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Chapter Text

Hongjoong was tired. His pale complexion near translucent with how much time he’s spent in his studio. Fueled by nothing but iced americanos and pints of A positive, he tried to crank out the last song before his deadline.

Most of his day had been filled with meetings for an upcoming group set to debut and the company he produced for had added him to the team in charge of the group’s first album. They were waiting on some new transfers to complete the producing team but for now, they were mixing some tests to try and nail down the group's sound. HongJoong was excited but very tired. He wasn't used to working so closely with others when producing.

He had been getting away with working late nights and early mornings to prepare for this project, but it was starting to take its toll. Vampires could go without sleep longer than most but even he had limits. While Hongjoong had grown accustomed to odd hours with unpredictable deadlines, the newest addition to their coven had upended everyone’s routines.

Normally, Hongjoong would still be at the studio picking apart lyrics and melodies until the witching hour, but Seongwha had called him on his lunch break.

“We all miss you, especially Jongho. You’re his sire and he's barely seen you since turning.” Seonghwa had said, equal parts frustrated and concerned. Hearing his voice had pulled at his heartstrings, an ache that filled his chest whenever he had strayed from home for too long.

So he had gone home early enough to join the coven for dinner. Vampires only needed blood to survive but human food was a creature comfort that could be indulged in. Seongwha loved to cook and his skills were nothing to laugh at, so the coven had gotten into a habit of having dinner together from time to time. Plus, Jongho was having a hard time adjusting to a diet consisting purely of blood bags.

“Aren’t you glad you came home early,” Seonghwa said as he bumped his shoulder against his from his seat next to him. Jongho was on his other side and while he was a reserved kid, Hongjoong could smell the happiness radiating from him. San was still blinking himself awake as he lay against Wooyoung. Mingi and Yunho spoke rapidly about some new gaming system coming out soon while Yeosang commented from time to time. Everyone oozed contentedness and Hongjoong could feel himself melting a bit.

“ Yeah, I was running out of blood bags at the office anyways,” he said in an effort to maintain his image as the aloof leader. A playful smirk pulled at his lips.

“Yah! See if we save you O negative ever again” Seongwha said with a smack to the back of his head. “Don't think I cant smell how much of a complete softy you are.”

Hongjoong kicked him back and tried to regain some of his dignity but he felt a soft tug on his hoody sleeve. His hazel eyes met Jongho’s bright red ones as he asked “ Can we go walk for a bit Hyung? The sun will be setting soon.” Anxiety filtered into the air and Hongjoong could understand his apprehension. Being a newborn vampire meant a lot of supervision when it came to exploring outside of their home. The chances of running into a neighbor and setting off Jonghos new instincts were a constant risk. He felt bad for their maknae but he was also amazed at how well he pushed back against those predatory instincts.

It could also become overwhelming for the new vampire with all of the enhanced senses that came with the change. Not only were the five senses more sensitive, but their sense of smell could now pick up emotions that blended in with others' natural scents. It made surprises of any kind really difficult to pull off, but learning to deal with all of those sensations at once took practice. Their first outing after Jongho had turned had ended in the maknae having a panic attack and it had shaken all of them to see him so vulnerable.

“If you're feeling up to it I'm sure everyone could do with stretching their legs,” Hongjoong said before snapping to get everyone's attention. They quickly cleaned off the table before heading out to the woods that sprawled out past their backyard. Mingi and Yunho were trying to wrestle each other into the crispy leaves further up the path. He couldn’t see how Yunho had so much energy after working at the gym all day. Vampire stamina be damned, the tallest had a penchant for his puppy-like energy burst.

“C’mon Yunho! I thought you were the strongest out of all of us,” Wooyoung said, as he tried to escalate things even further. He would be joining in too, but San was still clinging sleepily to him, content to ignore Woouyoung’s screeches as long as his moving pillow stayed put. Feeding always made San a walking zombie, regardless of whether he had worked at his Boxing gym or not.

Hongjoong peeked back at the pair behind him and Seongwha, watching as they made their way at a steady pace. Yeosang was holding onto Jonghos sleeve as the youngest took in his surroundings, red eyes seeing more than any human could. Jonho’s stubbornness in testing himself was both cute and stressful. He was strong in his convictions though which helped him progress as fast as he was. The blood red in his eyes would soon mellow out to his natural warm brown it was when he had met them.

Hongjoong turned back to face the path, pleased that all of his coven mates were enjoying themselves. The stress of the day seemed to ease momentarily as his family messed around in the forest. The fall leaves crunched underfoot as Hongjoong strolled through the forest. The twilight was setting in fast as the rest of his coven followed down the dirt path. Fall had barely settled in and it already felt like winter was a skipping stone away

As he walked, his mind was drawn to the unexpected new neighbors they were going to have. He had caught a glimpse of a u-haul parked at the house on their left which had been empty for a month. Their neighborhood was almost exclusively supernatural based so it had taken the old owners a bit to find someone willing to fill up a house next to creatures of the night. From what Seongwha said on the call earlier, Wooyoung had camped out by the window to watch (stalk) the new arrivals unload their things into their new home.

Seonghwa matched stride with him, his smooth timbre floated through the wind as he said, “I’m planning on bringing some treats to the new neighbors as a welcome gift.” His smile betrayed his calm voice. Clearly excited at the prospect of new friends. As shy as Seonghwa could be, he really enjoyed hosting others in their gigantic dining room. His skills in the kitchen easily earned him the respect of the neighborhood and everyone always fell for his soft eyes and caring nature. His other coven mates proved to be quite the entertainment too.

“oh, you're letting them actually settle in,” Hongjoong asked and Seonghwa laughed. He knocked his shoulders into Hongjoong.

“I'm not that bad. You're really never going to let me live down that time with Joonie’s coven” Seongwha said though a faint blush colored his cheeks at the embarrassing memory. Namjoon’s coven had come to their neighborhood to look at some of the houses for sale and Seognwha had all but bullied the Coven into staying for dinner. While the Elder coven had taken it in stride they had ultimately decided not to buy any of the houses and Seongwha had been convinced it was because his dinner had been subpar. Seongwha had been despondent for weeks until the covens had met up for their semi-annual blood drive event where Namjoon had explained that they chose a new house closer to their workplaces.

Hong Joong smiled with fangs on full display as he said, “ Not for a good few years, no.” He reached over and took Seonghwa’s hand, the eldest’s hand all but swallowed his.
“I haven't actually seen much of them, outside of them grabbing their stuff from the u-haul in their driveway. It seems like a big family though, at least 6 or 7.” Seongwha said as the coven made their way deep into the forest.

Wooyoung slipped his arm around Seonghwa’s waist and said “There’s 8 of them actually.” He hugged as close to Seonghwa as he could without tripping him as he continued, “and at least one of them is a werewolf or shifter. There was a massive black wolf running around their lot. It was almost as big as a horse hyung.”

Hong Joong hummed and scented the air, trying to see if he could catch a hint of the new neighbors in the air. A new smell was filtering in but it was still too light to properly identify. “ If they are wolves this might make things a bit complicated sharing the forest,” Hongjoong said. The coven already had to share the forest with a few other neighbors, but adding eight werewolves could come with spacing issues. Shifters could only shift to natural-looking animals and Horse sized wolves definitely didn't fall under natural. Werewolves especially liked to run as a pack and he was sure the huge wolf Wooyoung saw was one.

Yunho clapped his hands and smiled as he said“Already worrying about our territory, Hyung. C’mon it's supposed to be exciting meeting new neighbors.”

Wooyoung unlatched himself from Seonghwa and poked at Hongjoong “ yeah Hyung, plus they're all really hot.” HongJoong growled and snapped his teeth at Wooyoung's hand. “ Yah! No ogling the new neighbors,” Hongjoong grumbled. His grip tightened on Seonghwa and he quickly counted all of his coven mates, making sure none of them have strayed too far.

Seoghwha giggled and raised their joined hands up to his lips, lightly brushing Hongjoongs with gentle kisses. “ We’re all here Joong-ah. All safe and accounted for. No big bad wolves come to snatch us away,” Seongwha said.

Another hand took Hongjoongs arm and hooked him close as Mingi leaned into him. “Yeah Hyung, don't let Wooyoung rile you up. He’s just being a brat,” Mingi said as his coven smelled of gentle affection. Hoongjoong blushed under the attention and tried to wiggle out of the hold.

“Who else is supposed to keep you all in line,” Hongjopong said. Yeosang who had been trailing behind laughed as Jongho said, “ We would be lost without you Hyung.”

Suddenly a shrill voice cut through the air. Branches cracked under foot as a young man with tan hair burst out into the clearing. He had vaulted himself over a large fallen oak, but he must have miscalculated his strength because it sent him flying towards the group of vampires. Before the others could react, the boy crashed into Seongwha which sent them both tumbling to the ground. Seonghwa was knocked onto his back with a lap occupied by a dazed boy. Round cheeks and wide eyes filled his vision as everyone else was stunned by the sudden appearance. The boy’s clothes were covered in dirt and golden leaves stuck to his windblown hair as the smell of warm caramel flooded everyone’s senses.

HongJoong was the first one to get over the shock “Are you brain dead? You need to be more careful,” he said as he checked over the stranger. His instincts bubbled under his skin as the stranger stayed frozen in the eldest’s lap. Huge eyes somehow widened further as the kid took in Hongjoongs fierce features, “ I-I’m sorry! I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I didn't think anyone would be out so close to dark.” His lips wobbled as he slurred through his words.

“ It’s alright, I’m ok,” Seongwha said as he leaned into a sitting position. The boy scrambled to lift himself off of the vampire, anxiety flowed from him in waves as he shrunk in on himself. From the close proximity, Hongjoong could tell that the sweet caramel-like scent was coming from the stranger. It was quickly becoming bitter like burnt sugar with hints of other scents clinging to him. Something was familiar about it but Hongjoong couldn't put his finger on it. It pulled at his instincts to protect his coven. This kid could be dangerous.

His other coven mates also felt the potential threat standing before them, centuries of vampiric instincts caused the laid-back vampires to take defensive positions. Mingi and Yunho had placed themselves in front of Jongho and Yeosang as they tried to shield the maknae from the stranger. Wooyoung and San had been jostled with the commotion but they stood close, ready to act if needed. Their usual relaxed demeanors were tense with the unknown scent in the air. The only one who seemed even remotely calm was their eldest. Seonghwa was looking at the kid like he was a neglected animal left on the side of the road. He certainly smelt like one under the sweet scent.

“It’s really alright, there's no need to be scared. Honest mistakes happen,” Seonghwa said in an attempt to calm the boy. “I’m Park Seonghwa. What’s your name if you don't mind sharing?”

“H-han, Han Jisung,” his shiny eyes looked rapidly between all of them before he took in a big breath. It choked off short as he stilled, his anxious scent turned to panic.
“I-I’m really sorry! Please don't eat me. I'm sure I would taste nasty to a vampire,” he yelled as he raised his arms in front of himself. “Plus, My alpha would lose it so don't try anything.”
Alpha. That word flashed in Hongjoongs mind before Han’s scent smacked him in the face with the obvious wet dog smell. This kid was a werewolf. “We won't have any problems if you keep your paws to yourself,” Hongjoong said with a bite to his tone. Seongwha sent him a sharp look before letting his gaze soften on the wolf, “It was an accident. Let's all take a breath alright.” Seonghwa slowly raised himself up and put his hands up in placating gesture. “No one is eating anyone if I can help it.” He turned to the other vampires and he could tell that Jongho was struggling with all of the commotion. His eyes were clenched shut as he held himself in place.
“Yunho. Mingi. Please help Yeosang get Jongho back to the house. Woo, San you too. We’ll be back soon,” Seongwha asked. They both looked to Hongjoong for confirmation and Hongjoong nodded back. Getting the youngest home safe would help everyone calm down. As much as Jongho’s instincts were still fresh and unpredictable, having a newborn also pulled at everyone's instincts to protect him from any threats. The six left quickly leaving the elder vampires behind. Han still looked like he was a minute away from expiring from all the stress and anxiety. Hongjoong wrinkled his nose at the strong smell of acrid sweetness.

“I take it you are one of our new neighbors. I hope you all don't plan on running around the forest like maniacs,” Hongjoong said. He was maybe being a bit harsh, but he would put a stop to that here and now. His maknae didn't need another thing to worry about when leaving the house. “ We all share this area so make sure you tell your alpha to keep his pups in check.”

Han narrowed his eyes, irritation mixed in with the rest of his scent. He straightened his posture from its scared hunch and said “Look, I said I was sorry. You guys were downwind so I couldn't tell you were there.” he shook his head of the leaves stuck in it and took a step towards where he came from. Seongwha opened his mouth to say something but a howl echoed through the forest. Han huffed a breath before he turned his back to them. “I need to head back, sorry again about this,” Han said before his form changed into a large tan wolf. It was instantaneous as his sleek form leaped over the oak log and disappeared into the forest.

Seogwha turned to Hongjoong with crossed arms and said “Was it really necessary to be that mean? He probably thinks we're a bunch of assholes now”

“ He tackled you! He needs to be more careful. Especially as a wolf. If you were human he could have seriously hurt you,” Hongjoong said as his eyes flashed red from anger. Seonghwa sighed and took up his hand in his. “I'm alright Joongie-ah. There’s no need to start a feud with the neighbors on their first day here.” He gently pulled Hongjoong back down the path to their house.

"Let's go home."

Chapter Text

Han was frustrated.

He had just wanted to run off some extra energy before he bedded down with the rest of his pack, and it had ended in him almost hurting their new neighbors. Controlling his wolf strength was something Han had been working on lately given the amount of furniture he's broken at their last place. His lithe form hid the animalist strength. All of that carefulness felt like it was for nothing. He hated being a nuisance and now he felt like he had ruined their first impression of him.

Han knew that there were other supernatural creatures that lived in the surrounding area but it slipped his mind to check to see if any were close by. His nose was one of the sharpest in their pack but he had never smelled vampires before. Herbal and earthy like aged tea leaves with a hint of spilled blood. Worried that it had been an injured person, he ran full force, and in his haste, he had sent himself hurtling too far too fast.

Han shifted back quickly and shook out the debris in his hair. His dirt-stained clothes clung to his thin frame and he knew Seungmin and Minho were going to have his ass for tracking dirt everywhere. He emerged from the tree line and trotted up to the front door of their new house, but his eyes strayed to the house next door. Two of the vampires from earlier were seated in the window facing the street, and as he looked closer they had their eyes trained on him.

One was thin, complexion ghostly as his platinum blonde shined from the light in their house. The other was sturdy and broad-shouldered even in his soft-looking sweater. His hair was a dark brown that bled into crimson and while he couldn’t make out the pale ones' eyes, the red-haired one had piercing blood-red eyes. Almost fluorescent in the dim lighting. A chill ran up Han’s spine and he felt like prey. He paused at the door and then raised a hesitant hand to wave at them. The blonde smiled and they both waved in greeting. At least they didn't seem to hate him.

Their head vampire was kind of an asshole though.

At the memory, he quickly stepped inside to avoid any more meetings with the angry vampire. The house was still bustling with activity as his packmates unpacked into their new home. It smelled like their dinner had arrived too, the savory scent of their takeout filled the house. Han hustled to the kitchen to make sure his dinner hadn't been eaten. The kitchen was sparse and with no takeout containers in sight, his already sour mood dipped more at the prospect of missing dinner. They only had a few snack foods to tide them over till tomorrow when Minho would probably recruit a few of them to go shopping. He resigned himself to some instant ramyun when a warm pair of arms hugged him from behind.

A deep voice rumbled into his ears “ Don’t worry Hannie. There’s still plenty of dinner left over. The pups wanted to eat in the living room.” Felix said as he nestled his chin into Han’s shoulder. Han leaned into Felix as he breathed a sigh of relief. The smell of freshly baked bread filled his nose as Felix's scent rubbed off on him. It quieted his nerves but it also made his stomach growl. Food first then cuddles after.

“You're an angel Felix,” he said as he steered them both towards the living room.

Everyone was sprawled out in their empty living room. The furniture hadn't arrived yet so pillows and blankets padded the floor along with their take-out boxes. Hyunjin and Seungmin have trapped Jeongin in a puppy pile as they scrolled on their phones. Jeongin seemed to debate escaping before he settled in the blankets to nap off his food coma. Changbin was leaning against Chan as they shared Chan’s phone. If Han strained his ears he could hear them talk about their new producing gig. Han was too tired to think about work, he just wanted some hot food and a long nap. Preferably cuddled up next to Minho. He looked around but the second eldest seemed to be absent.

“Where’s Minho-hyung?” Han asked as he made a beeline for the last of the styrofoam boxes. Bulgogi and kimchi fried rice greeted him as he opened the containers and he quickly began to devour them. The hot food soothed his bruised ego but he couldn't help but think about the tall vampire who had treated him so softly despite their violent meeting. All of the others had been wary and the angry one had been cold, but Seongwha seemed to know exactly how stressed he was to crash into a bunch of vampires he didn't know.

Werewolves and vampires often didn't get along in close proximity, because of the vampire's strong sense of smell and werewolves’ rapidly fluctuating scents. They had been natural enemies for centuries and a lot of vampires seemed to carry that sentiment into the modern era.

Seongwha had at least treated him so gently. Now that he thought back to it if they had met under different circumstances, Han isn't sure if he would have been able to not make a fool of himself in front of the handsome vampire. His shining eyes had held the moonlight so beautifully as he had looked at Han in concern. Heat rushed to Han’s cheeks as he chewed, cheeks stuffed full.

“He went to go see if the neighbors could spare a few trash bags. The small ones that came with dinner won't be enough to last until we can buy some tomorrow.” Changbin said as he looked up from Channie’s phone. His black hair was fluffy from the shower he had taken when they first got to their new home. The drive had been long and Han was starting to feel the weariness that settled into his bones.

“ It would be nice if we had somewhere to put our trash that isn't the floor,” Chan said as he nuzzled against Changbin’s shoulder and attempted to drown himself in Changbins pink hoodie. He looked tired. His blonde curls were pulled back by a black beanie, his body swimming in his own black sweater. Chan had barely slept on the trip here and was so busy worrying about all of the details with both work and his pack. Maybe Han would bed with him instead if only to make sure his Hyung didn't kill himself with stress. Han was sure with him and Changbin combined they could cuddle him to sleep.

“Wait, which neighbors did Minho-hyung go to,” Han asked as clarity and panic hit his clouded mind. “The ones to our right are a coven of vampires and they did not like my scent from what I could tell.”

Chan went stiff “Shit, I should go check on him. Just to make sure things go over smoothly”

He went to get up but Changbin held him down. His biceps flexed and pulled taught in his effort to keep Chan seated. He may not be the tallest of them but he was certainly the strongest wolf in their pack. Han was very familiar with those thick arms holding him down and scruffing him when he got a bit too rowdy.

“ Minho can handle himself,” Changbin said firmly and while Han knew it was true he couldn't help but worry. Binnie was the pack beta for a reason though and his level head kept their pack out of trouble most days. Han just wished he had that level of confidence. “He’s not some lost pup,” Changbin said.

“ His scent is bound to set one of them off though,” Chan said, eyebrows furrowed but he let Changbin hold him down. Everyone in the pack understood that Minho’s scent was more potent than most werewolves and the pack had had many instances of vampires treating Minho harshly because of it.

“And Minho-Hyung will give just as good as he gets,” Changbin said confidently.

“That’s what I'm worried about. You know how sharp his tongue can be.” Chan's frame now held a nervous tension but he stayed next to Changbin. Instead of fighting the hold, he’s turned it into a comfort squeeze. Changbin shifted his head to the side as he bared his neck, and Chan took to rubbing his cheek along where Changbin’s scent glands would be. Earthy spearmint spilled out into the living room in a calm wave that could soothe even the most frazzled wolf.

Werewolves were unique in that they each had a specific scent that they could release and other wolves could scent and respond to them. It was a great way to calm a pack but you could just as easily rile them up in the same way. Han’s tended to have more of a sugar rush effect with his caramel scent. When he had first been introduced into the pack, his scent had turned gentle excitement to near mania as Changbin and Chan tried to keep everyone calm.

Han could feel his scent trickling out as he too tried to stay relaxed, but his anxiety bubbled beneath the surface. If his common sweet scent had upset the vampires so badly he could only imagine what Minho’s scent would do. Minho’s scent was potent and metallic like the smell of your hands after you’ve worn rings all day. Like water that’s been held in a metal flask and the taste stuck to your tongue with each swallow. Han and his packmates loved it and thought it suited Minho well, but most supernatural creatures with sensitive noses found it especially offensive. Even other werewolves tended to tread carefully until they’d gotten to know the head omega better.

“Did you run into the coven while you were out chasing squirrels,” Changbin asked, “I thought I smelt vampires nearby.”

“ I wasn’t chasing squirrels,” Han grumbled, his inner wolf getting agitated.

“ Yeah Hyung, Hannie can’t eat his own kind,” Seungmin said from his spot on the floor. Hyunjin snickered while Jeongin tried to smack them for moving so much.

Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the long drive but all of Han’s feelings came out as a growl low and threatening. The noise shocked him as he’d only ever growled in his first few months of being a werewolf. He usually enjoyed joking around with his pack, but the agitation from earlier was clinging to him. His low rumble brought a seriousness to the room and Seungmin straightened to face him. Felix and Hyunjin were more alert, and Jeongin blinked awake from his dozing. Burnt caramel mixed into the air like a thick blanket.

“What happened Sungie?” Chan asked, clearly confused about what had gotten his pup so unsettled.

With everyone's attention suddenly on him, Han felt his nerves start to frazzle again. “ I knocked over one of their members by accident and now I’m pretty sure their head vampire hates me,” he said as he pushed his food away. He hunched into himself in an effort to make himself smaller and kept his eyes trained on the carpet. A nervous habit he hadn't quite kicked.

He chewed his lip as he tried to breathe through the stress but it felt like the buzzing in his chest grew the more he thought about it. He hadn’t wanted to cause trouble for the pack, but now the neighbors were only going to think the worst of them. His nails sharpened and dug into the carpet and he could feel his teeth grow too big for his mouth. Minho was probably getting lectured about his reckless packmate and how Han had been such a hazard.

“Han-ah, come here,” Changbin said. His firm voice cut through Han’s downward spiral like a hot knife through butter. Han hesitated only for a moment before sliding into Changbin’s side. Changbin raked his fingers through Han’s hair and scratched his scalp. Now that Han was practically merged into his side, the mint smell was strong, like a cool salve against the hot ball of anxiety in his chest.

“What’s going on inside of that head of yours?” Changbin asked as he continued to comb through his hair. Chan reached over and held his hand, ocean water joined the mint and Han felt grounded by it.

“ I feel like I messed up big time. That I ruined everything,” he said as he tried to put words to his inner thoughts. They kept trying to run circles around his brain as guilt pulled at his chest.

“Did you apologize to the neighbors,” Chan asked but not in a demanding way. Like he already knew the answer to his question but he wanted Han to vocalize it.

“Of course I did. It was an accident,” Han said with a big huff. He was tired of having to repeat himself. He was frustrated that the events of today even happened. He should have been more careful. A steady wave of burnt sugar continued to pulse into the air and all Han wanted to do was hide.

“Then you've done all you can do. Now you can only try your best to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.” Chan said. He rubbed Han's arm and it scrubbed more of his ocean scent onto Han’s skin. It reminded Han of sunny days on the beach where his pack could run around and play to their heart's content.

Felix plopped down next to Han and cuddled up against him with his homey baked bread scent. His cherubic face was all soft smiles as he nestled his head on Han's shoulder. “I’m sure they don't hate you, Hannie. No one could hate such a cute face,” Felix said and Han could feel a deep rumbling filling the air as Felix crooned. It was almost like a purr and wolves used it to convey safety among packmates.

Seungmin, Hyunjin, and Jeongin crawled over to join the puppy pile. Hyunjin laid back against Han’s chest as puffs of his peach scent made itself known. “Our poor Hannie, don't worry yourself so much, we need your lame jokes to keep things fun around here,” Hyunjin said and Han reached around to squeeze him. “Yah, my jokes are the best, like you don't nearly lose it every time I open my mouth,” Han said. Jeongin and Seungmin draped themselves over everyone's legs.

“I'm sorry for growling at you Minnie. It's been a rough day.” Han said and Seungmin just huffed a laugh before settling more comfortably around his pack. With their lemon and strawberry scents added to the puppy pile, Han felt his eyes growing heavy. He felt safe with them. Everyone's eyes fell closed as night truly set in.

“I bet not one of you has brushed your teeth or washed your faces. Your dog breath is already bad enough,” Minho said as he walked in from the kitchen with big black trash bags held triumphantly. “I’m not going to be held responsible when all of you get cavities,” he said but his blunt words couldn't hide how fond his scent felt as the metallic smell drifted into the living room.

“Hyung! You're alive. The vampires didn't try to eat you,” Han asked with equal parts worry and teasing. Minho quirked his eyebrow as he eyed Han.

“Pft, of course not. Like I would let a bunch of long-toothed anemics eat me,” Minho said as he picked up the mess of takeout boxes. He noticed that Han’s portion was still mostly full and he gave a pointed look at the wolf. Han looked away and tried to bury himself under his packmates.

“Han-ah, care to explain why you complained all the way here that you were hungry only to barely touch your food,” Minho asked, his voice deceptively sweet but it felt like Han was getting asked a trick question. Minho was terrifying in his own way.

“The vampires scared his appetite away, apparently Hannie tried to maul them,” Seungmin said casually as if he didn't just sell out his packmate. Han was so going to chew holes into all of his socks later.

“I'm gonna maul you next,” Han muttered under his breath and Changbin pinched his side playfully.

Minho just huffed, hand on his hip as he held up Han’s food, “C’mon, finish your food. You’ll have no energy to maul anyone otherwise.” Han pouted but disentangled himself from the center of the pile. His stomach growled as if to prove Minho’s point and his appetite made it’s return as he accepted the food. Minho asked for another recounting of the evening's events and while he had made fun of Han for his clumsiness he also could see that Minho would be having some words with the head vampire if he continued to treat Han rudely.

After everyone had brushed their teeth and some of his packmates had completed their complicated skincare routines, they collected all of the blankets and piled them into the master bedroom. The carpeted floor was far from comfortable but everyone was too tired to complain. Han fell asleep with Minho and Chan wrapped around him, thoughts filled with a certain sweet vampire’s calming smile and earthy scent.

Chapter Text

Seongwha was struggling.

He had just finished cleaning up after dinner when there was a knock at the front door. San had answered it only to return holding his nose as tears beaded in his eyes.

“Hyung, there's a werewolf at the door but I can't talk to him,” San said as he took a deep breath. “His scent is too strong.” San was one of the more mild-tempered vampires and for him to seek out the eldest was worrisome.

“What does he want?” Seongwha asked as he dried off his hands. The dishes would have to wait.

“I don’t know I told him I would ask a hyung to speak with him,” San said. He rubbed the tears from his eyes and Seongwha checked him over before going to the door. He steeled himself before he opened it and was met with a slim man in a hoodie and jeans. His honey brown hair damp as his feline-like eyes blinked up at him. A carefully bored expression pulled his lips into a slight frown and Seonghwa wanted to wrap up this disgruntled wolf in a blanket and tuck him in his pocket.

That thought disappeared quickly when Seongwha took a breath to speak and was promptly choked with a metallic scent that stung the nostrils. This wolf smelled of danger like a knife was being held to Seongwha’s throat, and his instincts pulled at him to get as far away from this wolf as possible. Seongwha was torn between cooing at the wolf’s delicate lashes and slamming the door in his face. With a white knuckle grip on the door frame, Seongwha put on a strained smile. He could hold it together long enough if he kept breathing to a minimum.

“W-what can I do for you?” Seongwha asked.

“Sorry to bother you so late. I’m Lee Minho, I’m with the pack moving in next door,” Minho said with a slight bow as cat-like eyes blinked up at him. Cute bunny teeth peeked past pouty lips and if Seongwha was human, Minho’s pretty features would have been enough to hide the beast lurking underneath. He wondered if the wolf knew how dangerous he smelled. Seongwhas eyes lost focus on the words the wolf said as the porch light reflected off of Minho’s eyes. They flashed a brilliant copper before returning to a warm brown. Seongwhas’s mind raced as the eyes of a predator seemed to look right through him. Minho tilted his head up at the vampire and his brow furrowed before he spoke again.

“Ah, would you mind sparing a few trash bags?” Minho repeated and Seongwha snapped out of the daze the wolf's scent had put him in. Seongwha realized that he had just been staring for several seconds without saying anything. So much for keeping it together he thought. He mistakenly took a breath to clear his thoughts and more metallic scent flushed through his senses.

“I know it's a bit of a weird request but we don't know the area that well yet and most of the stores we passed on the way here have closed,” Minho said, his eyes looking back towards his house as his smooth features dipped. Stinging metallic discontent, or maybe it was stress, shifted the scent a degree to the more painful side. Seongwha hadn't felt this sensitive to a scent since he was a fledgling.

“ No, I'm sorry. I'm a bit slow from dinner” Seongwha said hastily as he shook his head, “ Please wait. I'll be right back.”

He quickly went to his kitchen, inwardly panicking as he grabbed a few trash bags from underneath his sink. His hands held a slight tremor and Seongwha took a minute to steel his nerves. He breathed in the comforting smell of his house. The air was clear of anything foreign except the sweet smell of caramel. The caramel scent that still clung to the vampire was comforting compared to Minho’s sharp scent. The neighbor was just asking for help and there was no reason to freak out. Seongwha always felt an internal shift when he was around other supernatural beings like his instincts acknowledged their threat level. He was not going to let his instincts control him. Soenghwa had come from a diverse family of creatures before he joined Hongjoong's coven. He could do this and he needed to set a good example for Jongho. How was he supposed to do that if he jumped at every wolf that suddenly appeared?

He gently opened the door where Minho was patiently waiting as he scrolled through his phone. He looked up and his lips quirked up almost imperceptively. Seongwha wanted to see his full smile and how it shaped his chiseled face. He could feel his cheeks flush a bit as he handed over the trash bags.

“Is there anything else I can help with?” Seongwha asked as Minho accepted the trash bags. He seemed pleased and he looked up at Seognwha, mouth parted to speak but he froze. He took a deep breath and his eyes narrowed at Seongwha.

“Yes. You can explain to me why my packmate’s scent is all over you,” Minho said and his face shuttered off as a cool mask replaced his relaxed demeanor. His metallic scent stayed miraculously neutral, but Seongwha could tell that if he said the wrong thing he would be bombarded with harsh pheromones.

“I ran into Han-ssi when I was out walking with my coven. Or, rather he ran into me. We took a light tumble but everyone was no worse for wear,” Seongwha said as he tried to keep his voice even. “We didn't mean to spook him. If you could, please let him know that he’s not in trouble with my coven, everyone was just surprised.”

Minho raised a single arched brow as he examined Seongwha’s features closely. Seongwha tried to be as unthreatening as possible as he maintained eye contact. “I actually wanted to apologize on the behalf of my coven. We have some pretty young vampires and a fledgling so you can understand why some of our coven’s instincts are sensitive.”

Minho took another deep breath before he put some space between them “ No one was injured I hope,” Minho said, “ we have some young pups as well and I wouldn't want anyone to set each other off accidentally.” His metallic scent stayed sharp as the wolf took another deep breath. He seemed to be thinking about how to deal with Seongwha and Seongwha hoped that the wolf believed him. The last thing he wanted was to be the cause of tension between his coven and their pack.

“ No, everyone is fine. Han-ssi seemed alright too, but it was hard to tell with how quickly he left,” Seongwha said. He wracked his brain for a way to show the wolf he really meant no harm to him or his packmates and then an idea hit him. He carefully arched his neck up and away from the wolf. A gesture he had seen between wolves that seemed to show vulnerability.

Seongwha heard a harsh intake of breath but held his head still for a few purposeful seconds before turning back to face Minho. The wolf’s eyes were wide as his eyes traced over Seongwha’s neck. There was a vivid blush coloring the wolf’s ears and the metallic scent shifted ever so slightly. He couldn't tell whether it was embarrassment or something close to it but it was an improvement compared to the open threat the wolf’s scent was a minute ago.

“Do you bear your neck to solve every problem that lands at your feet,” Minho asked though his words no longer felt pointed. Instead, they’ve taken on an awkward almost shy tremble and Seonghwa grew confused.

“ ah, no but I've seen other wolves use it as a means to show respect to other wolves,” Seongwha said and felt a blush rise to his cheeks. “I hope I didn't misunderstand that gesture. I'm so sorry if I just offended you more,” Seongwha said before he brought his hand to brush over his neck. Anxiety bubbled up as the vampire tried to somehow rescue this situation from a hazardous ending.

Minho followed the vampire's hand and seemed to shake himself out of the trance it put him under. “It’s a form of submission used to help wolves when they're feeling agitated,” the wolf said before pausing. His eyelids fluttered quickly before he continued “it's a really intimate gesture.”

A heavy pause hung in the air as the implications of what the vampire did hit him. Seongwha felt his cheek grow hotter and he wanted to disappear before he made an even bigger idiot of himself in front of the wolf. “Well, now I deserve to be mauled after that,” Seongwha said as he rubbed his hand across his face.

A chuckle escaped Minho as he regarded the embarrassed vampire. “It would be a shame to see a face like yours ruined,” the wolf said as he took pity on the vampire. Seongwha peeked from behind his hand and it was Minho’s turn to hold in a coo of endearment.

“Don't worry Vampire-ssi. I'm not offended. I think your embarrassment is enough suffering for one night,” Minho said while a subtle fondness colored his face.

Relief washed over Seongwha and he felt like he had passed some sort of test even if it was at the cost of his dignity. “Ugh, my manners are all over the place today. I should have introduced myself earlier. I’m Park Seongwha.”

The wolf barked a laugh and said “Seongwha-ssi it's alright. I know I'm not always the most calming presence on others.” his eyes shined with mirth and Seongwha guessed the wolf did know how strongly his scent affected others.

“I’ll make sure to let my pup know there are no hard feelings,” Minho said before he shuffled his feet from side to side. “Thank you for these. I’ll be glad to keep trash from the floors.”

“Anytime, please don't be afraid to ask for anything else. My coven and I will help the best we can. Hopefully with fewer misunderstandings,” Seongwha said with a warm smile. He held out his hand out to the wolf and could see surprise widen his eyes before he quickly schooled his features. Physical touch was a sure-fire way to get a wolf's scent on you and he’s sure Minho wasn't expecting a vampire to purposefully add the wolf's scent to their skin where it would last for hours.

For the first time since the beginning of their exchange, the wolf’s scent shifted drastically. The harsh metallic scent changed from acidic to a soothing coolness and Seongwha’s instincts felt like they were doused with refreshing mineral water. Minho shook Seongwha’s hand gently, his wrist brushing over the tips of Seongwhas fingers and Seongwha knew that the wolf’s scent had joined the caramel that still clung to him.

Minho left as Seongwha retreated into his own home and Seongwha hoped that he had made a good impression on the wolf. Seongwha’s gut was telling him that the wolf was probably high ranked among their pack given how strong the wolf’s scent was. Maybe he was the alpha Han had mentioned. Seongwha was vaguely familiar with werewolf pack politics but he knew they had designated roles that held sway over the majority of the pack. The bigger the pack, the more positions were held in the said pack. Though having eight wolves in a pack was more than most packs he had seen.

Seongwha stepped into the kitchen only for it to be spotless. San’s distinct earthy scent clung to the sink along with the lingering smell of dish soap. Poor san ah, he probably felt bad for leaving the eldest to fend for himself. With a smile, he vowed to make San’s favorite for their group next dinner. The clock read 9 pm and Seonghwa figured it wasn't too late to get some work done.

The eldest went to his personal office in order to finish the last of the billing for the month. He worked as an accountant for a firm in town but they let him work from home most days. He had to go in for the occasional meeting but for the most part, he could work comfortably from his desk. He opened his office door and was greeted by a sleeping Jongho on the black leather couch next to his desk. The fledgling had made it a habit to sneak into Seongwha’s office after a particularly overwhelming day and he’s sure Jongho had been exhausted by the surprise wolf encounter.

The eldest vampire quietly walked over to the couch and pet through Jongho’s red hair. He smelled tired but content and Seongwha decided to let him sleep. He could lug the youngest to bed after he finished with his spreadsheets. Time floated by as Seongwha’s steady typing filled the space with white noise.

- - - - - -

Lost in the continuous stream of numbers, the eldest hadn't heard the younger vampire rise from the couch. Leather creaked as Jongho stretched out, joints popping in protest from having slept on a less than supportive surface. He blinked the sleepiness from his red eyes before shuffling towards Seongwha’s chair. He leaned against the back of it as he watched his hyung work his magic on the numbers on the screen.

“Almost done?” Jongho asked hopefully. While Seongwha’s couch was fine for napping, Jongho wanted to sleep in a bed.

“Just about. You can head to bed I’ll be there in a second,” Seongwha said as he saved his progress. Jongho just huffed before settling back on the couch.

“It's alright hyung. I can wait,” Jongho said. As much as the eldest liked to mother hen everyone in the coven his work-life balance was only marginally better than Hongjoong’s. The youngest planned to drag him to bed regardless of whether the eldest finished soon or not. Jongho took a deep breath and felt both a sweet caramel and a cool metallic scent fill his nose. The metallic scent was interesting. Jongho could tell that it was similar to the caramel scent but it held an edge of power to it. Now that Jongho was familiar with what a werewolf smelt like, it didn't overpower his senses in the same way it had in the forest. He hated the fact that new experiences could blindside him and send him into a downward spiral.

When Jongho had first met the coven of vampires he had been awed by their grace. Vampires were always seen as powerful beings that could withstand the passage of time. Jongho didn’t feel powerful. He felt like a sensitive child learning how to deal with a new reality. In some ways that is what he was, but he was still his stubborn self who liked to push through his flaws and work to be the best he could be. He was familiar with the slow progression forward when it came to his studies but now those seemed like child’s play compared to adjusting to being a vampire. His hyungs talked about how his feelings were normal and that everyone started out how he had, but that didn't stop his frustration.

“Ready for bed?” Seonghwa asked as he ruffled Jongho’s hair. It startled the youngest from his brooding. Jongho looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was nearing 1 am. He meant to stop his hyung hours ago but he must have lost time thinking. Yet another thing that bothered him was his time blindness. Time seemed to move faster when he wasn't paying attention and what felt like a few minutes became hours. Jongho could barely direct his attention to his schoolwork without losing half of his day.

Instead of answering, Jongho just hugged his Hyung. He was tired and could use a few more hours of sleep. Vampires didn't need much, but he was still a fledgling and his body was easily overwhelmed. It required a lot of rest and blood to recuperate. Seongwha smiled and gently lead Jongho to his and Hongjoong’s room. Their bed was one of the bigger ones in the coven’s house and it could easily fit the three of them. Hongjoong was still up answering emails on his phone. His black and white split hair flopped down the sides of his face as his brows pinched in concentration.

Hongjoong looked up from his phone and smiled warmly at the two other vampires. Jongho felt the pull that came with being in close proximity to his sire and suddenly it was like the space between them felt stifling. The youngest quickly changed into a t-shirt and boxers before crawling into bed next to the head vampire. Seongwha followed close behind and Jongho found himself sandwiched between his two hyungs. His instincts settled as Hongjoong let him snuggle into his side. As he fell asleep he missed how Hongjoong sniffed the air before turning sharply to Seongwha. Their hushed conversation lulled the maknae into a deep slumber.

Chapter Text

Changbin was grumpy.

He had been ejected from the puppy pile in the middle of the night as Hyunjin and Seungmin tossed around in their sleep which had forced the beta to retreat. Changbin then struggled to fall back asleep without his usual wolfy pillows. He had finally managed to dose off curled around Felix when his and Channie’s alarm went off. A mix of muffled growls and grumbles filled the room as Changbin struggled to turn off the alarms. After he and Chan peeled Han away from the center of the human quilt they scrambled to find their suitcases. It’ll be nice once everything is unpacked and organized, but for now, they made do with semi-wrinkly clothes and tasteless granola bars. The chalky texture of Changbin’s own protein bar was not doing anything to lighten his mood.

They lacked any form of caffeine and Changbin felt himself dread slugging through their first day. Usually, Changbin would be stoked to work on music after the week-long break they had to move, but the lack of functioning brain cells meant he was a bit pissy. He was also grumpy because he hadn't been to the gym all week. He would need to find a new one soon because at-home workouts were not cutting it. Changbin finished his bar and saw that Han was mechanically eating a granola bar. Han’s eyes were puffy as they tracked Chan who scrambled to pack his bag. Changbin had prepared all of his stuff the night before, but Chan had wanted to go over their contracts one last time.

“I know I put our introduction packets with our contracts in my bag last night,” Chan said one step away from panicking, salty ocean water filling the living space. Seems like he hadn't gotten much sleep either with the bruised-looking skin under his eyes.

With a few measured breaths, Changbin pushed down his irritation and focused on inhaling Jisung's energizing caramel scent. Chan was doing his best and while the beta did not want to be late on their first day, it would also be bad if they showed up without their signed versions of their contracts. Chan had worked tirelessly to make sure they maintained as much creative freedom as possible and the beta wasn't going to let his hard work be for nothing. Changbin could just excuse their lateness on them not being familiar with the area. His eyes drifted to the kitchen as he helped search for the documents when he saw them.

“They’re on the kitchen counter Hyung,” Changbin said, glancing at the time. They’ll still make it on time if they leave now. Car keys held tightly, he watched as their alpha stubbled into the kitchen. He quickly spotted the stack of papers as if a light from the heavens cleared his vision. Chan plucked the papers off the counter and stuffed them into his bag.

“You're a lifesaver Binnie,” Chan said as he continued his march through the house. Seemingly out of nowhere (his backpack) Chan hands over a Monster to Changbin. Changbin felt his mood lighten at the sight of his favorite energy drink. Liquid salvation that would curb most of his grumpiness for the next few hours, or until Han felt suicidal enough to start some shit.

Han pouted around his mouth full of granola bar, “Where’s my Monster?” Han asked.

“Sorry Han-ah, that's the last one,” Chan said apologetically. He was busy stuffing his laptop into his bag while slipping on a jacket over his shoulders with varying levels of success. Han pouted harder, his plush pink lips stuck out as he looked over at Changbin.

“Yah! I barely slept. Do you want me to be useless for the rest of the day,” the beta grumbled in fake annoyance. His volume steadily climbed with each word and Chan turned to shush him.

“The pups are still asleep,” Chan hissed.

“Yeah, do you really want Minho-hyung to come scold us for being so noisy,” Han said smugly before pulling his puppy dog eyes back on. “C’mon Hyung, just a few sips,” the tan-haired wolf pleaded. He somehow made his eyes extra round and sparkly fully knowing that cuteness would break the elder eventually.

“I'll give you half. I’m sure the company has coffee or something,” Changbin said with a sigh before cracking the energy drink open. He quickly drained half before handing the can to Han. Changbin hoped the company had something because half a monster was not going to cut it today.

“Chan-Hyung! C’mon. It's the first day. As long as you bring the packets and your laptop we’ll be fine,” Changbin said with a yell. Han flinched at the raised volume but sipped at his drink happily. Even grumpy and half awake Changbin felt his heart flutter at Han’s cute expression. Han’s pleased little wiggle as he enjoyed things was always a sure-fire way to melt Changbin’s heart. He had to fight the urge to pinch the younger’s cheeks as they puffed around his mouthful of energy drink. He settled for fluffing the younger’s bangs instead.

Chan ignored them to double and triple-check everything. Changbin checked himself over, dressed in dark wash jeans and a light blue button-down. His black jacket was one of the pup’s and it smelled of peaches, lemon, and honey. That trio of scents wasn't surprising to find together similar to how his mint, Chan’s ocean, and Jisung’s caramel were a common combo. He wished they had time to scent everyone before they had to leave. Changbin looked at Jisung in his baggy slacks that cinched at his impossibly tiny waist. His favorite Celine shirt hidden under the soft-looking sweater he stole from Seungmin. Chan smelled of Minho and Felix even though he was decked out in his customary all-black clothes. Changbin wasn't the only one who shopped around in Chan’s closet. He’s sure the whole pack raids Chan’s endless supply of black hoodies. Between the three wolves, they smelled like home.

After a final check, Chan joined them in the entryway. The trip to the company was fairly uneventful save for a few missed turns but they arrived with a few minutes to spare. The building itself was fairly large and located on the outskirts of the city. It smelt of humans and creatures alike as they walked in, but nothing too strong that would bother even Han’s sensitive nose which helped put Changbin at ease.

3RACHA had been the only supernatural creatures at their old company and it made things tense when some of their coworkers wouldn't take their supernatural senses into consideration. Horribly strong perfumes and body sprays that felt like a punch to the face, and overscheduling around the full moon were just a few of the difficulties pushed upon them. Not to mention the incident that led to them switching companies. Changbin suppressed a growl at the sour memories and followed their alpha to the front desk with Jisung trailing behind them.

“Hello, We have an appointment with the senior producers at 8 am,” Chan said with a friendly smile. The lobby was empty save for the lone receptionist. Not many came into the office so early was Changbin’s guess.

“Right on time. I’ll get you three signed in,” The receptionist said. Her I.D. tag said her name was Sana. Her light auburn hair fell past her shoulders gently as she typed away at her computer. Her fingers seemed to move at lightning speed and Changbin couldn't help but notice the shimmer of gold that hung in the air around her. Fairy dust was the one tell fairies had that made them stand out from the general public. He tried to take in shallower breaths as fresh Jasmine tickled his nose and he held down a sneeze. Han wasn’t so lucky and sneezed into his arm. Fairy dust was like super pollen to werewolves and Changbin hoped that the receptionist didn't take it personally when the three grabbed their temp badges and rushed to the seats. Han was rubbing at his nose, skin beginning to pink from the friction.

It was while they were waiting that another person rushed into the lobby. Their thin frame was drowning in a large bomber jacket, black beret on top of split black and white hair. The sound of thick combat boots against tile filled the room as the stranger rounded the receptionist's desk.

“Have they started without me Noona,” the stranger asked the fairy, his light voice muffled behind a black face mask. His back was to the three wolves and Changbin could make out the English written on the back of the bomber jacket. Now You Gonna Take Me There. It was hard to tell whether the person had painted it on there himself or if he had bought it as it was but the effect of the white paint against the black fabric was artistically pleasing.

“Not yet Hongjoong-ah, but you better hurry. Eden Sunbaenim wants everyone in asap,” Sana said. The smell of old earth and blood drifted from the stranger and Changbin felt his instincts sharpen and zone in on the vampire. The vampire probably missed their scent because of his mask but it was only a matter of time before he noticed the wolves. Han whipped his head up and stared at the vampire with fear in his eyes. His breathing picked up and anxiety turned his sweet caramel smoky.

“Why is my luck the worst,” Han muttered to himself and the Vampire peeked over at the three. His perfectly shaped eyebrows drew together but it was hard to read his features with the face mask in the way. The vampire turned back to the receptionist but his shoulders were stiff. His hands were clenched and Changbin was not going to be dealing with a bigot of a vampire if he was being cold to them because they were werewolves. Changbin nudged Han, ‘you ok,’ he mouthed. Han nodded his head but his frame slouched. Changbin hooked his arm around Han’s shoulders and leaned into Han’s space. Chan had watched the whole interaction and seemed just as puzzled as Changbin as to why Han was so afraid of this stranger, vampire or not. Han tucked himself more firmly into Changbin’s side, ears pink as embarrassment filtered into his scent. Before they could ask questions the receptionist spoke up.

“Hongjoong, since you’re the last one to arrive why don't you show these three to the meeting room? They’re the new producers transferring to your division,” Sana said unaware of the tension that was happening between the four. Fairies didn't have a strong sense of smell so the unspoken standoff was going right over her head. Even their body language was too subtle to key in on from an outside perspective. Hongjoong’s shoulders slumped before he turned to the three.

“Looks like we’ll be working together. I’m Bang Chan,” Chan said, ever the diplomat as he stood and approached Hongjoong, careful to keep himself between the vampire and his packmates. Changbin appreciated Chan’s ability to be professional in almost any situation. It’s part of what makes him such a great alpha. His control of his instincts was unmatched compared to any wolf Changbin had ever met. Changbin did not have enough caffeine in his system to make peaceful decisions. His instincts were sensitive too, given the new environment.

He gave a gruff “ Seo Changbin,” and bowed shallowly to the vampire. Han bowed deeper. “Uh, Han Jisung. We umm, we met yesterday. In the forest,” Han said with stilted syllables falling out of his mouth. Shit, this was the vampire Han had pissed off yesterday. He and Chan looked at each other, a silent conversation passing between each other before Changbin practically glued himself to Han’s side. Mint pumped into the air in an effort to keep everyone calm.

The vampire bowed back politely but said a brisk “Kim Hongjoong. Follow me.” It was curt and short as he pressed the button to call the elevator. Great. Tight spaces with a frazzled werewolf and a dickish vampire definitely didn't spell disaster. An awkward silence hung over them as they filed in and miraculously made it to the meeting room without anyone tearing a limb off but Han was still nervous. He jumped anytime Hongjoong made any sudden movements and while the vampire did not try to appear friendly at all he did slow his movements when he noticed. Ok, so he wasn't going to be a complete bastard Changbin thought.

The vampire walked them to a room on the fifth floor where a few other people sat. Hongjoong made himself comfortable at the round table next to a tired-looking man who smelled of stardust. There were also two women, a blond and a brunette, who might be sirens or mermaids given the scales along their cheekbones and finned ears. They smiled kindly at the wolves and the blonde woman motioned for them to sit.

“Good morning, welcome to ATSK Entertainment. It’s good to finally meet in person,” the man said and Changbin recognized his voice from the phone interviews and meetings they’ve had over the past two weeks. “I’m Kim Yong-hwan, but you can call me Eden. I can see that you’ve met Hongjoong-ssi. Kim Minnie and Jeon Soyeon are the other two that are on our producing team,” Eden said as he gestured to the girls. They bowed respectively when named and Changbin was excited to work with these two. Their producing skills were legendary and he was a big fan of their independent work.

“Thank you for bringing us on the team. You’ve gone to great lengths to accommodate us and we’re eternally grateful for it,” Chan said. His dimpled smile warmed up the room and ocean air filtered in as he brought out their contracts. When they made the decision to leave their old company, their biggest fear was having to go work for separate companies. They worked best together and ATSK had been a godsend.

“Who am I to break up the infamous 3RACHA?” Eden joked. His midnight black hair seemed to almost shift colors when Eden moved. Changbin was almost positive he was a witch of some kind, but the other scents in the air overpowered the man's gentle scent.

“Yes, it would be a shame to split up your little pack of producing geniuses,” Minnie said with a wave of her hand. Chan’s ears reddened at the praise and the girls cooed at his flustered expression. Han relaxed a bit under the flattery but he kept his eyes trained on Hongjoong. He seemed to be making sad puppy dog eyes at the vampire and Hongjoong seemed to be doing his best to not look at the youngest wolf. Changbin could relate, Han’s puppy eyes were lethal.

“All that’s left is to finalize the contracts, then we can get to making music,” Eden said steering the conversation back on track.

“Were there any changes that needed to be made? Anything that needs accommodations,” Soyeon said her sharp teeth glinting in the low light. To a human, it would seem threatening but Changbin knew how hard it was to overcome a threatening disposition. Chan hummed as he opened up the folder holding the contracts. He shuffled through the pieces of paper that would hopefully protect them from creative infringement, harassment, and discriminative practices. Changbin could tell that Chan was nervous to ask for the last set of amendments to the contract but these were deal-breaker accommodations.

“Yes, there were a few things that we would like accommodations for. We’ve already negotiated lighter schedules around the full moon but,” Chan paused as he put the contract down and put his hand on Han’s shoulder. “We would also like it if our fellow employees could check for and refrain from using sounds that go into the decibel range that only wolves can hear,” Chan finished tone firm and Changbin felt his admiration for their pack alpha grow. Beside them, Han looked anxiously from one producer to the next, and Changbin hoped they would allow this.

Eden looked confused at their request but asked “Why would producers use sounds that can only be picked up by wolves? I haven’t heard of this being used in common practice.” Soyeon and Minnie also looked puzzled over this request. It wasn't common practice as the noises that reached that pitch were painful to a wolf’s ear and couldn’t be heard by the general populace. It would be pointless to include such sounds in music unless the producer’s goal was to harm wolves.

Changbin spoke up, “ We had issues at our previous company where a producer sourced such a sound. It became a recurring problem.” The growl in his voice coated his words and when he looked over at Hongjoong the vampire’s brows were firmly drawn down.

“These sounds hurt our ears but can’t be heard by most others beings,” Han added in a meek voice. Sweet caramel felt heavy in the air and he watched as the vampire’s brows creased further at the smell. The beta hated saying the abridged version of their story because it had been no accident. Han had been the main target of their coworker’s harassment and the wolves had suffered through multiple comebacks having to listen to the ear-piercing noises. The only way to get rid of them was to remake the track from scratch and that became tedious after the same people added the sound back to the track.

“We would like to avoid that and seeing as we are the only ones who can hear it, we would like to be able to work without it becoming a recurring issue. There are scanners that you can run sounds through if you feel unsure and if all else fails you can have one of us look it over,” Chan said as he tried to smooth over the deal.

“I have no issues with this,” Minnie said her cherubic face framed with dark bangs.

“Neither do I. This affects our listeners as well and it would be cruel to subject wolves to such treatment,” Soyeon said eloquently.

Eden nodded “True. We’d be cutting out an entire demographic. I’ll look into how we can streamline this into the process but thank you for bringing this to our attention.” Eden’s words took a weight off of the three that Changbin hadn’t noticed had been sitting with them. Han perked up, his heart-shaped lips pulling into a smile.

“It’s our company's policy to be inclusive, regardless of gender identity, sexuality, race, or species and this is the least we can do to honor that,” Hongjoong said and Changbin felt Han jolt at the vampire's voice. The Vampire was looking at Han and his brows had finally softened into a neutral position. His eyes seemed almost kind now that he had stopped scrunching his face up, but Changbin couldn’t distinguish anything else from his body language. Time like this made Changbin wish he had the ability to discern emotion through scent the way vampires did. He wondered if Hongjoong could tell exactly what they were feeling right now with so many scents in the air.

Eden gathered the contracts and passed the wolves the remainder of their paperwork needed. Tax forms and such that the wolves could complete at their discretion.

“Let’s get you three set up in a studio. I take it you would rather share one?” Eden said as he stood and made his way to the door.

“That would be great. We would end up in one studio anyway,” Chan said as his ocean scent swelled with excitement. If he was in his wolf form his tail would be wagging erratically. Changbin felt his excitement grow despite his tiredness. Han was still making puppy eyes at Hongjoong but he followed the other wolves on their way to their new studio.

It tuned out to be on the same floor a few doors down and it was spacious enough to have all three of them in there. Eden punched in the keycode and opened the semi-clear glass door. Three large monitors hung on the wall next to a desk with other equipment across from a comfy-looking leather couch. It smelled like no one had used the room for months but it could also be from the well-regulated air ducts in the room. Further in was a small room with its walls covered in soundproofing foam and a mic and headset inside.

“This is sick!” Han said as he looked around the room with his metaphorical tail wagging behind him. Changbin smiled as he examined the space as well. It was a lot nicer than their past studio and he couldn't wait to familiarize himself with the fancy equipment. Eden updated the wolves with company emails and codes to access their shared files.

“I’m going to go run your paperwork to HR. I’ll be back to give you a tour of the building,” Eden said before leaving the wolves to get comfortable.

Han practically vibrated with excitement, his sugary sweet scent quickly filling the room. “Dude, I'm afraid to touch anything. This feels like a dream,” Han chirped. Han grabbed Chan’s hands and shook them up and down “Hyung, the next big hit is gonna come from this room. Just you wait.” He hit a superman pose and Chan giggled as he tried to hold down the energetic wolf. Changbin was happy to see Han back to his chipper self. The wolf bounced around before he sat down to fiddle with the new equipment. Chan was ecstatic to be working again too.

Changbin had a good feeling about this place.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 5: WDIG (Where Do I Go)

Mingi was lost.

He ran a hand through his black and blue hair and adjusted his wire-framed glasses. You would think that working in the same building for over a year would lead one to know said build well, but that wasn't the case. Mingi was desperately hitting the elevator buttons in an attempt to find Hongjoong’s studio. ATSK Entertainment was sorted by division and Mingi lived and breathed floor 2 where his division was located. He occasionally went to the other floors but never bothered to learn where anything was. If someone needed something from him, they usually sewed him out or emailed him.

Hongjoong was in a different division altogether and both vampires rarely left their studio. The only clue he had to go off of was that his hyung was on a floor above him, but the building had ten floors total and he didn't have all day to find him. Hongjoong was always the one to come to his studio too, so it wasn't like Mingi had a clear frame of reference for the older vampires' own studio.

Mingi had messaged the vampire but hadn't gotten a response. He even tried the company email but had no luck with that either. His hyung was probably in one of his tunnel vision sessions where he wouldn’t respond to anything. The building could be on fire and Hongjoong would still be at his desk.

Mingi had already interrupted a few dance practices due to his fumbling and had stumbled into Wooyoung’s practice room. Wooyoung had tried to give him directions from the dance practice floors, but Wooyoung had been busy choreographing with some trainees so he couldn't show him himself. At least he had the right floor now.

The vampire reached the fifth floor and he felt like giving up. All he had wanted to do was spend his lunch with his hyung and ask for some advice on a bridge he was working on, but it was looking like his lunch hour would be up before he even found him. He sighed deeply but as he inhaled he caught a whiff of the vampire and thanked the stars. However, the scent merely floated in the hallway and any of the doors could be hiding his hyung. There was also a familiar sweet scent that was distracting his nose along with the smell of the ocean and mint leaves. Those scents clung to everything in the hallway and his hyung’s scent was soon buried.

Frantically, Mingi tried to follow it and found himself at one of the many locked studio doors. Hongjoong’s scent had disappeared completely and now Mingi was left with the decision of whether he should knock or not. He hoped that whoever was behind the door wasn't recording in the soundproof booth. He hated interrupting others while they were at work, but maybe they would be able to point him in the right direction. If he was lucky it would be Eden-hyung who had the whole building memorized like the back of his hand.

Mingi knocked firmly and waited. After a moment the door opened to reveal a head of curly blonde hair. Lightly tanned skin stark against the blonde as a dimpled smile greeted him. The man before him was quite a bit shorter than the vampire but, unlike his hyung, his frame was thick with muscle under the black on black enable he was wearing. He could probably give Jongho a run for his money.

Sea salt tingled on the vampire's tongue as he gasped from how close the man’s face was to his. Mingi’s cheeks colored pink as he took half a step back, not realizing that he had been so close to the door. Instincts bubbled up as the scent registered as werewolf through the haze of ocean spray. It was easy to push down the instincts but it felt like the vampire had been hit with a wave of salt water.

“Hello. Can I help you,” the wolf said, his head titled cutely as he opened the door further. Caramel and mint spilled out into the hallway in a thick wave of excitement and focus. The emotions floated alongside the scents and Mingi found himself a little overwhelmed at the intensity.

“ Hi, I was wonder-“ Mingi started before his voice caught on a strong wave of mint. His eyes hazed over and tried to clear his throat. The scents filled his lungs and Mingi felt himself sway towards the wolf, his hand shot out to catch himself with the doorframe. His hunger paired with the strong scents sent a feeling of lethargy over the vampire. It had been too long since he had fed and it left him vulnerable. He may not be a fledgling but he was still young compared to his hyungs, and his sensitivities always snuck up on him when he was hungry.

Mingi felt his knees wobble and the wolf leaned forward to keep the vampire on his feet. Firm hands braced against his waist as worry slipped into the air, but his voice crooned softly “Woah, easy does it.”

Two other men came forward from inside the studio and a gruff voice asked “Is he ok?” The mint smell grew stronger and Mingi shut his eyes and focused on keeping his breaths shallow. Even the overhead lights bothered him as everything became too much.

“Scent. It's too strong,” the vampire muttered weakly but he wasn't sure if the words came out clearly. The scents were so strong and it was hard to focus on anything.

“Aish. Alright guys clear out, let's give him some space,” said the wolf, and Mingi felt something brush past him. The blonde holding him led him a short distance before Mingi’s thigh came into contact with a plush surface.

“Let's lie down, yeah? There's a couch in here you can use,” said the blonde wolf. He helped Mingi lay back and while the room slowly cleared out of the other two scents, the ocean one stayed close. He anchored himself to that scent and let the haze drift through his consciousness. Like his brain was stranded in the middle of the ocean and the waves slowly rocked him closer to shore.

“Do you need me to call somebody?” The wolf asked and Mingi shook his head no. He was alright, he just needed a minute. He felt a hand stroke his side as the time ticked by slowly. It could have been minutes or hours before the vampire’s mind returned to solid ground.

The vampire felt a gust of air hit his face and he cracked his eyes open to see the blond had a tiny air fan pointed at him. The other two wolves were gone and as he looked around he saw that he had one of the wolf's hands in an iron grip. He let go and muttered a slurred apology.

The wolf simply smiled and said “It’s alright, I didn't want to leave you alone. You gave us a scare there,” warmth tinged his words and the ocean breeze slowly took up the whole studio. It wasn't as strong as it was before, waves slowly rolling in like the tide. He became aware of how close the wolf was to him as he kneeled next to the couch. How his blonde locks were starting to show the wolf's dark roots.

“I hope I wasn't out of it for too long. Scents don't usually knock me out like that,” Mingi said embarrassed that he had practically passed out on the wolf. “I’m Mingi by the way,” the vampire said, straightening to sit up on the leather couch.

The wolf rose from his spot on the floor and sat next to the vampire. He still seemed hesitant to put space between them as his thigh was flush with the vampire’s. “I’m Bang Chan and no you weren’t out for long. Maybe 10 minutes max,” he said and reached over to put a comforting hand on the vampire’s thigh. “Are you feeling better?” he asked. It seemed like personal space was a foreign concept to the wolf.

“I am, but I should feed,” Mingi said. “I was actually looking for my Hyung so we could have lunch together, but the building is like a maze to me,” he finished with a nervous chuckle. Mingi pointedly didn’t make eye contact to avoid the striking features of the wolf. He had a handsome man fussing over him and it was already hard for Mingi to focus without the strong scents. Embarrassment was thick in the air as he fidgeted and he was glad the wolf couldn't smell it. He’s sure his coven mates would be roasting him if they were here.

Chan perked up and tilted his head to meet the vampire's eyes. Even seated, Mingi was taller than the wolf. “Maybe I can help. What’s his name?”

“Kim Hongjoong. He’s a producer for division 1,” Mingi said, hope filled his voice as he looked down at the wolf.

Chan’s pearly teeth glinted as he smiled wide, sharp canines visible and the sight sent a shiver down the vampire’s spine. “Lucky for you, I’m also in division 1. I know exactly where he is,” he said as he jumped up from the sofa. He reached for Mingi’s hand and tugged the vampire up with a surprising amount of strength. The wolf said excitedly, “His office is just down the hall,” as he guided him. Mingi saw the two other wolves from earlier chatting with Minnie and Soyeon and they smiled at Mingi as the pair passed by. He prayed that Soyeon wouldn't blab to Wooyoung about his little episode. They reached the end of the hall and Chan tapped on the glass door.

“Ah, Chan-ssi. Hongjoong probably can’t hear us.” He said as he checked his phone and sure enough, there were still no new messages.

“Do you think he’s recording in the booth?” Chan asked.

“Maybe, but vampires lose time easily when focused on something and tend to block everything out,” Mingi said. His lunch hour was about to end too. Mingi sighed and his frame drooped as he turned down the hall. If he hadn’t gotten lost he would have had plenty of time to visit with his hyung.

“Thanks for your help Chan-ssi, but I should head back to my studio,” Mingi said sadly. He tried his best to plaster a crooked smile but he could tell the wolf wasn’t buying it.

“Call my hyung,” Chan’s warm voice said as he looked up at the vampire and Mingi wondered if the wolf always sounded so kind. He hadn’t let go of Mingi’s hand and the vampire was hesitant to let it go. It was warm and rough against his palm and Mingi could feel the steady pulse under his skin. Everything about Chan was warm and steady like the ocean waves he smelled like.

“If you want, you can sit with me and my pack mates while we break for lunch,” Chan said.

“Maybe next time. My hour is up but thank you again for helping me Chan-hyung,” Mingi said. Chan deflated a built but recovered quickly as he pulled out his phone. He handed it over to Mingi and said “ put your number in that way you can text me when you want to grab lunch.” After Mingi put in his info he got a text from Chan.

It’s Bang Chan hyung :D
Sent 1:32pm

“There that way if you get lost again you can ask me for help too,” Chan said with a slanted smile, his eyes held a teasing glint but there was nothing but genuine happiness in the air.

Mingi felt the tips of his ears go red and gently shoved Chan away. “Don’t be mean hyung. I can’t help that I get lost easily,” Mingi said and Chan giggled. From down the hall, Chan’s two pack mates ambled over. Now that Mingi could see them clearly he recognized the tan-haired one as the wolf he saw in the woods yesterday.

“Uh, Do you remember me from yesterday? We met in the forest with the rest of my cove mates.” Mingi asked nervously and the tan-haired wolf’s eyes widened in recognition.

“Yah, does your entire coven work here?” The wolf asked incredulously, round eyes shining as he looked around as if he would catch another vampire in the hallway at the mention of them.

Mingi laughed “ No. Just me, Hongjoong-hyung, and Wooyoung-ah. Though I’m sure you’ll bump into a few of them when they come to drag us home. Seongwha-hyung especially,” he said and the tan wolf just sighed before accepting his fate. His caramel scent carried with it a bit of anxiety and stress but Mingi could tell it was minute compared to the intensity it was yesterday.

“It’s alright Han-ah. You already apologized,” the gruff-sounding one said and Mingi could tell he was what was making the mint smell. The burst of freshness felt like a balm to his senses now that Mingi was more prepared for it. Chan introduced his packmates and Mingi found himself getting two other numbers added to his phone. He sat back in his own studio and sipped on his blood bag.

He might not have gotten to eat with his hyung but he was glad he was able to meet the three wolves. If he was especially happy about a certain blonde wolf sending him advice for the bridge he had been struggling with, that was his little secret to have.

Chapter Text

Minho was on a mission.

Ok, so he had been on a few missions today already. Some were complete successes while a few had ended in disaster, but grocery shopping was the last thing he had to do to make their house livable. He had Hyunjin and Seungmin setting up the bedrooms at home while he and Jeongin hunted around town for the last bits and bobs. Felix had volunteered to stay home and help the other wolves. All around everyone was keeping busy.

The pack had been living separately prior to their move and while they had been able to bring a lot of things to fill their house, you can’t anticipate everything you need for a new space. Like curtains big enough for the windows so Chan wouldn’t accidentally flash the neighbors, a matching dinner set for eight instead of the mixed sets they brought, and maybe a few extra sheets for the beds. After a dozen phone calls to double-check what they needed and more than a couple of trips to home goods stores, they had almost everything covered. Minho had a car stuffed full of home décor and was now buying what was needed to feed his hungry pack of wolves.

“Hyung, they had a good sale on gochujang,” Jeongin said as he put a few tubs in their cart. Minho hummed and crossed it off their list. Their cart was almost full after having spent an hour in the store. Wolves ate a lot and he wanted to avoid another trip to a store for at least a week. That meant getting stocked up on necessities. A simple stew would be tonight's dinner given that most of the wolves would be home early. Minho had made Chan promise to come home at a normal hour for their first day at the studio. He had then threatened both Changbin and Han to make sure their leader found his way home on time or all three would suffer.

The omega felt eyes on him and looked up to see a few people staring. He met their gazes steadily and let his scent hang heavily in the air. A few had the sense to be embarrassed at having been caught but there were a few who didn't hide their distaste for the wolf. Minho rolled his eyes before going back to his list. He wasn’t going to let a few punks keep him from getting groceries. Most supernatural creatures understood that public spaces were fair game when it came to letting your scent go. That didn't stop the more conservative creature from trying to start pissing contests. It wasn't like Minho was pumping out harsh pheromones, he just naturally smelled the way he did. Metallic like copper on your tongue. It wasn’t sweet like Han or calming like Changbin but Minho had spent a long time accepting his wolfish disposition and less mature creatures could go suck an egg for all he cared.

Minho knew it was because his scent let others know exactly how dangerous he was. That his smaller frame hid a beast much larger than most naturally occurring animals. He nearly rivaled Chan in size in his wolf form and Minho enjoyed how it threw people when they saw the pack omega almost dwarf the alpha. More traditional wolves would insist that Minho was meant to be an alpha. That his bloodline obviously meant for him to be a leader of a pack, but Minho was content with his role. His large size just meant he could sit on unruly pups when the situation called for it. Chan wasn't immune to the omega’s punishments either.

Minho’s phone buzzed and he hoped it wasn't another request for hot Cheetos. He had checked every store thus far and had come up empty. The preview screen showed that Chan had messaged the pack’s group chat. The leader had been giving them updates on their first day at ATSK Entertainment, and so far it looked like the company was a great fit for the three producers.

Chan-Hyung:
Contracts have been signed and it looks like our neighbors work here as well

Me:
Nice
Oh, the vampire ones?

Hannie baby:
Yeah, turns out three of them work here
Hongjoong-ssi, the head vampire, is one of our seniors
He’s not as scary as I thought but I think he still doesn't like me :/

Dwaekki:
Idk he seemed to become weak to the quokka eyes during our meeting lol

Hannie baby:
Pfft
If you call not glaring at me a change in mood
Then sure. He was soooo weak for me

Dancing Ferret:
Damn, Hannie already trying to date the boss
Not surprised.

Me:
He’s trying to have his enemies to lovers moment.

Hannie baby:
I will not know peace until I'm sure he doesn't hate my guts
On the upside, one of his coven mates is really sweet

Dwaekki:
Yeah he fainted right into Chan-hyung’s arms
I guess hungry vampires get really sensitive
To scents especially

Me:
I’ve heard that
Vampires get overstimulated really easy
It makes sense that being unfed makes it worse

Bbokie:
Oh no!
Is he alright?

Chan-hyung:
He's fine!
He didn't actually faint
He just needed a second to catch his breath

IYEN-AH:
damn, Hyung took his breath away

Hannie baby:
He was not prepared for the dimpled smile, caring hyung combo

Dweakki:
Hyung swept him off his feet
I thought I stepped into one of Hyunjin’s dramas

Hannie baby:
He definitely looked like a lead from a drama
His voice was so deep too

Me:
Lol looks like you three are smitten already

Hannie baby:
Chan hyung was the one feeling him up tho
Hyung looked ready to adopt the moment he opened the door

Me:
Ah, Channie is trying to add to his harem
Should have seen this coming with the move

Chan-hyung:
Noooo
He just needed help around the building
I wasn't just going to let him stumble around on his own

Dancing ferret:
Oof Hyung’s protective streak was triggered
You should probably get another set of plates Minho-hyung
That vampire is pretty much family now lol

Me:
Yah, you should’ve told me when I was still at the home goods store

Chan-hyung:
The disrespect
I was just being nice

Dweakki:
Well you did get his number hyung

Hannie baby:
And you asked him out to lunch
This is how it starts
Next thing you know Hongjoong-ssi is coming for us for stealing his man

Me:
I’m sure he’ll make it a quick death
RIP 3RACHA 2022

Minho put his phone away, satisfied that the maknaes will handle bullying their hyung. He and Jeongin finished the shopping quickly and somehow managed to fit it in their already packed car. Jeongin munched happily in the front seat on some seaweed snacks as they made their way home. His tart strawberry filled the car as he helped Minho navigate back to their neighborhood. It reminded Minho of when he had first gone out with Chan’s pack. Jeongin had been eating seaweed snacks as Han fired question after question. He had been a reserved pup much like Minho was, and given that Jeongin preferred heckling over skinship, the two had gotten along swimmingly. It also helped that Jeongin was the youngest among them and that triggered every protective instinct in Minho’s body and the youngest liked to use it to his advantage.

Minho reached over and ruffled the wolf’s hair. Minho had been a teacher for a local dance school and had met Hyunjin and Felix at the dance studio. The two wolves loved to take dancing classes and had tried Minho’s Hip hop class. He had expected them to drop the class like most supernatural creatures with delicate noses, but they hadn’t even flinched at him. Instead, they had made it their mission to exceed in all of his classes. Minho had been impressed with their tenacity and skills given that Hyunjin was a gallery artist and Felix was a university student. It had been after a class one evening that the two wolves had dragged him to meet their other packmates who had come to pick them up. Chan had taken one look at him and popped a dimpled smile, ocean waves had crashed against Minho in a warm embrace.

From there, the pack had taken a class of his as a whole and slowly won over Minho with their attempts to impress him. They had all been surprisingly good dancers but had been a whirlwind of chaotic energy. Minho had found himself following along with their antics and goofing around despite his quieter personality. They brought out the Minho that wasn't afraid to let loose and their acceptance of his scent had been such a breath of fresh air.

One by one they took him out to lunches, dinners, and dates. He had gotten to know them all and after a year he had joined their pack. He eventually became pack omega when Chan and Changbin offered the rank to him. Minho tried to decline the offer as he had been the last wolf to join the pack but Chan broke it down simply. Minho took great care in making sure the pack was well maintained. He cooked dinner more often than not and had a great sense of when members of the pack needed support. He of course hadn’t rushed Minho to make a decision but had asked him to take up the role of Omega if he felt comfortable with it. Changbin had stood by Chan's decision but offered his own insight as to why he thought Minho would suit the ranking. Minho still remembered how pink the producer's cheeks turned when he admitted that he enjoyed it when the elder took care of him.

In some ways, Minho had been shocked that they hadn’t asked him to take over the alpha position. His size and scent were hardly that of a caregiver but Chan had reassured him that despite tradition, Minho was better suited to helping take care of the pack in the subtler ways. Chan took care of all the paperwork crap and Minho made sure the Maknaes didn't hunt each other for sport. He accepted the new rank after confirming with all of the packmates that they really wanted him in the position. It added weight to his voice and while the pups always respected his opinions and decisions, the rank helped to settle their instincts into accepting his help as well.

It was just after 5 pm when they rolled up their driveway and Minho told Jeongin to get the other wolves to help carry everything. Minho took note of the vampire sitting in the window that faced their house. Crimson hair that faded to brown roots and red eyes that blinked at the commotion. The kid was cute with his bright eyes, his lips jutted out in a half pout. He looked like he wanted to come outside. Minho gave a small smile before he turned to the car and popped the trunk open. He loaded as much as he could physically carry, which was quite a bit thanks to his werewolf strength, and made the first of many trips into the house. If he had looked again, Minho would have seen the vampire's eyes grow large at the slim wolf lifting what had to be a hundred pounds with practiced ease.

Jeongin had waved at the vampire, making cute faces at him before following his hyung’s lead and they made quick work of bringing in their haul. Minho brought in the last of the groceries as Hyunjin and Seungmin organized and put away the food. Where the house had been empty before, now there was furniture that had been brought in from the U-Haul. The living room had a large sectional that could fit all eight of them plus a coffee table. Their tv hung up on the wall and Jeongin was busy putting up the curtains they had bought earlier.

Minho went to inspect the bedrooms and found everyone’s belongings divided between the four rooms upstairs. The master bedroom went to Chan, Felix, and Changbin. Minho Seungmin and Hyunjin got the second biggest room and Jisung and Jeongin got the last bedroom. There was also an office that had some of Minho’s and Hyunjin’s boxes that he would deal with later. Beds and desks were now filling up the spaces and the only thing left was for everyone to put their clothes and other belongings away. Hyunjin had put up some art in the hallways from his past gallery shows as well as pictures of the wolves. Their scents were also settling into the space and it was starting to feel like home. Peaches and freshly squeezed lemon coated nearly every surface with hints of baked bread.

The omega headed back to the kitchen and as he passed by he saw that Jeongin had reclined on the couch in the living room. He seemed ready to pass out after the busy day they had. Minho dragged a throw blanket across the young wolf and continued to the kitchen. Felix had started dinner while the other two tried to steal from the wolf.

Minho swatted them playfully “Yah, dinner will be done soon enough. If you're really hungry get a snack from the pantry,” the omega said and washed his hands to help Felix. Hyunjin pouted but retreated to the living room but not before stealing another piece of food from Felix’s cutting board.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Felix grumbled in fake annoyance. Seungmin laughed and settled himself on a bar chair near the kitchen. Minho started the rice and prepared some beef. Felix continued to chop vegetables and other ingredients in the companionable silence.

“The house looks good. I’m surprised you three didn’t burn it down while we were gone,” Minho said, tone dry in the way he liked to hassle them.

“Hyung, we’re wolves. Not savages. You can thank Hyunjin and Felix for how everything looks. I was just the muscle,” Seungmin said casually. Lemon scent cloying up the kitchen.

Felix huffed and said, “yeah right hyung, he was just as picky about what should go where.” Minho laughed and shot Seungmin a fond smile.

“Is puppy feeling shy about his home decorating skills,” Minho quipped before adding everything to a large pot. Budae jjigae taken care of, Minho wiped his hands on a towel and went over to Seungmin. He pinched the wolf's cheeks and revealed his shiny braces.

Seungmin brushed his hands away from his face and knocked his shoulders against Minho’s, but his cheeks were a light pink “The only thing I'm embarrassed of is Jisungs poor excuse for packing.”

“He may be a creative genius but producing seems to be where it ends,” Felix quipped. “We were going to sort through some of his stuff but all of his boxes are a mess of clothes and random toy figures,” Felix continued, fond and annoyed.

Minho sighed “at least he’s been confined to a room with Jeongin-ah. He’ll set him straight.”

“I don't think anyone can turn Han straight. It would break the universe,” Seungmin said sarcastically. Felix let out a startled laugh before agreeing with Seungmin. Minho chuckled as he sidled up against Seungmin’s back and Felix went around the counter to join the hug. It felt nice to come home and have everyone under the same roof. Sure, they weren’t all there at that exact moment but they shared the same roof. The constant trade-off of who spent the night where had gotten tiring at their old places, even as they had a routine perfected. Now Minho could keep all of his pups taken care of without the fear of excluding anyone.

As if on cue, Minho’s favorite producing trio busted through the front door. He could hear muffled conversations in the entryway as they shrugged off coats and shoes. They brought the smell of the city along with their usual scents and Minho found that a knot inside his chest eased. Their scents added to the house and mixed with the smell of dinner simmering on the stove. Minho let go of his pups only for Han to glue himself to his back.

“Hyung, I feel like a zombie,” Han said as he burrowed his face in between Minho's shoulder blades.

“You smell like one of the undead,” Minho said after a whiff. Hints of a vampire’s scent lingered on Han’s clothes which wasn’t surprising considering their new coworkers. The rest of 3RACHA filed in after Han and Changbin sighed loudly.

“Minho-hyung, these two cause nothing but trouble,” Changbin said as he messed up Han’s tan locks. “We barely made it a day and they both were like vampire magnets.”

“So I’ve heard. Is a pack of eight not big enough for you Hyung,” Minho said pointedly in Chan's direction.

Chan’s cheeks blushed a soft pink, his heavy frame slumping “I’m not trying to add to the pack.”

Changbin laughed at him and said “oh really, I’ve heard that one before. Each time a new pup landed in my lap.”

Chan just shook his head and ignored them to look into the pot on the stove, but Minho glared and said “Keep your dirty paws out of there,” Chan looked back sheepishly before spotting Seungmin.

Chan squealed a delighted “Seungmin!” before wrestling the wolf into a bear hug. The wolf struggled against Chan’s hold but ultimately went limp when Chan nuzzled into his neck. Happy puffs of lemon-tinged ocean water collided with Han’s caramel. Minho’s own scent mingled with the pack as everyone scented each other. Felix didn't make it much longer before Changbin wrapped himself around the smaller wolf with a muttered “missed you.” Hyunjin and Jeongin sleepily walked in from the living room hand in hand. Swipes of wrists and noses on necks stirred up a cloud of scents that melded together seamlessly.

Minho pressed a kiss to Han's forehead before he moved to the stove and said “Dinner’s done.”

After an eventful meal, Jeongin suggested that they go for a run as a pack. It had been a while since they had had time to run together as a pack. Even before the move, their time together had always been limited. They couldn't always afford a trip to a nearby forest to run around and play. That was reserved for full moons where it was tradition to bond with all pack members. Minho remembered the headache that was when balancing everyone’s schedules. 3RACHA was under the strain of their old entertainment company that refused to provide accommodations. Hyunjin had gallery shows out of the country from time to time and the rest had classes for most of the year. Minho had been the only one with a flexible enough schedule to not miss a full moon and now that they're right next to a forest under the same roof, they can finally spend quality time as a whole pack.

Minho changed into comfortable clothes and went out in front of their house to wait for the rest of his pack mates. Changbin and Felix came out together and started stretching out their limbs. It was a cool autumn evening and the crisp freshness in the air brought a shiver down Minho’s spine. As the rest of the pack met outside, a car parked in their neighbor's driveway. A slim man in a painted bomber jacket hopped out of the front along with two other companions. One had blue streaks in his hair and the other was an ashy brunette. All three had their eyes on the wolves and Minho couldn't help but eye them with suspicion.

“Hongjoong-ssi! Mingi-ssi!” came a shout from behind Minho and he paused as Chan came bounding up like a golden retriever. The vampire with blue streaks jumped at the shout but gave a small smile to the wolf and the Vampire with split-colored hair nodded almost imperfectively. Irritation surfaced as Minho tracked Hongjoong from across the yard. Han had apologized and the vampire was still acting as if they had no business talking to him.

“H-hi Chan-sii,” Mingi said as the wolf came to a stop at the edge of their lawn that bordered the vampire’s driveway. Minho walked over as well and Changbin wasn’t far behind. Minho checked back on the pups and they were huddled in a half circle as they pretended to stretch but really they were doing their best to eavesdrop. Minho huffed in amusement before giving the vampires his full attention. He had no idea who the brunette was, but he was roughly the same height as Hongjoong and he carried a mischievous air to him. He looked like he badly wanted to say something and Minho wasn't sure if it was Hongjoong’s presence holding him back or not.

“You can call me hyung, Mingi-ssi,” Chan said before he looked at the vampire with black and white hair. “Hongjoong-ssi, we didn't get a chance to talk much at the office but thank you for showing us around on our first day.”

Hongjoong spoke after a second of hesitation “Hello, Chan-ssi, Changbin-ssi. It was no problem. Looks like we are neighbors as well as coworkers,” his words were carefully neutral as he awkwardly avoided eye contact. “Welcome to the neighborhood. These two are part of my coven. This is Mingi and Wooyoung,” Hongjoong said as he gestured to the two vampires. The blue-streaked one, Mingi, bowed with a polite smile, and the Brunette, Wooyoung, waved cheerfully.

“What a small world,” Chan said brightly before he turned to Minho “ This is Minho. My pack omega and you've already met Binne, but he’s my pack beta. Their the right and left hand of the Bang pack”

Minho bowed and smiled faintly at the vampires. He could see the exact moment his scent reached the vampires as all three stiffened. Hongjoong stepped forward slightly while Mingi took a step back. The brunette stayed deathly still but his eyes locked onto Minho. Despite the semi-hostile behavior, they didn't make any other moves. Minho felt his lips quirk up in a smirk. As much as his scent was a hindrance, it helped when he wanted to keep up the big bad wolf charade.

“If you're not familiar with werewolf ranking, I’m the one who helps keep the pups from getting into trouble,” Minho said, voice light and even but the hint of danger under his words wasn't lost on their neighbors. “From the sound of it, I haven't been very successful as of late.”

It was meant to be a joke but Minho knew it hadn't quite come off as one as both Chan and Changbin turned to look at him, but he paid them no mind. He was here to make sure these vampires knew who they would answer to if there were any issues between his pack and their coven. Seongwha had been kind but that didn't mean all of his coven mates were.

Hongjoong looked past the three wolves to catch a glimpse of Minho’s packmates and the wolf could guess who he was looking for. Han was anxiously watching from between Seungmin and Hyunjin, doe eyes shining in the evening light even from this distance.

Minho sidestepped and interrupted Hongjoong’s line of sight before he said “ Hannie apologized but I wanted to make sure no harm was caused.” Words like ice even as they were said calmly. “It seemed like he upset you in particular Hongjoong-ssi,” Minho said. Mingi and Wooyoung both look towards Hongjoong with varying levels of surprise. Maybe it was the worry that their leader would be wolf bait or perhaps it was the stress of pissing off their new neighbors. Regardless, Minho knew that they could smell his intentions and that at least they would shine through even if Minho was not in a particularly friendly mood.

Minho may be overstepping a bit but the smell of Han’s anxiety was still fresh in his mind. Burnt caramel had been their reality for months before they had finally moved and Minho was determined to keep that scent out of their house. Chan looked carefully between the vampires and Minho, obviously torn between smoothing over the incident and backing up his omega. Changbin’s face was blank but Minho could smell him pumping out calming pheromones in a desperate attempt to keep the situation civil. Minho knew his own smell had taken on the sharper edge it does when Minho is feeling protective.

Hongjoong looked like someone had just pulled the rug from under his feet, eyes wide as the scents pushed into the space around them. The intensity was dulled because they were outside but the vampires were only a few feet away. His brows furrowed before recognition flashed across his face at Minho’s words.

He cleared his throat and Minho could swear that a flush dusted his ears as he spoke “Ah yes, Han-ssi made quite the first impression, but as he apologized I too feel that I acted out of turn. I should have kept my instincts in check and I’m afraid I was harsher than the situation called for.” He bowed forward, back straight, and said “If Han-ssi is willing, I would like to apologize to him personally.”

It was Minho’s turn to be surprised. He hummed as he considered the slender vampire’s admission before he nodded.

Chan let out a breath and his pearly smile was back as he said “I’m sure he’ll have no problem with that.”

Minho turned back to the pups and called Han over. The tan-haired wolf jerked before he stumbled his way over. A nervous smile was plastered over his face but Minho smiled at him reassured. He perked up and joined the three wolves, his sweet caramel scent cut through Minho’s metallic scent easily like it always did and Minho could see that the vampires relaxed at the change in the air.

“Yes, Hyung,” Han said and Changbin motioned toward the vampires. Han nodded his head at them in greeting curiosity coloring his rounded features.

***

“Hello Han-ssi,” Hongjoong said, words slow and deliberate. “Do you have a minute,” he asked, his eyes met Han’s and he hoped he looked approachable.

His childish outburst had haunted him after Seongwha had knocked some sense back into him and it replayed in his mind on his way to work. When he had first seen them in the ATSK lobby, he had felt guilt wash hotly over his frame. Embarrassment clung to him like a second skin as the wolf kept trying to meet his eyes in the meeting. Hongjoong had been thinking about apologizing to the wolf all day but had chickened out each time he had swung by their office.

Now their pack Omega was doing his best to scare them into submission and Hongjoong couldn't help but feel like this meeting could have gone smoother if he had a better hold on his instincts. Where at first he saw Han as a strange wolf, a threat, now he couldn't help but see his innocent eyes as he desperately tried not to show how nervous he was. His caramel scent lay thickly over the harsh metallic scent, effectively covering it and thus shielding the vampires' noses from it.

“O-of course. U-um what can I do for you?” Han asked and only stuttered a tiny bit. The wolf was just the tiniest bit shorter than Hongjoong and his hunched shoulders made him even smaller. He was practically drowning in the oversized clothes he wore and Hongjoong felt a pang of regret at having made the wolf so skittish to be around him.

“I want to apologize to you for how I reacted in the forest yesterday. I’m sorry that I treated you so harshly for what was clearly and accident.” Hongjoong said. Han seemed to take in his words and his eyes widened in surprise.

“Wait, you don't hate my guts for running over your coven mate?” Han asked hopefully. Wooyoung snorted but Hongjoong quieted him with a single look. He could smell both his coven mates' amusement at the situation and it was distracting.

Hongjoong hurriedly waved his hands “No! I acted like an ass after you apologized and no one was hurt. If anything you should be mad at me for how I acted.”

The slightly burnt smell of caramel shifted suddenly and a burst of sugary happiness blasted them. The wolf was practically vibrating and an adorably wide heart-shaped smile beamed at Hongjoong.

“Thank God. I thought I really messed up when you didn't say anything at the company,” Han said with a sigh of relief.

Hongjoong shyly ran his hand in his hair and said “No, I was embarrassed. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable.”

Han jumped up and down in excitement, caramel scent like a shot of caffeine to the system. “Gosh I was embarrassed too. It was both our bad hehe,” Han said before slumping into Minho. Hongjoong watched as the cold-looking wolf warmed up to Han as he fluffed the tan wolf’s hair. The obvious care the wolves treated each other with warmed Hongjoong up from the inside.

“Well, I’m glad we could resolve this peacefully. We’ll make sure to take care when running out in the woods from now on,” Chan said and Hongjoong couldn't help but mirror the wolf's smile. Changbin huffed a laugh and said his goodbyes before joining the other wolves to stretch before their run.

“Have a good evening Chan-ssi,” Hongjoong said and the wolf waved his goodbyes as the wolves rejoined with their pack. Once they were out of earshot Wooyoung leaned into the elder vampire and whispered conspiratorially “They’re even hotter up close hyung.” Hongjoong went to smack him and the brunette ducked out of the way with a high-pitched laugh. Mingi sighed and patted Hongjoong on the back.

“It's ok to admit it hyung,” Mingi said with a smirk.

Hongjoong wiped around “Yah! Not you too. What happened to respecting your head vampire?”

“We both could smell your flustered scent as soon as Chan-hyung smiled. Don’t even pretend it didn't happen,” Wooyoung said with a cackle.

“I'm giving you both up for adoption,” Hongjoong said as his ears heated up.

A sudden howl drew the vampire's attention and they looked to see the Bang pack had taken their wolf forms. Hongjoong felt his breath leave him at the sight of eight massive wolves entering the forest. They were varied in color but the largest wolf by far was steel grey with a white underbelly and it was looking straight back at him. Copper eyes met Hongjoong’s hazel for a brief moment before he too disappeared into the forest. The sounds of barks and yips filled the evening sky and Hongjoong felt a spark of something in his chest. Something close to fondness but still too new to properly identify.

Chapter Text

Jongho was overstimulated.

Again.

His head pulsed as Wooyoung screamed about the new trainees he was choreographing with, volume exceedingly high for 8 am. Seongwha was busy packing files for his trip to the office. Yunho and San already left for the gym they run in town and Jongho couldn't help but envy them. He missed the gym. Among other places, he hadn't been in months.

Honestly, he had started to grow used to his enhanced senses, but it didn't help that he lived with seven literal agents of chaos who seemed to make it their mission to be as loud and obnoxious as possible. Hongjoong was maybe the least head-ache inducing but he was hardly home so he didn't count. Wooyoung specifically was fond of mischiefs, and he crowed nonstop about the new neighbors while San enabled him.

“Look, Changbin-ssi is wearing a tight top today. His muscles are so defined.”

“Oh, Felix-ssi is playing with his packmates. Isn't he the sweetest?”

Being the social butterfly that he was, Wooyoung had met and talked to most of the werewolves who moved in. He reported his findings during their coven dinners with glee and barely concealed attraction. Jongho had seen them from his perch by the big window that faced their neighbor’s yard and thanks to Wooyoungs oddly detailed descriptions, he could match names to faces. He couldn't help but feel awkwardly like a stalker when he saw the pack leave their house, knowing more about them than they did him.

“Good Bye Jongho-ah!” yelled Wooyoung and Mingi as they too left the house. Hongjoong had left earlier claiming that he had another important meeting, but really he liked to take his own car when he planned to stay late. His hyung thought he was sneaky.

The sudden shout made his head pulse in a throbbing rhythm that had persisted since he woke up. Yeosang had been sitting with him all morning to ease his headache, but he too had to leave for work. His morning class at the university couldn't teach itself. Being near his hyungs, especially Hongjoong gave his instincts a sense of safety and helped curb any harsh symptoms like a balm.

He loved his hyungs, but it was draining to interact with them too much. Normally the house stayed quiet as everyone went to their jobs, leaving Jongho and Seongwha alone. However, everything seemed to be grating on his delicate senses.

First, San’s alarm had woken him up early even though it was in a completely separate room. The ringing had lasted too long as San was a heavy sleeper and Jongho had to go turn it off himself.

Second, he hadn't been able to fall back asleep so he had tried to start early on his studies, only to be interrupted repeatedly by the sound of his hyungs leaving at random intervals. The light from the computer had also been glaringly bright and had given him a migraine so he gave that up to try and get some breakfast.

The final straw had been his morning blood bag which had been a weird consistency and left a bad feeling in his mouth. He could barely stomach a sip before handing it over to one of his hyungs. Seongwha had fussed over him which he could normally handle but it had ticked him off today. He had quickly shut himself in his room under the guise of taking a nap but now he was just laying there as the blankets itched at his skin.

Overall, Jongho was done with today and it was barely noon. All of his hyungs had eventually left for work, and even Seongwha had been pulled to the office today. The quiet of the empty house soothed a part of his overwhelmed mind like a comb running through a tangled mess. Without meaning to Jongho had fallen asleep and found himself waking up to a still quiet house.

A few messages from Seongwha mentioned that he would be at the office till late. With a sigh, Jongho stretched and found that he felt much better. His migraine had dulled to a slight pressure in his temple, but his throat itched with hunger. A rumble sounded from his stomach as he stumbled into the giant kitchen in their house. Ironic considering the only ones who used it were Seongwha and Wooyoung but they seemed to enjoy the large space.

He pulled a blood bag from the fridge and took a tentative sip. The cold liquid filled his mouth and while the taste soothed the scratchiness in his throat, the temperature made him gag. He rushed to the sink to spit the blood out and dry heaved. His human reflexes overpowered his vampiric instincts from time to time but it had been a while since it last happened. Yunho liked to joke that it was his stubbornness that refused to accept the change and was stuck on human taste.

When he was like this the only way to properly feed was to trigger his vampiric instinct which meant live feeding. His Hyungs would fill up on blood and let him drink from their necks. The blood would pour hot down his throat and his mind would fuzz over in a contented haze. He could taste their emotions even stronger like he had a direct line to their feelings. He both loved and hated eating like that. His sense blurred and left him extremely vulnerable but it quelled his hunger and satisfied him for days. However, it wasn't an option currently with all of his hyungs gone.

Jongho capped the blood bag and stashed it back in the fridge. The sip had ruined his appetite but his throat and stomach ached. His migraine was trying to make a return and he seriously contemplated going back to sleep. The room was getting stuffy as he felt worse and worse.

He rubbed at his eyes before he put on his favorite sweater and stepped out onto the porch, the cool fresh air helping to distract him from his hunger as he picked up all of the scents lingering outside. The neighborhood was quiet as most everyone was at work and without much thought Jongho found himself walking out into the woods. Maybe a nice stroll would help him feel better.

Everything was cool and crisp, from the freshly fallen leaves to the breeze that carried the smell of rain. He made his way into the forest along the familiar path his coven took. It was a simple dirt path that eventually led into a beautiful clearing. Golden brown and orange leaves littered the grass, trees empty as they surrounded the space. His coven visited regularly because it was so removed from the neighborhood enough to enjoy quality time without their senses being triggered.

Jongho inhaled deeply and smiled. Based on the smells that lingered in the clearing, it seemed like the werewolves also enjoyed the area. There were hints of multiple scents on the surrounding trees and they blanketed the area with happiness. The pack loved each other deeply and it lingered in the air where they played together.

Mint spoke of quiet unyielding support and a cute playfulness that zinged on your tongue. Freshly baked bread that wrapped around you like a warm blanket ready to keep you safe. A salty ocean breeze that was too far from the coast but carried the weight of the world on its waves. Familiar caramel, strong and sweet with restless energy. Strawberries tart with exasperation but sweet with happiness. Peaches ripe and bursting with laughter, giddy and refreshing. Sour lemon that made your tongue flinch only to laugh at how fun it feels. Tangy metallic tinged with mirth, shocking but unexpectedly comforting.

He took them in and felt their personalities shine through their scents. He felt like he would enjoy hanging out with them. That their two families would mesh well together despite their bumpy start. Jongho couldn’t help but feel guilty for the clash. His hyungs had reassured him time and time again that he wasn’t a bother. That his sensitivities were part of adapting to the coven and vampire life, but while he had been prepared for the changes he would have to deal with, the effect he had on his coven was frightening.

At first, when had met all of the members of the coven and spent time with them, his insecurities had been centered on being human. Now it was stuck on being the only newborn in the house. Even woo young, the second youngest vampire, was 50 years turned. They all had done their best to prepare Jongho, but the independent vampire grew tired of the restrictions he was under.

Every time he left the house he had to have someone close by. He couldn’t go into crowded areas so his trips out of the house were mostly to empty parks. If it was too sunny his eyes strained and a migraine was never far behind. Noises suddenly went to intolerable levels at any given moment if Jongho lost concentration. He hadn’t been able to go outside at all for the first week after he had been turned. Jongho had lost count of how many times he’d retreated to his room in need of escape. It felt like he’d never be able to reach the point of returning to university.

His thoughts swirled as his eyes drifted to the sky. Overcast as clouds crawled across the horizon murky and grey. Moist earth was heavy in the air as rain pelted down miles away. It would probably travel close by soon. The quiet sounds of the forest lulled Jongho into a daze before a strong wave of nausea wracked his stomach.

He hunched over and dropped to the ground under the force of his upset stomach. He’d waited too long to eat and with his stomach empty there was nothing to throw up but his body didn’t follow that logic. All it knew was that Jongho had neglected to eat and now would pay the price. A groan slipped past his lips as his mind swam with the pain.

“Are you alright?” A voice chirped. A young man stood on the other end of the clearing foxy eyes trained on the vampire. Pitch black hair swept across sharp eyes and tickled at a cut jawline. His lanky frame was decorated with a simple t-shirt and sweats with a thick jacket. Jongho recognized him as one of the wolves that moved in but Wooyoung had yet to mention anyone who looked like the handsome man.

Jongho blinked slowly as he struggled to say anything. He was still on the ground, arms around his middle as he sat on his knees. Worry carried on the wind thick with the scent of fresh strawberries. The tart smell soothed Jongho’s nausea but his stomach was restless with hunger.

He cleared his throat, “ I’m ok I think, I missed my meals so I was feeling a bit off.” Jongho did his best to relax but his stomach growled loudly and the vampire felt his cheeks grow pink.

The wolf looked unimpressed as he watched the vampire try to play off his condition. “Yeah, it looked more serious than just a bit off,” he said, doubt joining the concern in the air as the wolf approached. The closer he got the stronger Jongho’s hunger grew. He could hear the wolf’s blood thrumming under his skin, his heart beat like a drum in the vampire’s ears.

“You’re one of the neighbors right? Are your hyungs coming to get you then?” The wolf asked.

“They’re not home,” Jongho said as sweat beaded on his face. The wolf was almost next to him, but the vampire held up his hand. “Please stop,” Jongho gasped as his other hand grasped the dead grass in hopes to hold himself upright. “Your blood, it’s too tempting.”

The wolf stopped immediately, his heartbeat picking up. “My blood? I thought vampires couldn’t stand werewolves’ blood,” he said, his head cocked in confusion.

Jongho muttered. “I’m hungry enough to want yours.” His voice was breathy as he was hit with another strong wave of hunger pains.

It was Jeongin’s turn to flush pink, but he cleared his throat as he stuck out his hand towards the vampire “Take some then.”

“What? No, I don't even know you. You don't know me,” Jongho said as he scrambled back. The wolf laughed, a twinkle in his eye.

“I’m Yang Jeongin, Bang Pack maknae and one of your neighbors,” the wolf said before looking at Jongho expectantly. The vampire sighed as he saw where this conversation was headed but complied with the wolf.

“Choi Jongho, Kim Coven maknae,” he said and Jeongin smiled wider.

“Now we’re at least acquainted. I don't see why you can’t take some of my blood. Unless you can make it back to your house by yourself, which doesn’t seem likely,” the wolf said bluntly, an edge of teasing carrying his words. His strawberry scent was making it hard to concentrate but his sincerity was unmistakable.

“I’ve never fed on anyone but my hyungs.” Jongho admitted. His fingers picked at the grass by his knees, dead strands separating under his trembling. “I don't want to hurt you.”

“Have you ever hurt them while feeding?”

“Well no-,” the vampire started.

“Then I’m sure it's fine. If you really don’t want to, that's ok, but I’m not gonna leave you all by yourself either,” Jeongin said. “If you would rather me carry you back to your house, I can do that too,” the wolf said with a shrug.

***

They sat there in silence for a few minutes and Jeongin watched as Jongho struggled to choose between the two options he had. Was Jeongin being a bit brash offering his blood to what amounted to a complete stranger? Possibly, but Jeongin had seen Jongho through the window often and he always smiled at the wolf. According to Han, the vampire was the coven's fledgling and was housebound until his senses settled.

The wolf was confident that he could keep the vampire from causing any serious damage given how frail he seemed. No, he was more worried that the vampire would keel over before he could make a decision. Jeongin could see the faint tremble of his form and the discomfort that the vampire fought to hide. The wolf may also be trying to look tough in front of the cute boy he hadn't had a chance to talk to yet but that was beside the point.

Finally, Jongho looked up into the wolf's eyes and said “if you’re really alright with it, I would like to u-um feed from you, but I would rather feed at the house.” the vampire blushed cutely as he said, “If you don't mind helping me back.”

Jeongin felt himself relax at the vampire’s acceptance and jumped up to help Jongho into his arms. The vampire hesitated before letting Jeongin lift him into a princess carry and while the wolf couldn't smell emotion like the vampire, he was sure that the air is filled with embarrassment. Jongho curled himself into Jeongin’s chest and hid his face as they made their way back to the house. After struggling with the front door, Jeongin successfully got into the vampire’s house and Jongho directed him to his room.

Jeongin placed him on his bed carefully before sitting next to him. An awkwardness settled over them and Jeoning avoided the vampire's eyes to look around the room. He took a big breath, the house smelled of earthy spices and topsoil. Jongho’s room was simple but clean and Jeongin spotted several vinyl records by a huge wooden stand. There were also script pamphlets on the desk near the bed for what looked like popular dramas and plays along with textbooks.

Eventually, the wolf found his eyes meeting back with Jongho’s, and the tension thickened in the room. “Um, how would you like to do this? I’ve never had anyone drink from me,” Jeongin said, the weirdness of the situation finally catching up with him. He wasn't afraid he just wasn't sure how to proceed.

Jongho also seemed lost wide red eyes searching the wolf for answers. He pressed his lips together before he spoke. “Well, I’ll bite your neck since it's the place I have the most practice with taking blood from and I’ll take a little less than a pint. It’ll hurt a little at first, but it should numb up after a second.”

Jeongin nodded before a thought crashed its way through his brain. His instincts would not like having a vampire so close to his neck. Just carrying Jongho to the house had been fine but the bite might trigger his wolf. Jeongin said as much and Jongho seemed to deflate. As much as he wanted to help, he didn't want to hurt the vampire either. Jeongin was still pretty young for a wolf and while his instincts were familiar that didn't rule out the possibility of them becoming a problem.

A new idea popped up and Jeongin paused before he said “if I scent you really good it will probably keep my instincts in check.”

“Scent me?” the vampire asked.

“Yeah, if I rub my scent on you like I would a packmate it’ll trick my instincts into thinking your pack. That way even if it hurts, you feeding from me should be alright.” Jeongin reasoned and the more he thought about it the more it seemed like it could work. It would appear more like submitting to one of his hyungs rather than feeling like he's being mauled by a vampire.

Jeongin took his jacket off that smelled like it was dripping with his strawberry scent and wrapped it around Jongho. He then rubbed his hands along the scent glands on his neck and looked at the vampire, “is it alright if I touch your neck and face? I promise it’ll be quick.”

Jongho nodded and the vampire gently rams his fingers along his neck up and across his cheeks. Jeongin pulled away to re-scent his hands and repeated the motion on the vampire. The gesture felt incredibly intimate but his inner wolf was happy at the fact that he was scenting the vampire. Jeongin ignored how pleased he felt and tried to concentrate on spreading the strawberry scent on the vampire.

His scent was the tamest of the pack and he was grateful for that right now. Jongho seemed to be handling it fine, but his stomach kept growling causing them to giggle at the situation. Once he was done he pulled back and the vampire seemed ready to pass out from the scenting overload. Jeongin may have been a bit aggressive with the scenting. Acting quickly, Jeongin bared his neck and urged the vampire into the crook of his neck.

He could feel the vampire’s breath on his neck and goosebumps shivered their way through his system. Jongho’s lips met the wolf’s skin and Jeongin took a steady breath before a sharp pain lanced through his neck. The pain left quickly after Jongho removed his teeth and started to drink.

Jeongin felt his mind grow fuzzy before he became aware of a feeling of deep hunger. The feeling felt oddly removed from himself as he wasn't the one hungry but he could feel it like it was his own. He focussed on the hunger and it steady was quenched the more Jongho drank. As it subsided a new feeling of affection took its place.

The wolf cradled the back of Jongho’s head as the minutes ticked by. It must have been around ten minutes before Jongho licked over the bite and pulled away. Jeongin knew his cheeks were flushed but he did his best to act chill. Jongho yawned and snuggled into him, “thank you.”

Jeongin wrapped his arms around the sleepy vampire, “no problem. That wasn't so bad although I could use a nap.”

“A nap sounds nice, if you want to stay and take one I wouldn't mind,” Jongho mumbled into his shoulder.

Jeongin hummed in agreement and helped Jongho get them under the covers. Jongho shucked off the jacket Jeonin put on him earlier to get more comfortable while Jeongin messaged his hyungs.

Me:
I’m at the neighbor's house be home eventually

Demon bunny:
Oh?
Weren't you walking in the woods?

Me:
… yeah
But things happened
I’m fine just gonna hang out here

Salty Hyung:
Aww Innie’s making friends

Demon bunny:
Dinner’s at 5
Be late and suffer

Me:
Ok hyung

Jeongin set his phone on the nightstand and was quickly pulled into a tight snuggle. He smiled and relaxed into the bed. A few hours of sleep wouldn't hurt.

Chapter Text

Felix was nervous.

This was his first trip into town and he was worried that the receptionist wouldn't let him into ATSK. Channie-hyung had said he should be fine but he couldn't help but think back to his attempts at trying to visit his packmates at their old company. Their coworkers would make passing comments that they thought Felix couldn't hear but the thing about being a werewolf is your hearing is so much more sensitive than a human’s.

Felix ignored them mostly but it made it really uncomfortable to bring his packmates lunch when he was feeling generous (which was often). He knew that there was a cafeteria in their new company building as well as loads of restaurants nearby, but Felix knew his packmates appreciated it when he brought them meals from home. Especially when he brought his coveted treats too.

He patted the lunch bag hanging from his shoulder and entered the large lobby. The least he could do was bring his hyungs their favorite meals when Felix was stuck at the house most days. The familiar feelings of guilt floated forward before he pushed them back down. He needed to focus.

Felix waited in line behind a few others, patiently surveying the pristine lobby. He could smell traces of other supernatural creatures not including the ones in front of him. It settled his nerves and he went to message Chan that he was in the lobby.

“Oh, Felix-ssi?” a familiar high-pitched voice said from behind him and he turned to see one of his neighbors. Wooyoung, the vampire who made it his mission to talk to Felix every time he saw him. He was dressed in loose streetwear but he made it look red carpet worthy as he swaggered into the lobby, his grin wolfish. Felix’s eyes caught on the vampire’s hair now silver instead of the ashy brunette he was used to.

“Hello, Wooyoung-ssi. Your new hair color suits you,” Felix said and the vampire smiled wider, his high energy was a familiar kind of chaotic. Always eager to gossip and was especially nosy when it came to Changbin-hyung. They had a good time squealing over toned shoulders.

“Thank you Felix-ssi, I felt like a change was needed. You should see Seongwha hyung tho. He went pink and I literally have to stop myself from smothering him when I see him,” Wooyoung said as he whipped out his phone and showed a photo of a handsome man with cotton candy pink hair.

It was Felix's turn to smile and he giggled at the older’s exuberance. Felix had also met Seongwha briefly when Wooyoung dragged him to meet Felix adamant that Seongwha would love Felix’s bread-like scent. He had been exasperated but had been gentle to the wolf. His deep register soft as velvet as he crooned over Felix’s freckles.

“Very cute. I’ve been thinking about doing something different with my hair. What color should I do next?” the wolf said as he ran a hand through his bleach blond hair. The vampire screwed up his face into a pout.

“Awww, but your blonde hair is so precious. I don't know if I could part with it.” Wooyoung wined as he ruffled the wolf’s hair. Felix’s baked bread scent spiked with delight at the contact and Wooyoung smiled as the air filled with his emotions.

“I’ll wait a bit longer before I change anything then. Happy?” Felix teased. The vampire smirked at having his way.

“What brings you here anyways Felix-ssi? Are you going to work here too?” Wooyoung asked as he eyed the bag Felix carried.

Felix laughed “No, I'm just here to make sure my packmates don't just eat ramyeon for their meals.” He chewed on his lip nervously and quickly looked to the reception desk, “I hope that's alright. I don't want to go against company rules or anything, but Channie-hyung said it was ok.”

Wooyoung cooed and ran a soothing hand along Felix's shoulder, “That should be fine. If you want I can even show you up to the floor your packmates work on.”

Felix smiled but he asked nervously, “ are you sure? I don't want to be a bother.”

“You’re never a bother. If anything I'm in the mood to visit my hyung too. He works on the same floor so it’ll be no trouble,” Wooyoung reassured and the next thing Felix knew he was checked in and whisked into one of the elevators.

Wooyoungs scent was floral like honeysuckle, sweet even as the smell of wet soil clung to him. It filled that small elevator as they rode to the fifth floor and Felix couldn’t help but give an appreciative hum as he took a deep breath. The vampire raised a brow at the wolf and he shyly shook his head.
“You work here too, right?” Felix asked before he could be questioned about his behavior.

“Yup, I’m a choreographer from division one. I work with the groups that Hongjoong-hyung produces for,” he said fangs peaking out from his lip as he leaned against the railing.

“Wow. That's so cool hyung,” Felix said and Wooyoung glowed at the praise. “I take dance classes when I can. Maybe we can freestyle some time,” he said.

Wooyoung’s eyes shined at the discovery, “Yes! I’d love to show you some routines too.”

“Gonna show me some of your moves,” Felix asked as he wiggled his eyebrows and Wooyoung choked out a laugh.

A sly look crossed his face as he leaned closer to Felix, “Actually if it's alright with you I wanted to introduce you to my hyung. I don't think you’ve met Hongjoong-hyung yet,”

“Ah, no I haven't. I wouldn't mind after I drop off my hyung’s food,” Felix said but his bread scent spiked with a hint of worry. While he knew that Han had made up with the leader, it didn't stop the wolf from being intimidated by the vampire. His sharp features and cool expression always curbed Felix from saying hi, afraid that he’d be met with indifference.

“Don’t worry. He’s going to love you, but first let's feed the wolves,” the vampire said as they finally arrived on the fifth floor. The doors slid open and Wooyoung led him over to one of the many opaque glass doors in the hallway. The plaque next to the door read the room number as well as a removable slate card that said Division 1: 3RACHA.

A burst of pride warmed Felix’s chest and he couldn't help but pull out his phone a snap a quick photo to post in the pack group chat.

Me:
-image attached-
Look at these bigshots hehe

He felt Wooyoungs breath on his neck as he laughed, “Cute.”

Felix’s cheeks pinked as he pocketed his phone and he quickly punched in the code that Chan had sent him. The door opened to reveal Chan and Han nodding to a beat as Changbin spat lyrics faster than Felix could comprehend. His brow was furrowed as he read the lyrics from his phone, rhythm bumping as words flowed in and out sewing the track together with expert precision. He ended the verse with a cocky laugh, dark eyes filled with confidence.

“That was so clean!” Han whooped while Chan typed and clicked away. Changbin’s demeanor switched as he giggled at the compliment and punched Han’s arm playfully.

“Thank you,” Changbin chirped in a familiar high pitch before his eyes found Felix in the doorway. “Lix!” he cooed before he bypassed the two other wolves to scoop up Felix in a warm, minted scented hug.

“Hi hyungs,” came his muffled voice as he was squished by Changbin’s hulking form. He snuck an appreciative squeeze of Changbins firm bicep before he pulled away to set his lunch bag on the couch. Han immediately swept him into a hug of his own, sweet caramel layering over the mint. Chan crushed them both with his long arms and Felix laughed as he tried to fight free.

“Help, Wooyoung-hyung,” Felix gasped but Wooyoung just laughed at their shenanigans. They let him go after a final squeeze and he swatted them as he fixed his hair. “This is the thanks I get for bringing you lunch and cookies,”

“Cookies! You're the best Lix,” Han said before digging into the lunch bag. He stuffed a cookie into his mouth and groaned, “I think I’m in love.” Chan shook his head fondly before thanking Felix. Changbin passed out the rest of the cookies along with the lunches Felix packed and gave him a hug before he left them to enjoy their lunch.

Wooyoung had waited rather patiently but Felix didn't want to keep him too long. They walked to the end of the hall to another glass door. The plaque read Division 1: Kim Hongjoong. Felix swallowed audibly but Wooyoung just patted his back before punching in his code to open the door.

“Hyuuuung, it's your favorite dongsaeng,” Wooyoung called loudly and Hongjoong swung his chair around to glare at him. His wicked smile promised pain as he hit a few buttons on his computer.

“You couldn’t have sent a message first?” the vampire said with a hint of annoyance, but Wooyoung brought Felix in front of him like a shield.

“I brought a guest, this is Felix one of our neighbors,” Wooyoung said as he ignored the pointed question, unafraid of Hongjoong’s wrath.

Hongjoongs narrowed eyes landed on the wolf and Felix shivered at the intensity. Felix smiled and bowed gently, doing his best to be friendly as he said, “Hello Hongjoong-ssi. It's nice to meet you.”

He watched as Hongjoong sighed before his face softened. He bowed forward and said, “nice to meet you Felix-ssi. Did Wooyoung kidnap you from your home?”

Felix chuckled, “no, I was bringing lunch for my hyungs and I ran into Wooyoung-ssi. I’m sorry if I interrupted your work.” The vampire just smiled and leaned back into his chair. Felix was struck by how Hongjoong looked so much younger relaxed and smiling. Sharp fangs peaked out as he smiled but they just added to the angular shape of his face.

“Maybe you can teach Wooyoung some manners,” Hongjoong quipped. “Good dongsaengs at least bring treats for their hard-working hyungs.”

Wooyoung gasped long and dramatic as he cupped Felix’s shoulders, “ Hyung! Felix is a whole damn meal. How dare you imply Felix is not a delightful treat.” Felix felt his blood rush to his face, making his freckles stand out. Hongjoong sputtered and yelled as Wooyoung cackled at both of their faces.

“You're a menace,” Hongjoong said before he looked back to his computer. “Unless you two need anything else I have a project to get back to.”

“Ugh, don't be a stick in the mud hyung,” Wooyoung said as he dragged the rolling chair away from the desk, “ you work too much.”

“I need to get going too. It was nice seeing you two,” Felix said and Wooyoung grumbled while Hongjoong waved goodbye. Wooyoung walked him back to the lobby but not without snagging Felix’s number with a promise of hanging out on his next day off.

Felix was feeling pretty satisfied as he drove home and he couldn't wait to hang out with the vampire.

Chapter Text

Jongho felt content.

He felt so warm swaddled in his blankets and a comfortable weight around his middle left him with a sense of safety. He sniffed and the scent of strawberries faded into awareness before he jolted awake. The wolf he had met was still sleeping peacefully with his arm wrapped around Jongho’s waist. The scent of strawberries now sat heavily in the room and coated every surface. That was going to be difficult to explain to his hyungs.

While Jongho was still full from feeding earlier, the scent made his teeth tingle at the familiar taste. Maybe it was because the wolf had been his first live donor that wasn’t a vampire. The fact that he found the wolf appetizing at all was a mystery. Jongho had heard the rumors that werewolf blood was near repulsive but those had been things he heard in university.

The memory replayed in hazy detail as he remembered how calm and comforting Jeongin had felt while drinking from him. He would have to ask his hyungs about it because Jeongin’s blood had been ridiculously good. Even now the strawberry scent was sweet on his tongue.

Cute snuffling drew the vampire's gaze to the wolf and he choked on his spit as the wolf nuzzled into the pillows. His dark hair was splayed out against the pillow, face relaxed as his breaths came out in whistle snores. Jongho gently pulled the blanket down to his shoulder and inspected the bite wound on his neck. It was a little bruised but the open wounds had closed rapidly thanks to the combined healing factors of vampire’s spit and werewolf constitution.

Jongho gently brushed against the area, checking the wolf’s eyes as he did, but he continued sleeping. He couldn’t help but feel proud of himself for feeding without seriously hurting the wolf. It was a testament to how far he’s come in controlling his senses. Jeongin’s confidence in him had been refreshing compared to the way his hyung’s treated him like he was made out of glass.

The vampire lay down and listened to the steady pace of the wolf's heartbeat. His scent was so relaxed that it was lulling Jongho to sleep. He shook himself awake and gently nudged Jeongin. Jeongin groaned and did his best to bury himself into Jongho’s side. Jongho shook him but the wolf was a deep sleeper and pulled the blankets over himself to hide from the insistent vampire.

“Jeongin-ssi, cmon wake up,” Jongho murmured. Jeongin grumbled but pulled the blankets down and blinked sleepily at Jongho.

“Hmm?” he mumbled and Jongho sat up, jacket from earlier falling to the floor with a thump.

“How are you feeling? I didn’t take too much did I?” Jongho asked as he watched the wolf slump forward. His hands rubbed over his face before he stretched out. He rubbed a hand over the bruise on his neck and winced but continued to scratch into his hair.

“I feel fine,” he said finally and Jongho sighed in relief. The wolf cracked a smile before he got out of bed and picked up his jacket. What must have been his phone buzzed on the nightstand and Jeongin reached for it.

“Do you need to head home now?” Jongho asked and Jeongin nodded.

“It’s a quarter to five and Minho-hyung wants all of us home for dinner under threat of bodily harm,” the wolf said with a laugh

As Jeongin tapped away at his phone, Jongho couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness at the wolf getting ready to leave. He was the first person to talk to him at length in months that wasn't over the phone, text, or email. It felt nice to just exist next to another person without his senses freaking out.

A finger gently prodded his furrowed brows and he looked up to see Jeongin offering his phone.

“Here, put your number in just in case you need my help again,” Jeongin said. Strawberry warmth surrounded Jongho and he felt a little drunk on it. He took the phone and entered his number quickly. He hesitated before he set it under Jongho and sent a message to himself.

“Here I’ll walk you out,” the vampire said as he handed back the phone. As they both left the room Jongho heard a door open and close which caused a wave of panic to rush through him. He hadn't told his hyungs anything and they would no doubt stress over hearing Jongho almost passing out from hunger.

Downstairs, he heard whoever was home rustling in the kitchen and he hoped it was one of his more relaxed hyungs. The last thing Jongho wanted was for Seongwha or god forbid Hongjoong to come bustling in and hounding him for information on his little guest.

“One of my hyungs is home,” Jongho said in a stressed whisper.

“Is that a bad thing?” Jeongin asked. His fluffy hair stood at odd angles and fresh puffs of strawberry spilled into the hallway. The closed space enhanced the strawberry scent into a more concentrated intensity.

“Yes. No? Ugh, if your hyungs found you in bed with a stranger how would they react,” Jongho said as his cheeks pinked, brighter now that he was full of fresh blood.

“They would never let me live it down,” Jeongin said with a distant look of horror. “But, if we just tell him that you needed to feed it won't be that bad right?”

“Depending on who it is the range of reactions could be mild teasing to a full-on lecture about safety,” Jongho strained to hear but the person downstairs remained quiet. A warm palm lightly patted his shoulder and Jeongin gave him a reassuring smile.

“I’m sure it’ll be ok,” he said and Jongho felt warmth spread from his hand all over his body as the beautiful boy took his hand and let Jongho lead him downstairs.

“Jongho-yah, you hardly touched your meals. Did you need me to-” Yeosang said but the sentence died as he saw Jeongin trailing behind the fledgling. Jongho sent a silent thank you to whoever was watching over him. Yeosang was by far one of his tamer hyungs, but Jongho couldn't lie to him if his life depended on it. Yeosang tilted his head in confusion nostrils flared as he obviously caught Jeongin’s tart scent. Jeongin waved and Yeosang smiled hesitantly.

“Hello, I didn't know Jongho was having company over,” Yeosang said as he eyed where their hands were still linked. The boys quickly dropped each other's hands and Jongho hoped his ears weren’t as red as they felt.

Jongho cleared his throat, “ ah Yeosang hyung, this is Jeongin-ssi one our neighbors. Jeongin-ssi this is one of my hyungs Yeosang.”

Jeongin bowed politely and Yeosang answered with one of his own. The wolf gave a foxy smile as he said, “it’s nice to meet you Yeosang-ssi. I would love to stay and chat but my hyungs are expecting me.” his nerves were only slightly leaking into the air but his words held steady. Yeosang nodded his head but his nostrils flared as Jongho stepped closer. He must reek of the wolf and he hoped his hyung would be chill and not point it out.

“Ah. Well, don't let me keep you. It was nice meeting you too Jeongin-ssi. Maybe next time Jongho invites you over we can have a proper chat,” Yeosang said with a gleam in his eye but his voice and face remained statuesque betraying nothing. Jongho couldn't pick up anything in the air, Jeongin’s scent was frustratingly strong compared to the older vampire’s smell.

“Be right back hyung,” he said in a rush as they slipped out the front door. Jongho knew he wasn't off the hook but he was grateful that Yeosang didn't press him for now. The boys hurried over to the wolf’s house and as they reached the front door, Jeongin paused and turned to the vampire. A soft smile on his lips and Jongho could swear his scent grew sweeter. Strawberry syrup poured off the wolf as he gave the vampire a quick hug.

“It was nice napping with you. Maybe we can hang out sometime soon,” Jeongin said.

“I would like that. Hopefully next time you won't have to play human juice box,” Jongho joked but the wolf just shook his head and told him seriously, “ if you need me for anything, anything at all text me. Promise?”

“Ok,” Jongho said quietly and Jeongin smiled as he turned to his door.

“Goodbye vampire-ssi,” he said with a teasing tilt to his lips and Jongho stuttered out a chuckle before he said, “goodbye werewolf-ssi.”

Jongho walked slowly back to his house and he saw Yeosang in the window as he sipped at a blood bag. He braced himself for the inevitable questioning ahead of him. Part of him was frustrated that he had to explain himself all the time. Where he was, who he was with, what was he doing. It all required a report to at least one of his hyungs and he couldn't help but feel stifled under the weight of his hyungs care.

He understood why it was important but he was almost at six-month of being a vampire and he wished his hyungs would let him test himself more. Being kept in a bubble held back his progress. He knew his hyungs didn't want him to be in pain, but it was part of the process and he wanted a say in how he faced it. He’s trusted his hyungs for the beginning of it but he was a fully grown adult and it was time for them to be reminded of that fact.

***
Yeosang was amused.

He watched as their Maknae accompanied Jeongin to his front step and he enjoyed how the two fumbled around each other. The wolf had practically been dripping fondness all over their kitchen in the short time before they had left. Not to mention Jongho had smelt like he had rolled around in a patch of strawberries which was telling considering the youngest’s reservations when it came to skinship.

Jongho walked back into the house with a steeled expression and Yeosng couldn't hold in his snort.

“Relax. I’m not Wooyoung. I'm not going to ask embarrassing overshare questions,” he said and Jongho looked a little surprised but sighed in relief.

“I am curious though. When did that happen?,” Yeosang said with an arched brow.

“When did what happen hyung?” Jongho said just to be a difficult little dongsaeng as if he wasn't the source of the elephant in the room.

“You getting all buddy-buddy with the neighbors. His scent is rather telling,” Yeosang said with a shrug. Jongho avoided eye contact and his scent was covered by the wolf’s so it was hard to read him.

“We met out in the forest. He wanted to come back to the house,” Jongho said. That was concerning. The fledgling was barely getting his feet back under him.

“If I remember correctly Seongwha said that it was best if you only left the house with one of us and while that’s not a firm rule, you've followed it up until this point,” Yeosang said. He watched a Jongho stiffened and his brows pinched as a hint of anger fought through the strawberry mist.

“I just feel like I should be able to leave my own home if I want to,” Jongho said, voice void of any emotion but his scent betrayed a feeling of hurt and frustration. Where was this coming from? When Yeosang had left this morning the vampire had been in a sour mood but it was odd for him to hold onto such a bad mood.

“Noone said you can’t,” Yeosang murmured. He reached out to the vampire, “But, it’s safer if-” his words cut off as Jongho moved out of reach. It was a familiar move when Jongho was feeling overwhelmed.

“Its never going to be one hundred percent safe all the time,” and while the young vampire was right, Yeosang just wanted to protect the fledgling as much as he could. They all did. It hurt them whenever Jongho was overstimulated or overwhelmed by the world.

“Yes, but-” Yeosang started again but Jongho cut him off again.

“Hyung,” Jongho pleaded, his face scrunched up and upset. “Please just listen.”

Yeosang was taken aback by the hurt in the air. It made his heart ache as he watched their maknae take a deep breath ready to ask again but Yeosang nodded his head in acceptance. If Jongho felt it was important enough to say then he would listen.

Jongho’s face relaxed minutely “I know you all want what's best for me and you've all done your best to help me through all of this, but I think its time for you all to let me have some space to grow,” he said and Yeosang was blindsided by the amount of stress leaking off of Jongho. Had this really been bothering him that much? How had they been so blind to not notice Jongho’s distress?

“I love you all but I'm feeling smothered under all of this attention. How am I supposed to grow if I never get out of my comfort zone,” he continued and as Yeosang processed Jongho’s admittance the fledgling let him stew in his thoughts. At first, Yeosang wanted to disagree. Newborn vampires needed a lot of care. Care that many of them hadn't had the opportunity to get when they truly needed it.

Hongjoong had gotten the least amount of care as his sire had dumped him in a random town with no money or mentors to help the new vampire out. Yeosang still remembers his sire helping him off the streets and dealing with the aftermath of months of overexposure. Mingi had been a rescue Hoingjoong made after he, Wooyoung, and Yeosang had left their old coven to start a new one. Made vampires were often left to fend for themselves after seeing how much care they needed.

When the coven took on the responsibility of turning Jongho, they wanted to give him the best possible treatment. Now that Yeosang could look back at their behavior, he could see how they hadn't been the most perceptive when it came to Jongho’s growth. Maybe it was fear that blinded them or the need to overcompensate for their own past wrongs but here Jongho was telling him that he was alright. That they were doing a good job but that he needed them to trust him.

After a small pause, Yeosang met Jongho’s eyes and said, “I’m sorry Jongho-ah. We’ve been so preoccupied with keeping you safe that it kept us from noticing your unhappiness.”

“It's ok hyung, you all just need to reign it in a bit,” Jongho said with a hint of a smile. “Especially Seongwha-hyung and Hongjoong-hyung.”

“Good luck with those two,” Yeosang chuckled and raised a questioning hand toward the maknae. Jongho held his hand out and Yeosang wrapped him in a hug. The young vampire let his hyung use him as a stuffed animal for his comfort and laughed at his hyung’s snuffling.

“That wolf scent marked you from head to toe,” Yeosang said with a hum. He felt Jongho squirm as puffs of embarrassment peeked through the strawberry scent.

“Uh about that…” Jongho said nervously. Yeosang pulled back and was greeted with the vampire's blush across his cheeks. “I couldn't stomach the blood bags so I fed from him,”

Yeosang stared at the pink-cheeked maknae.

“Hongjoong-hyung is gonna be upset he missed that,” he said. He could already see the pout in his head. Now that Jongho had pointed it out, they were worse than first-time mothers desperate to catch all of their baby’s firsts.

Oh well. He’d just have to get over it.

Chapter Text

San was distracted.

His mind felt full. Clouded with coven issues as he went through the motions of his last class for the day. It was a beginner’s boxing class and while he usually loved these kinds of groups, today was hard to stay focused. He moved through the motions and corrected forms with a fake smile plastered on his face.

Yesterday, he had gotten home to a whirlwind of strawberries and distress only to find Jongho and Yeosang peacefully reading in the living room. Their house hadn't smelled of anything except their coven in months and it had raised the hairs on his neck as his instincts clawed to the surface. When he had asked what was wrong Jongho simply said that he would explain at dinner. The tart sweetness followed him around the house as each coven mate arrived.

Yunho had tripped on his way into the house as the smell assaulted his nose. Luckily Mingi had been just behind him and had been able to catch him before he hit the floor. Bloody eyes flashed as the instincts of each coven mate sensed an intruder in the house. The only one who had seemed unbothered by the distinctly other scent was Wooyoung. Hongjoong was deathly silent as he and Seongwha arrived last. His anger had stirred the anxiety and confusion into a noxious cocktail.

The tension had been unbearable. San saw as Jongho rose and sat at the table without a word of explanation with Yeosang close behind. Seongwha had whispered harshly at their Coven leader to behave to which Hongjoong had snapped that he wasn't a child. The venomous look Seongwha had shot him was enough to scare the rest of them into the dining room. As they arranged themselves around Jongho, Hongjoong had been the one to break the silence.

“Who was here?” he asked his voice thin. San hadn't seen him this angry in a long time. Hongjoong took caring for Jongho seriously and the fact that an unfamiliar scent was all over him and the house was troubling. A complete stranger had been in their house and around their fledgling.

Jongho had remained calm meeting Hongjoong’s eyes defiantly.

“One of the neighbors,” he said, which explained why the smell was so intense.

The air was jet fuel. Fumes one match, one spark away from consuming the room. Hongjoong’s rage was a hot dish ready to burn down the throats of whoever was nearest.

“And what was he doing here?” he asked, fangs like knives and even though San wasn't the one under his scrutiny he could feel the venom dripping from his voice.

Here Jongho had hesitated. His anxiety crept over the table cool against Hongjoong’s heat. San watched as Yeosang put a comforting hand over his on the table. Hongjoong’s eyes had followed the movement, blood red.

“I needed help feeding and he offered to help me,” Jongho said and the entire room grew even quieter. No one breathed and for good reason. An explosion of intense emotions flooded the room. San had inhaled for a brief second only to choke on fury.

To know that a werewolf had been up close and personal with their fledgling in such a sensitive state was anxiety-inducing. San was a born vampire but he knew one wrong move could cause extreme harm to both the vampire and the donor when feeding. He could have overfed and drained too much blood or hurt his sensitive fangs that were still coming in. If the donor freaked out then that would cause mental damage to the vampire due to the psychic loop. First feedings needed to be supervised. Hongjoong had made that clear with all of them.

Hongjoong pushed up from his chair face contorted in disbelief, “You must be joking.”

“I’m not. I can handle myself Hyung. It turned out fine,” Jongho said but his scent wavered under Hongjoong’s onslaught.

“Do you even realize how dangerous that was?” Hongjoong said, his voice shrill as more and more anger spilled from him. The weight of it felt crushing. Fear was laced in underneath the immediate anger and Seongwha looked between the two vampires in concern. San knew what the eldest was thinking. This had pushed Hongjoong too far into his instincts

“ He could have hurt you. You could have hurt him. This was so irresponsible of you and I expect better from you,” each word like a slap to the face as the youngest gradually hunched forward. Hongjoong’s small form felt impossibly big as he loomed over the table. San could only watch in horror as Jongho bowed before his sire. The pull to appease him must have felt awful. The bond between sire and fledgling was sensitive to strong emotions and San was sure he would have broken down crying if it were himself.

Yeosang spoke up from Jongho’s side, “then treat him like it. If you expect so much of our Maknae then let him have the room to prove how much he’s grown. Yes, he should have consulted one of us before doing what he did, but we can’t ignore the fact that Jongho was able to feed from someone safely without our intervention.”

Hongjoongs mouth pressed into a thin line but his silence prompted Jongho to speak.

“Please know that I would have never done it if I thought for even a moment I would have hurt him.” the maknae said eyes shining with unshed tears. Seeing their fledgling upset pulled at already sensitive instincts as hurt trickled into the room. San had wanted nothing more than to give Jongho a hug.

“And what if you got hurt? What then?” was Hongjoongs bitter reply.

Seongwha had laid a hand gently on Hongjoong’s arm only to be shrugged off as the eldest left the room. The sound of the front door slamming shut had been the final straw and tears fell down the maknae’s cheeks. The coven had jumped to comfort him but the sting of Hongjoong’s absence was hard to combat. Seongwha had muttered soft words and eventually, the tears stopped. Everyone had gone to bed unsettled that night and Hongjoong hadn't come home.

And here San stood the next day attempting to make it through his last class without letting any more stress into the air. He had already gotten a few concerned creatures asking if he was alright. He also noticed that his form and jabs were not as sleek as he usually performs. With a sigh he let his class go a few minutes early. It was nearly time to head home. He checked his phone only to see several messages from Wooyoung.

Woo Woo:
Hey, incoming I'm bringing a baddie to Horizon ;)
The beefcake neighbor from work needs a new gym
And who am I to prevent him from being an absolute hottie with a body

Me:
-.- ok I just got done with classes
I'll be at the front desk.
Did you manage to get Joongie-hyung out of his studio?

Woo Woo:
NO
┻━┻ ︵ ヽ(°□°ヽ)
He changed the passcode because he’s a jerk.
He can't hide in there forever though.
If he tries ill break down that door
(ง'̀-'́)ง

San smiled at the little emoticons as he sat down at the kiosk in the front of the gym. Regulars milled around as San waited for his coven mate. He needed his cheery disposition to distract him from the upset yesterday. Seongwha had stayed home to keep an eye on their maknae and had sent a cute selfie with the fledgling taking a nap in his office. The coven had maybe been a bit obnoxious in their spamming of the group chat but San reasoned that Hongjoong deserved to know what he was missing out on.

Hongjoongs temper had always been on the more sensitive side but it always hurt when it spiraled out of control. Instincts and feelings bubbled under the surface much brighter for his hyung than most. Most of the coven knew not to take it personally when these episodes happened but Jongho was still a recent addition. He hasn't been around for an episode yet. They were rare thankfully as Hongjoong became accustomed to monitoring and controlling it. San still remembers when Hongjoong had first brought him into the coven, anger hot and quick to flare up in the heat of the moment.

No one hated these episodes more than Hongjoong did. San felt he should have seen this coming though. After their confrontation with Jisung in the forest it should have been clear that it was waiting for an excuse to come out.

Hongjoong had explained it to San once when he had first joined the coven back when the anger wasn't as easy to keep down. That Hongjoongs instincts became a force of nature when threatened. It didn't matter who had sparked the malevolent beast inside it came out to hurt. To protect Hongjoong from the crueler side of life. His instincts put everyone into two groups. Prey or threat.

Hongjoong had impressed upon San as well as everyone else in the coven that just because it was a condition he dealt with does not excuse any kind of harm that comes from it. Once Hongjoong cooled down from his tantrum San would make sure that he knew how hurt this had made their Maknae.

A familiar cackle drew him out of his thoughts and he looked up only to do a double take.

Wooyoung had said he was bringing one of the “hot” neighbors to sign up for a gym membership, but he was not prepared for how attractive this one was. He was used to training a lot of buff chiseled men at his gym and while he enjoyed their aesthetic in a casual sense, the absolute beefcake standing next to Wooyoung was filling his stomach with butterflies.

He was a paradox of muscle and curves. His hard-earned gains rounded out in such a pleasing way. Hard and soft as taught muscle filled out his clothes and all San wanted to do was give his rounded cheeks a squish. Developed pecs filled out his black shirt and sloped down into a slim waist that flowed into thick thighs. An absolute unit as Wooyoung would say. Wooyoung wasn’t holding back either. He was using any excuse to put a hand on the wolf. He squeezed his shoulders as they walked in and rubbed his back as they made their way over to San at his Kiosk.

San hadn't seen many of the neighbors as he left the house before most sane creatures awoke and returned home at sporadic times of the day depending on his classes. Wooyoung filled him in of course but San struggled to keep all eight wolves straight in his head. He had seen their pack leader a few times but other than that the other wolves remained a mystery.

“Sannie! This is Changbin-ssi. He was telling me that he needed a new gym membership and I thought he would fit right in here,” Wooyoung said with a smirk. He gave San a telling smile as he breathed deep and he was sure he could smell exactly what he felt about the wolf.

San smiled through the embarrassment, “hello, I’m San and I run a few classes Here at Horizon. I can run you through the membership types if you would like.”

Changbin smiled and a wave of cool mint wafted over to the vampire. Amusement was sweet in the air as the buff wolf leaned on his elbows to level himself with San. Veins ran along his forearms and San tracked them up until he met eyes with the wolf.

“That would be great. I wanted to set up a few for my packmates too if that’s alright,” his crooked grin poked into his cheeks and San had to tear his eyes away. He could see Wooyoung trying to hide the fact that he was laughing at him but he was doing a poor job if the looks from other gym goers were anything to go by.

“How many memberships did you want to register?” he said as he logged onto the kiosk computer. The wolf hummed with a tilt of his head.

“Three others. Maybe four but I would have to ask,” he said as he pulled his phone out and shot off a quick text. After setting up the memberships, San offered a tour as was his job requirement for new members. Changbin happily agreed and trailed after the vampire as he showed him the main floor where all of the general equipment was. They shuffled between machines and weight stations as the wolf familiarized himself with the layout.

“As you can see Horizon has a fully functioning set up with multiple free weight stations, squatting racks, and cable machines. For cardio there is a plethora of treadmills and ellipticals,” San gestured to the front area where a few people were running on treadmills.

Changbin took his time looking at the equipment and Wooyoung nudged San with a smirk. San just shook his head and nudged him back. Changbin turned to them with a curious look but both vampires were quick to school their features.

“The scents are very mild in here. Does it get intense when the gym is packed?” Changbin asked, gently poking a finger to his cheek as he thought aloud.

San was going to die. He began to speak only for his voice to crack. He cleared his throat quickly and answered “ No. We have a state-of-the-art ventilation system that filters the air. When I partnered to start this gym I wanted it to be inclusive of all types of creatures. We’re open 24/7 as well for the more nocturnal types.”

He couldn’t help but puff up with pride talking about his Gym. He and a few other supernatural creatures had banded together to make the gym accessible to all which had taken so much planning. Trial and error continued to be their path moving forward but San was very proud of how far they’ve come.

Excitement softened his stern features as Changbin fired question after question and San was content to answer each one. Apparently, the wolf was a bit of a gym junkie and while he probably wouldn't join San’s classes, the vampire was sure he would be seeing the wolf often.

Changbin eventually had to head home but he thanked San for his time with the mention that he would see him around. Mint helped soothe the busy brain he had been having trouble with all day.

Chapter Text

Chan was functioning.

Sure he might not have slept for more than three hours in the past three days but he was on a good working streak. He's finished the first pass of 3 songs and even recorded guides for them. He was so far ahead that he had time for personal tracks that 3Racha liked to release on the side. If his emails had a few more typos than they normally did no one mentioned it.

He stretched out in his studio chair as he felt the midday slump hit him like a truck. He cracked into another energy drink to make it the rest of the day. The buzzing under his skin would simply not let him sleep. He would get off work around 4 am and go home to sleep only to lay awake in his bed in between Felix and Changbin. Then the tiredness would come up at work in an endless battle he fought with caffeinated drinks.

Chan mostly went home to put the pups at ease. Minho also got creative with his threats to drag the producer home. He couldn’t help it. He had a hard time sleeping at the best of times but around the full moon, it was practically impossible to get more than a handful of hours each night. His wolf lay just under the surface and Chan tried to make the most out of it by getting ahead at work.

With the full moon came interesting circumstances and Chan was always waiting for the ball to drop. Last month had been a near disaster because Felix hadn’t gotten enough skinship which tugged at his insecurities like a lodged splinter. The pack had been busy with moving preparations and it had left little time to visit each other. Felix had lived alone in an apartment farther than most of the others and he had felt isolated from everyone. He had then proceeded to lock himself in his apartment on the eve of their full moon run and hadn't returned any texts or calls. The pack had practically torn the door apart to make sure he was ok. After their collective mini-heart attack, they had a nice long talk about communication.

This week had already started off eventfully. Hyunjin had weaseled out of the maknae that he had been a bit too adventurous yesterday and fed the neighbors fledgling. Minho proceeded to check the wolf head to toe while encouraging Jeongin to drink copious amounts of orange juice. The omega declared that the pup was fine but not without loudly proclaiming that the pack needed to stop trying their neighbors' patience. Minho later told Chan of the excitement of the day when he arrived home after midnight. His tired Omega who was unused to staying up so late had smelt of stress. His metallic scent stung the nostrils as Chan took care to scent him.

Now Chan didn't know a lot about vampires but considering the reaction Jisung got after tumbling into one of them by accident, he could bet that they would not be happy. Chan prayed that Hongjoong would forgive them when he eventually confronted one of them.

Except, Chan hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the vampire in the past few days. Normally they bumped into each other at least once in the halls or when Hongjoong came to the 3RACHA studio to give notes on a track. It was weird and Chan had a sneaking suspicion it had to do with their Maknaes’ rash decision.

Chan had tried to talk to Mingi about it but he would always change the subject quickly. “He just gets like this sometimes,” he would say with a sad tone to his voice. Chan had also seen Wooyoung haunting their floor more often than he already does. His mind made up he typed on an open email he had contemplated sending. Chan wasn't one to avoid conflict even if he probably should sometimes.

To: Kim Hongjoog (D1)
From: Bang Chan (D1)
Subject: Meeting for Tracks 2-4

Hello Hongjoong-ssi,

I want to meet up to discuss the completion of the rough passes of tracks 2 through 4. I would like to sit down with you and go over any changes and re-establish creative direction. If we could meet today at either 5 pm or 7 pm. If not we can reschedule for tomorrow.

Thank you,
Bang Chan
Division 1

With a satisfying click of his mouse, he sent the email. Normally he would just send the tracks but being their first project together he wanted to make sure everything went smoothly. He genuinely wanted to work on their music but if Cha’s pack was the reason for Hongjoongs absence he wouldn't mind hitting two birds with one stone. He was better at expressing himself in person than through text anyways. Chan checked the time to see it was close to 3 pm already. Changbin had left to go to the new gym Wooyoung was talking about and Han had left to go home early to turn in early.

The full moon was a few days away and each member was feeling it. Changbin got wired up, Han got exhausted easily, Minho got growly and grumpy, Felix became glued to any member who sat close enough, Seungmin became almost withdrawn with how quiet he got, Hyunjin had wicked cravings and ate enough for five, and Jeongin got lonely. It was a lot to keep up with but they would figure out a system now that they all lived together. Chan’s insomnia getting worse around this time was just the icing on the cake. There was a degree of understanding when feeling got stepped on, but Chan made sure to play peacekeeper along with his beta and omega. The full moon was no reason to tear each other's throats out.

His computer pinged and he checked his emails. He frowned as he read through Hongjoong’s response.

To: Bang Chan (D1)
From: Kim Hongjoong (D1)
Subject: Meeting for Tracks 2-4

Hello Chan-Ssi,

It’s not necessary to meet in person. Just send your notes along with the tracks and I’ll get back to you asap. Include any questions you might have as well.

Thank you,
Kim Hongjoong
Division 1

Chan immediately typed a response and it was only after he sent it that he registered that maybe, just maybe, Hongjoong would like to be left alone. Chan was Persistent. With a capital P. Whether it's because he would rather die than fail or because of his constant need to be better, to do better. It pushed him forward through all of the difficult times in his life.

So, if Hongjoong was going to keep avoiding him then he was going to be in for a rude awakening. Not that that was Chan’s intention, he just tended to barrel through social situations that may have needed a bit more tact in approach.

To: Kim Hongjoog (D1)
From: Bang Chan (D1)
Subject: Meeting for Tracks 2-4

Hello Hongjoong-ssi,

I would prefer to meet in person if possible. If for any reason you can’t meet in person at the moment I completely understand and will do as instructed in the previous email. However, as a new member of the team, I feel that it's really important to talk about the tracks in person to aid in our collaborative process. There’s less room for misunderstanding.

Thank you,
Bang Chan
Division 1

Rereading the email as he waited, Chan realized he could come across as a bit pushy. This is why Chan liked talking face-to-face. He had way more control over what he said and his cheery disposition to de-escalate social misteps. In written form, unless it was a song, his words had the unfortunate consequence of being too direct. He just hoped Hongjoong would take them for what they were. An outstretched arm seeking to coexist and create good music together.

Eventually, another email pinged on his desktop and it reads simply:

To: Bang Chan (D1)
From: Kim Hongjoong (D1)
Subject: Meeting for tracks 2-4

Hello Chan-ssi,

I’m available after 7 pm if you’re willing to wait until then.

Kim Hongjoong
Division 1

Chan sent a quick confirmation, eager to get back to work. He made a quick note to get the producer’s number. Not everyone checked their emails often and he didn’t want to force Hongjoong to have to email him about every little thing.

7 o’clock rolled around quickly after Chan zoned in on his work. Four hours passed in a flash. After he saved his work and chugged some water, he made his way down the hall to the last door on the left. Hongjoongs shiny plaque greeted him and he knocked on the glass of the door. A few minutes passed and Chan was worried that he might have read the email wrong. He checked the time to make sure it was indeed 7 and the clock read back 7:04 pm. He knocked again more firmly this time and strained his ears to hear anything beyond the door. The creak of a chair and then steps could be heard. Not a second later Hongjoong opened the door a crack.

“Is there anyone with you?” he asked and Chan shook his head. The vampire ushered him in and swiftly closed and locked the door. Chan’s sensitive nose twitched as it took in the smells of the studio. The air was stale in the room like no one had opened the door in a while. The copper tang of blood drifted from the trash as it was filled with empty blood bags. Hongjoong sank back into his chair and eyed the wolf. There were faint bags under his eyes and his hair was grown out a bit. Chocolate brown hair was growing into black and white strands.

“I'm sorry if my email came across as rude. That's why I like speaking in person better. It's not as easy to misread voice tones,” Chan said as he shuffled towards the leather sofa. Ocean salt waded into the room the longer Chan stood there. He hoped his scent was as genuine as he felt.

“Ah, it's fine. I think I know you well enough now to know there weren't any harsh intentions,” Hongjoong said his voice quiet in the silence of the studio. His scent was as stale as the room as if he too had not left in the past few days.

Chan hesitated wary of rubbing his scent on the vampire's space, but Hongjoong motioned for him to sit on the sofa. The vampire looked distracted but Chan couldn’t tell if his scent was bothering him. Maybe the vampire had time to prepare himself for it.

“Let’s get started then,” Hongjoong said as he turned to pull up the songs Chan had forwarded him earlier. The first song was titled “Ocean Heist.” Chan squirmed anxiously as he watched Hongjoong. He was confident in his skills but Hongjoong held an air of intimidation that was hard to see what he was thinking.

The sound of crashing waves opened the song before the hard beat started. The group's theme was a mix of pirates, sci-fi criminals, and anarchy. The story was complicated and had many threads that tied into different albums, but the debut album would be focusing on the pirate part of their theme. Chan was especially excited to work with this new idol group because not only was it a coed group but it was also a mixed supernatural group as well. They would be the first group of their kind and Chan loved being part of breaking the norms.

Hongjoong listened as the song crested at a complicated beat drop and as the song finished he wrote some notes down. Since he wasn’t a wolf Chan couldn’t smell any noticeable shifts in his scent. It’s different from how vampires work in that wolves detect shifts in the specific scents on other wolves. With packmates, it was easy given how much time they spent in close proximity but Chan was decent at reading strangers too. The vampire's scent as well as his facial features remained stubbornly neutral.

He played the next song, “Chaos NOW”, and funky pop layered with hard-hitting rap filled the studio (courtesy of Changbin’s guide). Hongjoong’s eyes widened at the expertly spit verses and life seemed to fill his features. His foot started tapping to the beat and Chan wondered if the vampire noticed he was letting himself relax a bit.

He wrote more notes and played the last song, the ballad that Chan had been a bit nervous about. “Star Map” started soft, with tinkling bells layered over Chan’s voice as the guide he recorded filled the room. He didn't like using his own voice often but both Han and Changbin had left before he could have either of them do it.

The vampire hummed along with the ballad and it ended fairly quickly. Chan waited with bated breath as the vampire typed away at his computer before tuning to Chan with the notes he’d written.

“So, what did you think?” the wolf asked. It was hard to tell just from Hongjoong’s body language. There was tension in his hunched shoulders but Chan couldn't tell what it was aimed at.

“The first two were polished pretty well, the lyrics flow nicely but I would make some adjustments to the tracks. Ocean heist could use more adlibs or sound samples near the beginning. The waves are a nice touch but it needs to feel fuller.” Hongjoong said evenly. His voice was void of any tiredness he clearly felt but his eyes shined when he spoke about the music.

“That's what I was thinking but I don't have enough samples of pirate-esque noises to fill the sound out more,” Chan said as he played with the curls of his bleached hair. He had been thinking about dying it a different color as it was hard to maintain.

“I have some samples I can send you but blending in some sci-fi sounds would also pull the theme together too,” Hongjoong offered and then went to the next song. He played it until about halfway and then hit pause. “Chaos NOW is 90% done but I think the lyrics could use some rewording.”

He marks down some words on the notes page and he and Chan go back and forth as they workshop the song. Hongjoong’s point of view was refreshing and he got so excited when Chan offered ideas. Hongjoong made him feel welcome and open. This is why he wanted to talk in person. Ideas flowed faster and songs finished quicker because of it. It was also lovely to finally see a little behind the mask Hongjoong kept tightly in place.

They moved on to the ballad and Hongjoong let it play out entirely one more time. He looked at Chan and the wolf felt pinned under his gaze. The song was about two ships lost out at sea that found each other because the stars guided them back to each other. It began with a lonely tune despite the high-pitched bells. While working on the song, Chan had thought about the time before he met Changbin when he was a lone wolf for 7 long years. How hard it had been being alone with no pack.

Instead of saying anything Hongjoong got up from his creaky chair and sat next to Chan on the sofa. The couch was small so there was barely space between the two creatures. Chan turned curious to Hongjoong but the vampire stared at a space on the ceiling. It was quiet before Hongjoong took a deep breath. The stress he held in his small frame seemed to weigh heavily. As if he was carrying extra weight in his limbs.

“Is the song that bad,” Chan joked. If they scrapped the song he would just repurpose it for a personal project. Something in him just wanted to lighten the load the vampire carried like a cross.

“No, it's beautiful,” Hongjoong replied quickly. He looked serious but he still kept his gaze forward.

“Something else on your mind then,” Chan said and Hongjoong nodded. They sat in the quiet as Chan waited for Hongjoong to speak.

“Do you ever feel like you've failed? As a pack leader?” Finally came the brittle question. The exhaustion finally took hold of the vampire as he slumped back against the leather of the sofa.

It stunned Chan briefly as it wasn't the sort of thing he would expect from the vampire. They were barely getting to know each other because of work and all the times Chan had spoken to him had been carefully casual. Maybe it was the fact that they were both obviously exhausted that led to the moment of vulnerability. Too tired to keep the distance both of them had maintained. Chan hummed as he rolled the question around in his head.

“Of course. There are a lot of times when I felt like I failed my packmates. It used to happen more frequently but that was before I learned to let go of the idea of control when it came to my pack,” the wolf said and Hongjoong finally turned to him. The bags under his eyes seemed more pronounced up close. He looked fragile like untempered glass with scuffed edges.

Chan gave him a tired smile and let his scent filter out calmly into their shared space. Changbin was better at calming others with his scent but Chan knew a thing or two about pheromones. Hongjoong may not be a wolf but that didn't mean he wasn't affected by the ocean scent.

“I haven't quite mastered it yet but Changbin and Minho help a ton,” Chan said fondly. He’s sure Minho was ready to drag him home as they spoke. “I used to think that I had to have a say in how things went. How time together should be spent. That my pack's safety and happiness lived and died with me. That if they listened to everything I said that it would keep them happy and safe.”

“What changed?” Hongjoong asked with an edge of desperation mixed in. Like he needed to know. That the answer Chan had would help the vampire in some way.

“I let go of that control. I let them make their own decisions. I helped if they asked for it but mostly I just made sure I was there to support them through whatever they did. It was terrifying for a long time but trusting your members is the key. Spreading out the responsibilities helps too.” Chan answered with a crooked smile. The lack of sleep was starting to hit him. Maybe he would head home early tonight to get some real sleep. “You have to practice catching yourself when you feel like you're forcing a good situation. I'm sorry if that doesn’t make complete sense. I haven’t slept in a few days.” He said as a yawn interrupted his train of thought.

Hongjoong’s lips curled but his eyes still held a delicate quality to them. The more Chan looked the warmer he felt. The vampire’s beauty was a haunted kind of thing, but the wolf couldn’t help but feel drawn to it. He understood deeply what the vampire felt even if he couldn't smell it. Running a group of eight people was difficult no matter if it was a pack or a coven. The fear of letting them down could be crippling.

“Thank you for answering. I know that wasn’t the most professional question,” Hongjoong said, an embarrassed flush rose to his cheeks.

Chan cooed mentally “don’t worry. I hope my rambling helped. If not I’m always open to talking Hongjoong-ssi”

Hongjoong stretched as he got up from the couch, joints popped before he settled back into his rolling chair. He peeked at Chan and the wolf gave the vampire a crooked smile.

“Would you like to keep working on the album with me? I think I have an idea for the first two songs” Hongjoong asked. Chan perked up and readily agreed. Hongjoong was a private person who often chose to work alone and Chan wasn't about to second guess this little olive branch.

They worked late into the night oblivious to their phones' insistent notifications.

Chapter Text

Seonghwa was fed up.

It was nearing 1 am and Hongjoong had actively avoided the coven for three days straight. The producer thought Seonghwa couldn’t tell when he managed to sneak into the house when everyone was out, but his sad, herbal scent was hard to miss. Not to mention the missing A-positive blood bags from the fridge.

It hurt his heart knowing his coven was in disarray but Seonghwa was well-versed in these self-pity episodes after a meltdown. He's had years of practice and he wasn't about to let their coven leader off the hook. If left to his own devices Hongjoong would just isolate and beat himself up until one of them dragged him back to the house. In his mind, he was giving the coven space but all it truly did was make everyone sad.

Hongjoong always tried his hardest to keep himself in check but it was difficult to fight against yourself. None of them had endless patients and having a fledgling was bound to trigger his anger episodes at one point or another. The reassuring thought of dumping Hongjoong’s in a therapist's office felt tempting but Hongjoong was his own person. All he could do was continue to suggest it. Still, Seonghwa knew that a therapist would help Hongjoong better than the coven could in this matter. A topic that Hongjoong avoided at all costs because he knew he didn’t have a solid argument against Seonghwa’s gentle logic.

So here Seonghwa was getting dressed to drag an unruly producer out of his studio. He padded downstairs in layered warm clothes to brave the chilly night. A light was still on and the eldest peaked into the living room. A lamp lit the living room in a yellow glow where their youngest was nestled on the couch. He was cuddled up in a soft blanket as he kept watch out the large window. Seonghwa had found him asleep on the couch the first-night Hongjoong had left having escaped their vampire pile in the middle of the night.

Jongho was handling it the best he could considering his sire had blown up at him. After Seonghwa had wiped his tears away the first night, he gently reminded the maknae that he hadn’t been around long enough to see this happen yet. To not take it personally but to still hold Hongjoong accountable for hurting his feelings. Despite how dangerous feeding could be, it didn't warrant Hongjoong’s explosive anger.

The first-day Hongjoong didn’t come back, the fledgling had been gloomy and had stuck to Seonghwa’s side. His more floral scent wilted as he tried his best to work through his schoolwork. When he wasn’t listlessly typing away at his laptop he was messaging on his phone. Despite the fledgling’s dejected spirit, he bounced back quickly.

At first, Seonghwa had thought he was trying to get Hongjoong’s attention but he caught the fledgling crack a smile and his mood improved the more he messaged. His scent began to carry notes of warmth, blooming with affection.

Seonghwa had asked who he was texting and Jongho flushed guiltily when he said the wolf from next door. Stress had leaked into the air as the youngest waited for the oldests’ judgment. Seonghwa had just smiled and asked the maknae to invite his friend over sometime so the eldest could meet the vampire’s new friend. Seonghwa worried as much as the rest of them but that did not warrant hiding away Jongho like a princess in a tower.

Now, after careful thought, he asked the fledgling “Would you like to come with me to pick up your idiot hyung from his lair?” Jongho had looked away from the window, head tilted curiously before recognition flashed across his face.

“Are you sure? Is he done being an idiot?” Jongho asked. There were equal amounts of apprehension and excitement coming from the Maknae. Excited at the prospect of leaving the house for the first time in a month and apprehensive of their coven leader’s reaction. The building was going to be mostly empty so it was going to be fine bringing along Jongho. Seonghwa wasn’t above using their Maknaes sway over the Hongjoong to drag him out of his studio.

“No, but I refuse to let him keep this up any longer,” Seonghwa said. His irritation relaxed a bit as the fledgling cracked a smile.

“Ok hyung, ill come with you. Let’s go make hyung grovel for our forgiveness,” He said cheekily as he slipped on an especially fluffy sweater.

“There’s our feisty maknae. I'm sure you’ll manage to get a decent apology and some compensation from Joongie,” Seonghwa said as he returned the wicked smile.

He grabbed the keys from their hook and opened the door with a bit more force than necessary. As he walked down the front step with Jongho at his side, he saw that one of the neighbors car’s was on. Exhaust trailed white behind the car due to the cold as the lights of the car lit up the driveway. Minho and a wolf he couldn’t name but recognized were in the car. The wolf’s face creased as he looked at his phone.

The vampire shook his head to clear his mind. Back to his mission of kidnapping the stubborn producer. He couldn’t help but be curious as to where their neighbor was going at this time of night.

The drive was quiet but comfortable even as Jongho’s scent held a tinge of anxiety. They arrived at ATSK entertainment quickly thanks to the lack of traffic and as Seonghwa parked the car he noticed a familiar car in the parking lot. Sure enough, it's the neighbor's car with metal and lemon in the air. Jongho hummed as he too scented the air, his confidant maknae now hesitantly looking around not so subtly.

The lobby was empty save for a lone security guard who was chatting with Minho and one of his packmates. Sharp metal chilled the lobby despite the bursts of lemon scent present. Annoyance and irritation made the wolf's strong scent deadly. Seonghwa checked over Jongho to see how he was dealing with the unexpected encounter. The fledgling was carefully breathing through his mouth but otherwise, he seemed ok. The lemon probably helped to water down the strong scent. Seonghwa couldn’t imagine what it would be like on its own.

Minho looked over, cold eyes steely, as he assessed the two vampires. The other wolf waved the security guard farewell as he went back to sitting at the front desk. He didn’t have a scent which meant he wasn’t human but other than that it was impossible to tell what he could be. Only creatures closest to humans could be perceived through scent by vampires.

“Seonghwa-ssi, fancy seeing you here. Do you also have a lost producer who can’t remember to pick up his phone,” Minho said the words held an amused tone despite the negative emotions that clung to the wolf. It felt like there was a delicate balance the wolf was trying to keep and if the vampire couldn’t smell the anger in the air he would not be able to tell from Minho’s voice.

“Unfortunately yes,” Seonghwa said with a surprised chuckle. “ Hongjoong-ah has been a little too into his work lately.”

“Our Channie-hyung likes to harp on us to get enough rest but lack to do it himself,” Minho said.

“We should make a support group for those who have workaholic producers,” Seonghwa said tiredly and Minho laughed.

Seonghwa turned to their two younger ones and sighed. Jongho was focused on a random point on the opposite wall while the young wolf seemed to be covertly scenting the air. The repetition of almost silent inhales seemed to draw Minho’s attention as well.

“This is Seungmin-ah, another one of my packmates,” Minho said and the wolf in question bowed. He shared Minho’s penchant for looking absolutely bored to death but lemon puffed around them curiously. It was calm and refreshing. Almost sweet like lemonade.

Jongho’s scent grew softer, a touch of nerves but also a tinge too faint to make out. Seonghwa looked between the shy wolf and vampire as they awkwardly hovered around each other. Seonghwa nudged Jongho and gave him a meaningful look. The fledgling quickly introduced himself and both wolfs perked up with interest.

“So this is the fledgling I’ve heard so much about. I have a pup that can’t seem to tear himself away from his phone because of you. It’s nice to finally meet you,” Minho teased and Jongho flushed a cute pink.

“Jeongin-ssi is doing ok then? He said he was alright after the… other day,” Jongho said.

“Oh he’s just fine,” Minho said knowingly. His voice was filled with amusement and the anger seemed to diffuse further. Seonghwa couldn’t help but feel relieved that the pack wasn’t angry at their fledgling. He was glad he could stop worrying about that on top of their difficult coven leader.

“Shall we go collect our leaders then,” Seonghwa asked. Neither of the wolves objected and that was how Seonghwa found himself in a small elevator with strong scents. Jongho was holding up remarkably well. Seonghwa’s instincts hadn’t gotten irritated due to Minho’s scent despite the close proximity which also seemed like a miracle.

Seungmin kept glancing at Jongho but his scent was barely registering as curious now, it felt more like anticipation. Jongho held steadfast even though he too must be picking up the wolf's scent. Minho was checking his phone and it reminded Seonghwa to check his own to see if Hongjoong responded to any of his messages. The screen flashed at him blankly with no new notification and the time read 1:32 am. Seonghwa sighed before pocketing his phone.

Minho sent him a sympathetic look as his catlike features sharpened his face. The irritation was returning to the wolf’s scent. Jongho shifted uncomfortably and brought his sweater tighter around him to try and distract his sensitive nose with his own scent.

The door thankfully opened to the fifth floor where the air was clear. There were hints of Hongjoong’s scent that lingered. The floor was empty and Seonghwa watched as Minho marched forward with purpose. Wild metallic scent a whirlwind left behind him as Seungmin followed. They stopped at a door a few doors away from Hongjoong’s and entered a code. It beeped happily and the door opened easily. Minho stared at the empty room before his brows furrowed. Worry now joined the irritation in the air.

Seungmin turned toward the end of the hallway and inhaled deeply. He tilted his head before nudging Minho towards the other doors.

“Hyung is here. There are only two strong scents still present,” the younger wolf said. His voice was soft and melodic in the near-silent hallway. Minho turned to Seonghwa with a contemplating look.

“It looks like our unruly mates have decided to room together,” Minho said.

Seonghwa had a feeling that this was going to be a complicated situation. Despite that, he said “ Hongjoong-ah’s room is the last door. I have the code but he might have changed it.” Seonghwa gently brushed past the two wolves to said door. Hongjoong’s gold plaque hung mockingly.

Seonghwa entered Hongjoongs regular code. 10-24-18, the day that Hongjoong gained the first member of his coven. The door stayed resolutely locked. Seonghwa just sighed before typing a few different combinations. Hongjoong was a sentimental romantic despite his efforts to hide it so Seonghwa was bound to run into the right combo eventually. He cycled through everyone's birthday and it finally unlocked after putting in their Maknae’s bitten date.

Minho hummed and said, “ you know your coven leader well.”

Seonghwa turned to him with a self-satisfied smile “ Our Hongjoongie is a bit too predictable most of the time.”

The vampire braced himself before reaching for the handle. The glass studio door opened to reveal the one who must be Chan and Hongjoong huddled around a monitor and keyboard. Ocean breeze and stale blood trickled out of the room as all four creatures tried to peak into the room. The one who must be Chan had a large pair of headphones on and was oblivious to their intrusion. Hongjoong, however, turned to the door and his eyes widened almost comically. Panic and shame flooded the room.

Yeah, this was going to be a long night.

******************************************************************************

Seungmin’s nose itched as the door to the studio opened.

He expected the coven leader to be a bit more intimidating than his pack mates had led him to believe, but here sat a slim man Seungmin was sure he could snap in half. To be fair the other two vampires weren't that frightening either. Seungmin has met his fair share of vampires at university. Heck, even Professor Kang was pretty laidback, but he could be downright scary about his exams.

Jongho was a lot cuter than Innie was willing to reveal and he was so going to torment their youngest later. Hyunjin will be delighted, to say the least. Seonghwa wasn't hard on the eyes either but Han liked to wax poetics about the kind vampire to a near-exhausting degree. The fact that Minho-hyung seemed to like Seonghwa too was interesting since he had a jealous streak a mile wide when it came to Hannie.

Han had made it seem like Hongjoong was the cold and calculating type who could be unapproachable, but sitting in his studio chair that practically swallowed him whole, he looked just as tired as Chan-hyung. Hongjoong tapped Chan on the shoulder to let him know they had company. Chan tugged the headphones off and as he turned to face them Seungmin's heart hurt. Deep circles clung to the wolf's eyes that were bloodshot from staring at a screen for who knows how long.

“Oh, Seungminnie! I was just talking about you. Your voice would be perfect for a track we’re working on,” Chan said excitedly, tousled blond locks sticking up from the headphones. Hongjoong cringed a bit. He must not be as sleep deprived as Chan-hyung because he could tell that now was not the time to talk shop.

Seungmin shook his head in disbelief. He could already smell Minho’s scent thickening and it was starting to sting his nose. Chan hyung was going to get an earful once they dragged him to the car.
“Hyung. Have you looked at your phone at all in the last five hours?” Seungmin asked.
“Uh, no…” Chan said hesitantly as he pulled said phone out of his hoodie pocket. His face went from tired confusion to poorly concealed shame. Calm ocean waves rolled into foamy rotten salt. That was the thing about Chan, he tried so hard to be the perfect hyung that when he did mess up from time to time the guilt flooded him.

Hongjoong winced at the change in smell and Seungmin couldn't help but sympathize. Chan’s ocean scent could be really overbearing when left unchecked and Seungmin doubted Chan had enough energy to control it right now. To help compensate, Seungmin stepped more into the small studio room and pushed his lemon scent out in bursts. His may not be the strongest but it usually helped neutralize most of his pack's scents.

“It's time to come home hyung,” Seungmin said before looking to the Hongjoong. “Sorry to steal him away, but it's almost the full moon and he needs more than a few hours of sleep,” Seungmin said to try and lighten the moon.

Hongjoong’s eyes widened and Seungmin was about to apologize but the vampires eye’s went hooded; pupils blown wide as he noticeably inhaled deeply.

“It’s alright. It looks like I'm going to be turning in early as well,” came his high-pitched voice. It was delicate like everything else about this vampire. The vampire made no moves as Seungmin approached the two producers. He seemed almost half asleep while Seungmin pulled Chan out of his place on the couch.

“Let’s go home, hyung. Before Minho-hyung carries you out himself,” he said and Chan nodded mulishly. He titled his head in invitation and Chan scented him softly, a quiet apology and need for reassurance in one gesture. Minho’s expression remained placid as he turned to walk down the hallway. Seonghwa and Jongho watched after them as they left with quiet murmurs of goodnight.

Seungmin sighed and trailed after Minho with his sad, exhausted hyung plastered to his back.

Chapter Text

Jongho was uneasy.

As their wolfish neighbors left, a complex mix of guilt, irritation, and exasperation left with them. Well, the irritation and exasperation left but the guilt was still heavy in the air and Jongho knew he was adding anxiety to the mix of aromas. It was hard not to wince at this particular blend of angst and stale blood.

The guilty vampire in question hasn't moved from his chair resolutely gluing his eyes to the floor with his head bowed. The taste of self-deprecation brought up memories of quiet conversation in dark rooms the first month after Jongho had been turned. When his stomach turned regardless of whether the blood was fresh or not and noise-canceling headphones were his safe haven from the noisy new old world.

Back then Hongjoong could barely stand being in the same room without shame despite having agreed to turn Jongho. He had even been the one to propose it to him after being with the coven for so long. It was in those dim lights that Hongjoong had told him the story of his own turning and the absolutely horrifying ordeal it had been. He hadn't said as much, but how else would you describe being manipulated and pursued by someone who would inevitably dump you aside like hot garbage?

Hongjoong had to drop out of his internships and struggled through nightshifts to afford blood bags. It was a miracle that Yeosang had found him collapsed in a convenience store during one of his shifts. He woke up angry and bitter despite Yeosang’s tenderness and it had been a long process to cool his antagonism.

Now he saw some of that bitterness clinging to his sire like it will shield him away from the potential hurts of the conversation their about to have.

“Hyung,” Jongho said, almost afraid to disturb the silence that had settled on the small studio. It didn't suit the space meant for music.

Hongjoong looked up as his face tried to stay blank. Tired golden eyes met Jongho’s crimson and all at once the feelings of hurt and sadness hit the fledgling like a smack to the face. The last time he had seen Hongjoong was when he had been furious. Now the tears fought to run down Jongho’s cheeks as hurtful words surfaced.

“So irresponsible … I expect better from you”

“I-I know what I did was dangerous, and I am sorry for not calling anyone in the coven for help, but I don't think it's fair to everyone that you're avoiding our home,” Jongho said. Because of me, went unsaid. Seongwha inhaled sharply from behind the fledgling but Jongho waited for Hongjoong to say something. Anything. He scrubbed the tears and sniffed in an effort to stem the floodgates. Jongho hated crying, he hated feeling so vulnerable in front of others but Hongjoong was his sire, and before that he was Jongho’s partner. He couldn’t fight the rush of feelings even if he wanted to.

“I appreciate your apology, but what good is my word if no one respects it,” Hongjoong said. His bond with Hongjoong pulled as emotions raced across from both sides. Guilt, anxiety, anger, and hurt feelings exchanged in a tiresome dance

“Hongjoong! That’s not what this is about.” Seongwha said from his place at the door.

“No, ever since these new neighbors have come over I’ve been walked all over. I say be cautious and our youngest goes and feeds from a stranger.” His voice raised and he got to his feet as he paced in the cramped area. “Obviously my opinion means nothing. Go ask your new wolf friends as they’ve been oh so helpful.”

Every word stuck like a barb in Jongho’s chest. The anger in the room was getting whipped up in a frenzy and Jongho couldn’t stand the weight it forced on him. If Hongjoong wanted to hurl words Jongho could play that game too. There would be no winner though, only sore spots.

“Your opinion doesn't matter? Just listen to yourself Hyung. Maybe if you were around the house for longer than two seconds you would know more about our neighbors beyond your paranoia of them,” Jongho said and he knew his words hurt after Hongjoong practically froze. Jongho rarely ever raised his voice and never before had he said such things to Hongjoong. Jongho seized the stunned silence and added more fuel to the fire.

“Your not home enough to help us anyways,” Jongho said and Hongjoong’s fire turned cold as the hurt in the air doubled. It felt like swallowing a bruise with each breath. Jongho’s lungs throbbed under the pain.

“I would know since I’m home every single day,” Jongho continued rage now stewing over blocking sense in favor of dishing as much pain as he could. “The one time I leave I’m suddenly labeled as irresponsible while you're never home. Are we not important enough for you to tear yourself away from your work?”

“Both of you stop it!” Seonghwa said firmly as he placed himself between the two. There was a look of panic as he frantically tried to figure out how to salvage this situation. Seonghwa always tried to hold things together. Jongho felt sorry for making his hyung stressed but Hongjoong had hit a nerve.

“I didn’t plan to feed off of someone outside the coven. At least my wolf friend listens when I talk to him. I'm not your kid so stop acting like you have that kind of authority over me. I choose to stay with the coven,” Jongho felt out of breath and his heaving filled the silence in the air. The tear stopped but the hurt was still fresh. Hongjoong was stubbornly not looking at the fledgling now. He had had enough of this. Hongjoong wasn't going to listen and Jongho was done dealing with his stubborn Hyung.

He ducked out of the room despite his Seonghwa hyung yelling after him. He rushed past the elevator to the stairwell and pulled his phone out. After a quick dial the phone pick up and Yunho’s tired voice came through, “Jongho?”

“Can you pick me up hyung?” he asked and the sleepy vampire mumbled a quick acknowledgment.

“Wait, where are you at?” Yunho asked as if it just dawned on him that it was Jongho who had asked for a ride. Jongho couldn't help but laugh at his oblivious hyung despite how shattered he felt.

“ATSK Entertainment” he answered back. He knew his voice wobbled but he was glad he managed to get the words out.

“Oh, ok ill be right there”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seungmin was tired.

Chan had clung to him as if he would shield him from Minho’s foul mood. They sat together in the backseat as Minho drove them in the silent night. The further away from the core of the city the more Chan sagged in Seungmin's side. The contact soothed Seungmin’s instincts as the wolf felt the call of the coming full moon. The normally independent wolf craved his packmates more the fuller the moon grew. However, with the full moon, he seemed to lose his words.

Normally he would have chatted up the vampires they met at the company but instead, they came slowly and hard to arrange. He had barely managed to introduce himself which left the talking up to Minho. Not that the wolf seemed to mind. Still, Seungmin would have liked to pull more info out of Jongho about his and Jeongin’s little playdate. Jeongin had been annoyingly quiet about it despite his and Hyunjin’s bribery.

Chan pulled Seungmin closer and tucked his nose into Seungmin’s nape. Lemon and ocean water filled the space and it was lulling Seungmin to sleep. He was up far later than he usually would be on a school night but his classes wouldn't start until noon. Thankfully he would be able to catch some shut-eye once they got home.

A low rumble came from the front and Chan stiffened in his hold. Minho's astringent metallic scent was full of annoyance and irritation. Patience clearly run out but it wasn't like he had a ton to give Chan when he was being dense.

“Now you feel like sleeping huh?” came Minho’s stern voice. It was a little unfair given the leader's known insomnia. From the smell of his metallic scent, Seungmin doubted Chan hyung would be getting off the hook easily.

“I’m sorry” Chan whined sleepily.

“Your lucky I don't lock you in the den to make sure you get some rest,” Minho continued tone more exasperated than mad now. It was a familiar dance the two moved to. Chan would overwork himself and Minho was there to knock sense back into him. Chan returned the favor when Minho refused to take breaks from his pack duties. They balanced each other and lead each other like the moon guiding the tide in and out. A steady and familiar rhythm they built over the few years since Minho joined their pack.

They reached their house finally and Seungmin nudged Chan to step out of the car. Minho jumped out and opened their door before the eldest could even move.

“C’mon Channie-hyung, before Minho hyung decides to lock you in the car,” Seungmin said and chan sighed deeply. He took one last inhale of Seungmins sweet lemony scent and then faced Minho. He earnestly said another apology and titled his head purposefully up and away. It wasn't often that Chan submitted to any of them, not unless he was trying to apologize for something. Minho stared him down for a few long seconds before nudging his nose against the oldest’s neck.

“I’ll forgive you when you get more than three consecutive hours of sleep,” Minho said as he nipped at Chan's neck. Ocean waves flooded the small car's backseat and Seungmin felt hazy as the strong scent lulled his wolf to the forefront. He felt his teeth grow inside his mouth and fur itch underneath his skin. Minho tilted his head to look at Seungmin over Chan’s shoulder.

Seungmin whimpered his voice warping as his vocal cords shifted to those that belonged to a wolf. Human words were no longer able to come out fluidly.

“Need to shift Seungminnie?” Minho asked as he stepped back and pulled Chan with him. Seungmin nodded and he quickly climbed out of the car and landed on all fours. His shift was almost instantaneous as bones rearranged and dark brown fur sprouted forward. He shook out his coat and stretched out his limbs.

He was one of the smaller wolves in the pack. Closer to the size of a regular wolf than say Chan or Minho. The urge to shift had been present all day but he had been preoccupied all day. First his internship at a nearby animal clinic and then helping with dinner and finally their little trip to pick up Chan hyung.

Now he felt himself settle as he looked up at his hyungs. Chan smiled and reached out a hand to scratch into the deep undercoat of Seungmins fur. Minho locked the car with a flick of his wrist and led the trio into the house. The soft thudding of socked feet greeted them as Hyunjin came to greet the.

“Remember to check your phone next time or I really will lock you up next time,” Minho said tiredly as he went into the kitchen. Chan hung his head with a sigh and Hyunjin giggled.

“Poor hyung, big bad Minho dragged you away from work,” he said teasingly and clung to him in a quick scent before he turned to Seungmin. “And poor Minnie. I’m surprised you made it this long before needing to shift.”

Seungmin just huffed and nudged his head against Hyunjin’s thigh. He just wanted to go to bed. It was nearing two in the morning and he had another shift at the clinic tomorrow. Hyunjin smiled sweetly before he asked “ Want to sleep with me tonight? I could use a sleeping buddy since Changbin hyung stole Innie from me.”

Seungmin nodded his head ears twitching as Hyunjin ran his hand alongside his head. Hyunjin said goodnight before he led the wolf upstairs. The room that they shared with Minho was rather large and had both a large king-size bed and a pallet of blankets around a wolf bed in the corner. All of their rooms had both as it was hard to sleep in wolf form on the human beds.

Seungmin curled up on the wolf bed. Hyungjin pulled another blanket from the bed and messed with the pillows around Seungmin. The blanket smelled strongly of Jeongin, refreshing strawberries joining his lemon and Hyunjin’s peachy scents. The others liked to joke that they were a fruit cocktail as the three often grouped together.
Once everything was in its proper place Hyunjin moved back to shift. He had a beautiful pure white coat that shone even in the gentle artificial light of their bedroom. Now that he was shifted Seungmin reached out with his mind into the shared space that connected the pack in their wolf forms.

“I have some interesting news for you,” Seungmin said. Hyunjin curled himself around Seungmin and rested his head along Seungmin’s shoulder.

“Oh? Spill.” Hyunjin said sleepily.

“I met Jongho, the vampire that Jeongin has been so flustered about,” Seungmin said and he felt Hyungjin’s surprise and excitement spike in their shared mind-space. Seungmin focused on the image of the vampire when they were at the company building. His soft yet stern features floated into view. Hyunjin’s peachy scent spiked as he saw the projected image. Seungmin could practically feel the wolf squeal with glee.

“Oh he’s a cute one. No wonder Innie’s been gatekeeping him from us. I want to meet him too.” Hyunjin said.

“Don’t go scaring him off. He seemed really shy.” said Seungmin with a huff.

“Not shy enough to keep himself from chomping on Innie. I wonder if he needs any other volunteers.” Hyunjin said playfully.

“Yah. Leave it be. You wonder why Jeongin has been so hesitant about telling us anything.” Seungmin says longsufferingly. The wolf's antics were draining the last bit of energy he had.

“I’m only joking relax. Innie gets embarrassed so easy I'm sure he’s just shielding himself from everybody's teasing. Remember how much of a mess he was when Chan had asked to court him?” Hyunjin said.

He did remember. Jeongin had been a constant shade of pink as he visited the pack in the beginning.

“If we play our cards right maybe we can convince Jeongin to introduce us properly,” Seungmin said as he huffed in amusement before he settled further into the pillows. He felt Hyunjin relax more into him and they both drifted to sleep as thoughts of the new vampire swirled pleasantly.

Seungmin wanted a chance to be able to talk to the vampire properly. Maybe after the full moon when words came a little easier to the wolf.

Chapter Text

The small studio room hung in silence after their fledgling ran off. Seonghwa
wanted to go after him, but as he turned to chase him, Hongjoong hooked a hand into his sleeve. There was a tremble from the vampire leader as he sucked in heavy breaths. Seonghwa was torn between both his coven mates that needed him so dearly. He could only hope Jongho would call one of the others.

“I can't believe he said that,” Hongjoong said quietly. The broken words tumbled around the quiet space as Seonghwa searched for the right words. The words that would make things better. Hongjoong looked at Seonghwa and repeated, “Can you believe he said that?”

Hongjoong’s usually sparkling golden eyes were a dimly tarnished gold. His complexion was ashen and Seonghwa wondered when the vampire had last had a meal. The blood bags he snagged from home were not enough to keep the vampire healthy. The usual strength and tension held in Hongjoongs shoulders broke and curved as he hunched over himself.

“It's my fault.” came the whispered admission as what felt like tons of pressure-filled the room. Guilt and grief fought as the vampire sank down onto the old leather couch. “It's my fault but it still hurts so much,” he said. His repeated words echoed as if he could only give new words after he repeated his last ones.

Seonghwa crouched in front of Hongjoong and gently cupped his hands with his own. He did his best to breathe through the tidal wave of negative emotions and keep himself steady. “You both are going to give me grey hairs someday,” Seonghwa said in hopes to lighten the mood the tiniest bit. Hongjoong sniffled as his eyes were closed tightly to fight back tears.

“I hate that I keep doing this to our coven,” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa sighed. “I feel myself get upset and all of those old feelings run amuck.” his voice came out in a broken croak and Seonghwa felt tears rise to his own eyes. The heat of self-loathing burned hot and familiar into the air. It made the air even heavier. It was something that trailed behind Hongjoong like a ghost on even his sunniest days.

“Oh, Hongjoong-ah. Your heart has been battered more times than I could count. I don't blame you but you are still responsible for what you do and say,” Seonghwa said. Hongjoongs hands clutched at him in a grip that betrayed how lonely they were. Hongjoong was someone who craved isolation just as much as he craved companionship.

Seonghwa remembers meeting Hongjoong late one night when the vampire was going home from his studio and Seonghwa was coming back from a midnight trip to the convenience store. They crossed paths and when those tired golden eyes had met Seonghwas own, he had seen the loneliness in them. Both vampires had been at the start of their careers and were bone tired and isolated from the workloads required of them. They kept meeting on those late nights and eventually Seonghwa dragged Hongjoong into a conversation. From then on he continued talking to the lonely producer, which led to him joining Hongjoongs coven.

Seonghwa remembers when Hongjoong had first blown up at him because he had nagged him to come home from the studio at a reasonable time.

“I'm the bad guy for wanting to provide for my coven” he had yelled red-faced and Seonghwa had glimpsed at the loneliness that haunted the vampire. It turned insecurity into knives ready to be hurled at whoever was closest. He had then watched as Hongjoong apologized over and over as fear and guilt flooded after him. Seonghwa has been working with him for years on these issues and now Seonghwa couldn’t help but think he's reached to point where his help is no longer useful.

Seonghwa said as much and Hongjoong worriedly searched Seonghwas face. “I’ll work harder on it. I know I can be better,” He said and Seonghwa shook his head.

“This isn't about being better Joongie. This is about healing those hard feelings. I don't know how long the coven can function healthily with this hanging over it.” Seonghwa said and his heart ached as Hongjoong’s face crumpled. Sobs slipped free and for the first time in a long time, Honjoong cried. He cried harder than Seonghwa has ever seen. His body shook and Seonghwa held him through it. He helped him breathe so he wouldn't pass out and made sure he kept his emotions open under the onslaught of pain.

“I'm sorry. I'm s-sorry,” repeated through the sobs.

“It's okay. It's okay,” Seonghwa said back. He rubbed at Hongjoongs back as the time slipped by. When the cries began to calm down to irregular hiccups Seonghwa leaned back to check over the vampire. Hongjoongs face was swollen and irritated from the wetness. His eyes were sad slivers as they stared off into space.

Once his breaths were slow and more or less even, Seonghwa reached for his phone and Hongjoong peaked as he checked his messages. A text from Yunho let him know that Jongho made it home safe and asked if he needed help. Seonghwa answered back no and sighed a bit in relief. The sore, drained kind of relief that comes from emotional exhaustion.

“I’ll get a therapist,” Hongjoong said in his torn-up voice. A subtle spike of anxiety paired with resignation was a welcome change to the onslaught of the variety of other negative emotions. Seonghwa met his eyes and smiled.

“It might not fix everything, but I'm going to try,” He continued. His tired gold eyes stared firmly at Seonghwa’s.

“That's all I ask. That's all any of us can ask,” Seonghwa said and tugged the smaller vampire into a firm hug. It was a step in the right direction. Hopefully.

“But first, I need to apologize to everyone. Especially Jongho-ah,” he said resolutely and Seonghwa held him tighter. Hongjoong only attempted to move for a second before he gave up. He shot Seonghwa a tired annoyed look but the eldest vampire continued his firm hold.

“Yes but only after you've eaten properly. When was your last meal?” Seonghwa said and he smelt embarrassment leak out into the air. The familiarity of that question settled something inside Seonghwa that let him know that the road ahead may not be easy but he was happy to go on it with Hongjoong. The dance they have done with each other is only shifting in a different direction and Seonghwa was relieved that there was a better direction they could go in together.

Hongjoong eventually got up and shut down the room and as they left Seonghwa joined their hands together as they walked to the car garage.

————————————————————

Jongho sat on the corner as he waited for Yunho. The air was chilled and the streets were empty save for a few drunks stumbling home. The cool air felt nice against the throbbing of his temple. Jongho was going to have a nasty headache in the morning if he managed to sleep at all. As he tried to waste time playing games on his phone, a text from Jeongin buzzed in.

Jeongin (puppy):
[ Hey. a little birdy told me that you ran into my hyungs. I hope my hyungs didn't scare you off with embarrassing stories about me. Know that whatever they say is a lie]

Me:
[ah don't worry they didn't say much. Just that you seem to be glued to your phone because of me hehe.]

Jeongin(Puppy):
[It’s not my fault you text me all the time. You like me so much you can’t get enough of me]

Me:
[sure, it’s definitely me that’s obsessed]

Jeongin(Puppy):
[one bite and you're hooked ;p. Anyways, what are you up to tomorrow?]

Me:
[oh you know another day stuck in paradise. I'll probably be taking a break from class work though. Today was… taxing. What about you?]

Jeongin (Puppy):
[ah me and my hyungs are off for the next few days since it's almost the full moon. It’s hard to keep human form so it relieves stress by having the option to wolf out for a few days.]

Me:
[pack bonding then? Sounds fun]

Jeongin(Puppy):
[more like pack bullying. I was going to see if a few of my hyungs want to run around for a bit in the forest. Would you want to join us? It’ll be lots of fun]

Jongho hummed as he reread the message. He and Jeongin haven’t had a chance to meet up since the whole feeding incident. It would be nice to get away from his stressed-out hyungs for a bit. He knew they were going to try and crowd him because of today and Jongho didn’t want to be around a bunch of vampires who would trip over themselves any time he smelled less than ecstatic. Plus Jongho hasn’t had a chance to see any of the wolves up close in their wolf forms. It would be cool to see them in action. With that, he sent a quick text in response.

Me:
[sure I could use some fun.]

An affirmative text popped up just as Yunho messaged that he was pulling up to the building. Jongho looked up to see the car and he quickly hopped inside. The car was warm against the fall chill and Yunho smiled tiredly as he pulled away from the curb.

“How did it go?” Yunho asked after a few seconds of awkward silence.

“Poorly,” Jongho said. “Seonghwa-hyung is still with him.”

“Hyung will handle Hongjoong-hyung. How are you feeling?” Yunho asked as he turned down the street.

“Can’t you smell how I feel?” Jongho asked tiredly. He could smell a million layers of stress on himself alone not including Hongjoong and Seonghwa’s scent also clinging to him.

Yunho smiled crookedly before saying “Yes, but I'd rather have you tell me exactly how you’re feeling. It’s kind of rude to just assume based on your scent and act without your input. Isn’t that what started this whole mess?”

Jongho felt his cheek color in embarrassment. He had wanted them to treat him differently but it was easy to forget that some of them were giving him space when Hongjoong was taking up his thoughts.

“I feel guilty and angry. We’re both in the wrong at this point and I’m tired of hurting each other's feelings,” Jongho said as they finally arrived home. Yunho parked the car but he stayed seated. Jongho reached his hand across the middle console and Yunho easily took his hand. His thumb gently stroked the back of Jongho’s hand.

“I feel like I’m causing the coven so much stress. Maybe it was a bad idea for me to turn so soon,” Jongho said as the anxiety from earlier filled his chest. It felt like the coven had been off-kilter since he turned. The fact that things were still hectic six months in made Jongho think he wasn't prepared enough for the turn.

“Hey no, we love you. You aren’t causing problems, these are just growing pains. Not to say that Hongjoong is off the hook but he probably would have reacted similarly regardless of when you turned. The fact that he’s your sire just picks at a lot of his insecurities,” Yunho said reassuringly. He lifted Jongho’s hand and gently kissed his knuckles. The light touch was comforting against the negative thoughts brewing.

“If it really bothers you just ask any of us about how much we were excited to have you join our coven. It was all Wooyoung and San would talk about for weeks. Mingi cried when you turned because he was so happy. Yeosang bought all of your bedding and blackout curtains because he knew how sensitive you would be. Seonghwa moved his office home because he wanted to be there for you when everyone else was busy. Hongjoong volunteered to turn you because he wanted to make sure you would have a stable connection to the coven.” Yunho tugged him close for a hug and Jongho felt tears he didn’t even know were falling wet Yunho’s sweater.

“I don't want to be a burden. I love you all so much. You’ve all helped me so much with everything,” Jongho mumbled into Yunho’s shoulder.

“You're not a burden, you're a gift to this coven,” Yunho said. His voice was so steady and firm that it left no room for doubt. The gentle fragrance of love and affection clouded Jongho. Love was a funny scent to pick up. It came in a million different varieties but it always held a warmth that filled his whole chest. It settled his inner vampire in a way that not many things could.

Everything would settle. Even if Hongjoong wanted to be stubborn, Jongho had a coven full of hyungs who loved him so much.

Things would be alright.

Chapter Text

Yunho pulled into their driveway next to all of their other cars. Both of the vampires exited the car but Yunho waited for Jongho to come to his side. The fledgling looked downright exhausted. Yunho walked Jongho up to the house when another car pulled into their driveway. It was Seonghwa’s car and from the porch, he could see Hongjoong in the passenger seat. Yunho waved with a smile before heading inside after Jongho.

“Seonghwa hyung managed to wrangle your sire, just a heads up in case you don't want to deal with that right now,” Yunho said as he hung up his coat. Jongho looked panicked for a second before he took a deep breath. A plethora of emotions filtered into the air ranging from fear to anger, to hurt, until it landed on something more stable. Jongho stripped his coat and boots before he went into the main living room.

“I don't want to hide from hyung, maybe we can try talking again,” Jongho said before settling on the couch. Moonlight gently filtered in from the huge window. It highlighted Jongho’s tired silhouette. Yunho just smiled and tucked himself next to Jongho.

“Ok, I'll wait with you,” he said as he wrapped an arm around Jongho’s shoulders.

They waited in the quiet house as minutes ticked by. It was almost 3 am and Yunho was glad that tomorrow was his day off. Lack of sleep didn’t hit vampires the same way that it does other creatures but that didn’t mean missing sleep had no effects. Staying up this late was completely messing with his sleep schedule.

Yunho breathed in slowly. The earthy blend of Jonghos scent used to be unsettling after getting used to his human scent, but the novelty of the change wore off. Now it was soothing to have that strong scent so close. Dried tea and warm dirt that was so different from the warm human smell he used to carry. His sturdiness was the same he thought as the strength of his frame pressed against Yunho.

Finally, the front door opened and a pair of footsteps echoed in the foyer. Yunho couldn’t see them quite yet as they lingered in the front of the house. Hushed whispers and fumbled clothing filled the quiet air along with their scents. Hongjoongs scent held notes of turmeric and coffee, warm but powerful in its potency while Seonghwa always reminded Yunho of chamomile tea, calming and smooth even in the most stressful situations.

Now, Seongwha’s scent felt tired even under its calming disposition. Everyone had been strained this week and it had been so long since something as volatile and upsetting had occurred. Sure, the coven had their fair share of squabbles but they did their best to patch things up and meet each other halfway on issues. This incident had struck deep for quite a few of them however.

Yunho could only imagine how Jongho and Hongjoong felt. Their scents were so drained that they meshed together in the shared space. The link between sire and fledgling telegraphed each other's emotions ever more intimately than their scents did. It brought Yunho back to when he and San had shared the same sire long ago. The bond was intense and because he and San had been turned around at the same time, their bonds had been linked. Now that they were part of a different coven the bond had faded but the memories of the emotions shared would always linger. Even now Yunho could feel San’s feelings when they were particularly strong.

He looked over to Jongho and knew from the tensed muscle he felt that he was trying to put on a brave face. Yunho squeezed closer and turned to the entrance of the living room in time to see Hongjoong stop dead in his tracks. His face was pink and swollen. Waves of conflicting scents rolled off him as Seonghwa stopped behind him. Jongho opened his mouth to say something but Hongjoong marched forward and dropped to his knees in front of them. A slurry of guilt, hurt, and acceptance surrounded them as Hongjoong hung his head.

“I'm sorry,” Hongjoong said. It sounded painful. His voice was brittle and rough like the words were fighting their way out of his mouth. His Throught abused from the obvious crying the vampire had been doing.

“ I’m sorry for what I said and for how I acted. I’ve been a poor sire and a poor partner. You’re a grown adult and I should have listened to you instead of just reacting to how I felt,” he said as he raised his head to look into Jongho’s eyes. The feelings in the air were heavy on their hearts as such bruised emotions floated around them.

Yunho breathed in slowly so as not to get overwhelmed by the pain of it all. He felt Jongho breathe in similarly before he reached out a hand to Hongjoong.

“I'm sorry too hyung. I haven’t been the kindest with my words either,” Jongho said as Hongjoong took his hand. Hongjoong shook his head “No, I get it. Hurt reacts to hurt and we’ve both been too rough with each other.”

“C’mere hyung, please,” Jongho said as he tugged Hongjoong up into a hug. The angle was awkward as Hongjoong was practically sitting in Jongho’s lap but Hongjoong did his best to fit his tiny frame into Jongho’s arms. Yunho reached over and wrapped his long arms around them both. Hongjoong pulled back and met Yunho’s eyes.

“I'm sorry to you too Yunho. Things have been stressful and out of sorts because of me,” Hongjoong said. Yunho hummed and tightened his arms.

“It’s ok hyung. We’ve missed having you home,” Yunho said. Hoingjoongs brow creased as guilt settled around them. Yunho made sure to push out how relieved he was feeling to fight the negative emotions. It wasn't that Hongjoong didn't believe them but he always took any sort of negativity personally and showing him that Yunho was fine through his emotional scent helped to dissuade those more negative internal thoughts.

Seonghwa cleared his throat and the three vampires on the coach looked at him. “It's really late. We should head to bed,” he said with a calm smile. He gave a pointed look to Hongjoong “and you need to feed.” Hongjoong looked torn between letting go of Jongho and going with Seonghwa to the kitchen. Yunho doubted that Hongjoong would be letting Jongho out of his grasp anytime soon. Yunho let go of them and stretched.

“I could use a snack. I'll grab some for Hongjoong too,” Yunho said before getting up from the couch and joining Seonghwa in the kitchen. He bumped shoulders playfully with the eldest and Seonghwa ruffled his hair. The stress that had been carried on all of their shoulders was finally released with the comfort of having everyone home safe and sound.

—————————————

Hyunjin huffed as something shook his shoulder. He groaned as sleep left him, and a low rumble echoed underneath him. The smell of fresh strawberries hit him as he slowly opened his eyes despite the smell of lemons clogging his nose. He was still shifted and Seungmin was waking up underneath him. Seungmin’s chocolate brown coat was ruffled in the spot where he had been sleeping.

“Hyungs, I know it's hard to get up this early in your old age, but c’mon” came Jeongin’s teasing voice. The hand on his shoulder shook him again and Hyunjin growled. He stood up and turned to their maknae. In his wolf form, Hyunjin stood taller than Jeongin.

He was only the third tallest wolf despite being the tallest in human form. His wolf form was lithe and slim compared to the other wolves. Felix was maybe the only one thinner but he was also a lot smaller than them too. He and Felix were the two wolves that stood out in their pack. Everyone’s coloring was different but Hyunjin was platinum white and Felix’s was a yellow-blonde.

Hyunjin shook out his fur before licking a strip up Jeongin’s face just to be annoying. Jeongin scrubbed the slobber away as Hyunjin shifted to human form. Seungmin followed suit as Hyunjin asked, “What does our Maknae want on our day off?”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to Join me and Jongho out in the forest,” Jeongin said. Both Hyunjin and Seungmin perked up. The sweet strawberry scent warmed in embarrassment as Jeongin’s ear turned pink. Hyunjin squealed in excitement and wrapped Jeongin in a hug.

“Innie wants us to meet his new bae,” Hyunjin said gleefully.

“Not if you're gonna act like this,” Jeongin said as he tried to wiggle out of Hyunjin’s hold. Hyunjin just tightened his grasp. He was keenly aware that Jeongin was not dropping the bae accusations. It was cute to see him act so bashful about this.

When Chan, Han, and Changbin courted Hyunjin, Jeongin, and Seungmin, it had been a bumpy courtship full of misunderstandings and petty arguments on Han and Hyungjin’s part. Jeongin had acted cool and collected but he had been flustered so easily by the rowdy werewolves. It was nice to see him be a little vulnerable about his new vampire friend.

“Is your vampire gonna be okay with everything? Isn’t he really sensitive to scents?” Seungmin asked. An edge of concern was in his voice and Hyunjin looked to Jeongin for confirmation.

“He said it would be ok. Plus we’ll be outside so if it is too much we can just give him space,” Jeongin reassured.

“Oh I’m so excited,” Hyunjin said as he let go of their maknae to dig in his closet. Really it was a mix of everyone’s clothes but Hyunjin liked to have variety in his wardrobe. After he retrieved his desired outfit he went to shower quickly. The opportunity to finally talk to Jongho required Hyunjin to be at his peak and he wasn't about to meet the vampire in anything less than presentable. Dressed in a warm sweater and form fitting jeans , he made his way into the kitchen. He may have spent too much time primping but Jeongin and Seungmin were still seated at the dining table.

Minho was making a giant feast of a breakfast spread. Felix was sleepily helping by flipping pancakes as Han and Changbin chatted by the kitchen bar counter. Hyunjin peeked into the living room and saw Chan snoozing on the couch. Hyunjin smiled as their alpha finally slept peacefully. He ducked back into the kitchen to snag a plate and sat at the table along with Seungmin and Jeongin. Jeongin was busy typing away on his phone.

“Jeongin-ah, put your phone down and eat up before I start hand-feeding you,” Minho said from the kitchen and Jeongin slammed his phone down. It drew the eyes of all of their pack and Jeongin quickly shoved food into his mouth.

“Is our innie a little distracted?” Changbin said as he walked over to the table. He hung his arms over the back of Jeongin’s chair and leaned against his shoulders.

“Innie is meeting with Jongho today,” Hyunjin said and Jeongin kicked him underneath the table. “He’s bringing me and Seungmin to come play,” Hyunjin continued with a sly grin.

Changbin tightened his arms around Jeongin as he shrieked in offense. Jeongin winced at the proximity of his loudest hyung while Changbin said, “ No Fair! Channie. Minho. They’re hogging the new baby.”

Minho didn't even spare them a glance as Chan continued to sleep peacefully. Changbin huffed but plopped down at the table next to Seungmin. He may sound aggravated but Hyunjin felt the refreshing mint scent float happily around the room. It cooled any nerves that Hyunjin had about meeting the vampire again and he could tell that the scent was working its magic on Jeongin and Seungmin.

“Well, at least know to call one of us if anything goes funky. Were all off and I doubt anyone is going to be leaving the house,” Changbin said as some of the teasing left his voice. Despite how childish he could be, Changbin took his role as Pack Beta very seriously. The pull of the full moon was weighing on them as it drew nearer. In just a few days they would all be running together in the forest as their instinct became too strong to keep from shifting.

They ate their breakfasts in mild peace given that Jisung was too tired to get up to his usual antics and Felix had headed to the living room to take advantage of the free real estate that was Chan’s lap. Minho made sure they ate well before they left to meet Jongho. Hyunjin pulled on a thick jacket as they finally left their house. Jeongin was a bit nervous as puffs of strawberry tinged a bit towards sour but he marched forward toward the Coven’s house.

The front door to the neighbor's house opened revealing Jongho wrapped up in a warm-looking jacket. His red-tipped hair was fluffed by the gentle wind as he stepped out onto the porch. Close behind was a vampire that Hyunjin had only seen in passing but from the way Jisung spoke about him, he could only guess that the vampire was Seongwha. Warm doe eyes framed by baby pink bangs seemed to sparkle in the autumn morning. Both vampires spotted the wolves and Seonghwa gave a warm smile.

Jeongin took the lead and stopped at the bottom of the step of their front porch. He bowed gently and Hyunjin and Seungmin followed suit. As they rose up, Jongho seemed to look lost between the three of them.

“Hello, I haven't met you guys yet, but Jeongin and Jisung have told us so much about you both. I’m Hyunjin,” he said to break the silence. Seongwha’s doe eyes shined brightly as he smiled at the mention of the familiar wolf.

“Nice to meet you. Jisung-ssi has said only good things I hope,” Seongwha said before bowing back to them. Jongho gave a small wave and a smile to Hyunjin. Hyunjin couldn’t help but hold back a laugh at the memory of Jisung going on and on about the “angel” next door.

“Of course,” Hyunjin said as sweetly as he could. His own peach scent puffed up to join Jeongin’s strawberry and Seungmin’s lemon.

Hyunjin turned his gaze back to Jongho and saw that the vampire was looking quite intensely at the wolf. His red eyes were cute in the way that they quickly looked at one of the other wolves. Hyunjins instinct wiggled to the surface at the nervous display. Hyunjin took a breath to keep himself in check but his wolf still lingered close to the surface. Interestingly enough his wolf seemed intent on watching after the young vampire like he was a new puppy who needed extra attention.

Jeongin cleared his throat, “ Um we were just planning on running around nearby if you ready to leave Jongho-ah”

Jongho nodded and stepped down from the porch. Seongwha didn’t move from the front porch but waved them goodbye happily enough.

Chapter Text

Hyunjin was glad to be able to stretch his legs. Their little band of three werewolves and one baby vampire had moved to the wide clearing a ways into the forest. A clearing that the pack had found the first time they had gone out to explore the surrounding, vampire scents sprinkled like sage, rosemary, and metal among the rusty fallen leaves. The anxiety of being close to creatures that tended to have issues with werewolves had disappeared once they had gotten to know their neighbors but Jisung had downright shaken. Now Hyunjin could appreciate it more knowing that their vampire neighbors were a lot more friendly than he had thought.

He stretched out, bones cracking and popping as the cool air blew over the sleeping meadow. He would have to bring his sketchbook out sometime to capture the beautiful break in the forest. He was sure spring would be beautiful. Hyunjin looked over to where Jeongin was waiting patiently with Jongho who needed a break. The wolf felt bad because he knew that the vampire was sensitive but Jongho was doing remarkably well. They had chatted for a bit and reached the clearing in the forest when the vampire had meekly asked for a quick break. Jeongin had quickly tugged the vampire to a familiar stone, gentle worry making the sweet strawberry scent a tad sour.

Seungmin took the break to shift, much more comfortable in wolf form. Deep mahogany brown fur now zoomed around the open space as puffs of lemon scent streaked through the air. Hyunjin felt the pull to shift but he wanted to be able to chat with Jongho as well. Peeking over again at the vampire, Hyunjin smiled as a familiar coat was newly draped over the vampire. Jeongin had shifted as well with his strawberry blond fur. Tints of pink mixed into the fur as the wolf sat patiently next to the vampire.

Hyunjin made his way over to the vampire and smiled as his peach scent meshed with the strawberry. The refreshing burst of summer felt a tad out of place in the cool autumn air, but Jongho took a deep breath and smiled. The vampire's scent was interesting considering it was being drowned in the strawberry slurry of Jeongin’s coat; a mix of herbs and spices with a metallic twang. The wolf closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, wolf instincts rising to the forefront as he focused on the hints of scents in the air.

Jeongin’s coat faded as the smell of blood and… lemongrass reached his nose. The vague herbal scent settled into something as equally refreshing as Seungmin’s tangy essence. He opened his eyes to see that Jongho was looking at him, inspecting his face for something. Jewel-like red eyes shone brightly as they met Hyunjin’s copper eyes. His wolf was close to the surface and like everyone else in his pack, his features shifted slightly. Copper reflective eyes, sharper canines, more clawed nails, and a growl to his otherwise melodious voice. Jeongin was also watching him but with less curiosity and more apprehensive expectations.
Hyunjin smirked before coming close enough to sit next to Jongho. He flopped out on the dead grass next to the stone that Jongho was sitting on, head propped up on his hand as he gazed up at the baby vampire. Hyunjin asked, “How are you doing? Is having us around too much?”

“No your fine. I think I’m used to all of the new smells now or at least I'm getting there,” Jongho said hesitantly as his cheeks flushed a bit in embarrassment. Hyunjin hummed in sympathy.

“Ah, the pains of adapting to the supernatural. I remember how difficult it was to get used to all the werewolf stuff when I was bitten. Even now, it's not all moonshine and rainbows.” Hyunjin said. He shuddered at the thought of having to deal with the pains of transformation and a hyper-sensitive noise again.

Jongho tilted his head curiously before looking to Jeongin taking a moment to sit quietly with this new information. The wolf tilted his head back and Hyunjin cooed at the two. They were too cute. Jeongin lifted his furry head and nudged it against Jongho’s thigh.

“Are all wolfs turned? I’ve only heard of wolves born into packs,” the vampire asked, ruby eyes coming back to meet copper.

“Nah, most wolves are born, but some are turned. It’s rare for someone to be turned though. I’m pretty sure it’s still illegal in some countries but even then it’s hard to prove.”

“Wouldn’t they just have to look at your family history? It’s hard to believe someone just randomly becomes a werewolf out of nowhere.” Jongho asked, eyebrows scrunched under his red-tinged bangs.

“Well, the thing is that a lot of people carry the genes that get passed down from werewolves who intermarry. It can manifest at any time like any other set of genetics. If both parents carry the marker then odds are that the kid could develop werewolfism. You could have a great-great-great uncle that was a werewolf and never know it.” Hyunjin said with a long breath and a flourish of the wrist. Jeongin rolled his eyes at the wolf’s dramatic flare before nuzzling Jongho’s arm. The poor vampire was going to be dripping in strawberries again by the end of their little playdate. Something about that nagged at his inner wolf but it was probably just instincts getting ruffled.

“I couldn’t imagine waking up one day as a vampire or another creature and having no guidance or any idea of how to go about taking care of yourself. That sounds like a nightmare,” Jongho said with a shudder. “Im grateful my hyungs are here to help me even if it gets a bit overwhelming.”

“ I don’t know how Minho hyung dealt with it. He apparently has a really strong lineage but it skips a few generations so his parents had no clue how to help him. He had to go live with his grandparents for a few years and it was brutal” Hyunjin said. He still remembered when Minho had joined their pack and had told them about how he had woken up on his 16th birthday with a broken bed because his wolf form had crushed it.

“ How did you get turned? If you don't mind me asking.” Jongho asked.

Hyunjin looked out to Seungmin who was busy rubbing himself across the grown, back against the dead grass as he wriggled back and forth. Hyunjin felt a warmth at seeing him enjoy his pup time. Peachy scent singing sweetly before the wolf looked at the vampire.

“I don't mind. Our Seungminnie bit me. He actually turned both me and Innie.” Hyunjin said with a smile. Said wolf perked up at his name and turned back onto his paws to look at them. Jongho looked to Seungmin as he trotted over and Hyunjin continued. “Me, Jeongin, and Seungmin grew up together. Seungmin lived with his pack but he went to the same school as us. He had transferred in halfway through the year and Innie and I helped him around. Apparently, he had imprinted on us which basically means his inner wolf had chosen us for his pack. After moving in together for college, Jeongin and I asked if he could turn us. I went first and then Innie got turned a year after.”

Seungmin butted his head against Hyunjin’s shoulder and the blond turned to scratch the wolf’s scruff. “Isn't that right Minnie? You were our big bad pack alpha for a few years.” the wolf huffed and leaned into the fingers scratching his brown fur. Pleased lemon scent coating his hand.

“Really? How did you join Chan’s pack then?” Jongho said with surprise. “I just kind of assumed you all were from the same pack.”

Huynjin giggled at the thought. “ no, most of our pack is from completely different packs. We actually met Chan’s pack when it was just him, Han, and Changbin. Hannie had bumped into me when he was still freshly turned and his instinct had become pissed at having a ‘threatening wolf’ in his space. We had gotten into a growling match before Chan and Changbin had calmed him down.”

Jongho blinked at him with wide eyes and said, “Han growled at you? He seems so, so…”

“Sweet? Harmless? He is but he was a moody little thing back then. Just as likely to cuss me out as he was to come to cuddle me. Fresh instincts are sensitive and me and Hannie were both aggressive, not to mention our personalities didn't exactly mesh well.” Hyunjin said with mirth. Seungmin had huffed a half-growl, his big wolf version of a laugh. Jeongin yapped in amusement from his spot on Jongho’s lap, his head now getting scratched by the vampire. Jongho was moving his hands almost absentmindedly across the wolf’s fur.

“Despite the rough start, Chan had asked us for our contact info since they didn't know many packs in the area and they had wanted to become friends. One thing led to another and we eventually joined our packs together.”
Jongho hummed in thought but he seemed to be a bit more settled after their little talk. A small sigh released before the vampire reached out his hand to rake through Jeongin’s strawberry blond fur. Contentment was written all over the wolf's face as he bedded down next to the vampire.

---

Seonghwa watched Jongho join the werewolve's group as they sauntered into the forest. His fangs worried at his lip as the fledgling went further and further in. Their happiness was shy and sweet like strawberry bonbon candy. It helped to calm the eldest down but he stayed on the step for a few minutes. He stretched his senses out and their scents carried on peacefully.

His strawberry candy reverie was interrupted as a familiar caramel scent made itself known. Despite its usual punch of energy, Seonghwa felt it move like molasses. He cracked his eyes open to see Han leaning against the rail of the pack house. His head tilted to the side as he caught Seonghwa’s eye before he broke eye contact.

“Han-ssi, hello. It’s been a while,” Seonghwa said. The wolf perked up but his movements were noticeably weighed down.

“Hello, Seonghwa-ssi.” He said sluggishly as he made his way over to the vampire's front porch. His tan hair was fluffy and sticking up in odd directions like he had been sleeping on one side. Dressed in baggy sweats and a sweatshirt, Han looked like he was primed and ready for a nap. Now that he was closer, Seonghwa could pick up the mixed blend of scents that the other wolves carried. Under that was a feeling of anticipation, like something was on the precipice—more wolf than man. Han looked up at the taller vampire; his eyes held a copper reflection.

“I hope my packmates weren’t too much trouble. They're especially rowdy when grouped together.” Han said shyly as caramel drizzled slowly around them-- warm and comforting in the icy fall air. He still seemed hesitant to approach Seonghwa but the vampire was happy to talk to the wolf again.

“No, they were fine. Jongho needs that rambunctiousness after the week he’s had. That we’ve all had.” Seonghwa said with a sad smile playing on his lips. The smell of wilted flowers now joins the sweet sugar. “You didn’t want to join them?”

Han shook his head, “ I get too tired near the full moon. It’s in a few days.” as if to prove his point the wolf yawned long and jaw-splitting. Tears budded as the wolf rubbed at his eyes. Just looking at the wolf was tiring the vampire a bit.

Seonghwa nodded in understanding “Oh, do all wolves get that way? Your packmates didn’t seem too exhausted.” They hadn't smelled of anything other than sweetness. A refreshing fruity blend of peach, lemon, and strawberries.

Han laughed, soft exhales that puffed up above them in the cold, “No, it’s usually different for each wolf. Innie, for example, gets extra grumpy. Seungminnie has a hard time speaking verbally. Hyunjinnie’s appetite skyrockets. If they come back to your place don't be surprised if he eats you out of house and home,”

Seonghwa smiled, “I wouldn’t mind. In fact, I would love the excuse to try out some new recipes if I have some hungry boys to feed,” he might just start cooking up some of the meals he had planned for the weekend if it’ll get the wolves to come over.

“Oh, you like cooking? I thought vampires only drank… ya know?” Han asked round eyes blinking curiously. Seonghwa could almost see imaginary wolf ears perking up.

“Blood? Yes, but vampires can have regular food too. We don't need it but I like to cook,” Seonghwa said and the wolf nodded despite his round eyes seeming lost. He couldn’t help but laugh. “If you want you can be my taste tester until your pack and my fledgling return.”

“Me? Right now?” Han asked before he looked back as if to check if the vampire meant anyone else. Hair flopping in the wind spreading more of his caramel scent.

“Sure, if you would like to join me. I need a break from everything and cooking with company seems like a great way to spend the evening.” Seonghwa turned back to the house and motioned for Han to follow. The sweet smell of caramel followed close behind as Seonghwa entered the kitchen. He brought out various combinations of ingredients and cooking pans, he was happy to see Han make himself comfortable at the bar countertop. The wolf relaxed against the counter and watched the vampire shuffle around.

Chapter Text

Jisung stretched out along the bar counter facing the open kitchen. What had been a spotless counter now sat various ingredients and scraps for the dishes Seonghwa was preparing. The vampire who smelled of chamomile flowers that Minho often made tea with in order to calm Jisung's anxiety made the wolf even more tired and comfortable despite being in a vampire’s den. He had heard someone stumble around on the other side of the house and there was noise coming from what Jisung assumes is the upstairs area but for the most part, none of them had ventured into the kitchen. When asked, Seonghwa had said that Mingi and Yunho were off today and were catching up on some anime and they had already grabbed their snacks before Jisung had come over. Knowing it was Mingi had calmed the wolf quite a bit. The vampire had gotten quite close to the producing trio during their first week and had invited them to come over or go out sometime, after the full moon of course. Hints of the Mingi's dried orange peel scent were left over with a slurry of other herbal scents. A familiar and comforting thread that helped Jisung not feel overwhelmed by his sensitive nose.

Seonghwa had put on some music to fill the lulls in their conversation and it made Jisung’s heart bump at the poppy mix of girl groups playing from a small speaker. It was low and might have been too quiet for a human's ears but Jisung and Seongwha’s ears could easily pick up the energetic beats and catchy lyrics. The vampire had even been moving his hips as he flitted around the kitchen, his pink hair bobbing cutely. If Jisung weren't so exhausted he would be moving too. He had spent many an evening with Minho and Changbin practicing the choreo to his favorite songs. Instead, Jisung just taped his foot to the beat quietly.

“Ah you like this kind of music too,” asked Seonghwa as he whisked some heavy cream into whipped cream.

“Haha yeah. I mean, girl group songs are what I mostly wrote lyrics for at the last company I worked at” Jisung said. At the thought, he could feel his scent start to smoke and burn and he tried to breathe through the bad memories.

“Oh yes, I forgot that you work with Joongie. How has that been going? I hope Hongjoong has been treating everyone well, '' Seonghwa asked, bringing the whipped cream over to the bar counter and began assembling fruit sandwiches across from him. Jisung's gaze settled on the vampire's hands and the sweet smell of sliced strawberries reminded him of Jeongin.

“It’s been good for the most part. The company has been really kind and accepting which I guess shouldn’t be surprising considering the sheer amount of creatures it employs but I- we haven’t really had a great track record with our last company.” His scent which he had been trying to keep calm still kept its smoky tang.

He hadn’t really talked to anyone except Minho and Changbin about the extent of the bullying which had then been explained to the pack, but Han’s heart was tender thinking about it. Even Minho hadn’t known about some of the specific things which Jisung was embarrassed to think about, let alone say. Flashes of cold eyes and the smell of cologne lingered in his nightmares which he felt stupid for having. It wasn't like they had ever physically touched him but the way they had pressured and ensured that his work life was as uncomfortable as possible had frayed at his wolf. It shifted uncomfortably beneath the surface.

Seonghwa’s shiny boba pearl eyes dimmed as his eyebrows creased “I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m glad you are having a better time now” he said softly before offering a strawberry dipped in the whipped cream to the wolf. Jisung strained a smile but murmured “thank you” before crunching on the sweetened fruit. The smell and taste were a breath of fresh air and cleared away the scary thoughts.

“So working with Joongie isn’t too bad then. He may seem scary but he’s a big pushover. Especially when dealing with shiny-eyed cute boys.” Seonghwa asked teasingly.

Jisung blushed and as if someone had waved a big juicy steak in front of his wolf, his instincts perked up. He shook his head “No, he has been so cool to work with. It's been nice getting his feedback on the tracks we’re making for the big project.” He tugged at the hood of his sweater to shield his undoubtedly red ears. Mouth puckered into a pout as he watched Seonghwa smile to himself. It was true that he enjoyed working with Hongjoong more than he thought he would after the whole fiasco in the forest but to see that the vampire gave such good advice and was willing to talk Jisung through a lot of the internal processes had been an unexpected relief.

Hongjoong helped all three of them and Jisung had yet to work with him one on one, but he was sure there wouldn’t be any major issues. It didn’t stop Jisung from getting a bit nervous around the vampire. Not in a bad way, but just a sort of anticipatory feeling he couldn’t describe. After Hongjoong apologized, his wolf had no problem projecting the urge to cozy up to him. The weird urge to rub his skin and his caramel scent all over the prickly vampire would pop up mid-meeting or when the vampire was checking in with them in their studio. His hyungs could read his scent so easily and would smother him in cuddles but it didn’t settle the nerves buzzing at the whiff of turmeric.

“ I wonder if he would be willing to look at some other tracks I have?” Jisung wondered more to himself but Seonghwa hummed and said, “I'm sure he wouldn’t mind. He would probably love to talk to someone about the finer details of producing since the rest of us can only really nod along. I love Hongjoong-ah but I have a hard time keeping up with his musical genius.”

The wolf shifted in his chair, wiggling on the bar stool. Those same fluttery nerves warmed up his stomach at the prospect of talking with the vampire about his personal songs. The image of the vampire’s sharp eyes focused on Jisung sent a fresh puff of sugary sweet caramel that made even Seonghwa look up at the sudden shift in mood.

“A-ah that would be nice. Umm, what do you do then Seonghwa-hyung?” Jisung quickly said as he tried to throw off the attention on his scent. He forgot that the vampire could smell all of his emotional shifts and he didn’t really want to dwell on the new feelings he may or may not be developing on their Coven leader.

Seonghwa didn’t push and simply answered, “ I'm an accountant. I work with a company that helps with the financing of many of the businesses in Seoul. Lots of spreadsheets and catching billing errors. It's not the most glamorous job but I like the satisfying feeling of cleaning up numbers.”

“No, that makes sense that someone as smart and dependable as you does that kind of work. It’s admirable that you can sit in front of so many numbers and not get lost. I would probably panic and cry if I had to do that job,” Jisung said. Seonghwa must be really smart to be able to handle something like accounting. Just looking at the numbers on some music files made Jisung want to cry. He much preferred his superior naming system of random keyboard smashes. It made meetings very fun to watch Chan hyung try to pronounce the names of files that had no vowels. Hknrthjwct.mp3 had won a music show award one year and Jisung now never gave any of his files proper names.

Seonghwa laughed deep and velvety smooth and Jisung quickly forgot about his complex naming superstitions to marvel at just how beautiful the vampire was. Another puff of tooth-rotting caramel betrayed Jisung’s inner thoughts and he hoped Seonghwa didn’t read too far into it. The vampire slid a plate of fruit sandwiches over to the wolf with a coy smile and returned to fuss with another dish. As Jisung devoured the sweet treats, Seonghwa opened his huge stainless steel fridge before pausing.

“Would you mind if I fed right now? I thought I would ask since it's not the most comfortable sight” the vampire asked nervously.

Feeding. That probably meant blood of some kind. Jisung tilted his head before a thought of the vampire’s teeth sinking into his neck startled his inner wolf. Instead of anxiety, it was flushed warmth that flooded his chest and face. Jisung would pass out if the vampire got that close. He had no clue how Jeongin managed to keep his cool while feeding the fledgling.

“N-no that's fine. It won’t bother me,” the wolf said and cursed the stutter in his voice. He took a deep breath only to be reminded of his traitorous scent clouding up the kitchen with interest and hunger of a different kind.

Seonghwa pulled out a blood bag and quickly filled an opaque cup that hid the sight of the liquid. The smell of blood cut through the smell of caramelized sugar and cooked food in a way that only the wolf could pick up. No human would have been able to tell unless they shoved the glass right under their nose. It reminded him of the smell of his own blood the day Chan had turned him into a wolf. It was after his graduation when he had been courted by Chan and Changbin. Back when Jisung had clung to Chan as he wiped his tears while Changbin wiped away the leaking wound.

As Seonghwa drank, Jisung rested his head back down on the counter and reminisced about fresh instincts and new packmates. Maybe more of the same was in their future. Minho was sure to rip his fur out if that was the case.

--

Hongjoong came home to the smell of spiced meats and caramel drizzle.

He shook his head. Maybe the scents from the office were clinging to him. It was hard to miss the Bang pack’s distinct scents at work and now it smelt like one of them had taken residence in his house, again. The smell of strawberries was also close but that smelled more like actual strawberries than the pheromones of the one who seemed insistent on befriending their fledgling.

He had just spent the day covering for 3Racha’s full moon leave. During all of the production meetings and sending off drafts to Eden the vampire has felt their absence more than he thought he would. The time at work had helped to clear some of the aches from his mini-breakdown as well as let him look for some counselors that worked with his company's insurance. He had found a few promising ones and promptly sent emails.

With his chest feeling light he found himself leaving work earlier to spend some time with his coven. The rounds of apologies he had given before going off to work still did not feel enough to settle the unease of causing such a disturbance in their day-to-day lives. He just wanted to spend some time with them as well as recover from the stress of hiding out in the office for so long.

As Hongjoong stepped into the kitchen, he took note of all of the bowls wrapped in aluminum and plastic wrap piled with food. Enough to feed their coven twice over. Spotting some sautéed meat, he snagged a piece to munch on before following the lull of a drama Seonghwa watched religiously. Hongjoong is greeted with the chiseled face of the protagonist brooding on-screen casting the darkened living room in a gray light, the volume low as subtitles played across the screen. Not that Seonghwa needed them, even Hongjoong could probably repeat every line by heart.

Seonghwa turned to Hongjoong from his spot on the couch and greeted him with a soft smile before bringing his hand to his mouth in a silent motion to enter quietly. The smell of caramel was dense in the room as Hongjoong looked to see someone shifting under the blanket lying next to the eldest vampire. A tuft of tan hair was poking out from under the covers which could only match the one wolf that smelled like sugar incarnate. A wolf who had been particularly eager to ask for production tips yet always smelled so shy.

Cocking his head curiously he sat next to Seonghwa and asked quietly “Did you steal one of their pups?”. Careful to only speak in the near silent way vampires could, hoping that the volume wouldn’t prickle the wolf's sensitive ears.

Seongwha leaned over, “No,” he said with a huff of laughter, more breath than actual sound. “He came over to help taste test some new recipes, he grew tired and I suggested we watch this. He made it maybe ten minutes before he slumped.” A puff of calm herbal contentment eased Hongjoong into relaxing more into the couch. Mixed with the almost sluggish weight of the wolf's scent helped to settle the instincts looking into the situation. It always unsettled Hongjoong when there was a foreign scent that was so dominant in his space but with another breath, those feelings were put to sleep with the drowsiness that was also thick in the air. ‘Jisung was just taking a nap, not trying to hurt anyone’ he told himself.

Seonghwa was watching his face and seemed to be about to say something when his phone started vibrating on the table. Seonghwa silenced the call almost instantaneously but Jisung had been ruffled as the vampire had gotten up. A whimper brought Hongjoong’s instinct back in full force but not to fight, but to soothe. Before Hongjoong could second guess anything, he scooted over to take Seonghwa’s spot and ran his fingers through the tan strands. The disrupted wolf nuzzled into the caress. A sleepy grumble petered out and Jisung shimmied over until his face was pressed into Hongjoong’s thigh. Round cheek flattened as his eyes stayed closed and a warmth began to soak through the vampire’s pant leg as little breathy snores filled the living room.

Hongjoong looked up to see Seonghwa’s eyes shine with amusement as the vampire snapped a few pictures. Hand and thigh now trapped under a napping wolf, Hongjoong could only give him the stink eye.

“I have to call work back but I shouldn’t be too long,” Seonghwa said before he turned to go to his office.

“W-wait, what about jisung-ssi?” Hongjoong whisper yelled but was met with no response. With a huff, he turned back to Jisung and watched him snore away peacefully with no sign of waking. With no other option, Hongjoong turned back to watch the drama that was still playing. A new episode started and the vampire found himself relaxing back into the couch.

Caramel puffs of sleep now much closer to his already sensitive nose eased the vampire to closing his eyes. Maybe he would catch a few minutes of shut-eye too.

Chapter Text

Jeongin was feeling content.

With his head lightly resting on the knee of a certain vampire he hadn’t been able to get out of his head, he was happy to soak up the crisp fall air against his strawberry blonde fur. It was like being bitten by Jongho had given him the urge to be near the fledgling. That didn't mean he didn't find the vampire charming all on his own, it's just that his wolf also found the vampire particularly cute. Messaging the vampire allowed Jeongin to get a peek into the funny and bright personality as he listened to Jongho about his hyungs’ shenanigans. Hearing about the vampire household’s chaos and Jongho’s fond exasperation was eerily familiar and echoed Jeongin’s experience when he had joined the Bang Pack.

It also soothed the newer urge to confirm the vampire's wellbeing. Finding Jongho in the clearing near collapsed on the ground looking as pale as a sheet had been enough to worry the wolf for the vampire's safety. Maybe it was his wolf being overly cautious but it just reminded Jeongin too much of Hyunjin pushing himself too much near full moons. Now that his scent was like a second skin on the vampire it settled the anxious instincts that had been hard to ignore. The itch that sat next to the other much louder instinct that drove his wolf to be next to someone that was pack. Like a chain was constantly tugging inside his ribs, in his lungs, under the steady beating of his heart.

His hyungs teased him for his adversity to skinship despite his apparent need to be around them when the moon grows fuller. Much like a moody cat who hated pets but could be seen huddled close in the corner of the room as it kept a catalog of where its owner went. Quality time was always his preferred way of showing his pack he loved them. Taking them to cafes, or the gym, or anywhere his hyungs would like to go. Even now he had asked Seungmin and Hyunjin to join him in the forest because he knew Minnie needed the wolf time and Hyunjin had been stuck on a portrait and was close to chewing off his tail. The added benefit of getting head scratches as Jongho got to know Hyunjin and Seungmin was just icing on the cake.

There was a rumble from the pocket underneath his chin and he lifted his head so that Jongho could grab his phone. The vampire smiled before he said “It looks like Seonghwa-hyung made enough to feed an army. He invites all of us back whenever we’re feeling hungry to help him deal with all of the food he made.”

Hyunjin perked up and his stomach growled. Seungmin also seemed game and in their shared headspace he felt Seungmin question whether it would be alright for him to stay in his wolf form if they went. Stepping away and shaking out his coat, Jeongin shifted back quickly to ask the same question. After Jongho’s confirmation with Seonghwa, they all headed back out from the forest.

Jongho led them inside and as they entered the kitchen Jeongin smelled Jisung's sweet scent all over the Vampire’s den. It was mostly sluggish but held a note of sweetness that pulled at his wolf. There was an assortment of dishes on the counter with a little note ‘Help yourselves! Eat as much as you would like :) ’ Hyunjin eyed some of what looked like a huge bowl of bulgogi with an eager sniff.

Seungmin and Hyunjin followed as Jongho peeked into the living room and all four froze at the sight they found. Hongjoong was lying down with his back braced against the arm of the couch and his head turned to the side as a familiar tan head was nuzzled right into the vampire's neck. Jisung was almost completely on top of the older vampire and was quietly snoring into the couch. There was a blanket thrown over the two cuddled up together and the room smelt of spiced caramel. A click snapped Jeongin out of his surprise as Hyunjin snapped a picture of the frankly cute scene and a buzz in his pocket let him know that said picture was posted to the pack group chat. Several buzzes answered back and Jeongin knew that Jisung was in for the teasing of his life as soon as he woke up. The air was still calm and sleepy so it was safe to say that nothing too dramatic had caused this but Jisung would honestly sleep on anything this time of the month. Still, it was curious as to how Jisung found himself tucked against the coven’s leader who had initially spooked the wolf so badly.

A stuttered inhale had Jeongin looking at Jongho as the vampire’s face was covered by his palm. His eyes were tearing up and Jeongin suddenly felt his instincts rear their head in an intense need to make sure the vampire was ok. Strawberry distress broke through the haze of caramel. Jongho looked over to him and it was clear that Jongho was severely uncomfortable. Maybe it was the scents? He titled his head in question and laid a gentle arm on the vampire which Jongho leaned into.

“Do you need a minute?” Jeongin asked quietly and Jongho nodded his head before turning to make his way upstairs, his hand clasped over his nose and mouth. Hyunjin and Seungmin looked over in concern, their noses twitching at the stress in the otherwise calm room. Shifting on the couch alerted them that the sleeping occupants also took note of the shift in mood. Jeongin couldn’t calm his scent down. It was as if Jongho took control of his wolf with him up the stairs.

“I’m gonna stick with Jongho and make sure he’s alright. Will you guys be ok down here?” Jeongin asked. His mind was trying to make room for his pack who didn't have anyone to help keep company in the house full of vampires. Jeongin didn’t know much about the coven besides what Jongho had told him. If anything Jisung, Changbin, or Chan knew them better. He had only met Yeosang and Seonghwa very briefly and from what he could tell most of the vampires weren't home.

“Go ahead and check on him. We’ll be fine,” Hyunjin said with a gentle smile. He nudged his sweater paw against Jeongin’s neck and his bright peachy scent helped to soothe the frantic inner wolf and motioned for Seungmin to follow him back into the kitchen. Seungmin rubbed against his legs as his paws clicked on the wooden floors to leave his lemon burst as well. Their quiet support followed him as he climbed the stairs and went down the familiar path to Jongho’s bedroom. He’d only been this way once but it was like it was tattooed in his brain. He could smell two other scents he wasn't familiar with that stuck out clearly in the haze of the coven's collective smells. Something citrusy and aged along with hints of mossy earth. Both prickled at his wolf and it suddenly hit him that he was in the den of a coven of vampires (while very nice) he still didn’t know most of them beyond seeing them in passing.

The unfamiliarity had Jeongin quieting his steps and swallowing his breath, his wolf surfacing to aid his stealth. He came up to what he remembered was Jongho’s door and knocked as gently as he could. His hand was shaking with nerves. It wasn't often that his instincts got away from him, but he was still a relatively young wolf, and being around so many unfamiliar creatures was triggering some ancient instincts. Instincts that Chan had once taught them were from hundreds of years of persecution by creatures and humans. Leftover from a time when werewolves needed every edge to keep themselves safe. Like anxiety sitting in one's chest, waiting for the shoe to drop and for the chase to begin.

The door cracked open and broke Jeongin out of his instinctual focus. Instead, his inner wolf latched onto Jongho as he peeked from inside his room, nagging at him to scent the vampire and make sure he was okay.

“Is it ok if I come in?” he asked softly.

The vampire nodded and opened the door enough to let the wolf in but quickly closed it. Jongho looked tired and like he was trying to hold himself up with what energy he had left. There was an air purifier pumping in the corner that Jeongin didn’t remember seeing last time but it was trying its best to clear the air of scents. Jongho was still standing by the door taking deep breaths. The wolf wanted to come close but held himself back.

“What can I do to help?” He asked and Jongho shook his head, eyes clenching shut as a tremble began to work its way through his body. Jeongin whimpered before he could stop the noise. His wolf was now truly concerned as Jongho lowered himself to the floor and curled up into a ball, knees tucked close to his chest. Every muscle was clenched and locked in place as the vampire held his breath. Did vampires need to breathe? Was he making it worse? He didn’t know whether his scent was adding to the vampire’s pain but he didn’t want to leave Jongho alone. He’s not sure if his wolf would even let him leave and he frankly didn’t know if he could fight his wolf right then.

“Can I touch?” Jeongin asked, voice softer under the tension in the air. He squatted on the floor next to Jongho so as not to tower over him, but he stopped himself from coming closer. He didn’t want to suffocate the vampire while he was suffering from what looked like a panic attack. It brought memories of burnt caramel from the times Jisung would come home and break down. Jongho held still for a full minute before his head rose from his knees. The white of his eyes had bled maroon surrounding his jewel-red eyes. He could make out the edges of his irises that were a darker wine color but it was unsettling to see. He’d never seen any of the vampire’s eyes like that. Tears clung to the edges of his eyes as his face was tensed, eyebrows furrowed in pain. Jongho sniffled before he let out a strangled, “Please.”

Jeongin opened his arms as he shuffled on his knees closer and Jongho leaned into the wolf’s arms. He hooked his chin over Jeongin’s shoulder and wrapped his arms around the wolf’s torso. His arms held on almost painfully tight and Jeongin returned the pressure. Sometimes Jisung needed a lot of pressure to settle his nerves and it was that memory that helped Jeongin to envelop the vampire and gently rock him. The trembles turned to full-on shaking as the vampire let go and began to breathe in ragged breaths. Wet droplets soaked into Jeongin’s sweater, shoulder damp as he tried his best to comfort Jongho.

Jeongin had thought it was stressful when he found Jongho in the field when the wind seemed knocked out of him. This was so much worse. Jongho was fighting for his breath as it kept trying to quicken and get out of control. Jeongin made sure to exaggerate and slow his breath so that the vampire could feel his chest move.

“Just focus on breathing” Jeongin murmured.

“I-i d-don’t know w-hy it's so bad,” Jongho gasped. The words sounded like they were ripped out of him. Like his throat was a straw struggling to get air in and out.

“It’s ok, I've got you. Let it out.” He said almost silently. He felt the wetness move to his neck as the vampire leaned into the crook of it. Hot moist air hit his clavicle.

Jeongin worked hard to try and put out calming pheromones. He wasn't sure if it would help but he was willing to try anything to help the vampire. He wasn’t as good at it as Changbin was but the older wolf had taught him how to do it. Going inward he let his wolf surface to just beneath his skin and tried to picture a serene image. He envisioned himself in the forest and it was the heat of summer. The trees were breathing their warm sappy scent into the air and the sun baked the dirt into dust. Birds and squirrels flitted above from branch to branch. Another breath and Jeongin pictured himself curled up under the trees, the canopy broken up and warming the patch of grass bathing his fur in light.

The vision shifted and suddenly Jongho was there resting his back against the wolf’s side. Jeongin’s wolf form curled around the vampire as they enjoyed the quiet noise of the forest. The image was so solid and Jeongin could smell the peace and tranquility filter into his strawberry scent. Warm and bright like sun-ripened berries plucked off the vine. Jongho’s breath stuttered at the scent change but his ragged breathing kept coming out in gusts. Slowly his breathing calmed and the shaking stilled to tremble as Jongho kept clinging to Jeongin. Gradually Jeongin relaxed the firm hug into a loose hold and he rubbed Jongho’s back. Jongho nuzzled into his neck knowingly or unknowingly rubbing Jeongin’s scent onto the vampire's face.

“W-what did you do? Your scent, it c-changed?” came the crackle of Jongho’s voice against his skin.

“I used my calming pheromones. Wolves calm their pack in times of stress by releasing them. Did it help?” Jeongin asked and Jongho shifted to pull his face away from his neck. He didn’t move very far back, still achingly close but Jeongin could see his puffy eyes were still solid red. There were wet tracks on his cheeks and the vampire sniffled as he tried to clear his sinuses.

With a deep breath, Jongho nodded his head, “It did. Thank you. It was like I was shaking apart and your scent kept me in one piece.” His wolf rumbled louder, happy that he was able to settle Jongho. Jeongin nuzzled the vampire gently and his chest rumbled deep and inhuman. Like his wolf had switched out his vocal cords. There was still distress rolling off of the vampire, he was sure of it and not for the last time he wished he could smell what was going on. There was the dissonance of his wolf treating Jongho as pack but then being upset at the fact that he couldn’t confirm anything in the way he would his other packmates. Jongho looked down to his throat where the catlike rumbles were coming from and Jeongin cleared his throat. Red comes to his cheeks at the probably strange behavior.

“Was it Jisungie’s scent? That upset you? I'm sorry if it was. He doesn’t mean to be so potent. It's a curse he and Minho-hyung share.” He asked to focus back on the issues at hand.

“It was that and I think it was… something else on top of that,” Jongho said before ducking his head sadly back into the crook of the wolf’s neck.

“What else? Was it our scents too?” Jeongin asked worriedly, afraid of something like his scent being the cause of Jongho’s discomfort. He felt the vampire shake his head.

“No. I think it was… something about seeing my hyung. I don't know what it was, it didn't feel right,” he said softly. Jeongin hummed in confusion but kept a firm hold on the vampire. The vampire shivered in his arms before taking a deep breath.

“Can I bite you? Just biting, not f-feeding,” Jongho asked, eyes looking down as if embarrassed for asking. He shouldn’t feel nervous, Jeongin would let Jongho do a lot of things if it meant the vampire went back to smiling that carefree tilt it had been back in the clearing. “It helps to soothe vampiric instincts and I just— I need something to help keep all of the thoughts away.”

Instead of answering Jeongin just tilted his head back and exposed the column of his neck. “Just be careful to not bite here” and points to a raised scar next to his scent glands. The outline of teeth from both Seungmin and Chan layered over each other, their pack markers carefully placed. His wolf whimpered and wanted to object but letting the vampire use him as a chew toy was already pushing it. He didn't need his hyungs getting upset over someone messing up their pack markers.

It felt weird to want something with someone so new to him. But his wolf sang as Jongho sunk his teeth into his skin. Remembering what Jongho said last time about their shared mental space, he focused on the calming image of the sunny nap in the middle of the woods. He didn't want his conflicted feelings to set off Jongho while he was connected. The similar feeling of twin sensations layered over each other filled his headspace. It almost felt like the pack was in wolf form trading thoughts and emotions as they navigated without words.

Here he could feel Jongho’s exhaustion and panic as it ebbed and flowed. Hints of hurt and jealousy soured the space but, the longer the bite held the more relaxed those feelings seemed to melt into a serene emptiness. Neutral as Jongho’s teeth stayed in his skin. His wolf was content to mesh with the vampire intruding into his inner being. Content in the familiarity of this feeling that had left Jeongin reeling the first time when he had sobered up from the tiredness to inspect how easily his wolf adopted the vampire into his mental image of their pack. Like red and black ink dropped into water, their instincts danced and swirled around each other. His instincts were able to inspect the vampire in-depth and even try to unfurl them more openly into their shared mental space.

Jongho finally let go after a while and Jeongin wondered how long they had been in the room.
—

Jisung was blissfully catching up on sleep.

The wolf slept peacefully surrounded by warm herbal scents that filled his senses. As he dozed, he felt that someone had placed a blanket on top of him. He shuffled around and felt the warmth under him also move. His slow mind supplied that it was someone underneath him but he couldn’t tell who it was. There were no familiar scents of peach, mint, or any other pack scents. Instead, earthy spiced turmeric met his nose alongside the subtle tang of blood.

That scent was familiar in a way that only scents you’ve had but a moment to catalog. Taking deep breaths, Jisung pushed his nose around until it met a warm…neck. A hand stroked his cheek as the vampire—because who else smelt like blood— stopped wiggling which made scenting his neck easier. Surprisingly the spiced scent mixed well with Han’s caramel one as he pushed his cheeks more firmly against the column of skin. After rubbing his face back and forth he lifted his head to tuck himself more firmly into the crease between the couch and the vampire, seeking a deeper sleep in the warmth.

A gentle laugh sounded from above his head somewhere, and Jisung cracked an eye open. An unfamiliar face greeted him with a sharp smile. Dark brown bangs swept above warm puppy-like eyes and a boxy grin, and the smell of mossy damp earth drifted down from the stranger. His wolf whimpered and it bubbled up out of his vocal cords before he turned back and continued to hide in the cushions. The turmeric scent spiked forward as Han’s caramel scent began to turn smoky with stress. He wasn't quite coherent enough to register that he was fine. That he was still in the Coven’s house where the other vampires would surely not harm him. Instead, he chased after the turmeric scent that felt like safety and protection. The sharp spice reminded his wolf of Minho’s metallic tang and with that in mind, he clung to the warm body he was next to.

“Yah, you're scaring him. Give us some space,” a light voice hissed from the chest close to him. Now that voice was one Jisung could not forget. The familiar edge to that tone jolted Jisung up and off the couch in a clumsy fall of limbs. He blinked up and yeah that was Hongjoong sitting on the couch that he had been cozied up to. Jeez, he hoped he hadn't drooled on his new boss. Technically they were coworkers but Hongjoong was still his senior. Jisung could feel blood rush to his cheeks in embarrassment as he looked up to the vampire sitting on the couch. He looked sleep ruffled but his eyes were scrunched in annoyance. His eyes were trained on something behind the wolf and Jisung turned to look at the vampire who had spooked him.

“Yunho-ah, it's rude to startle guests,” Hongjoong huffed as he stood and set the blanket on the couch. His cheeks also seemed flushed but he reached out to pull Jisung to his feet. Yunho just rolled his eyes at him but offered a warm smile to Jisung.

“Oh, thank you,” Jisung mumbled as Hongjoong hauled him up. Sweet puffs of caramel slipped away as he held the vampire’s cool hand. It felt small in the wolf’s palm despite the vampire’s presence always filling up the space he was in. The contact had his wolf inching to the surface. It could smell his sweet scent all over the vampire and he found himself flushing at having been so close. Despite the jolt to awareness sleep soon tugged at Jisung’s mind. The call of the moon made him want to go back to burying himself in the vampire's neck and sleeping the rest of the afternoon away. A few more days and he would be back to his spritely self but for now, exhaustion haunted his brain.

“Sorry for the scare. Didn't mean to disturb your little nap” came the bright deep voice of the other vampire in the room. Jisung found himself tilting his head up to meet the vampire’s eyes. He was taller than all of his hyungs by a lot but his intimidating stature was softened by a gentle curve to his lips and kind eyes.

“Ah, it's ok. I shouldn't have fallen asleep here. Ugh, Minho hyung would be on me for such bad manners. I'm Jisung,” the wolf said before bowing in greeting. The stocky vampire just kept smiling brightly, returning the gesture but waving off the wolf's concern.

“It's really ok,” Yunho says looking over to Hongjoong with a small smirk before meeting the wolf’s eyes, “It’s nice to finally meet you officially. My name is Yunho.” Sweet Moss floated around the room to cool the sharp turmeric and agitated caramel. The freshness of the scent reminded Jisung of Changbin’s scent, cool and calm. The clash in scents brought the wolf to look towards the door leading to the kitchen. He wondered where Seonghwa went. The sweet vampire was such calming company and it would help Jisung to not feel so out of place next to these other two. Hongjoong still lit his nerves on fire despite how his wolf called to his scent and Yunho was still new and unknown. As if summoned a steady thud down the stairs brought the occupants of the living area to see that Seonghwa was making his way to join them.

“Jisung-ah! Did you have a nice rest? I left Hongjoong to keep you company but it seems Yunho has joined the party,” Seonghwa said kindly. His pink hair curtained his boba pearl eyes as they shone glossy and deep. Clothed in a squishy-looking knit sweater he looked extra cuddly.

“He was until a certain someone agitated him into waking up,” Hongjoong said grumpily. His voice again sounded sharp to the wolf’s ears but that tone was starting to feel less like an attack and more of just a prickly barb that only went skin deep. Still, if his wolf ear were out they would have flattened at the words.

“I said sorry hyung,” came an embarrassed baritone from the vampire. His ears were flushing red and Jisung didn't doubt Yunho’s sincerity. He urgently grabs Hongjoong's hand with his.

“Its really ok hyun- Hongjoong-ssi. I’m sure it’s time for me to head home soon anyway,” Jisung said. Hongjoong huffed but let the wolf hold onto his hand. He pointedly looked down to where the wolf was clutching his hand and then back to Jisung’s eyes. Jisung opened them wide and channeled everything he learned from Felix about puppy eyes at Hongjoong. Going as far as to pout. Hongjoong cleared his throat and said, “You can call me hyung.”

Jisung smiled, lips stretching into its heartshape before shyly letting go of the vampire's hand, “Ok, hyung.”

Chapter Text

Chan felt his blood buzzing in his veins.

It was finally the night of the full moon. They had spent the better part of yesterday rushing to unpack the rest of their belongings and pack den materials to ensure that their first moon cycle was in a place that was rooted in all of their scents. Sure the past week had seen the new house soak up the pack's scents but Chan had worried that the new environment would be hard on the younger wolves who did not have as much experience with full moons in places they were not familiar with. Of course, a part of the concern came from the bumpy introduction of the pack to their coven neighbors.

Chan was soft on their new acquaintances. Sure they started off on unstable terms but he felt a kinship to the reserved coven leader. His delicate features and cool mask hid a well of insecurities that the wolf had gotten a peak of. Chan remembers the feeling of being filled to the brim with expectations ready to spill over. It was part of his alpha instincts but it was also just something that Chan always felt since he was a small pup.

He felt torn though. The rest of the pack had mixed feelings about their new neighbors. Jisung was the most slighted and skittish around them despite his work on being closer to the vampire Seonghwa. Minho was still a little grumpy regarding the Coven leader as he had picked on one of his mates. The apology had gone a long way to shifting the second oldest's opinions but he was also a bit shy when it came to people outside of his pack. Minho was plenty comfortable with playing into his scent filled with promises of vengeance if things escalated further.

Chan just wanted the first full moon to go smoothly. He ducked into the kitchen to see Minho preparing their meal. A huge spread of grilled meat, crunchy vegetables, and other firm dishes that would soothe the ache of tense jaws. Minho looked over to nod at Chan, his eyes were bright copper even if the rest of his body betrayed no other effects of the full moon.

One

Chan’s own eyes mirrored his but he simply smiled before ducking out to check the living room. Felix and Jeongin were preoccupied with a new game on their Switch. Something that involved a blond-haired guy climbing a sheer cliff while a dragon spit electricity at their retreating character. Felix was in control of the character but Jeongin was teasing about how his turn was coming up soon. Copper eyes reflect the light from their television.

Two. Three.

Chan left them to go upstairs. All of the bedroom doors were open but it only smelled like a few of his wolves were up here. Following the smell of mint and peaches, he found Hyunjin painting quietly while Changbin was feeding him chips. The quiet crinkle would spur Hyunjin to open his mouth and crunch on the savory snack. Changbin looked over to the doorway and nodded to Chan. A look of knowing followed Chan as he slipped out to check further into the house.

Four. Five.

In the master bedroom, a ball of fur was curled up tightly to fit on the large bed. Chocolate brown fur bristled before shifting as Seungmin looked over to Chan. Chan walked over and gently ran his fingers through the fur of the wolf’s mane. The dense fur was sleepwarm and his lemon scent mixed with Chan’s ocean waves. Seungmin huffed before stretching to slink off the bed. He shifted back to human form but he remained quiet as he nuzzled into Chan’s shoulder. He breathed in deep before ducking around Chan, presumably to Chopin Minho in the kitchen. Minho was always soft on Seungmin around the full moon and would give him strips of the food he prepared despite his rule of no one in the kitchen while he prepared the meal.

Six.

His quiet sigh left Chan aching to shift, but one wolf was still unaccounted for. After checking all of the rooms and heading back to the main floor, he was getting a little antsy to find Jisung. Normally he would have been curled up with Seungmin to get a last nap in before dinner. Humming to himself, he shrugs on a sweater and shoes before stepping out onto the porch. Tucked into one of their new porch chairs is his missing wolf. He was sitting with his feet tucked and underneath him, tiny frame smushed to make himself even smaller. He was resting, eyes closed and head tucked into his shoulder.

Seven.

With a sigh of relief Chan surveys the quiet neighborhood. The sun had already set but there was still light lingering in the sky. The moon would rise just after their dinner. Movement catches the wolf's eyes and he looks over to their neighbor's house. The giant window facing their property was lit and there was one of the vampires sitting looking out towards them. It was the fledgling that seemed to like sinking his teeth in their pup.

Chan didn’t have an issue with it as he was concerned with how Jeongin seemed to take to Jongho so quickly. Jeongin was more social than say Minho but it was still fast for the wolf to let a stranger so close. Their instincts were sensitive especially when it came to anyone who wasn't pack getting that close. Sure Jeongin was maybe the least territorial of them but even the pup had had his fair share of close calls with his instincts. The whole situation bugged Chan's wolf. Not in a bad way, just it felt like he was missing something glaringly obvious.

“Hyung?” Came the garbled voice from behind him. He looked over to see Jisung sleepily blinking his copper eyes.

“Hey pup, dinner is almost done,” Chan said gently. Jisung sniffed and looked at him with curiosity.

“Is everything ok? You smell… confusing.” Jisung stood, legs wobbling from the lack of blood flow. Chan hesitated before shaking his head.

“No, everything is fine. Just you know, checking in.”

Jisung just laughs and snuggles up to Chan, skin sleep-warm despite his reddened cheeks looking wind-burned. The air was cool as the September day chilled with nightfall.

“Ah, so your usual headcount. Well, tell your alpha brain that it can wait for a few minutes while we eat dinner” Jisung whines before tugging Chan back into the house. The heat and steam from the kitchen carried all the wonderful scents of their pack along with the tasty tinges of dinner.

After the dinner had settled, the pack changed into looser clothing. The meal had warmed their bellies and now their bones ached to change into the form that had been calling to them all week. Seungmin was the first to shift into his chocolate brown form, lanky limbs stretching out as he shook out his fur. Hyungjin and Felix’s golden-toned furs joined him in the twilight, the moon was going to rise soon. Han’s tawny fur burst next to Minho’s deep brown, dwarfed by the older wolf’s size. Changbin and Jeongin joined the menagerie of colors and Chan finally let the call of the moon pull his body into the right shape.

The pack finally settled into the clearing and their minds began to meld as one. The shared mind space was something that the wolves could ignore but for the sake of bonding during their monthly ritual, they fully submerged their subconscious. Their minds touched the edges of the mental fabric of the wolf space. It was a connection that allowed for thoughts and feelings to flow into one another. Chan could feel as each wolf connected and settled into the mental bond. He felt his inner wolf settle as the pull of the moon was finally answered by the pack's bonding.

Minho’s cool metallic scent mirrored how his mental scape held steady and strong like steel. Changbin, Seungmin, and Felix joined the space almost simultaneously and blended evenly. Their playful feelings warmed up the space and brought balance to the might of Minho’s inner wolf. Hyunjin and Jisung follow closely as their presences expand the space. All of their emotions burst forward and then fold themselves evenly to accommodate the mental weight of seven different people thinking, and feeling at once. The last to join was Jeongin whose inner wolf entered the space and began to fold itself like it had done many moons in the past. However, this time once Chan reaffirmed the pack bonds, Jeongin’s inner wolf began to whimper and pull against the bonds.

Unease rippled across the pack as their maknae began to thrash and howl.

“P-pack-. P-packmate gone!” Came Jeongin’s wolf. It warbled and warped Jeongin's presence and a sharp ache surged forward. Jeongin’s fur was stiff and bristled as he looked around, fear and confusion melding together into the bond as all of the Bang pack searched for the issue.

“Jeongin-ah, we’re all here. It’s ok” came Minho’s strong presence. It was always dominant and overwhelming like an Alpha, situating itself above the chorus of the pack. Chan felt deeper into the bond, looking where the source of the pain was coming from. Everyone felt normal, afraid but normal. The pain that sat close to Jeongin was not any physical pain, it was something tugging at the bond outside of their pack. It was woven so tightly to Jeongin’s inner wolf that it was almost indistinguishable from him, but as Chan focused more closely on it, it began to take shape. It was like there was a string connecting Jeongin’s wolf to something outside, far away from their location. Wolf bonds weren't something that they could see so much as feel, more akin to a gut feeling.

“Jeongin-ah, what is your wolf telling you to do?” Chan asked gently. Chan had a suspicion of who it could be, but there should be no way for a bond to be established outside of the wolves themselves. Chan had heard stories of packs adopting other supernatural creatures and even humans, but he had always thought that the bonds couldn’t establish themselves fully. Here this bond was weak but it was strong enough for Jeongin to feel it.

-

Jeongin whimpered.

“Run,” said his wolf and he wanted to obey but his more human brain was telling him that this was wrong. Distress was leaking off him in waves, the opposite of which should be happening under the full moon with his pack. The full moon was always a time of happiness and rejuvenation, but to Jeongin it felt like a part of himself was missing.

“I can’t-” Jeongin said before he cut himself off with a sad howl. It reverberated within all of their chests as Jeongin’s lungs ached. His chest was full of longing as his wolf kept tugging him to run, to move his paws and find where his packmate had gone. All of his packmates were here! Who was his wolf talking about?

“Jeongin! Follow your wolf’s pull. It’s ok to let go. We will be here for you,” came Minho’s voice inside of his head. It pushed the young wolf to breathe deeply before taking off into the woods. The moon lit up the path as his wolf huffed each breath and his legs ran as fast as they could. His body gained speed and the trees whipped past before Jeongin realized that he was headed back towards the pack house. ‘Maybe his body felt too vulnerable out in the open,’ he thought.

“No, Mate,” came his inner wolf almost seeming frustrated in the lack of understanding of what it wanted. The itch that had been bugging the wolf the whole day now pulsed in pain again. No amount of snuggling and clinging to his hyungs had eased the pain. Jeongin could feel them follow behind him as their bonds pulsed with worry and exertion.

The house came into view quickly at the wolf’s supernatural pace, but his wolf pulled him past it and into their neighbor’s lawn. The wolf circled and whined an ear-piercing cry. Jongho who had been in his usual seat at the window rushed out of sight before bursting through the front door. Jeongin felt his body shake before rushing up to the young vampire.

“Jeongin! Are you alright?” Jongho asked, his face etched with concern as he reached up and let his hands settle on the wolf's cheek. The pain stopped. Everything stopped before the wolf’s mind was filled with chaos. His packmates were a jumble of emotions heightened by the full moon.

“Jongho. Be careful.” came the deep baritone of the vampire’s coven mate. Seonghwha looked concerned as he looked from his fledgling to the pack of wolves taking up his front lawn. Jeongin pushed his head into Jongho’s chest, his fluffy ears twitching as if he could muffle his inner mindscape by covering his ears. Chan finally quieted the wolves with his scent, ocean waves crashing over the area like a tsunami before he shifted back to his human form.

“Seongwha, I'm sorry for this but I need you to get Hongjoong-sii. It looks like things have gotten more complicated.” Chan said with an anxious look.

“What do you mean? Is everything alright?” Seonghwa asked. Chan simply looked over to his pup and the vampire before shaking his head.

“I think Jeongin imprinted on Jongho.”

Chapter Text

Hongjoong was wary.

Hongjoong parked his car.

His lawn had six wolves in it, and all of their heads snapped to him as he stepped out of his car. On the porch sat Jongho with Jeongin leaning on him. They both looked tired. The full moon ashened their already pale faces, and Hongjoong felt a pang of tenderness at seeing his Maknae out and cuddled against his new friend. The jealousy sparked alongside those squishy feelings and swirled into a confusing mix of hot and cold.

Despite everyone’s tense body language, they all seemed to be ok. No injuries, and the night air was clean of any blood. Just a scramble of scents that clouded his nose with stress.

Seongwha rushed over to Hongjoong and held him tightly. Instead of letting go, the taller vampire held him there for a moment before he spoke.

“Hongjoong. I need you to promise me you will be gentle with them. No matter what they say, i need you to be gentle with them.”

Hongjoong felt his blood chill at the tone of worry and fear in his mate's voice. His eyes flashed a deep crimson as he breathed in the night air, with a firmer focus on discerning what the night held. He tasted salt. Honjoong looked around Seongwha to see the wolf connected to that scent. Chan was in a hushed argument with Minho, both looking over towards him, but Chan turned back swiftly to hold onto Minho’s shoulder. Metallic anger stung in the vampire’s throat as he studied the wolf pack’s alpha and omega.

Hongjoong hadn't spent much time with the metallic-smelling wolf, but his scent was a sharp edge in every instance of his presence.

“What would have me react in any other way?” Hongjoong asked, but they both knew. Hongjoong may have been getting therapy for his issues, but the vampire’s instincts were still something to be reckoned with.

“They are just as surprised as us. No one expected something like this to happen. At least not so quickly.” Seonghwa said, his deep rumble soothing despite the stress in the air. With a deep breath, Hongjoong patted Seonghwa’s back. “I won’t do anything crazy. I can’t promise I won’t be upset, if it is something to be upset about, but I won’t lash out. Not again.”

The strawberry-haired vampire squeezed him once more before letting go, turning with Hongjoong towards the porch. Jongho smiled hesitantly before nudging Jeongin. The werewolf looked positively drained, and his scent stunk of stress and fear. His eyes flashed copper as he kept his eyes trained on Hongjoong as both vampires approached. Chan and Minho also crept closer, Minho taking a defensive stance near Jeongin.

“So, what's all the fuss about?” came Hongjoong’s flinty voice. Minho bunched his shoulders at the hard tint to Hongjoong’s voice. His deep brown eyes glinted in the full moonlight. Chan huffed.

“It would seem that our boys have forged a pack bond, though it’s in its beginning stages,” Chan said as he gestured over to Jongho and Jeongin. Minho rumbled angrily but stayed silent. “It seems like Jongho’s feeding bite triggered pack bonding instincts in Jeongin.”

Jongho flushed with guilt as he looked over at Jeongin like he had cursed him with some terrible fate. Jeongin just lay his head back on the vampire’s shoulder with a yawn.

Hongjoong waited for anger, stress, anything really to surface and flood his brain. It didn’t come. Instead, he took a breath and observed his fledgling. Their bond was still intact, and nothing felt like it was trying to sever it. Instead, with a concentrated look inward, he felt something warm bleed off of it like a bud on a branch.

“They're alright though?” Hongjoong asked. Before Chan could answer, Minho scoffed. “If things were alright, we wouldn't be here,” Minho said, eyes flashing.

“He didn't mean to,” Hongjoong said.

“Yeah. He didn’t mean to. This may be news to you, but wolves take bonding seriously. It’s not just something to do on a whim. Do you know how much distress this could cause, already has caused, to our pup?”

Hongjoong flinched as the wolf all but spat the words out. Yes. Yes, he did know a little of what the wolf was feeling. The vivid memory of being cast aside after being bitten burgeoned up before Hongjoong could tamp it down. Jongho’s eyes widened as he looked over towards him. The realization that Jongho might have done something even remotely close to creating a fledgling without thought rattled both vampires.

“Minho…” Chan said, but Minho just narrowed his eyes at Honjoong.

“I’m sorry,” comes Jongho’s brittle voice, his scent a mixture of hurts. Jeongin nuzzles the vampire in distress. His sweet strawberry scent puffed weakly in an attempt to comfort.

“It’ll be ok. I’m ok. Minho just worries,” Jeongin murmured to the vampire. Minho bristled even more at the wolf’s placations.

“And you should worry a bit more. What were you thinking, letting someone mark you? That was careless of you, pup,” Minho growled at Jeongin. Jeongin sighed as he looked over to his packmate, but he reached to lace his fingers with Jongho’s hand.

“I didn’t think vampires could bond like wolves can,” Jeongin said. “And even if they could, it takes more than just a bite to establish a bond. Normally, it takes months to build a connection. We’ve only been around each other for a few weeks.” Despite that, both the wolf and the vampire practically occupied the same space. They reacted and shifted towards each other, cautious and delicate.

Hongjoong hummed before speaking thoughtfully, “Bonds are usually established through siring a fledgling, but a feeding isn't enough to start that process. And you're clearly not a new vampire, so we can rule that out.” Minho’s mouth was set in a firm line, but Hongjoong could see the wolf softening a bit, even if his scent still stung the nostrils.

“Wolves need to feel safe and trust their partner in order to establish a bond. Both our self and our inner wolf,” Chan said as the tension eased fractionally. “I’ve heard that feedings can be quite vulnerable for vampires. Perhaps Jeongin’s inner wolf recognized that.” Chan said, looking to Jeongin for confirmation.

Jeongin looked up in thought as he thought, “When Jongho bit me, it was like he was touching my inner wolf. Like they inhabited the same space.” Jongho nodded, shining red pools focused on the werewolf next to him.

Seonghwa spoke up, having observed quietly near Hongjoong, “Vampires establish what you could call a temporary bond with their feeding partner, and they can share emotions, thoughts, intentions.”

”The bite was an opening of a door, and it has stayed open,” Minho said after a moment of silence.

“Now the question is what to do about it,” Hongjoong said. He looked to the two boys carving themselves into each other and felt like his question had its answer. Still, this had wider implications for the rest of their families. They had two large groups of creatures that, while they seemed compatible in some ways, still lacked the experience to make those calls about each other. This rushed bond put weight on the connections established. It was unheard of, or at least very uncommon, for such large groups to cohabitate space. Not to mention, the wolves had just moved here. The last thing they needed was something like this to complicate their lives.

“Well, it's not something we can simply solve in one night. What's done is done. Let's sleep on this, we can talk further when we’re rested and not so amped up,” Hongjoong said while pointing up toward the moon. Jeongin whimpered. They all turned toward the wolf. Hongjoong tasted the sharp sting of stress as Jeongin turned his face into Jongho’s neck. The vampire rubbed the wolf on the shoulder in soothing motions.

“Wolves don’t like to be away from their packmates. Especially during the full moon,” Chan said apologetically. Looking a little lost as he watched his youngest ache with uneasiness.

“Your pack could sleep in our den. It would be a bit packed but if your ok with sleeping on the couches and floor, then we could squeeze everyone in.” Hongjoong found himself suggesting.

Chan’s warm eyes widened in surprise, his mouth ajar for a split second as he processed the vampire’s offer. Ocean waves crashed gently in the air as a bit of hope broke past all of the frazzled feelings of the night's events.

--

Minho was exhausted.

He was nestled in the corner of the vampire’s living room as his pack slept. It was less night and closer to dawn, but his mind could not handle sleeping in a home that wasn't his, let alone leaving his pups that vulnerable.

He wished his pack could get through one full moon without imploding through any means necessary. Maybe imploding was the wrong word. No, maybe this was just the case when trying to unify seven werewolves into a cohesive unit. He loved his boys more than anything, his wolf found such peace amongst them.

His mind flashed with the morning he woke up to his body changing so radically. His senses exploded with their newfound strength. He remembers the fear, the anxiety, the newfound wariness that he was subjected to from his parents, his human friends, and strangers who could smell the difference.

Now, looking over to his youngest pup curling up next to Jongho, the surprise and hostility from earlier had long melted into the undercurrent of concern Minho usually had when thinking about his pups. It was hard to keep up a high level of hostility whilst asking for blankets from the kind vampires, and the mix of snores and soft breaths coming from his back lulled him further. Still, the anxiety of the situation couldn’t be spirited away, with them having no idea how to remedy this. Does their bond need to be severed? Will Jeongin and Jongho be ok if they attempt such a thing? If they pursue the bond, what will that mean for the two families?

A door opened almost silently, but Minho zeroed in his senses towards the sound. Quiet steps from upstairs echoed in the wolf’s ears. It was still hours before anyone should be up and about. The mystery disappeared as Changbin came down the stairs, sleepily fumbling in a house that mirrors their own. The wolf was about to settle down in the living room when he looked at Minho and hesitated. He squinted his tired eyes before straightening up and motioning for Minho to follow him.

Minho carefully lifted himself from the floor and traipsed around the sleeping wolves scattered on the floor. They left through the kitchen and out the back door, where the yard faced the forest

“You need to sleep, Minho,” Changbin drawled. His voice almost whiny with how he stretched his words.

“And so do you, Binnie. Yet here we are.” Minho shifted and stretched out his leg to nudge Changbin’s.

Changbin huffed, and they sat in silence for a while. The full moon had dipped behind the tree line, and the night sky twinkled. The leaves crunched with the wind and faded into the white noise of the night. Changbin fiddled with the edge of his sleep shirt and closed his eyes, basking in the quiet coolness. His mint scent was subtle, but it carried the same note of exhaustion that Minho had. The moon drained them as much as the surprise.

“The kids will be ok. All in all, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing.” Changbin said after a while.

“I’m not against it,” Minho said, but couldn’t quite keep his scent neutral.

”Yeah, but you're still upset. It's hard to miss despite how many different scents fill this one house.”

“Of course I’m upset!” Burst Minho, cool metal turning sharp. “I feel like I’m the only one who recognizes the risk in all of this.” Even now, Minho’s mind is flooded with all of the possibilities.

Images of Jeongin hunched over, surrounded by a pack that couldn't soothe the loss. Jeongin’s back in the distance as he left their pack to start his own. Or even worse, their pup drained of all his light, on the verge of blood loss, gone too far.

Minho’s hand trembled as the fear spiked viciously.

Changbin reached over before aborting the motion. “I’m afraid, too,” Changbin said as he rubbed his arms to warm up the skin. His voice didn’t hold the usual boisterous valor. Not even the usual stubbornness that so often colored his words could mask the brittleness of his voice. “It's not only our pup at risk,”

The weight of the entire pack sat heavily on both their shoulders. If any of the vampires joined them, underneath all of the fear and anxiety sat the guilt of the beta and omega of the pack. So many shoulds floated between both of their thoughts.

I should have been more attentive.

I should have seen this coming.

I should have been more cautious.

But Minho had been dazzled like the rest of them by their new neighbors. Now things had become a bit more complicated.

Chapter Text

Minho was anxious

His eyes ached with lack of sleep, and he’s sure that if he looked in a mirror, he would find the heavy lines he felt carved under his eyes. He and Changbin had stayed out on the porch for a long while before coming back inside. Minho had calmed enough to sleep for a couple of hours before the anxious beating of his own heart woke him up. Now, his wolfy form lay against the bundle of blankets in the corner of the living room. It was late morning, and everyone had gotten up and sleepily roamed around the house. The only ones left in the living room were the two Maknaes, sleepily resting on the floor. Chan had done his usual headcount before disappearing into the upper level. Minho had a suspicion that Chan was talking with the vampires to consider their next steps.

How were they supposed to navigate an imprint bond like this?

Minho shifted restlessly from his corner of the room. The moon's pull was fading as the peak had begun to wane. The wolf inside settled, and with it the overwhelming exhaustion everyone felt suddenly piled on his shoulders. He reached out through his bond to check on everyone. It was an old habit that Channie did more often than Minho, but for now, his anxiety needed some level of reassurance.

Every wolf described the experience differently, and for Minho, it felt like dipping his hands down into a stream and feeling for where the running water splits in different directions. Each stream had a different feel to it. Felix was warm, the current gentle and curling. Jisung was quick and bubbly. Seungmin inched along, almost slowing to a stop when Minho checked on him. Jeongin’s was cool and refreshing like a summer spring. Hyunjin’s was almost hot and steamy like a hot spring. Changbin’s was warm, but the current pushed against him firmly, and Chan’s was ice cold, and tacky like ocean water on the verge of freezing. They all pooled into the great river that was their pack, rushing forward and strong.

As Minho felt them through the bond, he paid special attention to Jeongin’s stream. The cool summer water pulsed slowly with sleep and exhaustion. Minho’s chest fluttered with sympathy. He hoped his pup rested well. As he felt the thrum of Jeongin’s bond, he felt something new. Something heated and swirling like a current pulling you underwater. It trickled quickly along and fed into Jeongin’s bond. Minho could feel the anxiety and fear making the water rush by, but also the myriad of other feelings Jongho held in his chest. Curiosity and a flushed warmth of fondness that was definitely linked to how Jeongin was using his furry body as a security blanket. Familiar feelings, Minho mused.

The sound of steps roused Minho from his internal searching, and he saw a mop of black and white hair peeking inside. Hongjoong’s eyes linked with Jongho, a silent conversation within the few seconds the elder vampire occupied the space. Minho felt the baby vampire's anxiety spike, but also with it an ache that made Minho's teeth itch. The unique sensation left as Hongjoong left, and Minho could only hazard a guess at what that feeling meant. The bond was progressing quickly and already weaving itself into the rest of the pack’s psyche.

Minho contemplated asking after the head vampire, but he was still so tired. His chat with Changbin had settled some of the restlessness, but the unknowns of the bond still dragged at his small margin of energy. With a sigh, Minho rose from his spot on the floor and quickly shifted from his massive wolf form to his less massive but still intimidating human form.

“I’m going to check up on breakfast,” he said. The ‘call me if you need anything’ went unsaid, but the pointed look he threw at the puppy pile was enough to communicate it. Jeongin yipped at him, but didn't try to move at all from his vampire perch, content to recover from the hectic night as everyone else tried to salvage the day.

The vampires' house was a mirror of the pack's home, Minho found as he made his way from the living room to the large kitchen just past the hallway. An explosion of smells met the wolf as he took stock of the kitchen’s occupants. Seonghwa was humming away as he stirred a large pot of what smelled like congee. The bubbling, cream-colored rice porridge would be the perfect comfort food, as well as help the wolves recover their strength. He looked up and smiled at Minho, though his frame held more stress than his face let on. The curve of his lips twitching, Seonghwa seemed trapped by the stove as Felix and Jisung helped fry some eggs and other side dishes for their meal. The piles of food in various bowls and plates cluttered any free space. Minho made a mental note to slip some cash in the vampire’s pocket to help cover some of the meal's ingredients. He knew vampires didn’t need food, and Minho’s sure Seonghwa would protest, but common courtesy dictated he help.

“Oh! Minho-hyung!” came Jisung’s bright voice over the crackle of frying oil snapping. “We’re almost done.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” Minhos said with a tired smile.

“Have they actually been helpful?” Minho asked with a nod to Seonghwa. Before Seonghwa could answer, another presence nudged past Minho, and he was quickly met with the snappy spice of ginger and rosemary. Wooyoung practically scent-marked Minho with how close he brushed up against him. He had a wolfish smile as he sped over to Felix and Jisung.

“Ooh, bokkie! This looks good. You're not just a pretty baker,” he said warmly, playfully squeezing Felix’s shoulders like he was hyping him up for a big competition.

“Yah, I’m trying to concentrate,” Felix said. Deep laughter made Minho relax as Felix jabbed an elbow back. Jisung went to try and defend Felix whilst the freckled wolf made a valiant attempt to not burn the eggs. They squealed and squabbled as the vampire quickly glued himself to the wolves.

Minho leaned back against the counter next to Seongwha and watched the pups giggle along with Wooyoung. “They’re kind of cute when they’re not causing trouble,” came another deep voice, though Minho was now more familiar with its soft melodic quality. Seonghwa still had his warm eyes on the pot of congee, but the little smile seemed less forced.

Minho slumped even further against the counter, letting the exhaustion of the night show through his sagged posture. “If only they stayed cute and out of trouble.”

“True. Though I think it’s impossible for either of our groups to function for long without something popping up to cause chaos.” Seonghwa said in mutual consolation. The crease in the vampire's brow smoothed out a bit more as he turned off the heat for the congee and placed a lid to keep it warm. “It seems we all share that in common. A penchant for charm and trouble,” the vampire said, motioning to the roughhousing boys in the kitchen.

Minho considered the boys. Yeah, they were trouble and charm in almost equal measure. Sometimes the trouble outweighed the charm, but in the end, Minho loved his boys. Seeing Wooyoung with them should have felt out of place. Awkward and stilted, but he slotted into the wolves’ dynamics so easily. If Minho quieted the anxious thoughts, it almost felt like any other weekend after the full moon, where the boys gorged on hot food and napped all day. The smell of earthy herbs and old blood wasn’t so unsettling now that Minho had spent so much time in the coven’s space.

They might be ok. The pack and the coven together, though there was still much to discuss. Minho reached out to Seonghwa and lightly set his hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for taking care of my pack. Given everything, you all have been patient with us.” Minho heard the roughhousing still. The boys were not so subtle in their observing, but Minho didn’t mind. If things were going down the path he saw with the coven and the pack, then it would be important for his pups to see their pack omega extending the olive branch to the vampires.

Seonghwa’s brown eyes settled onto Minho, and for a beat, he stayed still, surprised by the contact from the normally aloof wolf. He reached his own hand out to the wolf and set his cool hand against Minho’s own.

“Given everything, you should have more reason to yell at me, to pursue more serious consequences against our coven’s recklessness, but you all have been nothing but kind.” with a shuddering breath, Seongwha went on, “It was your Jeongin who helped our fledgling, it was Chan and the others who helped Mingi, and it was you who had patience for Hongjoong when he wasn’t at his best. If anything, I want to ensure that all of that care is returned and continues to ensure we all can live happily together, whatever that may look like.”

Minho sucked in a deep breath at the intensity behind those warm eyes, the kind smile, and felt a softness hit his chest. How he felt for his pups, he could easily see extended to this soft soul. His wolf growled loudly in agreement, and that, more than anything, surprised Minho. He almost jumped at the surge of warmth coming from his pack bond as other wolves voiced their warmth for the coven.

No words came to Minho, and in that moment, a brief memory of his first meeting with the vampire flashed into the forefront of his mind. With a delicate half smile, Minho looked deep into Seonghwa’s eyes before gently tilting his head to the side, exposing his neck. A show of trust, of solidarity, and a gesture he’d never given to anyone outside of his pack. Seongwha’s delicate exhale dusted against his throat, and he felt the grip on his hand grow firm.

“Thank you, Minho,” he said in that vibrant timbre of his. Minho lolled his head back, spotting his pups watching them. Jisung’s eyes were practically falling out of his head with how wide his eyes were. Felix has his scrunchy smile on full display, eyes almost closed with how much joy was on his face. Minho felt a bit shy at such a public display of feelings, but the look on Seonghwa’s face was worth it. The way his fangs dug into his lip as he beamed at Minho would be stuck in his head for a while after this. With a disgruntled cough, he shot his boys a pointed look, “All right, you busy bodies, it looks like the food is done. Go let everyone know that breakfast is ready.” He tried to muster up the firmness he usually had when directing his pack, but by the looks on everyone in the kitchen, he wasn’t fooling anyone.

“Alright, hyung,” Felix and Jisung chirped with cheesy grins. Wooyoung followed them, not so quietly whispering questions as they left the kitchen.

“This is going to spread like wildfire,” Minho sighed, though he was still holding Seonghwa’s hand, and the vampire laughed softly.

“Your image as the big, scary wolf will be ruined. Or at least it would be if you could hide how soft you are for your pack at all.”

Minho felt his cheeks burn, “Is it a crime to care? Everyone else is the one convinced I’m scary! I just don’t always correct that assumption.”

Seonghwa inhaled deeply before commenting, “Well, if they knew to look beyond your scent, they would find the softest marshmallow of a wolf. It’s a wonder you don’t smell as sweet as Jisung.”

Minho just huffed and elbowed past Seonghwa to start making plates, “Not everyone has the scent of a sugar factory. Be lucky that I balance his sweetness.”

The bustle of the house began to grow as wolf and vampire made their way to the kitchen. Minho handed out plates and found himself swarmed by vampires. They were all so tall, and it should have made Minho growl and demand space, but the more he watched them fumble around their own kitchen, the more they reminded Minho of his pack.

____

Jongho let out a deep, anxious breath from his place on the floor. Though it was just him and Jeongin left in the living room at that moment, he had felt the gaze of everyone in the house land on him at breakfast. The Coven’s usual lazy weekend had quite a few extra heads, and while some of the wolves had left their house to grab clothes or snacks, their quick return seemed to cement their residence in the Coven's home. He couldn't help but feel the sting of guilt heavy in his stomach. It was his fault that their lives became entwined. Interrupted.

Jeongin nuzzled his cheek, black wet nose leaving a cold trail on Jongho’s skin. It made Jongho want to smile despite the ache inside.

“Thanks, Jeongin, but you don’t need to try to make me feel better all the time,” he said as he ran a hand through Jeongin’s fur. For the first time in a while, Jeongin lifts himself up from resting against Jongho and stretches up; his body shifted in the blink of an eye as dark fur changes to rumpled sweats and a sweater. His knees popped as he kneeled next to Jongho’s prone form.

“I know,” he said, voice tired, “but I don’t know what else to do right now.”

Jongho sighed, “Yeah, I don't either. Still, I don't want you to feel like you need to be glued to me. Wolfy instincts or not.” Jeongin could be spending time with his pack. Full moons were a pack thing, and Jongho felt bad that he was hogging the wolf maknae. Jeongin shook his head, strawberry scent splashing Jongho across his nose.

“I don't feel like I have to do anything. My wolf isn't some force separate from what I want. It’s more like it's me turned to an 11; it just has fewer issues with seeking out what it wants.”
He lay back down next to Jongho, his hand gently resting against his. “I want you to feel better. I don’t want you to feel bad for something we both had a part in.”

“Well, maybe I want to feel bad about it?” Jongho said with an exasperated laugh. It sounded stupid, but it was also how he felt. Jeongin just laughed alongside him, “If you feel like you need to feel bad, then I’ll feel bad with you.”

Jongho let out a breath and felt where his chest shifted against Jeongin’s. His weight was warm and solid despite his slim frame. A sudden knock spooked both of them, and they looked up to see where Hongjoong knocked on the doorway. His sharp red eyes caught the late morning light. “Want to add another to your should-feel-bad club?” he spoke gently. Another figure peeks in from the hallway to reveal Chan’s crunchy blond hair and tired smile.

“How about two?” Chan said as he also came into the living room with Hongjoong. His ocean breeze scent salted the air and evened out the spice of Hongjoong’s turmeric. Their scents reminded Jongho of a ship at sea, carting spices to far-off lands.

“Looks like it’s time for the Talk,” Jeongin mumbled against Jongho’s shoulder before sitting up, and Jongho noticed the way Jeongin’s body tensed. Chan and Hongjoong had sat on the couch next to their blanket pile on the floor. Jongho sat up with Jeongin but stayed close. The wolf’s strawberry scent was an easy anchor to hold onto, and while neither Chan nor Hongjoong tasted like anger or other darker feelings, it still helped Jongho to have a way to focus.

“This is not us getting you in trouble if that worries you,” Chan said warmly, posture poised forward as he rested his arms on his knees. He was fidgeting a bit, but he still held his easy smile and kind eyes open.

“No, this is just us wanting to be on the same page. All of us.” Hongjoong said.

Jongho nodded. It was a precarious place to be. Jongho didn’t envy either of them. A new bond that connected two groups of creatures was a difficult thing to navigate, let alone the fact that it wasn’t planned or even something any of them were aware of until yesterday. The two families had barely known each other for a few weeks before the full moon.

Where would this new bond go? It was the question Jongho was sure all of them were asking.

“The same page,” Jeongin echoed for a moment, and a flood of feelings erupted over Jongho. The scent in the air didn’t change as drastically, though Jeongin’s scent grew a little sharper. However, the subtle change in scent did not match the avalanche of anxiety and fear that Jongho knew was not his own.

“And what do you expect us to tell you? That we’re sorry for doing something we had no idea we were doing?” Jeongin asked, and it made Jongho’s heart ache with the brittleness of it. Had Jeongin been feeling like this the whole time?

Now that Jongho could feel it, it was like he couldn’t feel anything else. The blankness tried to mask the fear that Jeongin was feeling, but it pooled into Jongho like a broken pipe. He could feel it, and that was disorienting all on its own. Vampires could taste fears, feelings, and wants, but a bond like this was only between a fresh fledgling and their sire. Those bonds faded with time, and vampires only felt more through feeding.

The fact that Jongho could feel Jeongin when they were only sitting next to each other was surreal. The bond had been faint before, but after the full moon, the bond was stronger.

“Shh, Jeongin. It’s ok. We’re here to listen,” came Chan’s voice. He crept down next to Jeongin, rubbing his shoulder as the wolf trembled.

“Unexpected bonds can be painful, scary things,” Hongjoong said after a moment to give Jeongin time to breathe. “We want to know how you two feel. How the bond feels, before we talk about anything else.”

Chan nodded and gave both of them small smiles and asked, “How does it feel?”

Jeongin looked to Jongho, and a questioning feeling rose up above the slew of feelings. Jongho reached over and held his hand before nudging him forward, “You go first. Last night was a lot. You seemed scared.”

Jeongin’s back folded a bit under Jongho’s words. His voice shook, “I was scared. Lost. I felt like someone was taking away one of my pack members, and that always feels horrifying. ”

Jongho’s guilt rose as he listened, but he only nodded along. Pack dynamics were still new to him, and while the inner link wasn’t present in the coven, the thought of losing a member during such a sensitive time made his stomach queasy. Jeongin clutched his hand harder, causing Jongho to look up and see the soft smile etched onto Jeongin's face.

“But I also felt warm and safe once I was with Jongho. From the moment he fed from me, the very first bite, I saw his kindness,” Jeongin said while stroking his thumb over the back of Jongho’s hand. “The bond feels like my other pack bonds, but it also feels separate. Like a branch shooting off. It’s new and tender.”

The storm of Jeongin’s feelings calmed as he spoke, and while the anxiety was still there, the bond pulsed with reassurance. Jongho took a deep breath. Chan and Hongjoong looked to him, calmly taking in their words without interrupting. It amazed Jongho that Hongjoong felt safe enough to have Chan there. His emotions were level and barely registered in the room.

Seeing that they were waiting on him, he took a moment to gather his thoughts before he said, “The bond feels intense. It feels like I’m a bottle and someone filled it with carbonation. If shaken, it felt like it would burst forward, strong and explosive, almost overwhelming. But when it’s calm, I can see all the little bubbles and how the light plays with the glass.”

Jongho looked back at Jeongin as he said, “I would be sad to see it go. To let go of the bond, but I also don’t want to put strain on anyone.” He looked down, feeling vulnerable, “I already cause enough trouble.”

“You're not trouble!” came three voices. A tear he hadn’t felt building dripped down his cheek as he looked up to see Hongjoong, Chan, and Jeongin firmly looking back. A burst of exasperation and fondness trickled through the bond, and Jongho felt like it was coming from two different sources.

“Alright! Anyway, I think the bond is growing. Or, maybe I can better understand the different wolves that also connect to the bond. What I smell from Chan hyung, I also feel coming through the bond.” Jongho said. Chan perked up and tapped his hands against his legs. His copper eyes flickered as he trained his eyes on the younger vampire. Suddenly, Jongho felt the bond ripple, and the feeling of Chan’s presence in the bond came to the forefront. As quickly as it surfaced, it faded back into the background.

“I can feel you too!” Chan said in awe. “Your bond is progressing quickly. Minho mentioned something about feeling you begin to attach to the pack bond. You're not just bonded to Jeongin anymore. Wolves always connect to the back, no matter who they bond to individually, so it would make sense that you, too, would become bonded.”

Hongjoong breathed deeply, his body somewhat tense. His eyes kept flashing brighter and brighter red, but he remained still. Jongho could smell his cocktail of hurt, jealousy, and sadness in the bitterness cloying the air.

“Hyung?” Jongho spoke almost silently.

Hongjoong clenched his hands in his lap but met Jongho’s eyes. His mouth was crumpled into a thin line as he held himself tightly. Jongho stood and sat gently next to Hongjoong on the couch. He leaned his head down to lie on his hyung’s shoulder.

“What are you thinking about, hyung?” Jongho asked. Hongjoong didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he unclenched his hand and reached for Jongho. He ran his hand along Jongho’s arm before taking hold of his hand. The sharp scent of turmeric was strong, but it slowly ebbed to something less caustic.

Hongjoong’s soft voice almost broke as he said, “I’m thinking that my fledgling grew a lot quicker than I thought, and that he might leave me before I can even show him how much he’s made my life brighter.” His lips crumpled into a sad smile that broke Jongho’s heart.

“I’m not leaving hyung,” Jongho mumbled. His eyes stung as tears began to build. “I never want to leave you, or the coven. Ever.” He leaned in closer, wrapping his arms around Hongjoong.

“But, you also don’t want to leave this new bond either, and… I won’t stop you. If it’s what you want,” Hongjoong said, pulling Jongho as close as he could. Jongho felt warm tears hit his shoulder and soak into his shirt. It made the tears fall from his own eyes, and his breath hitched. Jongho clutched at Hongjoong’s oversized shirt and felt all of the stress and anxiety that had built over the past 24 hours spill over into a hushed sob.

“Oh, my poor apple bear. So strong and kind. You always try to please everyone, even when you pretend to be sick of us,” Hongjoong whispered to him, rubbing his back in soft circles.

“Maybe we can please everyone,” came Jeongin’s hesitant voice. Jongho sniffled before blinking his red eyes over to the wolves on the floor. Chan’s brow was furrowed in concern as he observed the vampires in distress, and Jongho could feel the tickle of it in his chest. It was hard to parse between Jeongin’s feelings and the rest of the pack. Jeongin shifted close, scooting on his knees, “Or at least, we can try.”

Hongjoong tilted his head, partly in curiosity and partly to see around Jongho’s head on his shoulder. Jongho looked down at Jeongin and felt the burgeoning hope from the wolf.