i want to ache for you

You don’t have much time to dwell on it, because the door to the back clicks openly sharply and your name rings out into the waiting area. Nicho gets up first, pocketing his phone before helping you up out of the chair. He makes small talk with the nurse as she leads you both back to an exam room. 

The next few minutes go by in what feels like a blur. The nurse takes your vitals and asks about your medical history. You answer as best as you can, with Nicho chiming in every once in a while when you feel a little too spacey to come up with a response. She finally leaves the room with the promise that the doctor will be in soon.

You can feel the weight of Nicho’s gaze from across the room, so you busy yourself with picking aimlessly at the paper on the exam table. He says your name once, gently. You hum, but don’t look at him. He says it again, this time with a little more force. Reluctantly, you lift your head to stare at him. 

“You’re thinking too much. Stop stressing. It’s going to be fine,” he says, his tone vaguely reminiscent of Euijoo’s alpha voice. But as much as he tries, it’s never going to have the same effect as the alpha’s actual words. Your body relaxes, but only a smidge. 

“What if it's not fine though?” you ask hesitantly. 

He sighs and sits up straighter in his chair. “That’s why we’re here. We’ve talked about this.” His tone is sharp. 

“But I don’t want you to feel like you have to…” you trail off as the door to the exam room opens. 

Your doctor strolls in, a happy grin on her face. “Hello, hello! Good to see you as always!” she chirps. She glances around the room and pauses for a moment. “Just you two today?”

From the corner of your eye, you can see Nicho frown once again. “Euijoo’s at work,” he concedes. 

She nods, clearly aware of the uncomfortable air that has settled in the room. She sits down in the rolling chair and slides forward a bit. “So, what brings us in today?”

You begin to fidget with your clothes. “We’re uh…,” you glance over at Nicho who gives you a nod of encouragement. “We’re ready to start trying to conceive, I think.” 

Her eyes light up immediately. “Really? Oh that’s great! Wow, has it really been that long? It feels like just yesterday you were mated.” Which is a fair question if you’re being honest, because she’s been your doctor since before you three were even dating. You nod shyly. 

“Alrighty then,” she says, crossing one leg over the other. “How are we planning to…go about this then?” she asks, waving a hand between you and your omega mate. 

Her smile is still bright, so you steel your nerves and continue. “Nicholas is nervous about the whole…concept of pregnancy, I guess. So we decided that I would try and get pregnant first, so that if he eventually decides he wants to have a baby himself, he knows what to expect.” You pause for a moment, letting her take in the information. “We’re here today because we just want to make sure I'm healthy and everything. That my body is ready for it.”

“Well,” she says, “let’s get started then.”

A few hours later, Euijoo finds you and Nicholas cuddled up on the couch, fast asleep. A stack of pregnancy related pamphlets sits on the coffee table and he pretends to ignore their existence. Frankly, the fact that you both look exhausted and his own overwhelming guilt are more pressing matters. He tried so hard to get off work for this appointment, but his clients had last minute changes they wanted done before the deadline tomorrow. The guilt ate him alive all day as he watched the hours tick by, knowing that you and Nicho would be sitting in that cold, sterile doctor’s office alone. 

You had been vulnerable with him a few weeks ago, voicing your anxiety about the appointment. And stupidly, he had promised that he would find a way to get the time off so he could be there with you. He should’ve known better than to make a promise he couldn’t keep. 

Euijoo can see the sticky residue of a scent-blocking patch peeking out from underneath Nicho’s collar. The skin around the area is red and puffy. He must have used the regular patches instead of the ones made for sensitive skin. Euijoo makes a mental note to grab another box at the store tomorrow. 

In the meantime, he pads toward the bathroom to grab some itch relief cream. He stops in the bedroom for a moment to change into comfier clothes. There’s a 99% chance the t-shirt he put on is actually yours, based on the clean, cottony scent emanating from it. Though at this point in your relationship, it’s yours just as much as it’s his and Nicho’s. 

When he finally returns to the living room, you’re awake and scrolling on your phone. You clearly know he’s there based on the way your eyes flick up when he crosses the threshold, but you don’t give him the liberty of a greeting. Fair enough, Euijoo thinks to himself. I would be mad at me too.  

After a moment, he wills himself to finally approach the couch. He squirts a bit of itch cream onto his finger and deposits the tube on the table. You watch silently as he kneels, pulls back the neck of Nicho’s shirt, and lightly dabs the cream onto the inflamed area. 

At first, you don’t say anything. You simply stare at him in silence. But once he’s done and is wiping his finger on a paper towel, you speak up. “I told him we had time to pick up a new box before the appointment, but he refused.” 

Yeah that’s not surprising at all. It’s exactly something Nicho would do. But the way you say it makes it sound like an apology. Like you’ve been carrying the guilt of that action all day. You and Euijoo are more similar than it may seem. 

“It’s okay,” he shushes you. He’s silent for a beat, and then, “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your appointment.” 

You seem to stew in your thoughts for a second before responding. “I forgive you. I know you wouldn’t have missed it without a good reason.”

He nods. “Did it go well?”

“Yeah. She said I seem perfectly healthy. Just waiting to hear back about my bloodwork results. If everything looks good, we can start…trying…whenever.” 

It doesn’t matter how long you three have been together and how much sex you’ve had, any mention of getting pregnant makes you stumble over your words. It’s an endearing trait that Euijoo has come to adore over the past few months of discussion. You very rarely get shy with them anymore, so it’s nice to see that side of you again. He reaches out to cup your cheek. “That’s good. Do you think you want to wait until our cycles? Or start sooner?” 

You frown a little bit and Euijoo takes a second to admire the scrunch in your face. “Start sooner I think? I don’t want our cycles to feel like a chore. Like it’s something we have to do and not something we want to do.” 

He can’t help but agree with what you say. “Okay, we can do that,” he says, brushing a thumb against your lower lip to stop you from biting it. “Just tell me when you’re ready.”

Less than a week later, Euijoo strolls into the kitchen and drops an envelope onto the table in front of you. You stare blankly at it for a few seconds before your brain processes the health center logo. Blinking a few more times, you push the envelope toward Nicholas, who sits across from you. He raises a brow questioningly at you. “I don’t wanna open it,” you murmur, just loud enough for him to hear. 

Initially, he rolls his eyes. But eventually he gives in and tears it open. He glances over the paper quickly before smirking. “Clean bill of health. No concerns,” he says proudly.

“That’s great,” you hear Euijoo say from the kitchen. “So we can start trying whenever?”

You stare down at the table in front of you. “I guess, yeah,” you mutter. 

Euijoo’s stare bores into the back of your head. “What’s wrong?” he asks, stepping closer to you and Nicholas. 

“Nothing’s wrong,” you say, still avoiding eye contact with either of them. 

You can hear Nicho scoff, and then the chair next to you scrapes the floor as Euijoo pulls it out to sit down. He reaches out to brush his thumb against your cheek. “Seriously, what’s wrong? I know you were nervous about this appointment, but this is exactly the news we wanted to hear.” 

God, he’s way too gentle for an alpha. How did you manage to bag him and Nicho? “I, uh,” you begin. “It’s just a little too real now, I guess. It’s kind of…daunting.” 

Euijoo hums and pushes the collar of your shirt down to run his wrist along the scent gland on your neck. You nod, a little drunk on the feeling. Or maybe that has something to do with the soothing pheromones Nicho has been releasing. Either way, it calms your nerves. “It is a lot to think about, huh? Don’t worry too much about it right now. We’ll take it slow. Nothing has to change much right now. We can let everything happen naturally. And if something happens, we’ll face it all together, alright?” 

Once more, you nod. He scents you for a little longer, before standing up and ruffling your hair. “I’m going to shower. If you’re still nervous, you can talk it over with Nichol.” 

You watch as the alpha pads back toward your shared bedroom. The air is heavy and silent in the room now. You try your best to focus on your phone again, but Nicho’s eyes never leave you. You squirm under his gaze until you can’t handle it anymore. “Why are you glaring at me?”

He’s squinting at you like you’re a puzzle he’s trying to solve. “There’s something else that’s bothering you,” he says sternly. 

Damn him for knowing his own mate too well. “No there’s not,” you counter. 

“I can tell by your scent that you’re lying,” he deadpans. 

You stare defiantly at him. He stares back blankly and you know this is a battle you’re definitely going to lose. Nicho is nothing if not stubborn. “I’m just worried that we’re going to be neglecting you during this process, I guess. I want trying for a baby to be fun for you too,” you admit. 

“Baby, I think I could cum untouched just from watching Juju fuck you.” You breathe a sigh of relief, but are quickly concerned again when he flashes a mischievous smile at you. “But don’t worry about me. I have an idea.” Nicho and the word “idea” should never occur in the same sentence, especially when it comes to sex.

And that’s how you find yourself in your current predicament a few hours later.

You’re naked on your back, legs spread wide and held down by Nicho’s arms. He’s lapping furiously at your cunt, like he’s been deprived of this his whole life (spoiler alert: he has not). Euijoo kneels behind him, brows furrowed in concentration and tongue poking out as he fingers the omega open. 

The alpha must hit the right spot, because Nicho pulls back and lets out the filthiest moan. “Yeah?” Euijoo asks with a smirk. “You think you’re ready?” The omega nods furiously. You hear the crack of a hand coming down on skin and a yelp that follows moments later. When you look up, Euijoo is softly rubbing the curve of Nicho’s ass. “I didn’t say stop, did I? Don’t leave our girl all neglected.”

Before you can even register the words, the omega dives right back in. Plush lips suck harshly at your clit and you whine. From somewhere else in the room, you hear Euijoo shushing you. Hypocrite you think to yourself. He’s so loud when he’s not domming. Nicho pulls you out of your thoughts with a few more harsh sucks and your orgasm hits you like a freight train. Your eyes roll back and everything goes quiet. The only thing you feel is overwhelming pleasure.

When you finally come back to, Nicho is still above you, though he’s panting softly. The telltale rock of his hips and the reappearance of Euijoo behind him tells you that the toy has finally been brought out. After a moment, the omega gasps and a loud pop fills the room. 

“Oh god it’s bigger than I remember,” he rasps. You can see the alpha’s pitiful pout from over Nicho’s shoulder. The room is quickly filled with the stench of displeased alpha, so the omega quickly corrects himself. “Not bigger than you though, Juju.” The acrid smell begins to fade immediately. Typical alpha.

“Up,” Euijoo says, tapping lightly at the skin of Nicho’s hip. Gently as though to not shift the toy now nestled in inside him, Nicho crawls up the bed to lean against the headboard. You shuffle to rest between his legs. Your alpha plants his hands on either side of you and you look up to meet his eyes. He smiles gently down at you. “Hi baby,” he says, leaning down to kiss your forehead. “You ready?”

You nod eagerly and glance down between your bodies. His cock hangs heavy between you, thick and red and pulsing from lack of attention. You wrap your arms around him as he hikes one of your legs up, before pushing himself in. It feels as if he’s going agonizingly slow on purpose and you feel yourself getting antsy with need. 

When he finally bottoms out, you sigh with relief, knowing that he’ll fuck you soon. But instead of moving, he pauses. “Juju, please,” you whine, nails clawing at his back.

He winces a bit at the sting. “Give me a minute, baby. Just wanna look at you for a moment.”

“He’s just holding off because he’s about to cum just from the idea of breeding you,” Nicho whispers dirtily in your ear.

Euijoo shifts his weight so he can reach up and pinch the omega’s thigh, who yelps in response. “Brat,” he mutters. Then, he leans over to where his phone rests on the bed and clicks a button. You hear the toy begin to faintly buzz and Nicho reacts with a broken gasp. 

With the omega preoccupied, Euijoo finally moves. He pulls almost all the way out before plunging back in. The feeling is delicious, the slide smooth and languid from your earlier release. Within a few thrusts, he finds your sweet spot and you can't help but shudder. And your mates know that response a little too well, because Nicho pulls your leg up higher while Euijoo smirks. 

But two (three, you suppose) can play at that game. You reach out to where the alpha’s phone sits and move the slider farther to the right. The toy’s buzzing gets even faster and Nicho’s hips buck up against you. You can faintly hear him whisper, “fuck.” 

A hand lightly grazing your nipple pulls your mind away from the momentary win. You suck in a sharp breath at the unexpected feeling. Nicho fingers twirl delicately around the bud and he must have licked them right before because they’re fucking wet. He tweaks it again, less gently this time and you hold back a moan. “Juju’s gonna love how big these get when you’re pregnant,” he says with much more composure than you were hoping for. “Right Jju?” 

When you look up, the alpha groans and nods enthusiastically. His pupils are blown, eyes almost entirely black rather than their normal chocolate brown. There’s sweat dripping down his temples and his mouth hangs open, panting. He makes a particularly deep thrust and you gasp, reaching out to grab Nicho’s free arm. He wraps himself around you even more in response and leans down to press a kiss to your head. “Shhh, you can take it,” he mumbles into your hair. “I know you can.” 

The hand on your breast trails down, farther and farther until it reaches where you want it the most. He teases you at first, fingers ghosting over your clit for a few seconds. Then he dives in, circling it just how you like. And you swear the alpha and omega are telepathically connected because, at the same time, Euijoo finds the perfect angle, ramming into your sweet spot over and over. 

You’re too preoccupied with the intense pleasure to notice Euijoo leaning over to increase the speed of Nicho’s toy once more. The room becomes hot and heavy, the sound of various groans, cries, and gasps filling the air. Euijoo’s knot is just starting to swell, catching on your walls as he continues to thrust shallowly. Nicho is hard and throbbing behind you, eagerly grinding against your back. You feel yourself getting closer and closer to the edge and you’re egged on by the thought of your two mates being just as close. 

The final straw is your alpha leaning down to kiss and suck at the mating mark on your neck. You quiver as your climax hits you, and you feel yourself contract against Euijoo’s rapidly expanding knot. He mumbles something against your skin, though the pleasure makes it too hard to hear what he’s saying. You do notice the way one of his hands reaches over to the phone. You have half a mind to realize he pushed the knot button on the toy’s app, if Nicho’s cries and the stickiness along your back are any indication. 

Euijoo’s knot finally expands all the way and he twitches inside you as he releases. He drops more of his body weight on top of you and your mind blanks out. You can’t feel anything but full, full, full. 

After a minute or so of bliss, you come back to the world of the living. Euijoo has flipped you both over to your sides to lay more comfortably while tied together. Nicho’s still behind you, one hand petting your hair gently, the other palming over the small bulge in your lower abdomen.  “I think our little alpha has a breeding kink,” he whispers into your neck. 

Euijoo’s face, red from exertion, flushes impossibly more. “No I don’t!”

“It’s alright if you do Juju, it’s hot,” the omega teases him. “I don’t think I’ve seen you cum that much since the first time you knotted me.” 

The alpha buries his face into your neck. You brush some stray hairs off his forehead, sticky with sweat. “It’s okay, I liked it,” you reassure him.

The room falls into a comfortable silence as everyone catches their breath. You can’t help but wish you could pause time, sit here with your two mates forever. But you’re soon interrupted by Euijoo pressing his hand overtop the same spot that Nicho’s lays. “You think it will take?” he mumbles to no one in particular. 

You hear Nicho laugh sharply behind you. “Definitely. You gave her enough to have a whole litter at once.” 

You can know the exact moment that Euijoo processes the words, because his cock twitches inside of you. “Byun Euijoo!” you scold, smacking him lightly on the chest.

“I’m sorry,” he stammers, hips wiggling against yours. “I can’t help it.” Your body responds by clenching down on him and he chokes on air. His knot throbs and you writhe at the feeling. 

Nicho giggles behind you, clearly pleased with the predicament his two mates are in. So, you lean back to pinch his thigh. “Stop it or I’ll make him put a baby in you too,” you grit out from between your teeth.

Also who said the plants in his room aren't used fo their...medicinal effects?

Euijoo - Leader #1 Negotiations. Some people don't understand how someone with his face can be a leader of a mafia group. Watch him effortlessly gain Territory and favours by charming them.

He doesn't really fight, but if he has to, he has a small knife hidden in the back pocket of his pants.

Fuma - Leader number #2. Deals with more... unruly people. If someone doesn't want to get charmed by Euijoos face and people skills (or just calls him any version of weak) they meet Fuma. He's much more capable of speaking their language (once stabbed a man's hand with a Jigglypuff pen for claiming children are easy targets)

He prefers fighting with his bare hands and kicks than any weapon. Visits the medic the most often.

K - the all reliable negotiation's guy. The guys captured someone and need info, who's better than someone who can adjust to whatever's needed. Someone's scared and clearly remorsful? Be kind, offer them tea and protection. Someone's playing an asshole? Don't let them sway you and just find a weak spot. And if someone refuses... let's say K is brains and brawl

Also he's forced to be the get away driver as the only one who bothered to get a legal license

Jo - The innocent looking, silent one. When he's sitting there, nursing a cocktail alone at a party most think he doesn't know what to do with himself. In reality he's calculating when the poisoned drink he made with Euijoo's help will reach his target or what's the best trajectory for his knife throw. He's &Team's best assassin, known for being silent, precise and deadly. He has at least 3 knives with him at all times and 3 different antidotes in case something goes wrong.

But usually nobody even notices it was him as he walks out of the crime scene, suit jacket folded over his arm to hide the tiny blood stain that happened to get there.

Nicholas - Field Agent #1. Best at infiltration and espionage of the old variety. Nicho, Weno, Yixiang...he had a lot of names, each one having a different language, different hairtyle, different manners. He's proud of how many mafias he's gotten in trouble from the inside. Loves coming to rich people parties to present himself and get all the juicy gossip. And maybe steal a watch or bracelet if he thinks one of the other boys would like it

Who cares that all those secrets later get fed to the System and if anything flags as important or sensitive, you could suddenly find yourself talking one on one with him. And suddenly he seems almost... threatening.

Yuma - Works at the Bar that doubles as their money laundering spot. Who wouldn't spill their secrets to such a charming bartender? One who remembers your face, knows your preferences and looks this good?

Harua - Sniper who's silent, agile and an expert in leaving no trace after himself. Nobody ever knows where exactly his shots come from or how to spot him - learned parkour so he can quickly jump from rooftop to rooftop, from window to a balcony to somewhere safe where he could wait or get into the car K was driving.

Taki - Field Agent #2. The one who remembers all the plans, can sniff out where their mcguffin is. With the help of Maki they can steal plans, download entire databases and release hostages within a blink of an eye. He's good at staying hidden don't get him wrong

But when push comes to shove, He will scratch and bite and stab you with whatever he finds nearby, even if it's just a pen and a broken door handle. The data is theirs anyway.

Maki - The resident Hacker. Knows every way to break into protected and locked places, how to use phishing and scams to gain access to bank accounts and databases. Guides Taki along on his missions to steal, take and recover whatever it is that they're after.

𝐊

𝐅𝐔𝐌𝐀

𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐒

𝐄𝐉

𝐘𝐔𝐌𝐀

𝐉𝐎

𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐔𝐀

𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐈

𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐈

Fights that turned into shouting matches. Butting heads over the smallest, dumbest things. Crying yourself to sleep after going days without seeing him.

Maki was just as frustrated, but he didn't let it show as much as you did. He just tried to keep a handle on you as much as he could.

Little did he know, he had complete control over you.

You would drop to your knees for him with just a look of his sharp eyes. He could say, "bend over," and you'd fold yourself over the nearest surface. Just one hint of his cologne and the scent that was purely him and you were already stripping out of your panties.

So it came as no surprise to you that your next text to him read, Please come over on your lunch break and fuck the shit out of me.

Maki was all too quick to type back, omw.

Waiting for him was torture even though you just knew he was speeding to your apartment fast enough to break the sound barrier. The longer you sat in the silence, the wetter you got, wondering how he was going to take you.

Maybe he'd pop your legs around his waist and fuck you against the wall. Or get your ankles on his shoulders and thrust in so deep you'd scream his name for all to hear. But the mental image you liked most was the one of you on hands and knees, Maki's fingers digging into your hips as he took you like a bitch in heat.

Instead, you ended up with a throat full of dick.

Maki peered down at you, his hand heavy on your throat, easing his painfully hard cock in and out of your mouth. "Teeth," he scolded, thrusting in deeper, making you gag.

You did as told, pliant underneath him, on your back on the couch as he straddled you. Saliva dripped from the corners of your mouth, slower than the tears streaming down your cheeks each time he hit the back of your throat. Your chest rose and fell quickly, stealing air through your nose as you squirmed.

It went without saying the pulsing between your legs was unbearable. Maki using you always made you gush until your panties were soaked. You held onto his thick thighs and focused on sealing your lips around his perfect dick, never taking your hazy eyes off his handsome face.

"Good girl," Maki praised, smirking when you lurched as he buried his cock in your mouth. He was already plotting, picturing you on your knees taking all of his length in your pussy, your cries of pleasure filling the room, but fuck did he love using your mouth, knowing how it made your walls clench on nothing.

You made a little noise, so turned on when he said that to you. You'd sell your soul to please him.

Maki fisted his hand in your hair and pumped his dick fast and hard in your mouth, making lewd noises pour out of your throat before pulling his cock free. You gasped loudly, letting your hands fall to your sides, palms up, demonstrating to him that you were totally and completely submissive to him.

"Fuck, I need to fill your pretty little cunt with cum," Maki taunted, grabbing your legs and spreading you apart for him.

You smoothed your hands up his arms and said, "I want it from behind."

Maki arched a brow. "Did I ask what you want?"

You glanced down, watching him rake his stiff cock against your folds, teasing over your clit and sending a shiver through you. "Please, baby. I'll do anything."

Maki met your eyes and smirked mischievously at you. "I like when you beg," he said in a low voice. Snaking his hands up your body, he palmed and kneaded your breasts, toying his thumbs over your nipples. "Beg me like you mean it."

You were just a creature of want and need. In your sweetest, most pathetic tone, you begged, "Please..., I'll take it all day, all night. I'll be your cum slut. I'll let you knock me up. Anything you want, just put me on my knees and fuck me till I come. Please, Daddy."

Maki's pupils went so wide his irises almost disappeared. "Well, fuck, baby," he sighed with delight. "You're gonna get exactly what you want."

Before you could say another word, Maki flipped you over like you weighed nothing. His hands were rough and harsh as he steered you into position, spreading your thighs with his knee. He turned your head and pushed you into the back of the couch, instead of face first. Very considerate of him to keep in mind that you needed to breathe.

Your feet hung off the edge of the sofa and you gripped the cushions tightly in your hands just as Maki pinched your hip firmly and steered his cock into your entrance, filling you to the brim in one slow stroke.

The hand in your hair keeping you pressed against the couch got meaner, like Maki needed an outlet for the hot grip of your pussy. A deep growl came out of him and he hissed, "Fuck you and this tight cunt, baby. Shit."

"It's yours," you whimpered, eyes rolling at just how deep he was in the pit of your stomach. As if your body was acting before you could stop it, your shifted your hips back to make sure every inch of him was in you.

Maki let go of your hip just long enough to reel his hand back and slap your ass, sending a loud smack echoing through the room. "Don't do that," he warned, thrusting his hips forward sharply, the head of his cock kissing your cervix.

You whined again, the sound turning into a moan as he started pumping his cock inside you, your back instinctively arching.

"Those pics were for you, by the way," Maki said, settling into a steady pace, his grip on your hair and your hip merciless.

"I know," you panted, a little devilish smile playing at your lips.

Maki snickered darkly. "I knew you'd get wet, my pretty slut."

You nodded as best you could with his fist in your hair, your cheek still pressed into the couch cushion. You staggered out another moan and whispered, "Just for you."

"Good girl."

Your whole body shook as he bottomed out, a combination of his words and him filling you. You cried his name, wondering how the fuck he could feel so good. You never thought you'd let someone manhandle and fuck you the way he did. You weren't kidding when you said you'd let Maki do whatever he wanted to you.

Because he knew exactly how to dance on the line. Never going too far, just right to your limit.

"You feel so good, baby," Maki groaned, like he'd read your mind. "Fuck, what do you do to me?"

"It hurts so good, Daddy," you told him, gripping the couch for purchase, your walls stretching around his big cock. You wanted to squirm or bounce against him, anything that would get him even deeper, as if that were possible. But you dared not move, not when he was fucking you for all you were worth.

Maki picked up the pace, his hips colliding into your ass, your velvet cunt sucking him back in. He shook his head, in disbelief that you took him so well - everything he had to give you.

"I'm so close," you said, your voice barely a whisper.

"Beg me for it."

You couldn't think. You could hardly breathe. Your pussy clenched on his cock like you were going to drain every last drop out of him. "Please come," you whispered, your eyes hooded. Little sounds spilled from your parted lips as he gloved his length in you, hitting your sweet spot, making your toes curl. "I wanna come with you."

Maki groaned, biting his lip. "You're so perfect, baby. Only wanna come when I do, right?"

"Yes," you said without missing a beat until you were chanting it.

"Look at you creaming all over my dick," Maki purred, finally letting go of your hair to get both hands on your waist, drilling into you like he had every intention of fucking you stupid.

The room filled with the slapping of skin against skin, Maki's shameless grunts and groans, and your pitiful whimpers, which pitched higher and faster until your toes curled and a vicious shudder went through your body, your core clamping down on Maki's cock to the point his thrusts fell out of rhythm.

Your vision went fuzzy and you writhed on the couch, as if your body was trying to throw back to take more and escape his strokes at the same time. You could hear Maki say, "Don't run from it," but your ears were ringing.

Just as you hit the peak, Maki slammed into you with ruthless need, lasting only a few more thrusts before painting your walls with his cum. Your eyes rolled when you felt him filling you, your jaw slack, and your loud, labored breaths syncing with Maki's.

Maki held onto your waist for dear life as he trembled, pumping every last drop he had into your waiting cunt until he was empty. He fucking loved filling you with his seed, and he couldn't wait to watch it spill from your glistening folds.

He folded over you, his lips on your neck, pressing a tender kiss here and there. He gently brushed your hair aside to leave a kiss on your cheek and then another by the corner of your mouth, his hands roaming your body appreciatively, settling on your breasts and kneading them.

"You fucking own me, woman," Maki said, his cock going soft inside you, but he seemed in no hurry to take it out.

You smiled victoriously.

𝐴𝑦𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑦𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑐!!! 𝐿𝑒𝑡'𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑜!!

𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺! 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘴!! (𝑷𝒍𝒔 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒔😭)

➩ Euijoo is known to be a very calm puppy hybrid.

➩ His tail always swayed gently behind him with his ears relaxed against his fluffy hair as he goes about his day.

➩ Then you come home and his tail is wagging like crazy. Almost immediately.

➩ He tries his best to play it cool but you can quite literally hear the thump thump thump against the couch.

➩ He would greet you with the softest, "You're home." Completely contrasting the way his tail is going insane.

➩ Ej is very affectionate, but never overwhelming.

➩ He will sit next to and gradually inch closer until his shoulder was touching yours.

➩ Then eventually his head would rest in your lap and you would absentmindedly play with his hair.

➩ One thing he absolutely LOVES is having his ears scratched.

➩ His eyes would slowly blink close and his entire body relaxes.

➩ And if you stop scratching his ears too soon, he would blink up at you with a pout, "...Why'd you stop?"

You looked down surprised at the pup, "I thought you were asleep."

"I wasn't." He whined softly.

➩ He secretly has a spot he loves besides you on the couch and would absolutely "glare" at you until you realize you were sitting in his spot.

➩ He wouldn't call himself very possessive over you, but he does get quietly jealous.

➩ His ears would slowly droop down as he sees someone flirting with you.

➩ He doesn't like to make a big scene out of it. He'd just walk over, sit down next to you and gently rest his head on your shoulder.

➩ His ears would perk up if you tease him about his jealousy. "I'm not jealous."

Though his tail kept thumping against the chair. He was so bad at lying when his ears and tail were involved!

➩ He absolutely loves taking long walks with you.

➩ He isn't too energetic on the walks either as he stays right next to you.

➩ He'd just occasionally stop because something interesting caught his eye. Stare for a few seconds before walking away like nothing happened.

➩ EJ has a tiny habit of bringing you little gifts.

➩ Not overly expensive things!

➩ Your favorite flowers. A cute keychain. A snack he thought you would enjoy.

➩ "I saw it and thought of you."

➩ PLEASE

➩ He'd get incredibly shy when you make a big deal about it

➩ He loves cuddles.

➩ He doesn't mind being the big or small spoon!

➩ Though he loves to wrap his arms around your waist and bury his face in your neck.

➩ His tail somehow always brushes against you whenever you're standing together.

➩ When he's sleepy, he gets ridiculously clingy!

➩ You could be busy with some work and then out of nowhere there's a tired puppy attached to your side. He'd whisper in a raspy voice, "You're comfortable."

"EJ, I'm trying to write."

"I know." He hummed against your skin. "...Then why are you lying on me?"

"Because you're comfortable." He huffed out as his grip on you tightened.

➩ EJ would fall asleep while you play with his hair. No doubt in that.

➩ Waking him up after falling asleep like that was nearly impossible.

➩ His biggest betrayal was his ears...

➩ You whispered with a laugh in your tone, "EJ?" The smallest twitch of his ear.

"I know you're awake." You teased with a sigh, your fingers running through his hair.

"...I'm not."

➩ EJ loved when you kissed his forehead. Almost as much as you giving him ear scratches.

➩ Each time you left a soft kiss to his forehead, his eyes would soften and his tail would give one little wag.

➩ He doesn't bombard you with questions when your noticeably upset.

➩ He'd just sit beside you, let's you lean against him and quietly mumbles, "You don't have to talk. I'll stay."

And he actually stays.

➩ He would be protective in the same way.

➩ When you're walking somewhere, he'd automatically position himself between you and the road.

➩ He'd instinctively give you his jacket when you're cold. Even though he's just as cold.

"EJ, you're shivering." you'd say with guilt in your voice.

"I'm okay."

"You're literally shaking." you sigh as you see him slightly shivering in the cold air.

"...You looked colder." you smiled and hugged him.

➩ When he's happy, his tail gives him away.

➩ You can literally tell exactly how excited he is just by watching it!

➩ And his absolute weakness?

➩ You calling him your good boy. The words make his ears shoot straight up.

➩ He kinda freezes at first when he hears you say it, "...Don't."

But his flustered state only brings a grin to your face, "Don't what?"

"...You know what." He'd pout with a defeated expression.

➩ But then his face gets all red and warm as his tail betrays him once again. 😭

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖. 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈!!

𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 ♥︎

fuma: usually has really good self control, but every once in a blue moon, he loses it. he feels like he physically can’t stop, not with the way your cunt is gripping him so tightly, pulsating and dripping around his length. his orgasm is building up by the second and he knows he should think about slowing down, pulling out and jerking himself off to finish, but he truly cannot. he needs to keep fucking you, needs to finish inside you and stuff you full of his cum. he’s slamming into you, fucking you so hard that you feel like you’re melting into the mattress. your legs are shaking and your eyes are rolling, and it’s all such a beautiful sight that fuma knows it’s game over for him. his abs clench and then you feel it—his hot load staining your walls, stuffing you full.

“mmph, fuck,” he grunted as he fucked you full of his cum. “yeah, take it, baby.”

he doesn’t feel that bad, really. how could he when it felt that good, and when you took it with such a delighted look on your face?

nicholas: gnawing on the bars of my enclosure bc he doesn’t give a fuck. usually he’s fine with pulling out, but if he wants to cum inside and you’re not against it’s then he’s absolutely going to. there is no prettier sight than your cunt stuffed full of his creamy cum, and he needs to see it, to feel it. he especially loves when he’s fucking you from the back, and when he cums inside you, he gets to see it all come leaking out of your spent hole and dripping down your shaky thighs. he could stare at it for hours, watching his cum come flooding out of you, painting your legs. sure, it was a mess, but it was always a mess regardless of where he finished.

“oh fuck, look at you, baby,” he said in awe, watching the cum tricking out of you. “we can’t just have it all go to waste, can we?”

and that’d be when he’d either shove his fingers inside you, stuffing his cum back in, stuff you full with his cock again and take you right into another round, or, if he was feeling really crazy, then he’d lick up all the cum that had leaked out and eat your pussy until you were squirting all over his face.

ej: he’d feel guilty after he did it, and he’d feel even guiltier by how turned on he was by it. but that was all after. during it was another story. ej was like a whole different person when he was fucking you, even more so when he was about to cum. all he could think about was how good it felt and how the idea of pulling out of your wet, warm cunt sounded like misery. he wanted to stay inside of you forever, and the only way he could even slightly do that was if he came inside your soaking, pulsating pussy. he’d be absolutely pounding you, fucking like his life depended on it, and when he was getting close, he didn’t force himself out of you. he couldn’t. not today. he needed to feed your cunt with every last bit of his thick, sticky cum.

“oh my fucking god,” he practically cried as he came inside you. “gonna fuck you nice and full, baby. gonna fucking breed you with my cum.”

yuma: talks a big game of being able to pull out, but you laugh every time because he gets so pussy drunk when he’s fucking you. and he knows you’re right, but would never admit it. he can’t help that your cunt squeezes him so tightly as he’s fucking you into the bed, or hot and wet it was. it was practically just begging for him to stay inside, to feed it with his cum. you liked to make a game out of it, though, betting that he couldn’t pull out. he always argued, always saying that he easily could, but when it came down to it, he really couldn’t.

“i can tell you’re close,” you said, squeezing your cunt around his thick length. “go ahead and pull out, yuma, if you can.”

he’d frantically shake his head, holding onto your waist even tighter.

“c-can’t!” he’d exclaim, finally reaching his orgasm. “fuck! need to stay in your pussy forever.”

and he’d flood your insides with his release, just like you knew he would.

jo: feels SO bad but just can’t help it! you’d be riding him, clenching and squeezing around his long length as you work to bring yourself and him to finish. and he’s so close, so close he can barely even utter it. he needs to warn you, get you to pull off so he doesn’t finish inside you, but he can’t. his brain has turned to mush and he’s so drunk on your warmth and wetness that he can’t tell you he’s going to cum. all he can do is lay there and take it as your cunt milks him, impaling yourself on his long, veiny length. eventually, he tenses and grips your hips, holding you still as he releases inside of you. you can feel it, and you stare at him in awe, shocked that he’d actually done it.

“jo,” you said, jaw agape. “you came inside.”

“fuck—‘m so sorry,” he responds, and he really does feel bad. “it felt so good, i just couldn’t stop.”

you let out a sigh as you walk into the class that you were forced to take. you needed a history class for your degree, and this was the only one that didn't make you want to burst into tears.

folklore and myth in human culture. it sounded interesting enough when you joined. and apparently a bunch of other people thought so too because the room was packed when you walked in. you kept your head down as you walk up the steps, taking a seat at the very back.

you pull out your laptop, pulling up the class when the professor walked in. you listen to him as he introduced himself before explaining what the class was. he then got into the part you were dreading the most. your final exam- it wasn't actually an exam. it was a project that you had to do with a partner.

"this project counts for 70% of your grade. that also means if you do good on it, you can skip the rest of the class if you don't care." he earned a few laughs as he explained the project. "you also can start working on it right now if you wanted to. the quicker you get it done the better. if you all look at the syllabus, you will see the outline of the project along with the partner i have picked out for you."

you skim over the syllabus, reading what you were supposed to do before looking for your partner- the part you were least excited for. you normally did things by yourself, but seeing how big your project was, there wasn't any way you could do it by yourself and score a decent grade.

you finally find your name, blinking slowly when you saw who your partner was- maki.

you glance up, staring down towards the front of the room where you knew he was sitting. he was sitting next to a couple of his friends, spinning a pencil in his hand, hoodie discarded next to him like it wasn't near freezing outside.

you two have had some classes together previously, so you knew who he was. he was quiet popular. he was always supporting a smile and was normally surrounded by his friends.

you could tell when he found his name on the syllabus, and you quickly looked back to your laptop when he turned in his seat to look towards you. you could feel his gaze on you, and you regret the moment you look back up to meet his eyes. you watch as he smiles when he catches your attention before bidding his friends goodbye.

he quickly climbs the stairs two at a time, pushing his hair out of his face when he stops next to where you were sitting. "yn, right?"

"yeah." you respond quietly, watching as he stretches out his arm. you look at him for a second before you shake his hand. his hand was warm and almost engulfed yours before you let go, moving your bag and allowing him to sit next to you.

"looks like we're partners. i'm maki."

"i know who you are." you say bluntly before you could stop yourself. you looked towards him when he laughed.

"good to know i have a reputation already." he says. you don't mention that his reputation involves him being late to class, that is if he shows up, yet still makes a's on everything. that and every single girl seems to be in love with him, but he rejects everyone. "so, when did you want to meet up for this project?"

you don't answer at first, and maki thought you didn't hear him when you turned towards him. "it doesn't matter to me. i'm free most afternoons."

"perfect! i already have some ideas, and i think you'll love them." he responds, watching as you nod your head slowly.

"o-okay. sounds great."

the two of you sit next to each other, elbows brushing occasionally as you two take notes of the professors lecture. you could feel how warm his skin was even though your jacket, causing you to look over a few times. you though he may be ill or something, but he didn't show any signs of it, so you just brushed it off as him just being naturally hot.

once class had ended, you had started packing up your things to leave when maki turned towards you. "so you're not going to ghost me before we even start this project, right?"

you shake your head. "no. i was actually going to... give you my number."

"good." he says, smiling at you as he pulls out his phone. he unlocks it, pulling up his contacts before holding it out to you. "there you go, shortie."

you raise your brows at the nickname, but you don't show him any other reaction as you take his phone, typing out your number before handing it back to him.

"got it." he saves it before putting his phone back up. "don't be surprised if i actually use it."

"i would hope you would." you respond, watching as he chuckles softly. you realize what you said causing your face to flush. "i meant for the project."

"of course." he smiles even wider when he notices your blush. he picks up his bag and swings it over his shoulder. "i'll see you later."

you went about the rest of your day, pushing maki out of your head as you did so. or at least you tried. you could still smell his cologne as it invaded your senses. you could still feel the warmth of him sitting next to you. even after you had taken a shower, settling into your small dorm room later that night.

you had just sit down at your desk, opening your laptop when your phone dinged from next to you.

you find yourself smiling at your phone, shaking your head when you realize what you were doing. you had rules that you liked to follow. you weren't going to break them for maki. you turned off your phone before continuing your homework.

the smell of coffee and baked goods hits you as you step into the warm coffee shop maki sent you to. you didn't spot maki which didn't shock you because you were early. you pick a corner table, sitting your bag down next to you before shrugging off your thick winter coat.

you had just pulled out your laptop and pulled up the guidelines for the project when you heard the door open, the cold air making you shiver. you didn't bother to look up to see who walked in, but you did when they sat in front of you. you meet maki's gaze as he slid into the chair in front of you.

"hey, shortie." he smiles at you, discarding his jacket and bag next to him.

"i have a name, you know?" you say, ignoring the small flutter from the nickname. you shouldn't like it. you don't even know this guy. you shouldn't let him have such an effect on you already.

"i know." he says with a smirk. "but shortie fits better. you're so tiny. it's cute."

you cough at his words, cheeks heating up at the compliment. you look away, ignoring his laugh as you pulled out a notebook. "so the project?"

"hold up." he stops you, taking the notebook away from you making you gawk at him. "we're not doing anything until i buy you a coffee. my treat remember?"

"and i told you that wasn't necessary." you respond as you hold out your hand for the notebook. he goes to hand it back to you, but snatches it away at the last second.

"i'm going to go get us drinks. there better not be a single word on this paper when i get back."

you roll your eyes, snatching the notebook out of his hand. "whatever you say."

he smiles as he gets up, not even asking what your order was. you thought about getting up to tell him, but by the time you thought about it, he had already ordered. you felt bad as you were normally picky about your drinks, and had a feeling you were going to hate whatever he ordered.

he walked back a few minutes later with your drinks, handing you the warm cup before sitting down. you let the cup warm your hands as you take a sip, looking down in confusion when the taste hits you. it's exactly what you normally order.

"did i do good?" you look up at maki's question, nodding your head.

"you did. it's what i normally order."

"lucky guess?" maki smiled before taking a sip of his own. you shrug, brushing it off as you sit the drink down. "you look like a caramel latte kind of girl, anyway."

"am i that predicable?" you ask. maki notices the small smile on your face, the first one he's seen on you.

"not at all, shortie. i just have a good eye when it comes to things like this."

you go to grab your pen, but it slips out of your fingers. it goes to roll off the table, but maki grabs it in mid air before it could hit the floor. he sits back up, handing the pen back to you.

you furrow your brows as you take the pen. "how did you catch that so fast?"

"fast reflexes." he responds with a laugh. "my friends always joke i'm part dog."

a small laugh escapes you. "i see it. you have a puppy aura."

"how do you think that, shortie?"

"besides the fact that you just caught that pen?" you ask with a small shrug. "i don't know. you're always smiling and happy. people tend to like you."

"are you one of them?" maki's question catches you off guard. you twirl the pen as you look down at your notebook.

"i don't you well enough." you answer, shifting in your seat. you quickly change the subject before you embarrass yourself any more than you already have. "so what's your idea that you'll think i'll love?"

"i don't think, shortie. i know you'll love it." he leans forward, resting on his hand as he studies your face. "how do you feel about wolves?"

you blinked as you looked up at him. "wolves?"

"they're everywhere." he answered. "old legends, folktales, stories from every culture. thought it'd be easy enough since there's so much information on them."

you thought about it for a second before agreeing. "wolves it is then."

he watches as you write down what exactly what you two were supposed to do for the project. you divide the work fairly between the two of you. it's only when you pause that maki speaks up again.

"are you always this quiet, shortie?" you look up at his question. he could tell you didn't like the question, so you diverted the conversation away from you.

"are you always this talkative?"

"only when someone's worth talking to." maki responds without missing a beat. you rub your face, clearly flustered at his words. he laughs as he takes a sip of his drink. "how's that impression coming?"

"this is going to be a long project."

"guess you're stuck with me then."

the two of you continue to work on your project until you two called it a day with plans to meet up at the library the next day, thought the two of you didn't get much done. you could barely work for more than 5 minutes before maki stopped you. he asked you question after question about yourself.

normally, this would annoy you. it was why you liked to work by yourself, but for some reason, his questions didn't bother you. you found yourself willing to answer him. you also found yourself waiting for them when you realized his pattern.

that pattern continued throughout the next day through texts. your responses became longer and longer as you opened up to him. you knew it made him happy because he voiced it multiple times, saying that your impression must be good because you weren't ignoring him.

you make your way from your dorm to the library, pulling your coat tighter around you as you walked. you once again expected to beat him because you were early, but you were surprised when you saw him leaning against the front of the library in nothing but a thin hoodie, a pair of headphones over his ears.

he looked up when you stopped in front of him, smiling as he took off the headphones. "you're early, shortie."

"don't sound so shocked." you respond.

"i'm not shocked. you just don't seem like the person who likes team projects." he tells you.

you shrug in agreement. "it's normally too much of a hassle."

"what about me?" he asks, making you roll your eyes, acting annoyed when you were far from it.

"i said normally, didn't i?" you question, shocking him. you shiver, pulling your jacket tighter as you walk towards the door, maki falling into step beside you.

"i don't see how you're standing out here. it's freezing."

"i'm just naturally hot." he answers, holding the door open. "i've always been like that. my mom hates it. when i was a kid, i always wore summer clothes all year round, even when it was freezing. how about you, shortie?"

"i'm the exact opposite. always cold." you answer, following him to the very back corner of the library where all of his stuff was already laid out. "did you have to pick the furthest corner of the library?"

maki shrugged as he sat down. "i like privacy, and there's a less chance of people eavesdropping when i'm saying genius things."

"i think you mean nonsense." you joked, watching as maki tries to hold back his laugh but fails. at least you two were far away so no one heard him when he laughed.

"okay, jokester. time to get down to business." he says after he recovers, motioning to his notes. "wolf myths. i found some stuff about how different cultures see them. most describe them as either protectors or monsters. depends on who's telling the story."

you nodded as you pulled your notes out of your bag. "i found a couple too. most of mine described them as loyal and territorial."

"you're right." he said making you look up at him. he was scribbling something down, almost not even aware he was talking. "they don't like outsiders near what's theirs."

it wasn't the words that caught your attention but the way he said them did. like he knew the feeling of what he was talking about. it made no sense to you as you looked back down at your notes.

"you sound like you're speaking from experience."

"maybe i am." he says with a small laugh. "i mean, we've only hung out twice, and you've called me a dog."

you gasp as you look up. "i did not! i said you had a puppy aura."

"same thing."

you take your pen and throw it at him, laughing when he dodges it. "just for that, you're a mutt."

he laughed as he grabbed your pen, handing it back to you. "that's a high compliment coming from you, shortie."

the two of you continue to work on your project for another hour or so. you stopped when you noted that the sun was about to set and people started packing up their things.

"i should head back." you tell him as you move to pack up your things. you put on your coat as maki leans back, watching you.

"are you walking alone?" you nodded your head at his question as you stand up.

"yeah, my dorm is just across campus."

he hesitated, making you stop in your tracks. you wait for him to say what was on his mind. "you should be careful walking back at night."

"why?" you shrug. "i do it all the time."

"this campus gets sketchy after dark." he answers. you didn't like his answer, but you chose to brush it off as you throw your bag over your shoulder.

"you sound like my ra." he didn't answer you, just staring out of the window that was next to your table. "if you're so worried, why don't you walk me back?"

you were teasing him, not thinking he would accept your offer, but you felt your face heat up the second the words came out of your mouth. maki didn't notice though, looking at you with a large smile, his mood instantly changing from whatever it was before to back to normal.

"sure, shortie."

"huh?"

he moved, standing up before grabbing his things. "let's go. i can't have my partner getting mauled by raccoons or something."

"i was joking, maki." you said, making maki turn and look at you.

"who said i was?" you roll your eyes, but you follow after him anyway. you jerk as you step outside, feeling as the temperature had dropped even more. you pull your jacket tighter, moving to pull up your hood when maki stopped you. "here. take this."

he digs in his bag, pulling out a beanie before handing it to you. you stare at it for a second before looking up at him. "are you sure you don't need it?"

"no. warm blooded, remember?" he smiles, moving to put the beanie on your head for you. your face flushes as his warm hands touch your cheeks as he pulls the beanie down. "there you go. can't have my partner getting sick."

"thank you."

maki shoved his hands in his pockets as the two of you walked back towards your dorm. you could feel the warmth radiating off him when his arms brushed against yours. "are you going to go back to being quiet on me shortie?"

you let out a small laugh. "i don't need to talk when you do enough talking for the both of us."

"fair enough." he laughed, bumping into your shoulder purposely. "do you always walk alone this late?"

"usually." you shrug. "but campus is pretty safe, so it doesn't bother me."

"pretty safe." he repeated with raised brows.

you look over when you hear him. you could clearly tell he doesn't believe you. "you're weirdly paranoid for someone who looks like they could take down a linebacker."

"take down a linebacker?" he says with a laugh. "you think i could take down a linebacker?"

"you sound like you want me to say yes so bad." you say, smiling when he nudges you again.

"not denying it."

you opened your mouth, about to say something when you noticed he had stopped walking. his head was turned to the right, looking at the trees on the other side of the small lake that you were walking by. you noticed the small shift in his posture, and it kind of freaked you out if you were honest.

"maki?" you question. his eyes quickly snapped to yours. "what wrong?"

he shook his head, moving back to your side. "nothing. i think it was a squirrel."

you didn't believe him, but you didn't push him even further, remembering that he was still a stranger to you. if he didn't want to tell he, he didn't have to. the two of you were silent as you walk the rest of the way to your dorm, stopping when you reach the steps.

"thanks for walking me."

"anytime, shortie." he responds with a smile. you could tell he wanted to say something else, but he didn't.

"i'll see you tomorrow in class?"

"wouldn't miss it."

the next day, you were walking towards your shared class with maki when you heard someone call your name. you turned with wide eyes as one of the other guys in your class, josh, ran up to catch up with you. you hadn't ever spoken to him before, so you couldn't imagine why he wanted to talk to you. he was like maki- popular around campus.

"hey, yn. you heading to class?" he said as he stopped in front of you.

you nod your head. "i would assume so. it starts in like 10 minutes."

he laughed at you, though you didn't think your words were funny. "you're cute."

"thanks." you give him a small smile. to say you were uncomfortable would be an understatement. it was weird that he came up to you and called you cute despite never talking before. it was even weirder that your mind immediately went to maki calling you cute, and how you felt now felt like nothing compared to then.

"so i was wondering if you wanted to grab some coffee sometime?" he asked with a grin. "there's this new cafe that just opened right off campus. figured it would be nice to talk outside of class."

his ask stunned you. "oh, um..."

"come on, yn." he encouraged, stepping closer to you. "it's just coffee. you need to take a break from school sometimes. it's not good for you."

you cleared your throat as you take a step back from him. "i'm sorry, josh, but i'm not interested."

"you got a boyfriend or something?" you roll your eyes at the question because of course that's the only logical reason a girl would reject a guy.

"no."

"then what's the issue?" you take another step away from him, about two seconds from walking away from him. you didn't owe him any reason for rejecting him.

"the issue is i'm not interested." you repeated, a little more forceful than last time.

you watch as josh open's his mouth to question you further but stops, glancing behind you. you didn't even have time to turn around before someone stopped next to you. and you didn't even need to look up to know who it was- maki.

"didn't peg you for the desperation type, josh." you look up at maki's words. his sharp glare was locked on josh, who was already glaring at maki. everyone knew that the two didn't get along, and you just so happened to get in the middle of it this time.

"just being friendly. isn't that right, yn?" josh asked. but since he didn't even bother to look at you, you didn't bother to respond, causing maki to chuckle.

"looked a little like begging from where i was standing." despite everything that happened, you shot maki a warning look. he looked down, finally meeting your gaze. he smiled at you despite the anger you knew he was feeling. "you okay, shortie?"

"didn't realize you were keeping tabs now, maki." josh responded, confusing you. you look between the two. what was that supposed to mean?

"someone's gotta make sure she doesn't get ambush her on the way to class." maki answered, placing his arm over your shoulder. you nearly lose your balance when he pulls you into his side, keeping you close to him.

josh scoffed, now glaring at the two of you. "whatever."

you watched him walk away before looking back at maki. "was that necessary?"

"was what necessary, shortie?" he asked, back to his normal self now that josh was gone.

"humiliating him."

maki shrugged. "he'll live. besides, he deserved it. you said no. he didn't listen."

"you're ridiculous."

"maybe, but at least i'm right." he answered. "now, let's get to class before i pick another fight."

he kept his arm around you as the two of you started to walk to class. you almost brushed him off but stopped when you felt his body warmth through your jacket. and you were cold, so you stayed close to him.

you pulled away from him when you got to the classroom before going to sit in your normal seat. you fully expected maki to sit in his normal spot next to his friends, but he didn't. he stayed behind you, sitting next to you.

class started without a hitch, but you couldn't bring yourself to pay attention. the professor's words went in one ear and out the other. maybe it was because you caught josh's gaze one too many times for it to be a coincidence. maybe it was the way maki had his arm thrown across the back of your chair.

you met josh's gaze again causing you to shift in your seat as you look back down at your poor attempt to take notes. maki notices, leaning down to whisper in your ear. "you okay?"

"yeah. why?"

"because you never answered me the first time i asked."

you look up, meeting his gaze. "it's not like i got a chance during your glaring match with josh."

"he deserved it." maki said, sticking to his defense. "he was pushing you. you said no. that should've been enough."

you looked away for a moment. "how did you even know we were talking."

"good ears." he responds, looking over at you when you chuckle.

"maybe your friends are right, and you are part dog."

maki covers his laugh with a cough, avoiding getting scolded by your professor. he leans over to whisper to you when he stopped. you followed his gaze to see that josh was staring at the two of you again, glaring when he saw maki's gaze before turning back to his notes. "can you do me a favor, shortie?"

"depends."

"be careful around him." maki responds. "he's not who you think he is."

"what does that mean?" you question.

maki went to answer when he was called on to answer a question from the professor. he looked away from you, answering the question perfectly. by the time he was done, he turned back to his notes, so you did to.

it was clear he didn't want to answer it, and maybe a part of you didn't want him to either. you and him were still strangers. you didn't have any right asking why the two didn't get along. it wasn't any of your business. though his words stuck in your head. especially when you got up to leave, catching josh watching you as you left.

after that, josh backed off for the most part. sure, you still saw him on campus, but he'd only nod at you before moving on. you just figured everything had went back to normal. him ignoring your existence, and you living peacefully not being in the middle of him and maki ever again.

maki, on the other hand, seemed to think of every excuse imaginable to not leave you alone. it started out with your project meetings lasting longer than they used to, going from one hour to even two or three. the two of you getting sidetracked talking about everything except your project. you two traded playlists, complained about schoolwork, and even had an argument about whether dogs or cats or superior.

"obviously dogs." maki answered. "besides, you did call me one after all."

somewhere along the way, you two got closer. the two of you now sitting next to each other and not on opposites sides of the table. his arm stayed draped on the back of your chair, sometimes even draping his arm over your shoulders. you realized how close you had gotten when you two reached for one of the books at the same time causing your fingers to brush. he didn't pull away, and neither did you.

"guess we've got good taste, shortie."

and lets not forget the fact that he walks you home after every session since they've been running later. every time, you tell him it wasn't necessary, but he always brushes you off.

today was one of the off days that you and maki didn't meet up, but he still kept up with you by text. you had mentioned that you started watching a new tv show, and he started watching it as well. so the two of you were comparing theories the better part of the afternoon.

you had just stepped out of the dining hall, starting to walk back to your dorm when it started sprinkling. you groaned, pulling up your hood over your headphones. you kept your eyes down, avoiding puddles that were forming when you bumped into someone. you lost your balance, almost falling when they grabbed you.

once you recovered, you pulled away, moving your headphones as you looked up. "oh, hey josh. sorry about that."

"it's fine." he smiled. you moved back, going to step around him when he grabbed your wrist, stopping you. "why are you leaving so fast?"

"because it's raining, and i don't want to get wet." you answer, glancing down at your wrist that he has yet to let go of yet.

"i can drive you back to your dorm if you want. my car's right there." he motioned behind him to the parking lot.

you shake your head, trying to get out of his grip but was unsuccessful. "no thanks. can you let me go now?"

"what's up with you and maki?" he asks, ignoring you completely.

"we're friends. not that it's any of your business." you say, snapping your hand away from him. it doesn't work leading him to tighten his grip on your wrist. "let me go, josh."

"he's a friend who keeps a possessive arm around you during class. a friend who chased me down and threatened me to stay away from you." he points out, getting more agitated as he spoke. "i don't think you should be friends with people like that."

you gulp, feeling scared as you became completely aware of your surroundings. you were alone with him, and it was dark. it was also a friday afternoon so most people had either went home for the evening or were out partying. you were like 3 blocks away from your dorm, and you doubt you could outrun him since you couldn't even get him to let go of your wrist.

"i- i want you to let me go and leave me alone."

"what nonsese has he told you about me, huh?" you flinch as he raises his voice. "you know, he's not the saint like everyone thinks. you don't even know who he is. what he is."

after every word, he raised his voice until he was almost yelling at you. his grip tightened, causing your hand started to go numb. your claw at his hand. "josh, you're hurting me."

his nails dug into your skin. you felt the sudden sting of something slicing across your skin. you glance down to see drops of blood dropping from your hand. "josh-"

you looked up, words catching in your throat at the sight of him. his face was shifted into something you didn't recognize. his eyes were narrowed on you, flecks of gold shining through the brown of his eyes. his teeth looked sharper, peaking out through his parted lips.

"josh?" you jumped back, forgetting the pain in your wrist when you heard a sound come from him. it was low, almost sounding like a growl.

"let her go." you jump at the sound of another voice coming from behind you. you were worried for a moment, until you recognized the voice as maki's. you hear his footsteps before he's standing beside you. josh doesn't listen and keeps his grip on your wrist. "do i need to repeat myself?"

maki grabs the wrist that is holding you, twisting it sharply. josh screams out in pain as he lets out go. maki pushes him away from you as you step back from him, hiding behind maki.

"leave."

you glance over his shoulder, watching as josh leaves with his wrist clutched to his chest. you look up at maki when he turns to look at you, his nose twitching before he looks you over.

"where are you bleeding?" you furrow your eyebrows at his question. how did he know that? you held up your arm to show him the small scratch on your wrist.

"i'm guessing his nails cut me." you shrug, pulling you sleeve down before dropping your wrist. you debated on asking maki if he saw what you saw but decided not to. maybe it was your fears playing tricks on you. "thank you for that."

"of course, shortie." he smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes like it normally does. "now lets get you back to your dorm, so i can clean up your wrist."

"you don't have to." you tell him as the two of you start walking causing maki to bump your shoulder.

"i know. i want to."

you look away as a blush crosses your cheeks. you felt his hand brush against yours like he wanted to hold it, but before anything happened, maki was yanked backwards. you let out a yell when josh hit him in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious. you ran over to maki as he hit the ground.

"maki!" you shake his shoulders, but he doesn't stir. "maki, wake up!"

"he can't save you now." you look back up at josh. his eyes were still glowing, so it wasn't a figure of your imagination. you took one last glace at maki, silently apologizing before running away. you hear josh laugh. "how did you know wolves love to chase?"

you didn't have time to question it as you ran back towards your dorm. your lungs screamed in pain, but you kept pushing. you were almost there when an arm wrapped around your waist. you feel the wind get knocked out of you as your body slams into a tree. you try to catch your breath, but couldn't due to the glowing gold eyes staring down at you.

"you know..." you flinch as josh's hand grips your chin. "this wouldn't have happened if you had just said yes."

"fuck you." you grit, yelping when josh slams you into the tree again. you try to pull away when he leans down, but his grip won't let you. his breath brushes against your cheeks for a second before he was ripped away from you.

you nearly fall over now that josh wasn't holding on to you. you look over to see maki on top of him, hitting him repeatedly. he quickly knocked josh unconscious and didn't show any signs of stopping his attack. you look around to see if you could find someone to help you, but you didn't see anyone.

"maki!" you keep your distance as you raise your voice. you see his raised arm stutter in the air before he drops it. he gets off of josh, keeping his back to you. you look at josh for a second waiting to see the rise and fall of his chest before looking back at maki.

"maki?" you question, taking a step towards him. you stop dead in your tracks when he looks at you. his eyes were glowing yellow just like josh's did. "your... your eyes."

at your words, his eyes quickly returned to their normal brown color. "yn, please let me explain."

you shake your head, stepping back when he tries to get close to you. there was too much going on around you. you felt like you were going to be sick. you knew that maki wouldn't hurt you, but right now, you couldn't see past what had just happened. just that his eyes were the same as josh's, and josh just attacked you.

before he could try to stop you, you turned around, running back to your dorm. this time you made it without being stopped, and you didn't stop until your back was against the door to your room. your hands shook as you locked the door, tears blurring your vision as you back slid down the door.

your hand pressed against your chest as you tried to slow your breathing. you couldn't even began to comprehend what just happened, jumping when your phone buzzed from your pocket. you took it out, eyes locked on the screen as you watch as maki's text come through, but you couldn't bring yourself to answer him. it wasn't until his last text came through where he was begging you to respond to him.

you throw your phone on the floor right next to you when something catches your eyes. the dried blood on your hand. it was then you remembered josh hurting you. the cut was small, but you still got it cleaned up before bandaging it.

what were they? you knew neither josh nor maki were human- the glowing eyes and sharp teeth proved it. and the fact that josh's nails were able to draw blood so easily didn't make any sense to you. you didn't want to believe that any of this just happened. you wanted to believe that it was some sort of nightmare. that when you went to sleep, you would wake up knowing that everything was a dream.

but it wasn't.

when you woke up after a night of actual nightmares of what happened, along with the wound on your wrist, you knew that it wasn't a dream.

you tried to focus on normal things. homework. cleaning your dorm. anything to get your mind off last night. every time you stopped, your mind wandered back to it, hand nearly reaching for your phone to call maki. you wanted answers, but you also wanted space. you just couldn't figure out what you wanted more.

you glance out the window, watching the rain pound onto the window. the sun had set a couple of hours ago, leaving you practically alone on campus since it was a saturday night.

you stood up, abandoning your work as you look out the window. like you though, there wasn't a single person outside, or so you thought. you turned to go back to your work when something caught your eye. some movement by the trees next to your dorm.

at first you thought it was nothing, but you saw it again. a dark shadow before two eyes appeared from the darkness. they looked just like josh's glowing amber eyes causing you to stumble back, nearly tripping on your rug.

you shut the curtains before finding your phone, pulling up maki's contact. screw the space you asked for. you jumped in place as you listened to it ring. he picked up on the second ring. "shortie? are you okay?"

"maki, there's someone outside." you heard shuffling on his end before hearing a door slam.

"where?"

"by the tree line."

"i'm on my way." you let out a sigh of relief at his words. "stay away from the window. is your door locked?"

"yes." you answered. "please hurry."

"i won't let anyone hurt you, shortie. i promise." he said before hanging up. you kept your phone clutched in your hand, chest tightening at his promise despite the situation you were in.

it didn't take him but a few minutes to get there from wherever he was. you jumped when someone knocked on your door, panicking before you heard maki call your name. you unlock the door before opening it.

his chest was heaving like he had ran here, rain dripping from his hair. his eyes met yours as he slipped into your room, locking the door behind him. you stood there, watching as he scans your room before looking out your window. once he was sure there wasn't anything near you, he turned back to look at you.

"i don't see him, but you're okay. i'm here now." you nod your head at his words. he then sees your hands clutched tightly around your body as they shook. your eyes locked onto the floor, refusing to meet his gaze. he didn't hesitate to walk over and pull you into his arms. you stiffened for just a moment before relaxing into his arms, resting your head on his chest. "i won't let anything happen to you. you're safe with me."

"was it him?" you question.

"i ran straight here, so i'm not sure. i have a friend checking it out." he answered. your face flushes at the thought of him running here in the pouring rain just to make sure you were okay.

you don't know how long you stayed wrapped in maki's arms, but the moment was ruined when you heard someone knock on the door. you jumped, feeling as maki's arms tightened around you before he recognized who it was. he stepped away from you, and it took everything in you to not dive back into his arms.

"it's okay, shortie. it's just fuma. he's the friend i was talking about." maki assured you before he went to the door. once he unlocked it, he opened it just enough for fuma to slip inside before locking it again.

fuma was completely unfamiliar to you. his size was similar to maki's, but he was older, more serious than the boy next to you. his dark eyes met yours, and his head dipped as he gave you a soft smile before looking to maki. "tracks end at the trees. whoever it was is gone."

"they were close enough to see her."

fuma's gaze flicked to you again, noticing how close maki stood to you, protecting you. "then it wasn't random."

"do you think it was josh?" you ask maki. his features darken at even the thought of him watching you.

"maybe. or someone from his pack."

your brows furrowed at the word pack, but you didn't have time to question it because fuma spoke up. "we'll figure it out. in the meantime, stay here with her for tonight. don't let her out of your sight."

"wait- what?" you question, looking between the two. he expected you to just let maki stay here and watch over you?

maki looked down at you with a pleading expression. "just for tonight. please."

"fine." you grumbled, not sounding happy at the idea. fuma gave you one last glance before moving to the door.

"don't keep her up to late, lover boy."

maki glared, but by the time he looked at fuma, he was already gone. he moved to lock the door, and when he turned around, he spotted you by the window. you peak through the closed curtains, eyes going straight to where whoever that was standing there before. you didn't see anything or anyone, so you closed the curtains before moving to sit on the bed.

"you want to tell me what the hell's going on?" you look at maki who looked like he fully expected that question, but he also looked like he didn't want to answer it.

"do you really want to know?"

you nodded. "please tell me the truth."

"josh and i... we're not human. not completely at least." he answered, watching as you nod your head.

"i kind of figured that part out. the glowing eyes really gave it away." maki huffed at your words, not expecting your joke. "so what are you?"

"werewolf." he answered honestly. he watched your reaction. it was almost like you didn't want to believe it, even though you had seen it multiple times at this point. "we hide it, or at least we try to. humans aren't supposed to know about us, but josh lost control last night."

you let out a laugh of disbelief. "what did you just drag me into, maki?"

"i'm sorry, shortie. you were never supposed to find out. i tried to keep them away from you." maki apologized as he sat at your desk that was right by your window. "i didn't think they would go after you."

"and who is they?" you ask.

"josh's pack." he answered. the two of you had done enough research about wolves for you project that you knew what a pack was. "they're different from my pack. they're not the biggest fan of humans who find out about us. even if it's against the rules."

that caught your attention. "so you mean to tell me josh screwed up, and now his pack is after me? what are they going to do?"

"nothing." his answer was immediate. "they're not going to lay a hand on you. i promise."

"how are you so sure about that?"

"not only would they have to go through me, but now they're dealing with my pack." he tells you. "they'll protect you. just like how i'm going to."

you nod, coming to terms with that. it was then that a thought hit you. "guess you really are part dog, huh?"

"i kind of walked into that one, didn't i?" maki asked with a laugh. you responded to a laugh of your own before fighting a yawn. you're lack of sleep is finally catching up with you. maki stood up, turning off the lights before he shifted his seat, so he could watch both the door and the window. "get some sleep, shortie. you're safe with me."

you didn't argue, shifting under your bedding. you thought it would be weird having someone in your room watching over you while you tried to sleep, but it wasn't. maybe because it was maki. all you know is you didn't have a single nightmare like the previous night and slept peacefully knowing you were safe. because even though maki was a supernatural creature that shouldn't exist, he made you feel safer than anyone else ever has.

the next week were not only a big adjustment for you, but for maki's pack as well. apparently josh's pack went into hiding which put them all on edge, and since you were the last person who they tried to go after, that also put you on edge. that also meant that you had someone from his pack following you when maki wasn't around- mostly fuma. you had only met fuma and one other member, k.

when he was around, which he was more often that not, he was glued to your side. he did try to keep things as normal as they could possible be between the two of you, but you could tell he was always alert. the other day he heard a sound behind one of the bookshelves at the library, and he nearly scared the life out a freshman when he went to check it out. you almost thought it was a little excessive, but through the bits of information maki has given you about them along with what you've asked, you realized you were wrong.

you were walking back to your dorm. you would say you were alone, but you knew fuma was following you, having seen him when you exited your last class of the day. you knew he wouldn't follow you into your building. you knew this because you asked him one time if he wanted to come in because it was freezing, and he said no. well, he said he didn't feeling like dealing with the fit maki would throw, but you took that as being the same thing.

you had just made it to your room, unlocking the door when you noticed something making you stop. someone had been in your room. your things had been ransacked and thrown everywhere. you felt a chill, looking over to see that your window was left open.

you take a step back, going to leave and run downstairs to grab fuma when you backed into a chest. you nearly scream before turning around, but let out a sigh of relief when you realize that it was fuma.

"my god fuma. you couldn't have said that it was you?" you try to calm your racing heart.

"sorry." he mumbled. "i saw the open window and came running."

fuma slid past you, careful not to step on any of your things as he examines the room. whoever it was didn't leave any sign of who they were, leading fuma to close your window before turning to you.

"maki said that you guys can tell who people are based on their scent. can you tell who it was?" you ask as you step into the room.

"i don't recognize the scent, but it's probably someone from josh's pack." he says as he pulls out his phone. "pack some things. you're staying with us until we get this figured out."

you didn't have any chance to argue before fuma walked out of your room. you did what he said, packing your things when you heard the door open again. you didn't bother looking, figuring that it was fuma again.

"maki's going to meet us back at our place." you nod at fuma's words but don't respond. this was getting to be too much for you. last week, you knew nothing about any of this. you were just trying to get through your project with maki without getting any feelings for him. now, you trying not to get attack by supernatural creatures that shouldn't exist while still trying not to fall for maki- though you were pretty sure you had already failed the second part. "yn, are you okay?"

you stop for a moment before glancing at him. "i'm as okay as i can be, i guess. it's not everyday you get thrown into things that belong in books."

"you're handling this well for a human. i thought you would've had a breakdown by now."

you laugh at his blunt words as you finish packing. "oh just wait. i'm sure it'll hit me eventually."

"just make sure maki's around to comfort you." he tells you, making you scoff as you head towards him with your bag. he instantly takes it from you before the two of you leave your room.

you stayed quiet the entire way to their 'pack house' as maki calls it. you didn't know what to expect. you had only formally met three of the pack if you included maki. that still left six others that you haven't met before. you didn't like that you were intruding into their space knowing what you do about wolves, but fuma didn't give you much of a choice.

you step out of the car, following fuma as the two of you walked up the driveway. it was a nice house, something you couldn't even think about living in. you couldn't even bring yourself to ask how they afforded something like this before fuma opened the door for you. you slid in behind him. you heard faint talking before hearing the sound of maki's voice.

he turned the corner, eyes instantly finding yours before he rushed to your side. just him standing next to you was enough to calm you enough to not freak out over what was happening. "are you okay?"

"i guess." you answer, stepping into his side when you notice that two other people had joined. he looked at you before glancing behind him.

"guys, this is yn." he introduced you. "shortie, this is nicholas and ej. ej helps run the pack with fuma."

"nice to meet you." you said, continuing to stick close to maki when they stepped forward. the shorter one, nicholas, smiled at you before nodding to maki.

"it's nice to finally see who this kid hasn't shut up about."

"really dude?" maki groaned in embarrassment. you felt your face blush as you let out a small laugh. at least you weren't the only one affected.

"it's nice to meet you, yn." ej said with a smile. "i'm sorry that this has happened to you, but we're doing everything we can to fix it."

"what happened?" nicholas asked the two of you.

"someone broke into her place." fuma answered. "came in through her window. i didn't recognize the scent."

"i wonder if you could bring the others. see if they recognize it." ej thought before turning to you. "would that be okay, yn?"

you shrug. "do what you have to do."

"maki, why don't you help yn get settled?" maki nodded at ej's request.

"come on, shortie." maki said, grabbing the bag from fuma before grabbing your hand. you glance down as his very warm and large hand almost engulfs yours. "you're staying in my room."

"where will you stay?"

"in there with you. i'm not letting you out of my sight anytime soon, shortie, so you better get used to this handsome face." you laugh at him as he leads you down the hallway. "i have a couch that i'll sleep on, so you can have the bed. and no arguments about that."

you close your mouth because he knew exactly what you were going to say. maki laughs at your expression as he opens the door to his room, letting you go first. it was a typical boy's style room, random decorations that didn't go together and clothes lying on the floor.

"sorry about the mess." he apologized as he set your bag down. "i wasn't expecting company."

"and i wasn't expecting to have someone break into my place, but here we are." you mumble as you sit on the couch, unsure on what to do or even how to act. how were you supposed to act?

maki could tell that you were freaking out. he walked over to sit next to you, reaching over to wrap his arm around you. "hey. i know this is a lot, and i'm sorry that you were dragged into this. but i will figure this out. i promise."

you blink back tears, trying to not cry in front of him, but it didn't work. he let out what sounded like a pained sigh before pulling you into his arms. he could hear your quiet cries as you clung to him as he tried to comfort you with his words, but the angle you two were at was kind of awkward. he didn't think twice before sliding his arm under your leg and lifting you into his lap. he felt your breath hitch, but you didn't show any signs of discomfort causing maki to pull you closer.

"i'm not going to let anything happen to you, shortie." he mumbled against your hair. "i promise."

"i know. i trust you." you lifted your head for a second, pressing a short kiss to his cheek, shocking him.

you didn't know how long you stayed in lap, wrapped in his arms. it was long enough for you to fall asleep and for it to be dark outside. you would think that he would've set you on the bed and not hold you the entire time, but when you looked up, you noticed that he was asleep as well.

you let your eyes trail along his face, taking in his features. the feelings you were trying to convince yourself not to have were fully making itself known, but you knew he wouldn't feel them same. you two were completely different. you were quiet, and he was loud. he loved being around people while that made you anxious. you knew he was only trying to comfort you from the mess he dragged you in. so once this was over, the two of you would complete your project and go your separate ways, though you really didn't want that.

a knock on the door broke you from your thoughts. maki's arms tightened around you as he heard the sound, pulling you closer to his chest before he realized what it was. he loosened his arms to let you climb out of his lap. "did you sleep well shortie?"

you could hear the teasing in his tone making you roll your eyes. "i could ask you the same thing. you have a little drool right here."

"i do not." he argued as he stood up, but you laughed when you saw him wipe at the spot you pointed at before opening the door. you recognized k. "what's up? did you find anything?"

"not yet." k answered as he stepped into the room, smiling when he saw you. "you're just the person i wanted to see. ej said that we could go to your place to see if we could figure out who broke in. we need the keys."

"yeah, that's fine." you answered, standing up before walking to grab your keys for him. "here you go."

"perfect. i'll let you know when we find something. just stay low until we do, okay." he told you before turning to maki. "and i'm sure you know what your job is."

maki glared at him when k mumbled something only the two of them could hear. maki grabbed him by the arm before shoving him out of the room. you could hear him laughing as maki slammed the door in his face before turning to you.

"you hungry?"

and so began your stay with maki and his pack. you did eventually end up meeting all 9 of them, and even though they were all nice, you tended to stay close to maki- not that he let you far out of his sight anyway. the only time you were by yourself was when you had other classes, and even then you got messages from maki every 10 minutes asking if you were okay. and by the time you left the room, he was waiting for right outside of your class.

you thought it would be annoying seeing now that you were staying with him you now didn't have any alone time, but it didn't. maybe it was your stupid feelings getting in the way, but the more time you two spent together, the harder it was for you to be away from him. it brought you back to the hard thought of what you were going to do when all of this was over. you thought you had time to figure that out and get used to that idea, but you didn't.

you had just left your last class of the day when you noticed maki tuck into the corner talking to fuma. they looked like they were arguing over something. you didn't want to bother them anymore than you already were, so you walked down the hallway to the bathroom.

you had just made it to the sink when you heard the door lock. you looked up when you noticed a shadow behind you, making you jump, but before you could scream for maki, they had their hand over your mouth.

"shh. we don't need to make this any harder than it needs to be. i just want to talk." you look in the mirror to see that it was josh, a large black hoodie covering most of his face. "i'm going to talk my hand off, and we're going to talk like normal people. okay?"

you slowly nod your head, not knowing what else to do. he smiled as he pulled his hand away, watching as you shove him away- getting as much distance as you could from him. "what do you want?"

"to apologize for attacking you." he says. "i had just had an argument with my pack and was mad, and i took that out on you."

"do you expect me to believe that?" you ask making him shrug.

"i know you're still new to this whole wolf thing, but you need to know that my pack and maki's pack are completely different. my alpha tends to be more animal than human, and i'm one of the more level headed members which is why i'm here."

you step back again when he tries to get closer to you. "why are you here?"

"to show you what you're causing." he answered. "you are going to get maki killed by being around him."

"what?"

he pulls out his phone, showing you the live stream they have of the pack house. "we've been watching for the past week. we know who drives what. who sleeps where. they wanted to attack soon, but i convinced them not to."

you feel your hands start to shake as he tells you this. "how?"

"if i can convince you to leave completely without telling them, we'll leave both them and you alone. if not, i send a text right now and they attack the pack house." he explains.

"you want me to leave?" you ask, watching as he nods his head. "and if i don't."

"then we tear his world apart, and i'll make sure you're close enough to watch me kill all of them. you don't want that, do you?" you shake your head. "i knew you were smart. you have 2 days to disappear or else we attack. oh, and if you tell him, the deals off."

you stand there, frozen as you watch him leave the bathroom. you didn't know what you were supposed to do. you didn't want to leave, not only because of maki but because of school, but josh didn't leave you with much choice. if you didn't leave, they would hurt, or even kill, maki and his pack. you couldn't be the reason that happens.

you don't know how long you stand there staring at the door, only stopping when you hear a knock on the door. "shortie? are you in here?"

"just a sec." you answer, grabbing your bag you dropped before exiting the bathroom. he's standing in front of the door, brows furrowed as he looks down at you. "are you okay?"

he nods his head. "yeah, just thought i smelled something."

"what do you smell, puppy?" you ask, laughing when he glares at you playfully. "hey, you're the one who's always using dog terms."

he lets out a low laugh, throwing his arm over your shoulder. "well then why don't you lead your dog to get some food. i'm starving."

you have dinner with him before going back to your dorm after you told maki you needed to grab more things if you were to keep staying with him. you grabbed all of your important things, shoving them underneath your clothes.

you waited until everyone was asleep before you made your move. you wrote a note for maki, leaving it on his desk. you made sure not to specify why you were leaving, just that you couldn't be the reason why anyone gets hurt.

you walked over, quietly thanking him before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. you then grab your things and leave the house. josh didn't specify where you needed to go to, so you were just going to go home. you never told maki where you were from. it was over an hour away from school, and you knew your parents wouldn't question why you came back suddenly.

you didn't think it would hurt so bad leaving, like you didn't feel right. there was a knot in your chest that won't go away, along with the nausea that won't disappear. you knew it was just guilt from disappearing suddenly. you just hoped that maki understood.

you had just gotten home and somehow fallen asleep when you suddenly woke up in a panic- all of the guilt you were feeling was somehow intensified. you chalked it up to maybe a nightmare when your phone rang. your chest twisted when you saw that it was maki. you watch as it goes to voicemail before reaching to listen to it, but something stopped you.

you saw a shadow move out of the corner of your eye. you quickly throw the covers off of you, trying to run out of your room when an arm wrapped around you, throwing you into the door before covering your mouth. you look up to see some older man you've never met.

"is this her?"

"it is." you glance behind him, stomach twisting when you noticed it was josh. "hello shortie."

that was the last thing you heard before you felt a sharp pain in the side of your head, knocking you unconscious.

you wake up with a jump, groaning when your head starts pounding. your vision is blurry as you open your eyes, glancing around confused when all you saw was concrete. you had no idea where you were.

your memories hit you, josh's pack kidnapping you, causing you to sit up and tucking yourself into a corner. you were in a small cell in what looked like a basement that was only lit by a single light. in front of your cell was josh, sitting in a chair along with a short woman you didn't know.

"good morning." he smiles when he notices you were awake. "it took you long enough to wake up."

"what- you said you would leave me alone if i left." you say, jumping when the woman let out a laugh.

"i will admit, josh. none of us thought your plan would work when you told us how smart she was." she said as she stalked towards your cell. "haven't you read enough stories to know to never trust a wolf?"

"you let your feelings for maki jumble your mind." josh agreed with her. "you should've never left him. now you're leverage."

you shake your head, panic gripping at your chest. "he won't come looking for me. i wrote a letter telling him to leave me alone."

"i figured you would do that, so i took some initiative." josh stood up from his chair and pulled your phone out of his pocket. he pulled up the messages between you and maki, showing him a photo of you unconscious. "our scouts say they're scrambling to figure out where you are. it would be so easy to attack them right now-"

"don't." you scramble to stand up, gripping the bars in front of you. "please don't."

"aw, the human is concerned for her mate. how cute." your head snaps towards her.

"my what?"

josh lets out a low groan. "alpha didn't want us to tell her that."

"what's it going to hurt? they'll both be dead soon anyway." she shrugged. "he said we couldn't hurt her physically, but not mentally. look at her. she's seconds away from crumbling."

"why would i trust you? you just told me not to." you say, making her laugh.

"you're learning. maybe you are smart." she said as she stepped closer to you. "do you feel that in your chest? the constant panic? that's the bond. you are feeling what maki is feeling right now."

you shake your head. "you're lying."

"what about the constant pull you feel towards him? the way you only feel calm is when you're near him?" she questions, nodding when you made a face. "that's what i thought?"

"does- does he know?"

she nods. "of course he does. he knew it from the moment he saw you. makes you wonder why he hasn't told you yet? maybe he's ashamed to have some weak human as his mate. i know i would."

"so now you know why we needed you so bad." josh says. "we have you. he and his pack will come like a magnet which is just what we want."

as much as you didn't want maki and his pack to come because you knew they would get hurt, it brought a comfort to you to know that he was coming from you. even if you were upset that he kept something so important from you.

"why do you want that so bad? what did they do?" you question.

both of them stayed silent until she spoke up. "it wouldn't hurt to tell her."

"a few years ago, we lost a pack member, our alpha's brother. once we tracked whoever did it, we found a camp that had signs of maki's pack there." josh explained.

"why would they kill him?" you ask. you had been around them long enough to know that none of them seemed like the type to kill someone.

"they said they didn't. claimed they were there tracking hunters when they found that camp." josh answered.

"any you don't believe them?"

"our alpha doesn't." she answers. "he wants someone to take responsibility for it."

"even if it's people that didn't do it? your alpha sounds like an idiot." you jumped when she growled at you, but you held your ground. "go ahead, mutt. you said you were going to kill me anyway."

she took a step towards you, eyes flickering gold when josh stops her. "hey. you know we can't hurt her."

you met his glare as he pulls her out of the room, leaving you completely alone. you slide back down the wall, rubbing at your chest. you now knowing that all of the panic was just you, but maki's as well.

mate. you have read about it enough times to know what it was, but you didn't think something like that existed. you also didn't think wolfs existed either. you thought you were just attracted to him, something that started out as a crush but turned into more, but it wasn't. it was a bond you didn't know existed.

even now you feel it- the pull towards him. you felt the frustration and panic that he was experiencing, and you were sure he that you were feeling the same thing. except he didn't know some of it was because of him. he let you wander in the dark about this, knowing that you felt everything he did. he didn't give you any warning or even a hint, but for some reason you couldn't bring yourself to be mad at him.

you don't know how long you sat there, eyes closed as you rested your head against the cold concrete. eventually, you guess you fell asleep because you jumped when you heard a loud bang above you, causing the ground beneath you to vibrate. you heard yelling and growling as there was fighting going on above you.

then you felt it- the pull in your chest getting stronger. you instantly understand that it meant maki was here along with his pack. you couldn't feel relief when you heard the fighting getting closer to the door in front of you. the door jerked as it sounded like someone was slammed against it. you scoot backwards, hiding in the corner as you hear the door open- eyes watering when you saw who it was.

"maki?" you get up, watching as he runs towards the cell. his foot slams into the door making you jump as the cell door flies open. as soon as he steps into the cell, you don't hesitate to fling yourself into his arms. "i'm so sorry i left. he said he was going to hurt you. i didn't think-"

"it's okay." he whispered, trying to soothe you. his arms were wrapped tightly around you as he pressed a soft kiss to the side of your head. "i'm just glad you're okay. i don't know what i would do if something happened to you, shortie."

"i'm sorry." you apologized again as he pulled away from you. his hands were warm as he cupped your cheeks, wiping away your tears.

"it's okay. just don't leave me again, okay?" you found yourself nodding which caused him to let out a sigh of relief. he went to pull you into his arms again when you noticed someone else come into the room, or more like something else. a black wolf with the same golden eyes that you were now used to was staring at you. you froze causing maki to turn to see what you were looking at. "don't freak out, shortie. that's k. he going to help me make sure you get out of here safely."

you nod your head, still slightly freaked out about the wolf in front of you. you knew that they were werewolves, but for some reason, you didn't expect them to turn into actual wolves. "you left out the small detail that you guys turn into actual wolves."

"i did?" he asked making you glare at him. "i thought that was a given though."

"clearly not."

"sorry, shortie." he apologized. "we need to get out of here. do you trust me?"

you let out a small sigh. "yes."

"i'm going to ignore that sigh." he mumbled slightly offended. "it isn't pretty out there, and i don't want you to see that. so i need to carry you, so you can close your eyes."

you really didn't need to think about it. you felt like the last 12 hours was enough to scar you for life- you didn't need to add to it. "okay."

once maki lifted you into his arms, you rested your head on his shoulder before closing your eyes. it was then that k led the way out of wherever josh's pack was keeping you at. you pulled closer to him when he stepped outside- the clothes you were wearing doing little to keep you warm.

"we're almost there." maki told you. you heard a car door open before you felt warm air hit you. "you can open them now."

you opened them as he sat you in the back seat of the car before motioning for you to move to the middle. you did as he said, noticing that fuma was sitting next to you as maki got into the car. as soon as maki shut the door, you guys took off.

"how are you holding up?" you look over to fuma with a shrug.

"okay. i guess."

"you really are a lot stronger than i thought you would be." he smiled, noticing that your hands were shaking. he shrugged off his jacket before throwing it over your lap. you thanked him before you heard a small sound come from maki making fuma laugh. "maybe next time come prepared."

you glance over at maki who was glaring at fuma confused until it hit you. of course he would be jealous since you were his mate- the thing he just so happen to not tell you. you felt a sharp pain in your chest at the words that girl said. that he didn't tell you because you were nothing but a weak human.

you saw maki look over at you in concern, but you didn't look over at him. you kept your gaze on the road until you saw the pack house. you give the jacket back to fuma before climbing out of the car, or at least you tried to. maki had you back in his arms before your feet could touch the ground.

"you're not wearing shoes, shortie." he said when you looked at him. you didn't respond which you could tell concerned him, but you allowed him to carry you, which he didn't put you down until you two were back in his room. "are you okay?"

"i'm fine." you answered, walking over to the bag you left behind to grab some clothes. "i'm going to take a shower."

you dodge his hand as he tries to stop you, locking the door of the bathroom before taking a shower. you stood there under the hot water until it turned cold before getting out. when you opened the door, maki was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands, looking up when he heard you open the door.

"is it over?"

he nods. "none of them will bother you again."

"then why am i here?" you ask, trying to give him one last chance to tell you the truth before you were to pry it out of him.

"it's late, and our place was closer. plus, the guys are still on edge about you being kidnapped. i'll bring you back in the morning if that's what you want." you scoff at his answer.

"even now you can't tell me the truth."

he looked over with a confused look. "what do you mean, shortie? fuma and ej had to somehow convince all of us from just charging after you."

"why though?" you ask. "i've only been here for a few days. that isn't really enough time to become friends with them."

"i don't know if you know this shortie, but you're very likeable."

"oh for fuck's sake." you groan. "tell me the truth, or am walking out that door, and i am never coming back."

your statement made maki pale. "you know, don't you?"

"what gave that away?" you retort. "i had to find out from the people that kidnapped me instead of you. i have been feeling all of these impossible things that could've been explained if you didn't keep that i was your mate from me. did you just not care?"

"don't say that." maki was in front of you before you could even blink. "don't say that i don't care because i do. i've been caring since the moment i saw you. you were sitting outside reading a book between classes. you had a pink dress on with a matching bow."

you tilt your head, vaguely remembering that. you had just gotten that dress and only had it for a few months before the zipper broke. "maki, that was freshman year almost 2 years ago. you kept me in the dark for that long?"

"i didn't want to. trust me." he begged. it's just- it was right after we got into it with josh's pack. it would've put a target on your back. i was going to stay away from you for as long as possible to keep you safe, but then we got paired up. and once i started spending time with you, i knew there was no way i was letting you go."

"so why didn't you tell me after i found out about all of this?" you ask, taking a step away from him to try and get some breathing room.

"i can feel you emotions, shortie." he answered. "this past month has been nothing but fear and confusion. me telling you before would have made you more scared and pull back from me. i know it."

"then you really know nothing about me." you take another step back before sitting on his bed. "you know, there was a woman down there with josh. she was the one who told me- said you knew since the moment you saw me. she then said she wasn't shocked that you didn't tell me because you were ashamed that i was a weak human."

maki crouched down, grabbing your hands. "i would never be ashamed of you, and you are not weak. you are the strongest person i know. it makes me proud to be your mate."

you lean forward before brushing some hair out of his face. he freezes when your hand cups his cheek. he relaxes, eyes softening when you lean forward before he closes the gap.

the kiss was slow and soft. your lips tasted just like the vanilla chapstick he always sees you use and wondered what it tasted like. your hand falls from his cheek before resting on his shoulder as his hands rest on your cheeks, subtly pulling closer to you.

"you may have a point." you admit quietly as you pull away from him. "i have been really freaked out over everything, and i probably would've freaked out about this too. but i wouldn't have pulled away from you. i just- i would've liked to hear that from you and not someone else."

"i know, and i'm sorry that you didn't get to hear it from me because i was too scared to tell you. i will never hide anything from you again." you knew maki was being honest- you could feel it in your chest causing you to smile.

"you better because i still have so many questions." you say before letting out a small yawn.

"i will answer everything. i promise." he says. "but you need to get some rest. we'll talk in the morning."

he goes to get up, but you grab onto his wrist, stopping him. "stay."

"shortie, i'm just going to the couch. i'm not leaving you." he tells you, but you shake your head as you keep your grip on his wrist. he understands when you glance to the bed behind you. "you mean stay with you."

you nod before letting go of his wrist. "please."

"of course. come one."

you get in bed while maki turns the lights off before slipping into bed behind you. he doesn't even think before his arm wraps around your waist, pulling you into him. he freezes, going to apologize when you roll over and tuck your head beneath his chin.

"have i ever said i like how warm you are?"

"so you're just using me for my built in heating system?" you laugh, moving to kiss his jaw before tucking your head back into his chest- preventing you from seeing his large smile.

"maybe, but that's not the only reason."

Great.

You freeze, heat flaring behind your ears. Your hands go useless for a second, hovering above the mess as if you can will it back into order.

A hand appears in your periphery—long fingers, clean nails, a silver ring catching the light. He crouches without hesitation, gathering your books with a quick, practiced rhythm, as if helping is something he does the way other people breathe.

“Here,” he says, voice soft enough that it doesn’t disturb the quiet. “This one’s yours too, right?”

He holds up a notebook—yours, yes, with the corner bent and your name scrawled on the first page. When you look up, your mouth opens on a thank you that gets snagged on your own surprise.

Because Euijoo is—beautiful, yes, but not in a distant way. More like… deliberate. Like someone who’s learned how to exist in his own skin and decided to be gentle with the world anyway. He wears a plain hoodie and a scarf that’s too thin for the weather, and his hair is damp at the ends as if he ran here through drizzle. His eyes are dark and awake and kind.

“You dropped your whole semester,” he whispers with a faint smile.

You swallow a laugh, relief loosening the tightness in your chest. “I’m trying to make an impression.”

“Mission accomplished.”

Your fingers brush when you take the notebook. Electricity is such a cliché, but you feel something—small and quick and bright—skitter through your bones like a match struck in the dark.

He stacks the last book in your arms with careful precision. “Do you want help carrying these?”

You should say no. You’re an adult! You can manage a few books. But his hands are already reaching, his posture already angled toward your burden like he’s decided you’re something worth making lighter.

“Sure,” you whisper, and then, because the quiet makes honesty feel dangerous, you add, “If you don’t mind.”

He takes half the stack and nods toward the study tables. “I don’t.”

That’s it. That’s the beginning. Not fireworks. Not a dramatic confession under moonlight. Just a Tuesday that thinks it’s a Monday, and Euijoo deciding—wordlessly, instinctively—that you matter.

…

You become a pattern in each other’s lives the way the seasons become a pattern: slowly, then all at once.

At first it’s small. Study sessions that start as coincidence and turn into agreement. Coffee runs where he remembers—somehow—that you like two sugars and no lid because you hate the taste of plastic. Messages about deadlines, jokes about professors, photos of lecture slides taken at an angle because you’re late and he’s already in the room.

You learn him in pieces.

Euijoo taps his pen against his teeth when he’s thinking. He looks up when he’s nervous, like he’s checking the ceiling for permission. He laughs with his whole body—shoulders, eyes, hands—like laughter is a thing that has to be let out or it will split him open.

And he’s good. Not performative-good, not the kind of kindness that expects applause. Just—good in the way some people are good the way some nights are clear. He holds doors, yes, but he also notices when you’re quiet for too long. He walks you home when the campus gets emptier and the streetlights flicker, and he never makes it feel like a favor. He just… does it. Like it would be stranger not to.

One evening in late October, you’re sitting on the grass outside the student union, sharing fries that taste like salt and oil and comfort. The air smells like fallen leaves and distant smoke from someone’s cigarette. Euijoo has his knees pulled up, arms folded over them, scarf looped too loose.

You’re telling him about your family—some half-complaint, half-confession—and your voice does that thing it does when you’re trying not to be vulnerable.

He listens without interrupting. When you finish, you stare at the fries so you don’t have to stare at him.

“Hey,” he says quietly.

You glance up.

His eyes are steady, almost solemn. “You don’t have to earn love.”

The words hit you like a hand on your chest—not pushing, but anchoring.

You blink. “I—”

“You don’t,” he repeats. And then, softer, like he’s telling himself as much as you, “You’re already… you.”

You swallow. Something inside you shifts, like the world has tilted a degree in a direction you didn’t know existed.

For a second, you think you might cry. Instead, you steal a fry and point it at him like a weapon. “Are you always this serious?”

He breaks, smiling, tension falling away. “Only when it matters.”

“Does this matter?” you ask, waving the fry.

He watches you, eyes warm and bright. “Yes,” he says, and then he leans forward and bites the end of the fry you’re holding.

Your fingers freeze.

His lips brush your knuckles.

It lasts half a second. It feels like a lifetime.

You stare at him, caught somewhere between laughter and panic, and Euijoo’s gaze flickers—down, then up—like he knows exactly what he just did.

“Sorry,” he murmurs, but he doesn’t look sorry. He looks… struck. Like he’s just realized something about himself and he doesn’t know where to put it.

You manage, very calmly, “It’s just a fry.”

He nods, eyes dropping again, voice rougher. “Yeah. Just a fry.”

But you both know it wasn’t.

…

The first time he kisses you is not planned, and that’s what makes it feel inevitable.

It happens in December, when the cold becomes a personality trait and the sky goes dark at four in the afternoon. Finals week has turned everyone into ghosts with caffeine breath. You’re exhausted in a way that feels like your bones are full of sand.

Euijoo finds you in an empty hallway outside a lecture room you’re not even supposed to be in, sitting on the floor with your back against the wall, your notes spread around you like you exploded.

He crouches beside you. “Hey.”

You lift your head. Your eyes burn. “I’m failing.”

“You’re not,” he says immediately, like he’s correcting an insult.

“I don’t understand anything,” you whisper, and the worst part is how true it feels in the moment. Like your brain is a locked door and you’ve lost the key.

Euijoo’s hand hovers near your shoulder, then settles there gently. His thumb moves once, a small stroke through your sweater. “Look at me,” he says.

You do.

He holds your gaze, steady as a heartbeat. “You’re tired,” he says. “Not stupid.”

Something in your throat tightens. “I can’t—”

“Breathe,” he tells you. “Just breathe with me.”

You inhale. He inhales. You exhale. He exhales. His eyes never leave yours, as if he’s physically keeping you from falling apart.

The hallway is silent, the fluorescent lights buzzing faintly above you, the distant sound of someone laughing far away like another world.

You don’t know who moves first. You only know that Euijoo’s face is suddenly closer, his hand sliding from your shoulder to your cheek, his palm warm against your cold skin. His eyes flick down to your mouth and back up, a question he doesn’t ask out loud.

You nod, barely.

He kisses you like he’s been carrying it for months. Like he’s been holding his breath and finally decided he’s allowed to exhale.

It’s not desperate. It’s not messy. It’s—precise, careful, reverent. He pulls back after a second, forehead almost touching yours, and you see it: the stunned softness in his eyes, the way his pupils look blown wide, as if he can’t believe this is real.

“Okay?” he whispers.

You laugh, shaky. “Yeah.”

He swallows. “I… I wanted to do that for a long time.”

Your heart kicks hard. “Why didn’t you?”

His gaze drops, and for the first time you see him looking unsure—Euijoo, who always seems so quietly certain.

“Because,” he says, voice low, “I didn’t want to be the kind of person who takes something you weren’t ready to give.”

You stare at him.

His eyes flick up again, earnest enough to hurt. “I don’t want to ruin you. Or—well, us.”

You lift a hand and press your fingers to his scarf, anchoring him the way he anchored you. “You didn’t.”

Something shifts in his expression—relief, tenderness, a bloom of something older than a crush.

He kisses you again, slower, and you swear you feel it all the way down to your ribs.

…

After that, you become each other’s home in the middle of everything that keeps changing.

You learn the shape of Euijoo’s affection: the way he tucks you into his side when you’re waiting for the bus, palm splayed on your shoulder like a claim that isn’t possessive, just protective. The way he watches you when you talk, like he’s memorizing the movement of your mouth, the curve of your smiles, the moments your eyes light up. The way he says your name like it’s a secret and a prayer.

Sometimes you catch him staring.

Not in a creepy way. In a wrecked way.

Like he’s looking at you and remembering that you exist, and it hurts him because it’s so beautiful it’s almost unbearable.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” you ask once, half teasing, half self-conscious. You’re sitting in his tiny dorm room, legs tangled on his bed, a cheap movie playing on his laptop. The air smells like laundry detergent and instant noodles.

He blinks, as if returning from somewhere far away. “Like what?”

“Like I’m—” You wave a hand, searching. “Like I’m the answer to a question you didn’t know you asked.”

His mouth twitches, but his eyes don’t soften into humor. They stay serious, almost raw.

“You are,” he says simply.

You laugh, because you don’t know what else to do when someone says something that honest. “Euijoo.”

He reaches out and takes your hand, threading your fingers together. His grip is firm—not painful, but solid, like a promise.

“I mean it,” he says, voice quiet over the movie’s dialogue. “Sometimes I look at you and I think… how is this real?”

Your chest tightens. “It’s real.”

He nods, but his gaze flickers, betraying something inside him that doesn’t fully believe he gets to keep good things.

You squeeze his hand. “Hey.”

He looks at you.

“Don’t make yourself suffer over something you haven’t lost,” you whisper.

For a moment, his eyes shine like he might cry. Then he lifts your hand and presses his mouth to your knuckles—gentle, devotional.

“Okay,” he breathes. “I’ll try.”

But you learn, over the months, that Euijoo’s love is not a simple thing.

It’s not light. It’s not casual.

It’s deep and old, like it was waiting in him long before he knew what to call it.

…

By spring, everyone knows you’re together.

Not because you make a show of it, but because Euijoo looks different when you’re near. Softer. Brighter. Like his body relaxes into a shape it prefers.

He walks you to class and carries your bag when you’re tired. He buys you ridiculous little things—a keychain shaped like your favorite animal, a cheap bouquet from the corner store because it “looked like you.” He leaves notes in your textbooks when you’re not looking: Eat. Sleep. Don’t die. I love you.

The first time he says it out loud is in April, on a night the wind is warm enough to feel like a hand.

You’re sitting on the roof of a campus building you’re probably not supposed to be on, legs dangling over the edge, the city sprawled below like a sea of lights. Euijoo has brought two cans of soda and a blanket that smells like him.

You’re talking about nothing—summer plans, internships, how adulthood feels like standing at the edge of a cliff and pretending you’re not scared.

Euijoo goes quiet. When you look at him, he’s staring at his hands, fingers worrying the tab of the soda can.

“What?” you ask gently.

He exhales, and the sound trembles. “I’m thinking,” he says.

“About what?”

He turns his head and looks at you.

And the expression on his face makes your breath catch—like he’s standing in front of something sacred. Like he’s terrified of saying the wrong thing and breaking it.

“I love you,” he says.

The words aren’t dramatic. They’re not shouted into the wind. They’re said like a fact. Like a confession. Like something he has carried for so long it has become part of his spine.

You stare at him, stunned for a second. And then warmth floods your chest so fast you almost choke on it.

“I love you too,” you whisper.

Euijoo’s eyes squeeze shut for a heartbeat, as if he’s absorbing it physically. When he opens them, they’re wet.

“Hey,” you say, voice soft. “Why are you crying?”

He laughs, but it’s broken. “Because—” He swallows hard. “Because I didn’t think I would get this.”

You reach for him, pulling him into your arms. He clings like he’s been starving. His hold is careful but fierce, hands spread over your back, his forehead pressed to your shoulder.

And you feel it: the way his body shakes, the way his breathing stutters, like his heart is trying to learn a new rhythm.

It hits you then, quietly, like a truth settling into place.

Euijoo loves like he’s afraid.

Not of you. Not of love.

Of losing it.

…

Time moves the way it always does—relentless and tender. You survive finals. You survive summers that stretch like taffy and winters that make your cheeks sting. You move from dorm rooms to tiny apartments, from instant ramen to grocery lists and shared chores, from “I miss you” texts between classes to “What do you want for dinner?” shouted from the kitchen.

You grow up together in all the unglamorous ways that matter.

And somewhere along the line, Euijoo changes.

Not in the sense that he becomes a different person—he doesn’t lose his gentleness, his quiet humor, his habit of tapping his pen against his teeth. But something in him settles. Deepens. Hardens into certainty.

You see it in the way he stands behind you when you’re cooking, arms wrapped around your waist, chin on your shoulder. In the way he looks at you at parties, across crowded rooms, eyes finding yours like a compass needle snapping north. In the way he reaches for your hand in public without thinking, like your fingers belong there.

At first, his love feels like a bright, frantic thing—like he’s afraid that if he doesn’t hold you, you’ll disappear.

Then, gradually, it becomes something else.

Something older.

Something that doesn’t just want you.

Something that wants a life.

…

It happens on an ordinary day, which is how you know it’s real.

You’re in a grocery store aisle arguing about cereal, because you’ve reached that stage of intimacy where your biggest conflicts are about sugar content and brand loyalty. Euijoo has a box of something aggressively healthy in his hand, and you’re holding a bright, childish, chocolate-covered option like it’s the only joy left in the world.

“You can’t eat that every day,” he says, trying to sound stern.

“You eat instant noodles like it’s a personality,” you shoot back.

He huffs, amused. “That’s different.”

“It’s literally not.”

He looks at you, eyes narrowing, and you prepare for him to make some ridiculous comeback.

Instead, his gaze shifts—past you, down the aisle.

You follow it and see, near the endcap, a young couple with a toddler. The child is in a puffy jacket too big for her, hair sticking up in staticy wisps, cheeks flushed. She’s holding her parent’s finger with both hands, babbling happily while the adults laugh and try to wrangle her toward the cart.

It’s nothing special. Just life.

But Euijoo goes still.

Not stiff. Not tense. Just… quiet, as if something inside him has stopped moving long enough to listen.

You glance at him. “Euijoo?”

He doesn’t answer at first. His eyes are fixed on the child’s tiny hands, the way she leans into the safety of her parents like she has never doubted she’ll be caught.

When he finally looks at you, it’s like he’s seeing you in a new light.

His pupils are wide. His mouth is slightly open, like he’s been punched with the thought.

“What?” you ask, suddenly nervous.

He swallows. His throat moves hard. “I—” He stops, as if he doesn’t know how to say what’s in him without breaking it.

You step closer, lowering your voice. “What is it?”

His gaze drops to your mouth, then to your hands, then back to your eyes, like he’s trying to anchor himself.

“I don’t think,” he says slowly, “I love you like a boy loves someone anymore.”

Your breath catches.

He keeps going, voice raw, as if once he starts he can’t stop. “I think… I love you like—” He presses a hand to his chest, fingers splaying over his heart. “Like something in me is old.”

You blink, stunned. The grocery store hums around you: carts squeaking, a kid whining somewhere, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead.

Euijoo’s eyes shine. “Sometimes I look at you and it feels like my bones crack if I don’t hold you,” he whispers, and there’s a faint, trembling laugh in the words, like he knows it sounds insane but it’s true anyway. “And it scares me, because it’s not just… wanting you. It’s not just missing you.”

He leans closer, voice dropping to a confession meant only for you. “It’s like my soul knows you. Like it’s been waiting.”

Your hands tighten around the cereal box.

Euijoo reaches out and covers your fingers with his, warm and steady. “I keep thinking about… years,” he says. “Not just weekends. Not just next semester. Years. Like—”

He swallows again, and this time his voice breaks slightly. “Like I want to marry you.”

The words land in you like a bell struck deep.

Euijoo’s eyes fill. He looks almost anguished, like saying it hurts, like wanting you this much is something he both craves and fears.

“I want to call you my wife,” he whispers, and his expression twists, love and terror braided together. “I want… kids. I want to watch you hold our baby like it’s the only thing in the universe. I want to watch us get old and complain about our backs and still reach for each other in our sleep. I want to sit at a table with you and our grandchildren and think—we did it.”

Your throat tightens until you can barely breathe.

Euijoo’s voice drops even softer, almost a plea. “And it makes me feel like I’m breaking, because if I want it that much—if I let myself want it—then losing it would kill me.”

He looks at you like you’re the sun and he’s been orbiting you without admitting it. Like he’s terrified you’ll say no and confirm his worst fear: that good things aren’t meant to stay.

You set the cereal down carefully on the shelf, hands shaking just a little.

Then you step into him.

Euijoo inhales sharply when your arms wrap around his waist. For a second he’s frozen, as if he can’t believe you’re doing it, and then he folds around you—tight, fierce, protective. His hold is the kind of hold that says mine without ownership, home without walls.

You bury your face in his shoulder. “Euijoo,” you whisper, voice thick.

He presses his cheek to your hair. His breathing is uneven. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t apologize,” you cut in, pulling back just enough to look at him.

His eyes are wet. He looks wrecked.

You cup his face with both hands. “Look at me.”

He does, trembling.

“I want that,” you say.

He stares. “What?”

“You,” you whisper. “All of it. The years. The old love. The terrifying love. The stupid grocery store fights. The kids, if we decide. The getting old. The being yours.”

Euijoo’s breath leaves him like he’s been shot.

“You mean it?” he asks, voice cracked.

You smile through the ache in your chest. “I’ve meant it.”

His face crumples with something so intensely relieved it hurts to witness. He closes his eyes, forehead dropping to yours, and a sound escapes him—half laugh, half sob.

“I’m going to take care of you,” he whispers, words desperate with sincerity. “I’m going to love you so well. I’m going to—”

“You already do,” you murmur.

He shakes his head, as if he can’t accept that it’s enough. “No,” he says. “More. I will—more.”

And then, right there between the cereal and the pasta sauce, Euijoo kisses you like a man who has found the thing he intends to keep for the rest of his life.

Not reckless. Not showy.

Burning.

Deep.

Old.

Like he’s making a vow with his mouth.

When he pulls back, his eyes are shining so brightly it feels like staring into a flame.

He looks at you the way people look at miracles.

And you realize something too, in the quiet after his confession:

Euijoo doesn’t love you like a story.

He loves you like a future.

…

Later, when you’re home and the groceries are half-put away and you’re both still dazed from what happened in aisle seven, he comes up behind you in the kitchen.

You’re rinsing apples at the sink. The window above it is dark, reflecting your own faces back at you: you in a soft sweatshirt, hair messy, Euijoo behind you like a shadow made of devotion.

He wraps his arms around your waist.

His chin settles on your shoulder.

You feel him breathe in, slow and deep, like he’s inhaling you into his lungs.

“You’re real,” he murmurs.

You turn your head slightly. “I’m real.”

His grip tightens, just a little. The kind of tightness that says he’s trying to fuse you into him.

You cover his hands with yours. “Hey,” you whisper. “You don’t have to be afraid.”

He exhales, shaky. “I’m not afraid of you,” he says.

“I know.”

He nuzzles your shoulder, voice low. “I’m afraid of how much I want this. Because it’s… huge.”

You turn around in his arms and face him fully. His eyes are soft but haunted, like the depth of his love sometimes scares even him.

You reach up and smooth your thumb under his eye, catching the smallest hint of moisture. “Then we’ll hold it together,” you say. “We don’t have to carry it alone.”

Euijoo stares at you like you’ve just handed him the missing piece of himself.

Then he smiles—small, trembling, utterly ruined.

“Wife,” he whispers experimentally, like he’s tasting it.

Your heart stutters.

You laugh, breathless. “Not yet.”

He nods, serious as a vow. “Someday.”

You lean into him, forehead against his, and for a moment the whole world narrows to the space between your breaths.

Euijoo’s arms tighten around you, and you understand what he meant about bones and cracking and needing.

His love is not gentle because it is weak.

It’s gentle because it is powerful enough to be careful.

“Someday,” you agree softly.

Euijoo closes his eyes, and his soul—no longer crying, no longer breaking—sounds like it’s finally found a place to rest.

And when he kisses you again, it’s not like a boy.

It’s like a man who has already chosen you for every version of the future.

Every season.

Every lifetime.

TAGLIST: @ja4hyvn @flwoie @sulkygyu @xiaoderrrr @ineedaherosavemeenow @teddywonss @taerae-verse @bbangbies @voucearse @ruuroom @wensurr @sunoo-mint-choco @leehanaholic @delirioastral @todorokiskitten

you might have pushed him too far this time.

euijoo is usually a professional at brushing off the jokes you make about his arguably less than impressive sex life. and by that, youre not even sure it exists at all. you've been friends for years, but you have never heard him brag about an "eventful" night, even when you've done more than your fair share of explicit storytimes. he's always a listening ear, no matter how red hearing your encounters makes the top of his.

when you'd went on vacation together in the past, the two of you have to spend a week apart afterward just to preserve the friendship you've crafted. you're just so annoying. but he loves it, way more than he'd care to admit. you once spent a week on a woodland retreat, traveling sun up to sun down with a group of very dedicated hikers. up hill. down hill. even sideways on the hill, like goats.

"can you please shut the hell up about bigfoot?" euijoo had yelled over his shoulder on the last day of the trip. you had to shamefully lower your hand and relax your shocked face, having just claimed your ninth bigfoot sighting of the week. the entire group turned to look at you, and euijoo didnt speak the rest of the hike. he made you food over your campfire, though, while you were cramming a quick nap before the final evening hike. your calves hurt more than your relationship, thankfully.

when you went anywhere, you found a bit to commit to for the duration of the trip and waited to see how long it would take euijoo to break. the first day of a trip was always the most fun, the two of you in a new place. you love his smile, and he was always painfully enthusiastic within 24 hours of the plane landing or the hotel door clicking closed. he would drag you to all the destinations you'd marked on the map with his digital camera slipped into his pocket. around the fourth day, however, he was drained. and after the fifth, he began to huff, cast irritated glances your way, and, occasionally, ask if you knew how to be quiet. from the sixth day on, you were playing with fire.

this time, you and euijoo had decided on a beach holiday. you've never been anywhere actually relaxing together, usually opting for near death or financially detrimental experiences. you thought it might be fun to lay around on a towel reading shitty romance, build sand castles, get sun poisoning- the works. so, you booked a room at a beachfront resort, adults only and all inclusive with a full breakfast bar. and you decided what bit you'd be fully committing to, even before you arrived at the hotel:

you were gonna get euijoo laid.

it would be just like love island, you thought. or assumed, since you've never actually seen it. but your best friend, who is by and large considered handsome, would be surrounded by gorgeous adult women in tiny bikinis, gleaming under stark sunlight all day long, lingering by the bar desperate for a drink that euijoo could definitely order for them. you'd even tell him what drinks girls like, in a grossly stereotyping sense.

you considered it a favor. he had a girlfriend once, when the two of you first met. you'd had some classes with her at your university but met euijoo by completely unrelated circumstance. you had taken his drink at a local cafe by accident, despite his name being written on the side of the cup in thick black marker.

"wait, your name is euijoo?" you had stared at him with wide eyes. he could only nod, face blank, as you lied to him through your teeth, "my name is euijoo, too. small world, huh?"

euijoo was hooked on you ever since, spending so much time with you at arcades and poetry readings and movie nights that his girlfriend called it quits. you became close incredibly fast. it was so easy to forget about time with him, though. the years went by so quickly, only slowing down the one week a year you isolated yourselves together and you pushed him to emotional limits he didnt even know he had.

the resort was fancy but not flashy, which was good since neither of you really looked like you belonged there. euijoo had a stupid floppy hat on, and you had forgotten to take off your sunglasses inside, the giant lenses eclipsing your entire face. the hotel receptionist was visibly reluctant to hand over your room key as if the two of you were obviously responsible adults capable of maintaining order in her establishment. when she finally handed it over to euijoo, he flashed her a genuine smile that moved his cheeks and all.

"she was cute," you said as euijoo yanked his suitcase over the elevator floor gap. you pressed your floor number, feeling his confused stare chiseling into the side of your face. she was cute, round hazel eyes and freckled cheeks. she had a friendly face, just like him.

euijoo shifted on his feet, "do you, uh, want her number? i can go back and get it for you."

he moved to press the lobby button, and you swatted his hand away. as he hissed, shaking his barely burning wrist, you insisted, "no, dumbass, for you. shes cute for you."

"for me?" his eyebrows turned up in the middle, furrowing like you'd just told him he won a raffle he never entered. his lips parted slightly, one long finger pointed into his chest.

and he kept this act up for days, playing dumb every time you tried to get him to ask someone out. "juju, she's hot," was met with, "well, the sun is out." every "you should offer her a drink" warranted an "alcohol speeds up dehydration." he was such a fucking gentleman. it made you sick.

at one point, you purposefully sat in a lounge chair on the very end of the row at the hotel pool, leaving euijoo to sit in the one between you and a very, very attractive lady. even you considered testing the waters if he ended up tanking his chances.

"hi, hi. sorry to bother you," you had sat up after twenty minutes of brainstorming and sunbathing, leaning over euijoo to get into the woman's hearing range. he audibly gulped, suddenly aware of what angle you were playing. he caught on pretty quickly. you lifted a hand just as she turned to face you and stuck it right in euijoo's hair, ruffling it, "my friend here thinks youre very beautiful. isnt that right, euijoo?"

"hm, what?" he sat up quickly from his relaxed pose on the lounger, swiping your hand from his head and shooting you a sideways glance. the woman peered at him from behind her sunglasses, watching as he searched for a response to your question, his mouth opening and closing, opening and closing until he landed on, "oh, yes! i said your hair was beautiful. its, uh, very... healthy. yeah, great hair."

he then gave her the saddest thumbs up you've ever seen, crooked and weary, and stood up from his seat, pattering away on the wet concrete. the woman watched him the whole way back to the hotel entrance, combing an absent hand through her loose, healthy curls. you sighed, "i guess i misheard him. you are beautiful, though."

"what exactly are you trying to do?" euijoo was sitting, slouched over on the edge of his bed when you returned a couple hours later. he had changed from his swim shorts and tank top into something more casual, comfy. you only noticed because you'd bought him that tshirt for his birthday last year.

"nice shirt," you laughed as you hopped up onto the edge of your own mattress parallel to him, letting your legs dangle in the space between you. he lifted his gaze from the floor to your face, dark brown eyes scanning for something you werent quite aware of. euijoo didnt smile, and you felt yourself grow sharp under his watch, "whats up with you? why are you being weird?"

"im being weird?" he breathed a laugh this time, tilting his head at you in a way that had his tousled hair swiping over his eyes. he flicked it away, absentmindedly, "interesting, since all youve done this week is try to hook me up with strangers. is that not weird to you?"

you were speechless, opening your mouth only for nothing to come out. it was day four, but you'd never pushed him this far. and it was entirely unintentional. you knew he hated the bigfoot jokes. you knew he hated when you made him do the same pose at every tourist attraction. you knew he hated your collection of tacky shot glasses you just had to buy at every souvenir shop. but this- he had never acknowledged your behavior in this way.

"is it weird for me to want my best friend to have a little fun?" you asked, gauging his reaction, which- spoiler- was not positive.

"im trying to have fun," he stressed, crossing his arms and sliding off the bed to stand, "with you. on our vacation. but you keep trying to pawn me off!"

"euijoo, i just swear to god youve not had sex with anybody in like five years. cant you, like, die from that? did i make that up?" you rubbed your eyes in thought. when you opened them, everything was blurred but the annoyance on euijoos face. like youd crossed a boundary you didnt know hed set. he scoffed, shaking his head. you added, "i thought i was helping!"

there was a beat of silence, thick and palpable.

"i just wanted to be with you," he sighed, sitting on the bed again but on the opposite side, his back facing you. you saw him take a deep breath before laying down, stretching out over the length of the bed. he mumbled, "just forget it."

you swallowed the lump in your throat and stretched out, too, on your own bed. you curled into your side, watching his chest rise and fall. his eyes fluttered closed, but you knew he wasnt sleeping. you let the silence dissipate, the air conditioning unit in the corner rumbling as the crisp air blows through the curtains.

"uh," you cleared your throat after what felt like hours of silence but you knew was closer to twenty minutes, "we have that, um, scuba lesson in a bit... that we did pay for. just by the way."

the scuba lesson seemed like a great way to get your "experience" fill for this trip, and euijoo had always talked about wanting to explore the reef or swim with dolphins. the passes werent that expensive on their own, but you'd pre-rented the gear.

euijoo didnt turn his head to look at you and, instead, just spoke to the ceiling like he didnt care if you heard it or not. "go without me," he said, "you'll just try to set me up with the instructor, anyway."

you were able to refund the rental fee for the gear, but you wished you'd have just refunded the whole lesson. floating around in spandex was a lot less fun alone, you'd realized. the whole lesson was weirdly intimate without euijoo there, just you and the instructor, who wasnt even hot. you wondered whether to tell euijoo that detail or just leave it alone. you wondered whether to tell him anything at all.

he didnt give you much of a choice, though. when you got back, he was no longer on his bed. or in the room. it was like he was never there save for the open suitcase kicked under a table, his comfy clothes from earlier strung haphazardly over the edge of the case.

you were thankful that you had upgraded your room when you booked, specifically for the two beds and larger bathroom. too many times had the two of you crammed into one bed or taken a piss while the other was brushing their teeth. the other benefit of the upgraded room: private access to a courtyard shared among the four private suites in your wing, which included a small pool, lawn games like giant chess, a self-serve bar, and a hot tub.

now, you're looking through the slatted blinds on your room's patio door, scouring the dimly lit courtyard for any sign of him. of course, the sun has set since you returned from your suddenly personal scuba lesson. the dew cast a fog on the glass panes, additional clouds growing and dissolving from your breath as you press your forehead to the door. in the corner of the yard, you see a faint glow, pulsating in the dimming twilight.

when you approach the hot tub, euijoo looks tranquil, almost blissful. his head is tipped back, eyes sewn shut as the water laps at his bare torso. the waves from the jets cast swirling reflections on his skin, everywhere. you're almost close enough to step into the water when you hesitate, stopping, considering leaving him alone and just going to bed. his eyes open, but hes not shocked to see you. he doesnt even jump, just pulls his lips into a small smile.

"come on in," euijoo nods to the space across from him, watching your every move. despite his kindness, you cant help but feel like he's analyzing you, waiting for you to say something stupid again. "how was diving?"

"humiliating," you sigh as you sink into the water. euijoos head is tipped down, chin tucked and watching you from under heavy lids. you can't deny how cold the water feels on your skin, unfamiliar warmth dancing up your arms, your chest. your neck. "i mean, i was a pro, as you can imagine. but the whole thing was... lonely."

euijoo hums to suppress a laugh. he does this often, not wanting to encourage your antics, but you can always see the little glint of humor in his eyes. usually, the smile would break loose. he'd let a laugh loose and pretend it never happened. but now, hes bittersweet, regretful. he takes a deep breath.

"i should've went with you," he says, stopping to chew at the inside of his cheek, "i was being a dick."

"yeah," you deadpan, and he looks at you with sorrowful eyes before you kick your leg up out of the water, splashing him. his hands come up defensively to shield his face, water running down his forearms. he laughs, flipping his hand over the surface to send a spray of water toward you, instead. you continue, "but so was i. i shouldn't have assumed you were interested in sex."

euijoo smiles, softly, at your attempt at an apology. that might be the best he's gonna get, and he can't stay mad at you for long. he opens up his arms, nodding his head to the side, "come here."

and as you scoot along the edge of the hot tub, you can see just how flushed his face is from the heat. droplets of water cascade down his cheek, dripping from his jaw. his shoulders glisten with a sheen of sweat, but his skin is cold when you rest your cheek on it. euijoo wraps his arm around the side of your neck, pulling you close. it should be disgustingly sticky, but it isnt. it's nice.

it's too nice, too comfortable. you'd even call it perfect, the fit of his arm over your shoulder, his skin against yours. euijoo's chest rises and falls in your periphery, the swelling of his lungs matching the ever choppy bubbling of the water. he grows rigid against you, shifting in his seat on the hot tub's bench.

suddenly, euijoo pulls his arm from around you. he folds his arms firmly over his chest, sighing deeply before clearing his throat. you retreat from your position, uncurling from his side and turning in your seat to face him. your brows furrow, "whats up with you all the sudden?"

euijoo's eyes scan everywhere but your face, finding something interesting on the side of the hotel wall, maybe a curtain blowing in a window seven floors above. he sputters out a tragedy of an excuse, "you're- its the, um, the..." he shrugs, performatively wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, "hot tub. its... so hot."

"oh, are you okay? do you need some water?" you reach out to feel his forehead, too, but he swats your hand away, shifting his body away from you.

"no!" his eyes widen, "i mean, yes, im okay. no on the water. just-"

"well, do you want to get out? we can watch a movie or something?"

"no," slower, after a visible gulp, euijoo says, "i cant."

you can barely hear him over the turbulent waves. the water around you gurgles over itself, sloshing out of the jets on your back and on the floor. columns of water billow up, wafting the burning scent of chlorine into the air. he cant? why wouldn't he be able to watch a movie with you? does he suddenly hate movies?

then, it clicks.

you reach behind his head, and, with a quick tap of a button on the tub's control panel, disable the jets altogether. the water goes still, leftover bubbles disappearing with a soft fizz. it's unnaturally quiet without the roar of the water pump or the disrupting slosh of waves on the plastic siding. theres nothing but the sound of euijoo's heart beating out of his chest and the choked gasp that leaves his mouth once he realizes what youve done.

"no fucking way," you mutter, half astonished and half teetering on a feeling you've been too scared to acknowledge for a long time, "byun euijoo, are you seriously hard right now?"

he rears his arm back and presses every button on the tub's control panel in search of the magic switch to turn the jets on and, hopefully, make everything stop. as soon as he presses it, you press it again. he presses it. you press it. back and forth and back and forth until he buries his face in his hand and groans, "please, just go inside. forget everything. forget about me. let me die here."

"don't be embarrassed, juju," you laugh, gently grabbing his wrists and pulling his hands away from his flushed face. as you lower them to the water, his eyes never leave the place where your fingers wrap around his. his expression is a mix of confusion and humiliation, chased by a rush of curiosity at your tender reaction. "i could go away. i could just go to bed."

youre sure he can see the ideas bounding in your head, bouncing from one side of your skull to the other and skipping all the zones in your brain that would tell you that this is a bad idea. its situations like these that should exist only as hypotheticals, like a fever dream just as its about to break. or a one-time daydream scenario after a hangout where he looked a little too good. maybe he wore that sweater you liked, let his jeans hang a little too low on his hips. but you had gotten very good at separating your feelings from the reality that euijoo is your best friend and could never be anything more. at least, he never showed it. not until now, having skipped all the casual flirting or cheesy pickup lines and went straight to business. straight to driving you crazy all week with his perfect, sunkissed skin and slender fingers massaging sunscreen along your spine, working lower and lower, dipping under your swimsuit bottoms just in case.

"or," you guide his wrist until his hand is cupping the side of your neck, his damp fingers instinctively threading into your hair behind your ear. you whisper, "or, i could stay."

his touch is gentle, like hes afraid he'll do something he'll regret. you're scared, too, but you inhale, chlorine rushing to your head. when you exhale, you bring your own palm and place it over his, encouraging him to please touch you. you continue, "you know, i think i understand why you didnt care about the receptionist, or that woman at the pool, or at the bar."

euijoo hums, finally heeding your silent plea and sinking his fingers deeper into your hair. he tilts your head gently as you speak, following the movement with his own head, mirroring you. his lips part, only slightly and only once youre done speaking. "you do?"

"mhm," you let him puppeteer you, letting the weight of your head fall into his firm grasp as he cranes your neck backward, exposing the front of your throat, and then back to the side, swiping his thumb under your jaw, "but i wanna hear you say it. wanna know for sure."

euijoo whines, softly, and you feel it go right to your stomach, heat pooling in your veins. you clench your thighs together, absentmindedly, as he swallows the rest of whatever sounds were threatening to spill from his mouth. you feel his hand shaking against your neck, and you reach up again to hold him, steady him. you move your other hand under the water in search of his free hand, pulling it closer to rest on your thigh. euijoo squeezes your leg, just once, and releases a shaky breath, "they're not you."

euijoo sucks a sharp breath in through his teeth as you lean further into his hold and press your lips to the soft skin on the inside of his wrist. you feel on fire as you dart your tongue out, running it along the ridges of his veins. he tastes like chemicals and sweat but somehow sweet, like burning citrus.

"fuck, they're not you," he whispers to himself, fingers dragging, tentatively, up your thigh, "would you... would you like it if i kissed you?"

you pull your lips away from his hand just to laugh, quietly. you feel bad for the reaction, but he's just so desperate, nervous. your body moves before your mouth can, suddenly draping your legs over either side of his hips, his fingertips still digging into the flesh of your thigh. you keep yourself planted in the middle of his lap, careful to distance your core from where he obviously wants you.

you hover your lips over his, and its clear to you that euijoo is not breathing. his eyes are blown wide with an emotion you cant decipher as excitement or disbelief, and his chest is frozen in a perpetual inhale. as you speak, your bottom lip grazes his, "there's really only one way to find out, hm?"

the first kiss is curious, hesitant, as euijoo closes the short gap between you. his lips are plush, just as you expected and more. he brings his other hand from your thigh to the other side of your face, cupping it softly, and sighs into you. the trickle of water from his fingers that trails down your neck sends a chill through your body that completely contradicts the heat you feel from the water, from him. as he pulls away, you tug his bottom lip between your teeth, tethering the two of you together for just a second longer. euijoo whimpers, and you drink it all up as you release him from your teeth. you cant tell if his face is flush from the heat or embarrassment, growing shy under you in every aspect, physically and under your intense gaze that scans every crease and corner of his face. he smiles as you land on his eyes. you comb your hand through his hair, smoothing it away from his face the way you like it.

the second kiss is more of everything, swallowing his smile and his sounds. your mouths work purposefully against each other, as if to memorize the exact way his lips fit into you. its a deliberate exploration, teeth nipping, tongues melding and soothing. all while his hands slide, slowly, from your face down your body. euijoo's fingers ghost under your ribs, squeezing your hips in a silent encouragement. your fingers snake around his neck, tugging at the hairs at the nape of his neck.

"you're driving me fucking crazy," euijoo mumbles against your lips, digging his fingernails into the skin of your hips, "all ive ever wanted."

his confession strikes you, humming against him in acknowledgement. you dont know if you can ever stop kissing him, which, coincidentally, is the same reason you had avoided trying before. your friend group had played their fair share of party games, which almost always ended with then drunkenly pushing you and euijoo toward each other while shouting, "kiss! kiss! kiss!" but you'd laughed it off thinking euijoo would never want risk your friendship for something as childish as spin the bottle.

if you had known you'd be in his lap in a public hot tub sucking on his tongue, maybe you'd have tried it a bit sooner.

you involuntarily rock your hips forward, body in search of some friction, and when you brush against the bulge in his swim shorts, euijoo groans into your mouth, body jerking in surprise. you hum against his lips, gauging him. euijoo pulls you forward again, hands snaking from your hips around to your ass. you always admired his delicate hands, but now youre wondering just how rough he could be with them as you roll your hips one more time against him.

"fuck," you rest your forehead against his as his straining cock nudges your clothed clit, the muted friction building, "have you had a big dick this whole time and didnt tell me?"

"have you- shit- ever been s-serious a day in your life?" euijoo chokes out, balancing the sweetest smile and the most intense crease in his brow. you're only teasing him, but it's not much of a joke. earlier, the bubbles and the dim lighting of the courtyard and the optical illusion that is water only barely revealed his predicament to you. you couldn't really see it. but, now, you can feel it. long and slender and trapped.

"i wanna touch you," you confess, flicking your gaze from his face to the space where the two of you meet, watching his pupils blow, watching his hips jerk in anticipation, "would you like that, juju?"

if he wasnt completely at your mercy, a puddle beneath you, he would have definitely flipped you off for turning his own question against him. instead, euijoo just nods, hastily. like you'll change your mind about him. he nods, eagerly. like he's been waiting to let you have him.

you hook your fingers into the elastic waistband of his shorts, pulling them down just enough for his cock to bob free under the water. euijoo moans under his breath at the lack of restraint, but he yelps as you wrap your fingers around the base of it, squeezing gently, experimentally. euijoo screws his eyes shut, throwing his head back as you drag your hand all the way up his throbbing shaft, babbling curses and your name like you're killing him. he opens his eyes only to look around, checking the windows and doors of the other suites near you.

"scared of getting caught?" you twist your hand, sinking it back down along his velvet, honey veined skin before moving to press directly on the angry, pink head. euijoo whines, bucking up into your hand and biting the back of his hand to muffle his cries. you smooth over the tip with your thumb, "you dont want anyone to see how good you're being for me? or hear how pretty you sound, juju?"

you pull his hand away from his mouth with your free hand, "let them hear. tell them how good it feels, baby."

you increase your pace. euijoos eyes focus on the rippling water where your arm works him under the surface, your grip firm and natural like your hand was designed for him, like you were. his jaw is slack with pleasure, shivers sliding over his body every time you slow your movements, rocking your hips on his leg in a similar rhythm. he groans, "feels so good. s-so fucking good."

youd be lying if said you weren't the most turned on you've ever been in your life. every movement of your wrist disturbs the water, as well as the sloshing of the water between your torsos as you grind yourself onto his thigh. youre chasing your own high, although priority number one is to see what sounds euijoo makes when he comes. in your wettest dreams, he was a heavy breather, but you realize now that your mind could not have conjured his sweet mixture of sinful mewls, husky groans, and breathy moans. and thats only what he has let you hear, still holding himself back for the sake of privacy. you'd hate to be seen, to have an outsider ruin this perfect moment. at the same time, however, the thrill of being caught tempts you to draw this out as long as possible.

"im gonna come," euijoo pants under you as you attach your lips to the column of his exposed throat, savoring the chlorinated citrus flavor of his skin, "fuck- i dont wanna come in the water. thats so gross."

you worked your lips up to his ear, slowing your wrist and nipping at his earlobe with your teeth. you whisper, "then come inside me, euijoo."

when you pull back, he's scanning your face for a semblance of humor, as if it were a joke. but you've never been more serious. this is the first time, probably ever, that you've been completely serious on a trip with him. you nod, just to reassure him as you continue ferociously milking his cock, pumping him.

"god, okay, okay," he gives in, breathless. his hair has fallen back into his face, obscuring your sight of his full pupils and glassy eyes, "i'd love to come inside of you. cant believe im even saying that- fuck."

you watch him, even more carefully now. he's beautiful in a way you've noticed before but struggled to put into words. you're sure he has ruined you for everyone else as you study the pulsing vein in his neck and the bobbing lump in his throat. just as his whines get shorter, breathing ragged and hoarse, you inch your throbbing core closer to his cock. you move your swimsuit bottoms out of the way and nudge your entrace with his tip. euijoo releases his hold on your hips so as to not slam you down and fuck you senseless, letting you control the moment, go at your pace. unfortunately for him. instead, he connects your lips in a tender kiss, licking into your mouth and stifling your moans.

the stretch is welcome, eagerly anticipated. but the water perpetuates a burning friction as you suck him in. you sigh into him as you feel the tip of him drag all along your walls. you clench, adjusting to his length as you steady yourself on his shoulders.

"ah-" euijoo gasps into your mouth, breaking free from the kiss and burying his face in your neck. he rests his forehead on your shoulder as his body tenses, snaking his arms around your waist, "coming. fuck, i-im-"

the warmth spreads low inside of you as he releases, burning white ropes plugged deep by his twitching, spent cock. euijoo comes with a silent, choked groan, followed by a sweet series of high-pitched, exasperated whimpers. you coax every sound you can from him, clenching around him, rolling your hips, and dragging your nails down his back. you allow him to just exist for a moment, connected to you in every way. his arms are still wrapped tightly around your waist, hands splayed over the expanse of your back. his heavy breathing fans over your chest, hot and slowing. his dick is still buried inside of you, now soft.

"euijoo," you say, stroking the back of his hair, "can you look at me, please?"

"not yet," he mumbles into your skin, "i'm thinking."

"thinking?" you roll the word around in your mouth a few times, walking your fingers up and down his spine, "did i fuck some sense into you?"

euijoo laughs, this time aloud. his shoulders rack under your touch. you cant help but smile as he sits up, finally, and leans back against the side of the hot tub, "wow. im literally still inside of you and you've managed to insult me. thats gotta be a new record."

youre going to see this every time you close your eyes: euijoo, fucked out and glowing, with faint bruises and pink marks up the column of his throat. you dont even care that youre staring. evidently, you didn't offend him too much, since you feel his cock begin to grow hard inside of you again. he likes it, you realize.

euijoo draws you closer, connecting your lips for one final and chaste kiss. his plump, swollen lips turn up in a smile against you. but when you pull away, he looks perplexed, like he's just remembered something. "really quick, then we can go in."

"okay," you shift uncomfortably on his lap, anxiously awaiting what could be literally anything. it's difficult to tell with euijoo. this could be anything from a sex critique to an addition to tomorrow's vacation initerary, "im all ears."

"earlier," euijoo starts, innocently scanning your face, "you said that you were sorry for playing matchmaker because you didnt know i 'wasnt interested in sex.' and, well, i just-"

"nope," you stand up from your position on his lap, quickly adjusting your bottoms to prevent any of his cum to drip into the water. you resist the urge to whine at the loss of fullness, suddenly empty as you wade out of the tub. however, you are not about to let him get the last a-ha moment, especially when youre full of his cum and still waiting on your own orgasm, "you know exactly what i meant by that."

euijoo cranes his head to follow you as you retreat back to the room, projecting his voice a little too loud, "i am interested in sex, just by the way."

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you hold tightly onto his shoulders as he slides in—it stings a little from the lack of prep, but you've been wanting it so badly that you don't mind. "there's a good girl," he coos, "taking daddy's cock so well."

the praise goes straight to your core. you whimper his name as you take more and more of him, until he's fully sheathed inside you. "feels so good, daddy," you moan as you start to relax around him. he hasn't even moved inside you, and you're already cockdrunk.

if your boyfriend was in a meaner mood, he'd surely call you pathetic right now—it wouldn't be the first time.

unfortunately for you, he is in a mean mood, just not the kind you expect. you start to lift yourself, but nicho brings you back down with two firm hands on your hips. he tuts. "did i say you could move, baby?"

"but—"

"how many times have i told you not to bother me while i work? i'm already being nice enough. so you're gonna stay here without moving until i let you, got it?"

his voice is deceivingly soft for the harsh words that come out of his mouth. embarrassment bubbles in your stomach, but it only makes you more desperate to chase your pleasure. you know nicholas won't like it if you disobey, though—so all you do is let out a meek, "okay, daddy."

"good girl. always so obedient for me."

you wrap your arms around his neck, trying not to squirm too much or moan too loudly when nicholas shifts in his seat, the feeling of his dick simply moving inside you enough to have you teetering close to the edge. you feel like you'll come in no time once he's decided he wanted to fuck you.

you could swear at least an hour passes like this, but maybe it's just that time trickles torturously slow when you're in this position. it's no use trying to get him to take pity on you—whenever you beg for him to move, to touch you, to do anything, he either ignores you, or, if you dare to lift your hips ever so slightly, his hand will come down on your ass in a harsh warning, as though that doesn't only make you want it more.

finally, he closes his laptop. as his hands roam your thighs, your ass, your back, he presses kisses to your throat, praising you for being so patient and telling you what a perfect angel you are. "you ready, baby? ready for daddy to fuck you like you deserve?"

"yes, i'm ready, daddy, please," you whine, and nicho wastes no time to piston his hips up into yours, setting a punishing rhythm right from the start. you come once, twice—when the third one's nearing, you tell him it's too much, that you can't handle more, but it only makes him smirk. "but you waited all this time, baby. it's only right i give you your reward."

there’s not a day on campus that goes by that you don’t hear the name koga yudai.

sometimes it’s that he’s the top of the dean’s list at the end of the semester, the picture of academic excellence. other times it’s that him and the alpha delta tau fraternity were able to successfully fundraise and surpass the rest of greek row in their philanthropy efforts. not to mention that he was regularly a champion in regional track and field. he was good at everything and everything seemed to come to him easily, no matter the difficulty.

there was something about him that got under your skin. maybe it was the fact that he rarely had to really try to get anything he wanted, to be everyone’s favorite. or, maybe it was the fact that he knew he was good at just about everything and wasn’t particularly shy about accepting widespread praise.

yudai knew how you felt about him. as biology majors, you were regularly in overlapping classes. not to mention, you’d grown close to a handful of the adt boys and had seen him in passing more times than you needed to. he’d found a game in pushing your buttons, teasing and prodding at you until you’d snap at him and he’d giggle in your face.

“question,” your bioethics professor says during a friday afternoon class, staring back at the near-thirty of you sat before him, “is genetic enhancement morally sound? or, should we leave outcomes for traits like intelligence, physical abilities, appearance to natural variation?”

yudai doesn’t hesitate to share his thoughts first—then again, when does he—with long legs stretched into the aisle beside him. a strand of hair falls over his face as he leans back into his desk chair. “how different is genetic enhancement than anything else we’ve already done? tutors, physical training, cosmetic procedures. it’s the same, if not just earlier intervention.”

you gawk at him in disbelief as he continues, the professor’s eyes locked on his. “banning genetic mutation doesn’t necessarily stop it from happening. it just makes it more inaccessible than it could have been. natural selection clearly doesn’t benefit some more than others, wouldn’t this even the playing field?”

“oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” you grumble, drawing long, angry strokes across your notebook with your pen absentmindedly. yudai picks up on your disapproval, cocking a brow as he cranes his head towards you.

“care to counter?” he asks, a slight grin lifting the corner of his mouth. you scoff and set your pen down.

“here they go,” jo mutters behind you, his voice soft but still carrying.

“how is it improving humanity if it becomes a pressure to enhance a person rather than allowing their variation to be accepted? who’s deciding who gets access? won’t it be left up to the elite? not everything needs to be optimized.”

“and where’s the issue in being genetically advantaged?” he asks, his smile growing wider and stirring rage deep within your chest. “enhancement is just logical.”

you nearly throw your pen at his head in retaliation. yudai was one of several descendants of an ancestral line of werewolves. as generations passed, their bloodline evolved from the traditional definition of wolves to something more human, just … superior. their instinct lines still ran strong, with heightened senses and more abled bodies. it was no surprise that he’d be in favor of genetically modifying a weaker race to keep up with him.

“oh, fuck off,” you counter with a scowl in his direction. the professor’s gaze shifts towards you in a silent warning at your language before he intervenes.

“as much as this is stimulating debate,” he says with a glance at the clock, “consider this a precursor to your midterm assignment. i’ll upload the instructions to our class portal and you can reach out to me with any questions.”

everyone files out, more than ready to end their day while you pack away your things into your tote bag. your blood was still boiling at yudai’s need to one-up you and only continued to when he leaned over your desk with a palm pressed against the wood.

“did i upset you?” he asks. if it weren’t for knowing his personality, any passer-by would have assumed he was being sincere. you glare up at him, met with wide brown eyes that are narrowed back at you in amusement.

“just peachy,” you scoff, slinging your bag over your shoulder and pushing past him to head into the hall. the sound of his footsteps trailing just behind you follows you out onto the cobblestone path that winds throughout campus. the late afternoon sun beats down on you, making your skin warm and your vision blurred when you glance over your shoulder at him. “can i help you?”

“are you coming tonight?” you know he’s referring to the frat pregame. nicholas had already texted you earlier begging you to put aside your grudges against yudai for a night of good drinks and dancing with him. it became increasingly hard to say no to him over the years—not that you were about to let this man know that.

“why’s it matter?” you ask, something akin to a smile gracing your features. “you haven’t had enough of me yet?”

“oh, never,” he teases, rocking on his heels with his hands stuffed in his pockets. “seriously, though. you should come out.”

“i’ll think about it.”

“you didn’t tell me to fuck off again, so i’ll consider it progress.” he flashes another grin at you, one that you’re sure would have had you swooning if you were any other girl on campus. he waves you off and heads towards greek row, pulled into passing conversation by another group of girls asking him about the very same party.

“that’s not cute.”

“i’m sorry, are you planning to buy me something new on such short notice?” you yell towards your phone propped up on your bedside table as you sift through your dorm’s closet.

“i would if i wasn’t responsible for setting up the house tonight,” nicholas retorts, frowning at you through the screen while he sets out red solo cups and bottles of liquor on the kitchen counter. “show me what you were thinking of earlier.”

“what, this?” you fish through the growing pile on the closet floor until you produce a worn leather jacket paired with a black miniskirt. nicholas peers back up, his eyes alight with approval. he brushes strands of faded pink hair from his line of sight as he nods once and returns to his task.

“that works. much better than the old shirt-and-oversized-cargos combo.”

“i’m sorry,” you mumble as you put away the rejected clothes, “i could have been the most comfortable one at the pregame.”

“well, you’re not going for comfy,” he laughs, finally picking up his phone to look at you properly. “are you not the same one saying that you’re trying to get your shit rocked?”

“i would never say such a thing,” you reply with mock offense at his vulgarity. he rolls his eyes, his smile not leaving his face.

“hey, if all else fails,” he teases, “you know where to find me.”

“funny.”

by the time you make it to the adt house, the moon hangs full and heavy in the sky and the air is chillier than earlier. the smell of overpowering cologne mingled with smoke trails through the front door when you enter, music blasting against the living room walls and the floors already sticky with spilled drinks. some of the guests call out to you in greeting and you wave them off as you drift into the kitchen for a much-needed drink.

“there’s my girl,” nicholas calls out, his words already slurred as he beckons you over from against the counter. a girl you don’t quite recognize stands against his hip between him and euijoo, but you grin at all of them before reaching for a solo cup.

“god, i need this,” you groan before tilting your head back and downing a long, slow sip of your tequila and lemonade concoction. the familiar burn hits the back of your throat and you hum contentedly before turning to the others. “it’s been a long fucking week.”

“what happened?” the girl asks, her head tilted. there’s not a thought behind her eyes and you’re sure she’s already half-gone, but you indulge her anyways.

“and then,” you continue, your drink nearly empty, “fucking yudai tried to go back and forth with me in class earlier. like, i’m ready for the weekend by this point. the last thing i want is to hear that annoying fucking voice of his—”

“—talking about me, baby girl?”

you whip your head around to find yudai towering over you, his brow arched in amusement as he reaches around you for the bottle of whiskey. nicholas stifles a drunken giggle beside you and you silence him with a smack against his stomach. euijoo and the girl slink away onto the patio, followed closely by nicholas until you’re left alone with yudai.

“yes, actually,” you answer coolly, refilling your own drink. “about how insufferable you are.”

“oh, you don’t mean that,” he chides, pouring brown liquor into his own cup. “not when everyone loves me.”

“humble.” you stop yourself from a dramatic eye roll at his words in exchange for returning to the living room where the party was in full swing when you nearly collide with a girl barreling into the kitchen.

“yudai!” she calls through a hiccup. “are you coming to play with us? i need a partner.”

you glance back at yudai, the grin on his face charming as ever as he approaches the girl with an arm looped around her waist. he doesn’t meet her eyes, his gaze fixated on you when he answers. “of course, doll.”

“whatever,” you grumble, drink in hand as you join the rest of the boys to watch the next game of pong. you don’t notice that yudai’s eyes linger on you just a fraction of a second longer than usual.

“dude, i need to get laid.” nicholas’ voice chirps from beside you later into the night, joining you on the couch while you watched the group grinding on one another at the center of the living room floor. his pink hair falls over his eyes as he leans his head against the cushions, his full lips contorted into a pout that you can’t help but laugh at.

“what, the one girl wasn’t interested?” you ask, the scrunch in his nose a sign that it hadn’t.

“she was definitely more into euijoo.” he runs a palm over his face in frustration and you pat his bicep affectionately, the buzz of liquor thrumming along your veins in a dangerous way. nicholas lowers his hand onto your thigh, opening one eye to peer over at you and the wicked smile that spreads across your face.

“hey, we can still have a little fun,” you offer, leaning into him. part of you was joking, while the other was equally as desperate as nicholas was for some kind of release after pent-up tension all week. he stares at you for a moment, a silent attempt to assess whether or not you were messing with him before his gaze lowers to your lips. you feel your heart hammer against your chest in time to the bass blaring against the walls when he sits up to pull you towards him with a hand pressed to the nape of your neck.

his lips collide with yours hungrily as he groans into your mouth and your eyes flutter shut. you were no stranger to making out with nicholas before. it was a complicated friendship. on one hand, you’d never see yourself dating him. on the other, you were never going to deny that you found him otherworldly attractive, as did he when it came to you. it was a fickle arrangement, an opportunity at the end of the night to let out your frustrations when you both struck out.

only this time, you had a spectator.

you don’t notice yudai standing in the corner of the living room, away from the crowd of girls that were prying for him to join them at the center of the dance floor. he takes the chance to catch his own breath, long fingers gripping the plastic of his solo cup as he fails to tear his eyes away from you. he doesn’t even pay attention to nicholas, only you. the way your lips part with pleasure when nicholas dips his head into the crook of your neck, your manicured fingernails raking through his pink waves and along the fabric between his shoulder blades.

he doesn’t know why he doesn’t look away. he should. he shouldn’t be paying attention to the way nicholas’ hand drifts further up your inner thigh, or the way you pull away with your forehead pressed to his with a knowing glint in your eyes. something stirs deep within him that he doesn’t quite recognize when he makes his way to the center of the living room, the crowd welcoming him with a loud cheer that cuts through the tension between you and nicholas.

“bro, c’mon,” he calls out to nicholas, the younger male looking up with him through hazy eyes before he looks at you with a shrug and lifts himself off of the couch. the scowl that grows on your face, evident with sexual frustration is a sight for his sore eyes when he beams at you and circles an arm around the nearest girl to grind against her.

that night, yudai’s head is spinning from the lingering buzz of liquor and the high of entertaining. he’s not entirely sure all who he danced with or the girl that was last in his lap, but he doesn’t care when his head hits the pillow and a blissful sigh leaves his lips. the house is quiet for the most part, save for whichever of the adt brothers had hookups in their rooms for the night and the lingering guests playing a card game mindlessly downstairs on the dining table.

his mind wanders to you, to that little skirt you wore that rode up your thighs and the way you looked up at him through your lashes. not once in the years that he’s known you has he paid such close attention to you at one of their parties, to the way that your body moved and the way your voice sounded when you snapped back at him. ever since he’s met you, it was like oil and water.

so, why the fuck was his cock so hard at the thought of you?

“what’s wrong, baby?”

your voice cuts through his inner turmoil and his eyes shoot open, met with yours as you look at him from the doorframe. his face contorts with confusion, arousal thrumming in his chest as you approach him and fall into his lap with his head propped up against the headboard. you drag a nail over his chest and he gasps from the friction, shifting his hips beneath you so that his growing erection was wedged against your soaked panties. he watches as you grind against him involuntarily, your back arched and your lips parted.

never once in his fucking life had he expected you to be in his lap. yet, here you were, in his room drunk off of liquor and pure need.

“fuck,” he mutters, his eyes fixated on the way your hips grind against his.

“ngh,” you groan in agreement, cupping your breasts through your bra with your head thrown back. “i need you to fuck me, yudai.”

suddenly, his mind goes blank and a gasp slips past his lips as he shoots up beneath the sheets. sunlight pours through the curtains, the frat house otherwise silent beyond the sound of his attempt to steady his breathing. yudai finally realizes what happened and drags a hand over his face with a groan. his hips are tight, blood rushing between his legs until his cock was painfully rigid.

he doesn’t have the time nor the capacity to process that he’d just had a dream about you. you, the same person whose buttons he loved to push and whose irritation filled him with glee. all he can think about is the fact that he needs to satisfy himself, and he needs to do it soon.

with his eyes falling shut again, yudai lowers a hand beneath the sheets and snakes it between his legs. a whimper slips past his lips and he grimaces at the pathetic sound, his fingers prodding past the hem of his boxers so that he can wrap a fist around his length. as much as he didn’t want to consider what could have led him to dreaming of you, he doesn’t care. all he can focus on is how tight his chest feels and how desperately he needed to think of his cock buried in you while you moaned his name.

the image spurs him on with long, languid strokes that cause his chest to rise and fall in staggered breaths. he shoves the sheets aside, suddenly stifled by how warm and restrictive they feel as he falls into a steady rhythm pumping along his length. his hair falls over his eyes and he squeezes them shut with a string of frustrated grunts through bared teeth. no matter the pace nor the pressure, it just wasn’t satisfying enough. it wasn’t you riding him, grinding against his hips and begging for him to fuck you harder.

and even then, why the fuck was he even thinking of that?

he allows himself to succumb to the fantasy—if only for a moment. he thinks about what you’d sound like with your lips over his cock, the way you’d look up at him through your lashes and your brows would be furrowed from him hitting the back of your throat until you nearly gag.

a heavy pant builds up in his throat as he pumps his hand faster, his fist tightening as he feels pressure build in his stomach. he bites down on his free hand in an attempt to stifle the moan that threatens to escape, a few more strokes leading him to cum in thick, white streaks into the palm of his hand.

yudai finally comes to as he cleans himself up, dissolving into mental turmoil as he shakes his head.

“no fucking way.”

just your luck, you see yudai at the house later that day when you choose to join nicholas in his room so that you could work on your respective assignments together. saturday afternoons were typically quiet at the adt house, with half of the brothers dead asleep and hungover and the others out studying before going out for round two the next night. typically, yudai was one of the latter. you were surprised when he peers through nicholas’ doorframe, looking straight at you.

“what are you doing here?” he asks blankly, his expression unreadable.

“what does it look like?” you ask, gesturing to your laptop on nicholas’ sheets before you. the younger man scoffs and shakes his head as he continues flipping through his textbook. “i’m working.”

“mm,” he answers in a hum, a smug smile forming on his lips. “good luck. guess you’ll need it.”

“go away,” you grumble, averting his gaze and refocusing your attention on the articles you’d pulled up. he doesn’t protest, just slinks down the hall back to his own room. nicholas glances up at you with an amused look plastered across his face and you glare at him next. “what?”

“y’know, i’ve never really gotten why you have beef with him,” he says.

“he’s just so—ugh,” you groan, as if the emphasis would answer his question. you throw your hands above your head in exasperation. “there’s just something so cocky about him i can’t stand. he always gets his way. and he’s always trying to get under my skin. not to mention the fucking werewolf shit.” you look over at nicholas. “you’re also a descendant. you don’t act like a total dick.”

“fair,” nicholas concedes. “it also shows up differently in different bloodlines, i think. yudai’s very … intense. competitive. that’s just how he is.”

“so, what’s the catch with you?” you ask, arching a brow with him.

“irresistibly sexy?” he suggests before you throw a pillow at his face. “i’m not kidding! being charming is a big thing in certain bloodlines.”

“well, consider me charmed,” you retort as you laugh under your breath and return to your assignment. you’re barely another paragraph into your paper when he cuts through your thoughts.

“i’m bored. let’s take a break.”

“bro, we literally just sat down not even an hour ago.”

“and we have a pregame to pregame.” nicholas doesn’t wait for you to say another word, instead hurrying back downstairs into the kitchen and returning with a bottle of tequila and a pair of plastic shot glasses. you glance at the time on your phone in disbelief.

“it’s not even six.”

“and?” he pours you a shot that you down quickly before he immediately refills your cup. he shrugs when you gawk at him and says, “look, you’re super tense and it’s no fun. you’re having a good time tonight. i promise we’ll lock ourselves in the library tomorrow.”

“… fine.”

the pair of you dissolve into a fit of laughter, your laptops stowed away and the tequila bottle halfway empty. you lay with your head on nicholas’ chest, scrolling through your social media and commenting when something catches your interest. you don’t know how long you were laying there for before you hear someone clear their throat.

“nicholas.” yudai taps the doorframe. “we need to talk about our next fundraiser.”

you feel him shift beneath you with an apologetic glance in your direction, leaving you to your devices as he follows the older man back to his room. you assume he isn’t returning anytime soon and collect your things so you can get ready in your own dorm and pick out another outfit for the rest of the night.

by the time you return, the pregame is in full swing. the adt boys had set up games across their backyard, coupled with several coolers of jungle juice and at least a dozen different liquor bottles on the kitchen counters. last night was nothing but a precursor to how hard it seemed they were trying to go tonight. there’s more faces you don’t recognize and a thicker crowd to sift through to make it back into the kitchen.

you don’t find nicholas and join some of the younger brothers sat at the dining table with their drinks in hand. they welcome your company with broad smiles, clinking the rim of their glasses against yours and pulling you into conversation. the circle widens gradually with some other guests you vaguely recognize from other frats. one of them in particular, with feline eyes keeps his gaze fixated on you and you can’t help but notice.

“you come here often?” he asks, finally approaching you from his corner of the kitchen. you shrug, a playful smile resting on your features as you take another sip of your drink.

“often enough that i know i haven’t seen you around here before,” you reply as he chuckles at your comeback. he was undeniably attractive and there was something about him that lured you in. with nicholas nowhere in sight, you assumed he was having the same bout of luck as you and let yourself have a bit of fun for the night.

the two of you find yourselves seated on the couch, indulging in conversation as the party rages on around you. it’s not until you hear one of the adt boys climb onto a folding table and the music’s volume do you look up.

“alright, order your ubers and let’s get the fuck out of here!” yuma hollers before jumping back onto the ground. various groups break apart and head out onto the front lawn in an attempt to make their way to the bars for the rest of the night.

“i can call an uber if you want to head downtown,” the guy beside you offers—was his name yeonjun?—before reaching for his phone before he leans in to speak just loudly enough for you to hear. “unless you want to just head back to our house instead.”

you knew it was never a good idea to act on a whim when you were under the influence. the ache between your legs was becoming harder to ignore and the way that yeonjun was looking at you had you near weak in the knees. still, there was something gnawing at you that it wasn’t the best idea to go back to his place with him, especially when you’d only just started talking.

across the room, yudai is about ready to throw every single bottle lined up on the kitchen counter against the wall. he feels as though every nerve ending on his body is on fire, tuned into the conversation between you and yeonjun on the couch. he grits his teeth, fighting through equal parts irritation and confusion at the fact that he was even so focused on what you were doing. over the years, he’d seen you come and go, flirting and giggling along with plenty of guys he could care less about.

but, something about this was different.

there was a rage building in his chest that was quickly spiraling out of control. the way that he suddenly felt drawn towards you was inexplicable, especially with how angry he was becoming with yeonjun’s body so close to yours. the scent of your perfume was overpowering, notes of jasmine and rose engulfing his senses. every last bit of logic was well out of the window by the time nearly everyone was en route to the bars and he was left to listen to yeonjun’s poor attempts at getting you back in his bed.

“i really wanna go downtown,” you say, but there’s an edge to your voice yudai picks up on immediately. without thinking, he saunters over to you with a slow sip of his own drink when he locks eyes with yeonjun.

“what’s up?” he asks, not bothering to look in your direction.

“nothing,” yeonjun shrugs, draping his arm lazily around your waist. “just tryna figure out where to next.”

“she’s riding with us, actually.” yudai glances at you in a silent plea for you to play along. “fuma already called the last uber. you can head out.”

yeonjun picks up on the way that the older man’s body tenses at the sight of his arm around you and pulls you closer with a devilish glint in his eyes. “i’m cool with calling a separate one for just the two of us. y’all can go ahead.”

“i said, she’s riding with us.”

you can’t help but squint at yudai in confusion before you clear your throat and slip out of yeonjun’s grip. the two men don’t even look in your direction as you take a step away and towards the staircase. “i, uh—i’m going to head up to the bathroom and find nicholas.”

their conversation grows muffled between the walls as you stare at your reflection in the mirror, your cheeks flushed as you try to pull yourself together. if you hadn’t known any better, you’d have assumed they were going at it over you. with a sigh, you reapply lip gloss and prepare to find nicholas downstairs when you hear a screaming match coming from the living room.

you barely step one foot into the hallway when you’re met with euijoo and fuma dragging yudai back towards his room. in the split second that you meet his gaze, you swear you see bright specks of gold in his dilated pupils before they’re able to corral him and shut his door behind them. nicholas comes running up the stairs in a huff, panic written across his face before he sees you and swallows nervously.

“you good?” he asks.

“me?” you gesture towards the room where the other three adt boys continued screaming at one another. “what did i miss?”

“don’t worry about it,” nicholas replies, his shoulders sinking with a deep sigh. “you want me to call us an uber? yeonjun already headed out.”

“actually, i’m down to just head back to my place, honestly.” you grimace at him before donning a remorseful smile. “i’m pretty tired.”

“boo,” nicholas jeers before he outstretches his arm to you. “alright. i’ll walk you back, though.”

at the end of the hall, fuma and euijoo tower over yudai seated at the edge of his bed. his shoulders heave with every breath, his eyes still glowing and piercing his reflection in the mirror.   the pair of them exchange concerned glances before euijoo speaks.

“dude, we can’t start shit with the other frats,” he lectures, “panhellenic council will be on us if we—”

“i fucking know, euijoo,” yudai snaps through gritted teeth. the vice president’s face falls as he sits beside the older man, resting a hand on his shoulder tentatively. “i don’t give a fuck. yeonjun can kiss my ass.”

“what even happened?” fuma asks, crossing broad arms over his torso.

“he was just—i don’t know. he was fucking with some of the girls.”

fuma scoffs, knowing yudai well enough that he was lying through his teeth. “some of the girls, or a girl?” he doesn’t answer.

“it’s definitely something related to your bloodline,” euijoo says, gently inspecting yudai. “your eyes are practically on fire right now. something’s triggering your instincts more than usual.”

they remain silent, deep in thought as yudai wills himself to calm down. he finally gets his hands to stop trembling, his breath to stop racing when fuma clears his throat to capture their attention. the other two look at him expectantly, unnerved by the expression on his face.

“who was yeonjun talking to?” yudai doesn’t answer, leaving euijoo to reply with your name on his behalf. “i—i have a theory. you’re probably not gonna like it, though.” fuma sighs before continuing. “she could be your—”

“no, no, no,” yudai quickly interjects as he lifts himself off of the bed to pace the floor. he brushes a hand through his hair in frustration, praying that the radiance in his eyes would soon wear off. “don’t hit me with any of that mate shit. there’s no way.”

“it’s definitely rare, but it’s not totally impossible—”

“isn’t it also just more of a superstition?” euijoo asks, looking between them nervously. “i mean, i can’t tell you the last time i heard about someone having an actual mate.”

“every bloodline is different,” fuma shrugs. “yudai might be more reactive to his connection to his mate than the rest of us.”

“i’m sorry, there’s no fucking way she of all people is my mate,” yudai laughs, the sound dry and humorless. “she literally can’t stand me. we’ve known each other for years. i feel like that window is beyond closed.”

“you can’t exactly control when your body chooses to react,” fuma replies plainly. “have you been acting differently around her recently?” yudai’s stomach tightens at the thought of his dream about you and it ending with his hand wrapped around his cock panting your name. he swallows, shaking the thought from his mind and brushing a strand of hair from his face.

“no.” he shakes his head again. “literally nothing.”

“mm.” fuma hums, obviously not believing him as he heaves another sigh of his own. “well, get it together. the last thing we need is our president throwing hands with someone.”

you spend most of your time holed up in the library with nicholas, away from the adt house or the dorms in a feeble attempt to stop yourselves from losing motivation to finish working for midterms. you don’t ask him about the night you saw yudai being dragged back to his room. if anything, it would probably just encourage nicholas to insinuate that you cared about him.

you only ever see yudai in passing or during exams. his entire demeanor has shifted ever since that night. there’s no more snide comments, no witty remarks as he flashes you that stupid grin of his. he doesn’t draw attention to himself in his usual fashion, instead remaining bundled in his hoodie and sweats and keeping his head low. you’re almost worried about him.

almost.

after your final shared exam for the week, you make an attempt to joke with yudai on your way out of the classroom. he doesn’t so much as look at you, let alone reply. he just blinks at you, expressionless before he turns on his heel and heads back towards the adt house. you stare after him without another word.

even after spring break and the return to a normal semester schedule, yudai continues acting strange. he doesn’t bother you anymore. doesn’t even seem to care when other people flirt with him or try to get in his good graces.

during class, he doesn’t bother with banter anymore. just jumps the gun entirely and is an absolute dick when you’re answering and he doesn’t agree with you. all he does is sneer with a haughty laugh you don’t recognize from him.

“are you good?” you finally ask him when you have the chance to catch him alone on the way out of class.

“yeah,” he answers, his own face contorted with irritation when you try to stop him. “i’m good.”

“well, you’re acting weird,” you point out. “you have been since before midterms.”

“why do you care?” yudai mutters, an eye roll following before he walks away from you and leaves you with your lips parted and eyes narrowed in confusion.

you’re at the next adt party when you’re sat beside euijoo and nicholas yet again, drink in hand. the three of you stare out from the kitchen archway towards the hall that wraps through the bedrooms, watching as yudai leads another girl into a guest room and locks the door behind him.

“that’s what, the third girl in the last twenty-four hours?” nicholas scoffs with his brow arched in the direction the pair left.

“fourth,” euijoo corrects him, following his gaze. you don’t say anything, let alone mention the fact that yudai had been acting strangely even around you for the last several weeks.

yudai has no idea about your conversation with his brothers in the kitchen, his hips grinding into the girl’s beneath him as she claws across the skin between his shoulder blades. he hisses at the sting and bears his weight down even more, biting down on her collarbone with a groan. he leans back just enough to have her settle into his lap, her high-pitched squeals like nails on a chalkboard. she reaches between her own legs to massage against her clit, rocking her weight against him to coax a moan out of him.

and he says your fucking name.

the girl stills in his lap, as if she was just doused with ice water. she gasps and crawls off of him immediately, hurling a round of expletives at him before storming out of the bedroom. yudai squeezes his eyes shut, pressure building beneath his ribcage. he’d been stifling the idea of you being his mate ever since fuma floated the possibility and it was as if his own body was fighting against him. he threw himself into anything that kept him away from you. extra commitments to greek life, longer hours studying, less time lingering after class. hell, he thought he’d be able to fuck away the idea by hooking up with anyone willing.

clearly, he was wrong.

“trouble in paradise?” you ask in a fit of laughter when yudai walks back out of the room, irritation evident on his face. the two men flanking you don’t say a word, exchanging uneasy glances that you don’t notice. yudai glares down the hall at you, storming into the kitchen to snatch a bottle of vodka.

“fuck off,” he snaps at you, “seriously.”

you stare after him with wide eyes. he’d been sassy with you in the past, but never outright rude. “what’s your fucking problem?” nicholas says your name in warning as you rise to your feet and and ignore him so that you could follow after yudai. you manage to stop him before he scales the staircase and yank his arm to turn him to face you.

“seriously,” you parrot, “what’s your problem?”

“why do you care?” yudai lets a laugh slip past his lips and you feel your blood boil when he turns his back to you and heads upstairs, anyway. with a frustrated groan, you shake your head and head back into the kitchen in defeat.

“i’m going home,” you grumble, ignoring the way nicholas and euijoo make an attempt to calm you down. “i’m not sticking around here if he wants to act like that.”

you slam the front door behind you and can still hear a muffled round of questions as to what was wrong. the cool night air kisses your skin and you wrap your arms around yourself as you walk back towards the dorms. you glance up at the night sky, as if the full moon held the answers you were looking for.

“bro, you need to get it together,” nicholas snaps at yudai when he corners him back in his room upstairs.

“i’m fine,” he slurs, bottle of vodka in hand as he falls back onto his bed with a huff.

“no, you’re not,” the younger man tears the bottle away from him and slams it onto his dresser. “you’re acting like a fucking freshman.”

“so what?” yudai asks, sober as ever as he sits up with a glare. “i’m showing up for the boys. i’m not out here getting into fights or some shit. i have it under control.”

“oh, i’m sorry,” nicholas scoffs, “is rejecting your mate bond until you drive yourself fucking insane also a part of that? especially when it’s a full moon and you’re losing it?” he doesn’t answer. “if you can’t figure it out, stop blaming her. she doesn’t even know and it’s not fair.”

you make it back to your dorm when you feel your phone vibrate against your hip.

[from: yudai] can we talk?

a strange anxiety rises beneath your skin, one you don’t quite recognize considering yudai’s never tried to speak to you in this way before. your blink at your phone screen, as if clearing your vision enough would make sense of the message. with a sigh, you thumb a quick reply and throw your phone onto your bed.

[to: yudai] you can come over

you don’t find it in yourself whatsoever to relax before yudai replies that he’s at your dorm entrance. you let him in wordlessly, leading him up to your room and staring at him expectantly. his eyes dart around the room, from your bed to the window where the moonlight filtered in. his hands clench and unclench into fists at his sides, something clearly eating away at him.

“talk,” you urge him.

yudai still doesn’t say anything. he just looks at you, that familiar ember glint in his eyes as his brows furrow in thought. his lips part every time he’s about to say something until he purses them shut. he remains silent for long enough that you exhale and move towards your door.

“if you’re not gonna say anything, then just go—”

“give me a fucking second,” he snaps, frustration evident in his voice. his body trembles at the mere proximity to you after weeks of trying his best to push you away. “i don’t even know how to tell you this.”

“well, i’m all ears,” you say, deadpan.

“you’re—” he stops himself. “look, you know that i’m a descendant.”

“uh huh.”

“and you know that there’s a lot that goes on for us genetically that we can’t control.”

“dude, if you came up here to discuss bioethics with me at almost fucking midnight, i—”

“you’re my mate,” yudai spits out in a single breath and the room becomes deadly silent. you stare at him, wide-eyed as you try to wrap your mind around his confession. you were aware of the superstitions surrounding werewolves over time and the way that their bodies succumb to their mate.

still, you chose not to believe him. “yeah, okay.”

“i’m serious,” he assures you, nothing in his face leading you to believe otherwise. you don’t manage to get a word in before he frowns and shakes his head, muttering to himself. “don’t even worry about it. i’ll just figure it out.”

“you’re not lying.” yudai turns back to you and watches as realization dawns on your face.

“why the fuck would i come here in the middle of the night if i was lying?” he counters.

“then, let’s say i believe you.” you fold your arms over your torso and stare at him. “what am i supposed to do in this situation?”

“i—nothing,” yudai answers, obviously frustrated. “i figured just ignoring you would be enough.”

“yeah?” you arch a brow at him. for the first time since you’ve known him, he looks unlike himself. there’s no confidence in his demeanor, no twinkle in those big, brown eyes of his. he just looks defeated, desperate for something you don’t quite recognize. “and how’s that working out for you?”

he doesn’t answer and you study him carefully for a moment. his body is rigid, tense enough that you can notice even in the dim lighting. you take a tentative step towards him, one that causes him to back away from you instinctively.

“don’t,” he warns, averting your gaze.

“indulge me,” you ask, remaining in place. “what happens when you’re mated to someone?”

yudai swallows, his eyes fixated on your bed and his fingers twitching. “it’s torture.”

“torture?”

“i knew a little about mate bonds from some of my relatives, but this is so much worse than i expected,” he rasps. “i can’t—i can’t think straight. the moment you’re around me, it feels like i can’t breathe. it’s like all i can focus on is you. the way you smell, the way you sound. it makes me feel insane and i can’t stand it.”

“because of the way it makes you feel, or because of the fact that it’s me?” you ask pointedly.

“i don’t know,” he answers, “at this point, i just wish it would stop.”

you don’t know what compels you, but you take another step towards him and he flinches away from you for the second time.

“don’t,” he warns again, more sternly this time.

“why?” the way he looks away from you and color flushes his cheeks catches your attention until you feel a wicked smile cross your face. “oh, you want to fuck me.”

“no, i don’t,” he mumbles. the air becomes thick with tension, the heat radiating from your bodies suddenly becoming all too noticeable. “just don’t touch me.”

“does it feel good?”

“h-huh?” yudai’s eyes widen at your question when he finally looks at you. like before, you see the flicker of embers across his pupils that are blown wide.

“mm,” you hum, as if he’d answered you already. “you can’t even handle if i lay a finger on you.”

“that’s not true.”

“isn’t it?” as much as your mind was reeling from a myriad of emotions towards yudai’s confession, you chose to ignore it in exchange for the rare opportunity to get under his skin as much as he did to you in the past. you arch a brow, reaching for his wrist to brush your thumb against his skin. he tenses beneath your touch, a shaky breath slipping past his lips.

yudai’s anxiety shifts to a familiar irritation you hadn’t seen from him in some time as he holds your gaze. “don’t fuck with me.”

“or what?” you ask. you’re close enough now that you can feel his breath against your own. you trail your hand along his forearm until you’re able to trace your nails across his collarbone. he whimpers beneath the contact, the sound filling your chest with pride as your smile grows wider. “you want to tell me that doesn’t make you feel good?”

“it doesn’t,” he lies as he tries to turn his body away from you. a scoff escapes your lips as you rake your nails down his chest, low enough until you’re able to graze along the waistband of his boxers. he nearly buckles over, his hand jutting out to steady himself with the edge of your desk. his knuckles are white from how hard he grips the wooden surface.

“tell me to stop, then,” you mutter between breaths. you’re not entirely sure what’s left of your logic at this point. the rational part of you warned you to stop, to not indulge him in what he wanted—or, needed, it seemed—while there was a sudden ache between your legs you were struggling to ignore with every passing second.

yudai looks at you in a way he never has before, his eyes hooded with lust and his brows knitted in frustration. “i—you should—i can’t—”

“tell me what you really want, yudai,” you press, his body twitching at the way his name rolls of of your tongue. a surprised gasp slips out of you when he juts his hand out to capture your throat between his fingers as he holds your gaze.

“you sure?” he asks huskily, the last thread of his resolve snapping when you respond with a  nod. “i don’t—i can’t promise that it’ll be gentle.”

“i don’t care.” that does it.

yudai groans before he brings his lips to yours in a feral kiss filled with desperation. you feel his body finally relax under your touch, his hand still at your throat as he snakes his tongue into your mouth. you nearly collapse from the pleasure that surges through you. of everyone you’d ever hooked up with, yudai was the last person you’d expected to make you feel this way. years of pent-up tension between you came crashing down in waves, satisfied noises muffled against his lips as you claw at his shoulders.

he trails his lips along your jaw, along the crook of your neck until he drags the tip of his tongue along your pulse point with a hum. you cry out when he sinks his teeth into your earlobe and arch against him enough so that he could hoist you up by your thighs and wrap your legs around his waist. he carries you to the bed, your back hitting the sheets with his lips still latched onto your neck.

you watch as he pulls away for a split second to swallow down air. like before, his eyes reflect that bright gold you’d seen earlier. only this time, there was something pained in his expression that you couldn’t understand. the way his hands tremble as he slides them up your thighs to hold your waist confirm your suspicions that he was becoming overstimulated from finally touching you.

“fuck,” he mumbles with a shake of his head, as if it would clear his thoughts.

“you alright?” you tease, pressing a heel into the small of his back so that you could close the distance again.

the pressure building in his chest was becoming unbearable and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could pace himself. his hand moves to between your legs so that he can press a large palm against your clothed entrance. he shivers when he feels how soaked you are beneath your skirt already and you gasp when you hear the fabric tear and a cool rush of air brushes against your skin.

“already so wet for me, baby girl,” he praises against the shell of your ear with long fingers gliding along your folds. you don’t reply right away and a half-grin forms on his face when he shoves two fingers into you without warning and you gasp.

there’s still a small part of you that refuses to admit that you were equally as needy for him in that moment. it was a futile attempt, considering yudai was able to quite literally smell the way your body craved his touch. the scent nearly drives him mad as he slips his fingers back out of you and brings them to his lips. you watch as his eyes nearly roll back from the taste of you and hook a finger through his chain to draw him back in.

“where’d that little attitude of yours go?” you tease. you fight to regain control, raking your fingernails more rigidly against his skin this time. pain mixes with pleasure and he hisses until your hand settles at his waistband again. before you can dip any lower, he grabs your wrists to pin them above your head and sinks his weight fully onto you so that you could feel every inch of him against your now-exposed entrance.

“i need to fuck you,” yudai chides, as if he hadn’t heard a word from you just now. it was as if he was possessed, his only relief the chance he had to fuck you until you were as senseless as he was.

“work for it, then,” you order, trying to keep your voice steady despite the way the feeling of him grinding against you was making your head spin.

“seriously?” he glares down at you, his grip still firm on your wrists against the sheets. you nod once, watching as inner conflict registers across his face before he shuts his eyes with a sigh and lowers his lips back to your ear. his voice rumbles low against your skin but there’s a strain to it that causes you to arch your back.

“you’re driving me fucking crazy,” he laments. “i need to see what you look like when every inch of my cock is stretching you out. what you sound like when—ngh—when i fuck that pretty little mouth of yours.” not once since you’ve known him had you heard yudai talk like this.

then again, you weren’t mad about it.

yudai reclaims your lips in another messy kiss before he lowers his free hand to unfasten his jeans and shove them onto the floor. you allow him to flip you over so that you were face-down onto the sheets and peer over your shoulder as he drops to his knees and positions himself at your entrance. he flattens his tongue against your clit before sucking on it harshly enough that you ball the sheets into tight fists.

you let out a string of expletives as he devours you with hungry, animalistic groans against your core. the vibrations from his voice against your skin send a shiver up your spine. his name finally falls from your lips and he smacks your ass approvingly, earning another moan in reply.

“you taste so fucking good,” he whines, a sound that you reciprocate as your body buckles onto the sheets.

you feel your stomach tighten from an impending rush of pleasure, your orgasm quickly approaching when he reinserts a pair of fingers into you to match the pace of his mouth. he curls them against your walls, somehow instinctively knowing just where you needed to feel him. he lets out a satisfied exhale when you clench around his fingers to draw him in deeper.

“yudai—!” you nearly scream as he drags you to your climax. he doesn’t let up, instead picking up the pace to have you ride out your high. you tremble beneath him, the tightness in your core slowly releasing as you swallow down deep breaths while he stands upright.

there’s not a moment for you to steady yourself when you feel the tip of his cock brush against your entrance. the friction coaxes another needy whimper from him and he buries himself inside of you in one swift thrust. you cry out from the sudden fullness as he loops an arm around your torso and hoists you up so that he was able to press another string of kisses along your neck. he bites down on your shoulder hard enough that you’re sure he’d leave a mark and you yelp from the sting.

“mm, i love the way you scream my name,” he hums, soothing the bite on your shoulder with another lap of his tongue. “such a fucking good girl.”

you can barely register his words as he begins to rock his hips into you, the length of his cock brushing against your walls. you aren’t quite sure how you’d managed to lose control over yudai, but he picks up on it instantly and threads a hand through your hair to yank your head back against his chest.

“tell me how it feels, baby,” yudai lilts, his tone mirroring yours from teasing him earlier.

“really—ah—really fucking good,” you manage through broken gasps. your body tenses against his, a firm grip still on your hair while he pounds into you relentlessly. you groan through gritted teeth at his size. you assumed he was big, but he was well past your expectations. you sink your nails into the flesh of his thigh and he bites down on his lip with another groan.

he presses his palm against the small of your back to lower you back onto the sheets, slowing his pace only for a moment to say, “hold onto the headboard.” you obey, fingers wrapped tightly around wooden slats when he slams back into you fully. his pace is more relentless than before and you can feel the shift in how he holds you when he succumbs to the unabashed need that was spurring him on.

the bed rocks beneath you hard enough that you’re sure the legs will snap. the sound of skin on skin fills the room, coupled with the way you bite down on one of your pillows to stifle a scream until yudai’s hand connects with the back of your thigh.

“let me hear how good it makes you feel,” he commands breathlessly. you defy him and bite down harder on the sheets, your screams growing increasingly muffled. he lets out an exasperated grunt and yanks you upright again, only this time with his hand back around your throat. “i said—” he pauses, long enough to press his fingers into your jaw so that your mouth falls open with a pathetic whimper, “—let me fucking hear it, baby girl.”

“i—” you pant in an effort to steady your breathing. “i’m gonna—i’m—” yudai understands immediately and snakes his hand down your torso so that he could massage circles against your already sensitive clit. your body contorts against him, your mind hazy with lust from a second orgasm threatening to spill over.

in seconds, you come undone on his cock and the wetness that engulfs him only spurs him on further. he feels himself drowning in pleasure from finally, finally allowing himself to lean into the need that had been gnawing at him for weeks. he doesn’t pay heed to the way your moans become broken and desperate for him to stop, overstimulation grinding against every nerve ending in your body as he remains focused on the way his cock feels buried deep inside of you.

“y-yudai,” you gasp, reaching blindly for his bicep to slow his pace.

“you can take more,” he assures you, keeping up his rhythm as he stretches you out even further. he was too far gone at this point, drunk off of his high as he felt his own release on the horizon. he relishes in the sound of him still being able to get under your skin, your body trembling from too much as he buries his face in your neck with a strained, drawn-out whimper.

he thrusts into you once, twice more before he shudders, his cock twitching inside of you until you’re filled to the brim with his cum. thick, white streaks drip down the back of your legs as he pulls out, his chest heaving in an attempt to steady his breathing. you back up onto the floor to stand upright and whimper at the way your thighs trembled from the residual tension.

the room falls silent, with yudai running into your bathroom to collect washcloths while you stare out the window absentmindedly. you slowly come to, becoming painfully aware of the fact that he’d walked into your dorm not more than an hour ago to tell you that you were his mate. the man you swore up and down was the bane of your existence was just responsible for fucking you into your mattress to the point that you were seeing stars.

“so, what now?” you ask, glancing at yudai as he recollects himself. he meets your eyes again, the gold flecks gone and returned to his usual deep brown. he purses his lips, caught between answering and remaining wrapped up in his thoughts until he lets out a low exhale.

“i don’t know,” he answers honestly. you frown at the dissatisfaction of his answer, a heavy feeling beginning to settle in your stomach as you wonder if it was a good idea to give into your own desperate need for release with how complex this was about to become.

still, you approach him with a teasing smile, one he’s seen over the years that brings him a strange sense of comfort amidst the stress of navigating your newfound bond. he arches a brow, watching as you tap a finger against your bottom lip and shrug.

“maybe we don’t have to know right this second,” you say, “but, if we need to do that again, i won’t say no.”

“really?” yudai asks, mirroring your grin.

“really.” you nod. “for research purposes, of course.”

since you were fifteen, and first tasted what real longing felt like, you knew something inside your pretty, fuzzy mind wasn’t quite... ordinary. not broken or in a twisted, shameful way, there were no dark secrets or pain stitched into it. just… different. quietly forbidden.

no matter how many sweet boys from class slipped love letters into your locker, their handwriting trembling with nerves, or shyly offered chocolates on Valentine’s Day with red ears and hopeful eyes… you never felt that spark.

but instead, in that dreamy state that your silly brain was always on, you’d catch yourself staring at your math professor as he wrote equations across the board, the way his long fingers curled around chalk, sure and slow. or lose focus entirely when your history teacher leaned against his desk, green eyes catching sunlight like forest pools after rain.

and you’d ache—softly—in places no teenager should know how to name.

you never said it aloud. never even whispered it to your pillow in the dark. because yes, it was wrong. or at least... inappropriate enough that breathing life into those thoughts would make them real, and once real? there'd be no taking them back. you stored them in the back of your mind as what they were, silly dreams.

but still… they bloomed anyway.

in daydreams during homeroom: strong hands unbuttoning a cuff instead of passing back tests… deep voices murmuring not lesson plans, but promises meant only for you…

by the time you were nineteen, you had blossomed into a stunning woman, your parents beaming with pride at your perfect mix of sweetness and charm. your doll-like face, with those wide eyes and shy smiles that glittered like angel dust, became a beacon for men whose intentions wavered between admiration and possession. but also… need to ruin you.

yet, your infatuation with older men didn't cause fear or revulsion inside your pretty heart. instead, it awakened a realization that maybe, this forbidden attraction was fueled by your secret desire to be treasured, protected... even worshipped.

men your age were brash, thoughtless, chasing cheap thrills in the shallow pools of their selfish desires. these boys didn't appreciate you, couldn't even begin to fathom what it meant to touch a heart delicately, to listen with every fiber of their being. they didn't deserve tenderness, respect, or your radiant light.

and perhaps it was God listening to the prayers you’d whisper to him in the lonely nights, or maybe other twisted deity that felt bad for you, an angel was sent.

Koga Yudai walked into your life as a proof of fate being real.

he was older, just a little more than ten years older than you, but it wasn’t just that.

it was how he carried himself, a man who had lived, who had burned and healed and learned to speak with kindness. his mind was deepened by years of silence and thought, not wasted on loudness or ego. when you spoke? he listened, not like he was waiting for his turn, not making fun of your silly problems that had to do with friends drama. he really listened, gave you advice when needed, placed a hand on your cheek and letting his thumb caress it while whispering you that everything would be fine.

and oh… how he commanded a room without trying. his tall all frame leaning casually against doorframes as if time bent around him. that smile that made even strangers lean in closer and when it reached his eyes they’d crease into crescents so warm they made your chest ache.

but it was his hands that undid you every time, veiny, elegant things that moved through air like they were conducting music only he could hear. when he told a story, they danced: shaping emotion into motion, painting scenes so vividly you forgot where you were.

wheen he touched you… the world stopped breathing.

before Yudai, you’d never known the weight of a man’s hand on your skin. no stolen kisses in dark hallways, no clumsy fumbling under blankets. you were untouched, a virgin. not out of fear, but because something deep inside had always whispered: wait.

and now you understood why.

the first time his long fingers traced that forbidden heat between your thighs, you shattered like glass, instantly.

a gasp so soft but so broken escaped before you could stop it. your hips twitched once, helplessly against him. and then… release came so fast and sweet and overwhelming that tears pricked at your lashes as warmth soaked through his hand in silent surrender and you felt your intimacy clench around him and pulsing with the force of your orgasm.

he didn’t laugh about how pathetically fast you came. he just watched you come apart with eyes full of reverence.

“so perfect,” he murmured, voice low like thunder wrapped in velvet. “all this time… waiting for me.”

Yudai’s devotion to your innocence could seem like an obsession, until you realized it was more like a devotion to the fact you trusted him to take care of you… to be gentle with something as precious as you. you learned also, the specific things that he liked, that brought that adoration look into his eyes.

he liked it when you wore pretty, lacy underwear that left nothing to his imagination, but he didn't like it when you wore push-up bras because he loved the natural look of your breasts too much. he was also a sucker for politeness, which is why he loved it when you pleaded, voice soft and sweet and full of need… "touch me, please, sir…"

oh, he loved it when you begged. maybe a little too much because he'd take you to the edge, fingers curling against your sweet spot and your intimacy dripping in arousal, teasing just enough to make you think he'd finally push you over, just to pull back and watch you squirm and cry.

he loved using your mouth, and at first you were clumsy with it, but you learned quickly: he didn’t want desperation when you took him into your lips. he wanted slow. your tongue tracing veins with reverence and your breath fluttering just right against the base before sliding up again.

and choking, that made his jaw tighten, not in pleasure, but in restraint.

“you don’t have to prove anything,” he murmured one night, thumb brushing your cheek as tears glistened at the corners of your wide eyes. “i know you can take me… but I want you to savor me.”

so you learned.

now when you kneel before him, doll-faced and poised, he watches with dark approval as you stretch those plush lips perfectly around his length, never rushing, never gagging… just deepening slowly until his fingers curl gently at your hair and he hisses praise between his teeth. "good. so good, my sweet girl…that's my good girl... so perfect, just look at those pretty eyes, and those perfect lips…"

you may drift through life like a daydream, mind wandering to faraway galaxies, thoughts soft and hazy, but you're not stupid. you know Yudai didn’t wait for you in some romantic vacuum. he's lived. loved older women, women with confidence, experience, the kind who knew how to move on sheets and whisper filthy things that made men lose control.

he never tells you you are the most beautiful women he’s ever been with, but when he praises you, it feels like it. and that’s more than enough for you.

after you tremble beneath his fingers and come so prettily just from the way he rubs slow circles over your sensitive bud, you hear him whisper into your hair as he holds you:

“only my hands fit here… only my name sounds right in that little gasp of yours…”

you love his filthy mouth. you know other people get to see his sweet side, his gentlemanly nature, his quiet reserve, his soft smiles, but only you hear the filth that comes from that perfect mouth when he makes you come.

he is a man of contrasts, one moment, saying he could worship your body for hours… and the next, murmuring the filthiest things he wants to do to you.

like when you're on all fours, your smaller frame bent perfectly for him, just how he adores it, trembling as he runs a hand down your spine:

“look at you… shaking just from my touch. so innocent…but God, baby, you spread so beautifully for me. you’re made to be full of me”

or when he’s between your thighs, licking slow circles around your clit while watching you squirm:

“so wet already? and I haven’t even fucked that tight little pussy yet. you’d come from just one deep thrust right now, wouldn’t you? such a greedy little thing hiding behind those sweet eyes…”

when he pulls out right before making you climax, just to watch the desperation bloom in your face, he chuckles darkly:

“don’t cry… not yet. i want to hear that broken voice say ‘please’ one more time. say it like you’ll die if I don't bury myself inside again.”

and later, when he finally lets you come, thumb tracing circles over your other untouched hole, he whispers: “that’s it… soak my cock, angel. make a mess for me”

and when he pulls out and sees how you drip his seed, he commands: “say it back, you only come this hard for me.”

you love how he owns you he says jealousy is for boys. for men who don’t trust their hold. “if you know what’s yours," he once murmured against your throat, “you don’t need to rage, you just take."

when he slides inside you, deep and slow, like he’s relearning every part of your heat, he doesn't just move to please himself, he moves like marking territory. “this pussy?” he breathes into your neck as you whimper beneath him. “never belonged to anyone but me.”

and you wouldn’t want anyone else, not a single soul. he was everything your heart had whispered about in the dark, every longing stitched into your teenage dreams given flesh and breath. maybe the world wouldn't understand, the quiet obsession, the age, the way you melt under his voice.

but none of it matters when he pulls you close.

and as long as he keeps looking at you like you're heaven in motion… you'll keep believing, softly, fiercely, that some loves are too rare to question.