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Minho is used to having love letters and chocolates falling from his locker every time he opens it at the end of his day at university. He would usually just keep all the chocolates and give it to his little brother and throw the love letters away.
Being born in a full-blooded gumiho household, Minho’s life was already judged by those that are scared of their abilities. Their species are known for seducing humans and eating them but that was ages ago. Besides, Minho hates them too much to even lay a finger on them, so why would he even want to eat them?
“Hyung!” Minho turned his head around to the voice and saw Hyunjin running to him with Felix close behind him.
“What?” Minho asked as he kept turning the numbers on his locker, why do I always forget to replace this dumb lock? it won’t even turn, dammit!
“Have you heard of the new dude at Chan Hyung’s pack?” Hyunjin asked when he got closer, still panting from the run.
Minho shook his head no at the question, he doesn’t know and honestly, he doesn't really care. One last twist and the lock finally clicked open. He removed it from the hooks and froze when he opened his locker fully.
“What the fuck...?” His jaw dropped at the fresh meat that was sitting peacefully at the front of his locker.
“What the hell Hyung?!” Hyunjin shrieked beside him, followed by Felix’s high-pitched scream that made him snap out of his trance. There wasn't any blood anywhere, the meat looked like it was neatly cut from somewhere and by the smell of it, Minho is pretty sure it’s a deer.
“Who the fuck did that?” Hyunjin asked again with a huff, looking everywhere around him to see who left the meat in his locker. He looked furious but for some reason, Minho did not feel the same. It definitely is weird but he doesn't feel like it was left there out of an ill thought.
He reached out and poked the meat, it really was fresh and neatly cut.
“Do you have any spare bags?” He asked the two who gave him weird looks before Felix reached for his bag and grabbed a spare tote bag. The two gave Felix a knowing look before Minho shook his head and took the bag from him.
“What? I forgot to remove it okay?” Felix explained with rosy cheeks. Clearing his throat after and avoiding the two’s gaze.
Minho reached for the meat and dropped it in the bag, there was a bit of grease left on his locker but nothing a piece of wet wipe can’t clean. Chan came up running from the other side of the hallway, carrying different kinds of papers in his hands.
“Hey! Do you guys have any spare bags?” He asked. Panting, while trying his best not to drop the student council papers from his hand.
Felix looked at him with a pout and shook his head no while Hyunjin’s gaze flitted from the bag that Minho is now holding and the pouting boy.
“God, you’re so whipped,” Hyunjin groaned dramatically while rolling his eyes at the younger. Minho laughed at the two while Chan looked at them with an awkward smile on his face, trying to figure out the situation.
“Felix did, but he gave it to me,” Minho explained and Chan’s eyes widened, a small smile spreading on his lips. His eyes shined when he looked back at the freckled boy and gave him his dimpled smile.
“That’s okay, Lixie. Maybe I can just leave this in my locker,” Chan comforted and gave Felix one last smile before walking over to his locker and placing the papers in. Hyunjin shook his head at the interaction and scrunched his nose. Minho chuckled at both of them and shut his locker close after wiping the excess grease off the metal.
“Wait, where are you bringing that meat to?” Hyunjin asked, pointing at the bag in his hands.
“What meat?” Chan asked from his locker, peeking at the bag in Minho’s hand.
“Someone left a chunk of deer meat on his locker,” Hyunjin said with a huff and Chan immediately tensed at the information. He stood up with a frown and came closer to them, his eyes glinting from the normal light brown to the glowing red of an alpha.
“Hey, it’s okay, I don’t think they did it to harm,” Minho explained immediately, reaching out to hold the alpha’s arm. Chan immediately calmed down at the touch. He squeezed his eyes shut and took in a deep breath.
“And I’m bringing it home. Innie is going to have a blast with this meat,” he said with a shrug and an easy smile on his lips. The mention of the younger gumiho had an immediate effect on the alpha, bringing a warm smile to his face. When he opened his eyes, his beautiful light brown eyes were back and Minho smiled at him.
“Why do you think they left it for then?” Felix asked with a frown. Minho shrugged again and looked at the meat on the bag.
“I’m not sure, but it’s neatly cut. And there are no traces of blood in it.” Minho said, making Chan hum in question too and nodded his head in understanding.
“Oh, right! Hyung, how’s the new recruit?” Hyunjin asked when they started walking to the entrance of their school.
“Oh,” Chan said at the question, his eyes immediately turning fond and soft at the mention of the new guy. “He’s doing great, still needs a little time to get used to everything,” He explained with a small smile. Minho immediately noticed the frown and pout on the freckled boy’s face beside him.
“Where did he come from by the way?” Felix asked, the frown still present on his face.
“Hmm, it’s kind of a long story, but I’ll tell you guys some other time since we’re supposed to meet in 10. Dinner at our place tomorrow?” Chan asked, already walking away from them. He’s walking backward, waiting for the three to respond, when they all nod their heads in agreement, Chan beamed and waved them goodbye before turning around and running to where he and the new guy is supposed to meet.
“From what I heard, the new guy didn’t come from any packs near here. Binnie said they came from the desert of something,” Hyunjin said with wide eyes getting the two’s attention, the both of them looking at him with furrowed brows.
“What do you mean?” Minho asked and Hyunjin shrugged at the question.
“I’m not sure too, Binnie and the others weren’t able to talk to him much either since like Chan Hyung said, he’s still trying to adjust to everything here.” The crease at Minho’s brows just got deeper at what the younger boy said. For some reason, he feels this weird curiosity for the new guy. He bit his lower lip at the unfamiliar feeling and held the bag of meat on his hands tighter as the two beside him jumped to another topic.
+ + +
“We’re here!” Hyunjin announced once they got inside the pack’s house. They arrived a few hours before the usual time Chan’s pack ate their dinner just so that they could spend more time with the pack and also help with preparing all the food. Felix immediately went straight to the kitchen with a bounce on his feet, carrying his bucket of brownies that he made. Hyunjin made his way upstairs next, looking for Changbin that they’re all pretty sure is stuck in his room again.
Minho, on the other hand, made his way to the living room, immediately seeing his little brother on the couch with Seungmin.
“When did you get here?” Minho asked, sitting beside Jeongin that’s currently whining and pushing Seungmin away.
“Dad dropped me off here after my class,” He replied once he successfully pushed Seungmin off of him. Minho nodded and gave his attention to the cartoon in front of them.
“Uhm… Seungmin?” A soft voice behind them called the younger boy making all three of them look back. Minho stared, he did not mean to, he really didn’t. There’s just someone new in the pack’s house and they’re, well.. new and breathtaking .
“Oh hey, Jisung. Need something?” Seungmin asked, standing immediately and walking over to where the stranger- Jisung is. He nodded and said something to Seungmin that Minho and Jeongin did not hear. His doe amber eyes, flitting back and forth from his fidgeting fingers to Minho as his cheeks started to burn.
“Hyung, you’re staring,” Jeongin whispered beside him, making Minho blink a few times before he looked away from the newcomer. He cleared his throat and went back to giving his attention to the screen in front of them.
Minho strained his ears to hear their conversation, his eyes still set on the tv screen.
“...i don’t really have this in the desert,” Jisung chuckled nervously, his voice was timid, like he’s shy he’s even asking for it.
“You don’t have to apologize, Sung. It’s okay,” Seungmin said before he whipped his head back in Minho's direction and heard him chuckle under his breath.
“Minho hyung, I know you’re listening, one of your tails is glowing,” Minho jumped in his seat at the call-out, immediately hiding his tail back and slouching down on the couch to hide from the two behind him.
“I’ll just help Jisungie with something, we’ll be back soon!!” Seungmin called before the both of them left. Minho peaked a bit when their footsteps were far enough and saw the beautiful pair of amber eyes looking back at him before he turned around and followed Seungmin.
Minho let out a breath that he did not know he’s holding and relaxed back on the couch.
“He’s beautiful,” he breathed out and Jeongin chuckled beside him.
“Seungmin Hyung said he’s a were coyote,” Minho’s eyebrows shoot up at the information, looking back at his little brother.
“Werecoyote?” He asked again and Jeongin nodded.
“Yeah. Hyung said he’s been in his full coyote form since he’s 9 and just turned back when Chan Hyung found him in the woods a few weeks ago,” Jeongin pouted when he finished talking and Minho immediately felt the sadness of the younger boy beside him.
Minho’s not sure if it’s the bond with Jeongin that caused it but he felt his heartache, looking at the direction the Werecoyote disappeared to.
+ + +
Nothing changed at dinner, the pack was still loud and rowdy when they ate. The occasional scolding from Chan was still there when food started flying over the table.
Minho still spared more than a few glances at the boy beside Chan too, eating silently with a frown like the pair of utensils that he’s currently holding offended him in some way. He dropped his fork a few times, Chan giving him a spare one immediately with a reassuring smile. Minho didn't miss the frown on the freckled Gumiho’s face on the other side of Chan too.
Felix has always been in love with the alpha of the pack in the forest near their town. They first met them when Minho first presented and wanted to release his first tail somewhere private. The two younger Gumihos still hadn't had their tails yet at that time and they were all in awe of the glowing tail behind Minho.
A Gumiho presents when one tail finally shows itself. There’s no specific age or time when their kind grows their first tail, it just shows itself when the gods deem you deserving of it. A Gumiho’s abilities also show with their tails, which means the more tails a Gumiho has, the more power they possess. Now, Minho has three tails, Hyunjin having one while Felix still doesn't have his yet.
The high-pitched shriek from beside him got all of their attention. Hyunjin is now sitting on Changbin’s lap, all red from the attention while Changbin did not give them any mind, just burying his face deeper at the Gumiho’s neck, scenting him. Minho shook his head with a fond smile and went back to eating his brownie.
Hyunjin’s mate, Changbin, confessed to him before he presented. The young beta wanted to show how genuine his love for the younger boy is and confessed before the Gumiho's abilities can even affect him and that is exactly what Felix wants too. He’s been all over Chan ever since they met them. Minho is pretty sure Chan’s in love with the younger Gumiho too but he doesn’t know what’s stopping him from just confessing to the younger boy.
Another noise from the other side of the table caught everyone’s attention. The were coyote was there, staring at the brownie in his hand with wide eyes. Both of his cheeks were more full than usual probably because of the big bite that is now gone from the brownie in his hand. He chewed a bit more and his eyes darted to Chan, shock still in his face. Before anyone could even question the action, there were a pair of white-tipped ears that popped out on Jisung’s head. He stuffed his face with the remaining brownie and moaned at the taste, not realizing the twitching pair of ears on his head.
“It’s his first time eating a brownie,” Chan said with an amused smile. They heard a gasp on the other side of Chan while the others cooed at how adorable the were coyote is. Felix immediately reached for his hands and held them, making Jisung look at him with wide wary eyes.
“Is it really your first time?” Felix asked like he was about to cry. Jisung nodded shyly at the question, and the young Gumiho’s face immediately crumpled.
“I’m gonna make you a lot more brownies in the future, I promise,” He stood up and went to the other side, hugging Jisung immediately when he was close enough.
“I’ll make you cookies too and cakes and- Oh! We can make them together too!” Felix said with an excited smile. Jisung looked at him with an awkward one, looking at Chan for permission before Felix figured out that he needed to ask Chan too.
“Channie? Can Jisung and I bake something, please?” Felix said with his puppy eyes and Chan looked at him with the fondest smile before he nodded his head and reached for the younger boy’s hair and ruffled it.
Felix beamed at him, placing a quick kiss on the alpha’s cheek and gave back his attention to Jisung who was now smiling more comfortably to him. The Alpha left staring at him, mouth slightly opened from shock and ears red from the affection.
Minho did not notice the fond smile on his face either. He was staring at the two younger boys when Jisung felt the eyes of the older, turning his head to meet his. The ears on his head immediately folded at the eye contact and his full cheeks were already blushing when he looked away. Now Minho isn’t sure if the soft smile on his face is because of the younger Gumiho still.
+ + +
A few days later Minho found another piece of meat inside his locker. This time it was a whole chicken, still bloodless and cut perfectly. His eyebrows shot up to his forehead when he saw that it already had a plastic bag beside it, laughing at the thoughtfulness of the person. He smiled to himself, remembering what his Mom told him the other day.
“Someone left you this?” His mom asked, inspecting the deer meat that is now in his hands. Minho nodded while he cut the ingredients needed for their dinner.
“Are they courting you?” His mom asked again, making Minho stop what he’s doing. He looked back to his mom and saw her smiling teasingly at him.
“You don’t know the old way were-people court and express their interest? They give them meat or food to eat,” His mom continued, carrying the big piece of meat to the sink to wash it.
Minho looked at him with furrowed brows, trying to understand what her mom was saying.
“When were-people are still living in the woods and barely shift in their human form, they hunt for animals and meat so they can give it to their mates. It’s a way to express love and affection.” His mom explained making Minho nod slowly. He still doesn't know who will give him the meat since doing that at this age is definitely weird so he just shrugged it off and continued cutting.
“Hyung! Another one?” Felix asked, scrunching his face when he saw the raw meat. Minho nodded and fixed the plastic bag so he could put the meat inside.
“How was yesterday?” Minho asked. He heard that both Felix and Hyunjin spent the night at the pack’s house.
“Oh it was so fun, Hyung! I wish you were there! I and Jisung made a lot of cupcakes and he’s so cute too!” Felix giggled after, bouncing on his feet when he mentioned the were-coyote.
“So, you don’t think he’s gonna steal Chan from you anymore?” Minho asked with a teasing smirk and Felix blushed immediately, hitting the older boy on his arm.
“I didn’t think that,” He lied, looking away.
“Mhmm, sure.” Minho said, closing his locker back and fixing his hold on the plastic bag.
“You still don’t have any idea who that came from?” Felix asked as they started walking to the entrance. Minho shook his head no, he's been thinking about it for a few days too and he still can’t figure out who’s leaving the meat in his locker.
“Maybe you can ask Chan Hyung to sniff it for you. You know, with their nose and all,” Felix suggested. “We’re going back to their house later for dinner, you can bring Jeongin too.” he added, making Minho nod.
“I’ll ask mom first. I’ll text you if she agrees,” he said with a smile making the younger boy beam. Felix nodded at him and made his way to the entrance of the forest with a bounce in his step.
+ + +
“Hyung, I’ll go find Seungmin Hyung,” Jeongin said before he disappeared to the pack’s house. Minho scoffed at his younger brother’s antics, he knows Minho is going to tease him for looking for the banshee as soon as they arrived that’s why he left immediately. He shook his head fondly before making his way to the kitchen to drop the meat.
He needs to find Chan so he can ask him to sniff the meat before they can cook it for dinner. He looked around the kitchen and saw the backdoor open.
Maybe he’s outside.
He made his way to the backdoor and looked around at their backyard. A frown made its way to his face when he heard something behind the trees. Carefully making his way to the source of the sound before he saw a white-tipped tail peaking out at the bushes. His frown deepened on his face, knowing that there isn’t anyone from the pack that has light brown fur. Chan has a dirty gray and Changbin has dark brown.
He walked closer and saw a smaller wolf behind the bushes. It's currently licking at something on the ground, its tail moving happily behind him. The wolf’s fur is a soft light brown, with the tips of his body white, like a fox. He stared back at the ears of the creature and thought how familiar it is.
I already saw that somewhere, he thought to himself, not noticing the sudden movement of the creature, both of them letting out a surprised sound when they noticed each other’s presence. Minho fell on his butt on the grass, staring at the creature with wide eyes. His eyes drifted to the rabbit that is currently between them.
“You were licking that?!” He asked in horror, making the creature jump. The creature stared at him for a few seconds before it made its way towards the rabbit, carefully carrying it with its teeth and dropping the white-furred creature near Minho.
Minho stared at him with horror still while his eyes flitted from the rabbit and to the wolf in front of him. When he didn’t do anything, the wolf used his snout to nudge the rabbit to Minho’s space more and the rabbit finally moved, making its way to Minho’s lap.
Minho’s jaw dropped at everything that’s happening in front of him. He reached down and carded his hands on the wet fur of the rabbit, looking for any sign of harm but found nothing. He looked back up at the wolf and saw him staring expectantly at him, the same way Chan or Changbin looked at him when they wanted him to pet them.
He hesitantly reached for the wolf’s head, the creature immediately leaning into his hand and letting Minho pet him. The wolf let out a soft purr when Minho let his fingers card the wolf’s fur more, near his white-tipped ears and- oh.
Oh.
“Jisungie?” he asked the wolf and it just pushed its head closer to him, now almost sitting on his lap.
“Minho, what are you- Jisung?” Chan came from the house and saw both of them on the grass. Minho smiled at him awkwardly, his hands still carding through the soft light-brown fur of the coyote.
“What are you both doing here?” Chan asked, smiling at them fondly before he sat down near him. Minho bit his lip and stared at the coyote on his lap, eyes currently closed and soft purring sounds still coming out from him.
“I found Jisung, uhm, hunting?” Minho asked with a grimace, he doesn't know if Chan knows about this but Minho needs to tell him, he’s their alpha after all.
“Oh, did he bring anything?” Chan asked with a grimace too and Minho looked at the small bunny that was still sound-asleep near them.
“A bunny?” Chan asked with a chuckle and Minho looked at him in question. When Chan saw the look Minho was giving him, his laughter stopped and his eyes went wide.
“Oh no no, It’s not what you’re thinking.” He explained waving his hands in front of him to emphasize what he’s saying.
“Jisung always brings some kind of animal here from the woods, all of them still alive.” He said, reaching out to the coyote’s fur too. “I asked him why and he said he wanted to give the meat to someone but he can’t kill any animals because it makes him sad.” Chan let out a fond laugh again, the information making Minho smile too.
“So we just let the animals go and give him some kind of meat from the market. We still don’t know where he brings them,” Chan continued and Minho’s hand froze. The coyote let out a whimper immediately at the loss of action.
“What kind of meat have you been giving him?” Minho asked and Chan looked up to think.
“Hmm, I gave him deer meat first and then a whole chicken this morning, why?” Chan asked and Minho’s jaw dropped.
“He’s the one leaving the raw meat in my locker!” He exclaimed and Chan looked at him in question.
“Remember that time someone left a piece of meat on my locker and you almost went all alpha mode?” Minho asked, making the alpha’s ears turn red. “That was deer meat! And after class, I found a whole chicken in there too!” Chan’s eyes went wide at the realization too and he looked back down at the coyote.
“Why would he do that though?” He asked and Minho felt his ears burn this time.
“Uhm, my mom said it’s a way of courting,” Minho answered shyly, making Chan look at him with wide eyes too.
“Oh, well that makes sense,” Chan said, nodding and Minho looked at him with a grimace on his face.
“When I first brought Jisung to the town, we saw you with Hyunjin and Felix at the market and his tail and ears popped out of his body immediately,” Chan chuckled at the memory, “He likes you a lot,” he continued with a nod making Minho blush more.
Minho looked back at the coyote on his lap, biting his lip as thoughts started flooding his brain. Jisung is cute. He’s adorable . Who is Minho even kidding? He literally froze the first time he saw Jisung at the house.
Someone as pretty as Jisung being his mate…. The thought made Minho burn up more but he tried to shake the thoughts off, sighing at himself.
“It’s probably because of the tails,” he whispered but Chan heard him loud and clear. He heard the alpha hum beside him.
“You don’t know anything about were-coyotes don't you?” Chan asked and Minho splattered at the accusation.
“I know you’ve noticed how much I adore this little one,” Chan started, his hands still brushing Jisung’s fur. Minho nodded at what Chan said even though he’s not really asking. Minho sees the fondness in Chan’s eyes every time he’s with Jisung or he’s talking about the boy.
“I found him in the farthest part of the woods, near the desert. He has wolf bites on his left leg and if I smelled it right, he’s been there for more than a week.” Chan said, anger coating his words at the thought of his pack member suffering. Minho felt his stomach twist at the information too, he looked at the coyote’s leg and found scars in them. He reached his hand out and traced them, making Jisung flinch but relaxed when Minho continued running his fingers softly on it.
“I had a hard time making him calm because of course, I smell like a wolf too, but he did, he trusted me even though I’m the same kind as the one who hurt him.” Chan continued, now reaching for the bunny and wiping the were coyote's spit from its fur using the cloth that he had on him.
“You’re an alpha, of course, you’ll make him calm,” Minho said and Chan gave him a knowing smile before he let the bunny go and watched it go back to the bushes.
“No, were-coyotes like him don't recognize alphas. They don’t have that kind of system in their kind.” Chan said with a huff, standing up and wiping his hands on his pants.
“What do you mean?” Minho asked, following the alpha’s actions and frowning in question.
“Were-coyotes are immune to any mind control. Alphas cannot do anything that will alter the way they think. It’s blocked, even for Gumihos,” He said with a small smirk, starting to make his way back to the house.
“Wha-”
“Jisung is not attracted to you because of your tails, Min. It’s all genuine feelings, you really shouldn’t doubt yourself like that,” Chan gave him one last smile before he stepped fully inside the house. “I’m roasting the chicken!” He shouted from the inside and Minho blinked at the back door a few more times before he turned his head back to the wolf on his lap, sleeping soundly at his petting.
He let the new information sink in, feeling the heaviness of his heart start to fade and the genuine happiness crawling its way out of Minho’s heart after forcing it in him for several years.
+ + +
It has been two years since the secret admirer had finally stopped giving him meat in his locker and it has also been that long since the said admirer became his boyfriend.
“Ji,” Minho groaned, trying his best to push Jisung off of him so they could get out of bed and join the others for dinner.
Jisung just let out a hum, licking over the scar on Minho’s neck a few more times before he pulled away only to lean in again and kiss him on the lips and just like that Minho forgot all about the call of their alpha downstairs and the teasings that they’ll probably get from their pack once they’re out of their bedroom.
Not long after they got together, the four Gumihos decided to join the pack and be with their mates. Chan has finally tossed all of his worries out to the wind and made a move to the freckled Gumiho, earning him a snotty yes in return when he finally asked to be his mate. Changbin and Hyunjin are still the overly touchy couple of the pack and Seungmin and Jeongin are their newest couple in the house.
Minho’s hands made their way to Jisung’s waist, sliding them inside the were coyote’s shirt, and started caressing the warm skin of his mate under his hands.
He felt Jisung’s hand crawl on his side too, only stopping when he reached Minho’s neck. Minho felt the shiver run through his body as Jisung traced the bite mark on his skin with his fingers softly like he’s afraid to hurt him even if it has been more than half a year since the bite happened.
“Thank you,” Jisung whispered against his lips and Minho couldn't help the fondness that spread in his heart. He pulled the younger closer, flipping them so that Jisung is now under him and peppering kisses all over his mate’s face.
“I love you, I love having your marks all over me. So-stop-thanking-me .” Minho said, kissing his boyfriend’s full cheek after saying each word.
“I know but-” he said with a little pout, avoiding Minho’s eyes. It hasn’t been that long since Jisung started reading by himself again. He tried so hard to learn how to read and write and be able to live as normal as he can after being in his full form for more than 12 years.
“I read it in one of Seungmin’s books that having scars for your kind is a show of weakness and flaw,” He added with a frown and Minho finally understood why Jisung was all over his scar since he came out from Seungmin’s room this morning.
He probably read one of the old books from Seunmgin’s collection because as far as Minho knows, their kind does not believe in those anymore and even if they still do, then Minho doesn’t really care.
He pulled Jisung closer, burying his nose on the scar that he made on his mate’s neck and placed a soft kiss on it, feeling the younger shiver with the touch.
“Did you also read how we can hide every scar and imperfection in our body?” Minho asked against his skin and he felt Jisung nod against him.
“So? Am I hiding it?” Minho asked again and he felt Jisung shake his head making him giggle.
“Exactly,” He said, placing another kiss on the scar before he pulled away and looked Jisung in the eyes.
“And that’s because I’m proud of it. I want everyone to see that I belong to someone- that I belong to you,” He added, staring directly into Jisung’s eyes, his mate trying his best not to let his tears fall.
“I’ve never- never had anyone before. Now I have a family and you-” Jisung bites his lip when tears start falling on his cheeks. He closes his eyes and breathes in, trying to calm himself and Minho just lets him, rubbing comforting circles on his back. He knows that feeling human emotions were still a bit overwhelming for his mate so he usually just offers him support so he can learn how to control them by himself too.
“Thank you,” Jisung finally breathed out when his tears stopped, and Minho knows that he wants to say more but he understands him anyway. He tilted his head up to place a soft kiss on his lips, wiping away all of his mate’s tears on his cheeks.
“Thank you,”