Chapter Text
There's a slight buzz in the air when he wakes up. Excited pheromones spark the air like a carbonated drink and he can only attribute it to a certain pack member's birthday. Said pack member is currently fast asleep beside him, and he refuses to move and risk disturbing his beloved.
His head alpha deserves uninterrupted sleep on his birthday.
He looks over at said man and can't help but smile. Chan is adorable when he's fast asleep. Some of the stress and worry his alpha naturally carries in their day to day life melts away in his sleep and leaves a much younger looking alpha. The creases of stress in his forehead and lines of worry around his eyes smooth out to reveal an even more beautiful man. His lips are plump and pink, and his hair is exceptionally curly in its natural state.
Chan is gorgeous when he's unfiltered and vulnerable.
He feels blessed.
He has somehow managed to earn the trust of this wonderful, beautiful man who feels safe and comfortable enough to sleep beside him. And that is the biggest gift of all to him.
He gently rolls over and rests his head on Chan's chest, using the alpha as his pillow and closing his eyes once more. He can sleep for just a little longer…
He wakes to someone rubbing his back. He's still nestled on Chan's chest, but he's angled his nose closer to his scent gland so he can breathe in the sweet scent of his mate.
"Morning sweetheart," Chan's voice rasps. He shivers with delight over the deeper and raspier tone. He loves Chan's morning voice. He kisses his mates scent gland.
"Morning hyung," he responds, "did you sleep well?"
"Surprisingly, yes," Chan answers, "I actually feel rested."
He smiles. "Good, hyung. Something tells me you're going to need that rest for today's events."
"What? Why?" Chan asks, clearly confused.
He finally lifts himself up so he can peer down at his handsome mate.
"Because, hyung, it's your birthday," he reminds gently. "Happy birthday, alpha mine."
He lowers himself to kiss Chan's lips. It's a soft peck, Chan melting underneath him with such ease it definitely boosts his ego. He pulls away, but not before bumping his nose against Chan's.
"The pups are excited, I've been able to smell them all morning," he murmurs, partly fond and in warning to his alpha to expect a celebration.
"They didn't need too," Chan whines.
He laughs at the unusual petulance from his partner. "Come now, do you want to have pouty pups on your birthday?"
Chan frowns before sighing. "No, not really."
"Then let them have their fun, hm?" He encouraged gently. "It's their head alphas birthday, and the one day they can show you just how much they love you, ok?"
"But I already know they do," Chan protests. "It's just another day."
He covers Chan's mouth with his hand and raises an eyebrow at him. "It's not just another day for us, though. We are beyond grateful that you were born and raised to become the incredible man you are so you could lead our pack, and we want to celebrate you. Enjoy it, okay?"
Chan seems to lose any will to fight and nods. He removes his hands and pecks his lips once more. "There's a good alpha," he says.
"You know, I am older than you," Chan states with a slight whine to his tone.
He looks down at Chan and smirks. "Yes, I know you are. What about it?"
He can physically see his alpha lose any fight to continue their playful argument. It's a beautiful sign of submission from him and he loves being able to see it. It's rare, but he treasures every instance Chan does allow him to see.
"It's nothing," Chan murmurs.
He chuckles as he gets out of bed and pads into the bathroom to rinse his face and moisturize, as well as to brush his teeth. He can hear their door crack open before a distinct thump is heard. He peers out through the open door to see Jisung happily peppering Chan's face with kisses as he straddles his hips. Chan laughs, arms winding around Jisung's tiny waist.
"Okay, okay," Chan giggles, "thank you. Good morning, baby."
Jisung settles back into Chan's hips.
He spits out the foamy toothpaste and rinses his mouth quickly to rejoin his mates.
The room smells like happy omega. Jisung is both pleased and excited and his own wolf is quite pleased to have such a sweet smelling pup in his midst.
"Morning hyung," Jisung chirps happily.
He takes in the sight of Chan's hands on Jisung's hips and the content grin he has. Jisung is dressed in loose cotton shorts and an oversized shirt. He wouldn't be surprised if it was Changbin's with the way their little pup likes to steal clothes for his nest.
He cups the bottom of Jisung's chin and brings him in for a kiss. Jisung kisses him back happily. When he pulls away he gives him the sweetest smile.
"Minho hyung has made everyone breakfast," Jisung shares, "and he wants us all down there."
He gives Chan a pointed look, but finds it's not necessary with how absolutely smitten he looks. Thank the heavens for Jisung and his effect on the unusually stubborn alpha.
Jisung's shirt slips off of his shoulder when he gets off of Chan and reveals a darkened bruise. A bite, if he's not mistaken.
"Beloved," he says, reaching out to gently stop the younger from moving, "how did you get this?"
The younger omega's cheeks flush a brilliant red. "Binnie hyung had to settle me," he admits softly.
"That's unlike you," he murmurs gently.
"Too excited for hyungie's birthday and I couldn't calm down enough to sleep. Binnie hyung offered and I accepted," Jisung explains.
Chan sits up and nuzzles into Jisung's neck so he has better access to the younger ones scent gland. "Such a good boy," the alpha murmurs.
The praise seemingly unlocks the submission their youngest partner has been doing a very good job at hiding. He's concerned with how easy it is for the little one to drop, but can't be too upset by it with how happy both his partners are starting to smell.
A settling bite is certainly necessary for his submissive oriented pups, but Jisung is typically one who doesn't need it the most. The pup is well behaved at best, and prefers praise and skinship to get him to settle down into a fuzzy headspace.
He'll need to remind Changbin to keep a closer eye during aftercare.
Then again, the submissive pups of his pack always seemed to go down easier for Chan. Their alphas seas salt and caramel scent spiking with a sweeter node clearly showcasing just how content he was.
"Sweetheart," Chan says to him, "hand me the ointment please."
He reaches over and grabs the ointment they use to help keep any of their settling bites from turning infected. Chan takes it from his fingers and uncaps the lid easily.
He watches as Chan tenderly rubs the ointment onto the bruise, hushing Jisung with kisses and words of praise anytime the pup winces or begins to whine uncomfortably.
"There we go, angel," Chan says, tucking Jisung close to his scent gland and rubbing the pups back soothingly.
How fortunate were they to have such a doting alpha?
When Jisung didn't feel fuzzy with submission, did they join the others downstairs for breakfast. Minho gives them a once over before asking Jeongin to start them off.
Maknaes eat first, always.
His mates scents all sweeten seeing their head alpha, and they can't resist wishing him a happy birthday while they eat. It's endearing to see their alpha flustered, but even sweeter to see how happy the puppies are.
It fills him with just as much joy.
"Hyung, can you shift with us so we can go outside and play together?" Felix asks.
Chan's eyes sparkle. "That sounds like a great idea."
"Except for Hyunjin," Hongjoong pipes up, "his sprained ankle means no shifting until it's properly healed."
"Hyung," Hyungjin pouts.
"Sorry, angel," Hongjoong appeases gently, "can't risk you damaging it more."
"I'll stay with you," he interjects gently. "You won't be alone."
"We'll take turns," Chan mediates. "Spending time with Jinnie while we shift and play."
The compromise is a fair one and they all agree. Hyunjin looks quite bummed out that he can't join their wolf play time, but the dancer needed to recover from his ankle injury.
Changbin adds extra pieces of meat to Hyunjin's bowl. Hyunjin accepts it with a small smile. A small consolation for their late morning activity.
He takes the first round with Hyunjin as the others happily shred their clothes and shift into their wolves. He curls around Hyunjin, drawing his pup into his chest and nuzzling into his scent gland to help soothe his clearly unhappy pup.
"This sucks," Hyunjin bemoans softly.
"I know it does," he empathizes, "another week and the doctor should clear you, ok?"
They're lounging on the couch on their deck that gives them a full view of their yard and their pack currently running around and playing. Part of them are playing an aggressive game of tag while the others are branching off and wrestling. From where they are the wolves look small, but it's the furthest thing from the case. The actual reality is that his mates' wolves are large, larger than usual.
Chan is especially unusually big for a wolf, and it isn't just because he's the head alpha. The Bang Family have always been known to be on a larger scale, which is what made them such good protectors and the desire of many men and women. They're a strong bloodline, and one of the oldest in their current territory only beat out by the Kim Coven.
A strong alpha like theirs has a direct influence on the pack. The pack almost…changes in direct relation to Chan. Before they merged with Chan, his little pack had been much smaller and leaner. Since they formed a pack bond, their wolves had changed in size, strength, and stamina.
"Innie is in trouble," Hyunjin murmurs.
He looks up to spot his pack maknae rolled over onto his back and Minho nipping at his neck. He watches as Yunho catches wind of the developing situation and goes over to meditate, treading carefully but confidentially on four paws. Jeongin has a beautiful brindled gray coloring, while Minho is a russet brown. Yunho is a blinding blonde color, an unusual shade for a wolf.
He watches as Yunho gently nudges Minho's shoulder with his nose, and he recognizes it for what it is. Yunho is telling Minho to go easy on the pup, not because the little one isn't deserving of a scolding but because Jeongin hasn't figured out what dynamic he is and can't officially take part in the dominant and submissive heirarchy.
Still, if Jeongin warranted a scolding from Minho? The pup must have done something to earn it.
"What did he do?" He asks.
"He was getting too rough," Hyunjin shares, "biting at Minho hyung. Antagonizing him, but not necessarily in a playful manner."
"Ah," he says, "he was challenging him."
"Mhmm," Hyunjin says, "and Minho hyung doesn't take too kindly to being challenged like that."
"No he does not," he agrees.
Eventually Minho backs off and allows Jeongin to scramble back up. He watches as the older alpha playfully nips at Jeongin once more, before licking the pup's face. Yunho, seemingly satisfied with the interaction, walks away and rejoins Mingi and Jongho play wrestling.
He notices Jeongin behaves much better after the reminder of his current place in his dynamic to Minho. He sees all the makings of a submissive dynamic in Jeongin, but instances like this reveals a more dominant personality to him. It wouldn't be unheard of for there to be switches, but it would be the first in their pack to really toe the line in both categories.
Their maknae was certainly a special one.
Chan switched out with him an hour into play time. He joins them sweaty and smiling, but Hyunjin doesn't seem to care as he eagerly joins Chan for a cuddle in his lap. He kisses them both and goes to join his pack in the field. The shift is seamless, no longer painful as it used to be. He can feel the pack bond tenfold as a wolf, and can feel the joy and playfulness from his pack.
Wooyoung notices him first and tackles him. He lets out an excited yip. Wooyoung is happily licking at his ears and grooming him, uncontained energy spilling out from him. He chortles, unable to truly laugh, but clearly showing his amusement to his mate.
It's Jongho who rescues him, nudging Wooyoung away so he can stand back up again. He butts heads with Jongho, thankful for the help and amused by Wooyoung's upset expression if the furrowed eyebrows are anything to go by.
He's lured into a game of tag by San, Yeosang, and Wooyoung. It's freeing and exhilarating being able to play and let his more primal instincts take over.
Eventually, he goes over to lay underneath his favorite tree that's shady and keeps the ground cool on his belly. He watches as his pups play, keeping a close eye on the more rambunctious ones. Jisung and Felix are still sunning in their favorite patch of grass, and Jongho and Changbin are fixated on an intense grooming session with Changbin licking every square inch of Jongho's face.
An intense grumble sounds from behind him and he looks up to see Chan. The wolf's piercing blue eyes gazes at him with affection and love. His silver-black fur shines underneath the sun as he ducks down to lovingly nuzzle against him.
Chan spoons him in wolf form, head resting on his back as they keep a close eye on their pack together.