❀ a touch of the wild (by thesockmonster)

[astrongbreeze]

author: thesockmonster
title: A Touch Of The Wild
rating: R
length: ~10k
summary: wolf au! In a small town, in a small high school, Kyungsoo finds someone he didn't know he wanted.
notes: This entire thing has been so fun. I love that I was given the opportunity to work with an artist, and asked to be a part of this project. Thank you to everyone running it, and to Kit who helped come up with the idea for this story.
fanart collaboration partner: ninifocus (click here for fanart)



A Touch Of The Wild

Oak Wood is a small town.

With a population of only several hundred, it’s common that everyone knows everyone. It’s a tight knit community, where family extends further than blood and respect runs deep. It’s tucked next to a sprawling forest, with most of the buildings made of brick and the shops all locally owned and operated.. It’s the way they’ve always been and it’s the way they want to stay.

Kyungsoo is one of the many who live in this town. At eighteen years old, he’s on the cusp of adulthood, on the cusp of venturing out into the world after he graduates high school. He’s not that worried about it. He knows his future will lead him right back here, right back to this town to put down his roots.

With his backpack slung over his shoulder, Kyungsoo waits out on his porch, watching the wind rustle through the trees, listening to the creaking of the porch swing as it sways. He loves it out here. There’s so much open space, so much room to breathe. Kyungsoo’s always felt at home here, been allowed the freedom to roam as he pleases.

He tips back on his heels, running a hand through his hair, letting his fingertips catch on the shaved underside on the way down. For his entire life, Kyungsoo had kept his hair natural and short, but this year is different. He felt different, and he let it show. He’d gotten the sides of his head shaved, and dyed the rest a deep red after growing it out long enough to fall in his eyes. He loves it.

The sound of tires pulls Kyungsoo’s attention and he hops down the stairs and walks out to the road just in time for a large red pickup to stop alongside the curb. The windows are rolled down and Jongin waves from the back of the truck, his hair a wind-blown mess and a smile on his face.

There are eight boys total in the truck, and most of them are in their red varsity football jackets, including Chanyeol, the driver. Kyungsoo tosses his bag through the window before opening the door and climbing inside. Chanyeol doesn’t bother to wait for Kyungsoo to buckle before he’s speeding away, howling laughter coming from the back as several of the guys topple onto each other.

Since their town is so small, their school is in the next town over. It’s a solid half an hour drive, and Chanyeol spends the entirety of it singing at the top of his lungs to a mix of Beyonce and Lady Gaga. It’s endearing in an obnoxious sort of way. By the time they’re pulling into Chanyeol’s designated parking spot, everyone is singing the chorus to Run The World. They don’t stop even when Chanyeol cuts the engine and everyone starts jumping out, grabbing their bags as an afterthought.

Jongin hooks his elbow around Kyungsoo’s neck and Kyungsoo breathes him in, laughing as someone else starts fixing the strands of Kyungsoo’s hair. None of the other students look at them funny; they’re used to the behavior. Jongin drags Kyungsoo over to where the rest of the guys are huddling, wedging them in between Joonmyun and Minseok.

“Alright, tonight’s game plan,” Joonmyun begins, trying to wrestle Jongdae back into the circle. There’s so much restless energy emanating from all of them. Kyungsoo can feel it in his bones.

“Cabin at 6?” Chanyeol guesses.

Joonmyun gives him a nod. “No later. We all need to be inside by sun down. No slip-ups like last time.”

They all turn their eyes to Baekhyun.

“Oh come on, no one saw me,” Baekhyun huffs. “It was one time.”

Chanyeol cuffs Baekhyun gently on the back of the head, and the unofficial meeting is over. Kyungsoo is invested in watching the way Baekhyun looks ready to lunge for Chanyeol when Jongin wrests him away again, this time in the direction of the school entrance.

Kyungsoo doesn’t take offense at being pushed around. They both know that if they were pitted against each other, Kyungsoo would come out on top. So Kyungsoo lets Jongin be his clingy guide all the way to their lockers. Jongin raps two knuckles on his locker door and it pops open. Several folded letters fall to the floor, brightly colored hearts decorating the paper. Kyungsoo watches as the tips of Jongin’s ears go red when he stoops to pick them all up before anyone can see them.

“Hey,” Jongin says, hastily hiding the letters in the back of his locker, “can I tag along with you tonight? I don’t feel like being alone.”

“Yeah,” Kyungsoo replies, emptying his stuff into his locker and hanging his backpack on the hook. “You know you don’t have to ask.”

“I know,” Jongin sighs. “But thanks. I’m just gonna get out at your place after school.”

Kyungsoo snorts in amusement. Jongin has three older sisters, so he understands why Jongin wants his space, tonight of all nights. “Cool. Now get your slack ass to class before I tell Baekhyun about those love letters.”

Jongin gasps, grabbing his books and slamming his locker shut. “You wouldn’t!”

Kyungsoo just laughs.

The thing about Kyungsoo and his friends - and almost the entirety of their town, really - is that they’re just not quite human. In fact, the small towns that border them also have a high population of what humans would call supernaturals. They all know who each other are, and they play their identities close to the chest to anyone outside their own. The smattering of human families in these towns are blissfully unaware, and that’s how they want to keep it.

Kyungsoo is a werewolf. Along with his friends - all of whom are also werewolves - they’ve created their own pack. Pack laws aren’t rigid like they used to be; to adapt to modern times, the laws have become rules, and they’re more fluid to allow more freedom and growth. Kyungsoo and his friends are a splinter pack from the main pack they grew up in. It was just easier, and brought them more comfort when they were able to band together, especially when going outside pack territory for school.

They weren’t allowed to be on their own for full moons until recently, when they were able to prove they had control over their wolf during the full moon. The cabin belongs to Joonmyun’s family, and it’s buried so far into the forest that no one aside from werewolves know it’s even there. It’s also away from where the main pack roams. They get the entire area to themselves.

Kyungsoo can’t wait to get out there. Even in the middle of the day, he can feel the pull of the moon beneath his skin. He knows they all do. Everyone is more rowdy, fidgety even during class. Kyungsoo tries to focus his attention on the teacher, but it’s too hard. He doesn’t like not knowing what’s going on and yet everything else is more interesting. The patterns the water stains on the ceiling have made are more interesting. The pencil shavings threatening to fall from the corner of the teacher’s desk are more interesting.

The way that kid is paying more attention to Kyungsoo and his friends is more interesting.

Sehun.

Sehun is one of the few humans living in their town. He’s always been quiet, always been the type to follow rather than lead. His eyes seem too knowing for Kyungsoo’s liking. He’s heard about Sehun from other supernaturals. Sehun likes to investigate, convinced that the people around him aren’t people. He’s not wrong, but if anyone came out and said it, it would come with severe consequences.

Sehun is constantly jotting down notes in what they’ve dubbed his field notebook as if Sehun is researching animals and not the people around him.

Kyungsoo’s never really paid him any mind. Sehun’s never intruded on him, and he’s harmless. He can take all the notes he wants, but none of them will ever hold any water. Everyone just leaves the human alone and lets him do as he pleases. Still, with Kyungsoo’s restless state, and the low hum of movement behind him, he finds watching Sehun watching Chanyeol to be far more entertaining.

The air turns on and Kyungsoo watches as the chocolate brown strands of Sehun’s hair lift in the back from the soft breeze. Sehun visibly shivers, and even from the other side of the room, Kyungsoo can hear Sehun’s sharp intake of air. Kyungsoo finds himself smiling, still watching as Sehun tries to draw his arms into his tshirt, a scowl on his pink lips.

There was a time when Sehun was a wisp of a boy, all bone and skin, but he’s starting to fill out. Kyungsoo has to admit that he’s finally grown into himself, and that he’s gone from plain to handsome. He sticks out more, and Kyungsoo takes notice of all the girls that now throw looks his way.

When the bell rings, Kyungsoo finds himself dealing with Chanyeol sprawled over his back, complaining that no one was meant to be cooped up in such hard chairs for so long. Kyungsoo listens the entire way down to lunch. By the time he’s seated with his food, he’s forgotten about the boy with chocolate brown hair who is sitting by himself one table over.

Energy is crackling in the air. The cabin is spacious, but when nine guys are inside, each of them ready to vibrate out of their own skin, it feels stuffy.

Everyone takes to the change differently. Some are jittery, like Jongin who can’t stop biting at the skin around his nails. And others are like Chanyeol and Baekhyun who can’t stop talking. Right now, they’re talking over each other while no one listens. Zitao is in the kitchen, helping Joonmyun whip up something to eat for when they get back to the cabin after their run. And by helping, Zitao just clings to Joonmyun because Joonmyun’s scent has always calmed Zitao more than any.

Yixing is sitting on the couch, one of Baekhyun’s hands in his as he plays with Baekhyun’s fingers. Baekhyun doesn’t take any notice, but he does allow Yixing to tug him closer, eventually pulling Baekhyun down on his lap even as Baekhyun babbles away. Off to the side, Minseok is doing push-ups. Jongdae has taken a seat on Minseok’s back and is counting for him.

Kyungsoo, as usual, is drinking lots of water. The shift always leaves him with a dry mouth, and it’s drink water or bite his nails to the quick like Jongin. Kyungsoo feels itchy all over, but less out of control with the comforting scents of his pack all around him. He’s grown up around all of them, been friends and sometimes enemies with all of them. The nine of them are closer than anyone, and Kyungsoo is constantly thankful for that.

The sun goes down in the horizon, casting darkness over the room. No one bothers with the lights; they can see just fine without them. They wait, impatiently, for the moon to begin rising over the trees, stripping out of their clothing so nothing gets ruined.

The change isn’t painful. As werewolves, it is natural to be in either form. They are built for this and Kyungsoo embraces it alongside his pack. They burst into the night on paws, howls ringing out through the crisp night air. Kyungsoo looses a few howls of his own before Jongin is nipping at his ears, wanting to go bounding into the trees. He’s always so energetic, and Kyungsoo lets Jongin herd him deep into the trees, the rest of the pack giving chase.

Tonight, it’s all about embracing their animal side. In the morning, they’ll all crowd back into the cabin, not bothering to dress until after they’ve devoured all the food in the place. Then they’ll pile up to sleep for hours. This is Kyungsoo’s life, and he never wants it to change. He never wants to lose this.

No one mentions that nearly the entirety of the football team was absent on the same day. No one ever does.

Kyungsoo finds himself back in school, sitting in a hard chair, and with more inclination to pay attention to the teacher now that the moon has relinquished her hold on him for the next three and a half weeks. One thing, however, does draw him away from the lesson, and that’s Sehun.

Sehun isn’t even pretending to listen to the teacher. His focus is on the far back corner of the room, where Chanyeol, Jongin and Joonmyun are slumped in their desks, scrawling lazy notes. Sehun’s eyes are narrowed and he’s taking notes of his own, although Kyungsoo suspects they’re not history related.

Kyungsoo rests his cheek on his hand, head turned to watch Sehun. The kid really has determination and that’s a quality that’s admirable. It’s also cute the way he scrunches his nose and sends a glare up at the vent when the air turns on again. Sehun puffs out a breath that blows his bangs out of his face and Kyungsoo’s eyes glaze over. Sehun is far more interesting than school, and Kyungsoo’s grades have always been good, so he can take a break this one time.

Kyungsoo tunes out the rest of the day, lethargic as he leans on Joonmyun’s shoulder during lunch, letting Joonmyun feed him. They’re all subdued, still recuperating from two nights ago. It always takes a few days to feel normal again.

This time, Kyungsoo does notice Sehun sitting at the table beside theirs, all by himself with his nose in his field notebook and his food mostly untouched. Kyungsoo frowns and the spoon Joonmyun was feeding him with now collides with Kyungsoo’s chin, smearing barbecue sauce across his chin and mouth. Chanyeol snorts out a laugh as Zitao reaches over from Joonmyun’s other side with a napkin to wipe it clean.

Kyungsoo pats his hand in thanks, while still keeping his eyes on Sehun. It’s not that he’s particularly interested in Sehun, because he’s not, but it’s too much effort to redirect his focus. He mildly regrets going extra hard when Chanyeol antagonized him during their run. Chanyeol’s always been faster, but Kyungsoo rose to the bait anyway.

Sehun is at least nice to look at though. For a human.

“I hope lunch kicks in soon,” Jongin mumbles. “Cause if it doesn’t, we’re going to be shit at practice.”

The rest of them groan, while Kyungsoo and Yixing share a grin. They aren’t part of the team.

Luckily for the rest of them, the food does seem to kickstart their energy. At the end of the day, they’re nearly leaping over each other to get to practice as Kyungsoo makes his way to the bleachers. Yixing is occupied with his art club thing, and Kyungsoo never found the draw of an after school activity particularly compelling. But he does stay to watch the football team practices - mostly because Chanyeol is his ride.

He sits at the top of the bleachers, books out to do his homework during practice. It’s a good thing too, because he never has a chance to do it at home when Chanyeol decides to invade. Chanyeol enjoys kicking Kyungsoo’s ass at Mario Kart, but it’s alright because Kyungsoo trounces Chanyeol in Tricky Towers.

Kyungsoo half pays attention to his work, stifling a laugh when he hears the coach pulling the guys from the pack to the side for special training. It’s code for playing so you don’t hurt the frail humans on the other team. They haven’t had an accident yet, though, so Kyungsoo figures the training must be effective.

Kyungsoo is about to go back to his work when he hears the scrape of something dragging on the metal bleachers, and a low hiss of pain after. His head snaps in the direction of the noise out of instinct, only to find a familiar face on the opposite side of the bleachers. Sehun is clearly trying to hide, and Kyungsoo just knows Sehun is jotting something down in that notebook of his again. He’s so persistent, and it’s really adorable.

Kyungsoo watches him for another minute before going back to his homework. His calculus problems aren’t going to do themselves.

Kyungsoo, like most werewolves, is a creature of habit. The people he surrounds himself with are the ones he’s known his entire life. The habits and routines he formed when he was a child have persisted over the years and helped mold him into who he is now. That’s why it’s always startling when something changes. It’s even more startling when it’s one of his pack members who initiates the change.

“Hey guys, you know Sehun, right?” Baekhyun announces to the group during lunch. Eight boys immediately stop shoveling their faces with food to stare up at Sehun who looks like a deer in headlights beside Baekhyun. “I thought he could sit with us since we have space and he doesn’t take up much.”

There’s a glint in Baekhyun’s eye, just like there always is when he’s about to get into trouble. Kyungsoo doesn’t say anything, but the group ultimately decides to make room for him. Zitao is enthusiastic about it, patting the spot beside him so Sehun can wedge in. When Sehun sits, Kyungsoo can see the corner of that notebook sticking out of Sehun’s inside jacket pocket.

Sehun has his own lunch, but Minseok takes one look at his sandwich and wrinkles his nose, grabbing the homemade lunch and moving it out of reach. “You aren’t eating like that around me,” Minseok declares. Everyone starts sliding food toward Sehun who seems taken aback by the gesture before mumbling a thanks.

“See?” Baekhyun says as he pets Sehun’s hair. “I told you they wouldn’t bite.”

Sehun’s answer is muffled because his mouth is full. Zitao coos over him and Baekhyun looks awfully pleased with himself. Kyungsoo tries not to pay Sehun any mind, but it’s not easy when Sehun is suddenly in his territory. It’s not like Kyungsoo has a natural response to get Sehun out of his space, but it’s different. And Kyungsoo isn’t sure if he likes different.

Different follows Kyungsoo outside of school when he finds that Zitao has brought Sehun along to the diner. Auntie Kim’s is the most popular (re:only) diner in town, and it’s open twenty-four hours with a hearty menu that spans all three meals at all times. So it’s not unusual to see a different crowd every time they all come in to eat once a week, but Sehun is sitting with them.

The ten of them take up several tables that are pushed together, and Sehun manages to be seated directly across from Kyungsoo, flanked by Zitao and Jongdae. There is curiosity plainly written on Sehun’s face as he watches the way the pack moves together, all loud noise and laughter, but never out of control.

Kyungsoo has to stifle a laugh at the way Sehun’s mouth drops open when Chanyeol and Jongin order a twelve person breakfast platter to split. He’s positive that all their eating habits are going to make an appearance in Sehun’s field notebook. After all, teenage boys can eat a lot, but teenage werewolves can easily triple that.

“Relax,” Minseok says in a low voice from the end of the table. Sehun can’t hear it, but Kyungsoo does. Kyungsoo cuts his eyes over at Minseok, only to see Minseok grinning at him. When he turns forward again, Sehun is staring at him. Kyungsoo expects him to stop, but he doesn’t. Sehun simply looks at him with his pretty eyes and tongue swiping over his pink lips.

Kyungsoo tilts his head, intrigued. Of all the humans Kyungsoo has seen, none of them act the way Sehun does. None of them are as perceptive. And certainly none of them are so bold as to blatantly stare. It’s almost tempting to let his eyes flash amber, just to see Sehun’s reaction, but that could get them both in trouble.

It isn’t until Yixing’s elbow knocks into Kyungsoo’s arm that he looks away. Baekhyun easily draws Kyungsoo into a conversation, spilling about Yifan - a nature sprite - who has been not so subtly hitting on Joonmyun for the last few weeks. Joonmyun doesn’t find it amusing, but everyone else does. Kyungsoo just thinks it’s cute. Yifan is tall and has a resting bitch face that puts everyone else’s to shame, but he’s a total softie.

The rest of the pack, of course, has to join in on the teasing. Kyungsoo watches as Joonmyun’s cheeks turn pink and he tries to deny it all. Sehun starts laughing along and Kyungsoo is drawn to it. Sehun catches Kyungsoo’s eye, his smile radiant, and Kyungsoo has to look away.

It doesn’t mean anything. Sehun’s just a human.

“Don’t you think it’s a little weird?” Kyungsoo asks, wedging his socked foot under Baekhyun’s thigh.

Baekhyun makes some sort of grunt in response, his attention still on his homework in his lap. They’re sprawled on Kyungsoo’s couch, trying to study, but Kyungsoo’s mind is elsewhere.

“Sehun,” Kyungsoo states. “It’s weird that he’s always around.”

Baekhyun finally glances over at Kyungsoo, the tip of his finger in his mouth. His canine is pressed into the pad, turning the skin white and Baekhyun seems to think a moment before his hand drops. “He’s cute,” Baekhyun comments with a shrug. “Like a pet. Or a mascot.” Baekhyun beams. “He’s our mascot!”

“But he’s human,” Kyungsoo reminds Baekhyun. “He doesn’t even know what we are.”

“You mean aside from boisterous?” Baekhyun teases. Kyungsoo cuts his eyes at him. “Okay, look, we’re just having fun. And Sehun never has anyone else around, so it’s not like we’re bothering him.”

“But he keeps showing up to pack only stuff,” Kyungsoo whines.

Baekhyun screws up his face. “Pack only,” he snorts. “When did we make those rules? We hang out. There’s no harm in him hanging out with us.” Baekhyun reaches over to tap his fingers on Kyungsoo’s knee cap. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling me,” Baekhyun wheedles.

“Well, I have been meaning to tell you that blond isn’t your color,” Kyungsoo announces.

Baekhyun’s hands immediately fly to his hair in horror. “You take that back!”

Kyungsoo bursts out laughing, and the subject of Sehun is lost. It’s better this way. Kyungsoo doesn’t want to think about that unpleasant feeling that sank into the pit of his stomach at the thought of Sehun being a pet.

Maybe he’s just being protective. The pack is Kyungsoo’s family and if anything or anyone threatens his family, he’s going to do everything he can to stop them. Sehun could be a threat, with his field notebook and his inquisitive eyes that drink in all the interactions of the pack when he’s sitting amongst them.

Maybe that’s why Kyungsoo can’t stop the way his eyes are drawn to the human. It doesn’t hurt that Sehun is nice to look at. He’s sturdy, broad, and yet there’s a frailty to him that comes hand in hand with being human. Kyungsoo sees that frailty in Sehun, and somehow, wanting to protect the pack from Sehun has now become wanting to protect Sehun as part of the pack.

When they’re messing around after school, Kyungsoo will be the first one to intervene if anyone gets too rough with Sehun. They call Kyungsoo a spoilsport, and start up something new that Kyungsoo will eventually have to break up later.

It’s starting to get cold outside. Browning leaves fall to the ground, crunching under their feet and when they launch themselves into piles. None of the pack are susceptible to the cooler temperature, but Sehun is. His cheeks will grow pink and his long fingers will turn red, and Kyungsoo doesn’t understand this need to go over and warm the human. He resists it for as long as he can, but one day he simply can’t.

Sehun is picking leaves out of his hair, laughing as Zitao starts raking the leaves back into a pile so someone else can take a turn. Sehun is out of breath, his cap fallen off ages ago, and the redness in his fingers looks painful. Kyungsoo sighs, brushing the leaves off his jeans as he walks over to Sehun.

He tugs on Sehun’s arm, and a surprised Sehun follows Kyungsoo off to the side. “Give me your hands,” Kyungsoo orders, cutting right to the chase.

Sehun obeys without a hint of reservation despite the confusion on his face. Kyungsoo takes Sehun’s hands in his own, nearly wincing at how cold they are.

“Geez, don’t you retain any body heat?” Kyungsoo complains as he rubs his hands over the cold skin, hoping to warm it up until it’s not so red.

“No,” Sehun answers, sniffling a little.

Kyungsoo would chide him, but he stills his tongue. Sehun has his attention on their hands, and Kyungsoo peers up at him, a little in awe. He never noticed how long Sehun’s eyelashes were, or how prettily they fan over his cheeks when he blinks. Sehun’s lips are chapped, several shades darker than they should be, and slightly peeling. That gut feeling to protect surges forward stronger than before.

It takes a while for Sehun’s hands to warm, and before Kyungsoo lets Sehun go back to the rest of the guys, he takes off his beanie and stands on his toes to shove it on Sehun’s head. “There,” Kyungsoo states. “And next time, wear gloves.”

The smile Sehun gives him is blinding, and Kyungsoo stands there like an idiot for a solid minute before Yixing slinks over to wrap an arm over his shoulders. “I think there are leaves down the back of my jeans,” Yixing whispers. “Can you get them for me?”

Kyungsoo laughs, spinning Yixing around to help him.

It was one thing for Baekhyun to declare that Sehun was the pack pet when it was just him and Kyungsoo, but now he’s doing it publicly. He makes sure to sit next to Sehun during lunch, his nails scratching through Sehun’s hair as he coos at him. Sehun doesn’t seem to mind, but Kyungsoo does.

It irks him to know that’s how the pack sees Sehun, and he isn’t sure why. He knows it’s all in jest, and that there’s no harm meant in it, and yet Kyungsoo bristles every time the word passes from Baekhyun’s lips. He has to suppress a growl, and stares down at his food, staunchly ignoring the way Baekhyun is fawning over Sehun.

After lunch, Kyungsoo pulls Sehun aside, tucking them in a corner at the end of the lockers. “Don’t you have any pride?”

Sehun blinks at him, taking a step back. He hits against the wall and stops. “What do you mean?”

“I mean Baekhyun is treating you like a puppy, like his pet, and you just let him. It’s like a game to him.”

“So?”

“So?” Kyungsoo hisses. “It doesn’t bother you that he thinks of you that way? That they all do?”

“Do you?” Sehun asks.

The question startles Kyungsoo. “What?”

“Do you think of me as some kind of pet?”

“That’s not -”

“Because I like you,” Sehun blurts out. “I mean, I like all of you, but you’re the one I want to kiss,” Sehun confesses.

“Sehun,” Kyungsoo breathes, shaking his head. He pushes his fingers through his hair and looks up at Sehun who is staring at him with such an earnest expression that it hurts. “I’m - I’m not -” Kyungsoo sees the exact moment he breaks Sehun’s heart.

“I get it,” Sehun croaks, swallowing. He slips out of the corner and heads toward class.

Kyungsoo stands there, feeling like shit. His heart is pounding and there’s this instinct that wants to follow Sehun. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.

The tardy bell rings and Kyungsoo curses. He’s late.

Kyungsoo can’t sleep. It’s after one in the morning, and he’d gone for a run earlier, hoping to tire himself out, but it was no use. He just can’t sleep. It doesn’t help that every time he closes his eyes, he sees Sehun’s face, sad and dejected. It makes his wolf grumble, and Kyungsoo feels like he’s fighting against an invisible enemy.

He tosses and turns before he finally throws his blankets off and gives it up as a lost cause. He just can’t stop thinking about Sehun. Kyungsoo takes a look at his clock, then out the window. He only hesitates a little longer before opening his bedroom window. He pulls his shirt off over his head, shimmies his boxers down to his ankles, then leaps out the window.

The good thing about Kyungsoo’s house is that the tree line hides the backyard. He lands in the grass, four paws soaking up the dew before he darts for the trees. Jongin’s house isn’t far away and Kyungsoo heads in that direction. He slinks through the trees, careful to remain hidden until he gets to Jongin’s place.

Jongin is a heavy sleeper, so Kyungsoo props himself on Jongin’s window and scratches on the glass. He perks his ears, listening for Jongin moving. It takes a several minutes before Jongin lets out a groan. Kyungsoo hears a dull thud after, which means Jongin probably rolled himself right off his bed.

Moments later, Jongin’s window is open and Jongin’s chin is propped on the frame, his eyes half-closed.

Kyungsoo shifts back to human form, standing to see his best friend as Jongin tries not to fall back asleep. “Hey,” he whispers.

Jongin repeats the greeting, reaching out to pet through Kyungsoo’s hair. “Can’t sleep?”

“Yeah,” Kyungsoo admits.

“Is it Sehun?”

“How did you -?”

Jongin snorts. “I’m your best friend, Soo,” he reminds Kyungsoo. “I can tell when you’re into someone. And I can also smell the tension there.”

“He confessed to me today,” Kyungsoo confides with a sigh.

“I take it you weren’t very receptive.”

“I was taken by surprise,” Kyungsoo says defensively. “Besides, I didn’t even know what I was feeling. How was I supposed to know that all this craziness is because I actually like the guy?”

“Yeah,” Jongin breathes. “Sounds awful.”

Kyungsoo purses his lips. “Don’t be a dick.” Sighing, Kyungsoo rests his chin on Jongin’s window frame too. “But he’s human,” Kyungsoo whispers.

Jongin tweaks Kyungsoo’s nose. “And?”

“And so much,” Kyungsoo answers, flailing his arms a little. “There’s so much that could go wrong.”

“Kyungsoo, humans aren’t the same as us, true, but that doesn’t make them any less worthy. A human could be just as good a mate as another werewolf. All that matters is how you both feel.”

Kyungsoo rests his cheek on the window frame, sighing. Jongin scratches his head, a sympathetic look on his sleepy face. Kyungsoo appreciates Jongin, and the fact that he doesn’t mind Kyungsoo waking him up at all hours of the night for his silly problems.

Kyungsoo doesn’t stay much longer, letting Jongin get back to bed as Kyungsoo bounds back home. Tomorrow, he thinks. He’ll talk to Sehun tomorrow.

Sehun is definitely, without a doubt, avoiding Kyungsoo.

After being blown off during class, Kyungsoo has taken to sniffing Sehun out during lunch. It’s not easy to pinpoint Sehun’s exact scent when there are so many scents to sift through, but he does find it. He just has to pull out the familiar smell of the human who carries around the scent of a pack.

Sehun is in one of the empty music rooms, his legs swinging as he sits on one of the back tables, picking at the top piece of bread on his sandwich. Kyungsoo didn’t even know Sehun brought lunch to school anymore since Minseok and the rest of the guys have been very vocal about feeding Sehun with better food since the first day he sat with them. And if the expression on Sehun’s face is accurate, Sehun isn’t keen on eating his sandwich either.

Kyungsoo clears his throat and Sehun startles, his sandwich falling to the floor. Sehun scowls down at it, and then at Kyungsoo.

“Sorry,” Kyungsoo offers.

Sehun just sighs, hopping off the table. “What do you want?” Sehun inquires, brushing crumbs off his pants, and still scowling.

“To talk,” Kyungsoo answers, moving forward a few steps as Sehun grabs his stuff and tucks it in his arm.

“I think you got your point across already,” Sehun grumbles.

Kyungsoo sweeps a hand through his hair. He was hoping for a livelier Sehun, but he gets it. He wasn’t exactly a receptive audience yesterday. “I don’t think I did,” Kyungsoo begins. “You caught me off guard.”

Sehun pauses, looking over at Kyungsoo instead of at the papers he was trying to straighten in his folder.

Kyungsoo inhales and takes another step forward. “Sehun,” he starts, for once feeling nervous, “I’d like to date you.”

To Kyungsoo’s surprise, Sehun’s frown returns. “That’s what you came here to say?” Sehun asks. He lets out a huff and walks toward Kyungsoo. “Now who is playing with who?” he quips as he keeps going straight passed Kyungsoo and out the door.

Kyungsoo stands there, his body flooding with emotion and his heart pounding against his ribs. He doesn’t understand what just happened. He thought Sehun liked him. Kyungsoo had a realization about himself because of that and now Sehun isn’t interested?

Kyungsoo is still standing there when he hears Sehun rush back into the room. Kyungsoo turns around as Sehun stops in front of him.

“I’ve rethought my position,” Sehun announces. “I’d love to go out with you.”

“Are you sure?” Kyungsoo asks. “Really sure?”

“Yes,” Sehun breathes. “Tonight?”

“Tonight?” Kyungsoo parrots, caught off his guard again.

“It’s Friday. A perfect night for a date.”

Kyungsoo swallows. “Okay, tonight.”

Auntie Kim’s - the home of nearly every first date in Oak Wood - is where Kyungsoo takes Sehun. He’d borrowed his mom’s car, showed up at Sehun’s a little early, and promised Sehun’s parents that he wouldn’t have Sehun out too late. To his surprise, Sehun’s parents didn’t seem to mind Kyungsoo keeping Sehun out late, and Sehun was blushing by the time they’d gotten out the door.

Now they’re tucked in a corner booth, menus ignored. Sehun has his straw in his mouth, his pink lips wrapped around the end, and Kyungsoo can’t stop staring. He’s only a little convinced that Sehun is doing it on purpose.

It’s still weird - knowing that he has a crush on someone. Only Kyungsoo isn’t sure if he would call it a crush. Werewolves tend to feel things more intensely than humans and the protective instinct he has toward Sehun is more than a crush. The way his chest tightens and a smile tugs at his lips when Sehun looks at him is more than a crush.

Kyungsoo thinks he’s well and truly sunk.

It’s also comfortable. The diner is one of those safe spaces - the walls filled with framed news articles of local urban legends (most true but no humans know that), and the deep red booths squeaky, and the food served in portions meant for more than one. Kyungsoo’s always loved this place, and now he’s here with Sehun and it feels right.

Sehun also seems to have dropped his guard. He’s not very talkative when they’re in a group together, but he smiles easier, holds a conversation with Kyungsoo without prompting, and Kyungsoo soaks it all up greedily.

“I’ve never been on a date before,” Sehun mentions after they’ve ordered. He has a spoon in his mouth, licking off the taste of cherry cola after stirring several more cherries into the drink.

Kyungsoo chuckles. “I can’t imagine why,” he teases.

Sehun pulls the spoon from his mouth and wrinkles his nose. “You asked me,” he huffs.

“I did,” Kyungsoo beams. “Are you enjoying it so far?”

Sehun clucks his tongue. “The company is nice,” he states. “But I was hoping for more action.”

Kyungsoo nearly chokes on his own spit.

“I mean, aren’t werewolves supposed to be all dominant and stuff?”

Kyungsoo blinks. “Were-whats?”

Sehun cuts his eyes at Kyungsoo. “Fine, don’t tell me. I’ll figure it out for myself.”

Kyungsoo half expects Sehun to pull out his field notebook, but Sehun doesn’t have it with him tonight. It’s just Sehun in a pair of jeans that cling to his long legs, and a cream sweater that shows just enough of his collarbones to be enticing without meaning to.

“So you’re saying that you’re not enjoying yourself?” Kyungsoo finally asks. He isn’t expecting the feel the tip of Sehun’s shoe caress the side of his calf.

“I am,” Sehun says with a shameless smile. “Now I get all your attention for myself.”

“Pretty sure you’ve had all my attention for a while,” Kyungsoo admits.

Sehun scoots closer, looking far too willing to let Kyungsoo push him down onto the booth and eat him alive. Kyungsoo has to fight against his instinct to do just that when their waiter appears with their food.

It’s going to be a long meal.

As it turns out, Sehun doesn’t switch off his shameless want for Kyungsoo’s attention now that he has it. Even in front of the pack. Kyungsoo thought it would bother him, honestly. But it doesn’t. In fact, it makes him swell with pride as Sehun links their arms together, letting Kyungsoo lead him to class, or toward the cafeteria.

“I can’t tell if Sehun is actually on Kyungsoo or if they’re melding into one at the thighs,” Zitao comments, a cheeky grin on his face.

Baekhyun is the one who ducks his head to look beneath the table. “Sehun’s thigh is over Kyungsoo’s,” he announces when he sits up. “No melding yet,” he sighs. Zitao pouts.

“I give it a week,” Joonmyun states.

“That long?” Jongdae scoffs.

“Maybe switch to an hourly timetable,” Minseok suggests. “Seven days into seven hours.”

“That sounds more accurate,” Sehun chimes in, resting his head on Kyungsoo’s shoulder.

Kyungsoo doesn’t feel the need to comment as he wraps his arm around Sehun to hold him. It feels right, and he’s not going to fight it. He gets his fill of Sehun’s scent, of Sehun’s warmth, and he just wants to protect him and keep him. And kiss him again because the one they’d shared last friday was toe curling despite how short it was.

Kyungsoo gets to listen to Sehun whine about useless school assignments, talk about his love for morning cartoons, and music and dancing and all sorts of little tidbits that Kyungsoo would have never guessed. In turn, Kyungsoo finds someone he hasn’t grown up with, someone he can tell a story to who hasn’t heard it in six variations yet. He loves hearing Sehun’s snorting laughter after he tells him about the time Chanyeol accidentally lit his leg hair on fire.

There’s so much life in Sehun. During school, it wasn’t easy to see, but when he isn’t focused on taking notes about people’s peculiarities and matching them to supernatural creatures, there’s so much energy for everything else. And it’s easy. It’s natural for Sehun to tuck himself against Kyungsoo. It’s natural for Kyungsoo to bring Sehun down and leave a soft, lingering kiss on his lips.

Kyungsoo wants to keep this.

There’s sort of a tradition in Oak Wood. If a couple make it through their third date, the fourth date is makeout point. It’s a total cliche and Kyungsoo cringes at the thought of it because he knows well the kind of antics people get up to at makeout point. And none of those antics are what the overlook is named for.

But he finds himself driving up to makeout point anyway, mostly to see the look on Sehun’s face when he realizes where they’re going. They haven’t done more than share a few short kisses, so the implication of Kyungsoo guiding the car to one of the edge spots near the trees and putting it in park is quite obvious.

Sehun reacts rather well, considering. Kyungsoo watches him get stuck in the seatbelt as he takes it off, and then Sehun is leaning over the center console, dragging Kyungsoo into a kiss.

This is completely acceptable.

Kyungsoo gets a hand in Sehun’s hair, pushing the strands back as he tilts his head. Sehun makes this little whining noise that settles in Kyungsoo’s chest, squeezing tight around his heart. Sehun pulls back a little and they stare at each other. It’s dark, but Kyungsoo can perfectly see the pink in Sehun’s cheeks and the heaviness of his breathing. Sehun licks over his lips, his eyes focused on Kyungsoo’s mouth.

Kyungsoo begins dragging Sehun back to him when he hears it. There’s the sound of paws on the ground, and then the entire car shakes as something hits the hood. Sehun lets out a shriek and Kyungsoo sees a flash of reddish fur before it’s gone, shaking the vehicle again.

Chanyeol. Kyungsoo is going to kill him.

Sehun manages to get himself over the center console and mostly in Kyungsoo’s lap, arms locked around Kyungsoo’s neck and his eyes wide. “Shit, what was that?” Sehun hisses, his wide stare glancing between the windows.

“Probably the wind,” Kyungsoo explains, running a soothing hand up Sehun’s back.

Sehun turns to him, lips pursed. “If I pretend to believe that load of crap, will you kiss me again?”

“Yes,” Kyungsoo quickly says.

He’s still smiling when Sehun kisses him again. It’s a lot better this way; Kyungsoo can fit his hands on Sehun’s waist, on his thighs. Sehun presses against his chest, his long fingers finding a home in Kyungsoo’s hair. Kyungsoo sits up taller, arms around Sehun’s chest as he licks through Sehun’s lips, listens to the way Sehun moans and squirms against him.

“There’s not enough room,” Sehun breathes. His hands fumble with Kyungsoo’s seatbelt, and Sehun leans back, his elbow jamming into the horn.

They both let out a startled noise, then burst into giggles. This is completely ridiculous.

“Back seat,” Kyungsoo urges.

Sehun nearly knees Kyungsoo in the face in his haste. Kyungsoo’s reflexes save him, and he helps guide Sehun back, then follows, pushing Sehun down on the seat as he rests between Sehun’s legs. “This is more like it,” Sehun comments as he pulls Kyungsoo down.

Kyungsoo doesn’t bother answering, preferring to kiss Sehun instead. A lot.

Kyungsoo doesn’t neuter Chanyeol for his stunt, but he does tell his mother that the new dent on her hood is courtesy of Chanyeol. She’ll do much worse to Chanyeol if he doesn’t fix it than Kyungsoo ever could.

Kyungsoo is satisfied with that, and with the way everyone in the pack so readily accepts that Kyungsoo isn’t messing around when it comes to Sehun. The only down side to that is they won’t go away.

Kyungsoo takes Sehun out for dinner. The pack shows up before they order and invite themselves along for the entire meal.

Kyungsoo drags Sehun out to the football field to have lunch together even though it’s freezing outside. The pack manages to hunt them down and sit in a circle around the couple as Sehun tries to feed Kyungsoo.

Kyungsoo takes Sehun to the small traveling carnival that sets up in the next town over. When they get there, the pack is waiting for them and Kyungsoo scowls as Baekhyun tugs Sehun away from him to drag Sehun to the mini games.

Kyungsoo just wants to be alone with Sehun. He wants to kiss Sehun and hold Sehun and listen to the way Sehun’s voice will get all pitchy when he’s complaining about something that really frustrates him. Like algebraic equations. Kyungsoo wants to sit in silence with Sehun and just be.

“Hey!” Zitao exclaims just after they all stumble away from the double ferris wheel. “Let’s go to the old drive-in on Saturday. They’re having a a monster movie marathon all weekend.”

Zitao is asking Sehun, and when Sehun agrees, after glancing at Kyungsoo, the rest of the pack is in too. Kyungsoo slumps against Joonmyun who wraps an arm around him.

“I know,” Joonmyun sighs. “Just give it time and the new will wear off and you’ll have Sehun all to yourself.”

“Not soon enough,” Kyungsoo grumbles. “He’s my boyfriend. They need to go get their own.”

Joonmyun laughs, all crinkly eyes and bright white teeth.

“Hey now, don’t think I didn’t see the way Luhan was sizing you up earlier,” Kyungsoo states. “Between him and Yifan, there’s going to be a seasonal war over which one will win you over.”

Joonmyun wrinkles his nose, then shrugs. “May the best nature sprite win,” he beams.

“Have you no shame?” Kyungsoo laughs, poking Joonmyun in the side with his elbow.

“They’re both hot!” Joonmyun says in defense. “There’s no harm in enjoying the pre-show before the main act.”

Kyungsoo clucks his tongue. “I didn’t raise you this way.”

Jongdae rushes over, nearly barreling the two of them over. “What’s taking you two so long?” he asks, grabbing them both by the wrist and walking backwards as he pulls them toward the group. “It’s funhouse time!”

Kyungsoo and Joonmyun groan. At least Sehun looks excited.

For the first time in his high school career, Kyungsoo skips the football game. He usually sits in the crowd, quietly watching in a show of support for his pack while the people around him scream their heads off. It feels weird not being there, but it’s easily pushed aside because he finally gets Sehun alone.

They’re at Sehun’s house - a precautionary measure in case the pack decides to search for Kyungsoo in his own home after the game. Sehun’s room is, well, a lot like Sehun. There are newspaper clippings of some of the weirder occurrences in the town, the browning edges flowing over posters and pictures. It gives the room the feel of a museum or one of those cheesy television shows with detectives.

Sehun sits in the chair at his cluttered desk, licking over his lips nervously.

His field notebook sits on the top, and Kyungsoo sees various other notebooks filled and tucked off to the side. Before Sehun can stop him, Kyungsoo goes for the notebook. He flips it open to the first few pages as Sehun watches, bottom lip in his teeth. Kyungsoo can hear the way his heart speeds, can see the nervous way Sehun twists his fingers together.

There are drawings on some of the pages, small notes scribbled in the margins. Anything that strikes Sehun as possibly supernatural ends up on the pages - including the time Yifan left a trail of leaves behind him for an entire afternoon. Kyungsoo remembers that day; it was the first time Yifan spoke to Joonmyun.

Kyungsoo turns the pages until he gets to a section that’s about his pack. The first observations are on Chanyeol, and then lines span from Chanyeol’s name with the rest of the pack labelled. There’s a small alpha? beside Chanyeol’s name that’s been marked out. It almost makes Kyungsoo laugh that Sehun thinks Chanyeol could lead, or that any of them would let him.

There are pages and pages and pages dedicated to The Pack. Kyungsoo finds notes about wolves on one page, trying to guess which ones apply to werewolves too. There’s one very interesting diagram drawn out that includes a knot on the alpha werewolves.

Kyungsoo looks up at Sehun, holding up the page for Sehun to see. “That’s quite the illustration.”

Sehun’s eyes grow wide and he stands, trying to grab for the book, but Kyungsoo is too quick.

Kyungsoo sighs. “Didn’t they teach you about anatomy in biology?” Kyungsoo inquires. He snaps the notebook closed and tosses it toward the desk. “I think I’ll have to give you a refresher course.”

Sehun, who had been scared before, now eagerly backs toward his bed, allowing Kyungsoo to push him down and then crawl over him. His heart is beating faster for a different reason now. Sehun’s fingers slide through Kyungsoo’s hair and a whimper skitters up his throat as Kyungsoo leaves a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

“Where should we start?” Kyungsoo hums. Teases.

Sehun inhales a shaky breath.

Kyungsoo stares down at Sehun’s mouth and can’t help himself. He just hopes Sehun’s parents don’t come home any time soon because he plans to show Sehun exactly what anatomy he has.

The old drive-in movie theater has been the location for a lot of the town’s events; it’s a big open space, and the grass has mostly all grown back as the gravel wasn’t replaced over the decades. It’s only been in the last few years that the town has started using the place as a theater again.

No one drives up, but they bring large blankets and their own snacks. Once a month, there’s a themed movie weekend that begins on a Friday night and ends Sunday afternoon. This weekend, the theme is monster movies.

As their group situates near the back of the lot, two heavy blankets under them and another one bundled around Sehun, Kyungsoo finds himself more peaceful. Now that Sehun is completely coated in Kyungsoo’s scent, his wolf is satisfied, and Sehun seems to be as well. They weren’t able to do more than make out before Sehun’s parents invaded, but Kyungsoo was able to get his hands on enough of Sehun, and that was enough.

Sehun sits beside Kyungsoo, holding out the blanket for Kyungsoo to join him. Kyungsoo wiggles out of his jacket before joining his boyfriend, grinning at Sehun before they kiss. A few of the pack coo at them, but Kyungsoo doesn’t mind. They all know that Sehun is his.

It isn’t until the movie starts that Kyungsoo gets annoyed again. He sighs deeply and shares a look with Joonmyun when he notices that the pack has brought them to see an old werewolf movie. At this point, Kyungsoo is all but sure that Sehun can’t be talked out of thinking they’re werewolves. The pack isn’t even being discreet about it.

Halfway into the movie, they start howling along with the werewolf on the screen. Sehun is staring at them in awe, and Kyungsoo groans, burying his face in Sehun’s neck. Why does he stick around with these idiots?

Kyungsoo’s scent eventually fades from Sehun. Kyungsoo doesn’t like this one bit.

He brings Sehun over to his house to remedy this problem, but Baekhyun shows up. One by one, the rest of the pack arrives, including Joonmyun who has a suspicious amount of leaves stuck in the hood of his jacket. Kyungsoo would corner him and make him fess up if he wasn’t so distracted with how very much he wants everyone to leave so he can be alone with his boyfriend.

Next time he’s going to take Sehun someplace where they won’t be interrupted.

Kyungsoo scowls as he sits on his couch, wedged in the corner with Sehun halfway on his lap. He wraps his arms around Sehun and leans his head on Sehun’s back. He feels the rumbling of Sehun’s laughter and, okay, this isn’t so bad. But he’s still irritated.

The forest that surrounds the town can be overwhelming. There are many a tale of men getting lost and never being seen again, thought to have wandered into the depths and been snatched by some horrible darkness. Most of those tales aren’t true.

The forest is beautiful, vibrant, full of life. Kyungsoo finds himself at home amongst the trees, and this time, when he escapes into the forest, he brings Sehun with him. Sehun can’t turn into a wolf; he can’t run with the wind whistling in his ears and his paws dampening the sound of his weight hitting the forest floor. Sehun is only human, but Kyungsoo imagines that maybe one day, they can change that.

“It’s amazing out here,” Sehun tells Kyungsoo as he stares up at the canopy overhead. The sunlight filters through in slants, and Sehun stands in one, eyes closed as he soaks it all in. It’s a warm winter day. The trees serve to block the winds, and the temperature is higher than it should be, which is absolutely perfect.

Kyungsoo’s frustrations over sharing Sehun with his pack have been whittling away at Kyungsoo’s patience, and now he finally has Sehun alone. No one is going to find them here unless Kyungsoo wants them to.

He walks up to Sehun, fingers on Sehun’s chin to get his attention. Sehun’s eyes are sparkling from the sunlight when he stares down at Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo’s heart beats loud, and his instinct to take is slipping through. When he kisses Sehun, it’s soft, but not for long. Sehun whimpers, whines into Kyungsoo’s mouth as Sehun licks through Kyungsoo’s lips in search for more. Always more.

Kyungsoo takes hold of Sehun by the back of his neck, tilting his head as he sucks on Sehun’s tongue, keeping Sehun right where he wants him. Kyungsoo kisses Sehun until the human boy is breathless and has to pull away. Kyungsoo isn’t sated. He drags his lips along Sehun’s jaw, to his ear, to his neck where he leaves a trail of kisses down to Sehun’s shoulder. Sehun shivers, goosebumps scattering over his exposed skin.

“Kyungsoo,” Sehun whispers, his hands now pushed beneath Kyungsoo’s jacket, roaming down to the curve of Kyungsoo’s butt. Sehun moans softly, sweetly. “Don’t stop,” Sehun commands. “Please don’t stop.”

Kyungsoo has no intentions of stopping. Sehun is warm in his arms, molding around him so effortlessly as Kyungsoo noses along his skin. Kyungsoo moves forward, backing Sehun against a tree. He has more leverage this way, more control as he slides a thigh between Sehun’s legs.

Sehun makes these little noises and Kyungsoo kisses him again, moaning as Sehun rocks against him now, cold fingers finding a way under Kyungsoo’s shirt and down the back of his jeans. He jerks, shivering, and Sehun clamps down on Kyungsoo’s lower lip as he inhales sharply.

Kyungsoo growls. He wants to drag his nails over Sehun’s skin, wants to strip him down and touch him, mark him, let the world know that Sehun is his. It’s difficult not to give in, but he knows he can’t. They’re not there yet, not ready for Sehun to join his world. Yet.

This is good enough. Sehun moaning into Kyungsoo’s mouth as they rock together with the trees as their audience is enough. Kyungsoo can hear Sehun’s heart beating, can feel the fluttering of his pulse beneath his skin, and how hard Sehun is between them. Sehun grinds against Kyungsoo faster; Kyungsoo swallows, gripping tight to Sehun’s waist.

Kyungsoo lets his instincts guide him, his mouth running up Sehun’s neck as the fire inside him burns hotter. He’s never wanted so much. He’s never craved so much. He just wants -

Sehun lets out a deep groan, his hips stuttering forward and Kyungsoo just can’t help it. He nips at Sehun’s neck, just beneath his ear, hard enough to draw a droplet of blood. Sehun jerks so hard that his head hits against the tree. The satisfaction of what he’s done has Kyungsoo backing away proudly.

Sehun is flushed and sweating, breathing hard as a hand runs up to his neck. When he draws his hand back, his eyes grow wide. “You bit me,” Sehun states, eyes flickering between Kyungsoo and his fingers.

“Only a little,” Kyungsoo explains. “Nothing that will harm you.”

Sehun blinks a few times before nodding.

“I wouldn’t do anything to change you without your consent,” Kyungsoo clarifies.

Sehun licks over his lips, stepping toward Kyungsoo, only to fall back on the tree again on wobbly legs. “Then what was this?”

“Cheating,” Kyungsoo admits. “Now you’re mine, although not permanently. When that heals, there won’t be a scar, but it will take longer for the claim to fade. When it does, if you want, I’ll do it again.”

“But what does it mean?” Sehun urges.

“It means,” Kyungsoo begins as he crowds against Sehun, resting his palms on Sehun’s chest, “that I can finally share my secrets with you. Without consequence.” It’s a cheap cheat to get around the rules, but if Kyungsoo is going to be with someone, he wants them to know all of him, not just the parts he’s allowed to show the rest of the world. They both need this.

“Like the whole werewolf thing?” Sehun guesses.

Kyungsoo laughs, running a hand through his hair. “Yes, like the werewolf thing.”

“I knew it,” Sehun exclaims, looking rather pleased with himself. He’d probably be jumping around if he wasn’t still sluggish and lingering in the afterglow of rubbing himself off on Kyungsoo.

Kyungsoo rolls his eyes fondly. “I know you did,” he assures Sehun. He steps up to his boyfriend and drops a kiss on his mouth. “Now come on. There’s a cabin not too far from here where we can talk. I don’t want you to catch a cold.”

Sehun shuffles away from the tree and makes a face, staring down at his jeans.

Kyungsoo laughs. “I’ll find another pair of pants for you too.”

The night air is crisp, and every panting breath that Kyungsoo exhales plumes into a cloud that soon disappears. His paws make little sound over the forest floor, even as he chases his packmates through the trees. The full moon is high in the sky, vivid and bright and perfect for a winter run. Kyungsoo’s fur keeps him warm, and all his worries slip easily into the darkness, leaving him carefree and full of energy.

Kyungsoo runs for hours. He runs with Jongin on his heels and with Joonmyun at his side. He runs with Jongdae’s howling ringing in his ears and the dull thud of Zitao hitting against Chanyeol to get him to play. It’s almost perfect.

Kyungsoo leaves before the sun comes up, leaving the pack to continue their run as he takes off toward the cabin. The only thing this night is missing is Sehun. Kyungsoo aches to be at Sehun’s side, and he rushes there now.

It’s mildly annoying that he has to change before he can open the door, but he’s silent, changing back into his wolf just after. Sehun is asleep on the couch, a comforter tucked around him and his arm dangling off the edge. He looks so peaceful, so innocent.

Kyungsoo walks slowly toward him, licking over Sehun’s hand to wake him gently. Sehun stirs after a few moments, his eyes cracking open. A stunning smile spreads over his lips and he rolls onto his side, holding his comforter open. The couch is big - because a pack takes up a lot of room - so it’s not too tight a squeeze when Kyungsoo wiggles himself onto the couch and into Sehun’s arms.

It’s a little warm under the blanket when Kyungsoo has his own coat of fur, but he doesn’t mind. Sehun curls an arm around him and uses Kyungsoo as a pillow as he falls back asleep. Kyungsoo, despite not being tired, lays there, content.

In the summer, they’re all going to graduate. Their pack is going to fracture and spread over the country for college. But they’ll all be back, and they’ll be a single unit again. Sehun will be a part of that, Kyungsoo hopes. Because he never wants to let this precious human go.