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"Fuck-" Beomgyu kicks the tree when its branches slap him across the face for the third time. "Fine, fine. I'll look for other places." The tree shakes its leaves as thanks. Beomgyu huffs and walks further from their den. He looks around for more Calendula blossoms. "Lucky~." He grins as he finds a whole bed of them. Calendula flowers are a natural healing agent. But for werewolves, they're more potent.
"We won't run out of these anymore." Beomgyu looks at his basket. It's almost spilling with Calendulas. "I should go back. Yeonjun must be in a lot of pain right now." He grimaces and stands up, brushing the dirt off his pants. Taehyun had been playing outside in the sun when he unknowingly disturbed a rogue wolf.
His blood-curdling scream immediately rattled their pack, and Yeonjun transformed to protect their pup. Luckily, Taehyun was safe. But their oldest received slashes on the chest from the wolf's claws. All was good and well until they found they ran out of Calendula flowers.
Yeonjun and Beomgyu are the only protectors of their pack, which leaves them at a disadvantage. Taehyun is beating himself up for being careless while Soobin comforts him. Is it called a pack if there are only four of them? No matter. Beomgyu needs to hurry his ass unless he wants Soobin to beat him up.
Rustle. The werewolf's ears twitch. Beomgyu lets out a warning growl, and a shaky whine returns the favor. He sniffs the air and frowns. A human? No, he's something magical. "A fairy?" He grits his teeth. What's a fairy doing within their borders? Wait, why does he smell like Taehyun? "Pup, I swear to the Moon Goddess-"
Beomgyu uses his nose to track down the fairy. He comes out to a clearing. The rogue wolf's corpse is in its dead center. On the corner is a little fairy tucked behind the trees. He's bleeding heavily and mixing up a concoction to put on the bite on his shoulder. Tears well up in the fairy's eyes as he tries to mix the medicinal paste in his mortar pestle. His faint whimpers and hiccups tug on Beomgyu's heart.
The fairy's too weak to grind the flowers with one hand.
Beomgyu bites his lips and turns his back on the fairy. It hadn't heard him yet, preoccupied with trying to heal itself. "Yeonjun is waiting-" He groans and stomps toward the fairy's direction. Fuck it. "Hey." Beomgyu hears him squeak. "S-sorry. I'll leave. I just need to heal. Please, leave me alone." The fairy buries his face in a tree trunk.
"I'll bring you with me. You know our pup, don't you?" His eyes widen, and he shakes his head. "N-no. Not at all. I will leave, I promise. Please, don't hurt me." The trees smack Beomgyu's face when he tries to get close. "Your trees won't do shit to me." The werewolf huffs and picks up the fairy as carefully as he could. Beomgyu places his mortar and pestle on the flower basket.
The fairy tries to struggle in his hold. But when Beomgyu's hair grazes his shoulder, he howls in pain. The trees in the clearing shake their leaves, leaning forward to block the sunlight. "Yeonjun will die if I stay here any longer." Beomgyu clicks his tongue and runs to their den. The fairy in his arms is weak, and he can hear its heartbeat slow down.
"Beomgyu! Goodness, you're finally here. Yeonjun won't stop whining about his injuries-" Soobin looks in his arms and growls. "What the fuck is a fairy doing here?" He stomps closer and attempts to kill it. Beomgyu pulls away when he hears footsteps towards him. "Huening Kai!" Their pup cries out.
Taehyun whimpers when he sees the fairy's injury. "I'm sorry I left you." He hiccups and touches Kai's pale cheek. The fairy stirs awake, and he smiles a little. "I'm okay, Hyunnie. I'm alive." Soobin's growl startles the three of them. "Go back inside the den and help with Yeonjun's injuries, Taehyun. Grab the flower basket from Beomgyu." He shakes his head.
"Pup, I'm warning you." Soobin glares at him. "Please, heal him. I know fairies are cruel, but he's not! Kai is kind. He healed my wounds when I fell from a tree. Kai shared his food with me too. I got lost one time, and he guided me home. Please, Soobin. Help him." Taehyun pleads and kneels in front of him. Soobin ignores the pup and retrieves the basket from Beomgyu's hand.
"Soobin, please." Taehyun rests his forehead on the dirt. Soobin sighs exasperatedly. "Get him inside, Beomgyu. Stand up, Taehyun. Heal Yeonjun first. That creature comes last." The pup jumps up and hugs his elder. "Thank you, thank you!" Taehyun kisses him passionately, and Beomgyu shakes his head.
They all go inside, and Beomgyu lays Kai down beside Yeonjun. "So this is the reason why you looked guilty earlier?" Soobin asks. Taehyun bites his lip and nods. "I will heal Yeonjun now." He says, picking up the Calendula flowers and putting them in a grinder. "Since when?" Soobin asks. The pup squeaks. "It's been two months." Taehyun whispers. They jump when they hear Kai talk.
"I have a pre-made medicinal paste on my mortar and pestle. Grind it up until smooth, and add lavender if you want it to be stronger. The ratio is 2:1." Kai says weakly, heaving when a sharp pain stabs his shoulder. "O-okay." Taehyun nods and does what he's told. "Why are you helping us?" Beomgyu asks.
"You didn't kill me, and I see Taehyun's in safe hands. That's enough." He says weakly. "What's a fairy doing in our borders, anyway?" Kai averts his eyes and bites back a whimper. "I'm not a fairy. I'm an elf." He whispers. "They exist?" Yeonjun asks curiously. He was awake the whole time. "Yes. But we're not born. We're made." Kai says bitterly.
"What do you-" Taehyun looks at Beomgyu and shakes his head. "Nevermind." Yeonjun hisses when their pup applies the paste. "Shit." He groans, and Soobin glares at the elf. "I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you poisoned him-" Taehyun shushes the elder. "Look, his wounds are closing up." Soobin huffs and wraps a bandage around Yeonjun's torso.
"Feeling better, my love?" The Alpha nods and kisses his palm. "Thank you, elf. Now let Taehyun heal your wounds." Kai hums. "You're not letting me die?" The pup glares at him. "Don't fucking say that. You'll live." He chuckles and groans when Taehyun fixes up his wounds. He uses a damp towel to wipe away the blood and apply pressure on the wound. "Guh, fuck-" Kai's face twists in pain.
"Sorry." Taehyun squeaks and presses a kiss on his forehead. "Safe, you're safe here." Soobin shakes his head. "He's only staying here until his wound heals. Don't overstay your welcome, understood?" He stands up and walks to the kitchen to cook dinner. "I understand." Kai murmurs.
~~~~
"Eat up. You're all skin and bones. It's uncomfortable to look at you." Kai thanks him and tries to eat the porridge with one hand. "I'll help you." Taehyun lovingly feeds him, praising the elf and kissing his cheeks when he finishes eating. "Thanks." Kai coughs awkwardly, feeling their gazes on him.
"I'm Choi Yeonjun, protector and eldest of the pack." The person lying next to him speaks. "I'm Choi Beomgyu, protector and gatherer of the pack." The redhead rolls his eyes when Taehyun elbows his side. "I'm Choi Soobin, the strategist and elder of the pack." Kai nods. "I'm Huening
Kamal
Kai. A fairy- um, an elf from the forest." Taehyun frowns.
"Why are your wounds still fresh? They're not healing like Yeonjun's." Kai hums. "It's more potent for werewolves. The lavender only acts as a relaxant to us elves. I need a different type of Calendula flowers to heal efficiently." Beomgyu kisses his mates' lips and stands up. "I'm going out to patrol. Take care of our two patients, okay?" Soobin rolls his eyes.
"Whatever." He cleans up their nest and carries the dishes to the sink. "Soobin despises fairies," Yeonjun says. "Yeah, I noticed. He nearly killed me earlier." Kamal murmurs. "They cursed him as a joke. The fairy said they were bored. He can't use his wolf form anymore." Kai lets out a pained sound from his throat. "That's horrible? How is he during full moons?" Taehyun's lips wobble.
"It's a difficult time for all of us. Soobin's usually howling in pain and bed-bound for the rest of the week." Kai pets Taehyun's cheek. "Hush. I know a way to help him." Yeonjun's face lights up, and he rolls over next to the elf. "You do?" He nods. "It's the least I can do for your hospitality." Taehyun slaps his stomach.
"You know I'm happy to have you here." He says with a pout. "I know you are, Hyunnie. But your pack isn't. Don't worry. I'll be gone in a few weeks." Taehyun whimpers. "Okay. But we still have to meet up." He demands. "Okay, got it." Kamal chuckles and blinks slowly. "Sleepy?" The elf hums. "Okay. Go to sleep, Ning."
~~~~
Huening Kai survived the night, as expected. Unlike Yeonjun, he's still bed-bound. The Alpha was back on his feet by the third day, and he's gotten closer to the elf sleeping beside him. Yeonjun is the second person who despises fairies as much as Soobin. Back then, it was only the two of them. Soobin was even a pack heir.
But he left his responsibilities for Yeonjun, a rogue wolf he met in a clearing during the full moon. They were banished, naturally. Soobin and Yeonjun did their best to survive the first few months. It was hard, but they weren't struggling. "You know, it's really funny how we met Beomgyu." Yeonjun whispers in his ear. "Why? How did you three meet?" The Alpha chuckles.
"We caught him trying to steal our stash of food. He was all skin and bones, like you. Soobin just finished his heat, and his omega instincts are still going crazy. He demanded we take Beomgyu as ours and start a pack together. The pup didn't care about the new arrangement. As long as he got free food, he was satisfied." Yeonjun tells the story with a lovesick smile on his lips.
Kai feels his cheeks heat up. How wonderful would it be if someone stared at him as Yeonjun looked at his mates? His face falls a little. Who would love an elf like him? He's useless and incomplete. He doesn't even have-
"Hey, that's unfair. You should tell Kai how you met me too!" The elf shakes out of his reverie and smiles. "Yeah. How did you guys meet Taehyun? I bet he came to your life like a tornado." Kai teases. The pup flicks his forehead as payback. "Actually, you're right." Yeonjun says with a smirk. "Hey!" Taehyun pouts.
"I'm kidding. Actually, I was the first to meet Taehyun. I would've died if it weren't for him." Yeonjun pecks his cheek, eliciting a giggle from the younger. "A rampaging vampire attacked me while foraging in the forest. He was passing by and saw me bleeding out in a bush. Taehyun healed me, and I asked him to eat with us as thanks." Kai hums.
"Well, aren't you lucky? You have three hot men fawning over you." Kai teases. Yeonjun's face turns red when he hears the elf call him hot. He coughs. "I should go. It's almost time for my shift. Go help Soobin in the kitchen, Taehyun." The pup groans, but he obeys Yeonjun anyway. "Bye, Hyuka. I'll be back." Taehyun kisses his cheek and helps Soobin cook dinner.
~~~~
Beomgyu became quickly attached to Huening Kai. When he's off-duty, the beta chooses to hang out with Kai, tending to his wounds, telling him jokes, and helping him sleep. Soobin once caught Kai in Beomgyu's lap. The beta's fingers rub soothing circles on the elf's back. Beomgyu noticed Kai's grimace when his fingers went higher up his back. He shelves that information for future cuddles.
"Don't get too close, Beomgyu. He's leaving once he's fully healed." The beta huffs, clinging tighter to Kai. Beomgyu pressed kisses on his nape, smiling when he managed to squeeze out a giggle from the other. "It's my turn to hug the baby," Yeonjun says. They take turns in coddling Kai when they're off duty. "Oh, right. How old are you?" The elf hums.
"I'm twenty." Taehyun squeals. "I'm older than you. I'm ordering you around once you've gotten better." The pup rolls his eyes when he hears Soobin's shout from the kitchen. "He's out of the house when he's healed!" Kai chuckles. "Looks like I win again, Tyun." He boops the older's nose and gags when Taehyun licks his cheek.
~~~~
"Give him to me." Soobin holds his hand out to Beomgyu. Kai is getting better slowly. To Taehyun's horror, he explains he needs to move his shoulder for it to get better. "I'm going with him." Beomgyu interjects and carries the elf in his arms. "Where are we taking him?" Soobin scrunches his nose. "We're giving him a bath. He reeks." The beta shrugs and follows him to their cave.
"It's so pretty." Kai marvels at the small hot springs located beside their home. "Well, you're using it now, little elf." Beomgyu kisses his nose and sits him down on the boulder. "Strip." Soobin says, organizing the hair and body products beside him. "O-okay." Kai bites his lip and breathes heavily. Here goes nothing.
"Good. Now your pants-" Soobin stills. Kai hears Beomgyu's surprised gasp. The elder reaches out to touch his bare back. "C-can I?" He nods. The elf recoils at his touch, and he bites his lip. "S-sorry. I'll turn around now. It's so ugly, isn't it?" Kai laughs and scratches his nape. He strips bare and removes the bandages from his wounds. Soobin and Beomgyu are still flabbergasted, watching him with concerned gazes.
"Y-your wings, where are they?" Kai smiles awkwardly. "Elves aren't born. They're made." He whispers and traces what used to be wings on his back. "Who did this?" Soobin asks with tears in his eyes. Beomgyu tries to soothe his mate. But there's unbridled fury in his eyes. "I will kill them. Whoever did this- They will die in my hands. I will snap their necks-"
"You say fairies are cruel. I know it too. All too well." Kai smiles sadly and wipes away the tears in Soobin's eyes. "I know what it's like to feel caged in your own body." The elder hiccups. "You're supposed to shift, feel the earth under your paws, pounce on prey, and play fight with your mates." Kai shushes him. "I'm supposed to fly, do magic, and feel the air hitting my cheeks. But it's okay." Soobin shakes his head.
"It's not. I was so cruel to you-" Kai kisses his hair. "And that's okay. You experienced something horrible and heartbreaking. It made sense that you were cautious around me. I know you want your pack safe." The elf tries to calm him. "Sorry. I'm sorry." Kamal chuckles. "I said it's okay, Soobin. Well, will you bathe me? I can't lift my shoulder." The elder nods eagerly and bathes him with care, kissing his shoulders when Kai lets him.
Beomgyu looks at them with a fond smile on his lips. "Don't move too much. Does your wound hurt?" Huening Kai is their missing piece. He knows it. His gaze falls upon Soobin. "I'm okay, Soobin. Jeez." Beomgyu bites his lip. Please, Soobin. Let him stay.
If Soobin carried Kai to their nest and hissed at anyone who wanted to stay close-
That's his and his business only.
~~~~
"I know how to break the curse," Kai says while sitting at the dining table. "What?" Soobin drops his spoon. "Yeah. It's the least I can do." He says with a shrug. "My shoulder is nearly healed. I need to pay you back before I leave." The elder frowns. "Leaving? You will do no such thing." Soobin tuts. "I won't?" He asks. The four nod their heads. Huh.
"But thank you, Kai. How will you do it without magic?" Kamal grins. I'll think about the future when I get to it. But for now, I want to make them happy. Their smiles, I want to see them again before I-
"It's a secret." Later that night, Kai asks to be left alone. He stays in their empty barn and asks the quad not to interrupt him. "I need to focus. This potion can fail if I get distracted." Yeonjun frowns. "But how will you eat, little elf? You're still skinny. Don't starve yourself." Kamal blushes. "You can leave food near the door if you'd like." Taehyun smacks his head.
"Of course, we will, idiot! Listen, we'll bring you huge portions of food. I want the dishes to be squeaky clean. Don't waste food!" The pup harrumphs and pushes him inside the barn. "Come back immediately, okay? We'll miss you." Beomgyu says, ruffling his hair. "I'm minutes away, Gyu." Kai rolls his eyes and kisses the beta's cheek.
"Thank you for doing this. You don't have to." Soobin says with teary eyes. "No, it's payment for your kindness. Think of it as a parting gift, okay? Don't sweat it." Yeonjun and Soobin crush him with a hug. They pepper his face with kisses and ignore his cute whines. "Are you trying to scent me?" Their cheeks redden drastically. "O-of course not! We know you're not a pup." Beomgyu and Taehyun tease them from behind.
"Oh, goodness. Just leave already." Kai complains. "Alright. Take care, little elf." They say their goodbyes and leave him alone at the barn.
~~~~
Three days have passed. The pack is becoming restless. "Kai won't lie and leave us, right?" Taehyun glares at Beomgyu. The beta flinches at the murderous look the pup gives him. "Kai is not a liar! He will cure Soobin, and he'll come back to us." Yeonjun tries to subdue Taehyun with apologies and soft kisses. "He's just worried, pup. I hope you understand." He harrumphs.
"Kai's heart will break if he hears what you're saying." Beomgyu winces. Oh, no. No upsetting the elf he adores so much. "Sorry, Hyunnie." Beomgyu pecks his lips and rubs his belly. An action Kai does to them. The two make up immediately, much to Soobin's delight.
"The shack is just minutes away from our house. We'll visit him if he's not back in a week." The Alpha assures them, and they form a cuddle pile to sleep, waiting for Kai's arrival.
~~~~
The elf comes back with a cup filled with glowing purple liquid. "Hello," Kai mutters weakly, putting the cup down and opening his arms. Taehyun jumps the gun, and the other three follow. The elf bites back a whimper. He feels searing white pain shoot out from his back. "Are you okay? You look pale." Soobin frowns. "I-I'm fine. Here, a gift." Kai pulls out a book and hands it to Taehyun.
"It's a list of ingredients with healing properties. I put instructions and drew illustrations to make them if you get confused." Yeonjun coos and kisses his cheek. "Hey, me too!" The three shower him with kisses while Soobin stares at the cup on the floor. "Do you want to drink it?" Kai tilts his head. "I-I don't know. It's been years. I miss it. I do. But-" Yeonjun pulls him close.
"Don't you want to thank him first?" Soobin smiles shyly. "Thank you, Kai. It means a lot to me." They give him a group hug, and he chokes on his spit when they touch his back again. "Hey, can I lie down? I feel a bit feverish." He asks weakly. The elf feels he's about to faint, and his vision is turning.
"Of course. Did you have a hard time making the concoction?" Kai nods. His head throbs at the action. "You could say that." He yelps when Beomgyu scoops him up. "I want to avoid touching your upper back. So wrap your hands around my neck." The beta whispers. Kai smiles and kisses Beomgyu's cheek. "Thank you." The other three saw and groaned.
"Where's mine?!" Taehyun stomps his feet. "You can get it when I'm on the nest, Tyun." The elf says with a feeble voice. His eyes droop in exhaustion, and his lungs are about to give up. He's so exhausted.
"Well, you're here now. Where's my kiss?" Taehyun puts his hands on his waist. Kai chuckles. He's lying on the other end of the nest with his back on a pillow. "So impatient." The elf reaches out his hand and pulls Taehyun in by the nape. "Mwah." Kamal kisses his nose and smiles when the pup bursts into a fit of giggles.
"Me too." Yeonjun murmurs. Kai kisses his cheek. "Soobin, c'mere." He presses his lips on the elder's palm, grinning boyishly at his flushed cheeks.
"Do you want to drink it now, Bin?" Yeonjun asks softly. "I-I think I'm ready." Soobin closes his eyes and grips the cup in his hands. "It tastes sweet. Don't worry. You'll feel a little feverish. But it'll pass quickly. Trust me on this, Soobin." Kamal nods encouragingly. "O-okay." The elder takes a sip and frowns. "You're right. It's sweet." Soobin gulps it down nervously.
"Good job, hyung. Want to lay down beside me?" The elder nods, feeling a sharp pain in his head. "Fuck." His mates immediately come to his rescue. Beomgyu massages his temples. Yeonjun applies pressure on his feet, and Taehyun whispers sweet nothings in his ear. Kai looks at them from afar and takes a photo in his head.
"Your family is beautiful, Soobin." The elder smiles through the pain. "Of course. I love them all dearly." His mates coo and shower him with kisses. Kamal laughs, burying the jealousy in his gut. "Good night, everyone." He whispers as he slowly drifts off to sleep.
~~~~
Kai doesn't wake up until the next day.
"Oh, you're awake. Here, I made soup. Soobin is still sick, but he's getting better. What about you? How are you feeling?" Beomgyu peers down at him with a worried look on his face. "I-I'm okay." He raps out, frowning at his dry throat. "Here, water." Kai sits up on his own and doesn't lean on the wall. He grabs the glass and takes long gulps until it's empty.
"Hungry?" He nods. Beomgyu feeds him pumpkin soup and wipes his lips when liquid dribbles down his chin. "It's already dinner time, you know? You worried us, little elf." Kai grins shyly, still slightly out of it. "'M sorry. It takes a while to make a potion that removes curses. It drains your body too." He explains and yawns. "Tired?" Kamal nods.
"Thank you for feeding me." He kisses the corner of Beomgyu's lips and lies down, his eyes closing slowly. The beta bites his tongue and smiles. He's whipped. Beomygu is so in love with Kamal that it hurts.
Sleep overtakes him again, unaware of the pack's worries.
~~~~
"Soobin wants to shift!" Kai jolts and blinks sleepily. "H-huh, what?" Taehyun shakes him awake, and he hears Soobin scold him in the background.
"Stop that, pup! Kai is feeling unwell. Don't shake him." The younger harrumphs. "I just want him to see the results of his hardwork." Kamal chuckles. "Soobin can show me once he had his fun outside." Yeonjun hums in approval.
"Hey, how about this? You four should shift and play with Soobin. I'm sure he'll have a hard time because it's been a while. Guide him through it and help him incase something happens." Yeonjun's eyes light up. "You're so smart, Ning. We'll do just that." Soobin walks toward him and crouches down to kiss his lips. "Thank you, Kai. For everything." He hums and ignores the wild feeling in his chest.
Love. You're in love. Not just with Soobin, but all of them.
A kiss on the lips. What did it mean? Does Soobin know what he's doing to the poor elf's heart? "He's just thankful, yeah. Or maybe he loves- no. Soobin has his mates. I don't have a space in their home. He's just so happy that he felt like kissing me. Yeah, that's it." Kamal convinces himself.
"Can I use the cave to take a bath? I don't want to smell again." Kai asks sheepishly. "Of course, you can. You know where the products are, yes?" He nods. "Okay. We'll be back by dawn. Take care of yourself." Soobin narrows his eyes at the elf. "I will," Kamal murmurs and squeezes his hand.
"Bye, Hyuka!" He waves them goodbye. And when they're gone, he stands up and goes to the kitchen. Then, he cries.
"M-my wings." Kai touches his back and whines when the indents aren't even there anymore. Phantom pain echoes at his back, making him whimper. It's slowly ebbing away, but Kamal wishes for the pain to last forever. "At least this way, I'll know I really had wings. I can pretend that I'm a fairy, or an elf." He says bitterly.
See, when you've become an elf, there's still a chance to turn back into a fairy. The method includes sacrifice and black magic. But it doesn't bother him one bit. "I will do anything to get them back." Kamal loved flying. He practiced sorcery and potion-making.
Kai was one of the strongest in their tribe. He was the pride of their community. With their encouragement, Kai became stronger. He practiced harder. "Someday, you might even rule this tribe! You're kind, powerful, and astute. You're the perfect candidate!" Kamal hears his sister say. But too much power scare people. So they-
Kai planned to do it later on. "I can never survive without my wings. I need to get them. By hook or by crook." Funny enough, Kamal decided to use his remaining powers to cure Soobin. A fairy's magic comes from its wings. Kai, as an elf, still had the root of his wings. But he decided to remove them and crush the remains into powder.
Only a fairy can remove a fairy's curse. That rule is absolute.
Fairy wings are the most potent ingredient in making a potion, which is why hunters pursue them. They cost a lot to mages and witches. Sometimes, sorcerers buy them to become servants, turning fairies into their guinea pigs.
Only crazy and lovesick fairies will sacrifice their whole being to make a successful potion for free.
"My purpose- my very being," Tears fall from his eyes, and he hugs himself, sliding down the kitchen floor. Kai was a fairy. He then turned into an elf. And now, he's just human.
~~~~
"We're home- oh." Yeonjun shushes his mates and walks to their nest. Kai is fast asleep, and a bottle of green juice sits beside him. "What's that?" Soobin slaps Taehyun's hand. "Don't touch his things without permission, pup." The younger mutters his apologies and pets Kamal's hair. "Did it turn darker, or am I crazy? Is that a mole on his cheek? How adorable." Beomgyu frowns.
"I heard fairies have bright silver hair. Elves have platinum blond locks. Kai's is turning sandy. What does that mean? Did he even have moles before?" The four look at each other and shrug. "We can ask him later." Soobin whispers. "Let's go to sleep. I'm tired. Who wants to sleep beside him?" Taehyun raises his hand. "Careful, pup. He's still unwell." He nods. "I will be. Let's thank him in the morning." Yeonjun hums.
"Let's cook him delicious foods." Beomgyu suggests. "Okay." Soobin grunts and lies down. "Good night."
"Good night." They answer back.
~~~~
"Good afternoon." Kai relaxes when someone hugs his waist from behind and kisses his back. The pain is gone. He bites back a whimper. "Oh, I thought it was still morning. Good afternoon, little elf. I can't believe you woke up before us. We had too much fun earlier." Little elf? Oh, that's him. Kamal ignores the punch in his gut.
"You're no longer one." A voice whispers.
Kai wonders what they'll think of him if they find out he's now a human.
Yeonjun yawns and peeks at the counter. "What are you making?" The human grins. "It's a potion that melts your fatigue away. It reduces stress and anxiety. It heals the soul. Breakfast is done, though, if you're wondering." The Alpha kisses his cheek. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Ning." Kai nods.
"Soobin needs it the most. But you've been running around, protecting the pack without rest. You deserve this luxury too." Yeonjun coos and nuzzles his cheek. "Thank you, Kai. You mean so much to our pack, you know? You're family now." Kamal blinks his tears away and hums.
"Thanks, Junnie. Want to help me set up the table?" The human feels a wet kiss on his cheek. "The kitchen smells good. I didn't know you could cook." Kai smirks. "I'm just that talented, Soobin." The elder rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. We'll take care of the table. Wake the two sleepyheads on the nest." Kai frowns.
"Are you sure?" The pair nods. "Go." Kamal scratches his head and goes to the nest, peeking at the juice he concocted. It will work. It has to. "Wake up, you two." He slaps their forehead. "Go to sleep, little elf. It's still so early." Beomgyu pulls Kai down and cuddles him. "It's two in the afternoon, Gyu." He doesn't budge.
"Soobin will be upset." The beta grumbles. "Don't care." Taehyun snakes his hands around Kamal's waist. "Stop sandwiching me, you two." He whines. "No. Keep us warm, little elf. It's cold in the morning." Taehyun murmurs. "Five minutes, and you're getting up, okay?" The two nod their heads. "Ugh." Kai sighs and relaxes on their hold.
Savor it, Kamal. It's the last time you'll feel their warmth.
"Five minutes is over. Get up." Kai bites his tongue. Too early. There's not enough time. I should've lied. "I cooked you food, and you're ignoring it?" That's what gets them up and running towards the kitchen. "Wow, it's a feast!" Kai follows behind the two and nods.
"I want to celebrate Soobin's first time shifting after all these years. Sorry, I used the food in your pantry." The quad looks at Kamal like he hung the stars. It only breaks his heart more. As an elf, he's already useless. But a human? "I don't deserve to be here," Kai whispers.
"Fruit cups are the best. They're arranged beautifully." Soobin pokes a mango and shoves it in his mouth. "It's sweet." Kamal grins. "This pancake is so fluffy!" Yeonjun shovels two in his mouth and starts choking. Their eyes widen. "You're so stupid." Beomgyu gives him a cup of juice. The Alpha drinks it in one go and catches his breath. "What fruit is it from?" Kamal smiles.
"The main ingredients are flowers." He hears oohs and aahs in the background. "It's passionflower, lavender, and berries. It's not too sweet, is it?" Yeonjun shakes his head. "It's so tasty, pretty too. It's glittering." Kai hums. "Eat up, everyone. I cooked rabbit stew if you want something savory." Taehyun lights up.
"Wow, that sounds so yummy." He smiles. "That's because it is. Do you want a bowl?" The pup nods. "Me too!" Beomgyu raises his hand.
"Coming right up." Kai winks.
~~~~
"I'm so full. Oh, Kai. Do you want to join us in the evening? We'll shift and hunt for prey. Well, Yeonjun and I will. The other two will watch and play with you if you want." Kamal stops washing the dishes. "O-oh, of course. I'll go. That sounds fun." The four werewolves light up. "We can't wait for you to see our wolves. They're getting restless. They really adore you, you know?" Soobin chimes.
"Wow, I- it's an honor." He mutters while blushing. "No, it's not. You're lovable, Kai. It's so easy to fall for you." Taehyun states, locking eyes with the human. Kamal is the first to look away. No, no. It's not allowed. A human and a werewolf-
It will only pose problems.
"Should we take a nap? I think Kai's potion is working." Beomgyu yawns and leans on Soobin. "It's really effective." Yeonjun praises his skills. The group arrives at the nest. "Cuddle pile!" Taehyun exclaims. "Kai will sleep beside me," Beomgyu says. "Fair enough." Soobin raises his hand.
"I suggest Hyuka sleeps in the middle. I take his left, and you take his right, Gyu." The human shakes his head. "Do I get a say in this?" The two werewolves stick their tongues out. "I guess not." Kai giggles and let the two envelope him with their warmth. Yeonjun cuddles Beomgyu and Taehyun with Soobin.
"This feels nice." Soobin murmurs, kissing Kai's hair. "Indeed." Beomgyu buries his face on the human's neck and sniffs. "Stop trying to scent him, Gyu." Yeonjun scolds him. "It was worth a try." He shrugs. "We should do this again." Taehyun suggests. "I think every Friday sounds nice." Soobin states. "Don't you think so too, Kai?" He smiles forcibly and nods.
"We should totally do that." The four werewolves purr in appreciation, and Kai does his best to ignore what it does to his heart. "Wake me up four hours later. It's much better to hunt at dusk." Beomgyu yawns and kisses Kamal's collarbone. "Night, Hyuka." He kisses the betas hair and snuggles closer to Soobin.
"Night, everyone." Kai doesn't sleep, nor does he blink. "I want this to last forever." He chuckles at his childish dream and lets the pack drift off to sleep.
~~~~
"Hyuka?" Yeonjun gets up first. He frowns when there's a pillow in between Soobin and Beomgyu. The Alpha bites his lip. "Surely not, right?. This must be a joke." He goes to their kitchen, the cave, the shack-
He looked everywhere. But Kai's gone.
Yeonjun feels his lips wobble. "Why?" His voice cracks. The werewolf runs inside and tries to wake his mates. "Soobin, he's gone." The elder doesn't budge. Yeonjun's face falls. "It's the potion. I drank it much earlier, so I-" He grits his teeth. "You're so cruel, Kai." The Alpha walks outside to guard their den. He can't leave his mates when they're asleep and defenseless. Yeonjun sits outside their home and looks around. Maybe-
Maybe he'll see Kai around.
~~~~
"Hello, this is the Park's inn. How may I help you?" Kai slides pieces of gold coins. "I-I want to live here. Do you also know where I can get a job?" The man looks him up and down and smiles pitifully. "Welcome to my inn, fairy. A potion master is looking for an apprentice in the back. I'll introduce you to him. My name's Jimin, by the way." His eyes widen. "I'm not-"
"I know. The potion master is my husband. I'm sure you two will get along." Jimin's eyes glow blue, and it disappears in split seconds. "Oh. I see. Please take care of me." Kai bows his head and lets the fairy lead him to the backrooms. "Do you want a fake identity?" He jolts. "O-oh. Yes, please." Jimin hums.
"What's your real name?" He bites his lip. "Huening Kamal Kai." The fairy raises his brow. "Do you perhaps know a fairy named Kim Seokjin?" Kai nods. "He was my teacher." Jimin smirks. "He's my husband now. Well, one of them. I have six." He gapes. "Oh, wow. Congratulations." The other male thanks him. "You're safe here. Did you tell them your second name?" Kai shakes his head.
"Telling them my second name will make it harder for me to leave. It's like an engagement ring to us fairies- er. You get what I mean." He mutters.
"I do. Well, Kamal. I hope you're ready to work your ass off." He smiles bitterly. "It's all I can do now." Jimin pats his back comfortingly.
~~~~