Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

I woke up, I was stuck in a dream

You were there you were tearing up everything

We all know how to fake it, baby

We all know what we’ve done

We must be killers

Children of the Wild Ones

☾

Breathless, Jaemin turns his head back around. Barely avoiding tripping, he speeds up his pace. Jaemin shakes the sweat off of his head and heaves, gasping for air. He finally slows down when he sees a familiar shape coming into view. Suddenly forgetting the creature behind him, Jaemin calmly nears the creature before him. He crouches down, coming eye to eye with the small creature. The red fox treads closer to the crouched boy step by step before halting in complete stillness. The fox quickly turns around and disappears into the darkness ahead of him. Jaemin continues to sprint. He’s finally there. He’s almost there. He’s about to make it out.

He can feel the closeness. The freedom. The release. His release.

But right before he can escape, he’s caught once more.

He turns around to be met with the same creature that continues to lurk in his shadows. The same monster that greets him every grueling night. The same wolf. The same red eyes. The same words.

"Why did you do it? ”

“Do what?" Jaemin breathlessly whispers.

“Why did you do it?”

“I didn't mean to…” Jaemin whimpers out.

“Why did you kill him?”

“Why did you kill her?”

“Why did you kill them?”

“You killed them.”

“You killed them all.”

“You killer.”

“Killer!”

☽

Jaemin wakes up gasping. Out of breath and in complete distress from the continuous beeping, Jaemin wipes the sweat off of his forehead before reaching over to turn his alarm off with a scowl.

“Hey. I was just gonna wake you up.” Jaehyun says while peeping out from behind his bedroom door frame. “Same nightmare?”

Jaemin sighs before sitting up fully. “Yeah. Same damn nightmare.”

Jaehyun gives Jaemin a small smile and a chuckle. “Get up and go take a shower. You don’t want to be late on your first day.”

“Yeah...right.” Jaemin breathes out while closing his eyes, trying to bring himself back to his reality as quickly as he could. “First day…”

Jaehyun’s about to leave before he rushes back to Jaemin’s door. “Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you. I made breakfast for you. And I might have gotten a little present for you out front.”

Before Jaemin can say anything, Jaehyun is already out of sight from his door. Jaemin smiles and shakes his head before getting up from his bed to get ready for his first day as a senior at Silver Mellings High School. It’s been three years since Jaemin and Jaehyun had returned to the town that was Silver Mellings. Three years since he left everything behind. Three years since that day.

Three years ago Jaemin had packed his bags, got in the car with Jaehyun without a word, and drove far away to leave Silver Mellings and everything and everyone behind without a trace.

He remembers the morning they had left. It was exactly only three days after the incident had happened. Three days after his entire family had been murdered at the Na residence, but him. Three days after everything had changed. He remembers Jaehyun quickly packing up his clothes, throwing anything and everything that would fit into the small duffel. He remembers asking questions to Jaehyun. Why they were leaving. Where they were going. What they were doing. He never really got a good answer even to this day.

Jaemin grabs his school bag from his desk chair and walks out his door and heads down into the kitchen. “I'm ready. Let’s go.” Jaemin chimes while grabbing an apple from the counter and throwing it into his bag.

“But your breakfast…” Jaehyun frowns.

“Ah, sorry hyung...I’m not that hungry. And we’re gonna be late if we don’t get going.” Jaemin says while putting his shoes on.

Jaehyun shakes his head. “Don’t know why I even bothered. You never eat breakfast anyways.”

Jaemin laughs and shrugs his shoulders. The two make their way out and into the elevator and down to the parking lot. Jaemin is walking to Jaehyun’s car when all of the sudden stops when he realizes a presence missing beside him. Jaemin turns around in a confused manner to see Jaehyun next to a bright blue jeep.

“Happy late birthday.” Jaehyun smiles while leaning against the old dusty looking car.

“What? No way…” Jaemin beams. He walks towards the car smiling.

“I know it’s old looking and not much...and definitely not the prettiest. But a car’s a car. And it’s your car now.” Jaehyun says while patting the car’s hood.

“It’s perfect.” Jaemin chimes while taking in every detail of his new car. “You didn’t have to, hyung.”

“Your birthday just passed. I know its a little late, but I wanted to do something for you. And you know I have a bunch of cash.”

“You mean a terrible spending problem.”

“No. Cash. That I can and will spend for my cousin.” Jaehyun rolls his eyes while ruffling Jaemin’s hair.

After the incident three years ago, the only family Jaemin had left in the town of Silver Mellings he could go to was none other than his older cousin, Jung Jaehyun. Jung Jaehyun was the only cousin of Jaemin and the only nephew of Jaemin’s late mother. When Jaehyun was younger his parents were met with an unfortunate death in a car accident that was still to this day a mystery. Jaemin still remembers being confused when he had found out as a child about the death of his aunt and his uncle. The tragedy of the Jung’s parents death was still one talked about till this day. Jaemin remembers peeping into the living room where his parents and Jaehyun were talking on the night they had found out of their deaths. He only remembers bits and pieces of the conversation, but one thing he could never forget was the shocking truth only their family knew that came out of his mother’s mouth that night. How their bodies were never found.

After the death of Jaehyun’s parents, Jaehyun was granted a huge inheritance of money when he had turned eighteen. Thus, began Jaehyun’s incredibly extreme money spending problem. And a life Jaemin admittedly didn’t mind living. Jaehyun had taken Jaemin in when he had nothing and no one else. Jaehyun had given him a home, a luxurious life, but more importantly, a friend. They were like brothers. They were brothers. And Jaemin was forever grateful for the sacrifice Jaehyun had made for him the days following the incident three years ago.

“So this is why you’ve been making me drive everywhere lately.”

“Bingo.” Jaehyun throws Jaemin the keys. “You should really get going now. Have a good first day back, Jaemin.”

Jaemin’s smiles wide from ear to ear. “Thanks, Hyung. You’re the best.” Jaemin says giving his older cousin a big bone crushing hug.

Jaehyun hugs him back before pushing him off. “Make sure to come home right away after school ends.”

“You got it, boss.”

☾

Jaemin slowly pulls up into the high school parking lot. He parks near the middle where he hopes his car won’t grab too much attention, but he knows that’s not quite possible due to the bright blue color of his new jeep. He silently curses under his breath. Why did Jaehyun-hyung have to get me the most noticeable colored car on planet Earth.

Jaemin takes in a deep breath and gets out of his car and heads towards the front of the school. The school is bustling with students old and new. He looks around and sees a couple of familiar faces from middle school. Jaemin quickly puts his head down out of view, not wanting any attention from curious peering eyes. He makes his way to the front doors, but stops before entering and reads the big letters hovering over the entrance doors. Silver Mellings High School.

He couldn’t believe he’d actually be starting school at Silver Mellings High today. His senior year. Back at his hometown. His hometown he had grown up in. He remembered how much he looked up to Jaehyun, the star player of SMHS lacrosse team. He remembered wanting so badly to already be in high school. To be the star player in his grade. It’d be a lie if he said he didn’t miss it. Miss all of this. Miss feeling like a normal kid. But Jaemin knew. He and Silver Mellings was far far from normal.

It would’ve seemed like on the outside Silver Mellings was like just any other normal town. But Silver Mellings wasn't quite what everyone thought it out to be. Silver Mellings had a secret. A deep dark secret that only those who knew, knew.

And Jaemin, well, Jaemin was part of that secret.

To Jaemin, that secret. That life. Was his normal.

Silver Mellings was notoriously known for weird things. For the curious. For the supernatural. Silver Mellings was founded hundreds of years ago. And was mostly known for its long lineage of hunters. But, for there to be hunters there needed to be the hunted. Silver Mellings was also known for its long and ancient lineage of wolves.

It was known to everyone in Silver Mellings of the tragic famous myth of the Hunter and his Lover.

It was said that hundreds of years ago there was once a honorable and well known hunter in the village that had fallen in love with a young lady. The lady had dark black hair and piercing blue eyes. Just days after she had appeared in the village a series of mysterious killings started to take place in the woods each month. The village was in shambles when the third killing had taken place. The deaths made it clear that whatever was killing them was a monster. The Hunter had had enough of the killings and vowed to put an end to the creature that was behind the deaths, whatever the cost. It was on the night of the full moon when the Hunter had heard it. A piercing sound of a wolf’s cry. He rushed down into the woods where he had laid a trap for whatever creature was lurking in the shadows. The Hunter was speechless to find his Lover morphed into what looked like a human and a wolf. She was a werewolf. It was impossible, but he had heard myths of werewolves roaming their villages during the full moon. He had trapped his own lover’s life to her death. She begged him to let her free. That it was uncontrollable. That it was an accident. That it would never happen again.

The Hunter had let his Lover go, his love for her blurring and tainting his true promise to the village, under one condition. If there were to be another killing, he would take her life. To his surprise, the killings had stopped. And the incident was an unspoken secret between the two lovers. It wasn’t until nine full moon’s later when another killing had taken place. One that frighteningly resembled the past ones.

When the Hunter went to go confront his Lover about the killing he could not find her anywhere in the village. It wasn't until he heard a familiar cry when the Hunter rushed down into the woods. As he approached the cry closer and closer, what he saw would change his heart forever. What he saw made him make a vow, a promise, that would forever change his life. And the many lives after his.

His Lover’s heart was ripped out from another werewolf like hers. The werewolf’s eyes were a bright red he would never forget. Before her death, his Lover had told the Hunter the only other thing that could kill a werewolf other than one of their own. Silver. The Hunter had sent a flying silver arrow that pierced straight through the red eyed werewolf’s heart. The Hunter had vowed from that day forward he would hunt down each and every single red eyed werewolf until his death.

But the twist of this myth, and what many did not know was that before the death of the Hunter’s Lover, the two had given life to a newborn baby boy. A boy that would have to live a life he never wished for. A life where he would have to continuously run. Away from his father, away from his humanness, and away from his past.

Though people will see this as just a myth, those who knew, knew it wasn’t a myth at all. It was said that the son of the Hunter and his Lover was the first of the long ancient line of Na’s. The Na’s were in the town of Silver Mellings one of the most, if not the most respected and highly looked upon werewolf family. Some would say some even feared them. Of their name, their strength, and their poise. The Na's were a family that in some way held the werewolves of Silver Mellings together. Brought them rationale. Control. Safety.

That was until their family was murdered, and their son...nowhere to be found.

Thus, the legend of the Hunter and his Lover was where Silver Mellings got its name. The Silver was put in to protect the town of the red eyed monster that dared to step into its boundaries. But that never truly stopped the werewolves from leaving.

Hunters. Silver. Werewolves.

To anyone who didn’t live this life, it all sounded bogus. But, even those who walked the streets of Silver Mellings clueless of the life around them, all knew deep inside, that that bogus was somehow real.

Despite the legends, the myths, the tales, and all the stereotypes, the hunters and the wolves of Silver Mellings lived in peace. The era Jaemin had grown up in was one of harmony and of friendships. Though there were those that had prejudice amongst one another, that lied within most of the older generations.

But what Jaemin didn’t know was after the murder of his family and his sudden disappearance, Silver Mellings had changed. What once Jaemin thought to be his Silver Mellings, was far far from what it actually was and became.

Jaemin takes a deep sigh and walks inside the bustling hallway. Already feeling claustrophobic, Jaemin scowls as he pushes past the flood of students. Trying to get to his locker, Jaemin accidentally bumps his shoulder into a taller builded boy next to him.

“Watch it, freak.” the boy spits out.

Before Jaemin can even think on the words the bell rings loudly in his ears and only a couple of students are left in the hallway, quickly scattering their ways into their classrooms. Jaemin lets out a long sigh and leans against the lockers.

This was going to be a long ass day…  

☽

“Okay everyone. Take a seat. Goodness you barbarians!” The teacher laughs. “It’s only the first day back and all of you are acting like the school year’s already over!”

The class quiets down and takes their respective seat at the same time Jaemin walks into the classroom.

This was maybe the only time Jaemin actually wanted to burn the phrase ‘fashionably late’ until it didn’t exist. As Jaemin walks in the classroom, the entire classrooms bursts out into loud chatter and gossip.

“Ah, Mr. Na. Nice of you to have finally found the classroom. Please go take a seat.” the teacher says before giving Jaemin a small smile of encouragement. “For the rest of you, if you rascals don’t keep quiet you bet i’ll be assigning homework the first day back.”

The classroom quiets down in a matter of seconds, only a couple of whispered voice heard from the back.

“Is that Na Jaemin?”

“No way…”

“I thought he fucking died.”

“No. He didn't die, you idiot. From what I heard he apparently killed his entire family than ran off.”

“What? That’s sick. What a psycho. How’s he not in jail?”

“Are you sure that’s Na Jaemin? The one who supposedly killed his entire family then just left out of the blue?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy shit. What the fuck is that lunatic doing back here?”

“I don’t know. But he’s gotten pretty cute over the years if you ask me.”

Jaemin takes his seat and clenches his fists tightly. Unawarely, his eyes turn bright blue. Jaemin quickly squeezes his eyes shut and tries to calm him breathing down, trying his best to tune out the voices around him.

Jaemin thanks all the Gods in heaven when his class is finally over. Jaemin makes his way towards his locker. The caramel color haired boy takes out the next few needed materials for his next class and closes his locker to be startled out of his mind from what he finds behind it.

“Jeno! God, you fucking scared the living shit out of me.” Jaemin gasps out while clutching onto his books.

“Dude! You’re back! You’re really back! And you didn’t even bother to message me?” Jeno exclaims out, eyebrows scrunched together, but a bright smile on his face to contrast them. “Well, go figure. Since you haven’t messaged me once these past three years. But that’s besides the point right now. Dude! You’re back!”

Jaemin smiles and chuckles out at the blubbering boy in front of him. “Yeah. I guess I am.” Jaemin says as he closes his locker fully.

“You guess? You’re staying for senior year right? You have to.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I am.” Jaemin breathes out.

“Good.” Jeno nods while smiling. “Dang. How long has it been...”

Jaemin’s smile turns into a small frown. “Jeno...I’m...I’m sorry for not-”

Jeno scoffs and punches Jaemin in the shoulder, like he always did. “Forget it, dude. I’m sure you had your reasons.”

Jaemin laughs at the familiar punch, stronger than what he remembers, and shakes his head. He takes in Jeno from head to toe. He really had changed since the last time he saw the black haired boy three years ago.

Jaemin and Jeno had been best friends since he can remember. Possibly even when they were both in their mother’s womb considering the two mother’s were best friends too. The two were inseparable in their youths. He remembers all the sleepovers they had under their man-made forts. All the unnecessary amount of hamburgers they would eat at Neo’s Dine In, the local diner on the block. All the laughs. All the fights. All the countless number of memories they shared together. He thinks out of everything he left behind in Silver Mellings, Jeno was one of the people he undoubtedly missed the most.

Right as Jaemin is about to tell Jeno he should get going to his next class, a brown haired boy passes by the two of them to his locker on the other side of the hallway across from his.

Jaemin’s eyes follows the smaller brown haired boy to his locker on the opposite side. Jaemin tilts his head. “Hey Jeno, if you don’t mind me asking, who is that?”

Jeno turns around and follows Jaemin’s gaze to the boy on the other side of the hallway across from them.

“Jaemin...that's...that's Renjun.” Jeno answers in a small voice with a confused look on his face.

“That's Renjun? Wow, he looks…”

“Different? Yeah I know.” Jeno lets out a small chuckle before coughing and straightening his posture. “Uh...but about Renjun...He's uh...He’s a friend of Mark's now.”

“I would stay away from him.” Jeno warns. “For the time being, I mean…”

Jaemin looks at Jeno with a puzzled look, eyebrows knit together. “Is he...?”

“No. No no no. Oh God no.” Jeno reassures, suddenly looking green. Strangely, Jaemin relaxes his shoulders. “But he treats him like part of the pack." Jeno laughs. "He is part of the pack.” Jeno lets Jaemin know.

“Also, don't be shocked when you see Mark.” Jeno says while patting Jaemin’s back. Jeno lets out a deep long sigh. “A lot has changed since you left, Jaemin.”

Jaemin stays silent, eyes still glued on Renjun. He soaks in Jeno’s vague words.

“It's good to have you back.” Jeno beams out while letting out a breath.

“Thanks, Jeno.” Jaemin gives the black haired boy a short, but genuine smile.

“See you around?”

“Yeah. See you around.”

☾

Jaemin drags his feet towards the cafeteria. The day was now, thankfully, almost halfway over, but why did Jaemin feel like a whole week had already past by in the halls of the dungeon they called high school. Jaemin wishes the day was already over with, his long carefree summer made him forget how long the school days truly were, especially at a town like Silver Mellings. Where you had both the dreadful long classes and the dreadful peering eyes that never seemed to leave Jaemin throughout the day.

Jaemin tightens his grip on his tray as he leaves the lunch line and looks for a seat in the overcrowded and rowdy cafeteria. Jaemin’s eyes scan from left to right when he stops, eyes wide, eyebrows beginning to scrunch together at the surprising sight before him.

Jaemin sees Jeno and Renjun sitting beside each other, a little too close if you asked him. The two were talking amongst each other and laughing with big smiles plastered on their faces.

The now scowling boy’s grip tightens as he makes his way out of the cafeteria and into an empty hallway near the entrance of the cafeteria. As lunch is coming to an end, students begin to scatter into the hallways and out the cafeteria one by one. Jaemin pulls Jeno by the arm into an empty hallway as he walks by.

A little jumped by the grab, Jeno fumbles. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Well don’t you look awfully close to someone?” Jaemin begins to interrogate.

“What?” Jeno sharply breathes out. “You mean, Renjun?” He guesses.

“I thought you said to stay away.”

“Jaemin. I told you to stay away.” Jeno clarifies.

The caramel color haired boy takes a step back. Still slightly confused from everything going on.

“I’m sorry, Jaemin. I should have told you earlier. But...I’m a part of Mark’s pack now.”

“Mark’s pack?” Jaemin confusedly repeats. “Wait.” Jaemin shakes his head. “Mark’s...Mark's an alpha?”

Jeno remains silent. Confirming his suspicion.

“What? How? Since when?” Jaemin blurts out.

Jeno sighs. “Like I said, Jaemin. A lot has changed since you left. I just...I think it’d be best if you just stayed away. From Renjun. From Mark…From-”

“From you?”

“It’s not like that.” Jeno immediately responds. “I don’t want it to be like this either Jaemin. But Mark-”

“You know what. Just forget it.”

“Jaemin-” Jeno tries to say as he reaches out to stop the already retreating boy.

Before Jeno can give Jaemin any explanation he stomps away down the hallway to his next class.

Jaemin huffs his way down the halls to his next class on the opposite side of the school. On his way there he calms his breathing down. He feels like he’s going to break down any minute now. He begins to slowly regret coming back to Silver Mellings. Maybe Jaehyun was right. Maybe...maybe they shouldn’t have come back.

Jaemin enters his class and just like that he feels like he can breathe again. Just like that the room brightens up. Just like that all his worries seem to strangely wash away. He stands there like an idiot. The students at the front of the room throw him strange looks, but Jaemin ignores each and every one of them and begins to walk towards the back of the room. As Jaemin walks towards the back the brown haired boy looks up, their eyes locking. Renjun’s eyes grow wide into saucers.

“Hey, is this spot taken?” Jaemin asks quietly, already pulling out the chair.

Renjun slowly shakes his head no.

Jaemin smiles the biggest smile he’s smiled this entire past year and seats himself down snug right next to the startled boy.

“Renjun, right?”

Renjun, mouth still stitched shut, nods slowly again.

“Na Jaemin.”

Renjun peeks out a small smile and scoots himself closer to Jaemin. “Yeah, I know.” He whispers. “School talks you know. You’d be living under a rock if you didn’t know Na Jaemin was back in town.”

Jaemin scrunches his eyebrows and tilts his head at Renjun’s words. He lets out a small chuckle. “Ah. Yes. It is true indeed. The psycho. The infamous Na Jaemin who supposedly killed his entire family is back.” Jaemin scoffs with a smile while looking down.

Renjun frowns. “That’s...that’s not what I meant...”

“No, it’s fine. Just...forget it.”

Jaemin goes throughout the entire class without saying another word.

Jaemin wonders how he would survive the rest of the school year if he couldn’t even survive the first day back. Jaemin thinks to himself if he had to go to one more class after this he would go to Jaehyun after school and tell him they were moving back away whether he liked it or not. Thankfully, this was finally the last class of the day. Jaemin visibly sighs as he stands in front of the door that leads to his final class of the day. Jaemin walks in, already use to the dirty looks the students are giving him. He sees Renjun and Jeno sitting near the front. He ignores the both of them and makes a beeline straight to the furthest back seat near the back wall. Jaemin misses the way Renjun gives him what looks like an apologetic lingering look in his eyes, and he misses the way Jeno squints at both Renjun and Jaemin too.

The dazed boy blanks and completely zones out throughout the entirety of what he assumes is English class and is relieved to finally hear the last bell of the day, signaling that he was finally released from the chains of hell.

☽

Jaehyun puts down the book he’s reading once he hears the door unlock with a beep.

“Hey. You’re home early. What did you do? Speed your way home?” Jaehyun asks as his eyes follow a disheveled looking Jaemin.

Jaemin lets out a deep breath as he throws his shoes off. “You could say that.”

Jaehyun smirks in response before popping the question he’d been waiting all day to ask. “So...how was school?”

Jaemin rolls his eyes and flings his school bag across the couch.

“I’m guessing it didn’t go too well?” Jaehyun pries cautiously.

Jaemin lets out another long sigh before making his way to the fancy lazy chair he always hogs. “Long as hell. Confusing? Overwhelming.” Jaemin says in one breath. “To say the least… ”

“Well...you’ve got a whole year ahead of you. So, I’d tell you something nice and encouraging. But, I know that’s not going to help.”

Jaemin gives Jaehyun a glare. “Hey, thanks. That helped so much.”

Jaehyun chuckles. “Anytime.”

Jaemin kills time and spins around the fancy lazy chair in circles. “Did we have to choose the most expensive loft in the entire apartment complex?”

“I just don’t see the use of it.”

“Hey, I see very good use of it. And your sitting in one of them.”

Jaemin smirks and rolls his eyes, continuing to spin in the over luxurious chair.

Jaehyun takes a deep breath. “My parents left me a lot of money for me Jaemin. Might as well use it well, right? Like I always say, live life with no regrets.” Jaehyun sings out.

Jaemin shakes his head and shrugs at the same lame excuse he always uses for all his spending problems. “Right. Live life with no regrets.”

“Don’t say it.” Jaemin interrupts Jaehyun even before he speaks, as he puts his hand in the air, stopping the chair at the same time.

“Say what?” Jaehyun pouts. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“Yo-”

“NO!”

Jaehyun laughs out a big belly filled laugh. “Yolo.”

Jaemin shakes his head and muffles his laughter in as he gets out of the chair to head towards his room upstairs.

“Hey. Before I forget to tell you, I want you to know that I’ll be gone for the next few weeks.” Jaehyun says as he stops Jaemin from walking any further up the nearby stairs.

“Where are you going?” Jaemin asks.

“I’ve got to take care of some business. Don't worry about it. I’ll leave the spare key to the loft on the kitchen counter before I go. If you need anything just call me and if you need someone call this number.” Jaehyun points to the piece of paper on the table he left. “You remember Taeil, right?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

Jaehyun smiles. “Just give him a call if an emergency happens.”

“Also...this is an expensive loft. I know you won’t, but...just don’t do anything stupid, okay Jaemin?”

“Of course.” Jaemin smiles. “So when are you leaving?”

“It depends, but probably sometime later tomorrow night.”

“Okay, yeah. Just let me know.” Jaemin says as he begins to walk up the stairs some more before halting and returning back down.

“Hey, hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Go for it.”

“Do you remember a boy named Huang Renjun by any chance?”

Jaehyun stills for a moment, face expression unreadable, before shuffling in his seat. “No. Never heard of the name.”

Jaemin lets out a disappointed sigh.

“Why? Something up?”

“No. No, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Jaemin starts to walk up the stairs again. “Well, I’m gonna go hit the shower.”

“Hey! Jaemin!”

Jaemin peeks out from the tip of the stairs. “Yeah?”

“You're going to try out for lacrosse right?”

A grin begins to form from the tip of the staircase. “Is that even a question?”

Jaehyun lets out a chuckle. “That's my boy.”

☾

It’s safe to say that the second day of school is to Jaemin’s relief, much better than the first. The day seemed to be going by quicker than he expected and the school’s crazed first day mood had already died down by loads. Jaemin is walking to his next class when all of the sudden he’s bombarded by a gigantic overly grown body with the face of a baby boy.

“Jaemin-hyung! I can’t believe you’re really back!” The slightly taller giant squeezes him in his arms.

“Jisung! Wow, are you really Park Jisung? The Jisung Pwark?” Jaemin returns just as cheerfully.

Jisung embarrassingly lets go and begins to ruffles his own hair while softly smiling.

“You’ve grown so much. I didn’t even recognize you.” Jaemin chirps as he looks his younger childhood friend up and down in awe.

“Yeah, you could say I’m the new hunk of the town.” Jisung smirks while clicking his tongue, shooting little guns in the air.

Jaemin lets out a laugh. “How’ve you been? Wow, I still cant believe you're in high school already. You know you were this small the last time I saw you?” Jaemin coos as he visually shows him how tall he use to be, then pinches his cheeks quickly after.

“Ugh. Please hyung, not in public.” Jisung grimaces, pulling his face back as fast as he can. “But, I’ve been good.” He responds, with an out of place nervous laughter following.

“Jisung, why are you scared?”

“What? Me? Scared? What? No! No. Ha ha ha. I’m not scared.”

Jaemin squints. “Jisung, I can smell it all over you.”

“What’s wrong?” Jaemin asks in a serious tone, picking up the change in atmosphere.

“Okay. We all know in this god forsaken town that I can’t lie for shit. The truth is....” Jisung begins as he pulls Jaemin closer to him.

“The truth is hyung…”

“Silver Mellings has change-”

“Changed?” Jaemin finishes.

“Yes! How did you know?”

“Because that’s what everyone’s been telling me the moment I stepped foot back here.”

“It’s because it did.”

“How so?”

“There are…” Jisung takes a deep sigh. “There are a lot more wolf hunters, hyung. A lot more confident hunters. A lot more...brutal hunters. It’s like their not scared anymore. Like they’re out for blood. It’s like they’ve been trying to send us a message these past few years. Especially these past few months.”

Jaemin ponders on all the information Jisung is currently feeding him. Taking in every single word in slowly and fully. “What kind of message?”

“It's as if they want us out.”

“Out? The Werewolves?” Jaemin whispers out quietly as possible, eyeing the people passing by around him. “Out of Silver Mellings? Why do they even bother, they know that’s not going to happen in a million years.” Jaemin defends.

“Exactly.”

“But despite everyone knowing that, a lot of werewolf families have been having to hide themselves. Their identities. It’s been more dangerous these past few years than it’s ever been, hyung. There have been so many attacks. So many werewolf deaths…” Jisung falters. His face morphs into something that looks like sorrow and fear mixed together. He lets out a visible shiver before returning back to his previous self. “Also…” He chirps. “All the werewolves have been…well they’ve been fighting. A lot. Over who gets what territory and who gets the ‘reigning title’ now since...well ever since your family…” Jisung sends an apologetic look before Jaemin interrupts his moment.

“Reigning title?” Jaemin confusedly asks, only for Jisung to pick it up as something entirely different.

Jisung scoffs. “Yeah. I know. It’s fucked up. The next ‘reigning title’. Whatever the hell that means.” Jisung says while shaking his head in disapproval. “I shouldn’t...I shouldn’t really be telling you all of this. If Mark-hyung finds out…”

Jaemin whips his head up and scrunches his eyebrows together at his last words.

“Anyways. It’s really good seeing you back, hyung. You know, I always knew you’d come back.” Jisung gives Jaemin a small smile before turning around clumsily to run off to his class.

Jaemin watches Jisung run off as the younger boy waves his hand in the air. Jaemin stands still, his mind occupied and lingering on Jisung’s words.

I shouldn’t really be telling you all of this. If Mark-hyung finds out…

Jaemin puts the pieces together. So Jeno and Jisung were both a part of Mark’s pack, he notes.

Right as Jaemin is just thinking these things in his fumbled and jumbled up mind, the last person he thinks he would see passes by him. The two pair of eyes lock. Mark’s eyes glow red for a split second before he walks his way towards the direction Jisung flew off to.

Jaemin can’t seem to ignore the growl that Mark had thrown at him, a clear sound of warning towards the blue eyed wolf. Jaemin also can’t seem to wipe away how Mark’s red eyes glowed. Red. Bright red. Impossibly red. Just like what they all said about a true alpha’s.  

Jaemin's eyes grow wide. He runs to his next class. 

☽

Jaemin is leaning against the door of his last class, arms crossed, legs fidgeting, as he waits for a certain black haired boy. Right as he locks eyes with Jeno he pulls him out down to the empty hallway.

Before Jeno can even begin to say or question anything, Jaemin beats him to it.

“Mark’s a true alpha? Since when did that happen? More importantly how in the world did that happen?” Jaemin blurts out as quietly as he can.

Jeno stares at Jaemin in silence for a moment before letting out a frustrated groan. “I’m only telling you this cause you’re you, Jaemin.”

Jaemin continues to stare at Jeno with wide eyes, awaiting his answer in eagerness. 

“He became a true alpha a couple of months after you left Jaemin. My mom says he’s the only true alpha she’s ever come across in her life. I-I didn’t even think being a true alpha was possible either. I thought it was always just a…always just-”

“A myth.” Jaemin finishes.

Jeno nods his head.

It was known to all werewolves alike, however human, however wolf, wherever you came from, wherever you lived, it was known to all werewolves alike to what a true alpha was said to be.

A true alpha was one who rose to become an alpha solely on the strength of their character, their goodness, their virtue, their sheer willpower. It was said to be the rarest form of an alpha. A legend that had been around for centuries. A myth. It was said that a true alpha only appeared once in a hundred years.

“We found out he became a true alpha because...well because Mark always had a pack. From the beginning."

"Us."

"We all grew up together. He was always leading us. Shouting at us how we were always being dummies.” Jeno laughs at the countless number of memories to when they were all kids. “Showing us on the right path. Leading us when we were astray.”

“Those couple of months after you left, Jaemin. After your family was murdered...that’s when everything really changed. Where everything started getting bad. Real bad.”

“Werewolf kids were getting beaten up on the daily by hunters. For no good goddamn reason.” Jeno scoffs at the memories. “Kids that didn't even know what was happening.” Jeno clenches his fists. Jeno reeked of anger. Jaemin could be able to smell his anger from a mile away. “Kids that didn’t even know how to fend for themselves.”

“But Mark protected us. Mark protected all of us. When we needed him most, he was there.” Jeno straightens his back out.

“It just naturally happened. And we just naturally accepted it.”

☾

Jaemin’s mind is blank, still trying to grasp at the concept on how Mark is a true alpha. He can’t believe it. But somehow, deep down he always knew if anyone was fit to be a true alpha, it was Mark.

Jaemin is brought to life when his English teacher calls his name for what seems like the tenth time.

“Yes.” Jaemin blurts out, despite not hearing what she had asked him.

“Yes, Mr. Na. We’re glad you’re with us too.”

“Like I was saying. For this semester’s big project we will be diving into the supernatural. Yes, I know that you all know that Silver Mellings is known for the weird, the odd, and the supernatural. So please do not come up to me after class to start a debate I don’t have the time for.”

The entire class bursts in laughter.

“You will be assigned a topic and a partner. No you cannot change. So please do not ask me. Because the answer will be no.”

“You will be researching this topic for your paired research paper that will be due at the end of the semester. Mind you this paper is the biggest grade of the semester so do not take this lightly. I’ll be calling out your partner and your assigned research paper, so listen carefully. I will not be saying it twice.”

Jaemin sighs as his English teacher continues to call out the list of partners and respective topics. Jaemin thinks to himself what a great way it was to start his year off. With the supernatural. Jaemin wishes he could have a break with everything that came with being a werewolf. He can’t believe even the school teaches on it. He could never truly escape this life. Even if he wanted to.

Jaemin’s ear perks up as he hears his name called out.

“Jaemin and Renjun. You two will be partners. Your topic will be Werewolves.”

Jaemin lets out a nervous laughter as he starts to make his way towards the front of the room. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Kwon, but could we maybe get another topic?”

“Mr. Na. You can’t get everything you want in life. And like I said, there is no changing topics. Thank you for wasting a minute of our class’ precious time. Please go and take your seat.”

“Please, can we just-”

“Mr. Na, is there a problem you have with the topic of werewolves?”

Jaemin slowly shakes his head as Jeno tries his best to hold in his laugh beside him. Jaemin reaches out and punches the black haired boy in the shoulder. “Shut up.” Jaemin hisses out.

Jaemin returns to his seat with a glum look on his face. The room is quickly turned into chaos as the students move and shift their desks around to be able to sit with their partner.

Renjun taps Jaemin’s nose after what seems like an hour trying to get his attention.

“Jaemin?”

Jaemin shakes his head back to life and stares ahead at a wide eyed Renjun.

“Sorry.” Jaemin sighs out. “Just a lot of things on my mind.”

Renjun gives him a small smile.

“So, why don’t you want werewolves?”

“What?”

“I said, why don’t you want werewolves? I don’t think it’s that bad. It’s pretty cool, actually. Plus, I’ve heard a lot of people talk. People always say they’ve seen them run around here and there.”

Jaemin lets out a hearty laugh. “Well I mean, werewolves? Come on. You don’t actually believe in that? Do you? You can’t." Jaemin scoffs. "It’s just a bunch of bullshit."

Renjun shrugs his small shoulders. “I'm just saying it's not too bad compared to some other topics. I'd rather have werewolves than something actually stupid. Like vampires. Any day.”

Jaemin nods his head with a smirk. “Touché.”

The two talk the rest of the class on their opinions and knowledge on werewolves, the supernatural, how they like their eggs cooked, all the way to how dark toast should be toasted. The two decide to meet up twice a week at the library after school to work on their research paper together. Although it was a long last period, it was the first time in a long time where Jaemin wouldn’t mind having another class if it meant he could talk to Renjun longer.

The two part their ways and Jaemin somehow makes his way to the back of the school. He remembers coming here when Jaehyun was in high school one time he had to go home with him. He remembers loving this wired fence because he knew the other side lead to a field he knew all too well as his mother’s land. Or territory, as werewolves liked to call it.

Jaemin looks out towards the field and takes another deep breath. Jaemin takes out a cigarette and lights it. He knows if a teacher caught him he’d be dead meat, but at this point, he didn’t even care if he was expelled from school. Jaemin quickly attempts to hide both his cigarette and lighter as a familiar face walks up to him.

Renjun lets out a chuckle before putting his own cigarette between his lips. He raises his eyebrows, signaling Jaemin to light it for him.

Jaemin gives him a dramatic shocked expression before bringing his lighter up to Renjun’s cigarette.

“I didn't peg you as someone who would smoke.” Jaemin says as he bring his own cigarette up for a drag.

Renjun gives Jaemin a grin. “Looks are deceiving.” 

Jaemin raises his eyebrow in agreement.

☽

Jaemin closes his locker and gasps.

“Yeri!”

Jaemin wishes people around him would stop greeting him and scaring him by popping up behind his locker.

“God, you scared me.”

Yeri just smiles at the startled boy. “Jaemin.”

“It’s good to see you too.”

“Yeah. It’s really been a while hasn’t it? How have you been?”

Yeri lets out a long sigh. “Bored. It's been really quiet ever since…”

Jaemin gives Yeri a nod.

“But not the quiet your thinking. You know everyone thought you died. Well the wolves did at least. Everyone else thinks you killed everyone and ran off. But we all know that's just gossip.”

Jaemin doesn’t know how to respond and just gives her a forced smiled.

“Don't let them bother you so much, Jaemin.” Yeri says as she looks around the people staring and giving the two nasty looks. She squints her eyes at one of the snickering girl’s passing by and snarls in protectiveness.

“Anyways, it's really good to have you back. My mom is going to freak when she hears you're back in town from the dead.”

Jaemin chuckles. “Thanks Yeri. It's really good to see you too.”

“I’ll see you at the black light party this Friday?”

“The black light party?” Jaemin asks.

“Yeah it's only just the biggest back to school party of the year. Everyone comes. You definitely don't wanna miss it.” She lets him know.

Everyone?

“Right. Yeah, I'll definitely see you there.”

☾

“Sick party bro!”

Jaemin knows he shouldn’t have asked around school to see who was hosting this black light party. And he definitely knows he shouldn’t have asked the kid who was hosting it if he could host it instead. Persuading him that his loft was bigger and better than wherever it was originally planned to be.

But Jaemin was feeling a little...wilder...than he normally was. A little riskier. Maybe it was the full moon approaching. Maybe it was all the voices that wouldn’t leave his head. Whatever it was, this party was everything and nothing he expected.

What he didn’t know was how many kids actually showed up to this party in his loft. His cousin’s loft. What he didn’t know was the indescribable amount of trash that was going to be left over. And what he definitely didn’t know was how half the students in his school all apparently loved to get wasted on a Friday night.

Jaemin understood why it was called the black light party now. The entire loft was pitch black, minus the bodies covered in glow in the dark paint, which lit up the loft in crazy wild colors. In the entrance of the loft stood an artist that would paint the neon liquid all over each and every single person who walked in. Though the party was lit up and there were lights hung against the rails, Jaemin had a difficult time getting to see the faces of the people here.

Jaemin walks around and blinks his eyes. When he opens them his eyes are back to his natural ice blue. His senses are heightened and now he finally feels like he can see. His eyes are glowing bright blue in the dark, but he hopes the people here are too drunk to notice.

Jaemin squints his eyes as he sees in the corner of his eyes a yellow orangish fiery glow from afar. Jaemin pushes past the sweaty people jumping up and down to the blaring music as he tries to get a better glimpse at what he just saw.

Jaemin is cut off by a small presence from earlier this week. “Jaemin! You made it!”

Yeri can smell the confusion on Jaemin and frowns. “What's wrong, who are you looking for?”

“I thought I just saw...it's nothing.” Jaemin says as he shakes his head, eyes back to normal along with it.

Before Jaemin can hear Yeri’s response, the small petite girl is already whisked away into the crowd. Jaemin continues to push through the crowd, still no sign of the boy he’s been trying to find all night.

Jaemin feels a push to his chest as a blue eyed Jeno appears from out of nowhere.

"Jaemin, what are you doing here? You shouldn't be here."

“Have you seen Renjun?”

“What?”

“Have you seen Renjun?” Jaemin asks a tad louder, the music still blasting through the crowded loft.

“No.”

“Jeno, I know you're lying. I can smell it all over you.”

Jeno rolls his eyes and signals his head towards the front. “I saw him earlier near the DJ. But Jaemin, you really shouldn't be here. Mark is here." Jeno raises an eyebrow while shaking his head. "And trust me when I tell you, he isn't going to like this.”

Jaemin scoffs as he pushes past Jeno into the crowd near the DJ up front. Jaemin continues to look around, carefully eyeing all the bodies around him. Near the front of the crowd Jaemin finally spots a small brown haired boy dancing by himself against the music. Renjun's eyes are closed and his movements are fluid and graceful against the stiff bodies that seem dull and vacant of life next to him.

“Fancy seeing you here.” Jaemin says as he captures Renjun’s hand into his, bringing him closer to his chest.

Renjun hazily opens his eyes and chuckles out a smile at the pleasant view before him. The two continue to dance to the music.

“I didn't think you'd be the type of person to come out to something like this.” Jaemin whispers into Renjun’s ear.

“Well then it seems like you don't know a lot things about me, Na Jaemin.” Renjun whispers back, still grinning ear to ear.

Jaemin snakes his arm around Renjun’s thin waist.

“Well then maybe I can get to know you a little better.”

Renjun twirls himself away from Jaemin before twirling back into him, even much more closer than before, if that was possible.

“Maybe.” Renjun whispers impossibly close. Jaemin almost misses his fleeting whisper due to the pounding music against them.

Renjun looks mesmerizing under the dark lights and against the glow of all the colors around him. The glowing face paint around his cheekbones make him look like he's from another world. He can’t stop staring.

Renjun playfully twirls away, the tips of Jaemin's fingertips still touching the smaller boy's fingers, before he fully disappears into the crowd.

The smaller boy is out of Jaemin's sight for a minute or two before two warm hands snake around Jaemin's abdomen.

“You're bad at playing hide and seek.”

Jaemin turns around and pulls Renjun to him, not wanting the lose the boy yet again from his grasp. 

“Or maybe you're just too good.”

Renjun laughs like he has absolutely no care in the world and all Jaemin does is pull him closer. The two sweaty boys continue to run their fingers over each others bodies, both too intoxicated by the air, the music, and the heat around them to care about anything outside of their own little world they've created together.

Jaemin leans in impossibly close and Renjun closes his eyes and hums along to the music. Jaemin brushes his fingers against the back of Renjun's head, bringing his face closer to his. He can smell the artificial scent of strawberry lingering on his breath. Jaemin hovers his lips closer towards the smaller's luring and inviting ones.

Their moment is short lived and interrupted when a hand shoves Jaemin back away from Renjun. Renjun immediately clutches onto Jaemin’s wrist.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Mark spits out. “I told you not to show your damn face in front of me ever again.”

Jaemin rolls his eyes and pulls Renjun closer to him in response, trying his best to ignore the annoying presence beside him. 

“Get your dirty hands off of him.” Mark hisses out as he tries to pry Jaemin’s hands off the smaller.

Renjun shoves Mark’s hand away from him. “Mark, it's fine. It's not a big deal. I wanted to dance with him.” Renjun slurs as his face begins to be painted with a scowl that didn't suit his face.

Mark ignores the smaller brown haired boy’s words completely and shoves Jaemin away from Renjun yet again. Jaemin, sick of Mark, and unable to hold his temper back, harshly shoves the alpha back while letting out a low growl. Mark slowly shakes his head in anger as his eyes begin to glow that same red from before in the hallway.

Before anything can happen, the music is suddenly turned off. Shortly after, the loft is lit up in bright lights followed with the boos and whines of the crowd.

Both Jaemin and Mark look towards the entrance.

Its Jaehyun, not looking in the best condition. He looks beaten up, worn out, and there on the corners of his shirt was what looked like smeared dark blood.

“Everyone. Get out. Now!” Jaehyun yells into the crowd, voice booming to every corner.

As the crowd leaves, getting smaller and smaller by the second, Jaemin pushes his way towards the front to a breathless and sweaty Jaehyun.

"Hyung!" Jaemin says as he catches Jaehyun in his arms. 

"I thought I told you not to do anything stupid."

"You know what kind of attention this sort of thing could bring?" 

Renjun walks past Jaemin and Jaehyun as his eyes linger on Jaehyun with a look he can't explain. Right as Jaemin is about to call out to a dazed looking Renjun, Donghyuk takes Renjun's hand and tugs his hand towards the exit. 

"We should go." Donghyuk whispers to Renjun. Chenle and Jisung follows out behind them. Mark is about to leave with Jeno, but is stopped by Jaehyun's weak voice.

“No. You stay.”

“Why is he staying? He doesn’t have to stay.” Jaemin quickly voices.

Mark rolls his eyes and stands firm in his spot. Arms crossed. “It’s not like I want to be here next to you either, Sherlock.”

“Then how about you just fucking leave-”

“Stop. Just stop." Jaehyun lets out. "Now isn’t the time to fight."

Jaemin sighs and walks a stumbling Jaehyun towards the white couch.

"You’re back way too early. What happened?" Jaemin asks, eyebrows knit together in concern.

"Lets just say...I finished my business earlier than I expected."

"You're not-" Jaehyun tries to say.

"We're not safe here, Jaemin."

"What do you mean?" Jaemin asks while shaking his head, confused by Jaehyun's words and his state.

Mark ears perk up.

"I got a message from a friend of mine around a week ago when we first moved back."

"He said...he said someone wanted to meet me. He was a friend I trusted so I agreed to it. I went to go meet the guy, but he...he looked like a monster."

“A werewolf?” Mark asks while walking closer to the two.

Jaehyun nods. “An alpha.”

"He tried to kill me. I barely escaped, but when I went to my friend’s home for an explanation...I found him there. Dead."

Jaemin is quiet.

"Why would an alpha try to kill you?" Mark asks, his face full of the same confusion as Jaemin's. "Especially during times like this?"

It didn't make sense. None of this made sense.

"Jaemin...there are things you should know. In our family’s history. In our blood...that you don’t know yet."

"I tried to keep it from you. Hide it from you. To protect you. But...this is worse than I thought. I didn’t...I didn’t think they’d still be out there...after…"

"Jaemin, there are people...there will always be people who will want our family dead. You have to understand that."

"Hyung...most of our family is dead."

"That’s why we never should have come back here." Jaehyun breathes out, full of regret.

"I knew it was a bad idea. I knew this was all a bad idea."

Jaehyun looks dizzy and looks like he's about to lose consciousness. 

“Hyung!”

Mark rushes down next to them and lifts his shirt, his suspicion confirmed. “Wolfsbane.”

“Here help me get him to his bed.” Jaemin quickly says.

The two carefully get Jaehyun in bed, and Jaemin runs to the kitchen to get a remedy Jaehyun had shown him for wolfsbane. Jaemin relaxes and breathes out the breath he was holding after he finally sees Jaehyun's wound start its healing process. Jaemin lays back in his chair next to Jaehyun in his bed.

"Jaemin...it’s not surprising that someone would try to come after Jaehyun."

"He is your family after all…" Mark finally says, breaking the grueling silence.

"Your family is one of the most ancient and powerful wolf lineages that go back to date in Silver Mellings."

"Your family is powerful. Even just the name." Mark lets out a hesitant cough before continuing. "It brings hope to the community. Strength. So it's not surprising." Mark reminds Jaemin.

"Just…take care of yourself. And be cautious."

"Silver Mellings...it’s changed."

All Jaemin can do is let out a deep breath and nod in response. "Thanks…" Jaemin says as Mark heads towards the entrance to be on his way out.

“Mark…” Jaemin calls out, standing up from his seat, as Mark opens the door.

“If you’re going to talk about Johnny, just don’t.”

“Because I’ll never forgive you for what you did.” Mark finishes as he leaves the loft, slamming the door behind him.

☽