It didn’t change anything. “Should I slap your ass?” Without waiting for an answer he did.
“You asshole! That hurt! Let me down!” The doctor still fought.
“You brought it upon yourself.” Said Yifan and bit hard into smaller’s clothed ass. He made sure to bite hard enough to bruise but not actually hurt the other. His action was met with a loud yelp but after that the doctor stopped struggling. He just gave up and hung on Yifan’s shoulder motionless.
After they reached the camp, he gently put the doctor down in front of Death’s Tent. The younger stumbled over his own feet to get into it and away from Yifan as fast as he could but was stopped (and saved once again) with a steel-like grip on his wrist.
“What’s your name?” Yifan asked.
“Seriously? You want to fuck me but didn’t even care to ask around about my name?” The doctor answered sarcastically.
“I didn’t ask because I wanted hear your name from your own mouth.”
The doctor looked at the taller, taken aback with how sincere he sounded.
“Zhang Yixing” He said quietly and with a lowered head he entered his tent.
*The next day the doctor was avoiding him like the plague. Well, it wasn’t going along with his plan but he could manage it. He came up with one of the oldest ways of gaining the other’s trust - sharing food. During dinner time, when Yixing was out for his meal, he sneaked into Death’s Tent and left there his own portion. Although what food he had consumed himself was too little to satisfy his werewolf’s hunger, he planned to hunt during his shift in wolf’s form, but at least it could help his mate gain some weight.
After a few days it became routine; this and a few more things. The rumour about Yifan letting his partner sleep during their night shift quickly spread, so he had no problems with his hunt and his other secrets. Also, he knew that the same trick would not work on Yixing for a second time and so he patiently waited every few nights until the doctor needed to pee and came out of the tent. Yifan would wait until the younger would be done with his business and pin him to the nearest tree just to hug and smell him. For the first few times, Yixing was resisting as much as he could, just like during the first time, but after a while he stopped struggling and let Yifan press him to his warm body. But he never stopped to question this strange behavior of the taller one. It resulted in short and awkward dialogues like “Why are you doing this?” “Because you’re mine.”, “Why do you always smell me?” “Because it’s calming me down.” or “Why only hug me? You’re stronger, you could easily overpower me.” “For now it’s enough. I don’t want to hurt you.”. They didn’t even notice when Yixing started to hug back. Maybe it was because of the weather? It wasn’t even a month since the forgotten warm days during which the wind would bring the doctor’s smell to Yifan, but the days were becoming colder and colder so it was natural for people to seek warmth. Maybe it was just a point of habit? Or maybe Yixing was just tired of war’s struggles and loneliness that he slowly let Yifan’s warmth remind him that, despite all of his work and trying times, he was still alive?
*One morning, the day started out the same as many before when something unexpected happened. Yixing was getting his dinner portion after everyone while being followed by Yifan’s look from afar, when suddenly out of the captain’s tent stumbled a drunken soldier. It was captainhimself.
“Look, look, look!” He shouted, gathering everyone’s attention. “Let’s look at what we have here!” He sung drunkenly. Yifan saw Yixing trying to avoid him, not wanting to cause any more of a commotion but he was unable to escape the captain’s gaze. The captain flipped the bowl out of doctor’s hands as white soup splashed on the front of Yixing’s robes. He quickly took steps back but was stopped by the captain’s hand gripping his elbow tightly.
“So, that’s how you look when men have finish with you?” He asked loudly. Then he shifted his hand across soiled doctor’s robes and smashed it to Yixing’s face leaving white marks on his nose, mouth and check. “Or do you want to taste real manliness?” He sneered as he reached to his own pants.
Because of the commotion, no-one noticed when Yifan suddenly stood up and came closer to the duo. In a swift, quick move he placed himself directly in front of Yixing and towered over the captain. Without a word, he shook off the superior’s grip from the doctor’s sleeve. He was about to turn around to face Yixing but he felt a punch to his side yet it was so weak that with his werewolf’s quick recovery, a bruise won’t even stay for solid 5 minutes.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Shouted the captain. Yifan just smirked at him and turned around to face Yixing. His eyes were full of unshed tears, pretty lips pulled into a thin line with a tightly clenched jaw and fists by his sides. Once again, he couldn’t resist smile at his stubborn mate. He gently put his hand on the younger’s arm and with using a small amount of force, he turned him around and pushed him towards Death’s Tent.
“You peasant! I’ve asked you!” Yelled the captain and caught Yifan shirt’s material on his back. “How much did you pay him?”
That was enough. He understood that Yixing wanted to avoid any commotion at all costs, even his own pride, but Yifan had heard enough. No-one will speak so lowly to and about his mate. He lowered his head to be face to face with the captain. He let out his beast slightly so that his eyes turned golden.
“Say something once more about him and I promise to rip out your tongue and balls. With my bare hands.” He held one of his palms next to his face, so the captain could see it, and wiggled his fingers for emphasis. He was answered only with a loud gulp and the sharp smell of urine. He smiled, pleased at the result and returned to Yixing’s side.
“Go.” He commanded and for once doctor didn’t fight or question his words. He could feel all of the soldier’s eyes burning holes in his back but he didn’t care. He led him to Death’s Tent but they didn’t stop there. He opened the opposite tail of the tent and slightly pushed Yixing further into the forest. He stopped when they were finally out of hearing range. Then he pulled the smaller into a hug with the doctor’s face buried in his chest. After a while, the smaller body started to tremble in his arms.
“Why did you do that for me? Now you will be excluded too.” Yixing asked with a tear stained face.
“Because you’re my mate. Mine to protect, mine to please, mine to take care of.”
“That doesn’t make any sense! You suddenly appear and keep saying that I’m yours! People just don’t do that!” He could smell Yixing’s frustration. “And I don’t even know your name!”
“It’s Wu Yifan and I’m not people.” Literally, he wanted to add but it would be too soon. “Do you believe in fate, that it can connect two beings? I was looking for my other half for a very long time and I finally made it. I found you.” He smiled. He didn’t know what Yixing saw in his face but it made him blush cutely and lower his gaze.
“But I’m a guy.”
“So what?” Asked Yifan. He was born in times when love wasn’t limited by gender. Damn, there were even famous poets writing about their lifetime male-comrades/lovers. Because isn’t the purest love unrestrictive? Only recently, with all the Western culture has hate to same-sex love came along3. He just didn’t get it. Sure, call him old-fashioned. He preferred older way of thinking.
“You don’t want to have kids? What will your parents say?” Asked an astounded Yixing.
Yifan couldn’t help but to laugh shortly.
“My parents won’t be a problem. They died a long time ago and even if they were still alive today they wouldn’t care. Gender or race was never a problem or taboo for them. And believe me, with my twisted family history I don’t want any kids. Ever. Period.”
“I…” Yixing started.
“Shhh.” Yifan pressed his finger to others lips to quieten him. “Let me grab few things from the camp and we can leave this hell hole for good.”
“We what?! I can’t! I have patients! I need to take care of them!” The doctor protested.
“Yixing, they will die with or without your help and that boy of yours can manage to feed few men on his own.”
“It’s a war! How are we going to survive it? Soldiers are everywhere! And if they catch us we will be treated as deserters!”
“I’m a great hunter and fighter. I survived all alone for so many years. I’m living proof that it’s possible!” One day he will tell his mate of how many of wars exactly he survived. “Otherwise, do you have any other ideas? You want to stay in camp until the British come and kill you all without even breaking a sweat because they have far more guns and soldiers?”
Yixing just lowered his head in utter resignation. “Fine.” He muttered. Yifan quickly pressed a kiss to the doctor’s temple hidden under longish, black hair.
“Stay here, hide and I’ll be back soon.” True to his words it didn’t take Yifan long to collect everything that was needed. He skillfully avoided all the guards and they left the bushes and quickly set off in the opposite direction of the camp.
*
They were already marching for few hours without a break. They were going through the thick forest and bushes to the mountain chain in the north. It was an unexpected move, so perfect to lose in a possible pursuit. Although Yifan was the one who was carrying heavy sacks, Yixing was the most tired out of the two of them. During their walk the taller from time to time give him some water and pieces of stale crumpet to munch on but didn’t let them stop marching. They didn’t talk much, there was nothing to say. For the last few kilometers to the cave at the foot of mountain, which Yifan had found years ago while traveling, he also carried an exhausted doctor. The good thing was that that for a werewolf, it wasn’t big deal, but the lightness of his mate concerned Yifan even more.
When they reached the cave, Yixing was soundly sleeping on Yifan’s back. The taller gently set him down and took out a blanket to wrap his mate in it. The cave was perfect. To get in, Yifan needed to fold almost in half but it was the only entrance and it had a high ceiling with just enough place for six bodies cuddled together. It was shallow so there weren’t any draughts or possibilities of creatures to attack them during sleep.
Yixing woke up to warmth. The cave was lightened by a burning fire and two rabbits were roasting on the stick above it. Yifan smiled at his mate who cutely licked his lips after inhaling the delicious aroma of their dinner. He wondered when the boy had last eaten a decent meal.
After the meal, Yifan decided to call it a day and checked the opening and surrounding area closest to the cave. He purposely left his scent around the entire area earlier so that it would deter other animals looking for food or shelter. There were not many beings who could fight a strong and dominative werewolf but he still felt that it was better to be safe than sorry.
He knew that the autumn here was far shorter than down south. The temperature day by day was getting lower and lower but there was still time until the first snow. Before setting off, Yifan needed to strengthen his mate’s body. The way to the south wasn’t short nor simple. They will need to avoid well-known roads and take the more savage and brutal paths.
“Change him!” Demanded beast.
“No, it’s too early. He will be too scared and weak so his chances to survive the process will be lower.” He argued back.
He turned to the inside of the cave and saw his mate wrapped tightly in blankets, sitting close to the fire and slightly dozing off. He, the fearless warrior, bloodthirsty werewolf, source of nightmares for soldiers centuries ago, almost cooed at his mate’s cute face. He reached for his arm and slightly shook it.
“Hey. If you want to sleep do it properly.” He said and didn’t wait for the answer. He bended lower and gathered his mate’s body in his arms, pressing him to his chest, taking a few steps to the side and gently set him down on the prepared makeshift bed. It was nothing fancy, just some leaves covered with a blanket but still more comfortable than bare stone.
Yixing sat there for a moment looking at Yifan with wide eyes. He seemed far more awake than seconds before.
“You know, you could just tell me to move. I’m not a princess or anything.” He said.
“I’ve noticed. Princesses usually don’t have dicks.” Yifan answered and smiled slightly at Yixing’s blushing face. He quickly sat behind him, with one hand encircled around his middle and in one swift move he laid them both down on their bed. He reached behind for another blanket and spread it over the two of them. Then he put his arm back on his mate’s stomach and spooned his smaller body to his warm chest.
Yifan smelled his mate’s distress.
“Relax, I won’t do anything funny. Unless you want me to.” He smirked and buried his face in the back of his mate’s neck. It made the younger squirm.
“My neck is oversensitive and very ticklish. Move.” He mumbled, embarrassed. The smell of slightly sour distress changed to something more spicy. Arousal.
“And what if I won’t?” Yifan teased. “No, wait. Do you really want me to move away?”
“What if I didn’t?” He heard words spoken in almost whisper.
“Then it’s my role to obey and please you.” He answered while Yixing turned in his arms and looked into his eyes. Even as a human he probably felt his wolf dominance because he quickly dropped his gaze lower to Yifan’s slightly plump lips. The elder couldn’t help but smile and kissed smaller one.
Their first time together wasn’t the first for both of them. Also it has nothing to do with love or other feelings but rather need and lust. It wasn’t gentle; both of them were looking only to satisfy their too long denied urges while Yifan tried to not to hurt the fragile boy under him. Well, at least not too much.
When Yifan came for third time inside Yixing he was sure his eyes turned golden. He growled lowly “Mine” but it stayed unheard by his mate because he passed out exhausted minutes ago. It was also a night when Yifan found out that the oversensitive and ticklish skin on Yixing’s neck, with well measured movements, can change the other into a moaning mess.
*
Morning brought them news that after their intense fucking session, Yixing will be unable to walk for at least three or four days. The younger’s middle was almost purple because of multiple bruises in the shape of fingers and his asshole bled. The latter fact made Yixing throw a tantrum at Yifan for ruining his body but he soon discovered that moving too much wasn’t an option. He gave up on any fight after older licked his ass clean and somehow it stopped bleeding and dulled the ache (and felt nice but Yixing wouldn’t confess to the few moans which left his lips). It also gave an opportunity for Yifan to baby his mate and feed him more. His beast was very pleased because during this few days of Yixing’s immobility, his slightly sunken cheeks had softened showing hidden charming dimples.
Yifan also discovered another cute side to his mate. Yixing loved to sleep in the most bizarre of ways that he’s ever seen. He couldn’t ever be sure of what kind of image he will wake up to. Mostly it was Yixing’s limbs spread haphazardly everywhere or crazily tangled with his own. With the doctor’s widely opened mouth and saliva dripping onto Yifan’s chest, the sight should be disgusting but to him it looked utterly adorable.
*
When Yixing was able to walk again they decided to leave the cave’s safety to finally start their journey to the south. During the whole day of preparations for it they argued as wanted to see his previous patients and his young helper before leaving. To get to the south, they still needed to walk next to the soldier’s camp but Yifan wanted to avoid it at all costs. It could be dangerous and after a full day of walking with his still fragile mate, he won’t be able to even defend himself if soldiers found them, a fight broke out and Yifan got his hands too full. But Yixing was stubborn.
“I just need to see them. It can be from afar. It’s my last duty as their doctor!” He argued. What Yifan had learned from the last few days was not to question Yixing if he got too fixed on something. To talk him out of it would be almost impossible and so it’s pointless to even start an argument. But still, all of his experience in strategy and knowledge was against the whole idea. Nevertheless, he prepared a plan. He knew that after supper, when the new guard’s schedule was being arranged, the camp was mostly unprotected while everyone gathered around the fire. It was their only chance but because of how late in the day it was, they will need to get closer to the camp so Yixing, with his human eyesight, can see anything. Yifan didn’t like that this whole plan could change to become an utter failure.
*
As Yifan predicted, they reached the area next to the camp, close enough so he could smell the soldier’s burnt supper but still safe for them. His mate was tired but still determined to see his helper at least. When they got close enough to see the curling trails of smoke and the crackling fire from faraway, Yifan’s instincts screamed in warning. He quickly grabbed the doctor’s arm and pressed down so they both squatted behind a huge bush.
“What’s wrong?” Whispered Yixing.
“What do you hear?”
“Soldiers from the camp.”
“What else?” Asked Yifan.
“Nothing.” Answered Yixing. Exactly, it was too quiet. The forest was too silent even for his werewolf enhanced hearing. There was nothing beside this rustling… It sounded familiar though…
“Brit…” Yifan started but was interrupted by the first shouts of commands and foreign soldiers’ loud responses mixed with whizzes of bullets. He quickly pressed his and his mate’s bodies flat to the ground with their sack slammed beside their side. Not far from them, the fight broke out with roars of bullets and commands hurled in a foreign tongue.
“What’s happening?” Asked Yixing, clearly dumbfounded by the sudden noises.
“The camp is under attack from the British soldiers.”
“What!? We need to help ours!” He tried to lift his torso from the ground but Yifan’s hand quickly pressed him back down.
“There is no ours. This fight has nothing to do with us. They wouldn’t ever helped you. If you got hurt they would just let you die or be killed by the Brits!”
“But I’m a doctor! It’s my duty to help them!” He tried to lift himself again but the hand on his back pressed even harder.
“It’s too dangerous for you to get any closer. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.” Yifan didn’t yell, but with Beast closer to the surface and encouraged by the increasingly stronger smell of blood, his voice was lower, breathy almost scary. Yixing was about to answer when suddenly they heard gunshots close by and screams from somewhere on the opposite side of the bush. Seconds after, the face of a dying soldier appeared roughly a meter away from Yixing. The man was crawling in the opposite direction to the camp and battle, with dark blood dripping from his mouth and fear pouring out of his eyes with tears. Yifan could hear the approaching soldier whom he assumed to be British so he, as silently as he could, slowly pulled his mate’s body under his own.
A Few unexpected occurrences happened in the span of mere seconds. The dying soldier suddenly turned his head and spotted them hiding under the bush. He reached his hand, grabbed Yixing’s forearm and yelled for help but was silenced with another shot. The doctor was too stunned by the sudden situation to react but Yifan was already squatting with each feet on the opposite sides of Yixing’s hips when the foreign soldier leaned out of bush with a riffle pointing ahead. Yifan didn’t even give him a chance to aim. He grabbed weapon in the middle and sharply yanked it out of enemy’s hands. The soldier’s finger slipped to the trigger, with a loud bang a bullet was fired.
Yifan was sure he got shot but unless the bullet was silver, he was safe. With too much adrenaline pumping through his veins he didn’t feel any pain at all. In his mind, there was only one clear thought running around his head like a mantra ‘Protect the mate’. With his werewolf strength, Yifan smashed the riffle’s handle into the enemy’s face so hard that the soldier’s nose broke into his skull killing him even before his body hit the ground.
Yifan knew he was bleeding at some point on his body although he still didn’t feel any pain. But he was sure that in the British troops, there was no-one who could track him by its iron smell so as soon as he and Yixing can run away from the battle, scene they will be safe.
He looked down. He was still standing with the doctor’s body between his legs. But there was something very wrong. With his clearer sight, he saw a dark spot growing rapidly in the middle of Yixing’s back. Yifan smelled blood which was soaking half of his mate’s robes. It wasn’t him who was shot, it was Yixing!
Yifan quickly stepped aside, terrified and scared more than even, even during all the wars he had ever experienced. He couldn’t lose his mate with whom he didn’t even have the time to properly cherish. He gently turned Yixing’s body. He was rewarded with groan full of pain and the sight of the growing dark stain on the front of his robe. His mate was still alive, but mortally wounded. The bullet went clean through the doctor’s body. Yifan slung their sack, gathered Yixing in his arms, slightly pressing his body to his chest and started to run through bushes with inhuman speed. He wanted to create a safe distance from the camp and fight. He needed to be completely sure that he won’t be disturbed during what he is about to do. He stopped in the middle of small meadow lightened by the moonlight. There were still three more days to the full moon. And hopefully, Yixing’s first change into a wolf.
He gently patted doctor’s unhealthy, pale cheek. Yixing’s eyes slowly opened. His breath shallow and Yifan’s finger sticky with blood.
“Do you trust me?” He asked. The doctor’s unfocused eyes looked at Yifan’s face.
“Do you?” He asked once again. He was answered with slight nod. “Good. So one day you will forgive me for what I’m about to do to you.” And he sunk to his knees and, with now sharper than human teeth, he bit into Yixing’s neck and slowly injected venom into his dying mate’s body.
The surrounding silent forest was disturbed by one single entity, a scream full of pain.
*
It was a sheer coincidence that at the moment he was in their new hide-out. He was blindly looking in their sack for the second knife he carried when he felt the stir of another body pressing to his left thigh. Yifan stopped moving for a moment and observed his unconscious mate. He could see outlines of Yixing’s body in the meager light from the fire burning outside their shelter. It was more or less a day after the bite so unless something went wrong he should soon regain his…
Yixing sat on makeshift bed with gasp like someone resurfacing from water.
“Yifan.” He whispered. “Yifan?”
“I’m here.” He answered and delicately grasped his mate’s cheek.
“Yifan!” Yixing just slammed his body into other’s chest. His arms quickly grasped the material on Yifan’s back and pressed into him even closer.
“I thought I had died! We were in the soldier’s camp but the British attacked! And there was this dying man asking me for help but I just froze! I couldn’t move at all! And then bam! I didn’t know what happened but suddenly my stomach started to hurt pretty badly! There was some hazed movement and another wave of pain! But far greater! And I knew I was dying! Totally and for sure! Complete darkness swallowed me wholly. And there was this annoying voice… even growling at me… Wait… What was it was saying? I don’t remember…” Yifan could already feel wet a patch on his clothes growing and his shirt staring to stick to his torso. Sobs and chokes interrupted his mate’s words from time to time as he calmly stroked other’s back.
“But bless all of the gods, fate or whatever it was just a dream! Probably the craziest I’ve ever had!” Yixing finished his short account. He pressed his face into Yifan’s hollow throat and inhaled deeply.
Yifan sighed. Now, let’s skip to the fun part, he thought.
“Yixing, it wasn’t a dream.” The pressure on his chest disappeared. His mate suddenly leaned back and searched his face in the darkness of their shelter. Yifan was pretty sure he could see nothing, even with his strengthened senses though.
“What do you mean?” He heard Yixing whisper. Yifan sighed again.
“I’ll tell you, but first let’s go outside. Our rabbits are probably already done.” He said and got an answer in the form of a loud growl from Yixing’s throat. He was guessing that doctor’s face was cutely red.
When they got out of the new shelter (which appeared to be a big pit between the roots of a huge tree) Yixing was welcomed by the sight of a campfire with an impromptu spit above it. Two headless rabbits’ bodies were roasting on it. Their skin already crispy golden. The doctor’s stomach once again reminded them about the need of feeling it.
Yifan quickly took the meat off of the spit and gave one of the rabbits to Yixing who without hesitation took a huge bite into it.
“You’phe not eatinmh?” He asked with a mouthful of food.
“No, I’ve already ate.” Which was truth as Yifan had already ate while hunting. “But it’s a good opportunity for explanations. You won’t interrupt me that much with your mouth busy.” He meaningfully raised his eyebrow at his mate who acted as if he was too focused on eating to be able to hear but Yifan saw his cheeks reddening. It completely gave him away.
‘But back to the explanations’ Yifan sighed.
“Everything that you called a dream before happened for real. You almost died. I bit you. You’re a werewolf now.”
Yixing choked. “Whapht?” He swallowed. “What?” He asked again with widely opened eyes.
“You’re a werewolf now.”
Yixing frowned. “Sure, and dragons are real.”
“That too, but it doesn’t matter for now.” Yifan answered.
“You’re nuts!” Yixing exclaimed and quickly stood, up dropping his half-eaten rabbit in the process. “I knew from the beginning that there was something wrong with you! With your head to be exact!” He started to pass the campfire on the opposite of Yifan who watched him with an unchanged face.
“Your freaky way of smelling me, hugging an unknown man! And then persuading me to run away together with you!” The doctor continued. “I can’t believe I trusted you and followed! Your madness must have rubbed off on me!” He stopped and looked directly at Yifan above the fire. “But werewolves? Aren’t you too big to believe in them? And telling this kind of bullshit fairy tale to others as if they’ll believe you?!”
Yifan sighed. Denial. Well, still better than running away.
“But that’s what I am. Now you, too. I wanted to wait honestly. With the Change, I mean. I planned to court you for some time to at least make you trust me fully. Then, after some time, change you so I could cherish my mate forever.” He slowly said.
“Court me?! Do I look like a damsel looking for my warrior?!” Yixing was yelling again. “And this mate thing again! You keep saying that I’m your mate-” He suddenly stopped. “What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Yifan answered honestly. But even from this distance he saw flecks of gold in the doctor’s eyes. He took a deep breath. Ever since this morning he could already smell hints of wolf musk in Yixing’s scent but now it had gotten stronger. It made his own beast stir and quietly purr. Mate.
He saw the doctor’s eyes growing even larger in something akin to a mix of horror and surprise.
“How can you speak to me without moving your mouth? Are you like one of those guys from a circu-” He asked but didn’t finish. His knees suddenly gave out and he supported his body with his hands while lowering his head. “What-” He murmured.
Yifan was beside him in no time. “Yixing?”
The doctor’s head suddenly snapped up. Yifan was welcomed with wholly golden eyes. The other was staring at him unblinking. His beast stirred closer to the surface and Yifan couldn’t stop the low purr escaping from his mouth. The doctor took deep breath and quickly lowered his eyesight to the other’s mouth. A small smile graced Yifan’s lips.
“Submit, wolf.” He ordered quietly.
The doctor froze completely for a second in hesitation but then he turned his head to the side, showing his vulnerable throat to him. Yifan leaned into it and inhaled Yixing’s scent. He pressed his lips to other’s pulse. He slowly put his hand on the doctor’s thigh and, with a soft touch, travelled to the other’s tummy. Yixing whined quietly.
“Good.” Yifan praised and rubbed soothing circles on other’s middle. He could smell that his mate was pleased with praise.
“Mate.” He heard other’s purr like voice.
“Yes.” He agreed immediately. “But now give back control to Yixing.”
The doctor leaned back and looked at Yifan’s face, directly into his eyes. He tilted his head to the side in very wolfish manner. After he blinked a few times his irises were back to a warm brown color with a few golden flecks. Yixing gasped loudly while still staring into Yifan’s eyes.
“What was that…” He whispered. He wanted to lean back further but Yifan’s arms around his shoulders stopped him.
“Your wolf.” The older simply answered.
“I couldn’t move but my body was moving. I couldn’t speak but words still left my mouth...” The doctor continued like he hadn’t heard Yifan’s answer.
“It was your wolf.” He tried again.
“My wolf?”
“He took control over your body.” Yifan explained. “He is a personalisation of your new werewolf nature.”
“So my body from now on won’t listen to me?”
“No, unless you give your wolf the control.”
“How can I get rid of him?” The doctor asked. Yifan’s beast growled inside of him.
“You can’t. Yixing, he is like your new roommate or sibling which will never leave you completely alone. He’s a part of you. Inseparable.”
The doctor lowered his gaze to Yifan’s chest. His body went slightly limp.
“Thanks to this new union you gained a lot too.” Yifan continued trying to sound comforting. “Your body and senses are strengthened. You’re stronger, can heal quickly, smell, see and hear things which normal humans cannot. And you will never fall ill.”
“Normal humans… which I’m not one of anymore…” A quiet murmur reached Yifan’s ears. “Never fall ill?” With sarcasm dripping over Yixing’s words he slowly rose his head. “Too late. This werewolf thing… It’s mental disease which you passed onto me!” He screamed into Yifan’s face. He thrashed in the other’s arms. Yifan didn’t let him go. He held him even tighter, pressing Yixing’s body to his chest waiting for the doctor to calm down.
“Tomorrow is a full moon and your first change. I won’t leave you alone during that.” His voice was rock hard. “Or for any other reason.” He was deeply hurt by the doctor’s reaction but didn’t let himself show it. This hadn’t went along with his plan. Like most of things so far. Unplanned Change. Mate’s rejection. And only worse things were going to follow.
*
Part 2
Rating: NC17
AU: werewolf
Warnings: homophobia, gore scenes, violence (a lot of), swearing, mentions of sex, rimming
Beta-ed by JustABitDramatic <3
Summary: What happens behind Alpha’s bedroom’s doors after they rescued Kyungsoo from witch’s spell it’s only theirs to know.
Pre-JGMR, kray past. Begins somewhere in 19th chapter of JGMR. For better understanding I suggest reading "Just give me a reason" first.
Dedicated to KINNEYTAYLOR6
The title is (like first story's in this au) a line from One Ok Rock's song called "The Beginning". It's not song fic thought.
He was already lying in the bed for a while inhaling his mate’s calming scent from Yixing’s pillow and receiving energy from the gathered and safe pack when he heard room’s doors opening. The soft noise of material rustling reached his ears. He didn’t need to change his position of lying on his stomach to know that Yixing had just undressed while a small path of his discarded pieces of clothes leading from doors to their bed followed in his wake. He received a soft nudge to the arm and the telepathic command, “Move”. He turned to the left and in no time the warm, naked body of his mate was cuddled to his front. By habit he reached behind, grabbed blanket and put on top of them. With his free arm, he hugged his mate even closer to his body and buried his face in his soft hair. Yixing’s direct scent was stronger and better than from their bed covers. It calmed and relaxed him until he sensed rapidly growing notes of distress in his scent.
“Yixing, relax. We will deal with everything tomorrow and for that we need a lot of energy, so sleep, love. You’re probably as exhausted as I am.” He said aloud.
“That witch… what she may possibly want from our submissive… ” Yixing’s smaller body slightly trembled. Like himself, his mate never shows his vulnerable side to anyone beside those moments when they were only by themselves. It’s not that pack will revolt or lose they trust in Alpha couple. It just isn’t in a werewolf’s nature to show their softest side to anyone other than their own mate. And there are some matters that should not leave their own small world. Like the reason why Yixing’s face hardens after just mentioning the witch when he’s in front of pack and why he trembles in Kris’ arms when they’re alone.
“Xing, we got him in time. Kyungsoo’s safe with Kai in the room next to us.” He said. “We’ll get her. I won’t allow anyone to hurt what’s mine without punishment.” He assured.
“That witch…”
“Shhh. I won’t allow her anywhere close to you. I’ll protect you this time.” Kris promised. He poured some of his Alpha’s powers in these words. Especially last two. This time. After all of these years it still was like a splinter in his pride, pricking him and reminding about that time when he was unable to protect the one person for whom he cared the most. He still remembers that night perfectly. It almost always comes back in his nightmares, especially when he’s away from pack and his mate.
The night he almost lost Yixing to witches.
***It was the second autumn since they mated. The second autumn of him, the mighty Wu Yifan, fearless warrior, former general of the Chinese emperor’s army, decedent of dragons (literally), following his mate, Zhang Yixing, wherever the smaller one went. Two years of almost constant blue balls. He was still surprised that they didn’t simply fall off. Ever since they mated, almost nothing followed with Yifan’s plans.
They met in a soldiers’ camp where Yixing was a doctor. It was during what will be called many years after in history books as the First Opium War1 when British troops invaded Chinese ground. Within second after he laid his eyes on the young man in dirty medical robe, he knew what he has found. Mate. The beast in him was singing his wolfish song in happiness. They finally found what they were craving for the last few centuries. If the beast had been in control he would have went straight to the boy and claimed him. Right there, in the middle of that military camp. But he was a hunter, the top of the food chain, he was the one in control of the situation; he was a strategist. So for several days in his wolf form he observed the boy, or more likely stalked him, gathering any information he could find.
The first thing he noticed was that boy was slim, too slim. War never came along with full stomachs but he expected doctors to have bigger portions of meal than the other soldiers. That was until he saw said boy sharing his dinner with two hospitalized men. A few times, he also saw the boy skipping, or rather forgetting about meals, while napping in the corner of the hospital tent or checking on his patients. It made Yifan so frustrated. He wanted to just go straight to his mate and shove some food into his pretty mouth.
The second thing he noticed was that the boy had under his care the hopeless cases. He never ate with others, he just took his bowl and came back to the tent with his patients. He was helped by a boy even younger than himself with one eye covered with a band. The other doctors and soldiers only came to his tent to bring in new patients after the most recent attack or to take away corpses. Yifan noticed how people acted strangely around him. Most of them were avoiding him or treating him like he was invisible. No-one ever touched him which pleased the beast in Yifan but his human side, experienced in war, questioned it. Normally people at war craved for the close proximity with other living human beings to remind themselves that they are still alive. But here most of them treated his mate like a leper.
Yifan once saw that during one of the really hot days (probably the last of that warmth with autumn already rushing upon them) when the helper opened the tails of the tent, one of the old dying soldiers were refusing to be fed by him. When the doctor sat next to the man and raised a spoon with food to his mouth, the elder with his good arm pushed away the bowl and slapped him. He yelled a few sentences but with half of his mouth covered with a cloth and a significant distance separating Yixing’s tent from himself, Yifan couldn’t understand the words. It peaked Yifan’s curiosity as he wanted to know the reasons for this attitude and the best way to do this was to ask around. But he couldn’t just waltz into the camp and demand answers. The camp wasn’t big by anyone’s standards so everyone more or less knew each other. The sudden appearance of an unknown man would probably result in a bullet in Yifan’s ass or worst - head. While the first wasn’t a big deal unless the bullet was silver, well, it was still quite painful, and the second, which was more possible, he wouldn’t be able to recover from. Ever. It was war. Spies were crawling everywhere. So he waited for the new consignment of weapons and soldiers coming to the camp in order to blend in with the others.
His chance happened few days later. As he expected, it was easy to blend in with clothes stolen from the stock tent (he didn’t want to rob any dead bodies - their clothes were full of insects almost moving on their own, so no thank you). At first it was little bit strange for him to be once again human and clad in materials, his skin even more sensitive than it should. He was too long in wolf form but during war it was safer and easier to survive. As a wolf he was faster, more deadly.
Beast suggested that if they’re already in human form they should go straight to their mate, take him away from this shit hole, claim him and change him - to free him from human fragility. But Yifan first wanted to check his background and learn more about him. And well, charm or court a doctor. In the evening he sat with soldiers, a mix of old and new recruits, around a campfire and took out his knife to casually clean and sharpen it when he spotted his mate entering the medical tent.
“Hey.” He casually called to the soldiers sitting next to him. “Who’s that guy?” He indicated with his head to medical tent.
“Who?” Asked one of older soldiers.
“You mean the one who just went into that tent?” Asked another.
“Yep.” Yifan confirmed.
“He’s a doctor. And that’s what we call the Death’s Tent. The doctor and his boy toy are the only two that ever come out to eat on their own two legs.” Answered oldest soldier sitting on the opposite side of the fire.
“Boy toy?” Asked Yifan. Beast slightly groaned. He didn’t like the sound of it.
“You’re new here so you don’t know the story, kid. But I will give you good advice: don’t get too close to this doctor. He’s soiled with death. And well, he’s peachy2.” Yifan raised a confused brow at this. “He doesn’t like pussies, if you know what I mean, kiddo.” Said the oldest soldier and burst out loud laughing.
“Actually, he should be hanged for that, in my opinion.” Interrupted the other soldier. “One of the merchant’s sons from Changsha accused him of seduction and adultery. Man fucking another man is just disgusting. Sick even. But it’s a time of war and he’s a doctor so they spared him from prison and let him take care of dying folks. Poor them.”
“So that’s why he doesn’t eat with us?”
“Kid, are you serious? Do you want to catch disease?” Said older soldier with disgust.
Shortly after that, the others dispersed to their own tents after the guards’ nightly shift was announced, leaving only Yifan next to the fire and a few others spotted around the camp. He needed to think about the gathered information. He didn’t even notice that a few hours had passed and the old soldier came out of his tent. It reminded Yifan that his shift had just started. He got an idea. He convinced his partner to go back to sleep because he could handle everything on his own. The older man didn’t protest too long and even promised extra food for him during next meal as thanks.
Yifan quickly checked the camp to see if everyone was sleeping and quietly slipped into Death’s Tent. The air inside was quite stuffy and stale. With his strong werewolf senses it was almost unbearable to stand the stench of death and decay. But if everything works along with his plan he’ll soon be out. He almost immediately spotted the doctor in the corner of the tent sitting on a pile of rags with a blanket around himself. His ‘boy toy’ was lying in the middle rows of bunks completely out. Yifan bended over his mate and shook his arm firmly.
“Doctor, doctor!” He whispered with faked urgency. He was answered with an incoherent mumble.
“Doctor! I need your help! Only you can help me!” Yifan whispered again. He added a dramatic tone to his voice and shook the doctor’s arm harder. He had centuries to master his acting skills.
The boy gasped and with still half opened eyes he stared around. He immediately looked up and gasped again due to the close proximity of Yifan and his hand still on his arm.
“Doctor, I need your help!” He repeated again seeing that he finally has all attention from the younger. The doctor suddenly stumbled to his feet.
“What happened?”
“Some animal injured my partner. He’s in the woods. He went to pee and hasn’t come back for some time so I…” Yifan was relating a made up story while the doctor stopped him.
“Lead me to him!” Said the doctor impatiently.
“This way!” Yifan led them from the tent into the thickest bushes in which before, still in wolf’s form, he was observing the camp and knew there was a good place to hide. But he was still surprised at how quickly the doctor swallowed the bait.
“Soldier, not so fast! I can’t see nor hear anything! Are you sure your partner is here?” Asked the doctor, slightly out of breath. He hadn’t even noticed when Yifan changed direction and approached him from behind. He pushed the doctor onto the closest tree which he barely caught before smashing his face into the tree’s surface.
“What…” He started but stopped, frozen. Yifan caged the younger between the tree and his body, closely pressing his front to the younger’s back and nuzzled the doctor’s neck. He inhaled deeply, almost getting drunk with his mate’s scent and their close proximity, his eyes had probably turned golden with his beast close to the surface. With delight he moaned loudly. But his happiness what short-lived as suddenly almost all of the doctor’s scent was covered with the sour stench of fear.
“What do you want?” His mate asked trembling in his arms.
“You.” Yifan answered simply, but apparently it wasn’t the right thing to say as his mate started to fight for freedom out of his arms by throwing his fists in a weak resemblance of punches.
“Let me go! Let me go!” He yelled trying to free himself or at least turn to face his opponent. He achieved only the second as after a few minutes of helpless fight, he was now face to face with Yifan who didn’t even twitch. The doctor was out of breath and stopped for a moment.
Yifan tried to get closer by few centimeters which made doctor fight again with newly found energy. Yifan couldn’t help himself as he smiled at the younger, who was still punching his chest in a futile attempt at freeing himself. Even if the situation was helpless, his mate kept fighting. “You’re perfect.” He thought.
The doctor suddenly stopped and looked up to see his attacker’s face but could only make out the blurred outline as it was too dark in the bushes. His own showed utter disbelief which was perfectly visible due to the shining moon. Yifan realized he said his thoughts out loud and repeated them. His mate’s eyes just went wider. With slightly opened lips, breath puffing uneven clouds and darkened cheeks, Yifan found him cute and was unable to resist anymore. So he leaned and kissed his mate but was not met with any response. He pulled back unhappily to see the doctor’s face. The younger still looked as astonished as seconds before but now with even darker cheeks and wet lips. Yifan didn’t see it coming but felt it for sure. He was slapped hard in the face. Well, this wasn’t part of his plan.
“Fuck off! I won’t sleep with you, asshole! Let me go!” Yelled the now very angry doctor.
“Fine. For now.” Said Yifan and stepped aside. The doctor quickly took a few steps to the side, looking at him warily and angry. Yifan still found him cute like this but he quickly noticed that his mate was taking small steps in the rocky ground to make the distance bigger between them. At the same time he was getting further and further from the camp.
“Tents are the opposite way.” He said and pointed with his thumb himself behind. The doctor loudly snorted and took long and quick steps to the direction showed. After just a few, his foot got caught on some protruding root. Thanks to Yifan’s reflexes, the doctor didn’t meet the forest ground face to face. But on the other hand he wasn’t very pleased with elder’s hand around his middle either. Yifan sighed loudly.
“You’re hopeless.” He said and with one swift move he slung the smaller’s body over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?!” The doctor almost squealed. “Let me down!” He punched Yifan’s back.
“Stop or I’ll drop you.” Yifan informed calmly. It didn’t change anything. “Should I slap your ass?” Without waiting for an answer he did.
“You asshole! That hurt! Let me down!” The doctor still fought.
“You brought it upon yourself.” Said Yifan and bit hard into smaller’s clothed ass. He made sure to bite hard enough to bruise but not actually hurt the other. His action was met with a loud yelp but after that the doctor stopped struggling. He just gave up and hung on Yifan’s shoulder motionless.
After they reached the camp, he gently put the doctor down in front of Death’s Tent. The younger stumbled over his own feet to get into it and away from Yifan as fast as he could but was stopped (and saved once again) with a steel-like grip on his wrist.
“What’s your name?” Yifan asked.
“Seriously? You want to fuck me but didn’t even care to ask around about my name?” The doctor answered sarcastically.
“I didn’t ask because I wanted hear your name from your own mouth.”
The doctor looked at the taller, taken aback with how sincere he sounded.
“Zhang Yixing” He said quietly and with a lowered head he entered his tent.
*The next day the doctor was avoiding him like the plague. Well, it wasn’t going along with his plan but he could manage it. He came up with one of the oldest ways of gaining the other’s trust - sharing food. During dinner time, when Yixing was out for his meal, he sneaked into Death’s Tent and left there his own portion. Although what food he had consumed himself was too little to satisfy his werewolf’s hunger, he planned to hunt during his shift in wolf’s form, but at least it could help his mate gain some weight.
After a few days it became routine; this and a few more things. The rumour about Yifan letting his partner sleep during their night shift quickly spread, so he had no problems with his hunt and his other secrets. Also, he knew that the same trick would not work on Yixing for a second time and so he patiently waited every few nights until the doctor needed to pee and came out of the tent. Yifan would wait until the younger would be done with his business and pin him to the nearest tree just to hug and smell him. For the first few times, Yixing was resisting as much as he could, just like during the first time, but after a while he stopped struggling and let Yifan press him to his warm body. But he never stopped to question this strange behavior of the taller one. It resulted in short and awkward dialogues like “Why are you doing this?” “Because you’re mine.”, “Why do you always smell me?” “Because it’s calming me down.” or “Why only hug me? You’re stronger, you could easily overpower me.” “For now it’s enough. I don’t want to hurt you.”. They didn’t even notice when Yixing started to hug back. Maybe it was because of the weather? It wasn’t even a month since the forgotten warm days during which the wind would bring the doctor’s smell to Yifan, but the days were becoming colder and colder so it was natural for people to seek warmth. Maybe it was just a point of habit? Or maybe Yixing was just tired of war’s struggles and loneliness that he slowly let Yifan’s warmth remind him that, despite all of his work and trying times, he was still alive?
*One morning, the day started out the same as many before when something unexpected happened. Yixing was getting his dinner portion after everyone while being followed by Yifan’s look from afar, when suddenly out of the captain’s tent stumbled a drunken soldier. It was captainhimself.
“Look, look, look!” He shouted, gathering everyone’s attention. “Let’s look at what we have here!” He sung drunkenly. Yifan saw Yixing trying to avoid him, not wanting to cause any more of a commotion but he was unable to escape the captain’s gaze. The captain flipped the bowl out of doctor’s hands as white soup splashed on the front of Yixing’s robes. He quickly took steps back but was stopped by the captain’s hand gripping his elbow tightly.
“So, that’s how you look when men have finish with you?” He asked loudly. Then he shifted his hand across soiled doctor’s robes and smashed it to Yixing’s face leaving white marks on his nose, mouth and check. “Or do you want to taste real manliness?” He sneered as he reached to his own pants.
Because of the commotion, no-one noticed when Yifan suddenly stood up and came closer to the duo. In a swift, quick move he placed himself directly in front of Yixing and towered over the captain. Without a word, he shook off the superior’s grip from the doctor’s sleeve. He was about to turn around to face Yixing but he felt a punch to his side yet it was so weak that with his werewolf’s quick recovery, a bruise won’t even stay for solid 5 minutes.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Shouted the captain. Yifan just smirked at him and turned around to face Yixing. His eyes were full of unshed tears, pretty lips pulled into a thin line with a tightly clenched jaw and fists by his sides. Once again, he couldn’t resist smile at his stubborn mate. He gently put his hand on the younger’s arm and with using a small amount of force, he turned him around and pushed him towards Death’s Tent.
“You peasant! I’ve asked you!” Yelled the captain and caught Yifan shirt’s material on his back. “How much did you pay him?”
That was enough. He understood that Yixing wanted to avoid any commotion at all costs, even his own pride, but Yifan had heard enough. No-one will speak so lowly to and about his mate. He lowered his head to be face to face with the captain. He let out his beast slightly so that his eyes turned golden.
“Say something once more about him and I promise to rip out your tongue and balls. With my bare hands.” He held one of his palms next to his face, so the captain could see it, and wiggled his fingers for emphasis. He was answered only with a loud gulp and the sharp smell of urine. He smiled, pleased at the result and returned to Yixing’s side.
“Go.” He commanded and for once doctor didn’t fight or question his words. He could feel all of the soldier’s eyes burning holes in his back but he didn’t care. He led him to Death’s Tent but they didn’t stop there. He opened the opposite tail of the tent and slightly pushed Yixing further into the forest. He stopped when they were finally out of hearing range. Then he pulled the smaller into a hug with the doctor’s face buried in his chest. After a while, the smaller body started to tremble in his arms.
“Why did you do that for me? Now you will be excluded too.” Yixing asked with a tear stained face.
“Because you’re my mate. Mine to protect, mine to please, mine to take care of.”
“That doesn’t make any sense! You suddenly appear and keep saying that I’m yours! People just don’t do that!” He could smell Yixing’s frustration. “And I don’t even know your name!”
“It’s Wu Yifan and I’m not people.” Literally, he wanted to add but it would be too soon. “Do you believe in fate, that it can connect two beings? I was looking for my other half for a very long time and I finally made it. I found you.” He smiled. He didn’t know what Yixing saw in his face but it made him blush cutely and lower his gaze.
“But I’m a guy.”
“So what?” Asked Yifan. He was born in times when love wasn’t limited by gender. Damn, there were even famous poets writing about their lifetime male-comrades/lovers. Because isn’t the purest love unrestrictive? Only recently, with all the Western culture has hate to same-sex love came along3. He just didn’t get it. Sure, call him old-fashioned. He preferred older way of thinking.
“You don’t want to have kids? What will your parents say?” Asked an astounded Yixing.
Yifan couldn’t help but to laugh shortly.
“My parents won’t be a problem. They died a long time ago and even if they were still alive today they wouldn’t care. Gender or race was never a problem or taboo for them. And believe me, with my twisted family history I don’t want any kids. Ever. Period.”
“I…” Yixing started.
“Shhh.” Yifan pressed his finger to others lips to quieten him. “Let me grab few things from the camp and we can leave this hell hole for good.”
“We what?! I can’t! I have patients! I need to take care of them!” The doctor protested.
“Yixing, they will die with or without your help and that boy of yours can manage to feed few men on his own.”
“It’s a war! How are we going to survive it? Soldiers are everywhere! And if they catch us we will be treated as deserters!”
“I’m a great hunter and fighter. I survived all alone for so many years. I’m living proof that it’s possible!” One day he will tell his mate of how many of wars exactly he survived. “Otherwise, do you have any other ideas? You want to stay in camp until the British come and kill you all without even breaking a sweat because they have far more guns and soldiers?”
Yixing just lowered his head in utter resignation. “Fine.” He muttered. Yifan quickly pressed a kiss to the doctor’s temple hidden under longish, black hair.
“Stay here, hide and I’ll be back soon.” True to his words it didn’t take Yifan long to collect everything that was needed. He skillfully avoided all the guards and they left the bushes and quickly set off in the opposite direction of the camp.
*
They were already marching for few hours without a break. They were going through the thick forest and bushes to the mountain chain in the north. It was an unexpected move, so perfect to lose in a possible pursuit. Although Yifan was the one who was carrying heavy sacks, Yixing was the most tired out of the two of them. During their walk the taller from time to time give him some water and pieces of stale crumpet to munch on but didn’t let them stop marching. They didn’t talk much, there was nothing to say. For the last few kilometers to the cave at the foot of mountain, which Yifan had found years ago while traveling, he also carried an exhausted doctor. The good thing was that that for a werewolf, it wasn’t big deal, but the lightness of his mate concerned Yifan even more.
When they reached the cave, Yixing was soundly sleeping on Yifan’s back. The taller gently set him down and took out a blanket to wrap his mate in it. The cave was perfect. To get in, Yifan needed to fold almost in half but it was the only entrance and it had a high ceiling with just enough place for six bodies cuddled together. It was shallow so there weren’t any draughts or possibilities of creatures to attack them during sleep.
Yixing woke up to warmth. The cave was lightened by a burning fire and two rabbits were roasting on the stick above it. Yifan smiled at his mate who cutely licked his lips after inhaling the delicious aroma of their dinner. He wondered when the boy had last eaten a decent meal.
After the meal, Yifan decided to call it a day and checked the opening and surrounding area closest to the cave. He purposely left his scent around the entire area earlier so that it would deter other animals looking for food or shelter. There were not many beings who could fight a strong and dominative werewolf but he still felt that it was better to be safe than sorry.
He knew that the autumn here was far shorter than down south. The temperature day by day was getting lower and lower but there was still time until the first snow. Before setting off, Yifan needed to strengthen his mate’s body. The way to the south wasn’t short nor simple. They will need to avoid well-known roads and take the more savage and brutal paths.
“Change him!” Demanded beast.
“No, it’s too early. He will be too scared and weak so his chances to survive the process will be lower.” He argued back.
He turned to the inside of the cave and saw his mate wrapped tightly in blankets, sitting close to the fire and slightly dozing off. He, the fearless warrior, bloodthirsty werewolf, source of nightmares for soldiers centuries ago, almost cooed at his mate’s cute face. He reached for his arm and slightly shook it.
“Hey. If you want to sleep do it properly.” He said and didn’t wait for the answer. He bended lower and gathered his mate’s body in his arms, pressing him to his chest, taking a few steps to the side and gently set him down on the prepared makeshift bed. It was nothing fancy, just some leaves covered with a blanket but still more comfortable than bare stone.
Yixing sat there for a moment looking at Yifan with wide eyes. He seemed far more awake than seconds before.
“You know, you could just tell me to move. I’m not a princess or anything.” He said.
“I’ve noticed. Princesses usually don’t have dicks.” Yifan answered and smiled slightly at Yixing’s blushing face. He quickly sat behind him, with one hand encircled around his middle and in one swift move he laid them both down on their bed. He reached behind for another blanket and spread it over the two of them. Then he put his arm back on his mate’s stomach and spooned his smaller body to his warm chest.
Yifan smelled his mate’s distress.
“Relax, I won’t do anything funny. Unless you want me to.” He smirked and buried his face in the back of his mate’s neck. It made the younger squirm.
“My neck is oversensitive and very ticklish. Move.” He mumbled, embarrassed. The smell of slightly sour distress changed to something more spicy. Arousal.
“And what if I won’t?” Yifan teased. “No, wait. Do you really want me to move away?”
“What if I didn’t?” He heard words spoken in almost whisper.
“Then it’s my role to obey and please you.” He answered while Yixing turned in his arms and looked into his eyes. Even as a human he probably felt his wolf dominance because he quickly dropped his gaze lower to Yifan’s slightly plump lips. The elder couldn’t help but smile and kissed smaller one.
Their first time together wasn’t the first for both of them. Also it has nothing to do with love or other feelings but rather need and lust. It wasn’t gentle; both of them were looking only to satisfy their too long denied urges while Yifan tried to not to hurt the fragile boy under him. Well, at least not too much.
When Yifan came for third time inside Yixing he was sure his eyes turned golden. He growled lowly “Mine” but it stayed unheard by his mate because he passed out exhausted minutes ago. It was also a night when Yifan found out that the oversensitive and ticklish skin on Yixing’s neck, with well measured movements, can change the other into a moaning mess.
*
Morning brought them news that after their intense fucking session, Yixing will be unable to walk for at least three or four days. The younger’s middle was almost purple because of multiple bruises in the shape of fingers and his asshole bled. The latter fact made Yixing throw a tantrum at Yifan for ruining his body but he soon discovered that moving too much wasn’t an option. He gave up on any fight after older licked his ass clean and somehow it stopped bleeding and dulled the ache (and felt nice but Yixing wouldn’t confess to the few moans which left his lips). It also gave an opportunity for Yifan to baby his mate and feed him more. His beast was very pleased because during this few days of Yixing’s immobility, his slightly sunken cheeks had softened showing hidden charming dimples.
Yifan also discovered another cute side to his mate. Yixing loved to sleep in the most bizarre of ways that he’s ever seen. He couldn’t ever be sure of what kind of image he will wake up to. Mostly it was Yixing’s limbs spread haphazardly everywhere or crazily tangled with his own. With the doctor’s widely opened mouth and saliva dripping onto Yifan’s chest, the sight should be disgusting but to him it looked utterly adorable.
*
When Yixing was able to walk again they decided to leave the cave’s safety to finally start their journey to the south. During the whole day of preparations for it they argued as wanted to see his previous patients and his young helper before leaving. To get to the south, they still needed to walk next to the soldier’s camp but Yifan wanted to avoid it at all costs. It could be dangerous and after a full day of walking with his still fragile mate, he won’t be able to even defend himself if soldiers found them, a fight broke out and Yifan got his hands too full. But Yixing was stubborn.
“I just need to see them. It can be from afar. It’s my last duty as their doctor!” He argued. What Yifan had learned from the last few days was not to question Yixing if he got too fixed on something. To talk him out of it would be almost impossible and so it’s pointless to even start an argument. But still, all of his experience in strategy and knowledge was against the whole idea. Nevertheless, he prepared a plan. He knew that after supper, when the new guard’s schedule was being arranged, the camp was mostly unprotected while everyone gathered around the fire. It was their only chance but because of how late in the day it was, they will need to get closer to the camp so Yixing, with his human eyesight, can see anything. Yifan didn’t like that this whole plan could change to become an utter failure.
*
As Yifan predicted, they reached the area next to the camp, close enough so he could smell the soldier’s burnt supper but still safe for them. His mate was tired but still determined to see his helper at least. When they got close enough to see the curling trails of smoke and the crackling fire from faraway, Yifan’s instincts screamed in warning. He quickly grabbed the doctor’s arm and pressed down so they both squatted behind a huge bush.
“What’s wrong?” Whispered Yixing.
“What do you hear?”
“Soldiers from the camp.”
“What else?” Asked Yifan.
“Nothing.” Answered Yixing. Exactly, it was too quiet. The forest was too silent even for his werewolf enhanced hearing. There was nothing beside this rustling… It sounded familiar though…
“Brit…” Yifan started but was interrupted by the first shouts of commands and foreign soldiers’ loud responses mixed with whizzes of bullets. He quickly pressed his and his mate’s bodies flat to the ground with their sack slammed beside their side. Not far from them, the fight broke out with roars of bullets and commands hurled in a foreign tongue.
“What’s happening?” Asked Yixing, clearly dumbfounded by the sudden noises.
“The camp is under attack from the British soldiers.”
“What!? We need to help ours!” He tried to lift his torso from the ground but Yifan’s hand quickly pressed him back down.
“There is no ours. This fight has nothing to do with us. They wouldn’t ever helped you. If you got hurt they would just let you die or be killed by the Brits!”
“But I’m a doctor! It’s my duty to help them!” He tried to lift himself again but the hand on his back pressed even harder.
“It’s too dangerous for you to get any closer. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.” Yifan didn’t yell, but with Beast closer to the surface and encouraged by the increasingly stronger smell of blood, his voice was lower, breathy almost scary. Yixing was about to answer when suddenly they heard gunshots close by and screams from somewhere on the opposite side of the bush. Seconds after, the face of a dying soldier appeared roughly a meter away from Yixing. The man was crawling in the opposite direction to the camp and battle, with dark blood dripping from his mouth and fear pouring out of his eyes with tears. Yifan could hear the approaching soldier whom he assumed to be British so he, as silently as he could, slowly pulled his mate’s body under his own.
A Few unexpected occurrences happened in the span of mere seconds. The dying soldier suddenly turned his head and spotted them hiding under the bush. He reached his hand, grabbed Yixing’s forearm and yelled for help but was silenced with another shot. The doctor was too stunned by the sudden situation to react but Yifan was already squatting with each feet on the opposite sides of Yixing’s hips when the foreign soldier leaned out of bush with a riffle pointing ahead. Yifan didn’t even give him a chance to aim. He grabbed weapon in the middle and sharply yanked it out of enemy’s hands. The soldier’s finger slipped to the trigger, with a loud bang a bullet was fired.
Yifan was sure he got shot but unless the bullet was silver, he was safe. With too much adrenaline pumping through his veins he didn’t feel any pain at all. In his mind, there was only one clear thought running around his head like a mantra ‘Protect the mate’. With his werewolf strength, Yifan smashed the riffle’s handle into the enemy’s face so hard that the soldier’s nose broke into his skull killing him even before his body hit the ground.
Yifan knew he was bleeding at some point on his body although he still didn’t feel any pain. But he was sure that in the British troops, there was no-one who could track him by its iron smell so as soon as he and Yixing can run away from the battle, scene they will be safe.
He looked down. He was still standing with the doctor’s body between his legs. But there was something very wrong. With his clearer sight, he saw a dark spot growing rapidly in the middle of Yixing’s back. Yifan smelled blood which was soaking half of his mate’s robes. It wasn’t him who was shot, it was Yixing!
Yifan quickly stepped aside, terrified and scared more than even, even during all the wars he had ever experienced. He couldn’t lose his mate with whom he didn’t even have the time to properly cherish. He gently turned Yixing’s body. He was rewarded with groan full of pain and the sight of the growing dark stain on the front of his robe. His mate was still alive, but mortally wounded. The bullet went clean through the doctor’s body. Yifan slung their sack, gathered Yixing in his arms, slightly pressing his body to his chest and started to run through bushes with inhuman speed. He wanted to create a safe distance from the camp and fight. He needed to be completely sure that he won’t be disturbed during what he is about to do. He stopped in the middle of small meadow lightened by the moonlight. There were still three more days to the full moon. And hopefully, Yixing’s first change into a wolf.
He gently patted doctor’s unhealthy, pale cheek. Yixing’s eyes slowly opened. His breath shallow and Yifan’s finger sticky with blood.
“Do you trust me?” He asked. The doctor’s unfocused eyes looked at Yifan’s face.
“Do you?” He asked once again. He was answered with slight nod. “Good. So one day you will forgive me for what I’m about to do to you.” And he sunk to his knees and, with now sharper than human teeth, he bit into Yixing’s neck and slowly injected venom into his dying mate’s body.
The surrounding silent forest was disturbed by one single entity, a scream full of pain.
*
It was a sheer coincidence that at the moment he was in their new hide-out. He was blindly looking in their sack for the second knife he carried when he felt the stir of another body pressing to his left thigh. Yifan stopped moving for a moment and observed his unconscious mate. He could see outlines of Yixing’s body in the meager light from the fire burning outside their shelter. It was more or less a day after the bite so unless something went wrong he should soon regain his…
Yixing sat on makeshift bed with gasp like someone resurfacing from water.
“Yifan.” He whispered. “Yifan?”
“I’m here.” He answered and delicately grasped his mate’s cheek.
“Yifan!” Yixing just slammed his body into other’s chest. His arms quickly grasped the material on Yifan’s back and pressed into him even closer.
“I thought I had died! We were in the soldier’s camp but the British attacked! And there was this dying man asking me for help but I just froze! I couldn’t move at all! And then bam! I didn’t know what happened but suddenly my stomach started to hurt pretty badly! There was some hazed movement and another wave of pain! But far greater! And I knew I was dying! Totally and for sure! Complete darkness swallowed me wholly. And there was this annoying voice… even growling at me… Wait… What was it was saying? I don’t remember…” Yifan could already feel wet a patch on his clothes growing and his shirt staring to stick to his torso. Sobs and chokes interrupted his mate’s words from time to time as he calmly stroked other’s back.
“But bless all of the gods, fate or whatever it was just a dream! Probably the craziest I’ve ever had!” Yixing finished his short account. He pressed his face into Yifan’s hollow throat and inhaled deeply.
Yifan sighed. Now, let’s skip to the fun part, he thought.
“Yixing, it wasn’t a dream.” The pressure on his chest disappeared. His mate suddenly leaned back and searched his face in the darkness of their shelter. Yifan was pretty sure he could see nothing, even with his strengthened senses though.
“What do you mean?” He heard Yixing whisper. Yifan sighed again.
“I’ll tell you, but first let’s go outside. Our rabbits are probably already done.” He said and got an answer in the form of a loud growl from Yixing’s throat. He was guessing that doctor’s face was cutely red.
When they got out of the new shelter (which appeared to be a big pit between the roots of a huge tree) Yixing was welcomed by the sight of a campfire with an impromptu spit above it. Two headless rabbits’ bodies were roasting on it. Their skin already crispy golden. The doctor’s stomach once again reminded them about the need of feeling it.
Yifan quickly took the meat off of the spit and gave one of the rabbits to Yixing who without hesitation took a huge bite into it.
“You’phe not eatinmh?” He asked with a mouthful of food.
“No, I’ve already ate.” Which was truth as Yifan had already ate while hunting. “But it’s a good opportunity for explanations. You won’t interrupt me that much with your mouth busy.” He meaningfully raised his eyebrow at his mate who acted as if he was too focused on eating to be able to hear but Yifan saw his cheeks reddening. It completely gave him away.
‘But back to the explanations’ Yifan sighed.
“Everything that you called a dream before happened for real. You almost died. I bit you. You’re a werewolf now.”
Yixing choked. “Whapht?” He swallowed. “What?” He asked again with widely opened eyes.
“You’re a werewolf now.”
Yixing frowned. “Sure, and dragons are real.”
“That too, but it doesn’t matter for now.” Yifan answered.
“You’re nuts!” Yixing exclaimed and quickly stood, up dropping his half-eaten rabbit in the process. “I knew from the beginning that there was something wrong with you! With your head to be exact!” He started to pass the campfire on the opposite of Yifan who watched him with an unchanged face.
“Your freaky way of smelling me, hugging an unknown man! And then persuading me to run away together with you!” The doctor continued. “I can’t believe I trusted you and followed! Your madness must have rubbed off on me!” He stopped and looked directly at Yifan above the fire. “But werewolves? Aren’t you too big to believe in them? And telling this kind of bullshit fairy tale to others as if they’ll believe you?!”
Yifan sighed. Denial. Well, still better than running away.
“But that’s what I am. Now you, too. I wanted to wait honestly. With the Change, I mean. I planned to court you for some time to at least make you trust me fully. Then, after some time, change you so I could cherish my mate forever.” He slowly said.
“Court me?! Do I look like a damsel looking for my warrior?!” Yixing was yelling again. “And this mate thing again! You keep saying that I’m your mate-” He suddenly stopped. “What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Yifan answered honestly. But even from this distance he saw flecks of gold in the doctor’s eyes. He took a deep breath. Ever since this morning he could already smell hints of wolf musk in Yixing’s scent but now it had gotten stronger. It made his own beast stir and quietly purr. Mate.
He saw the doctor’s eyes growing even larger in something akin to a mix of horror and surprise.
“How can you speak to me without moving your mouth? Are you like one of those guys from a circu-” He asked but didn’t finish. His knees suddenly gave out and he supported his body with his hands while lowering his head. “What-” He murmured.
Yifan was beside him in no time. “Yixing?”
The doctor’s head suddenly snapped up. Yifan was welcomed with wholly golden eyes. The other was staring at him unblinking. His beast stirred closer to the surface and Yifan couldn’t stop the low purr escaping from his mouth. The doctor took deep breath and quickly lowered his eyesight to the other’s mouth. A small smile graced Yifan’s lips.
“Submit, wolf.” He ordered quietly.
The doctor froze completely for a second in hesitation but then he turned his head to the side, showing his vulnerable throat to him. Yifan leaned into it and inhaled Yixing’s scent. He pressed his lips to other’s pulse. He slowly put his hand on the doctor’s thigh and, with a soft touch, travelled to the other’s tummy. Yixing whined quietly.
“Good.” Yifan praised and rubbed soothing circles on other’s middle. He could smell that his mate was pleased with praise.
“Mate.” He heard other’s purr like voice.
“Yes.” He agreed immediately. “But now give back control to Yixing.”
The doctor leaned back and looked at Yifan’s face, directly into his eyes. He tilted his head to the side in very wolfish manner. After he blinked a few times his irises were back to a warm brown color with a few golden flecks. Yixing gasped loudly while still staring into Yifan’s eyes.
“What was that…” He whispered. He wanted to lean back further but Yifan’s arms around his shoulders stopped him.
“Your wolf.” The older simply answered.
“I couldn’t move but my body was moving. I couldn’t speak but words still left my mouth...” The doctor continued like he hadn’t heard Yifan’s answer.
“It was your wolf.” He tried again.
“My wolf?”
“He took control over your body.” Yifan explained. “He is a personalisation of your new werewolf nature.”
“So my body from now on won’t listen to me?”
“No, unless you give your wolf the control.”
“How can I get rid of him?” The doctor asked. Yifan’s beast growled inside of him.
“You can’t. Yixing, he is like your new roommate or sibling which will never leave you completely alone. He’s a part of you. Inseparable.”
The doctor lowered his gaze to Yifan’s chest. His body went slightly limp.
“Thanks to this new union you gained a lot too.” Yifan continued trying to sound comforting. “Your body and senses are strengthened. You’re stronger, can heal quickly, smell, see and hear things which normal humans cannot. And you will never fall ill.”
“Normal humans… which I’m not one of anymore…” A quiet murmur reached Yifan’s ears. “Never fall ill?” With sarcasm dripping over Yixing’s words he slowly rose his head. “Too late. This werewolf thing… It’s mental disease which you passed onto me!” He screamed into Yifan’s face. He thrashed in the other’s arms. Yifan didn’t let him go. He held him even tighter, pressing Yixing’s body to his chest waiting for the doctor to calm down.
“Tomorrow is a full moon and your first change. I won’t leave you alone during that.” His voice was rock hard. “Or for any other reason.” He was deeply hurt by the doctor’s reaction but didn’t let himself show it. This hadn’t went along with his plan. Like most of things so far. Unplanned Change. Mate’s rejection. And only worse things were going to follow.
*
Part 2