Fire Away, Fire Away *redux* part 3/3
Pairing: ZiDae (side BangLo)
Rated: M
Length: 6.7K
Part Two
Waking up next to Daehyun was so perfect and comforting and Zico thought he was an idiot for not searching for his mate earlier. Nothing beat their soft skin pressed against yours, their breath puffing against your neck as they sleep soundly beside you.
“We’ve got big shit coming, cousin.”
Of course Yongguk had to be the one to ruin it.
Zico blinked sleepily at him, Yongguk’s no nonsense face firmly in place. “What’s wrong?” He yawned before carefully peeling Daehyun’s arm off his stomach and slowly sliding out of the bed as quietly as possible. “And why couldn’t it wait a couple more hours?”
Junhong smiled grimly from the kitchen table when they entered. “Sorry to barge in like this, Zico. I know Daehyun accepted you last night. Congratulations.”
Yongguk stood behind Junhong and buried his face in his mate’s curly hair. He breathed deeply for a moment, gathering strength from the support Junhong gave him. “They’re back.” He finally spoke. “Himchan was on patrol and saw them entering the village a couple of hours ago.”
“Who’s back?” It took Zico a while to fully wake up and Yongguk was being annoyingly vague this morning.
“The elders.”
That was all Yongguk needed to say to get Zico’s attention. He dropped the banana he had grabbed from the fridge and could feel all of the blood rushing out of his face. “Grandfather?”
His cousin nodded. “And our parents. They formed a new pack with strays.” Yongguk looked scared. “They’re coming to reclaim the village, Zico.”
Daehyun stumbled in wearing Zico’s t-shirt from the night before. “Oh.” He looked around in surprise. “I didn’t know…” He nervously tugged on the shirt trying to cover his briefs. “Good morning.”
His mate would be in danger. Zico suddenly saw the urgency of Yongguk showing up in his bedroom at eight in the morning.
“Exactly.” Yongguk smelled the change in Zico’s scent, from passive to dominant as he worried for Daehyun. “We need to get them to the safe house before the shit hits the fan.”
“Zico?” Daehyun moved closer to stand behind him, arms wrapped tightly around Zico’s chest. “What’s going on?”
“You haven’t told him?” Yongguk muttered under his breath in annoyance. “You slept with your mate without him knowing what you are? Are you an idiot, Zico?”
Daehyun chuckled, his nose brushing across Zico’s jaw. “Mate? Your village really needs to spend a little more time in today’s world. Are you going to tell me we’re betrothed, too?”
A snort came from Junhong across the table. “You actually are.” He gave Daehyun a bright smile and shrugged. “It kinda comes with the territory of being a mate to a member of the pack. You’re pretty much already married in the villager’s eyes.”
He wanted to curl into a ball and hide for the rest of the day. First his parents show back up and now Daehyun was learning the finer points of pack life from his cousin’s boyfriend. Today started out so nice, what happened?
“What are they talking about?” This time Daehyun’s voice was guarded and Zico could feel him subtly moving away. “Are you guys some kind of weird cult?”
As soon as he turned towards the door Yongguk was already in front of it, one thick eyebrow raised high in amusement. “You so scared of us that you’re going to escape in your underwear?” He sniffed and curled his lips disgustedly. “Not to mention you stink of Zico and if you leave now you’re like a giant beacon for anyone wanting to hurt us. They smell the unguarded mate of the Beta and they’re all over you.”
Daehyun’s eyes were frightened and he wouldn’t look at any of them as he huddled against the wall. “I want to go home now.” He whispered, flinching from Junhong’s gentle touch on his arm. “Please?”
He could see his mate hurting and Zico’s wolf cried out in pain at the sight, but he was too scared to get up from the table. Daehyun didn’t deserve this life, he obviously wasn’t going to accept anything outside of the norm and Zico wanted him to feel safe again.
“Tell him, Zico.” The order shook him to his core and he was powerless against the first outright command his Alpha had ever given him.
He shot Yongguk a dirty glare. “You’ll regret that.”
“Tell. Him.”
“We’re a pack.” He blurted, unable to fight the need to please his Alpha wolf. “I’m half wolf and we’re mated.”
This time Daehyun did start to cry, his shoulders shaking as he brought his hands up to cover his eyes. “I promise I won’t say anything to anyone, please just let me go."
“Daehyun…” He stood up slowly from the chair so as not to frighten him more and held a hand out. “Baby, please don’t be scared of me.”
His mate shook when fingers touched his goose bumped flesh and he pushed himself even more into the corner.
“Show him, Yongguk.” Junhong turned to him and nodded. “He needs proof or he’ll just keep thinking we’re all psychopaths.”
Yongguk sighed and pulled his shirt over his head. “We’re wasting time.” He growled, shoving his pants to the ground and grabbing the hem of his briefs. “I say we just lock him up and deal with him when it’s all over.”
Zico hissed at the callous words, not willing to let his mate sit in solitary confinement just because he didn’t believe them.
The oversized brown wolf standing patiently in the middle of the kitchen caused Daehyun to whimper, his feet falling out from under him and sliding to the floor.
“No, no, no!”
Zico ached with the need to comfort him, his whole body trembling and screaming for Daehyun’s touch, heart breaking as the person he was supposed to be with refused to listen. Mate, the wolf whimpered inside of him, howling at the pain Daehyun's reaction was causing it.
As if he had heard him, Daehyun’s head spun towards him and he swallowed hard. “I dream about you. Every night. When we’re together I swear I can feel what you’re feeling. Every time you got jealous over Minhyuk, even if you never said anything, I just knew you were angry.” Fresh tears slipped out of his eyes. “And when you touch me I can’t breathe and every other thought but you slips out of my head. This is why? This is the whole reason you liked me? Because some stupid fucked up DNA inside of you makes you think we’re soul mates?” He shook his head and scrubbed his face clear. “I’m g-going to go change my clothes.” The backpack he had left on the couch was snatched up as he hurried out of the room and back into Zico’s bedroom.
“Well that went well.” Yongguk mused as he changed back into his human form and gathered his clothes up off the floor. “Ten minutes wasted that could have been spent searching for our parents.”
“That’s my mate you’re talking about.” Zico’s eyes flashed with anger as he stared his cousin down. “I suggest you get rid of the attitude and respect him like I respect yours.”
Junhong placed a hand on Yongguk’s arm and winced. “He’s right. You’re being rude. Zico’s mate should be just as important to the pack as I am. Just because you’re the Alpha doesn’t mean you can dismiss Zico’s needs.”
They sat impatiently for Daehyun to come back, but minutes passed before Zico started to get worried. “He’s been in there for almost fifteen minutes.”
Yongguk kicked the locked bedroom door in, his eyes immediately spotting the opened window and cursing as he rushed through the house. “He escaped. Goddammit!”
---
He grabbed Junhong by the wrist and pulled him out of the house behind him, hollering for Zico to find follow Daehyun’s scent before someone else found him first.
Himchan was waiting for him in the woods, his normally perfect black hair filled with dirt and leaves. “I’ve been patrolling ever since I saw them enter but after I ran back to tell Yongguk they were here I lost their scent. They’re spreading it around and it’s hard to get a track on it.”
“My mate’s missing.” Zico stripped himself of his clothes, the worry for privacy long forgotten between any of the wolves. “I have to find him first. That’s job number one. Put your crew on the search for Daehyun and have the other’s go after the elder’s. We need to keep Daehyun off their radar.”
Even though Himchan was an Omega and not as experienced as a lot of the other wolves he was one of the hardest workers the pack had and Zico trusted him to get done what was needed.
“Got it.” Himchan transformed into a small black wolf and took off running into the woods to tell the others of the new plan.
Zico was a sleek white wolf with thick fur and what he lacked in size he more than made up for with his tracking skills. He had been the best tracker the pack had ever since he first started training. No one should be able to find Daehyun as easily as he could.
He started sniffing him out as soon as he turned and headed in the direction his scent was the strongest. Himchan’s patrol unit was spread out in the same section of the village, their noses down to the ground and searching for him as quickly as possible.
Yongguk appeared next to them, his eyes dark with worry as he joined the search. Surely Daehyun hadn’t gone far, he’d only been gone for a few minutes when they realized he had escaped. Unless he’d been taken…
Zico growled and bared his teeth to the members of the pack surrounding him. They needed to find him now.
A loud howl came from in front of them, the one used to communicate with each other that assistance was needed. It had to be for Daehyun, someone had found him and Zico wasted no time in racing towards them.
They found him curled up into a ball against the base of a tree, body trembling and the bottom of his palms pressing painfully hard into his eye sockets.
Himchan was turning around him in a circle, keeping an eye on him and spreading his scent around to ward off enemies.
Zico didn’t really want the first time Daehyun saw him fully head to toe naked to be in the middle of the woods surrounded by his pack, but he had no other choice but to turn human again and crouch carefully in front of him.
“Daehyun?” He gently touched his mate’s shoulder, the deep sob he gave him back hitting Zico like a punch to the gut. “Sweetheart, come back with me, please? We can talk about this as soon as you're safe.”
“I want to go home.” Daehyun peeked out in-between his fingers and saw Himchan’s black muzzle a foot away from his face and whimpered. “I don’t want this, Zico. I just wanted to be with you! Not all this. I woke up this morning and I thought I was falling in love with you and now I’m supposed to just change everything, the way I think, the things I believe in? I just wanted you!”
The admission that his mate wanted him, loved him, was enough to make Zico’s hormones kick into overdrive and the rest of the wolves instinctually moved away from the newly in heat Beta.
“Now isn’t the time for that.” Yongguk unfolded his long body from the ground and stood up, stretching his back as he went. “We have to get rid of the intruders. Then you can finish the mating process, Zico.”
But he wanted Daehyun so much he could taste him on his tongue, inside his throat, could feel the softness of his skin under his fingertips. Daehyun showing his true feelings was all he needed to want to take him right there on the dirty ground, show the rest of the pack who Jung Daehyun belonged to.
The wolf inside him may not ever be confused with his overly dominant cousin’s, but when it came to its mate the beast took over and Zico let it.
“Mine.” He growled out, teeth flashing blue as Daehyun stared at him half in horror and half in growing arousal. Going into heat wasn’t a one way street. If it happened to one then it almost always happened to the other. Mates were joined in numerous ways and this was just one of the extra benefits.
“Not. Now. Zico.” Yongguk repeated slowly. “Himchan!” He grabbed Daehyun by his shirt and tugging him to his feet. “Take Daehyun to the house with the other mates. Find Junhong, he’ll take care of him. Do not let him go under any circumstances. Understood?”
“Z-Zico? No, wait!” Daehyun struggled in Himchan’s hold even as he was being dragged away against his will. “Zico!”
He watched as his mate was pulled away from him, his wolf whimpering in his chest at the loss. “Soon buddy.”
“You’re going to be dangerous now.” Yongguk’s voice tinged with amusement. “Newly mated, in heat, worried about Daehyun. Turn it where it needs to go. Let’s get this done so you can go finish that.”
Zico snarled as he changed back into his wolf, white fur standing on end as he bared his teeth towards the others.
Time to get rid of the elder’s once and for all. And then he was going to spend the next week never leaving his bed as he made every square inch of Daehyun's body belong to him.
---
“Their scent is growing stronger.” Himchan sniffed the air, his eyes narrowed and alert. “We’re surrounded. They led us on a wild goose chase just to get us away from the village.” He groaned at how stupid he’d been. Ever since Zico and Yongguk moved up to heads of the pack he had been put in charge of patrols and now he’d gone and fucked everything up. “You had one job, Himchan!”
Yongguk patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Himchan. They’re trying to confuse all of us. You had no way to know they would be herding us.” He stood up straight and popped his neck, eyes scanning the surrounding forest for the enemy. “Alright Grandfather. You’ve made your point. Come out and talk.”
The man who Yongguk hated most in the world emerged to the left of them, eyes sly and full of knowledge that he had already won. When Yongguk looked at him he saw the way Junhong had been tortured, the pain in his eyes when he’d found him tied up under the old Alpha’s orders. Yongguk wanted to kill him.
“Shishi.” His father’s voice was more guarded. He always knew what kind of Alpha his son would make and he had no desire to start an unnecessary war. “We’ve come back for our pack. That’s all. We don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“You mean my pack.” Yongguk’s deadly calm eyes turned his direction and Sangmun instinctually took a step back. “This village and all of its members belong to me now. I claimed them.”
His mother burst through, the joy at seeing her only child not affected by the hostility between the three males. “Shishi!” She moved to hug him, but a sharp warning growl from Zico stopped her. “Son?”
“We don’t recognize your authority here.” Zico took on his job as Beta and joined Yongguk in the center of the circle. “Yongguk is our Alpha and we’d like to keep it that way.”
He saw his father roll his eyes at him. “No one cares what your opinion is, Zico. You've always been just a little brat with a weird obsession with your cousin.”
His body vibrated as he fought to control himself and fangs started to emerge from his gums. “Yongguk is my best friend and the only family member I have left.”
Yongguk gently pulled him backwards, worried his cousin would inadvertently start the battle before it was time. “Calm down, cousin. They’re just trying to get you rattled.” He smiled fondly and ruffled his dirty hair. “Since you all were banished Zico has turned into a completely different person. He stepped up to be my second, he’s going to school, he's taking care of his home for the first time in years, and he has a mate.”
“Looks like you leaving was the best for everyone.” Himchan surprised them all by joining them on Yongguk’s left.
Zico never would have pegged Himchan as someone who would be brave enough to insert himself into a leadership role. Omega’s were generally known for being at the bottom of the totem pole. He was the head of his patrol unit, but that was only because he was the best at it. He complained every time he had to make schedules and whined that he had more important things to do even when everyone knew he sat out in the woods and might or might not partake in illegal drugs for hours at a time.
Their grandfather motioned for the rest of his pack to come forward. Zico saw with relief that the misfit band was smaller than theirs and filled with hybrids aging from teenager all the way to middle aged and over. Obviously the old Alpha thought that their mere presence would cause Yongguk to back down. They must not have realized that in the last few months Yongguk had grown and was no longer the reluctant Alpha, he was their brave leader and his entire pack worshipped him.
One stray was around their age, his face untrusting and leery as he stepped forward. There was a frown on his lips and his eyes darted between the two packs with curiosity. “You told us that this pack was harming its village and forced you out and was unstable.”
Sangmun slapped him across the cheek, his desperation causing him to snap easily. “You are not allowed to question Alpha’s!”
The boy held his red face and shook his head. “Alpha’s aren’t supposed to lie to their pack.” He lowered his eyes submissively and bowed towards Yongguk. “Permission to join your pack.”
Yongguk nodded and the stranger jumped to their side, much to the anger on Sangmun and his father’s faces. “I did not release you!” Their Alpha roared, shaking fists with razor sharp clawed tips.
“I never recognized you as Alpha.” His head cocked to the side and he smiled. “To be honest I’ve been waiting this last month for someone to rip your head from your body and insert a stake into it. Looks like my dream is about to come true.”
He moved to stand beside Himchan, the slack-jawed boy blinking heavily at him. “Who are you?” Himchan breathed, recognizing the stirring in his chest. He forced his gaze to stay on the stranger's face, not letting himself look at the naked body next to him.
Their new member just grinned and looked at Yongguk and Zico, waiting for permission to jump into the oncoming fray.
“Your Alpha against our Alpha.” Zico crosses his arms, thoughts still way back in the village with Daehyun. “That’s the way it’s always been done.”
They smirked at the other Alpha’s paling face.
“You come to my village and expect me to just hand my pack over to you?” Yongguk tsked and brushed his hair out of his face. “Did you tell your strays why you were exiled, Grandfather? Did you tell them that you tried to kill the mate of a member of your pack? Do they know you tied him up and beat him and ordered his mate to kill him?”
The newcomers gasped at the barbaric treatment of a mate. Even strays knew how important that bond was. It was sacred in their traditions and nothing ever came between it.
Sangmun was shaking from the pain of trying to contain his fury. That was the problem with the previous elders, Zico realized. They were too hot-headed and domineering. Yongguk had quickly been accepted because he genuinely tried his hardest to please everyone while still doing what was best for the community. They had been so used to decades of their Alpha treating them like peasants and doing what was best for him and no one else.
“He’s seventy-nine years old, Shishi. You’re just a pup still. This fight is not even.”
Yongguk shrugged. “Then choose a proxy to fight for him. I’m strong enough to stand up for my village. If Grandfather can’t do that then I’m more than happy to fight someone of his choosing.”
Another young wolf was pushed out towards them by Zico’s father. “This one. He’s our best fighter.”
The tall, but baby-faced, boy smiled and cracked his knuckles. “Challenge accepted.”
The two wolves jumped at each other in a tangle of soft brown fur versus tangled and matted gray. Zico couldn’t tell who was winning because they both looked pretty evenly matched. Whereas Yongguk was stronger and larger, the gray wolf was sneakier. He would trick Yongguk into thinking he was going to make one move and then twisting his body around and going the opposite direction.
“Come on, Yongguk.” Zico muttered. He was itching to join the fight, but then it would be considered a stale-mate and would have to be repeated. No one but the Alpha was the rules. He scoffed and gave his grandfather a hard look. That rule was already broken.
Himchan tried to watch the two wolves rolling around on the ground, but even their sharp barks of pain and deadly growls couldn’t keep him from routinely glancing over at the newcomer next to him. His long hair was jet black and hung evenly on both sides of his forehead. He wasn’t very tall, but his smaller body was topped by a serious face and eyes that looked like they were centuries older than his age.
“You’re staring.” The thin lips quirked up and his eyes slid over to Himchan’s, amusement sparking the dark brown. “Shouldn’t you be worried about your Alpha?”
Himchan saw his eyes slide down his body. “He can take care of himself.” He licked his lips and grinned a kittenish smile. “Shouldn’t you be a little bit more secretive about looking at my naked body?” His gaze raked down and his breath hitched in his throat at the surprisingly heavily tattooed body.
“Why should I when you’re obviously not?”
“Who are you?”
Himchan still didn’t get his answer. The moment the pink lips opened to reply there was a loud cry of pain from the gray wolf as Yongguk finally started to gain the upper hand.
His teeth were clamped down tightly into the dirty neck and the new wolf realized it was over and went limp waiting for the final death blow. The only way this would end was with one of them dead and the final one standing was the proclaimed Alpha.
Zico watched Yongguk’s eyes switch between human and wolf as he fought with himself. The wolf knew this had to happen but the human didn’t want any more spilled blood on his conscience.
With a final snarl he released the weak smaller wolf and switched back to human, his body covered in gashes and bright red blood.
“I’m not killing him.” He spat out a clump of fur and wiped the blood off his lips, smearing it across his cheeks. “We’re a better pack than that. I don’t have to frighten my villagers or kill interlopers to gain their respect as Alpha.”
Sangmun’s eyes lit up with elation and he jumped forward ignoring the caution growls from Zico and Himchan. “If you refuse to follow through on the duel then you forfeit the win.” His eyes passed over the members. “You belong to us again.”
“No.” Zico cocked his head towards the previous Alpha. “He changed the rules of the takeover so Yongguk gets to change a rule, too. It’s only fair.”
“Fair?” His grandfather laughed, the sound booming in the quiet forest. “This is not a life where playing fair works, children.” His voice was mocking and Zico felt his skin prickle with anger.
Himchan stepped forward followed by their newest member on his heels. “You’ll have to go through us to gain control. And I’m sure all those strays you picked up on the way didn’t sign up for a complete pack genocide.”
They could see the strangers in the back watching them with a mix of horror and confusion. They didn’t know what was going on or why this pack that they had been told were out of control seemed to be perfectly fine.
“I’m going to let you walk away with the promise that you and whomever follows you has safe passage.” Yongguk’s voice was calm, but silently deadly. “But make no mistake. This is the last chance I am giving you. Next time I won’t be so lenient.” He nudged the still unmoving wolf at his feet. “Himchan, help him to my office. I’ll meet you both there when we’re done.”
Their newest Gamma nodded and picked up the gray wolf in his arms. He couldn’t see him, but he could hear the new pack mate on his heels. A smile crossed his lips and he felt his shoulders straighten with pride. A new position and a new face. Today was just interesting all around.
---
Daehyun was about to go crazy cooped up in the safe house with the rest of the pack’s mates. Even though Junhong was glued to his side and trying to calm him down he couldn’t think of anything but Zico. What was Zico doing, was he okay, would he come home safe, the touch of his fingertips, the way his tongue tasted. Daehyun was near hysterical as Junhong used all of his strength to hold him still.
“He’s fine, Daehyun. Yongguk is the strongest Alpha they’ve ever had and they all support him. None of the pack will ever let anything happen to each other.” He hadn’t been informed that Daehyun’s body had gone into heat because of Zico and that reassurement wasn’t what he needed right now. He needed Zico’s touch and Zico’s body under his hands.
“Where are they?” His teeth were chattering and his body was boiling with need and Junhong didn’t have Zico’s soft skin and he smelled wrong. Daehyun wanted his mate.
Junhong tried to pull him closer thinking the other just needed comfort when the door was thrown open so hard that it bounced off the wall and left a deep dent in it from the doorknob.
“Daehyun?” Zico squinted into the dark room and sniffed trying to pinpoint the minty smell that was pure Daehyun.
A shaky body slammed against him and he was suddenly holding an armful of his soft mate and a mouthful of probing tongue and needy breaths.
“Take me home.” He demanded, pushing Zico out of the building and into the street, not caring at all about the others surrounding them and watching with amused eyes. “Now.”
Zico didn’t need to be told twice. His body was primed for taking orders and Daehyun’s voice hit him harder in the chest than Yongguk’s ever could. “Okay.” He breathed out, wrapping his arm around Daehyun’s waist and leading him home, stopping every few feet to kiss him deeply again.
By the time they made it to Zico’s house they were both burning and aching and Zico could barely think straight through the sounds escaping from Daehyun's lips. Zico didn’t think he could take another step, but he wanted this to be right. Daehyun deserved a clean bed and not a couch or a hard floor.
He pressed him against the bed and rolled his hips forward, relishing the cries the other made with every pass.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Zico chanted, mouthing at the dip in his neck. “You don’t deserve this life, I’m sorry, I can’t give you up though, I can’t.”
Daehyun tried to laugh but it came out rough as Zico covered the rise in his jeans with a warm palm. “I already knew you were completely insane before all of this happened.” He wrapped slim legs around the other’s waist and flipped them over so that he was on top. “This is just another aspect of your crazy.”
He sat back and looked into Zico’s eyes as he pulled his shirt over his head. His fingers slipped under the hem of Zico’s faded t-shirt and fingertips danced along his hips making him whimper and buck up towards the fleeting touches.
“Why do you become so docile when I touch you?” Daehyun questioned curiously, unzipping his jeans and tugging them down his thighs. “It’s giving me quite a power trip up here.”
Zico shook his head and blinked bleary eyes. Even his wolf was silent, both of them watching their mate strip right on top of them. “I like watching you.” He finally admitted, smirking at the way Daehyun shivered when Zico ran his palms down his sides and settled them around his pale hips. “You’re so bossy.”
“Bossy?” Daehyun narrowed his eyes and stood up to take his pants the rest of the way off. “If I’m bossy then what does that make you? Obedient? My slave?”
“Yours.” Zico traced a finger down his chest and closed his eyes, trying hard to control his reactions to the half-naked boy in his lap. “We’re yours.”
He heard Daehyun whisper for him to hold his arms up and he complied, letting his shirt join Daehyun’s on the floor. At the first wet lick on his heated skin he couldn’t help the whine for more. Soon his jeans were sliding down his legs and there was so little between them that he could feel the heat seeping through the thin briefs Daehyun wore.
“Zico?” Daehyun tilted his head to the side and bit his lip nervously. “Do you have…” His nose scrunched up in embarrassment and Zico couldn’t believe that he was still nervous even after everything that had happened in the last two days. “Any lube?” He finally spit out, twisting his fingers in the hem of Zico’s boxers. “Y-You didn’t use any last night and it kind of hurt.”
His wolf snarled at him for hurting their mate.
“Drawer.” Zico motioned towards the nightstand at the head of the bed. “Just… Ignore the other stuff in there, okay?”
Daehyun snorted at the assorted boxes of condoms and toys in the drawer and pinched Zico's thigh as he pulled his briefs off and settled back down on his lap. “We’re going to talk about those soon.”
Zico forgot everything else once Daehyun was completely naked and on top of him. He tried to speak but all he could do was click his tongue and watch with wide eyes as Daehyun slicked up his fingers and reached behind himself.
He hissed at the first intrusion, but it was a lot easier than last night when Zico had used three dry fingers. After a moment of wiggling, he grew more comfortable and let the second one inside. “Ohh.” He moaned out, dropping to his elbow, face lax as he started to feel more pleasure than burn.
His fingers itched to reach out and touch the sweaty skin above him, but Zico was afraid any little movement he made would break the spell and Daehyun looked so beautiful above him fucking down on his own fingers that Zico couldn’t move.
“Your fingers were better.” Daehyun cracked open an eye and smirked at the dumbfounded expression on his face. “I liked it when you stretched me open.” The swollen and red bottom lip that Zico had chewed on the whole walk home was sucked between his teeth when the last digit was added. “Zico!” His name was high and cracked and rang through Zico's ears like music.
Daehyun’s arm was barely able to hold him up so he dropped his forehead onto Zico’s and moaned against his lips as he shook and cried out the closer he got to the edge.
“I told you I wanted you inside of me later.” Daehyun carefully removed his fingers and grabbed the bottle again, pouring some into his palm and wrapping his smaller hand around Zico’s throbbing length. “It’s later.”
He sat up on his knees and braced a hand on Zico’s chest as he seated himself, slowly sucking him inside. Daehyun didn’t want to waste any more time between them and ignored the heat in his lower back, instead forcing more of Zico into him until he was seated all the way down on his lap.
Zico closed his eyes and took deep breaths. He shakily reached up to Daehyun’s clenched stomach and rubbed his thumbs across it in soothing circles. “You feel so good, Daehyun. So… So tight, I can’t-“
His voice let off with a loud groan as Daehyun rocked backwards to see how it felt.
“Zicooo.” Daehyun sang, removing Zico’s arms from his across his eyes. “I want you to look at me.”
When he finally opened his eyes he grew even more aroused at the sight of a heavy-lidded Daehyun with sweaty bangs and flush cheeks and pupils blown wide with pleasure. “Ride me.” He jerked his hips up and growled possessively at the way Daehyun tightened around him and his eyes fluttered.
With a tired nod, Daehyun placed his hands behind him on Zico’s thighs and started building to a steady rhythm as Zico gripped onto his hips, nails leaving half-circle shaped indents in his sun-darkened skin.
Zico could feel his eyes rolling back in his head and his toes start to curl at the same time that Daehyun discovered which angle hit him right where he needed to make fireworks erupt behind his eyelids. The sound of their slick skin sliding together combined with the needy moans of his name was more than Zico could handle.
With a grunt he pushed Daehyun backwards onto the bed and smothered his lips with his own, tongue probing deep inside his mouth as he realigned himself into Daehyun’s body.
“I want to claim you.” He whispered against his flawless flesh. He wanted to be the only mark on his skin, the only imperfection Daehyun had.
Teeth sharp with barely restrained fangs scratched against Daehyun’s neck, making him clench in response.
“Can I?” Zico lifted his head and let Daehyun see traces of the wolf that was barely under his surface, begging to come and play. “I won’t unless you give me permission, I promise.”
Daehyun grimaced a little, still frightened by the wolf side of Zico. “I trust you.” He murmured finally, tilting his head back and sighing as Zico started to rock into him again. “I trust you, Zico. Always.”
He quickly brought them closer to the end, not able to hold back as the monster inside him had his turn with their mate, loving him thoroughly and soaking in every sound that fell from those perfectly swollen lips.
Zico’s eyes turned blue and stayed that way the closer he got them, his snarl growing louder as he found the right spot again and lodged unmoving against it, hips swiveling only when Daehyun begged him for it.
“Zico please!” Daehyun pleaded, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes. He gripped onto his forearms and arched his back, needing any form of stimulation he could get to tip him over the edge.
“I claim you.” Zico rumbled, teeth scraping over one of the shoulders that had been driving him insane for weeks. “You’re mine and I’m yours.” His fangs sunk into the tender skin and he held them still as the intense jolt threw Daehyun into a wailing fit, his nails scrambling at Zico as he released across their chests, the extreme tightening bringing Zico overboard with him.
Daehyun was still sobbing as he pulled out minutes later, limp and with a mouthful of blood. “You could have warned me it meant biting.” He wiped his eyes and slapped weakly at Zico’s chest. “What is that even for?”
He ran into the bathroom and cleaned his bloody face off before grabbing a first aid kid. “It’s just another sign of a mate. Not all the members of the pack do it, just the ones with stronger wolves. It’s really just a way for me to say ‘fuck off’ to anyone who tries to get near you.”
“What does all of this mean though? Why me? Do you get to pick who you’re with?”
Zico hummed as he taped the bandage onto his skin. “No, not really. The wolf chooses, I think. That’s why I was always teasing you and trying to get your attention. I was just waiting for him to wake up inside me and confirm it. You had what I wanted most and I recognized it. You’re caring and gentle and when I come home I know you’ll be waiting for me and god, Daehyun, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.” He smiled faintly and braided his fingers with Daehyun’s. “You kind of claimed me first, though. Your scent was all over me for weeks.” He teased, enjoying the blush that crossed Daehyun’s cheeks.
“Shut up.” Daehyun covered his face with his arm, embarrassed at Zico’s words. “You were annoying and you bothered me and you’re lucky I never snapped and punched you in the face.”
“Mmm, aggressive Daehyun is my favorite Daehyun.” He yelped as a foot made contact with his shin. “I was giving you a compliment!”
“You were being an asshole again!”
They fell together back into the bed and Zico wrestled with him with a grin plastered across his cheeks that he didn’t think he could ever get rid of. He thought back to just a few months ago when he was sleeping with every woman he could get his hands on and coming home to a messy cold house every night and he hated that Zico. This boy smiling up at him in his bed with the rumpled hair and the sweet voice and the hand that held his heart firmly in his grasp was more than he deserved.
And everything he ever wanted.
---
Yongguk circled the two unknown boys in his office and looked them over with judging eyes. “Your official membership in this pack and village will have to be voted on by the oldest wolves. Why should we let you in?”
The gray wolf lifted red-rimmed eyes and chewed on his torn lips. “You let me live. I owe you my life, Sir.”
“I let you live because it was the right thing to do, not because I thought you deserved it. Remember that.” He took a deep breath and counted to ten like Junhong had taught him to when he felt like ripping someone's head off. “What is your name and why are you without a pack?”
“Jihoon.” The boy responded, shoulders hunching in submission. He scratched at the bandage covering his arm with a wince. “I was kicked out of my old pack for fighting too much.”
The Alpha nodded, taking in the boy’s thin appearance and tired eyes. “You can stay until we figure out what to do with you. You’ll be rooming with Taeil and the other patrol squads in the woods.”
Jihoon nodded and let out a deep breath of relief.
Now that that was taken care of Yongguk turned his attention to the other newcomer. “You’re a different story, aren’t you. Am I to assume you’ll be staying with Himchan then?”
Himchan’s eyes widened comically and he took a step away from the tiny boy. “W-What?” He stammered. “Why would you say that?”
With an eye roll Yongguk sat down at his desk and reached for the bottle of bourbon he kept in the bottom drawer. “Your smell is all over him, Himchan. My god, did you piss on him while I was fighting to keep your asses alive?” He took a swig straight out of the bottle before pouring a tall glass. “And what’s your name, stray?”
The stranger looked straight at him with a sly smile on his lips. “Jongup.” He stood up taller and reached for Yongguk’s hand. “My name is Jongup.”
Rated: M
Length: 6.7K
Part Two
Waking up next to Daehyun was so perfect and comforting and Zico thought he was an idiot for not searching for his mate earlier. Nothing beat their soft skin pressed against yours, their breath puffing against your neck as they sleep soundly beside you.
“We’ve got big shit coming, cousin.”
Of course Yongguk had to be the one to ruin it.
Zico blinked sleepily at him, Yongguk’s no nonsense face firmly in place. “What’s wrong?” He yawned before carefully peeling Daehyun’s arm off his stomach and slowly sliding out of the bed as quietly as possible. “And why couldn’t it wait a couple more hours?”
Junhong smiled grimly from the kitchen table when they entered. “Sorry to barge in like this, Zico. I know Daehyun accepted you last night. Congratulations.”
Yongguk stood behind Junhong and buried his face in his mate’s curly hair. He breathed deeply for a moment, gathering strength from the support Junhong gave him. “They’re back.” He finally spoke. “Himchan was on patrol and saw them entering the village a couple of hours ago.”
“Who’s back?” It took Zico a while to fully wake up and Yongguk was being annoyingly vague this morning.
“The elders.”
That was all Yongguk needed to say to get Zico’s attention. He dropped the banana he had grabbed from the fridge and could feel all of the blood rushing out of his face. “Grandfather?”
His cousin nodded. “And our parents. They formed a new pack with strays.” Yongguk looked scared. “They’re coming to reclaim the village, Zico.”
Daehyun stumbled in wearing Zico’s t-shirt from the night before. “Oh.” He looked around in surprise. “I didn’t know…” He nervously tugged on the shirt trying to cover his briefs. “Good morning.”
His mate would be in danger. Zico suddenly saw the urgency of Yongguk showing up in his bedroom at eight in the morning.
“Exactly.” Yongguk smelled the change in Zico’s scent, from passive to dominant as he worried for Daehyun. “We need to get them to the safe house before the shit hits the fan.”
“Zico?” Daehyun moved closer to stand behind him, arms wrapped tightly around Zico’s chest. “What’s going on?”
“You haven’t told him?” Yongguk muttered under his breath in annoyance. “You slept with your mate without him knowing what you are? Are you an idiot, Zico?”
Daehyun chuckled, his nose brushing across Zico’s jaw. “Mate? Your village really needs to spend a little more time in today’s world. Are you going to tell me we’re betrothed, too?”
A snort came from Junhong across the table. “You actually are.” He gave Daehyun a bright smile and shrugged. “It kinda comes with the territory of being a mate to a member of the pack. You’re pretty much already married in the villager’s eyes.”
He wanted to curl into a ball and hide for the rest of the day. First his parents show back up and now Daehyun was learning the finer points of pack life from his cousin’s boyfriend. Today started out so nice, what happened?
“What are they talking about?” This time Daehyun’s voice was guarded and Zico could feel him subtly moving away. “Are you guys some kind of weird cult?”
As soon as he turned towards the door Yongguk was already in front of it, one thick eyebrow raised high in amusement. “You so scared of us that you’re going to escape in your underwear?” He sniffed and curled his lips disgustedly. “Not to mention you stink of Zico and if you leave now you’re like a giant beacon for anyone wanting to hurt us. They smell the unguarded mate of the Beta and they’re all over you.”
Daehyun’s eyes were frightened and he wouldn’t look at any of them as he huddled against the wall. “I want to go home now.” He whispered, flinching from Junhong’s gentle touch on his arm. “Please?”
He could see his mate hurting and Zico’s wolf cried out in pain at the sight, but he was too scared to get up from the table. Daehyun didn’t deserve this life, he obviously wasn’t going to accept anything outside of the norm and Zico wanted him to feel safe again.
“Tell him, Zico.” The order shook him to his core and he was powerless against the first outright command his Alpha had ever given him.
He shot Yongguk a dirty glare. “You’ll regret that.”
“Tell. Him.”
“We’re a pack.” He blurted, unable to fight the need to please his Alpha wolf. “I’m half wolf and we’re mated.”
This time Daehyun did start to cry, his shoulders shaking as he brought his hands up to cover his eyes. “I promise I won’t say anything to anyone, please just let me go."
“Daehyun…” He stood up slowly from the chair so as not to frighten him more and held a hand out. “Baby, please don’t be scared of me.”
His mate shook when fingers touched his goose bumped flesh and he pushed himself even more into the corner.
“Show him, Yongguk.” Junhong turned to him and nodded. “He needs proof or he’ll just keep thinking we’re all psychopaths.”
Yongguk sighed and pulled his shirt over his head. “We’re wasting time.” He growled, shoving his pants to the ground and grabbing the hem of his briefs. “I say we just lock him up and deal with him when it’s all over.”
Zico hissed at the callous words, not willing to let his mate sit in solitary confinement just because he didn’t believe them.
The oversized brown wolf standing patiently in the middle of the kitchen caused Daehyun to whimper, his feet falling out from under him and sliding to the floor.
“No, no, no!”
Zico ached with the need to comfort him, his whole body trembling and screaming for Daehyun’s touch, heart breaking as the person he was supposed to be with refused to listen. Mate, the wolf whimpered inside of him, howling at the pain Daehyun's reaction was causing it.
As if he had heard him, Daehyun’s head spun towards him and he swallowed hard. “I dream about you. Every night. When we’re together I swear I can feel what you’re feeling. Every time you got jealous over Minhyuk, even if you never said anything, I just knew you were angry.” Fresh tears slipped out of his eyes. “And when you touch me I can’t breathe and every other thought but you slips out of my head. This is why? This is the whole reason you liked me? Because some stupid fucked up DNA inside of you makes you think we’re soul mates?” He shook his head and scrubbed his face clear. “I’m g-going to go change my clothes.” The backpack he had left on the couch was snatched up as he hurried out of the room and back into Zico’s bedroom.
“Well that went well.” Yongguk mused as he changed back into his human form and gathered his clothes up off the floor. “Ten minutes wasted that could have been spent searching for our parents.”
“That’s my mate you’re talking about.” Zico’s eyes flashed with anger as he stared his cousin down. “I suggest you get rid of the attitude and respect him like I respect yours.”
Junhong placed a hand on Yongguk’s arm and winced. “He’s right. You’re being rude. Zico’s mate should be just as important to the pack as I am. Just because you’re the Alpha doesn’t mean you can dismiss Zico’s needs.”
They sat impatiently for Daehyun to come back, but minutes passed before Zico started to get worried. “He’s been in there for almost fifteen minutes.”
Yongguk kicked the locked bedroom door in, his eyes immediately spotting the opened window and cursing as he rushed through the house. “He escaped. Goddammit!”
---
He grabbed Junhong by the wrist and pulled him out of the house behind him, hollering for Zico to find follow Daehyun’s scent before someone else found him first.
Himchan was waiting for him in the woods, his normally perfect black hair filled with dirt and leaves. “I’ve been patrolling ever since I saw them enter but after I ran back to tell Yongguk they were here I lost their scent. They’re spreading it around and it’s hard to get a track on it.”
“My mate’s missing.” Zico stripped himself of his clothes, the worry for privacy long forgotten between any of the wolves. “I have to find him first. That’s job number one. Put your crew on the search for Daehyun and have the other’s go after the elder’s. We need to keep Daehyun off their radar.”
Even though Himchan was an Omega and not as experienced as a lot of the other wolves he was one of the hardest workers the pack had and Zico trusted him to get done what was needed.
“Got it.” Himchan transformed into a small black wolf and took off running into the woods to tell the others of the new plan.
Zico was a sleek white wolf with thick fur and what he lacked in size he more than made up for with his tracking skills. He had been the best tracker the pack had ever since he first started training. No one should be able to find Daehyun as easily as he could.
He started sniffing him out as soon as he turned and headed in the direction his scent was the strongest. Himchan’s patrol unit was spread out in the same section of the village, their noses down to the ground and searching for him as quickly as possible.
Yongguk appeared next to them, his eyes dark with worry as he joined the search. Surely Daehyun hadn’t gone far, he’d only been gone for a few minutes when they realized he had escaped. Unless he’d been taken…
Zico growled and bared his teeth to the members of the pack surrounding him. They needed to find him now.
A loud howl came from in front of them, the one used to communicate with each other that assistance was needed. It had to be for Daehyun, someone had found him and Zico wasted no time in racing towards them.
They found him curled up into a ball against the base of a tree, body trembling and the bottom of his palms pressing painfully hard into his eye sockets.
Himchan was turning around him in a circle, keeping an eye on him and spreading his scent around to ward off enemies.
Zico didn’t really want the first time Daehyun saw him fully head to toe naked to be in the middle of the woods surrounded by his pack, but he had no other choice but to turn human again and crouch carefully in front of him.
“Daehyun?” He gently touched his mate’s shoulder, the deep sob he gave him back hitting Zico like a punch to the gut. “Sweetheart, come back with me, please? We can talk about this as soon as you're safe.”
“I want to go home.” Daehyun peeked out in-between his fingers and saw Himchan’s black muzzle a foot away from his face and whimpered. “I don’t want this, Zico. I just wanted to be with you! Not all this. I woke up this morning and I thought I was falling in love with you and now I’m supposed to just change everything, the way I think, the things I believe in? I just wanted you!”
The admission that his mate wanted him, loved him, was enough to make Zico’s hormones kick into overdrive and the rest of the wolves instinctually moved away from the newly in heat Beta.
“Now isn’t the time for that.” Yongguk unfolded his long body from the ground and stood up, stretching his back as he went. “We have to get rid of the intruders. Then you can finish the mating process, Zico.”
But he wanted Daehyun so much he could taste him on his tongue, inside his throat, could feel the softness of his skin under his fingertips. Daehyun showing his true feelings was all he needed to want to take him right there on the dirty ground, show the rest of the pack who Jung Daehyun belonged to.
The wolf inside him may not ever be confused with his overly dominant cousin’s, but when it came to its mate the beast took over and Zico let it.
“Mine.” He growled out, teeth flashing blue as Daehyun stared at him half in horror and half in growing arousal. Going into heat wasn’t a one way street. If it happened to one then it almost always happened to the other. Mates were joined in numerous ways and this was just one of the extra benefits.
“Not. Now. Zico.” Yongguk repeated slowly. “Himchan!” He grabbed Daehyun by his shirt and tugging him to his feet. “Take Daehyun to the house with the other mates. Find Junhong, he’ll take care of him. Do not let him go under any circumstances. Understood?”
“Z-Zico? No, wait!” Daehyun struggled in Himchan’s hold even as he was being dragged away against his will. “Zico!”
He watched as his mate was pulled away from him, his wolf whimpering in his chest at the loss. “Soon buddy.”
“You’re going to be dangerous now.” Yongguk’s voice tinged with amusement. “Newly mated, in heat, worried about Daehyun. Turn it where it needs to go. Let’s get this done so you can go finish that.”
Zico snarled as he changed back into his wolf, white fur standing on end as he bared his teeth towards the others.
Time to get rid of the elder’s once and for all. And then he was going to spend the next week never leaving his bed as he made every square inch of Daehyun's body belong to him.
---
“Their scent is growing stronger.” Himchan sniffed the air, his eyes narrowed and alert. “We’re surrounded. They led us on a wild goose chase just to get us away from the village.” He groaned at how stupid he’d been. Ever since Zico and Yongguk moved up to heads of the pack he had been put in charge of patrols and now he’d gone and fucked everything up. “You had one job, Himchan!”
Yongguk patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Himchan. They’re trying to confuse all of us. You had no way to know they would be herding us.” He stood up straight and popped his neck, eyes scanning the surrounding forest for the enemy. “Alright Grandfather. You’ve made your point. Come out and talk.”
The man who Yongguk hated most in the world emerged to the left of them, eyes sly and full of knowledge that he had already won. When Yongguk looked at him he saw the way Junhong had been tortured, the pain in his eyes when he’d found him tied up under the old Alpha’s orders. Yongguk wanted to kill him.
“Shishi.” His father’s voice was more guarded. He always knew what kind of Alpha his son would make and he had no desire to start an unnecessary war. “We’ve come back for our pack. That’s all. We don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“You mean my pack.” Yongguk’s deadly calm eyes turned his direction and Sangmun instinctually took a step back. “This village and all of its members belong to me now. I claimed them.”
His mother burst through, the joy at seeing her only child not affected by the hostility between the three males. “Shishi!” She moved to hug him, but a sharp warning growl from Zico stopped her. “Son?”
“We don’t recognize your authority here.” Zico took on his job as Beta and joined Yongguk in the center of the circle. “Yongguk is our Alpha and we’d like to keep it that way.”
He saw his father roll his eyes at him. “No one cares what your opinion is, Zico. You've always been just a little brat with a weird obsession with your cousin.”
His body vibrated as he fought to control himself and fangs started to emerge from his gums. “Yongguk is my best friend and the only family member I have left.”
Yongguk gently pulled him backwards, worried his cousin would inadvertently start the battle before it was time. “Calm down, cousin. They’re just trying to get you rattled.” He smiled fondly and ruffled his dirty hair. “Since you all were banished Zico has turned into a completely different person. He stepped up to be my second, he’s going to school, he's taking care of his home for the first time in years, and he has a mate.”
“Looks like you leaving was the best for everyone.” Himchan surprised them all by joining them on Yongguk’s left.
Zico never would have pegged Himchan as someone who would be brave enough to insert himself into a leadership role. Omega’s were generally known for being at the bottom of the totem pole. He was the head of his patrol unit, but that was only because he was the best at it. He complained every time he had to make schedules and whined that he had more important things to do even when everyone knew he sat out in the woods and might or might not partake in illegal drugs for hours at a time.
Their grandfather motioned for the rest of his pack to come forward. Zico saw with relief that the misfit band was smaller than theirs and filled with hybrids aging from teenager all the way to middle aged and over. Obviously the old Alpha thought that their mere presence would cause Yongguk to back down. They must not have realized that in the last few months Yongguk had grown and was no longer the reluctant Alpha, he was their brave leader and his entire pack worshipped him.
One stray was around their age, his face untrusting and leery as he stepped forward. There was a frown on his lips and his eyes darted between the two packs with curiosity. “You told us that this pack was harming its village and forced you out and was unstable.”
Sangmun slapped him across the cheek, his desperation causing him to snap easily. “You are not allowed to question Alpha’s!”
The boy held his red face and shook his head. “Alpha’s aren’t supposed to lie to their pack.” He lowered his eyes submissively and bowed towards Yongguk. “Permission to join your pack.”
Yongguk nodded and the stranger jumped to their side, much to the anger on Sangmun and his father’s faces. “I did not release you!” Their Alpha roared, shaking fists with razor sharp clawed tips.
“I never recognized you as Alpha.” His head cocked to the side and he smiled. “To be honest I’ve been waiting this last month for someone to rip your head from your body and insert a stake into it. Looks like my dream is about to come true.”
He moved to stand beside Himchan, the slack-jawed boy blinking heavily at him. “Who are you?” Himchan breathed, recognizing the stirring in his chest. He forced his gaze to stay on the stranger's face, not letting himself look at the naked body next to him.
Their new member just grinned and looked at Yongguk and Zico, waiting for permission to jump into the oncoming fray.
“Your Alpha against our Alpha.” Zico crosses his arms, thoughts still way back in the village with Daehyun. “That’s the way it’s always been done.”
They smirked at the other Alpha’s paling face.
“You come to my village and expect me to just hand my pack over to you?” Yongguk tsked and brushed his hair out of his face. “Did you tell your strays why you were exiled, Grandfather? Did you tell them that you tried to kill the mate of a member of your pack? Do they know you tied him up and beat him and ordered his mate to kill him?”
The newcomers gasped at the barbaric treatment of a mate. Even strays knew how important that bond was. It was sacred in their traditions and nothing ever came between it.
Sangmun was shaking from the pain of trying to contain his fury. That was the problem with the previous elders, Zico realized. They were too hot-headed and domineering. Yongguk had quickly been accepted because he genuinely tried his hardest to please everyone while still doing what was best for the community. They had been so used to decades of their Alpha treating them like peasants and doing what was best for him and no one else.
“He’s seventy-nine years old, Shishi. You’re just a pup still. This fight is not even.”
Yongguk shrugged. “Then choose a proxy to fight for him. I’m strong enough to stand up for my village. If Grandfather can’t do that then I’m more than happy to fight someone of his choosing.”
Another young wolf was pushed out towards them by Zico’s father. “This one. He’s our best fighter.”
The tall, but baby-faced, boy smiled and cracked his knuckles. “Challenge accepted.”
The two wolves jumped at each other in a tangle of soft brown fur versus tangled and matted gray. Zico couldn’t tell who was winning because they both looked pretty evenly matched. Whereas Yongguk was stronger and larger, the gray wolf was sneakier. He would trick Yongguk into thinking he was going to make one move and then twisting his body around and going the opposite direction.
“Come on, Yongguk.” Zico muttered. He was itching to join the fight, but then it would be considered a stale-mate and would have to be repeated. No one but the Alpha was the rules. He scoffed and gave his grandfather a hard look. That rule was already broken.
Himchan tried to watch the two wolves rolling around on the ground, but even their sharp barks of pain and deadly growls couldn’t keep him from routinely glancing over at the newcomer next to him. His long hair was jet black and hung evenly on both sides of his forehead. He wasn’t very tall, but his smaller body was topped by a serious face and eyes that looked like they were centuries older than his age.
“You’re staring.” The thin lips quirked up and his eyes slid over to Himchan’s, amusement sparking the dark brown. “Shouldn’t you be worried about your Alpha?”
Himchan saw his eyes slide down his body. “He can take care of himself.” He licked his lips and grinned a kittenish smile. “Shouldn’t you be a little bit more secretive about looking at my naked body?” His gaze raked down and his breath hitched in his throat at the surprisingly heavily tattooed body.
“Why should I when you’re obviously not?”
“Who are you?”
Himchan still didn’t get his answer. The moment the pink lips opened to reply there was a loud cry of pain from the gray wolf as Yongguk finally started to gain the upper hand.
His teeth were clamped down tightly into the dirty neck and the new wolf realized it was over and went limp waiting for the final death blow. The only way this would end was with one of them dead and the final one standing was the proclaimed Alpha.
Zico watched Yongguk’s eyes switch between human and wolf as he fought with himself. The wolf knew this had to happen but the human didn’t want any more spilled blood on his conscience.
With a final snarl he released the weak smaller wolf and switched back to human, his body covered in gashes and bright red blood.
“I’m not killing him.” He spat out a clump of fur and wiped the blood off his lips, smearing it across his cheeks. “We’re a better pack than that. I don’t have to frighten my villagers or kill interlopers to gain their respect as Alpha.”
Sangmun’s eyes lit up with elation and he jumped forward ignoring the caution growls from Zico and Himchan. “If you refuse to follow through on the duel then you forfeit the win.” His eyes passed over the members. “You belong to us again.”
“No.” Zico cocked his head towards the previous Alpha. “He changed the rules of the takeover so Yongguk gets to change a rule, too. It’s only fair.”
“Fair?” His grandfather laughed, the sound booming in the quiet forest. “This is not a life where playing fair works, children.” His voice was mocking and Zico felt his skin prickle with anger.
Himchan stepped forward followed by their newest member on his heels. “You’ll have to go through us to gain control. And I’m sure all those strays you picked up on the way didn’t sign up for a complete pack genocide.”
They could see the strangers in the back watching them with a mix of horror and confusion. They didn’t know what was going on or why this pack that they had been told were out of control seemed to be perfectly fine.
“I’m going to let you walk away with the promise that you and whomever follows you has safe passage.” Yongguk’s voice was calm, but silently deadly. “But make no mistake. This is the last chance I am giving you. Next time I won’t be so lenient.” He nudged the still unmoving wolf at his feet. “Himchan, help him to my office. I’ll meet you both there when we’re done.”
Their newest Gamma nodded and picked up the gray wolf in his arms. He couldn’t see him, but he could hear the new pack mate on his heels. A smile crossed his lips and he felt his shoulders straighten with pride. A new position and a new face. Today was just interesting all around.
---
Daehyun was about to go crazy cooped up in the safe house with the rest of the pack’s mates. Even though Junhong was glued to his side and trying to calm him down he couldn’t think of anything but Zico. What was Zico doing, was he okay, would he come home safe, the touch of his fingertips, the way his tongue tasted. Daehyun was near hysterical as Junhong used all of his strength to hold him still.
“He’s fine, Daehyun. Yongguk is the strongest Alpha they’ve ever had and they all support him. None of the pack will ever let anything happen to each other.” He hadn’t been informed that Daehyun’s body had gone into heat because of Zico and that reassurement wasn’t what he needed right now. He needed Zico’s touch and Zico’s body under his hands.
“Where are they?” His teeth were chattering and his body was boiling with need and Junhong didn’t have Zico’s soft skin and he smelled wrong. Daehyun wanted his mate.
Junhong tried to pull him closer thinking the other just needed comfort when the door was thrown open so hard that it bounced off the wall and left a deep dent in it from the doorknob.
“Daehyun?” Zico squinted into the dark room and sniffed trying to pinpoint the minty smell that was pure Daehyun.
A shaky body slammed against him and he was suddenly holding an armful of his soft mate and a mouthful of probing tongue and needy breaths.
“Take me home.” He demanded, pushing Zico out of the building and into the street, not caring at all about the others surrounding them and watching with amused eyes. “Now.”
Zico didn’t need to be told twice. His body was primed for taking orders and Daehyun’s voice hit him harder in the chest than Yongguk’s ever could. “Okay.” He breathed out, wrapping his arm around Daehyun’s waist and leading him home, stopping every few feet to kiss him deeply again.
By the time they made it to Zico’s house they were both burning and aching and Zico could barely think straight through the sounds escaping from Daehyun's lips. Zico didn’t think he could take another step, but he wanted this to be right. Daehyun deserved a clean bed and not a couch or a hard floor.
He pressed him against the bed and rolled his hips forward, relishing the cries the other made with every pass.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Zico chanted, mouthing at the dip in his neck. “You don’t deserve this life, I’m sorry, I can’t give you up though, I can’t.”
Daehyun tried to laugh but it came out rough as Zico covered the rise in his jeans with a warm palm. “I already knew you were completely insane before all of this happened.” He wrapped slim legs around the other’s waist and flipped them over so that he was on top. “This is just another aspect of your crazy.”
He sat back and looked into Zico’s eyes as he pulled his shirt over his head. His fingers slipped under the hem of Zico’s faded t-shirt and fingertips danced along his hips making him whimper and buck up towards the fleeting touches.
“Why do you become so docile when I touch you?” Daehyun questioned curiously, unzipping his jeans and tugging them down his thighs. “It’s giving me quite a power trip up here.”
Zico shook his head and blinked bleary eyes. Even his wolf was silent, both of them watching their mate strip right on top of them. “I like watching you.” He finally admitted, smirking at the way Daehyun shivered when Zico ran his palms down his sides and settled them around his pale hips. “You’re so bossy.”
“Bossy?” Daehyun narrowed his eyes and stood up to take his pants the rest of the way off. “If I’m bossy then what does that make you? Obedient? My slave?”
“Yours.” Zico traced a finger down his chest and closed his eyes, trying hard to control his reactions to the half-naked boy in his lap. “We’re yours.”
He heard Daehyun whisper for him to hold his arms up and he complied, letting his shirt join Daehyun’s on the floor. At the first wet lick on his heated skin he couldn’t help the whine for more. Soon his jeans were sliding down his legs and there was so little between them that he could feel the heat seeping through the thin briefs Daehyun wore.
“Zico?” Daehyun tilted his head to the side and bit his lip nervously. “Do you have…” His nose scrunched up in embarrassment and Zico couldn’t believe that he was still nervous even after everything that had happened in the last two days. “Any lube?” He finally spit out, twisting his fingers in the hem of Zico’s boxers. “Y-You didn’t use any last night and it kind of hurt.”
His wolf snarled at him for hurting their mate.
“Drawer.” Zico motioned towards the nightstand at the head of the bed. “Just… Ignore the other stuff in there, okay?”
Daehyun snorted at the assorted boxes of condoms and toys in the drawer and pinched Zico's thigh as he pulled his briefs off and settled back down on his lap. “We’re going to talk about those soon.”
Zico forgot everything else once Daehyun was completely naked and on top of him. He tried to speak but all he could do was click his tongue and watch with wide eyes as Daehyun slicked up his fingers and reached behind himself.
He hissed at the first intrusion, but it was a lot easier than last night when Zico had used three dry fingers. After a moment of wiggling, he grew more comfortable and let the second one inside. “Ohh.” He moaned out, dropping to his elbow, face lax as he started to feel more pleasure than burn.
His fingers itched to reach out and touch the sweaty skin above him, but Zico was afraid any little movement he made would break the spell and Daehyun looked so beautiful above him fucking down on his own fingers that Zico couldn’t move.
“Your fingers were better.” Daehyun cracked open an eye and smirked at the dumbfounded expression on his face. “I liked it when you stretched me open.” The swollen and red bottom lip that Zico had chewed on the whole walk home was sucked between his teeth when the last digit was added. “Zico!” His name was high and cracked and rang through Zico's ears like music.
Daehyun’s arm was barely able to hold him up so he dropped his forehead onto Zico’s and moaned against his lips as he shook and cried out the closer he got to the edge.
“I told you I wanted you inside of me later.” Daehyun carefully removed his fingers and grabbed the bottle again, pouring some into his palm and wrapping his smaller hand around Zico’s throbbing length. “It’s later.”
He sat up on his knees and braced a hand on Zico’s chest as he seated himself, slowly sucking him inside. Daehyun didn’t want to waste any more time between them and ignored the heat in his lower back, instead forcing more of Zico into him until he was seated all the way down on his lap.
Zico closed his eyes and took deep breaths. He shakily reached up to Daehyun’s clenched stomach and rubbed his thumbs across it in soothing circles. “You feel so good, Daehyun. So… So tight, I can’t-“
His voice let off with a loud groan as Daehyun rocked backwards to see how it felt.
“Zicooo.” Daehyun sang, removing Zico’s arms from his across his eyes. “I want you to look at me.”
When he finally opened his eyes he grew even more aroused at the sight of a heavy-lidded Daehyun with sweaty bangs and flush cheeks and pupils blown wide with pleasure. “Ride me.” He jerked his hips up and growled possessively at the way Daehyun tightened around him and his eyes fluttered.
With a tired nod, Daehyun placed his hands behind him on Zico’s thighs and started building to a steady rhythm as Zico gripped onto his hips, nails leaving half-circle shaped indents in his sun-darkened skin.
Zico could feel his eyes rolling back in his head and his toes start to curl at the same time that Daehyun discovered which angle hit him right where he needed to make fireworks erupt behind his eyelids. The sound of their slick skin sliding together combined with the needy moans of his name was more than Zico could handle.
With a grunt he pushed Daehyun backwards onto the bed and smothered his lips with his own, tongue probing deep inside his mouth as he realigned himself into Daehyun’s body.
“I want to claim you.” He whispered against his flawless flesh. He wanted to be the only mark on his skin, the only imperfection Daehyun had.
Teeth sharp with barely restrained fangs scratched against Daehyun’s neck, making him clench in response.
“Can I?” Zico lifted his head and let Daehyun see traces of the wolf that was barely under his surface, begging to come and play. “I won’t unless you give me permission, I promise.”
Daehyun grimaced a little, still frightened by the wolf side of Zico. “I trust you.” He murmured finally, tilting his head back and sighing as Zico started to rock into him again. “I trust you, Zico. Always.”
He quickly brought them closer to the end, not able to hold back as the monster inside him had his turn with their mate, loving him thoroughly and soaking in every sound that fell from those perfectly swollen lips.
Zico’s eyes turned blue and stayed that way the closer he got them, his snarl growing louder as he found the right spot again and lodged unmoving against it, hips swiveling only when Daehyun begged him for it.
“Zico please!” Daehyun pleaded, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes. He gripped onto his forearms and arched his back, needing any form of stimulation he could get to tip him over the edge.
“I claim you.” Zico rumbled, teeth scraping over one of the shoulders that had been driving him insane for weeks. “You’re mine and I’m yours.” His fangs sunk into the tender skin and he held them still as the intense jolt threw Daehyun into a wailing fit, his nails scrambling at Zico as he released across their chests, the extreme tightening bringing Zico overboard with him.
Daehyun was still sobbing as he pulled out minutes later, limp and with a mouthful of blood. “You could have warned me it meant biting.” He wiped his eyes and slapped weakly at Zico’s chest. “What is that even for?”
He ran into the bathroom and cleaned his bloody face off before grabbing a first aid kid. “It’s just another sign of a mate. Not all the members of the pack do it, just the ones with stronger wolves. It’s really just a way for me to say ‘fuck off’ to anyone who tries to get near you.”
“What does all of this mean though? Why me? Do you get to pick who you’re with?”
Zico hummed as he taped the bandage onto his skin. “No, not really. The wolf chooses, I think. That’s why I was always teasing you and trying to get your attention. I was just waiting for him to wake up inside me and confirm it. You had what I wanted most and I recognized it. You’re caring and gentle and when I come home I know you’ll be waiting for me and god, Daehyun, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.” He smiled faintly and braided his fingers with Daehyun’s. “You kind of claimed me first, though. Your scent was all over me for weeks.” He teased, enjoying the blush that crossed Daehyun’s cheeks.
“Shut up.” Daehyun covered his face with his arm, embarrassed at Zico’s words. “You were annoying and you bothered me and you’re lucky I never snapped and punched you in the face.”
“Mmm, aggressive Daehyun is my favorite Daehyun.” He yelped as a foot made contact with his shin. “I was giving you a compliment!”
“You were being an asshole again!”
They fell together back into the bed and Zico wrestled with him with a grin plastered across his cheeks that he didn’t think he could ever get rid of. He thought back to just a few months ago when he was sleeping with every woman he could get his hands on and coming home to a messy cold house every night and he hated that Zico. This boy smiling up at him in his bed with the rumpled hair and the sweet voice and the hand that held his heart firmly in his grasp was more than he deserved.
And everything he ever wanted.
---
Yongguk circled the two unknown boys in his office and looked them over with judging eyes. “Your official membership in this pack and village will have to be voted on by the oldest wolves. Why should we let you in?”
The gray wolf lifted red-rimmed eyes and chewed on his torn lips. “You let me live. I owe you my life, Sir.”
“I let you live because it was the right thing to do, not because I thought you deserved it. Remember that.” He took a deep breath and counted to ten like Junhong had taught him to when he felt like ripping someone's head off. “What is your name and why are you without a pack?”
“Jihoon.” The boy responded, shoulders hunching in submission. He scratched at the bandage covering his arm with a wince. “I was kicked out of my old pack for fighting too much.”
The Alpha nodded, taking in the boy’s thin appearance and tired eyes. “You can stay until we figure out what to do with you. You’ll be rooming with Taeil and the other patrol squads in the woods.”
Jihoon nodded and let out a deep breath of relief.
Now that that was taken care of Yongguk turned his attention to the other newcomer. “You’re a different story, aren’t you. Am I to assume you’ll be staying with Himchan then?”
Himchan’s eyes widened comically and he took a step away from the tiny boy. “W-What?” He stammered. “Why would you say that?”
With an eye roll Yongguk sat down at his desk and reached for the bottle of bourbon he kept in the bottom drawer. “Your smell is all over him, Himchan. My god, did you piss on him while I was fighting to keep your asses alive?” He took a swig straight out of the bottle before pouring a tall glass. “And what’s your name, stray?”
The stranger looked straight at him with a sly smile on his lips. “Jongup.” He stood up taller and reached for Yongguk’s hand. “My name is Jongup.”