Chapter Text
A few days had passed since he had talked to Joonmyun and not much had changed on those few days.
Without the rest of the pack knowing and since they couldn’t yet read his thoughts, Jongin had set on practicing on his own; he had found a clearing nearby, not too close and not too far from the place they were living in but he made sure that it was at least far enough from them to leave him alone and not raise any suspicions.
“Noone is around, come on, let me loose.”
Kai said on his mind, he had been a little restless since waking up that morning. They could feel something was going to happen, but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
“Just one moment, we’ll get there soon.”
Was what Jongin thought, trying to comfort the restless wolf inside his head while racing through the trees. The moment his foot had set on the beginning of the clearing he transformed with a small howl as to not to alert the nearby patrol. He started to run in circles, releasing the pent up energy contained on his body.
It felt good.
His wolf’s tongue was hanging from the side of his mouth, huffing excitedly while running in circles, chasing his own tail and over all, releasing all the energy he had been having contained inside his body. He didn’t care that he looked like a common dog, he tried to enjoy the small moments in life where he could get to be himself, without noone around to judge him.
After a while he started to feel tired so he sat on his hind legs and panted, letting out a huff while laying down on top of the grass; he closed his eyes and let himself be carried away by his tiredness, so far long gone on his sleep he didn’t notice the quiet figure retiring from the clearing, a big wolf that smelled like an Alpha.
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-“So, what brings you here, Alpha?” -asked a man with a big smile on his lips and a deep dimple showing on a side of his face.
-“Good Morning to you too, Xing.” -Joonmyun almost scowled, not missing the chuckle coming from the other wolf’s mouth.
-“You get so easy to rile up with each passing year, Myun. Don’t give me such a hard time for wanting to mess with you every once in awhile”.
Joonmyun just sighed, entering the hut and sitting down on one of the wooden chairs, his troubled expression made Yixing frown and sit down next to him, all traces of playfulness erased from his face.
-“What’s wrong, Myun?” - Yixing’s tone acquired that of worry, laying a hand on the frowning Alpha’s shoulder, hoping to comfort him just a tiny bit.
-“I have a… consultation, Xing. But this is… Not my story to tell so I won’t tell you the full details out of respect for this other person…”
Yixing had always been a very perceptive person so, with only a glance to his mood and body language he said in a low whisper.
-“This is about the new wolf, right? Jongin.”
Joonmyun wasn’t quick enough to mask his tone of surprise nor his reaction at the other finding out about it.
-“How did you know?”
-“Oh, please, Myun. You think I wouldn’t notice? I know you’ve been worried sick for that pup since he got here to the pack. Besides, we’re litter mates, I know you so, give me some credit will you?”
His tone was lighthearted though his manners and expression showed concern for his older friend.
-“Yes. It’s about him.”
-“Is there something wrong with him?”
With a sigh, Joonmyun decided to rely everything he knew so far about the pup, hoping that his knowledge about healing could be of help.
-“There is nothing wrong with him, per se. But I’m worried… He went to visit me this morning on my hut, asking my help about this… not smelling issue. He told me a little bit of his story…”
While Joonmyun was talking, Yixing was listening intently, standing up from the chair and placing a kettle with water to boil on the stove. He kind of had a feeling they would be needing some tea for the long conversation ahead.
-“... and then, when that scum and good for nothing excuse of an Alpha punched him on the nose his family did nothing, NOTHING to stop him. I mean, Jongin’s just still a pup! He didn’t have a way to defend himself against that motherfucker who manhandled him and then he couldn’t take anymore and escaped. It’s good that he did, though, it gives me shivers to think of where would he be right now if he hadn’t escaped.”
Joonmyun finished talking and cleared his throat, taking a sip of the warm tea Yixing had put in front of him while he was talking, calmly letting the other think.
-“Why are you so angry towards that other wolf? The one who hurt Jongin. I mean… You don’t even know him.”
-“A good Alpha doesn’t treat others like that.” -he said with a growl, making Yixing raise an eyebrow at the menacing tone his friend’s voice had acquired.
-“... I understand”.-he sensed there was something else that Joonmyun wasn’t telling him, something related to the long glances he seemed to always direct towards the younger wolf whenever they crossed paths or to the way he seemed to gravitate towards the other just to stop himself in time, huff and walk away from him. He wasn’t going to confront his old friend about that, not in that moment; so he went back to the important topic at the moment.- “Are you sure he can’t smell? Not even a thing?”
-“Yes, I am.”
-“I have heard of certain cases in which a wolf didn’t completely have one of his or her senses. But the ones I’ve heard are of wolves that were born like it and developed other ways to hunt and try to survive. This is not the case.” -Yixing said out loud, carefully thinking and remembering the stories he had heard from other healers in other packs.- “Maybe… he has a block. That’s the only explanation I can think of. You know as well as I do that our wolves are able to heal at a faster rate than any living creature. So, Jongin’s mind in order to protect itself, probably placed a mental block, making him think that he did not have his sense of smell.”
-“But is that possible?” - Joonmyun asked with a small whisper, he had attentively heard everything Yixing had said, committing it to memory so he could try and do whatever he could to help that pup.
-“The mind is a place yet to fully explore and comprehend, Myun. One never knows if that would be possible or not, but that’s the only explanation I can think of right now, with what you’ve told me.”
-“And how do I help him?”
-“Train with him. Talk to him. Force him to use his full senses so he can overcome this block he has.”
-“But… are you positive that what he has is a mental block and that bastard didn’t damage one of his nerves? I would hate to hurt him in any way if that wasn’t the answer.”
Yixing tried his best to hide his smile. Now he could begin to understand…
-“Are you doubting me now, Myunnie? You don’t want to hurt him?.. Don’t tell me you grew a soft spot for that pup.”
Joonmyun spluttered, blinking owlishly while looking at the other wolf who was now openly laughing at the Alpha’s expenses.
-“I’m completely sure of what I’m saying, Alpha”.-Yixing said once his laughter had subsided, his tone warm, placing a hand again on his friend’s shoulders and squeezing comfortingly.
-“I trust you, Xing. Now… I will try and see how to better help Jongin. I’ll have to tell him first what you’ve said. Hopefully he’ll understand and we can start to heal him.”
Yixing smiled and waved goodbye once the Alpha stood up and thanked him with a short bow. After he left the hut, the blonde wolf chuckled, starting to feel happy for his friend.
Maybe that little pup was all it took to make him happy. It was now time for the Alpha to settle down and find a mate... Only time would tell.
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In a clearing not far from there, a wolf whined and covered his ears, annoyed by the strange buzzing that woke him up from his nap.