Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Katsuki trudged through the pine forest, the fine snow slipping between the branches and clinging to his thick fur. His lupine body, far larger than that of a common wolf even as an omega, carried the extra weight of pregnancy—a constant reminder of that cursed night.

The last heat had been hell. More intense, more premature, all because of some random alpha whose pheromones had overwhelmed him like an avalanche. Strong. Overpowering. And worst of all, strangely familiar, as if his body recognized something his mind couldn’t name.

The memory of what happened afterward was blurred—hot blood, sharp teeth, the scent of mint and cedar saturating every breath. He’d woken in a cave, the alpha’s warmth enveloping him from behind, and it should have disgusted him, should have made him want to claw his own skin off in revulsion. But it didn’t. His body had betrayed him, arching into that presence as if it belonged there.

It had taken every ounce of his damned stubbornness to escape without looking back. He’d erased his tracks in the snow, smothered his pheromones, buried any proof he’d ever been in that place. And it had worked—the alpha never found him.

But something inside him burned with anger as the days turned to weeks and no trace of the idiot appeared. "Of course he wouldn’t come," Katsuki had snarled to himself, his paws sinking deeper into the thickening snow. Yet the emptiness in his chest was an insult. His body, damn it, still longed for that alpha’s warmth, the security of those strong, scarred arms, the scent that made him feel—

No. He wasn’t weak. He’d survived alone until now, pregnant, without a pack, without an alpha. And he would keep surviving.

Winter was coming, and with it, the birth. His heavy belly made every step a battle, his aching muscles protesting with each movement. Lycanthropes were strange creatures—born as wolves, only taking human form after a week. Katsuki didn’t care. He already lived as a lone wolf, and his human form was just another weakness he couldn’t afford.

But when the contractions started, when the pain bent him double in the snow…

He hated to admit it, but in that moment, he’d wish for the scent of mint and cedar again.

Katsuki growled low, his ears flattening against his skull as he scanned the forest with sharp eyes. He needed a place. Now. Not just any hollow or burrow—a den, safe enough to endure the birth and the cursed days that would follow, when his pup would be helpless in human form.

Damn it. The thought of being trapped in his fragile form for months, exposed, vulnerable, just to care for his young made his fur bristle. But he had no choice. And he was no coward. If he had to, he’d tear his own flesh apart to ensure the little one survived.

With heavy steps, he pushed through the pines, sniffing the frozen air. Until—there. A crevice in the rock, nearly hidden by fallen branches. It wasn’t large, but it was dry, sheltered from the biting wind. It would do.

In a few brutal motions, he cleared the entrance with impatient swipes of his paws, then dragged in branches and dry leaves, shaping a rough nest with his claws. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was his. And if he wanted to survive, he needed more—food.

Instinct pulsed under his skin, urgent. Before the pains began, before his body betrayed him again, he needed strength. With a keen nose, he followed the trail of a rabbit, moving in deadly silence. A leap. A sharp snap. Hot blood running down his throat.

It wasn’t enough. He hunted more in the following days, devouring his kills with voracity, saving the damp pelts between his teeth to line the nest. It wasn’t perfect, but it was warm. It was protection.

And when the wind howled outside, Katsuki buried himself deep in the den, his body aching but ready. He didn’t need an alpha. He didn’t need a pack.

He would survive alone, as he always had.

Then, at dusk, the first stabs of pain came like knives. Katsuki gritted his teeth, a snarl escaping between short breaths. Not now. Not so soon. But his body didn’t lie—the contractions were real, relentless.

He writhed in the nest, his front paws digging into the earth in sharp, abrupt strokes. He wouldn’t scream. He wouldn’t cry. His pup would be born strong, or it wouldn’t be born at all.

The pain came in waves, each one stronger than the last. His fur, once bristling with tension, was now soaked in sweat and melted snow. He didn’t want to thrash, didn’t want to seem weak—not even to himself. But when the first truly powerful contraction hit, a ragged growl tore from his throat.

"Fuck—!" he thought.

His muscles tightened like ropes stretched to their limit, his body demanding he yield, that he surrender to instinct. But Katsuki fought. He pushed against the cave floor, claws carving deep grooves into the earth. He wouldn’t whimper. He wouldn’t scream.

But then came the worst part—the pressure.

Something inside him shifted, an unbearable weight bearing down as if his insides were being ripped out by force. His body trembled, flanks heaving with ragged breaths. It was like being torn apart alive.

"Shit—shit, shit—!"

He had no choice. Hours had passed since then, excruciating and agonizing. The sun cast weak pink rays through the small cave entrance when, with one last defiant snarl, Katsuki let instinct take over. His body arched, muscles pulsing in a primal, inevitable rhythm. And then—

A whimper.

Not his.

Something small, wet, and alive slipped onto the nest of pelts and leaves.

Katsuki froze for a second, his heart pounding like a war drum. His pup.

The tiny body trembled, covered in a thin membrane that he quickly tore away with his teeth, clearing the airways with rough licks. The scent of the pup flooded his senses—blood, life, his .

The golden little body gasped, lungs filling with air for the first time. And then—a weak, almost indignant squeak.

Katsuki stared at that tiny, fragile thing, dependent on him for everything, and something in his chest clenched.

The pup, blind and deaf, instinctively curled into the warmth of its mother’s body, seeking protection.

And Katsuki didn’t push it away. Instead, he wrapped himself around it, covering it with his warmth, his scent. His offspring.

His responsibility.

The first three days passed in a slow, feverish rhythm inside that refuge of earth and fur. Katsuki didn’t leave for a single second—his pup was too small, too fragile to be left alone, and he was no careless omega.

The stockpile of meat he’d stored before the birth still held, but he could feel hunger gnawing at his insides. His once-strong body was exhausted now, muscles tense from nursing and constant vigilance taking their toll. But he wouldn’t complain. Complaining was for the weak.

The pup whimpered, trembling like a leaf in the nest, and Katsuki huffed, pulling it close with his snout.
"Such dramatic. You got that from your sire, that’s for sure," he thought, but his movements were careful as he turned onto his side, exposing one of his milk-swollen teats. The tiny pup sniffed the air, clumsy, until it finally latched on with a determination that almost made Katsuki laugh.

"Tch. Hungry, huh?"

The omega watched, narrow-eyed, as the pup sucked eagerly, its tiny front paws pushing against his belly as if trying to extract every last drop. It was ridiculous. It was… strangely satisfying.

But then came the thought he had been avoiding since the birth:
A name.

Shit. How had he been dumb enough not to think of that before? These past months had been all about survival—about not getting caught, about not breaking. But now, with that tiny creature clinging to him, ignoring it was impossible.

He licked the pup’s head with rough strokes, cleaning the remnants of milk dripping from its snout. He needed something strong. Something worthy.
Nothing sappy, nothing sentimental. Something that sounded like a warning, like a challenge.

His jaw tightened slightly as he considered.
And then—

"Kazuki."

The name echoed in his mind like an ember. Strength. Light. Something that burned, something that wouldn’t go out easily.
The pup let out a small sigh, content, and Katsuki felt an odd satisfaction.

"Suits you, little pest."

The scent hit his nose like a knife.

Katsuki froze, muscles locking beneath his bristling fur. A strong stench of an alpha in rut.

No.

Not now.

The odor was unmistakable—heavy, dominant. An alpha hunting an omega, instincts razor-sharp, ready to tear through any resistance with his fangs.

Katsuki clenched his jaw, smothering a growl. Shit, shit, SHIT. He had hidden his tracks. He had buried his scent, camouflaged the cave’s entrance with branches and rotting leaves. But the wind had betrayed him—or maybe fate itself, dooming him to this trap.

And then—Kazuki moved.

A small squeak escaped the pup, followed by a faint whimper, just loud enough.
The alpha’s scent shifted instantly—now thicker, more focused.

Katsuki curled around the pup, baring his teeth in deadly silence. No. He wouldn’t allow it. Alphas in rut were more violent than usual, the bastards killed pups that weren’t theirs from unmated omegas just to breed their own.

Fuck.

The steps came slow, calculated. Hooves breaking twigs, snow compacting beneath the weight of a wolf much larger than him.

Stopped.

Right outside the entrance.

Katsuki barely breathed. He could hear the intruder’s breathing, feel it warm against the leaves concealing the cave. His heart pounded so hard it hurt.

A long, deep inhale. The air heavy with the forest’s scent and the invader’s presence. A dry scrape against the stone. Sharp claws testing the ground. Katsuki remained still, muscles coiled like steel cables, every fiber of his body braced for a fight.

The alpha stepped inside like he owned the damn place. His size was overwhelming, much larger than Katsuki, his gray fur rippling in the cave’s cold breeze. The scent was suffocating—thick pheromones, violent and oppressive. But Katsuki didn’t move. His body shielded Kazuki, keeping the pup from the intruder’s sight. But it wouldn’t matter. The alpha could smell him.

"Omega." The growled word rumbled through his mind, laced with possession.

Katsuki bared his fangs, a fierce snarl curling his lips, his chest heaving with furious breaths. He was no submissive mutt. He never would be.

The alpha took another step, predator eyes locked onto him.

"You’re mine."

Rage ignited before Katsuki even registered it. He lunged.

The impact was a thunderclap of muscle and claws, the two rolling across the cave floor in a blur of fangs and violence. The air filled with snarls, the crack of bodies colliding, dried leaves crushed beneath their furious struggle. Katsuki sank his teeth deep into the alpha’s neck, the bitter taste of blood flooding his mouth.

The alpha roared in pain and hurled Katsuki against the cave wall. Agony exploded through his spine like fire, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.

Kazuki was crying behind him, a small, fragile sound—and the alpha heard it.

Shit.

Katsuki’s rage burned hotter. He lunged forward before the alpha could take another step toward Kazuki. If that bastard wanted his pup, he’d have to rip him from Katsuki’s claws.

And he wouldn’t do it without a fight to the last drop of blood.

Katsuki didn’t hesitate. His body moved on instinct, as if every muscle had been programmed for the only thing that mattered: protecting his pup.

He launched himself at the alpha again, claws digging into flesh, teeth seeking any exposed part he could tear apart. Warm blood coated his tongue, the iron scent mixing with sweat and adrenaline. But the bastard was strong. Strong as hell.

The alpha roared in pain and fury, striking back with a violent swipe of his paw. Katsuki felt the claws slash his flank, searing pain burning through him, but he didn’t give in. He rolled across the cave floor, lungs burning, and pushed himself up again, even with his legs trembling.

He couldn’t lose.

But fuck, he was weak. He had given birth only three days ago! In seconds, the alpha was already on top of him.

Pain exploded as he was slammed onto the ground, his back crushed against the cold stone. The alpha’s weight pinned him down, claws digging into his shoulders, forcing him down. Katsuki growled and struggled, but he was exhausted, his body battered, his breath tearing through his throat.

Above him, the alpha bared his jaws, teeth seconds away from sinking into his neck. Katsuki tried to break free, tried to fight back—but then the alpha froze.

His ears pricked up, dark eyes narrowing. He lifted his head and sniffed the air.

Katsuki felt it too.

The scent was overwhelming. Dense, raw, a silent command imprinted in every particle of air. Heavy, dominant pheromones, far stronger than those of the alpha pinning him down. And the wolf was coming.

Fast.

Katsuki barely had time to think before a fierce howl shattered the distance, a deep, primal sound that made the alpha above him bristle instantly. The air thickened, charged with tension, static crackling in the space.

Then came the noise.

Leaves crunching. Branches snapping. The thunder of powerful paws pounding the ground with relentless speed. The alpha holding Katsuki growled, but his body was stiff. His instincts screamed that he was no longer the predator in this space—he was the prey.

Katsuki felt the shift in the other’s stance, the rigidity of his muscles, the hesitation. And he took advantage of it.

With a guttural snarl, he twisted his body with all the strength he had left and sank his claws into the alpha’s side, ripping a grunt of pain from him. The movement was enough to break the other’s focus and make him step back.

And that was exactly when a colossal shadow emerged at the cave’s entrance.

He came like a storm, a blur of brute strength and overwhelming fury. And then the new wolf was revealed: dark green fur, glowing emerald eyes like burning embers. His roar thundered through the air, a sound charged with absolute power, demanding submission. A deep scar slashed through one of his eyes. The newcomer was massive, making the other alpha look small in comparison.

Katsuki felt his own body react before he even realized it—his omega instincts on high alert, recognizing that alpha on a primal level.

The other alpha, the intruder, froze. His whole body trembled under the presence of the newcomer, his survival instincts warring with his pride. He knew. He knew he didn’t stand a chance.

One step forward. Then another.

The new alpha never took his eyes off him, the threat dripping from every tense line of his body. The invading beast tried to resist, tried to hold his stance. But it was useless.

The new alpha glanced at Katsuki, then at his tiny pup, still crying in his nest. Fury flashed through those green eyes. He bared his teeth—sharp and enormous—and growled, a sound that made Katsuki’s inner omega whimper and bare his neck.

The invading alpha hesitated. His entire body vibrated with tension, his breathing heavy, instincts screaming at him to run.

But the new alpha wouldn’t let that happen.

Because the new alpha didn’t wait.

He lunged like lightning, and the impact was brutal. The air filled with furious snarls and the sound of bodies colliding. The cave echoed with the crash of their battle, the ground trembling under the sheer force of the newcomer.

Katsuki watched, panting, his eyes wide.

The invading alpha tried to fight back—raised his claws, attempted to bite—but it was useless. The new alpha was faster. Bigger. Stronger. He dodged with ease, muscles moving like steel beneath dark fur, and retaliated with a devastating strike, knocking the other to the ground.

There was no balance in the fight.

The gray alpha growled, trying to stand, but the dominant one was ruthless. He grabbed the invader's nape with his teeth and hurled him against the cave wall with brutal force. The impact sent rocks tumbling, and the intruder's body collapsed for a moment.

But the fight wasn’t over yet.

Desperate, the invader lunged again, his fangs seeking any opening.

He found none.

The newly arrived alpha dodged with an impatient snarl, and in one fierce movement, sank his teeth into the other’s jugular and drove him into the ground, pinning him down.

A roar echoed through the cave.

The invader’s eyes, once filled with defiance, began to dim. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his body tense under the overwhelming weight of the new alpha. He struggled—his last resistance. But a second later, as the teeth dug a little deeper into his flesh, his body went still. Blood now stained the ground where the two alphas had clashed.

The silence that followed was deafening.

The only sound filling the cave was Kazuki’s broken cries, small and fragile, making Katsuki’s chest ache. He couldn't afford to be distracted, but everything inside him screamed to grab his pup and run.

The new alpha remained still for long minutes, still holding the lifeless body of the invader beneath his claws. His chest rose and fell in controlled pants, a low growl reverberating through the stone around them. Then, unhurriedly, he released his opponent, letting the limp body drop onto the dirt floor with a dull thud.

Slowly, he turned.

Katsuki swallowed hard.

The alpha’s muzzle was covered in blood, a sticky crimson sheen contrasting against the dark green fur. His eyes were locked onto him, burning with an intense, indecipherable glow.

Fuck.

Katsuki had no chance.

His body screamed in pain, muscles exhausted, blood dripping from deep gashes. But he refused to yield. Even trembling, he forced himself to stand. His paws faltered for a moment, but he willed himself to stay upright, positioning himself between the alpha and Kazuki.

He bared his fangs, fur bristling, trying to appear bigger, more threatening.

The alpha remained where he was, simply watching. After a few seconds, he began to move forward.

Slow steps. Careful.

Katsuki’s growl deepened. His chest burned, but he wouldn’t back down.

“Stay back!” he ordered, a snarl ripping from his throat, baring his fangs at the other.

It was ridiculous. He knew it. This alpha could crush him in seconds if he wanted to. But that didn’t matter. He had a pup to protect.

The alpha stopped.

His eyes remained fixed on Katsuki, assessing. Then, something unexpected happened.

He let out a low sound, a rough whimper. And to Katsuki’s absolute shock, he lowered his body to the ground, folding his legs until he lay completely down. His massive head rested on his front paws, his eyes still locked onto the omega.

And then, he turned his neck, exposing his throat to Katsuki.

Katsuki froze.

His chest rose and fell too fast. His mind, always sharp and ready to act, was now blank.

What…?

This didn’t make sense. Alphas didn’t do this. Not for omegas. Not for anyone. This was a gesture of submission. Of absolute trust. And, more than anything, of recognition.

And in that instant, with the strong, familiar scent overwhelming his senses, the realization hit him like a tidal wave.

This was him. The alpha who had shared his heat nine months ago.

And he was submitting.

To him.

Fuck. Katsuki wasn’t prepared for this.

He remained tense, every muscle in his body on high alert, while the alpha stayed lying down, his large head still resting on his paws, his throat still exposed. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.

Because he was.

Even crouched on the ground, he still looked like a beast lying in wait—large, covered in muscles, his dark fur stained with fresh blood. The metallic scent still hung thick in the air, mixed with the heavier, more familiar smell that made something inside Katsuki stir.

Shit.

He didn’t remember this alpha being so threatening.

In fact, he didn’t even remember that heat week clearly—a fog of instincts and blurred sensations. But he had a vague impression that this alpha… he wasn’t like this. Katsuki couldn’t imagine him tearing a whole wolf apart on the damn cave floor.

In his memory, he was a needy idiot.

Now he was here, gigantic, covered in the blood of the other alpha, and yet… whining like a damn pup.

The low, trembling sound made Katsuki clench his jaw. He watched as the alpha curled in even tighter, his muscles tensing, his whole body lowering as if he were trying to seem smaller. Which was ridiculous. As if he could be smaller. As if he weren’t the most imposing thing in that space.

Katsuki growled, low.

He didn’t want this shit. Didn’t want this mess. Didn’t want to deal with it right now.

He needed to get to Kazuki.

The pup was still crying, small, muffled sounds of desperation that made Katsuki’s chest ache. He didn’t need to look to know Kazuki was trembling, squirming in the empty nest, searching for the warmth of the mother that, for a moment, wasn’t there.

Shit.

With one last glance at the alpha, Katsuki began to move. Careful steps, never turning his back on him. He didn’t know how the bastard would react to Kazuki. If he’d see the pup as a threat, as a target. His whole body was ready to attack if necessary.

But the alpha didn’t move.

He just stayed there, watching.

His eyes burned, alert, but he did nothing but maintain his submissive position. After a few minutes of tense silence, Katsuki made a decision. He turned quickly and dove into the nest, ignoring the sharp pain in his side as he crouched down.

The heat of Kazuki hit him instantly, and he pulled the pup against his chest, feeling the little one cling to him, small and fragile. The crying turned into soft sniffles, the trembling easing.

But Katsuki didn’t relax.

His eyes were still locked on the entrance of the nest.

Because outside, in the middle of the cave, that alpha was still waiting.

Katsuki curled up in the nest, his body still buzzing with adrenaline as he pressed Kazuki against him. The pup sniffled against his chest, sobbing softly, but at least he wasn’t shaking as much now.

“Shh… I’m here, okay?” Katsuki purred softly, licking the soft little head of the pup, feeling the warm, familiar scent of milk that always calmed him.

He kept his eyes on the nest entrance the whole time.

Then the alpha moved. Slowly, looking hesitant, he lifted his head slightly off the ground, his ears turning forward. Katsuki didn’t like the way his eyes were fixed on the pup, too focused, full of an interest that made the omega react immediately.

A deep growl rumbled from his throat, his teeth bared in a clear warning.

The alpha froze.

For a second, Katsuki thought he was going to back off, or maybe say some bullshit authoritarian line, the way alphas always did. But, to his surprise, the other did the exact opposite.

He whimpered.

Again.

Katsuki blinked, incredulous. The sound was high-pitched, almost… desperate? What the hell was wrong with this bastard?

And then, out of nowhere, a voice echoed in Katsuki’s mind.

“C-could I see him?”

Katsuki tensed. Shit. He hadn’t expected his voice to sound like that. Given the alpha’s size and overwhelming presence, he would have imagined something grave, deep, resonating from the chest. But no.

The voice was low. Soft.

So damn insecure.

And that just made everything seem even more ridiculous.

This monstrous wolf, who had just massacred an opponent, who was covered in blood and still exuding overwhelming pheromones—was there, whining on the ground like a damn pup and asking permission to see Kazuki.

Katsuki stared at him for a long moment, too stunned to even react.

This alpha was an idiot.

A huge idiot. And, apparently, completely pathetic.

And something inside Katsuki liked that. Not that he would admit it. Never.

He felt the hairs on the back of his neck bristle, his eyes narrowing as he kept Kazuki safe against his chest. The omega's body ached in several different places, and he was sure he'd suffered deep cuts in the earlier fight. His pup's breathing was irregular, but at least he had stopped crying. That was the only thing that mattered.

But the alpha was still there.

The damn idiot was still there.

"Fuck off." Katsuki growled, his teeth bared in a clear threat. "You're covered in blood and you want to get near my nest?"

The alpha blinked, as if just now noticing his own appearance. His gaze fell to his own body, his paws stained, fur hardened by dried blood. The dark liquid still painted his snout and chest from the damage he'd caused moments ago.

His eyes widened a little, as if genuinely surprised, and then he awkwardly stood up.

Katsuki reacted instantly.

He hunched over Kazuki, growling low, muscles tensed and ready to strike if the bastard dared come closer. But the alpha froze, seeming to realize his mistake.

"A-ah, I didn’t... sorry, Kacchan, I-I’ll clean up."

The alpha's voice echoed in Katsuki's mind again, and he almost lost focus on the situation.

Kacchan?

What the hell kind of name was that?

Katsuki was so stunned by it that he barely registered the moment the alpha turned and hurried out of the cave, heavy footsteps fading into the snow-covered forest.

He stood there, blinking slowly.

Kacchan.

It was a nickname. A stupid, childish name. But... something about it made Katsuki hesitate.

The sound was familiar.

Not enough for him to remember clearly, but still...

Shit.

That bastard probably called him that during that week. Maybe he whispered that name against his skin while—

Katsuki cut the thought off before it went too far.

He growled to himself, shaking his head and focusing on what really mattered.

Kazuki.

The pup was breathing better now, his small body warmed against Katsuki's chest. That was what mattered.

Minutes passed slowly, the cold of the cave intensifying without the alpha's dominant pheromones to warm the space. Katsuki forced himself to keep his breathing steady, trying to ignore how the silence weighed on his ears.

And then, he came back.

The dark silhouette appeared at the entrance of the cave again, and Katsuki instinctively growled low. But this time, the alpha seemed... different.

The blood was gone.

The thick fur was now damp and slightly disheveled, dripping small drops as he advanced inside. Snow covered his back and paws, small white layers stuck to the dark fur.

He was cleaner. Less threatening. But still huge as hell. Katsuki kept his body stiff, his sharp eyes analyzing every detail, waiting. The alpha stopped a few meters away, not daring to get any closer, the expectation in his eyes obvious. And that irritated Katsuki more than it should have.

The alpha stood there, at a safe distance from the nest, snow dripping onto the cave floor and looking like a wet pup. Katsuki stared at him distrustfully, keeping Kazuki firmly against him, feeling the pup's warmth mixing with the cold of the environment.

Then the alpha's voice echoed in his mind again.

"Kacchan, please—"

"Shut up."

"I just want to see him!"

"Fuck off."

The alpha lowered his ears, a whining sound coming from his throat. Katsuki wanted to roll his eyes so hard that he’d probably break his neck.

"I promise I won’t do anything! I just want to look!"

"Look, my ass! Stay there and stop bothering me!"

The alpha dragged his front paws on the ground, his huge tail lightly tapping against the side of his body, like a damn dog waiting for permission to get on the couch.

"But I—"

"One more sound and I’ll rip your damn tongue out."

"...What if I get just a little closer?"

"I’ll rip your balls off too."

The alpha let out a sincere whine, as if Katsuki had just hit him. The omega couldn’t believe the shit that was happening. This huge, muscular, dominant-as-hell wolf, who literally massacred another alpha five minutes ago, was there whining.

Begging for permission.

From him.

From an omega.

This was ridiculous.

In any other scenario, he’d be dead by now. No alpha would let an omega talk to him like that, much less flatten his ears and shrink like a scolded pup.

But this idiot was doing exactly that.

"Don’t you have any pride, you piece of shit?" Katsuki growled, incredulous.

The alpha let out an indignant groan.

"And here you are whining like a lost pup, damn it."

"It’s because it’s you!"

Katsuki froze.

He blinked, processing what he heard. The alpha realized his own mistake too late and immediately lowered his head, averting his gaze and moving his paws on the ground as if suddenly the earth was the most interesting thing in the world.

"I didn’t mean it that way, Kacchan..."

Katsuki gritted his teeth.

"Stop calling me that."

"But Kaccha—"

"FUCK OFF!"

The alpha whined again, his tail thumping the ground in lament. Katsuki had never felt so emotionally exhausted in such a short time. This was hell.

He just wanted to sleep.

But this damn alpha was there, huge, dripping snow, and begging like his life depended on it. Katsuki looked down at Kazuki, still hidden against his chest, breathing softly. He looked back at the alpha, still standing, waiting, ears flattened, and huge eyes full of expectation.

Damn it.

"If you step into my nest without permission, I’ll rip your throat out," he growled.

The alpha immediately lifted up slightly, his tail wagging once.

"Then I can—"

"Get closer already before I change my mind, damn it."

The alpha practically lit up the damn cave with his excitement. He jumped to his feet, his disheveled tail wagging with too much energy for a wolf the size of a house. Katsuki immediately regretted every single one of his life choices.

"Slow down, damn it!" He growled, the fur on his neck bristling. "If Kazuki wakes up again, I swear I’ll rip your face off!"

The alpha froze mid-step, looking like a pup caught doing something bad.

"I’m going slow," he whispered, completely serious.

He wasn’t going slow.

Katsuki rolled his eyes and held Kazuki more firmly, adjusting the small warm body against his own. The pup made a soft noise, moving his paws in the air, but at least he was still asleep.

The alpha began approaching again, this time a little more controlled. Just a little. Katsuki watched as the other walked across the cave floor, his steps careful, his breathing slowing as the distance between them shrank.

He was still huge as hell. Even without the blood staining his dark fur, he still had an overwhelming presence. The kind of presence that made others bow without thinking.

But not Katsuki.

He kept his fangs bared, even though he wasn’t growling anymore. The alpha stopped a few meters away, looking closely at Kazuki for the first time.

The silence dragged on.

And then, without warning, the alpha made a sound.

Low.

Almost a whine.

"He’s... small."

Katsuki blinked slowly.

"Of course, he’s small, you asshole, he’s a pup."

The alpha didn’t respond immediately. He just stayed there, breathing slowly, his eyes fixed on the pup sleeping against Katsuki’s chest. He didn’t move. Didn’t try to get any closer. He just stared.

And Katsuki felt it.

It wasn’t like the other alpha’s gaze, that damn invader, full of challenge and threat. This gaze was... soft. Laden with something that Katsuki didn’t want to name. And fuck, he hated that. Because he knew exactly what this son of a bitch was thinking.

He knew because he was doing the math too. Nine months.

The timing matched.

The scent matched.

The damn nickname matched.

Katsuki felt the fur on the back of his neck bristle again, but this time for a different reason.

He took a deep breath.

"Don’t even think about it."

The alpha shifted his gaze from Kazuki to him, blinking in confusion.

"Think about what?"

"What you’re thinking." Katsuki growled low, holding the pup tighter against him. "This pup is mine. You have nothing to do with it."

The alpha remained silent.

Too long.

And then, after a second...

"But—"

"Shut up."

The alpha whined. Katsuki really considered banging his head against the wall until he passed out. He laid down just outside the nest, his heavy head resting on the edge of the pelts, his green eyes still fixed on Kazuki with an... idiotic expression.

The omega huffed, irritated.

This son of a bitch really didn’t know when to quit.

"Kacchan, come with me."

The alpha’s voice echoed in his mind, soft and low, so different from his presence. Katsuki glared at him, the fur on the back of his neck standing up again.

"Where to, you shit alpha?"

The wolf raised his head, genuinely offended by the question.

"I have a name, you know?"

"As if I care about your damn name."

The alpha made a hurt noise, like Katsuki had kicked his paw.

"You forgot my name again, Kacchan?"

Katsuki froze.

Again?

He blinked slowly, his mind processing the sentence.

The alpha watched him closely, his eyes shining in the dim light of the cave, his tail moving once before stopping. It was as if he was waiting for something. Like he really believed Katsuki would remember.

But his mind was a blur.

That week of heat... was a chaotic mess of confusing sensations. Scents, touches, too much heat. Nothing was clear enough to be a complete memory.

And apparently, this wasn’t new to the other wolf. The alpha sighed, shaking his head slightly before speaking.

"Izuku."

His voice was firmer this time.

"My name is Izuku."

Katsuki didn’t react.

Izuku.

It didn’t sound strange. But it also didn’t stir anything in his mind.

The alpha seemed to know this, because his tail drooped slightly and he looked away for a moment before meeting his gaze again.

"I hope you don’t forget this time."

The fucking hopeful tone made Katsuki growl low, the fur on his tail bristling again.

"Don’t care," he retorted, his patience already at its limit. "Now leave me the fuck alone."

Izuku didn’t.

"I want you to come with me, Kacchan."

Katsuki huffed, exasperated.

"Are you deaf? I just told you to leave me alone, damn it!"

"It’s not safe for you to stay here alone." Izuku continued, his voice far too calm. "I have a pack, a protected territory. You and… the pup would be fine there."

"I don’t need your fucking pack."

"But—"

"But nothing, asshole! I’m not going anywhere with you!"

Izuku shut his mouth, as if he was finally processing that Katsuki’s response was final. But he didn’t seem satisfied. In fact, he seemed even more determined, and that pissed Katsuki off more than it should have.

He felt his muscles tighten, anger burning hot beneath his skin. This fucking alpha really thought he could just show up out of nowhere, act like he had some right over him and his pup, and just decide that they were going with him?

Hell no.

"We don’t need you." Katsuki growled, his eyes sharp. "So shove that pack idea up your ass and fuck off."

Izuku blinked, and then, as expected, whimpered. Again. Izuku let out a long, dramatic sigh, ridiculously exaggerated, as if he were the most suffering creature to ever set foot in that damn cave. Then, with a slow and calculated movement, he lowered his head and rested it back on the edge of the nest, as if he wanted to stay there.

Katsuki huffed, irritated.

And then… nothing happened.

Neither of them moved.

No sound but Kazuki’s steady breathing and the cold wind outside.

Time passed.

Slow.

Ridiculously uncomfortable.

Katsuki forced himself to ignore the absurd presence of the alpha outside the nest, focusing only on the pup against his chest, the warmth of him, the way his soft scent filled the space.

But his patience had a limit.

"Are you done with this shit yet?" He growled, breaking the silence. "Aren’t you gonna leave?"

Izuku didn’t even open his eyes when he answered.

"No."

"No?" Katsuki repeated, incredulous.

The alpha shook his ears, his breathing steady.

"I’m staying with you."

Katsuki stared at him like he’d just said the sky was green.

He really had no shame, did he?

"You’re gonna stay," Katsuki repeated slowly, as if speaking to an idiot. Which, technically, he was. "Here. In my fucking cave?"

"Yes."

"Your pack won’t miss you?"

Izuku finally opened his eyes, but didn’t move.

"They know I make my own decisions."

Katsuki huffed.

"So you’re leaving them to stay with an omega you saw once in your fucking life?"

This time, Izuku lifted his head slightly, his eyes meeting Katsuki’s for real, and something in them made Katsuki hold his breath. Because his eyes weren’t shining with idiocy this time.

They weren’t filled with that irritating energy, or that fucking hope that made Katsuki want to headbutt him.

They were… sad.

More than Katsuki thought possible for an alpha this size. Izuku stared at him for a long moment, not blinking, not hesitating. Then, with a voice firmer than before, he said:

"I’ll do anything for Kacchan."

Chapter Text

The damn alpha actually stayed.

In the days that followed, Izuku became a constant presence—annoying, intrusive, but inescapable. Katsuki watched with gritted teeth as the dark green wolf rummaged through his nest like he owned the place.

"Stop messing with my shit, you bastard!" His growl was low, muffled by the need not to disturb Kazuki, who was nursing with closed eyes, tiny front paws kneading rhythmically against Katsuki’s belly. "This is MY den, not your fucking mating ground!"

Izuku ignored him entirely, huffing in response as he continued his stupid mission to "fix" the cave. First, he dragged out the corpse of the intruder alpha—something that, maybe, had been useful. Then, he reinforced the entrance with thicker branches, sealing the gaps against the biting wind and curious predators.

But then came the part that made Katsuki see red.

The big oaf started marking territory.

He rubbed against the walls, the floor, the entrance—every damn inch of the cave now reeked of mint and damp earth, the heavy, dominant scent of an alpha. The other wolf kept marking everything, until—

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY NEST, YOU ASSHOLE!"

Katsuki lunged, teeth snapping dangerously close to Izuku’s muzzle, making the alpha jump back with a startled yelp.

The sudden movement scared Kazuki.

The little golden body flinched, a high-pitched whimper escaping before full-blown hiccuping sobs took over.

"Shit, shit—" Katsuki immediately retreated, anger dissolving into panic. He curled around the pup, frantically licking the trembling little head. "S’okay, s’okay…"

His rumbling was rough but effective—Kazuki gradually calmed, his tiny body relaxing against Katsuki’s, his damp nose buried in warm fur. With a final sigh, the pup latched back onto his chest, suckling determinedly, his little ears flattened in concentration.

Izuku watched from a safe distance, hesitant, ears lowered, tail slightly tucked.

"Kacchan…" His mental voice was pleading. "I have to mark the territory. Your scent carries for miles. It’ll attract predators."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Katsuki snarled back mentally, eyes narrowed. "You don’t have to stink up the whole place, you fucking knothead! We’re not mated!"

Izuku made a low, wounded sound, and Katsuki felt stupid heat rush to his ears. Blessed wolf form—at least the idiot couldn’t see his face burning.

"Kacchan…" Izuku tried again, quieter. "I-if you’d just let me court—"

"FUCK. NO."

The omega huffed, turning his attention back to Kazuki, who let out a tiny, satisfied sigh between suckles, his little paws kneading Katsuki’s belly like he was making bread. Adorable. Fucking adorable.

But Izuku wasn’t done. Bastard.

"But… Kazuki is—"

"DONE." Katsuki cut him off, his mental voice laced with warning. He fixed the alpha with a look that promised violence if he kept going. "We shared a heat. It was instinct. Stop acting like I’m your damn omega."

Izuku opened his mouth to protest, but a deep growl from Katsuki silenced him.

The alpha sighed, resigned, and retreated to the farthest corner of the cave—but still inside. Still watching.

Katsuki ignored him, focusing on Kazuki, who was now yawning, sleepy and content.

The pup was small. Fragile. Perfectly his.

And, as much as he hated to admit it…

Having another pair of eyes watching wasn’t the worst thing. (But he’d die before saying that out loud.)

The night’s cold seeped into the cave, sharp as blades, and Katsuki felt every lost degree like a stab. The snow outside already blanketed the ground in thick layers, and the wind howled through the trees like a starving predator. Shit. How was he supposed to keep Kazuki warm when the pup shifted forms?

The pup slept curled against his belly, a tiny golden ball of soft fur rising and falling with steady breaths. Every now and then, his little front paws twitched, like he was dreaming of nursing, and a small "whuff" escaped his damp nose. Fucking cute. Katsuki couldn’t resist—he nuzzled the top of the pup’s head, breathing in his scent: milk, warmth, his blood, his pup.

And then there was Izuku.

The damn alpha sat on the other side of the cave, but his warmth radiated like a living bonfire, and Katsuki hated how his body reacted to it. His muscles, once tense, relaxed involuntarily; his breathing, once shallow, deepened. Weakness.

He’s just some random alpha. A possessive idiot who’ll get bored and leave the second he finds another omega in heat.

The thought should’ve relieved him.

So why did his chest tighten like someone had sunk claws into it?

Kazuki stirred, letting out a tiny whimper as the cave’s cold seeped into him. Immediately, Katsuki curled tighter around him, shielding him completely with his body. Nothing would touch his pup. Not the winter, not predators, not—

A low rumble cut through his thoughts.

Izuku.

The alpha was purring.

A deep, resonant sound, almost imperceptible, vibrating through the cave walls like a gentle earthquake. It was the kind of noise alphas made to soothe their young—or their omegas.

Katsuki should have been furious. But his body didn’t care.

His eyelids grew heavy, drooping against his will. The exhaustion, the wounds from battle, the weight of motherhood—it all hit him at once, and not even his pride could fight the fatigue.

Before he could resist, his muscles sank into the nest, and darkness swallowed him.

He didn’t see Izuku move. Didn’t feel the alpha inch closer, slow and cautious, as if afraid to wake him. Didn’t notice when Izuku’s warmth pressed against his own, enveloping them like a living blanket.

And when Kazuki sighed contentedly, nestled between them, Katsuki—for the first time in months—slept in peace.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

The pale light of dawn filtered through the cave entrance, cold as ice. But Katsuki woke up warm.

Too warm.

His body was surrounded by solid, suffocating, almost comforting heat—almost—until his brain finally caught up and he realized why.

Izuku.

The damn alpha was ridiculously close, lying less than a hand’s breadth away. His massive frame was turned toward Katsuki, front legs stretched out as if, even in sleep, he’d been trying to reach him. His muzzle rested on the edge of the nest, his chest rising and falling in a slow, heavy rhythm.

His warmth radiated like a taunt, seeping into Katsuki like an irritating nuisance.

"Motherfucker," Katsuki thought, ready to snarl a mental insult and shove a paw in the bastard’s face—when a tiny sound caught his attention.

Kazuki.

The pup wriggled against Katsuki’s chest, his small body pushing with disproportionate strength for something the size of a furball. His muzzle was scrunched in pure displeasure, ears flattened, eyes still shut, and a high-pitched, miserable whine escaped him.

Katsuki purred instinctively, lowering his head to lick the pup’s soft little head. The pup’s warmth was familiar, comforting, and the tiny cries soon turned into disgruntled grumbles.

Kazuki, however, was already learning to be a dramatic little shit, because the second Katsuki took half a second too long to groom him, the pup opened his mouth and let out a scandalized squeak.

"Enough with the theatrics," Katsuki scolded, still purring, as his rough tongue swept over the pup’s wrinkled little face, cleaning away dried sleep and milk.

Kazuki sniffed, utterly offended by the audacity, his nose wrinkling. But when Katsuki reached his soft, round little belly, the pup melted. His back legs stretched, tiny toes splaying like little sunflowers. A muffled purr escaped him as Katsuki licked the short fur of his belly, and the pup squirmed in satisfied spasms.

The thing was ridiculous.

Absolutely adorable.

The tiny wolf kicked his paws in the air like he was trying to catch something invisible, his mouth opening and closing in empty little bites, as if hunting dreams. And that was when Izuku moved. The alpha stretched beside the nest, his body shaking in a long, lazy sprawl. His ears perked up before his eyes even fully opened—protector’s instinct, alert even in sleep. The first thing he saw was Katsuki. The second, Kazuki. And something unbearably soft flickered across his expression.

"Morning, Kacchan," his mental voice was low, rough with sleep.

Katsuki ignored him entirely, focusing on finishing Kazuki’s grooming. The pup was now gnawing at the air with zero coordination, like he was trying to devour an imaginary enemy. Izuku made a stupid, fond noise and rumbled quietly, shifting closer.

"Get the fu—"

The protest died in Katsuki’s mind when his stomach growled.

Embarrassingly loud.

The silence that followed was painful.

Katsuki froze.

Fuck.

So did Izuku.

For a second, they just stared at each other. Then, Izuku shot up so fast he nearly cracked his skull on the ceiling.

"I'll go hunt."

The declaration was firm, like he’d been given a divine mission. Katsuki didn’t even have time to process before the alpha was already heading for the entrance—but then… he stopped.

Turned back slowly.

"Is… it okay if I go?"

Katsuki narrowed his eyes, annoyed.

"Of course it’s fucking okay, dumbass. Go." The omega dismissed him sharply, still mortified by his traitorous stomach.

Izuku didn’t move.

"You’re sure?"

"YES."

The alpha took two more steps. Paused again.

"What if—"

"IZUKU," Katsuki snarled, baring his teeth. "Either leave NOW or I rip your tail off and use it as a blanket."

Kazuki, the little traitor, let out an enthusiastic "awoo" of support, tiny ears flopping with excitement. Izuku opened his mouth. Closed it. After a long second, he finally left—but, of course, not without marking the cave entrance one more time, just for good measure. Katsuki watched him go, his chest strangely light. Kazuki nuzzled closer to him, letting out a weak, satisfied purr.

"Fucking drama queen," Katsuki thought, turning his attention back to his pup. "You’re just like your sire, you little shit."

Kazuki sneezed in response.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

Night fell like a weight upon the cave, and the cold came with it.

The biting wind seeped through the cracks in the entrance, each gust a blow against the fragile warmth Katsuki fought to maintain. He curled tighter around Kazuki, shielding the pup with his own body, pulling the nest’s furs as close as possible. But the cold was relentless, sinking into his bones.

Fuck.

Izuku should’ve been back hours ago.

Katsuki knew hunts could take time, but not this long. Not for an alpha that big and strong. And he’d only gone for something quick—nothing that should’ve taken this much time. So why the hell wasn’t he back?

The answer was simple: not his problem.

He wasn’t worried. Not at all.

If that bastard had gotten lost or been devoured by something bigger? Good. Less of a headache for Katsuki.

But his empty stomach disagreed.

Kazuki whimpered softly, his tiny body pressing closer, trembling like a leaf in the wind. The pup squirmed, trying to burrow deeper into Katsuki’s warmth, his damp nose nuzzling against the omega’s soft belly fur.

Something tightened in Katsuki’s chest.

Winter had come harsher than he’d expected. He hunched further, his own body beginning to shake as he tried to warm Kazuki. But without Izuku in the cave, the cold felt worse.

The cave, once stifling with the alpha’s irritating presence, now felt too big.

Too empty. And Katsuki hated that.

He hated how he missed the overwhelming heat Izuku radiated without effort. Hated how hard it was to keep Kazuki warm alone now. The pup kept fussing, little frustrated noises escaping his throat as he squirmed, restless, tiny paws kicking at the nest’s furs—dissatisfied with the cold, dissatisfied with everything.

Katsuki felt weaker by the second. Hunger and cold together were hell. He could endure it alone, but Kazuki couldn’t. The pup was too small, too fragile for this fucking cold.

Minutes passed. Then hours.

Kazuki wouldn’t stop moving.

At first, Katsuki tried to ignore it, keeping the pup pressed firmly to his belly, murmuring low purrs to soothe him. But Kazuki wouldn’t settle. His little body kept shifting, paws pushing against Katsuki as if something was wrong.

Katsuki frowned.

He lifted himself slightly, his body stiff and aching from the cold, and looked down properly at his pup. Then—froze. The scent hit him first. A subtle but unmistakable shift. And then, where his golden-furred pup had been, there was now a baby. Small. Fragile. Pink skin exposed to the cave’s brutal cold. Katsuki’s heart lurched.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Kazuki had shifted into his human form.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Katsuki’s brain short-circuited.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, breath catching in his throat as his eyes locked onto the tiny creature before him.

Soft, pale skin, chubby arms and legs twitching in uncoordinated spasms, tiny fingers opening and closing in the air. The fine blond hair was barely more than fuzz on his head, and his little eyes were still squeezed shut in discomfort.

And he was crying.

Loud.

Miserable.

The piercing wail filled the entire cave—a desperate, demanding plea for something Katsuki didn’t know how to give.

Shit. Shit. SHIT.

Internally, Katsuki was panicking. Externally, he remained frozen, staring at his newly transformed pup. What was he supposed to do now? What the hell was he supposed to do?!

Kazuki had never shifted before. He was still so small! This wasn’t supposed to happen yet, dammit! This was the worst possible time for Kazuki to shift! His pup was…

So tiny.

So fragile.

And shivering.

His cries only grew louder, little arms flailing, feet kicking in distress. He was cold.

And Katsuki didn’t know what to do. Fuck, even in his wolf form, he couldn’t keep him warm enough! He leaned over Kazuki, trying to shield him with more of his body, pressing the pup against his fur-covered chest. He licked the blond fuzz on his head frantically, trying to soothe, trying to warm.

But it wasn’t enough.

Kazuki kept crying.

The cave’s cold still cut like a blade, and Katsuki could feel the pup’s temperature dropping against his skin. Fear punched through him like a fist to the gut. He needed heat. Needed strong, steady warmth—more than he could give alone. And then, as if fate wanted to rub the only possible solution in his face, the scent hit him.

Strong.

Familiar.

Heavy, warm, flooding the cave’s entrance.

Izuku.

Katsuki had never been so fucking relieved to smell that bastard in his life. Before he could even think, heavy footsteps sounded at the cave’s entrance, and then a mass of muscle and idiocy appeared, dragging a massive stag by its teeth. Katsuki should have snapped at him. He should have snarled at Izuku for going on a full hunt when he was supposed to grab something quick and come back. Should have cursed the bastard for wasting hours chasing a giant stag when all they needed was some damn hare to fill their stomachs.

But there was no time for any of that, because the second Izuku stepped inside, his ears pinned back and his body locked up. Green eyes glowed in the dim light, fixed on Katsuki and then on Kazuki.

On how the omega was curled around the pup, his pheromones so thick they hung like a storm in the air. Izuku dropped the stag without a second thought—the heavy thud of the carcass hitting stone barely registered—because the alpha was already moving. He crossed the cave in seconds, a blur of motion.

Katsuki didn’t even have time to react—because right now, he didn’t give a fuck about acting tough—because he was whining.

Loud.

Pathetic.

Instinctive sounds spilled from his throat without permission, high-pitched omega pleas for help.

Izuku heard, and of course, he didn’t hesitate. He crashed down beside the nest, eyes widening at the sight of the tiny human pup shivering under Katsuki’s furred body, still wailing, little arms flailing in distress.

"What—" His voice was thunder in Katsuki’s mind.

But the omega had no patience for explanations.

"WARM HIM UP!"

Izuku didn’t hesitate.

He moved instantly, his massive body slipping into the nest and curling around Katsuki and Kazuki without a hint of hesitation. His warmth hit Katsuki like a wall.
Strong. Dense. Encompassing.

Katsuki was so relieved that he didn’t immediately notice the crushing weight on top of him. It was only when his brain finally slowed down from panic and protective instinct that he realized Izuku had practically laid on top of him like a damn giant, furry blanket.

"Son of a bitch," he thought, but he didn’t have the energy to growl.

The warmth was too good.

He ignored the growing irritation and focused on what mattered most: Kazuki.

The pup was still sobbing softly, his little arms moving without coordination, tiny fingers opening and closing in the air as if trying to grasp something invisible. His tiny nose scrunched up every time a strong hiccup shook his small body.

Katsuki purred softly, rubbing his snout against the fragile body of the pup, trying to transmit security, trying to say I’m here in the only way he knew how.

Kazuki reacted instantly.

The pup let out a trembling sigh, still sniffing, but nestled closer to Katsuki, his movements slowing down, becoming less desperate. His irregular breathing gradually stabilized, his chubby little fingers closing around the fur on Katsuki’s chest in a weak but determined grip.

The pup’s warmth was tiny, insignificant against the cold of the cave, but Katsuki felt as if his chest was on fire.

He lost track of time.

He stayed there, surrounding Kazuki, licking his head with a patience he didn’t even know he had, waiting until the crying turned into nothing more than sleepy grumbles. And only when silence finally took over the cave did Katsuki realize what was happening.

Izuku was licking his head. The omega froze.

His mind short-circuited.

And worse, he was relaxed and satisfied with the alpha’s affection, purring louder than before.

Kazuki was now asleep, a faint sound leaving his mouth as he breathed peacefully.

Shit.

"For fuck’s sake, get off me!" Katsuki turned carefully, trying not to wake the pup again, cutting off the alpha’s stupid grooming session and baring his teeth.

Izuku pulled back immediately, but not before looking genuinely shocked at the reaction. In fact, Katsuki could swear the bastard was pouting. He huffed, watching as the alpha dramatically moved off him, settling beside the nest in an absurdly exaggerated way, still curled around them like a damn wall of flesh and fur. Now that his brain wasn’t screaming in alarm, irritation returned with full force.

"Why the hell did you take so long?" he growled, turning to the alpha with sharp eyes.

Izuku looked away too quickly, shoving his snout into Katsuki’s neck as if he could hide his expression in the soft fur there. Katsuki felt his body melt instantly. He ignored that shit with all his might.

"Sorry, Kacchan," Izuku murmured, his mental voice quieter than before. "Some things happened. I tried to come back as fast as I could!"

Katsuki wasn’t convinced, but his hunger roared before he could push for more answers. His stomach growled again, loudly, and Katsuki growled softly at himself, annoyed. Izuku immediately raised his head, ears perked up like a damn pup hearing his name being called.

"Kacchan, you need to eat!" His voice was strangely... timid? "I-I can stay with ou— the pup while you eat!"

Katsuki narrowed his eyes at him. Yes, he was starving. If he didn’t eat, he wouldn’t be able to produce milk for Kazuki. And as much as he hated to admit it, Izuku was hot as hell. Not in that way. SHIT, what was he even thinking? He stayed quiet for a few seconds, still analyzing the alpha. Then, slowly, he began to rise from the nest.

Izuku didn’t blink.

"His name is Kazuki, idiot," Katsuki growled, against his will. "Try not to suffocate him."

Izuku’s eyes lit up instantly, as if he had just received a prize.

"Kazuki," Izuku repeated, his ears twitching.

Katsuki huffed but didn’t correct the stupid gleam in the alpha’s eyes. He walked away slowly, leaving the nest for the first time in days, his muscles rigid, still on alert.

Kazuki felt the change immediately.

The pup scrunched up his tiny face, his plump lips forming a pout of pure displeasure. The discomfort escalated in seconds, his chubby little body beginning to squirm again, restless, as if protesting his mother’s absence. Before Katsuki could do anything, Izuku moved first.

The alpha carefully lay over the pup, his massive body covering Kazuki like a protective wall, but without crushing him. His front paws circled Kazuki’s tiny head with absurd precision, holding the small body without exerting any pressure. Just keeping him safe.

Then, Izuku tried to purr. The sound came out deep, rumbling, a clumsy vibration that made the cave floor tremble slightly.

Katsuki held his breath.

Kazuki did too.

The pup froze for a moment, his tiny eyes still tightly shut.

And then, as if finally recognizing the warmth, Kazuki let out a small, satisfied sound—somewhere between a yawn and a happy murmur. His tiny body completely relaxed under Izuku, his chubby little hands opened in the air, his trembling fingers trying to grasp at the alpha’s paws, while his round cheeks flushed from the warmth.

Izuku held his breath. Katsuki watched, stunned, as Izuku lowered his snout slowly, sniffing Kazuki up close, his ridiculous tail wagging nonstop. He looked fascinated. As if he had never seen anything so important in his life. Katsuki didn’t know what he hated more: the way Izuku held Kazuki like he was made of glass or the strange tightness in his chest at the sight of the two together. He shot one last sharp glance at the alpha, still curled around Kazuki, before heading toward the cave entrance, where the deer lay.

The scent of fresh meat made his stomach growl violently, and he wasted no more time. As he tore into the prey, still keeping his ears tuned to the nest, a sound of pure idiocy reached him.

“Awww, Kazuki, you’re so tiny!”

Katsuki frowned, ripping off a chunk of meat with his teeth.

“Look at these tiny little hands!”

Katsuki turned just enough to catch the ridiculous sight of Izuku, utterly hypnotized by the pup. The alpha was sniffing Kazuki again, his nose gently touching the pup’s chubby little body, as if trying to memorize every inch of him. And Kazuki was just as enchanted. The pup, still curled up against the alpha, made tiny sounds of contentment, yawning with his mouth ridiculously wide, stretching his arms clumsily. His little fingers tried to grasp at something in the air but only ended up closing around nothing.

Izuku let out a soft sound of pure adoration, leaning down to press his snout against the pup’s chest.

“Are you playing with him? He’s only a week old, you dumbass alpha,” Katsuki growled, though without the real threat he wanted in his voice.

Izuku lifted his head immediately, his eyes shining.

“Kacchan! He’s so cute!”

“He’s a pup, not a toy, you idiot!”

Izuku immediately lowered his ears but still had that stupid glint in his eyes as he turned his attention back to Kazuki. Katsuki huffed. If this bastard kept acting like that, Kazuki was going to grow up spoiled.

The omega froze at his own thought. As if the alpha was going to stay with them, stay to raise Kazuki with him. Katsuki scoffed and finished eating quickly, licking his lips before heading back to the nest. Izuku was still there, his body curled protectively around the pup, who now slept soundly, his tiny face relaxed, mouth slightly open, letting out small, adorable sighs.

Katsuki lay down beside them, settling into the comforting warmth. He wasn’t accepting Izuku—he just wanted to make sure Kazuki stayed warm.

That was all.

The alpha let out a soft, satisfied rumble, pulling Katsuki closer without even realizing it, and the omega rolled his eyes but didn’t complain.

The cave was warm again.

And Katsuki slept.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

He hadn't slept for long because in the middle of the night, a faint cry echoed through the cave. Katsuki opened his eyes immediately, and Izuku lifted his head in a second, his ears alert, eyes wide.

"Kacchan? What's wrong? Is he okay?!"

Katsuki sniffed the air before answering. The sweet, light scent of the pup was there, but now it had a different tone. Hunger.

Katsuki sighed, relaxing a little.

"He's just hungry."

Izuku didn't seem convinced, still looking at Katsuki as if the pup would collapse at any moment. Kazuki kept whimpering, his little eyes shut, but his face scrunched up in dissatisfaction, his plump lips curling into a pout as he sucked in air, moving his little head from side to side as if searching, his little pink tongue slightly sticking out.

Katsuki huffed but felt something warm in his chest at seeing the pup like that.

"Fine, I'll feed him. Now stop freaking out and move a little further away," the omega grumbled, pushing Izuku slightly, who was practically on top of him.

Katsuki felt Izuku stiffen, his large body rigid like stone. He started to move, clearly preparing to leave the nest, but Katsuki growled before he could make that foolish move.

"Are you seriously leaving now? I need to shift into my human form to feed him!"

Izuku froze. Katsuki could see his ears twitching back, his tail trembling slightly, an obvious sign of discomfort. He was extremely nervous.

The alpha started licking his own muzzle in a restless manner, his eyes avoiding Katsuki and the pup, as if trying not to think too much about the situation.

"A-a I know that, Kacchan, it's just that..."

Right.

Now it made sense.

Shifting into his human form meant no clothes.

And considering Izuku couldn’t hide anything for shit, it was obvious that the idiot was short-circuiting at the thought. Not that Katsuki was 100% comfortable with it either, but Kazuki needed to nurse, and Izuku needed to stay where he was, making sure the nest stayed warm enough for him and the pup.

Katsuki huffed, rolling his eyes and ignoring his own damn embarrassment.

"Tch, shut up, you shitty alpha."

Izuku froze for a whole second, then buried his face in his own tail, mumbling something that sounded like a "yes, Kacchan."

Katsuki took a deep breath. He couldn't wait any longer. With one last grumble to himself, Katsuki allowed himself to shift. His body shrank, the fur receded, and the lupine form dissolved, giving way to the warm, naked human skin. The process was quick, but still brought that brief cold moment that made Katsuki hold his breath.

The omega immediately felt the change.

The pup let out a confused "awuu," his little body squirming slightly in Katsuki's now-human arms. He opened and closed his tiny hands in the air, grasping blindly, his minuscule fingers trying to grab something.

Katsuki hurried.

He adjusted Kazuki in his lap, holding him firmly as he slid one hand down to his own chest, guiding his pup to his swollen breast. The pain came the instant Kazuki latched on correctly, his little mouth closing around the nipple and sucking with real hunger this time.

Katsuki gritted his teeth, the initial discomfort making his body flinch slightly, but it passed quickly. Kazuki purred softly, his little body relaxing in his mother's arms, his tiny hands automatically closing around Katsuki's chest, as if trying to hold him in place.

He drank eagerly, in a rhythmic, but clumsy motion, his eyes still closed and his face full of concentration. His chubby cheeks moved with each gulp, and every time he paused, he let out a little satisfied noise, a muffled sound that was a mix of a sigh and a purr.

Katsuki huffed but couldn't stop the warm squeeze in his chest.

"Little glutton," he muttered softly, running his fingers through Kazuki's fine hair.

So small.

So fragile.

And so dependent on him.

Katsuki didn't immediately realize when his eyes fell on his own body. He hadn't seen his human form in nine months, and now, looking at himself for the first time in all that time, the difference was striking.

His stomach, once firm and defined, now carried the visible traces of pregnancy. The skin, still slightly stretched, felt softer to the touch, with a slight curve where there had once been rigidity. A dark line ran discreetly across his abdomen, from his navel down to his pelvic area.

His thighs were also thicker, the muscles still present beneath a softer layer of skin and fat that hadn't been there before. The touch was different. Less rigid, less dry—like his own body had molded to the need to support the extra weight during the pregnancy.

His hips, once narrower, had subtly given way, marked by the slight widening of his pelvis. The fat accumulated there made his silhouette a little rounder.

There were subtle changes everywhere—in the shape of his shoulders, the contours of his arms, even the way his posture seemed different.

And his breasts...

Katsuki huffed.

Swollen, full of milk, heavier than he remembered.

He rolled his eyes, not wasting time worrying about it because the important thing was that Kazuki was fed and healthy.

He didn’t notice, but Izuku did.

The alpha was watching.

And for the first time that night, he didn't say a word.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

"Beautiful," the alpha thought to himself, not blinking as he admired his omega nursing their pup. The most beautiful thing Izuku had ever seen.

Chapter Text

Even though Katsuki considered himself strong and perfectly capable of raising his pup alone, he had to admit—as much as he hated to—that things were getting complicated, even with a stupid alpha by his side. The weather was growing harsher, and a violent blizzard had been raging for days, with no signs of stopping anytime soon. The wind howled like a starving predator outside, whistling through the cracks in the cave, and Katsuki worried. If the storm worsened, snow could seep in, infiltrate the nest, and Kazuki… Kazuki wouldn’t be able to withstand such cold.

But, to his irritation, Izuku proved useful yet again. The alpha reinforced the cave’s entrance, dragging heavy branches and blocks of hardened snow to create a barrier that kept the wind from piercing inside. Katsuki would never admit it out loud, but the cave did stay warm and protected. Not that he needed the help. He would’ve figured it out on his own.

Because he wasn’t weak.

Katsuki was a northern wolf. Made to survive this extreme weather, to face the cold without hesitation. A stupid blizzard wouldn’t take him down. It didn’t matter that now he had to stay in his human form most of the time, that his body no longer retained heat like before, that he was starting to feel the effects of food scarcity.

None of that mattered.

What mattered was Kazuki.

He lay in the nest, the pup nestled in his arms. The baby’s fragile warmth spread against his skin, a source of comfort Katsuki held carefully, shielding him from any hint of cold that dared creep in.

Kazuki made tiny noises in his sleep, soft and sweet, as if dreaming of something that made him happy. His tiny hands rested against Katsuki’s chest, little fingers curling and uncurling slowly in involuntary reflexes. The pup shifted slightly, his small face scrunching for a second before relaxing again, and then his plump little mouth opened in a slow, lazy motion.

The tip of his pink tongue peeked out, stretching into the air before retreating again.

Katsuki frowned. Did he want to nurse?

Damn it.

He still wasn’t used to this… mothering thing.

It was fucking hard. Especially for him, who’d never been around pups before, who’d never even imagined he’d be in a situation like this… who didn’t remember his own mother.

Sometimes, he panicked. But he never let it show. He kept everything under control. Unlike the stupid alpha beside him in the nest.

Izuku was fast asleep after yet another sleepless night of keeping watch, his breathing steady, his mouth slightly open, his large lupine body rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Katsuki glanced at him from the corner of his eye, studying him properly for the first time.

Not that it mattered. He was just curious.

Izuku was huge. His fur, though messy from his position, was thick and dense, with a texture that seemed slightly wavy in some places. The dark coloring wasn’t uniform; some parts shimmered with greenish hues under the faint light reflected by the cave stones—an effect Katsuki couldn’t explain but found… different.

The alpha’s eyes were large, even closed, and the deep scar over one of them stood out against his dark skin. It looked old but still intense, a mark of something Izuku had survived.

He had strong features. Handsome ones.

Katsuki huffed, feeling his face heat up instantly.

"Damn bastard…" he muttered, pulling Kazuki closer and shifting his attention back to what actually mattered.

Kazuki.

His pup was perfect.

Even so young, it was already clear how beautiful he’d be. His eyes were big, still closed, and Katsuki could hardly wait to see their color. His little button nose wrinkled every time he shifted, and his fine, ashen-blond hair was identical to Katsuki’s.

His chubby, rosy cheeks made him look even smaller, even more delicate. His plump lips always seemed to be searching for milk, moving softly in the air as he slept, tiny smacking sounds escaping his mouth every time he suckled at nothing.

Katsuki observed every detail with pride, with a quiet satisfaction that warmed his chest more than any fire ever could.

And then… something new caught his attention.

Tiny spots.

Faint, almost imperceptible, appearing on the pup’s pale skin.

Katsuki furrowed his brows, leaning in a little to look closer.

What was that? Katsuki frowned, his eyes narrowing as he gently rubbed his fingers over Kazuki’s soft skin, trying to wipe the spots away. But they didn’t disappear.

The skin remained flawless and warm under his touch, but the tiny little marks stayed there, delicately scattered over the pup’s chubby cheeks, as if they had always been a part of him.

Freckles?

Katsuki blinked slowly. He didn’t have freckles. The baby let out a tiny sniffle, his lips pursing in a sleepy pout as he nuzzled deeper into Katsuki’s arms, completely oblivious to his mother’s internal crisis.

The omega’s jaw locked. He knew exactly where those freckles came from—and he didn’t like it one bit. Katsuki tilted his head slightly, his gaze sliding toward the stupid alpha beside him. Izuku was still asleep, completely unaware, his chest rising and falling steadily, a thin line of drool glistening from his slightly parted mouth.

How the hell did this damn bastard—who he’d shared one heat with—have the audacity to imprint his genes on Katsuki’s pup? What gave him the right?!

Kazuki was his. Only his.

He was the one who carried the pup for nine months. He was the one who endured the hell of pregnancy, who dealt with all the changes, all the challenges.

He was the one who gave birth. He was the one who lost countless nights making sure Kazuki was safe, fed, and warm. Izuku hadn’t done shit! He was just a damn sire. Nothing more.

And yet, there it was—proof that the bastard’s DNA existed inside Kazuki.

Katsuki let out a quiet growl to himself, annoyed.

In his arms, Kazuki squirmed slightly, his tiny feet kicking the air before curling back up, his little toes flexing as if trying to grasp the warmth around him. His chubby hands clenched into small fists, and he let out a weak yawn—so faint it was more like a sigh.

Kazuki is fucking adorable.

Even with the damn freckles.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

The days grew colder, the blizzard outside relentless, as if it had decided their cave would be their tomb. The wind howled beyond the entrance, lashing at it with fury, while the cold seemed to seep even into the stones.

And their meat supply had run out.

The weight of hunger and exhaustion was infuriating. Katsuki wasn’t weak—not a damn bit. But he had to admit, even if grudgingly, that caring for Kazuki and being his sole source of nourishment was draining more energy than he wanted to acknowledge.

His body was exhausted, every muscle heavier than it should be. Milk production demanded more than he had to give, and without enough food, Katsuki felt slower, his body burning through calories too fast to keep up.

And then, like some damn broken clock, Izuku started again.

"Kacchan, I know you don’t want to, but it would be good if we went to my pack." His voice came in that infuriatingly patient, worried tone. "A-at least temporarily, until winter passes!"

Katsuki growled low, curling deeper into the nest, his back to the alpha. He didn’t want to hear this shit again.

Kazuki shifted in his arms, letting out a tiny grumble as he stretched against his mother’s warmth. The pup had been a traitor lately, seeking more contact with Izuku, drawn to the alpha’s heat whenever possible.

Katsuki didn’t want to talk about it.

He didn’t want to talk at all.

"I’m fine, damn it!" Katsuki snapped, squeezing his eyes shut.

He needed to conserve energy. He wasn’t going to waste what little strength he had left arguing the same crap for the thousandth time today.

But Izuku didn’t know when to shut up.

"B-but Kacchan..." The alpha pressed on, his voice even more hesitant. "It would just be... temporary! It’d be easier to take care of Kazuki, too! I-I can get you proper clothes, a real nest—"

Katsuki’s eyes snapped open instantly, his focus zeroing in on the alpha.

His entire body tensed, and he turned his head slowly, throwing a dangerous glare over his shoulder.

"Are you saying my nest isn’t a real nest?"

His voice was low, laced with real threat.

Izuku swallowed hard.

His green eyes blinked rapidly, his tail thumping nervously against the cave floor. He knew he’d fucked up.

Kazuki, oblivious to the silent standoff between the two adults, let out a tiny whimper, nuzzling deeper into Katsuki’s chest. His chubby little hands flailed in the air before finding a handful of his mother’s warm skin. His tiny fingers gripped tight, squeezing with all his minuscule strength.

Katsuki’s chest tightened.

His pup was so small. So fragile.

He didn’t need a better nest, didn’t need a pack full of strangers. He only needed Katsuki.

Only Katsuki.

"If you wanna go back to your pack so bad, then fucking go, shithead. I’m not leaving." Katsuki snarled, his patience at its limit. Without waiting for a response, he settled back into the nest, pulling Kazuki tighter against his chest.

Izuku let out a small, frustrated whine—a miserable, unhappy sound. Katsuki huffed, irritated, squeezing his eyes shut and ignoring the restless alpha beside him.

The truth was simple: Katsuki hated packs.

He’d been part of one before. And it was the worst experience of his life. At the first chance, he ran. Cut all ties, because there was no real freedom in a pack. Not for an omega. Not for him.

And he wasn’t going back. Ever.

Sighing, feeling every part of his body heavy and worn, Katsuki decided sleep was the only thing left to do. Kazuki squirmed, his tiny arms flailing until one of them landed on Katsuki’s bare chest, his chubby little fingers automatically curling against his skin.

The omega looked down, watching as the pup nestled deeper against him, his small face buried in the warmth of his body, his plush lips moving in slow, unconscious motions—as if suckling in his sleep.

Damn it.

Katsuki smirked and ran his fingers through the pup’s fine, pale hair, feeling the soft warmth of his baby’s delicate skin. Then, without another word, Katsuki closed his eyes and drifted off, feeling only the fragile heat of his pup pressed against his chest.

But the omega couldn’t sleep for long.

He woke slowly, his consciousness surfacing from the depths of sleep as if fighting against a heavy tide. His body felt sticky, a warm layer of sweat coating his skin, and his breaths came thick and labored—like he was trapped under a suffocating blanket.

Something was wrong.

Even before opening his eyes, he could sense the shift in his own scent. Too warm. Too wrong.

The heat was intense, overwhelming, as if his body was fighting something Katsuki couldn’t see.

A warm breath brushed against his skin.

"Kacchan…?"

The voice was laced with concern, soft yet deep in his mind. Katsuki opened his eyes slowly, his vision blurring for a moment before focusing on Izuku, who hovered close, alarmed. The alpha was leaning over him, green eyes wide, scanning his face intently. His ears were pinned back, his tail unnaturally still.

"The hell—?" Katsuki tried to snarl, but his voice came out rough, scratched in a way that felt foreign. His tongue felt dry.

Izuku leaned in closer, his eyes bright with genuine worry.

"Are you okay? You're burning up, Kacchan..."

Katsuki frowned, irritated by everything—by Izuku being so close, by his own sweaty, sluggish body, by the infuriating realization that he couldn’t even control his own temperature. But before he could snap back, a sound cut through the tension.

A whimper. Weak at first, then louder, more distressed.

The pup began squirming against Katsuki’s chest, his tiny face scrunched in pure discomfort. He could smell the wrongness, sense the shift in his mother’s body, feel the pain and unease Katsuki was trying to ignore.

Instinctively, the omega tightened his hold, trying to soothe him, but Kazuki only cried harder, his chubby little hands curling into fists as choked sobs escaped his lips.

Izuku reacted immediately.

"Kacchan, what’s happening?!"

The alpha pressed closer, his entire body tensing in alarm. His scent shifted, growing stronger, thicker—dominant pheromones flooding the air in an unconscious attempt to calm Katsuki and the pup.

But Katsuki didn’t need this shit right now. His body was too hot, his skin burning like fire, and Kazuki’s cries only grew more frantic. His vision started swimming, bright spots dancing at the edges. Shitshitshit.

"Kacchan!"

It was the last thing he heard before his consciousness slipped away.

Chapter Text

Katsuki couldn't remember what had happened. Time slipped through his fingers, distorted. Between one blink and the next, everything changed—the stone ceiling of the cave, the hot breath against his skin, the light weight of Kazuki slipping from his arms. But nothing felt real.

His body was a mess of pain and heat, as if a fire had ignited beneath his skin, burning through every muscle, every nerve. He knew he was awake, but his consciousness wavered, sinking into shadows and resurfacing as if he were trapped in deep waters.

How many times had he passed out?

He didn’t know. But each time he woke up, the feeling was the same: an oppressive weight, an infuriating weakness, and above all, a sound that made his chest ache more than any fever or exhaustion.

Kazuki was crying.

The pup sobbed, his tiny, trembling voice echoing. The sound was wet, raw—a desperate, unending cry tearing from his throat. He could sense that his mother wasn’t okay, that something was wrong, that the one person who was supposed to be strong enough to protect him couldn’t even open his eyes properly.

Damn it.

Katsuki tried to move, tried to lift an arm, tried to respond, but his body felt like stone—heavy, useless. His instincts screamed at him to calm the pup, to protect him, to hold him tight and tell him everything was fine, but the only thing he managed was a weak, nearly inaudible sigh.

This wasn’t right.

Kazuki needed him. Depended on him.

Katsuki had to snap out of this shit fast, had to pull himself together, had to do something. But his body wouldn’t obey, his mind slipped back into the darkness, and the pup’s cries grew farther and farther away.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

Katsuki woke up with a groan before even opening his eyes. His head throbbed, and his body felt heavy as stone. He tried to lift his eyelids, but his vision came in blurred—a dark haze dotted with faint pinpricks of light. Shit. He grunted, squeezing his eyes shut to force them to focus, but the darkness remained thick, the world around him dissolving into shapeless shadows.

The discomfort was there, sharp and irritating, but different from before. The searing pain that had consumed him before passing out had dulled into something more bearable—a muted ache in every muscle. But there was something far, far worse than that.

Where was Kazuki?

Instinct screamed before his mind could even form the thought. His heart kicked into a frantic rhythm, adrenaline surging, and he tried to push himself up. Tried, because his body didn’t respond the way it should. A strained noise escaped his throat as he collapsed back onto whatever he was lying on.

Except… this wasn’t his nest.

The texture against his skin wasn’t rough leaves and pelts hardened by cold. It was too soft. Too warm. Too comfortable. The surface beneath him gave slightly under his weight—something that would never happen on the stone floor of a cave. Something was very wrong.

His sense of smell returned in bursts, and Katsuki froze.

The scent around him was wrong. New, yet familiar. Definitely not the nest he’d spent weeks building to protect Kazuki from the cold. His chest tightened with anxiety, teeth grinding as he forced out a low growl, willing his muscles to obey. He needed to get out. Needed to find Kazuki.

With ridiculous effort, he managed to move. First, just a weak twitch in his fingers. Then his arms, trembling as they tried to push him up. Fuck where he was. Fuck the pain. None of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was his pup.

The sound of footsteps interrupted his struggle. Wood creaking under the weight of someone big, heavy, approaching fast. Katsuki didn’t need much to know who it was.

His chest rumbled with an instinctive growl, his still-blurry vision catching only a shadow moving toward him.

"Kacchan! How are you feeling?" Izuku’s voice was thick with obvious concern, his pheromones pulsing restless and anxious in the air. Katsuki felt it and huffed, irritated, his body heating up further at the annoying mix of worry and alpha scent.

"Kazuki." He cut in, his voice rough, dry—like his tongue had turned to stone.

Izuku went silent for a second before scrambling.

"U-uhm! H-he’s right here!" The shadow in front of him shifted, and even with his vision still shit, Katsuki could make out a bundle of blankets in the alpha’s arms—Kazuki’s scent seeping from them.

"I took care of him! He’s okay!" Izuku rushed out, voice nervous, like he expected Katsuki to lunge at him any second.

The omega forced his eyes open wider, trying to see better. The blanket in the alpha’s arms shifted, a tiny sound escaping the folds of fabric. A soft, sleepy noise, followed by a small movement—a tiny fist poking out, grasping at nothing.

His chest clenched, something visceral roaring inside him.

The pup grumbled, the sound adorably annoyed, as if he already knew his mother was there and didn’t understand why he wasn’t in his arms yet. Small and warm, his sweet scent flooding the air, mixing with the idiot alpha’s.

Kazuki made another little noise. His tiny mouth opened and closed, searching, his nose wrinkling before an adorably disgruntled pout formed.

He wanted Katsuki.

He needed Katsuki.

A growl tore from Katsuki’s chest, deep and rumbling, as he impatiently stretched out his arms. He wanted Kazuki. Now.

"Give him to me."

Izuku hesitated. Katsuki felt the tension radiating off the alpha, his pheromones agitated, uncertain. But he didn’t give a damn what Izuku was feeling. His pup was right there, so close, and he still wasn’t holding him. A single second away from Kazuki was a second too long.

The alpha finally relented with a short, careful nod, passing the small bundle over. Katsuki moved fast, despite his aching, weakened muscles. He’d hold Kazuki even if his body broke in half.

The warm, tiny weight settled into his arms, and Katsuki let out a shaky exhale. His fingers instinctively tightened around the blankets, adjusting them. His pup. His life.

Kazuki let out a satisfied little noise, muffled and sweet, snuggling deeper into his mother’s hold. Katsuki’s chest tightened in a way he’d never admit out loud. Damn, he was so small.

His eyes, still slightly unfocused, slowly zeroed in on the little face peeking out from the blankets. Kazuki blinked sleepily, his red-rimmed eyes still damp from crying, lips pursed in a tiny pout as he squirmed, seeking comfort.

Katsuki smiled—tired, exhausted, but real. Kazuki was okay. He was warm. He was breathing. He was safe. He was with him.

Slowly, Katsuki lowered his head, ignoring the sharp twinges in his temples and stiff muscles. His nose brushed lightly against the pup’s neck, and he pressed a kiss there, feeling the soft, warm skin.

Kazuki wriggled, letting out a tiny, content sound. But then—Katsuki smelled it. He froze, breath catching mid-inhale. Kazuki’s familiar scent was there, their bond pulling strong, reassuring. But the idiot alpha’s scent was there too—persistent, marking. But…

There was another scent.

Something strange. Something wrong.

The omega kept his nose pressed to the pup’s neck, nostrils flaring slightly as he analyzed the unfamiliar odor. It wasn’t just a passing presence—it was embedded. Katsuki didn’t move, his body still curled protectively over Kazuki, but his eyes—sharp, furious—lifted to the large, uneasy blur in front of him.

"Why does my pup reek of another omega?"

Silence hung thick in the air. Izuku stiffened, his scent shifting instantly. Katsuki felt the alpha’s pheromones spike—nervous, hesitant.

Motherfucker.

Izuku shifted, one hand automatically rising to his hair, fingers running through the strands restlessly before sliding to the back of his neck. Katsuki wanted to kill him right then. How dare he? How dare this bastard let some random omega touch Kazuki? How did he even know another omega?!

"Uh, um, Ka-Kacchan—look, Kazuki needed to eat! Y-you were unconscious for a day! I-I had to—"

The rest of the sentence died in the alpha’s throat when a sharp, furious snarl ripped through the room. Even Kazuki startled. The pup squirmed, sensing the rising tension, his tiny lips trembling before a soft whimper escaped.

But Katsuki didn’t stop.

He slowly lifted his head, eyes blazing with rage, breath heavy, jaw locked.

"You. Did what?"

His voice was low, dangerous, laced with the fury of an omega ready to kill.

Damn it, Katsuki wished his fucking eyes would work properly so he could see the expression on that idiot alpha’s face. He wanted to be sure Izuku was sweating bullets, that his face was pale with fear or at least drowning in guilt for pulling this bullshit. But he didn’t need to see. The alpha’s pheromones gave him away completely. Nervous. Anxious as hell. Exactly how he should be.

"Kacchan! I couldn’t just let our pup go hungry!"

Our pup.

Our pup?!

Katsuki’s snarl reverberated before he could stop it. His fangs flashed, his claws instinctively tightening around the small body in his arms. His face burned—but not just from anger. That motherfucker had to phrase it like that?

"Kazuki is MINE!" The omega spat the words, his chest vibrating with the force of his voice. His pup, sensing the tension, let out another tiny whimper, little arms flailing free from the blankets. Katsuki immediately began rocking him gently, instinct forcing him to soothe Kazuki before he ripped Izuku’s face off. "And you just handed my pup to some other fucking omega?!"

The offended noise that left the alpha’s throat made Katsuki want to punch him.

"Uraraka-san was helping!" Izuku shot back, voice fast and defensive, like he was the goddamn victim here. "I was the one who asked her! She’s nursing her own pup, so—"

Katsuki snarled so loudly that Kazuki hiccuped mid-cry.

WHAT?!

The omega’s vision darkened with rage. Damn it, Izuku was asking to be murdered. Uraraka-san? That’s what he called her? All sweet and fucking polite now, huh?! How many times had he spoken to her? Why the hell did he know she was nursing?!

Katsuki’s chest burned—but not just from the fever he’d been fighting. It was something uglier, something unknown, something that crawled under his skin and made his inner omega want to lunge at the alpha.

"Fuck you!" He growled, breath ragged, fury boiling in his gut.

Kazuki, sensing the storm about to break, began squirming restlessly. His tiny hands clutched Katsuki’s shirt, damp little eyes blinking in confusion.

"Pup..." Katsuki murmured automatically, voice softening as he felt those little fingers gripping him so tightly. Kazuki was trying to hold onto him.

The omega took a deep breath, trying to steady his pulse, his mind still buzzing with rage. He couldn’t lose it here. Not in front of the pup.

But fuck—

The thought of Izuku talking to another omega, knowing she was nursing, trusting her with Kazuki, giving her a space that belonged only to him—

The irritation came back even stronger.

"Get out."

Izuku froze.

"Huh?"

"Get the fuck out, shitty alpha!" Katsuki snarled, his voice laced with authority, his inner omega still seething with fury—and something else he refused to name.

The alpha hesitated, scratching the back of his neck, his scent spiking again.

"Kacchan... I can't leave."

"I fucking said—!"

"I can't leave my own house."

Katsuki locked up.

Oh, fuck.

The omega felt his face burn. His mouth opened, but nothing came out. Because he was in the alpha's house. His house. His den. And suddenly, everything made sense—the too-comfortable bed, the strong, annoyingly comforting scent of Izuku clinging to everything, the warm, safe space.

Shit, shit, SHIT.

"Then fuck off and leave me alone!" Katsuki snapped, looking away, his face on fire. He pulled Kazuki tighter against him, feeling the small, warm body squirm restlessly. The pup let out a tiny whimper, his little hands opening and closing against the oversized shirt Katsuki was wearing. He could feel the tension in the air.

Izuku made a dramatic noise, sighing exaggeratedly, and Katsuki didn’t need to see him to know the bastard had rolled his eyes.

"I’ll get the herbs Chiyo said you need to take," the alpha murmured, turning to leave—but pausing halfway. Damn it, what now? "Chiyo is our most experienced healer, by the way."

And what the fuck does that matter?! Katsuki huffed under his breath, still refusing to look up. He didn’t give a damn who Chiyo was.

Kazuki let out a small noise—a mix between a grumble and a squeak—before nuzzling his face against Katsuki’s chest. The omega immediately forgot about Izuku and everything else that wasn’t the tiny being in his arms.

Kazuki was scenting him. His chubby little hands kneaded Katsuki’s shirt, his lips making tiny sucking motions as he squirmed, searching for something. His scent was perfect, even tainted by another omega—which still made Katsuki want to murder someone.

The blond pulled the small body even closer, burying his nose in the pup’s soft hair, rubbing his scent gland against Kazuki, reclaiming him, making sure no one doubted who he belonged to. After a long moment of scent-marking, his inner omega rumbled in satisfaction, finally relaxing.

Kazuki let out a happy little noise, wiggling his hands, his tiny legs kicking slightly under the blankets. He loved his mother’s touch.

Good. Better this way.

Katsuki continued, nuzzling the pup’s soft cheek, trailing down to his neck, leisurely rubbing his scent all over him. Kazuki squirmed, letting out tiny murmurs and pleased grunts, melting into the affection.

It was only when another strong scent hit him that he stopped. Damn it. Izuku was back.

Katsuki slowly lifted his eyes, still impatient, and saw the alpha’s silhouette holding a steaming wooden bowl.

"Here." Izuku said, stepping closer. The smell of the herbs was strong and bitter, and Katsuki automatically wrinkled his nose.

Noticing his grimace, Izuku smiled softly.

"Kacchan, you fainted because you were too weak! Chiyo said this tea would help you regain your strength, you need to drink it!" 

Katsuki snarled and then the alpha did something that made him freeze completely.

Izuku sat on the edge of the bed, right beside him, holding the bowl steady with one hand while lifting the other to the rim—blowing gently on the hot liquid before looking up.

"Here, Kacchan. Let me help you."

The omega immediately bristled with rage.

"I can fucking drink it myself, dammit! I'm not some weak-ass omega!" He snarled, turning his face away—but goddamn his weakness, because his body was still heavy and unsteady, making the world spin around him.

Izuku furrowed his brow, then, as casually as if he were commenting on the weather, said:

"I already gave it to you while you were unconscious."

Katsuki's world froze.

What.

WHAT?!

The omega felt his skin burn instantly, heat surging from his chest all the way to the tips of his ears, his entire body locking up in shock and absolute mortification. Izuku blinked, confused.

"W-what?!" Katsuki finally choked out, eyes wide, his voice coming out louder than intended.

Izuku tilted his head slightly, as if he were the one being strange here.

"The tea. I spoon-fed you while you were asleep. Chiyo said it would help."

Katsuki wanted to die on the spot.

Izuku had fed him. Like mates do. The alpha had sat beside him, cradling his head, tipping warm tea into his mouth, probably wiping away anything that spilled—taking care of him.

What the hell was this?!

Katsuki boiled with irritation. His teeth ground together, and his narrowed eyes gleamed with defiance.

"I don't need this shit!" he growled, sharply turning his face away, refusing to even look at Izuku’s blurry form. "Now leave me alone. I want to rest."

Izuku exhaled a tired sigh and lowered the spoon back into the bowl, as if he’d expected that response. Without argument, the alpha simply set the bowl on the small table beside the bed and stood, his shoulders slightly tense.

"Alright. I’ll... be here if you need anything."

Katsuki caught the scent of the other’s saddened pheromones—a thick, heavy aroma that lingered in the air—but he deliberately ignored it. He didn’t want to feel anything about it. Didn’t want to think about what it meant.

As soon as Izuku left the room, silence settled over him, finally alone—or nearly so. His gaze dropped to Kazuki, curled against his chest like a small, warm bundle. The pup had quieted somewhat but still made those tiny noises—a soft, sleepy murmur that vibrated against Katsuki’s skin.

He ran his fingers through the pup’s fine, delicate hair, marveling at how soft it was. Kazuki shifted, letting out a minuscule yawn that made his damp little eyes blink slowly, still heavy with sleep. His tiny hands, fingers curled like weak little claws, instinctively pressed against Katsuki’s chest, seeking warmth, seeking safety. The blond felt something tighten inside him.

Damn it.

Everything was so wrong.

He was in an alpha’s den—one who wasn’t even his mate—wearing that idiot’s clothes (something Katsuki definitely didn’t want to think too hard about), and, to top it all off, depending on him. Him, Katsuki, relying on someone else like some weak, needy omega. Pathetic. Humiliating.

Kazuki made a small sound—a lazy half-whimper—and Katsuki instinctively buried his face in the pup’s hair, inhaling slowly, the warmth of that tiny body pressed against him. He felt a small arm nudge his nose, and when he pulled back slightly, he saw Kazuki’s eyes, half-lidded, gazing up at him with innocent brightness. Even with his poor vision, the omega could make out their color—still that soft, grayish-blue shade of newborns.

Katsuki sighed, his hand still absently stroking the pup’s hair. Kazuki’s breathing grew slower, his little body relaxing once more. The blond yawned and, without realizing it, had fallen asleep alongside his pup.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

Hours later, Katsuki finally awoke, blinking a few times to clear the lingering haze of sleep. His body didn’t feel nearly as wrecked as before, and—most importantly—his vision had returned to normal. About damn time.

Kazuki was still there, nestled against his side, a tiny, warm weight pressed to his skin. The pup was fast asleep, his little mouth slightly open as soft, uneven breaths escaped. His tiny fingers involuntarily clenched into fists, occasionally twitching as if he were dreaming.

The pup let out an almost inaudible murmur, a quiet grumble before burying his face even deeper against Katsuki’s skin, seeking warmth. His sweet, gentle scent filled the space between them, and the blond adjusted the blanket around the small body, tucking him in.

Then the smell hit him.

Fuck, that smelled good.

Hunger punched through him like a fist to the gut, and his stomach immediately protested with a loud growl. Katsuki gritted his teeth, annoyed. He didn’t even need to look to know Izuku had left something ready for him.

And, as if summoned by that realization, the damn alpha appeared in the doorway.

Katsuki scowled. Motherfucker, had he been listening in? The thought of Izuku lurking outside pissed him off for a second… but all his irritation evaporated the moment his eyes landed on the alpha.

Perfect.

That was the first thought that crossed his mind.

Unfortunately, his vision was back to normal.

Izuku stood there in his human form, and fuck—now Katsuki remembered exactly why he’d shared his heat with this alpha. His mere presence filled the room, radiating strength and dominance without being oppressive. His broad, muscular shoulders looked like they’d been carved with precision, every movement fluid with the lethal grace of a predator in peak condition. But his face—

His face was a problem.

Wild, dark green hair fell messily around his forehead and cheeks. Pale skin, dotted with freckles that trailed from his face down his neck before disappearing under the rustic cotton shirt he wore—its V-neck laced with cords, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing strong, scarred forearms.

His eyes—bright green, intense, framed by thick, dark lashes—contrasted with the nervous expression he wore now. His small, slightly upturned nose and those lips—full, well-defined, pressed together as if Izuku was holding back from saying something stupid. And, of course, that large scar runs from his scalp, passes his eye and ends on his cheek. 

That shit was hot. 

And his pheromones too.

They danced in the air, thick and warm, sending subtle shivers down Katsuki’s skin. The scent was ridiculously addictive—a mix of something comforting yet wild, something that made his inner omega purr and curl up metaphorically at Izuku’s feet like a cat begging for attention.

"Good alpha," his instincts murmured, satisfied. "Strong alpha. Alpha cares for us."

Katsuki clenched his jaw, trying to shove those thoughts far away. But Kazuki, the little traitor, didn’t make it easy.

As if sensing Izuku’s presence, Kazuki stirred, letting out a sleepy little yawn. His tiny body stretched as much as a two-week-old pup could, his chubby little arms reaching before curling back in, his small hands opening and closing in the air. His eyes barely cracked open—just enough to reveal a dull, unfocused gleam before fluttering shut again.

Katsuki shifted, carefully sitting up in bed and pulling the pup into his lap. But Kazuki wasn’t satisfied. He started squirming, his arms waving, his legs kicking weakly, his little face scrunched up in displeasure. A soft grumble escaped him before turning into a frustrated whine.

Katsuki frowned. What the hell was this now? What did Kazuki want? He’d never acted like this before.

And then, like the meddling idiot he was, Izuku stepped closer, moving with his usual awkward anxiety. Katsuki noticed the alpha’s attentive gaze, trying to figure out what was happening. Kazuki, on the other hand, only grew more restless, wriggling in the blond’s hold, his hands opening and closing as if trying to grab something that wasn’t there.

"The hell…" Katsuki muttered, adjusting the pup in his lap, but nothing seemed to satisfy Kazuki.

The omega was about to try nursing him when Izuku, now standing right beside the bed, cleared his throat hesitantly.

"Uhm, Kacchan, I-I can try to help—"

Katsuki immediately snarled, tightening his hold on Kazuki.

"Stupid alpha, I can take care of my own pup!"

Izuku tensed, fighting the urge to argue, but he stayed silent. He just stood there, watching with that ridiculous expression of genuine concern. Katsuki huffed, annoyed, rocking Kazuki gently to soothe him, but the pup only grew more agitated, his frustration mounting.

Then the little one opened his eyes again—this time a bit wider—and locked his gaze directly on the alpha.

And fuck, Katsuki saw it happen in real time.

Kazuki stopped squirming for a second, blinking slowly as if trying to process something. His little arms lifted again, tiny fingers stretching toward Izuku, his small body twisting as if trying to reach him. Katsuki felt the realization hit him like a slap to the face.

"Absolutely fucking not," he hissed.

But Kazuki let out a soft whimper, followed by an insistent grumble, his eyes still locked on Izuku. That little traitor. Katsuki gritted his teeth.

"You’ve gotta be kidding me, brat."

Izuku blinked, confused.

"What?"

"He wants you, you shitty alpha," Katsuki spat, his jaw locking.

Izuku’s eyes widened, pointing at himself in disbelief.

"M-me?!"

"No, the fucking ghost behind you," Katsuki snarled before exhaling sharply and—against every instinct screaming inside him—holding the pup out toward the alpha.

Izuku hesitated for a second, as if expecting Katsuki to change his mind and murder him on the spot, but when he realized this was actually happening, he carefully reached out and took Kazuki.

And the moment Izuku’s arms wrapped around him, Kazuki stopped.

Literally.

The grumbling ceased. The little legs that had been kicking the air went still. His arms dropped to his sides, and the pup let out a satisfied sigh, as if he’d finally gotten exactly what he wanted. His tiny head rested against Izuku’s chest, and he made a quiet, almost happy sound before snuggling in.

Katsuki felt his patience evaporating.

"You’ve gotta be fucking joking."

Izuku, on the other hand, looked like he might pass out. He stared down at Kazuki in his arms as if the pup were made of glass, his mouth slightly open, clearly unsure what to do with this development.

Katsuki rolled his eyes, exhaling sharply, his jaw tight with frustration. Kazuki wanted his sire. Damn it, what was he going to do when they left? This two-week-old brat was already so attached to the alpha that he wanted to be held by him. The thought made his stomach twist, but he shoved it away.

Izuku, meanwhile, looked at the pup in his arms like he was holding the world’s most precious treasure. The small, hesitant smile on the alpha’s lips soon widened, glowing with genuine warmth as he adjusted Kazuki more comfortably, cradling him with careful affection. The pup shifted slightly, letting out another soft, content sound, his little arms curling against Izuku’s chest as he nestled deeper into the alpha’s warmth.

Katsuki looked away, irritation simmering inside him.

"Anyway," he forced out, keeping his voice indifferent. He didn’t want to think about the future. Or where he was. Or who he was with. Honestly, he’d rather not think at all. "Why the hell are you here, shitty alpha?"

Izuku lifted his gaze to him, those bright green eyes locking onto Katsuki with an intensity that made the back of his neck prickle. Instinctively, Katsuki growled, suppressing the purr threatening to rise in his throat.

"Kacchan, I came to ask if you wanted to eat."

Right. Katsuki did want to eat. He needed to eat. But there was something about the way Izuku asked—that careful, hesitant tone—that pissed him off. Like the bastard was waiting for him to ask. To beg.

He bared his fangs.

"Fuck you. Of course I want to eat, you shitty alpha."

Izuku, predictably, didn’t seem surprised by the sharp response. He just chuckled lowly, still gently rocking Kazuki in his arms, his large fingers lightly brushing over the pup’s tiny frame. Katsuki didn’t want to admit it, but the sight warmed something deep inside him. Damn it.

"Uh! My mom left some food! I-I mean, I cooked, but she said I still need to improve a bit before I can properly offer my cooking to someone…" He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand.

But that wasn’t Katsuki’s problem. His real problem was that Izuku’s mother had left food here. For them. For the alpha to provide. As if… as if he were Izuku’s omega.

Katsuki snarled, fury boiling inside him.

"I'm not your mate, you idiot. I could hunt."

Izuku furrowed his brows, his smile fading slightly.

"But, Kacchan, it's still snowing. Hard. And you're too weak for that!"

The omega opened his mouth to argue, but the bastard didn’t even give him time.

"And... you’d have to leave Kazuki alone if you went hunting."

Motherfucker.

Katsuki clenched his jaw, eyes flashing. This damn nerd had the audacity to hit his weak point like that? Low blow. Fucking coward.

In Izuku’s arms, Kazuki shifted, his little head turning as his half-lidded eyes blinked slowly. He let out a needy little grumble, his tiny mouth opening and closing like he was chewing on air. Damn it. There was food here. And Katsuki needed to eat. Not for himself—for Kazuki. He needed strength to keep nourishing the pup.

Screw this presumptuous alpha and whatever he thinks.

Turning his face away with an irritated huff, Katsuki crossed his arms and let out a low growl—but said nothing else.

Izuku smiled victoriously.

Chapter Text

Izuku felt his chest tighten the moment he saw Kacchan collapse before his eyes. The Omega didn’t make a sound—he just shut down , as if all the strength had been drained from his body in an instant. The Alpha froze for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. This wasn’t happening. Not Kacchan. Not his Omega.

Panic hit him like a punch to the gut. Kacchan was so cold, his pale, sweaty skin glistening in the dim light of the cave, his lips slightly parted as he took shallow breaths. Shit. No. No. No.

Kazuki, nestled against the Omega’s chest, let out a weak whimper—a tiny, trembling sound, as if he sensed something was terribly wrong. And it was. Izuku had known this would happen. Kacchan was weak, burning through more energy than his body could spare. He was exhausting himself to produce milk, to keep Kazuki warm, to survive this damn blizzard, even with Izuku by his side… and now the price had come due.

The Alpha didn’t hesitate. Moving urgently, he gathered all the furs from their makeshift nest and wrapped Kacchan and Kazuki tightly against his back. He made sure the pup’s small, warm body was secure, protected by his mother’s fading warmth, before fastening everything with leather straps. Kacchan didn’t even stir.

Fear crawled up Izuku’s spine. He had to run.

The Alpha plunged into the blizzard without hesitation, the biting wind whipping against his skin, ice already forming in his thick fur before he even took his first leaps through the deep snow. The cold didn’t affect him. As a northern wolf—and an Alpha at that—his body was built to withstand the worst storms. But Kacchan wasn’t.

And Kazuki… so small…

The pup let out another soft whine, squirming against his momma’s chest, and Izuku felt something tighten in his throat. Kazuki didn’t understand what was happening. He didn’t sense the desperation in his papa’s tense muscles, didn’t recognize the dangerous silence of his momma. He just wanted warmth. Just wanted safety.

Izuku ran faster.

Every step was a brutal struggle against the treacherous ground. Ice crunched beneath his heavy paws, the dense snow clinging to his claws, sapping his strength like frozen quicksand. The wind howled, swirling with sharp flurries, and everything around him was nothing but white and gray—no distinction between sky and earth. It was suffocating.

But Izuku didn’t stop.

Their pack was reasonably close, but that didn’t mean it was near . Even at full speed, it would take him a full day to reach them. But Kacchan didn’t have a full day. Izuku gritted his teeth, his sharp fangs pressing together, and forced his legs to move faster, harder. He couldn’t fail. He couldn’t lose his Omega. Not again.

Somehow—Izuku didn’t know how—he made it back to the pack before nightfall. His body burned, his lungs screaming for air as he gasped for breath. The biting cold of the forest was nothing compared to the fear gnawing at his chest.

Even though every muscle was exhausted, he felt no pain. Adrenaline roared through his veins, drowning out any discomfort. The only thing that mattered was Kacchan and Kazuki.

As the trees grew denser, familiar pine trunks rising around him, Izuku felt a flicker of relief—but he didn’t stop. The scent of his pack’s marked territory filled his lungs. But he wasn’t safe yet.

It didn’t take long for one of the night watchmen to find him.

A red figure emerged through the snow, leaping effortlessly to his side. Kirishima.

“Midobro! I thought you weren’t coming back, man!” the red-haired Alpha exclaimed, eyes widening at the sight of him. Izuku didn’t even glance at him. He didn’t have time.

Kirishima’s breath hitched when he noticed what Izuku was carrying—the bundle of furs strapped tightly to his back. He knew what it was. Who it was. Izuku felt the other Alpha’s pheromones shift with a mix of concern and respect. But wisely, Kirishima didn’t ask questions.

He just ran beside him in silence, escorting him.

Izuku ignored the stares, the calls of the other wolves as he pushed deeper into the pack’s territory. Wooden houses rose around him, some windows lit, the scent of burning firewood filling the air. But he didn’t stop. He saw nothing but the path ahead.

Before he knew it, he was standing in front of Chiyo’s house.

The old healer wasted no time. The moment Izuku burst in, panting, his chest heaving frantically, she was already moving. Small but swift, Chiyo quickly undid the bindings securing Kacchan to his back, pulling the Omega and the pup free from the furs with the Alpha’s help.

Kazuki let out a tiny noise—a soft, muffled sound. The pup squirmed weakly, his little hands grasping at the air. Izuku’s throat tightened. After laying Kacchan down on a cot—still pale, still too limp—Chiyo reached for Kazuki, her calloused but gentle hands cradling the pup with the utmost care. His small body was warm despite the cold outside. Kazuki shifted in her arms, his soft, round face scrunching in displeasure as his whimpers grew more insistent.

Kazuki didn’t like being held by strangers.

“He’s hungry,” Chiyo murmured, her voice firm but gentle.

Izuku’s soul grew heavier. Kazuki hadn’t eaten since… since when? Kacchan was too weak to nurse, and he knew the Omega’s milk was running low, no matter how much Kacchan tried to hide it. Chiyo moved quickly, settling the pup comfortably on one of the infirmary beds, where Kazuki squirmed and cried.

Chiyo, however, was already busy pulling herbs from small wooden jars on the counter, sorting them with practiced precision. Meanwhile, Izuku quickly shifted back to his human form in the tiny adjacent room, his calloused hands still dirty with melted ice and snow, clumsily trying to change into fresh clothes—grabbing one of the spare sets the old woman kept there.

He didn’t even feel the cold in his fingers. The only thing burning inside him was fear, and Izuku hated it.

The clean clothes were a little tight on his frame, rough against his skin, but Izuku barely registered it. He just wiped his hands on them in the most awkward way possible before rushing back to the infirmary and finally scooping Kazuki into his arms, still bundled in the furs Izuku had wrapped him in before leaving the cave.

The pup immediately let out a louder whimper, his small, warm body squirming restlessly in the Alpha’s massive hold. Izuku held his breath, cradling Kazuki as if he were made of glass. Too small. Too fragile.

This was the first time he’d ever held a pup.

And damn , it was so much harder than it looked.

Izuku tried to mimic the way Kacchan did it, remembering how effortlessly the Omega held Kazuki—supporting his head with his forearm, keeping him snug and secure. But his hands were too big, his arms too stiff. Kazuki wriggled and whined, tiny arms flailing as if searching for something in the air.

"Hey, hey… little one… Papa’s here…" Izuku murmured, trying to adjust his grip. But nothing seemed to work.

Kazuki squirmed, his chubby little hands opening and closing in the air, his still-cloudy eyes blinking slowly. His scent was soft and sweet, so familiar that Izuku’s chest tightened.

Gritting his teeth, Izuku didn’t know what else to do but hold him tighter, pressing the pup against his chest. Kazuki kept crying, rubbing his tiny, round face against Izuku’s shirt, his little mouth making clumsy sucking motions, searching for something Izuku couldn’t give him. Small, warm, and vulnerable. The Alpha’s chest ached.

He was a terrible papa.

His anxiety grew with every second, especially because Chiyo was still examining Kacchan. The Omega was pale, fragile, and Izuku could smell the cold sweat on his skin. The Alpha couldn’t tear his eyes away from him, even as he tried to rock Kazuki gently to soothe him.

Chiyo muttered to herself, her nimble fingers pressing points on Kacchan’s wrist, checking his temperature, monitoring his breathing. Izuku bit his lip, ears straining for every tiny sound from the healer’s mouth.

Then, she stepped back, grabbing a wooden bowl already filled with herbs and some liquid. She began crushing the leaves, the sound of grinding filling the small room—but Izuku couldn’t hold back.

"What are you doing?" he asked, voice sharper than he intended.

Chiyo didn’t look up.

"Preparing tea," she answered simply, still mixing. "It’ll help stabilize his temperature and restore some of his energy."

Izuku chewed the inside of his cheek, jaw locked. That was good. Kacchan needed that. But it wasn’t fast enough.

The Alpha leaned forward slightly, instinctively. Kazuki was still against his chest, but Izuku barely registered the pup’s light, warm weight or his constant whimpers. He gave Kazuki his finger, and the pup desperately began sucking, his cheeks flushed red with effort as indignant little noises escaped him.

"Will he be okay?" Izuku pressed, his free hand tightening around Kazuki without realizing.

The old healer paused her grinding just long enough to give him a placating look.

"He will. He’s just very weak—needs rest and proper nourishment."

Izuku huffed, still tense, his gaze flickering away—only to land right back on Kacchan. The Omega was still unconscious, breathing shallow, face too pale. Lying on the infirmary cot, he looked so… small. Defenseless. Kacchan was too pale, too thin, the outline of his ribs visible beneath his skin.

Kazuki squirmed against him, letting out a muffled, drawn-out sound—a grumble as he kept sucking Izuku’s finger with effort. His tiny body twisted, tears spilling from his swollen eyes. He was starving, but Izuku didn’t want to leave.

He couldn’t leave his Omega.

The sound of hot water filling a basin made Izuku flinch slightly. His senses were still sharp, his heart hammering in his chest, every part of his instincts screaming at him not to step away from Kacchan.

But then Chiyo pursed her lips, her wrinkled fingers wringing out a damp cloth firmly before giving him a look filled with maternal patience.

"Izuku, dear…" Her voice was calm but firm. "Perhaps it would be best if you take care of Kazuki."

He froze. His inner Alpha immediately snarled in protest.

She wanted him to leave ? To leave Kacchan alone here?

"What? " The word came out as a growl, his entire body tensing.

Chiyo just sighed, dipping the cloth back into the warm water, completely unfazed by the tension of enraged pheromones thickening the air.

"Izuku, you look like a lost pup yourself right now," she said, with the serenity of someone who’d dealt with many anxious Alphas before. "I need to treat your Omega, but you’re too agitated—and I understand. But it might be better if you step out while I do this."

Lost pup?!

Izuku’s expression darkened instantly, his entire body burning with irritation.

He wasn’t some lost pup. He was an Alpha ! Kacchan’s Alpha! Kazuki’s father! How the hell was he supposed to just walk away and let someone else take care of them?!

But then Kazuki let out a loud, frustrated sound—a trembling whimper that immediately snapped his attention away. The tiny body squirmed in his arms, warm, soft skin brushing against the fabric of Izuku’s shirt.

His chubby little arms flailed, tiny hands opening and closing in the air, searching for something they couldn’t find. His small mouth moved, a trembling pout forming as he nuzzled against Izuku’s chest, seeking warmth. Kazuki’s little tongue flicked out slightly, making small sucking motions in the air before he let out another pitiful whine.

The anger dissolved in an instant.

Izuku held the pup tighter, feeling Kazuki’s light, warm breaths against his skin.

Damn it.

He didn’t want to leave.

But if he stayed, he’d only be in the way. And he’d fail as a papa. Kacchan wouldn’t want a useless Alpha like that!

Jaw clenched, he let out a quiet huff, adjusting Kazuki in his arms before turning and stomping out of the room, his steps heavy with reluctance. Kazuki kept squirming, still crying, his round cheeks flushed and his toothless little mouth open. Instinctively, Izuku pulled him closer, but it didn’t help.

The pup wriggled again, his tiny face now rubbing against the Alpha’s chest, lips opening and closing as he instinctively tried to suckle something that wasn’t there.

Oh, gods.

He completely forgot his earlier frustration, the instinct to protect and nurture taking over in an instant.

Kazuki let out a louder whimper, his little mouth forming a desperate pout, his small eyes blinking open slowly in frustration.

Izuku glanced around, heart racing. He needed to find someone. The first person that came to mind was Uraraka-san . She was nursing her own pup. She could help. She would help.

Without another thought, Izuku tightened his hold on Kazuki and bolted out of the house, the cold wind whipping against his face as he rushed through the village, shielding his pup from the biting chill.

The snow crunched under Izuku’s hurried footsteps as he crossed the village, the icy wind nipping at his skin. But he barely felt the cold. All that mattered was Kazuki, who now let out small hiccups and grumbles, his tiny face scrunched with hunger.

He finally reached Uraraka’s home—a large, sturdy log cabin—and for the first time, he used his status as the pack’s future leader by knocking twice before simply pushing the door open. He didn’t have time to wait.

The Omega was sitting on the floor atop a thick wool rug, its soft texture contrasting with the aged leather of the brown couch behind her. Her nimble hands folded furs with practiced ease, the light from the stone-lined fireplace casting warm shadows across her skin. The scent of burning wood mingled with the familiar aroma of her nest, a comfort that, just seconds ago, had filled the cabin with tranquility.

But then the door burst open with a dull thud, and the outside cold rushed in like a frozen gust.

Uraraka’s eyes widened at the sight of him.

"You’re finally back!" Surprise soaked her voice, her brown eyes shining between relief and disbelief.

But Izuku didn’t have time for that.

"Later," he cut in, breath uneven. "I need your help."

Her gaze dropped to the bundle of furs in his arms, and her expression shifted instantly.

"Oh, gods!"

Uraraka shot to her feet, hands outstretched before she could even think, as if her body already knew what to do before her mind could process.

The Alpha didn’t hesitate. He kicked the door shut with a blast of cold air and followed her inside, keeping Kazuki secure against his chest. The pup squirmed within the furs, a low, scratchy sound escaping his throat. He was so small . His little face crumpled in restless distress, tiny hands clenched in a trembling grip. His warm skin contrasted with the reddened tip of his nose from the cold. Small shivers ran through his body, and a hesitant pout formed on his lips, as if he sensed the absence of the constant warmth that should have enveloped him.

"He needs to eat," Izuku said bluntly, his tone hard, but his eyes locked on his pup.

Uraraka nodded without hesitation. Her Omega instincts flared instantly, and she was already heading toward the bedroom, steps quick. Izuku moved to follow her, but the sound of firm footsteps echoed through the room, stopping him mid-stride.

He turned just in time to see Tenya Iida step into the living room, holding a small bundle of blankets in his arms.

Uraraka’s Alpha looked surprised. His glasses reflected the firelight, and his raised eyebrows betrayed his disbelief at seeing Izuku there.

"Midoriya!" His voice was strong but held no hostility. "You’ve returned."

Izuku didn’t answer immediately.

His eyes fell on the pup in Tenya’s arms. Uraraka and Iida’s pup was older than Kazuki. He slept peacefully, his chest rising and falling in a serene rhythm, content and secure in the warmth of their nest.

For a moment, something tightened in Izuku’s chest.

Kazuki should have been like that too. But he wasn’t.

His cries were hoarse, exhausted. Not the sound of a well-cared-for pup. And that was his fault.

Izuku was a terrible Alpha and a terrible papa. That’s why Kacchan wouldn’t accept him as a mate.

Tenya stepped closer, a brief smile tugging at his lips. Even while holding his own pup, he managed to free one hand and clap Izuku’s shoulder twice in a friendly gesture.

"You managed to bring your Omega into the pack. I told you it was the right thing to do."

Izuku didn’t move. His jaw was locked, eyes fixed on the other Alpha.

Tenya had been the only one to find him during the days he’d disappeared. He’d tried to convince him it was wrong to stay away so long, especially as the future leader. But Izuku had been too feral to listen. Back then, any mention of the pack had felt like a threat. All he’d wanted was to protect his Omega and his pup, and if Kacchan didn’t want to return, then anyone who interfered was an enemy.

Tenya had known to keep his distance. But he was the one who’d brought news back to the pack.

Izuku didn’t know what had happened after he’d left him behind that day. But now that he was back, he’d have to face the consequences.

But none of that mattered right now.

What mattered was Kazuki.

And at that moment, being in a different room from his pup made his skin crawl.

Izuku felt his Alpha surging inside him, reactive and agitated—but different from when he’d been feral. It wasn’t a blind urge to fight, to kill anything that came near. It was something deeper.

He needed Kazuki close.

Tenya opened his mouth to speak, his firm voice starting to deliver some damn report about what had happened in the pack over the last few days, but Izuku wasn’t listening. Not at all. All he could hear was Kazuki in the next room—the satisfied murmurs, the low, rhythmic sound of suckling. He could feel the pup’s pheromones stabilizing, growing calmer, and instinctively, his own Alpha eased slightly, releasing some of the tension that made his shoulders ache.

The need to cross that damn room and burrow into the nest was almost unbearable, but Izuku held firm. He knew he couldn’t. It didn’t matter that his skin itched and his instincts screamed at him to grab Kazuki and keep him under his claws—invading a mated pair’s nest was taboo. Even if called, even if given permission, it was a primal instinct that couldn’t be ignored. Not even by him.

So the Alpha stood there, rigid, biting the inside of his cheek to suppress the urge to snatch Kazuki from Uraraka’s arms and disappear.

At the very least, he should have been paying attention to what Tenya was saying, but the other Alpha’s words were just an annoying buzz in the back of his mind. He knew Iida was subtly reprimanding him—for disappearing, for being reckless, for isolating himself—but Izuku didn’t give a damn. His pup was feeding, and that was all that mattered.

Time dragged like torture, each minute longer than the last, but finally, Uraraka emerged from the bedroom. Kazuki was nestled in her arms, drowsy and content, his tiny fists relaxed, his heavy eyes blinking slowly. Izuku didn’t wait. He stepped forward, arms outstretched, and took the pup.

He was still clumsy. His hands were too big, too stiff, and Kazuki was so small, so fragile. Uraraka noticed and helped him, guiding his hands into the right position—the perfect hold that kept the pup secure against his chest.

"He was very hungry, but he’s fine now," she said softly, offering a smile Izuku didn’t know how to return. At least she wasn’t asking questions.

He muttered something in response, a hurried nod of thanks, already ready to leave.

But Uraraka hesitated. Her expression shifted, as if weighing something, and then she shot a quick glance at Iida before turning back to him.

"Um, Midoriya-kun... What if I gave him a bath? I think it might help keep him more comfortable."

Izuku froze.

He knew what she meant.

Kazuki hadn’t had a proper bath since shifting to his human form. I mean, they’d been living in a damn cave until a few days ago—it wasn’t like they’d had options. Kacchan did what he could—when he shifted back to his wolf form, he cleaned Kazuki the way their ancestors did, licking every inch of the pup’s delicate skin. It wasn’t ideal, but it was all they had.

But now... Now, there were options.

Izuku pressed his lips together. He didn’t want to be away from the pup again. It was already hell being without Kacchan.

As if sensing the Alpha’s hesitation, Kazuki squirmed in his arms. His tiny face scrunched into the beginnings of a cry, his little fingers twitching, trying to grab Izuku’s shirt, seeking warmth and comfort. His small nose sniffled softly, and one tiny hand escaped the furs, opening and closing clumsily in the air.

The Alpha felt his chest tighten.

But before he could respond, Uraraka stepped in.

"Um, I can teach you how to bathe him."

Izuku let out a heavy sigh. The idea didn’t seem so bad now. He wanted to go after Kacchan as soon as possible, but... he knew his Omega would expect him to take proper care of their pup. And Kazuki really did need a decent bath.

So, for the first time that night, Izuku relented.

The Omega guided him patiently, her voice gentle, her hands firm but careful. Uraraka glanced at Tenya, who quickly left, returning minutes later with a small basin of steaming warm water and a plush towel in his arms—where his own pup had been before. He set everything down near the rug where Uraraka had been folding furs earlier.

Izuku eyed it warily.

The warmth from the fireplace made the room cozy, and the water was the perfect temperature—Uraraka checked with her fingers before nodding at Izuku.

"You have to be gentle. He’s very small."

He knew that, but knowing and actually managing it were two completely different things.

Kazuki squirmed against his chest, his still-milky eyes blinking open and closed slowly, drowsy. The pup’s tiny fists were clenched, his fingers twitching in the air, searching for something to hold. His little nose sniffled softly, and he let out small, confused noises, as if trying to understand what was happening.

Izuku held his breath.

Uraraka stepped closer, hands raised in a peaceful gesture.

"Let me show you."

He hesitated, but when she knelt beside the basin and held out her arms, Izuku reluctantly passed Kazuki to her.

His heart lurched in his chest. He hated this. Hated not having him in his arms, hated the hollow feeling when Kazuki wasn’t pressed against him.

Uraraka noticed.

"Stay beside me. You’ll hold him with me."

He gave a stiff nod, kneeling next to her, eyes locked on the pup.

Kazuki stirred at the Omega’s touch, a soft whimper escaping his pink lips, his little mouth forming a trembling pout. Uraraka whispered to him, a soothing, gentle sound. Then, slowly, with extreme care, she guided Izuku to hold the pup’s small, limp body the right way.

His skin was warm against Izuku’s palm—a fragile, living warmth.

"Support his head properly," Uraraka instructed, her hand sliding to steady Kazuki firmly.

Izuku did exactly as she said, his fingers too big and awkward.

Kazuki let out another tiny sound, his mouth opening and closing, his little feet kicking the air in lazy sluggishness. His body was so small Izuku felt like he might accidentally break him.

Uraraka smiled.

"There. Now, just a little..."

She lowered the pup closer to the water, dipping only the lower half of his body into the basin.

The reaction was immediate.

Kazuki shuddered, his arms flailing in reflex, his eyes blinking hard. A startled squeak escaped his throat, followed by a drawn-out whimper. His scrunched-up face looked uncertain—like he wasn’t sure if he liked it or not.

Izuku tensed.

"Is he... is he okay?"

Uraraka chuckled softly.

"Yes. He’s just not used to it."

Kazuki opened his mouth in a trembling yawn and hiccuped quietly before closing his eyes again.

"He’s still sleepy," Uraraka observed, starting to run the warm water over his chubby little belly—now full of milk—with delicate motions.

Izuku watched every movement like a wary predator.

His pup let out another uncertain noise, his tiny hands opening and closing, grasping at nothing. His little mouth quivered, his face twisting in mild discomfort, but with the warm water enveloping his body and Uraraka’s careful hands, he soon settled.

Izuku exhaled slowly, relaxing by millimeters.

Damn it. He needed to learn how to do this properly.

If he wanted to take care of Kazuki, if he wanted to be a good papa—if he wanted to be good enough for Kacchan, even if the Omega never accepted him as a mate—then he had to learn. He had to be the best Alpha he could be.

Swallowing hard, he began to mimic Uraraka’s movements. His fingers were big, clumsy, and even when trying to be gentle, his touches were rougher than the Omega’s. But he tried.

Kazuki, small and fragile, kept letting out little grumbles, his tiny arms stretching in the air before curling back in on themselves—an instinctive reflex. The pup wasn’t crying, but he made displeased noises, as if enduring the greatest suffering in the world. His little mouth formed a trembling pout, his feet kicking lazily at the water. His bluish eyes blinked slowly, heavy with sleep, but he didn’t seem ready to fully surrender to it.

Izuku wet his fingers and ran them over the pup’s tiny head, feeling the fine, golden strands stick to his skin. The touch was so intimate it made his chest tighten. He cleaned every inch with the utmost care while Uraraka watched beside him, supervising his movements. When she saw he was getting the hang of it, she leaned back slightly, letting him handle it alone.

Kazuki wrinkled his nose and let out a tiny squeak when the warm water trickled down his forehead. The sound made Izuku hold his breath for a second, but the pup didn’t cry. He just wiggled his fingers in the air, his little fists opening and closing, searching for something to hold onto.

"You’re doing well," Uraraka murmured with a smile.

Izuku felt his shoulders relax slightly.

Soon, Kazuki was completely clean. But he didn’t seem impressed at all. He kept grumbling, letting out small huffs as he turned his head from side to side, as if trying to escape something terrible. His lips formed a displeased pout, and he sniffled, shivering slightly in the water—clearly indignant.

Uraraka chuckled softly.

"Oh, I see… He takes after you."

Izuku frowned, not understanding, but before he could ask, Iida stepped forward and handed his mate a plush towel.

"Now, let’s dry him."

Kazuki let out a tiny squeak when he was lifted from the water, his little body trembling slightly at the temperature change. Uraraka quickly wrapped him in the towel, rubbing him gently to warm him up. The pup let out a long grumble, nestling into the soft fabric, his eyes blinking slowly as his flushed cheeks puffed with another yawn.

Izuku felt something warm and heavy spread through his chest.

Uraraka settled onto the leather couch, sinking slightly into the soft cushions, Kazuki’s small body still bundled in the warm towel in her arms. Izuku sat beside her, but his posture was tense, rigid. He looked like a predator on high alert, his eyes locked on the pup as if any movement around them was a threat. His instincts pulsed fiercely, his entire body screaming that Kazuki needed to be with him . His hands were slightly outstretched, a silent demand to hold his pup.

Uraraka smiled at the typical behavior of a protective Alpha but said nothing.

It was then that Tenya returned to the room, carrying something folded in his arms.

"This was the smallest one I could find."

Izuku tore his eyes away from Kazuki just long enough to take what the other Alpha handed him. His brow furrowed as he felt the soft fabric between his fingers. He unfolded the small bundle and realized what it was—a wool onesie, tiny but thick enough to keep the pup warm through the harsh winter ahead.

Uraraka watched expectantly, her eyes bright as she said in a playful tone:

"We only have this one that might fit for now…"

She trailed off, waiting for Izuku to finish.

The Alpha blinked, confused at first, but then understood. He was silent for a moment before adjusting on the couch, his green eyes turning to the small being in his arms. His chest swelled with pride, a warmth that eased some of his tension.

"Kazuki."

The name sounded strong, decisive—as if sealing something inside him.

Uraraka smiled, satisfied.

"Kazuki," she repeated softly, testing the name on her lips as she looked at the yawning pup, his tiny face scrunching with the motion.

Tenya also smiled, watching the pup who now breathed softly, curled up in the plush towel.

Gently, Uraraka shifted, settling Kazuki on the couch between her and Izuku. The pup let out a quiet grumble, his tiny hands stretching in the air before relaxing again.

With care, Uraraka moved again, adjusting Kazuki on the couch between her and Izuku. The pup let out another small grumble, his minuscule hands stretching out before relaxing once more, his tiny fingers curling in an involuntary reflex.

Izuku watched every movement with sharp eyes, his muscles still tense, ready to snatch the pup at any sign of discomfort.

"Before we put on the onesie, we need to change him," Uraraka explained, picking up a folded piece of fabric nearby.

Izuku blinked, confused, until he realized what she meant.

"Ah."

He hadn’t thought of that. I mean, he and Kacchan hadn’t been using diapers until now.

Uraraka smiled at his hesitation. With the same patience she’d shown so far, she unfolded the cloth diaper, lifting Kazuki’s small body slightly. The pup grumbled, his bluish eyes blinking slowly, annoyed by the movement.

"He doesn’t like being handled too much," Izuku murmured, his gaze fixed on the pup’s sulky expression.

"No pup does," Uraraka replied with a quiet laugh. "But it’s necessary."

Kazuki gave a tiny kick in the air, displeased with the momentary discomfort, but he didn’t cry. Uraraka was quick and skilled, securing the clean cloth without any trouble. She then turned to Tenya, who was already ready, handing a small jar to Izuku.

"This helps prevent his skin from getting irritated," the Omega explained, indicating for Izuku to open it.

The Alpha took the jar, easily twisting off the lid. Inside was a thick, oily substance with a light herbal scent.

He frowned, scooping a bit of the ointment onto his fingertips.

"Just apply it?"

"Yes, but gently," Uraraka emphasized.

Izuku swallowed hard, staring at his own fingers—each practically the size of Kazuki’s entire arm—but he did exactly as she said. With careful movements, he spread the ointment, his touch deliberate. The pup shivered slightly at the initial coolness of the salve, his tiny eyes squeezing shut in a brief grimace, but he soon relaxed again, letting out a yawn that made his little mouth stretch into an adorable shape.

Izuku had never seen anything so small, so fragile… and so cute .

Taking a deep breath, he finished applying the ointment and pulled back, letting Uraraka fasten the diaper. The cloth was folded and adjusted perfectly, and soon, Kazuki was snug and secure again.

"Now, then," Uraraka said with satisfaction, picking up the small onesie and preparing for the next step.

Izuku, still somewhat hypnotized by Kazuki’s yawn, just nodded, feeling his chest swell with pride once more. He was learning .

"Now, the onesie," she said, taking the garment from Izuku’s hands.

The Alpha was quiet for a moment but nodded. He wanted to learn. He needed to learn.

Uraraka started by demonstrating, guiding Kazuki’s fragile arms into the tiny sleeves. The pup wiggled his fingers, his bluish eyes blinking slowly, still confused by the movement. Izuku watched everything intently, memorizing each step.

When it was his turn to try, he leaned in closer, carefully picking up Kazuki. The pup let out a small sound of displeasure, his tiny face scrunching slightly. Izuku hesitated for a second, his large hands attempting to mimic the Omega’s delicate motions.

First, he guided Kazuki’s legs into the onesie. That wasn’t too hard. But the arms… Damn it .

Kazuki grumbled, squirming every time Izuku tried to slip one of his little arms through the narrow sleeve. The pup kicked in the air, his eyes blinking open and shut, his mouth forming a dissatisfied pout.

"Hey, it’s okay, little one…" Izuku murmured, trying to soothe him as he adjusted the onesie’s collar.

Uraraka chuckled softly.

"Slowly! He’s still so small."

Izuku let out a quiet growl—not at her, but at himself. He knew that. And yet, it felt impossible to do something so simple without feeling like he’d break the pup in the process.

After a few frustrating attempts—and a few more grumbles from Kazuki, who clearly didn’t enjoy being handled so much—Izuku finally managed to dress him in the onesie. It was a little loose, but at least it would keep him warm and comfortable.

Kazuki let out a tiny sigh, blinking slowly, his small body still a bit restless. But he was clean, dressed, and safe. Izuku wrapped an arm around the pup, holding him against his chest. The soft, familiar scent of Kazuki filled his lungs, and he relaxed a little more.

There.

Now Kazuki was protected.

Without wasting another second, Izuku pulled the pup closer, his warm breath brushing against the fine golden strands on the tiny head. Instinctively, he began scent-marking him, rubbing his neck gland against Kazuki’s fragile body. The pup grumbled at first, his little nose wrinkling, but soon let out a contented noise, the delicate sound vibrating in his throat. Kazuki squirmed, his chubby arms stretching out before curling back against his papa’s warmth.

Izuku didn't realize when he started rumbling, the deep possessive sound vibrating from his chest without permission. But seeing Kazuki growing more relaxed in his arms, his breathing soft and steady, he didn't stop. By the time he was satisfied, the pup had already fallen asleep, his round face peaceful with his lips moving in involuntary little suckling motions.

Perfect.

Without further delay, Izuku stood up, holding Kazuki securely as he gave his friends a brief nod of farewell.

"Midoriya, wait a second—"

But he didn't wait. Didn't even look back. He needed to go.

The path to the healer's cabin passed in a blur. He barely registered the dry branches snapping underfoot or the cold wind cutting across his face. The only thing that mattered was getting there.

As soon as he entered, his gaze went straight to Kacchan's form.

He looked better.

Still unconscious, but his skin wasn't as pale anymore, and his breathing—once erratic—was now steady and calm. Color had returned to his cheeks, and his lips were no longer tinged blue from the cold.

Izuku held his breath, absorbing the sight of his Omega finally at peace.

"He needs to stay here until he wakes up," Chiyo's raspy voice cut through the silence, but Izuku didn't even glance at her.

"No."

And that was that.

Minutes later, Kacchan was in his own cabin, lying in his own bed where he should have been from the start. Izuku knelt beside him, his hungry eyes analyzing every detail. He was so beautiful. Even unconscious, his strong features and serene expression made something twist in the Alpha's chest.

But then, he noticed.

His expression hardened when he realized Kacchan's scent was... wrong.

Chiyo had cleaned him and dressed him in fresh clothes, and now the Omega didn't smell like him. Didn't smell like home. Like family.

Izuku's jaw locked.

His Alpha roared inside him, impatient. He tried to ignore it, tried to suppress the impulse, but the need was suffocating.

Within seconds, Izuku grabbed one of his own shirts, rubbing it against his neck to saturate it with his scent before carefully removing Kacchan's borrowed clothes and replacing them with his own, taking care not to jostle him too much.

When he finished, he leaned back slightly, examining his work.

Much better.

A satisfied smile tugged at his lips as he saw how his Omega now smelled like him. Kacchan would feel more comfortable this way! And he was right. Even in sleep, Kacchan let out a weak purr, a deep, quiet sound rumbling from his throat.

Warmth spread through Izuku's chest, and his smile widened.

Then, a soft grumble caught his attention.

Kazuki.

The pup squirmed on the bed, tiny arms flailing, little fingers opening and closing. Izuku didn't hesitate.

With careful movements, he scooped Kazuki into his arms, bringing him close. The pup immediately quieted, making contented little noises as he buried his face against his papa's chest. Izuku held him firmly—still clumsy, but he'd get the hang of it soon.

Then, with one last glance at his Omega, he left the bedroom, stepping into the small living area.

The cabin was simple, smaller than most. Just a single space divided between living area and kitchen, with a bedroom to the side. His parents had insisted he move to a larger one, but he'd never wanted to.

What was the point of a big space if he didn't have his mate with him?

But now...

Izuku looked down at the pup in his arms—the small, warm, fragile little body that was half him, half Kacchan.

Now was different.

Izuku slept in the living room that night, unwilling to risk waking Kacchan. Their bed was small, and he wanted his Omega to be as comfortable as possible.

But Kazuki slept with him.

The Alpha's instincts were razor-sharp, guiding his movements without him even realizing. His body acted on its own, shaped by the primal need to protect and care. With obsessive attention, Izuku built a small, safe nest for Kazuki while still holding the pup, using the soft fur rug on the floor as a base. He piled wool blankets, arranging them in a way that wrapped the space in a warm, cozy embrace, ensuring the pup would be protected but not too close to the fireplace.

Kazuki settled in easily, letting out a quiet sigh as he instinctively nuzzled into the softness around him. His chubby little hands curled beside his fragile body, and his face relaxed.

Izuku lay beside him, slightly apart but still close enough for the pup to sense his presence. His body didn't fit in the nest, so he settled on the floor, using a folded pile of blankets as a makeshift pillow.

Without realizing it, he began to rumble, the low, comforting sound filling the quiet cabin.

He had never felt so at ease before.

Just as he was finally drifting off, a knock at the door startled him.

Izuku frowned, muscles automatically tensing as his Alpha instincts had him lifting his head, alert. His first thought was to protect Kazuki. But then, the visitor's scent reached him, and the tension eased.

It was Tenya.

The other alpha entered, holding a small bundle in his arms, his posture as rigid as ever.

“Ochako asked me to bring some things that might be useful.”

Izuku blinked, surprised when he saw what his friend was carrying. A few extra cloth diapers, more blankets, and even a bottle of milk that, judging by the scent, had been expressed by Uraraka.

The alpha opened his mouth to say something but closed it again.

It was... a lot. But he accepted it with a short nod, murmuring a thank-you before making sure everything was properly stored.

At that moment, he thought it was excessive. But he changed his mind when midnight arrived.

The first time Kazuki woke up, Izuku felt like the world was falling apart.

The crying came loud and sudden, echoing through the dark cabin. The pup squirmed in the nest, his tiny arms trembling in the air as his mouth contorted in desperate wails.

Panic hit hard.

Izuku sat up immediately, his hands trembling slightly as he picked up the pup, rocking him gently, having no idea what to do.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?”

But Kazuki kept crying, his small face turning redder and redder, and Izuku felt his chest tighten with despair.

It was only when the scent hit him that he understood.

Kazuki needed a diaper change.

The alpha let out a sigh, holding the pup firmly while grabbing one of the cloth diapers Uraraka had sent.

The change was... complicated.

He took longer than necessary, his large, clumsy hands struggling to clean the pup without causing discomfort. Kazuki whimpered the whole time, his tiny feet kicking in the air, displeased.

But Izuku managed. It was his second time doing it. And without help!

After much effort, Kazuki was finally clean and dressed again, his cries fading into small hiccups. The alpha held him more tenderly, rocking him against his chest until those cloudy blue eyes finally closed again.

But a few hours later, the pup stirred once more.

This time, Izuku noticed before the crying even started.

The little one was making soft sucking motions in the air, his tiny mouth opening and closing in search of something.

Hunger.

He grabbed the bottle of milk Tenya had brought and adjusted Kazuki in his arms, trying to find the best way to hold him. Carefully, he brought the bottle to the pup’s mouth, and Kazuki eagerly latched onto it without hesitation.

Izuku watched, fascinated, as Kazuki clung to the bottle, sucking greedily.

So small. So vulnerable.

So his.

Izuku smiled, pulling the blanket around the pup as he continued to feed him, feeling something warm and intense fill his chest.

He would be a great papa and mate. He could do this!

Chapter Text

(Direct continuation from Chapter 4 - Present)

The food was good. Damn good, actually. Katsuki didn’t want to admit it, but that old woman knew how to cook. The rich aroma of sukiyaki nabe still lingered in the air, warm and comforting, mingling with the faintly woody scent that permeated the small house.

The meat was tender enough to melt in his mouth, and the vegetables were cooked just right, soaking up the rich, slightly spicy broth. Fuck, it was perfect. Hot, bold, and seasoned exactly how he liked it.

Katsuki sat at the small wooden table, one of only two chairs in the cramped space Izuku called a kitchen. The alpha’s house was even smaller than he’d imagined, especially for someone his size. Compact, rustic, but strangely well-kept.

From the makeshift bedroom where he slept, Katsuki had a full view of the living room and kitchen. The living area was simple but cozy—a sturdy dark leather couch, slightly worn, was strategically placed near the fireplace, where logs burned softly, spreading a comforting warmth through the room. Thick fur rugs covered part of the wooden floor, insulating against the winter chill outside.

The kitchen, right next to it, was as tight as it was functional. The solid wood counter served as both a prep area and storage for some utensils. Cast-iron and clay pots hung neatly from hooks on the wall, while glass and ceramic jars held dried herbs, coarse salt, and spices Katsuki didn’t fully recognize—probably local blends made by the wolves to preserve and flavor their food.

He also noticed a small rustic shelf where strips of dried meat hung, likely smoked to last longer. A large wooden barrel in the corner seemed to hold water. Despite the limited space, everything was meticulously organized, proving the idiot alpha at least knew how to keep his place in order.

And Katsuki hated to admit it, but it soothed him.

On his lap, Kazuki slept soundly, a tiny warm bundle wrapped in soft blankets. The pup breathed lightly, his little chest rising and falling gently, his tiny fingers occasionally curling reflexively. His hands were so small they barely wrapped around one of Katsuki’s fingers.

The omega huffed internally. His pup was well taken care of. Too well. Damn it, he wanted to hate that stupid nerd, but at least Izuku wasn’t completely incompetent.

Speaking of him, the bastard was right there across the table with that dumb smile on his face. Katsuki didn’t need to look to know Izuku was staring. He could feel it. That heavy, intense, warm gaze.

"The hell you starin’ at? Still hungry or somethin’?" he growled, not even pausing his eating.

Izuku snapped out of his trance and immediately flushed, scratching the back of his neck like an idiot.

"Ah, sorry, Kacchan!" The alpha laughed awkwardly. "I was just… uh… Did you like the food?"

Damn it. Now Izuku was fishing for compliments? Katsuki clicked his tongue, irritated. If he gave in now, he’d never hear the end of it.

Katsuki twisted his mouth, averting his eyes to the nearly empty bowl in his hands. Fuck, of course he’d liked it. It was exactly the kind of food he loved—hot, flavorful, the kind that warmed him from the inside and made his chest feel less goddamn empty.

"It was edible," he muttered, stabbing a piece of meat with his chopsticks before shoving it into his mouth.

Izuku let out a small chuckle, and Katsuki clenched his teeth.

"'Edible' means it was good, right, Kacchan?"

The omega huffed, feeling his ears heat up. Damn it, he hated when the nerd did that. He got all happy just for doing something right for him, like a damn tail-wagging dog.

"Shut the hell up," he narrowed his eyes.

Izuku just laughed more, raising his hands in surrender. The bastard was enjoying this.

Before Katsuki could throw a chopstick at his forehead, Kazuki let out a tiny sigh, wiggling his little hands against the omega’s skin.

The pup was warm and peaceful, nestled against his chest, his tiny face smushed in sleep. His blond hair, still thin and soft, stuck up slightly as he shifted. His little eyebrows furrowed, and he let out a quiet murmur, nuzzling as if searching for something.

Katsuki instinctively ran a hand over the baby’s back, feeling just how ridiculously small Kazuki was. Even well-fed, he was still skinny, and his tiny arms barely wrapped around Katsuki’s thumb.

The kitchen was small but cozy, the warm scent of stew still hanging in the air. The wooden table was low, meant for two, and creaked slightly as he adjusted in his chair, holding Kazuki more securely in his lap. The pup, tiny and warm, let out a sleepy grumble, his little mouth opening slightly, instinctively searching.

Slowly, his tiny lips began sucking at the air, and he let out a soft whimper. Katsuki gave a quiet laugh. Kazuki was always so impatient.

Damn, he was still so small. His tiny hands, with their chubby, fragile fingers, waved in the air as if trying to grasp something. His little eyes, barely able to stay open, squinted slightly, and he let out another faint murmur, seeking his mother.

He adjusted in his chair, about to start feeding Kazuki, when the damn nerd opened his mouth and ruined everything.

"I think he’s looking for milk!"

Silence stretched for seconds.

Katsuki slowly lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Izuku. The idiot genuinely looked proud of his own deduction.
"No shit," he grunted.

Without another word, he lifted the loose shirt he was wearing, adjusting Kazuki more securely against him. The pup immediately found his mother’s chest, his tiny lips closing around the skin with a soft, wet sound.

And then, he began to nurse.

Hungry and eager, his little cheeks working hard, one of his tiny hands opening and closing as it pressed against his mother’s chest. The omega felt his muscles relax.

Izuku grinned like a complete idiot. The alpha’s pheromones flooded the room, thick with a strong scent of protectiveness and pride. Katsuki felt it wrap around him and let out a quiet huff.

Tch. Imbecile.

"Yes, Kacchan! I’ve learned how to take really good care of Kazuki!" Izuku started excitedly, leaning slightly over the table. "I already know when he’s crying because he’s hungry, when he needs a diaper change, when—"

Katsuki just raised an eyebrow, and Izuku froze instantly. His broad shoulders slumped, and the alpha let out a small noise—almost like a kicked puppy’s whimper.

Satisfied, Katsuki turned his attention back to the pup as Kazuki kept suckling eagerly, letting out tiny, contented murmurs.

A few moments later, Izuku cleared his throat, his emerald eyes dropping to the nearly empty bowl in front of Katsuki.

"Are you done eating, Kacchan?"

Katsuki raised a brow, suspicious.
"Yeah."

The alpha immediately nodded, satisfied, and picked up his own chopsticks. Then, without hesitation, he began eating like he was starving. Katsuki stared for a second, confused. That idiot… had he been waiting for him to eat first?

Like a mate would?

Like… a good alpha would?

Katsuki’s entire face burned in an instant, and he bit down hard on his tongue to keep his purr from slipping out—but he could feel his own pheromones turning unbearably sweet. Fucking instincts.

He quickly averted his gaze, focusing back on Kazuki.

The pup kept nursing with single-minded focus, his sleep-swollen eyes half-lidded, blinking slowly as he suckled. Every now and then, he’d pause for just a second, his tiny lips opening and closing in an adorable little pucker before resuming.

Katsuki smiled. Kazuki shifted slightly, stretching his miniature arms, his chubby little hands grasping at the air.

Then, suddenly, he yawned. A tiny yawn, his pink mouth opening slowly, his little eyes squeezing shut, and a soft sound of contentment escaping.

Fuck.

It was ridiculously cute.

Katsuki’s chest tightened. It was surreal how this tiny creature could unravel him with so little.

Kazuki stopped nursing for a moment, just resting his flushed cheek against his mother’s chest, his fine lashes fluttering as he let out a tiny sigh of satisfaction.

With a full belly, his body warm, surrounded by the scents of Katsuki and Izuku—the pup was completely at ease. Slowly, he drifted back to sleep.

Katsuki ran his fingers gently through his pup’s golden wisps of hair, marveling at how impossibly soft the fine strands were. Kazuki murmured sleepily in response, nuzzling like a drowsy kitten, settling more firmly against his mother in search of warmth.

The omega let out a long, deep sigh—exhausted, but not complaining. On the contrary, the sound that escaped his throat was a purr, soft and protective. He adjusted in the worn wooden chair ( uncomfortable as hell, by the way ) and carefully shifted Kazuki to his shoulder. His calloused hand rose slowly to the pup’s tiny back and began patting lightly in a steady rhythm.

Even half-asleep, the pup made a wet little smacking sound, sucking at nothing out of reflex, and squirmed slightly in his mother’s arms. He let out an adorable squeak when his cheek met the warm curve of Katsuki’s shoulder. His chubby little legs gave a tiny kick, his foot—covered in the onesie he was wearing—wiggling, so absurdly small it was hard to believe it was real.

Kazuki let out a minuscule burp, almost imperceptible, but it still made Katsuki hold his breath for a second. The pup scrunched his nose like he was confused, let out a raspy little whimper, and then—as if nothing had happened—completely relaxed. His little head dropped against the omega’s shoulder, his whole body going limp, heavy and peaceful.

Katsuki huffed, glancing up at the ceiling for a second before looking back down at the pup.

"Fuck, you're too perfect for this world, y'know?"

Kazuki responded with a long sigh, his lips slightly parted, his tiny tongue peeking out just a little from his wet little mouth. A bubble of drool formed at the corner, popping slowly as he sank even deeper into sleep.

Katsuki gently wiped Kazuki’s messy mouth—damp with spit and milk—with one of the soft cloths he’d gotten from that damn omega "friend" of Izuku’s. Why the hell would an alpha even have an omega friend anyway?

The kitchen fell silent, save for the sound of Izuku devouring the last of the stew with ravenous hunger—the idiot barely even chewed. Katsuki heard the scrape of the spoon and chopsticks against the bottom of the pot, the clink of metal against glazed clay, and rolled his eyes. That damn sukiyaki still smelled too good—spicy, salty, hot, just how he liked it, but it wouldn’t be enough for the alpha. His body demanded more. More fat, more protein, more something .

His omega pheromones must have shifted, betraying his thoughts before he could rein them in. Katsuki gritted his teeth, clenching his free fist against the wooden table, his knuckles whitening slightly. He hated this shit. Hated how the damn alpha’s instincts were too sharp when it came to him.

Izuku stopped eating, his big, attentive green eyes fixed on Katsuki’s face.

"Kacchan…?" His voice was low, concerned, almost hesitant. "You okay?"

Katsuki huffed immediately, looking away and pulling Kazuki a little tighter against him, as if the pup could shield him from this stupid conversation. If Izuku started with that kicked-puppy look, Katsuki was gonna smack him upside the head.

"I’m fucking great ," he snapped—too quickly. Damn it.

The alpha kept staring, leaning forward slightly, like he could smell the lie. Katsuki hated how he did that. Hated how Izuku always seemed ready to fuss over him.

The omega huffed again, this time shifting his attention to the pup, who now slept limp as a soaked piece of bread, his tiny arms splayed out, his chubby legs curled against his body. Katsuki rubbed slow circles on the baby’s back, feeling his steady breathing, before muttering:

"You got anything in here for me to make later? Or some shit like that?"

Izuku blinked a few times before breaking into a small smile—and a stupid one, because of course it was stupid.

"I can make something for you now, Kacchan!"

"I said later , dumbass!"

"But you’re hungry."

"Shut the hell up, Deku!"

The alpha smiled, and his scent softened, like he was genuinely happy about the concern hidden in Katsuki’s request. Son of a bitch, he noticed.

Katsuki sighed heavily, dragging a hand down his face, while Izuku was already standing up, way too excited at the idea of cooking something. Damn it. He was definitely making food now.

Katsuki pushed back from the chair with another rough sigh, kicking the leg of it with his foot, the wooden screech echoing in the small kitchen. He was done watching that idiot alpha try (and fail miserably) to keep himself from licking the damn bowl clean. The mix of protective need, hunger, and pride in Izuku’s scent was giving Katsuki a headache.

Izuku froze mid-motion, spoon still dangling between his fingers, mouth slightly open.

"Kacchan?" he asked cautiously, wearing that stupid expression like he expected to get punched just for breathing wrong.

Katsuki huffed, already striding toward him with determined steps. He held out his arms, offering the warm little bundle that was Kazuki.

"Take care of my pup while I make some damn food."

Kazuki was dead asleep, completely out, his tiny body limp and pliant in Katsuki’s arms. His head lolled to the side, his fine golden hair mussed, his little mouth slightly open with a thin trail of drool at the corner. His cheeks were round and pink, his small, upturned nose twitching slightly with each quiet breath. One of his tiny arms had escaped the blankets, his miniature fingers flexing reflexively in the air, like he was still nursing in his dreams.

Katsuki saw the moment Izuku’s pupils dilated, the green nearly swallowed by black as instinct took over. The alpha let out a low noise in his chest—a possessive rumble that definitely did not make Katsuki’s stomach flip. Fuck. He hated when Izuku sounded like that.

"Kazuki…" The name dragged out of the damn alpha’s throat like a prayer as he reached out like he was being handed a gift from the gods.

Katsuki rolled his eyes but handed the pup over anyway. Izuku took him effortlessly, with a natural ease that Katsuki hated to admit he had. One large hand cradled Kazuki’s back with care, while the other firmly supported his chubby little legs, like he was the most precious thing in the world. And to that idiot alpha, he probably was.

Good.

Izuku was completely absorbed, pressing his forehead gently against Kazuki’s tiny head, murmuring something unintelligible with a dopey smile on his lips.

Katsuki huffed and turned away, heading straight for the kitchen counter while trying to ignore the ridiculous scene behind him. Damn it. It was always like this. One second of vulnerability, and that moron alpha looked like he’d won the damn lottery.

He approached the rustic counter, pulling open the small built-in pantry beside it. The wolves knew how to survive the cold, and Izuku, apparently, was no exception. Inside, there was dried meat, some roots and vegetables stored in coarse sand to preserve freshness, and a jar of what looked like wild rice. There was also a small barrel—probably holding butter or some kind of animal fat. Nothing elaborate, but enough to throw together something quick and filling.

He grabbed a piece of salted meat, quickly slicing it into smaller pieces with the sharp knife hanging beside the shelf. He’d heat and shred the meat, mixing it with rice and whatever else he could find. Nothing complicated.

As he heated water in the cast-iron pot over the small wood-burning stove, Katsuki glanced over his shoulder without thinking—an almost instinctive reflex—and there was Izuku, completely lost in his own world, holding Kazuki with a tenderness that was almost shocking for someone so big and clumsy.

The alpha swayed gently, his strong arms cradling the pup like the most precious thing he’d ever held. He murmured something under his breath, his voice absurdly soft—almost a purr, except the idiot was an alpha, so it came out as a deep, rumbling sound instead. With every slight movement, Kazuki let out tiny, sleepy noises, his little mouth forming an adorable pucker before sighing and nuzzling deeper into Izuku’s chest. His tiny hands flexed slowly, fingers curling as if trying to grasp at something in the air.

Katsuki’s chest tightened in an irritating way.

He forced his attention back to the food, stirring the rice as it began to cook and tossing the meat into the hot pan, listening to the satisfying sizzle as it hit the surface. He scooped a bit of butter from the barrel and dropped it into the mix.

…Then looked back again.

This time, Kazuki yawned—a tiny, adorable sound—before rubbing his face against Izuku’s chest, trying to hide from the world. The alpha chuckled lowly, his massive hand sliding protectively over the pup’s fragile little back in an automatic gesture.

Katsuki gritted his teeth, shoving down any unwelcome thoughts.

He turned back to the fire, suppressing the uncomfortable warmth rising in his chest as he finished cooking. Damn it. He just wanted to make food, not be subjected to that damn scene.

Katsuki gripped the wooden spoon tightly, stirring the rice to keep it from burning. The smell of meat frying in butter filled the small kitchen, mixing with the smoky scent of the wood stove. At least that kept him occupied.

But his attention kept drifting.

He glanced back.

Izuku still held Kazuki with that same stupid expression—utter fascination. The alpha kept one large hand spread over the pup’s tiny back, his thumbs gently stroking each delicate vertebra as he continued his low, soothing rumble. Katsuki tried to ignore how the alpha’s pheromones messed with his core.

Kazuki, meanwhile, sighed, his little mouth slightly open, completely surrendered to the warmth of Izuku’s chest. He shifted slightly, tiny hands flexing in the air until they found the fabric of Izuku’s shirt and clutched tight, as if he never wanted to let go.

Katsuki’s eye twitched.

"Damn it, quit drooling over my pup, nerd," he muttered before he could stop himself, turning back to the stove with a scowl.

Izuku blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and slowly looked up.

"Huh? What’d you say, Kacchan?"

Katsuki huffed, trying to ignore the irritating tightness in his chest. The pan hissed loudly as he mixed the meat into the rice, tossing in a handful of dried herbs for extra flavor.

"Nothing. Just shut up and enjoy the fact that he’s asleep."

Izuku opened his mouth to reply but seemed to catch himself. His gaze softened, and for a second, Katsuki felt the weight of that stare. The idiot was probably picking up on his pheromones again.

"Kacchan…" Izuku murmured, his tone gentler than Katsuki expected.

"The hell do you want, shitty alpha?" Katsuki grunted, refusing to turn and face him.

The alpha hesitated but smiled slightly.

"Thanks for taking care of me."

Katsuki froze.

Heat rushed from his neck to the tips of his ears, and he clenched the spoon handle tighter.

"Shut the fuck up."

Katsuki gave the pot one final, aggressive stir, the fire still crackling softly beneath it. The stew had thickened into a rich, hearty broth, the vegetables and chunks of meat swimming in a deep golden liquid. It smelled damn good, and even if he’d never admit it, Katsuki was proud.

With a grunt, he grabbed a nearby towel to hold the hot clay pot and carried it to the solid wooden table in the center of the kitchen. The heavy pot landed with a dull thud, and he shot a quick glance at Izuku.

"Give me Kazuki."

Izuku grinned like an idiot, as if he’d been waiting for this exact moment. Carefully, the alpha cradled the tiny pup and handed him over. Katsuki took him automatically, adjusting him against his chest with the practiced ease of someone who’d done this a thousand times.

Kazuki let out a soft noise—a contented little grumble—and nuzzled into his mother’s chest, his mouth moving sleepily in search of warmth. Before Katsuki could say anything else, Izuku was already grabbing a bowl.

"I’ll serve myself, then!" he said with a wide smile.

The alpha took the same bowl they’d used earlier, filling it without hesitation—almost to the brim. He took a bite, and his green eyes lit up instantly.

"Kacchan, this is so good!"

Katsuki’s face burned violently. If he had a tail right now, it would’ve thumped against the table like some stupid omega’s. Tch.

Izuku kept grinning, his pheromones radiating gratitude, admiration, and blatant possessiveness.

"Thanks, Kacchan! You cook so well—this is amazing!"

The omega stiffened, fighting back a traitorous purr, and just growled, looking away and pulling Kazuki closer as if that would stop the heat in his chest from spreading.

"Tch. Shut up and eat already, damn it."

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and marched straight to the bedroom, his face on fire.

Idiot. Stupid fucking alpha.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

The day dragged on slowly, as if time itself were trapped in that forgotten corner of the forest. From the cramped, stiflingly warm bedroom—heated by the fireplace blazing in the main room—Katsuki could only hear the endless back-and-forth of voices and footsteps at the cabin’s entrance. It seemed like the entire damn pack had decided to show up today of all days.

He was sprawled on the thin futon, his back against the wooden wall, Kazuki nestled heavily against his chest, deep in sleep. The pup breathed softly, his tiny nose pressed into the omega’s skin, his round cheeks faintly flushed. Occasionally, his little hands twitched, opening and closing slowly, his delicate fingers clutching at Katsuki’s shirt without even waking.

Katsuki absently traced circles on the pup’s back with his fingertips, his whole body relaxed despite the ever-present irritation simmering in his chest.

From the main room, he could hear everything. Every insistent knock at the door, every eager voice asking for updates or offering "help." And, much to his own infuriating delight, he also heard every single time that idiot Izuku turned them away. Sometimes, he didn’t even let them get two words in. Katsuki could’ve sworn the alpha growled under his breath whenever someone new showed up, as if he refused to share the scent of this house with anyone else.

Protection. Possessiveness. Pheromones thick as honey.

The omega huffed, turning his face to bury his nose in Kazuki’s soft hair, inhaling the pup’s sweet, warm scent. Damn stupid alpha… He was doing exactly what he was supposed to. Katsuki hated how much it soothed him.

It wasn’t until much later, when the cabin had been silent for long minutes, that another knock came—different. Firmer. Not eager or curious, but heavy, weighted with something Katsuki couldn’t name.

He heard Izuku open the door, but this time, there was no growl.

"Son."

The voice was deep, thunderous, like muted rolling thunder. There was warmth in it, but also a strength that reverberated through the cabin’s very foundation. Katsuki felt his skin prickle.

His instincts screamed who this was. The most powerful alpha. The pack leader.

And he was Izuku’s FATHER ?!

Kazuki stirred in his arms, letting out a tiny noise, his lips forming a sleepy pout as one chubby little hand dragged across Katsuki’s chest, seeking more comfort. The omega held him tighter, his gaze locked on the closed bedroom door, listening as the tension in the main room thickened.

"May I come in?" the voice continued, calm but heavy as stone.

In that same moment, Katsuki heard Izuku’s step falter, the floor creaking under the alpha’s weight. His pheromones spiked—agitated, nervous, like a storm had taken hold of the air.

The cabin plunged into thick silence, broken only by the soft creak of the door closing and the muffled sound of heavy footsteps in the main room. Katsuki remained frozen on the futon, every muscle in his body tense, his eyes fixed on the thin wall separating the bedroom from the rest of the cabin. The scent flooding the air was impossible to ignore—pheromones laden with authority and dominance, ancient and unshakable, the kind of presence that made an entire pack bow without hesitation.

Shit.

The old wolf wasn’t just powerful. He was power.

And why the hell had that damn alpha never casually mentioned he was the pack leader’s son?!

Kazuki squirmed in Katsuki’s lap, letting out a drowsy murmur before sighing softly, his tiny lips forming a gentle pout as his little hands fisted in Katsuki’s shirt. The omega instinctively rubbed his back, trying to ignore the irritating tightness in his chest.

In the main room, Izuku stood as still as a damn post, his pheromones a tangled mess of respect, nerves, and anxiety.

Then, the older alpha broke the silence:

"How are you?"

His voice rumbled through the cabin like restrained thunder—strong, but without hostility. Katsuki held his breath, waiting for Izuku’s reply.

"I… I’m good, Dad," Izuku answered, his voice tighter than usual. It was strange. This was the same powerful alpha who fought giant wolves and protected everything with his own claws, but now, facing his father, he seemed… smaller .

Katsuki huffed under his breath. Tch. Weak.

The older alpha didn’t respond immediately. His footsteps moved slower, as if he were taking in the cabin, absorbing the scents lingering in the air. When he spoke again, his voice carried a quiet affection, impossible to miss:

"And how is your omega?"

Katsuki’s face burned instantly.

THE FUCK?!

He clutched Kazuki tighter, heat rushing from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. He huffed quietly, looking away, his heart pounding with irritation. Damn it! Of course the old alpha meant him , but hearing it so directly, so casually, so naturally , made him want to bury his face in the futon and disappear.

In the main room, Izuku let out a nervous chuckle before answering:

"He’s… good. He’s resting with Kazuki right now."

Katsuki gritted his teeth, his claws digging into the soft fabric of the futon. "You bastard, don’t answer for me!" But at the same time, the warmth in his chest refused to fade.

And he hated it.

Katsuki heard the sound of footsteps drawing closer, followed by a long, satisfied hmm from the older alpha. He was smiling.

Tch. Smiling like some smug old wolf who thought he was brimming with wisdom and power.

"Ah, yes. Kazuki." The alpha's voice carried a note of admiration and tenderness. "And how is my grandson?"

Katsuki's jaw locked.

Why the hell was this bastard talking like he was already part of the pup’s life?!

Kazuki shifted again, letting out a soft, lazy sound before nuzzling deeper into the omega’s chest, his little mouth slightly open as he exhaled warm, steady breaths. The pup was buried in Katsuki’s oversized shirt, one tiny fist clutching the fabric. His sweet, pure scent filled the air—a gentle mix of milk and safety.

Katsuki felt an idiotic tightness in his chest. Damn it. He was too small. Too fragile. And now some old wolf he’d never even met before had the audacity to call him "my grandson" ?

Outside, Izuku chuckled quietly—a muffled sound, dripping with that same stupid, proud affection Katsuki knew all too well.

"He’s great. Strong and healthy," Izuku answered proudly. "He fell asleep after nursing and is curled up with Kacchan now."

Katsuki turned his face away reflexively, feeling the heat in his cheeks intensify.

Stupid alpha! Imbecile! Useless!

The older alpha let out a low laugh, and even without seeing him, Katsuki could feel his gaze turning in his direction.

"Oh? So he already feels safe enough to sleep soundly. That’s good."

Tch. Of course Kazuki was safe! He had a perfect , goddamn strong omega as his mother. But still, the way the old alpha said it—like he was analyzing every detail—irritated Katsuki more than it should have.

He clenched his teeth and huffed, pulling Kazuki closer in an involuntary protective reflex.

It didn’t matter who he was. It didn’t matter how powerful he was.

No one was taking his pup from his arms.

The old wooden couch creaked as the older alpha sat down. The energy in the room shifted abruptly. The affectionate, casual tone of the old wolf vanished, replaced by something heavier. More serious.

"Izuku." He began. "You know the rituals. You know the traditions."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Katsuki felt Izuku’s pheromones spike—tense, agitated, like he already knew exactly where this conversation was headed.

"As an alpha and future leader," the older alpha continued, his voice deep and unshakable, "it is your duty to claim your omega."

Katsuki’s heart stopped. For a moment, his breath lodged in his throat.

No. No. No.

He was not starting this shit now.

"Dad—" Izuku’s voice was strained, a warning in his tone, but the older man didn’t stop.

"You must present your omega and your pup to the pack." He went on, impassive. "And perform the blessing ritual."

Izuku let out a low growl.

It was deep, almost instinctive, but Katsuki could tell it wasn’t directed at his father.

It was a growl of tension.

Katsuki felt his own body temperature spike with anger, his muscles locking as he held Kazuki tighter.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

This conversation wasn’t happening. Izuku wasn’t thinking about this shit. And, above all, he was not his goddamn omega!

The silence that settled over the cabin was stifling. Katsuki could feel the tension in the air like a weight on his shoulders, squeezing his lungs, making every heartbeat sound too loud.

In the main room, Izuku took a deep breath.

"Dad…" His voice came again, heavier this time. "I need time."

The pack leader didn’t respond immediately.

Katsuki felt a chill down his spine because he didn’t need to see the older alpha to know that silence meant disapproval.

"Time?" The older alpha’s deep voice finally cut through, weighted.

Izuku inhaled sharply again.

"Yes. We… We need time."

The old man sighed, but it wasn’t frustration or impatience. It was a heavy, concerned sigh.

"Son." His voice lowered but lost none of its firmness. "You know this can’t wait any longer."

Silence fell once more.

Katsuki gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening. He could feel his own pheromones fluctuating, his irritation rising.

This damn conversation had already gone too far.

"Your omega needs you, Izuku." The older alpha continued, his voice grave, laced with something almost reproachful. "It was a miracle the pregnancy went smoothly, that he survived all these months without your mark, without the necessary bond."

Katsuki held his breath, his throat locking up.

Damn it. The worst part was that the old bastard was right.

"And now the pup is here." The older alpha pressed on. "Do you think they can continue like this? Without the security of your bond? Without the protection of your mark?"

A muscle twitched in Katsuki’s jaw. He hated this. Hated the way the old wolf spoke as if he were fragile. As if he needed this shit.

The older alpha let out a low sound.

"I don’t know how they’ve lasted this long. Son… Omegas with pups and no bond usually die within months. The pups too. You know this."

The silence that followed was thick, heavy, like the snow piling on the branches outside.

Katsuki’s chest tightened.

It wasn’t like he didn’t know. He hated to admit it, but the damn old alpha was right. Katsuki’s body had already started showing signs of the missing bond. He felt weak, and deep down, he knew that was why he’d collapsed days ago. The scent mark alone wouldn’t be enough for much longer.

Two weeks had already passed.

And the worst part? Katsuki knew. Knew his body was craving that damn bond. That his entire system ached for the connection, that Izuku’s scent alone wasn’t cutting it anymore.

He hated it.

Hated feeling vulnerable.

And he hated even more how desperate Izuku sounded.

"I tried !" The alpha’s voice was rough, choked with frustration. "I ran through the entire damn territory, I searched, I—"

Izuku cut himself off abruptly.

Katsuki frowned.

Silence.

Heavy silence.

And then—a low, strangled sound, pure restrained desperation.

Fuck.

Kazuki squirmed in his arms, disturbed by the tension in the air. His tiny body shifted, his little mouth forming a whimper, his eyes still closed.

"Shh, it’s okay…" Katsuki murmured, trying to soothe him, pressing a warm kiss to his soft cheek.

He hated this. Hated the wrongness of Izuku’s pheromones, the weight of guilt and frustration. Hated how his chest clenched at the broken, desperate edge in the alpha’s voice.

"I tried …"

His voice cracked again.

Shit.

Katsuki took a sharp breath, his jaw locked. The older alpha sighed.

"You did try, son. I know."

His tone was softer now. Izuku didn’t respond.

"But now you have your omega and your pup here. You need to take care of them properly ."

Katsuki pulled Kazuki tighter against his chest, feeling the pup’s warm little head nestled against his shoulder.

He wanted to explode at the old wolf. Wanted to storm into that room and punch Izuku for sounding so… so lost. But instead, he just curled over Kazuki, tucking him closer, breathing in his soft scent.

The heavy sound of someone standing echoed through the cabin, followed by the faint creak of wood under the older alpha’s weight. Katsuki closed his eyes for a second, his chest tightening again. Damn it.

A firm pat landed on Izuku’s shoulder. The gesture was weighted, carrying something Katsuki couldn’t name.

"I trust you, son."

The silence in the cabin was suffocating. Izuku’s pheromones were still chaos, boiling in the air, a whirlwind of emotions stuck in his throat—and it left Katsuki even more agitated, like he’d lost his footing.

Katsuki hated feeling this.

Hated the scent of guilt, frustration, uncertainty radiating from Izuku now. Hated what it did to him. The older alpha took a deep breath before speaking again.

"I know you’ll make the right choice."

The right choice.

What the hell did that even mean?

Katsuki’s teeth ground together.

The older alpha’s footsteps began to retreat, each one reverberating through the wooden floor. Then, the sound of the door opening. The cold night wind swept inside, carrying the icy scent of the forest with it.

But before leaving, the old wolf turned one last time.

"The next full moon is approaching." His voice was quieter but no less heavy. "I’ll be expecting you and your omega for the ceremony."

Katsuki’s entire body locked up.

His blood ran hot, his stomach twisting in contradiction.

The silence in the cabin grew even heavier.

Izuku stayed quiet, his breathing short and uneven. He didn’t speak. Couldn’t speak. The older alpha lingered for another second. And then, Katsuki heard his final sigh before the farewell.

"Your mother and I are very proud of you."

And with that, he was gone. The door closed behind him with a dull thud.

The silence left in his wake was overwhelming.

Chapter Text

Kazuki slept soundly, curled up against Katsuki's chest, tiny arms folded, his little mouth slightly open, letting out calm little sighs. From time to time, the pup gave a small involuntary twitch, his tiny fingers curling into a fist and then relaxing again as if grasping something invisible in the air.

He was warm, so warm and small, so absurdly fragile that Katsuki felt torn between the urge to protect him with his life and the pure fury that rose whenever he looked at him for too long.

Because he was perfect.

And yet… he was too small.

Too light.

And it was all his fucking fault.

The next day came as if the world had hit a reset button. As if nothing had happened. Izuku, that stupid bastard, was walking around the cabin with the most innocent look on his face, playing with Kazuki like the previous night had never even existed.

No word about the father. About the bond. About the mark. About the ceremony. About the fact he was the fucking son of the pack leader.

Nothing.

And Katsuki… didn’t say a fucking thing either.

Because he was tired. And that was the worst part. Not the kind of tired that sleep could fix. It was physical exhaustion, mental drain, and worse — instinctive.

His body hurt.

It felt heavier every morning. His muscles ached, his chest felt compressed, and his head was hazy like something was always missing. And he knew exactly what it was.

The bond.

The connection.

The fucking mark.

hy won’t he mark us?

Why doesn’t he want us?

Why doesn’t he love us?

Why, the fuck, doesn’t he care?

The voice of his omega wolf was constant, sharp, and hungry. A suffocating presence that whispered in his mind during every silent moment. And he tried to silence it. Tried to be strong. But the omega body was made to be marked. Not just out of desire or love, but out of pure fucked-up biology.

The bond between an omega and an alpha fed the body, strengthened the system, stabilized emotions, and kept hormonal balance. It was a matter of survival. And he was there, fucked up, surviving without what he needed. Trying to care for a pup when he didn’t even have strength for himself.

Katsuki looked at Kazuki again, who now was making adorable little sounds with his lips, like he was suckling the air. His eyes were still closed, but his eyebrows furrowed, and then the pup let out a soft “nhhh” and squirmed, searching for more warmth.

 The omega pulled him closer against his chest, kissing the soft forehead with a tenderness he didn’t even know he had in him. Kazuki snuggled closer, letting out a faint purring sound, and it tore Katsuki in half.

He felt the guilt pressing down on his shoulders like a chain bound to the bone.

Because Kazuki was so small.

Because he wasn’t growing like he should.

Because it was him — Katsuki — who was supposed to ensure that.

And he wasn’t managing to.

The milk came in weaker, and sometimes Kazuki had to feed more often just to feel full. The pup’s sleep was restless. He tired quickly when awake. It wasn’t obvious, but it was noticeable. And the guilt crushed Katsuki with every little detail.

He didn’t want to rely on anyone.

But the truth was this: he was failing his pup. Because he was alone. Because his body was weak. Because he needed the fucking bond with the damn alpha who was sleeping in the next room and doing nothing.

And Kazuki…

Kazuki was so sweet, so precious.

Katsuki looked at his son again, eyes stinging, and saw the pup slowly open his tiny mouth and let out a small yawn, his little arms stretching lazily to the sides. His eyes didn’t open, but he let out a dragging murmur, something between a whine and a hiss, before snuggling back against the omega’s chest.

A pup who deserved everything. And who received so little.

Katsuki swallowed hard, clenching his jaw until it hurt.

He wasn’t going to cry.

Not for Kazuki.

Not for the damn alpha.

Not for himself.

But inside, something was breaking.

And he knew that if Izuku didn’t do something soon…

Whatever was left of him would disappear too.

Katsuki was pulled from his haze by soft knocks on the wooden door. His whole body flinched with irritation — as if the sound alone was enough to stir up the fire already burning beneath his skin.

"Kacchan? Are you ready?" the muffled, low, and anxious voice came from the other side, and Katsuki growled quietly just hearing that tone.

Fucking anxious bastard.

Katsuki took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second. He needed this. He needed that damn bath like he needed air. A real bath. Not the warm cloths with the stupid plant smell he had been wiping over his body for weeks. He wanted to sink into hot water, wanted to let the heat ease his tense muscles and the chronic fatigue that consumed his entire body.

The pack had a communal space with natural hot springs, further north, where the mountain curved and constantly released steam. The stones heated by the earth's own heart created crystal-clear and silent pools, surrounded by tall trees and snow. It was the kind of place where a body could forget that pain existed. And damn, he wanted that. He deserved that.

But Izuku, of course, got all nervous about the idea. Didn't want him to leave the den—as that bastard affectionately called the cabin where they lived. The alpha was bothered by the idea of other wolves seeing Katsuki and Kazuki, of smelling their scent. The damn possessiveness oozed from the bastard's pores as if it were part of his own sweat.

But he was going, damn it. And any idiot who tried to stop him.

Katsuki was almost ready. He wore a thick dark gray wool sweater that fit snugly to his body, and loose pants of durable fabric that allowed for easy movement. Over that, a long heavy moss-green wool tunic, tied with a leather belt. A thick orange scarf covered his neck and part of his face, and he wore leather boots that had clearly been reinforced by Izuku.

As for Kazuki...

Katsuki looked at the pup with a mix of exhaustion and raw love. The little one was completely buried in layers of fluffy blankets, wrapped up like a rice ball. It was hard to even tell there was a pup in there—just a bundle of beige, orange, and a bit of pastel green fabrics, with a tiny bit of fair skin and absurdly chubby and rosy cheeks peeking out occasionally when he moved.

Kazuki let out a long, happy sigh, stretching a tiny hand with open fingers, but soon clenched his fists and murmured softly. He looked like a dream, so cute.

Katsuki checked every fold of the blanket, every part of the pup's body. The wind outside was cold, and the chill was a constant threat to omegas and pups. Alphas could manage, endure. But with Kazuki, there was no room for error. The pup was all he had—and so, no matter how tired he was, Katsuki checked everything again.

When he finally opened the door, he found Izuku standing there, with that damn sparkle in his green eyes and a wicker basket in his hands.

"I got this to put Kazuki in while we're in the water," he said, with that shitty smile on his face.

Katsuki bared his teeth.

"And who said you're coming in with me, you damn alpha?"

The way Izuku immediately deflated was almost pitiful. He even made that pathetic kicked-wolf sound—a muffled "uhn," with his shoulders slumping.

"Kacchan... what if you need help cleaning yourself? And... I can give you a massage!" the voice came hopeful, with an irritating touch of whining.

Katsuki narrowed his eyes.

Damn.

That was tempting.

Damn alpha bastard with hands that were good as hell. And big. Warm.

SON OF A BITCH.

Grumbling, he approached, his steps hard on the wood. He looked at the basket. It was lined with blankets and covers, and the bastard had put everything they would need to care for Kazuki inside, like extra diapers, herbal ointment for rashes, wipes, and even an extra onesie.

The warmth of the furs and the care with which everything was organized made Katsuki bite his lip in anger. He hated when Izuku was thoughtful. It was harder to hate him that way.

"Go fuck yourself," he grumbled, carefully placing Kazuki in the basket.

The pup made a confused noise, his eyes opening just enough to show two cloudy bluish balls, which were turning a shade of green with each passing day. Damn alpha. He blinked, moving his little mouth as if he wanted to suckle the air again. A tiny hand escaped the blanket, and Izuku immediately covered it with another fold of the cloth, his large fingers gently caressing.

"Hey, little Kazuki," he whispered. "We're going to bathe with papa and the strongest omega in the world, right?"

Katsuki snorted loudly and pushed Izuku's chest hard.

"Shut up and move, damn it."

But his heart, that damn traitor, beat faster. And his wolf, bastard, purred softly deep in his soul. Izuku followed him, holding the basket and grinning from ear to ear.

As soon as they left the cabin, the cold hit Katsuki's face like a damn icy slap. He narrowed his eyes and pulled the scarf tighter against his skin, cursing mentally. Shit, spending so much time locked in that warm and stuffy den had made him soft to the cold.

Before, winter passed over him like a shadow; now, he felt every damn flake hitting his skin like cold needles. The snowstorm had given a respite, but the skies were still lazily vomiting small snowflakes, dancing in the air as if in no hurry to reach the ground. The wind howled softly among the trees and the cabin roofs, whistling like a sleepy wolf.

The snow under his boots was thick, soft, and treacherous, sinking under his weight with each step, and for a second, Katsuki was grateful—though mentally cursing—the idiot Izuku for reinforcing the boots with hunting fur. At least his toes weren't freezing.

Izuku, that helpful bastard, stopped at the entrance of the cabin and covered the basket where Kazuki was with an extra blanket. The thick cotton fabric settled over the top curve of the wicker basket like a protective shadow, creating a sort of “roof” that covered the opening where you could see the pup. Katsuki raised an eyebrow as he noticed Izuku’s dense pheromones scenting the air — possessive, protective, like a silent warning: Don’t look.

He huffed loudly. The son of a bitch had done exactly what he himself wanted to do, but he was too proud to admit it out loud.

With everything ready, they began the walk. The hot springs weren’t exactly close, and the snow-covered terrain made everything a fucking hassle. On top of that, Katsuki was bundled up in heavy clothes, which made his movements stiff and ridiculous. He also wasn’t used to walking so long in human form, especially without shifting into his wolf when going out alone.

His body felt strange, unbalanced. Every step echoed in his bones like a reminder of accumulated exhaustion. His muscles complained, and the weariness clung to his skin like frozen sweat. Shit, even his hair strands felt too heavy that day.

Izuku tried to approach, like the clingy idiot he was, placing one of his large hands on Katsuki’s slender shoulder — a protective gesture, stupid, possessive, irritating. Katsuki growled low, pulling away with a sharp movement, nearly slipping on the fucking snow.

"I can take care of myself, dammit!" he hissed firmly, even though he had wobbled a bit. The alpha flinched, but didn’t argue.

"Okay, Kacchan! I just wanted to help!" he replied, his voice gentle, always trying to soothe, as if talking to a wild animal.

"Keep your hands to yourself, you fucking alpha. Take care of Kazuki," he spat the words, huffing as he took the lead, his steps firm despite the snow making everything harder.

And Izuku... just nodded and followed silently, like a damn obedient puppy. Katsuki held back the smile tugging at his chapped lips. Deep down — way deep down — he liked seeing the alpha act like a submissive lackey.

As they advanced, Izuku’s pack village began to reveal itself in full. Katsuki hadn’t expected that. It was big. Fuck, way bigger than he thought. The cabins stretched in all directions, in different sizes and shapes. Some were robust, made of thick logs and reinforced with leather and furs at the entrances.

Others, smaller, had curved roofs covered in snow, with colorful curtains at the doors and smoke rising from chimneys. There were decorations everywhere: carvings on doors, strings of beads hanging from windows, protective amulets of feathers and bones swaying in the wind. It was a living village, breathing amidst the snow.

The paths were bustling, even under the biting cold. Wolves in human form walked briskly, carrying pelts, heavy sacks of game, clay pots with dried fruits, and buckets full of fresh fish. Some passed by in lupine form, thick coats covering their backs as they dragged sleds or escorted groups. The sound of footsteps sinking into the snow, the clinking of metal, the distant laughter… all mixed with the smoke from firewood and the smell of roasting meat. The day went on as if the snow were just another part of the routine, as if the cold meant nothing.

Most of those moving around were alphas and betas, the ones most resistant to the climate and heavy labor. But omegas also walked — covered from head to toe, shielding their fragile bodies from the cold. Some carried pups wrapped in blankets in their arms, others guided small pups who ran between adults’ legs, laughing and slipping on the snow.

It should be nice to live there. To raise pups there, have a family.

Kazuki stirred in the basket, drawing his attention. The pup grumbled softly, making a sound like “uhnn” that sounded more like an angry kitten’s meow. The blanket shifted a little, and one chubby little hand slipped out from under the covers. Katsuki could see the tiny fingers squeezing the air, as if searching for warmth. The pup’s cheeks were rosy, his eyes half-closed, and he let out a sigh far too strong for such a small body.

"Shit, little guy," Katsuki murmured almost without realizing. The pup squirmed, still half asleep, and grumbled again. Fuck, it was irritating how he could be so cute. Just seeing that scrunched-up little face made something inside Katsuki melt.

He pulled his tunic forward, blocking the wind, and quickened his pace. If they didn’t reach the hot springs soon, he was going to lose it. Not for his sake — but for Kazuki. The fucking world could freeze around them, but the pup wasn’t going to feel a second of discomfort. Not while Katsuki was alive.

Izuku looked like a damn bodyguard on his right, each of his steps carrying a protective weight that filled the air around them with tension. The bastard was growling low, almost inaudible, but the sound was constant and the dense pheromones he released only made it worse.

The scent was heavy, possessive, suffocating. A hot mix of scorched pine and mint so strong it felt like pepper, making it clear: don’t get close. Instinctively, the wolves gave way along the path. Even the most arrogant alphas lowered their heads when passing by Izuku, not only because of the dominant scent, but because that son of a bitch was the leader’s son. And everyone respected — or feared — the blood of the current leader.

Katsuki, of course, was about to explode from embarrassment. His cheeks burned under the scarf, and it wasn’t because of the cold. Shit, that green-eyed idiot acted like he was his damn owner, growling and marking the path like a jealous giant dog.

And the worst part? He did it without even realizing. Damn strong alpha, protective, tall, full of muscles and intense smells — Katsuki wanted to punch him in the face. Or maybe grab the collar of his tunic and kiss him until that possessive protector expression disappeared. He hated it. He loved it. He wanted it to stop. He wanted it to get even stronger.

FUCK!

But the tense silence between them, cut only by the lively sounds of the village — loud voices, hurried footsteps in the snow, distant laughter, and the crackling of fires inside the cabins — was broken by an even bigger idiot.

A tall alpha was approaching with long, firm strides, ignoring the thick tension surrounding Izuku. He had spiky red hair and a smile so wide it looked like his brain had spilled out through his mouth. Katsuki knew instantly: this was the dumbest damn alpha in the whole village.

"Midoriya! Damn, you finally came out..." he started, too loud, too cheerful. But as he got within a few meters, the thick scent in the air hit him like a punch, and his eyes widened.

Izuku was already half-turned to the side, slightly hunched over the basket where Kazuki was, his entire body vibrating with a deep growl that was now stronger, sharper. The air around him seemed to hiss. His scent became so thick that Katsuki could almost taste it — like burnt wood and raw rage.

The red-haired alpha raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, as if that would save his ass.

"H-hey man, I just wanted to check on you!" he chuckled nervously, taking a hesitant step back.

Izuku bared his teeth — long, white fangs gleaming like blades. Katsuki had to resist the urge to grab his arm. If he didn’t, that idiot was going to lunge at the redhead like a wild wolf.

But before the growl turned into an attack, another alpha appeared, tall, with a stiff posture and glasses on his face. He grabbed the dumb alpha by the collar and yanked him back forcefully.

"Kirishima, you should show more respect to Midoriya," he said, firm and annoyingly composed. "He is not only the future leader of the pack. He's with his omega and a small pup. You know how alphas get when they're with their families. And you know the rules."

Kirishima let out a whine, even as he tried to keep that dumb grin on his face.

"Ah man! Sorry, I was just so excited—"

"No more," the alpha with glasses cut him off, adjusting the accessory on his face with such a meticulous gesture it irritated Katsuki deeply. "Step back and respect his space."

The redhead immediately retreated, bowing in apology. Katsuki narrowed his eyes, still growling softly. At least someone here had a clue. The alpha with glasses — who could only be some damn village official — turned to Izuku, still standing as stiff as a pole stuck in the snow.

"Midoriya," he began, with that buttoned-up voice of someone who thinks everyone should walk in straight lines, "you must return to your responsibilities as soon as possible. There are pending tasks requiring your direct supervision. The council wants a decision on the resupply of the northern wing and the distribution of pelts for the new cabins. You are late with your duties."

Katsuki frowned, confused. What the hell was this? Tasks? Council? Izuku looked more like a soft-eyed idiot than someone who could handle that.

But the alpha beside him just nodded with a sigh, still visibly irritated.

"I'll discuss it later," he said, polite but firm. "I’m with my family right now."

Katsuki blushed.

Tenya hesitated for a second but eventually nodded, adjusting his glasses again before disappearing into the crowd.

Izuku let out a long sigh, the tension in his shoulders easing only slightly. Without saying a word, he adjusted the basket where Kazuki slept and resumed walking beside Katsuki, silent, as if nothing had happened.

Katsuki kept walking along the damn snow trail, each step sinking his reinforced boots almost to the ankle, making a muffled crunch crunch sound he was already sick of hearing. The cold breeze kept hitting his face, now harder as they climbed the irregular trails leading up the mountain.

The damn mountain. His breathing was heavy, not from fatigue, but frustration. The silence between him and Izuku was still thick, dense, and Katsuki didn’t dare break it with words. He didn’t trust his voice in that moment — he felt it would come out weak, trembling, and he hated seeming fragile. Hated it. Especially in front of that green-eyed idiot. So he clenched his fists inside the thick sleeves of his tunic and kept going, grinding his teeth, feeling the stifling warmth of his body under so many layers of clothes contrast with the cutting winter air clinging to his exposed skin.

Kazuki stirred inside the basket, letting out a tiny, adorable sound, like he was complaining about the gentle swaying of the path. Katsuki immediately looked down, heart tightening. The little pup was completely bundled up in soft cotton and braided wool, his round cheeks now flushed from the temperature contrast.

One tiny hand, covered by mittens, peeked out from under the blanket, the chubby fingers slowly curling as if trying to grab the air. His delicate lashes trembled as the pup yawned wide, letting out a muffled sigh. Katsuki pressed his lips together, chest tightening. Fuck. How was it possible that this little thing was so... his? So precious? The omega looked away before Izuku could notice the warmth in his eyes and start asking stupid questions. Damn alpha.

The terrain began to change. The cabins gave way to trees growing taller, their bare branches bending under the weight of the snow, like arms stretched in reverence to the place ahead. The path narrowed, more defined, with small stones marking its edges. And then, suddenly, the space opened — and Katsuki stopped.

And he was completely, absolutely, fucking stunned.

This wasn’t some makeshift bath spot in the middle of the forest. It was a proper elite hot spring temple tucked into the heart of the mountain. A massive onsen, built with such imposing beauty it made his stomach twist.

The main building stretched between the wintry vegetation like a living relic of traditional Japanese architecture. Curved rooftops covered in snow, tall stone lanterns lining the path, lit with fire — an amber glow flickering and casting dancing shadows across the white ground.

A meticulously cared-for garden stretched all around, with small shrubs resistant to the cold, sculpted pines, moss-covered stones, and bamboo bending gracefully even under the harshness of winter. Small stone paths led to other, smaller buildings, connected by varnished wooden corridors, raised to avoid touching the snow.

Steam rose from behind the main building—a clear sign that hot waters flowed there. Katsuki could hear, in the background, the distant and rhythmic sound of running water, mixed with the crackling of flames in the lanterns and the soft rustling of plants in the mountain wind.

He squinted, trying to process. Izuku had brought him to a damn hot spring paradise.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me..." he muttered, but the tone came out more surprised than annoyed.

Izuku gave a satisfied little smile—that damn stupid smile of someone who knew he had impressed. Katsuki wanted to punch his arm.

As they entered the main building, they were greeted by a pleasant warmth that wrapped around their bodies like an invisible blanket. The interior was spacious, with light wood panels and a subtle aroma of tea and incense lingering in the air. Paraffin-coated cotton tatami mats covered the floor, and large sliding doors with rice paper divided the rooms. A sort of reception desk stood at the center, with a tall, beautiful wolf woman sitting behind a wooden counter. She looked up at the sound of footsteps, and a warm smile appeared on her face when she recognized Izuku.

"Well, well... Midoriya-kun. It's been a while. And… oh…" her eyes shifted to Katsuki and the basket holding Kazuki, smiling. "I see you finally found what you were looking for."

The woman rose gracefully, her dark brown robe perfectly aligned to her body, the top slightly open to reveal ample breasts. Katsuki noticed she was a beta, with refined posture and a serene expression, her shiny dark hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Yaoyorozu," Izuku said with a small nod.

Katsuki bit his tongue to suppress the strange irritation spreading through his chest. Why did she seem so close to that damn alpha?

The beta asked no further questions. She simply gestured gracefully for them to follow, guiding them down a wooden corridor that creaked softly beneath their feet. They passed doors marked with symbols: one with the strong scent of alphas, another with the more neutral scent of betas, and a third, more delicate one, with floral and soft airs for omegas. But Yaoyorozu kept walking until she reached a wooden door decorated with ancient carvings. She opened it carefully and led them inside.

The room was traditional, spacious, and well-organized. Impeccable tatami mats on the floor, a low table with cushions around it, a simple vanity in a corner, and dark wood cabinets built into the wall. On the other side of the shōji, which Yaoyorozu opened delicately, was a private paradise.

It was an ofuro carved in stone, with hot water gently flowing through a bamboo spout, releasing constant steam into the mountain’s cold air. Around it, a garden enclosed by tall bamboo fences offered total privacy. Winter plants lined the stones, and fire lanterns flickered gently around the natural bath, illuminating the mist with a warm, golden light. The sound of falling water, mixed with the mineral scent of the steam and the aroma of wet wood, filled the space with an almost sacred tranquility.

"You may stay as long as you like. If you need anything, just pull the little bell cord at the entrance. I’ll leave you alone now."

She bowed and left silently.

Katsuki stood still for a moment, staring at the place like he couldn’t believe it was real. Then he slowly turned, eyes cutting into Izuku with pure disbelief.

"You’re a fucking spoiled bastard, you know that?" he whispered, but there was no anger in his voice. Just a bit of… admiration. And maybe, just maybe, a grain of gratitude buried deep down.

Izuku laughed. Not that loud, over-the-top laugh that sometimes got on Katsuki’s nerves, but a low, genuine one that made his chest expand. He carefully knelt in the center of the room, where the gentle heat from the onsen seeped through the slightly open sliding door. The alpha placed the basket on the tatami as if it were made of fine glass and removed the blanket covering Kazuki, revealing the pup wrapped in warm, fragrant cloths.

With a tenderness Katsuki would never admit out loud was nice to see, Izuku slid his strong arms beneath the small body and lifted the pup to his chest. Kazuki let out a soft, wet sound, his round face turning to press his cheek against the warm fabric of Izuku’s robe, sniffling, his tiny nose twitching in response to the familiar scent.

"Hey, my little wolf," Izuku murmured, voice slow and affectionate, and placed a kiss on the pup’s soft forehead.

Kazuki’s little mouth opened in an exaggerated yawn, revealing a toothless smile, and he squirmed his tiny arms, lightly pushing against his father’s chest with clumsy fingers. A choked sound escaped the pup’s throat—a vocal attempt, as if he wanted to respond.

Katsuki rolled his eyes hard, as if that hadn’t made his heart do a fucking somersault in his chest.

"Okay, that’s enough. Get the hell out, shitty alpha," he growled, annoyed, crossing his arms and turning his face to the side, because if he looked for two more seconds, he’d end up melting like an idiot.

Izuku smiled like he understood everything—and he probably did, thanks to those damn sweet pheromones of Katsuki—and nodded, adjusting Kazuki against his chest.

"We’ll wait for you outside then," he said, picking up the now lighter basket with one hand and walking slowly to the shōji door. "Take all the time you need, Kacchan. The water will do you good."

With one last glance—and a gentle gleam in his emerald eyes—he slid the door shut with a soft click, leaving Katsuki alone.

The silence that settled over the room was immediate, comforting, like a deep breath after a day that had gone on too long.

Katsuki stood still for a moment, feeling the gentle warmth of the space wrap around his cold skin, his muscles still tense from the walk and from the irritation that came with dealing with that stubborn alpha. But now that he was alone, he could finally let out his breath slowly. His shoulders dropped slightly.

He approached the low vanity, where a simple mirror with a wooden frame reflected the softly lit room. He knelt carefully, his knees pressing against the tatami with a subtle creak, and began to untie the layers of his robe.

First the scarves, then the outer mantle. The fabric slid from his shoulders and pooled around his waist, revealing his body—the same body he knew so well, but now marked with new traces. Almost three weeks. It had been almost three fucking weeks since the birth. And each day felt like a battle between recognition and acceptance.

His abdomen, once defined, still held the gentle protrusion of a post-pregnancy belly. The skin around it was thinner, stretched in places, with marks and a soft, dark line running vertically down past his navel that hadn’t yet faded.

His breasts, fuller and swollen, remained sensitive even now, and the areolas had darkened. His thighs were thicker, hips slightly wider, and his waist less defined. Though the skin was firm in places, small stretch marks adorned the sides of his belly and the inner folds of his thighs—clear reminders of the transformation his body had endured to carry Kazuki.

The fucking labor hadn’t been easy. Nothing had been easy.

He slowly ran his hands over his skin, feeling the texture, the grooves, the traces of something that now belonged to him. Every line, every mark, every damn detail that hadn't been there before. As if his body had been sculpted by a storm, and now all he could do was look at the wreckage. His chest tightened, a silent anguish rising like smoke in his throat.

This wasn’t him. This wasn’t the body he knew—the body that had always been sharp, resilient, beautiful. It was... something else. Too strange. Too distorted.

His breath grew shorter as he looked at his reflection again. That damned mirror didn’t forgive a single fucking thing. His crimson eyes, usually fierce, were now filled with a doubt Katsuki hated to recognize. He felt naked in a way that had nothing to do with being unclothed.

It took time. Much more than he wanted. He remained there, kneeling, fingers gripping the fabric of the fallen robe, the silence of the room heavy as a sentence. Until a soft knock echoed from the sliding door, followed by a familiar voice.

"Kacchan? You okay? The water’s perfect…" The voice was calm, carried by the steam, but laced with disguised concern.

Katsuki growled low, irritated.

"Fuck off, I’m coming!"

He snatched the fucking robe and threw it back on in a harsh gesture, covering himself quickly, as if the fabric could erase everything underneath. The omega ran his hands over the cloth, trying to smooth it, hide it, make it disappear.

Fuck. This was pathetic.

And with that, he shoved the door open too hard and stepped out.

The warm, humid air of the private garden wrapped around him immediately. The soft light from the lanterns danced on the wooden walls, illuminating the rising steam from the large stone bath. The garden around them looked like a painting, with bare, elegant trees, tiny winter flowers blooming at the edges of moss, and bushes trimmed with precision. The scent of warm wood, damp earth, and mineral water filled the space like an old embrace.

And there, in the center of it all, Izuku.

He was in the water up to his chest, green hair tied in a messy knot on top of his head, a few loose strands clinging to his neck and forehead. His body... fuck, his body was ridiculous. Strong, defined, broad shoulders, firm chest. His thick arms moved gently as he played with Kazuki, who was lying in a wicker basket beside the rocks where the water settled.

Kazuki babbled, kicking his little legs, chubby hands trying to grab Izuku’s big fingers, his tiny mouth open with a thin line of drool trickling from the corner. He was relaxed, completely at ease, as if that place were the safest in the world. Izuku smiled like an idiot, forehead resting gently against the pup’s head as he murmured something low—probably some dumb lullaby.

And there, standing, covered, insecure, Katsuki felt smaller than ever.

His throat tightened. The shame was physical. Every curve of Izuku’s body felt like a cruel reminder of everything his no longer was. The contrast was like a blade. He couldn’t even pretend it didn’t hurt. Pathetic.

"I... I'm not going in anymore." he said, voice lower than he intended, cracking at the end.

The pheromones soured before he could finish the sentence. It was impossible to hold back. The sadness, the frustration, the shame poured out without permission, soaking the air with an anguish he could no longer hide. His chest ached. His mouth went dry. Fuck, he hated feeling like this.

Izuku stood immediately. Water streamed down his defined muscles, tracing every line, every shadow of his freckled skin, covered with a few scars that made him look even stronger and more beautiful. Katsuki looked away, as if it burned.

The alpha stepped out of the bath, bare feet touching the damp wood. He didn’t say anything right away, just walked toward him calmly, as if approaching a wounded animal.

Katsuki didn’t want to look. Didn’t want to see that pitying or compassionate expression. Didn’t want to see anything. Not a damn thing. But Izuku stopped in front of him, close enough that the warmth of his body could be felt even through the steam in the air. And when he spoke, his voice was low, heavy with a tenderness Katsuki wanted to hate.

"What happened, Kacchan?" Izuku asked, green eyes watching the omega’s every slight movement.

Katsuki didn’t answer. His hands were clenched, teeth gritted, eyes fixed on the floor. Steam rose around them, and the silence hung heavy like lead.

Izuku took another step and lifted one hand, but hesitated before touching. And waited.

And Katsuki... Katsuki wanted to scream. He wanted to explode. He wanted to disappear.

But he couldn’t say a word. He just stood there, chest tight and eyes burning.

Kazuki continued making happy noises in the background, breaking the thick silence like small cracks in a wall about to collapse. Katsuki squeezed his eyes shut, trying to keep everything in — the pride, the pain, the disgust with himself, all that fucked up mess that twisted in his stomach.

His chest rose and fell too fast, and the tunic clung to his damp skin, heavy, as if it wanted to scream along with him.

Izuku didn’t push. He stayed there, still, steady, but gentle — and that shit made it worse. If he yelled, if he got pissed, maybe Katsuki could fight back. But no. He was just there. Patient. Fuck.

"You look at me and still want me, seriously?" Katsuki hissed finally, his voice low and wounded like a dulled blade. "You're going to be forced to mark an omega like this."

He laughed without humor, a dry sound that died in his throat. Izuku’s eyes widened a little.

The alpha closed his eyes for a moment, his shoulders moving with controlled breath. Then, finally, he stepped forward, placing his large, warm hands on the omega’s shoulders, firm fingers without pressure, like he wanted to hold him in place — but not trap him.

"You think your body is different now..." he began, voice low and deep, resonating in Katsuki’s chest, "...but to me, it's stronger. More beautiful. Because it brought Kazuki into the world. Because it endured. Because you endured."

Katsuki clenched his jaw tight, tension pulsing in his face, but he didn’t pull away. He was frozen there, like the alpha’s damned words were driving stakes in too deep for him to react.

Izuku leaned in, resting his forehead against his, and the touch was warm.

Damn, warm in a way Katsuki hated needing. Izuku’s heat wrapped around him, like it was trying to stitch back all the fucked-up, poorly mended pieces of him. The alpha’s scent — that dense, protective, goddamn comforting smell — hit him hard. His own pheromone faltered, trembling, fragile... surrendered.

Fuck.

"Yes, Kacchan... I will mark you," Izuku murmured against his skin, voice hoarse, broken, heavy with something that hurt just to hear. "First because I don’t want you or Kazuki to die. I’m going to do it even if you don’t want me to. Even if you hate me for the rest of your life."

Katsuki felt his stomach turn. His chest tightened, like his heart had been yanked through his ribs. Who the hell did that bastard think he was? What right did he have to decide that alone?

The anger rose like lava in his throat, but... it didn’t explode. It just stayed there. Burning inside. Because deep down — in that fucked-up, crumpled place he didn’t want to look at — he felt... safe. Satisfied, even. Pathetically protected.

Izuku breathed in deeply, still with his forehead pressed to Katsuki’s, one hand firm on his waist.

"But I’m also going to mark you because I love you, Kacchan." And the words came like a fucking avalanche. "I love you more than anything. More than I ever thought it was possible to love someone."

The alpha paused, breathing more ragged than before, his voice cracking:

"I should have marked you that day, Kacchan. And I’m an idiot for not doing it sooner, when you let me touch you... during that damn heat. I should’ve done it. I should’ve shown you that you’d never be alone again. And even if you had kicked me away after, even if you hated me... at least you’d be safe now. At least Kazuki would be safe."

He stepped closer, pressing their bodies together.

The words pierced, like knives driven in with care. Katsuki swallowed hard, his eyes wide and burning, but he couldn’t look directly at him. His thoughts were a deafening mess. Part of him screamed it was a lie, just instinct. Another part — small, but alive — wanted to believe.

Izuku pulled back just enough to touch the edge of the tunic, his large fingers holding the fabric gently. He looked into Katsuki’s eyes for a second, as if asking for permission even though he didn’t need it, and then slowly began to slide the tunic off his narrow shoulders, no rush, with reverent delicacy.

The fabric fell like a silent waterfall, revealing the omega’s marked body — strong and fragile at the same time. His belly still rounded, the skin slightly loose where it used to be firm. Small scars, traces of a silent war he fought alone.

Katsuki felt the shame rise like a punch. That wasn’t the body he knew. Wasn’t the body he accepted. It was something foreign, a distorted reflection, and he hated — hated so deeply — feeling this exposed.

But then Izuku smiled. Fuck, that damn soft smile that always made his chest ache.

Izuku looked at him like he was standing before something sacred. As if every scar, every crease, every inch was worthy of worship. And that's exactly what he did. He slid his fingers along Katsuki's stomach, slowly, like he was touching something holy, then ran his open palm up the curve of his hips and over his breasts.

"You’re perfect."

The words were whispered, Izuku’s eyes glowing with a devotion Katsuki couldn’t bear.

"Every piece of you. Every scar. Every curve. This body brought our pup into the world, Kacchan. This body wrecked me with love. You’re everything to me."

The omega shut his eyes tight. He couldn’t respond. The words were stuck, the emotions choking him. His throat tight, chest ablaze. He wanted to curse, spit venom, hit... but all he could do was stand there, trembling, listening to that damn alpha love every broken piece of him. And, for the first time... he couldn’t bring himself to hate it.

Katsuki let out a shaky breath, lungs quivering. Izuku’s words were like sledgehammers, breaking through layer after layer of self-loathing and guilt he had forced himself to swallow since the birth. He wanted to respond. Say something. But he couldn’t. His throat was locked. Everything hurt. Everything burned.

And yet, he had never felt so seen.

Izuku's fingers rose to his face, his thumb brushing against the damp cheek. Katsuki hadn’t realized he’d started crying again. The alpha leaned in, lips brushing softly against his forehead, then his temple, then the corner of his mouth.

"I love you, Kacchan. Always have. And now, even more."

He murmured against his skin.

And Katsuki... Katsuki could only feel his heart explode inside his chest, too hard, too fast, like it wanted to leap right into that love. But he couldn’t. Not yet. It still hurt too much.

So he just stayed there, motionless, letting Izuku see him. All of him. Even when he couldn’t do it himself.

Izuku hesitated, his green eyes so close to his own that Katsuki could see the tiny golden flecks around the pupils. The alpha’s warm breath brushed his lips, and the omega froze, every cell in his body on high alert. He didn’t blink, didn’t breathe — he just stood there, waiting.

It was an absurd expectation, uncomfortable, like a snap about to happen. Part of him wanted Izuku to kiss him. Part of him wanted to bite his mouth back and curse him. And another part... another part just wanted to feel like he could still be desired.

But the idiot didn’t kiss him.

Izuku pulled away at the last second, and his lips landed with reverence on the corner of Katsuki’s mouth. A light kiss, gentle, intimate. A touch that asked for nothing, demanded nothing. A gesture that simply said “I’m here.”

Katsuki didn’t know if he felt relieved or about to explode in frustration.

Before he could decide, the alpha’s strong arms wrapped around him. Izuku held him firmly, but with a tenderness that almost hurt. The omega’s warm body was lifted like it was the most precious thing in the world. Katsuki wanted to protest, curse, struggle, but all he could do was hide his face against Izuku’s shoulder and mumble something unintelligible.

The steam of the onsen grew thicker as Izuku stepped into the water with him in his arms. The temperature was perfect, warm enough to relax his tense muscles and still-sensitive body. The contrast with the mountain’s cold air made the heat feel even more comforting.

Izuku sat on one of the smooth rocks inside the bath, keeping Katsuki on his lap, half his body submerged and the omega leaning against his chest. The water rose to Katsuki’s shoulders, wrapping them in a warm, damp embrace. The dark stones around them were covered in small layers of moss, and the surrounding garden, even in the heart of winter, showed resilient flowers like red and white camellias. The fire lanterns flickered around them, casting soft shadows across their faces.

And next to the bath, protected by a layer of warm, soft cloths inside the wicker basket, Kazuki was still there.

The little pup whimpered softly, his chubby arms moving slowly, punching the air with those tiny, uncoordinated fists that looked more like living pillows. He was awake, his gaze unfocused but alert — a new light beginning to form in his pale irises. Katsuki narrowed his eyes as he noticed.

Bluish, but now… fuck, they were turning greener. The flickering light of the fire lanterns enhanced the hue, and he could swear that bright, damn vivid green was exactly the same as Izuku’s. A color that seemed to reflect the very forest surrounding them.

Katsuki stared at the pup and felt his chest tighten again. So small. So vulnerable. And yet, he was there. Alive. Safe. With that soft, spiky hair, so much like his own. That round-cheeked face, the small upturned nose, and skin sprinkled with freckles. And that unmistakable scent of a new pup, something between warm milk and heaven.

"Look who’s trying to get attention..."

Izuku said softly, his chin resting atop Katsuki’s head.

Katsuki didn’t answer. He just watched the pup, eyes burning with emotion. Kazuki let out a faint cry and then a satisfied little grunt, his body sinking deeper into the blankets as if getting ready to sleep.

"He’s just like you."

Izuku whispered, his fingers tracing slow circles on the omega’s bare arm.

"Strong. Loud. And perfect."

Katsuki shut his eyes, feeling the pain throb in the middle of the affection. Everything hurt and comforted at the same time. Like warm water over a fresh wound. Izuku was there. Saying he loved him. Saying he wanted him. But he was still a broken omega.

But in that moment... with his body surrounded by warmth, his pup breathing peacefully just a few steps away, and the alpha holding him like he’d never let go...

He let himself rest. Just for a second. Just until the pain came again.

Chapter Text

Katsuki had stayed in the water longer than he should have. The enveloping heat of the stones and the steam slowly rising through the air left him soft, his tense muscles finally giving way after weeks of physical and emotional exhaustion. Was this the first time in… how long, exactly? Since the birth? Since before everything went to hell? Time seemed to dissolve in the hot mist, and he felt as if his body was finally forgiving itself.

The omega was nearly asleep, his face resting against Izuku’s broad shoulder, when he felt the world move. The alpha’s strong body lifted him carefully from the water, but the shock of the cold air made him grunt—a rough, discontented sound escaping his throat as he instinctively curled into the other’s hold. His damp skin prickled against the mountain’s icy breeze.

"That’s enough for today," Izuku’s voice was low, a rumble vibrating against his chest. "You can’t stay in too long. You’ll just get weaker."

Katsuki huffed, too drained to argue. All he was aware of was the heat of the arms holding him and the exhaustion flooding back into his bones. Everything felt too heavy—his body, his thoughts, even his tongue.

He didn’t know when it happened, but suddenly he was lying down again, wrapped in soft cotton sheets, nestled in a futon deep and warm like a den. The oil lamps painted the room in gold and orange, casting dancing shadows across the wooden walls. It was calm. Intimate. Almost… safe.

Izuku knelt beside him, running a plush towel over his bare body with extreme care, as if any firmer touch might break him. His calloused hands—always so strong—were gentle now, drying his thin, pale skin, still flushed pink from the bath’s heat. Katsuki just let him, eyes half-lidded, body pliant.

Kazuki was right beside them, lying on a folded blanket at the foot of the futon, out of his basket for the first time since they’d arrived. The pup whined loudly, his chubby little arms flailing, tiny fingers grasping at the fabric beneath him like he stood any chance of victory. Kazuki made small noises—squeaks, muffled chirps, even little clicks with his tongue—as if trying to communicate with the adults, frustrated by his lack of vocabulary.

His green eyes, almost luminescent, seemed to dance with every flicker of light. He kicked his bare legs slightly, a cloth diaper wrapped around him, and let out a tiny squeal every time he caught sight of his mom or dad nearby. Katsuki stared at him for a long moment, his chest tightening. Damn brat. So… cute. Fuck.

Izuku, after carefully drying every inch of the omega, picked up a clean tunic—soft, smelling of soap and dry wood—and began dressing Katsuki with the same delicacy reserved for something precious. His green eyes tracked every reaction, every sigh or tension, as if memorizing the map of his body all over again. Katsuki didn’t protest. He had no strength, no will. He just let it happen, his mind still floating between the bath’s warmth and the gentle touch.

Then the little squeals turned into more demanding whimpers.

Kazuki started sucking desperately on his own hand, his chubby cheeks puffing with each failed attempt to satisfy his growing hunger.

Katsuki let out a heavy sigh, sinking into the soft futon, his body still loose from the hot bath. The amber lantern light flickered gently on the walls, casting slow-moving shadows over the tatami floor. The scent of tea, faint incense, and his own still-damp skin wrapped around him like a blanket. The silence was broken only by Kazuki’s sounds—the little pup, barely three weeks old, now grumbling impatiently.

"Nhn!" he whined, the sound shaky, needy, and irritated.

"Gremlin wants milk," Katsuki muttered with a tired smirk, shifting carefully and propping himself up. His voice was sluggish but carried that soft, private tone he reserved only for their son.

Izuku smiled from where he sat and reached for Kazuki, but Katsuki was already pulling him close, movements firm despite his exhaustion. The small, warm body settled naturally against the omega’s chest, tiny hands clumsily gripping the fabric of his tunic with the desperate strength of a hungry pup.

Katsuki slowly opened the fabric, exposing a breast and guiding the pup to his nipple. Kazuki let out a pleased, greedy little noise before latching on, sucking eagerly. The rhythmic sound of feeding, mixed with the pup’s content murmurs, filled the room with an absurd sense of peace.

Kazuki was small but full of energy. His eyes—damn genetics—were getting greener by the day, bright and intense, reflecting the light like living emeralds. He paused between sucks to make little guttural noises, as if commenting on the taste, the comfort, or maybe the injustice of having to wait so long for food. His round cheeks puffed slightly with each movement.

Katsuki ran his fingers through the fine, messy blond hair on Kazuki’s head, feeling the warmth of the life he’d created, and a sharp pang shot through his chest. Kazuki was perfect. Small, helpless, and ridiculously adorable. He deserved a better mom. He deserved something more stable. More… whole.

Meanwhile, Izuku moved closer, silent, as if asking permission with his body alone. He sat beside the omega on the futon, his warmth immediately filling the space between them, and slid an arm around Katsuki’s waist. His fingers—warm and firm—rested on the omega’s hip with a care that made Katsuki’s stomach flip. Damn sensitive alpha.

Katsuki scoffed but didn’t pull away. He just let it happen.

"You’re a fucking mess. Useless. A damn Deku," he grumbled under his breath after a moment.

What pissed him off even more was the stupid smile that bloomed on the other’s face—and the rumble, that damn deep, satisfied alpha purr—that only grew louder at the insult.

"But I am your Deku, Kacchan," Izuku replied, oozing that stupid pride Katsuki wanted to punch right off his face.

The omega flushed red to his ears, turning his head away with a muffled snarl. Damn smug alpha bastard with those ridiculous green eyes and that stupid, wet-puppy smile!

"You seriously didn’t think to tell me your dad’s the fucking leader of this pack?!" he spat, voice louder than intended, thick with pent-up frustration.

Izuku froze. Tension shot through the alpha’s body like a shock, and in that annoyingly typical reflex, he bit down hard on his lower lip, teeth digging into the already sensitive skin, guilt and hesitation plastered all over his face. That expression. That goddamn "I messed up" look he’d had since they were kids whenever he hid shit from Katsuki.

"It… it doesn’t matter right now," he finally answered, quiet, green eyes darting away.

Katsuki wanted to hit him. Wanted to bite him down to the bone. How the hell didn’t it matter? How could the alpha hide something like that and then toss out that weak-ass excuse like it was nothing? He’d held him, kissed him, shared his heat, touched him like he owned him—and never, never mentioned his own damn bloodline?

Kazuki let out a needy little hiccup against the omega’s chest, interrupting the moment with a fragile, demanding whimper. Katsuki instinctively rubbed the pup’s back, murmuring something under his breath while his glare stayed locked on the alpha beside him. His chest burned—not just from the milk, but from smothered rage and the desperate fear that he was handing over everything—his pup, his body, his heart—to someone who still hid his real name.

Izuku tightened his arm around Katsuki’s waist, like he knew exactly what was about to snap.

"I should’ve drowned you in that onsen," Katsuki muttered low.

But he didn’t move. And Izuku didn’t let go.

Silence hung heavy for a moment, broken only by the wet sounds of Kazuki nursing eagerly, making those little satisfied clicks that made Katsuki’s chest ache—even when he refused to admit it. The pup, wrapped only in a carefully tied cloth diaper, looked too relaxed in the omega’s arms, like the whole world was exactly as it should be. A chubby little hand rested against Katsuki’s breast, tiny fingers twitching sporadically—uncoordinated but determined.

Izuku took a deep breath, the weight of guilt still obvious in every line of his broad frame.

"Sorry, Kacchan. I-I just… you were already so stressed, so scared about all this… I didn’t wanna pile more on you," he finally said, voice wavering, rough, like he’d swallowed glass.

Katsuki growled under his breath but didn’t answer. His hand kept moving over Kazuki’s back, stroking the warm little body with firm care, feeling the fragile bones and impossibly soft skin. Kazuki let out a long, deep sigh—the kind only a pup could make—and stretched mid-nurse, arms trembling above his head before latching back on with even more determination, like this was the most serious job in the world.

The sight of that ridiculous little creature—so small and stubborn, so alive—made Katsuki huff with quiet fury. Not at the pup, never at him, but at the idiot beside him who somehow managed to be both helpful and unbearable at the same time.

"Hand me his diaper stuff," he said without looking at Izuku, jaw still tight, anger simmering under exhaustion.

Izuku nodded, silent. With that infuriating canine grace, he stood and crossed the room, grabbing the small wicker basket with the pup’s supplies. The muscles in his back shifted under his dark tunic, and Katsuki hated that his eyes followed on their own. Fuckin’ pretty-boy alpha bastard.

Kazuki detached with a wet, satisfied pop. His round face, slightly flushed, now wore a blissed-out, milk-drunk expression. Pathetically adorable. He yawned wide, showing off pink gums, and squirmed in Katsuki’s arms like a tiny king. The omega sighed and adjusted the pup upright, supporting the blond head against his shoulder while keeping the little body steady. His other hand started patting the pup’s back in a slow rhythm.

"C’mon, gremlin. Burp already," he grumbled, though his voice came out surprisingly soft.

Kazuki answered with a muffled noise—more of a snort than anything—before finally letting out a loud burp that seemed impossible for someone so small. Katsuki raised an eyebrow, weirdly proud. This little shit’s got alpha lungs already.

Izuku was back at his side, crouched by a shallow ceramic basin he’d filled with warm water from an iron pitcher. He added a few drops of some mild herbal oil—something local, soothing. The fresh, earthy scent spread instantly, mixing with the natural smells of milk, warmth, and their low, calm pheromones.

He dipped one of the soft cloths into the water, testing the temperature on his wrist, then gave it a light squeeze.

Katsuki rolled his eyes.

Bastard. Katsuki grit his teeth but stayed silent. Not because he didn’t have a response, but because if he said one more thing, he might admit that this stupid alpha had something—some fucked-up, familiar thing—that made everything feel less terrifying.

He adjusted Kazuki on the futon between them, prepping for the diaper change while the pup kicked his chubby legs in the air. The center of the futon was lined with soft, raw cotton blankets. The little round face was flushed, those almost-green eyes wide and alert, like he knew he was about to be the subject of a delicate operation.

Katsuki sighed, removing the dirty diaper and resting one hand on the soft, milk-full belly to keep him from rolling—not that he had the strength yet, but you never knew with this gremlin—while reaching toward the basket Izuku had brought. Inside were the neatly folded cloth diapers (irritatingly perfect) and a small clay jar of natural balm they used for rashes.

"Hold the damn cloth, Deku. Don’t make me stretch my arm for nothing," he grumbled, though his voice was thick with sleep more than real anger.

Izuku, who seemed to be worshipping the omega’s little ritual with his eyes, handed over the warm, herb-scented cloth. Katsuki didn’t thank him, obviously. Just huffed and started cleaning the pup with firm but careful strokes.

Kazuki let out a hoarse squeak—not pain, indignation—and threw his tiny arms up, fists clenched in ridiculously small protests. He kicked again, this time hitting Katsuki’s wrist.

"Hey!" The omega scowled. "You’re too damn small to start hitting people, you little shit."

Kazuki answered with another wet noise, halfway between a whine and a grunt, before shoving his own fingers into his mouth. He lay there, staring at the wooden ceiling, sucking on his hands like he was starving again.

He literally just ate. Katsuki shook his head, his eyes softening against his will. Just like his idiot dad. No—sire. The thought made him want to vomit and smile, which only worsened his headache.

He finished cleaning the pup slowly, running the warm cloth over the soft folds of his thighs and groin, extra careful with the sensitive skin. Then he grabbed a fresh cloth, folded it quickly, and slid it under the tiny body, tying the cotton belt securely around his waist. Kazuki huffed again, offended at being manhandled like a doll, which almost made Katsuki laugh.

"You’re so dramatic, brat," he muttered, tightening the last knot. "Just like your damn sire."

Izuku chuckled quietly beside him, and Katsuki shot him a glare—even if his eyes were still heavy with exhaustion. The alpha sat cross-legged, watching everything in silence like it was some sacred ritual he didn’t dare interrupt.

"He’s adorable, Kacchan. And you’re so natural at this…"

Katsuki scoffed.

"Obviously I am. Someone’s gotta know what they’re doing, since his sire’s a fucking Deku."

Even being called useless, Izuku smiled again. Damn him.

"I’m his father, not just his sire, Kacchan!" he said, grinning, and Katsuki flipped him off.

Kazuki was clean now, fresh diaper snug and a light blanket draped over him. He yawned so hard his tiny chin trembled, then blinked slowly, long lashes fluttering as his eyes glazed over. His head lolled to the side with a soft sigh—so stupidly small and trusting that Katsuki’s chest tightened again.

It was all bullshit. Emotional bullshit. But it was bullshit he didn’t wanna lose.

"Here." He shoved the basket of dirty cloths at Izuku. "Go be useful and clean these."

Izuku took it without complaint, of course. Just gave him one of those infuriatingly sweet smiles, like he’d been handed a gift.

The room was bathed in warm, golden light from the oil lamps, casting rounded shadows on the polished wood walls. The air smelled sweet from the oil Izuku had used earlier—chamomile and something earthy, maybe dried lavender—making everything feel even cozier.

Katsuki lay on his side on the futon, his body curled around a carefully constructed nest of folded blankets, forming a protective circle. And at its center, like the heart of a universe, was Kazuki.

The pup slept heavily, one arm thrown over his head, the other pressed to his chest, tiny fingers still damp with spit. The cloth diaper was slightly rumpled but secure, and the light blanket rose and fell with his full belly’s slow breaths. His fine blond hair looked even softer now, a stubborn strand stuck to his damp forehead.

Katsuki watched through half-lidded eyes, exhausted but wired. Part of him wanted to sleep for a decade. The other part couldn’t move, too busy soaking in Kazuki’s warmth like a silent fire melting the ice around his fucked-up heart.

When Izuku returned, his green eyes locked onto the scene—and stilled. The alpha nearly held his breath at the sight of Katsuki there, silent, fingers still resting on the pup’s tiny chest like making sure he breathed was the only thing that mattered.

"You made a nest for him…" Izuku murmured, like he was witnessing something holy.

It was true—Katsuki had never felt comfortable making one for himself. But for Kazuki? Different story. The blond didn’t answer. Just threw a sharp look over his shoulder, no real bite behind it. He was too tired to even insult the idiot.

Izuku smiled slowly, eyes bright, and walked to the wicker basket by the door. He rummaged for a few seconds before turning back, something hidden in his hands as he stepped closer to the futon.

"I… I got him something," Izuku said, voice low, almost shy. "A woman from the village showed me."

Katsuki frowned, propping himself up slightly as his eyes tracked Izuku’s hands unfolding to reveal a wooden pacifier—smooth, polished with beeswax. The nipple was made of some flexible natural fabric, possibly cut from a rare type of soft leather Katsuki had never seen before, secured with thin straps.

"A… pacifier?" Katsuki said, one eyebrow arched, too exhausted to laugh but not enough to hide the scorn.

Izuku nodded, an embarrassed smile tugging at his lips.

"He keeps sucking on his hands. Thought maybe… it’d help."

Katsuki huffed, but his eyes betrayed him, dropping back to Kazuki as the pup began making tiny sleep grimaces—chin quivering, bottom lip jutting in a silent cry waiting to happen.

Shit.

The omega’s chest tightened, and he let out a frustrated sigh.

"Then give him the damn thing already. Before he screams and wakes half the village."

Izuku chuckled quietly, the sound vibrating in his throat like a muffled purr. He moved closer, kneeling beside the futon, and with the delicacy of someone handling a flower petal, pressed the pacifier’s nipple to the pup’s parted lips.

Kazuki scrunched his face, as if debating whether to approve of this new intruder. But then, instinctively, his lips closed around it, and he began to suck slowly—wet, ridiculously adorable little noises filling the quiet. The tension in his shoulders melted immediately.

Katsuki watched with his jaw locked. He wanted to curse Deku out. But deep down—and he hated admitting it—his heart was melting like warm butter. Kazuki looked like a little angel. A gremlin, sure. But the cutest, most precious gremlin in the universe. With the pacifier bobbing between his lips and his drowsy, half-lidded eyes, he looked too satisfied to be real.

Katsuki sighed and slumped back down, curling slightly like he could tuck this entire moment away just for himself.

"You’re a useless sappy bastard…" he muttered into the pillow.

"But I’m your useless sappy bastard," Izuku whispered back, and Katsuki wanted to die of embarrassment.

But he didn’t answer.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

By the time the three of them returned to the cabin, the sky had deepened into a rich navy blue, the first stars blinking shyly between scattered clouds. The cold night breeze rustled the treetops, leaves dancing in a soft, constant whisper—a lullaby gently ushering in the end of the day.

Katsuki walked beside Izuku, steps slow, body heavy with exhaustion. He’d spent practically the whole day sleeping like some lazy omega, which only worsened his shitty mood. Between naps, he’d nursed Kazuki and—to his utter humiliation—let that idiot Izuku feed him. Literally.

Yeah. The damn alpha had fed him by hand. Spoon by spoon. Grilled fish, seasoned rice, warm dumplings, even tea. And he’d… let it happen. Exhausted, pissed off, body aching from head to toe—but he’d accepted it. Didn’t even have the energy to bitch about it in the moment. Just took the care, feeling his omega wolf purring like it was home.

Now, remembering it, Katsuki’s cheeks burned, his stomach twisted, and his whole body trembled with embarrassment.

Fuck.

The pup, meanwhile, was sprawled against his chest, bundled like an onigiri in thick blankets, dead asleep—one chubby little hand fisted in Katsuki’s tunic, the pacifier still firmly lodged between his lips. Every now and then, he’d suck harder, letting out an obnoxiously cute noise. The tiny gremlin was a living spell.

As they neared the wooden cabin, the warm glow spilling from the windows felt like home. The flickering light inside was inviting, a golden dance against the evening chill.

Then Izuku stopped dead.

His body locked up. Those green eyes went wide like he’d seen a ghost.

"The hell?" Katsuki growled low, already tense, arms tightening around Kazuki like he was bracing against some invisible threat.

Izuku exhaled hard, dragging a hand down his face in frustration.

"We’ve got visitors," he muttered, voice strained.

Katsuki scowled.

"Visitors? The fuck—?"

Izuku hesitated. His eyes flickered, like he was digging for courage in the depths of his soul. Katsuki, of course, didn’t ask again. But inside, his chest was already clenching. Throat going dry. Visitors? Who? Why now? And why did Izuku look like he was about to spontaneously combust?

When they finally crossed the threshold, Katsuki understood.

Sitting on the cabin’s rustic old couch, legs crossed with the posture of a king, was an alpha—tall, seriously tall, with near-white blond hair, dressed in simple clothes that still radiated authority. His piercing blue eyes gleamed with pride… and weight. The weight of leadership. Though he looked older, Katsuki could see powerful muscles hidden beneath his tunic.

The pack leader.

Katsuki’s stomach dropped. His skin prickled head to toe.

Then, from the kitchen, a bright, cheerful voice:

"Izuuukun!~"

A short omega with dark green hair in a loose bun, round cheeks, and a smile that could light up the room appeared, holding a steaming bowl. Her eyes widened at Izuku, and she practically ran to him like she was going in for a hug. "Oh, you’re back! I was so worried, sweetheart!"

Katsuki, without realizing it, took a step back.

He shrunk behind the alpha, arms locked around Kazuki, holding the pup like he was the last scrap of safety in his miserable life. The little gremlin grumbled, nuzzling deeper into the omega’s chest, pacifier bobbing as he slept.

Izuku sighed again, his body rigid.

"Kacchan… these are my parents. Yagi… and my mom, Inko."

Katsuki’s world tilted.

"You are a colossal son of a bitch, Deku," he hissed under his breath, ducking behind Izuku’s broad shoulder, eyes locked on the blond man staring him down with an unreadable gaze.

Izuku just smiled. That godforsaken nervous, crooked, tense smile Katsuki knew too well—the kind he wore when he knew he was about to get punched… or when he’d already accepted his death sentence.

The pack leader, Yagi Toshinori, rose from the couch with the kind of presence that made the air feel heavier. Massive. That was the only word for it. The alpha was absurdly tall—broad-shouldered, his posture too regal for such a simple space. Muscle flexed under his rough linen clothes, and his eyes, blue like storm-churned ice, seemed to see everything—maybe too much.

The omega’s jaw clenched hard as the giant moved toward them. Slow but too fast. Every step was heavy yet silent, like even the floor didn’t dare protest his presence.

"Welcome back," the alpha’s voice was firm but warm. Commanding without effort. "Apologies for dropping in unannounced. But… there’s an important matter to discuss. With both of you." The emphasis on those last words was like a blade, slicing through the air as Yagi’s gaze shifted from Izuku… to Katsuki.

The omega’s stomach lurched.

Kazuki squirmed in his arms with a tiny grunt, his pacifier slipping slightly as he wriggled in his swaddle. His miniature fists clenched Katsuki’s tunic tighter. The gremlin was waking up.

Then the omega from the kitchen—Inko—finally seemed to notice him.

She gasped sharply, mouth forming an exaggerated "O," her green eyes (softer than Izuku’s but just as bright) widening. A trembling hand flew to her lips, and then—without warning—tears spilled over.

"Oh my god…" Her voice cracked. "He looks just like—"

"Mom." Izuku growled, low.

Inko fell silent instantly. But she kept crying. Tears streamed down her round, soft face, dampening pink cheeks. There was something painfully genuine in it—recognition. A silent welcome Katsuki didn’t understand. Didn’t know how to process.

Then, before he could even scoff, she was in front of him.

And hugging him.

Warm. Familiar. Tight but not smothering. A mother’s hug—the kind of thing Katsuki had no blueprint for. His whole body locked up. Arms stiff around Kazuki, for a split second he considered snarling, shoving, running.

But… Kazuki shifted in his blanket, letting out a pleased little noise at the extra warmth. His eyes blinked open just slightly, a tiny yawn escaping before he dozed off again, pacifier bobbing between his lips.

Katsuki’s omega wolf rumbled quietly, confused, disoriented.

"It’s so nice to meet you, sweetheart…" Inko whispered between tears, still hugging him. "I’m Izuku’s mom. Ah, he’s told me so much about you…"

Katsuki didn’t know what to say. Tongue glued to the roof of his mouth, heart hammering, body torn between the instinct to bolt and the quiet, humiliating want to be held.

All he managed was a low growl… but he didn’t pull away.

Kazuki murmured again, a muffled, fussy sound escaping his tiny lips as he squirmed in his blankets. The pup arched his round little butt with effort, like he was searching for a better position… and then farted. Small. Wet. Treacherous.

Katsuki’s eyes slammed shut. His face burned, jaw locked as shame tsunami’d through him. It felt like his soul had left his body and sprinted out the front door.

But Inko just laughed. A sweet, light sound, muffled by her tears. She wiped her face with the sleeve of her oversized cotton tunic.

"He’s perfect…" she whispered, gazing at the pup like he was made of starlight. There was so much warmth in her voice, so much love, that something in Katsuki’s chest twisted.

Izuku chuckled softly beside him, then a strong, warm arm slid around his waist, pulling him closer. The touch was careful—like he expected Katsuki to either bolt or detonate. The omega wasn’t sure which was more likely right now.

"Think we’ll need to change him soon," Izuku murmured against his hair.

Katsuki rolled his eyes. Really? Thanks for the fucking update, genius.

He could already feel the damp warmth spreading through the cloth, and Kazuki—the adorable little traitor—sighed heavily in relief, his round face flushed from effort, pacifier still wedged between pink lips. The pup was limp, blissed out in his own stinky cuteness, tiny arms curled against himself.

A sharp throat-clearing shattered the moment.

"Right then," Yagi said, his calm voice effortlessly dominating the room. "Shall we sit and talk?"

Katsuki didn’t answer, just flicked a glance at Izuku. Tension crawled up his spine like a cold shiver. This conversation was about them. And he hated not knowing where he stood.

Inko smiled, adjusting an earthenware pot on the cabin’s stone stove. The rich scent filling the space made sense now—spices, simmering rice, something caramelized underneath.

"Alright!" she chirped. "You all talk while I finish dinner!"

Katsuki side-eyed her, gaze sharp. So that’s why the damn cabin smelled like heaven incarnate. Kazuki squirmed in his arms, letting out a tiny hiccup and fisting Katsuki’s tunic. His omega wolf purred against his will—pure instinct. This perfect, stinky little creature was his. And even with his chest tight, nerves raw, shame sticking to his skin… Katsuki couldn’t help but feel—

Whole.

Not that he’d ever admit it.

He let out a sigh, adjusting Kazuki more firmly in his arms, and followed Izuku to the living area where Yagi waited—immovable as a living mountain.

Fuck. This is gonna be a long night.

The room fell into thick silence, broken only by the soft crackle of firewood in the stove. Katsuki pressed Kazuki against his chest, the pup’s warmth spreading through him like a living blanket. The little one mumbled sleepily, his pacifier bobbing rhythmically between pink lips. Thankfully, the herbal oil was strong enough to mask the other scent coming from the pup’s diaper.

Then Yagi spoke, his voice deep and deliberate:

"I assume you’ve been preparing for the ceremony at the next full moon."

Katsuki froze. His blood turned to ice in his veins. He slowly turned his gaze to Izuku, who shrunk beside him like a fawn about to get hit by a train.

Cowardly bastard.

"Yeah," Katsuki answered flatly, even though the words hit him like a hammer to the skull.

Izuku coughed. Weak. Guilty. Katsuki could practically smell the cold sweat dripping down the idiot’s neck. Yagi let out a long, approving hum, nodding slowly. His blue eyes gleamed with restrained respect—that particular pride only older alphas could muster.

"Good. It’s an important ceremony. Traditional." He crossed his massive arms. "Presenting the future pack leader’s omega and pup before the clan must be done with reverence. The pack needs to smell your bond. They need to see leadership rooted not just in strength, but in the bloodline that follows."

Katsuki listened without moving, jaw locked. His entire body buzzed with tension—anger, anxiety, and a feral pride he refused to acknowledge. His wolf understood, reacting to every word on instinct. It made sense. This was ancient ritual, carved into their bones.

Yagi continued, his voice steady as bedrock:

"The ceremony takes place on the high plateau under the full moon. Fires are lit in a circle, marking the heart of pack territory. The elders bless the union with burning herbs and soil markings. The alpha—Izuku—will lead his omega to the center. He must mark his mate’s neck with a bite." His eyes flicked to Katsuki, whose fists clenched. "A visible mark. Permanent. Over his scent glands."

Katsuki wanted to scream. Or explode. Or shove Izuku out the window.

"Finally, the alpha must cut his own wrist." Yagi looked back at Izuku. "His blood is offered to the omega. An ancient gesture—total surrender. The omega must accept and drink, binding himself to the pack not just by scent, but by the blood that will sustain his pup. The alpha’s blood will run through his veins, protecting him for life."

Katsuki’s breath caught. His chest tightened, his wolf restless beneath his skin.

Drinking his blood… in front of everyone.

And Izuku—Izuku sat beside him, head bowed, imaginary ears pinned back, chewing his bottom lip with that damn nervous tic of his.

Katsuki held Kazuki tighter, as if the pup could shield him from all this. His face burned, and it wasn’t from embarrassment. It was rage.

Kazuki, sensing the tension, whimpered and nuzzled into the omega’s chest. Yagi fell silent, waiting. His authority filled the room. Inko, still in the kitchen, watched from afar—respectful but visibly emotional.

Katsuki took a sharp breath.

"And when the fuck is this happening?" he snarled, voice dripping acid.

Izuku flinched.

Yagi smiled serenely.

"In eight days, with the full moon. And the entire pack will be waiting."

Silence fell again, heavy as lead.

Eight days. Katsuki gritted his teeth, adjusting Kazuki in his arms. Eight days to wanna murder Deku at least twenty times. Maybe more.

And then, he just muttered:

"Shit…" Katsuki growled through clenched teeth, as if the word could contain the storm of emotions raging in his chest.

Yagi laughed—that deep, effortless chuckle only old, confident alphas could pull off.

"Ah, it’s not so bad!" he said with an affectionate smile, like he hadn’t just dropped a bomb in the exhausted omega’s lap. "I know these things can make us nervous, but it’s a beautiful ceremony."

Katsuki bit the inside of his cheek so hard he nearly tasted blood. Speak for yourself, you bastard alpha. He almost snapped back out loud, but Kazuki squirmed against his chest, tiny body twitching restlessly, so Katsuki swallowed the comment.

"We need to prepare," Yagi continued, his tone turning serious. "Both of you. Rehearse what you’ll say, how you’ll carry yourselves. Especially you, son." Yagi’s eyes locked onto Katsuki. "You’re the most important part of this ceremony. The omega’s presence is the heart of the union. The soul of the next generation. And your role must be strong. Precise. Worthy."

Katsuki scoffed, tightening his hold on Kazuki. The pup let out an adorable little whine, nose scrunching, chubby feet kicking lightly under the blankets and cloth diaper—now visibly wet and uncomfortable.

"You’ll need to prepare your attire as soon as possible," Yagi finished, like he was planning a hunt and not a ritual where Katsuki would be branded as an alpha’s property in front of a whole fucking pack.

Katsuki grunted, short and aggressive, more to himself than anyone. Beside him, Izuku let out a barely audible whimper—that pathetic sound he made when he knew he’d fucked up and was about to pay for it.

Kazuki wriggled again, uncomfortable. His flushed little face scrunched up once more, eyes slowly opening. He sniffled loudly, as if the world were unjust for not catering to his comfort, and huffed, arching his tiny butt in an adorably dramatic protest.

Yagi’s eyes gleamed, a warm, intense blue—the aura of an ancestral alpha mixing with the softness of a brand-new grandfather.

"May I see him closer?" he asked, voice hushed, almost reverent.

Katsuki hesitated. Glanced at Izuku, who just nodded nervously.

"His diaper’s dirty," Katsuki grumbled, eyes narrowed. "And he hates being wet. Gonna start screeching any second."

As if to prove the omega’s point, Kazuki let out an indignant squeak, his little mouth forming an outrageously cute pout. A chubby hand escaped the blanket, grabbing at the air with clenched fingers, demanding an immediate solution to his miserable predicament.

"Ah, he’s perfect," Yagi murmured, kneeling slowly in front of them to avoid startling him.

Kazuki grumbled again, nuzzling into Katsuki’s chest as the omega mentally prepared for the most challenging diaper change of the night. The cabin now smelled of food, milk, dried herbs… and pissed-off pup.

Katsuki sighed. Looked down at the warm, fussy creature in his arms.

"Alright, tiny tyrant," he muttered fondly. "Let’s fix this shit."

Literally.

Chapter Text

Katsuki felt as if his very blood was boiling beneath his skin.

The heat was suffocating, sticky, unbearable. Each breath burned like flames crawling up his throat, searing his chest. The cavern air—that godforsaken makeshift shelter—hung heavy with the scent of his own pheromones, cloyingly sweet, desperate. An instinctual plea he hated with every fiber of his being.

His naked skin was slick with sweat, sticking to the fresh dry leaves, twigs, and whatever other trash he'd dragged into this hole hidden between the rocks. It wasn’t a real nest—just a pathetic pile of scraps and mixed scents, thrown together in whatever sanity remained before his heat fully consumed him. But it was all he had.

Shit, he thought, teeth clenched as he curled deeper into the leaves, thighs soaked with slick. Just six more days.

Six fucking days.

Every month was like this. Every damn month. A lone omega in the frozen north, no pack, no protection, vulnerable and reeking sweet enough to lure any starving alpha for miles. Just the thought of being found, of being claimed by some random bastard, made his stomach churn with disgust and rage.

He wouldn’t allow it. He’d rather die than be mounted by some no-name alpha.

Yet exhaustion weighed him down.

His fingers dug deeper into the moss and leaves, body writhing as another wave of heat coiled in his gut. His womb throbbed. His entrance clenched involuntarily, begging—for something, for someone—and Katsuki gritted out a low groan, burying his face in his arms to stifle the sounds escaping his lips.

His body was at war with itself—his mind fighting for control while his flesh pleaded for relief.

Summer was ending, but in this forgotten stretch of the north, that meant jack shit. The night wind still cut like knives, the stones at the cave’s entrance still cold enough to leach the heat from a body in seconds. The only difference? No snow. Yet. And that alone was the single blessing in this hell.

Katsuki twisted in the nest, muscles trembling with effort and fury. The scrape of leaves against his sweat-damp skin only worsened the irritation gnawing at his patience. His hips jerked on their own, a muffled whimper slipping free before he could stop it.

Motherfucker. He cursed the world, fate, his own traitorous body.

His abdomen burned. His nipples ached—oversensitive, swollen. And between his thighs… slick spilled endlessly, hot and wet, leaving a shameful stain soaking through the nest beneath him.

"Tch," he snarled, forcing his eyes to stay open. "I’ll survive this shit. Like always."

But the wolf inside him growled restlessly. It wanted something. And the loneliness, now, was heavier than ever. Katsuki curled tighter into himself at the back of the cave, body glistening with sweat and want, the intoxicating scent saturating the air. He was alone.

But not for long.

On the second day—the goddamn second day, always the worst—Katsuki smelled it.

Fucking mint and cedar.

Strong. Sharp. Dominant. Like a winter storm tearing off rooftops. And worse—good. Warm and crisp all at once, familiar in a way that pissed him off, so goddamn consuming it made the wolf inside him writhe, purring like some needy pup.

The omega snarled, sinking deeper into his ragged nest. Sweat glued his skin, the heat between his legs leaving everything wet, slippery, exposed. And now, on top of it all, some bastard alpha was hunting him.

Katsuki bit his lip hard enough to hurt. Fucking heat. Always left him weak. Stupid. Unable to think straight. A single crack of wind was enough to make his whole body shudder and beg like some broken toy.

But that scent…

He knew it.

He couldn't remember where from—and that pissed him off even more—but it felt like a scratched memory buried deep in his mind, layered under denial and instinct. Something his wolf recognized. Something his body... wanted.

He curled deeper into the cave's recesses, crimson eyes locked on the narrow opening camouflaged by rocks and brush. He'd hidden the entrance properly—like always. Knew how to erase tracks, mask scents, weave false trails. He'd learned the hard way after fleeing that damned pack; this was basic survival.

Yet the bastard outside wasn't leaving.

No. He was coming straight the fuck toward him.

Katsuki felt it.

Heavy, rapid footsteps. Nearly silent, but not enough to escape an omega's trained hearing. A twig snapping. Leaves rustling. The sound of muscle shifting, of a body too large, too determined.

The approach held no hesitation. As if the bastard had a map etched in his snout. As if Katsuki's pheromones were guiding every step. And they were, damn it. He could smell himself in the air—cloying, thick, intoxicating, the most humiliating thing imaginable.

"Get out..." he snarled, voice barely audible, body coiled tight. A fresh trickle of slick seeped between his thighs, hot as lava. "Get the fuck out."

But it didn't work.

The bastard kept coming. And Katsuki could swear that scent—that cursed mix of mint and cedar—was growing stronger.

Closer.

More... dangerous.

Shit.

The footsteps halted. Outside the cave, the air turned viscous, saturated, the cedar-mint aroma flooding everything—stronger than anything Katsuki had ever smelled. It wasn't just in his nose; it seeped through his skin, infiltrating, sinking, marking. He shuddered.

His body had abandoned all logic. Heat fever burned under his flesh, leaving him dizzy, muscles weak and mind scrambled. He was so fucking vulnerable it hurt. All his resistance boiled down to bared teeth and instinctive growls.

The omega growled again, even as his body begged for relief.

Then—

Whine.

Katsuki froze.

The bastard whined?

A high, needy, mournful sound slipped through the cave entrance, and Katsuki wanted to hurl a rock at his own face. What kind of alpha... whimpers? That was some freshly-weaned pup's behavior, not a full-grown male about to mount an omega.

The blond bared his fangs, snarling louder, sweat and slick making his trembling thighs gleam. No matter how unbearable the heat between his legs, no matter how his body screamed and clenched on its own—he wouldn't yield.

Not to some whiny alpha shithead.

But then—claws scraping stone.

The quiet rustle of leaves being pushed aside. Then—then, fuck—a dark shadow breached the cave entrance. Katsuki held his breath. The wolf forced its massive body inside, twisting to fit through the narrow crevice between rocks. A rhythmic tap tap tap followed the movement—its tail. Wagging. Like it had found a new toy.

Katsuki didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or rip the idiot's throat out with his teeth.

The alpha was enormous. It nearly filled the entire entrance—broad body covered in thick, wild dark green fur. The scar cutting across one eye made its muzzle look ferocious, despite the oddly hopeful, curious tilt to its snout. Its paws were disproportionately large, claws scraping stone sharp enough to carve through the cave itself.

And yet... that fucking tail kept wagging. Like some happy mutt.

Katsuki's omega purred in reflex. Traitorous little shit.

Still naked, sweating, and curled in his pathetic nest, Katsuki snarled. His mouth went dry, crimson eyes locked on the monstrous figure now blocking his only exit. His fangs stayed bared, even as his body trembled.

The alpha paused.

Watched.

Then—to Katsuki's surprise, horror, and rage—it whined again.

Motherfucker.

As if this wasn't ridiculous enough, the damn bastard started shifting. Slowly, carefully, the green fur receded, bones cracking as its body rearranged itself, skin replacing pelt. When the wolf gave way to the man, Katsuki nearly choked.

Because there, crouched before his nest, was an alpha.

A beautiful fucking alpha.

The bastard was huge. Too huge. Broad shoulders, thick thighs, defined arms, a body mapped with scars that only made him look better. Messy dark green hair fell over eyes—eyes that gleamed like wet leaves. And the worst fucking part?

The scar splitting one eye traveled up to his scalp, parting his bangs in a way that was... god damn pretty.

He was smiling. A small, nervous, needy smile.

The strongest alpha Katsuki had ever seen, grinning like a timid pup.

His body wavered. Heat erupted in waves inside him, slick gushed, and his womb ached with urgency.

Fuck. He was so screwed.

His body trembled as heat rolled through his stomach, his chest heaving with sweat-slicked breaths, while that fucking wolf inside him... purred. Literally. Like some fat, content whelp spinning in circles.

Traitorous shit, Katsuki thought, glaring at the absurdly large—and dangerously gorgeous—alpha kneeling before his nest.

"Ah! Kacchan! I... I can't believe it's really you!" The voice was soft, warm, thick with emotion. A velvety fucking voice, completely mismatched with a body that could shatter boulders.

Kacchan? What the hell?

"What... the fuck... are you talking about... shithead..." Katsuki snarled through clenched teeth, but his voice came out broken, trembling, muffled by the fever making his body throb. The heat was too much. Everything felt simultaneously distant and suffocatingly close.

Katsuki tried to rise but only managed to press himself deeper into the pathetic nest, feeling hot slick trickle between his thighs, soaking the makeshift bedding further. The alpha—that colossal bastard—remained kneeling, his massive frame resting on the rocky floor with arms draped over thick thighs. He watched Katsuki with an intensity that burned hotter than the heat itself.

The alpha's smile wavered.

Then... vanished. That expression of pure joy faltered, replaced by something Katsuki hated with every fiber of his being: pity.

Pity? Pity?! Who the fuck did this bastard think he was?

"It's okay now, Kacchan. I'm here..." the alpha murmured, his voice carrying that infuriatingly comforting tone. And with it came a rumble—low, continuous, vibrating through the cave. An alpha's purr, the closest thing to comfort that could come from a creature built to kill with its teeth.

But Katsuki's body—his traitorous fucking body—couldn't resist. That purr, the radiating heat, the overpowering scent—mint and cedar now laced with adrenaline—seeped into his omega instincts like the finest drug.

The alpha approached slowly, with the caution of a predator not wanting to startle prey... or a mate reaching for something sacred.

And then, up close, Katsuki truly saw him.

The bastard's face was—unfortunately—devastatingly handsome. Strong. Marked. Freckles dusted broad shoulders, a defined chest, that thick vulnerable neck. Bushy eyebrows framed intense eyes—those fucking eyes—green and glittering with unspoken emotion, surrounded by lashes too long and dark for a male his size.

Katsuki hated how his scent clung to his skin. How the alpha's proximity made slick flow faster. How his inner wolf vibrated with anticipation, as if it had already chosen.

The idiot extended a hand.

Large. Strong. Scarred fingers and calloused palm.

And Katsuki... could only stare. Heart pounding, body trembling.

He's going to touch me. He's going to fuck me. He's going to claim me. And... I want it.

The heat in Katsuki's body peaked. His breath came in ragged gasps, lips parted as sweat slid down his pale, glistening skin. Slick pulsed between his spread thighs, drenching the leaves beneath him, releasing an even sweeter, more obscene scent—pure mating instinct.

And the alpha—that fucking alpha—still approached with that look in his eyes. As if Katsuki were something sacred. Something precious.

Katsuki hated how it made him feel.

Hated it... and surrendered.

The alpha's hand extended slowly, those long, battle-worn fingers trembling slightly. For one suspended moment, everything stilled. The cave fell silent—save for Katsuki's uneven panting and that continuous alpha rumble.

Then... the touch.

Featherlight. Reverent. Rough fingertips traced Katsuki's jawline, brushing back sweat-damp blond strands. The touch held worship, as if the alpha feared breaking him. When a calloused thumb grazed his fevered cheekbone, Katsuki's entire body shuddered.

A sound escaped him—a low, continuous, involuntary purr. The soft, sweet vibration came from deep within, straight from his wolf, echoing in his throat like a confession: I accept.

Katsuki's eyes fluttered shut for a second, lashes heavy with heat and exhaustion. His body relaxed under the touch, legs parting further, hips lifting slightly in silent offering. His exposed neck trembled, the curve of his throat quivering with vulnerability.

The omega was surrendering completely.

The alpha said nothing. Just moved closer as if performing some ancient ritual—his hand sliding down Katsuki's neck now, gliding carefully over bare shoulders, tracing the tense muscles of his arms until reaching his flank. Calloused fingers followed the thin scars, the hot, trembling skin, and when that broad palm settled low on the omega's belly, Katsuki gasped.

That touch... there, right where the heat burned fiercest, was nearly fire itself.

Katsuki arched his back, his entire body responding, begging without words. His purr intensified, fever-bright eyes cracking open just enough to see—

And the alpha—that bastard—just whispered in a voice rough and low, thick with a tenderness Katsuki wanted to hate:

"I'll take care of you... Kacchan. You and the pup we'll make tonight..."

All Katsuki could manage was a broken moan in reply.

Fucked. He was so fucked.

The alpha's touch burned like live coals, but Katsuki couldn't pull away anymore. His body arched as those large hands slid down his narrow waist, gripping with a strength that promised both security and possession. The omega felt his skin prickle, every muscle tensed like a drawn bowstring.

"Relax..." the alpha murmured, his rough voice hot against Katsuki's neck.

Katsuki hated how those words made him shudder.

The alpha didn't rush. He moved as if they had all the time in the world, as if every inch of Katsuki's body was something sacred to be worshipped. Work-roughened fingers traced the curve of his hips, squeezing the soft flesh there before sliding down to trembling thighs. Katsuki swallowed hard when those hands spread him wider, exposing what he'd always tried to hide—the small, throbbing entrance of his pussy, already dripping slick, and the tiny cocklet above it, sensitive and pulsing like an oversensitive clit under the alpha's attention.

"D-don't look..." Katsuki snarled, but his voice cracked, turning the threat into a whimper.

The alpha ignored the protest. Instead, he bent down and inhaled—long and deep, as if memorizing that scent. A growl rumbled from his chest, and then—

A lick.

Katsuki screamed.

The alpha's tongue was hot, rough, dragging over his cocklet like a brand before plunging mercilessly into the tight channel below. The omega jerked, fingers clawing at the nest, body bowing like a drawn bow. The alpha didn't stop. Drank from him like a man starved, licking, sucking, exploring every fold with a devotion that left Katsuki torn between shame and ecstasy.

"AH! S-stop... stop, you mmnnn—!" His attempted snarl melted into a long moan when the alpha found that spot inside him, tongue pressing relentlessly.

Katsuki's body wasn't built for this—for so much sensation, for so much attention. Heat exploded in his gut, legs shaking violently, and then, without warning, he came.

The orgasm hit like lightning, tearing a ragged scream from his throat. His channel clenched around the alpha's tongue, slick gushing in hot pulses, and for one blinding moment—everything went white.

When awareness returned, the alpha loomed over him, dark green eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"Beautiful like this, Kacchan..." he murmured, voice thick with want.

Katsuki had no time to retort.

Strong hands flipped him onto his side, one gripping his hip while the other guided something massive and heavy against his entrance. His heartbeat thundered.

"S-slow..." he gasped, unsure why he was asking instead of demanding.

The alpha obeyed.

The pressure came slow, agonizing, every inch a conquest. Katsuki felt himself being split open, filled, body straining to accommodate the thickness tearing him apart. A whimper escaped when the alpha finally sheathed himself fully, hips flush against Katsuki's ass.

"Hurting?" The alpha's voice was strained—like he was holding back something feral.

Katsuki shook his head, teeth sinking into his lip. Not pain. It was... too much. The alpha's body enveloped him completely, mint and cedar saturating his pores, that broad chest searing against his back. And inside him—

The alpha moved.

Katsuki shrieked.

Short, deep thrusts followed—each striking that spot that made stars burst behind his eyelids. Large hands gripped his hips hard enough to bruise, fingers digging into flesh, and Katsuki trembled at the knowledge he'd wear these marks tomorrow.

"Good?" The alpha growled in his ear, voice more beast than man.

Katsuki couldn't answer. Couldn't think. His body replied for him, muscles fluttering around the alpha's length, slick leaking uncontrollably. Tears burned his eyes, breaths coming in sharp gasps.

Then—the pace quickened.

Katsuki shattered.

The world narrowed to the heat behind him, the hands claiming him, the fullness that wouldn't relent. The slap of skin on skin echoed through the cave, mingling with the alpha's ragged groans and Katsuki's muffled screams.

"Fuck... Kacchan, I'm gonna—hgn—mark you..." The alpha's fangs scraped his shoulder. "A-always wanted... wanted this... You were... ah... always mine... B-but... want you to remember... hah... Christ!"

Katsuki should've hated it.

Instead, his body shook with need.

His second orgasm hit harder—wilder—ripping a scream that bounced off cavern walls. His passage clenched like a vice around the alpha, and he felt it when control snapped.

The alpha's knot pressed against his puffy entrance, swelling just this side of painful as hot liquid flooded his core. The relief was staggering. The alpha's body curved over his, muscles trembling, lips pressing a filthy, possessive kiss to his nape.

For one endless moment—they stayed like that.

Joined. Panting. Complete.

When the alpha finally moved, it was to lie beside Katsuki, pulling him against his broad chest. The omega didn't resist. His body lay pliant, satisfied, the heat's fire finally subsiding—at least for now.

The alpha ran a large hand over Katsuki's slightly swollen belly, calloused fingers tracing gentle circles.

"Our pup will be strong..." he murmured, voice thick with wonder.

Katsuki lacked the energy to protest. Instead, he let his heavy eyelids fall shut, body nestled against warmth that—against all expectations—smelled like home.

They remained locked together by the knot, the next wave of heat not yet claiming Katsuki. The omega seized this rare moment of peace and security to sleep, still clinging to that big, stupid alpha's strong frame.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

Izuku was shattered.

The room felt suffocating—too small for the despair tearing through the alpha's chest. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding so violently it threatened to rip through his throat. His hands wouldn’t stop trembling. He knelt beside the futon, unable to tear his eyes away from his omega’s limp, pallid body.

"Kacchan..." he whispered, voice thick with desperation.

The futon seemed to swallow Katsuki whole, the fallen blanket revealing his gaunt shoulders and the sharp lines of his collarbone, veins standing stark beneath paper-thin skin. Normally warm and faintly flushed, his skin was now too cold. Too still. Only the faint—almost imperceptible—rise and fall of his chest proved he was still breathing.

His heart was failing. Izuku could hear the beats growing weaker, slower…

Beside them, Kazuki wailed from his wooden cradle, the pup’s piercing cries slicing through the air and straight into Izuku’s heart like blades. The little one writhed in distress, tiny fists clenched, cheeks flushed from exertion, his small body wrapped in a thin blanket. But it was the scent that hurt the most.

Kazuki reeked of pure panic.

Every whimper from the pup was another twist of the knife in Izuku’s chest. Kazuki smelled of terror, and the alpha knew—he was crying because he felt his bond with Kacchan slipping away. As if the pup’s very body understood his mother was fading.

His cries matched the weak rhythm of Kacchan’s breaths, their bodies synchronized on the edge of the abyss.

Izuku had always believed himself strong. Had always thought that if he trained, prepared, fought hard enough, he could protect everything he loved. But now... he didn’t know how to save Kacchan. Not with words. Not with instinct. Not with strength.

The air in the room hung heavy like a soaked blanket, thick with the bitter scent of herbs Izuku had desperately fed his omega—to no avail. He trembled, fingers digging into the frayed futon until his knuckles turned white. The flickering candlelight cast wavering shadows over Kacchan’s pale face, deepening the violet bruises beneath his eyes—marks that looked like violence.

Then, like a sucker punch, a memory struck him.

The first one he had of Kacchan.

Afternoon sunlight filtering through maple leaves, painting the creek amber. Two pups—one smaller, wild-haired with scraped knees, the other blond, with fiery red eyes gleaming with defiance. Kacchan. Not yet burdened by presentation, by the weight of a secondary gender. Just a fierce little child leaping from stone to stone in the icy creek, hands dirt-streaked, baring sharp teeth in a grin.

"When I present as an alpha, I'll be the strongest!" Kacchan had shouted, brandishing a stick like a sword. "And you'll be my omega, Deku! We'll have a whole pack, and no one will ever beat us!"

Back then, Izuku could only stammer, flushing to his ears. "P-Promise?"

Kacchan’s laughter had rung like broken bells. "Of course I promise, dummy!"

The memory dissolved like smoke, leaving only the bitter taste of irony on his tongue.

Now, years later, Kacchan lay there— not an alpha, not a victor —just a fragile body under sweat-damp blankets, breaths so shallow they barely fogged the frigid air. And Izuku...

Izuku was a failure.

A tear fell, hot and heavy, onto Kacchan’s lifeless hand. He didn’t wipe it away. Let it burn like penance.

The small window allowed a timid beam of moonlight to slip through, pale and blurred behind the northern clouds. The light was weak, smeared by the damp glass and the cold fogging the edges of the worn wood.

Izuku clenched his fists.

"Luna, please..." he begged, voice breaking. "Please, hear me. I know I don’t deserve it. I know I waited too long. I know I’m a shit alpha, but..." His words failed, eyes flooding. "But please... let me save him. Let me take care of him. Let me keep him here ."

The last words came out as a sob.

"What if he’d been an alpha..."

The voice in his head was cruel, cutting. Kacchan would have been strong enough to escape. To not need him. To not end up like this—wasting away while Izuku knelt there like a coward, unable to even steady his own breathing.

The room seemed to shrink, the wooden walls creaking as if to crush him. Kazuki wailed in his cradle, a shrill, desperate sound that cut like knives. The pup’s scent—sour milk and childish fear—mingled with the slow, creeping stench of death clinging to Kacchan.

Everything was wrong. So, so wrong.

Izuku swallowed the sob rising in his throat, teeth clenched until they ached.

"I should have protected you."

But he hadn’t.

And now, the little Kacchan from his memories—that fierce pup who leapt across stones and promised him the world—was dying.

And the only alpha who should have saved him...

...was just a Deku. Useless. Crybaby.

Just like Kacchan had always said.

The air stilled.

Izuku felt it before he saw it—an ancient pressure crushing his chest, as if the world itself had held its breath. Then... it began.

The clouds parted not like veils, but like living creatures bowing to their sovereign. The silver light that burst through the window wasn’t just moonlight—it was a river of liquid silver, so thick Izuku could see particles of sacred dust swirling in its glow.

Kacchan’s skin began to shine.

Not a reflection, but a luminescence from within , as if his bones were turning to crystal. His edges sharpened until they hurt to look at—every lash, every strand of blond hair, even the blue veins beneath his eyelids gleamed like living metal.

"Luna..." Izuku’s throat clicked dryly as the air filled with her scent—intoxicating and mighty, as old as the first moon that ever graced the earth.

The miracle came with a voice .

Not words, but a whisper born inside Izuku’s mind, as intimate as his own thoughts and as alien as the howl of an extinct wolf:

"You ask for what you do not deserve, child of night."

Izuku’s hands shook violently over Kacchan’s body. The moonlight now carved patterns into the omega’s skin—ancient runes burning with cold fire.

"But he... he always deserved you . You were always meant to be together."

The silence that followed was heavier than the cruelest winter. The air froze in Izuku’s lungs, every breath turning to silver mist before his lips. The moonlight pulsed like a celestial heart, illuminating the runes dancing across Kacchan’s skin—old marks, forgotten words, a language only gods still understood.

And then—

Luna answered.

Not with words.

With pain .

A scream tore from Izuku's throat as something hot and sharp pierced his neck—not from without, but within, as though his own veins had turned to thorns. He pitched forward, hands slipping on Kacchan's cold sweat, and then saw it.

His reflection in the silver mirror the light had created on the floor.

And on his neck, where there had been nothing, now bled a mark.

The mark of an alpha who had never claimed.

It was an open wound, pulsing, oozing not blood but light—silver and green, as if his alpha venom had fused with Luna's power.

"You never claimed him." The goddess's voice now roared inside his skull. "Never took him as yours. Never saved him before it was too late. Now you beg for what you denied him for years."

Izuku choked, his tears burning like acid.

"I... I don't deserve it." His voice was unrecognizable, hoarse with guilt. "But he deserves to live."

Luna laughed. It was a sound that could split mountains.

"Then prove it."

And suddenly, Izuku understood.

This wasn't about worthiness.

It was about suffering for him.

His teeth elongated into fangs—not by his will, but by Luna's invisible hand forcing the change. His body arched, muscles contorting, green lightning crackling around him as unbearable pain burned through every nerve.

And then, like a cornered animal, he struck.

He sank his fangs into the junction of Kacchan's neck and shoulder—right where the omega's scent glands lay.

The world exploded.

Kacchan's flesh parted like ripe fruit, but instead of blood—it shone. Silver light gushed from the wound, enveloping them in a veil of sacred mist. The omega's body bowed violently, a muffled scream escaping his lips as the runes on his skin blazed like embers—one particularly fierce light stabbing into his chest.

Izuku didn't let go.

He bit deeper.

Harder.

Until he tasted Luna on his tongue—metal and dew, storm and silence. And then, like a final breath, the goddess whispered:

"He will live. But you will bear the weight of what you did... and what you did not."

When Izuku finally wrenched away, staggering, the mark on Kacchan was already sealed: twin crescent moons, raised and angry. And on Izuku's own neck, where light had bled, now sat an identical scar.

Green lightning wreathed his body like living chains.

The price.

Izuku didn't yet know what it would be—only that it would be agonizing. He could feel it.

The bond was forged.

And above them, Luna shone brighter than ever before.

Chapter Text

Hours had passed since Izuku had marked Kacchan.

The mark on his neck burned. It seared as if fire had taken root beneath his skin, pulsing with the same frantic rhythm as his heart. The bond—that invisible, ancient link etched into the deepest part of his soul—hummed in his mind like a constant note. It told him what mattered most: Kacchan is alive. He’s fighting. He’s healing.

Even so, Izuku couldn’t relax.

His entire body ached. His muscles, once taut from battle, were now pushed to extreme exhaustion. His unruly hair was still streaked with his own dried blood, and sweat mingled with tears he no longer knew when had started falling. His face, filthy, felt heavier.

The alpha’s pulse still throbbed where he had bitten deep enough to give his own blood for his omega to drink, right after the mark. His hair clung to his forehead, his chin, his neck—damp, messy, falling into his eyes. But he didn’t care. Nothing mattered more than the two beings asleep in his den: the omega he loved… and the pup they had raised.

Kazuki.

The little one whimpered. A fragile, trembling sound that reverberated straight into Izuku’s core like a blade. It cut deeper than any claw, hurt more than the fight, more than the mark, more than the cold.

Izuku moved carefully, as if the world around him could collapse with one wrong step. Kazuki was curled up in the crib, his tiny body dressed in a light green cotton onesie, visibly uncomfortable. His chubby little arms were stretched above his head, his fingers opening and closing as if searching for something only instinct remembered. His legs kicked uncoordinatedly, and his face—

That face made Izuku’s chest tighten.

His round cheeks were flushed from crying, his eyes still squeezed shut—tiny creases of pure discomfort. His mouth formed a perfect little pout, his lips trembling as he struggled to make sounds between sobs.

The alpha wrapped his large, calloused hands around the pup’s small body. Kazuki curled up entirely, a pure and adorable reflex of a newborn resisting the world around him. His arms folded and pressed against his chest, his legs pulled toward his belly, and his whole body scrunched up, as if he wanted to return to the warmth he knew—an adorable newborn scrunch. A short whimper escaped him, followed by a desperate, sweet little whine, and his tiny nose wrinkled like that of a lost pup.

Izuku couldn’t hold back the sound that escaped his throat. A low, muffled howl, almost a lament. His wolf roared inside him, demanding he do something. That he protect. That he soothe.

His hands—large, calloused, marked by years of battle and now stained with dried blood—cradled the pup with an impossible gentleness, unimaginable for someone of his colossal stature. A shaky sigh escaped through Izuku’s clenched teeth as the pup’s warmth touched his chest.

Kazuki.

The name pulsed in his mind like a mantra. The pup’s warmth was fragile—a faint breath against his cold skin, almost imperceptible against the silent fire still burning beneath Izuku’s muscles, consumed by the newly formed bond and the pain left by the mark. But it was there. Alive. Real. Dependent.

Kazuki trembled in his father’s arms, letting out a tiny sob that barely sounded human—closer to the high-pitched cry of a pup just out of the den. His little mouth opened in a sharp, strained wail, making his already swollen face scrunch up even more. A perfect, tragic little pout formed, and the sound pierced Izuku like an ice arrow straight to the chest.

"Ssshhh…," he whispered, his voice low, rough, almost feral in its rawness. It was still him… but not entirely. "It’s okay, little one… Papa’s here."

But Kazuki wouldn’t calm down. His little eyes—still puffy from crying but opening more and more—searched around with effort. They were a grayish blue, with flecks of green peeking at the edges of his irises, as if the color were waiting to fully emerge. His pupils were dilated, rolling slowly, as if searching for something only instinct could name: his mother’s scent. Milk. The warmth of the skin that had cradled him since the womb.

His head, covered in fine, messy blond strands—sticking out in every direction—burrowed into Izuku’s chest, his little face pressed against the alpha’s dirty shirt, crying softly in a heartbreaking whimper.

Izuku sat down carefully on the futon beside Kacchan, who was still asleep, wrapped in the sheets. The omega didn’t move, but his breathing was steady—strong enough to keep Izuku’s wolf under control. He adjusted Kazuki in his arms with a fierce instinct, as if protecting that tiny body from all the evils of the world was his only purpose now.

One of his hands—long-fingered, rough, marked by scars and bruises—completely enveloped the pup’s chubby little torso, his fingers spread like walls around the tiny ribs hidden beneath the fabric of the green onesie, now slightly stained with blood. The other hand gently stroked the pup’s soft, rounded head, his fine hair damp with sweat, so delicate it felt like feathers.

"You’re so small, Kazuki… so small…" he murmured, more to himself than to the pup, his voice thick with a lump in his throat that seemed impossible to swallow.

Kazuki let out another fussy whimper, a trembling protest that quivered like a leaf in the wind. His little hands opened in spastic movements, his tiny fingers—so pink and plump they looked like little balloons—stretching in the air, searching for something. Izuku offered his index finger, and Kazuki gripped it with surprising strength, as if his entire world depended on holding onto that one piece of safety.

His eyes shone. For a moment, however brief, the crying lessened. But it didn’t stop.

The little red pout returned, even more swollen and shaky, and the pup began sucking at the air, as if searching for nourishment. His movements were instinctive, desperate—his head nuzzled against Izuku’s chest, his lips making wet little noises as he whimpered, rubbing his face back and forth, trying to find something his body knew but didn’t understand.

"Ah, no…" Izuku sighed, smiling painfully. "What are you looking for, little one? That’s something only Mama has, son."

But Kazuki was stubborn. Stubborn like Kacchan. Stubborn like himself.

The pup kept nuzzling, letting out soft little mewls with his mouth open, his face twisting in frustration each time he didn’t find what he wanted. His teary eyes searched for something they couldn’t name. And the sound—that fussy, gasping whimper—made Izuku’s heart beat faster than any battle ever had.

"It’s okay…" he whispered again. His forehead pressed against Kazuki’s, and he closed his eyes for a second, breathing in the pup’s scent—milk, sweat, tears, and love. "Papa’s gonna help you, alright?"

With restrained effort, Izuku leaned to the side, stretching his arm until he reached the wooden crib he had built himself. The piece was simple, a little crooked, but made with his own hands. Inside, there was a small bag with blankets and Kazuki’s pacifier.

He grabbed it and brought it to the pup’s lips, pressing gently against his still-crying mouth.

Kazuki resisted for the first few seconds, but soon, feeling something to suck on, he latched onto it with a soft click as the pacifier settled. His eyes closed again, and he let out a sigh that sounded more like a satisfied little snore.

Izuku melted inside.

One of the sweetest sounds he’d ever heard came from Kazuki then—a trembling murmur, followed by soft little clicks as the pacifier moved rhythmically in his mouth. His tiny fingers still held onto Izuku’s index with a firm grip, and his legs, covered by the onesie that reached his little feet, gave a lazy kick in the air, as if, finally, the world was starting to feel right again.

The alpha couldn’t hold back. A sound escaped his throat—a low, instinctive whine, choked with emotion. He curled his body around the pup, shielding him with everything he had, eyes burning, chest overflowing with love, fear, and reverence.

Kazuki, at last, was calm. And Kacchan was safe.

Everything was too quiet.

Only the rhythmic sound of Kazuki’s breathing filled Izuku’s ears. The little one was finally nearly asleep—the pacifier moving slowly between his trembling lips, his eyes half-lidded, as heavy with exhaustion as his father’s heart. His rosy cheeks rose and fell in a steady rhythm, while his tiny fingers still reflexively clenched now and then beneath his little mittens.

But then, Izuku felt it.

The footsteps.

They came from the east, calculated, cautious—yet still heavy on the ground with the arrogance of those who thought they had the right to approach Izuku’s cabin. Everything around the cabin fell silent. Even the insects stopped chirping, as if nature itself sensed the imbalance.

The wolf inside Izuku immediately raised its head. The sense of danger grew like thunder on the horizon. And with it, his pheromones began to leak.

Thick. Hot. Threatening.

Instinctively, Izuku began to growl. A deep, rumbling sound that rose from his core and climbed up his throat in sharp waves.

He was still in the bedroom. The soft gloom was lit only by the dim, pale candlelight, and the moonlight still bathed Kacchan in something sacred, as if Luna herself were watching over him. Kazuki was in his arms, nestled against his chest, the pacifier still between his lips—though he was beginning to squirm, sensing the abrupt shift in the air.

The pup let out a fussy whimper, a confused little snuffle, his lashes fluttering over his chubby cheeks. His sweet scent began to mix with something sharper. Worry. Alertness. He could feel his father’s distress.

Not now, Izuku thought, holding the pup more carefully against his chest. Not when he just fell asleep...

But the world offered no such peace. Soft knocks sounded at the front door.

"Midoriya? Is everything alright? I heard loud noises coming from here earlier… I came to check on you!" Tenya’s restrained voice cut through the night like a knife, even though it was whispered.

Izuku growled louder.

Kazuki startled.

The pup spat out the pacifier, which fell with a muffled click onto the futon’s fabric, and began to whimper with his eyes still closed, his little face twisting into a trembling pout. His tiny hands reached into the air, searching for something—anything—to cling to. And Izuku felt as if a chain were yanking him back. The wolf inside him howled in fury.

Get them out of here. All of them. Now.

He wanted to fling the door open in his lupine form. Wanted to drag the intruder off the porch and make him understand that this was no place for alphas. But his pup needed him calm. Alive. Rational.

Izuku let out a fierce snarl and fought against instinct, bending down to place Kazuki back on the futon—right between Kacchan’s sleeping arms, in the warm nest built from blankets, furs, and the scent of all three of them. The pup squirmed slightly, seeking warmth, until he sank into his unconscious mother’s chest, letting out a soft little sigh of relief. He still hiccuped quietly, but he wasn’t crying anymore.

Izuku stood motionless for a second.

Watching. Listening.

The growl still vibrated in his chest as he stood and left the room.

With every step he took, his pheromones intensified. They dripped from his skin like invisible sweat, thick with adrenaline and fury, screaming: dominant alpha present—do not approach. They were impossible to ignore. They coated the cabin walls like a hot mist. The air grew heavy, suffocating. The floorboards creaked under his bare feet.

Izuku stopped in front of the front door. The wood was thick, marked by years of use, but now it felt fragile under the weight of what was about to come through it.

"Get out of here," he snarled, low and distorted by the wolf.

Outside, silence answered first. But it didn’t last.

"Midoriya… are you okay?" Tenya pressed. "I can smell your pheromones… you seem… different."

Izuku clenched his teeth so hard his jaw ached. The wolf inside him wanted out. Wanted blood. Wanted to show what happened to those who threatened a den. His eyes glowed an eerie green even in the dim light.

More footsteps. Quick, synchronized.

And then he sensed it. Kirishima’s scent, dense as stone. Sero’s, light and sharp. And Todoroki’s, cold and cutting like the winter breeze now brushing against the doorframe.

Three alphas. Three strong presences, all approaching his home. His den. His newborn pup. His unconscious mate.

Izuku arched his back as if something were about to burst from his skin. The veins in his arms bulged, muscles trembling with energy. His pheromones peaked—a feral, animalistic scent meant to mark territory, to drive out rivals, to declare war.

The air became nearly unbreathable.

He could feel himself losing control. Could feel his fangs lengthening in his mouth. His nails sharpening into claws. The heat of the newly formed bond with Kacchan burned like a live coal inside him, and Kazuki’s scent—so small, so defenseless, so new to the world—made every fiber of his being scream for protection.

They were invading.

And Izuku had never been an alpha to back down.

The wood groaned under his feet as Izuku took a step back. Then another. His chest swelled with fury, with fear, with protective instinct—and with something new. Something that thrummed beneath his skin like thunder before a storm.

On the other side of the door, the alphas kept approaching.

Izuku didn’t wait any longer.

With a violent, wild snarl that echoed like thunder through the sleeping forest, he hurled his body against the door with supernatural force. The wood exploded into splinters, shards flying meters away, and a colossal figure leaped out of the cabin like the very spirit of the moon made flesh.

He was no longer human.

Izuku was wolf now.

His lupine form stood over eight feet tall, muscles rippling beneath dense, dark-green fur crackling with energy. His eyes burned with incandescent green, his muzzle twisted in a brutal snarl. The fur along his spine stood on end, vibrating with unstable power—and then came the sound: crack crack CRACK.

Green lightning began erupting around his body like fractures in reality. It danced between his shoulders, his paws, his chest, and his jaw, illuminating the snow around him with an unnatural glow. This electricity wasn’t normal. Wasn’t natural. It was alive. Sacred. Every discharge made the earth tremble faintly beneath his paws—and the snowflakes that touched his fur simply evaporated into the air.

The light of Luna in the sky suddenly intensified. The moonlight, once silver and pure, began tinging red at the edges. A crimson ring encircled the moon, like blood leaking from the pupil of a furious goddess.

The Blood Moon.

Every alpha’s ancestral instinct reacted immediately.

Tenya, the first to be thrown back by the door’s impact, staggered in the snow, eyes wide at what he saw. Kirishima froze mid-transformation—his own form suddenly seeming small compared to the monstrosity Izuku had become. Sero recoiled on reflex, and Todoroki narrowed his eyes, his breath coming in slow white clouds, his face impassive but muscles tense.

"What... is that...?" Kirishima growled, nearly fully transformed, his body armored in thick, dark-red fur.

But Izuku didn’t answer. Because Izuku was no longer fully there.

The wolf inside him roared, devouring what little rationality remained in his mind. He could barely hold himself back. The mark burned. The bond with Kacchan pulsed with urgency. Kazuki was inside the cabin, so small, so vulnerable… and those alphas were too close.

They are a threat.
They are rivals.
They have to LEAVE.

Izuku roared.

The sound reverberated through the trees, through bones, through the sky. It was more than vocal. It was a proclamation. A command from the earth itself.

Tenya was the first to charge.

His body had already completed its transformation—a tall, muscular form with deep-blue fur that gleamed under the red-tinged moonlight. His paws hit the ground hard as he lunged at Izuku in a flanking maneuver, trying to restrain him.

But there was no restraining this.

Izuku turned with impossible speed—the green lightning that split the air as he swung his forepaw looked like the flash of a falling star. His claws raked across Tenya's shoulder, sending the wolf skidding meters back through the snow with a guttural cry.

"This isn't... normal!" Todoroki growled, his eyes flickering between caution and calculation, already half-shifted into hybrid form, his sharp claws digging into the snow.

Izuku advanced.

He was a mass of muscle, light, and fury. Every step crackled with green sparks against the frozen ground. The air around him trembled. His pheromones were suffocating, brutal, sickeningly dominant. Sero tried to flank him from the side, agile and elastic, but was intercepted by a near-invisible movement from Izuku—a tail made of pure energy slicing through the air, knocking the wolf down instantly.

"Midoriya!" Kirishima shouted. "Calm down! We're your pack! You're losing control, man!"

But Izuku didn’t hear.

Or if he did… it didn’t matter.

The snow recoiled before him. The heat of his electricity vaporized the ground beneath his paws. His body trembled with restrained power. And then, from inside the cabin, Kazuki let out a whimper.

A thin, lonely cry.

Izuku froze instantly.

His head whipped around, ears pricking up, his fury-twisted gaze snapping toward the sound coming from inside. The pup. His son.

It was the tether holding him to the world.

His eyes still burned green. His shoulders still heaved with the living energy of the power he now carried. But he hesitated.

And in that moment, Kirishima lunged, fully transformed, trying to pin him from behind.

The impact sent them both crashing violently into the snow, and another explosion of green energy erupted like lightning striking the earth. A shockwave forced everyone back—and the forest itself screamed in protest.

But there, at the center of the destruction, a wolf panted, eyes incandescent. Snow swirled in eddies around the clearing, tinted green by the sparks still crackling in the air.

Izuku no longer heard.

Not the growls. Not the pleas. Not the faint call of reason.

His body was an extension of instinct. A weapon forged by the goddess. The wolf inside him had taken full control, and what remained of the old Izuku’s consciousness drowned in a tide of protective rage, ancestral power, and desperate fear of losing everything again.

Kazuki.
Kacchan.
The den.

Protect. Expel. Destroy.

Kirishima still tried—bravely, futilely—to lock his forelegs against Izuku’s shoulders, pushing back with all his strength. But it was like trying to stop an avalanche with bare hands. Izuku threw him off with a brutal twist of his body, sending the red wolf tumbling through the snow, panting, the side of his muzzle bleeding from a blow that wasn’t meant to kill—but had the force to shatter stone.

Todoroki moved next, swift, trying to slip in from the opposite side, his lupine form a mess of white and red fur, his large frame elegant for an alpha his size—the biggest of them all facing Izuku now. A white mist trailed his steps, the natural aura of his body—cold, silent, calculated.

He tried to grab Izuku’s tail and drag him down with the combined weight of his body and the snow, but Izuku leaped. Higher than any wolf there had ever seen. A green flash burst beneath his paws, and when he landed, the impact reverberated through the clearing like a drumbeat. The ground caved, and nearby trees shuddered.

"Midoriya!" Iida’s mental voice shouted, panting, his lupine form incomplete, fur bristling and eyes blazing with adrenaline and fear. "Fight this! This isn’t you—you know us! You... you know us!"

But Izuku only snarled in response.

A sound torn from the depths, cavernous, so deep it seemed to come from another age.

And then he locked onto the closest target.

Sero.

The black-furred alpha was on the defensive, paws braced, body poised to dodge, trying not to provoke. But he was still there. In the territory. Near the den.

And that was unforgivable.

Izuku lunged.

He was too fast. A green blur tearing through the air. He slammed into Sero full-force, knocking him into the snow, his massive body looming over him like a living shadow. His claws pressed against the other wolf’s chest, teeth bared, saliva dripping from his elongated fangs.

Izuku’s eyes burned, and the growl that ripped from his throat was deadly. He tensed to sink his teeth in, to tear out the intruder’s throat.

His jaw opened.

Muscles coiled.

Sero grunted in panic, feeling the fur on his neck bristle. There was no time. No one could reach them in time.

But then—everything stopped.

A sound split the night.

A roar.

Not a growl. A roar older than anything the wolves present had ever known. A sound that made the forest itself fall silent, that made the snow stop falling, that made the blood freeze in the veins of every wolf, no matter how dominant.

And before Izuku could react—something collided with him like a bolt of lightning.

He was thrown back, his massive body rolling through the snow in a brutal tumble, green lightning exploding around him as he crashed, skidded, and finally dragged to a stop, leaving a deep trench in the frozen earth.

For a moment, there was only silence.

And then—the presence made itself known.

Toshinori.

The very embodiment of night, strength, and leadership.

He stood at the center of the clearing like a pillar of raw power. His lupine form was even larger than Izuku’s—towering, with long golden fur that shimmered under the moonlight, his electric blue eyes burning like eternal flames. Every step made the ground groan. Every movement radiated control. Authority. The blood of a Prime Alpha.

His tail was vast, undulating like incense smoke, and his fangs gleamed under the red glow of the full moon.

Toshinori didn’t speak a word.

He didn’t need to.

Izuku, staggering, slowly rose to his feet, paws digging into the earth, green lightning still flickering around his body like a living curse. He snarled. He panted. But… he stopped.

Green eyes met blue.

And in that gaze was everything.

Leadership. Fatherhood. Fury. Pain. And love.

Izuku trembled.

His wolf wanted to resist. Wanted to keep fighting. But under that stare—that power—something inside him wavered. Toshinori walked toward him in silence.

"Izuku."

Toshinori stood at the center of the battlefield like a living monument to pack order. His body was vast, a wall of muscle and long golden fur, bright as sunlight before an eclipse. Under the bloody moonlight, he seemed to shine even brighter, as if Luna herself had draped him in her mantle of authority.

Izuku, panting, shoulders still trembling with raw energy, tried to hold his ground. His paws were dug into the earth. The wolf inside him still howled, still wanted to defend the den, still whispered that he was the strongest, the chosen, the one blessed by the goddess.

But not before him.

The roar the pack leader let out wasn’t loud—but it was deep. A low growl, rising from the depths of the earth itself. He approached with ceremonial slowness, as if each step were a beat of the forest’s own heart. The ground trembled under his heavy paws. And with every meter Toshinori closed, Izuku shrank.

His growl returned—but now it was hesitant. Fractured. The instinct to fight still pulsed, but he couldn’t hold. His body began to lower, inch by inch, shoulders bowing, knees buckling. The tail that had been raised in fury began to drop… until it tucked between his legs.

Izuku cowered.

Chest heaving.

Pupils blown wide.

His entire body radiated submission. He trembled—not from fear, but from the invisible force compelling him to yield. His eyes, still glowing green, flickered in confusion, unstable. And when Toshinori finally stood close enough for Izuku to feel the leader’s warmth against his skin… he broke.

Izuku lowered his neck to the ground. His jugular exposed.

The silence that fell over the clearing was ritualistic. The wind stilled. The alphas around them—Kirishima, Iida, Todoroki, even Sero still struggling to rise from the ground, injured—all watched.

Toshinori growled, low, with the weight of a thousand winters and a thousand wars. His fangs bared in a clear display of dominance. And then… he pressed his muzzle to Izuku’s throat, nudging lightly against the offered jugular. With that, Izuku’s power snapped.

As if a thread had been cut inside his chest, the energy exploded in one last desperate spark—a wave of green light enveloped him, dissolving fangs, tail, fur, and claws. His lupine form collapsed, and in its place, trembling and bloodied, lay Izuku’s human body, completely naked, gasping like a spent animal.

His chest rose and fell in spasms. His half-lidded eyes still struggled to comprehend.

But the cost had been high.

As he fell sideways into the snow, a hoarse cry tore from his throat. His left arm bent at an impossible angle. His right leg was blackened with bruises, the bone visibly shattered below the knee.

Izuku tried to speak, but only a trickle of blood escaped his lips.

Toshinori leaned over him, watching with pain and acceptance.

"OFA…" he murmured, his voice echoing even in lupine form. "The goddess’s curse… given only to those she claims for herself."

The leader’s eyes gleamed with recognition.

"A burden for children of the night… a power that does not belong to this world."

Izuku didn’t hear.

His eyes rolled back.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

And then, from between the trees and cabins, new presences emerged. Many.

A crowd.

Wolves of all ranks. Half in human form, half already shifted. Clan members, council elders, guardians. Some had sensed the explosion of energy. Others, the presence of the Blood Moon. All had been drawn by the call of the Primordial.

Toshinori didn’t turn.

Still staring down at Izuku’s unconscious form, he growled over his shoulder.

"Bring the healers. Now."

His voice was an order that brooked no hesitation.

"Tend to the wounded. Treat the alphas. He…" His eyes fixed on the mark pulsing at Izuku’s throat. "He survived. But what he carries… may destroy him."

The snow began to fall again.

And Luna, now fully crimson, seemed to smile down upon them.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

The first thing Izuku felt was pain.

It didn’t come like a stab, but like an old ember buried beneath his skin, reigniting as he woke. It was as if his entire body was being reminded of everything it had endured—the explosion of power, the confrontation, the surrender.

And the collapse.

He tried to open his eyes.

The light was dim, golden, and flickering, as if from an oil lamp. The crooked, dark wooden ceiling loomed above him, cobwebs clinging to unswept corners, and the strong scent of dried herbs hung thick in the air. The walls, also of rough-hewn timber, creaked with the wind outside. It was an old cabin, older than him, older than most of the clan.

Chiyo.

The old healer’s name pulsed in Izuku’s mind before he could even form a coherent thought. His eyelids fluttered slowly, lashes sticking together from dried tears and the sweat still clinging to his forehead.

The alpha tried to move but groaned—low, hoarse, almost animal. Pain erupted in his chest like a sledgehammer—his left arm screamed in protest, and his right leg felt like shattered glass. Even breathing hurt.

Izuku gasped and looked down, the motion making his head spin. His vision took seconds to adjust, but soon he could see:

Bandages. So many bandages.

His chest was tightly wrapped in thick linen strips, soaked in salve. Dark stains marked them—dried blood, maybe some herbal mixture. His left arm was bound to a crude splint, swathed in layers of cloth and strapped to his body with a sling. His right leg, slightly elevated on cushions of stitched pelts, felt as heavy as lead.

Izuku snarled weakly, more from instinct than awareness.

He needed to go.

Kacchan. Kazuki.

Where were they? Why was he alone? How much time had passed?

Panic rose like acid in his throat. His breathing quickened, and despite the pain, he tried to force himself up from the bed of furs. But his body wouldn’t obey. Every muscle ached, throbbed, trembled.

And then, the door creaked.

A slow, dragging sound—old wood pushed carefully. Light footsteps echoed in the small infirmary. The rustle of fabric, a gait so familiar it was comforting.

"Ah, awake already, are we?" came a rough voice.

Chiyo, the old she-wolf.

She stepped into the room with a basket in her hands. Her frame was small, her body wrinkled and thin, wrapped in a faded woolen tunic. Her hair, tied in a messy bun, looked like tarnished silver.

Izuku tried to speak, but his throat only produced a rasp.

Chiyo ignored him. She set the basket on the wooden counter in the corner of the room, where clay pots and bundles of dried herbs hung, then turned slowly. Her eyes, small and shrewd, fixed on the young wolf with a look caught between disapproval and pity.

"Tsk." She approached, hands on her hips. "That trapped-animal look on your face—wondering where your pup is, aren’t you? You barely survived last night. What do you think you can do in this state? Gnaw on a walking stick?"

Izuku snarled again, louder. Weak but stubborn.

Chiyo just rolled her eyes, grabbing a damp cloth and pressing it firmly to his forehead. He tried to pull away, but her grip was unyielding as stone.

"Your father will be here soon. Told you to stay put. And let me tell you—I haven’t seen that wolf order someone to stop so firmly since he was a greenhorn like you."

Izuku closed his eyes, his chest heaving with effort. A whimper escaped him unbidden.

"Kacchan… Kazuki…" he murmured, barely a whisper.

Chiyo wiped the cloth over his brow, but her voice hardened.

"The den is safe. The pup is fine. Your omega still lives. The goddess may have taken her price, but not the worst one. Now you will rest, or I’ll shove hawkroot down your throat until you pass out again."

Izuku bit his lip, his throat tight. Chiyo sighed.

"You woke up alive, boy. Don’t waste that."

She turned back to the table, fussing with the herbs and jars. The sound of the cabin door opening again brought a different kind of silence to the infirmary.

Not the silence of pain.

But the silence of presence.

Chiyo stopped what she was doing immediately—the cloth still in her hand, the clay jar forgotten on the table. Izuku didn’t need to look up to know who it was. He felt it. In the weight of the air. In the heat of the power that walked in with him.

Yagi Toshinori.

The clan leader. The father.

His footsteps were heavy but precise, and the creak of the wood beneath him seemed deeper when he moved. Toshinori was massive—even in human form. His broad shoulders filled the doorway like a living shadow. His muscular chest beneath a thick linen shirt rose and fell in controlled breaths, but his eyes... his eyes hid nothing. They were hard. Blue like sharpened steel. And now, there was a spark of anger in them.

Which was rare.

Izuku immediately tensed, his body stiffening. He tried to sit up further, but the pain made him bite his own cheek. Instead, he lowered his head. His green eyes avoided the blue ones. His chest heaved—with shame, with guilt, with fear of disappointing the wolf he admired most.

"I’m sorry, Father…" he whispered, his voice rough, his eyes still downcast.

Toshinori didn’t answer right away.

He stood there, motionless, watching his wounded son before him. His expression was stern but not cruel. There was worry behind the frown—but it was buried under the gravity of a leader who knew what had just been put at risk.

Finally, he sighed.

A long, weary sound. He ran a large hand through his blond hair, fingers threading through strands that were beginning to gray. The veins in his forearm stood out faintly, and his muscles moved beneath his skin as if always ready to fight—despite the weight of time.

He stepped closer, slow.

"Izuku…" he said, his voice low and firm. "Son. What have you done?"

There was exhaustion in the question. But also an intensity that froze blood.

Izuku hesitated. His eyes welled up. His throat closed as if something were lodged in it. He wanted to apologize again. Wanted to shrink further. But he couldn’t. There was something that needed to be said. In full words. In full consequences.

So he lifted his eyes, trembling.

"I asked the goddess… to save Kacchan."

Toshinori went still. Only the sound of his breathing filled the room.

Chiyo, in the corner, kept her gaze lowered, as if she were hearing too much. But she didn’t interfere. This conversation was sacred. It was between father and child.

Izuku continued, unable to stop.

"I… I didn’t know what to do. He was dying. And Kazuki felt it… and so did I. And I… I couldn’t wait for the ceremony the next night… I couldn’t lose them both. I asked. I asked Luna. I would’ve given anything. And she heard me."

Toshinori clenched his jaw, his expression hardening. His eyes were fixed on Izuku’s now, and in them, there was no longer just anger.

There was pain.

The air between them grew thick, heavy like campfire smoke. The energy radiating from Izuku, even wounded, still trembled faintly in the atmosphere. And Toshinori, more than anyone, knew what that meant.

He stepped closer, until he stood beside the bed. His large hand settled firmly on his son’s uninjured shoulder. There was no visible tenderness. No sweet words. But the gesture… was like an entire embrace.

"You took on a burden you don’t understand," he murmured, his voice quieter now, less harsh. "But you did what you thought was right. As an alpha. As a father."

Izuku bit his lip. A tear fell. Toshinori didn’t wipe it away, but he stayed there. Present.

As he always had.

Yagi remained silent for long seconds, his hand still resting on his son’s shoulder. His palm was heavy, warm, firm as stone, and yet it offered a strange kind of comfort. The kind that came not from words, but from the weight of someone who was used to carrying the world.

Izuku breathed unevenly, feeling the tight bandages still wrapped around his chest. The fever burned beneath his skin, and yet all he could feel was the chill running down his spine as his father prepared to speak.

When Toshinori finally pulled back, it was only enough to sit on the rough stool beside the bed. The wood creaked under his weight. He ran a hand through his hair again, exhaling a restrained strength that seemed to hold him together only by honor and duty.

"You…" he began, his voice low. "You have no idea what you’ve asked for."

Izuku didn’t respond.

He knew. From the moment he felt Luna’s light burn in his throat, when his bones began to crack, when the green electricity started splitting the air around him like the sky itself about to break.

Toshinori continued, his gaze fixed on some point beyond the wall.

"There are legends… too old to be written. Only told in rituals, whispered on moonless nights. Stories of wolves touched by the goddess. Not as a blessing… but as a warning."

Izuku swallowed dryly. His father wasn’t speaking as a leader now—he was speaking as the heir to a history heavier than the earth itself.

"Most wolves think the goddess only chooses those who are worthy," Toshinori said, turning his eyes back to Izuku. "But that’s not true."

He paused, his gaze hardening.

"She chooses those who need to learn to suffer. Those who dared to ask for the impossible… and who will have to bear the price."

Izuku clenched his fingers into the fur blanket. His hands were trembling.

" One For All ," his father said, as if the name were a spell. "A fragment of the goddess. Power too ancient, too heavy… for a body of flesh."

Chiyo, silent in the corner, only listened. She didn’t dare interrupt.

"They say it’s like trying to hold a star inside a bone," Toshinori continued. "It feeds on your body. Demands. Erodes. And if you don’t master it… if you don’t guide that force with balance and devotion… it doesn’t just consume you, Izuku."

His gaze was piercing now.

"It turns you into something that’s no longer wolf. No longer a child of the night. It’s just destruction."

Izuku closed his eyes.

The words echoed deep, like drumbeats in a forgotten ritual. He remembered the feeling. The power throbbing, too vast, his claws sharpening, his friends becoming threats. The clearing turning into a battlefield. Kazuki’s distant cry.

"Then what do I do…?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "How do I… how do I carry this without losing who I am?"

Toshinori leaned forward slightly.

"You train. You listen. And you suffer, Izuku. You'll suffer every day. But you'll learn to hold yourself together in the eye of the storm. Because now…" He touched, with just one finger, the spot between Izuku’s neck and shoulder where remnants of green still shimmered from the newly opened mark. "You no longer live just for yourself. You live for what you carry."

Izuku took a deep breath. He felt the pain. The heat. The fear. But he also felt the echo of something new. A calling. His responsibility was no longer just to Kacchan and Kazuki.

It was to everything.

"Is that… what she wants?" he asked, his voice thick.

Toshinori only looked up, past the crooked wooden roof, as if he could see through the shingles and clouds to the moon still tinged with red.

"The goddess wants nothing, my son. She only watches. And collects."

Chapter Text

Some days ago, Katsuki was still whole. No fever. No heavy eyelids. No death whispering at the corner of his mouth.

He was in the kitchen of Izuku’s cabin, holding his pup in his arms while the woman who insisted on being called "just Inko" smothered him with smiles, scents, and questions.

Kazuki, his little pup, was wrapped in a beige blanket, snuggled against Katsuki’s chest like a ball of warmth and milk, after Katsuki had cleaned up the dynamite the little one had made in his diaper. The pup made soft smacking noises with his mouth as he slept, his eyelashes fluttering occasionally, his chubby little hand gripping the collar of his momma’s loose shirt.

And god fucking damn it, Katsuki didn’t know how to process this. It wasn’t the kind of situation he ever imagined himself in. It wasn’t the kind of affection he knew how to handle.

But he was there, and he couldn’t move.

"Look at him!" Inko exclaimed for the thousandth time, nearly breathless, her hand over her heart. "Izukun was just like this as a pup I swear! Except with rounder eyes… Ah, Kazuki, my sweet little berry, you’re the most beautiful pup to ever grace this kitchen!"

Kazuki is the most beautiful pup to ever walk the earth , the omega corrected silently.

The woman darted between the sink and the stove with so much energy that Katsuki wondered how she didn’t trip over the hem of her own skirt. She had prepared an entire dinner—charcoal-grilled fish, ginger and green onion rice, dark leafy salad with lemon dressing, and even an herbal root tea that she swore soothed fussy pups and irritated alphas. Katsuki was convinced it was all nonsense. The tea only worked because it gave you heartburn and drowsiness at the same time.

But the smell of the food… was good.

That damn house was warm, full of life, loud. And somehow, far too familiar.

Katsuki felt like an intruder. A feral wolf caged in the middle of a flower field. But Kazuki slept so peacefully, his little body limp, his mouth making tiny involuntary puckers…

And Inko smiled at him— him , a stranger, an omega—like he was an old friend. Like Katsuki had always been part of that pack.

It was weird. Fucking confusing.

Even more so because Inko was… familiar, Katsuki thought, narrowing his eyes as he watched her profile.

She was just an ordinary omega woman. Petite. Full of smile lines. With arms strong from years of taking care of everything and everyone. But there was something about her… something in the way she spoke to his pup, the way she wiped the corner of Kazuki’s mouth with her fingers, the way she clicked her tongue before telling some absurd story about Izuku eating dirt when he was two.

Katsuki had never seen her before. Not really.

But something inside him clenched every time she called him "sweetheart" or when she held Kazuki with firm, steady hands, rocking the pup against her shoulder like she’d done it her whole life.

Like she’d always been a grandmother.

"He’s warm, just like Izuku was…" she whispered at one point, holding Kazuki to her chest, her eyes misty. "And so calm. He’s got the soul of a quiet wolf. But I bet he’ll have his mama’s temper." She winked at Katsuki. "I can already see that grumpy little face."

Katsuki huffed. Who did the old lady think she was? She didn’t even know him! But the blond omega couldn’t hide the tightness in his chest.

The table was set with care. Wooden utensils. Clay cups. A folded blanket on the chair where he sat, in the right corner—"so his back wouldn’t get cold while nursing Kazuki if he woke up." He didn’t say anything, but never, never , had anyone cared about his comfort like that.

And then, of course, came the damn conversation.

After the tea, after Kazuki woke up, cried, and nursed with loud little noises, Toshinori sat at the head of the table with a grave expression and started talking about the fucking ceremony.

About the mark.

About duty.

"It’s an honor, Katsuki."

"For centuries, these rituals have been performed to forge bonds before the goddess and the clan."

"You’ll be healthy again once you’re marked under the full moon."

And Katsuki only heard half of it. The other half was focused on Kazuki sleeping in his arms again. The warm skin against his chest. The soft, milky scent. The stupid feeling of… home.

The craziest part was that, for a moment, everything felt okay. The dinner, the warmth of the fireplace, Inko’s muffled laughter in the background. And for a second, Katsuki thought that maybe… he could have this.

Until everything went to hell a few days later.

And now, the same body that had held Kazuki so carefully could barely breathe.

But that night…

That fucking confusing night.

He had let himself imagine a world where life wasn’t just about survival.

Just one day before the damn ceremony, Katsuki’s body began to fail. Slowly, sneakily, like a trap closing around his throat.

At first, he felt his chest grow heavy, the air scraping as he breathed, like his lungs were full of glass shards. But he ignored it. Like he always did. Pain was pain. He’d survived worse. A weird ache in his heart? A fucking creeping heat? He’d push through.

Except it didn’t go away.

By nightfall, the fever exploded.

It burned from the inside out, like his blood had turned to fire. Every muscle throbbed, and even the dim light of the cabin hurt his eyes. His whole body ached, and it wasn’t normal pain. It was deep, rooted pain, like his soul was being squeezed. Like his body was collapsing—cell by cell—in one final protest.

Katsuki cried.

Fucking cried.

Katsuki hated this with every drop of pride he could still scrape together.

But the strangest thing was the silence. He didn’t hear Izuku screaming. Didn’t hear Kazuki crying even more desperately. Didn’t hear anyone’s voice calling his name.

Everything went dark. Everything turned to black.

But it wasn’t peace.

It wasn’t that silent, colorless, memoryless end he’d always imagined.

It wasn’t just blacking out.

It was a fucking living void. A vacuum sucking everything inward. And suddenly, he wasn’t in the present anymore. Wasn’t in the warm nest. Wasn’t in Izuku’s arms.

He was back in hell. The old pack.

The memories didn’t return in a straight line. They came in flashes. Cuts. Blows.

A bonfire burning in the middle of the woods. Alphas laughing loud, blood on their teeth. The smell of raw meat. Bones being cracked between jaws. An omega crying against a tree. The mark on their neck bleeding.

Katsuki lying in the mud, his face pressed into the dirt by a heavy paw.

"If you don’t submit, you don’t survive."

"You reek of disgrace."

Fuck.

By fourteen, he already knew how to hide injuries. Already knew how to wrap strips of cloth around his body to cover bite marks.

Already knew how not to cry too loudly at night.

Most of them never shifted back to human form.

They were beasts.

Animals. Primal.

They lived from territory to territory, snarling as if hierarchy was natural law—and to them, it was. Omegas couldn’t raise their voices. Couldn’t look an alpha in the eye without lowering their heads.

And if they were marked? They were property.

But Katsuki?

He never fucking lowered his head. He never let himself be marked. Katsuki did everything those damn alphas despised. Maybe that’s why the bastards lost interest in marking him. Maybe that’s why he got beaten so much.

But it was also why he learned to bite back. To spit blood and still smirk. To endure days without eating, just so he wouldn’t have to crawl for scraps.

He survived because he was too stubborn to die. Because deep down, so deep down, he believed there was something better.

Even if he didn’t know what.

Now, in the middle of the darkness, this was where his mind returned.

To the smell of wet earth. To the sound of bones breaking. To the certainty that there, in that pack, he’d never be anything more than a body.

His body trembled.

Even unconscious, he trembled like the soul of that fourteen-year-old boy was still trying to escape. The silence felt eternal. No time. No space. No way out. The darkness swallowed everything—thought, memory, body.

Katsuki sank.

And sank.

And sank.

But then… came the roar. It was an ancient roar, bigger than the world. The very darkness shuddered as if something colossal had awakened. Katsuki felt it before he heard it.

A shock ran down his spine, electrifying his bones, wrenching a raw groan out of him. His body, once weightless and loose, floating in the void, trembled as if remembering it still existed.

And then the roar came again.

Louder.

Deeper.

More… alive.

A primordial call. Fierce. Wild. And somehow, familiar.

Katsuki gasped.

The nonexistent breath around him condensed into vapor, as if something warm began circulating in his chest again. The ground—which wasn’t there—shook. The space—which was nothing—cracked.

And then came the second sound.

A howl.

Pure.

Long.

Terrifying and beautiful.

Katsuki’s chest responded before he even knew what he was doing. A guttural sound tore from his throat. The wolf inside him howled back.

The darkness around him splintered.

Light.

A golden thread ignited on the shapeless horizon, snaking like smoke through invisible cracks. At first, faint. Like the edge of the moon on a cloudy night. But slowly, it spread. Grew. Unfurling in concentric circles, as if the world had started breathing again.

The light wasn’t warm or cold. It was something divine, untouchable, made of everything that couldn’t be named.

Katsuki fell to his knees. The ground beneath him, now solid and dark like obsidian, pulsed under his bare feet. He was naked. But not vulnerable.

He was broken. But not alone.

The light touched his skin, and where it touched, it hurt. But not like normal pain. It felt like healing. His senses, once dulled, began screaming. He could smell earth. Wind. Blood. He could taste the milk Kazuki had spit up on the sheets the morning before. The sound of Inko’s muffled laughter. The rhythm of Izuku’s breathing as he slept.

Everything was coming back.

But at the center of the nothingness where he now stood, the light condensed, taking shape. The shape of something massive.

The shadow in the center of the light was tall. Slender. Cloaked in mist and stars. Its eyes glowed like full moons. And its hair—long, floating like water—seemed made of silver smoke.

Luna-sama.

He knelt. Chest heaving. The wolf inside him howling in reverence and fear.

The figure opened its arms and the howl came again. Straight to the chest. Straight to the soul.

Like a thunder that pierced flesh and bone to say: get up.

You are not finished yet.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

Katsuki’s mouth opened with a sharp gasp, sucking in air like a drowning man breaking the surface. His lungs dragged in that first ragged breath with effort, and he coughed lowly, eyes squeezed shut, throat burning as if he’d swallowed embers.

His whole body felt heavy. Slow, almost numb. But…

Nothing hurt. Except… his neck.

The burn there was alive. Pulsing, searing like a fresh wound. He lifted a trembling hand, fingers brushing the spot—and felt a raised welt. Firm, hot to the touch, slightly throbbing, shaped like two crescent moons.

The second his fingers grazed it, a wave of pain and something else—something strange, hot, intense —shot down his spine like lightning.

Katsuki gasped. His whole body shuddered.

Fuck , it couldn’t be… could it? The bonding mark.

"The hell…" he rasped, voice rough, throat dry as sand.

But something was… different.

Everything was different.

He felt good .

Ridiculously good.

His body felt clean, light, as if someone had ripped out the exhaustion, the chronic pain, the constant ache in his joints with their bare hands.

For the first time since his pregnancy, there was no weight in his lungs. No pain in his ribs. None of that goddamn weakness that made him drag himself from room to room.

He breathed easily. Blood rushed hot and fast through his veins, full of energy.

He was… alive.

More than alive.

Strong.

His vision, blurry at first, slowly cleared. Pale, soft light filtered through the window, and he recognized the wooden ceiling above him—the crooked beams, the dark stains of time. The scent of the cabin—old hanging herbs, soft furs, burnt firewood—drifted in, filling his nose with familiarity.

Mint and cedar. Nest.

He was in Izuku’s futon.

Fuck.

Memory hit him like a punch to the chest. His heart failing. His body burning from the inside. Kazuki crying as the world faded.

He’d died.

Katsuki’s stomach twisted. His hands clenched the blanket beneath him. He’d felt his body giving up. Felt the tether to the world slipping through his fingers. Felt his soul sliding out of his flesh.

And now… now he was here. Breathing. Seeing. Hearing.

…

Fuck how.

That didn’t matter right now. Where the fuck was Kazuki?

Instinct screamed so loud he sat bolt upright, biting back a groan as his still-healing body protested—but he ignored every warning signal. His eyes raked the room like sharp claws, searching for any sign, his nose scenting the air. His chest heaved, breath short and heavy, heart pounding unevenly.

"Kazuki…" he growled, low, more a hoarse whisper than a call.

He was about to throw off the blankets, to stand even if his bones broke in the process, when the bedroom door creaked open—the soft groan of old wood yielding to use.

Katsuki froze.

And then… the sight hit him like a strike of light.

Inko stepped in, little Kazuki cradled in her arms.

"Ah! Kazuki-kun, Mama’s awake~" she cooed, not yet noticing Katsuki’s state.

Katsuki couldn’t react at first because everything … everything stopped.

Kazuki was wrapped in a soft, light blue blanket, his face tucked against Inko’s shoulder, chubby arms curled under his chin. His messy blond hair was even wilder than usual, some strands sticking to his sweaty forehead. His half-lidded eyes, still puffy with sleep, blinked open slowly.

And then… A tiny smile. Sloppy. Crooked. But the most beautiful fucking thing Katsuki had ever seen.

Kazuki let out a little noise—a mix of a squeak and a sigh—and stretched his arms clumsily, as if reaching. His little legs kicked lazily, and his drooly mouth opened in a dramatic yawn, followed by a tiny… burp.

Inko chuckled, swaying the pup gently.

"This pup’s got a biological clock even the moon can’t match. Felt Mama waking up, didn’t you? Hmm, Kazuki?"

Katsuki’s heart sank, soared, shattered, exploded, and rebuilt itself all at once. Kazuki. His pup. Was okay. Rosy, warm, alive. Skin perfect, the sweet scent of milk and nest filling the whole room.

"Hey, you little gremlin…" he murmured, his voice so soft he barely recognized it.

Katsuki immediately lifted his arms, wordlessly demanding his pup. Inko stepped closer, kneeling carefully beside the futon.

So Katsuki stretched out his arms urgently, and Inko handed over the pup with careful hands.

Kazuki’s small, chubby body curled in, his little legs tucked, his round butt sticking up, and his plump arms stretched out—as if he still thought he could fit inside his momma’s womb.

The contact was like rebooting the world. The pup settled perfectly against Katsuki’s chest.

Kazuki nuzzled into his momma with a satisfied sigh, his tiny fingers reflexively opening and closing. His little mouth found the space between shoulder and neck, rubbing against Katsuki’s scent like he was marking his territory.

Katsuki hugged his pup like the world would collapse if he didn’t.

He squeezed Kazuki tight, as if the pup might slip through his fingers and disappear again. His body still trembled slightly—caught between relief and the fever’s aftermath, between the phantom pain of death and the miracle of being here, with him.

Kazuki sniffled quietly, his nose pressed into the curve of Katsuki’s shoulder. His little body was warm and heavy. His legs folded, his feet kicking the air without rhythm, like he was swimming in a dream.

"You’re here… I’m here…" Katsuki whispered, voice low, throat tight.

The pup grumbled, a muffled sound of pure sleepiness and hunger.

Kazuki was squirming now, his face scrunching up in that exact expression of someone who knew precisely what they wanted. Like the little brat he already was, his mouth opened in uncoordinated movements, his eyes still half-lidded but already wearing that spoiled look—his nose wrinkled, lips twisting like the whole world owed him something.

Inko chuckled softly, sitting beside the futon with eyes shining with tenderness.

"Ohh… look at that grumpy face. It’s just like yours, Katsuki-kun!"

Katsuki huffed, but his chest tightened. It was insane. The world still felt unsteady, like he might wake up any second back in that cold darkness.

But Kazuki was here. And the little menace was hungry.

The pup started rubbing his face more insistently, his noises growing louder—a trapped, indignant whine. His little hands flailed demandingly.

"Tch, you really think I’m your personal snack, huh, gremlin?" Katsuki murmured, already loosening his shirt with shaky fingers. "Yeah, yeah, I got it, you little pest."

Inko just watched, not interfering, a soft smile on her lips.

Katsuki pulled open the top of his shirt with trembling hands, the rough fabric brushing against his heated skin. The cool air of the room hit his exposed chest, but the warmth of the squirming little body in his arms canceled out any discomfort.

Kazuki latched effortlessly, as if he was made to fit right there—in that space between Katsuki’s chest and heartbeat. His round, warm body molded naturally against his momma’s skin. Katsuki adjusted him carefully, cradling the back of his head with one hand while guiding his mouth.

Kazuki didn’t hesitate. The hungry little gremlin latched on hard , like he hadn’t eaten in hours.

The first pull made Katsuki release an unexpected sigh. Low. Deep. His breath sinking into his chest like something had finally unlocked. His eyes closed—not from pain, but from relief.

For the first time since giving birth, nursing didn’t hurt. It didn’t drain his energy like a merciless leech. It didn’t make his bones ache, didn’t leave him feverish. He still felt that damn thirst that came with milk production—his throat dry, his body begging for water—but that was it.

And the craziest part?

It felt good.

It was… easy. Natural , even.

Kazuki nursed with hunger, with urgency, with that disproportionate strength only the smallest pups had—as if he wasn’t just sucking milk, but security, presence, love. The sounds he made were constant, muffled—a primal little melody filling the room with life.

His chubby fingers were curled, but two of them gripped Katsuki’s shirt tightly, tugging and kneading like he was saying, "Hold me." His right foot kicked lazily in the air while the other pressed against Katsuki’s stomach, like an anchor.

His eyelids fluttered. His eyes were half-open, milky and bright, like they were dipped in dreams.

Every now and then, he’d stop sucking for a second, pout, let out a sigh that sounded more like a tiny cat’s purr, then go back to nursing with even more hunger. His mouth worked like a tiny, efficient machine. It was disgustingly cute.

And Katsuki—who should’ve been focused on the recent chaos, on the near-death, on the void of darkness, on the mark burning his neck, even on the damn alpha who wasn’t here—could only stare at this adorable little gremlin.

And when Kazuki’s tiny hand squeezed his skin with that dumb newborn reflex, Katsuki curled over him just a little more— protecting, shielding, offering warmth.

Life had almost been ripped from him.

But here, with his son at his chest, with those satisfied little noises and that stubborn little mouth latched on tight, Katsuki knew with absolute certainty:

He was back. Fuck , he was back.

The omega smiled. A small, crooked, satisfied smile.

The hungry little shit was still nursing like he wanted to suck out Katsuki’s soul along with the milk, his eyes half-closed, his mouth working rhythmically, strong, chubby. Kazuki made wet little noises, half-clicking, sometimes letting out a rough little grunt mid-suck, like he was trying to say something.

Katsuki lowered his head slowly and kissed his forehead.

Kazuki smelled like milk and clean blankets. Like pup. But he also smelled like his. And that — fuck , that made Katsuki’s chest ache in a way no knife, no memory of the old pack, no near-death ever had.

He pulled the pup a little closer, and then his whole body responded.

It came from within. Like a whisper between his ribs. A heat that wasn’t fever. A pressure deep in his throat, his chest, his stomach. Pheromones.

The wolf inside him woke—not with fury, but with urgency. With raw love.

Mark him. He’s yours. He needs to know. The world needs to know.

And Katsuki didn’t argue.

The purring came automatically—a low, rhythmic sound vibrating through his chest and into Kazuki’s skin. The pup squirmed in his arms, his little feet kicking the air lazily, feeling the vibrations from his momma’s body.

And, in the most goddamn adorable way possible, the little shit responded —in his own way, the only way he knew how—with a series of short, clumsy, stuttered little grunts, like he was trying to mimic his momma’s purr.

It sounded more like a tiny, stuffy-nosed kitten than anything remotely wolf-like…

But to Katsuki, that sound was almost sacred. Little fucking gremlin.

Katsuki pressed his face into the pup’s head, nuzzling against the fine, messy blond strands on his soft little scalp. And then, gently, he released his pheromones.

The whole cabin seemed to breathe with him.

The scent spread in the air—warm, thick, enveloping. An unmistakable aroma that wasn’t just omega. It was mother.

Kazuki sighed against his chest, his tiny fingers curling into little fists as he nursed with even more focus, like he was anchoring himself. Katsuki’s purr deepened, almost feline. Instinct pulsed through every fiber of his being, like he himself was a living song of protection.

He’s mine. My pup. His wolf snarled it to the whole world.

But… then something itched inside him.

Something was missing.

Katsuki’s eyes snapped up, brow furrowing.

He was still releasing his own pheromones, still marking Kazuki with scent, warmth, touch. But there was another presence that wasn’t here. Another mark that hadn’t been left.

The alpha didn’t mark him.

Izuku’s absence cut through the air like a cold blade. Katsuki’s wolf growled low in frustration. He couldn’t do this alone. It wasn’t meant to be done alone! Kazuki needed both their scents.

He needed a complete nest.

Where the fuck was that useless, shitty alpha?!

Katsuki’s chest ached, but now for a different reason. His wolf wanted Izuku to walk into that room right now —with those stupid green eyes, that strong alpha scent—and wrap them both in that raw, protective warmth of his.

His wolf wanted Izuku close.

Mark him, dammit. He’s your son too.

But there were no footsteps. No muffled growls. No tremble of an alpha’s presence approaching.

Katsuki’s frown deepened, and his breathing—which had been calm thanks to Kazuki’s warmth—started coming shorter, uneven. His wolf stirred, restless. The mark on his neck throbbed.

Where was that idiot?

Inko, still sitting beside the futon, watching Kazuki’s lazy movements with soft eyes, seemed to immediately catch the shift in Katsuki’s body.

She looked at him with that expression of someone who’d raised a stubborn alpha before—and knew exactly when an omega was about to lose their fucking emotional grip.

"Ah, Katsuki-kun, dear…" she started, voice smooth like warmed honey. "Izuku got… hurt."

Katsuki locked up.

His body froze completely.

Crimson eyes widened, sharp and alert, snapping violently toward the older omega.

Hurt?

The word detonated inside him like thunder.

Kazuki kept nursing, oblivious to the chaos, letting out a tiny "hic" of a burp like he’d swallowed too much air between sucks. His little hands were still fisted in Katsuki’s shirt.

He was purring again, but not even the pup could stop the flare of rage that burned through Katsuki’s chest.

" How?! " the omega snarled, voice higher than he wanted, more desperate than he’d planned. "What the fuck did he do?! "

Inko sighed, smoothing the fabric on her lap like she’d expected this reaction. Her eyes, though gentle, were more serious now. Heavy with the weight of someone who’d seen their own son break bones on impulse.

"It was a… conflict," she said, choosing her words carefully. "But he’s alive. And conscious. His body is still healing, and he’s… well, he’s with Toshi-kun now. Talking. I think… trying to understand things."

Katsuki clenched his teeth. His wolf snarled, a hot wave of anger and agitation crawling under his skin like lit gunpowder.

He wanted answers. He wanted the alpha in front of him, NOW. He wanted to smell the blood, assess the injuries, understand every damn decision. To care for him, maybe. Or break him in half for being stupid enough to leave while his omega was right there, fucking dying.

But beneath the anger, beneath the fury, there was an even more unbearable need.

He wanted Izuku close.

Within reach. Or punching distance, fuck, either worked. Because now— shit, now—Izuku was his alpha.

Mate.

He wasn’t just the sire of his pup anymore. Not just the idiot who purred in his sleep or stammered when nervous. Not just the man who held Kazuki like he was made of glass and prayed for them without knowing if anyone was listening.

Izuku was the goddamn alpha Katsuki carried in his skin.

In his soul.

He felt it all the time. Like a constant presence, crawling under his flesh, clinging to his bones, seeping into his instincts. There was no denying it now. The bond was there. Strong. Steady. Fucking present.

It was like poison his body had accepted. Like fire that warmed and burned at the same time. It was like the bastard was there, even when he wasn’t.

Katsuki could feel him if he tried.

Not just the scent. Not just the presence. The fucking essence. He could feel Izuku’s pain like a memory—the tension in the alpha’s muscles, the forced weakness, the exhaustion seeping through the bond. And more than that: the strength.

That goddamn strength bleeding through the bond, feeding Katsuki’s body. Pushing life into him like a continuous breath. Like a living vow.

And fuck, it was too much.

Because surviving wasn’t enough. Waking up and finally feeling his body working without pain, without fever, without weakness— that wasn’t enough.

No.

Katsuki knew the reason. Izuku had given his own blood—it wasn’t just a figure of speech. He’d literally drunk from the alpha, like he was supposed to if that damn ceremony had happened.

In that mark, Izuku had opened himself and given everything. Forced his energy into Katsuki’s body like he was saying: Live, damn it. Live, even if I die for it.

And Katsuki’s body thrummed with it.

Izuku’s strength was in him. Flowing through him like some fucking sacred electric current. Every cell that didn’t hurt, every muscle that no longer trembled—that was Izuku.

And that…

That left Katsuki fucking exposed.

Vulnerable.

Because it wasn’t just about survival anymore. Wasn’t just about being the pup’s momma. Now he was bonded. Marked. Belonging.

And that… that made his skin prickle with irritation. Made his chest ache with wounded pride. He’d always been the wolf who bit back, always been the omega who didn’t bow, always been the body that got up after falling—even if it meant dragging his own organs behind him.

And now he was marked.

Belongs to him. Needs him.

And that was fucking beautiful, at least to his stupid omega wolf. To him, it was fucking unfair.

Confusion tangled in his throat, mixed with rage, mixed with the love he refused to name. He felt betrayed. But he also felt honored.

Fuck. What kind of bullshit was this?

His wolf snarled, wanting the alpha’s scent, the alpha’s touch, the alpha’s warmth—and the fucking taste of the alpha’s blood dripping from his teeth for leaving him alone that night.

Alone with Kazuki. Alone while his life bled out of his skin. And that pissed Katsuki off, because how could he hate something that was now part of him? How could he want to kill the bastard and at the same time bury himself in his chest until the scent clung to his soul?

He growled. Fuck, he wanted the bastard here with him, now.

Kazuki, in his arms, grumbled in protest, his little nose wrinkling. Brat. Katsuki closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Izuku better have an explanation.

Better have a reason.

Better… get here soon.

Because if he took much longer… Katsuki was gonna rip him in half. Or maybe kiss him unconscious. Or both. He wasn’t sure yet, and he hated that.

He hated even more the fact that he could feel—deep in his chest—how much he missed Izuku. His absence ached in a place Katsuki hadn’t even known existed, like the air itself was heavier to breathe without the damn idiot nearby.

Kazuki, still in his lap, was half-nursing, half-making soft little noises with his mouth. His face was smushed against Katsuki’s chest, his chubby cheeks flushed, his nose lightly scratching skin as he let out muffled little snores. His tiny hands were curled into fists, and his feet kicked lazily every now and then, fighting sleep. His lips kept moving rhythmically even between grumbles, and a warm, sweet drool was already lazily dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Katsuki grabbed the handkerchief Inko handed him and wiped the drool-milk mix from the pup’s mouth, earning a grumble for "interrupting" his meal. How the fuck was this little shit so small and so important at the same time? How was it possible to love something so much it hurt his bones?

The answer was simple. Because he was his. And Izuku’s.

He growled internally.

He’s his alpha, and Katsuki didn’t know what to do with that. He’d always known how to live alone. Survive. Be an omega who didn’t bow to any damn alpha. But now Izuku pulsed with every heartbeat. Was in every cell of his body. And Katsuki hated how unstable, how vulnerable that made him. Fuck, he even dreamed about that scent now.

And then fate—that sarcastic son of a bitch—decided to mess with him again.

The cabin’s front door creaked open—slow, long.

Katsuki knew who it was before the footsteps, before the rustle of fabric, even before the scent. He felt it. In his chest. In the bond. In his bones.

Izuku.

Bastard. Idiot. Reckless. Izuku.

The bond between them vibrated like a string pulled too tight, ready to snap. Katsuki felt pain that wasn’t his crawl up his spine. His arm and leg muscles throbbed like they were Izuku’s. His chest tightened like he’d taken a hit there too. But the scent… the scent was worse.

Anxiety. Fear. Exhaustion. But more than that—the scent of an alpha coming home.

Katsuki clenched his jaw so hard his teeth ached. His throat tightened. His wolf thrashed inside him, ready to run, to lunge, to throw himself at that scent, that presence, that warmth that was his by right. He wanted to scream. Wanted to kiss. Wanted to bite. Wanted to kill.

Footsteps approached.

Heavy. Dragging. Wrong.

And then he heard Toshinori’s low voice murmuring something—too quiet to make out, but thick with concern. The old man was… helping Izuku walk? Seriously? What the fuck had that idiot done?

Katsuki held Kazuki tighter. He wanted to drop everything, toss the pup into the nest, and run to the cabin’s entrance, shift right there, turn into a wolf and bite the bastard right in the chest. Wanted to sink his teeth in and rip out chunks of flesh until Izuku explained. Wanted to see the pain, the fear, the apology in his expression. Wanted everything.

But he couldn’t.

He had a pup sleeping on his chest.

Their pup.

He couldn’t just drop Kazuki.

So he stayed there, waiting, his heart pounding so hard it hurt. His entire body was tense, vibrating with the approaching presence. Jaw locked. Breath short.

When the bedroom door opened, Katsuki didn’t move.

Izuku appeared first, leaning pathetically on his father. His left arm was bandaged and pressed to his chest, his right leg in a makeshift splint. He was covered in bruises, his torso wrapped in bandages, his hair messier than ever—and his eyes… those green eyes fixed on him like he was seeing a miracle.

"K-Kacchan…"

His voice came out shaky, choked. Like Izuku was about to collapse again. Like he didn’t even know if he should step forward or run.

Katsuki blinked. And everything inside him flared back to life.

The love.

The hate.

The longing.

The fury.

The fucking bond vibrating.

The scent of blood.

The scent of his mate.

The scent of his.

Kazuki woke with a tiny noise, blinked twice, and—still latched to his momma’s chest—let out a lazy "hic." Katsuki closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he finally opened his mouth to speak, the only thing that came out was:

"You got three seconds to explain this shit before I get up and shove that crutch up your ass, Izuku."

And yeah, maybe his voice was thick. Maybe his eyes were too bright. Maybe he wanted to run and hug him. Maybe.

But Izuku was gonna have to explain himself first. And well.

Because now the bastard was his alpha —and Katsuki didn’t accept half-assed bullshit.

He could still feel his blood boiling under his skin, still wanted to stand up and snarl, scream, bite… but Kazuki was in his lap, their pup, now sleeping with his little mouth slightly open, a drool bubble almost forming on his lower lip, his eyebrows furrowed like he was having a very serious dream about infinite milk or it being too cold.

The silence in the room was tense. Thick.

Inko stood with a soft sigh, and with that sad smile of someone who’d seen their child suffer more than they deserved, she ran her hand through Izuku’s unruly hair one last time. Then she gave Katsuki a look of respect —like she was saying "he’s yours now" —and left.

Toshinori helped Izuku limp carefully to the chair beside the futon, an old wooden one that creaked under the broken alpha’s weight, then followed his omega out, closing the door softly behind him.

Izuku bit the inside of his cheek, visibly trying to swallow everything he was feeling—and failing miserably.

The tears started falling as soon as he sat down.

Silent. Heavy. Tracking down his dirty face like his body had given up pretending to be strong.

Katsuki watched him. Quiet. But it was a dangerous kind of quiet, the kind that comes before the storm. The anger was still there, swirling like a hurricane in his chest. But it was mixed with fear, with relief, with that fucking desperate longing his pride refused to admit.

Izuku took a deep breath, his voice breaking before the words even came out.

"I-I… thought I lost you…"

The words hit Katsuki like a punch to the gut. He wanted to snarl of course you fucking lost me, that no alpha should leave their omega alone to die, what kind of shitty mate—?!

But he didn’t say anything.

Just held Kazuki tighter against his chest.

The pup made a noise of protest, wrinkled his nose, and slowly opened his eyes. He blinked up at the ceiling, milk-drunk, once, twice—then looked right at Izuku.

And smiled. That clumsy, lopsided way, his lower lip trembling in an almost-smile—or at least it looked like a smile, because at three weeks old, the pup was too new to do anything consciously. But to Katsuki? That was a smile. The kind that hit right in the chest.

That toothless, crooked little grin, eyes still puffy but bright.

Izuku broke.

He lifted his good hand slowly, pressing it to his own eyes like he could hold back the tears. His body shook. And for a moment, he looked so small… so unlike the fierce alpha Katsuki knew.

Izuku tried to speak again.

"Kacchan… I… I didn’t know if you’d wake up. And I… I didn’t want you to… to die without knowing. So I asked. Luna… I begged her. With everything… W-with my soul… I… I gave what I had. Everything she wanted. Just… just wanted to bring you back."

His voice was low, choked, wet with tears and built-up desperation.

Katsuki froze, eyes widening.

Luna?

What the fuck had that bastard done?

Chapter Text

Katsuki was still paralyzed.

His eyes wide, hard as stone, fixed on the pitiful figure of the alpha sitting in front of him. Kazuki squirmed in his arms, letting out soft, wet whimpers, his little mouth smacking against the skin of his chest, but even the pup’s comforting warmth couldn’t distract Katsuki from what he’d just heard. Izuku had brought him back to life. Not as a figure of speech. Not as a metaphor for bonds or willpower.

Literally.

The bastard had given blood, soul, life—everything—in exchange for his. Izuku had pulled him back. Katsuki had died, n ot felt like he was dying, n ot almost died

Died.

And the damn man in front of him… the son of a bitch sitting there, with his fucked-up arm and his leg barely able to touch the ground, had made a deal with some fucking lunar goddess to drag him back from the other side. The wolf inside Katsuki thrashed. Growled. Screamed. Confused. Furious.

And, more than anything… terrified, because this shit was too big. Too heavy. Too intimate. Izuku hadn’t just marked him. He’d sealed something far greater. He’d thrown himself to the edge of the abyss, just to pull Katsuki back by his teeth. Katsuki was fucked in so many ways he didn’t even know where to start.

"You…" His voice came out hoarse, torn, more air than sound.

He tried to speak again, but the words failed, tangling in his throat like thorns.

Kazuki let out a tiny sneeze, like a bubble popping, followed by a small hiccup, still nursing lazily without much coordination. His chubby little hand rose and patted Katsuki’s chest sluggishly, as if asking for quiet. The pup yawned right after, his tiny mouth stretching into such a wide "O" that his round little chin trembled.

But not even he could save the chaos inside Katsuki now.

"You’re a fucking idiot, Izuku!" he finally exploded, his voice too loud for the size of the room, for the moment, for the sleeping pup.

Kazuki flinched at the shout, his body curling in as he let out a quick whimper and squirmed in his mother’s hold.

Izuku, from the chair, groaned in pain, his good hand gripping the wooden armrest as he hunched slightly, trying to suppress another spasm. His face was still streaked with tears, but now it was physical pain that dominated his expression.

Katsuki hated him for it.
For leaving him.
For coming back.
For suffering for him.
For being his alpha now.

"You think you can just bring me back like it wouldn’t destroy you?!" he snarled, quieter now but more threatening. "You think I’d be okay knowing you gave everything ? That you tore yourself apart for me?!"

Katsuki felt wounded, more fucking vulnerable than ever, because he was the weak one. A fucking weak omega who made his alpha sacrifice himself for him.
Who made his alpha nearly trade his own life for Katsuki’s. Who made his alpha get hurt and now owe his very soul to a goddess.

Izuku lifted his face, his tear-filled eyes locked onto Katsuki’s.

"Yes," he answered firmly, even in his weakness. "Because I wasn’t going to let you go. I’d sacrifice myself a thousand times if I had to. You… you’re my mate , Kacchan. You’re what I have. You and Kazuki. I’d do it all over again."

That fucking sentence hit like a punch to Katsuki’s gut.

Mate.

Izuku had called him mate.
Not "omega."
Not "Kazuki’s mother."
Mate.

Katsuki felt his entire body react. The mark on his neck burned. His bond vibrated, as if echoing that name deep in his bones. And that… that was too much.

"You son of a bitch…" he whispered, voice cracking.

And before he could stop himself, he was already on his feet.

Kazuki still clung to his chest, grumbling quietly at the sudden movement. The pup’s face scrunched into a displeased pout, and he began to whine, tiny arms lifting in protest, demanding the right to continue his nap.

Katsuki ignored him.

Took two steps toward Izuku, whose eyes widened. Then the omega leaned in and bit.

Not his throat.

But the uninjured shoulder, hard enough to leave a mark.

With anger.
With pain.
With love.
With gratitude.
With everything he didn’t know how to say.

Izuku let out a quiet groan but allowed his Omega to do as he pleased. Katsuki pulled back, his crimson eyes blazing.

Kazuki whined, squirming more in his mother’s lap. Katsuki adjusted him, still huffing, still feeling his body boiling over.

"If you do that again, I’ll kill you," he hissed. "If you disappear, I’ll rip both your arms off. If you get hurt again—" His voice wavered, eyes glistening. "—I won’t survive it. Understood?"

Izuku nodded, his voice thick.

"Understood."

Katsuki scoffed, turned sharply, and sat back down on the futon, with Kazuki purring softly like a content little cat, his belly full and eyes heavy.

The omega glanced sideways, his voice lower, rougher:

"Kazuki needs you alive , idiot." Katsuki growled, but his voice cracked, ragged, choked by the damn tears that refused to stop. He turned his face away with an irritated sigh, swiping his free hand over his eyes roughly.

"And don’t ever erase your scent from us again, you bastard," he added, quieter—like an order, but almost like a desperate plea.

Izuku smiled.

That small, crooked smile, like it hurt just to be happy. But it was real. And that was enough.

Katsuki pretended not to see. Pretended not to feel the bond humming warmly, like an ember that didn’t burn. It… soothed him. Made his body calmer, his skin less on edge. A truce. Temporary, of course. But still… fuck . It felt good.

And then, like the idiot he was, Izuku decided to move.

He grunted and tried to rise from the chair with difficulty, as if his body hadn’t just been shattered to the bone and hastily pieced back together with bandages and prayers. The wood creaked. His legs buckled. The alpha cursed under his breath and braced himself on the edge of the futon, panting like he’d climbed a mountain. Then, with pathetic slowness, he sat down beside Katsuki, his body hunched, muscles trembling, the scent of pain and exhaustion clinging to the air.

Katsuki didn’t help. Not for a second.

He stayed still, arms still wrapped around Kazuki, who slept with his mouth slightly open, forehead damp with sweat, eyes twitching beneath his eyelids in some restless dream. The pup mumbled something like a soft "ngh," kicking the air with one chubby little foot.

"Idiot," Katsuki muttered under his breath, though it wasn’t clear anymore if he meant the pup or the alpha beside him.

The silence between them grew thick as smoke.
Heavy with everything still left unsaid.
Full of everything that had already been done.

Katsuki turned his head slowly and stared at Izuku. The other was still breathing hard, his bandaged arm pressed close to his body, his leg stretched awkwardly, his face pale. But his eyes were steady. Green as ever. Fixed on him like nothing else existed.

"What was the price?" Katsuki asked.

His voice was low but firm. Cold. That icy tone he used to hide the chaos in his heart.

Izuku swallowed dryly. He knew what Katsuki meant.

"The goddess touched me," he said slowly. "She… gave me a gift. I don’t fully understand it yet, but… I’ll figure it out, Kacchan. I swear."

Katsuki’s jaw clenched.

Luna touched him.

That ancient, cruel entity, as merciless as the night itself. The one wolves begged to under every full moon but never dared to meet eye to eye.

Katsuki’s skin prickled because he knew the legends. Oh, how he knew.

The shitty pack that raised him fed on those stories. Every night, alongside hunger and cold, they gathered around fires and whispered about the Children of the Night. The Chosen of Luna.

They were few.
Rare.
Feared.

Because when Luna chose a wolf, it was always for a reason. And it was never out of love.

Either that wolf would bring salvation—or the end. Luna’s blessing was a double-edged blade. It cut the world—or it cut the wielder.

Weak wolves died. Consumed from the inside out. Torn apart by their own gift.

Some went mad, turned into mindless beasts, doomed to howl alone until death.

But the strong ones…
The strong ones became sacred monsters.
Creatures of raw power.
Leaders.
Gods among wolves.

Izuku. Fucking Deku is a Chosen One.

Katsuki let out a dry, humorless laugh.

"You’re fucked," he said simply.

Izuku tried to smile but couldn’t. He just lowered his eyes.

"I’ll learn to control it."

"Or you’ll die trying," Katsuki shot back, voice sharp.

Then, quieter:

"And if you die, I’ll kill you."

Izuku huffed.

"That doesn’t make sense, Kacchan."

" Nothing in this damn mess makes sense, Deku."

Kazuki let out a deep sigh, smacking his lips, eyes still closed. He was lying between them now, one tiny hand clutching Katsuki’s shirt, the other flailing aimlessly in the air.

The pup let out a little snore that sounded more like a poorly executed mewl before starting to whimper again.

Katsuki looked down at him and, despite everything, smirked.

"Little shit gremlin," the omega rumbled, pulling Kazuki closer to his chest and kissing the pup’s forehead.

Izuku laughed. Weakly. But he laughed. Katsuki glanced back at the alpha beside him.

His tired face.
His battered body.

But alive.

Smelling like home.
Like nest .

"If you’re really a Chosen One…" he murmured, "then you’d better be strong enough to handle it. Because if you break, Izuku, I won’t survive it. And neither will Kazuki."

Izuku nodded, eyes steady.

"I’ll handle it. For you both."

Katsuki growled softly.

"Damn right," he muttered, turning his face slightly but not breaking eye contact. "Because now you’re ours . And I don’t share."

The words had barely left his lips when Kazuki, as if activated by some secret command, started fussing loudly. Those garbled newborn noises, somewhere between a whine and a sniffle, right before they exploded into full-blown crying.

Katsuki sighed and shot Izuku a sidelong glance.

"He’s missing your scent, dumbass," he grumbled, with feigned impatience. "Mark him, you shitty alpha."

Izuku’s eyes widened for a second, surprised. But then… he smiled.

Not that small, hesitant smile.

A big one. Wide. Dorky. Bright. The kind of smile that made Katsuki want to punch him just to wipe that stupid look off his face.

And it worked, because the omega flushed all the way to his ears.

"Tch," he snarled, lowering his eyes, masking his burning face with more gruffness. "Wipe that damn horny-dog look off your face. And take him before I change my mind."

Izuku chuckled quietly, and Katsuki shifted with some difficulty, still feeling the exhaustion in his body. He leaned over and, with a gentleness that didn’t match his rough tone, guided Kazuki’s floppy little arms toward the alpha’s lap.

Kazuki wriggled like a worm, letting out frustrated little grunts as his legs kicked the air and his arms flailed aimlessly. Izuku, trying to hold him with just his good arm, was sweating silently, his expression caught between concentration and panic. Every second, the pup slipped a little more, his chubby little body sliding like soap from the fold of Izuku’s bandaged chest.

"Is he made of jelly?!" Izuku muttered, struggling to adjust him.

"No, you’re just uncoordinated, idiot," Katsuki grumbled, but he moved close enough to support Kazuki’s head until—finally—the pup settled.

His tiny body rested against Izuku’s bandaged chest, his blond head nuzzling into the alpha’s shoulder as he made soft noises with his mouth.

Then, Kazuki started to purr.

A small, shaky, clumsy sound—more like a tiny rumble—that vibrated straight into Izuku’s chest.

The alpha froze in surprise.

"He… purred?" he murmured, disbelieving.

Katsuki crossed his arms, eyebrow raised.

"Yeah. He purrs. Learned it from me, obviously."

Izuku grinned like the idiot he was but didn’t reply. Instead, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath—and released his pheromones.

Izuku’s scent spread like warm smoke—thick and enveloping. The crisp freshness of mint and strong cedar filled the air, smooth and comforting, wrapping around Katsuki in a delicate embrace.

Kazuki stopped squirming immediately.

His tiny fingers curled into Izuku’s shirt, his face buried in the crook of the alpha’s neck, letting out a satisfied little rumble—like a tiny, content engine.

Katsuki, without realizing it, purred too. The sound came from deep within his chest, vibrating in response. The wolf inside him relaxed, and the burning sensation on his skin faded.

For a moment — a rare moment — everything was okay.
The scent of the alpha.
The pup in between.
The bond sealed.

Katsuki rested his forehead on Izuku’s shoulder, breathing deeply, almost absentmindedly.

But then, of course… Kazuki. The little one, absurdly satisfied, got too quiet.
Too quiet, too fast.

And before either of them could understand what was happening, the pup trembled, arched his tiny body and…

Threw up.
A warm, thick jet of freshly nursed milk shot out of his mouth and splattered all over the bandages on Izuku’s chest, dripping down his arm.
Silence.

Kazuki blinked and then burped.
Izuku was frozen.
Katsuki silently stared at him.

Izuku let out a noise full of agony mixed with anxiety, looking down at his own chest covered in white vomit.

"My bandage..." Izuku whimpered, voice tight, trying to keep his body as still as possible so he wouldn’t disturb Kazuki, who was still slumped against his shoulder.

Kazuki let out a soft “grh”, a lazy purr, and snuggled again. He was completely limp, his body warm and heavy, face buried in the base of Izuku’s neck, completely unaware of the chaos he had just caused.

Katsuki let out a loud huff and rolled his eyes, exhausted from dealing with two pups in the same room.

"Stop being a crypup, you shit," he grumbled, already stretching to retrieve Kazuki from the alpha’s arms.

Izuku made a sound between a sigh and a defeated groan, relieved to be free of the warm, sticky weight of his son. Katsuki pulled the pup carefully, holding him against his chest with one arm, feeling the small body shiver, still slightly damp with sweat and milk.

Kazuki, of course, started crying.
It wasn’t the loud, desperate cry from earlier, from hunger or abandonment. It was a whiny, continuous cry, like he was suddenly uncomfortable and wanted someone to fix it. His tiny mouth trembled, his chubby cheeks were flushed, his nose scrunched up.

"Shit..." Katsuki muttered, more to himself than to the alpha beside him, who was still trying to clean his bandages with Kazuki’s little cloth, without success. "Drank too much. No doubt."

He didn’t even need to think. He felt it. The instincts screamed. Colic.

Katsuki didn’t think twice. Didn’t hesitate. He gently laid the pup down on the futon, between the still-warm, soft covers of the makeshift nest he had prepared. Kazuki curled up immediately, his little body arching with clear discomfort, arms trembling, fists clenched in newborn frustration.

"Tch, greedy gremlin," Katsuki said, but his voice was low, soft, affectionate.

He sat beside him, adjusted his posture precisely, and leaned over the pup. Slowly, he undid the buttons on the little onesie and began massaging the round tummy in slow, circular motions, fingertips gliding gently, pressing just enough to soothe without hurting.

The skin was still absurdly soft, warm and tight, the tiny belly button like a little rice ball in the center.

Kazuki whimpered, eyes half-open and puffy, alternating between pleading looks and dramatic grimaces.

"Dramatic just like your dad," Katsuki muttered, glancing at the alpha, who was now pouting with his stupid mouth.

Then, as instincts dictated, he gently grabbed the pup’s tiny legs, still covered by the pale blue onesie, and began bending them up toward the pup’s belly, then stretching them out again.
A repeated movement, soft, rhythmic. Bend and stretch. Bend and stretch. Helps the little body release trapped air. Helps the colic go away.

Kazuki whimpered with every bend, letting out small, muffled sounds of frustration, until suddenly he made a popping noise with his mouth and… burped.

"…Fuck." Katsuki muttered, somewhere between surprised and impressed.

Kazuki blinked like he didn’t know anything, his gaze still hazy, but clearly relieved. The crying subsided. His little body began to relax.

Katsuki stayed there, repeating the movement. Bending. Stretching. Massaging.

Little by little, Kazuki started purring again, his tummy stopped contracting, and his tiny hands relaxed. The pup looked at Katsuki with that blurry newborn gaze, blue eyes still foggy from just forming, fixing on the omega, and even though he wasn’t really seeing him, the pup let out a soft little purr.

Katsuki let out a deep sigh, his heart melting even as his mouth was already twisting into a scowl.

"Lazy gremlin," he muttered as he stood up from the futon carefully, adjusting Kazuki in his arms. "I’m gonna go ahead and give this stinky thing a bath. He’s all vomited on and probably shit himself again."

Kazuki, as if he knew he was being called stinky, made little mouth noises and turned his head, rubbing his face against his mother’s shoulder. A trail of milky drool stuck to the omega’s shirt.

"Yeah, that’s right, mark your territory. Still not gonna change your fate," Katsuki grumbled, adjusting the pup’s towel on his shoulder.

Izuku, still sitting on the futon, body wrecked and wrapped in bandages stained with dried blood and now also sour milk, watched everything in silence. But there was something different in his gaze. A sparkle.

And then, the bastard decided to open his mouth.

"Kacchan could give me a bath too…" he said, in a voice way higher than usual, lips forming a miserable pout and a dramatic grimace that mixed physical pain with the face of a kicked puppy.

He even curled up, just to add to the drama, gesturing with his head toward his own bandages.

Katsuki froze.
His right eye twitched.

“Son of a bitch…”

He turned slowly, staring at Izuku with a look that wavered between disbelief and murder.

Izuku widened his eyes and muttered, like the bastard he is.

“It’s just… everything’s dirty… and… and I can’t wash my back with only one arm, and… and if you’re gonna get your hand wet anyway…”

“You’re asking me for a bath using a water-saving argument, is that it?!”

Katsuki pointed a finger at Izuku, holding Kazuki in his other arm.

“I swear to the gods, Deku, if you say that shit again I’ll scrub your face with the bucket.”

Izuku made a pitiful sound like a kicked puppy, but he didn’t regret it one bit. Katsuki could feel that through their bond.

The mark between them pulsed with something warm. Teasing.

Katsuki huffed loudly, eyes blazing.

“You think you’re so damn funny, don’t you, you piece of shit?! My tits are sore and dripping milk, I’ve got a gremlin barfed on me, and you think I’m gonna bathe a shitty alpha?”

“…I’m really dirty…” Izuku whispered, curling up in the most dramatic posture possible, wearing an expression of pure suffering, as if he were the most unjustly treated martyr in lupine history.

Katsuki shot him a look that could burn the fur off a bear and stomped out of the room, Kazuki still cradled against his chest, grumbling softly from the jostling.

The cabin’s bathroom was small and narrow, with a rough stone floor and the constant smell of steam. It was fed by one of those underground hot springs that surrounded the pack’s territory, according to Izuku’s long, scientific, and completely useless explanations back when Katsuki first arrived.

He hadn’t understood a damn thing at the time. And didn’t care.

All he knew was: pull the metal lever, hot water comes out. Magic. The end.

While he filled the small bucket with warm water, the steam rose slowly, wrapping around his tired skin. Katsuki adjusted Kazuki with one hand, holding the pup sideways in his arms while he controlled the water flow with the other, pulling the lever up and down. The pup made a wet sound and yawned, burying his face between the omega’s neck and collarbone.

“Lazy gremlin just like your dad,” Katsuki muttered, but his voice was far too soft to be threatening. The omega purred at his pup, kissing the top of his head.

With the water at the perfect temperature — hot enough to relax, not enough to scald — Katsuki grabbed one of the ceramic jars resting on the makeshift wooden counter of the bathroom. The contents were a light oil, smelling of lavender and moss. Relaxing. Calming. It was what he usually used on the pup.

And of course, he was already wondering if he could use the same on the shitty alpha later.

Because the bastard would ask. He knew it. He’d make that pathetic face, the broken and needy alpha look, like a stray wolf just rescued, and Katsuki would give in, even while grumbling.

“Lazy bastard…” he muttered, capping the jar and placing it in a small wicker basket along with a clean cloth and the soft towel to dry Kazuki.

He returned to the room, carrying everything, kicking the door gently open with his foot, and set the basket beside the futon, arranging the cloths quickly. He placed the bucket next to it, steam still rising from the water, the oil within reach, and then sat cross-legged with Kazuki on his lap.

The pup was starting to grumble louder now, his face all scrunched up in sleepy protest, clearly unhappy with the changes in position, scent, and temperature. His cheeks were chubby and flushed, eyes half-lidded like he was silently cursing the world.

“Yeah, yeah. Got it, gremlin,” Katsuki said, with a patience he liked to pretend he didn’t have.

Then he started undressing the pup carefully.

First the buttons of the onesie, which he always thought were far too many for something so small. Then the little arms, which squirmed like living jelly, making the process harder. Finally, he got the legs out — and of course, the disaster.

Full diaper.

“Oh. Perfect. Lovely. A gift for mommy, huh, kid?” he growled, grabbing a clean cloth to wipe the pup before dunking him in the water.

Kazuki just blinked once. Then stretched one arm in the air and opened his tiny hand. The little shit started purring in his clumsy, low way.

Katsuki snorted.

“You manipulative little bastard…”

He placed the pup inside the bucket with all the care in the world, one hand always supporting the soft little body. The warm water enveloped him immediately, and the effect was instant.

Kazuki relaxed, letting out a dramatic sigh, his eyes closing instantly. His tiny feet kicked lightly beneath the surface, and his arms floated open, surrendering with the kind of trust only someone who knows they’re loved can show.

Katsuki used the flannel soaked in oil and began to run it over the pup’s skin in soft, slow movements. The little legs were too small. The toes, too perfect. The tiny belly button, the round little tummy, the quiet sounds he made while getting his bath...

"You are ridiculously adorable," he muttered, half against his will.

Izuku, still all bandaged up and sitting crooked on the other side of the futon, watched in silence, his face lit up with a peaceful expression. Like he was watching the world unfold.

"You should rest, Deku," Katsuki grumbled, not taking his eyes off Kazuki. "Before I decide to drown you in the next bucket."

Izuku smiled lazily.

"Are you using that oil that smells like forest?" he asked in a soft voice.

Katsuki stopped rubbing the pup’s belly just to shoot him a death glare.

"Ask me to give you a bath one more time and I swear I’ll scrub you with straw until your skin comes off."

Kazuki sneezed.

And then smiled. Crooked. Toothless. And perfect.

Katsuki closed his eyes, letting out a low, instinctive purr while he rinsed the pup with a cupped hand.

It was chaotic and exhausting. But fuck… it was everything he never thought he’d want.

And yeah—maybe—after Kazuki was clean, warm, and asleep… he’d think about the soap that idiot deserved.

Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

Kazuki was clean, smelling sweet, and completely out. The omega lifted the pup from the bucket and dried his chubby little body with a fluffy towel, his skin warm and pink from the bath.

The bath had worked like a spell. The pup now slept wrapped in the thin towel, nestled between soft blankets soaked in the scent of the nest, with his tiny fist resting against his chubby cheek and his mouth slightly open, releasing small, damp breaths.

Every now and then, a sigh escaped Kazuki’s lips, followed by a purr so low it was almost imperceptible—but there, constant, like an invisible thread vibrating to the same rhythm as his tiny heart.

The room was warm, wrapped in the gentle heat of the lit fireplace in the living room and the warmth of the idiot alpha. That’s why Katsuki chose to leave the pup in just a diaper, his round belly rising and falling in peace. With slow, delicate movements, the omega placed him in the small wooden cradle—handmade by the shitty alpha, low enough to sit flush with the futon, with curved legs that allowed it to rock with a touch.

Katsuki crouched beside it, elbows resting on his knees, watching his pup with that sharp, vigilant gaze of a domesticated beast. The wolf inside him was quiet, but alert. Any mosquito that dared breathe too loud near that cradle would be crushed with a growl. The pup was too small. Too fragile. Too important.

And Katsuki would protect that little gremlin with every last thread of his soul, whether the world liked it or not.

Beside him, Izuku was still sitting on the futon, his bandages stained with milk and sweat, his body wrecked but… satisfied. And more than anything, with an expression far too strange for Katsuki’s taste. Confident. Relaxed.

Too confident.

Katsuki noticed when he turned to grab the used flannel and caught the bastard smirking. Not that usual shy, nervous smile. It was… a smug smile.

"What?" Katsuki asked, raising an eyebrow.

Izuku blinked slowly.

"Nothing..." he said, dragging the word with fake sweetness. "It's just that... you look beautiful today."

Silence. Long. Deadly.

Katsuki turned completely toward the alpha, his face already starting to heat up.

"What the fuck did you say?" he growled.

Izuku smiled wider.

"You're so handsome, Kacchan. I mean, you’ve always been handsome, but… I think motherhood has really done wonders for you."

Katsuki's temple twitched. And his chest too. But it was from embarrassment.

"Do you want to die now or later?"

But Izuku wasn’t listening anymore. He was too busy... feeling. Katsuki realized too late. It wasn’t just that Izuku was looser, more playful, more cheeky. It was deeper, m ore intimate.

It was the bond.

The bastard was feeling him. The emotions. The vibration of the body. The heat of pride. The shame in his stomach. The hidden desire to jump into his lap and… and… Katsuki froze. His eyes widened for a second. The smile turned into the face of a cocky alpha, a glint in his green eyes that made Katsuki want to transform into a wolf just to sink his teeth into the idiot’s throat.

"You... you’re using the bond to spy on me?!" he exploded, his voice coming out too loud. "That's an invasion, you bastard!"

Izuku raised his hands—or at least one, since the other was fucked up—with a completely fake innocent expression. Damn cocky alpha with his shitty smile.

"It’s not my fault the bond is strong. Kacchan's the one oozing emotions from every pore…"

"I'M NOT OOZING ANYTHING!"

Izuku laughed.

Laughed.

That low, intimate laugh, as if he was way too satisfied.

Katsuki felt his face heat up to his neck. The heat climbed up his chest and reached the tips of his ears. If there had been a mirror there, he would probably look like a tomato about to explode.

"Stop laughing or I’ll throw the damn thermal water bucket at you, you shitty Deku!"

"Now that’s a confirmed bath."

"SON OF A—"

"Kacchan…"

Izuku's voice changed. It lowered. Almost a whisper.

"You’re beautiful when you take care of us," Izuku murmured with a low but firm voice. "And I feel everything. What you try to hide. What you don’t say. What you… can’t say yet. I feel everything now and… it’s so good."

Katsuki froze.

As if every word hit him directly in the spine. The anger evaporated instantly, and the embarrassment, on the other hand, exploded, rising to his face, burning his cheeks, even reaching his ears. The bond pulsed like a live vein between them. And the bastard was submerged in it. Feeling every damn emotion Katsuki was struggling to hide.

He growled low, turned his back as quickly as he could.

"Go fuck yourself, you damn shitty alpha."

Izuku smiled that cocky way. Slow. Arrogant.

Sighing loudly, the omega stood up again, stepping firmly, and began to grab the things he had left in the bath basket.

"I need to clean you before this mess takes over the whole futon," he grumbled, not looking at him. "Useless Deku. Can’t even wash yourself."

Izuku made an intentionally offended face.

"Hey! I’ve got a broken arm and leg, you should be more sensitive."

"Sensitive is the cold water I’m going to throw in your face if you keep talking," Katsuki growled, kneeling with the basin and the damp cotton cloth in hand.

The alpha leaned back against the wooden wall, still sitting, opening his arms to surrender to his omega, the idiotic smile still on his face.

"I’m all yours, Kacchan."

Katsuki flipped the idiot off and then began to carefully remove the bandages.

Izuku grunted low, his body stiffening as the bandages were pulled off with precision. Some were stuck with dried blood. Others were already wet with sweat and milk. The scent of pheromones, marked by pain and the effort of healing, filled the air.

Katsuki kept his face firm.

But his gaze... his gaze slid.

Bruises. Cuts painting the freckled skin in ugly, deep tones. Some recent scratches. Others older, already healed.

But what really fucked Katsuki up was seeing the rest.

The firm muscles. The broad chest, even covered in bruises. The strong arms, even with one immobilized. The curve of the neck, with a mark resembling Katsuki's there. The collarbone marked. The line of the sweaty jaw. The way the strong chest rose and fell slowly.

Izuku was...

Beautiful.

Strong.

With that recovering alpha vibe, broken yet still dominant, as if he could take anyone down—even when he couldn't even get up on his own.

Katsuki bit his tongue, literally, trying to push the thoughts away. He rubbed harder at a milk stain on Izuku’s chest just to vent.

“Ouch! Kacchan, that stings!” the alpha whined, jolting on the futon.

“Shut up, idiot,” Katsuki snapped, forcing his gaze away and rubbing more gently this time.

Only a few seconds passed with the comfortable silence before Deku idiot opened his stupid mouth again.

“Kacchan... you’re thinking things, aren’t you?”

“NO. I’M NOT,” Katsuki growled, blushing even harder, his hand pausing midway.

“You are,” Izuku whispered, with that low, heated smile that made the omega blush even more.

Katsuki threw the cloth onto the alpha’s face with force, and Izuku let out a muffled grunt.

“If you don’t shut that mouth, you’ll stay like this until you can clean yourself again.”

Izuku’s face instantly turned to one of panic, his eyes widening.

“You wouldn’t have the guts.”

“Try me.”

Then Katsuki leaned forward, pressing his nose against the sweaty neck of the alpha, just to smell and confirm how disgusting he was.

Izuku held his breath.

The omega gave a soft growl, but... it took longer than it should to pull away.

The scent was too good.

“You still smell like me...” Katsuki whispered, almost unwillingly.

Izuku let out a low, hoarse grunt, his eyes darkening. Katsuki’s eyes widened, pulling back as if he’d touched fire.

The air between them suddenly grew heavy. Katsuki was too close.

He had just growled softly with his nose pressed into Izuku's neck, his lips nearly brushing the curve where the pulse beat. He had smelled him, and damn, the alpha still reeked of sweat, blood, and exhaustion... he still smelled like him.

Not just because of the mark. Not just because of the bond. But because Izuku wanted him. And the scent shouted that louder than any growl.

Katsuki wanted it too. Pretending otherwise was a joke that no longer fit.

When Izuku let out that low, hoarse, almost guttural grunt, Katsuki pulled away a little, but not enough. Their eyes met. And they were... dark.

Green still, yes. But covered by a shadow of desire so intense it seemed to glow under the marked skin.

The alpha's chest rose and fell slowly, in a deliberate rhythm. Dominant. Controlled. But attentive to every move Katsuki made, as if ready to pounce—if permitted.

The omega stopped there, hands still clenched, the cleaning cloth forgotten between his fingers. His face was mere inches from the other. His knees supported on the floor, breath erratic, senses scrambled between the scent of Izuku, the heat of the exposed skin, the bond vibrating under the skin like an electric wire about to snap.

And then Izuku leaned in, slow and cautious. His head came closer to the omega, and Katsuki... didn’t move. Neither to retreat nor to advance.

Izuku’s eyes dropped from Katsuki’s eyes to his lips. Then they returned, checking if he could still. If it was still allowed. And it was. Of course.

Izuku brought his face closer until their noses touched. Katsuki inhaled deeply. The warm, familiar scent of Izuku filled his nose, and his whole body reacted with both anger and hunger at the same time.

The alpha brushed his lips against his, lightly, a teasing touch. Katsuki shivered, eyes half-closed, his skin on alert.

But he didn’t push, his mouth slightly parted, waiting — maybe unwillingly, but waiting. Izuku brushed again, this time a bit firmer.

At that moment… Izuku was too warm, too present. The bond wrapped them up like an invisible net, pulling, tightening, merging. Katsuki exhaled slowly, as if he were surrendering a battlefield.

And he didn’t say anything.

Silence.

Then Izuku moved.

He kissed.

Slowly, with reverence and barely-contained lust, his lips pressing against Katsuki’s with a mixture of affection and possessiveness. It wasn’t a desperate or hungry kiss.

It was firm. Warm. Delicate, as though he were touching something sacred.

Katsuki allowed it, but he also returned it — in his own way. His teeth lightly grazed Izuku’s lower lip.

The alpha groaned softly against his mouth, and the sound ran up Katsuki’s spine like a line of fire. The omega clenched his fists, fighting the urge to pull him closer. His skin tingled, his blood felt warmer, thicker.

When the kiss broke — not out of rejection, but out of the need to breathe — they stayed there, pressed together. Forehead to forehead. Their breath ragged. The air thick with pheromones and emotion, and the bond vibrating, making Katsuki’s body tingle.

“You drive me crazy,” Izuku whispered, weakly, without pretense.

“Go to hell,” Katsuki said, but didn’t pull away.

Izuku smiled.

“As long as it’s with you.”

The bond pulsed between them, alive, burning, as though it had been fueled by every second of that moment.

Katsuki took a deep breath and grabbed the cloth with a trembling hand.

“I still need to clean this futon, you disgusting idiot. And you still stink. Don’t think this changes anything.”

But the heart, that damn traitor, beat too fast.

And Izuku only responded with another stupid, wicked smile that Katsuki loved so much. Katsuki didn’t say anything else.

He just took the damp cloth again, his fingers firm, but now… less tense. The knots in his shoulders hadn’t disappeared — damn, they never did — but they were looser. As if his chest had truly exhaled after weeks.

Izuku didn’t say anything either.

He just stayed there, seated, leaning against the wooden wall, his eyes lowered, surrendered. One arm immobilized against his body, the other hand resting on the mattress, as if holding himself steady. His scent was warm, still mixed with sweat, with worn bandages, with tired skin. But beneath that, it was still him.

The stupid alpha. The father of the pup. The asshole who saved his life.

Katsuki dipped the cloth into the warm water. He squeezed it tightly. Then, without saying anything, he moved closer again.

He started with the shoulders, gently passing the cloth over the freckles covered in bruises. The cloth slid and picked up the dirt with each pass, and Katsuki washed it again. Repeating.

With clenched teeth.

With a tight heart.

Because seeing that body so fucked up, that same body that had always been as strong as a rock — now covered in bruises, cuts, and irritated skin — made something inside him hurt.

But he wouldn’t cry. Not a chance. He just cleaned and took care of him.

He moved to the neck with the same care. Then the good arm, avoiding the painful spots. Each of Izuku’s breaths was deep, steady. But his fingers… they were delicate. As if every inch of skin was too important to be touched in a hurry.

Izuku closed his eyes.

His breathing was the only sound, besides the soft snoring coming from the crib, where Kazuki slept deeply.

Katsuki glanced quickly.

The pup was lying on his back, his chubby arms stretched out. The diaper was slightly loose, showing the plump belly rising and falling. Occasionally, he made a muffled sound — grh… grhrmm — as if arguing with the air in his dream.

Katsuki swallowed hard and looked back at Izuku.

He had cleaned almost everything.

But there was a bloodstain, just below the clavicle, stuck to the dry skin. He dipped the cloth again, placed his hand on the alpha’s shoulder, and started passing it with more patience, more firmness.

Izuku shivered, not from pain, and Katsuki pretended not to notice.

The omega washed the cloth and went back to work. He placed his hand on the alpha’s chest and rubbed gently, as if he were cleaning a relic, a sacred artifact.

The bond… was silent, but present, pulsing slowly.

A breath between them. Two marked hearts. And at the back of the room, the soft snoring of a pup who was half of each of them. A little piece of them. Real.

Katsuki finished cleaning the last spot and sat back on his heels. He let the cloth fall beside the basin. The alpha’s skin now smelled of soap, herbal oil, and nest.

The damn scent of home. And it completely fucked with his head.

He huffed softly, as if annoyed — even though he wasn’t really — and stood up. He crossed the space between the futon and the low shelf in the corner of the room, where there were natural medicines and homemade ointments made with herbs boiled straight from the damn woods.

He grabbed a small clay bowl. Inside, a light green paste with a strong smell of camphor, mint, and some root that Katsuki didn’t know the name of, but knew the effect.

It healed. It soothed. It rebuilt fucked-up skin. He returned to the futon, knelt beside Izuku again. The alpha didn’t move, just kept looking at him.

That look. That damn look full of emotion. Too full. Too warm. It made Katsuki’s blood heat up and his fingers tremble slightly.

But he ignored it.

The omega took a small amount of the salve with two fingers and began applying it to the worst wounds. He started with the shoulder, moving slowly down to the ribs. His touch was firm, but… gentle.

Controlled.

Izuku shivered once or twice, his body tensing from the sting. But he didn’t complain. Didn’t say a word. Just kept looking.

Katsuki saw it from the corner of his eye. Felt the gaze. His chest burned from it. And of course, he blushed.

"Stop looking at me like that, fuck," he muttered, without facing him.

But Izuku didn’t answer and didn’t stop.

He just kept looking with that fucked-up expression, full of love and adoration Katsuki had never learned to deal with. That he pretended to hate, but made his stomach twist in knots.

Bastard...

After finishing with the salve, Katsuki wiped his fingers on the cloth and grabbed the fresh bandages folded in the corner. He began wrapping the alpha’s chest with precision and care. No sloppy movements, nothing too loose.

He did it right.

Because he was the one taking care of him now.

He was his.

The room remained silent. Only the sound of the fabric unrolling, of the cloth touching skin, and Kazuki’s soft snoring coming from the crib—rhythmic, steady, soothing. When he was done, Katsuki tied the final knot and pulled back a little.

But then he heard it. A deep, rough purr. Full-chested. The kind of sound only a satisfied alpha made. Katsuki froze in place, his heart stumbling in his chest.

"Tch," he muttered, sharply turning his face, already knowing what was coming.

Izuku leaned in slowly and kissed Katsuki again. This time it was warmer. Deeper. There was no urgency, but there was weight. Izuku’s lips touched his with tenderness, but firmness. Katsuki let out a soft moan. A sound that slipped before he could control it.

His own purr followed right after. Low, shaky, thinner—the omega purr. It came from his chest, his gut, the bond.

He didn’t look at the idiot, couldn’t. Just stood there, face turned, blushing to his neck. Jaw clenched.

But he didn’t pull away.

Because, fuck, it felt good.

It felt good to feel that he was here. That Izuku was alive. That he himself was still alive. Marked. Bound. The bond burned hot, vibrating under the skin like liquid fire.

And maybe… maybe that’s why they stayed there, still, looking at each other in the warm dark of the room, surrounded by the smell of herbs, milk, and nest. Or maybe it was because Izuku’s wolf started to stir. Katsuki saw it. Felt it.

First came the scent. The pheromones began to leak slowly, like thick, sweet, heavy smoke. It took over the air, seeped into the wooden walls, crawled into his lungs like a living thing. It was strong. Warm. Alpha. Izuku.

Katsuki trembled. His body reacted before his mind could catch up. The purring returned, deeper, more surrendered. It escaped his throat and the wolf inside him stretched.

Izuku leaned in again. But not to kiss. He buried his face in Katsuki’s neck and stayed there. Smelling. Breathing. Releasing pure pheromones directly onto his skin. Katsuki shivered, the hairs on his arms standing on end. His heart racing. His whole body in a state of alert and surrender. He growled softly, but didn’t push him away. Didn’t run. He let it happen.

Izuku didn’t exactly know what he was doing, of course. He was clumsy as fuck. But instinct guided him. His wolf guided him. His nose moved slowly over the omega’s skin, brushing the jawline, descending the neck, stopping right at the curve of the already healed mark. And there he purred. Loud. Strong. The vibration shot straight up Katsuki’s spine.

The omega gasped. Bastard.

Izuku went back to scenting his skin, lips barely brushing it, not biting, not marking again—just spreading his scent, his pheromone, his instinct. Katsuki felt everything. The bond vibrated in rhythm. His chest burned. His skin felt feverish. His wolf howled in response, begging for more, wanting to curl up in that heat, that scent, that fucking alpha he loved and hated in equal measure.

And then Izuku came back up. Moved up to his face. Traced the tip of his nose across Katsuki’s flushed cheek. And kissed him.

For real this time.

With his whole mouth. With tongue. With intent. Katsuki moaned, a rough, deep sound that echoed in the narrow space between them. His body arched for a moment, tense muscles giving way to desire, as his fingers dug into Izuku’s shoulders like he needed something solid to keep from falling apart. His ragged breath hit the alpha’s skin, hot and damp.

Izuku’s tongue met his in a slow, deliberate motion, exploring every corner like he wanted to memorize Katsuki’s taste. It was wet, sure, but also sweetly invasive, a mix of mint and something deeper, something that was just them. The alpha’s mouth was firm, but not impatient—like he knew exactly how much Katsuki could take before melting.

And he was almost there.

The heat spread like heavy liquid in his belly, every touch amplified by Izuku’s overwhelming scent—something inherently his that made Katsuki clench his teeth in both frustration and bliss. It was too much. It wasn’t enough.

The alpha’s tongue slid against his again, and Katsuki felt it—the taste, the touch, the stupid, inevitable bond that kept them tied together. His fingers gripped tighter and for a second, just one, he let the kiss consume him entirely.

It was them.

But then… it was too much. Too much to process. Too much to accept. Too much to bear.

Katsuki pulled away suddenly, panting, his chest rising and falling hard. His eyes were wide, mouth slightly open, lips wet and red.

“Fuck…” he whispered, voice barely there, his whole body trembling. “You’re gonna kill me.”

Izuku just looked at him. His chest rose slowly, eyes still dark with pheromones and bond, but now there was something else too—a goofy, open smile plastered across his face. A wide, lovesick, completely ridiculous smile. The kind Katsuki hated because it made his chest ache in a way that felt too damn good.

Katsuki huffed loudly, crossing his arms and turning his face away from that lovesick idiot in front of him.

“Wipe that stupid look off your face, Deku,” he muttered, cheeks still burning. “How long are you gonna keep smiling like a damn fool?”

“Until you stop cursing me with that cute little voice,” Izuku replied, still wearing that dumb smile.

Katsuki growled.

“Fuck off, useless.”

He stood up abruptly, muttering curses that tangled with the embarrassment and the wave of heat still buzzing under his skin. Katsuki stretched his arms, took a deep breath, and pointed to the side.

“I’m gonna clean this damn futon you made a mess of and…” he paused, his tongue itching at the thought of admitting it, “…and make a nest.”

Silence.

Total.

Katsuki glanced slightly at the alpha and… Izuku was frozen. Wide-eyed. Mouth parted. That smile from before had tripled, like he’d just heard the most precious thing in the world.

“You… you’re going to make a nest for us?” Izuku asked in a whisper, like he was afraid he’d misheard.

“Don’t repeat what I just said, you dumbass,” Katsuki shot back quickly, blushing to the tips of his ears. “I’m just setting up a decent space for Kazuki to sleep, ‘cause this futon reeks of your sour milk and… blood.”

Izuku was still silent. His smile was so wide it looked like it hurt.

Katsuki felt it.

Felt it through the bond. The warmth, the genuine joy, the emotion that pulsed from Izuku straight into his chest like a wave.

And that was the worst part.

Because he felt it too.

Making a nest—a real nest—was instinctual, intimate. A fucking silent ritual that meant acceptance. Meant comfort. Meant he was home. With their son. With his alpha. With the bond.

And now he was going to do it. He’d let his scent soak into every blanket, would curl up in the heat of the mark and the bond. And Izuku knew.

And even so… he didn’t say anything.

He just kept smiling like an emotional dumbass, and fuck—it almost made Katsuki smile too. Almost.

“Just don’t drool on the nest, got it?” he growled, turning again and heading to the corner where the clean fabrics and folded pillows were kept. “If you drool, I’ll shove your face into the floor and make you sleep there.”

“Ah!” Izuku’s voice came loud and light, with such genuine excitement that Katsuki wanted to punch something. “Kacchan’s gonna let me sleep in the nest too??”

Katsuki froze for a second.

Just a second. But it was enough.

A short pause, imperceptible to anyone else—but not to the idiot now linked to him through the bond. The air got heavier, his chest tightened, and his cheeks burned hard enough to fry an egg.

“Fuck…” he muttered through clenched teeth, low, almost a whisper. “Talk less, shithead…”

He cursed again, a continuous grumble as he grabbed two pillows and a blanket that smelled like lavender and lye soap. He tossed the dirty covers aside and dumped the clean ones onto the futon, starting to fold them with passive-aggressive force, jaw clenched, eyes sharp as he tried to focus on the fabric and not the dumb alpha glowing like a lovesick puppy behind him.

Of course. Fucking of course. Of course he was going to let him sleep in the nest.
He had known that the moment the words left his mouth. The wolf inside him wouldn't allow anything else. Neither would he. Especially not him.

The raw, unfiltered truth — the one he refused to look at directly — was painfully simple: he didn’t want to sleep alone.

The idea of lying there, after everything — after dying, after being marked, after holding Kazuki in his arms while his body still felt the touch of Izuku on his skin — and being alone in that damn space… it gave him chills.

Now, with the bond burning hot, with the scent of the alpha spread across the room, and their pup sleeping right there beside them, sleeping apart would be like amputating a piece of himself.

But of course, he’d never say that out loud.

He just kept arranging the blankets, pressing down the center of the futon with his palm to make it deeper, fixing the fabric around it like instinctive barriers, forming the nest without even thinking. Every fold carried their scent.

He glanced at Izuku — who was watching him like he was witnessing a personal miracle unfold before his eyes — and scoffed again.

"If you snore, you're out," he muttered, trying to keep the threat in his voice even though it cracked slightly.

Izuku smiled. And not that smug grin from earlier — it was another one. Smaller. Warm. Almost reverent.

"You really want me... close?"

"Don't repeat what I say like it’s some romantic confession, you shithead," Katsuki snapped, not looking directly at him. "You’re Kazuki’s father. You’re marked. You’ll sleep wherever I want. And I want you here. Because if you step out of my line of sight while I’m asleep, I’ll wake up and kill you on instinct. Got it?"

Izuku didn’t answer.

But the bond answered for him — and that damn thing pulsed so loud, so warm, and so content it practically purred on its own.

Katsuki knelt in the center of the freshly made nest, eyes fixed on the pillow, taking a deep breath.

That was it. Fuck it. That was it.

His wolf wanted it. His body wanted it. And no matter how much his mouth cursed, he couldn’t deny anymore that he needed that presence. That heat. That scent.

Him.

Chapter Text

Izuku snored. Loud as hell.

The noise was a mix between a deep grumble and an alpha’s purr. Katsuki figured that if he really paid attention, he could probably feel the damn floorboards vibrating with the stupid sound coming from the bastard’s chest.

And of course, the son of a bitch had to be right in the middle of the nest, buried up to his forehead in the blankets Katsuki had just carefully arranged. His legs were bent all weird, the bandaged one barely covered, his good arm flung out like a passed-out king basking in his own glory. His chest rose and fell slowly, his hair a mess, freckles smeared with healing cream — and still, Izuku was smiling like he was in heaven.

And he was. The idiot was in his omega’s nest, after everything. Their bond hummed gently, warm and way too damn content.

Katsuki cursed under his breath, glaring at the ridiculous scene.

“Fucking useless alpha…” he muttered, kneeling down to fix Izuku’s shoulder, which was definitely going to hurt more later at that angle.

Even while complaining, the omega helped him carefully, pulling the blanket up, adjusting the pillow, gently bending the injured leg, and positioning the good arm so it wouldn’t weigh on the bandages. Every move was meticulous and automatic. An instinctive kind of care.

As if Katsuki’s body already knew how to tend to that damn alpha before his brain was even willing to admit any of it.

Kazuki, on the other hand, was sleeping soundly in the low crib next to the nest, bundled up in blankets. His little belly rose and fell gently, chubby arms stretched out, diaper loose around thick pup thighs. Every now and then, he’d let out a loud sigh or a muffled “grh,” which always made Katsuki glance over automatically just to check.

Always fine.

After fixing Izuku, the omega checked on the pup for the millionth time, adjusted one of the covers, and then returned to the nest. He lay down with an irritated sigh, turning his back to the alpha, because of course he wasn’t about to sleep facing him. Too much. Too much intimacy. Too much staring.

But then the rumble in Izuku’s chest grew louder.

The sound reverberated in the air like a lullaby — raw and animal, alpha to the core, full of warmth and marking.

Katsuki didn’t need to turn to know the idiot was smiling.

Of course he was. The bond gave everything away. That insistent warmth inside his chest didn’t lie. Izuku was satisfied, stinking of nest and love like he’d just won some damn war.

That damn smile… Deku knew how to use it.

Katsuki muttered something unintelligible, trying to bury his face deeper into the pillow. But then he felt it.

The mattress dipping behind him. The heat of that big body.

And then, Izuku’s good arm slowly came around his waist, pulling him gently closer.

Spooning.

Katsuki froze and let out a low growl, his body tense.

But soon… his own chest let out a purr.

Low, rough, traitorous .

Damn instinct.

“Kacchan’s so cute… mmmh, comfy…” Izuku murmured against his nape, voice slurred with sleep and love.

Katsuki blushed instantly, heat flooding his ears like lava.

“Shut the hell up, dumbass. Just go to sleep!” he snapped quickly, shoving his face into the pillow, trying to ignore the shiver down his spine and the warm rush spreading through his chest.

But Izuku didn’t reply.

He just let out one last soft snore, satisfied, as he snuggled even closer.

Katsuki huffed. Muttered again. Tried to stay strong.

But the alpha’s scent all around him, the bond humming like a warm blanket, and that solid presence breathing in sync beside him… it all broke down his resistance.

And in that crumpled-up silence, buried in blankets, scents, pup, and barely admitted love…

Katsuki finally closed his eyes.

With the idiot behind him.

With Kazuki breathing gently at his side.

And with his heart calmer than it had been in a very, very long time.

Katsuki woke up in the middle of the fucking night, sweaty and suffocating.

It took him a few seconds to realize why. Something hot and heavy was wrapped around his entire body — legs tangled, chest weighed down, and an arm practically strangling his ribs.

He blinked into the dark.

Fucking Deku.

Izuku had rolled over in his sleep and was now latched onto Katsuki like a fucking octopus in heat . One leg was hooked over his waist, the other somehow shoved under his knees, his good arm slung tightly over Katsuki's stomach, pulling him in like a damn teddy bear. His nose was buried in Katsuki’s scent glands, exhaling hot puffs of breath that made the omega shiver.

Katsuki tried to move. Nothing budged.

He was trapped.

“Fucking shit…” he muttered under his breath, voice raspy with sleep.

He twisted a little, trying to free an arm, but Izuku just clung tighter, mumbling something incoherent against his skin. Katsuki grit his teeth.

“You’re gonna fucking break your own ribs if you keep holding this tight, dumbass…” he growled softly.

But he didn’t push him away, didn’t snap or  growl louder.

Instead, he shifted slowly, carefully — trying not to wake the moron. The alpha’s arm was awkwardly looped around him, the cast on his leg grazing Katsuki’s thigh with every movement. He reached down and, as gently as he could manage with half-asleep fingers, started untangling himself from Deku’s octopus grip.

Izuku whined.

A soft, pathetic sound.

His brow scrunched up, nose wrinkling, lips pressing into a miserable pout like a damn pup about to cry. Katsuki froze.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake…” he muttered again, already rolling his eyes.

With a sigh, he leaned in and rubbed his cheek slowly, deliberately, against Izuku’s. Side to side. Nuzzling. Marking.

His scent glands pulsed faintly at the contact, and he let his feromones bleed into the space between them. The omega inside him demanded it. "Mine. You’re mine. Go the fuck back to sleep."

Izuku visibly relaxed. The tension in his shoulders dropped. His grip loosened just enough. His lips parted in a soft exhale that tickled Katsuki’s jaw.

Katsuki stayed there a moment longer, cheek pressed to Izuku’s. Just breathing him in. Letting the warmth seep into his skin, even though it was still hot as hell and his shirt clung to his back with sweat.

Eventually, he pulled back and looked down.

Izuku was out cold again — drooling now.

Great.

Carefully, Katsuki eased him back onto the futon, mindful of his broken arm and fucked-up leg. He adjusted the pillow under his head, slid a folded blanket beneath the cast for support, and tugged another soft one over his chest.

Every movement was practiced now. Automatic. He knew how to care for him. Even if he’d rather die than say it out loud.

Once Deku was settled again, breathing slow and even, Katsuki crouched beside the futon, watching him for a beat. His heart was still racing. Not from fear. Just… too much heat. Too much closeness.

Too much fucking everything .

He scrubbed a hand over his face, grumbled something about clingy alphas, and then crawled back into the nest — this time a little further from Izuku, just in case the octopus woke up again.

Still.

As his eyes started to close again, he could still feel that warmth behind him, and the scent of alpha wrapped around his lungs like a lullaby.

Katsuki closed his eyes and let sleep take him, finally . The warmth of the nest, the steady sound of Izuku’s breathing, and the low hum of their bond helped dull the sharp edges in his chest. His muscles unwound one by one, tension bleeding out into the futon until he drifted off completely.

But to him, it felt like only a fucking minute had passed before a piercing, wet sound broke the silence.

“WaaaAAAHHHHHH.”

Katsuki’s eyes snapped open.

Kazuki.

The pup’s cry wasn’t just loud — it was urgent . The kind that started in the lungs and echoed through the ribs. High-pitched, heartbreaking, tiny . It was the sound of someone helpless calling for the only thing in the damn world that mattered: comfort, milk, touch.

Katsuki sat up before his brain was fully awake. His hand reached out on instinct, brushing past the edge of the futon and finding the edge of the tiny wooden crib. Kazuki was already writhing inside it, cheeks flushed, hands clenched into desperate little fists, his eyes scrunched shut as he wailed for attention.

“Alright, alright, fuck…” Katsuki muttered, voice rough with sleep, dragging the pup gently into his arms. Kazuki made his adorable newborn scrunch that made Katsuki's heart melt. “I got you, gremlin.”

Kazuki smelled like hunger and frustration — a sour-sweet scent Katsuki now recognized without fail. He adjusted the blanket around the pup’s squirming form, rocking him gently in his arms as he sat back on the futon.

The omega’s shirt was already loose from earlier. He pulled it down with one hand and shifted Kazuki into position with practiced ease, his other arm cradling the pup’s head as the tiny mouth searched instinctively.

The moment Kazuki latched on, his body relaxed.

Katsuki let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

The suckling noises were soft and steady — rhythmic. Familiar. A grounding little song that vibrated against his chest with each pull.

Katsuki leaned back against the nest pillows, his hand stroking over Kazuki’s downy hair. His other arm curled protectively around the pup as his body settled into instinct again, and a soft purr rose from his throat — not conscious, not even intentional. It just happened.

Comfort.

Safety.

Love.

The bond between them flared gently, warm and steady like embers glowing under a blanket.

Behind him, still half-dead to the world, Izuku stirred.

Katsuki froze.

But instead of waking up, the alpha mumbled something incomprehensible, shifted slightly — and then his own rumble started.

Low. Deep. Lazy.

The kind of sound that came straight from the alpha core. Protective, possessive, sleepy as hell.

Katsuki looked over his shoulder, lips twitching despite himself.

“Tch. Even asleep you’re a clingy bastard.”

But he didn’t stop his own purring. His gaze dropped to the pup again, who was still happily nursing. The moment felt still. Whole.

Izuku’s rumble matched his. Their scents filled the nest. Kazuki was warm and safe between them.

Family. Messy. Sleep-deprived. Milk-stained. But real.

And for the first time in a long fucking while, Katsuki didn’t feel alone. Didn’t feel scared. Didn’t feel like he was doing it all by himself.

He bent down, pressing a kiss to the top of Kazuki’s head, and whispered:

“You picked a hell of a time to cry, little gremlin. But you’re alright. Mama’s here. So’s that idiot.”

Katsuki muttered the words low against Kazuki’s tiny head, the warmth of the pup soaking straight into his chest. Kazuki, despite the earlier dramatic howling, was now nursing like a fucking angel — soft, greedy sucks punctuated by the occasional hum and grunt, like he was drinking the very meaning of life.

His little fingers flexed against Katsuki’s skin, curling and uncurling in slow rhythm, clinging to the fabric of his shirt like it was the only thing anchoring him to the world. The pudgy cheeks moved with each pull, and his eyelids, heavy as hell, fluttered like they were trying to stay open by sheer stubbornness.

Just like his damn father.

Katsuki snorted softly, rubbing his thumb gently across the pup’s round back, tracing circles over the soft curve of his spine. He could feel Kazuki’s breathing slowing down. The desperate energy from earlier had already drained from his tiny body. Now, the pup was sinking back into warmth, scent, safety — into the bond.

The omega’s chest vibrated with a low, constant purr. It wasn’t even intentional anymore. Just instinct, pouring out of him in gentle waves, blanketing the pup in sound and comfort.

Kazuki gave a tiny sigh — not dramatic like before, just a soft, puffed breath — and loosened his jaw.

Still latched, but… dozing.

His eyelids fluttered one last time before they gave up completely. His grip on the shirt slackened, falling to rest on Katsuki’s skin, and the slow, lazy sucks faded into silence.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Katsuki whispered, shifting his grip just slightly so he could unlatch the pup without waking him. “You’re just dramatic like your damn papa.”

He lifted Kazuki up with practiced ease, cradling him against his shoulder. The pup was soft and heavy in his arms now, limp with sleep, head flopped into the curve of his neck. Katsuki rubbed small, firm circles along his back, muttering under his breath as he waited for the inevitable.

“Come on, gremlin, don’t make me pat your soul out—”

“ Hic. ”

Katsuki blinked. Tiny just like him.

“Okay then.” He adjusted Kazuki slightly and ran a hand down his back, feeling the tiny shiver of satisfaction run through his pup’s body. “You proud of yourself? That was disgusting.”

But he was smiling. Bastard of a pup.

He stood slowly, knees creaking, careful not to wake the idiot alpha still passed out behind him. Izuku had shifted just a little, one hand now stretched toward where Katsuki had been lying, palm open and twitching in sleep like he was searching blindly.

Katsuki rolled his eyes. Clingy bastard.

Kazuki gave a quiet grunt, snuggling deeper against Katsuki’s chest. The omega rubbed his cheek against the downy blond curls again, breathing him in one last time before stepping toward the crib.

The little wooden thing was low, built with care, and stuffed to the brim with soft blankets and familiar scents. Katsuki bent down slowly, easing Kazuki onto the mattress like he was made of glass. The pup wriggled just once, one chubby hand curling around the edge of the blanket, and then stilled.

Katsuki stood there for a long second, watching him.

His pup.

Three weeks old and already ruling the entire fucking household.

He pulled the blanket up to Kazuki’s chest, adjusted his position so the legs were a bit more stretched — because the gremlin always curled too tight — and brushed the back of his hand over that chubby cheek.

Kazuki sighed again. One of those content, sleepy noises that made something in Katsuki’s chest ache in a way he’d never admit out loud.

He leaned down and kissed the pup’s forehead, letting his scent coat the skin one more time.

“Mama’s here, pup. You’re good.” he murmured. “Now let me get five minutes of sleep, hm?”

The pup gave one last little hiccup in his sleep, like punctuation.

Katsuki shook his head with a small smile and crawled back into the nest, collapsing with a sigh as he turned on his side. And behind him, like some cursed clockwork, Izuku immediately rolled over too — breath brushing the back of Katsuki’s neck, mumbling something completely incoherent.

Katsuki grunted. The warmth surrounded him again. And this time, when he closed his eyes, he was asleep in seconds.

Bond warm. Pup safe. Alfa drooling.

Fucking home.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

Empty.

The fucking nest was empty.

Katsuki shot upright, heart slamming in his chest like a goddamn war drum, the blankets falling off him in tangled heaps. His hair was a fucking mess, sticking up in all directions, his face puffy from sleep, and the side of his neck sticky with dried drool.

Fucking Deku.

Where the fuck was Kazuki?

Where the fuck was Izuku?

Katsuki’s eyes darted around the room. The crib was untouched. No warm pup. No soft little grunts. Just the depressing silence of his pup being gone, and—

Oh, he was gonna kill that damn alpha.

He launched out of the room barefoot, still half-asleep, muscles tense with alarm, teeth grinding. Already building the string of curses he was gonna unleash the second he finds that son of a bitch Deku.

And then he saw them. He froze in the doorway. Mouth slightly open. Chest still rising too fast. Rage hit a wall and turned to something entirely different in his chest — a hot, confusing twist of emotion.

There they were.

Izuku stood in the small kitchen area of the cabin, barefoot and shirtless — shirtless, the idiot — wearing only a pair of old gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips. His chest was still wrapped in bandages, stained slightly from dried ointment, and his broken arm rested lazily across his torso in a makeshift sling.

But that wasn't what made Katsuki stop breathing for a second.

It was the way he stood. Bracing himself on one leg, his good leg, the injured one barely touching the floor. Holding his balance with that stupid determined look on his face. And in his good arm?

Kazuki.

Wrapped in a soft blanket, their pup looked tiny, barely a handful, tucked against Izuku’s bare chest like a goddamn pup koala. His tiny face was smushed slightly into the alpha’s skin, nose scrunched, eyes half-lidded and sleepy, his little hand gripping one of Izuku’s chest bandages like it was a toy.

He looked absurdly content.

Perfectly safe.

Izuku noticed Katsuki a second later, blinking toward the door with a sheepish expression.

“Kacchan,” he whispered, like he hadn't just stolen the pup in the middle of the night. “He was fussing. I didn’t wanna wake you up…”

Kazuki blinked slowly, one eye opening more than the other. His lips moved into a pout like he was about to say something extremely important and then promptly yawned, long and squeaky, his whole face scrunching like a goddamn dumpling.

Katsuki stared. Speechless.

The alpha looked like a disaster — shirtless, limping, bandaged like a mummy. His hair was sticking up at the back, and there were pillow creases across his face. He was literally balancing on one leg with one fucking working arm.

But his expression was soft, gentle. So goddamn proud.

He bounced Kazuki slightly in his arm, whispering something to him in a low voice, and the pup responded with a grunt and a gurgly coo.

Katsuki felt something melt in his ribcage. Something warm and stupid and fucking dangerous. He cleared his throat harshly, crossing his arms, trying not to look like he’d just had his insides turned to goo.

“You look like a disaster.”  His voice came out rough. Tight. Way too fond.

Izuku smiled — that stupid, dorky smile Katsuki hated because it made him want to smile back.

“You love it,” the alpha said.

Katsuki clicked his tongue, cheeks warm. He stepped forward and reached out a hand to brush Kazuki’s tiny head. The pup wriggled and let out a soft “mnnngh,” smacking his lips and blinking up at him.

Fucking hell.

He was so small. So stupidly warm and soft and real. Katsuki leaned down and pressed his forehead against Kazuki’s for a second, scenting him softly. The pup let out a breathy sigh, his body relaxing further against the alpha’s chest.

Katsuki grunted. His voice was quieter this time.

“Next time, wake me the fuck up.”

Izuku nodded slowly.

“Yeah, okay. But he stopped crying the second I picked him up.”

Katsuki looked at the two of them — broken, messy, tired as hell — and for a moment… it was kind of perfect.

A dumbass alpha. A tiny pup. And him.

One fucking ridiculous little family.

Katsuki huffed, rolling his eyes so hard it felt like they might get stuck there. He crossed his arms, standing barefoot in the middle of the room, staring at the dumbass alpha still clutching his pup like a goddamn prize.

But fine. He'd allow it. For now .

Letting Izuku hold Kazuki wasn’t exactly a decision he made lightly — it was a privilege, and Katsuki allowed it. That’s what he told himself anyway. But truth be told… it felt good. Not having to carry all the weight. Not having to do everything alone.

For a second, it felt like the world wasn’t crushing him.

The omega let out a wide, slow yawn, jaw cracking slightly as his arms stretched above his head. His whole body ached — muscles tight from shitty sleep and even shittier posture, ribs sore from curling around the nest all night, and his lower back screaming in protest like some geriatric wolf. He rubbed his eyes and shuffled toward the small kitchen space, mumbling.

“What time is it?” his voice came out hoarse, still sticky from sleep and dried-up milk breath.

Izuku, completely distracted, barely glanced his way.

“I think it’s around ten…?” he answered, rocking Kazuki gently in his good arm, cradling the pup like a fucking treasure. His eyes never left the pup. “Maybe a little later.”

Katsuki grunted something incoherent in response and pulled open one of the cabinet doors, searching for something that could pass for breakfast — or lunch — or whatever the hell meal this was now. His body didn’t know what time it was, only that it needed food. And probably five more hours of sleep. Not that he was getting that anytime soon.

Behind him, Izuku let out a low, happy laugh.

Kazuki had let out a massive yawn, his entire face scrunching up, little arms flailing like wet noodles. His round mouth opened wide, revealing a tiny pink tongue and red gums, and for half a second, he stuck the tip of his tongue out like he meant to catch snowflakes with it.

Izuku looked like he might cry.

“ Oh! Look, look at that, Kacchan!” he called softly, grinning. “He’s doing that sleepy face again—”

“I’m making food, not entering a cuteness contest.” Katsuki shot back over his shoulder. “Control your face before I punch it.”

But he glanced anyway.

And yeah. Fuck . The pup was… ridiculous. His whole body slumped against Izuku’s chest like a deflated plush toy, hands curled in soft fists, little nose twitching slightly, and that damn tongue still barely peeking out. Like he had no thoughts. Just warm. Fed. Happy. Safe.

Katsuki’s chest clenched, stupid and soft.

He turned back to the counter, scowling harder than necessary as he reached for a small pot and the leftover grains he’d stored away yesterday. If he didn’t focus on something, he was going to melt into a puddle.

He felt like hell.

His body ached. His brain felt fried. His eyes were dry, his tits were sore, and he was pretty sure one of his shoulders was about to fall off. He hadn’t slept a full hour straight since Kazuki came out of him. Not one. If it wasn’t nursing, it was diaper changing. If not that, it was rocking the gremlin around the cabin because the pup refused to be more than two feet away from Katsuki for longer than ten minutes.

He stirred the grains into the pot with a grunt, muttering.

“I swear, if I hear one more chirp from that gremlin tonight I’m gonna duct-tape myself to the floor.”

But he was already slicing fruit. Already reaching for the clean mugs. Already grabbing the herbal tea that Inko had made “for his nerves.”

Behind him, Kazuki let out a squeaky hiccup and a contented sigh, melting further into his papa’s arms. The alpha chuckled softly, whispering something to the pup in that annoyingly affectionate tone that made Katsuki’s neck feel hot.

He poured water into the kettle and set it over the fire, grumbling the whole time.

But his ears were listening. His body was listening. The scent of the pup, the sound of Izuku humming some dumb lullaby under his breath — all of it wrapped around Katsuki like a net.

Like a fucking home.

And maybe, despite the sleep deprivation, the sore nipples, and the alpha-shaped idiot grinning behind him like this was the best morning in existence — maybe it wasn’t the worst way to wake up.

The kettle began to hiss.

Katsuki moved like a storm pretending to be calm — precise, practiced, and extremely fucking annoyed at the smile plastered on the alpha’s face behind him. He transferred the steaming grains into a bowl, chopped up the fruit and dumped it in with less care than usual, and grabbed the tray with practiced ease, balancing it with one hand as he kicked the chair by the tiny wooden table into place.

It wasn’t fancy. Just a few bowls of okayu — soft rice porridge, the kind that sat warm and heavy in your stomach without being a pain in the ass to cook — sliced umeboshi plums, pickled daikon, and miso soup that Inko had left for them the night before. Everything was rustic, thrown together like he didn’t care.

Which was a lie. He cared. He just didn’t want to look like he did.

With a grunt, he set the tray down and started arranging the dishes.

Behind him, Izuku practically bounced to his feet the moment he realized food was ready — an impressive feat considering he was hobbling around like a busted scarecrow with one leg and half an arm.

“Breakfast!” he said like an idiot, grinning so wide it should’ve been illegal.

Still holding Kazuki securely against his chest, he carefully made his way over to the chair, lowering himself with exaggerated effort and a grunt of pain that made Katsuki roll his eyes hard enough to see yesterday.

Kazuki let out a soft “hhhmmnn,” blinking slowly as he squished his face into Izuku’s chest. The pup’s hair stuck up in tufts, golden and soft like dandelion fuzz, and his little hand reached up blindly, grasping the air before settling on one of Izuku’s old bandage wraps.

He looked like he’d been plucked straight out of a dream — too small for the world, too warm for his own good, pure squish.

Katsuki tried not to look. Really, he did.

But the sight of his pup curled up like that, cheeks still puffy with sleep, lower lip sticking out in a faint pout...

Fuck. He might throw the whole table if he kept looking.

He turned away sharply and started filling two small cups with tea, voice grumbling like thunder under his breath.

“You could’ve waited for me to say it was ready, dumbass. Not everything’s a fucking invitation.”

Izuku just hummed, unconcerned, balancing Kazuki on one leg like he was the world’s happiest injury-riddled pupsitter.

“You made food. That’s close enough.” His grin only widened when Katsuki dropped his cup a little too loudly onto the table.

Katsuki didn’t sit.

Not yet.

He busied himself refolding the towel over the sideboard, wiping a nonexistent spot off the tray, and pretending he didn’t feel the soft weight of Izuku’s gaze burning into the side of his head like a heat lamp.

Behind him, Kazuki let out a sudden, high-pitched chirp — not quite a cry, not quite a burp, more like a startled pup goose.

Izuku looked down and chuckled, bouncing him a little.

“You hungry again, pup?” he asked, cooing like a damn omega.

Katsuki scoffed.

“He’s not hungry. He’s just dramatic like you.”

But his chest warmed again. That stupid, glowing, inconvenient warmth that came from seeing his family sitting there, surrounded by simple food and morning light spilling in through the cabin window.

Katsuki finally — reluctantly — sat down across the table, arms crossed. His tea steamed gently. The warmth seeped into his fingers.

Izuku looked like he was about to open that stupid mouth of his and say something painfully cheesy. Something that would probably make Katsuki throw a chopstick at his forehead.

Katsuki narrowed his eyes instantly.

“Eat. Before I pour this tea over your head.”

But Izuku didn’t flinch. He just tilted his head slightly, eyes wide, innocent — fake innocent — and then pointed to himself using his face.

His face.

Like the smug bastard he was, he wiggled his eyebrows toward his chest, then gestured subtly to his broken arm still strapped across his body, and then down to the other arm, which was currently full of squirmy, sleepy Kazuki.

Katsuki blinked. Then glared. Hard.

Because that idiot hadn't said a single word, and still — still! — Katsuki got the damn message.

He wanted to be fed .

That fucking— Oh, that fucking alpha.

Katsuki felt his cheeks start to burn, and he clenched his jaw so hard he thought a tooth might crack. His ears were hot. His nose twitched. Kazuki let out a soft coo, perfectly timed, nuzzling into Izuku’s chest like he supported this bullshit.

Katsuki snapped.

“You fucking useless piece of shit,” he growled, snatching the spoon from the soup bowl with way more aggression than necessary. “What kind of alpha needs to be spoon-fed by their omega?!”

Izuku blinked, grinning like he’d just won the goddamn lottery.

“Do you want me to feed you, too?” he asked sweetly, tilting his head like a kicked puppy. “Because if you’re jealous, I can hold the spoon with my teeth—”

Katsuki didn’t let him finish.

He leaned across the small table, gritting his teeth, and shoved a spoonful of hot soup directly into the bastard’s mouth. Not too hard — he wasn’t trying to murder him — but definitely fast enough to shut him the fuck up.

Izuku froze, spoon halfway in his mouth, blinking up at Katsuki like he was suddenly the most beloved creature in the universe.

Katsuki glared.

“Chew,” he hissed.

Izuku did. Slowly. Smiling through it like a lunatic. Kazuki, unaware of the drama, let out a sleepy sigh and smacked his tiny lips in his papa’s arm, little hand rising to slap weakly at Izuku’s bandaged chest.

“He’s on my side,” Izuku mumbled around the food, clearly pleased with himself.

“He’s a newborn. He’s on whoever has the warmest tits at the time,” Katsuki snapped, already scooping another spoonful and shoving it into Izuku’s mouth again before the alpha could run it any further.

The rumble in Izuku’s chest vibrated against Kazuki, soothing and low, and the pup made a soft noise — somewhere between a hiccup and a chirp — before rubbing his tiny face into his papa’s bandaged chest.

Gremlin.

Katsuki tried to keep scowling, but the image in front of him was ruining his mood — in the worst, most infuriating, most dangerously soft way.

Izuku: shirtless, smiling, half-broken, warm.

Kazuki: tiny, bundled, gurgling against his alpha’s heartbeat.

The nest: steaming bowls, morning tea, the bond like fire under his skin.

Fuck!

He sighed and scooped another spoonful, helding it out with less force this time.

“Eat, you dumbass.”

And this time… Izuku leaned in without teasing, just smiling. Grateful.

And Katsuki, growling under his breath and pretending his hands weren’t shaking just a little — kept feeding them both.

The next few minutes passed in begrudging silence.

Katsuki kept feeding Izuku, spoon by fucking spoon, while the alpha sat there like some smug king being pampered. He didn’t even bother pretending to be humble about it — he leaned forward every time, obediently accepting each bite.

Katsuki wanted to hit him with the ladle.

And yet… he kept scooping.

The steam from the okayu curled in soft tendrils between them, warming the already sunlit kitchen with a kind of stupid, peaceful glow that Katsuki hated how much he liked. The porridge was seasoned perfectly — of course it fucking was, he made it — and Izuku was eating it like it was the best thing he’d tasted in months.

Katsuki clicked his tongue as he wiped the edge of the spoon on the side of the bowl.

“You’re lucky you’re injured,” he muttered. “If your arm worked, I’d be throwing this at your face instead.”

Izuku gave a soft laugh, licking a bit of soup from the corner of his mouth. Katsuki tried not to stare too much.

“You’re taking such good care of me, Kacchan... I feel so loved.”

Katsuki flushed instantly and looked away, gripping the spoon like it personally insulted his honor.

“You feel pain, that’s what you’re about to feel.”

But his voice lacked venom. It was too warm in here. Too filled with the scent of his pack — strong, rich, comfortingly sharp. The scent of the alpha and the pup. The tea. The rice.

The bond.

Kazuki let out a small gurgle and did a little full-body wiggle in Izuku’s arm, flailing one hand toward the table like he wanted in on the action. His mouth was open in a sleepy “O,” eyes heavy-lidded but awake again, and one tiny foot peeked out from the wrap, kicking at the air.

Absolutely fucking useless. And completely adorable.

Katsuki watched as the pup made a weird, frustrated chirp and then drooled onto Izuku’s bandages.

“Tch. He’s already taking after you. Can’t even hold his head up and already making messes.”

Izuku looked down with sparkles in his eyes — fucking sparkles, the bastard — and gave Kazuki a gentle bounce.

“You want food too, little guy? Are you hungry again?”

Kazuki responded by sneezing right on Izuku’s chest, and then hiccuping. And then letting out a sigh so long and dramatic it made Katsuki raise an eyebrow.

“He’s not hungry, Deku. He’s just learning it from you,” Katsuki said flatly, standing up to grab a towel from the counter.

He came back over and wiped the drool off Izuku’s chest and then off Kazuki’s chin, still grumbling like a storm cloud. His hands were gentle, too fucking gentle for someone supposedly pissed off.

Izuku noticed. His smile was stupidly fond now, and Katsuki hated him a little more.

“Thanks,” the alpha said softly.

Katsuki didn’t respond. Just folded the towel and shoved it back onto the table like it had done something wrong. He scowled and muttered:

“I’m losing my mind.”

“You're just a great mom.” Izuku said, shifting slightly to settle Kazuki higher on his chest.

Katsuki froze. His back went stiff. His ears burned.

Then, very slowly, he turned to face Izuku with the full force of an omega who had been up all night with a milk-hungry gremlin, spoon-feeding his idiot alpha and now getting called “mom” like he ran a daycare.

“Say that again,” he growled, low and dangerous.

Izuku blinked. Smiled.

“A great.”

Pause.

“Beautiful.”

Pause.

“Deadly mom.”

Katsuki lunged.

Not hard — not to actually hurt him — but enough to knock the chair back just a little, to make Izuku squawk and shield Kazuki with his good arm like the dramatic bastard he was.

Katsuki snatched the towel back up and smacked Izuku’s thigh with it.

“I’m your mate, not your fucking housewife, asshole!”

Kazuki, startled, blinked up at them from his position like he’d just witnessed a wolf brawl and found it mildly entertaining. Then, completely unaffected by the chaos, he reached up with both hands and grabbed a fistful of Izuku’s bandages, pulling hard.

Izuku yelped.

Katsuki laughed.

A real one. Sharp and short and rare.

“Serves you right, dumbass.”

And for a few minutes, it was just that. Warmth and food and insults and pup hiccups. The chaos of healing and bonding and feeding and being so fucking full of love you didn’t know what to do with it.

Katsuki sat back down and refilled the spoon. Izuku opened his mouth with a grin. Kazuki drooled down his father’s chest again.

And the bond hummed.

Whole. Wild. Home.

❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅❆❅

The walk up to the thermals was steep.

Not impossible — Katsuki could handle worse in his sleep — but slow, thanks to one very tall, very broken alpha who refused to admit he needed help until Katsuki smacked him with one of his own damn crutches.

Izuku, naturally, found the entire ordeal hilarious.

Katsuki didn’t.

He huffed, pulling his thick fur-lined cloak tighter around his shoulders as the wind picked up. His hands were buried in leather gloves, his boots laced tight and worn down at the toes. He wore thick cotton pants tucked into them, and layers of warm woven shirts under a heavier, patched-up coat lined with bear pelt around the collar. He looked like he was ready for a fucking blizzard.

Izuku, meanwhile, wore a single fur-lined cape slung lazily over one shoulder, and a loose tunic that barely clung to his broad strong chest — most of which was still wrapped in bandages anyway. His breath fogged slightly in the morning cold, but he didn’t seem bothered at all.

Fucking alphas.

Katsuki adjusted the wicker basket strapped to his front. It was lined with soft pelts and woven cotton, and in the middle of the bundle — like the most spoiled dumpling on the planet — lay Kazuki.

Only a puff of golden hair peeked out from the mound of warmth, and occasionally a tiny hand would rise and fall under the blankets, twitching in sleep.

Adorable. Too warm for his own good.

Katsuki peeked down as they walked.

He exhaled through his nose and turned his head just enough to catch Izuku shifting beside him, both crutches clicking softly against the frozen path as they moved uphill.

Izuku was grinning again.

“You're walking too fast,” he said.

“You’re walking too slow,” Katsuki grumbled. “It’s not my fault you only have one working leg.”

“I have two working legs,” Izuku defended.

Katsuki gave him a look. Izuku shrugged, wincing slightly but holding his smug little smile.

Around them, the pack trail curved upward through thick snow-covered brush, with several huts surrounding them, smoke coming out of the chimneys. Wooden lanterns hung from tall poles, marking the way to the thermal springs. The steam could already be seen rising far ahead — glowing faintly gold in the early light.

But what Katsuki noticed more than anything were the wolves.

They passed in twos and threes along the road. Some nodded toward them in greeting. Some stopped and bowed faintly. Others just stared, quiet and cautious, their heads dipping as Katsuki and Izuku moved past.

None of them spoke.

None of them got close.

And Katsuki didn’t miss why.

Izuku’s scent was thick in the air — a possessive, dominant musk that clung to the snow like smoke. It rolled off him in quiet waves: "Mine." "Touch if you dare." "Mate and pup."

It wasn’t aggressive, not exactly. But it was a warning. A blanket of instinctual threat that kept even the bravest wolves several steps back.

And it made something sharp and pleased curl low in Katsuki’s belly.

He didn’t need protection. He didn’t need anyone’s scent covering him. He could rip throats out on his own just fine.

But still… the way Izuku walked beside him, chest puffed despite the limp, eyes half-lidded and heavy with ownership whenever someone stared too long… It stirred something inside him. Something primal. Something that purred.

He glanced sideways, cheeks warm despite the wind.

Izuku was already looking at him. Katsuki scowled.

“Stop looking at me like that, he muttered.”

“Like what?”

“Like you're about to throw me over your shoulder and bite me in front of the entire pack.”

Izuku grinned wider. Didn’t deny it.

“You’d like it,” he said simply.

Katsuki turned so fast he nearly tripped over his own boots. Only the pup in the basket kept him from shoving Izuku face-first into a snowbank.

“Say that again and I’ll throw you into the fucking spring with your clothes on.”

“You’d have to get past my crutches first.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Izuku laughed. It was too early for laughter. Too cold. Too peaceful. And still, it echoed through the trees like something sacred.

They kept climbing, slower now, the mist thickening around them as the steam from the springs got closer. Katsuki reached out without thinking, steadying Izuku with a hand on his hip as the alpha slipped slightly on a patch of frozen mud.

The alpha didn’t thank him, just leaned a little more into the touch, rumbling low. Katsuki didn't pull away.

Kazuki stirred then, making a soft “mmngh” sound in the basket. His nose peeked up from the blankets, followed by one red cheek and a single arm flailing uselessly. His lips smacked together a few times.

Katsuki gently pulled the top of the blanket higher, tucking it under the pup’s chin. His voice dropped to a low murmur.

“Shh, go back to sleep, little gremlin. We’re almost there.”

Izuku smiled at the sound of it. Katsuki pretended not to see.

The building still haunted Katsuki.

It stood proud at the top of the path like a memory carved from another lifetime — ancient, dignified, and way too fucking beautiful. The wood was dark, polished by time and snow. The curved edges of the roof framed the sky like a painting. The winter garden was somehow still alive, even under the frost, with red camellias blooming defiantly between patches of evergreens and carefully arranged stones. Snow had been gently swept from the stepping paths, and bamboo rustled in the wind, casting long shadows over the gravel.

It was quiet. Old. Sacred.

Katsuki hated how small it made him feel.

This place wasn’t just fancy — it was ancestral. Like the walls themselves were watching, remembering everything that had ever happened inside. And it made his skin itch.

He didn’t belong in places like this.

But… Izuku did.

And apparently, so did Kazuki.

He followed the alpha in silence through the wooden corridor, the soft sound of their steps muffled by the thick winter socks on their feet. The sliding doors creaked faintly as they opened, revealing the private room reserved for the alpha heir and his family.

Their family.

Fuck.

The thought hit Katsuki in the throat like a punch.

The room was large but minimal — traditional, warm despite the frost outside. Tatami mats covered the floor, their scent earthy and clean. Shoji screens filtered in soft morning light, casting pale golden rectangles across the space. There was a low table to the side with a ceramic tea set already waiting, and a few thick zabuton cushions arranged neatly around it. The far wall was open, shoji pushed aside to reveal the inner courtyard — a small, walled garden where steam rose from a natural spring built into the earth.

The pool was circular, its dark stone edges slick with condensation. Warm water rippled gently from underground currents, and bamboo poles surrounded the area like sentries, swaying gently in the breeze. Beyond that, the winter garden spread — delicate and unreal in its stillness. Bare trees. Crimson berries. Snow caught on the tips of dry grass.

Katsuki didn’t say anything. He was too busy feeling.

Izuku, meanwhile, hobbled over to the center of the room and dropped himself onto the massive futon like his spine had given out.

“Finally,” the alpha sighed, leaning back on one elbow, the other arm carefully wrapped around the sleeping pup against his chest, that he had taken from the wicker basket before they entered.

Kazuki didn’t stir.

Tucked into his nest of blankets, his little mouth was open in a soft “o,” cheeks flushed from the heat of his papa’s body, a trail of drool clinging to his chin. One hand peeked out from the edge of the swaddle, fingers twitching uselessly in a dream.

Katsuki exhaled through his nose and crouched down near the futon, pulling the basket off his chest with practiced care. His arms felt too light without it.

“Don’t drop him on the floor,” he muttered, not even looking at Izuku.

“I’m not going to drop our pup, Kacchan!” Izuku replied with an exaggerated pout, shifting Kazuki gently into his lap.

Katsuki ignored him.

He stood, stepping over to the edge of the room, gaze drawn to the steaming spring just outside. The scent of the mineral water mixed with snow and earth filled his lungs, grounding him. The sliding door to the garden was slightly open, and warm air wafted in — wet and pure, like every cell in his body recognized it.

A private bath.

For them.

Katsuki had half a mind to push Izuku into it just to wipe the smug look off his face.

“You like it?” Izuku asked quietly, watching him from where he lounged with Kazuki sprawled across his chest.

Katsuki clicked his tongue.

“It’s fancy. Looks like something out of a scroll painting.”

He didn't admit how safe it felt. How peaceful.

Izuku smiled softly, eyes crinkling at the corners.

Kazuki let out a tiny snort and scrunched his nose in his sleep. One chubby leg kicked under the blanket, and his lips smacked softly.

“He’s dreaming,” Izuku said, voice low and warm. “Probably about milk.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes and padded over, dropping to his knees beside the futon and brushing a knuckle over his pup’s cheek.

Kazuki wriggled.

Katsuki’s lips twitched.

“Tch. Gremlin.”

He adjusted the edge of the swaddle, tugging it a little looser so Kazuki could stretch one arm out. The pup made a soft gurgle and clung to the front of Izuku’s tunic, knuckles white from the strength of his tiny fist.

Katsuki couldn’t stop looking.

At the stupid alpha with his stupid proud face.

At the way Kazuki seemed to fit there — like he’d been born to exist right between them, soft and dumb and perfect.

Katsuki leaned forward, burying his face briefly in Kazuki’s soft hair, inhaling the warm, sweet scent of pup. Then, after a second, he tilted to the side, brushing his nose against Izuku’s jaw — quick, rough, marking.

He pulled back before the alpha could say anything, face burning.

“I’m gonna check the bath,” he muttered.

Izuku just grinned like a bastard, rocking the pup gently in his lap, a quiet rumble echoing in his chest. And outside, the steam from the spring rose higher — wrapping the garden in warmth. In silence. In home.

The air outside the bath chamber was different.

Softer. Still. It smelled like stone and warm water and fresh bamboo, laced with hints of wood smoke and the faintest trace of jasmine. Katsuki stood there for a moment, hand resting on the wooden frame of the shoji, eyes trailing over the round hot spring nestled into the earth.

It looked untouched. Pristine.

Steam curled lazily off the surface, catching in the sunlight that filtered through the slats of the surrounding bamboo, making the water glow faintly golden. Around it, large flat stones framed the pool, moss clinging to their edges. The garden beyond was silent, the wind barely strong enough to stir the tall grass that grew through the snow.

It was… beautiful.

Katsuki didn’t like things like that. Pretty things. Quiet things. Things that made him feel small.

But standing there in the doorway, surrounded by stillness and the scent of earth, he couldn’t help but feel the strange tug in his chest again. That low, constant ache he was starting to associate not with pain… but with peace.

And that was almost more terrifying. He turned away with a grunt.

When he reentered the room, it was to a familiar scene of complete idiocy.

Izuku had already stripped.

Not that Katsuki had heard him move — because of course the dumbass would try to do it quietly, like Katsuki wouldn’t notice. His crutches were leaned awkwardly against the wall. The pile of clothes beside him was a mess, and there were probably at least two bruises on his shin from trying to take his pants off with one fucking arm and a half-busted leg.

Katsuki scowled.

Moron.

The alpha was sitting on the edge of the futon now, shirtless and bare from the waist up, pants half-lowered and barely keeping modesty in check. His chest still carried thick wrappings across the ribs, and his skin was a mottled mess of purples, greens and healing reds. Some cuts were still raw. Some were bandaged over.

Katsuki’s mouth went dry anyway.

Because even bruised and half-broken, Izuku was still… Izuku.

Broad shoulders. Thick chest. That trail of freckles still visible beneath the medical tape. Long torso built, still solid despite the recent injuries. Strong hands. Scarred knuckles. Jawline taut from gritting his teeth through pain.

His face always looked like a tidy mess. It was angelic. Big bright green eyes, freckles, the scar across his eye, dark green hair, which had gotten longer since the first time Katsuki saw him in human form, always messy but strangely neat.

He was infuriatingly beautiful.

Not just because of how he looked — Katsuki could admit that now, fine — but because of the way he always managed to be this way.

Unflinching. Steady. Soft when it mattered, and stubborn as hell when it didn’t.

Katsuki looked away, ears burning.

The pup had been gently placed down onto the futon beside Izuku. Wrapped tight in his bundle of cotton and fur, Kazuki was sprawled on his back with both arms thrown up over his head like a little fox kit who’d decided he owned the world. His lips were parted, his breath shallow, his cheeks pink with warmth.

Safe.

Katsuki exhaled slowly through his nose and walked over.

“You look like shit, he muttered.”

Izuku didn’t answer.

Just lifted his eyes, flushed and a little sheepish, and held out his hand.

Katsuki reached for it with a grunt, wrapping his fingers around the calloused palm. He helped the alpha stand slowly, making sure to take most of his weight as Izuku rose on one foot, careful not to twist his broken leg. The movement was unsteady. Izuku stumbled slightly, and Katsuki stepped in without hesitation, steadying him with a hand against his firm back.

It was supposed to be practical.

But the next second, Izuku leaned in and nuzzled into his neck.

Katsuki froze.

He felt the warm press of breath against his skin, the subtle scrape of stubble, the unmistakable rumble of an alpha marking his mate. It wasn’t loud — not like in the heat of a bond — but low, gentle, vibrating through his bones like a slow-burning fire.

He could have shoved him off. Could have rolled his eyes and snapped something rude.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly, exposing his throat, just a little. He didn’t look at Izuku. Didn’t breathe too deep. But his body responded before his mouth could ruin it.

A soft sound left him — not quite a purr, but something close. Something low and vulnerable.

Izuku hummed again, nosing gently into the crook of his neck, careful not to press too hard. His scent — warm, mint, cedar, strong, pure alpha — wrapped around Katsuki like a fucking blanket.

It should’ve pissed him off.

It didn’t.

Katsuki’s hand curled tighter around Izuku’s waist.

They stood like that for a moment — silent, breathing in sync, the only sound the faint bubbling of the spring outside and the slow, occasional sigh from the pup still dreaming on the bed.

Katsuki closed his eyes.

And let himself feel it.

The weight of the bond. The heat in his belly. The slow, undeniable truth that he wasn’t just drawn to Izuku because of the mark. Because of the pup. Because of instincts.

He… liked him.

The stupid laugh. The idiotic smile. The annoying positivity. The way he smelled. The way he always, always looked at Katsuki like he was everything.

Katsuki swallowed hard.

Then pulled back just enough to mutter under his breath:

“You're slow as shit. Hurry up before you freeze your dick off.”

And Izuku, smiling like he’d won the damn world, leaned his forehead against Katsuki’s. Then limped toward the spring, Katsuki by his side — pretending not to care.

But never letting go.

Getting Izuku into the spring was a full-body event.

The dumbass tried to act cool about it, limping along with one arm and a crutch, but the moment they reached the edge of the stone bath carved into the earth, he looked at the bubbling water like it was a fucking puzzle box.

Katsuki sighed so hard it shook leaves off the nearby bamboo.

The water was steaming gently, crystalline and clear, the stone surrounding it smoothed by centuries of use. A shallow ledge circled the inside for sitting, and heat rose in lazy, comforting waves. It smelled faintly of minerals and pine.

Perfect.

If you weren’t a busted, half-mummified alpha with two out-of-commission limbs.

“Move over,” Katsuki muttered, already dropping to a crouch beside the spring.

He stripped off his gloves and reached into a nearby storage crate, rummaging through neatly folded cloths, old wooden supports, and bamboo towels. It didn’t take long to find what he needed.

A long, rectangular block of polished wood — sturdy and meant for propping arms or legs while soaking. He grunted in satisfaction and hauled it to the edge of the spring, adjusting it until it made a comfortable platform just above the water’s surface.

“Sit here. Get your ass in slowly. Don’t be an idiot.”

Izuku grinned, still flushed from earlier, and obeyed.

He stepped in with one foot, hissing slightly at the heat, and lowered himself with Katsuki’s help — muscles tensing, weight shifting carefully until he was finally submerged up to his ribs. His right leg, wrapped tightly in hard, pale bandages, was elevated over the side, balanced on the block Katsuki had arranged. The left arm — also bandaged, but with soft wrappings that had seen better days — dipped into the water, soaking instantly.

“I’ll need to rewrap this anyway,” Izuku mumbled, settling back against the stone wall with a sigh. Steam curled around his body, clinging to his lashes and collarbones. His skin flushed slowly from the heat.

Katsuki stepped back, arms crossed.

Izuku looked fucking ridiculous. And comfortable. And kind of… soft .

The idiot’s hair had started to curl from the humidity, cheeks pink, chest rising slow and even. His broad shoulders slouched just enough to make him look boyish.

Katsuki clicked his tongue.

“Don’t fall asleep and drown.”

Izuku didn’t answer. Just smiled, eyes heavy with affection.

Katsuki turned sharply, walking back inside before he could do something humiliating. Like stare longer.

Kazuki was still passed out on the futon like the world’s smallest, warmest potato.

He was curled on his back with his arms flopped to the sides, his knees bent awkwardly like a frog, a bit of spit clinging to the corner of his lip. His little tongue peeked out — uselessly — and one eye was squinting open more than the other.

“Tch,” Katsuki grumbled under his breath. “Fucking gremlin.”

But his hands were already soft as he bent down and scooped him up.

The pup whimpered faintly, making a soft huffing sound as he was lifted, scrunching his tiny body, but didn’t cry. Katsuki wiped the pup's drool with Kazuki’s fluffy handkerchief and pulled the blankets around his tiny body tighter and rocked him gently as he made his way back outside.

The weather had held — no snow for once, just grey sky and crisp air. The steam from the spring curled around them like silk.

Katsuki set to work quickly, arranging a makeshift nest right beside the spring: layered thick blankets, some of the thinner pelts, and a rolled-up wrap to serve as a bolster. He lined it so Kazuki wouldn’t roll off — not that the pup could roll at all yet — and made sure it was close enough for Izuku to reach out if needed (or wanted).

When it was done, Katsuki knelt and carefully placed Kazuki down on his stomach.

Tummy time.

A cursed ritual.

Kazuki let out a slow, offended groan the moment his chest met the soft surface. His little legs kicked out uselessly behind him. One arm folded under his chin, the other flailed to the side like he was surrendering. His face mashed slightly against the blanket, and he opened his mouth like he might cry.

Instead, he stuck his tongue out.

And grunted.

Katsuki smirked.

“Hates it, huh?”

Kazuki whimpered, blinking rapidly, cheeks puffed and red. His whole body trembled from the effort of holding up his giant head for three seconds before he dropped it dramatically to the side and glared at nothing.

Izuku snorted from the spring.

“He looks just like you.”

Katsuki flipped him off.

Then sighed, rubbing a hand down his own face before sitting cross-legged behind the nest. He adjusted Kazuki’s blanket a little, tucking it under his belly, propping his little chest gently so his head wasn’t smushed.

Kazuki blinked up at him, dazed and betrayed.

Katsuki leaned down and rubbed his cheek against the pup’s head, inhaling deep. Warm milk. His own scent. The faintest trace of Izuku.

He sat back, arms resting on his knees, watching the idiot alpha soak like a content puppy while their gremlin melted into the nest beside him.

It was too warm. Too soft. Too fucking perfect.

The sound of water rippling had almost lulled Katsuki into a state of rare calm — almost. His body still thrummed with instinct, with the bond, with the residual tension of having too much to feel and nowhere to throw it.

“Kacchan…” Izuku whined softly from inside the bath, voice half-melted from heat and too many emotions. “Aren’t you gonna come in with me?”

Katsuki’s spine went stiff like he’d been slapped.

He turned his head, slow and dangerous, brows twitching.

“The fuck did you just say?”

Izuku flinched — only slightly — but didn’t back down. He looked up at him from where he was half-soaked and glowing in the damn steam like some kind of divine idiot.

“I just thought…” he started, cheeks coloring a little. His voice softened. “It’d be nice. Uh, I mean, to be close. Warm.”

His bond reached first before his words. That pulse of want, quiet and slow and unsure, like a hand outstretched. Katsuki could feel it in his chest. A soft ripple.

And he hated it. Mostly because it worked.

He tried to ignore the thrum vibrating under his ribs, that whisper of ache that told him the alpha wasn’t just asking for company — he was asking for comfort. For presence. For Katsuki to come closer because right now, that meant everything.

The omega clicked his tongue and looked away, jaw tight.

“You're so fucking clingy,” he muttered. “Did the bath eat your brain or were you always this needy?”

But his voice came out too soft, and he knew Izuku could feel it. Could feel him.

There was silence for a second.

Then Izuku chuckled, wet and sheepish, his face flushing red despite the heat.

“Maybe both.”

Katsuki stared at the trees for a long moment. Then, slowly, he stood.

His joints popped. His spine cracked. He let out a breath between his teeth and started stripping off his layers, one by one.

The fur-lined cloak was first — dropped to the side in a heap. Then the thick, quilted shirt. The soft undershirt, damp at the collar. Then the wrappings around his midsection — the ones he started to wore out of habit, protective layers even though the bruises from the birth were mostly gone.

His fingers hesitated there.

He hated this part.

Even after weeks, he still felt different. His skin was softer. His belly wasn’t as tight. His chest was fuller, heavier — a permanent reminder of what his body had done. Of what it had become. Powerful, yes. Miraculous, maybe. But still...

He always felt watched now. Even when he was alone.

He wanted to say something snarky. Wanted to distract himself with growling and insults. But when he turned — shirtless now, scars and softness exposed — Izuku wasn’t smirking. He wasn’t staring, either.

He was looking.

Carefully.

His eyes wide, glinting in the mist. And what flowed from him through the bond wasn’t lust, or pity, or worship.

It was love .

Pure and painful. Unfiltered. Steady like the earth beneath Katsuki’s feet. And worse — it was shy. Izuku’s ears were red. His fingers fidgeted a little where they rested on the stone. And still, he looked at Katsuki like he was beautiful.

It made Katsuki’s chest seize.

He clicked his tongue and looked away again, fingers already working at his waistband.

“Fucking idiot…”

He finished undressing quickly after that — stepping out of the last layer and folding it messily before padding barefoot toward the spring. The stones were warm underfoot. The air thick with heat and scent.

Kazuki, still nearby in his little nest, let out a soft sleepy grunt and twitched one tiny foot under the blanket. Katsuki leaned over, rubbed his knuckles gently over the pup’s chubby cheek.

“You're fine, gremlin,” he muttered.

And then he stepped into the bath.

The water was hotter than he expected — not boiling, but heavy, soothing, wrapping around his legs and hips like a weighted blanket. He hissed between his teeth and took the ledge opposite Izuku, sitting low with his arms resting behind him.

The silence between them now wasn’t tense.

It was warm. Quiet. Full of things unsaid.

Izuku tilted his head, watching Katsuki with reverence he didn’t deserve. Katsuki couldn’t meet his eyes.

But the bond burned warm.

Katsuki didn’t speak as he moved.

The water sloshed gently around him, steam curling against his face and chest like breath from a slumbering god. His hands rose, slow and precise, reaching toward the smooth stone ledge where he’d set the oils earlier — near Kazuki, who, despite the gentle ruckus, was still knocked the fuck out, bundled tight in his nest of warmth.

The pup’s lips twitched.

His head lolled to the side, tongue poking out ever so slightly in a sleepy “mmf.” One arm was half-draped over the rolled blanket under his chest, stubby fingers curling and uncurling in dreamland.

Katsuki clicked his tongue softly and refocused.

He uncorked the small clay bottle of oil — the one that smelled faintly of cedar, sweet rice, and something wild like crushed herbs. It reminded him of the earth after rain, of pack scents and clean skin and old rituals he tried not to think too hard about.

The scent filled the air, thick and rich. Calming.

He poured a little into his hand, rubbed his palms together until the oil warmed against his skin.

Then turned toward Izuku. The alpha had gone unnervingly still.

He was watching Katsuki again — eyes wide, green softened by mist and affection so heavy Katsuki could feel it like a hand on his chest. His cheeks were flushed. Not just from the heat. His ears were pink. His shoulders tense, but not afraid.

Waiting.

Katsuki moved in slow.

He crouched forward until he was close — until he could see every new scar, every faint tremble where Izuku’s strength was still returning. He reached up and began to smooth the oil across Izuku’s chest.

Izuku inhaled, shuddering once.

Katsuki didn’t flinch. Didn’t tease. His fingers moved with care, tracing over bandaged edges, around bruises, up the curve of a shoulder and across the collarbones. The oil made Izuku’s skin glisten in the moonlight filtering through the bamboo. His throat bobbed with a quiet swallow.

Katsuki worked in silence.

Not because he didn’t have shit to say — he always had shit to say — but because his hands were saying it for him. Every motion, every press of his thumbs, every gentle drag of his nails across sore muscles, was something he didn’t know how to speak aloud.

You’re still here. You’re still mine . I’m glad you’re alive.

Izuku’s rumble started up halfway through. Low. Deep. Full of instinct and bond.

Katsuki bit his lip but didn’t stop. He leaned in, rubbed a little oil across Izuku’s neck and shoulders. Carefully avoided the arm that was still out of commission, though Izuku’s breathing hitched when their skin brushed.

Then — without warning — Izuku leaned in and marked him again.

Just a brush of scent across Katsuki’s throat. Just a faint puff of dominant pheromone, like a kiss made of fog. Not aggressive. Not loud.

Just… there.

Katsuki froze.

He didn’t move away.

The bond thrummed, hot and grounding, like a fire stoked from the inside. Izuku’s hand, his one good one, twitched in the water as if he wanted to touch but didn’t dare.

Katsuki rolled his eyes, cheeks burning.

“Fucking idiot…” he muttered under his breath.

And kept going.

He washed Izuku’s hair next — slow, rhythmic motions, fingers massaging into the roots, letting the oils soak in. The alpha leaned forward into the touch like a dog being scratched, his eyes fluttering shut, lips parted slightly.

Another small mark came. Pheromones brushed over Katsuki’s neck again. This time stronger. Deeper.

Katsuki didn’t stop.

Didn’t say a word.

His own scent rolled out to meet it — soft and sharp, like scorched cinnamon and wind. The scents tangled, swirled, built a world around them. A nest of feeling made not of fabric or walls but bond.

Izuku’s voice was barely above a whisper when he finally spoke.

“You’re so careful with me.”

Katsuki huffed, gently scrubbing behind the alpha’s ears.

“You’re still a dumbass. Being hurt doesn’t change that.”

Izuku laughed, and even that sound made the bath feel warmer.

He reached out, hesitant, and rested his palm lightly against Katsuki’s waist under the water. Not possessive. Not even flirty.

Just… holding.

Katsuki let him.

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward.

It was intimate.

Kazuki hiccupped in his sleep, letting out a garbled chirp that echoed faintly off the stone walls. His little legs kicked once, then fell still again.

Katsuki glanced toward him, then back at the alpha in front of him.

Izuku was glowing.

Not literally, but… fuck.

How was he supposed to deal with someone like this? Someone who looked at him like he was made of stars and bite marks. Someone who burned for him, even when broken. Someone who loved .

Katsuki’s throat tightened.

He leaned in — just enough to press his forehead against Izuku’s, both of them soaked, flushed, trembling.

They didn’t speak.

They didn’t need to.

The kiss was quiet.

No rush, no hunger. Just a slow press of lips, damp and warm from the bath, steam curling between them like breath from something ancient and sacred.

Izuku didn’t move at first. He let Katsuki lean in, let him guide it — like he knew the omega needed to take the first step. Like he knew the silence meant more than words ever could. When Katsuki’s hand curled into his wet hair and tugged just a little, Izuku finally deepened the kiss — just a tilt, just enough pressure to make Katsuki’s mouth part on a quiet gasp.

The world narrowed.

Katsuki didn’t think about scars or softness or the heat of the water. He didn’t think about how he looked, or whether he was doing it right, or whether this made him too weak, too exposed, too his. He just let himself feel it.

The bond burned steady in his chest — not like fire this time, but like a tether. A hum. The way thunder always followed lightning.

And Izuku…

Fucking Izuku kissed like he meant every second of it. Their tongues intertwined lazily like the steam of the water around them. Katsuki turned his head a little to fit their lips better and the kiss continued, the wet sound and sighs masking Katsuki's moans filling the air.

When they pulled apart, Katsuki didn’t open his eyes right away.

He felt a hand — warm, calloused, and familiar — skim down his side, under the water. Gentle. Careful. Possessive.

Izuku’s only good hand.

Izuku’s hand slid down from his ribs to his waist, slow as fucking sunrise, calloused fingers mapping every dip and curve like Katsuki’s skin was some sacred text Izuku had memorized but still needed to touch to believe. The water rippled around them, steam clinging to their shoulders, but Katsuki barely felt it—not with the way Izuku’s palm burned hotter than the spring itself.

His thumb brushed the underside of Katsuki’s breast, aching and heavy with milk, and Katsuki’s breath hitched. Fuck. He hated how sensitive he was there now, how just that lazy swipe of Izuku’s thumb made his stomach clench and his thighs press together under the water.

Pathetic.

But Izuku didn’t tease. Didn’t push. Just cupped him there, warm and firm, his scent bleeding into the steam—cedar and alpha and mine, mine, mine —until Katsuki’s pulse thudded in his throat like a trapped bird.

Then lower. Izuku’s fingers traced the softness of his stomach, still rounded from carrying their pup, and Katsuki gritted his teeth. That part—that part pissed him off. The way his body wasn’t just his anymore, how it had bent and stretched and changed, how Izuku could touch him there like it was something to fucking worship instead of a weakness.

But the bastard didn’t give him time to snarl. Just dragged his knuckles down the slope of Katsuki’s waist, possessive and reverent, like he was saying "I love this. I love all of you." without opening his damn mouth.

Katsuki’s skin prickled. His instincts screamed to shove him off, to bite and claw and remind Izuku he wasn’t some docile omega to be handled. But his body—traitorous, needy, starved—arched into the touch instead. A quiet sound escaped him, something between a growl and a whine, and Izuku’s breath stuttered like he’d been waiting for it.

"Kacchan," he murmured, voice thick with something too close to devotion. His palm settled low on Katsuki’s belly, fingers splayed, and the bond between them thrummed, hot and alive. No words. No demands. Just Izuku’s hand on him, steady as a heartbeat in a language older than either of them.

Katsuki sucked in a shaky breath, head bowed slightly.

His body responded before he could stop it — a full-body tremor, something between a growl and a sigh catching in his throat. Izuku’s voice was low, rough, when he called his mate again.

“Kacchan…”

Just that. Just his name. But spoken like a prayer. Like Katsuki had been gone too long and finally found his way back. The alpha leaned in again, brushing his nose against Katsuki’s neck, marking him softly, again. The third or fourth time tonight. Katsuki didn’t keep count.

He didn’t need to.

His body recognized it every time.

And he fucking loved it.

He would never say it out loud — wouldn’t give Izuku the satisfaction — but deep in the marrow of him, Katsuki craved it. Craved the dominance in Izuku’s touch when it came like this. Steady. Earned. Unshakable.

This wasn’t lust. It was home.

The way Izuku held him now, not to take — but to prove.

To tell him, with every inch of closeness, that Katsuki was worth chasing through fire. Through death. Through gods. Katsuki turned his face into Izuku’s throat, lips brushing over the bond mark, a soft purr vibrating up from his chest.

Izuku’s hand didn’t stop moving. Slow circles over his waist, tracing the dip of his back under the water, the pads of his fingers memorizing soft curves and tensioned muscle alike.

He whispered again.

“You’re perfect.”

Katsuki bit his lip, his voice thick.

“You’re full of shit.”

But he didn’t pull away. Didn’t stop the kiss that came after. Didn’t stop the growl that rumbled low in Izuku’s chest, deep and alpha, as his hand gripped tighter at Katsuki’s side — not hurting, just holding.

Katsuki’s own instincts sparked. He tilted his head again — baring his throat. Wordless. And Izuku answered like his soul depended on it. Their bond pulsed, strong and alive, weaving through every cell like roots through soil.

And just a few feet away, from his warm little nest, Kazuki sighed in his sleep.

Blissfully unaware.

Safe. Loved.

Home.

Chapter Text

It had only been a few fucking days.

Days.

And Izuku was already healing like some kind of immortal forest god. His bruises had faded. His posture was back. The dumbass was even lifting things again with his good arm — like he hadn’t nearly died. Like his leg hadn’t been wrapped in what basically amounted to a plastered fucking tree trunk.

Katsuki paced. It wasn’t just annoying. It was unnatural.

Sure, alphas healed faster. That was biology. But this? This was on some next-level, moon-blessed, divine-intervention bullshit.

Katsuki’s teeth clenched just thinking about it. There was no way this wasn’t tied to Luna — to whatever the hell she’d done to Izuku during that night when everything had gone sideways. No one just got better from two broken limbs and power-burnout in a week.

Katsuki didn’t know what to feel about it.

Relieved, sure. Maybe a little grateful. But mostly just pissed off and suspicious. And that was how he found himself aggressively reorganizing the bedroom.

The futon was a mess. The pelts were mismatched. The drawers? Crooked. The entire layout? Infuriating. The walls were bare. The scent markers were faint. There wasn’t a single plant. Nothing felt like it belonged. Nothing said home .

It wasn’t a fucking nest. It was just a shack with furniture.

His wolf hated it.

It itched at his spine, his temples. Made his molars clench. His nesting instincts — dormant for years under stress and fear and trauma — were now flaring like wildfire. Katsuki needed softness. Order. Warmth. Familiarity. He needed something that was his, goddammit.

Something worthy of holding his pup.

Their pup.

He threw open a drawer with more force than necessary, slamming it shut again two seconds later when it jammed. His jaw ticked. He stormed out of the room, ready to snap Izuku’s neck for choosing this shitty cabin in the first place.

Izuku was on the couch, slouched like a lazy king, hair a mess and eyes soft — smiling at the little lump cradled in his lap. The fire crackled gently in the hearth nearby, casting flickers of gold and orange over the room.

Kazuki was wrapped in his soft white swaddle with his arms poking out, the pup blinked up at his papa, making the occasional squeaky sound like a rusty hinge.

Izuku was whispering to him.

Nonsense, mostly. Little stories. Half-sung rhymes. Every few seconds he’d puff out a low rumble — pure instinct — and Kazuki would blink slowly, relaxing into the sound like it was music only he could hear.

Katsuki’s heart stuttered. Because it was dumb. It was so fucking dumb. Kazuki couldn’t talk, couldn’t understand a word. His neck wasn’t even strong enough to hold his own oversized head upright.

And still… the pup looked like he was listening.

That round little face, those red cheeks, the slow flutter of lashes that didn’t match either of theirs. The way he gripped Izuku’s finger in his sleep like it was the most important thing in the universe.

Fuck.

Katsuki folded his arms tight over his chest and glared at the wall. Not because he was mad — okay, he was — but mostly because he didn’t know how to deal with his heart doing things like melting.

He growled under his breath and turned on his heel again.

No.

He wouldn’t get distracted. He had a mission.

This place was a dump. He needed to change it. Improve it. Burn it down and start over if necessary. The pup needed a real space. A clean one. A safe one. One with thick rugs and shelves of teas and oils and his own fucking touch.

A new cabin.

He was getting them a new fucking cabin.

And maybe — MAYBE — if he felt like it, he’d let the idiot alpha live there too.

Katsuki grabbed his cloak from the hook by the door, already muttering under his breath about stupid architecture and bad insulation and lack of aesthetic. He was so caught up in mentally rearranging the future nursery that he didn’t notice the footsteps on the porch.

Not until they stopped.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Katsuki paused, hand on the doorknob.

His eye twitched because the one thing that wasn't supposed to happen was anyone showing up uninvited. Ever. Especially when he was five seconds from an omega meltdown and had a pup and a half-dressed alpha lounging in his living room like a wet dream.

He turned toward the living room, voice already sharp.

“Deku. You invite someone?”

Izuku looked up, eyes wide like a deer, Kazuki now cuddled against his bare chest and gurgling happily like the world was made of milk and naps.

“What? No. Why?”

Katsuki snarled and ripped open the door.

Whoever it was had better be ready to answer for interrupting his nesting plans. Because heads wWere about to roll.

Of course. Because the universe had a sick sense of humor.

Standing at the door with perfect posture and a stiff expression was the only person Katsuki didn’t want to see right now.

The goddamn glasses-wearing alpha.

What the fuck was his name again? Didn’t matter. Four-Eyes it was.

“What?” Katsuki spat, crimson eyes narrow as knives, a low snarl building in the back of his throat. He stood half in the doorway, cloak slung carelessly over his shoulder, ready to drag someone through the snow.

The alpha in question took a step back — not far, but enough. His fingers rose to adjust his glasses in that uptight, twitchy way that made Katsuki want to break them right off his face.

“Good morning, Midoriya-san,” Four-Eyes said formally, voice too fucking polite for his own good.

Katsuki twitched. His right eye pulsed with irritation. Oh, he was going to rip this guy’s tongue out and shove it up his—

“I need to speak with Izuku,” the alpha continued, glancing beyond the door like he expected to be invited inside.

Katsuki opened his mouth, already mid fuck off, when he was interrupted by a rumble. Low. Sharp.

Izuku.

The alpha appeared silently behind him, a quiet shadow with too-bright green eyes and one arm wrapped tightly around the small bundle in his chest.

The pup’s head lolled slightly against his papa’s collarbone, nose scrunched, soft mouth parted in a sleepy pout. His cheeks were flushed, his little fist curled against Izuku’s chest. He blinked — once — then promptly fell back asleep.

The image would’ve been ridiculous if it wasn’t so fucking adorable.

Izuku looked like a battle-hardened wolf trying to carry a marshmallow.

“Tenya,” Izuku greeted, voice cold and clipped, his expression a dark scowl. “Did something happen?”

Four-Eyes straightened.

“Izuku, good morning,” he said, and cleared his throat. “I believe it would be best if I could enter so we may discuss—”

“No chance,” Izuku growled, holding Kazuki just a bit tighter. “You can talk here . Or leave.”

Katsuki had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling.

He really should’ve been mad — the way Izuku’s pheromones had surged the moment another alpha stepped onto their porch, sharp and possessive, curling around Katsuki like a warning bell.

But instead it made something deep in his chest purr. He smirked, arms crossing.

Tenya looked visibly uncomfortable now, his body stiff with protocol, mouth flattening into a line. He shifted once on his feet before speaking again.

“ Ahem . Yes, well. As you know, you have been absent from your responsibilities as the Alpha Heir for quite some time,” he said, tone clipped, clearly trying not to breathe in too deeply around all the territorial mine-mine-mine scent Izuku was exuding like a blanket. “I have been managing things in your stead to the best of my ability, but several matters require your explicit approval.”

He adjusted his glasses again, clearly flustered, before continuing.

“In addition… Enji Todoroki has called for a formal meeting with the Council. He believes it necessary to evaluate your current condition. Given your…” he hesitated, glancing at Kazuki, then back up at Izuku “...status, as a wolf touched by Luna-sama.”

Katsuki’s smirk disappeared.

Izuku bared his teeth.

“Toshinori didn’t—”

“He sent me himself,” Tenya interrupted quickly, though not rudely. His voice remained respectful — but it was clear he was uncomfortable standing in the doorway of a marked omega’s home, in front of a touch-starved, half-recovered alpha protecting his mate and pup.

Katsuki looked between the two of them, his lips twitching.

Izuku was growling, just softly, but enough that it vibrated down through Kazuki’s tiny body. The pup squirmed against his chest with a tired little grunt, head tilting in search of warmth, mouth moving in his sleep. The alpha softened immediately, nose brushing over the pup’s forehead as he soothed him with a whisper Katsuki barely caught.

“It’s okay. Papa’s here. You’re okay, little one.”

It was the softest fucking thing Katsuki had ever heard. And it made him want to hit something. Preferably himself.

This wasn’t just about a meeting.

This was the beginning of something bigger. Something Izuku hadn’t talked to him about yet. Something that meant their quiet life — their fucked-up little slice of peace — was about to get complicated.

Katsuki’s fingers twitched at his side.

He would not let anyone take it from them. Not some fucking council. Not Todoroki. Not even Luna herself.

Not now that he had a pup, and a bond, and a dumbass alpha who looked at him like he was the goddamn moon.

He looked at Four-Eyes dead in the eye and said flatly:

“He’s not going anywhere without me.”

Izuku blinked.

Tenya hesitated.

And the bond between them buzzed like thunder under their skin.

The moment Katsuki’s words left his mouth, the air fucking shifted.

Tenya straightened so hard it looked like someone had rammed a stick up his back. His mouth opened, then closed, jaw tight, clearly wrestling with how to phrase what he was about to say without getting his throat torn out.

“That is not permitted,” he said carefully, voice tight. “Only the heir himself may be present for formal Council convocations. That is law. Even mated omegas—”

“Then fucking change it,” Katsuki snapped.

Tenya froze. zuku blinked.

Katsuki took a step forward, bare feet on wood, eyes gleaming crimson like fresh blood spilled over snow.

“I’m not just any omega,” he growled. “I’m the omega of the heir. Marked. Bonded. We have a pup. You think I’m just gonna stay home and wait around while your fucking council pokes and prods my mate like some damn lab wolf?!”

Izuku blushed like the idiot he is.

His voice rose, sharp and wild, thick with fury and something deeper — fear. Because he knew what councils were like. He'd grown up watching powerful wolves abuse titles and power. Omegas had no voice in places like that.

And he wasn’t about to let Izuku go in alone. Not when everything about him — about them — was already being questioned.

The porch fell deathly quiet.

Tenya’s shoulders tensed like he’d been physically struck. His scent pulsed — frustration, discipline, confusion — but he didn’t speak. Didn’t dare.

Then Izuku exhaled, heavy.

Katsuki turned his burning gaze toward him just in time to see it. That stupid little crease between his brows. The one that always showed up when he was about to say something Katsuki would want to punch him for.

“Kacchan,” Izuku said quietly, soothingly, like it would fucking help. “It might be better if you stayed—”