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Chapter Text

Jisung accepted a cup of coffee from Minho and placed it onto the table with an air of satisfaction. “There is a new owner of Wildfell Hall!”

Felix turned from his position at the window to look at the others in the drawing room. Minho paused in the act of pouring Seungmin more coffee, and both of them stared at Jisung for further explanation. 

“A new tenant?” Seungmin asked.

“Not just a tenant!” Jisung said, rising and scooping Dori into his arms, disregarding the cat fur scattering over his evening clothes. “He owns the place.”

Minho raised an arch eyebrow at his young husband. “And how on earth did you come to know that?”

Jisung shrugged, one hand scratching Dori behind the ears. “I was walking, you know, out over the fields towards that old abbey. I go that way only sometimes, but since it was so nice outdoors- I happened upon the surveyor, and a lawyer with him!”

“That is unusual,” Seungmin remarked, taking a sip of his coffee. “Lawyers don’t usually see to direct business like that.”

“You didn’t happen to catch a glimpse of the new owner?” Felix asked, giving up his office of gazing out at Minho’s scrupulously well-kept garden and coming over to the sofa.

“Not a chance, Lix-ah,” Jisung said, settling himself back down beside Felix and allowing Dori to clamber off his lap. “He’s set to arrive sometime in the next fortnight, if the lawyer is to be believed.”

“You’ll have to wait to call upon him then, love,” Minho said, kissing Jisung on the temple. “He’ll need time to settle into that old place.” Jisung leaned into the kiss, a small smile easily crossing his face.

Felix’s heart stuttered and he looked away. He sensed Seungmin doing the same across the room, flustered by the open affection between the couple.

Minho and Jisung married two years ago, and shortly after come to their current residence at Whitemarch. Lee Minho had been the youngest of Jisung’s father’s associates, having taken his father’s place after his sudden death. Jisung’s father spent months convincing Minho to meet his son, and Minho spent that time weaseling his way out of party invitations. After nearly a year of dodging requests, he had been obliged to attend due to the appearance of a large investor, and Jisung’s father seized the opportunity. Minho was immediately taken with Jisung, and Jisung was just as starry-eyed with Minho. They married, moved from the city to Whitemarch Hall, adopted three cats, and lived in disgustingly happy married bliss. 

Jisung liked to joke that they had married for convenience, but Felix knew he didn’t really mean it. Minho would bring him the moon if he asked. He’d let Jisung have full run of the renovations, and Jisung turned Whitemarch into a home to be proud of. The rooms were bright and airy, and Minho worked with the gardener to make the sprawling lawns a pleasant place for a shady walk.

The neighborhood they lived in was small, only a little village nearby and a few larger houses scattered around the countryside, but Jisung loved to have guests. Felix arrived in the neighborhood six months ago, still pale and haggard from his injury, and Jisung had taken him under his wing almost at once. He was welcome at Whitemarch any time of day, and once a week the three had a more formal dinner.

For the first month, only Felix had been there. Jisung had a talent for talking, so it was never awkward, but Minho intimidated Felix at first. He was austere, older than both Felix and Jisung, but Felix had quickly come to think of him as another hyung, the way Jisung did. They spent a few weeks in companionable company, taking walks in the evenings and reading around the fire.

Then Seungmin arrived, inhabiting the only other manor in the area.  He was younger than Felix,  and had taken Coldridge on the advice of his father. He joined the three of them on a rainy evening, and so thoroughly charmed them all that he received a standing invitation from Jisung before the evening was out.

Seungmin had returned the next week with the son of the vicar in tow, tousle-haired from the wind. Jeongin was fresh from his time at university, just graduated and very shy. Jisung peppered him with questions, and Jeongin clammed up at once. Felix sat down next to him after that, and coaxed him into smiling and laughing as Felix dragged some of Minho’s embroidery thread for Soonie to chase. Jeongin’s sharp wit and easy company made him a treasured part of their little group. Felix knew Minho especially enjoyed having him around, since he privately admitted to Felix that the dinners were more of Jisung’s preference than his own. 

Jeongin was absent that night, as business with his father called him away. Felix wished he was here, making quips at Minho or reading in his usual corner. The party never felt complete when it was less than the usual five. Felix sighed and took a drink from his cup, savoring the taste of the coffee. 

Seungmin cleared his throat. “Shall we extend this new neighbor an invitation?”

Minho pretended to gasp in indignation. “Inviting strange men into my own home, Seungmin-ah? What next, armed takeover? Dogs ?”

“I have no objection,” Jisung said, ignoring the way Seungmin stuck his tongue out at his husband. “It would be courteous, even if he doesn’t accept.”

“I hope he does,” Seungmin huffed, making a face back at Minho. “Heaven knows we need someone to keep the old man company.”

Minho laughed, the faux-irritated look sliding off of his face. “How do you know that he’s old, Seungminnie? Do you have a confession to make?”

“Certainly not,” Seungmin said. “Only that Wildfell Hall is old and needs upkeep, and it would take a considerable sum to purchase it. And our new neighbor has done just that.”

“Hmm, I do think you’re right!” Jisung said, sitting up in his seat. “What do you think, Lix-ah? A wealthy young man, moving into a new home all alone-”

Felix ducked his head, hiding his flush behind his cup. 

“Oh, really,” Seungmin scolded, coming over to touch Felix’s shoulder. “You have no idea if this mysterious man is even suited to Felix or not! Better to extend him an invitation first, see what kind of man he is.”

“He’s quite right,” Minho said, pulling Dori up from the couch and tickling under the cat’s chin. “Let us have a look at him before you go marrying Felix off. Have you nothing else to do now that you’re married, hmm? Playing the chaperone aunt, snatching up wealthy husbands for your nephews?”

Jisung swatted playfully at his husband, who sidestepped him, chuckling. 

Felix pressed cool fingers to his cheek, soothing his blush. Jisung had never quite given up on his matchmaking tendencies. He tried to pair Seungmin and Felix together when Seungmin first arrived, and it seemed not even the incident with Seungmin and the tea-tray was enough to put him off. That particular afternoon ended in disaster, but Felix and Seungmin remained good friends.

Seungmin sighed. “I suppose this upstages my own news.”

Jisung turned from his pursuit of Minho, fresh excitement on his face. “ More news? Better than a new neighbor?”

“Almost as good,” Seungmin said, smiling at Jisung. “I have a guest, coming to stay with me at Coldridge for two months.”

“Two months!” Jisung shrieked, making Doongie startle awake from his position in Jeongin’s usual chair. “Who is he? What’s his name?”

“Seo Changbin, and he’s-”

“Is he eligible?”

“He’s unmarried, if that-”

“ Two unmarried gentlemen, coming to the neighborhood! Minho-hyung, do you think-”

Minho took his excited husband by the shoulders, guiding him back to the sofa. “Jisung-ah, you sound more and more like an old married aunt by the minute. Sit down, come on, drink your coffee.”

Jisung sat, still chattering. “Minho-hyung, we’ve got to have them both here for dinner, at least!”

“Anything you like,” Minho murmured, sitting down beside Jisung and rubbing soothing circles over his hand. “For you, love.”

Felix smiled at his friend’s dramatics, glad at least that Jisung had Felix’s own happiness in mind. Felix looked over to Seungmin, who had a strange expression on his face. Leaving the couple on the sofa, Felix stood and made his way over to him.

“Are you alright, Seungmin-ah?” Felix asked, giving his friend a smile. 

Seungmin nodded, still with the odd expression on his face. “I’ve never thought about Changbin-hyung being unmarried, until Jisung asked.” He shook his head, and gave Felix his usual warm smile. “But it doesn’t matter, does it?”

Felix nodded, although in his own mind, he thought Seungmin was trying to convince himself rather than Felix.

-

Felix wound his way down the path, face turned up to the sun. He had been rambling over the countryside all morning, letting his feet take him where they would. Felix held a small bouquet of flowers in one hand, picked from the small grove near the edge of his own property.

He drew level with a massive oak tree, twisted and rather old. Felix leaned against it to enjoy the view stretching over the fields. Jisung’s words stuck in his head, about walking past Wildfell on his own stroll. Felix considered the idea, fingers playing in the petals of a flower. Minho and Jisung lived closer to Wildfell than he did, but it had been so long since Felix had been to see the imposing estate. He had seen it only twice before, once when he hobbled outdoors on his own for the first time since his injury, and then a few months later on a long walk with Minho and Jisung. 

Wildfell was an old, imposing mansion of the Elizabethan era, built of dark gray stone, venerable and picturesque to look at. Still, it must be cold and gloomy to inhabit, with its thick stone mullions and little latticed panes. It had been a summery day when Felix visited with Minho and Jisung, beautiful and sunny, and even then the Hall was forbidding and frigid. It was unsheltered, only shielded from the war of wind and weather by a group of Scotch firs, themselves half blighted with storms, and looking as stern and gloomy as the Hall itself. 

Felix set off down the lane, his feet moving before he made the conscious decision to do so. Something in him wanted to see the old Hall, even if it was from a distance. It had been a long while since he went through the wolfswood too, a section of road with massive twisting trees that curled themselves inwards, creating a canopy of leaves. 

During the day, Felix loved to wander through the trees and gaze up at the thick foliage, but at night it was damp and cold. The leaves shivered in the wind and made Felix feel like he was being followed. It only took one late afternoon ramble to keep Felix closer to home around dusk.

Taking a deep breath of the wet summer air, Felix paused under the thick trees, gazing at the dappled sunbeams on the grass. The wolfswood stretched further than the road. The trunks got thicker and more gnarled the further into the wood Felix walked, relishing the quiet bird calls and the cool air.

The road between Whitemarch and Wildfell went right through the wolfswood, with a smaller, overgrown road that led to the abbey. All the inhabitants of the neighborhood simply called it ‘the abbey,’ and when Felix asked Minho the history of the old place, he shrugged and told Felix that no one knew who it belonged to, or when it was deserted. It was in ruins, and many expected Wildfell Hall to follow in the same manner, previous to the new inhabitant.

Felix took a tiny path off of the main road, stepping behind a large tree and coming out on a small rocky bluff. Minho and Jisung showed him this little overlook the first time they’d walked this way. It had a spectacular prospect of Wildfell. Large and austere, the Hall was situated on top of a lofty eminence. Felix thought the hall had its own kind of beauty, even if he did privately agree with Minho that ‘ whoever lived there must be nearly as cold and forbidding as the hall itself! ’

It had a grand set of stone steps up to the front, widening around a balcony. It was unusual, as most large manors had a flat drive for the convenience of carriages. Wildfell had a circular drive, and as Felix watched, a lone horse galloped up the road, kicking up a cloud of dust. 

The rider dismounted at the food of the stairs, a long traveling coat dusting the path as he walked. Felix watched closely as the man straightened his coat and gazed up at the hall. 

This man must be the new inhabitant. Felix took a step forward, hoping to see more of him. At this distance, it was impossible to tell if he was as young as Jisung had hoped, but he was broad-chested and very well dressed. A groom came from the side of the hall, bowing and taking the reins from the rider. Another man made his way down the stairs, and the rider took the stairs two at a time to meet him. The man bowed to the rider, and they went into Wildfell Hall.

For the first time since he heard the news, Felix felt that this new neighbor might not be such an unwelcome addition to their party.

-

Jisung paced the length of the parlor, anxiously stroking a put-upon Soonie. “How long can one turn of the garden take? Goodness, if only this room were on the other side of the house-”

“No, thank heaven that it is not,” Jeongin remarked from his position by the window. “Otherwise we would be getting a minute-by-minute report of how far they’ve made it past Minho-hyung’s petunias. Come over here, hyung, stop pacing and let me tell you about my time in the city.”

Felix smiled over at Seungmin as the other two sat down at the table. “Has Changbin-hyung found Coldridge to his liking?”

“Yes, very much,” Seungmin answered, a tinge of pride in his voice. “He was concerned about my taking up residence so far from the city, but he was very impressed when he saw the manor itself.” 

“Has he seen much of the countryside?” Felix asked as Dori jumped into his lap. He stroked over the cat’s fur, and Dori answered with a strong purr.

“Not in this area,” Seungmin said. “Changbin-hyung was quite keen to accompany me on a walk.” He leaned towards Felix, checking to ensure that Jisung was absorbed in Jeongin’s tale. “In fact, it appears that someone has taken up residence in that little cottage by Coldridge. We noticed a horse in the stable on our walk, but no sign of the proper resident. Do you remember seeing the house? I’ve always heard it referred to as Longfield, but the place is so tiny it hardly merits a name.”

Felix laughed. “Yet another visitor to the neighborhood! Did you happen to have more details about this mysterious person?”

Seungmin shook his head. “None at all.”

Felix sat back, disappointed but still intrigued. “They can’t hide themselves forever, not with a neighborhood this small.”

Seungmin’s agreement was cut off by the door to the drawing room opening and the entrance of three gentlemen, coming in from their tour of the grounds. One of them was Minho, but the other two were entirely unfamiliar to Felix. 

One of the men was a little shorter than the other, and very muscular. He was only looking at Seungmin, who had pink cheeks and was staring at his own hands. The other had very curly hair, and dimples in his smile. Felix’s gaze was drawn to him, and when their eyes met, the shock of recognition made Felix sit up straighter. The second gentleman was the same one who rode to Wildfell Hall. He smiled warmly at Felix, and Felix could feel a strong blush working its way up his neck. 

Seungmin and Felix stood, as did Jeongin and Jisung.  Minho strode to his husband’s side and took his arm, guiding him to meet the two gentlemen.

“Bang Chan, Changbin, this is Lee Felix, Yang Jeongin, Kim Seungmin, and my husband, Han Jisung,” Minho said, smiling as Jisung bowed. Felix bowed when his name was called, trying his hardest to not look directly into their eyes.

Both men bowed in return, and Changbin excused himself to stand beside Seungmin for the other introductions. 

“Felix, Iyen-ah, this is my guest, Seo Changbin,” Seungmin said, acknowledging each with a gesture.  

More bows followed, and just when Felix thought Minho would insist upon more ceremony and introduce Chan to them one by one, the butler stepped in and very formally announced that dinner was on the table. 

Minho and Jisung led the way, followed by Changbin with Seungmin on his arm. Felix stood for a minute on his own, unused to ceremony in their casual dinners. Chan proffered his arm to Felix with a smile, and Felix took it. Jeongin cheerfully brought up the rear, stuffing his hands in his pockets and listening to Felix talk to Chan without an ounce of shame.

“It is Bang Chan, is it not?” Felix murmured, tucking his hand into the crook of Chan’s elbow and trying to ignore Jeongin smirking at him. He could feel the warmth of Chan’s arm through his sleeve, distracting him.

“Please, just Chan is fine,” Chan said, keeping pace with Felix and leaning down in the slightest. “Lee Felix.”

Felix blinked up at Chan. “Just Felix, Chan-hyung.”

Chan laughed, and Felix was mortified to feel his stomach give a swoop. Cheeks heating, he looked away and attempted to put the strong, solid feel of Chan’s forearm to the back of his mind. 

Jisung insisted upon formality for the occasion, since they had more guests than usual, which meant a seating chart. Minho took the head, with Jisung and Seungmin on either side of him. Felix was between Seungmin and Chan with Jeongin right across from him, which made it unlikely for Felix to survive the meal with his dignity intact. Jeongin loved to pull faces. 

True to form, Jeongin stuck his tongue out at Felix from behind his glass. Felix turned his face away and bit his lip to keep from smiling. 

At the head of the table, Minho turned to Chan. “Chan-hyung, you were telling me where you were living before coming to Wildfell?”

“ ‘Hyung ?’” Jisung asked, turning to Chan. “You’re older than Minho-hyung?”

Chan dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Yes, but not by much. I-

Jisung laughed, smiling at his husband. “Looks like you were right, Seungminnie. Someone to keep the old man company!”

Everyone laughed, Chan relaxing his shoulders at Minho’s easy reception of the joke. The rest of the table broke into chatter, asking Changbin his own age.

Felix lowered his voice and spoke to Chan directly. “You never did say where you’re from, hyung.”

“My parents are from the countryside, but they have been abroad for most of my life.” Chan kept his eyes on his plate as he spoke, cutting his food. His tone was not sharp, but Felix understood that he did not want to discuss the topic. 

Felix turned back to his plate, feeling a little embarrassed. He was so curious about Chan that he felt the urge to do as Jisung was doing, and bounce in his seat as Changbin talked about his past. He bent his head, avoiding both Chan’s gentle rebuff and the face that Jeongin was making at him. Laughter from the top of the table cut through the silence, and Felix focused harder on cutting his food.

“Although,” Chan said hesitantly, through the silence between them. “I have heard this area described as uncommonly beautiful. Is it true?”

“You wouldn’t find finer scenery anywhere!” Changbin said from across the table. “Seungminnie and I walked more than three miles after my arrival.”

Jeongin set down his glass. “There are plenty of places around worth visiting,” Jeongin said. “The vicarage in the town is lovely, but if you stop by, you’ll be obliged to visit my father. There’s the park at Coldridge, and you’ve seen the gardens here already. The wolfswood is worth a visit, but-”

“‘Wolfswood?’” Chan asked, staring right at Jeongin. His hand was clenched around his silverware, knuckles white. Felix stared at him, watching the lines of his face tighten. 

“It’s a section of particularly dense wood, between Wildfell and Whitemarch,” Jisung cut in, one cheek full of food. “No idea where the name comes from.”

“There haven’t been wolves in these parts for years,” Minho said. “I asked around when we first took the place, but no one had an answer.”

Seungmin nodded at Changbin. “Wolves haven’t been spotted in the countryside for centuries. They were hunted to extinction, but some people seem to think that a few lone wolves still exist.”

Changbin nodded, but Chan’s profile looked forbidding. If Felix didn’t know any better, he would say that Chan looked frightened, rather than angry. 

“There’s an old abbey in the wood,” Felix said to Chan. Chan turned to him, expression softening at the tiny smile on Felix’s face. “Moldering, and in ruins. I always thought that the abbey first had the name, and then the woods gained it as well.”

Chan’s posture relaxed, and he took another bite of his food. “Is the abbey worth seeing?”

Felix nodded. “I think so, but a ruin has nothing to the park at Coldridge. Seungmin keeps it very well-maintained.” The grove near Coldridge was shady and picturesque, a perfect place to walk or sit on the benches. Felix and Seungmin spent sunny afternoons under the trees, when Felix hadn’t been able to walk far due to his injury.

“Then, perhaps,” Chan said, meeting Felix’s eyes. “We could trouble him for an afternoon visit?”

Felix smiled, a pleasant bouncy feeling in his stomach. “I would like that very much, hyung.”

Chan gave him another cute, dimpled smile. Felix returned his attention to his plate, only to catch Jeongin giving him his widest smirk yet.

The party moved to the drawing room after dinner, Jeongin reclaiming his usual chair with an air of triumphant bravado and spending a few minutes dragging a string for Doongie to chase. Minho and Chan stood by the fire, talking quietly over glasses of brandy. Seungmin and Felix took their usual positions on the sofa, joined by Jisung and Changbin. Felix spent his time sipping his coffee and listening to Changbin tell stories about his time in town with Seungmin, laughing when Seungmin tried to cover his mouth to get him to stop.

As usual, Felix was the last of the party to leave. Seungmin and Changbin had already taken Jeongin home, Jeongin grumbling throughout their farewells about curfews and overbearing fathers. Before he left, Seungmin extended a formal invitation to Chan for him to visit Coldridge. Chan bowed and thanked Seungmin, offering to visit when the entire party could be present to enjoy the estate together.

Minho and Jisung sat on the couch together, heads bent over Soonie. Leaving the couple to their time together, Felix plucked Dori off his paws and cradled him in his arms. He walked to the window, scratching absently at Dori’s chin while he looked out over the dusky lawn. The light was fading fast, and the slim crescent moon wouldn’t provide much light to see by.

Felix felt a rustle of clothes at his side as Chan came to stand beside him. He smiled at Felix and petted Dori behind the ears. The cat purred and pushed his head into Chan’s palm, eyes slipping shut at the attention. Felix felt warm contentment curl in his belly, the fire and the pleasant company completing the feeling of a day well spent.

“It’s a lovely evening,” Felix murmured, ripping his eyes away from Chan’s adoring look at Dori and looking back out of the window.

“You like the twilight?” Chan asked. Felix could feel the heat from his body, even though Chan kept a respectful distance between them. He wanted to get closer, to feel that heat pressed to his back, but he resisted the impulse.

“I like it very much,” Felix said. “I enjoy walking at dusk, but often I find myself walking home in the dark. My butler is less than fond of the habit.” 

Chan’s laugh was rumbly, and warmed Felix down to his toes. “Do you walk here, in the gardens? Much safer than through the country or the forest.”

Felix nodded. “As often as I can, but only during the full moon.” He scratched Dori under the chin and smiled as the volume of purring increased.

Felix felt Chan go stiff behind him. “Why only the full moon?”

“You can only see properly when the moon is full. More light,” Felix said, turning his attention to the evening. The light was almost entirely faded, the lines of Minho’s well-tended plants blurring in the night. “It’s beautiful in the moonlight, all silvery. Minho loves to take Jisung out for walks when the moon is full and his peonies are blooming.”

“Very romantic,” Chan said, smiling at Felix. 

Felix nodded and moved to stand closer, allowing Chan to pet Dori in his arms. Chan cleared his throat, focusing on the cat rather than Felix.

“I’m sorry for my uh- reaction , earlier,” Chan said, pitching his voice lower. “To your questions. I should have expected curiosity, but I did not prepare myself for it.” He offered Felix a bow of apology. “Forgive me.”

Felix grinned up at Chan, unable to resist the look of adorable flustered embarrassment on his face. “It’s all right, hyung. I would feel the same way if I had to meet six strangers.”

Chan’s shoulders relaxed and he smiled back, easy grace in his movements. “It’s been wonderful to meet my new neighbors here. Nice to know that there are good people nearby.”

Felix grinned down at the blissed-out cat in his arms. “I felt the same way when I moved into the neighborhood. Minho-hyung and Jisung were the only ones around, and I think they both liked to know that someone new would be around.” He shot a cheeky glance at Chan. “Even if it was only to have them over once a week and ply them with cats.”

Chan laughed, and they both looked out the window, now barely able to discern anything other than the deep dark of the night. Dori purred in Felix’s arms, kneading at a bicep. 

Chan spoke from behind Felix. “It would be pleasant to host a gathering at Wildfell. When the hall is in better condition, of course. I’m still carrying out renovations in much of the house.”

“That would be wonderful!” Felix was enthused by the idea. He’d always wanted to see the inside of the house, burning with curiosity every time he walked past. “Minho-hyung and Jisung have told me how eager they are to see the inside of the hall.”

“Eager, are they?” Chan asked, chuckling a little. “I think I can arrange something.”

“They’re very attentive neighbors,” Felix said, remembering when he had first come to the area. “When I first took Rivington, they called upon me within the week.” 

“Rivington is your estate?” Chan asked, curiosity in his voice.

Felix suppressed a snort. “Hardly an estate! Nothing to Wildfell, or Whitemarch. It’s not as big, or grand, but it is old. I spent my first months here on renovations as well.”

“An estate nonetheless,” Chan said, looking rather serious. 

Felix nodded, happy to talk about the home he had become so fond of. “The hall itself may not be large, but I do have a very substantial park. Larger even than the one at Coldridge, but not as quaint.”

“How did you come by the estate?” Chan asked, playing with one of Dori’s paws. “You never mentioned.”

Felix stopped petting Dori, his hand tightening in the cat’s soft fur. “I only arrived recently,” he said, his voice stilted and a little mechanic. “Not long before Seungmin did.” 

Felix ducked his head, hoping that Chan would change the subject. Jisung tried to broach the same subject when he first arrived too.

Luckily, Chan was perceptive. ‘Well, maybe someday I will have the opportunity to see Rivington. My butler spoke well of it, when he described the neighborhood.”

“I would be happy to receive you there, Chan-hyung,” Felix said, softening his formal tone with a smile. Chan had a happy look on his face, so different from the discomfort at dinner.

Chan opened his mouth to speak, but Jisung called out. “What are you two standing by the window for? Come, sit down with me and Minho-hyung.”

Felix and Chan both turned from the window, leaving the inky black of the night behind to join Minho and Jisung for one last cup of coffee. They ended the evening in the front hall, wishing Chan a safe ride home as he climbed inside his carriage. 

Jisung grinned at Felix when he found out Felix planned to walk home from Whitemarch. “Going home on foot, Lix-ah? What if you got eaten up by one of those beasts we have lurking around here? What will I tell your poor parents, hmm?” He scratched Dori behind the ears and looked Felix up and down, a tinge of worry in his tone. “We can order the carriage for you, Felix, it would be no trouble at all. It’s quite dark out there.”

“I’ll be fine, Sung-ah. There’s nothing out there that I need to be afraid of,” Felix said, smiling at his friend and giving Dori a tiny goodbye kiss. 

Jisung hugged him, and he turned to bow to Minho, only for him to hug Felix as well. Felix laughed, bade them goodnight, and stepped out into the darkness of the evening. 

-

Felix stared up at the old abbey, twirling a leaf between his fingers. The building was old enough that the walls were completely stripped, any organic material long since rotted away. Some of the brick walls had tumbled down, cracked by the ivy that wound up the exterior. 

Looking up at the heavy branches above him, Felix set off around one side of the abbey. Birds flew through the trees, calling to each other. It was a perfect afternoon, the breeze ruffling Felix’s hair. 

As he rounded the edge of the ruin, Felix caught sight of another figure. He froze, surprise and embarrassment both making him want to turn and run away. Felix had never seen another person at the abbey during his rambles.

The figure belonged to a man, perched on a rickety folding stool and absorbed in a sketchbook. He was tall and slim, longer dark hair falling into his eyes. As Felix watched, the man brushed his hair out of his face, caught sight of Felix, and jumped.

Felix bowed, hoping that he didn’t look too embarrassed. 

The other man leapt to his feet and bowed back, clutching his sketchbook. “Good afternoon! I’m sorry, I didn’t realize anyone else would be here- I didn’t mean to trespass. Is this your property?” The man shifted back, knocking into his stool.

Felix grinned a little at the rambling and moved closer. “No, this isn’t my property. As far as I know, the abbey doesn’t belong to anyone.”

The man looked relieved, setting his book and pencil down on the stool. “That’s good to know, the gardener didn’t mention anything about an owner when I asked him, but-“ he cut off his own rambling, offering Felix another bow. “I’m Hwang Hyunjin. I am- new, to the neighborhood.” 

“Lee Felix,” Felix said, trying to sneak a look at Hyunjin’s sketchbook without him noticing. Hyunjin shifted over a step, hiding the open pages from view. 

Flushing at his rudeness, Felix met Hyunjin’s gaze again. “I only just came to the area myself, about six months ago. I live at Rivington.”

Hyunjin nodded in recognition, looking eager. “I’ve heard of Rivington! It’s an old estate, is it not?”

“Yes,” Felix answered, more surprised than anything. Whitemarch and Wildfell were much more widely known, both for their grounds and elaborate exteriors.  “How have you come to know about Rivington?”

“I’m an artist, by trade,” Hyunjin said, looking down. He fidgeted with an ink-stained cuff. “In training, I copied a very fine painting of the estate.”

“I didn’t know there were paintings of my estate floating around!” Felix said, laughing a little. “Seungmin might be a little jealous. Coldridge is much grander. So is Wildfell, come to think of it.”

“But they aren’t as old as Rivington,” Hyunjin said. “The history of the building is what makes the rendering so special, rather than the grandeur.”

Felix grinned at Hyunjin, feeling a little cheeky. “Is that why you’re sketching the ruin of an old abbey?”

Hyunjin looked a little sheepish, but he smiled at the teasing. “I've heard of Wildfell Hall before, and wanted to paint it before I even moved to the area. But the gardener mentioned the abbey and the wolfswood, and I knew that I had to see it.”

“Is that why you came to the area, to paint Wildfell?” Felix asked, walking at a slow pace beside Hyunjin as they set off around the ruin. He tried not to lean into Hyunjin’s space, cautious of boundaries. “I don’t know much about what it would be like to be an artist. Do you move around a lot?”

“Yes,” Hyunjin answered. He tucked his sketchbook under an arm and folded his stool, returning to Felix’s side. He kept himself at a respectful distance from Felix, despite giving him a warm smile. “I spent time after my training traveling as a portrait artist.” 

Felix nodded, still burning with curiosity. He kept his mouth shut, trying to match Hyunjin’s stride. Not wanting to scare Hyunjin off or have him clam up, Felix attempted to come up with something not likely to make Hyunjin uncomfortable. He was spared the labor by Hyunjin, who seemed eager to change the subject.

“Seungmin sent his own gardener over to tend to the grounds at Longfield,” Hyunjin said. “It was very kind of him. The cottage hasn’t been lived in for a long time. I was meaning to tend to it myself, but Seungmin took notice of it before I was able.”

“Seungmin is a very attentive neighbor,” Felix said, remembering his own first frail month at Rivington. Privately, he wondered if Seungmin would send his gardener just to learn more information about Hyunjin, but he knew that Seungmin was not the kind of man to snoop on his neighbors. “We’re very lucky, in this area. You wouldn’t find better people anywhere.”

Hyunjin smiled, true happiness shining through his features. “It was thoughtful of him! The cottage is very small, but the upkeep can be difficult for one person. I’m hoping to find the rest of the neighbors to be just as welcoming.”

“You’ll be satisfied in that, I think,” Felix said. He considered for a moment, biting his lip. It would be improper to invite Hyunjin without consulting Jisung first, especially since Whitemarch was not Felix’s own residence. But Felix knew that Jisung would be the first to welcome Hyunjin into the fold, since he moved there on his own so recently. He continued, hoping that Hyunjin would accept.

 “It may be presumptuous to ask, but would you like to accompany me to Whitemarch this week? Minho-hyung and Jisung host weekly gatherings there. It would be an honor to introduce you,” Felix asked, watching as Hyunjin’s face lit up in delighted surprise. 

Hyunjin gave Felix a deep bow in thanks. “I would be very happy to come with you! It would be wonderful to meet everyone, and I would very much like to see Whitemarch.” The formality was softened by the happy smile on his face, and the way he shifted to walk closer beside Felix. 

“I hope you like cats!” Felix grinned at the artist, already envisioning Jisung’s face when he told him that he would be bringing a guest. He wanted very much to see Hyunjin in Jisung’s warm drawing room, meeting Seungmin and petting Dori. Hyunjin would make a fine addition to the party.

Hyunjin laughed, a little bemused but turned and accompanied Felix back down the path to the main road.

Chapter Text

Felix shrugged off his jacket and adjusted his collar, nodding at the butler. It was a cold and rainy evening, which meant Felix had been forced to take the carriage. He had barely turned to make his way into the drawing room when a scurrying patter of feet announced the presence of Jeongin.

“Thank goodness you’re here,” Jeongin said, plastering himself to Felix’s back with a furtive look back over his shoulder. “Hyunjin arrived early with Seungmin-hyung, and he won’t stop asking me questions!”

“You really don’t like him?” Felix asked, heart sinking. Hyunjin seemed so friendly when they had met, Felix hoped that he would slip neatly into their little group.

“No!” Jeongin whined, clinging closer. “Just the opposite! How can he be so handsome and talented, and charming to boot! It’s not fair on us plebeians. He’s been engaging me in conversation all evening and I can’t keep looking at him, I’ll combust!”

Felix laughed, relieved. Hyunjin managed to charm their reticent youngest. “Sounds like our Iyen-ah has a crush!”

Jeongin grumbled indistinctly and buried his face in Felix’s shoulder. Felix thought he caught ‘far too pretty ’ and ‘keeps looking at me’ in the mix, which only made him laugh more. 

Felix patted Jeongin’s head. “Come on, let’s not keep Jisung waiting. You can introduce me to Hyunjin!” 

Jeongin gave Felix one last squeeze and detached himself. “Jisung-hyung is going crazy in there. Better out here than in there! Still,” He brushed himself off in a studious manner and gestured Felix into the drawing room with a sardonic smirk. “Mustn’t keep the host waiting.”

Felix entered the room first, Jeongin right on his heels. Everyone was gathered near the side of the room with the fire, waiting for coffee and tea to be brought into the drawing room. Jisung opted for a less formal evening this week, despite the protests of his husband. 

Chan was standing with Minho and Changbin, each holding a glass. Hyunjin appeared to be talking to Seungmin, who was nodding along. Jisung was straightening some pillows, but rushed over to Felix and Jeongin as they entered. 

Jisung grinned at Felix. “Where on earth did you come across Hyunjin, Felix? So charming, handsome, and unmarried too, if Seungmin is to be believed-“

“I told you in my letter, Sung-ah,” Felix said, laughing at Jisung’s musings. “I came across him sketching the abbey.”

“Was he any good?” Jeongin asked, voice tinged with genuine interest. “He didn’t say, when I asked.”

Felix hummed. “Hyunjin said he spent time working as a portrait artist, so he must be very talented.”

Jeongin’s reply was cut off by the entrance of the butler and the tea trays, and in the ensuing chaos Felix ended up sitting in between Hyunjin and Chan on the sofa. He shifted around in his seat, not uncomfortable with the presence of the two but somewhat on edge nonetheless.

Chan leaned over and smiled in greeting at Felix. He looked paler than Felix had ever seen him and as Felix watched, Chan wiped a clammy hand on his trousers. Despite his haggard appearance, he didn’t take his eyes off of Felix until he was settled back on the sofa with his teacup.

Jisung held court at the top of the room, pouring tea with practiced ease. Soonie was perched on his lap and kneading Jisung’s thigh, eyeing Felix. 

Felix opened his mouth to greet Hyunjin for the first time that night, but was beaten to it by Jisung. 

“Are you in the area specifically to paint it, Hyunjin?” Jisung asked, plating a scone and scratching Soonie behind the ears at the same time. 

Hyunjin nodded, although Felix felt him tense up beside him. “Not this area particularly, just any countryside I suppose.”

Jisung wilted a tiny bit, but Minho spoke up instead. “You saw the abbey already, but have you seen Wildfell?”

Hyunjin shook his head, bowing to Chan. “I haven’t visited yet, but it would be an honor to sketch the hall.”

Chan bowed back. “I would love to have you tour the grounds anytime you like, Hyunjin.” As he sat back up, Felix saw a bead of sweat trickle down his neck. He frowned. It really wasn’t all that hot in the room.

Jeongin piped up through a mouthful of scone. “You’ve seen the abbey and the wolfswood, and now Chan-hyung will let you see Wildfell. Have you seen Coldridge yet?”

“Not yet!” Seungmin called. He was settled in next to Changbin, who was on his third muffin with no signs of slowing down. “I’d be happy to have you, Hyunjin, as long as you’re amenable to joining a party there. We have a picnic planned in a few weeks.”

Hyunjin smiled at Seungmin and nodded his head in thanks. “That would be wonderful!”

 “What is your favorite thing to paint, Hyunjin?” Felix asked, pitching his voice a little lower despite the entire room still being a part of the conversation. 

Hyunjin stirred his tea, thinking. “I don’t know, other than buildings and flowers. I prefer painting flowers, but I’ve always wanted to paint the sea.”

“The sea?” Jeongin repeated, considering. “We have a lovely seaview in the area, a good few miles from here but an easy carriage ride on a clear day.” 

“Perhaps we should all go together!” Jisung said, enthused. “It would be easy enough to plan, just a picnic basket and a couple carriages for everyone. Jagiya, what do you think?”

“It’s a wonderful idea,” Minho said, smiling at Jisung. Jisung preened, and Jeongin mimed vomiting into his teacup.

Changbin leaned forward next to engage Hyunjin in a conversation about horses. Hyunjin’s nose scrunched for the barest of moments before he schooled his features, making Felix snort into his tea. He glanced across the room, idly watching Seungmin and Jisung discuss plans for the next visits.

Chan stood abruptly and crossed the room away from the fire. His gait was uneven, but he hadn’t had anything to drink. Felix watched him take out a handkerchief and mop his forehead. The back of his coat was covered in sweat. 

Felix frowned, concerned about his new acquaintance. He wasn’t sure how to approach the topic without causing offense. Only Felix seemed to notice Chan’s odd behavior, the rest of the group engaged with Hyunjin or with their own conversations.

Felix stood up as well, plucking Dori up off of a chair and heading over to join Chan with the purring cat in his arms.

“Hyung?”

Chan turned, mouth twitching up into a smile when he saw Felix. He swiped at his forehead once more and tucked his handkerchief away. “Hey, Felix! Thank you for inviting Hyunjin to join us, it’s been nice to meet him.”

Despite the polite words, Chan sounded out of breath. He drew back a tiny bit as Felix drew nearer, shoulders tensing. Felix kept himself at a respectful distance, although the gesture stung.

“Hyung, are you all right?” Felix asked, hugging Dori closer for comfort.

If anything, Chan looked more uneasy at the question. “Yes, Felix, I’m fine. It’s a little warm in here, isn’t it?”

It wasn’t hot in the slightest, but Felix thought it best to agree. Nodding he turned to look out the nearest window, enjoying the sound of rain hitting the glass. He heard Chan approach from the back and clear his throat.

“It’s good to see you again, Felix,” Chan said, his voice softened. He sounded apologetic, but there was genuine warmth behind the words.

Felix inclined his head, favoring Chan with a smile. “You too, hyung. Did you manage to find the farrier, after I left you?”

Felix had come across Chan on the road a few days ago during one of his usual walks. Chan’s horse lost a shoe, and Felix accompanied Chan for part of his way back to Wildfell. To Felix’s delight, Chan accepted his advice graciously and didn’t ask how Felix knew so much about horses.

“Yes, my groundskeeper was able to direct me further once I returned. She’s doing much better now,” Chan replied, happy at the mention of his horse. He told Felix that she was a present from his father, when he left home. Felix had to bite his tongue to stop himself from asking more questions, since Chan trusted him with that precious nugget of information.

Felix opened his mouth to speak again, a half formed thought about asking Chan to go for a ride with him on the next sunny day. Jisung beat him to it, calling Chan over to answer a question for Minho.

Chan bowed, smiling at Felix and turning away from the window. Felix was left to watch the gentle rain, still petting Dori. The side of the room without the fireplace was quite cold, so he wandered back over to where Jeongin and Seungmin were ensconced on the sofa by the fire.

“-no way he’d be interested in me,” Jeongin said, fiddling with the cuffs of his sleeves. “Not the son of a vicar. He’s an artist, and has traveled all over the place. I bet he’s even been to the continent.”

Seungmin patted him on the arm. “But you’ve studied, you’re set to become a professor. Who would turn their nose up at that?”

“A painter would, that’s who,” Jeongin said. “Art and academics don’t really mix. Besides, who wants to be attached to someone going so wholly against the wishes of their parents? My father still isn’t reconciled to my choice of career, both of you know that perfectly well.”

Felix shifted, uncomfortable with the mention of Jeongin’s father. The vicar was a firm man, not unloving, but very dedicated to having his son following in his footsteps. The subject was always danced around by the group, knowing that it was touchy for Jeongin.

Jeongin looked a little forlorn as he spoke, and Felix watched him curiously. It wasn’t often that he saw his cheerful friend upset. Felix knew a little about the struggles Jeongin faced when he’d chosen university rather than a vicarage, but that had been long before his coming to the area. Felix settled for plopping Dori onto Jeongin’s lap in consolation.

Jeongin accepted Dori without fuss, making sure that he didn’t fall. The cat didn’t even notice the change, just stretching and meowing for more scratches.

 Jeongin tickled him behind the ears and sighed. “Still, it’ll be good to have him around. New face in the neighborhood, and maybe he’ll remember us when he’s off traveling again.”

Seungmin reached for another scone. “I don’t think you have much to worry about, Iyen-ah. Look, Hyunjin’s watching you right now.”

Felix sneaked a glance and saw that Hyunjin was indeed looking at Jeongin, disregarding Changbin’s in-depth discussion of thoroughbreds. Jeongin went red and buried his face in his tea. 

Felix watched Hyunjin smile and turn his attention back to Changbin. Maybe Jeongin really did have a chance after all.

-

Felix walked faster, his heart pounding in his throat. He had been out for a walk at dusk, and the twilight snuck up on him. It was almost fully dark out and he was still a good ten minutes away from Rivington. 

The night was almost silent, the breeze from earlier vanishing with the sun. Felix’s breathing quickened, the panic building in his chest. He hated being out without a horse at night, stranded without a way to get home quickly.

The moon shone full above him. It illuminated the path in front of him, something Felix would normally be grateful for. He loved the cool silver of the moonlight and how it made it possible for him to walk in the garden at Whitemarch, but now it just fed into his paranoia. Every shadow posed a fresh danger, each rustle meant fear.

On a usual night, Felix would have known every sound. Each scuffle from the leaves on the forest floor, or sway of the tree branches. 

Tonight felt different, threatening and malevolent. 

Felix walked faster, disregarding his crashing presence through the trees. He heard a snap of a stick from the woods, and froze.

Something very large was coming through the underbrush. Felix could hear the heavy animal breathing, and the steps of huge paws in the leaf litter.

Stock still with fear, Felix turned to face the noise. His breathing had gone short and quick from terror. The creature in the underbrush paused, and Felix bit down on a whine. It growled, low and threatening. 

Felix squeezed his eyes shut, praying that the animal wouldn’t notice him. It growled again and crashed off through the forest, faster than Felix thought  possible.

Panting, Felix doubled over. His heart was stuck somewhere in his throat and his knees felt like soup, but he still ran the rest of the way home to Rivington.

-

Felix stepped down from the carriage, brushing damp hair off his forehead. Jisung stumbled out behind him and straightened up, peering around eagerly,

Seungmin followed at a more sedate pace and stood beside Felix. “I swear it, Felix, I may love Jisung but I wouldn’t ride in a carriage with him again if you paid me!” His words were sharp, but he smiled a little as he straightened out his travel-rumpled clothes.

Felix patted his shoulder. “He’s just excited, Seungmin, I’m sure he didn’t mean it. Come on, the hyungs are here!”

Seungmin clicked his tongue but didn’t respond, still looking a little frazzled. He smoothed his own hair and followed Jisung at a distance.

Felix smiled to himself. Jisung spent the ride in raptures, talking almost incessantly to Hyunjin. Felix worried that Hyunjin would shut down at the chatter, but Hyunjin blossomed under the attention. Despite his eagerness, Jisung had tact. By the end of the drive, they were talking and laughing together like old friends.

Seungmin spent the ride jostling next to Felix, looking uncomfortable. Seungmin hated too much noise, and Felix suspected that Seungmin didn’t want Jisung to scare Hyunjin away so soon. 

Hyunjin appeared by Felix’s side, juggling his stool and sketchbook. He smiled at Felix and turned to squint behind them. “Felix, look! You can see the ocean from here.”

“Really?” Felix asked, looking in the same direction. Just through the trees, the sun glimmered on the sea, and he could just hear the crash of waves on the cliffside below. Hyunjin’s lips were parted as he gazed at the ocean with a look of intensity on his face that Felix had hardly ever seen before on anyone.

Hoofbeats sounded from behind them, signaling the arrival of the hyungs and Jeongin. Jeongin begged Minho to borrow a horse, since he hardly ever got the chance to go out riding on his own. 

Jeongin galloped around them and dismounted, sweeping his hair off his forehead. He grinned and bowed to Hyunjin, whose gaze shifted to Jeongin but hadn’t lost its intensity.

Minho, Chan, and Changbin had all dismounted and were securing their horses. Jeongin led his own over to them and was immediately handed the reins to Minho’s horse, as Minho went to help Jisung with the baskets.

Felix chuckled at the look on Jeongin’s face and turned to Hyunjin. “Let’s see if they actually manage to get the baskets to the overlook, hm?”

Hyunjin grinned. “Bet Changbin-hyung will drop his!” 

Felix waved Hyunjin ahead, the artist was already struggling with carrying his sketchpad and stool. Hyunjin set off down the path, ready to hunt out a good prospect.

Upon turning back around to the carriage, Felix was immediately handed a very large and very heavy basket. 

He swayed, both arms coming up to support the wicker. “Goodness, Jisung! What did you pack in here, bricks?”

Jisung grimaced, placing another equally large basket in Changbin’s arms. “Blame the cook, not me! I told her there were eight of us and, well…”

“At least we won’t starve if we get stranded out here,” Felix quipped, struggling to keep his grip on the basket.

Before Felix could protest, Chan came over and swept the basket into his own arms with ease. “Here, let me,” Chan said, quiet enough that only Felix could hear him. “Take Minho’s basket instead.”

Felix glared up at Chan, ready to argue, but the look on his face made him stop. 

Chan was still pale, but there was no trace of the sweat from their previous meeting. He seemed perfectly happy to carry the heavy basket, his arms not even straining as he grinned at Felix.

Felix bowed in thanks and turned towards Minho, not trusting himself to speak after staring at the bulge of Chan’s muscles. His ears were burning and he knew his face must be beet red.

Felix chastised himself, cringing. Proper gentlemen didn’t get overcome at the sight of a well-dressed bicep!

Felix took the lighter basket from Minho and took off down the path after Hyunjin. He could hear Minho’s teasing already.

After lunch, the group dispersed over the craggy hillside. Jisung and Minho strolled off together arm in arm, admiring the scenery. Jisung was tucked into his husband’s side, giggling a little at the mock serious expression on Minho’s face. 

Felix felt a little pang as he watched them amble together. There was a time when he would give up anything just to have someone look at him the way Minho looked at Jisung. Felix still harbored the same dream, but he wasn’t so naive now, no longer a young man at his first dance. 

Hyunjin found a precarious outcropping to sit on and was bent over his sketchbook, drawing intently. He had taken off his coat and loosened his collar, which flapped behind him in the wind. Felix watched Hyunjin’s pencil move across the paper in wide strokes, capturing the sunny sea before them. 

Seungmin and Changbin started having a quiet discussion, but Chan and Jeongin had also gotten roped into their conversation and all four were talking quite seriously together. Changbin was pointing his scone at Jeongin quite threateningly, but Jeongin was giggling at him. 

Felix stretched a bit from his position on the blanket, feeling rather like a cat in a pool of sunlight. It was a fairly breezy day, the wind cooling them off as they sat in the shade. He rolled over, savoring the view of the leaves swaying above him, before getting to his feet and heading over to Hyunjin’s perch.

Hyunjin had settled himself on a huge, flat boulder. It was at the top of a short climb between two other rocks. Felix squeezed himself through the gap and stepped up onto the boulder with Hyunjin, mouth dropping open at the view.

“Hi, Felix!” Hyunjin called, motioning him closer with a smile. “Look, I’m almost done.”

Felix edged towards him, trying not to look at the cliff. Hyunjin held out his sketchpad, shy pride in his eyes.

“Wow,” Felix breathed, leaning in to look at the page. “You’re so skilled!”

Hyunjin ducked his head to cover his blush, but Felix meant it. The sea view of the waves and rocks below had been captured so perfectly with the pencil, blended and shaded until it looked alive.

“It’s good enough to use as a reference,” Hyunjin said, brushing stray eraser dust away. 

“Do you keep your sketches?” Felix asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Hyunjin shot him a playful look. “Only the good ones.” He shuffled around with his pencils, then grinned up at Felix. “I can show you sometime, if you like.” 

Felix nodded, eager. “I’d love to see more! Anything you’d like to show me.”

Hyunjin stood and folded up his stool. Felix turned to follow him, but hesitated. He tipped his face up to the sun, enjoying the warm breeze and the sharp smell of salt from the sea spray. The sea was crashing on the cliffs, the sound nostalgic, reminding him of when his parents had taken him and his sisters to the seaside once when they were younger.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and watched the seagulls, satisfied but somehow still longing for something he didn’t have a name for. Felix frowned, glaring at a particularly rotund seagull with undue malice.

Footsteps sounded on the rocks behind him, and Felix turned to see Chan coming up through the rocks. He bit down on a wide smile. Chan’s jacket was unbuttoned and his collar was loosened, giving him a windswept look.

Chan came to stand beside Felix, taking in the view. “You picked a good spot, Felix.”

“I just followed Hyunjin here,” Felix protested. “He chose it, I’m just leeching off of his creative energy.”

Chan laughed. “Still, it’s a pretty spot. I’m glad Jisung proposed the outing.”

“It’s strange to have so many of us here,” Felix confessed. “There were so few of us when I came here. The neighborhood feels properly noisy now!” He straightened his back and looked over at Chan, gazing up at him through his lashes. “It’s been a most welcome change.”

Chan went scarlet. Felix watched the blush work its way down his neck, fighting the urge to pinch Chan’s pink cheeks. He couldn’t help being endeared by Chan, even if he was a few years older than Felix.

“It has been a wonderful change for myself, as well,” Chan said. His voice had gone rather husky, and he stepped closer to Felix. 

Felix turned to face him, breath hitching when he saw how close Chan was. Chan’s hand twitched, as if to reach up and cup Felix’s cheek. The cries of the seagulls sounded distant, the sunny day fading into the background. 

Chan’s eyes flicked down to Felix’s parted lips, and Felix tipped his head to one side, drowning in Chan’s deep brown eyes. 

“I’m so glad I met you here, Felix.”

Felix squeezed his eyes shut, ready for the soft press of Chan’s lips against his.

With a smothered curse, Chan drew back. The moment was gone. Felix blinked his eyes open, the bright colors surrounding them now blinding him even if his eyes hadn’t been closed for long.

The blush was almost faded from Chan’s cheeks, but he still looked embarrassed as he gestured Felix towards the path. 

“We should get back to the others, they were looking for you.”

Felix nodded, his eyes fixed somewhere around Chan’s collar so he wouldn’t have to look at his face. He set off down the path, not minding where he put his feet. 

The path was short, but the shade provided by the two boulders on either side meant that the ground was mossy and wet.

In his haste to escape back to the others, Felix stepped on a particularly damp patch of moss and slipped, falling backwards. Chan had been following along right behind him, since the path was too small for them to walk side by side.

To his horror, Felix fell straight into Chan, who grunted as Felix’s elbow dug into his stomach. His arms came up to steady Felix, strong and reassuring. Felix hoped against hope that he could just spontaneously melt into a puddle, but when he opened his eyes he was still being held up by Chan in a little mossy cove.

“Are you all right?” Chan asked, settling Felix back on his feet and giving him a once over.

“I’m fine,” Felix gasped, pushing his hair out of his face and turning back around, determined to make it out of here alive. “Thank you, hyung.” 

Chan murmured something in affirmation, but Felix’s ears were ringing. 

First he humiliates himself by practically throwing himself at Chan for a kiss, and then quite literally falling into his arms. Felix hadn’t even known Chan for that long at all, what must he think of Felix’s behavior?

They walked back to the group on the blanket, finding Jeongin napping with Changbin’s coat draped over him, and Changbin (coatless) off feeding the horses. 

Seungmin leapt up when he saw their approach, and rushed to take Felix’s arm. “Felix, there’s some lovely scenery this way, won’t you come walk with me?”

Bemused, Felix nodded. He shot a worried glance at Hyunjin, but he was occupied with cooing over a drowsy Jeongin.

“Excellent!” Seungmin said, tucking Felix into his side and pulling him away from the blanket. Felix could feel Chan watching them as they left, but Seungmin power-walked towards the nearby trees and slowed only once they were in the shade.

“What’s going on?” Felix asked, shooting a worried glance behind them. “You didn’t just want to look at the forest, did you?” 

He rather hoped that Chan hadn’t picked up on Seungmin’s obvious ploy, but Felix knew Chan wasn’t stupid. However, Chan could be counted upon to not mention it.

Seungmin shook his head, looking uncharacteristically troubled. “I wanted to find a minute to speak to you, alone. You know it’s hard to have a private word at one of Jisung’s gatherings.”

It was indeed difficult. To withdraw from the room without attracting Jisung’s notice was nigh impossible, and conversations tended to be loud and had with the entire room.

“What is it?” Felix asked, worry starting to cloud his thoughts. He and Seungmin were very close, but Seungmin had never once pulled Felix aside for a private word. “Is something wrong at Coldridge? Are your parents well?”

Seungmin waved aside the questions using the arm without Felix on it. “My parents are quite well, and everything is fine at Coldridge, at the very least.”

Felix nodded, not quite sure what to say. Seungmin appeared to be gathering his courage, so Felix averted his eyes and pretended to be examining a colossal oak tree they happened to be passing.

“Do you remember,” Seungmin started, his fingers tightening on Felix’s sleeve. “When you were ill, and we would take walks around the park at my estate?”

“Yes,” Felix said, unsure where this was going.

“And I told you that you were welcome around the park anytime you wanted, and you told me I was welcome to walk around the park at Rivington as well?”

Felix nodded again, remembering their long rambles together with fondness. 

“I can’t say I walk at Rivington too often, maybe once a week or so,” Seungmin said, dancing around his point. “Only when the mood strikes. But I was there not three days ago, and I came rather nearer to the house than usual.”

Seungmin stopped and turned to face Felix, serious expression fixed in place. “I saw footprints, Felix. Right by the side of the manor.”

“Footprints?” Felix asked, feeling rather amused. “I do have a gardener, you know. It was probably him.”

“No, no. You misunderstand,” Seungmin insisted. “They weren’t human.”

“What?”

The world felt too tiny, narrowed in on Felix. His memory flashed back to that dark evening in the wolfswood, frozen as the large animal snuffled around in the leaves. He clutched at Seungmin’s arm a little, resisting the paranoid urge to glance around at the shady forest surrounding them. 

“They were animal footprints,” Seungmin said, his voice low. “I wouldn’t have said anything, if they were from a fox or a raccoon or something little and harmless like that. The ones by the manor- they were right by the wall, Lix-ah- they were huge.”

“You- are you in earnest?” Felix asked, hanging on to Seungmin’s arm as they turned to meander back towards the others. “Where were the prints?”

“Near the west wing, on the south side,” Seungmin answered, with a promptness that felt convincing. “They should still be there, if you wish to check. It hasn’t rained since then.”

Felix swallowed. “Just how big were they?”

“Massive,” Seungmin said. “Easily the size of my hand.”

“But where could they have come from?” Felix wondered, anxiety creeping up his spine. He turned behind them to check, almost expecting to see a slinking shape creeping behind them in the trees.

Seungmin pulled him back around, keeping Felix secure on his arm. “That’s why I wanted to tell you. I have no idea where they came from. I checked, there aren’t any predators here large enough to leave pawprints of that size.”

“What should be done?” Felix asked, trying his best to keep his voice even. “It must be dangerous, stalking around the neighborhood, whatever it is. What can we do?”

“Stay indoors at dusk, and don’t take any more evening walks,” Seungmin said. “I know how fond you are of walks at twilight, but it isn’t safe.”

Felix opened his mouth to tell Seungmin about his encounter in the wolfswood but changed his mind and snapped it shut again, feeling foolish. He didn’t need to stress his friend further, and it wasn’t like Felix had been hurt. It would only make Seungmin worry more.

“Keep an eye out, Felix, please,” Seungmin said. “If you see anything, tell me as soon as you can and I’ll write to ask for help. Everyone could be in danger, if some animal is stalking the countryside.”

Felix shivered and pressed himself against Seungmin’s side. Seungmin picked up on it and walked faster, eager to leave the dark of the trees. Felix only breathed easier when the others came into view, still settled under the tree. Everyone was moving to pack up the baskets and load them back into the carriage.

Jisung looked up when they emerged from the trees, and he rushed right over to them. He collected Felix from Seungmin, offering him his arm and pulling Felix in close. Seungmin returned to assist Changbin in folding the blanket, giving Felix one last encouraging smile.

“What do you think, Lixie? I’ve just matched up our two elegant newcomers,” Jisung said, gesturing to Chan and Hyunjin who were talking comfortably together by the carriage.

Still rattled from Seungmin’s news, Felix’s stomach clenched in jealousy. Chan looked so happy talking to Hyunjin, an easygoing smile on his face as he listened to Hyunjin talk about something that involved lots of gestures.

“They look very well together,” Felix admitted, and it was true. 

Chan may be a little shorter than Hyunjin, but Hyunjin’s slim grace complimented Chan’s solid presence. A worldly man like Chan could only be improved in association with a talented artist like Hyunjin. Felix swallowed down another twinge of jealousy, simultaneously feeling bad for himself and guilt at wanting to take away such an opportunity from his new friend. 

From the looks of it, Felix wasn’t the only one who felt jealous. Jeongin was packing up a basket of his own, but his gaze kept flicking up to Hyunjin. He was a short ways distant from the others, and wasn’t chattering as he worked. He looked a little downcast, but in the way that he thought he deserved what he was getting, which made Felix’s heart ache for him. 

Felix frowned to himself, trying to hide his true feelings from Jisung. Jisung looked so pleased with himself, it was hard to be upset with him.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they married!” Jisung enthused, a slight bounce in his step. “Chan-hyung must be intending to stay, since he purchased Wildfell, but surely Hyunjin would stay too if they married! We need as many people as we can get in this neighborhood.”

“That’s right,” Felix murmured, letting Jisung chatter away beside him. He stared out over the sea, watching the late afternoon sun glitter on the waves. Despite everything that happened, Felix felt that the day had been far more trouble than it was worth. 

Trying his best to look pleased, Felix allowed Jisung to steer them back to the carriages, ready for a good cup of tea and bed.

Chapter Text

“You’re sure, Lix-ah? He said they were animal footprints?”

“Dead sure,” Felix replied. “Seungmin even pulled me aside to tell me, he never does that.”

Jisung stood and paced the room, twisting his fingers together. Felix watched him, his fingers tightening around his cup of tea.

The pair of them were nestled in Felix’s favorite sunny parlor at Rivington, enjoying the late afternoon sunlight coming in through the huge windows. Upon his arrival to the hall, he had redone the room to be as comfortable as possible, with bookshelves and cushy sofas and long drapes for the windows. 

As often as he could, Jisung came to spend comfortable afternoons at Rivington, during which he and Felix would talk endlessly while consuming massive amounts of pastries from the kitchen. Felix looked forward to the visits, giggling over Felix’s stories from his debut days and begging Jisung for details about his marriage.

Now, though, he wished he was in the drawing room at Whitemarch, with a snoozing cat or two to cuddle. His hall felt eerie and quiet with only him in it, letting paranoia slip in when Felix wandered the hallways at night.

“I even went around the side of the manor and checked for them,” Felix said, watching Jisung’s shoulders tense up. “He wasn’t lying, they were there clear as day.”

“Let me tell Minho-hyung,” Jisung said, turning to look at Felix. He was still fidgeting and his voice had gone shaky. “If some kind of animal is stalking around, we should do something! Minho can write to someone, summon a hunter or something…”

He trailed off, biting his lip, and Felix cringed. He hadn’t wanted to tell Seungmin, but telling Jisung was unavoidable.

“That’s not all,” Felix started, trying his best to avoid staring directly at Jisung. “I was walking alone one night-”

“Don’t tell me you’re still doing that! Even your butler hates it,” Jisung scolded. 

Felix hunched his shoulders. “I haven’t! This was the last time. I was coming home through the wolfswood, and I heard an animal in the leaves. It- it growled at me, and it was huge, I could tell-”

Jisung gasped, horrified, and rushed to sit down on the sofa. He took Felix’s hand and squeezed it in his own. “That must have been so scary!”

Hot tears welled up in Felix’s eyes and he blinked them away. “It was,” he whispered. “And then Seungmin pulled me aside and told me about the footprints. I didn’t tell him, I didn’t want to scare him even more.”

Jisung squeezed his hand again and tugged Felix into a warm hug. Felix buried his head in Jisung’s neck and tried to compose himself. 

When he drew back, Jisung looked serious. “I didn’t think much of it at the time, but a couple days ago Minho asked me to stop letting the cats out of the house, even when I’m outside with them. He said he could have sworn he’d heard howling the night before.”

“Really?” Felix asked, fresh terror filling his chest. 

Jisung nodded. “He asked me to tell you to not wander around at night, but everyone tells you that and you do it anyway.”

Felix shivered. “I don’t plan on doing it anymore!” Not after the incident in the woods.

“It takes a wolf to scare Lixie out of the forest at night, huh?” Jisung teased, poking Felix in the stomach.

Wincing, Felix batted his hand away. “Who said it was a wolf?”

“It has to be! What else howls?” Jisung said, reaching out to swipe another scone.

Felix blinked, astounded at the simple reasoning. “But there can’t be wolves around here,” he said, remembering his conversation with Seungmin.

“Why not?” Jisung asked, one cheek stuffed with pastry.

“I looked in my library, after Seungmin told me about the prints. He said that there weren’t any animals here that were big enough to cause the prints. There used to be bounties on wolves, and they were hunted to extinction.”

Jisung frowned. “Just how big were these footprints?”

Felix shuddered at the memory. “They were huge. Easily the size of my hand, maybe a little larger. I didn’t exactly stick around once I saw them.”

Felix walked straight to the east wing when he returned home from the seaside, not even stepping inside to answer his butler’s questions. He’d stayed only long enough to confirm that the footprints existed and that they were indeed huge. 

Felix spent the rest of the evening locked inside his bedchamber, attempting to distract himself with a book. At least it rained that night, washing away the traces of the animal.

“It must be a wolf!” Jisung insisted. “That’s way too big for a fox!”

“And the howls,” Felix murmured, staring at his hands. 

He’d never heard wolves howling before, but his father had during his travels as a young man. He told Felix and his sisters about the night he’d spent on the roof of an inn, howling with a pack of wolves in the forest. 

As a child, the story seemed funny, imagining his father talking to the wolves. Now, it just scared him. 

“-and I can tell Minho-hyung the minute I get home, he can write and hire a hunter to take care of it,” Jisung said, pouring himself another cup of tea. 

Felix considered for a moment, then shook his head. The wolf might be on his estate, but the idea of having an innocent (at least, so far) animal killed turned his stomach. “You can tell Minho-hyung but please don’t ask him to hire a hunter.” 

Jisung stared at him. “Why not? You’ve already had two close encounters with the thing, I don’t want you to get hurt!”

“I don’t want it to be hurt,” Felix said, glancing out of the window at the sunny afternoon. “It must be lonely if it’s the last wolf around.” He turned to look at Jisung. “If it stays around here and causes trouble, then we should write. But maybe it’ll just move on, somewhere mountainous up north.”

“As you wish,” Jisung said, handing Felix another cup of tea. “But you’ll need to be careful. I know you hate it, but you should take the carriage more often, stay out of the woods even in daylight.”

“I know,” Felix sighed. The curtailing of his evening walks already grated on him. “My butler is delighted with the new developments. He tells me I ought to value my life if I intend upon getting married someday. He sounds like you!”

Jisung snorted into his tea. “At least someone in the household is looking out for your prospects! I’ve got my hands full with making matches already. You’ll never guess what happened the other day!”

“What is it?” Felix asked, leaning forwards in spite of himself.

Jisung lowered his voice, even if the only people currently in that wing of the house were the pair of them. “Chan-hyung sent his own carriage over to Longfield for Hyunjin to come visit Wildfell!” He sat back on the sofa, satisfaction written all over his face.

So Hyunjin was the first among them to visit the old manor house. Felix’s heart sank, but he pasted a fake smile on anyway. “Perhaps something did come of their conversation together.”

“It appears so!” Jisung said, a pleased note in his voice. “We must arrange another outing, so that they have time to spend together while properly chaperoned.”

“‘Properly chaperoned?’ Gracious, Jisung, you sound about fifty,” Felix teased. “And since you’re the only married one around, I suppose you’re the one to chaperone them?”

“Minho could,” Jisung said, putting on an air of noble sacrifice. “But he would never deprive me of the opportunity for such good gossip.”

It was true. Minho would never think of depriving his young husband of anything. Felix rolled his eyes and bit into a cookie, feeling rather petulant. He kept it to himself, letting Jisung bask in the glory of his successful match and wondering what on earth was going to happen next.

-

Felix glared out the window of his carriage, watching the slow progress of the horses up the long drive to Coldridge. True to his word, Felix chose to take the carriage rather than walk to Coldridge, despite the breezy day outdoors.

Coldridge was a massive manor house, built to impress. In a class similar to Whitemarch, the manor boasted splendid rooms and a lovely prospect over the ridge it was situated on, hence the name. 

The grounds at Coldridge were magnificent. Seungmin dedicated himself to maintaining the sprawling park with the assistance of a small army of gardeners. The hard work paid off, resulting in the perfect place to spend an afternoon. 

Being his father’s only son, Seungmin was expected to maintain a residence in town as well, but had taken up residence at Coldridge on his father’s advice. The family had no other country residence, and Seungmin planned to turn the manor into a family seat. 

As Seungmin put it, he had “plenty of time for all that nonsense in town when my father decides to call me back.” 

Privately, Felix had to agree. He was not looking forward to when his own family summoned him back to the city, ready to take up his place in society again. His father would take every opportunity to dress him up and parade him through endless parties in search of a spouse, with his now properly married elder sister on his arm as a chaperone. 

Felix didn’t blame Seungmin in the slightest for attempting to keep out of society’s clutches for as long as he could. They might have different reasons for doing so, but Seungmin was kind enough to never call attention to Felix’s flimsy reasons for staying away. 

The carriage rolled to a stop and Felix lurched to his feet, eager to escape the stuffy velvet interior. He set off up the stairs and went through the heavy door without even bothering to knock.

The butler was well accustomed to his presence, and merely gestured him onwards through the house. Felix bowed in thanks and set off, his boots clicking in a satisfying way on the floors.

Felix knew his way around Coldridge very well by now, having been a constant visitor for months. He pushed open the doors on the south side, knowing which ones Seungmin kept unlocked during daylight. 

The back doors opened to a large marble balcony and stairs that led straight into the garden and the park beyond. Felix loved standing by the railing on summer evenings to watch the fireflies flickering in the distant trees, but the sun could be brutal during the day. Several of the best rooms at Coldridge were situated at the back of the manor, overlooking the park. 

Blinking the sun out of his eyes, Felix turned and spotted Seungmin standing with their little party off to the side in the scant shade. Seungmin saw him first, and headed off to meet him.

Seungmin offered Felix his arm and Felix took it gladly, allowing Seungmin to lead him over to their friends. 

“How was the walk over, Lix? We’ve got a delightful day ahead of us,” Seungmin said, a note of pride in his voice.

“I didn’t walk,” Felix said, failing to sound happy about it. “I took the carriage.”

Seungmin grinned at him. “So you did take my advice! I’m glad to hear it, I was worried for you.”

“Your advice, and Jisung’s, and Minho’s,” Felix said. He tried his best to not sound grumpy about his neighbors’ nosing into his treasured walks, but Seungmin saw right through him.

“I’d rather have you safe,” Seungmin said, giving Felix a little nudge with his elbow. “But when did Jisung and Minho speak to you?”

“Only a few days ago, but it was only Jisung,” Felix replied. “He came to Rivington for tea like he usually does, and I told him what you said to me. Minho sent his message along with Jisung.”

Seungmin chuckled and patted Felix’s forearm in a comforting sort of way. “Typical.” 

Felix frowned at Seungmin. “How come you all want me to stop walking, and yet here we are getting ready to walk around the park here?”

They were almost level with the others, and Seungmin dropped his voice. “We aren’t going far into the park and I don’t intend to take us into the wooded areas. It’s broad daylight, and I’ve asked Changbin to fetch his revolver.”

Ignoring the obvious question of Changbin has a revolver? and looking around, Felix saw that Changbin was indeed missing from their number. 

Felix wasn’t sure what a revolver would do against a wolf of such prodigious size but the knowledge calmed him a little bit. Changbin was a steady presence, and Seungmin must have told him about the prints as well. 

He opened his mouth to tell Seungmin about the howls, but at that point they had come upon their friends and he was subsequently distracted by the necessary greetings. 

Minho had Jisung on his arm and was chatting with Hyunjin. The artist had a serious look on his face and was picking absently at his cuff, where he appeared to have dipped his arm into some green paint by accident. His sketchbook was balanced on the railing, ready to be filled with sketches from the day.

Jeongin was leaning on the railing, having taken out a letter and was reading over it with a frown. Chan was watching the progress of a rabbit hopping across the lawn with almost doglike intensity.

Felix giggled a little at Chan’s behavior, which drew Jeongin’s attention. Stuffing his letter into his jacket, Jeongin strolled over to the pair of them.

“You’re finally here! Now if only Changbin-hyung would hurry up,” Jeongin said, sending a glare up at the windows of Coldridge.

“I’m sure he won’t be much longer,” Seungmin said placidly, just as a clatter and a muffed curse announced the arrival of a flustered Changbin. He patted down the lapels of his jacket and made his way towards them.

Seungmin smiled at his friend and then glanced around him. “Are we ready to set off?”

A chorus of affirmations followed, and in the ensuing scramble to get going, Felix ended up on Minho’s arm without any idea how it happened. 

They set off in pairs, following along behind Seungmin and a very pleased Jeongin on his arm. Changbin and Hyunjin were right behind them, Hyunjin’s sketchbook under Changbin’s arm not occupied by Hyunjin. Jisung smirked at Felix from his comfortable position next to Chan. 

Minho was a reliable presence next to Felix as they walked, roaming all over the park. As he promised, Seungmin kept them out of the more heavily wooded sections of the park. 

He also didn’t take them to his gardens, which Felix couldn’t help frowning at. He liked the carefully pruned flower garden, and the vegetable garden that kept the kitchens at Coldridge fully stocked.

Despite missing the wood and the gardens, Felix enjoyed the breeze ruffling his hair and the quiet murmurings of Minho beside him. Both of them had seen the park many times before, having spent hours wandering the areas of the grounds.

The grounds at Coldridge were filled with enchanting corners. Even though Felix spent hours here, he knew he wouldn’t ever discover everything there was hidden all over the park. Seungmin himself confessed to Felix that he didn’t know the half of it, despite the time he spent caring for the grounds.

Felix tuned out Seungmin’s ramblings, although they were mostly for the benefit of Chan and Hyunjin, who had never seen the park before. They visited Felix’s favorite part of the grounds; a luxurious marble gazebo on a grassy island, only reachable by a small bridge. The water around it was full of lotuses and water lilies, attracting dragonflies.

They split up to wander around the island, and Felix slipped away to his favorite little hidden cove, overwhelmed from the constant chatter. He caught Changbin looking at him multiple times during the day, despite having Hyunjin on his arm. Changbin flushed and looked away each time Felix had seen him. 

Felix was desperately hoping that it didn’t mean anything, since he knew the way that Seungmin looked at Changbin. He took refuge in the cool shade by the water, enjoying the calm of Coldridge on his own. He watched a fat bullfrog perch on a lily pad, the sweet smell of the lotus flowers calming in the air.

While the morning was sunny, clouds had begun to roll in. Swollen with rain, a dark pile of clouds was making its slow way over the landscape. Smaller clouds cast shadows over the wood on the opposite bank of the water, making the trees more menacing.

Felix shivered in the daylight. He scanned the treeline, eyes snagging on peculiar shadows. Even out in the sun, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched.

Turning around, Felix caught sight of Chan standing on the wooden bridge. Hyunjin was standing beside him, sketchbook open. Chan was facing away from Felix, watching attentively as Hyunjin sketched the marble pavilion. 

They looked straight out of a painting themselves. Sunlight was playing on the ripples of the water beneath them, with lotus blooms stretching up from the water below. Their bodies were curved towards each other over the sketchbook, and Felix could hear the quiet murmurs of their voices together. 

His heart felt like it was breaking. Felix looked away, furiously chastising himself. Chan wasn’t his to lose, he’d never been anything more than an acquaintance and a good neighbor. If Hyunjin found his happiness with Chan, Felix would be there for both of them.

The thought didn’t make him feel any better. He sat down on the shady grass, pushing away thoughts of slinking beasts and broken hearts. Felix watched the bullfrog leap onto a nearby log, dislodging a dragonfly from its perch. 

Footsteps sounded from behind him. Felix braced himself to look behind him, but relaxed when he saw Jisung approaching. 

“What are you doing all by yourself, Lixie?” Jisung asked, coming over to rub Felix’s shoulder.

Felix looked away, focusing on a dragonfly perched on a reed. “It’s loud over there.”

It was true, even if it wasn’t the real reason he slipped away to be by himself. Jisung might not know what was on Felix’s mind, but he knew Felix well enough to understand when Felix was swamped by his own worries and needed some time alone. 

Jisung settled himself on the ground by Felix and gently pulled Felix to rest against his chest. Felix closed his eyes as he leaned into Jisung’s embrace, tears prickling behind his eyes. He didn’t ask any questions, just let Felix lean on him.

They didn’t speak, just stayed huddled together by the bank and watched the dragonflies flutter around. A pair of ducks swam past, cutting neat little trails through the water. They only stirred when they heard Changbin calling for them.

Jisung stretched and then stood, pulling Felix to his feet. He fixed Felix’s collar and smiled at him. “Are you going to be alright, Lix-ah? I can make your excuses for you, if you need to take your leave early.”

“I’ll be okay,” Felix said, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks at his obviousness. Hopefully none but Jisung noticed his withdrawal. Jisung offered his arm, and they went back to rejoin the party.

After they found the others and tossed some corn to the ducks, Seungmin took them the long way around to a shady grove, surrounded by massive horse chestnut trees. 

Baskets were set out under one of the trees, and they dug in, hungry after their morning of walking. To Felix’s relief, the conversation flowed easily without his input, and by the time the food was eaten, the group was scattered around their little grove.

Felix was laying on his back, unwilling to move from his comfortable position on the blanket. Minho was letting him use his thigh for a pillow while he talked with Seungmin. Felix could hear the hum of their voices as they talked over the finer points of soil composition.

Hyunjin was sitting on another blanket with Jisung, listening to Jisung’s chattering. His sketchbook was facing Felix and he could just barely see that Hyunjin appeared to be sketching Jeongin, who was strolling a short distance off with Chan at his side. It was a very good sketch, and Felix watched his pencil move across the page for a while. 

Felix stretched a little and rolled over, intending to nap. A pair of boots was right in front of his eyes.

“Would you walk with me, Felix? I’d like a word with you.”

If Changbin was trying to be subtle, he failed. The clearing was rather quiet, so every single occupant heard his request. Jeongin and Chan turned to look in their direction. Seungmin’s voice faltered from near him, and Felix’s stomach clenched. What on earth could Changbin want? 

Felix could think of no way to politely refuse Changbin, but he didn’t want to hurt Seungmin either. He met Jisung’s eye and flinched at the look on his face. 

Jisung looked wildly excited and nodded at Felix, encouraging him to go with Changbin. Not seeing any other options, Felix took Changbin’s proffered hand and stood.

They set off together down through the trees, curious eyes following their path. Changbin kept himself at a respectable distance, with both arms behind his back as they walked. Felix kept his eyes lowered, nervous for what Changbin might say.

Changbin didn’t speak until they were a good distance from the others, walking down a beautiful path between two rows of trees. The afternoon was still sunny, but the clouds from earlier had rolled even closer and darkened, giving the day a threatening edge. The sunlight still filtered through the leaves above the path, and birds chirped from the branches. 

Changbin came to a stop and cleared his throat. “I apologize for pulling you away like that, Felix. I did not wish to have an audience.”

He went quiet after that, turning to look out over the large meadow that lay beyond the line of trees. Felix chanced a glance at him and saw a blush sitting high on his cheeks. His heart sank, despite being charmed by the flush. Changbin’s fingers were twisting together and he looked undeniably nervous.

“It’s all right, hyung,” Felix said, turning to face him and trying his best to not shy away from eye contact. He winced at his stiff, formal tone. “I was not otherwise engaged.”

Changbin nodded, and looked up at him with a renewed air of conviction. “Felix-”

Felix’s gut clenched and he dropped his eyes to Changbin’s collar, biting the inside of his cheek. What he wouldn’t give to be back with the others!

“I understand that we have not been acquainted for very long, indeed, we have hardly been acquainted at all, and- and I understand that it is quite presumptuous of me to claim such liberties with you so soon-”

Unbidden, Felix squeezed his eyes shut and dug his fingers into his palm. The air seemed to sharpen as he waited, panic-stricken, for Changbin to finish his thought.

“-but may I be so bold as to inquire if you have any knowledge regarding Seungmin’s affections being engaged toward myself?”

Felix’s eyes flew open and he gasped, a relieved little laugh spilling out. Changbin’s face was fully red and his own eyes were fixed on the ground at their feet.

“May- May I first hear why you wish to know?” Felix managed to get out, recovering his wits. Relief made him feel lighter, a giddy laugh bubbling up in his chest. 

Changbin still looked embarrassed, but he smiled a little at the question. “You already know that Seungmin and I were previously acquainted before, when he resided in town with his family.”

Felix nodded, remembering Seungmin telling him as much.

“We were old schoolmates, when we were younger. I understood that he would be staying in town, to take over his father’s residence and position when the time came. We were so comfortable together in town,” Changbin said wistfully. “I remember attending parties with him, and taking him to visit my club.”

He sighed and met Felix’s eyes again. “I thought those days would last forever, but they were a charmed existence. Seungmin took the advice of his father and departed for the country.”

“Seungmin has not told me much of his life in town,” Felix confessed. “I think he does not speak of it because he misses it.”

Changbin looked a little guilty. “I must be entirely honest. When Seungmin told me that he intended to take up residence so far from the town, I- reacted poorly. I was hurt, and I failed to take his duty to his family into account. We exchanged strong words, and parted on less than amicable terms.”

Felix frowned. “But I thought that you and Seungmin were very close? Why would he have invited you here if you had fought before he departed?”

“I wrote him a letter before he left,” Changbin said, the blush returning to his cheeks. “I was very distraught after our argument, and did not wish to lose him forever. I believe he received it well, because we continued to keep up a correspondence.”

“But in those months, something changed in my heart. I could no longer go to parties without thinking of Seungmin, and visits to the club held no charm if he was not by my side. I often wished to turn to him and point something out, only to remember that he was not there,” Changbin said. He turned back towards the path and Felix followed him, eager to hear the rest of the story.

Changbin’s voice had grown stronger, less embarrassed now. “Almost every day, I thought of riding to Coldridge and telling him I loved him. I didn’t care if he wanted to stay in the country or return to town, I only wanted to be by his side. I very nearly wrote him multiple times, asking him if I could come to visit or confessing my feelings. Those letters were thrown into the fire.” 

Changbin gave a self-deprecating laugh. “But I was lucky. He wrote me a letter and invited me to visit Coldridge as soon as I could escape my duties in town.”

Felix smiled to himself, remembering Seungmin’s pleased announcement that evening at Whitemarch and Changbin’s arrival.

“I came to Coldridge with the intention of offering my hand in marriage,” Changbin said, his voice very quiet. “But our quarrel still weighs heavy on my mind. I cannot lose Seungmin, and I would rather appear to you as a coward than to have him vanish from my life.”

Felix took a moment to consider, wishing to choose his words very carefully. “Seungmin has never spoken to me about his life in town, you are undoubtedly aware that he is very private about his feelings and his life.”

Changbin nodded, but he still looked a little downcast at the news.

“However,” Felix said, slowly. “When Jisung heard that you would be coming to stay, the prospect of a bachelor arriving in the neighborhood had him eagerly considering my marriage prospects. He made several allusions to a potential match between us, and I have never seen Seungmin look as displeased as he did then.”

Changbin chuckled, the tension bleeding from his shoulders. 

“When you arrived, I was very surprised to see the way Seungmin looked at you,” Felix said, smiling at Changbin. “I’d never seen him look at anyone like that before. I have not been acquainted with Seungmin for very long, but I have a reason to believe that your proposal of marriage would be happily accepted, if you rendered it.”

Changbin laughed, a breathless sound of excitement. He looked delighted, grinning widely at Felix. He offered his arm, which Felix took. 

Changbin tucked him close to his side and placed his other hand over Felix’s. “Thank you, Felix. You have no idea how much this means to me, truly.”

Felix smiled, happy to be treated so comfortably. “Even if I have not known Seungmin for long, his happiness means very much to me. To hear of your consideration for his own feelings on the matter is a relief.” 

He snuck a sly glance at Changbin. “But surely you wouldn’t kidnap him from us, hyung? Take him back to your parties with him on your arm as your husband?”

Changbin went a little starry-eyed at the idea, smiling dopily. He shook himself out of it and nudged Felix, laughing. “I could never remove him from Coldridge, not after seeing it! I was fully prepared to detest the place, as I had imagined him there alone for months. I was happy to discover him in a lovely manor house with improvements done by his own hand, and a wonderful group of friends. Residing here with him would be an honor and a delight.”

Felix smiled. “If this is the case, you surely deserve his affection. I believe I speak for more than myself when I say that we would welcome you to the neighborhood with open arms.”

Changbin laughed again, all traces of blush gone from his face. He looked every inch a man in love, and Felix found himself delighted that he helped to bring it about. To think that he was worried over Changbin rendering an offer of marriage to himself rather than Seungmin!

The pair of them were so wrapped up in eager raptures that they failed to remember that they were indeed very close to the others. Changbin was just saying (in a rather resounding tone) “You have given me a great honor, Felix,” when they came around the last tree and found their companions awaiting their return.

Too late, Felix remembered that new acquaintances did not stand so close together, nor should he be tucked so close to Changbin’s side on his arm. To slip away for a private word, and then return behaving so familiarly, practically stuck to Changbin’s side in an embrace… It could only mean one thing.

Changbin seemed to come to this realization at the same time Felix did. To his immense credit, he did not fling Felix to the side. Instead, he took his arm back with care and bowed deeply to Felix, who returned the bow with precision. 

Felix made his way back to the others, cringing at his own foolishness. There was no doubt what it looked like! Their friends would doubtless be looking forward to an announcement of their engagement in the coming days.

Indeed, Jisung clearly anticipated hearing the news first. Despite Minho doing his best to hold his husband back, Jisung practically pounced on him, whispering furiously.

“What happened, what did Changbin-hyung say?” Jisung asked. He jumped in front of Felix, determined to catch his eye. “Felix?”

Felix turned away, searching for the two people he wanted to see most. 

Seungmin wasn’t looking at Felix, but he could still see the expression of hurt on his face as he turned away to pack up his basket. Felix’s heart hurt, watching Changbin approach Seungmin. Seungmin smiled at Changbin as he knelt to help, but he looked like he was barely holding himself together.

Chan was standing by himself on the other side of the clearing. He seemed to be staring at Changbin with an unreadable expression on his face. His gaze cut to Felix, and Felix’s breath left his body. It was muted, of course. Felix had never met anyone with such impeccable control as Chan. But the look on Chan’s face made him feel like prey. 

Like he ought to run, and have Chan catch him. 

Felix’s head dipped to one side, exposing the soft skin of his throat under his high collar.

Across the clearing, Chan’s hand tightened into a fist.

The tension in the group was shattered by a strong breeze, bringing in the stormy clouds Felix had been eyeing all day. Rain began to fall, a steady patter through the leaves above them. 

Jerking out of his daze, Felix darted to help the others pack up and make their way back to Coldridge. They had a long way to walk back to the hall and by the time they made it back, they were all quite drenched. 

Felix’s chest hurt, both from the feeling that he had upset Seungmin and from the exertion. He took off his jacket, apologizing to Seungmin’s butler about his mess. Their group was standing in the entrance hall, shivering and toweling off so they could make their departure. Felix could hear the murmur of Seungmin asking the carriages to be readied, and apologizing for the request when the weather was so poor.

When he turned, Felix caught sight of Jeongin and Hyunjin still standing on the wide balcony, disregarding the torrential rain. They were facing each other, staring right into each other’s eyes. Hyunjin’s sketchbook was clutched in Jeongin’s arms, thankfully wrapped in a waterproof covering. 

They were both soaking wet, their hair sticking to their foreheads. Felix could see their mouths moving, but he had no hope of understanding what they were saying. 

He could see Hyunjin nodding, and Jeongin’s expression was raw with what looked like hurt. Jeongin took a step backward, and Hyunjin reached out to him. Jeongin shoved his sketchbook into his arms and rushed towards the house, wiping his face. Whether he was wiping away tears or raindrops, Felix was not sure.

The butler appeared in front of him, a beacon of calm in the turmoil that the afternoon had become. With remarkable poise, the butler informed him that his carriage was ready for him. He presented Felix with a very large stack of towels, and left Felix to make his goodbyes. 

Felix managed a few bows, as he was shivering too badly. Seungmin accepted his thanks with a very formal bow, but he did not say anything. Chan departed already, his absence making Felix feel even worse. 

Making his stumbling way out of Coldridge, Felix only just made it into his carriage before collapsing into tears. When he arrived back to Rivington, he was pulled into the arms of his very capable housekeeper, who clucked over him in a motherly way that made him cry all over again.

A bath was drawn up for him, and his butler brought him a tray of steaming tea and several pastries from the kitchen. 

Felix took it, grateful for any comfort he could receive after his afternoon of excitement. His shivers finally ceased when he was snuggled under a pile of blankets in his own warm bed. 

Felix fell asleep, his mind working over the events of the day again and again. His last thought was spent wondering if he and Changbin ruined the happiness of those they loved, with their carelessness. 

-

Felix spent the next day sneezing and coughing, which sent the household into a frenzy. Despite it being late summer, a fire was lit in the drawing room and Felix stayed there, swaddled in blankets. 

His housekeeper kept a steady stream of tea trays coming up, and one of the footmen was tasked with bringing Felix a stack of books from the library. Felix got up to walk when he felt that he could, assisted by the steady presence of his butler. 

It rained for a good portion of the day, which felt very cozy with the fire burning. Despite his grumbling about not being able to do as he pleased, Felix passed the day pleasantly enough. He read his books and answered some correspondence he had been putting off.

The rain stopped just before the sunset, the clouds parting so the vibrant colors bled over the trees. The scent of petrichor hung heavy in the air, the ground steaming from the sudden rainfall. It was just the sort of evening that Felix loved to walk out in, enjoying the muddy grounds and gorgeous sunset.

His butler supported Felix on the walk back to his chamber. Felix trailed blankets behind him as he walked, but he did feel much better. They walked past the wide glass doors to the steps that led to the grounds on the south side of Rivington, and Felix stopped to admire the view.

Felix pushed the door open, errant raindrops from the roof still falling. He breathed in the fresh air greedily, savoring the smell of the rain after being stuck indoors all day. The evening was perfect, and Felix was just about to turn to beg his butler to relent just this once when he heard a sound that chilled him down to the bone.

A howl split the lovely evening air, closer and much louder than Felix had ever expected. It was bloodcurdling, and at the same time the most beautiful sound Felix had ever heard.

He gasped, blankets falling from his shoulders as he rushed out onto the steps. 

“Felix-ssi, wait!” his butler gasped, following right behind him.

Felix staggered, both palms hitting the wet marble of the railing. The howls went on and on, and Felix’s chest contracted in fear. The footprints were one thing, but to hear the evidence of a wolf so close to Rivington was almost too much.

He hadn’t doubted that Minho heard howling, but to hear it for himself was far more terrifying than he expected.

His knees gave out, from fear and overexertion,  and his butler caught him. 

“It’s real,” Felix whispered, fingers trembling. “It’s really here, oh , what am I going to do?”

“Come inside,” the butler said firmly, leading him back to the hall and shutting the door tight. “We will worry about the beast in the morning. Please come along, you need rest, Felix-ssi.”

Still shaking, Felix nodded. He allowed his butler to steer him back to his chambers, clutching at the blankets around his shoulders.

It was a long time before sleep found him that night.

Chapter Text

Precisely one week after the disastrous day at Coldridge, Felix received a letter from Longfield House inviting him to visit for tea in three days’ time. Felix had spent most of the week curled in his armchair in the library, trying to forget the look of heartbreak on Seungmin’s face when Felix returned with Changbin.

Jisung kept to their usual weekly schedule, and Felix dreaded seeing him again. Once Jisung spotted a good piece of news, he was unlikely to let it go. 

There was no way Felix could tell the truth about why Changbin pulled him aside without embarrassing Changbin. His feelings for Seungmin would be revealed without his knowledge, and Felix had no way of knowing for a fact that Seungmin returned Changbin’s affections. To have his deep affection for Seungmin made public before he made an offer of marriage himself would be humiliating. 

Despite how much it would hurt to do so, and the damage it could do to his friendship with Seungmin, Felix would keep Changbin’s confession secret.

He need not have worried so much. Jisung took one look at Felix and spent the entirety of their visit telling him all about a juicy piece of gossip from town. There had been an elopement, according to Jeongin’s last letter. The butcher’s daughter ran off with a young woman who owned a small farm on the outskirts of town.

Felix leapt on the topic, grateful to have any distraction. They spent a lovely afternoon writing a long letter to Jeongin, hoping to cheer him up.

Jeongin had gone to town with his father yet again and wrote to Jisung out of pure boredom, complaining that he had a perfectly good younger brother to take over his father’s post and he didn’t see why he was forced to accompany his father along on business. Jeongin’s elder brother went into the navy, which Jeongin suspected was done to avoid becoming a member of the clergy. Of course, this meant Jeongin or his younger brother would be faced with the role someday.

Jisung returned home much later than usual that day, and left Felix feeling much better than he had been.

Felix sent his acceptance to Hyunjin as soon as he could, happy to visit his friend and take his mind off things. He was very keen to see Longfield, since it had been vacant all the while Felix was in the neighborhood. 

Felix was no less keen to ask Hyunjin about what happened at Coldridge with Jeongin, although he knew it would be very rude to ask the question directly.

He arrived rather early in the day, taking a chance and walking to the house. It was a lovely day and Felix just couldn’t resist, even if it meant having to face his butler’s disapproving gaze.

Longfield House was rather small, just a two story cottage with lovely large windows and snaking vines growing all over the exterior. Seungmin’s gardener was paying regular visits, and the garden was in full bloom, trimmed and weeded to perfection. The pale walls were complemented by overflowing window boxes filled with flowers, fat bumblebees buzzing all over the place.

To his surprise, Seungmin was already at Longfield, sitting in the sunny parlor with a cup of tea at his elbow. He greeted Felix more stiffly than usual, and did not look at him once Felix took his seat.

Felix couldn’t resist looking around the parlor. Canvases were everywhere , half-finished or draped in sheets. One was propped on an easel, and Felix recognized it as the view from the seaside that Hyunjin sketched. A table laden with paints and a massive jar of brushes was in the corner, a vase of wilted flowers was on the mantle, and countless sketchbooks were strewn across the room. 

It was a mess, and Felix loved it. If it hadn’t been painting supplies, it would have been a horror to look at. But the mess felt like it belonged there, an extension of Hyunjin’s art.

A clatter from the staircase announced the arrival of Hyunjin, who was tugging on a rather tattered jacket covered in paint stains. He swept the nearest sketchbook off a side table and smiled at the pair of them.

“Shall we be on our way?”

-

Felix, Seungmin, and Hyunjin strolled through the garden together, although Felix felt guilty enough to stick himself to Hyunjin’s side. 

Hyunjin showed them around the gardens, where he had countless varieties of flowers growing. Seungmin’s gardener worked a wonder on the place.

Somehow, the flowers here grew more wild, spilling out of neat rows and blending together in their boxes. Seungmin’s gardener seemed to understand that neat rows of blooms would look out of place at an artist’s cottage. Irises and lilies complimented the snapdragons growing nearby, and a massive patch of sunflowers grew near the back wall of the cottage.

Hyunjin told Felix that his favorite thing in the world to paint was flowers, and Felix could see why Hyunjin had been drawn to Longfield. The garden was the perfect place to sit and sketch for an afternoon, perhaps with a glass of lemonade. 

Felix stopped to admire a camellia bush, the flowers just beginning to bloom despite the late summer season. The pink was just starting to peek out from the waxy green leaves.

Hyunjin came up beside him. He stretched out his hand to stroke the nearest blossom, the petals just parting under his fingertip. They stood there for a moment together, the humming of the bees filling their ears.

Hyunjin cleared his throat. “Felix? Would you like to walk out on the main road?”

Felix turned and saw Seungmin standing by a bush of roses near the entrance of the garden. He was almost covered by the proliferation of swollen blooms, one hand cupping the soft petals of the nearest rose.

“Did you ask Seungmin already?” Felix asked, turning away from the camellias.

Hyunjin nodded. “Yes, he’s ready. Come on, I can show you the little stream in the forest behind the cottage. It’s lovely there on summer days like this.”

Felix nodded and allowed Hyunjin to take him on his arm. They led the way out through the little green gate, walking across a small kept lawn to the shade of the trees.

Seungmin came to walk beside them, on the other side of Hyunjin. Felix tensed up at his presence, and Hyunjin gave his arm a subtle pat.

Felix immediately felt guilty, knowing that Seungmin could sense the awkwardness and having no possible way to acknowledge the truth of the situation without causing embarrassment to Changbin.

“Have you had any news lately?” Hyunjin asked lightly, in an attempt to diffuse the tension. 

“Jisung had a letter from Jeongin,” Felix said, trying to recall the details. “There was an elopement in the village. The butcher’s daughter and a young farmer, he said it was.”

“Ah! A runaway marriage,” Hyunjin mused, smiling to himself. “Those are more common in town, I thought!”

“They are,” Seungmin said. “I remember my first year of parties. There were no less than three elopements and one rather hasty marriage.”

They approached the trees, and Felix already heard the sound of flowing water. He peered through the trunks with excitement, eager to see the stream. He had one in his own park, of course. Felix couldn’t help wondering if it was the same stream, just further along.

“That was all Jisung had to tell me,” Felix said. “No news from town, but Jeongin never gets to visit parties when he’s there, poor thing.”

“That’s all Jisung had to say?” Seungmin said with a snort. “I find that hard to believe.”

Biting his tongue, Felix looked away. 

“I suppose you must have talked over your own engagement, Felix?” Hyunjin asked, keeping his tone delicate. “I imagine that Jisung must have been so excited to hear of it.”

“‘My own engagement?’” Felix echoed, turning to stare at Hyunjin as they walked. “Engagement to whom?”

“Changbin-hyung, of course!” Hyunjin said, disregarding Seungmin’s quiet gasp. “Last week at Coldridge, he asked you for a private word and you returned on his arm and he was talking about ‘what an honor you have given him!’ Does that not sound like an engagement?”

“I am not presently engaged to Changbin-hyung,” Felix said, failing to keep his tone even. “Neither of us made an announcement, I understand the situation was rather rushed after our return, but-“

Seungmin stopped walking. The other two turned to look at him. He had the wildest expression on his face, bewilderment and daring hope blended together. He ran a hand through his hair, making it stick out in all directions.

“You are not engaged?” Seungmin said. His voice was strangled. “Changbin-hyung did not make an offer of marriage?”

“No!” Felix cried, relieved to say it out loud. “No, he did not extend me an offer of marriage.”

Seungmin looked mildly panicked. He tugged on his hair again and turned on the spot, his eyes darting all over the place. 

“My- my sincerest apologies,” Seungmin said, stuttering. “I must take my leave immediately!” 

“Why?” Hyunjin asked, bewildered. 

“Thank you for the tea, and- and the tour of your lovely garden, but I really must be going now!”

“Wait, Seungmin!”

But Seungmin had already given the pair of them a bow and was running back to Longfield as fast as he could, the tail of his jacket flapping as he ran.

Hyunjin turned back to Felix, bemused. “What on earth was that about?”

“Perhaps we will have an engagement announcement, although not my own,” Felix said, warm relief filling him. 

Hyunjin clicked his tongue and set off again, nearing the stream. “I don’t suppose I’ll be hearing what all that was about until later on!”

“You’re just as bad as Jisung,” Felix said, giving Hyunjin a playful little poke in the side. “Maybe you should go to Whitemarch for tea, and he can tell you all about the happenings of the neighborhood!”

“Why would I, when I have you here to tell me everything?” Hyunjin asked, laughing. “Besides, what could possibly be happening in a neighborhood this small?”

“The butcher’s other daughter could run off with another farmer. Or a gardener, this time.”

“Ahh, but it’s been so quiet around here!” Hyunjin said. 

It was true, particularly where the two of them were standing. They had just come upon the stream, in a mossy little clearing with thick trees surrounding the rocky stream. Sunlight shone down in beams through the leaves. It was the kind of place Felix would spend hours in, reading or enjoying the sun. He could easily imagine Hyunjin settled by the stream with his sketchbook, or using watercolors to paint the trickling stream. But being in the woods again reminded Felix of Jisung’s warnings, and the howls he heard before.

Despite the warm sunlight, Felic shivered.

“What is it?” Hyunjin asked. He patted Felix’s arm and pulled him in a little closer. 

Felix braced himself. “That’s not the only piece of news I have to relate, although it is not pleasant to speak of.”

“What could be more pleasant than love-stricken elopements?”

Felix ducked his head, and the look of lighthearted teasing slid off Hyunjin’s face when Felix didn’t react to the joke.

“Really, Felix, what is it? Is your family well?” Hyunjin asked, new worry in his voice. “Is someone in the neighborhood ill?”

Felix waved away the concerns, sitting on a large, flat rock. Hyunjin sat next to him, waiting for him to speak. 

“There’s been- howling, heard in the area. And I saw pawprints, huge ones, right by Rivington,” Felix said. The words tumbled out in a rush and he ducked his head, embarrassed. 

Hyunjin gasped. “You’ve heard it too! I thought I was just imagining things, it sounded so far off from Longfield.” He jumped to his feet and paced, running a hand through his hair. “I got a letter just this morning from Minho-hyung warning me about it. But he didn’t mention anything about the pawprints. That sounds terrifying!”

“It was,” Felix agreed, relaxing a little. He knew Minho wasn’t the type to neglect his neighbors, but it was a relief to hear that Minho personally warned Hyunjin.

Hyunjin hadn’t stopped talking. “- but you can imagine my surprise when I read the letter, you know! The last thing I was expecting when I came to the area was more trouble! It’s so small, I thought it would be quiet!” He laughed, plopping back down on the rock beside Felix and sprawling back to lay in the sun.

Unsure if he heard correctly, Felix frowned at Hyunjin. “ ‘More’ trouble?”

Hyunjin froze. For a moment, the babble of the stream and the birdsong was the only noise in the clearing. Felix opened his mouth to apologize, knowing it wasn’t his place to pry, but Hyunjin sighed.

“I suppose I didn’t think I’d be keeping secrets forever. Besides, I know enough about you now that I’m sure you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“What would I want to hurt you for?” Felix asked nervously, eyeing Hyunjin.

“I’ll tell you,” Hyunjin said. “You’ve waited long enough, and you haven’t pried at all. I’m very thankful for that, you know.”

He folded his hands behind his head, the shaking of his leg the only thing betraying his nervousness. Felix waited for Hyunjin to begin, trying not to let his eagerness show through.

“I haven’t told this to anyone, not least because it happened so recently. But I had no one who would be interested in hearing it, until I came here,” Hyunjin explained. Felix nodded, gesturing for Hyunjin to begin.

“As a consequence of my position as an artist, I spend much of my time traveling, or living under the generosity of my employer,” Hyunjin started. “I worked as a portrait artist for a while, which meant that I would call upon clients at their own residences and I would paint them there.”

Felix nodded. He was wildly curious to hear more about the itinerant lifestyle of an artist, but he kept his mouth shut.

“I was rather successful, and eventually one client asked if I would be willing to produce several pieces of art for his country residence.” Hyunjin continued. “This was not uncommon, and neither was taking up residence with your employer during this process. Many pieces were painted directly onto the walls of an estate, you see.”

“This was not the last position I took, but this one was the best. I spent a year living and painting in that client’s estate. I had my own lovely bedroom with a view of the grounds, I had the best food, and I was handsomely paid,” Hyunjin said, a wince on his face.

“It sounds wonderful,” Felix said. And it was true.

“It was a charmed life,” Hyunjin said, sounding a little wistful. “When I was finished with my work at that client’s estate, I had a glowing recommendation and found no shortage of work, although none of my subsequent contracts were so long.”

“Eventually, I caught the attention of a very wealthy client. He was newly married, and had just taken a very large estate in the north. Apparently, none of the paintings in the estate were to his taste.”

“Not one?” Felix couldn’t help but ask. Despite being small, Rivington had dozens of paintings. He couldn’t imagine having the funds to replace every single painting in Rivington, let alone a large estate.

“Not one,” Hyunjin said darkly. “That should have been my first warning. Rich enough to throw money around, arrogant enough to think that those paintings were worthless. But I took the contract, and arrived with enough paints to cover the manor twice over.”

Hyunjin shot a glance at Felix. “I suppose you’ve met that sort of man before, the kind who treats you with respect and fawns all over you in the presence of others, and then once he’s got you alone, he becomes a perfect lecher?”

Felix suppressed a shudder. He had not, but he was subjected to enough lectures by his mother and elder sister that he knew perfectly well what Hyunjin was talking about.

“I had been living there about a month, when the touches started,” Hyunjin said, his voice lowering. He looked ashamed. “It started with little brushes, and touching the small of my back, you know. It only escalated from there. He would corner me, and grope all over me until I managed to make up some excuse and flee.” 

Felix took his hand, and Hyunjin squeezed it hard. 

“It was worse when he was drunk. He would get thoroughly pickled, then when his wife refused his advances, he would come to me. It never went above him trying to touch me, but it was still awful.”

“I know his wife hated it as much as I did, or hated him,” Hyunjin said. “He made sure to keep us apart. I saw the bruises on her wrists and knew she was just as hurt by him as I was. But there wasn’t much I could do, as I wasn’t meant to be paid for the contract until it was up, yet another foolish mistake. I had no means to leave. But it was barely four months into the year, and I knew I could not finish the contract.”

“It sounds horrible,” Felix said, cringing at how useless his words sounded. But Hyunjin squeezed his hand again, a small smile on his face.

“I was completely alone there. My parents passed away when I was young, and my uncle raised me. But he had died after I finished my first apprenticeship, and I had no other close friends to rely on. There was nothing I could do.”

Hyunjin continued, not noticing the tears in Felix’s eyes.

“He had a large party of men there as guests, for a month. I believe their intention was to form a hunting party on the estate. The first night, they stayed in the dining room after dinner and got spectacularly drunk. I was in the library next door, unwilling to sleep until they had all gone to bed first.”

Hyunjin shuddered and turned to Felix, a serious look on his face. “You must be sure that you want to hear this, Felix. It’s not a pleasant story.”

“Please continue,” Felix said. He felt that this was important to get right. “You should tell it, to get it out. I’ll be here for you.”

“Yes, right,” Hyunjin said, letting out a shaky sigh. “I was in the library, reading some boring old book and trying not to listen to their shouting. But I heard my own name, and I had to know what was happening.”

“I snuck into a corner of the hallway, where you could easily hear the noise from the dining room without being seen. The butler was already there.”

“What was he doing there?” Felix asked.

“No idea,” Hyunjin said. “He gestured for me to listen, and we both heard the man talking, shouting really, through the wall. He must have been very drunk, to say such things. He was saying that he wanted to pass me around, take me and make me into a little toy for them to fuck while they were at the estate.”

Felix felt his stomach drop, and he must have made some kind of strangled noise because Hyunjin patted his hand. 

“I was horrified, and terribly embarrassed that the butler heard all of that. I half expected him to push me into that den of wolves, but he did no such thing. He took one look at my face and hurried me off to bed. Before he left me that night, he told me to pack up all of my essential belongings.”

Hyunjin sighed a little. “I took him at his word. I had become accustomed to nicer clothes, but I had very little money. I took only what I could fit in one small trunk, and I do not have the means as I once did to maintain the wardrobe of a successful artist.”

“I didn’t see him all that next day, or the day after that,” Hyunjin said, his voice growing stronger now. “I knew I couldn’t stay at that estate for another minute, contract be damned. I stayed in my room, but I know he was the one responsible for sending trays to my room. He needn’t have worried. I was too terrified to move.”

“The second night, there was a knock at my door,” Hyunjin said. “I almost didn’t answer it, I thought it was that group of men trying to get to me. But it was the butler, and two footmen. They hustled me out of there and into a carriage, and I was so glad to be leaving that I hardly had the presence of mind to thank the butler, let alone ask where I was going.”

“You can probably figure out the rest,” Hyunjin said with a small laugh. “I arrived at Longfield the next morning, tired and frightened but unharmed. There was a letter from the butler waiting for me, telling me a little bit about the neighborhood but warning me not to trust anyone.”

Hyunjin turned serious eyes to Felix. “Forgive me, please, for being so secretive when we first met. I hope you see now why I behaved so oddly.”

“There is nothing to forgive,” Felix said. He couldn’t imagine having the gall to be angry at Hyunjin, even after hearing his story. Hyunjin smiled at him, looking like a huge weight was lifted off of his shoulders.

A little detail niggled at him. “I don’t understand how that man’s butler was able to find accommodations for you so quickly,” Felix mused to himself.

“I suspect that he knew one of the other butlers in the area,” Hyunjin said. “Butlers work in mysterious ways.”

Felix laughed. His own butler would have bowed to Hyunjin on the spot for such a statement.

“I want very much to write to him and thank him for putting his own position at risk for me,” Hyunjin said. “But any letter would just make the situation much worse.”

“That was so brave of you,” Felix said, admiring. “I would have been terrified if I was in your position.”

“I was terrified,” Hyunjin admitted, a flush on his cheeks. “But when the alternative is so horrible, there isn’t much of a choice.”

“Are you still trying to lay low?” Felix asked. 

Hyunjin laughed. “I was! But then you found me at the abbey, and I came to dinner at Whitemarch, and I just couldn’t leave you all alone.”

He sounded a little guilty as he continued. “It was so wonderful to find a group of friends that I could easily enjoy the company of, even if I knew I shouldn’t be calling attention to my presence here.”

“You should be able to rely on us,” Felix said, determined. “I am here for you, and I’m sure that Minho-hyung and Seungmin would help you, and so would Changbin and Channie-hyung!” 

Felix’s heart twinged when he said Chan’s name, but he continued on.

“We’re your friends. I may not have the same power and influence that Seungmin and Minho-hyung have, but my doors are open to you should you need them.”

“And mine are open to you,” Hyunjin said gently, nudging Felix. “We need to make sure the neighborhood is safe, with all this talk of howling and pawprints. Should we find a hunter?”

“Jisung said the same thing,” Felix said, his shoulders slumping. “I don’t want to hurt it. I think we should wait longer, to see if it keeps moving north. I haven’t heard or seen anything after that night. Have you?”

He tried to keep his voice neutral, desperately hoping that Hyunjin hadn’t seen anything. To his relief, Hyunjin shook his head.

“Not a thing. But you will write if you see anything, won’t you?” Hyunjin asked. “It’s serious, Felix, I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“You have my word,” Felix said, privately hoping that they had seen the last of the wolf and that he never would have to see a hunter in the neighborhood as long as he lived there.

He laid back on the rock beside Hyunjin, letting the sunlight play over his face and running his thumb over Hyunjin’s knuckles. Felix knew it wasn’t the best idea to be out in the woods like this, but he let himself enjoy the peace of the stream while it lasted.

-

Felix arrived home from Longfield late that afternoon to find his very frazzled looking butler waiting for him.

“You had a caller while you were away, Felix-ssi. Bang Chan-ssi, I believe, from Wildfell. He waited for a full half-hour, even though I informed him you would not be expected back until the evening.”

“Did he say what he was here for?” Felix asked, wrestling with his coat. He was talking more to himself than to his butler.  “What on earth could he mean by calling on me here?”

“He did not say,” his butler said, keeping his expression neutral even as Felix struggled with the coat.

“I can return the call tomorrow,” Felix muttered, running a hand through his hair. He was still distracted from his conversation with Hyunjin, so the worry didn’t properly set in until hours later when Felix was trying to sleep.

He was going to Wildfell tomorrow.

-

Felix hovered by the stairs up to Wildfell, the imposing stone of the hall looming over him. He walked here, of course, which only earned him the ire of the eager young groom who had come to take his horse. It was a sparse, cloudy sort of day, making him feel even smaller in the face of the cold manor. 

He knew he was dawdling, which only galled him. Keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the ground in front of his feet, Felix climbed the stairs to the hall.

Felix had to wait for a moment after he knocked on the door before a rather young butler opened it and gestured him inside without a word.

The butler led him across the hall, passing several doors which were shut tight, unusual for a manor of this size. The hallway itself was freshly done, still smelling of new paint. The carpet was plush and cushy, and Felix bounced his way along behind the butler to the end of the long hallway.

The butler knocked once and opened the door. “Bang Chan-ssi, you have a visitor.”

Chan’s voice sounded from inside, pleased. “Thank you! Please show him in.”

Felix bowed his thanks and the butler retreated back down the hallway. He nudged the door open a little more and stepped forward into the most beautiful room he had ever seen.

The room had a high ceiling, and was paneled with lovely dark wood. The windows were hung with deep red drapes, yet the dark tone of the room did not give it an oppressive air. Shelves lined one wall, stocked with thick books and various trinkets. A huge fireplace was set in the wall with the door, a massive mantle displaying yet more books and two gorgeous vases. A large landscape hung over the fireplace, depicting a moonlit night on a moor. Several sofas and armchairs were arranged near the fire, along with a small table for writing. To complete the scene, an elegant piano took up a whole corner of the room on its own.

Chan was in this lovely room by himself, reading a book on the sofa. He stood when Felix entered, a smile on his face. “Felix! It’s good to see you again. I’m sorry I missed you yesterday, your butler told me that you were away.”

“I was visiting Hyunjin at Longfield,” Felix said, edging his way into the room. He was still looking all over the room, admiring the fine woodwork on the shelves.

Chan mistook the awe on Felix’s face for displeasure. “I’m sorry to receive you in the drawing room, it’s currently the only room I have suitable for guests at the moment. I’ve paused the renovations for now, since most of the hall needed work.”

Felix nodded, remembering the closed doors in the hallway. He supposed that some of them led to unfinished rooms. Felix wanted to see the whole manor very much, but he thought it was unlikely to convince Chan to let him see the rooms when they were less than pristine. He made his way around one of the couches, ready to spend his visit in the drawing room.

“I can’t take you around all of the hall,” Chan was saying. “But I can show you a few of the finished rooms, if you’d like? The gardens are coming along very nicely as well.”

Felix blinked, then smiled at Chan. “That would be lovely! I’ve wanted to see Wildfell for a long time.”

“Is that the only reason that I am graced with your company today?” Chan teased, gesturing Felix ahead of him out of the door.

Felix lingered at the threshold for a minute, caught in his desire to stay in the lovely room. As a child, he insisted upon having piano lessons when his older sister had hers. Felix longed to go and play the piano in the corner. He did not have a piano at Rivington, and he missed it desperately.

Felix could imagine preparing for pleasant evenings in Wildfell with Chan. He could see their whole party happily cozied up in the room together while Felix was settled at the piano. It was a selfish fantasy, to imagine that he would someday be permitted to decide who was allowed entry into Wildfell Hall.

Shaking himself out of it, Felix followed Chan down the hall. Chan was eager to show off his renovations, opening several doors off of the hall to let Felix see the progress. 

“The rest of the rooms in this wing are still unfit for guests,” Chan said apologetically, closing the door to yet another room filled with furniture draped in white cloth. ‘They’re mostly guest rooms, but I wanted to be sure that the dining room was complete first.”

Felix nodded vaguely, absorbed in admiring a beautiful landscape painting hanging on the wall. It depicted a huge cliff, a cresting wave sending sprays high into the stormy sky where seabirds circled. The colors of the painting matched the hall perfectly, the light grey-blue complimenting the dusty blue of the silk. 

Chan stopped by Felix’s shoulder to look at the painting. “Hyunjin painted this one.”

“Really?” Felix gasped, turning to gape at Chan. “It’s gorgeous!”

“It is,” Chan agreed, smiling. “I asked him if he would be willing to paint a few pieces for Wildfell after our day at the seaside when I saw his sketches. He came by to see where I wanted the paintings to be placed, so he could adjust his palette accordingly. He’s very talented.”

“I can see,” Felix said, his eyes tracing the curving shapes of the waves. His mind was turning over this little nugget of information. Hyunjin had gone to Wildfell on a professional visit, not a social call. He remembered all those other times he saw the pair of them talking, re-evaluating his assumptions of romantic interest.

Felix looked up, and found Chan gazing at Felix rather than the painting. He smiled again, and offered Felix his arm. 

“Wildfell had an extensive library but it hardly needed any work at all. Would you like to see?” Chan asked.

“Yes, please!” Felix said, taking Chan’s arm. 

They passed through the main entryway, their heels clicking on a lovely marble floor. A carpet-padded staircase led up to the upper level of the house. Chan steered him to the opposite wing of the house, past a row of tall windows. They overlooked the garden and Felix could indeed see a proliferation of blooms spilling out of their rows, even though it was late summer. 

Chan pushed open an old oak door at the end of the hall and led Felix into the library. He smiled when he heard Felix’s gasp, stopping on the threshold.

Felix was extremely pleased with his own library at Rivington. A small, neat room, filled with books and cushy armchairs. It was the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon. He was incredibly fond of his own little library, but often longed for one that boasted a wider selection.

The library at Wildfell was gigantic. Three of the walls were lined with shelves, and a further standing bookshelf stood at the right side of the room. One wall was entirely windows, with deep green curtains to draw when it got too hot. There were a few sofas and chairs arranged in a circle, dotted with lamps on sturdy little tables. It was an elegant room, the colors matched perfectly to compliment each other and the magnificent carved shelves. 

Chan laughed a little at the expression on Felix’s face and guided him further into the room. “Go on, look as much as you like. You’re welcome to borrow anything you want, Felix.”

“It’s beautiful,” Felix breathed, drifting towards the free-standing shelf and tracing his fingers down the spines of the books. “How much did you change in here?”

“Hardly anything,” Chan answered from somewhere behind Felix, sounding very pleased. “I didn’t change the colors of anything, just replaced the upholstery.”

Felix hummed in response, walking in between the bookshelf and the shelves against the wall. It smelled like a good library should, like worn paper. He drew in a deep breath, savoring the feeling of being surrounded by so many books.

Once more, Felix thought how wonderful it would be to decide who was permitted entry into this hall. But there was no way that a man of Chan’s consequence would be interested in someone of Felix’s position. For Chan to have taken this hall and carried out the best renovations, was no small feat. 

He sighed, tracing a finger down the embossed title of a novel. 

Chan appeared at the end of the shelf. He leaned against it, hands in his pockets, watching Felix. Felix turned to look at him and caught his breath.

The afternoon beams of sunlight filtering into the room illuminated his figure, hitting his hair and lighting up his hair. It looked softer in the sun, lovely brown curls. It played across his features, accentuating the cut of his jaw and shape of his nose. He stood out from the books behind him, his wide shoulders taking up most of the little aisle they stood in. Chan smiled, dimples on his cheeks, a deeply satisfied look on his face.

He walked towards Felix, stopping just a little closer than was proper. 

“Is it to your liking, Felix?” Chan asked. His voice had gone husky, and he was focused on Felix’s face so intensely that Felix almost shivered. “Does Wildfell please you?”

Felix nodded, feeling stupidly bashful. “Yes, very much. It’s lovely.” He chanced a glance back up at Chan and his breath caught.

Chan was very close, close enough that Felix could see how much his pupils were dilated. His gaze flickered down to Felix’s lips.

Felix tilted his head back, letting his lips part just a little in obvious invitation. He remembered that sunny day on the cliff, the desperate hope that Chan would give in. 

Chan tugged Felix into his arms. Felix’s gasp was smothered by Chan’s lips on his, kissing him deep and hungry. For a moment, Felix could do nothing but stand there in shock. His lips parted and Chan nipped at his lower lip, and then Felix was kissing back hard. 

Chan pulled him closer, one hand holding the base of his skull, the other on his hip. Felix’s knees buckled, but Chan’s massive hand on his waist held him up. He was plastered up against Chan, the warmth of his chest pressing into Felix.

Still kissing, Chan shoved Felix up against the bookshelf. Going limp at the manhandling, Felix wound his hands around Chan’s neck. Chan sucked Felix’s bottom lip into his mouth, making Felix whimper. 

The books dug into Felix’s back but Felix paid them no mind, too absorbed in the feeling of being in Chan’s arms. Chan was making satisfied little noises as they kissed, pulling Felix close and overwhelming him with intensity.

One of Chan’s hands was squeezing Felix’s waist over his coat, the layers of fabric giving way beneath Chan’s deft fingers. Chan’s chest was rumbling, but Felix could hardly pay attention as he was kissed and groped.

Chan worked his way down Felix’s jaw, sucking wet little kisses onto his skin. Felix squirmed in Chan’s grip, gasping at the pleasure. Chan slid one of his hands down to Felix’s ass, cupping and kneading it feverishly. 

Nosing aside Felix’s high collar, Chan bit down on the tender skin. Felix moaned and blushed when Chan groaned into the bite. He pulled back and soothed it with his tongue, pressing soft kisses around it. Chan seemed fascinated with the soft skin of his neck, drawing in deep breaths and sucking marks all over him. Felix tangled his fingers in Chan’s hair and dragged him back up, letting Chan slip his tongue into his mouth.

Chan crowded him further into the bookshelf, and Felix moaned as he felt Chan’s erection press into his thigh. It twitched against him, so big and needy against him. His moan caused Chan to pull away with a gasp, leaning his head onto the bookshelf. 

Their chests were heaving, hot breaths in the air between them. Chan’s eyes were screwed shut as he panted, his hard cock still pressing insistently into Felix. For a brief moment, Felix imagined sinking to his knees on the carpet and undoing the placket on Chan’s pants and sucking his cock, letting Chan come down his throat. It was a reckless fantasy, but Chan reacted before Felix could even move.

Chan tore himself away, raking his fingers through his hair. He wasn’t looking at Felix, staring at the ground and looking devastated. He was still hard, the outline tenting his pants.

“Chan-”

“I’m sorry,” Chan gasped, still not meeting Felix’s eyes. “Forgive me please- I must take my leave. My- my butler will show you out.”

He gave a low bow to Felix and left the room, leaving Felix slumped against the bookshelf. 

-

Felix’s butler didn’t even break his expression when Felix returned, lips kiss-bitten and hair horribly mussed. His collar hid most of the damage, but Chan sucked a good bruise under his ear. 

Cringing, Felix shut the door to his bedchamber and stripped as fast as he could, eager to get the oppressive garments off his body.

He flopped face first on his bed, only just bothering to suck two fingers into his mouth before reaching down between his legs. His cock had gone soft during the walk home, but it fattened up again at the attention.

Felix stifled his moan in the sheets as he slipped his fingers inside of his hole, desperate from Chan’s rough kisses. His cock dribbled precum on the bed, aching and flushed after just a little touching. 

Felix’s hole clenched around his fingers as he remembered the feeling of Chan’s fat cock pressed against him. He whined, crooking his fingers and searching for his spot, wishing that he had just gotten on his knees and nosed at the bulge in Chan’s pants. Maybe then he’d have let Felix fumble with the buttons and pull out his cock.

He felt so big under those layers, so hard and needy. Would he have liked it if Felix pressed teasing little kisses up and down the shaft, or would Chan have wanted him to suck it down deep right away? 

Felix moaned at the thought of letting Chan fuck his throat like that, rough and unrelenting even if Felix gagged. He squirmed and dragged his other hand down to stroke his cock, groaning at the pleasure. 

Felix’s hips rutted forward, torn between chasing the hand on his cock or the fingers in his hole. He moaned, imagining how Chan would let him nose over his drooling cock to explore. He’d never sucked a cock before, Chan would have to show him what he liked, teach Felix how to suck it properly- 

Back arching, Felix came into his fist, his hole spasming around his fingers, thinking of Chan’s heavy gaze as he watched Felix take a cock into his mouth for the first time. 

Slumping down in the sheets, Felix eased his fingers out of himself. He stood and crossed the room to where he left a washbasin earlier, grateful to his past self for the forethought. 

-

It was only after Felix was clean and dressed and tucked into his bed did he really let himself think about what happened at Wildfell.

He curled in a ball under the covers, tears coming to his eyes when he thought about Chan tearing himself away from Felix. Had Felix been unsatisfactory? Had he remembered how much younger Felix was, and how Felix was not a suitable match due to their considerable differences in station? The thoughts only made Felix feel worse.

Furious with himself, Felix swiped at his cheeks and burrowed down into his sheets. Chan made it clear that he was not interested, and Felix would just have to bury his feelings and treat Chan with the respect he deserved, no matter their history.

Despite his resolution, it was a long while before the tears stopped trickling down his cheeks.

Chapter Text

Jeongin shut the door to the parlor with a little more force than necessary and crossed the room to flop facedown on the sofa beside Felix. 

Felix returned his teacup to its saucer and shot a look at Jisung, who paused in the act of adding his third sugar cube to his own tea. 

“Come on, Iyennie, it couldn’t have been all that bad, could it?” Jisung cajoled, dropping the sugar cube in his cup and setting the whole mess aside without bothering to stir it. 

Felix nodded sympathetically, giving Jeongin’s head a pat. They were settled in the vicar’s tiny parlor, having come for a visit the minute they had confirmation that Jeongin was safely back home from town.

“It was,” Jeongin said darkly, voice smothered by the cushions. “Nothing but sermons and you’re wasting your time, Jeongin-ah, you need to focus on preparing for the position .”

He snorted. “My best hope is that my little brother will take an interest. It seems he has already, but Father’s so preoccupied with me that he hasn’t taken notice! Honestly, the only reason this position is hereditary is because he’s making it that way.”

Felix settled for rubbing Jeongin’s back in consolation. He wasn’t sure how much it helped Jeongin feel better, but some of the tension eased out of his shoulders and he sat up. 

“But forget about all that, it’s only making me miserable. Tell me what’s been happening around here, I’m dying for some good gossip,” Jeongin said, shoving his hair out of his eyes and blinking owlishly at the pair of them.

Felix set his teacup down, unsure of how to proceed with tact. 

Jisung had no such qualms.

“Seungmin and Changbin-hyung are engaged!”

“What!?” Jeongin shouted. “You’re joking!”

Felix winced as Jisung cackled, glancing toward the door. “He is most certainly not joking. I received a letter from Seungmin announcing their engagement two days ago.”

“No one tells me anything,” Jeongin groused, settling himself back on the couch and glaring at them both. 

“It was recent,” Felix said, patting Jeongin’s arm in a placating sort of way. “And a little bit of a surprise, I believe.”

“To you, maybe!” Jeongin scoffed. “I’ve been wondering when Seungmin would stop pining and make a move. It appears that he has!”

“Someone’s a tad hypocritical,” Felix couldn’t resist saying. “What happened to worldly artists who have no interest in vicar’s sons?”

Jeongin opened his mouth to retaliate and then slumped back on the sofa, grumbling. Jisung grinned at Felix, stirring his tea.

“What about you, Felix? Any fresh gossip?”

Jisung was teasing him, trying to lighten the atmosphere a little. Felix fidgeted with a tasseled couch cushion, considering.

He absolutely should not tell Jisung and Jeongin about his visit to Wildfell. It put both Chan’s and his reputation in danger, and could expose them to gossip. Unmarried young men did not call upon wealthy bachelors and then confess to being kissed stupid in their library!

But Felix spent the past few days holed up in Rivington, spending the nights listening for howls and the days reading or pacing. He couldn’t make the slightest sense of Chan’s odd behavior, and he desperately wanted to hear what Jisung and Jeongin would think.

Felix hesitated and Jisung took the matter right out of his hands, leaning forward in his chair, all eagerness. 

“Something did happen! What is it, Lixie?”

“I went to visit Wildfell recently,” Felix started, faltering when both Jeongin and Jisung scooted forward to listen. “I was returning a call from Chan, and he- he, in the library, he kissed me.”

This time, it was both of them who shouted.

“Quiet!” Felix said, flinching. “You’ll bring the vicar right back in here!”

“Sorry!” Jisung said, practically bouncing out of his seat. “But Felix! Chan-hyung kissed you!”

“I know,” Felix grumbled, smoothing down his ruffled feathers. 

“That’s disgusting,” Jeongin said, delighted. “Tell me everything.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Felix protested. “We were walking in the library and he asked me if I was pleased with Wildfell, and then he kissed me.”

Jeongin snorted. He reached up and gave Felix’s collar a tug, revealing the patchwork of bites Chan sucked into his neck.

Felix squawked and covered himself, glaring at Jeongin, but Jisung’s shriek meant he’d already seen.

“Felix!” Jisung gasped, coming over to pull his collar down again and inspect the marks for himself. “He practically mauled you!”

“I know,” Felix moaned, trying to yank his collar out of Jisung’s hands. “He kissed me and then he panicked and left the room! I had to face his butler like this. I was sure he knew exactly what we were doing!”

Jeongin fell over on the sofa, laughing. Straightening up with righteous indignation, Jisung pointed a strict finger at Felix.

“I had hoped you knew better than to let lecherous young men take liberties with you, Felix!” Jisung said, his voice shaking with the effort it took to be stern. “You’re unmarried, you can’t be playing fast and loose with your virtue.”

Felix bit his lip, trying not to giggle at the look on Jisung’s face as he lectured him.

Jeongin swatted at Jisung. “Knock that off, hyung! What wouldn’t I give to have Minho-hyung here to see you behaving like this.”

Jisung slumped down, looking chastised. “What am I supposed to do? Lixie is here by himself, he doesn’t have any relations here to help look after him!”

“You are one whole day older than him, hyung,” Jeongin pointed out. “And don’t call Channie-hyung lecherous.”

“So he’s allowed to go around kissing whomever he likes and then leaving them alone in his house?” Jisung said, his voice rising with outrage. “That’s not proper behavior. Besides, I thought Chan-hyung had a preference for Hyunjin!”

Jeongin went still next to Felix, and Felix gave Jisung a sharp poke to make him stop. Felix hadn’t gotten a chance to ask Jeongin about his confrontation with Hyunjin at Coldridge and Hyunjin himself hadn’t said a word. Asking Jeongin about it directly would only make him clam up. 

Jisung opened his mouth to say something and Felix cut in instead. “I couldn’t figure out why he did it. It was so out of line with the rest of his conduct towards me.”

Jeongin took Felix’s hand and tugged on his fingers. “Just don’t worry so much, hyung. I’m sure Chan-hyung feels guilty enough about his own behavior, he isn’t the type of person to treat someone he cares about like that unless he has a good reason.”

Felix shrugged, feeling a little helpless. “What reason has he got, then?”

“Perhaps he thought you were engaged to Changbin,” Jisung said, shrugging. “Don’t look at me like that! The rest of us certainly did.”

Felix nodded to himself. What Jisung said made sense. Chan had honor, he would not go around kissing a man who was pledged to another. Chan must know that Felix and Changbin were not engaged by now, as Seungmin sent them all letters.

“Perhaps I will find out the next time we see each other,” Felix said, more to himself than to Jisung and Jeongin.

“I think Chan-hyung will tell you, if he’s honorable,” Jeongin said, giving Felix a serious look. “Just be careful, hyung.”

“Iyen-ah is right,” Jisung chimed in, coming over to sit by Felix’s other side. “Just be careful. I’ll ask Minho-hyung to keep an eye on him at our next gathering.”

“Thank you, Sungie,” Felix said, taking his hand and squeezing it.

Jisung stayed on the sofa next to Felix, all three of them squished together even as Jeongin grumbled about it. Felix grinned at them, relishing the feeling of being so close to his friends after a separation.

“Speaking of Minho-hyung,” Jisung said, wriggling up into a higher perch on the sofa. “Have you heard the wolf again, Lix-ah? Should I ask him to write?”

“What wolf?” Jeongin asked at the precise moment Felix said “ no .”

Jisung’s eyes darted back and forth between them while Jeongin’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s official,” Jeongin said, clawing his way out from the sofa and stalking across the room. “I hate you both. Why haven’t you told me?”

“Minho-hyung told me he wrote to you,” Jisung said, stretching out a placating hand. “There’s no way he didn’t keep his word.”

“My father must have gotten it rather than me,” Jeongin said with a huff. “Which means it’s probably still in his letterbox. He never reads correspondence in a timely manner.”

“You should take it and burn it,” Felix said, so forcefully that Jisung and Jeongin turned to stare. “It’s better if he doesn’t read it.”

“Why?” Jisung asked. “Don’t tell me you still want it to wander off on its own!”

Felix fidgeted in his seat and didn’t meet Jisung’s eye. Jisung rolled his eyes, taking a massive gulp of tea.

“Hyung, that isn’t safe,” Jeongin said, coming over and putting a hand on his arm. “Any one of us could get hurt.”

“I know that!” Felix snapped. “I almost got hurt one night out in the woods. I’m so sure that it was just in the brush near me, and then it ran off. But still, I can’t imagine being all alone in the world, no other wolves around, and then being hunted down. It would break my heart to kill it.”

Jeongin nodded. “I understand.” He sat back down and gave Felix one of his rare serious looks. “But if anyone gets hurt, will you please reconsider?”

“Of course!” Felix rushed to say. “Why would it stay around here? There aren’t any prey animals to hunt and there are too many people. It’ll move on, looking for a pack somewhere or something, I don’t know.”

“Who have you warned?” Jeongin asked. “Have you told Hyunjin-hyung yet?”

Felix nodded. “I called on him the other day. He’s heard the howling too, and he received Minho’s letter as well.”

“Good,” Jeongin said, clenching his hands in his lap. “He needs to keep safe too.”

“Maybe one of these days he’ll tell me more about himself,” Jisung said, mournfully picking at his collar. 

“I think he will,” Jeongin said, surprising Felix. “He’s much more comfortable around the neighborhood.”

“That is true! He even visited Wildfell,” Jisung mused. “Minho-hyung heard about it.”

“Don’t you know anything about that? Did Chan-hyung tell you anything?” Jeongin asked, turning on Felix with such fervor that Felix stared.

“Yes- he did,” Felix said, trying not to squirm under scrutiny. “Chan-hyung commissioned Hyunjin to paint several pieces for Wildfell, and he called on Chan so he could see where the paintings would be placed.”

Jisung looked even more intrigued. Jeongin’s look of relief was so brief that Felix almost missed it. He grinned at his friend, knowing that they both felt relieved at the true purpose of the visit for the same reason.

“I guess this means my matchmaking efforts have come to nothing!” Jisung said, flopping backwards on the sofa with an air of drama. “Unbelievable! At least Seungmin and Changbin are engaged now.”

“Yeah, and you didn’t see that coming,” Jeongin teased, giving Jisung a poke and giggling at his offended squawk. 

“I’m giving it up,” Jisung said, shooting both of them tragic looks. “Your married aunt is officially retiring from chaperone duties.”

“Does this mean I can go get kissed by rich men in their opulent libraries too?” Jeongin asked. “Clearly you haven’t been attending your chaperone duties if one of your charges has already suffered such a blow to his virtue.”

Jisung swatted at him, cackling. Felix gave a weak little smile, guilt clawing at him.

“C’mon Felix,” Jeongin cajoled. “Don’t worry so much! I’ve heard stories of not-so-chaste kisses at parties that have ended in happy marriages. I’m sure Chan will take the appropriate care to amend his actions.”

“Big words,” Jisung snorted. “If he doesn’t, I’ll have Minho go lecture him about spoiling his sunshine’s happiness.”

Felix laughed. It was a pathetic little thing, but Jeongin and Jisung both smiled at him so encouragingly that Felix couldn’t find it in himself to disagree.

-

Felix spent the rest of his afternoon pacing the gardens at Rivington and thinking over what Jisung and Jeongin said.

There was no way that he could bring up the kiss in company, since it would only cause embarrassment to both him and Chan. Chan wouldn’t want his reputation tarnished by speculation, even if he had not acted honorably towards Felix. Chan was upstanding and honest and made an excellent addition to their party. 

It took hours of pacing before Felix was ready to admit to himself that the reason he didn’t want to mention the kiss again was that he cared very deeply for Chan, and seeing him hurt would only make Felix feel worse. Despite his hurt feelings, he couldn’t find it within himself to publicly condemn Chan for his actions.

Felix resolved to keep the matter to himself and only speak of it to Jisung and Jeongin if necessary. 

This resolution didn’t make him feel any better. His pride was wounded.

Was he not good enough to kiss? Even if he was good enough to kiss, why not good enough to deserve an explanation as to Chan’s rejection? Had Chan only left him in the library because he believed that Felix was engaged?

Why should Felix want to keep Chan’s treatment of him to himself, even if he felt deeply for Chan?

These questions kept Felix roaming the same paths till sundown, when his gardener asked him very kindly to stop treading on his begonias and go inside the manor.

-

“Felix!”

Minho’s voice sounded behind him, along with the steady pound of hoofbeats. He galloped ahead of Felix, laughing when Felix spurred his own horse on.

It was a glorious day for a ride, the recent chill of the coming winter chased off by the sun for one last warm day. They were approaching Wildfell, ready to join Chan for a late afternoon ride. 

Due to his injury, Felix hadn’t gone for a ride in months. Minho asked him one day, hesitant from Jisung’s constant warnings about Felix’s health. Their rides became a regular occurrence when it wasn’t high summer and therefore too hot to be working the horses very hard. As a result, Felix regained his confidence in the saddle. 

Laughing, Felix guided his mare in circles around Minho. They chased each other in turns, making their way down the road. 

“Minho! Felix!”

They drew up their horses, turning to see Chan galloping down the drive. Felix’s breath, already short from riding, caught in his throat at the sight of Chan, dressed in a long grey coat, astride a steady brown stallion. He looked powerful and commanding, and he clearly knew how to ride.

Chan drew up beside them, grinning widely and urging his horse to level with Felix’s. 

“Lovely day for it!” Chan said, and Felix smiled back, resisting the urge to giggle at Chan’s boyish enthusiasm. 

Biting down on both his amusement and the surge of affection he felt at the sight of Chan, Felix took a closer look at him. 

Chan was avoiding his eye directly, always looking just to the left or at Felix’s collar. He was fidgeting with the reins, his gloved hands twisting the leather. His face was a little pink and he seemed to be biting the inside of his cheeks. Every symptom of guilt was present short of an apology. 

Annoyance and fondness filled Felix in equal measures. No matter how guilty Chan felt about their kiss, he would not mention it in front of Minho for fear of exposing Felix to scorn. Minho would never scorn Felix even if Chan did bring it up in front of him, and he likely already knew. Felix had long since accepted that anything he told Jisung, Minho would hear as well. 

Avoiding Minho’s questioning look, Felix turned his face, remembering how he used to play coy at parties. They were a bit far apart for him to look up at Chan through his lashes, but he attempted it anyway.

“Minho-hyung was just saying how he wanted to see the park at Wildfell,” Felix said, tilting his chin just so and blinking innocently at Chan. “Is it a good place to ride? Will you take us there today?”

They hadn’t been meant to ride to Wildfell, just wander out over one of the nearby fields and make their way to town. Minho raised his eyebrows at Felix but didn’t say anything, waiting for Chan’s say so.

Chan’s cheeks went red. He blinked rapidly, and Felix grinned to himself. “I would be happy to, Felix. Don’t get your hopes up, though. The grounds at Wildfell are not nearly as impressive as Coldridge or Whitemarch.”

Felix privately disagreed. The grounds at Wildfell were as beautiful as could be wished for, but with a sharper beauty than he was accustomed to. Felix had only caught a glimpse of the massive lawn at the back, and the large pile of lichen covered boulders at the edge of the wood. He longed to walk in the trees at Wildfell, though they were older and more twisted than the ones he was used to at Rivington.

“I suppose that’s next on your list then, is it?” Minho asked Chan as they set off down the drive again. “Planting a garden?”

Felix expected him to agree, but Chan shook his head. “No, the grounds and the hall are not suited to that kind of beauty. There’s a small grove, and it needs desperate attention.”

“I’m sure it will be done very well with you in charge,” Minho said amicably, pulling a grotesque expression  at Felix to shake the frown off of his face. 

Felix hid his smile behind his hand, not wanting Chan to see his amusement and mistake the source of his laughter. 

Felix did think Chan was right. The cold exterior of Wildfell and the grounds he had seen were not the place for flowers to grow. A little voice in Felix’s head said that flowers could bloom in all places, even at the imposing hall. 

They urged the horses faster, savoring the breeze in their hair. Felix couldn’t resist showing off a little bit. He danced his horse in circles around the other two, laughing and darting off when Minho tried to catch up. 

He could see Chan watching him, which made Felix feel a little prickly. If Chan had such interest, why had he fled from Felix in the library?

When they arrived in the grounds of Wildfell, Felix took the opportunity to gallop across the park at full speed, giving himself a few moments of much-needed solitude. The wind whipped through his hair, and Felix had never been so glad that he’d left his formal hat behind at Rivington.

Felix eased the horse into a trot as they approached the pile of boulders. It was highly unusual to see such a feature on the grounds of a manor like Wildfell, as aristocrats favored fancier, more opulent displays on their lawns.

The boulders were old and some of them were split right in half, cracked down the middle to show their untarnished insides. Lichen and ivy grew over the lower rocks, giving them a weatherbeaten look. From a distance the pile didn’t look very impressive, but it stood nearly as high as the hall itself when Felix drew closer. 

Felix sighed, scolding himself. Riding away from the others when he asked to visit the grounds personally. This was not proper behavior from a person who was trying to be as normal as possible! He should be courteous and respectful, regardless of how Chan treated him.

Felix squirmed in the saddle, sitting up straighter and shaking off his previous thoughts. He could do this. 

The other half of the boulders were hidden behind the wood. Felix went as close as he could to the chill of the shade, spending as long as he dared apart before swinging the horse around and going to rejoin Chan and Minho.

They were both coming down across the lawn at a walk, engaged in a conversation that Felix only caught the tail end of. 

“Felix mentioned that he was very impressed with the renovations that you have done, hyung,” Minho was saying when Felix approached. “Is it true that you asked Hyunjin to paint some pieces for you?”

“Indeed it is,” Chan answered, grinning at the mention of Hyunjin’s skill. “He’s only finished a couple, but they look gorgeous. I’m very pleased with them.”

Felix’s horse fell into step beside Minho’s as they made their way across the lawn. Minho was nodding to himself, looking contemplative. 

“Jisungie was talking about commissioning him as well,” Minho said. “I think Hyunjin will have no shortage of work here, should he choose to take it.”

Chan hummed in agreement. Felix tilted his head back in the sun, enjoying the last bit of summer warmth. The trees started to turn color, and he knew he would have to brave the cold if he wanted to go out rambling in the winter.

Felix smiled, relaxing in the saddle as the feeling of the day overtook his previous mood. He was out riding with two close friends, getting ready to spend a peaceful winter at Rivington. He’d arrived in early spring, the frost still clinging to the flowers outside of Whitemarch when he had met Jisung and Minho. They assured him that nothing was better than winters in the country, and Felix was eager to see if they were right. Now that the neighborhood would be full, Felix expected to be present at no shortage of gatherings.

Seungmin wrote him a very long letter of apology, full of expressions of remorse and hope for forgiveness. He’d ended it by informing Felix that Changbin would be spending the winter at Coldridge, since they were planning to be married from the village as soon as they could. This of course meant that Jeongin’s father would be the one responsible for marrying them. Felix had a good laugh imagining Jeongin’s face when he heard this particular bit of news.

Felix responded as soon as he could, not wanting Seungmin to worry for longer than necessary about the situation. He felt that Seungmin’s behavior was perfectly understandable given his understanding and Felix was eager to set the record straight and to see both of his friends happily settled.

He smiled to himself, ready to turn to Chan and Minho and ask if they heard the news of the engagement.

“Watch out!”

He wasn’t sure if it was Chan or Minho who shouted, but it didn’t matter. Felix’s horse let out a loud whinny and reared up, leaping into the air and bucking Felix off with a twist.

Every single bit of Felix’s functioning brainpower shut off as he fell. All he could remember was the last time he fell, the sickening swoop in his stomach as he left the steadiness of the saddle. 

Someone yelled his name when he hit the hot ground, the impact stunning him. It hurt so much that he didn’t have the wherewithal to move, let alone think. The horse was still whinnying, snorting and stamping the ground. Time stretched forward, cut only by Felix’s broken breaths as he lay in a crumpled heap on the ground.

Chan and Minho’s voices were bubbling over each other over Felix. He couldn’t tell what they were saying, the words muffled like he was underwater. He opened his eyes, the blades of grass much closer than they should be.

Hands grabbed at him, gentle but firm as they rolled him over onto his back. He blinked in the sun, the blue sky hazy with Felix’s shock. He shut them again, the stabbing pain of the sun making his head hurt more.

Felix was being lifted and nestled against the sturdiest chest he’d ever felt in his life. A hand smoothed his messy hair out of his face and a soothing voice rumbled in his ears. 

Chan.

Tears dripped down his cheeks at the kindness. Felix heaved out a sob as he curled into the fabric of Chan’s jacket, the pain dulling any embarrassment about his situation. He kept his eyes shut, too painful to keep them open.

“Shh, little one, I’ve got you,” Chan murmured, tucking Felix a little closer. “Minho, can you handle the horses? I’ll send my groom to help you when I’ve got Felix settled.”

“Of course,” Minho replied. He was standing very close, and his voice was strained in a way Felix never heard it before. “Take him inside, I’ll follow along when I’ve got the horses back.”

Chan turned and walked away, back across the lawn towards Wildfell. One of Felix’s hands clutched at Chan’s lapel, unwilling to let go lest he fall back to the ground again, despite the arms carrying him bridal style up the lawn.

Chan was whispering little calming words as he walked, the sway of his gait more soothing to Felix than anything else. Chan would never ever drop him. 

Tears streamed down his cheeks as they mounted the stairs, Chan’s boots clicking on the marble. Felix sniffled, embarrassed that his tears were messing up Chan’s fine clothes. He tried to lean away and brought one trembling hand up to swipe at his cheeks.

Chan pulled the hand away. “Don’t cry, Felix, it’s okay. I know it hurts, but I’m bringing you inside, you can lay down, okay?”

“Ch-chan, Chan,” Felix babbled, sobs shaking through his body. “Chan…”

“I’ve got you, I won’t let anything else happen to you,” Chan said, hands tightening a little as he held Felix. 

Felix tried to shake his head. The pain wasn’t why he was crying. His body felt like it was out of his control, quivering as he cried. He twisted, wriggling as hard as he could. His back was twinging like it had before and it sent Felix into a panic, trying his hardest to check on himself.

“Felix, please,” Chan begged, attempting to soothe him. “Come on, we’re almost there, I’m taking you back to the hall, okay?”

Felix slumped back down in Chan’s arms, sobs wracking his frame. He felt like a child, messy with tears and unable to articulate what he needed.

Chan took it in stride, saying something to a member of the household staff who came running up to them with hurried feet. He set off down the hallways, a much longer walk than Felix remembered from his visit.

A door opened, and Felix was being settled down on the softest bed he’d ever felt. He flailed when Chan tried to draw away, chest still heaving with sobs.

“Lixie!” Chan cried, taking hold of his wrists. “I’m only trying to take your boots off. You’ve got to calm down, please, you’ll hurt yourself if you keep crying so hard.”

Felix slumped down on the bed, tears still spilling down his cheeks as he allowed Chan to slip his boots off. Chan pulled at Felix’s jacket and waistcoat, leaving him in just his shirt. 

A maid entered the room, bearing a tray with a pitcher and cloth on it. Her eyes widened at the sight of Felix and Chan stood in front of him, covering Felix from view.

Chan returned to Felix’s side, wetting the cloth and wiping Felix’s cheeks. Felix’s heart hurt at the tenderness in his touch, another wave of tears filling his eyes. He let Felix clutch at his hand until his breathing evened out, his other hand stroking over Felix’s hair. 

“Sorry… ‘m sorry,” Felix gasped, squeezing Chan’s hand. He couldn’t imagine how pathetic he must seem to Chan.

Chan shook his head. His hand cradled Felix’s cheek, catching a stray tear with his thumb. “Don’t apologize, Lixie. It wasn’t your fault. There was a snake on the ground and it spooked your horse. It could have happened to anyone.”

Felix shuddered and Chan leaned in closer, worry all over his face. “Felix, what’s wrong? You didn’t fall that hard, I didn’t hear anything break when you hit the ground. You’re lucky, I was terrified that you were going to get trampled with all our horses around you.”

Felix tried to push himself upright in bed and Chan caught him, pulling him to rest against the pillow. A knock sounded at the door and the butler appeared, bearing yet another tray with glasses and a bowl on it. He set it down on the side table and left with a respectful nod to Chan. Felix had just enough presence of mind to admire the efficiency of a good butler before Chan was offering him a glass of water.

He expected Chan to let him hold it, but Chan lifted the glass to his lips and helped him drink, the cool water giving him some clarity. He set the glass down when Felix was done and picked up the bowl.

Felix started when Chan dipped a spoon into the bowl and gave every indication that he was about to spoon-feed Felix a bowl of broth. 

“Hyung, hyung, I’m fine,” Felix said, tugging gently at Chan’s sleeve.

Chan set the bowl down and dragged a chair across the room to sit down beside Felix. He took Felix’s hand in his, the warmth steadying him. “Are you sure you’re okay? It must have scared you to fall so suddenly like that. Would you like me to send for the doctor?”

Felix shook his head, trying to look reassuring. “It didn’t hurt all that bad, Chan-hyung.”

Chan frowned and opened his mouth again, but Felix beat him to it. It was time to explain how Felix ended up at Rivington.

“Hyung, do you remember when you first met me?”

Chan nodded, a soft smile crossing his face. Felix flushed at the look and hurried on, stumbling over his words.

“You asked why I was there, and I didn’t tell you?”

“I remember,” Chan said, frowning again. “But you had every right to not tell me, I was hardly more than a stranger-”

“No no, that’s not the point,” Felix said, squeezing Chan’s hand. “I did have a reason to be at Rivington all alone, I just didn’t want to tell you.”

Chan went a little stiff, the expression frozen on his face. “You aren’t required to tell me anything, Lix-ah, I understand that.”

Felix shook his head, beginning to feel frustrated. “You should know the truth, especially after what happened today.”

Chan looked more confused than ever, but he nodded and settled deeper into the chair. His thumb was running in circles over Felix’s knuckles, but he hadn’t seemed to realize that he was doing it.

“I have two sisters back home, one older and one younger,” Felix said, smiling a little bit and smoothing the bedspread under his fingers. “One of them is married, and she’s expecting a baby. My youngest sister is unmarried and lives at home still.”

Felix snuck a look at Chan, pleased to find him looking confused at the turn that the conversation had taken but too polite to say anything. Felix pushed himself up further, gasping at the pain. 

Chan tucked another pillow behind his head, waiting for Felix to continue.

“My elder sister and I were out at the same time, attending the same parties together. We may not have the high status preferable in society circles, but we were popular.”

Felix bit his lip, remembering the gilded existence he had been trapped in when he had been in town.

“I had been taught to ride when I was younger, but when I was a young debutante, my parents encouraged me to pursue my fondness further. I was very skilled on horseback.”

Chan’s expression cleared a bit and Felix looked away. It had been embarrassing to tell when Jisung asked him the same questions.

“I won several titles, all in horseback racing,” Felix admitted. “Not enough for me to make a career of it, but enough to turn heads at parties. I was popular, and it drew attention to be a young man with talent. I enjoyed it, if I am to be honest. I was younger and fawned over. It was satisfying to receive much attention.”

“I had no idea,” Chan said, hushed. “You never ride much, I’m not sure why it didn’t occur to me…”

“There’s a reason for that,” Felix said, repressing a shudder. “My family was proud of me, and made many allowances for me to continue with racing. I suspect that it did scare off more suitors than it attracted. No one wants a husband to outshine them, especially since I had to marry rich. My family lacks the status to make my sisters and I a good match.”

“But regardless of status, my sister received three offers of marriage,” Felix said, hurrying on since it looked like Chan wanted to interrupt. “She accepted the third, and we all were very excited to see her happily married. We were sad to have her leave the house, but it was enough to know she would be loved and happy.”

Chan nodded again, his brows still furrowed. 

Felix sighed again. “My father insisted upon taking me out for a ride two days before the wedding. He said he felt the need to spend more time with his children, as we were all nearing the age where we would depart to make our own homes. I don’t begrudge him that.”

“That ride turned out to be the worst decision I’ve ever made,” Felix said. “We were returning to the stable, riding over the stones behind our residence. There was a storm the night before, and a massive tree on our lawn had gotten struck by lightning. A branch was hanging precariously, and right after we rode under it, it snapped.”

Chan gasped and Felix winced, unable to meet his eyes. Chan’s hand clutched harder at Felix’s on the sheets.

“It landed just behind us,” Felix whispered. “It was very loud. I had made the stupid decision to take a young horse out that morning, unused to the saddle and easily spooked. I was overconfident. I thought nothing could go wrong.”

“My father’s horse just reared, but mine bucked me off,” Felix said, his voice very soft. “I was thrown from the saddle and landed on hard cobblestones.”

He closed his eyes again, remembering the searing pain and his father’s horrified yell. Chan’s hand spasmed and he gripped at his knee.

“I fractured my spine, and broke at least two ribs,” Felix said. His voice trembled a little. He had to be carried into the house by the staff, delirious from pain and unable to respond to any questions. It had been the first time he’d seen his father cry. “I missed my sister’s wedding, bedridden with fever. The doctors advised me to keep my ribs bound, and to move as little as possible.”

Felix laughed a little. “My mother had one of her old corsets repurposed for me so I could heal. Within two weeks, I had worsened to the point that my family feared for my life. I was miserable having to stay in bed and had crying fits when I tried to imagine going anywhere near a horse again.”

Chan’s head dropped, hiding his expression from Felix. “I’m so sorry, Felix, I can’t imagine going through anything like that…”

“It was awful,” Felix agreed. “They made me eat nothing but broth and crackers for weeks.”

Chan shot a guilty look at the bowl on the table and Felix laughed. 

“One day, my parents told me that they had let Rivington in the country, so I could have some time to recuperate on my own time. At the time, I was furious,” Felix remembered, smiling ruefully as he thought of his reaction. “I thought they were just trying to get rid of me, now that I could no longer ride and would be seen as unworthy due to my injury. Anyone interested in me would forget due to my extended absence from society, and would marry other people.” 

“That wasn’t what they intended though, was it?” Chan asked quietly, pushing Felix’s hair out of his face again.

“No, of course not,” Felix said. “I was just angry at the time, and very sad. They wanted to give me space and time to heal, and thought the country air would be good for me. The journey here was painful and miserable. I arrived having lost so much weight, pale and withered from the fever and constant pain.”

Chan made a sudden movement forward, as though resisting the impulse to stand. Felix watched expressions flit across his face, idly curious.

“You know what happened next,” Felix said, trying to keep his tone light. “Jisung heard about my presence, and before I knew it I had a standing invitation to Whitemarch and a friend who called on me every day to look after me.”

“I’m glad of it,” Chan said forcefully, clutching harder at Felix’s hand. “To think of you like that-”

Felix nodded, trying to be calm. “I healed slowly, but it was easier with the presence of friends. I spent many days hobbling around Coldridge with Seungmin. He was endlessly patient with me.”

“I see now, why you reacted the way you did,” Chan said. “Are you sure you’re not in any pain?”

“I should be fine,” Felix answered, reaching a hand down to where he knew the old injury was. “I’ll ache for a bit, but I don’t feel anything seriously wrong.”

Chan nodded, biting his lip and looking away. “Thank you for telling me what happened to you, Felix. I understand why you did not wish for me to know, and I am sorry for prying. Please, forgive me.”

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” Felix said, smiling at Chan to ease his worries. “Jisung, Minho-hyung, and Seungmin all asked me the same questions, and I avoided answering them as much as I could.”

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Chan said, hesitant. “Why?”

“It was painful for me to admit something so vain,” Felix admitted. The words came so easily after months of thinking them over. “I thought I had lost the only thing that made me of interest to others, and I thought I would never fall in love. I liked the attention that racing brought me, and I don’t think I’ll ever compete again.”

“But I’m glad it turned out this way,” Felix continued when he saw Chan open his mouth again. “I’m glad I came to Rivington, and I met so many wonderful people here. And I needed to see that I was more than just a title, that I was worth more than what talents I had.”

“Felix,” Chan said, a little choked. “All that pain…”

“I could have done without the pain,” Felix agreed, chuckling. “But I’ve gained so much despite it. Please don’t feel sorry for me, hyung.”

“I could never,” Chan said. He hesitated and opened his mouth again. Felix leaned forward, hoping against all else that Chan was about to apologize for his conduct during Felix’s last visit. Chan gripped his hand and leaned forward, a deathly serious look on his face. 

A crash sounded from the end of the hallway, followed by pounding footsteps. A very frazzled Minho burst into the room, sending the door flying into the wall.

Minho relaxed when he saw Felix laying in bed peacefully, rather than melting into a puddle of hysterics. He strode over to Felix’s side, cupping his cheek in one hand and smoothing his thumb over Felix’s cheekbone in a gesture so tender it almost brought tears to Felix’s eyes.

“Thank goodness you’re all right,” Minho said, his voice a little thick. “I could hardly bear it if you were hurt like you were before. Poor Jisung-ah, he’s never going to forgive me for this.”

Felix laughed, leaning his face into Minho’s palm. “He won’t blame you, hyung. He’ll know it wasn’t your fault.”

“Ah, but I wanted you to ride again,” Minho said, sinking down to sit on the bed. “I encouraged it.”

“With good intentions,” Felix insisted. “I’m perfectly fine, hyung.”

Minho hung his head. Felix had never seen Minho like this before, so ashamed and worried. 

Felix nudged him with his leg. “Will you let me stay at Whitemarch, hyung? You and Jisung can fuss over me as much as you like and I won’t even complain.”

Minho nodded and Chan made a hastily stifled noise in his throat. Chan stood and crossed the room to the door.

“Thank you, Channie-hyung,” Felix said, mourning the loss of Chan’s warm hand and steady comfort. “Thank you for everything.”

Chan hesitated at the door, then walked straight back across the room to Felix’s side. He bent down and pressed a soft kiss to Felix’s forehead, ignoring Minho’s gasp of surprise.

Quiet, so Minho couldn’t hear, Chan whispered, “I would do it all over again. Only for you, Lix-ah.”

-

Felix arrived at Whitemarch to a very worried Jisung, who refused to let Felix out of his sight for the rest of the afternoon. Felix let Jisung ply him with cups of tea, knowing that Jisung must be remembering how frail Felix was when he first arrived. 

He still felt a little trembly, and the aches were finally setting in and Felix knew it would be a while before he could ride a horse again, the panic bubbling up in his chest when he thought about it.

Minho stuck his head in the drawing room every now and again, to bring food or a cat or a new book from the library. He seemed to be calmer than before, quick to make his usual teasing jabs. Felix let him fuss, knowing he needed it.

Felix was settled into the best guest room for the night, with Soonie to keep him company. Jisung wanted to stay with him but Felix nudged him away, amused at the coddling but knowing that Minho would want his husband with him.

He woke the next morning to all three cats sitting on his chest and staring down at him. Jisung barged in a moment later and dragged Felix up to be dressed, claiming that he needed to be up and about so he wouldn’t get too achy or miserable.

They walked around the garden together with Minho, both of them on either side of Felix to keep him steady, like they had back when Felix was recovering. Felix didn’t have the heart to tell them that he could walk just fine. He could tell that they needed to care for him, to make sure he was safe. The early months of their acquaintance weighed heavily on the couple, the memories of a sickly Felix hard to bear.

They spent a pleasant day together, reading and talking in the parlor until the evening, when their guests began to arrive for dinner.

Seungmin and Changbin arrived first, arm in arm and blushing when everyone heaped congratulations on them. Changbin gave Felix a very hearty slap on the back which made his knees buckle and was promptly scolded by Minho. 

Jeongin scurried in on his own, dropping a pile of books in Jisung’s arms and then flinging himself at Felix. They sat together on the sofa, and Jeongin refused point blank to leave his side, even when Hyunjin arrived with his usual sketchbook tucked under his arm.

There was so much noise and confusion going on that Felix didn’t even notice when Chan slipped in the room, busy talking to Seungmin and making sure that every misunderstanding was resolved. 

The butler called them all in for dinner and in the shuffle to get up and move to the dining room, Felix didn’t have the opportunity to greet Chan. 

They were sat at opposite ends of the table, adhering to Jisung’s rotating seating charts. Felix was next to Jeongin and Minho and across from Hyunjin, which meant Minho was slipping him extra bits of food from his plate and Jeongin was occupied in making faces at Hyunjin.

Minho led a toast to Seungmin and Changbin’s engagement, and Felix bore witness to Hyunjin giving Jeongin a look that made him go beet red without any explanation.

When they all retired to the drawing room, Felix darted off to the library to haul Dori into the drawing room. He had a soft spot for the cat, and he was pretty sure Dori liked him back. 

Dori all but melted into his arms, which were full of happy purring cat by the time Felix settled himself back down on the sofa beside Jisung.

Jisung had Doongie in his lap, and Minho claimed the cushiest armchair. Chan was over by the window watching the lawn turn orange from the sunset, but he came over to join the three of them when he saw Felix.

Jeongin was back in his usual chair, Hyunjin at his side. He appeared to be sketching a vase of flowers that was on the table, the last of the best summer blooms from the garden.

Minho lit a fire to ward off the chilly air outside, and the room was pleasantly cozy in the cool evening. Seungmin and Changbin were sitting near it together, their hands tangled together as they spoke in low voices. 

Felix settled deeper into his place on the sofa, wriggling happily. This was his favorite place to be, surrounded by his friends in a cozy room. 

Minho and Jisung were absorbed in each other, leaving Felix to face Chan. He turned to see Chan looking at Seungmin and Changbin, an almost wistful look on his face.

“They make a lovely pair, do they not?” Felix asked. He petted Dori as the cat purred, kneading his arm.

“Yes, they do,” Chan said, returning his attention to Felix. “I’m very happy for them.”

He did indeed look happy for them, the remnants of a smile still on his face. He was still looking at Felix with the certain kind of tenderness that he had after Felix fell yesterday. Felix found it difficult to face Chan when he looked like that, made even worse by the fact that he was dressed from head to toe in solid black and it complimented him perfectly.

Felix looked back down at Dori and scratched the cat behind his ears. It was much easier to look at Dori than Chan. 

Despite the fact that probably more people in the room than not knew that Chan kissed Felix, he still refused to bring it up to prevent Felix’s reputation from being damaged. Either that, or Chan didn’t care to apologize, which Felix knew was not the case.

Anyone could hear them here, Jisung or Hyunjin or someone could hear and bring it up and Felix might suffer for it. He knew his friends would never do that to him, but Chan’s insistence on the matter warmed Felix deep inside. 

Felix smiled at Chan, hoping to somehow let him know that he was forgiven. Felix desperately wanted to know why Chan left him alone, but he understood that he would have to wait until Chan was willing to divulge the information.

Luckily, Felix could be patient when required.

-

Felix stood at the window, staring out over the lawn at Rivington. It was late afternoon and he was trying to decide if it would be worth risking his butler’s wrath to go for a walk.

The sky outside the manor was clear, but the horizon was covered with a mass of stormclouds, dark and threatening over the treetops. The wind outside was beginning to pick up. It looked rather larger than the late summer thunderstorms that Felix knew were common in the country.

He walked down the hallway, freezing like a startled cat when he saw his butler waiting for him at the end.

“There’s a bad thunderstorm coming, Felix-ssi,” his butler said sternly. “No time for a walk, I’m afraid. There’s tea waiting for you in the library.”

“Yes, thank you,” Felix said, a little grumpy and feeling even more like a cat as he was denied permission to go outdoors. He set off for the library, ready to spend a stormy evening reading in the library.

The storm rolled in as the sun set, turning the sky fantastic colors. Oranges and pinks streaked across the sky as it darkened. Lightning flickered across the walls of the library and Felix settled further into the cushions, delighted by the storm. He loved nothing more than to cozy up during storms and listen to the approaching thunder.

The storm didn’t break until a couple hours past sunset, a slow moving mass of clouds covering the full moon. Felix had left the windows open and the lightning lit up the grounds in shocking flashes of white, giving brief clarity to the trees whipping about in the wind. 

Felix stayed in the library long past all the members of the household staff went to bed, savoring the booming thunder and the pounding of the rain. As a child, thunderstorms frightened him, but now they felt cozy and comforting.

He lit a candle to make his way across the manor, pulling the ties of the curtains before he left the room. Felix’s shoes echoed in the quiet rooms of the hall. Flashes of lightning lit up the hallway as he walked, giving him more light.

The light of another candle approached, faster than Felix was walking. He squinted, surprised to see his butler awake and dressed in nightclothes.

His butler practically ran into him, his eyes wide with fear. “Felix-ssi! There’s someone at the door, this time of night… one of the maids heard banging and scraping, it was coming from the front door.”

Felix frowned, his stomach twisting. “The storm was too bad to be out, there’s no way anyone could be there.”

“Please, we should check,” the butler begged, looking a little panicked. “Perhaps it is a stranded traveler. We can offer them shelter.”

Felix nodded. The entrance hall was quiet now, but he strode down the remaining few feet of the hallway and out across the floor to the front door. 

Thunder crashed again, shaking the old hall down to the foundations. Felix jumped at the noise, his hand stretched out to take the handle. 

Felix swung the door open. The rain was pelting down outside and Felix held an arm up to shield his eyes, searching the night. He couldn’t see anything at all, the thick clouds obscuring all light.

“There’s no one!” Felix called to his butler, raising his voice over the wind. 

A flash of lightning broke over the lawn as he spoke, providing enough light to see a crumpled figure laying at the bottom of the stairs.

The light was quick, but it gave Felix just enough time to see a man, dressed in a drenched tunic, raise his head from where he was curled on the stone. Felix gasped and the candle fell from his hand, wax splattering onto his shoes. 

Felix would know him anywhere.

“Chan!”

Chapter Text

Felix surged forward over the threshold and out into the hammering rain. He ignored the startled cry of his butler behind him, rushing down the steps to Chan’s side. The rain bit at his skin, cold stinging drops hitting his face.

Chan was drenched to the bone, his hair stuck to his head and the tunic transparent and plastered to him. He was covered in mud, the worst of it on his feet. The rain washed most of it away, but Chan was shaking from the cold and his legs were covered in scratches.

He lifted his head from the stone, his lips forming the shape of Felix’s name.

Felix dropped to his knees beside Chan, his own trembling hands pulling fruitlessly at Chan’s frame. Felix had no hope of carrying Chan on his own, but Chan clung to him.

“Channie-hyung!” Felix cried, his voice nearly lost to the wind. “Hyung!”

Chan shook his head, his teeth chattering too hard to speak. His fingers were digging into Felix’s arm and Chan tried to struggle to his feet.

Felix cried out when Chan fell back to the stones, his feet leaving bloody prints on the ground.

Felix’s butler came down the steps after Felix, his own hair sticking to his forehead. Together, they each put one of Chan’s arms over their shoulders and heaved him to his feet. Felix gasped in shock at Chan’s weight. It was one thing to admire his build when Chan was standing on his own, finely dressed and smiling, but another entirely to have all of that bulk draped over his back. 

Chan staggered, nearly knocking Felix over. 

“We have to get him inside!” the butler called. “Take him to the nearest guest room. I’ll wake up the staff.”

They maneuvered Chan up the stairs, blinking water out of their eyes. Chan moved fast in spite of being cold and soaking wet. Lightning flickered, casting light across Chan’s face, showing how his eyes sagged from exhaustion.

Felix had to shove Chan over the threshold. Chan was too tired to give Felix much trouble, but he resisted having his sodden self dragged into the hall. Chan stumbled, dripping water and mud and blood into the floor of the entrance hall.

Chan made some kind of noise, almost a whimper, staring with a mortified horror at the water and blood on the floor. 

“No, Chan-hyung,” Felix gasped, panting under Chan’s weight. “Come on, don’t worry about the mess.”

Chan nodded, his teeth still chattering. It was almost comical how miserable he looked, dripping wet like a sodden cat on Felix’s doorstep.

Two footmen rushed up to them, roused by the noise. “Felix-ssi, what’s going on? We heard voices-“

“Don’t worry about that right now,” the butler cut in, sounding somehow perfectly poised even with Chan slumping over his shoulders. “Go have a bath drawn in the largest room for Bang Chan-ssi. I’ll be down to help in just a moment.”

They both nodded and departed. Felix and the butler made their way down the nearest hallway, leaving a trail of water behind them.

Chan’s near-nudity brought a flush to Felix’s cheeks now that the panic receded a bit. His tunic nearly went down to his knees, but it was far less clothing than Felix was accustomed to seeing Chan in. He cursed at himself for looking at Chan in such a way when he was hurt and in need of assistance. Felix kept his eyes fixed on the floor, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other on the patterned carpet.

All three of them made it to the nearest guest bedroom where the footmen already lit the lamps. Both of them came forward to take Chan, replacing Felix and the butler.

Felix hovered by the side, unwilling to leave while Chan was so vulnerable. The footmen were already taking him back to the nearest washroom. 

Felix made to follow them before the butler stopped him.

“We’ll take it from here, Felix-ssi,” the butler said, gently guiding Felix back to the door. “I’ll send for you.”

“But I-“

“We’ll take good care of him, don’t worry,” the butler said. His tone was soft but firm, and Felix knew he would not be moved by pleading. 

He sighed to himself and left to go pace the room next door. Now that the excitement had calmed, more questions were piling up.

What on earth was Chan doing outside in a huge thunderstorm? There was no reason for him to be outside so late, let alone in a storm. Had he been attacked? Chan was hardly defenseless, but the idea of him being hurt still made Felix twist his fingers in worry.

Chan wasn’t the type to go off on wild goose chases for no reason. He wouldn’t have turned up at Rivington in such a state unless there was something seriously wrong. 

Felix shook his head, trying to ward off the concern. He wouldn’t know anything until he saw Chan again, and that was only if Chan wanted to answer his questions.

The storm still raged outside, the only light in the room given by flashes of lightning. Just as Felix was contemplating lighting the lamps to settle in for a wait, the butler knocked on the door.

“Felix-ssi? Bang Chan-ssi is asking for you.”

Felix was at the door immediately, tripping over himself. He followed the butler down the hall, heart pounding with nerves.

The room that Chan was in was done up in red, which remained from the previous owner of the hall. Felix left it the way it was, the upholstery and silks of the walls a little dusty with age. He regretted it once he saw the lamps lit, drenching the silks with yellow light and making them look bloodstained. The curtains were drawn against the storm, but lightning still flickered in through the crack. 

Chan was in a dressing gown, tucked into the bed under a large pile of blankets with only the lamp next to him lit. A fire was burning in the grate, the flickering making dancing patterns over the silk. Chan opened his eyes when the door creaked open, his head lifting off the pillow.

He made to get out of bed and Felix rushed to his side, grabbing Chan’s hand and sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“Hyung, are you alright?” Felix asked, trying to push Chan back to lay down in bed. “What happened? Why were you out there?”

To his horror, Felix felt his eyes fill up with tears. He swiped at his face, turning aside to hide his tears from Chan. He had no right to cry when it was Chan who was hurt.

“Hey, hey, Lixie, don’t cry,” Chan said, pushing himself up against the pillows to sit. The blankets slipped down, revealing his bare chest under the untied robe. Felix squeaked and tried to look away, only to have Chan pull Felix right up against him in a warm hug. “I’ll be just fine, your butler took very good care of me.”

Felix let himself slump into Chan’s embrace, brushing aside his tears and collecting himself away from Chan’s gaze. He definitely wasn’t supposed to be sprawled over a nearly naked Chan in a bed, but Felix couldn’t bring himself to move. Chan was so warm and one of his hands was petting over his hair. All Felix wanted was to curl up on Chan’s tummy and sleep.

Still, the questions from earlier wouldn’t leave him alone. Felix had to know.

“Why were you out there, hyung?”

Felix kept his tone light and his head down, still cuddled up to Chan. There was no way he could miss how Chan went still at the question.

“Felix… I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?” Felix burst out, pushing himself upwards to glare at Chan. “You arrive on the footsteps of my hall, drenched and covered in scratches, looking like you just took a swim in a mud puddle, and then you won’t tell me why?”

“Lix-ah, please,” Chan said, reaching out a placating hand.

“No!” Felix cried, pushing himself off the bed and turning in an agitated circle. “I don’t understand what’s going on with you! You- you kissed me in the library, and then you never mention it again. Then you help me so gently after I fell, and still you say nothing! Am I nothing more than cheap amusement to you? Do you intend to play with my feelings until you’re satisfied?”

He stopped and stared at Chan, more humiliated tears boiling in his eyes. 

“What am I to you, hyung?”

Chan raked a hand through his damp hair, the curls flopping right back into his eyes. He patted the bed beside him. 

“Sit down, Lixie.”

Irritated at being told what to do in his own home but still desperately curious, Felix sat on the edge of the bed. He sat on his hands to prevent himself from crossing them like a petulant child and waited for Chan’s excuse.

Chan sighed and pulled the blankets up to cover his chest again. “I should have taken my leave the moment I felt anything more than neighborly affection for any of you, Felix. There are times when I wish I had never come here at all-”

“Is this your way of spurning my affections?” Felix said bitterly, turning his head away. 

“No!” Chan said, giving a start. “Please, give me a moment.”

Felix waited, keeping his face turned away from Chan. He knew it was petty, but he was hurt.

Chan stayed silent, the stifling quiet of the room only broken by the crackling of the logs in the fireplace. 

Felix hunched in on himself and waited. Chan was quiet for so long that tears filled Felix’s eyes again and he stood, ready to leave the room.

“I think I’ve heard enough, hyung. I understand where your feelings stand and I promise to not mention it again,” Felix rambled, trying to pull himself together. “I’ll take my leave, and I’ll let my butler know that you’ll be staying the night-”

“Please, Felix,” Chan cried, reaching out to take his wrist. “Don’t leave, Lixie. I promise, I’ll tell you everything.”

Felix sat back down, smoothing Chan’s blankets under his fingers. Chan sighed and covered his face with his hands, his eyes squeezing shut under his palms. Felix looked away and tried to give him space to collect himself.

Chan began again. “You’ve noticed the howling, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have,” Felix said, forgetting his pretense and whipping around. He was bemused by Chan’s sudden change of subject, but curiosity got the better of him for the second time. “Why? Do you know what’s been going on? Have you seen the wolf too? Jisung wants to write for a hunter, did you know-”

“No, Felix.” Chan’s head was bowed and one hand was clenching on the blankets.

“No, what? You haven’t seen the wolf?”

Chan shuddered and his shoulders hunched down. “It’s not a wolf. It’s me.”

“What?” Felix’s brain ground to a halt, buzzing. “Very funny, hyung, but you don’t have four legs.”

Chan cringed away as if he expected a physical blow from Felix. “I’m not lying to you, Felix. The howling was me. I’m a werewolf.”

Felix slipped off the bed, his legs buckling under his own weight. It was crazy, ludicrous, unbelievable- 

Werewolves weren’t real, they were just old silly folk stories Felix was told as a child. Creatures of myth, tales told in dim drawing rooms with just the embers glowing in the fireplace.

But he remembered the way Chan reacted when Felix told him the name of the wolfwood, the way Chan’s eyes tracked the bunny across the lawn at Coldridge, the growly rumbles in Chan’s chest when they kissed in the library…

He knew Chan would not lie to him.

“Oh my god, the howling was you- the prints under my window, that was you? It’s- you, all this time it’s been you?” Felix stumbled away from Chan, icy fear trickling down his limbs, making them go weak. 

“Calm down, Felix, it’s okay,” Chan pleaded, reaching out for him. “I would never hurt you-”

Felix took another shaky step backwards, half expecting Chan to lunge at him. He was so close, he could get to Felix in a minute, kill him in another- 

“Those prints were right under my own bedchamber… I was so scared, I thought that the wolf- that you were stalking me!” 

Felix backed into the wall opposite the bed, his breathing coming quicker. He was alone in the room with Chan, he could tear Felix to pieces in a moment. Felix remembered the size of the pawprints, how one of his own hands was barely big enough to span it. 

Chan half-rose from bed, clutching the robe around his waist. “Come here, Felix, please, I would never ever hurt you. Let me explain. I’ve been around you for months and I swore to myself that I would never hurt you, any of you. Please, Lixie.”

Felix stood frozen, unwilling to move closer. Chan stretched out an open palm to coax Felix to sit down again. The expression on his face was wracked with guilt, and it made Felix’s chest ache with dull pain. 

He took a hesitant step back towards Chan, and Chan nodded encouragingly. His breathing still coming in quick bursts, Felix perched himself on the side of the bed. Chan made an aborted attempt to reach for Felix again but Felix shied away, shifting on the bed until he was settled near Chan’s knees. He kept his gaze on his hands, missing the way Chan’s face fell.

Chan fiddled with the bedsheets, uncharacteristically rigid. “It’s a very long story, Felix. I’m not quite sure where to start…”

“Start with m- start with Wildfell,” Felix said. He was about to say “ me ,” but the words sounded awfully presumptuous in his head. Felix arranged his hands on his lap, hoping that he looked more composed than he felt.

Chan snorted, the derisive noise echoing in the quiet room. “Wildfell. It all comes back to Wildfell, doesn’t it?” He sighed and one of his fists clenched in the sheets. “I’m like you, Felix. My mother and father chose to send me away, too. They were the ones who found Wildfell.”

Felix frowned. “But why would they send you away?”

“It’s not exactly… safe, to live with a fully grown werewolf,” Chan said, keeping his tone delicate. 

Felix flushed at his own foolish question and looked away again.

“I thought werewolves were myths- or legends,” Felix said. He tugged on his own fingers in frustration. “Stories to scare children.” 

“They are,” Chan agreed. “My kind used to be more common, centuries ago. Many stories claim that you have to be born as one, but that’s not true. Werewolves are made, not born. As far as I know, I’m the last living one of my kind in this country. The ritual is not performed anymore. No more willing participants.”

Felix shivered at the dark humor in Chan’s tone. “So your parents sent you to live in the country?”

“Yes,” Chan said. “Away from humans, secluded. I was meant to be able to undergo my shifts alone, without posing a danger to anyone.”

Felix was practically bouncing off the bed, burning up with questions, but he forced himself to remain still and let Chan finish. Chan let Felix talk without interruption before, now it was his turn.

“That was their plan, anyway,” Chan sighed. “I arrived at Wildfell, a reluctant inhabitant of a moldering old hall surround with what were supposed to be empty manors. My parents did not anticipate that all three other large residences would be occupied upon my arrival.”

Chan hung his head again. The light from the lamp shone across his features, making them stand out in the darkness of the room.

“I should have departed immediately when I found out. Minho extended an invitation to Whitemarch for dinner, and I felt it was my duty to accept. I arrived with the intention to do no more than I felt Minho and Jisung were owed as hosts, and become the reticent inhabitant of Wildfell everyone expected me to be.”

Felix stayed quiet and played with his cuffs, watching Chan’s face twist as he spoke.

“I was unable to keep this resolution. I found my neighbors to be agreeable and I wanted very much to continue seeing all of you,” Chan faltered at the end of his sentence, looking up at Felix. “I- must confess that this desire strengthened when I met you, Felix.”

Felix dropped his gaze to the usual safe zone of Chan’s collar, only to remember that Chan was not properly attired. His cheeks went red, watching the fire light up the dips of Chan’s clavicle. 

“You must remember,” Chan said, pleading. “Wolves are social creatures. We live in packs. It’s hard to fight down the instincts to protect. I couldn’t stop myself from seeking you out, from wanting to be with you. By the time I realized that I was in too far over my head, I knew that it would be impossible for me to leave all of you behind. It would hurt my wolf too badly to be separated.”

“I knew it!” Felix burst out. “I told Jisungie that the wolf- or, what we thought was a wolf- would move on, since it would be looking for a pack. I was right, in a way. You found us.”

“It was foolish of me,” Chan whispered. “Logically, I knew all of you were humans and incapable of forming the bonds I learned of when I was a child. But it was too late. My wolf thought of you as a m- as pack.”

Felix blinked at Chan’s faltered word. He opened his mouth to press the point but Chan continued on.

“It was unforgivable. When a werewolf shifts, they lose all ability to think as a human would. If I were to come across a loved one as a shifted werewolf, I would be unable to recognize them. I could kill them without a shred of remorse,” Chan said, cringing at his own words. 

“By remaining with you, I posed a serious danger to all of your lives. And yet, to leave would have caused immeasurable pain to my wolf. I never felt such strong connections… and yet I could have killed any one of you. You can imagine my horror when I learned of your fondness for walks at night.”

“I remember that night in the wolfswood,” Felix breathed, standing and pacing back and forth. “I heard you in the undergrowth! I was so scared…”

Chan buried his face in his hands. He slumped down over himself on the bed, his shoulders shaking. 

“You have no idea how much that night has haunted me,” Chan said, a sob catching on his words. “How close I could have come to hurting you, to killing you- Felix … what I have done to you is reprehensible.”

Chan rambled on before Felix could stop him. 

“I tried so hard to keep myself away when I had to shift. I would start walking hours before sundown, trying to get as far away as I could before the moonlight hit me. It meant nothing. My wolf returned here no matter what I did.”

“Those footprints under my window…” Felix began, trailing off with a frown.

Chan flinched. He didn’t look up at Felix when he spoke. “Shifts are not as instinct-heavy as ruts, but the instincts still present themselves. My desire was to protect you from harm. My memories are clouded during shifts, but I spent many nights prowling around Rivington.”

“But why? I don’t understand,” Felix asked. “Why not Whitemarch, or Coldridge? Why just Rivi-”

“Must you have me admit it,” Chan rasped, raising his head up to gaze at Felix with tears in his eyes. “I spent all those nights guarding your window because I love you, Felix. You enchanted me the minute I met you, I just couldn’t stay away from you. My wolf… you have no idea how it sees you. When I’m human, I know my feelings so clearly. ”

Chan drew in a stuttering breath. “My greatest desire is to see you happy, contented, loved. I know I can’t be the one to give you that. I cannot love you so deeply and keep you close. I’ve put you in so much danger remaining here. I would never forgive myself if I hurt you, and I’ve had too many close calls.”

Felix stopped pacing at the first utterance of the word love , struck dumb. Two earth-shaking revelations were too much for one evening. He stumbled back towards the bed, trying to get back to Chan’s arms.

“Hyung, Channie-hyung,” Felix gasped, clawing at Chan’s arms. Chan reached up and caught him, drawing Felix into his lap like it was nothing. “You really love me?”

“How could I not, darling?” Chan murmured, stroking Felix’s hair out of his eyes. “You light up every room you’re in.”

Felix snuggled up to Chan’s chest, the warmth covering him. He noticed how warm Chan was on the night they’d met at Whitemarch, and now Felix was wondering if it was because he was a werewolf. His body must run hotter than a human’s would. 

Felix could feel the rumbles start up in Chan’s chest when he laid his cheek over Chan’s heart and he fought down a laugh. Chan sounded like a happy cat.

“I wondered why you left me after you kissed me,” Felix mumbled, tracing the pattern on the collar of Chan’s dressing gown with a finger. “Now I understand.”

Felix felt a physical weight being lifted from his shoulders at the confession, even if it came with the truth of Chan’s identity. Chan loved him. Everything else, they could figure out later. 

“I treated you abominably that day, Felix,” Chan said, bowing as much as he could while sitting with a lapful of Felix. “I beg your forgiveness. I had no right to treat you in such a way. It was inexcusable.”

“I forgive you,” Felix said, the words coming easily now that he knew the reason behind Chan’s behavior. The apology was sweet, lifting the heaviness from his heart. “Just as long as you don’t run off after kissing me again, okay, hyung?”

Chan’s smile went a bit tight and he hummed. One hand came up to pet Felix’s hair again and he leaned into the touch, feeling like he would be purring like Chan if he could.

“Can you forgive me for keeping my true identity a secret, Felix?” The question was hesitant, whispered in Felix’s ear.

Felix smiled to himself. “I understand why you did it, hyung. But why did you tell me now? What would you have done if you hadn’t been discovered?”

“I- I don’t know,” Chan said, sounding amazed, as if he’d never considered it. “I don’t know what I was doing earlier in the evening but when the storm came, the clouds covered the moon. The moonlight is necessary to shift. I was in the middle of the woods when I regained my senses and I came here.” Chan’s shoulders slumped. “I had no idea what to do. It was bound to come out sooner or later. I was a fool, Felix.”

Felix nudged his head into Chan’s palm, trying to exude comfort. 

Despite his initial fear, Felix could see the human Chan really was. Chan went to great lengths to protect all of them from himself during his shifts. It was true that Chan could have departed the neighborhood as soon as he realized that there were too many people around, but Felix could understand what drove him to stay.

Hadn’t Felix found his friends to be every bit as wonderful as Chan thought they were? And he knew why Chan would guard the love and security he found so closely, because Felix did the same.

Felix leaned his head on Chan’s shoulder and savored the closeness. He couldn’t bring himself to feel the same fear when he was near Chan. Chan proved himself to be steady and reliable time and time again. There was no reason to be afraid of Chan when he spent so much time trying to keep Felix safe.

“Hey, hyung?”

“Hmm?”

“Other than the purring, are there ways to tell if someone’s a werewolf in human form?”

Out of all the questions Felix could have asked, he felt this one was fairly harmless. But there was no way to miss the way Chan went stiff under Felix at the question. 

“It’s not purring , exactly,” Chan said, sounding a little put out. “It’s more like growling, but… happy.”

‘That sounds like purring to me, Channie-hyung,” Felix said, enjoying the way Chan’s ears went pink. “But you didn’t answer the question, hyung.”

Chan moved under Felix, hefting him up until they were both sitting up separately. 

“It’s quite late, Felix,” Chan said, reaching down to tie his robe. “I promise I can tell you anything you want to know, but right now we should get some sleep.”

He stood, holding out a hand to Felix. Felix frowned up at him but took his hand anyway. His question still went unanswered, making Felix feel practically itchy with curiosity. A million other questions swirled around in his mind. He bit them down, resolving to ask tomorrow when they would have more time.

Chan pulled Felix in closer, cradling his face in one big hand. His gaze flicked down to Felix’s lips again, like that day in the library, and for one tiny moment Felix thought Chan was about to kiss him.

With a little sigh, Chan brushed the hair off of Felix’s face and dropped a kiss on his forehead. Felix leaned into it, inhaling Chan’s warm, woody scent. He closed his eyes and let Chan wrap him in a blanket, listening to him summon the butler to assist Felix back to his own chamber.

Felix only opened his eyes again when he was leaving the room. 

He turned to see Chan standing by the mantle, one hand braced on the marble as he stared into the fire. The light lit up his silhouette against the red wall, making him look warm. Felix couldn’t tear his eyes away from Chan’s face, the expression impossible to read in the firelight.

Felix expected to lay awake for hours in bed mulling over everything he learned. No sooner had his butler shut the door behind him than Felix’s eyes slid shut. He was exhausted, and his bed was warm and cozy. 

Felix didn’t let himself fight the waves of sleep overtaking him, promising himself he would talk to Chan in the morning.

-

The next morning, Felix woke to his curtains being pulled aside and flooding the room with early dawn light. 

He sat up, blinking sleep out of his eyes. Felix swung himself out of bed, ready to get downstairs as fast as he could. Felix’s butler strode into the room bearing a pitcher and a stack of correspondence. 

The butler set both down on the side table and bowed. “Bang Chan-ssi is in the breakfast room. I’ve taken the liberty of informing his housekeeper of his whereabouts. Shall I send for your valet, Felix-ssi?”

Felix waved him off, running a hand through his messy hair. “No, that’s not necessary. I’ll join Chan-hyung in a moment.”

The butler bowed and took his leave. Felix reached for the letters, thumbing through the stack to find one from Jisung, Seungmin, and Jeongin respectively, one from his parents, and another from his eldest sister. He sighed and set them aside, unwilling to spend his morning at a writing desk. 

The sunlight shining on the bedspread promised a warm enough morning to burn off the chill of last night’s rain. It might be a bit muddy, but Felix intended to spend the early hours outdoors, basking in the newfound knowledge that the wolf he had been so concerned about was now in his manor instead.

With a grim sort of humor, Felix reflected that he probably shouldn’t be so satisfied that there was a werewolf in his house.

His satisfaction only increased when he saw Chan sitting at his dining table, engrossed in a novel and eating his way through a plate of sausages. He giggled behind his hand when Chan looked up, one cheek bulging with sausage. Chan was just so cute .

Felix took his seat across from and loaded his plate, watching Chan finish his mouthful of food and mark his place in his book.

“Good morning, hyung!” Felix said, beaming at Chan when he looked up. “Would you like to take a walk in the garden this morning? You’ve never seen Rivington before!”

Chan nodded, giving a hesitant little smile when he saw the look on Felix’s face. 

Felix grinned. He was happy to see Chan up and about, looking much better than he had the night before. Some of the color returned to his cheeks and the bags under his eyes were less severe.

When they both finished eating, Felix insisted on showing Chan the rooms at Rivington before continuing outside into the gardens. He was very proud of his own improvements to the hall, and Chan reacted with appropriate praise in every room.

Chan kept himself at a respectful distance from Felix, even when Felix strayed closer to him. Felix frowned at the behavior, pouting a little when Chan stiffened after Felix took his arm.

Chan relaxed a bit when they went outdoors, offering Felix his arm whenever Felix came darting back from where he was pointing something out to Chan. It was a lovely day in early autumn, the trees just beginning to turn colors. Felix spent more time enjoying the breeze while walking on Chan’s arm than he did showing Chan around. 

Felix felt relieved to be able to walk outdoors without worrying that he was going to come across the wolf again. If someone had told him a few months earlier that he could feel safer than ever strolling on the arm of that very same wolf, Felix would have laughed in their face.

And yet it was true. 

Chan was steady and reliable as always next to him, keeping Felix close as they walked. Chan was warm as usual, a cozy presence on the cooler day.Felix resisted the urge to snuggle into his side. His tummy felt warm whenever he remembered Chan’s confession.

Chan loved him. All those daydreams and wishes could come true! It no longer seemed so fanciful to think that he could receive an offer of marriage. Felix’s cheeks flushed at the thought and he dug his fingers into Chan’s forearm.

Chan proved himself time and time again to Felix as considerate, kind, and steady. There was no reason to disregard Chan’s affection for him, not even with the revelation of the previous evening. 

It would be difficult, of course, to live with Chan’s condition, but Felix could learn. He would have to find out more about how to manage Chan’s shifts and more about werewolf physiology. There was nothing he couldn’t handle as Chan’s husband.

Chan glanced down at him. “Thank you for showing me your garden here, Lixie. I’m very impressed with your improvements.”

Felix preened at the praise. “We’ve got a bit of a break over the winter, and then it’ll resume again in the spring. If my parents still wish for me to remain here, that is. Their last letter contained hints of a summons back to town.”

“What for?” Chan said, frowning. “You’re perfectly happy here. Why would they want to move you?”

“My parents hoped to have me return to town to finish out my season,” Felix said, brushing a stray leaf from his sleeve. “They seem to think I’ve spent enough time here healing and they wish to see me married.”

Chan went silent but he tucked Felix’s arm more securely in his and turned them back down the path to prolong their walk.

“What about you, hyung?” Felix asked, still desperately curious from the night before. “Do you intend to stay in the country?”

Chan stopped walking. Felix turned to look at him, confused. They were stopped under the shade of a  huge horse chestnut tree, the leaves just beginning to turn orange.

“Hyung?”

“How can you even look at me, Felix?”

“What on earth do you mean, Channie-hyung?” Felix asked, slipping his arm free and standing in front of Chan. 

Chan threw up his hands in exasperation. “Last night I told you how I’ve spent the last few months keeping secrets from you, stalking around the neighborhood as a dangerous predator, terrified you, and on top of that, I have very strong affection for you. Doesn’t any of that bother you?”

Chan strode a few paces away, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t understand why you haven’t started shouting at me yet! You’re taking me around the gardens as if everything is just the same and it isn’t , Felix!”

His shoulders slumped. “You have every right to turn me out of Rivington immediately.”

Felix closed the gap between them, coming up to stand behind Chan. 

“I don’t blame you for keeping your identity a secret, hyung,” Felix said, quiet but intent. “You had every right to be distrustful. We were strangers. And I certainly don’t blame you for wanting to be near us. Why do you think I want to stay here at Rivington for as long as I can?”

“I’ve never had such close bonds,” Chan whispered, his shoulders slumping. “It frightens me so much, Felix… to be so attached to all of you, and yet pose so much danger-”

“But you wouldn’t hurt us,” Felix said. He sounded naive, but he just knew . “You swore to yourself you would never. I know you wouldn’t.”

“You can’t know that for sure!” Chan cried, turning to face Felix. “Anything could happen. I can’t force you to live under that danger just to satisfy my wolf’s need for closeness. I can’t.”

Felix’s eyes dropped. “You would never force me, Chan-hyung.”

Chan swore and stalked away towards the tree. He braced one arm against it, the other covering his eyes.

“You haven’t heard half of what I am, Felix.”

“Tell me, then!” Felix cried, darting to Chan’s side and seizing his arm. “ Tell me, hyung. Nothing you say will ever make me fear you!”

Chan met Felix’s eyes, gaze hardened from anger. Felix narrowed his eyes at Chan and refused to back down, even when he heard a faint growl come from Chan’s throat. 

Wheeling around, Chan buried his face in his hands. Felix waited a few beats, allowing Chan to collect himself before coming to stand in front of him again.

“I won’t leave, Channie-hyung,” Felix said. “No matter what you tell me.”

Chan sighed. He was silent for a moment, then-

“I suppose I should start at the beginning, then.” 

He offered his arm to Felix again and Felix took it without hesitation.

“I told you last night, werewolves aren’t exactly common anymore,” Chan started, guiding them out from under the tree to the path. “There's a good reason for that.”

“Too dangerous for other humans?” Felix guessed.

Chan ducked his head in acknowledgement. “Precisely so. Werewolves don’t have laws, but by the time I underwent the ritual, it might as well have been illegal to conduct it.”

“Last night, you said werewolves were made, not born,” Felix said. “Does that have anything to do with the ritual?”

Chan’s arm flexed under Felix’s hand. 

“It’s not an easy process to undergo,” Chan said. “It’s dangerous and violent. Few survive. Some make it out as half-werewolves, severely injured, but alive. The rest emerge as full-blooded werewolves.”

Felix shivered a little bit, nervous despite the sunny day. Chan’s deep voice made the hair on the back of his neck stand up when he talked of such things.

“My parents are both half-werewolves,” Chan said. “They were both disappointed to have ‘failed’ the ritual themselves, but it affected my father especially. He was obsessed with the idea of having his eldest son become a full-blooded werewolf.”

“Where do werewolves live?” Felix asked, unable to resist butting in. The curiosity was making him antsy. 

“My family lived in town for most of my life,” Chan answered. “Half-werewolves are able to blend in. They are spared the shifts, the sensitivity to bonds, and the ability to detect distinctive scents. So, we could live easily among humans.”

Felix nodded, keeping his gaze fixed on the ground as Chan continued. He bit his lip in an attempt to keep down the questions bubbling in his throat.

“My father moved us to a small village when I grew old enough to undergo the transformation,” Chan said. His voice sounded smaller now. “It was an enclave for the few werewolves left, mostly older half-werewolves and their human children.”

“There was only one full werewolf left. He was very old and unable to undergo his shifts. I don’t remember seeing him around much.”

Chan’s pace slowed a little, lost in thought. 

“My parents kept their intentions for me a secret. When I reached the right age, they performed the ritual.”

“How old were you?” Felix asked, dreading the answer.

“I had just turned thirteen,” Chan said, his tone soft.

Felix felt the words like a blow, a gasp punched from his lungs. “But- that’s so young!”

Chan gave a wry smile. 

“My father insisted. At the time, I didn’t know that I was likely to die in the attempt, just that I could become a half-blooded werewolf like my father. I knew that nothing would disappoint him more.”

Felix opened his mouth to say something, probably something nasty about Chan’s father that Chan wouldn’t appreciate hearing, but Chan continued on.

“I made it out a full-werewolf, as you know. Our neighbors were horrified when they found out. My parents had done what they considered the highest crime. I was now the greatest threat to their safety.”

Felix’s chest tightened. “What did your parents do after everyone found out?”

Chan laughed, the sound laced with dark humor. “They took us away, me and my little brother and sister. Out away into the northern wilderness. We were raised there. They barricaded themselves in our cottage when I had to shift.”

Chan’s eyes grew a little misty. 

“Those days were rather pleasant, for a young boy. I spent my days playing with my siblings in the forest. I enjoyed my days, but the nights were not always so nice. The shifts were… unpleasant, to say the least. I was young and unable to control myself.”

Felix made a confused noise and Chan turned to look at him, surprised.

“What exactly does it mean, to shift?”

Chan’s expression cleared. “It means to take on the form of a wolf. To shift, the light of the full moon must shine on the skin."

“But you shifted back last night,” Felix mumbled, half to himself.

“I did,” Chan agreed. “The moonlight was covered by the stormclouds, and sustained exposure to the moon is necessary to maintain the form of a wolf. I was trapped in the forest near Rivington, and I didn’t have a choice but to come here.”

Felix nodded, feeling warmly pleased that Chan had still been outside Rivington, even in his wolf form.

"I can avoid the transformation if I shut myself away from the moon, but to ignore the call for too long results in rapid changes in temper, uncontrollable rage,” Chan continued, voice faltering a little.

“But you retain certain abilities?” Felix asked, brow furrowing as he remembered Chan’s behavior.

“Yes,” Chan admitted, his cheeks going a little red. He ducked his head and stopped walking.

Felix smiled at him. “I’m sure it’s not that embarrassing. Do you have fleas, hyung?”

Chan snorted and looked away. He rubbed at his temple, considering. Felix waited, doing his best to not fidget out of eagerness.

“You already know about the growling,” Chan said, reaching down to press a hand against his sternum. “It happens when I’m agitated. I have much more control over it than I did as a child. And the… purring , as you call it.”

Felix nodded, wondering why that was so embarrassing to admit. Then he supposed that if he growled every time the kitchen was out of scones, it would be very humiliating.

Chan swallowed hard. “The others are more- sexual, in nature.”

Felix fiddled with his cuff, heat creeping under his stiff collar. He kept his eyes fixed on the buttons of Chan’s waistcoat. 

“I’m more sensitive to scent,” Chan rasped. “In the library, I was so sure you noticed- In humans, the scent is most concentrated at the nape of your neck.”

Felix drew in a breath. He remembered their kiss, how Chan had buried his face in Felix’s neck, kissing and sucking at the skin.

“Do I smell good, hyung?”

Chan groaned. “ So good , Felix. The first time I smelled you, I nearly went crazy. All I wanted was to be surrounded by your scent.”

Felix tilted his neck a little in invitation, giving his high collar a tug to expose the soft skin. 

Chan’s pupils dilated, eyes drawn to the temptation. Felix felt arousal spark down his limbs, feeling perversely like prey. 

With an obvious effort, Chan dragged his eyes up to Felix’s face. He stepped closer into Felix’s space, hands sliding down to Felix’s waist.

Felix went pliant in Chan’s arms, not missing how Chan growled a little at the show of submission. He dropped his head to the side, exposing more of his skin. 

Chan dipped his head down, his nose trailing over Felix’s neck. Felix gasped when Chan’s tongue flicked out to taste. 

Chan grew bolder at Felix’s willingness, nipping at his skin and kissing his way down to the bend of his shoulder. He shoved his face into Felix’s collarbone, pleased little growls and purrs echoing in Felix’s ears.

Felix let Chan hold him, his own legs too weak with pathetic arousal to keep him upright. He could feel himself reacting to Chan’s soft lips sucking at his skin, cock straining against his pants. Chan was hard too, their cocks rubbing together through their clothes as Chan hauled him closer.

“Smell so good,” Chan groaned, one hand squeezing Felix’s ass. “Every time I come near you, I can’t get enough.”

“What do I smell like, hyung?” Felix gasped, reaching up to cling to Chan’s shoulders.

“Mmm, like black tea,” Chan answered, nosing at Felix’s collar. “Like expensive leather and wisteria.”

Felix laughed a little, breathless. “That’s not what I was expecting.”

“You smell so sweet,” Chan gasped. “I can smell your arousal on you.”

Felix stiffened a little, soothed by Chan nipping at his jaw. “You can smell arousal?”

“When I get close enough,” Chan murmured, busying himself with kissing down to Felix’s lips. “I could smell it on you in the library, so tempting. The memories of that day haunt my dreams, Lixie. That kiss got me through my rut- fuck .”

“Hyung,” Felix gasped, one hand tangling in the curls at the back of Chan’s neck. “What’s a rut? You mentioned it before- ah! ”

Chan bit harder at the skin, leaving a mark. He was panting, his eyes wild with lust as he let his hands stroke up and down Felix’s body.

“Felix, darling, you shouldn’t ask me such things,” Chan ground out. “You’ll have me spoiling your innocence.”

“I don’t care- fuck , I don’t care,” Felix breathed, tugging Chan down for a messy kiss. Chan growled into the kiss, hauling Felix in closer and kissing him deep and hungry. 

Felix moaned when Chan’s hands cupped his ass, kneading at the flesh so hard he was sure Chan would leave bruises. Chan broke the kiss and shoved his face back into Felix’s neck, breathing hard.

“Ruts happen twice a year,” Chan said, his voice so quiet Felix had to strain to hear. “They’re intense, times when our instincts compel us to breed, to mate -”

Felix groaned, the idea of a lust-crazed Chan too arousing to bear. He could imagine Chan in his bed, hard and desperate as he fucked his fist, thinking of pounding Felix into the mattress. 

He ground his hips forward against Chan’s and they both moaned, hands flying to grope at each other.

“I had one not long ago,” Chan said, mouthing over the bites he’d left on Felix’s neck. “Fuck, Felix, the things I thought about doing to you… you would be horrified.”

“I wanna know, please ,” Felix begged, pulling Chan up to kiss him again. “Tell me everything, hyung, I want it all-”

“Fuck,” Chan gasped, his hands dropping from Felix’s waist. “I can’t , I can’t- Felix!”

Chan tore himself away, leaving Felix swaying on the spot, his knees like jelly. His clothes were a mess, collar tugged out of place and his neck covered in marks. Felix brushed his hair back into place, staggering.

Chan strode several paces away, his chest heaving from exertion. He dropped his head into his palms, raking his hands through his hair. 

“Why, Chan-hyung?” Felix asked, fighting to keep his voice even. “I want you, I do, I love you, please-”

Chan spun on the spot to face Felix. His own clothes were a mess, one button open on his waistcoat and his jacket hanging off one shoulder. Tears gleamed in his eyes and he looked near hysterics, clutching at his own wrists.

“Don’t you understand! Sooner or later I'm going to end up hurting you, and I can't do it, Felix. I won’t let that happen.”

Felix opened his mouth, furious protestations ready to spill forth. Chan raised his hands, placating. They were trembling, and only that stopped Felix from speaking.

“Please don’t ask me, Felix, it’s too dangerous. The amount of near misses I've had… it can’t be you next.”

Felix flung himself into Chan’s arms, and Chan caught him, pulling him in tight. Felix’s eyes burned, unshed tears filling his eyes. He clung to Chan, even when Chan moved back to gaze into his eyes.

“Felix, darling, forgive me,” Chan whispered, cradling Felix’s head in his hand and brushing away his tears. “I’ve imagined confessing to you a million times, I’ve been so close to throwing everything aside just for the chance to love you the way you deserve. Then I see myself holding your corpse, broken and bleeding from where my teeth tore into you. I love you, Felix, I would die if I hurt you like that.”

Tears were streaming down Felix’s cheeks faster than Chan could wipe them away. Felix grabbed Chan’s wrist, holding him desperately so he couldn’t leave. 

“Chan, no- don’t go, please!”

With a sob, Chan surged forward and kissed Felix feverishly, so hard that Felix could hardly breathe. He clung to Chan, kissing back through his tears.

“I’m sorry, Felix,” Chan gasped, his own cheeks shining with tears. “Please, you must understand why I can’t do this.”

Felix wanted to scream, to claw at Chan, to make him see that Felix didn’t care. He would always stay by Chan’s side, despite the risk. He wrestled with the feeling, pushing it down enough to give one tight nod, brushing his own tears out of his eyes.

“I- I understand, hyung,” Felix sobbed, prising his fingers open to release Chan. “I won’t protest.” 

The words appeared to wound Chan as much as they did Felix, his expression breaking open. Felix turned his head away and squeezed his eyes shut, unwilling to watch Chan walk away from him.

Chan let him go, turning and stalking away up the lawn. 

Felix crumpled in on himself, sobs shaking his chest. He yanked at his handkerchief with fumbling fingers, cursing at himself for his foolishness. He watched Chan retreat back to the manor, as Chan wiped at his own tears.

His heart felt like it was being cleaved in two, but there was nothing he could do. The reasons crowded his mind, the danger, the risk, the difficulty. Felix shouldn’t love Chan, and Chan shouldn’t love Felix.

That didn’t stop Felix from wanting to call out to him, to run after him, anything at all to make Chan understand that Felix would love him even if he tore out Felix’s throat.

But Felix forced himself to stay put, crying weakly into his handkerchief as he watched Chan disappear into the manor. 

Chapter Text

In the days following Chan’s confession, Felix shuttered in on himself. 

He spent hours in the library, making halfhearted attempts to lose himself in various novels and accepting regular tea trays from his butler. 

Answering his letters took Felix only half a morning. The letters from Seungmin and Jeongin contained regular correspondence, and Felix found it easy to feign cheerfulness on paper. He sent them off, satisfied that neither of them would find anything amiss. 

Jisung’s letter contained an invitation for tea at Whitemarch, which Felix found easy to accept. He had no intention of telling Jisung any more details about his flirtation with Chan, it was too raw and painful. Felix knew Jisung would want to comfort him, but he did not want to hear the platitudes that would only make his heart ache more.

The letters from his elder sister and parents posed more of a challenge. 

His parents’ letter contained an invitation to return to town and spend the winter with them. His younger sister missed him very much, and there was the prospect of extravagant parties like the ones he attended as a young debutante. Felix could imagine himself returning to the snowy city, spending his winter in warm ballrooms smelling of Christmas spices and batting his eyelashes at suitors. 

The idea made him ill, even thinking of leaving his cozy residence for the glamor of the town. There would be no more crackling fires in Whitemarch after a good dinner, no purring cats to cuddle, no friends happy to see him when he arrived. 

No, there could be no appeal in town, not when Felix would have to leave his heart back in the country. Attempting to find a husband while his heart belonged so wholly to another turned his stomach.

Felix wrote back to his parents, politely refusing the invitation and deferring his return to springtime. His parents wouldn’t be pleased with his decision, but Felix felt quite firm. There was nothing for him in town.

His eldest sister’s letter made him reconsider remaining in the country. She wrote a letter offering her own invitation to spend the holidays with her and her husband in their home.

Felix was tempted to agree, the idea of spending so much time with his sister appealing. He wouldn’t be able to meet his niece or nephew yet, but Felix knew that his sister would be much more occupied when the baby arrived. 

It would be pleasant in her home, decorated for Christmas and filled with regular guests all day. Still, Felix felt it would be cowardly to slink back to town with his tail between his legs, leaving his friends and their own Christmas plans to hide with his sister.

In the end, Felix wrote her another polite refusal, telling her that he would visit in the springtime when he came back to town. He felt guilty about it, but Felix knew that it would be best for everyone if he remained in the country.

Privately, Felix wondered what would happen if he left and Chan found out. What kind of pain would that put Chan in? Would his wolf follow Felix all the way to town? 

Both thoughts were unpalatable. Felix shuddered at the idea of a feral Chan in wolf form stalking the city streets, his giant form illuminated by streetlights. 

He didn’t know for sure if that could happen, but it felt too dangerous to risk. Felix couldn’t stand the idea of an innocent being harmed by his own broken heart.

Now that the danger had been taken away from wandering in the woods, Felix spent most of his waking hours out of doors. 

He roamed all over the countryside, relishing his freedom. There was no possibility of being stalked, so Felix threw all caution to the winds. He knew that he was just trying to distract himself, the pain in his aching feet easier to attend to than his broken heart.

Felix beat the familiar trails of Coldridge, joining Seungmin and Changbin for an autumn picnic. It was a lovely cool day by the pond, but Felix could not find true joy in it. 

He was happy for Seungmin and Changbin, he really was, but Felix’s heart felt like it was being crushed whenever he saw Seungmin give Changbin an adoring look, or when Changbin fed Seungmin little bites of food.

He knew it was foolish, but Felix couldn’t help imagining Chan doing the same for him. The shattered look on Chan’s face before he had left Felix in the garden still haunted his dreams, keeping him up as he tossed and turned at night, unable to sleep.

Jisung kept up his regular visits for tea, always arriving with plenty of fresh gossip to giggle over together. Felix always felt more cheerful when Jisung came to visit, comforted by his easy company.

He hadn’t told Jisung anything about Chan, which made Felix’s heart twinge with guilt every time Jisung came to see him. He couldn’t let anything slip without accidentally telling Jisung that Chan was a werewolf. No explanation could be given without giving something away, and Felix felt that Chan should be the one to tell that particular secret.

He pushed down on the guilt and enjoyed his tea, promising Jisung that he would attend the next weekly dinner. Felix weaseled his way out of the previous one, claiming a fall cold. 

Felix cringed internally when Jisung giggled, telling him that “you’d better be there, someone was very disappointed to see that you were absent last week!”

He had no desire to know what Jisung meant by that, both annoyed and miserable to know that Chan still wanted to see him even though he refused Felix’s affections.

Felix resumed his nighttime walks, relishing in the feeling. The nights were misty, the chill of autumn filling the fields with fog. He tore through the forest, briars catching on his clothes, boots covered up to his shins in mud.

Felix wrapped himself up in greatcoats and trekked across the lawn on particularly foggy evenings, watching as the setting sun turned the fields orange and then eventually to black. The white trails of mist seeped through the trees, eerie in the moonlight.

The fear was a distraction from his own heartache, even if Felix knew it wasn’t healthy. 

Some days he could barely move from bed, lethargy consuming him. Felix didn’t want to read, or walk, or see anyone. Those days, Felix cursed at himself, knowing that he should just move on the way he told Chan that he would.

When the full moon approached, Felix avoided going outside at night. He locked all the doors to Rivington and forbade his staff from setting foot outside after sunset. Despite his resolution to sleep, Felix stayed up for hours, straining his ears to catch the faintest howl. He both longed and dreaded to hear the chilling howls echoing across the countryside,

The night was silent, and Felix drifted into an uneasy doze around daybreak. He woke later in the afternoon, frightened to see what he would find outdoors.

Stomach heavy with fear, Felix made his way around the side of the manor to where his window was, scanning the ground. It took him a moment to see them, obscured by the colorful leaves covering the soil.

One set of footprints led right under his window to where a large section of grass was flattened, as if a huge, heavy body had been curled up there. 

Felix cried out, pain sharp in his chest. He staggered backwards, blinking away the tears in his eyes.

He turned and ran back into the hall, holding in his tears until he managed to make it back to his bedchamber. Felix slammed the door shut and fell to his knees, sobbing.

Chan must have spent the night guarding Felix, dutiful even in heartbreak.

-

Felix started going to the wolfswood, the autumn foliage on full display in the thick forest. He found solace listening to the birds, comforting him as he read under a tree. The high summer heat finally faded, leaving the days pleasantly cool and breezy. 

Very soon after the fateful morning in the garden, Felix stumbled across Hyunjin at the abbey in the wolfswood. He was particularly lonely that day and left Rivington in a huff, needing to be up and about.

Hyunjin was on his little folding stool and absorbed in his sketchbook, reminding Felix almost painfully of their first meeting months previous.

This time, Hyunjin smiled at Felix, happy to see him. They walked together around the wolfswood, chatting easily together.

The companionship was most welcome, especially when Hyunjin consented to open up his sketchbook and show Felix some of his drawings. Felix was bouncing with eagerness to see Hyunjin’s work, and was delighted when Hyunjin paged through the sketchbook with him.

The sketches were beautiful, capturing moments of the summer spent with friends. The first sketch of the abbey, blooming flowers from Longfield, the first sketches of vases in Whitemarch, the seaside crash of waves, a portrait of Minho and Jisung together, a lotus from Coldridge, and so many renderings of Jeongin that Felix almost asked Hyunjin about it. He bit down on the remark, knowing that it could drive Hyunjin away. 

Felix ran into Hyunjin more as he walked out to the abbey more frequently. It was nice to spend time with him, watching him sketch or paint if Hyunjin hauled the materials out while Felix read. 

They spent afternoons together sometimes, and Felix walked Hyunjin back to Longfield, helping him carry his paints.

One day, Felix worked up the courage to ask Hyunjin about his sketches of Jeongin, despite his own misgivings about the subject.

Hyunjin flushed, ducking his head over his sketchbook when Felix asked.

“I am very fond of Jeongin,” he admitted, his pencil scratching across the page. “Perhaps a little too fond.”

Felix watched him sketch, pleased that Hyunjin considered him close enough to share his art with. 

He was sketching two figures together. One stood behind the other sitting on a chair, their hands clasped on the shoulder of the seated one. Hyunjin hadn’t yet sketched the faces  of the silhouettes. Felix watched his pencil curve across the page, idly wondering who he was drawing. 

“He has a good face to draw,” Felix said, thinking of Jeongin’s high cheekbones. He was skirting around the real question he wanted to ask, which was about what had happened at Coldridge out in the rain.

Hyunjin nodded, laughing a little. “He really does! I admit, that’s why there are so many renderings of him in my books. At least at first…”

He sighed a little and turned his page, staring moodily at a sketch of a snapdragon.

“He’s a sly little thing. Teasing, very cheeky. I didn’t expect to fall in love with Jeongin, but I just couldn’t get him out of my head…”

Hyunjin turned the page again, tracing his fingers down a sketch of Jeongin laughing, his head tilted back and eyes scrunched up in joy.

Felix smiled at the memory of his friend, remembering Jeongin’s immediate fascination with Hyunjin.

“I made him an offer of marriage, you know.”

Felix’s head whipped around at the admission, gaping at Hyunjin. Hyunjin’s ears were bright red as he hunched down over his book.

“You what? ” Felix gasped, forgetting himself in his shock. “When?”

“At Coldridge, out in the rain,” Hyunjin mumbled.

Felix sat straight up. “Out in the rain! I knew it, I knew something happened- wait. Jeongin said no? ”

“He did,” Hyunjin said, his face falling. “I’m not sure why. The impression I got was that he did not believe that I harbor real affection for him.”

“That fool! ” Felix burst out. 

Hyunjin turned to look at him, surprised at the vehemence of the outburst.

“It’s perfectly reasonable, Felix,” Hyunjin said. “Jeongin has plans to become a professor, it’s rich of me to expect someone as learned as him to return the affection of a lowly artist.”

Hyunjin spoke like he was reading from a script, words he repeated to himself over and over. He turned back to his sketchbook but Felix could see the misery in his eyes.

Felix sat still, shocked at the absurdity of the reasoning. 

Hyunjin and Jeongin both thought the other was too good for them! He felt the urge to say something, but bit his tongue at the thought of interfering.

“You’re not a lowly artist,” Felix settled on saying, reaching out to push down the corner of the page Hyunjin was working on. “You’re very talented.”

“You think so?” Hyunjin said, smiling at him. 

“I know so,” Felix said firmly. “Who knows, I might end up commissioning you as well!”

Hyunjin laughed, bright and airy. “You would!”

He returned to his page, smiling to himself. Felix relaxed at Hyunjin’s improved mood. He bit his lip, wondering how to help further, only to squish the thought under his proverbial heel.

It wasn’t his place to meddle, it would only upset Jeongin. Even so, Felix was happy to know that Jeongin was loved in return, especially by someone that was so worthy of him.

It was selfish to think, but it also reminded Felix too much of his own situation with Chan. If he wasn’t even able to fix his own heart, how could he help anyone else?

At the most recent dinner at Whitemarch, Jisung cornered Felix.

“You and Chan-hyung have hardly glanced at each other once!” Jisung hissed. “What’s going on with the pair of you?”

“I- I don’t know,” Felix lied. “He hasn’t been catching my eye.”

It was the most blatant of lies. Felix spent the entire evening dodging Chan’s gaze, getting more and more irritated every time he caught Chan staring. 

Jisung shot him a look, like he knew Felix was lying and didn’t even bother to call him on it. Thankfully, he left Felix alone after that when Minho called him over to sample a new pastry from the kitchen.

Felix scooped up one of the cats and gone to the window, staring at the fading sunset as he scratched behind furry orange ears.

“Felix.”

Chan’s voice was low in his ear, rumbly. 

Felix stiffened; his fingers buried in warm fur. Fury burned in his gut. 

How dare Chan spurn him, turn him away, leave him behind, and yet feel that he had the right to approach him whenever he wanted? Chan made his feelings quite clear on the subject. Chan did not want him.

Turning away from the window, Felix glared at Chan with all the subtle anger he could muster, not wanting to alert any of the other occupants of the room to the situation. His resolution faltered when he saw the look on Chan’s face.

Chan looked miserable. Deep bags were under his eyes, and the rest of his skin was paler than usual, waxy. His expression was dead, his features dulled. He looked beseechingly at Felix, and Felix’s heart twinged. 

But he remembered Chan walking away from him on the garden path, and Felix’s mouth tightened. 

He stalked away from the window, leaving Chan to have the view of the barren lawn to himself. Felix made his way over to Seungmin and Changbin, who were talking with Jeongin. 

Jeongin made room for him on the sofa without Felix even having to ask. Chan stayed at the window; his hands clasped behind his back.

Minho approached him and they murmured quietly together, Minho inclining his head in acknowledgement of something Chan said.

Jeongin’s hand snuck over to pet the cat still on Felix’s lap, and Felix relaxed into the flow of the evening.

-

The long-awaited visit to Wildfell took place the following week, one week after the full moon that Felix discovered the flattened grass under his window.

Chan looked in better health, the bags under his eyes lessened somewhat and the bloom of color back in his cheeks. 

He took them around Wildfell Hall, showing them every completed room, including the rooms that Felix had never seen before.

They were all exquisite, put together with utmost care to compliment the hall. Felix ran his hands over the fine fabrics, marveling at the obvious attention Chan had put into his work.

He stared at his own feet when Chan talked about the renovations, remembering his own foolish fantasy about being the master of Wildfell. Felix clung to Hyunjin, needing his friend’s support as they walked.

Hyunjin graciously offered Felix his arm without Felix asking, and Felix accepted. He was earning the ire of both Jeongin and Chan, but to walk by himself felt like a daunting task.

Chan was glaring daggers at Hyunjin and not even bothering to hide it. Felix knew Chan well enough by now to know that Chan would never dream of causing a scene in public, but the wolfish possessiveness still warmed Felix’s belly.

It was a sick sort of satisfaction to know that Chan still wanted him despite his own reservations.

Jeongin was looking at Hyunjin from where he was walking with Jisung. Jeongin knew that Felix was not interested in Hyunjin, but Felix caught him sneaking glances at the pair of them whenever he could.

Hyunjin kept glancing Jeongin’s way, too. Felix looked down at his own shoes whenever he saw Hyunjin doing it, emotion bubbling in his chest.

There was nothing preventing Hyunjin and Jeongin from being together, just stubbornness and hurt. Felix bit down on his bitterness, knowing that it was nothing more than envy. 

It made Felix want to excuse himself from the visit, especially when they entered the library. The room was just as lovely as Felix remembered, green and inviting on the blustery autumn day. The memory of the kiss flitted through his mind, remembering the harsh press of Chan’s lips on his.

Feeling antsy and on-edge, Felix left Hyunjin to examine the bookshelves and crossed to the window. 

It was truly a beautiful day outdoors, white puffy clouds scattered across the sky and making patterns of shadows on the immaculate lawn. 

He took a deep breath, savoring the wonderful view of the lawn. Felix could just see the pile of boulders if he craned his neck just right, smiling at the memory of seeing them up close.

Footsteps sounded on the carpet behind him, and Felix turned just in time to see Chan approaching him, looking determined. 

He narrowly avoided squeaking in terror and rushed back to the first unaccompanied person he could find, who happened to be Changbin. Changbin smiled at him and pulled Felix in close to his side, laughing a little when Seungmin came over to hang off of his other arm.

He snuck a glance over at Chan, who was looking frustrated. He stood by himself at the window, one hand clenched by his side.

Felix breathed a little easier when they finally went to tour the gardens. Minho was keeping Chan occupied with plenty of questions, leaving Felix to walk by himself at the rear of the party and ponder his own misery.

He wanted to let Chan tuck him close on his arm and have all of Chan’s warm attention focused on him as they walked around the grounds of Wildfell. At the same time, Felix knew that Chan thought that contact between them would result in Felix being injured. 

Felix was unwilling to let Chan initiate contact again, only for him to be turned down when Chan brought himself back under control. It did not feel good to be a mistake Chan made when his control slipped.

It was satisfying to be the one dictating their interactions, turning away and refusing to give Chan an opportunity to repair their relationship. 

But there was nothing Felix wanted more than to throw himself into Chan’s arms and beg for him to cast his reservations aside. Even so, Felix had more self-respect than that. 

Chan made his choice, and now he had to live with it.

But seeing Chan’s obvious regret in his actions made it hurt for Felix to turn his head away. 

Chan did not attempt to approach him for the rest of the afternoon, but Felix could see the desperation in Chan’s face every time their gazes met.

-

Seungmin invited everyone over to Coldridge for dinner one evening, insisting that Jisung could use a break from organizing for a change.

Jisung demurred, saying it was no trouble, but he and Minho accepted the invitation all the same. 

It was an unusually cold night for mid-autumn. Felix took the carriage because of the gusty winds, even though he knew it wasn’t a long walk and it wasn’t so close to the full moon that there would be a danger of Chan shifting.

Seungmin had apparently not picked up on the tension between Chan and Felix, since he sat them across from each other at the table. Thankfully, he put Felix right next to Hyunjin, who was more than happy to engage Felix in nonstop conversation about his most recent pieces. 

Jeongin was on the other side of Hyunjin and interjected with his own little quips, making Hyunjin giggle. Felix smiled when he watched them bicker, both of them so clearly enjoying the other’s company that it made his heart a little lighter. 

Changbin was on the very end, across from Seungmin, who were both talking very animatedly with Jisung. Jisung was waving his fork around while Seungmin laughed, and Changbin had his hand on Seungmin’s elbow.

Minho was more absorbed in his soup, but occasionally speaking in a low voice to Chan. Chan was just nodding at Minho’s last remark when Changbin called across the table to him.

“Minho-hyung, Jisung-ah says that you both have heard a wolf about in the countryside?”

Conversation around the table halted. Hyunjin paused in the act of poking Jeongin in the ribs and glanced over at Jisung. Jisung set down his fork and straightened his collar, clearing his throat in embarrassment.

Felix looked up from his plate to see Chan’s reaction, watching the color drain from his cheeks at Changbin’s question. 

Minho set down his spoon and nodded. “Yes, although it’s been a good month since I’ve heard it. I was hoping the silence meant that it moved on up north.”

Changbin leaned forward. “I’ve seen it.”

Felix froze, his blood turning to ice. No .

Across the table, Chan hid a cough in his napkin, his fingers trembling. 

Their gazes met, and for the first time in weeks Felix properly looked into Chan's eyes. 

Chan looked torn open, desperate longing and raw affection in his eyes. He seemed tired, the paleness of his face not entirely the product of fear. 

Felix swallowed, refusing to look away. Chan’s hand twitched on the table. He seemed on the very edge of getting up to approach Felix, propriety and the presence of their friends be damned. 

Minho’s voice broke the moment in two. 

“You’ve seen the creature?”

Changbon nodded eagerly. “Just for a moment! It was crossing the grounds of Coldridge, just by the pond. I could hardly believe it! The beast is huge, Minho-hyung.”

Felix’s stomach turned over on itself. He wanted to stand up and scream, to yell that Chan wouldn’t hurt any of them, he just knew it, but the look on Chan’s face stopped him.

Jisung fidgeted with his napkin. “It’s one thing to hear it, another to see it like that…”

Hyunjin nodded. Felix could see his fist clenched on his knee, his other hand reaching out to take Jeongin’s under the table. “I think we should summon a hunter, as much as I wouldn’t want to have it killed. It’s not safe.”

Felix stared at Chan, paralyzed by both the desire to cry out and the desire to fling himself around the table. Chan shook his head ever so slightly, and Felix kept his seat.

His fingers dug into his knees, listening to the conversation around him through the roaring in his ears.

Changbin was still talking.

“-and I do have a friend who is quite a talented hunter, he won several competitions when we were in town together. I’m still in correspondence with him, I’m sure he would be willing to come down and try his hand.”

“Could I trouble you to write to him?” Minho asked. 

“At your service,” Changbin replied. “I’ll write as soon as I can.”

Felix’s heart sank. 

The rest of the table was discussing Chan’s future without a hint of true understanding. What if the hunter was able to kill Chan? Worse, what if Chan killed the hunter? What would happen to him?

Felix tried to pick up his fork, only to have it fall to the floor with a clatter.

He dropped to the floor to retrieve it, wiping furiously at the tears in his eyes. When he emerged, the conversation moved on to more banal subjects, one thing checked off a list.

Felix looked back at Chan, the last of his tears blurring his vision. 

Chan looked terrified, more blatantly fearful than Felix had ever seen him. The face Felix admired so often was split by horror, the kind where one has known what was coming for a long time.

The jaws of the trap that were set by Chan’s arrival finally snapped shut. 

-

Chan was the first to leave that evening. He took his time with his farewells, even taking the time to congratulate Seungmin and Changbin on their engagement, although he had done this before.

Felix frowned at this, even when no one else seemed to notice. 

Chan shook hands with Hyunjin and laughed when the taller man went in for a hug instead. Minho accepted his handshake, giving Chan a firm pat on the back.

When it was Felix’s turn, Chan took Felix’s hand and brushed a kiss over his knuckles. He squeezed Felix’s hand once, the warmth of his fingers soothing the chill in Felix’s chest.

He looked up at Felix through his eyelashes, every bit as charming and handsome as the evening they first met. 

“Farewell, Felix.”

Chan retreated into the cloak of the darkness, tipping his hat as the door slammed behind him. 

Felix was fidgety and restless for the remainder of the evening, some feeling compelling him to get up and pace. He bit his lip, staring out the window. 

Something was not right.

Chan never left early. He loved to stay late, surrounded by all of their friends, talking and laughing until Jisung and Minho sent them home. There wasn’t an obvious reason for him to leave other than the news Changbin relayed.

Pride didn’t matter anymore. Felix felt so powerless, unable to sway Chan’s heart or stop the bullet from a hunter’s rifle. Chan was in danger. 

There was nothing Felix could do, but that knowledge didn’t ease his worries.

Felix paced behind the sofa, twisting his fingers together. He had to get back to Chan. Whatever was on Chan’s mind, Felix had to get to him.

“I must make my departure,” he blurted, flinching when everyone turned to look at him. “I apologize, but I must be getting home.”

“Your butler will think you’ve left for a life in the forest if you don’t get back soon!” Jisung joked, getting up to embrace Felix. “Get home safe, Lixie.”

Everyone else chimed in their farewells, their voices settling him a little as he bade goodnight to his hosts.

He tried to prevent himself from running down the steps, yanking his coat tighter around himself. Felix cursed himself for not taking a horse, it would have been so much faster than a carriage.

The short ride to Rivington was unbearable. Felix bounced in his seat the whole way and practically flew out the door when they arrived.

He rushed to the stable, saddling the horse himself in his haste. There was no time for formalities. His groom was asleep by now, there was no sense waking him up for nothing. 

Fear made his hands tremble as he prepared to climb into the saddle, memories of his falls clogging his thoughts. He shook his head, trying to bite down on the fear. He had to get to Chan. The carriage was too slow.

Felix’s hat fell to the ground as he mounted the horse, falling to the soft hay of the ground. Felix left it there, his heart pounding in his throat. 

He urged the horse into a gallop, ignoring the alarmed cries of his driver and footmen as he charged into the darkness of the night, away from the warmth and lights of Rivington.

Felix looked up at the sky, the moon emerging from behind a thick cloud. The light only helped so much, the road still murky and dark ahead of him. 

He knew the way to Wildfell by heart now. His teeth chattered as he beat the familiar path, the chill of the night sinking into his bones.

Felix nearly turned back when they entered the wolfswood. The trees were so thick they blocked out the little moonlight. The night was oppressive, and Felix could remember his first encounter with Chan in wolf form on this very road. 

He closed his eyes, leaning down to press himself flat along the horse’s back, trusting the animal to carry him to the end of the road.

When the breeze ruffled his sweaty hair again, Felix looked up. 

Wildfell loomed in front of him. The hall looked forbidding in the night, few candles lit in the windows. The gray exterior was almost black, all exterior lights extinguished.

One figure was outside, holding a lantern by a carriage. Someone was coming down the stairs, holding a large object in their arms.

Felix’s horse skidded to a halt, sending a spray of rocks into the air. Felix threw himself from the saddle and stumbled, clutching his coat around him and making for the stairs.

“Chan!” Felix screamed out, the wind biting at him as he staggered.

Chan was running down the steps, tossing aside the trunk he was carrying. It was Chan, of course it was Chan.

“Felix!”

Chan swept Felix into his arms. He was warm, steady and so, so comforting. He was wearing a traveling coat over his dinner clothes. 

The pieces clicked together in Felix’s head. The carriage, the trunk-

Chan was leaving Wildfell.

“You can’t leave! You can’t, you can’t go- Chan-hyung!” Felix sobbed, scrabbling at Chan’s coat. 

“I have to, Felix,” Chan said, his voice breaking on a sob. “I must, it’s not safe…”

“I don’t care!” Felix shouted. 

He seized the lapels of Chan’s coat and shook him, barely able to budge Chan’s solid form. “I don’t care that it’s too dangerous, I don’t care, you said it yourself! You’d never hurt me, not in a million years!”

He beat at Chan’s chest, anguished and furious. “Don’t you see- I would love you to the moment you ripped out my beating heart, hyung!”

Felix was fully crying, tears running down his cheeks. He clutched at Chan, trembling with the effort to stop himself from breaking down in sobs.

Chan took Felix’s face in his hands, swiping at Felix’s tears and cradling him. Felix sniffed, blinking more tears out of his eyes.

“ Felix ,” Chan breathed. “Precious darling.”

Chan’s face was covered in his own tears, but he disregarded them as he wiped at Felix’s cheeks. 

Felix sobbed, his knees trembling. “Don’t leave me like this, hyung.”

Chan gave a wet little laugh. “How could I ever think I was strong enough to go?”

Felix gasped, his grip loosening on Chan’s coat.

Chan crushed Felix into his chest, crashing their mouths together. Felix moaned into the kiss, trying to draw breath through his tears.

Chan cupped Felix’s neck, kissing him deep and hungry. Felix clung to his arms, letting Chan dip his tongue between his parted lips.

His knees finally gave out, and Chan caught him, cradling him close to his warm chest.

Chan hoisted him up into his arms, letting Felix wrap his legs around Chan’s waist. Chan broke the kiss to nuzzle into Felix’s neck, growling into Felix’s collar.

He turned and walked up the steps to Wildfell, tucking Felix’s face into his shoulder. Felix wrapped his arms around Chan’s neck, savoring his warmth. 

Felix leaned back, capturing Chan’s lips in another greedy kiss, distracting him. Chan didn’t stumble once as they made it up the stairs and through the door.

The door to the hall slammed shut, and Chan shoved him up against it.

Chan was kissing him like he’d never get enough, nipping and sucking at Felix’s lips. Chan’s chest rumbled with pleased growls, his hands slipping down to squeeze Felix’s ass.

Their coats fell to the floor in a heap. Felix tangled his fingers in Chan’s hair, pulling him down to the crook of his neck and letting him gulp down lungfuls of his scent.

Chan snarled, the noise making Felix’s gut tense. He licked at Felix’s skin, nuzzling and kissing over the softness. Chan seemed drunk on Felix, his hands running over every bit of his body. 

Felix moaned when Chan bit down, hips rutting up and brushing the bulge in Chan’s pants.

“Want it, Channie-hyung,” Felix gasped, pulling Chan down for more kisses. “Take me to your bed, please!”

Chan grunted and wheeled around, not setting Felix down for a moment as he set off down the hall, quick steps echoing on the floor.

Felix didn’t stop running his hands over Chan’s shoulders, peppering kisses over his cheeks and nosing into Chan’s neck to nuzzle and nip at the skin.

Chan swore and picked up the pace, his hands tightening on Felix’s thighs.

The hallway was dark, and far longer than Felix remembered, but then Chan was slamming a door shut with such finality that Felix shivered.

They were in a huge room, a fire burning low in the grate. Felix could hardly make out anything in the room other than a massive four-poster bed, draped with deep red hangings and covered in bedding.

Chan threw him down on the mattress, his chest heaving with exertion. He stood at the foot of the bed, staring at Felix with a predatory look in his eyes. 

Felix sunk down in the sheets. The thick bedding was soft, the red duvet pulled back to reveal luxurious white sheets, the fabric smooth under his fingers. 

This was Chan’s bed, where he slept every night. The sheets smelled like him, warm and woody and comforting. Felix stretched out on the mattress, enjoying the possessive way Chan looked at him.

He dropped his legs open, shy, letting Chan see how his cock tented his pants, a wet spot darkening the fabric. Chan’s fist tightened and a low rumble came from his chest.

Felix scrambled up on his elbows, watching Chan crawl up the bed. He looked hungry and intent, ready to eat Felix whole.

Chan kissed him, his purrs filling the room. Felix shuddered at the rumbles and pressed his hands to Chan’s chest.

“Always wanted to see you right here,” Chan groaned, his hand gripping Felix’s hip. “Right in my nest, where you belong…”

Felix moaned when Chan tore at his clothes, the buttons popping off his shirt. They kicked off their boots, both pairs falling to the ground with heavy thuds. 

Felix pushed Chan’s jacket off of his shoulders and tugged at his shirt, managing to get it most of the way off before Chan seized his wrists.

They stopped, panting, staring into each other’s eyes. Felix gasped when Chan’s hips rutted forward and pressed his hard cock against him. 

“Do you want this?” Chan asked, his voice deep, almost growling. “Please, tell me now if you don’t, I won’t be able to stop if we go any further-”

“I want it,” Felix gasped, yanking Chan closer. “Don’t stop, fuck me, make me yours, hyung.” 

Groaning, Chan wrestled Felix out of his shirt, the last threads of his control snapping. His hands wouldn’t stop squeezing, groping, kneading all over Felix, greedily tugging him closer. 

Chan’s skin was so hot, pressing into Felix as he kissed him, pleased little growls echoing in the room with Felix’s panting gasps when Chan nosed his way down Felix’s chest to suck at his stiff nipples. 

Chan groped at his skin, digging his fingers into the softness and leaning down to bite at him.  Felix whined and pulled Chan up for a kiss instead, sucking on his bottom lip.

Felix tugged Chan’s shirt off and gasped when his hands landed on Chan’s chest. He ran his hands over the muscle, groping Chan’s pecs and slipping his fingers over his abs. 

Chan was a vision in the firelight, the warm glow lighting up his skin, the dips of his muscles bathed in it. He leaned in close over Felix and buried his head in Felix’s shoulder, groaning as he kissed and licked the skin. 

“Chan!” Felix cried, tangling his fingers in Chan’s hair. He gasped when Chan growled in response, nipping his neck. 

The press of Chan’s hot skin against his was overwhelming, the feeling burning deep in Felix’s belly. He wanted more, wanted Chan closer, Chan’s cock buried in his hole, splitting him open. 

Chan kissed his way back down Felix’s chest, cupping one of Felix’s pecs and suckling at his nipple, pleased growly rumbles filling the air as he kneaded the flesh. 

“Dreamed of you like this,” Chan growled, his hips grinding against Felix. “Sweet and pliant for me, in my bed. Fuck , you have no idea what you do to me, Lixie…”

Felix squirmed, his back arching as Chan scraped his teeth over the nipple. His hand tightened in Chan’s hair, tugging on the curls.

Chan groaned and pulled off Felix’s nipple, nuzzling down Felix’s belly. He bit down on the plush give of Felix’s abs, nosing over the muscle.

Felix pushed his face into a pillow as Chan fumbled with the buttons to his pants, giving a humiliated little whine as his cock throbbed. Chan sat up to yank his pants off and tossed them behind him, focused on parting Felix’s thighs. 

Felix pressed his legs together, drawing his legs up in an attempt to hide. He’d never been naked in front of another person like this before, baring his arousal in the warm air of the room.

“Don’t hide, darling, let me see you,” Chan cooed. He reached down to run his hands over the pale skin of Felix’s thighs, squeezing his hips. Chan kissed him, slipping his tongue into Felix’s mouth and making him whimper. “So pretty, Lixie, let me see.”

Still shy, Felix let his legs drop open. He squirmed, his hips bucking up as his cock throbbed. Chan groaned, his eyes fixed on Felix.

Chan’s pupils were blown with arousal, hungry and greedy as he drank in the sight of Felix, sprawled out naked under him.

“So beautiful, Felix,” Chan growled, his hand tightening on Felix’s thigh. “Fuck, such a cute little cock.”

Felix moaned when Chan leaned down to take his leaking cock into his mouth, licking a stripe up the shaft and then taking him down to the base. His hips bucked up as Felix cried out, his voice breaking on an overwhelmed sob when he looked down to see Chan’s head bobbing over his cock.

Chan was focused, his brow furrowed as he sucked, taking Felix’s cock down to the base and making Felix cry out.

“Feels so good, hyung, ngh !” Felix sobbed, bucking and trying to twist away. Chan’s mouth was so hot and tight, the flick of Chan’s tongue melting his thoughts.

Chan pressed his palm over Felix’s belly to keep him still, humming as he sucked. He petted over the skin, tracing the lines of Felix’s abs and squeezing greedily.

Felix squirmed under Chan’s attention, the blinding pleasure making him give pathetic little panting moans.

Chan spread Felix’s legs open wider, his fingers digging into the soft skin of his thighs, squeezing and stroking. Felix gasped, reaching one hand down to brush over Chan’s curls, mouth open as he panted. 

Felix tugged at Chan’s hair, pulling him off his cock. “Chan, Channie, want you inside- fuck me, please, hyung-”

Chan swore, his lips red and swollen from sucking Felix’s cock. “ Fuck , Felix, you want me inside? Want me to fuck your hole, baby?”

Felix nodded, biting his lip. He sucked two fingers in his mouth, getting them wet, and slipped them between his legs to rub at his hole. “Wanted it for so long, Chan, please!”

Chan leaned over the bed to reach for his bedside table, fumbling with the drawers. His chest was right over Felix’s face, giving him time to take one of Chan’s nipples in his mouth, sealing his lips around the dusky bud and suckling hard just to hear Chan’s bitten-off moan. 

Tiny bottle in hand, Chan dropped back down to bury his face in Felix’s neck. Felix leaned down to squint at the bottle, recognizing it as the same kind of oil he used when he wanted to fuck himself on his fingers.

“Do you- use that on yourself, hyung?” Felix asked, his face reddening at the question. 

“I use it during my rut,” Chan whispered, ducking his head a little at the admission. “Use it to get my hand wet, makes it feel like a- makes it feel good.”

“Makes it feel like what?” Felix asked, unwilling to let the slip go. He blinked his eyes a couple times at Chan, making them round and innocent the way he knew Chan was weak for. 

He was right. 

“Fuck,” Chan groaned, his hips thrusting up out of control. “Like a wet little cunt, open and waiting for me to fuck.”

Felix moaned, a shudder of arousal going down his spine at the dirty word. “Are you gonna fuck my pussy, Channie?”

The words tumbled out of him, no thought behind them. Felix didn’t have a pussy, no tight cunt between his thighs for Chan to rut into. 

But Chan growled, manhandling Felix onto his back and dropping between his legs, grinding his clothed cock against Felix’s. 

“Gonna fuck your sweet little hole,” Chan grunted, both hands going to knead at Felix’s hips. “Fuck you so good, make you cum on my cock.”

Felix wrapped his legs around Chan’s waist, trying to hide his nervousness by letting Chan nuzzle into his shoulder and teeth at the skin. He’d never been fucked before, just worked his own fingers deep inside to bring himself to heaving orgasms.

“How long have you wanted me, Lixie?” Chan rumbled, pressing little kisses to Felix’s ear. “How long have you been wanting to spread your pretty thighs for me?”

Chan uncapped the bottle, tossing the cork aside and dipping his fingers into the oil. He pressed them between Felix’s cheeks, knocking Felix’s hand aside to slick up his entrance, one finger pushing inside.

“ Unh , Chan!” Felix cried, his hips jerking up. “Deeper, more, please !”

Chan pulled his oiled finger out and pressed it against Felix’s rim, just dipping the tip inside. He leaned down to give Felix’s belly a nip, smiling when Felix thrashed under him, moaning in frustration.

“Tell me how long you’ve been wanting me to fuck you, baby, and I’ll give it to you,” Chan said, his voice gone growly. He teased around Felix’s hole, fucking just the tip of his finger in. 

Felix whined, caving so easily to desperation. “Since- since that day in the library, hyung, when you kissed me- ngh !”

Felix wailed when Chan pressed two fingers inside at once, giving it to him fast. Chan’s fingers could reach much deeper than Felix’s could, and they were thick enough to stretch him open with just two. 

Felix’s face went hot when he looked down between his legs, his thighs open wide and puffy hole on display as Chan fingered him, his hard cock red and dribbling over his belly. He shoved his face into Chan’s chest, gasping when Chan crooked his fingers just right, brushing over his spot.

“You wanted me to fuck you in my library, Lixie?” Chan asked, leaning down to whisper in Felix’s ear. “Should’ve taken you against the shelf that day, hmm? Bent you over and fucked you right there.”

Felix shuddered, the idea so close to his own fantasy. “Went home that day and- and fucked my hole, wanted to get on my knees for you-”

Chan swore, fucking his fingers faster. “ Shit , baby, you wanted to suck my cock?”

“Yes, hyung!” Felix sobbed, shame making him burn hot with arousal. “Never sucked a cock before, wanted you to teach me, show me how to take it- show me how you like it-”

Felix reached down to paw at Chan through his pants, gasping when he felt how hard Chan was, thick and throbbing. Chan managed to hide half a flinch and Felix drew back, cowed.

“No, baby, it’s okay,” Chan mumbled, drawing Felix’s hand back against him. “Fuck, I should have said-”

Felix wriggled in Chan’s hold, grunting when Chan’s fingers were pushed deeper. “What is it, hyung?”

Chan’s cheeks were flushed red too, and he focused on sliding a third slicked-up finger in Felix’s aching hole as he spoke. 

“You asked- before, about how to tell if someone is a werewolf even in human form…”

Felix nodded, hazy from the pleasure of Chan’s fingers stretching him open, shoving his hips back to force them even deeper.

“There’s one last thing,” Chan whispered, hesitant, his voice so quiet Felix had to strain to hear. “At the base of my cock, there’s a knot.”

“A what?” Felix gasped, his brain too sluggish with pleasure to comprehend Chan’s words. 

“A knot,” Chan said, stilling the movements of his fingers. Felix whined and rocked his hips, squirming so hard that Chan pressed him into the sheets to keep working his fingers inside his hole. “It swells up when I come, keeps my cock stuffed inside your hole.”

Felix moaned, the thought of Chan’s cock keeping him full for so long making his own aching cock throb and drool on his tummy.

“Want it, Channie, put it inside!” Felix begged, weakly pushing his legs open wider in offering. “Fuck me, hyung, want it so much-”

Chan groaned, his fingers digging into Felix’s waist. “Fuck, I want it so bad, wanna knot your pretty little hole, stuff it full- Lixie, I’ve never knotted anyone before, it could hurt you-”

“I don’t care, Chan, I don’t care!” Felix babbled, reaching down to tug at the buttons of Chan’s pants. “Want it, want you to knot me, fuck me so full of it, fill me with cum-”

Chan pulled his fingers from Felix’s hole, making him whine at the loss. He yanked at his pants, his cock already hard and leaking. Felix gasped when he saw it, stretching out a hand to stroke him, his fingers just barely touching around the girth.

Chan’s cock did indeed have a fat knot at the base, already swelling as Felix stroked him, drool pooling in his mouth. 

More than ever, he wanted to sink to his knees and let Chan fuck his mouth, letting Chan use his throat till he came, knot pumping cum into his mouth. Chan would be so rough, fuck him so good…

Chan rolled him onto his back, grabbing a pillow and easily lifting Felix’s hips to stuff it under him, propping him up. Felix opened his legs to let Chan kneel between them, gazing down at him with such raw hunger in his eyes that Felix shivered. 

Chan’s eyes were fixed on his hole, loose and open with the oil, ready to be fucked. Chan worked over his cock, squeezing his knot. He stroked down to Felix’s lower belly and rubbed over it, warm palm pressing on the skin. 

Felix hooked his legs over Chan’s hips and tugged him in closer. “Fuck me, hyung, want it- unh !”

Chan pushed inside in one thrust, burying his cock hilt-deep. He groaned as Felix cried out, grinding his hips in tight little circles, his knot bumping up against Felix’s rim. 

Felix’s eyes filled with overwhelmed tears, his back arching up off the bed as he was filled. The stretch was so sweet, the oil just barely slicking the way for Chan’s cock. He felt split open, cracked in two by Chan’s girth.

“S-so big, hyung,” Felix sobbed, his hips rolling weakly to meet Chan’s thrusts. “Feels so good, want it harder!”

“Yeah?” Chan gasped, his hips jerking forward. “Feels so wet, baby, so fucking tight, fuck .”

Felix’s breathing went ragged at Chan started to fuck him, setting a brutal pace. His hips worked feverishly, pounding into Felix. 

He spread his legs wider around Chan’s waist, letting Chan grab his hips and yank him closer. Felix reached up to cling to Chan’s shoulders, whining and gasping when he looked down to see Chan’s cock pumping into his hole.

Their thighs were glistening with the oil leaking from Felix’s hole, filthy squelching noises echoing in the room as Chan rutted into him. 

Chan slumped down over Felix, shoving his nose into Felix’s neck. He growled as he fucked Felix, biting down on the curve of Felix’s shoulder, desperate whimpers filling Felix’s ears.

“‘M I tight, Channie?” Felix slurred, reaching one trembling hand down to stroke his cock as Chan mounted him. “Does it feel good?”

“So good, squeezing my cock, Lixie,” Chan grunted, his hands flexing on Felix’s waist. “Taking me so well, shit -”

“No one else has had me like this,” Felix whispered. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he threw his head back, sobbing with pleasure. “You’re the fir-first to fuck my hole, hyung, ah !”

“No one else will have you like this,” Chan groaned, his cock twitching inside Felix as his hips sped up. “Gonna mark you up, make you mine-” 

“Yes, yes !” Felix sobbed, tears blurring his vision. 

Chan fucked him so rough, hard and eager. His knot was swelling and bumping into Felix’s rim with each deep thrust, making him cry out.

Felix knew he was whining, his legs going limp as Chan pounded into him, both hands spreading Felix’s thighs wide, fingers digging into the soft muscle.

His mouth hung open, broken little whimpers spilling out, little ah, ah, ah! noises punched out of him with each one of Chan’s brutal thrusts. He was relentless, burying his teeth in Felix’s neck and keeping them there, pinned underneath Chan and fucked stupid.

Felix felt used, the feeling so dirty, burning hot in his belly. His legs were spread so wide, the soft skin of his thighs on display and red from the slap of Chan’s pelvis. He felt like a whore, moaning and wailing on Chan’s cock, begging him to keep thrusting. 

Chan was grunting with each pump of his hips, lost to the hot pleasure of Felix’s hole. Felix drew his nails up Chan’s back, making him shudder and give a few deep thrusts, brushing past his prostate. 

Felix moaned when Chan managed to hit his prostate again, giving his hips a few dirty grinds, his knot just beginning to press inside. Felix hooked his legs together over Chan’s lower back, bucking his hips up to meet Chan’s humping.

Chan’s knot felt so big against his hole, almost too big to fit inside. Felix wanted it so bad, fucking him full and keeping Chan’s cum inside him. He squirmed underneath Chan, hoping to provoke him into fucking Felix harder.

Chan growled through his hold on Felix’s neck, snapping his hips in and making Felix wail. His knot pushed inside just the barest inch and Felix cried out, the burn of the stretch almost too much to take. 

Felix bore down on the knot, more tears spilling down his cheeks with the effort to take it inside.

Chan moaned, pained, and tried to pull out. “I can’t, fuck - I can’t knot inside, it’s too much-”

“Nonono,” Felix babbled, working his hips down further and crying out when the knot pushed deeper, arousal sparking up his spine. “Want it, Channie, want to be full- knot me, please!”

Chan groaned and his hips thrust forward once, out of control, seating the knot all the way inside Felix’s hole. 

Chan’s guttural moan made Felix shiver, Chan trembling with the effort it took to hold himself back from pounding inside. Felix was sobbing, his chest heaving with hitching breaths as he tried to relax around the huge knot. 

“ Fuck !” Chan grunted. “Fuck, Lixie, taking my knot so good, feels so good- shit -”

Felix’s eyes rolled back in his head when Chan started fucking him, working his knot in deep. He was thrusting in grinding shoves, oil squelching out from around his cock. Felix’s cock was so hard, bouncing against his belly with each one of Chan’s rough thrusts. 

Chan groaned, delirious from pleasure, fucking Felix hard. He fucked like he didn’t care if Felix came or not, lost to the need to pop his knot in a wet little hole.

Felix dragged Chan down for a messy kiss, whining when Chan growled into his mouth. Each thrust fucked weak little moans out of Felix’s throat, the huge knot driving every coherent thought out of his head, throwing his head back and wailing for more, harder, deeper .

Felix could feel his orgasm building, his belly tightening up with the need to come. His cock was aching, red and dripping against his abs and smearing his skin with precome. 

He pushed a fumbling hand between their bodies, wrapping his fingers around himself and tugging. Felix’s hole spasmed around Chan’s cock and Chan groaned, his hips stuttering.

“Pussy so fucking good, so wet,” Chan moaned, his hips slapping against Felix’s ass. “Gonna cum inside, breed you, make you fucking pregnant, fuck -”

Felix’s vision went white as he started to come, broken cries spilling from his lips as he came all over his belly. Chan’s words hammered into his mind, flashes of himself, belly rounded with babies, Chan’s babies, sending shudders down his limbs.

He gasped, chest heaving from the intensity of his orgasm and reaching out to cling to Chan.

Chan didn’t stop thrusting, fucking Felix through his orgasm and groaning as Felix’s hole clenched down on his knot, the aftershocks of his climax. Felix whimpered at the overstimulation, fresh tears pouring down his cheeks. 

Chan buried his face in Felix’s neck, animalistic grunts echoing in Felix’s ears. He was whispering, little mumbles barely audible. “Gonna look so fucking good with my puppies inside you, gonna fuck you full of a litter, shit - ah, fuck !”

Felix moaned when Chan came, his knot fully inflated and shoved deep inside his hole, warm cum pumping him full. Chan bit down on Felix’s shoulder as he came, satisfied growls rumbling out from his chest.

“So good, Channie, fucked me so good,” Felix slurred, reaching down to rub over his belly. “So full, mmm…”

Chan met his lips in a lazy kiss, his hips still grinding in little circles, fucking his cum deeper. Their lips made slick noises as they pressed together, still hungry for each other. 

Felix sunk into the kiss, all four limbs wrapped around Chan as tight as possible, keeping his cock tucked inside. He wanted Chan inside his skin, tucked in close to his heart, living in his ribs. 

Felix settled for Chan’s greedy kisses down his neck, his fingers rubbing over the soft give of his belly, fingers covered in sticky cum. He could feel Chan’s breathing begin to even out, hot against the skin of his neck, sated and sleepy after knotting. 

Felix’s own consciousness was slipping, so worn out but so satisfied. Finally, Chan was his, claimed in every possible way. Kissing on his lips, knotted inside him. 

Felix’s hands tightened possessively on Chan’s shoulders, almost purring with sleepy contentment. 

Chan wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, not after he’d taken Felix like this. Felix wasn’t about to let him slip out of his grasp again. Cock knotted snug inside him, Chan couldn’t pull away.

He didn’t seem to want to, nosing over Felix’s collarbones and drawing in huge lungfuls of Felix’s scent, rumbly purrs filling the air. His hands were still clutching at Felix’s hips, little fingertip bruises beginning to bloom over the skin. He was marked up, claimed and knotted under Chan.

Felix hummed, letting the waves of contentment wash over him, succumbing to the pull of sleep.

Chapter Text

Felix woke slowly, blinking away the cling of sleep. The fire in the grate burned down to embers, a tiny red glow seeping across the floor. The other side of the bed was cold and he was alone under the sheets.

Felix whined, stirring under the heavy blankets. He struggled to get an arm behind himself, trying to push himself upright.

The curtain was open, the moon lighting up the room with pale beams across the floor.

Felix could see Chan’s broad silhouette in the weak moonlight. Chan appeared to be looking out over the lawn, one hand on his hip.

Felix managed to push himself up and give a tiny groan before Chan turned back to face him.

He was only wearing an untied dressing gown, the moonlight catching on his bare chest. Felix was too dazed from sleep to fully appreciate the view, his legs still limp and shaky from being fucked.

“Chan-hyung-” Felix called, his voice cracking from sleep. He wanted Chan with him in bed, warming him up and cuddling him.

Chan crossed the room in a moment, sliding back under the covers and cuddling Felix in close. “Shh, I’ve got you, darling, just rest…”

Felix opened his mouth to chastise Chan for leaving him alone in bed, but Chan was just so warm and comfortable that Felix couldn’t stop himself from dropping back to sleep, his head laying on Chan’s chest.

The last thing he remembered was Chan pressing little kisses to his head, one hand petting over Felix’s messy hair.

-

The next time Felix opened his eyes, he was on his side in Chan’s bed. Felix blinked in the sunlight of the room, a few early morning sunbeams peeking through the curtains. 

Chan was lying next to him with his back facing Felix, still fast asleep. The blanket slipped down to his waist, and he was naked under the covers. His shoulders were so wide, the muscles of his back on full display. 

Felix’s cheeks heated when he noticed a few faint red lines down Chan’s back.

Memories from the night before flashed through his mind, remembering how he clung to Chan’s shoulders, wailing as he was ravaged. Felix’s hole still felt open and used, like it did after Felix pushed his fingers inside.

He reached out to brush a careful hand down Chan’s back, marveling at him. Chan made a sleepy little groaning noise and rolled over. 

He yanked Felix into his arms, crushing Felix against his very bare and quite warm chest. 

“Hyung!” Felix squeaked, his hands going up automatically to wrap around Chan’s shoulders.

Chan just rumbled at him, a purr starting up in his chest. He nosed into Felix’s hair and kissed down his face to his cheeks.

“Felix, darling,” Chan murmured, smoothing a knuckle down Felix’s cheekbone. 

His content expression faltered when he glanced down further and took in the sight of Felix’s neck.

Chan traced a finger down over the bruises he’d sucked into Felix’s skin, a horrible heartbroken look on his face.

“I’m so sorry, Lix-ah, I should never have been so rough,” Chan said, ducking his head. “You don’t deserve this-”

Felix cut him off by leaning down to catch Chan’s finger in his mouth, sucking it down his throat, getting it slick.

Chan’s gaze darkened as Felix flicked his tongue over Chan’s knuckle, swirling it around and sucking hard.

He let it slip free with a pop, and smiled up at Chan. 

“I wanted it, Channie-hyung,” Felix murmured, leaning up to press a kiss on Chan’s cheek. “Want you to rough me up, toss me around.”

Chan’s cock twitched from where it was pressed up against Felix’s hip and he groaned. Felix smirked at him, pushing Chan’s hand down to squeeze at his waist.

“You liked it?” Chan asked, voice husky, nosing down to kiss over a bruise on Felix’s neck. 

“I’d like anything you did to me, hyung,” Felix said, pitching his voice low and gasping when Chan’s hands tightened on his waist.

He pulled Chan up for a kiss, settling him between his thighs and kissing him greedily. Felix wrapped his arms around Chan’s neck to keep him close, so he wouldn’t get any more funny ideas about leaving again.

Chan pushed him down in the pillows, wrapping his arms around Felix and kissing back just as hungrily.

He moaned when his cock brushed against Felix’s belly, already fattening up again.

They broke apart, panting and flushed. Chan pressed another kiss to Felix’s lips, gasping when Felix nipped playfully  at his lip.

Chan leaned down to nose over Felix’s cheek, enjoying the closeness between them. No barriers, just warm skin pressed together as they cuddled under the blankets, the way it should be.

Felix snuggled down deeper in the sheets, wrapping both arms around Chan’s neck. His legs came up to wrap around Chan’s waist, plastering himself to Chan as close as he could get. 

Judging by the way Chan’s purrs deepened, he didn’t mind at all.

Chan drew back to look Felix in the eyes. He reached up to brush Felix’s hair out of his eyes, his hand dropping down to cradle Felix’s cheek.

“I am sorry about the way I’ve treated you, Felix,” Chan said, more serious now. “I should never have left you like that. It was unacceptable and I beg your forgiveness.” 

He ducked his head again in a bow even though he was sprawled across Felix’s nude body. 

Felix wound his hands through Chan’s hair to enjoy the curls between his fingers.  “Don’t push me away again, hyung. I love you, I’m not going to let you go so easily.”

Chan pulled Felix in close to his chest, hugging him tight and peppering kisses down the side of his neck. “Precious darling, I love you so much…”

Felix giggled, playfully smacking at Chan’s arm to get him to let go. He did, reluctant to let Felix get too far, keeping one hand on his waist, squeezing gently.

Pushing his fingers deeper into Chan’s curls, Felix smiled at him. He tilted his head, parting his lips in invitation.

Chan took it, leaning down to kiss Felix deeply, some of the hunger from the night before still in his kiss.

His hand flexed on Felix’s hip, his fingers digging into the soft curve.

Felix moaned when Chan broke the kiss, panting a little and looking at Felix with reverence in his gaze. 

“Darling,” Chan murmured, dragging one hand down to cup Felix’s cheek. “Will you marry me?”

Felix’s hands stilled where he was stroking Chan’s hair. His mouth dropped open, not even daring to believe it.

“I mean- it could still be dangerous, we’ll have to take extra precautions around the full moon, of course,” Chan babbled, looking slightly panicked. “I’d do everything to keep you safe, I know it’s a lot to ask of you- but I can’t let you go again, it hurt too much-”

Felix leaned up to press a kiss to Chan’s cheek, cutting him off. 

“Yes, I’d marry you right this minute,” Felix breathed, his hands clutching at Chan’s shoulders. “Hyung, I’ll marry you, yes-”

Chan surged forward, kissing Felix all over his face, gentle kisses on his eyelids, nuzzling his cheeks, before finally capturing his lips in a searching kiss.

“Beautiful darling,” Chan murmured, his purrs still rumbling in his chest. “I’ll keep you safe, I swear it.”

“I know, hyung,” Felix said, kissing Chan’s cheek. “I trust you beyond anything.”

He laughed, breathless, his head falling back against the pillows. Chan watched him, smiling indulgently as Felix brought one of his hands to his lips to brush kisses over his knuckles. 

“I never thought I’d receive a marriage proposal in bed,” Felix mused. He smiled to himself, thinking of his past as a debutante. How his parents would shudder to think of their only son allowing one of those suitors to bed him before rendering a marriage proposal!

Chan’s head popped up from where he was nosing over Felix’s chest. “You’ve received other marriage proposals?”

Felix grinned at him, feeling a little playful. “There was a certain gentleman in town who paid me particular attentions.” 

He sighed, affecting a lovesick expression. “After you left me, I thought perhaps I should go back to town and try to find him again. Maybe he would comfort me and my broken heart- oh!”

Chan reared up, easily flipping Felix over onto his belly. He gasped when he landed on the pillows, satisfied arousal filling him. Chan was so easy to rile up.

Chan nuzzled over Felix’s neck, a jealous rumble coming from his chest.

“You’re mine,” Chan mumbled, leaving little nips over the skin. “No one else can have you…”

Felix canted his hips back, putting his loose hole on display for Chan. Chan traced a hand down his side and groped him, reaching under him to squeeze his belly.

“Don’t want anyone else,” Felix gasped, arching his back. He folded immediately, preening under the possessive attention. “Only you.“

Chan growled, deep and satisfied. 

His cock was hard, brushing against the back of Felix’s thighs. Felix pushed himself down in the sheets, letting Chan squeeze his ass.

“You said it last night,” Felix whispered. “Gotta breed me, don’t you wanna see me all round with your litter?”

Chan groaned and his hands tightened on Felix’s hips. 

The fat head of his cock slipped past Felix’s rim and he moaned, arching his back into it as Chan sunk inside.

“Gonna fuck you so good,” Chan grunted, mounting himself over Felix. “Knot your pretty little hole- fuck!”

Felix moaned, letting himself go hazy, humping his hips down against the mattress as Chan fucked him.

Later, when Chan’s knot was tucked inside Felix’s hole and he was spooned in Chan’s embrace, Felix dared to ask a question that was on his mind.

“Channie-hyung?”

Chan hummed, tracing his thumb over Felix’s knuckles.

“What were your shifts like as a child?”

He stiffened when Chan froze, his thumb stilling on the back of Felix’s hand. 

“I’m sorry,” Felix apologized, cringing away from Chan. He hissed when Chan’s knot caught on his rim, keeping him close to Chan. “I didn’t mean to upset you-”

Chan pressed a kiss to the back of Felix’s hands and pulled him in closer. “It’s okay, don’t apologize, Lixie. I just wasn’t expecting you to ask.”

He slipped an arm around Felix’s waist and kneaded at his hip. Chan was quiet for a minute, so long that Felix almost twisted around to look at him. Chan sighed.

“They definitely weren’t easy, at first. It was quite painful the first few times.”

Felix nodded. He took Chan’s hand again and played with it, tugging at his fingers. Chan huffed from behind him but let Felix press their palms together.

“I got used to it, eventually,” Chan said, watching as Felix measured their hands against each other. His own small hand fit perfectly against Chan’s larger one.

“I knew I was supposed to go out into the forest and keep away from my family, but I always ended up sneaking back by the end of the night. They always found me sleeping by the door come morning.”

“Like you do with me,” Felix mused, almost to himself.

He frowned, thinking of the night Chan confessed the truth, claiming to be too dangerous. How did Chan know he was supposed to stay away from his family if he was completely feral during his shifts?

He brought Chan’s hand down to rub over his belly, smiling when Chan kneaded at him. Felix settled back into Chan’s arms and basked in his open affection.

“Yes, just like I do with you,” Chan murmured, pressing little kisses down Felix’s neck. “Gotta keep you safe, darling.”

Felix giggled when Chan pulled him in closer, nosing into his neck to draw in his scent. He snuggled backwards into Chan’s warm embrace, giving a contented sigh when Chan kissed his cheek.

“Have you ever been around any humans while you’re shifted, hyung?”

Chan hummed, tracing a hand over Felix’s hip. “No. It’s too dangerous to risk it. Everyone at the village refused to allow me inside during the full moon.”

Chan’s words bounced around in Felix’s brain, the questions piling up. How did Chan know for sure that it was dangerous to be around humans as a wolf if it never happened before?

He frowned a bit as Chan’s breathing evened out behind him and his knot twitched from where it was still stuffed in Felix’s hole. He squirmed as it pressed up against his prostate and Chan growled from behind Felix, a rumbly warning. 

He nipped at the nape of Felix’s neck, just hard enough to have Felix slumping over, blissed out. 

One of Chan’s hands snuck down to knead over his belly again. Chan’s growl shifted into a pleased purr, vibrating against Felix’s back.

Felix patted Chan’s arm in clumsy reassurance, trying to make sure Chan knew he wasn’t trying to wriggle off Chan’s knot. It was hard to think with the knot filling him, keeping him hazy and content while Chan nuzzled him. 

Resolving to think more on it later, Felix settled in for a cuddle while they waited for Chan’s knot to go down.

-

As it transpired, Felix had far less time for thinking than anticipated.

He spent the next three days at Wildfell, every minute in Chan’s company. 

They roamed over Wildfell’s grounds, bundled up against the cold winds, and warmed up with cups of hot chocolate by the fire afterwards. Chan showed Felix more of the unfinished rooms, listening attentively to Felix’s opinion on how to finish them for the renovation. They ate every meal together, either tucked into Chan’s dining room or snuggled up together in bed.

Despite this, however, most of their time together was spent fucking.

Chan was insatiable, bending Felix over or rolling him over onto his belly for fucking whenever Felix shot him a coy look.

The second morning, Felix was roused by Chan rutting against his ass in his sleep, greedy hands rubbing over his belly. Despite Chan having knotted Felix an hour earlier, he’d still pressed Felix into the breakfast table and taken him right there while Felix wailed and scrabbled at the tablecloth.

A tranquil visit to the library ended with Felix on the floor, ass-up while Chan pounded into him. He growled at Felix’s squirming and dug his teeth into Felix’s neck, keeping him still while Chan knotted him. 

Chan couldn’t keep his hands off Felix, constantly pulling him aside and peppering him with sweet little kisses or sliding his hands down to grope and squeeze. 

Felix wondered at himself for just how much he liked to be so wanted. Just one heated glance from Felix and Chan was all over him, whining and begging for it. He loved it when Chan fucked into him like he was a little toy, chasing his pleasure inside Felix’s hole and spilling inside him every time.

Chan liked to wring orgasms from Felix, never satisfied until Felix shuddered through two or three climaxes before stuffing him with his knot. 

They spent a pleasurable afternoon tangled together in bed, Felix perched on Chan’s swollen knot while Chan fed him bites of sliced fruit and chocolate, purring in satisfaction when Felix accepted the treats.

The last morning, Felix woke to a cold bed. The fire was stoked high; clearly Chan’s doing before he left Felix to sleep. Felix stretched, making a little satisfied noise as his spine cracked.

He’d fallen asleep after a good three rounds the night before, Chan still knotted deep inside him. Felix still felt loose and used, a feeling he was beginning to love. 

He wrapped himself in one of Chan’s dressing gowns to ward off the cold before padding down the carpeted hall in search of Chan. 

The hall was so quiet and tranquil this early in the morning, bright beams of sunlight spilling in through the windows and warming the carpet as Felix picked his way down the hall.

Felix found Chan in the study, at his desk and working through a few pieces of correspondence. He was already fully dressed, but looked up with a smile when he saw Felix standing at the door.

“G’morning, hyung,” Felix said, his voice still rough from sleep. He slid into Chan’s lap, humming happily when the robe split to reveal his bare hip underneath.

“Good morning, darling,” Chan murmured, kissing Felix’s cheek. “Sweetheart, aren’t you cold? Come, let’s sit on the sofa.”

Felix didn’t protest when Chan stood, effortlessly carrying Felix over to sit on the warm sofa by the fire. 

He settled further into Chan’s lap, feeling like he could purr himself from being so contented. 

“Who were the letters from, hyung?” Felix asked. He felt a little audacious asking about such personal information, but Chan readily answered all of Felix’s questions over the past couple days. 

“From my parents and sister,” Chan answered. “And two from Minho. He’s been trying to contact you and hasn’t had any luck. Your butler kept telling him you were away.”

Felix squirmed a little.“Is hyung worried?”

“He and Jisung both were,” Chan said. “I’ve told him that you’ve been at Wildfell.”

Felix groaned and buried his face in Chan’s jacket in embarrassment. “But then they’ll both know!”

“Know what, darling?” Chan asked, leaning down to nip at Felix’s ear playfully. “That we’re engaged?”

Felix wiggled, unable to contain a happy squirm at the reminder that he got to keep Chan forever, despite the embarrassment of his friends knowing, or at least suspecting, what he’d been up to these last few days. 

“They’ll know that you… that you’ve- you know!”

Chan slipped his hands inside Felix’s robe, chest already rumbling. “They’ll know that you’ve spent the last three days being fucked?”

“Yes,” Felix whined, his face burning from where it was pressed against Chan.

Chan laughed. “Is that really so bad, darling? Minho is married, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“ Minho might understand,” Felix insisted, retreating from his hiding place to look up at Chan indignantly. “But Jisung won’t. He’ll want details.”

“What are you going to tell him?” Chan asked, genuine curiosity in his tone. 

Felix leaned forward to deliver his own nip to Chan’s ear. He braced himself, embarrassed, but still ready to whisper the naughty words to get Chan riled up. 

“I’ll tell him that my mate has a big fat knot to keep me satisfied.”

Chan growled, working at the tie of the dressing gown to get his hands on Felix, warm and naked. He tugged Felix down for a kiss and gasped when Felix ground his hips down over Chan’s swelling cock. 

“You gonna knot me full again, Channie-hyung?” Felix whispered, giving his hips a filthy roll on top of Chan. “Gonna put pups in my belly?”

His face was burning as he spouted obscenities, still a little unsure of himself. Felix was rewarded with Chan’s throaty growl as they tumbled to the floor, Felix’s robe falling open wide to reveal his body ravaged with Chan’s marks. 

Chan pushed his thighs open wide, littered with his bite marks and bruises. Felix loved to see Chan’s marks on his body, a reminder of how much Chan loved him, how he was going to be Chan’s husband.

Almost as if he knew Felix’s worries about Chan suddenly changing his mind, Chan spoke of their marriage often.

He talked of bringing Felix to the city to meet his parents, or of how he would ensure that the rooms at Wildfell would be improved with Felix’s preferences in mind, for Felix would soon be a permanent inhabitant of the hall.

Felix reached for Chan, a desperate little mewl spilling from his lips as he hooked his legs around Chan’s waist. 

Chan was stripping his clothes off already, exposing his own warm skin to Felix’s hungry eyes. Chan bore his own marks, from Felix’s eager lips over his neck and chest. Felix pushed at his trousers, drawing Chan’s cock out and giving it a squeeze.

“C’mon, hyung, fuck me,” Felix begged, canting his hips up in invitation. 

“Look at you,” Chan groaned, his hands tightening on Felix’s thighs. “Begging for me like a needy little cockslut. You want it, baby?”

“Yes, want it- want it so bad, give it to me, hyung, please- ungh!”

Chan fucked forward, seating himself hilt-deep in one thrust. Felix wailed, the stretch stinging sweetly with no preparation. He squirmed when Chan started to fuck him, gasping and squealing at the force of his thrusts. 

Felix was still swathed in his robe, cushioned from the carpet under his back. Chan’s thrusts jostled him up and Felix clung to Chan, horrible little wet noises punched out of him at Chan’s desperate rutting.

He was so easy to rile up, the slightest provocation resulting in Felix being mounted over the nearest piece of furniture. 

Felix moaned, leaning up to whisper filth into Chan’s ear to goad him into pounding harder. “Gonna put a pup in me, hyung? Make me all round?”

Chan growled and sank his teeth into Felix’s neck over his previous marks, his thrusts turning more feverish. His knot was already swelling, pushing at Felix’s sore rim with each thrust.

Felix whined as Chan’s knot shoved at his hole, the feeling edging on discomfort.

He relaxed and tilted his hips up, having learned the tricks to seat Chan’s knot where he wanted it over the past few days.

Chan’s knot slipped into Felix’s hole, and both of them moaned, getting closer to orgasm.

Chan hadn’t slowed his rutting, still growling through his teeth buried in Felix’s neck.

Felix’s eyes rolled back in his head as he was fucked, lost to pleasure on the floor of the study. Chan was fucking him with abandon, focused on knotting and filling Felix up with come. 

“Do you like getting fucked, baby?” Chan growled, releasing his jaw to spill filth into Felix’s ear. He shoved Felix’s legs further apart, his fingers digging into the plush softness of Felix’s thighs.

“Lo-love it so much, hyung,” Felix sobbed, reaching one hand down around his cock, writhing at the pleasure.

Chan groaned and kissed Felix hungrily, hips still slapping against Felix’s ass as they fucked. “Cockhungry little whore-”

Felix whined at the words, hot shame only making him more desperate. He only had to give his cock a few quick strokes before he was coming, spilling messy and wet between their bellies. 

Chan’s body was completely covering his, Felix’s legs wrapped around Chan’s waist, already trembling with overstimulated pleasure. He whispered up in Chan’s ear, eager for him to keep using Felix, rutting into him and using his hole to chase his climax.

“You made me like this, you fucked me so good- uhn , so deep, gonna put puppies in me-”

Felix broke off on a moan when Chan’s knot swelled, sinking his cock in deep. Chan moaned, his hips working in rough grinds to keep fucking Felix. 

“Sweet little pussy, gonna fill it up, fuck-” Chan grunted when he came, cock knotted deep in Felix’s hole, filling him up with hot come. His hips moved in slow circles as he rode out his orgasm, working his come deeper inside Felix’s hole.

Felix whined at the feeling, squirming under Chan.

A warning rumble in his throat, Chan nipped at Felix’s neck. Felix went limp, head buzzing. The tips of Chan’s ears were reddening and he licked over the bite in silent apology. Felix gave Chan’s ass a pat and kissed his cheek. 

Chan had never said as much, but Felix knew he was embarrassed when his instincts overpowered him during sex. The incessant biting and sucking at his neck, the need to keep his mate settled underneath him on his knot, bred and sated.

Of course, there was no way that Felix could get pregnant, but he enjoyed it all the same. Chan always knotted so fast when Felix whispered about wanting his pups. He liked looking at his neck, covered in Chan’s marks. 

Felix smiled at Chan a little dazedly, reaching down to pet over his lower belly. His half-lidded eyes met Chan’s and he groaned, his head dropping on Felix’s shoulder.

“You’ve gotta stop talking like that, Lix-ah, it drives me crazy,” Chan said, still a little out of breath. 

Felix just giggled, pulling Chan down for more kisses.

-

That afternoon, freshly bathed and properly dressed, Felix prepared to make his reluctant departure from Wildfell Hall.

The next day was his usual day for tea with Jisung and it was an appointment he was unwilling to miss. As much as Felix wanted to stay in the little bubble that he and Chan created, it was time to return to Rivington.

Their farewell was much happier this time, even if Felix did not wish to leave. Chan walked with Felix to his horse, their hands linked together. 

Felix turned to look at him, a small frown on his face. “I don’t want to go.”

As soon as the words were out, he regretted uttering them, but Chan just smiled at him. He leaned down to press a chaste kiss to his lips. “You’ve got tea with Jisung-ah to look forward to! I’ll see you again sooner than you know. I’ll be at Whitemarch for dinner as usual.”

“It’s not that,” Felix said, biting his lip. “What should I tell Jisung? He’s going to know that something happened, and I don’t wish to lie to him.”

He pitched his voice lower even though the groom already moved off. “How do I explain our engagement without letting something slip?”

Chan sighed and took both of Felix’s hands in his own.

“How can we keep this a secret, hyung?” Felix asked, feeling a little desperate. “They know, what are we going to do about the hunter, what if-”

Chan squeezed Felix’s hands and Felix broke off, blinking away agitated tears. 

“Let me worry about that, please, Felix,” Chan said, his thumb stoking over Felix’s knuckles. “I will write to my father and ask him what he knows about pack bonds, there must be something- something…”

He stopped, looking a little lost. Felix sighed, giving up on holding Chan’s hands and just burying himself in the lapels of Chan’s greatcoat. 

Chan wrapped him up close, rocking Felix a little to comfort him. He kissed Felix’s hair and Felix swallowed down a fresh wave of tears. 

“We will figure this out, Lixie, I promise,” Chan whispered. He drew back and kissed Felix on the forehead. “Tell Jisungie that you’re engaged, and answer his questions as best you can. I trust you, darling.”

Jisung would be wildly excited for Felix, it would be nothing to keep him distracted. Felix nodded, his mind already working.

A terrible idea, a dangerous idea, was already forming in the back of his mind.

Chan gave him one last kiss, sweet in the cold afternoon air. Swinging himself into the saddle, Felix gave Chan a farewell wave and nudged his horse. 

Chan stayed where he was, watching Felix gallop away down the long drive, the bare branches of the trees reaching up to the sky like so many bony fingers.

-

Felix was sitting in the parlor and attempting to distract himself with a novel, waiting for Jisung to arrive. He’d slept poorly the night before, tossing and turning in the sheets as he tried to imagine how tea would unfold the next day. 

A knock sounded at the door. Felix shot to his feet as his butler entered, followed directly by Jisung and Seungmin. 

Felix blinked at the sight of Seungmin, a surprise, but a most welcome one. 

Seungmin bowed before Felix could even get his mouth open to speak. “Forgive me for the intrusion, Felix. Changbin and I were visiting at Whitemarch, and Jisung offered to have me accompany him to tea. I had his assurance that you would not mind the presumption.”

“It’s no presumption at all,” Felix said, waving off Seungmin’s apology. “You’re welcome to join us, of course. Let me inform the housekeeper-”

“Done already, Felix-ssi,” the butler said. He turned on his heel and shut the door with a short bow. 

As soon as the door clicked shut, Jisung and Seungmin turned to face Felix like a pair of hawks. 

Felix edged over to the couch and perched himself on the furthest corner, trying not to cringe.

Jisung rushed over and sat down beside him. He drew both of Felix’s hands into his, fixing him with a worried look.

“What on earth happened, Lixie? You weren’t answering my letters, Minho called on you here two days ago only to hear that your butler had no idea where you were! Then we got a letter back from Chan-hyung, saying you were at Wildfell!”

Felix winced, his hand coming up to rub at his neck. The movement dislodged his collar, a particularly high one chosen to cover the marks Chan left. 

Jisung shrieked and dove for the collar. Seungmin strode around the sofa to see better, gasping when the patchwork of bites and bruises was visible. 

“What did he do to you?!” Jisung cried, pulling Felix close. “Sweet mercy-”

“It’s fine!” Felix choked out, overwhelmed and ashamed. “I’m okay, Jisung, everything is okay-”

Seungmin took a seat on the other side of Felix, gently separating the pair. He took Felix’s hand and Felix squeezed down, grateful for Seungmin’s steadiness.

“Why don’t you start from the beginning, Felix?” Seungmin suggested. 

When they were settled with three steaming cups of tea and plates of pastries in front of them, Felix began.

“Chan left early from Coldridge last week, do you remember?”

Jisung and Seungmin both nodded. Jisung was already digging into a buttered scone. 

“He never leaves early,” Seungmin said, stirring his tea with a placid air. 

“That’s why I left soon after him,” Felix explained. He twisted his fingers together, not touching his tea. “I couldn’t say why, I just felt as though something was wrong.”

Jisung nodded again, making a go on gesture with his hands since his mouth was full of scone.

“I went to Wildfell after Chan,” Felix confessed, his cheeks reddening as he remembered his panicked ride through the freezing night. “He was preparing to leave when I finally arrived.”

Jisung swallowed his scone with a massive effort and stared at Felix, scandalized. 

“He was planning to quit the hall without informing anyone?”

It would have been unpardonably rude to do so, leaving behind his new acquaintances without a single farewell.

Seungmin made a little humming noise in agreement, a small frown on his face. “What did you do?”

Felix hurried on, eager to get the disapproving looks off his friends’ faces.

“I. I begged him not to go, and I told him that I loved him,” Felix said. He fought the urge to cover his face at Jisung’s fond coo, embarrassed. 

“What did Chan-hyung say?” Seungmin asked, looking deeply interested despite himself.

“He asked for my hand in marriage,” Felix blurted in a rush, his cheeks burning.

“Oh, Felix!” Jisung cried, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “That’s wonderful!”

“It’s about time,” Seungmin said approvingly, leaning across the table to take Felix’s other hand. “Hyung always looks like he wants to eat you alive.”

Felix shivered, remembering his days tangled in Chan’s bed. Seungmin had no idea.

Jisung’s expression morphed into something a little more sly. He gave Felix’s side a little poke, grinning. 

“Is that where these came from, Lixie?” Jisung teased, gesturing to Felix’s neck. “Channie-hyung just couldn’t wait to get his teeth in you, huh?”

Felix squirmed when Seungmin laughed and reached over to swat Jisung’s hand away. “I’m sure Minho-hyung was just the same when he secured your affections, Jisungie.”

Jisung shook his head, eyes wide. “Not at all! We were hardly allowed to get a moment alone together until after we were married.”

Seungmin made a quiet little “oh” and returned to his tea, cheeks stained pink.

Jisung’s head whipped back and forth between his two blushing companions, both trying to feign absorption in their tea.

“Are you telling me,” Jisung said slowly, “that after your engagements were confirmed, both of you spent all of your time having sex?”

Felix made a high-pitched noise of distress, finally giving in to the desire to shove his head into a couch cushion. Seungmin gave up on his tea and looked up at Jisung, his ears bright red.

“Felix!” Jisung said, scandalized. He sounded far more upset than when Felix confessed to being kissed in Chan’s library. “Your parents haven’t even been applied to for permission to marry!”

“I know!” Felix whined, lifting his eyes. “I just-”

“Jisung,” Seungmin scolded, getting up to come over and sit beside Felix. He put an arm around Felix and rubbed his shoulder. “Felix has nothing to be ashamed of. Do you really think Chan-hyung would not marry Felix after bedding him? Is he not a man of his word?”

Jisung deflated, looking upset and embarrassed. He reached out a hand to Felix, and Felix took it. 

“I’m so sorry, Felix,” Jisung apologized, hanging his head. “I could never forgive myself if something happened to you, and-”

“I know, Jisungie,” Felix said, nudging Jisung with his knee. “You meant well. I don’t know where I would be without you and Minho-hyung.” 

Jisung smiled, relieved. He took both of Felix’s hands in his, squeezing. 

“But this is so wonderful, Felix! You’ll be living at Wildfell!” Jisung said, the impact of his words finally hitting him. “You can stay here as long as you like, provided that Chan-hyung doesn’t take you back to town.”

Privately, Felix thought that there was little chance of Chan wishing to return to the crowded city, not when his shifts could be so dangerous. 

“I can stay here with you,” Felix said, quiet, looking from Jisung to Seungmin. “No more silly parties in town, no more dull gentlemen looking for a rich spouse.”

“You’re planning to stay in Coldridge as well, Seungminnie?” Jisung asked, bouncing a little in his seat.

Seungmin nodded, a happy smile on his face. “Changbin gets more and more determined to stay by the day. We may have to return to town periodically, but the chief of our time will be spent here.”

Felix laughed when Jisung pulled him into a hug, overjoyed at keeping his friends close. 

“Seungmin and Changbin-hyung staying, and my Lixie and Channie-hyung too!” Jisung sighed, flopping back on the couch cushions. “It’s more than I could have asked for! I was just telling Minho-hyung that I wanted to keep everyone here for the winter, and it appears that I’ll get my wish!”

“You’ve just got to get Jeongin married off,” Felix teased. “Maybe then his father will stop trying to force him to take the vicarage.”

“Yes, but I haven’t the faintest idea of who to introduce him to,” Jisung lamented, fiddling with his cuff. “Perhaps Minho-hyung has an old acquaintance in town…”

Felix shot a mischievous look at Seungmin, whose lips were pursed against a laugh. He wondered if Seungmin was aware of Hyunjin’s rejected proposal, but Felix decided against mentioning it. Hyunjin confessed to Felix in confidence, and Felix valued his friendship too much to risk it.

Felix breathed a little easier when Jisung stood and started pacing about the room, peppering Felix with questions about his wedding. 

Felix brushed them off as best he could, relieved that Jisung hadn’t tried to get more details regarding his engagement and pleased that Seungmin so quickly sprang to his defense.

Seungmin and Changbin were currently living together while being unmarried, Seungmin hardly had a leg to stand on if he scolded Felix for allowing Chan to bed him before their wedding.

If anyone would understand Felix’s decision, it would be Seungmin. Jisung was young enough to still be residing with his parents when he and Minho were introduced, necessitating a lengthy courtship. 

Seungmin scooted closer to Felix on the couch. He took Felix’s unoccupied hand and squeezed it, smiling at Felix with genuine warmth.

“Congratulations on your engagement, Felix. I’m sure Chan will make you very happy,” Seungmin said quietly, offering him another pastry. “No one could be more deserving of happiness.”

Felix smiled back, laughing when Jisung complained that they weren’t attending to his discussion of honeymoon destinations.

-

“Felix-ssi?”

“Come in!” Felix called, eager for any excuse to drop his pen. He’d been trying to answer a letter to his sister without mentioning his engagement, as Chan had not yet received his parents' approbation.

His butler appeared, carrying a neatly wrapped parcel and a note. “These are from Coldridge, Felix-ssi.”

He placed them on the desk and took his leave, shutting the door with a snap.

Felix tore at the letter first, suspecting from the presence of the parcel that his request was granted.

Felix,

My revolver is in the enclosed parcel. The bullets are in the smaller package within. You’ve had a gentleman’s education, I trust that you know how to use it. If you need instruction, please let me call on you and demonstrate. 

I will not ask you to disclose your reasons for your request, but if you are expecting trouble, please let me or your hyungs help you. If there is anything I can do for you, I am your faithful servant. 

Seungmin has informed me of your recent engagement and I have had a letter from Chan-hyung as well. Please accept my sincere congratulations, and I look forward to repeating them in person very soon

S. Changbin

Felix set the letter on the desk, nerves thrumming.

He tore at the brown paper of the wrapping, finding a small revolver in a shoulder holster, along with the promised bullets in a little box.

Felix hefted it in one hand, checking to ensure that the chambers were not loaded.

Changbin was right. Felix was familiar with firearms, as his father insisted that he learn how to handle and shoot them, if for nothing other than preparing him for possible use. 

As a young boy, Felix hated following his father outdoors for target practice. He cried when he’d learned what hunting was, and his father had not insisted upon Felix joining him for one when his mother put her foot down. 

Now he was grateful for the experience even if it meant that he would be putting both himself and Chan in danger.

Felix walked over to the big window in his study, fingers working at the straps of the holster.

Chan’s words sent Felix into a whirlwind of curiosity.

Why did he still know to protect Felix while still in wolf form, when he told Felix that he lost himself to his transformations? How did Chan know that he was dangerous?

Chan had never been around a human while shifted, he’d said it himself. The only people to tell him that it was dangerous had only been around another elderly full-blooded werewolf who was unable to undergo his transformations. How could they know what full shifted werewolves were like?

Chan spent his shifts curled by Felix’s window, guarding him with his giant form. There was no way that his instincts wouldn’t recognize Felix, wouldn’t want to keep him safe.

If this worked, if this stupid, risky, terrifying decision paid off, it could be the answer to all of his and Chan’s problems. 

If it didn’t… 

The full moon was approaching, leaving Chan a little paler than usual. He kept sneaking glances at Felix when they were together, as if he was afraid that Felix would change his mind about marrying him. 

Felix had told Chan that he would love him even if Chan ripped out his heart. 

Deep down, even if Felix asked Changbin for the use of his revolver, he knew he could never lift it against Chan.

-

The night of the full moon came, clear and silent. The air outdoors was still, no breezes or whispers to disturb the bare trees. 

Felix bundled himself up as best he could. The loaded revolver was tucked into the holster, which was strapped around Felix’s shoulders under his coat. Wrapped up in an overcoat, he settled himself by the window in his chamber to wait.

The window was pushed open wide enough to hear noises from outdoors. Freezing cold air seeped inside, chilling the room.

Felix hadn’t lit a fire and he carried no candle, leaving the room in darkness, only lit by the moonlight.

Felix huddled by the window, peering outside to the silvery lawn, waiting. If this night was like all the rest, Chan would curl up under his window, standing guard. 

The moon had not been up for long, just coming over the trees on the opposite side of the grounds. Felix had no idea how long he should be waiting here, shivering a little, his breath forming clouds in the air. 

An owl hooted from the woods. No howls cut the still air, and Felix almost wished they would. The silence was worse than the chilling howls.

Felix stirred only to push the window open a little wider, wishing he thought to put on mittens. 

He sat up to glance outside over the lawn and his breath caught.

A dark shadow detached itself from the forest and was moving towards Rivington. As Felix watched, entranced, the shape grew larger and larger.

Chan’s black fur was turned pale silver by the moon. Felix couldn’t help gasping at how massive he was, easily standing up to Felix’s chest.

He was making a beeline right for Felix’s window, trotting at a decent clip across the wide expanse of the grounds.

As Chan grew nearer, Felix could hear the crunch of leaves under his paws and his heavy breathing. 

Nerves bubbled up inside him, making his already freezing fingers tremble. He waited until Chan settled down by the hall in his usual spot to peek out over the ledge of the window.

Chan was curled up in a tight ball under the window, his chest rising and falling evenly. He tucked his nose under both paws and his tail was puffed out against the cold.

Despite the fact that he could tear Felix in half without exerting himself in the slightest, Chan still looked adorable. 

Steeling himself for what he was about to do, Felix stood and crept out of his room. Rivington was covered in thick carpeting, making it easier to be as quiet as possible.

Felix left all the doors open in preparation save for the front door. He rushed down the hall once he was far enough from his chamber that he was convinced Chan would not hear him and sped down the stairs, his boots clicking on every step.

Slowing his steps when he came to the marble of the front hall, Felix crept across the echoing room to the front door. It clicked open, and Felix was through it in a second.

He made sure that it was not locked behind him. His stomach clenched as he did so, and Felix took a deep breath to calm himself. 

Felix set off around the side of the manor, taking rather more care than usual to place his feet as he walked. If he stepped on a leaf or a stick, the noise would alert Chan before Felix was ready.

Rivington was not as large as other halls within the neighborhood, and soon Felix was craning his head to look around the corner to where Chan was curled.

Chan was still wound up tight against the cold, his breath forming little clouds around him. He hadn’t moved since Felix left his room.

Felix slipped his hand into his coat, clicking open the holster. He shut his eyes to step around the corner, every one of his instincts screaming at him to run away from the enormous wolf in front of him. He pushed them away. He knew Chan wouldn’t hurt him. 

“Chan?”

Chan’s ears pricked and he lifted his head up at once, a faint growl coming from his chest. 

Felix stood as still as he could, watching with a sort of slow horror as Chan jumped to his feet. His huge, luminous yellow eyes stared right at Felix, rooting him to the spot.

A louder growl rent the air and Chan was darting forward, paws pounding the frozen ground as he lunged at Felix.

Felix shut his eyes, both arms falling limp to his sides. This was it, one idiotic decision would be the end of him. He should have listened to Chan, stayed safe and warm in his room while Chan guarded him.

Chan crashed into Felix and he cried out, expecting to feel vicious teeth tearing at his throat any second. He fell to the ground with a grunt and scrabbled backwards, his fingers slipping uselessly over the cold grass.

Chan flopped on top of him and squirmed so hard that it took Felix a few moments to get his bearings, terror seeping out of his limbs. Chan was so huge that his whole body covered Felix, swamping him in a mass of black fur.

“Chan-hyung?”

A yip answered him from where Chan was wriggling around. He nosed into Felix’s collar and yipped again. Felix could feel Chan’s whole body shaking, his tail wagging as he greeted Felix.

Felix laughed breathlessly, still a little nervous to have Chan so close to his throat. Chan seemed to have given himself over to excitement, whining and yipping as he shoved his nose into Felix’s neck and licked at his face.

“Ach, hyung!” Felix complained, pushing himself up on his elbows. “No licking!”

Chan bounced off of him and was back again in a moment with a bark, shoving his whole body against Felix. He was behaving just like a puppy, thoroughly overexcited. His tail wouldn’t stop wagging and whacked Felix a few times as Chan leapt around him. 

Felix struggled to his feet, dodging Chan’s tail. Chan barked and nearly knocked Felix over again in his enthusiasm. His entire body was wiggling as he darted around Felix, shoving his head against Felix’s hands.

Chan was huge in wolf form, larger than any dog Felix had ever seen. Had he reared on to his hind legs, he would have dwarfed Felix’s height. It did indeed feel scary to be so at ease around a predator. Chan already proved that he could overpower Felix without breaking a sweat, but he was presently occupied with running in circles around Felix and whining in excitement.

“Silly hyung,” Felix muttered, reaching out in an attempt to scratch Chan’s ears. Chan stilled at once, looking at Felix with wide eyes. Felix giggled a little and worked his fingers through the thick fur to give Chan a few scratches.

Chan’s head jerked up into the touch, his eyes slipping half-shut at the attention. Felix’s heart twinged a little. This must have been the first time he was shown affection in his wolf form.

Chan slumped over on the ground, rolling over onto his back. He was purring already, deep rumbly growls coming from his open mouth. 

Felix laughed. “You want belly rubs, hyung?” 

Chan squirmed around and kicked his paws. Felix dropped to his knees, cautious when he reached for Chan’s vulnerable underbelly but gaining confidence when Chan’s purring increased from the scratches. 

Chan’s fur was thick and soft under Felix’s cold fingers. He wiggled when Felix rubbed over his belly, puppyish whines and purrs getting louder. Felix couldn’t help laughing in relief. 

Here was proof that Chan wasn’t dangerous.

A rustle from the nearby underbrush had Chan back on his feet and growling, ears flat against his head. Felix stood and pressed himself close to Chan’s side, his fingers threading through his fur.

“It’s okay, Channie-hyung, probably just a fox-” Felix started, but Chan turned and nudged him with his muzzle. Felix took a few steps forward and Chan nudged him again, pushing him away from the sound.

“Are you herding me?” Felix asked, turning to glare down at Chan with playful incredulousness. “Where are we going?”

Chan just rumbled back at him, butting his head against Felix’s arm. Felix started walking, picking a direction at random and letting Chan correct his course.

Chan was walking in circles around Felix, darting off to smell the ground or investigate a nearby tree. He came back to nose at the hem of Felix’s coat, accepting a few scratches and licking at Felix’s palm.

He scooted off when Felix scolded him for the lick, running in a few big circles and barking. Chan seemed impatient, giving rough little barks and nudging Felix along faster. 

Chan came prancing back to Felix and dropped a slobbery pinecone into his hand, tail wagging as though he’d brought down a massive piece of prey. Felix stared down at it, emotion welling up in his chest.

All Felix could think of was a young Chan, left to undergo his painful and unfamiliar transformations on his own, all while thinking they were dangerous. Not shown any affection at all, by himself in a cold and lonely forest. 

A few tears trickled down his cheeks and Felix sniffled, wiping at his nose. Chan’s head snapped up again and he whined. He shoved his snout into Felix’s side and Felix reached down to give him more scratches.

Huffing in impatience, Chan shoved his head between Felix’s knees and Felix widened his stance on instinct. Chan lowered his body to the ground and wiggled further between Felix’s legs.

“Chan-”

Chan stood up to his full height and Felix flailed, falling forward onto Chan’s neck. He clung to the fur, his own muscle memory from horseback riding kicking in and automatically adjusting his form.

“Hyung- put me down!” Felix cried, wiggling. He stilled at Chan’s tiny growl. “Are you crazy? I’m too heavy-”

Chan snorted and Felix shut his mouth, face reddening. Chan was not an ordinary wolf. He was more than capable of carrying Felix, in human form or not.

Bounding forward, Chan took off through the trees, bearing Felix on his back. Felix clung to Chan’s neck with both arms, terrified that he would fall. He was an accomplished rider, but wolves didn’t gallop like horses! 

Chan was a fast runner, the trees whipping by as he leapt over logs. The forest was gorgeous in the moonlight, dripping in silver and gleaming with light.

Before Felix knew it, they were emerging from the woods on the furthest side of the grounds at Wildfell and crossing the grounds towards the hall.

Felix smiled to himself. He should have known. Chan told him before that shifts were instinct-heavy. Chan just wanted to put Felix in his nest, where he belonged.

Wildfell looked gorgeous in the moonlight, the grey exterior painted white from the moonlight. Felix’s heart ached at the sight of it, so beautiful even at night.

Chan took the steps four at a time and let Felix slip off his back at the threshold, only taking a moment to check him over before Felix turned to get the door open. 

“Is everyone asleep?” Felix asked, whispering in the quiet of the hall.

Chan grunted, giving Felix yet another nudge. Felix didn’t need his direction to find Chan’s bedchamber, three days at Wildfell were more than enough to know the layout. He set off with Chan on his heels, claws clicking with every step on the marble.

Felix pushed the door open and Chan darted in ahead of him, giving a pleased yip. He stalked around the bed, whining a little when he realized that he couldn’t adjust it for Felix. He nosed at the covers, pulling them down.

The fire was burnt down to embers in the grate and the lamps weren’t lit, the only light in the room coming from the open curtains. 

Felix walked over to the fire, raking the coals into a pile and dropping a few logs on top. It would keep them warm through the night.

Felix shucked his layers, piling them on a chair. He took care to hide Changbin’s revolver, removing the bullets and dropping them into his coat pocket. Felix wanted to  confess everything to Chan, but he wanted to explain when they could have a proper conversation.

When he was just in his thin linen shirt, shivering in the cold air, Felix went and slipped into Chan’s bed. He sighed happily at the familiarity, snuggling down in the covers. They smelled like Chan, woodsy and thick, almost smoky.

Chan walked over and laid his head on the side of the bed, giving Felix puppy eyes. 

“No, you shouldn’t get on the bed, hyung,” Felix said, rolling over to scratch behind Chan’s ears again. “You’ve been rolling around in the dirt!”

Chan huffed at him, but Felix could hear his tail thumping on the floor behind him as it wagged happily. He leaned forward to kiss Chan’s forehead.

“G’night, hyung. Thank you for bringing me here.”

Chan purred, the thumps from his tail getting louder. Felix settled down on his arm, watching as Chan turned in a circle three times and laid down, ready to guard Felix even here in his own bedchamber.

Worn out from the events of the night, Felix dropped off to sleep immediately, Chan’s little rumbles soothing him.

-

Felix woke to fingers playing lightly over his forehead, brushing his hair off his face. He blinked, the brightness of the room surprising him.

He felt disoriented for a moment before remembering what happened and where he was. He was back at Wildfell, snuggled up in Chan’s lovely big bed.

Chan was cradling him close, back in his beautiful human form and smiling down at Felix with raw adoration in his eyes. He wasn’t even wearing a stitch of clothing, his warmth seeping into the sheets.

“Good morning, Lixie,” Chan said, leaning down and pressing a gentle kiss on Felix’s forehead.

Felix struggled upright, irrational panic making his gut churn. He flailed in the sheets, managing to get himself sitting up before he burst into tears.

“Felix!” Chan cried, sitting up and bundling him in close. “Darling, what’s wrong, hey, it’s okay-”

“M’ sorry, I’m so sorry!” Felix sobbed, scrubbing at his face. He was shaking, sobs wracking him. “That was so dangerous, we both could have gotten hurt, hyung-”

Chan wrapped both arms around Felix, holding him. Chan was so warm and steady, smoothing his hand down Felix’s back to soothe him and rocking him slowly as he sobbed. 

“It was dangerous,” Chan murmured, brushing away Felix’s tears. 

Felix stilled when Chan didn’t say anything else, his sobs fading to little hiccups. 

“Aren’t you angry with me, hyung?”

“I was, at first,” Chan admitted. He rubbed his hand in big circles over Felix’s back, so gentle. “You could have gotten seriously hurt. I was furious that you would put yourself in danger like that.”

Felix shrunk down, knowing he deserved Chan’s anger. He was reckless, but not without good reason. Chan hummed and pulled him back up again. 

“But then I thought about why you would do it,” Chan said. He leaned down and kissed Felix. “You wouldn’t have done something like that without having a good reason. Am I right?”

“Yes, hyung,” Felix said, catching Chan’s other hand and pressing little kisses to his knuckles. “The way you talked about your shifts; I thought that maybe you had been- ah, misinformed about how they would affect you.”

“You were right,” Chan murmured. “Clever darling.” He nosed into Felix’s hair, kissing him and slipping his hands down to hold Felix’s waist. “You’ve solved our problem all on your own, Lixie.”

“Do you think you’ll be as friendly with the rest of our neighbors as you were with me?” Felix asked, half-teasing, half-serious. He grinned a little when Chan ducked his head, clearly remembering his behavior from the night before.

“I hope so,” Chan answered. His ears were bright red. “It was soothing to have you there with me. Most shifts I’m restless and unable to keep still, but having you close kept me… centered.”

Felix smiled and kissed Chan, drawing it out a little to soothe the sting of embarrassment. “You were very sweet. It was a privilege to be there with you, hyung.”

“Even if I gave you a wet pinecone?” Chan asked. He was teasing, but there was a hint of real vulnerability in his eyes.

“Slobbery pinecone and all,” Felix said firmly. “I’m keeping it forever.”

Chan gave a weak laugh, burying his face in Felix’s shoulder. Felix pushed his fingers through Chan’s hair and breathed him in. 

“I’ve never felt like that during my shifts before,” Chan confessed in a whisper. “So complete, so at peace. It was what I’ve been aching to do for months, keep you warm and safe.”

“And I wanted the same for you,” Felix said. “Out of the cold and back in your nest. That’s where I belong, isn’t it?”

Chan shuddered and pulled Felix in closer, trembling a little from the emotion. Felix let himself be crushed against Chan’s chest and enjoy the feeling of being held so closely.

They were quiet for a moment, listening to the crackle of the fire and letting the emotions of the morning settle in. Felix began to drift off again when Chan drew back and cupped his cheek.

“May I ask you, in the future, to discuss such big decisions with me as well?” Chan asked, a teasing note in his voice. “I can’t stand the idea of you being in such danger without having me be there by your side. I am to be your husband, after all.”

“Yes, Channie-hyung,” Felix said, snuggling up to Chan. He took a deep breath, ready to make his confession, even if Chan would be angry with him.

“Would it make you feel better if I told you that I was not entirely without protection?”

Chan’s hands stilled on his back and he looked down at Felix questioningly. Felix hurried on, his unoccupied hand squeezing down on the sheets.

“I had Changbin’s revolver with me,” Felix said, staring at Chan’s collarbones. He was a little ashamed of himself, in retrospect. Chan hadn’t posed any threat to him after all. “I didn’t think I could use it, if it came to that, but I wanted to have something on me, just in case. Can you ever forgive-”

Chan pulled Felix in close and Felix buried his head in Chan’s chest, fighting down a sob.

“Yes,” Chan said, starting up his soothing rubbing again. “I’m glad to know that you wouldn’t charge into danger with nothing to protect yourself with.”

“Don’t you blame me?” Felix asked, his voice shaking a little. “It was intended to hurt you, if it came to that.”

“I would carry a revolver if I knew I would be going out to confront a giant wolf, too,” Chan replied.

He drew the blankets up to tuck them around Felix, easing his shivering in the chill of the morning. “Regardless of who that wolf was to me. You had no solid proof that I was not a potential threat to you. The fact that you were ready to go out there and meet me head on- you had more faith in me than I did, darling, and I’m sorry.”

Felix shuddered and burrowed in closer to Chan’s chest, remembering the flash of terror when Chan noticed him standing there. He was practically in Chan’s lap, plastered up to him to look for comfort.

“It’s okay, Felix,” Chan whispered. “You’re safe, darling, and no one is hurt.”

Felix sighed, tension finally leaving his shoulders. He slumped down over Chan’s chest, still sleepy and worn out. 

Chan turned them over so Felix was draped over his lap, cradled in his arms. Felix’s eyes slipped shut, lulled back to sleep by Chan’s quiet murmurs in his ears.

Chapter Text

Felix thoroughly enjoyed his next walk to Whitemarch, his feet crunching the frozen ground. It was a terrifically cold evening, breezeless and still. Even now Felix relished in his freedom, taking as many walks as he dared, despite the slight chill still lingering in the air.

He and Chan spent the last week floating in bliss. 

Felix’s parents finally wrote back with their enthusiastic approbation to their match. Chan kept Felix quite busy indeed, from discussing furniture swatches to taking him over the arm of the sofa. 

Felix spent most of the week at Wildfell. He was becoming fonder and fonder of the estate by the day and found himself discontented when he had to return to Rivington. 

There was something about the air of Wildfell, both the inhabitant and the estate were dear to Felix. He anticipated his arrival and dreaded his departure, happy to stay snuggled in Chan’s warm embrace in their cozy bed. 

Felix couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous as he rounded the bend before Whitemarch. 

Just last night he and Chan agreed to confess to their friends when they made their official engagement announcement.

Chan was knotted in Felix’s ass, curled up behind him with both arms looped around Felix’s waist to tug him in close. Felix was drifting off, so warm in Chan’s embrace, when Chan nuzzled into his neck.

“Do you think it’s time to tell our friends about my, ah… condition?”

Felix hummed and canted his hips back against Chan’s cock. He moaned a little when his knot sunk deeper inside, low and satisfied in his throat. He bit down on a tiny amused giggle when Chan’s words registered. To anyone else, it would have sounded like Chan had just confessed to being pregnant.

He snuggled down further into Chan’s arms. “Whenever you like, hyung. Just- I’d like to be there with you when you do.”

Chan kissed his cheek. “Of course, Lixie.”

Felix blinked himself out of it when he mounted the steps to Whitemarch. The butler was there to let him in as usual, taking his coat and ushering him into the parlor.

“Felix!”

Jeongin rushed up to Felix’s side, laughing a little in excitement. He took Felix’s arm and guided him over to the sofa where Jisung and Hyunjin were deep in discussion.

“Lix-ah, come here!” Jisung called, patting the seat with his hand unoccupied by a wine glass. “We’re trying to settle Seungmin and Changbin’s wedding date!”

Hyunjin giggled from where he was snuggled up with a cushion. Felix glanced around the room as he sat, taking Jeongin’s offered glass of wine.

Chan and Minho were standing in their usual places by the fire. Chan smiled over the rim of his glass at Felix, who couldn’t help grinning back. Seungmin was dragging a piece of string for Dori to chase across the carpet and Changbin was watching him indulgently in the armchair, with Soonie asleep on one thigh.

“Hyung, don’t you think you ought to consult Seungmin and Changbin about their own wedding date?” Jeongin asked. He fiddled with the stem of his glass as he spoke, dark hair flopping in his face.

“They’ve got to decide soon,” Jisung said, a little more serious than Hyunjin. “Jeongin says that his father has been asking him if he knows anything.”

“He should just write to them himself. Not like he doesn’t have the time,” Jeongin griped. “Look at them! They’re just enjoying being engaged. Let them have the time to themselves.”

Seungmin and Changbin seemed entirely disinterested in the discussion of their anticipated wedding date. Changbin was watching Seungmin play with Dori with an expression of aching fondness on his face.

Hyunjin waved a hand. “They’ve been awfully cagey about it! No matter how many times I ask, they won’t let it slip!”

“Really, Hyunjin-ah,” Jeongin laughed, setting his glass down. “What was I saying just yesterday about you and not telling me when you want to-”

Jeongin faltered when the room went silent. 

Every eye was fixed on him. Seungmin stopped pulling the string and turned to look at him. Chan and Minho even abandoned their conversation to turn and stare.

Felix grinned at the look on Jisung’s face. Jeongin never referred to Hyunjin without honorifics before so casually.

“Yah, Yang Jeongin!” Changbin called, delighted. “You ought to speak to your hyung with more respect!”

Jeongin buried his face in a pillow with a wail and Hyunjin dissolved into a giggling fit, nearly spilling his wine. 

Baffled, Felix glanced back and forth with Chan, who shook his head, mystified. 

“It’s okay, Jeongin-ah,” Hyunjin said, patting Jeongin’s shoulder. “We had to tell them eventually.”

Jeongin shook his head. Felix could just see the bright red tips of his ears poking out from his hair.

Hyunjin raised his wineglass with a smile. “Jeongin and I are engaged!”

Felix’s cry of congratulations was drowned out by the general chaos that the announcement set off. Affronted, Soonie leapt off Changbin’s thigh when he stood and dove for Jeongin, ready to tease. 

Jisung was howling “oh, it isn’t fair, you two plotters, you kept this from me!” while pulling a laughing Hyunjin into a hug. Minho came over to shake Jeongin’s hand once he’d emerged beet-red from his pillow sanctuary.

Chan went over to pat Hyunjin’s shoulder, smiling down at him. “Do you plan to stay in the neighborhood?”

Hyunjin bit his lip and exchanged a nervous glance with Jeongin. “We would very much like to, I believe. Jeonginnie needs to be at the university for several months out of the year, and I need to be where clients are more abundant, but I don’t want to leave the neighborhood for good.”

“Neither do I,” Jeongin added. “It might be difficult to arrange our residence, but I expect that you haven’t seen the last of us just yet.”

Felix gave a small sigh of relief and caught Jisung’s eye, grinning. 

Jisung looked near to tears at the news. He stood up from the sofa and made his way over to Minho, pushing his head against Minho’s chest.

Minho chuckled and wrapped Jisung up in his arms. He leaned down to whisper something in Jisung’s ear and Jisung shivered, one hand coming up to brush a stray tear from his eye.

“Ah, Jisungie, are you all right?” Changbin cooed. Both of Changbin’s hands were on Seungmin’s waist and he was swaying them both back and forth. 

Jisung sniffed and nodded. “I just can’t believe I get to keep everyone here. It’s more than I could ever have asked for. First Seungmin and Changbin, then Chan and Felix, and now-” Jisung cut himself off by slapping a hand over his mouth and shooting a guilty look at Chan and Felix. “Had you announced it yet, hyung?”

Felix laughed as Chan answered. “Not formally, no.” He lifted his glass in mock toast. “Felix and I are engaged as well!”

Everyone in the room was aware of this fact already, but the congratulations that poured forth were no less effusive. By the time the dust settled, Felix was on the couch squished between Hyunjin and Seungmin, laughing at Changbin trying to cuddle a squirming Dori.

Jeongin retreated to his usual chair away from the fuss, but he was smiling at Hyunjin giving Felix a one-armed hug.

Felix met Chan’s eyes from across the room. Chan raised his eyebrows in question and Felix nodded. 

It was time for Chan to make his confession.

Just as Chan cleared his throat to begin, the butler entered the parlor to usher them to dinner.

Chan grinned a little helplessly at Felix and followed him into the dining room. Felix scoffed under his breath but allowed Jeongin to yank him along, determined to go against Jisung’s seating chart for the umpteenth time.

Felix was half-convinced that Chan wouldn’t be able to speak to everyone as the dinner progressed. He was stuck at one end of the table by Changbin and Jisung, and Felix was up near the head by Minho and Jeongin.

Hyunjin enthralled the entire table with his retelling of Jeongin’s faltering proposal in a frozen garden outside the vicarage. Jeongin attempted to remain composed by focusing on his dinner and asking Felix about when his sister’s baby would arrive, but his ears were red and he kept stuttering.

“Are- are you excited to be an uncle, hyung?” Jeongin asked, one cheek bulging with food in the same way Jisung did when he was excited.

“Any day now, Jeonginnie,” Felix answered. He really was excited, but he had more pressing issues at the moment. “Congratulations on your engagement, Iyen-ah!”

Jeongin ducked his head. “It really didn’t happen the way Hyunjinnie makes it out,” he grumbled. “There was much less swooning and a lot more freezing wind.”

“Did you really take him out into the cold garden?” Felix asked, unable to resist teasing.

“It was the only way I could think to get him on his own!” Jeongin whined. “My family saw fit to stay in the parlor with us, it was all horribly embarrassing. Try proposing while your whole family is staring at you!”

Felix hummed in agreement. He didn’t really have much to say to that, considering he’d received his own proposal nude and freshly fucked in Chan’s bed.

His non-reply was interrupted by Changbin’s voice near the other end of the table.

“I have the letter to my hunter friend written, hyung, do you remember? Are you sure we should send it?”

His question was addressed to Chan. Felix watched him stiffen up at the words.

“We haven’t seen or heard it in quite a while,” Minho mused. He set his fork down and glanced at Jisung. “What do you think, jagi?”

Felix opened his mouth to reply to Minho, but Chan beat him to it.

“That won’t be necessary.”

Everyone turned to look at Chan. Minho’s eyebrows shot up under his bangs, and Jeongin uncomfortably swallowed a massive mouthful of food.

“Not necessary?” Changbin echoed. He frowned. “What do you mean? Do you know something about the wolf, hyung?”

Felix’s fingers dug into his thigh as he watched Chan stand up. His chest felt tight, like iron bands were pressing around his ribs. 

Felix shot a half-glance at Changbin. If this went badly, if everything went wrong, he needed to get to Changbin first. There was no way of knowing if Changbin had his pistol on him, but if he did, Chan was in danger.

Chan sighed. Felix could see the look on his face, the resignation just the same as it was on that stormy night.

“It’s not a wolf,” Chan said. “It’s me. I’m a werewolf.”

A ringing silence filled the room after Chan’s pronouncement. No one moved. Felix’s heartbeat pounded in his ears and he stared at Chan. Chan didn’t meet his eyes, staring down at the table.

The silence was broken by Minho standing up. 

“Hyung, come, sit down. That’s not true, werewolves are just myths, or- or legends,” Minho said. He held out a placating hand to Chan, beckoning him to take his seat.

“Chan-hyung, that’s ridiculous,” Changbin huffed. “How could you possibly-”

Hyunjin shifted in his chair and Jeongin’s wide eyes snapped to him, worried. Seungmin’s fingers were digging into the crook of Changbin’s arm. 

Despite their dismissals, the tension in the room was winding tighter. Minho’s eyes were darting between Chan and Jisung, and Felix saw his fist clench.

“It’s true,” Felix said, abruptly and a little too loud. “He isn’t lying.”

“Felix, that’s crazy!” Jisung pleaded. His eyes flicked nervously to Chan. “Werewolves don’t exist!”

“They do!” Felix cried. “Why would Chan lie?”

That sent a ripple around the table. 

Jisung stared at Minho, horror slowly creeping over his expression. He was sitting right next to Chan. Minho’s fist clenched.

Felix turned to Changbin. He could think of nothing else to do. They had no solid evidence, nothing that would prove anything. 

“Do you remember when I asked for your pistol?” Felix asked. He stared at Changbin, catching his confused eye. Seungmin’s head jerked towards his fiance, surprised.

“Hyung, you let Felix borrow your pistol?” Seungmin asked. His hand was still locked on Changbin’s arm. “When?”

“Ah- I did, not that long ago,” Changbin admitted. “But what does that have to do with-”

“I needed it… in case Chan- well, just as a safeguard, really,” Felix mumbled, stumbling over his words. “In case he attacked-”

The room erupted. 

Minho dove for Jisung, shoving him behind his back. Changbin stood, Seungmin still keeping a firm grip on his arm. Hyunjin darted around the table to Jeongin’s side. 

He tried to push Felix behind him as well, but Felix sidestepped him.

He met Chan’s eye from across the room. Chan looked miserable, like he expected this to happen, to be rejected by his friends. He ducked his head and Felix’s heart squeezed. 

He made to stride across the room to Chan’s side, but Hyunjin caught his arm.

“Felix, keep back! He could be dangerous!” Hyunjin hissed. 

Jeongin peeked out from behind Hyunjin, a hesitant look on his face.

Felix threw off Hyunjin’s hand, incensed. “He’s not dangerous! Does he look riddled with bullet holes to you? I’m engaged to him, don’t you think I'd know if he was dangerous?”

He ignored everyone’s dissenting noises and went to Chan’s side, taking his hand and burrowing himself into the lapels of Chan’s waistcoat. “I trust him.”

Chan wrapped his arm around Felix’s side, rubbing soothingly up and down his ribs.

“You can’t prove it!” Minho argued. Jisung was tugging at his arm, trying to get out from behind him. 

Everyone in the room turned to look at Felix, still standing next to Chan. Felix looked up at him. Chan was staring down at him, the tiniest smile playing around the corners of his lips.

Felix looked back at Minho. He squeezed down hard on Chan’s hand and Chan squeezed back. 

“Yes, I can.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” 

Jisung sounded tremulous, his voice barely more than a whisper as they stood outside Rivington in the freezing cold. His teeth were chattering, and Minho slipped an arm around him to warm him up.

Felix finished tugging on a pair of leather gloves, even if he knew he’d be taking them off again when Chan showed up. “Yes, it’s perfectly safe.”

“Perfectly safe,”  Minho repeated. 

Felix bristled a little at the disdain in his voice.

Minho was reluctant to take part in this little adventure to begin with, insisting that he wouldn’t endanger Jisung. Jisung put his foot down after Felix and Minho nearly got into a shouting match, snapping at his husband that he’d be going whether or not Minho joined him.

Chan was waiting inside Rivington. He kissed Felix goodbye before he and Minho and Jisung went outside. 

The plan was to leave the door to the hall open, and let Chan shift in the moonlight, then come around the side of the manor where the three of them waited.

It was two interminable weeks of waiting for the full moon. 

The two dinners they had since that night were awkward and stilted. Minho was wary of Chan’s presence, even if Jeongin and Seungmin still talked to him as they usually did. Felix was just grateful that Minho allowed Chan into the manor at all. If he didn’t, Felix would have refused to come in solidarity, and the consequences of that were bitter and unpleasant. 

As it was, Felix waited impatiently for the moon to swell. Now they were here, and Felix strained his ears for the slightest sound of Chan’s approach. He could be quite silent in wolf form.

“Oh my-” Minho gasped, startling.

Felix turned to see Chan’s massive form trotting around the side of the manor. He smiled at the sight of him, his fur neatly groomed and his tail already starting to wag when he caught sight of Felix.

“Hi, hyung!” Felix called. 

He stepped forward and Chan bounded up to him, sniffing at him and giving a gruff little bark when Felix laughed and scratched his ears.

Chan wound himself around Felix’s legs. He rubbed his head on Felix’s thigh and fixed Jisung and Minho with his orange eyes. Jisung made a little high-pitched noise.

Chan growled.

“Hey, Channie-hyung, it’s okay,” Felix murmured. 

He reached out to scratch behind his ears again, just the way he liked. Remembering Chan’s protectiveness, he rubbed down Chan’s back in an attempt to soothe. “I brought Minho-hyung and Jisungie to see you.”

“Felix,” Jisung whimpered. “He doesn’t like us here, should we go-?”

“No, not yet,” Felix answered. 

Chan’s growls let up, but he prowled in a circle around Felix, not letting him move away. He nudged his head against Felix’s hand and Felix snatched it away when he felt a flash of tongue. “Hyung, how many times, no licking!”

Chan yipped and nudged at him again, his tail starting to wag. He looked over at Minho and Jisung again and bowed his head a bit. 

“Jisung, come here,” Felix coaxed. 

Jisung shook his head, looking petrified. Minho put his arm around him and helped him come closer. 

“That’s it,” Felix murmured. “Channie, look, it’s Jisungie. He wants to say hello.”

“Does he- does he keep his mind, when he’s a wolf?” Minho asked, stopping quite suddenly. 

“Yes, he does,” Felix said. He petted down Chan’s back again, remembering the first time he met Chan in wolf form. Chan really was scary when you didn’t know him. “He knows you, but his instincts are- ah, pronounced, during a shift.”

“I see,” Minho said, sounding faint. He coaxed Jisung another step forward, and Felix smiled.

Jisung was close enough to stretch out his hand to touch. Felix nodded at him, trying to look encouraging. 

“Reach out, Jisungie,” Felix urged. “That’s it, let him sniff your hand.”

Jisung squeaked, but he lowered his palm to let Chan nose into it. He gasped when Chan ducked his head for a sniff.

“His nose is wet,” Jisung mumbled. He giggled a bit when Chan licked his fingers. His tail was wagging faster and faster, and he leaned down to nudge his head into Jisung’s side.

“He wants you to scratch his ears,” Felix said, guiding Jisung’s hand. “Here, like this.”

Chan made a rumbling sound at the first hesitant touch of Jisung’s fingers and Jisung snatched his hand back with a yelp.

“It’s okay!” Felix soothed, pulling Jisung’s hand back down. “He’s just purring.”

“He purrs?” Jisung breathed, burying his fingers in Chan’s fur. Chan’s rumbling purrs grew louder at the touch, and Jisung relaxed a bit, smiling.

“He’s so soft,” Jisung said, stroking reverently over Chan’s head. 

Felix huffed a tiny laugh as he watched Jisung coo at Chan, his fear almost gone.

Minho edged around the other side of Jisung. He held out his hand for Chan to sniff, and Chan snapped at him. Minho swore, stumbling back a pace.

“Chan!” Felix scolded. “Don’t bite Minho-hyung!” 

Chan huffed, his breath fogging up in the cold air. His tail hadn’t stopped wagging, which made Felix snort.

“He’s just messing with you, hyung,” Felix said, giving Chan a pat. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for him, Felix,” Minho said. He scratched Chan’s ear and Chan’s eyes slid shut in bliss, purring. “I don’t suppose he’s forgotten those comments I made. Point taken, hyung.”

Felix smiled, watching Minho and Jisung pet Chan. He sneaked in to get his own pets, stripping off his leather glove to warm his fingers in Chan’s fur.

“Is he always like this?” Minho asked. He glanced up at Felix, and Felix could see the guilt in his eyes.

“Yes,” Felix answered. “A bit cuddlier, just as protective. He’s sweet, just like a puppy.”

“A puppy that could rip your face off,” Jisung muttered. 

Felix laughed when Chan snorted and stamped his paws. 

Felix let Chan lick his fingers. “He wouldn’t. Not like this, anyway. He’s so protective, he wouldn’t dream of letting anything happen to us.”

He sighed. “It’s not necessarily safe to have him out in the open, though. One wrong move, one unfamiliar person in the wrong place, and Chan wouldn’t show them any mercy like this.”

“Why is he not bothered by us being here, Lixie?” Jisung asked. Both of his hands were buried in Chan’s fur to keep warm.

“He sees us as a- hm, pack, I think he said,” Felix said, pulling his drool-covered hand back and grimacing. 

Chan yipped at him, one of the ones that meant he was annoyed. Felix scratched his ears again in consolation.

Minho smiled at Felix, still absorbed in petting Chan. The expression slipped from his face when he looked back down at Chan, whose eyes were closed in bliss as he was petted. “I’m sorry, Lix-ah. I shouldn’t have doubted you and Chan-hyung. Can you forgive me?”

Chan snorted and shoved his head into Minho’s hands. Minho made a face when Chan licked his fingers.

“You were right to be skeptical,” Felix protested. “Werewolves aren’t exactly common. You had every reason to think I was lying, or that Channie was lying.”

“That would have been my next question,” Jisung said. “How many werewolves are there?”

“Not many,” Felix said. Chan was starting to stamp his paws in the cold, impatient. “Channie-hyung’s one of the last ones.”

Chan gave a louder bark and bounced away from them, clearly fed up with all the talking. 

Minho paused in the act of wiping his hands off on a handkerchief. He was watching Chan gambol around them, sniffing at the dirt and pausing to stick his head in a bush. 

“Does he…” Minho hesitated.  Felix turned to him with raised brows. “...fetch?’

Chan’s ears perked up at the word and he withdrew from the bush, his tail wagging faster.

Felix and Jisung giggled at the look of distaste on Minho’s face at the idea of tossing a slobbery stick for Chan to chase. 

“Too used to the kitties, huh?” Jisung teased. 

Jisung scrounged along the ground to find a stick, a bit short, but Chan barked loudly and jumped up, eyes fixed on the stick in Jisung’s hand.

Jisung tossed the stick and Chan dashed after it, yipping in excitement. He snapped it up in his gigantic jaws and almost broke it in two. 

Chan lifted his head up high and trotted proudly back to lay the wet stick shards at Jisung’s feet, his tail wagging jubilantly.

“Oh, yuck,” Jisung said, cringing. 

He reached down to pick up a piece of stick between two fingers and flung it aside. Chan bounded off after it, worrying it between his teeth and shredding it completely.

Felix shook his head. “He’s a bit hyperactive and excitable, but nothing dangerous. Not to us, anyway.”

“You handle him pretty well, Lixie,” Minho said, dusting his hands off and wrapping one arm around Jisung. “I think this will work out nicely, all things considered.”

Felix smiled, sweet relief making his heart lighter. 

Minho and Jisung gave Chan a few last pets, bowing goodbye to him the same way they would if he was in human form. 

Chan whined at Felix when he was ushered into the house. He trotted around Felix in a circle, dodging his guiding hands and trying to hide behind Minho.

“No, hyung, you have to go inside,” Felix scolded, trying to lure Chan with the promise of letting him lick his fingers. “You’ll spook the horses!”

Chan’s ears drooped. He looked the perfect picture of misery and Felix bit his lip on a coo.

Jisung laughed. “How do you ever say no to him, Lixie? Look at that face.”

“I know,” Felix moaned. “He’s so cute!”

He coaxed Chan again and this time he obeyed, padding dutifully through the open door and turning around to watch Minho and Jisung bid Felix goodnight and mount their horses.

Felix stayed long enough to wave them off as they turned to retreat down the drive. The full moon lit everything up in perfect silver, providing the light for Jisung and Minho to return to Whitemarch. 

He was almost bowled over by an overexcited Chan when he closed the door behind himself. Felix got smacked with Chan’s wagging tail and he laughed, following Chan up the stairs to bed.

Felix paced the length of the room, fiddling with his collar. 

Chan caught his wrist when he passed him. “Come, sit down, sweetheart. Stop pacing, they’ll be here soon.”

They were waiting in the entryway of Chan’s family residence in town. The clatter of the street was muffled through the door, shouts and the sound of hooves hitting the cobblestones. 

The entryway was lavishly decorated, colorful and sunny. Fluffy white curtains were drawn on the windows overlooking the street, but the light seeped through, bathing the room in lovely ivory light.

“But-“ Felix protested as Chan gently led him to sit next to him on the sofa. “Something is wrong with my collar, hyung, can you check, please?”

“You look wonderful,” Chan said, smoothing down the offending garment and adjusting Felix’s lapels. “It’ll be fine, Lixie, you don’t have to be nervous. My parents are quite reticent.”

Felix let out a breath. Chan warned him of how quiet and solemn his parents could be, which only increased Felix’s trepidation.

As soon as they had learned of Chan’s engagement, Chan’s parents requested that he be married from town, so that both families could be in attendance. 

This news devastated their friends. They insisted upon traveling to attend the wedding, despite the inconvenience.

Minho and Jisung were arriving in town next week, hosting Hyunjin and Jeongin in their massive town residence so that they could attend the wedding. 

Seungmin and Changbin were already holed up in Changbin’s stylish terrace, arriving along with a massive rainstorm sweeping the city. 

All of them stoutly insisted on attending the wedding, which was being held far sooner than anticipated, at Felix’s parents’ request. Felix was secretly pleased, he and Chan both agreeing that it wouldn’t feel like a real wedding if their friends weren’t there. 

Chan and Felix arrived earlier, to stay with Chan’s family in their town residence. Their wedding was in exactly one week, and Felix’s nerves were suffering.

Felix’s own parents met Chan yesterday. Even when he was dusty and worn from a full day of travel, Chan still managed to charm Felix’s parents and both his sisters.

Felix bounced his new niece in his arms, watching Chan take a walk in the garden with his mother, holding her on his arm and chatting like old friends. 

Something told him to not expect the same reception from Chan’s family. 

What if Chan’s parents took one look at him and refused to let him marry their son?

The idea made Felix’s breath catch. To be parted from Chan now, when they were so close to marriage- it would be unbearable. He reached out to take Chan’s hand, fingers tightening around Chan’s.

Chan’s thumb smoothed over Felix’s knuckles and he squeezed his hand. The door swung open and they both stood, brushing their clothes off and putting a respectable amount of distance between themselves. 

The butler entered first, holding the door open as four people entered. 

Chan’s parents were arm in arm, followed by a young woman and a teenaged boy. Their shoes clicked on the wood of the floor, echoing around the high ceiling.

Chan’s parents approached first, silent.

“Father, Mother,” Chan greeted, offering his parents a stiff bow. He kissed the back of his mother’s gloved hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

Felix fought the urge to hide behind Chan. 

Chan’s mother looked severe. Her hair was swept up in a sleek coiffure, unlike the softer curls Felix’s mother preferred. Her posture was upright, her dress firmly starched, and not a jewel was out of place. 

Chan’s father was taller than he was, broad-shouldered like his son. His features were similar to Chan’s, but sharper, angular. His face held none of the easy softness that Chan’s did.

Felix tried to avoid his stern eye, remembering with a pang how Chan had told him that his father forced him into the ritual to become a werewolf, fanatically obsessed with his son fulfilling his dream. Anger bubbled in his stomach, but there really wasn’t anything he could do about it without causing a scene.

“May I present my fiancé, Lee Felix,” Chan said, taking Felix’s hand to draw him forward. Felix bowed at the waist, holding his breath and trying to will a smile onto his face. 

His parents made no move to embrace Felix, or offer a welcoming kiss, merely inclining their heads in a facsimile of a bow. Felix stayed put, trying to loosen his own anxious grip on Chan’s fingers.

The young woman rushed forward, taking Felix’s hands to pull him into a warm hug. Felix’s breath was knocked out of him at the force of the hug, but the welcome left him blinking tears from his eyes.

“My younger sister, Hannah,” Chan said drily. Hannah pulled back and maneuvered Felix around so they were away from Chan’s parents, still holding both his hands.

“I’ve been dying to meet you,” Hannah said in a whisper. “Channie-oppa wouldn’t let me write to you or anything! He said I was going to scare you away.”

Felix smiled and some of the tension slipped from his shoulders at Hannah’s easy openness. “He’s told me a lot about you! And your parents, too, of course, but-“

“Ah, don’t worry about them,” Hannah scoffed. “Stodgy fools.”

Felix stiffened at the words, glancing aside at them to see if they’d overheard. Chan’s parents were both absorbed in speaking to Chan, his mother frowning and his father nodding at something Chan was saying. 

The teenager joined them. He looked like a little copy of Chan, but with shoulder-length curls. Both hands were stuffed in his pockets, and he stared at his feet next to his older brother.

“That’s my little brother Lucas,” Hannah explained. “He’s still at school, and headed to university in the fall.”

“I don’t have any younger brothers, only sisters,” Felix said. He remembered his own very kind brother-in-law and sighed. It seemed like this one wouldn’t be as much of a friend. 

“Sisters!” Hannah cried. “How many?”

“Two,” Felix said, grinning at her enthusiasm. “One older, one younger. My eldest sister has recently had a baby.” 

“Congratulations!” Hannah said, squeezing his hand. “I can’t wait till Channie-oppa has some babies, I so desperately want to be an aunt.”

Felix went red at the implications, chancing a side glance at Chan. He obviously couldn’t get pregnant the way Chan liked to try, but children didn’t seem like such a bad idea…

“You’ll be mated, too, of course,” Hannah was saying, tucking her own hand into Felix’s elbow to guide him in a turn about the entryway. “It’s tradition-“

“Will I be what?” Felix asked. Mated?   “What does that mean?”

“Mated!” Hannah said impatiently, waving her hand in the air. “You know, the mating bites? My parents are mated, it’s a werewolf tradition.”

Felix’s eyes flicked to Chan’s parents. Chan’s mother turned her head to look at her husband and Felix saw the flash of a scarred-over mark on her neck, in exactly the same spot Chan liked to lick and bite over on Felix’s neck.

Felix blinked. “What? I didn’t know that you- well, I didn’t expect-”

“You didn’t know?” Hannah gasped and pressed her fingers to her lips. “Oh, heavens, Felix, I’m so sorry, Chan would have wanted to tell you himself-“

“Would he?” Felix asked, mostly to himself, under Hannah’s frantic mumbling. 

“He would, he surely would,” Hannah soothed, patting Felix’s arm. “Oh, Felix-”

Chan’s mother called to them from across the hall. “Hannah, bring Felix back over here, please. It’s time to eat.”

Hannah obeyed and they walked the short distance across the hall together. 

Felix could see the curve of Chan’s mother’s bite clearer as he drew closer. Chan’s father was wearing a higher starched collar which obscured all of his throat, but when he turned his head back to look at Chan, the edge of a scar was just visible under the stiff fabric.

Felix’s tummy tightened at the idea of Chan’s teeth biting down on his neck, leaving behind a mark to claim him as his mate.

Chan held out his arm for Felix as the party turned to follow the butler into the dining room, but Hannah tucked him in closer and shot her brother a playful look.

“No, Channie-oppa, I get Felix for now. That’s what you get for keeping him from us all this time!”

“Hannah,” her mother admonished. 

Hannah quieted, keeping Felix by her side and insisting that he sat next to her at the table.

Dinner unfolded almost precisely contrary to Felix’s expectations. Conversation flowed easier over the plates and the din of cutlery, and Felix was peppered with questions by Hannah.  

Hannah seemed inclined to answer her own questions, which suited Felix’s ruminating mood. He kept shooting covert glances at Chan, who was sitting up the table with his parents.

Lowering her voice, Hannah whispered, “I can’t wait to get married. I want to get out of this stuffy old house and see the world. You’re so lucky, Felix.”

“Lucky to be married, or lucky to be marrying Chan?” Felix couldn’t resist asking.

Hannah shrugged, but Felix saw the teasing sparkle in her eye. He remembered when his own sister got married, and how he teased his brother-in-law about marrying her. 

“Marriage will suit him,” Hannah said, with all the authority of a barrister. “It did him so much good to be out in the country, you have no idea. I could hardly believe it when I saw him, he looks much improved.”

“I’m glad to have played a small role in that,” Felix said, mostly out of pleasantry rather than genuine feeling. He was still looking at Chan, absorbed in his own musings about mating and sharp teeth marking him up.

“Living at home put too much strain on him,” Hannah said. She glanced at her parents, both of whom were still absorbed in conversation with Chan. “We had only moved back to the city for two months when Mother decided having him here was too much of a danger.”

“Where did he spend his shifts?” Felix asked. Hannah’s eyebrows shot up at the ease of Felix’s question, but she answered it all the same.

“Locked in the basement. It was terrible. He howled and clawed the door to shreds. Nearly frightened the poor housekeeper out of her wits. By the second full moon, Mother and Father had enough and let Wildfell for him.”

She sighed and picked moodily at her plate. “They’ve always been rather harsh on him. Half-werewolves look down on full werewolves, even if there aren’t many of either left. They’re seen as too animalistic, too feral. Uncivilized beasts. I tried to tell Father that he should care for Chan’s needs, he’d made him like this after all.”

Hannah scoffed. “For all the good it did. I’ve never seen Father so angry. He couldn’t get Chan out of the house fast enough after that.”

Felix released his death grip on his fork and tried not to glare at Chan’s parents up the table. How could Chan’s father treat him like that, after he’d forced Chan to undergo the ritual? Felix didn’t understand how Chan could speak to both his parents with such patience.

“But now you’re here!” Hannah said, giving Felix a huge smile. “You’re here, and you’re going to love Channie just like he deserves.” 

Felix nodded, trying to soothe his own ruffled feathers. Chan finally glanced at him from up the table. 

The soft smile and warm happiness in Chan’s eyes eased the knot of misgivings tying itself tighter in Felix’s belly.

Felix spent the next week in his own home with his family. Chan joined him most days, happy to slot himself into their parlor, laughing and playing cards with Felix’s sisters.

It was far more pleasant to spend an afternoon with Felix’s family than in the stuffy silence of the Bang drawing room at night, the quiet only broken by Hannah’s chatter. Lucas was still home from school in anticipation of the wedding, and he could be coaxed to play cards if Chan’s parents were occupied with their books.

Felix found himself endeared to Lucas, whose dry humor and quick wit made him giggle into his hand of cards. The four of them made a lively party at the card table, even with Chan’s parents enthroned in their chairs.

Still, evenings were far more enjoyable in Felix’s household. 

All their friends would stop by, filling the parlor to the brim with laughter and chatter. 

Hyunjin took great pleasure in sketching Felix’s niece for her parents, promising to paint her portrait when she got a bit older. 

Felix’s father spoke animatedly with Jeongin, inquiring after his studies and lending him a few books from the library. Seungmin and Changbin were dragged into round after round of cards by Felix’s sisters.

And of course, Minho and Jisung were given the warmest of welcomes by Felix’s parents, who offered them deep bows in gratitude for caring for their son during his convalescence. Minho insisted that it was no trouble at all, smiling with his husband on his arm.

Felix’s niece was passed around to be cooed over and admired, and Felix loved to have her in his arms when he got the chance. She was so tiny, Felix could hardly believe that she was so small.

Chan seemed to enjoy seeing her cuddled up to Felix as well. Felix caught him staring at him whenever he held the baby, watching him press kisses to her little head.

One night, after the baby fell asleep on Felix’s chest, Chan shoved Felix up against the door to their room, kissing him hungrily and rutting his cock against his ass.

“Can’t stand watching you hold the baby,” Chan grunted, both hands pulling roughly at Felix’s clothes. “Makes me wanna knock you up, fill you up with my own litter.”

Felix gasped when Chan’s fingers curled around his dripping cock and gave him a stroke, his thumb digging into the slit. He whined at the image, an obscene picture of himself lounging in bed, swollen and pregnant with Chan’s babies swimming before his eyes.

Chan fucked him just like that, pressed up against the door with Chan’s fingers stuffed in his mouth to muffle his needy whimpers. 

He knotted deep inside, and Felix moaned at the gush of cum filling his hole.

Chan had to carry him gently into bed, trying not to jostle his knot inside Felix’s hole.

Felix drifted off to sleep with Chan pressing apologetic kisses to his cheek and Chan’s softening knot still buried inside him.

The night before the wedding, Felix stayed at his parents’ home. His belongings were moved back into the house, as he and Chan would be leaving right after their ceremony and breakfast reception. 

Felix scrunched his nose up at the idea of suffering through a reception, wanting to depart for Wildfell directly, but he was shouted down by his whole family.

His sisters insisted upon dressing him the next morning, waking him at the break of dawn and pulling him to the vanity to fix his hair up.

Felix stared sleepily at his own reflection as his sisters pinned his hair up, the early morning sun glinting off the surface and turning his silhouette to gold.

The ceremony was quick, just a blur in the pale early morning. The bells rang out so early over the city as Felix and his sisters sat in their carriage, holding hands. Felix let the sway of the carriage over the cobbles soothe him, listening to his sisters’ murmurs.

The church was draped in white flowers, one last gift from Chan’s parents. Felix barely registered them, captured by the sight of Chan waiting for him at the altar with the priest behind him. 

Chan beamed at him, unable to contain himself at the sight of a weak-kneed Felix making his way down the aisle, both his parents supporting him.

His hand shook when he signed the register, his name right beside Chan’s in the book. 

Chan’s hand squeezed on his, and Felix turned his face to Chan’s the moment the room burst into applause, cheering when they turned and walked back down the aisle together, hand in hand, out to the waiting carriage.

The breakfast went by in a blur. Felix was hardly able to keep his eyes from straying to Chan’s face, tracing the beloved features and smiling whenever Chan caught him at it. 

Chan’s hand was on his thigh under the table, rubbing and squeezing in a comforting sort of way. 

Felix relaxed into it, soothed by Chan’s easy affection.

Felix’s sisters kept the conversation light, while the baby was settled on Felix’s mother’s lap. Chan’s parents were at the other end of the table, which suited Felix. 

They hung back during their goodbyes as well. Felix offered Chan’s mother a formal bow, which she accepted with a nod. Chan’s father preferred a handshake, and Lucas gave Felix a bow of his own. 

Felix’s eyes kept dropping to their necks, searching for the flash of a white scar. He ached to have Chan’s own bite on his neck, high enough that it would show over his tallest collars for everyone to see that he belonged to Chan.

When it was her turn, Hannah pressed a small parcel into Felix’s hands and hugged him tight. “You’ll write, won’t you, Felix?”

“Of course,” Felix whispered back. He smiled at her and she beamed back, going to stand beside Felix’s sisters. 

Chan bowed once to each of his parents. He allowed his younger brother to shake his hand, and came to stand beside Felix as he said his goodbyes to his family.

“Come back soon, Felix, darling,” Felix’s mother said, holding both Felix’s hands in hers. “Anytime, just write and tell us you’ll be coming and the rooms will be ready.”

Felix’s father nodded, beaming at him and ruffling Felix’s hair. He laughed when Felix leaned away with an irritated squeak. 

Felix’s sisters came in for their own hugs, Hannah somehow sneaking in and tugging Chan in, too.

With one last kiss to his niece’s tiny cheek, Felix and Chan climbed into their carriage. 

Lucas ran behind them down the street for as long as he could, stopping at the block and waving goodbye.

“Chan?” Felix asked, drawing the curtain to the harsh sunlight. “Can we write to Lucas and invite him to Wildfell?”

Chan smiled at him and pulled him into his lap for a kiss. “That’s a wonderful idea, Lix-ah. He could use some time away from home, and I suppose he’s old enough.”

“Bring him to Wildfell,” Felix mumbled, already settling in against Chan’s shoulders for a nap. 

Chan smoothed down Felix’s hair and pressed a kiss to his forehead. 

The carriage bounced over the cobblestones, out away from the city. Chan wrapped his arms around Felix to cushion him from the jostling of the carriage as they headed back to Wildfell.

Felix hesitated to bring up mating to Chan when they arrived at the hall. Exhausted by their journey, they fell into bed and slept well into the next morning. 

Chan woke Felix with his warm mouth on his cock, sucking him down deep. He made Felix come hard down his throat and then swaddled him in a dressing gown. 

He took Felix downstairs to perch him on his lap and feed him breakfast from his own fork, pressing little kisses to his lips between bites.

Felix opened his mouth dutifully for Chan to feed him bites of fruit and toast. He wrapped his arms around Chan’s neck and nuzzled into Chan’s jaw, making him growl playfully and nip at Felix’s neck.

Felix was glad that he savored that morning, since it was the last time he got a moment of peace for a long while.

They had lists of tasks to complete, from packing up Felix’s belongings at Rivington and moving them to Wildfell, to choosing new color palettes for the unfinished rooms.

Both of them were needed to consult with the gardener now that spring was upon them, making plans for the lawn and Felix’s new garden. There were piles of wedding gifts to open and sort, friends to receive into the hall for tea, and endless letters from town to answer.

Now that the weather was good, Felix took his letters outside to compose responses to. He sprawled under his favorite tree and stayed there all morning, and Chan came out to fetch him in for lunch, pressing kisses on his sun-warmed cheeks and scooping him into his arms.

They called on all their friends to receive further congratulations. At Whitemarch for their regular dinner, Felix had to endure both Jisung and Seungmin teasing him about his wedding night even though both of them knew full well Chan thoroughly deflowered Felix far before their wedding.

Felix grumbled to himself. Seungmin hadn’t even had his own wedding night yet!

Minho passed around glasses to toast to their marriage. “To the happy couple!”

Jisung hung off his arm, cheering as everyone applauded. He kissed Minho’s cheek in his exuberance, beaming at his husband.

Chan smiled when Minho shook his hand. Felix buried his grin in his brandy, knowing that Minho rather felt like it was as if his own son got married. 

Hyunjin shyly presented Chan and Felix with a sketch of the pair of them, depicting them walking arm in arm. It was a profile; Felix’s face turned away to glance at something and Chan’s soft expression as he gazed at Felix. 

Tears sprang to his eyes as he traced down the lines of the sketch. Hyunjin managed to capture such love and longing in Chan’s eyes.  

“It’s beautiful, Hyunjin, thank you so much,” Felix whispered, overcome with how attentive Hyunjin had been.

“Anything for you, Felix,” Hyunjin said, smiling and winding his arms around Jeongin’s waist to tug him in close.  “Keep me in mind for future commissions!” he teased, giving Felix a tiny poke.

Felix slipped the drawing into his own desk at Wildfell, ready to send it out for framing when he got a spare moment in the storm of activity sweeping the hall.

Their staff merged. Since Chan kept so few household staff due to his condition, they were able to find employment for all of Felix’s staff. He insisted that his butler stay at Wildfell until he could find a new position, which Chan readily agreed to. 

With the house so full, Felix worried that Chan’s shifts would be dangerous. 

His fears were allayed when Chan spent the entirety of his first shift after the wedding curled around Felix in their massive bed.

He got up to prowl around the room a few times throughout the night, sniffing at the door. Felix made sure to lock the door and shoved a dresser in front of it for good measure. 

Chan seemed satisfied with Felix’s safety, and he hopped back up onto the bed to lick Felix’s cheek and curl himself around Felix’s body.

He was kissed awake in the morning by Chan, warm and nude under the covers. Felix giggled into Chan’s eager kisses, sliding his arms around Chan’s neck and pulling him in close.

There were certainly worse ways to wake up.

Still, Felix held on to a small hope that Chan would bring up the issue of mating first. Every time Chan nosed over Felix’s neck to draw his scent in, Felix stiffened up.

Whenever it happened, Chan glanced up at him, concerned. “What’s wrong, Lixie?”

“Nothing, hyung,” Felix said. “M’ sensitive, feels so good, hyung-”

 He leaned down to kiss Chan again, hoping to distract him. 

It worked. Chan growled a little into the kiss and Felix went pliant, slumping against the settee they had collapsed into to make out for a bit.

Chan trailed his lips back down Felix’s neck and Felix hummed, losing himself in the pleasure.

He knew that Chan would be apprehensive about the idea of marking Felix, since it involved sharp teeth and scars and a lot of blood, all of which fell under the category of “hurting Felix.” Chan promised that he wouldn’t ever harm Felix, and biting him hard enough to scar would hurt. 

Probably.

Felix would be lying if he said he didn’t want it. 

Every day he imagined baring his neck for Chan and begging for it so sweetly that Chan wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation. He wondered if Chan was thinking about sinking his teeth in when he nuzzled into Felix’s collar or sucked a bruise into his collarbones.

After a week lost in a whirlwind of newlywed bliss, the hall settled. No urgent meetings, no rushed breakfasts before a quick kiss and dashing off letters. 

Once, Chan cornered Felix in the library. He pressed Felix up against the very same bookshelf where they shared their first kiss, reeling him in close with a hand on his waist. 

“Gonna kiss you like I should have back then,” Chan whispered in Felix’s ear, and then proceeded to kiss him so thoroughly that Felix was a panting mess by the end of it. 

Chan let him sink to his knees in front of him and paw at his pants, getting his placket open and pulling his cock out. He dropped his mouth open and stuck his tongue out, waiting for Chan.

Chan swore, one hand cupping his cheek and the other feeding his cock between Felix’s lips.

Letting his eyes go big and watery, Felix took Chan’s cock down deep. He dragged Chan’s hand up to his hair and pushed, trying to get him to fuck Felix’s throat.

That was the only time Felix managed to get Chan’s knot to pop just from his mouth. Chan’s legs trembled as he came all over Felix’s tongue, spurts of come landing on his cheeks.

Felix stroked him through it, squeezing Chan’s knot and making him groan. Chan hauled him up for kisses and growled in satisfaction when he saw his come marking up Felix’s face, smearing him with Chan’s scent.

Chan apologized for being unable to leave Felix alone, but Felix hushed him by turning around and presenting himself for Chan to grind against. 

If anything, Felix was the one begging for it. 

One innocent picnic ended with Felix bouncing on Chan’s cock in broad daylight, gasping and whining for Chan to knot him. He slipped oil into his coat pocket before they left, and wriggled into Chan’s lap the first chance he got.

It was lucky they had gone out so far from the hall. Chan flipped him onto his back and fucked him hard, reveling in how noisy they could be out of doors and away from the hall.

These days, Felix could stay in bed past sunrise, and he and Chan got one morning to themselves. They traded lazy kisses until Felix rolled over and spread his legs wide, arching his back to present his hole to Chan.

Chan mounted him like that, fucking him slow and steady until Felix was whimpering and coming all over the sheets. Chan’s knot swelled and locked them together, pumping Felix full. 

He eased them down onto their sides to wait for Chan’s knot to go down. Chan pressed soothing kisses to Felix’s cheeks and buried his face in his neck to snuffle around, growling and nipping him when Felix tried to rock his hips down for more.

Felix went limp, the sensation of Chan’s teeth snapping at his neck sending him into a haze of need. 

He almost opened his mouth and pleaded for Chan to mate him right there, but he remembered himself and bit his tongue. 

Now was not the time, with Chan still worked up and trying to seat his hard cock deeper inside Felix’s hole. 

Felix was tidying up their bedroom on a sunny afternoon, two days later, swiping loose items of clothing up off the floor and changing the sheets.. 

Chan didn’t like the housekeepers coming into their nest. He confessed to Felix once, with bright red cheeks, he liked the mixture of their scents. It was the strongest in their nest, and the housekeepers brought in unfamiliar scents.

He submitted with all possible grace to a deep cleaning once a week, but Felix tidied up more often.

Felix never minded- Chan wasn’t messy, and he was usually rewarded for his trouble by being pressed into the mattress and pleasured until he was sobbing.

Sifting through papers on the small desk Chan kept in the corner, Felix uncovered a parcel with his name on it. He frowned and lifted it to his eyes, examining the handwriting on it.

He didn’t recognize it, but it had his name spelled out clearly in black ink. Curious and perhaps a bit too eager, Felix tore open the package.

A rush of silk slipped onto the desk, followed by a letter. Felix went for the letter first, baffled.

Dear Felix,

As your new sister, a few liberties are allowed. I hope you will forgive this interference in your marriage.

First, I would like to apologize for letting slip about werewolf traditions before your wedding. Channie-oppa should have been the one to give you that information, and for my own misstep, I am deeply sorry.

Second, my brother is as stubborn as a mule. You may not know this yet, but I’m sure you will soon.

Felix snorted as he read. Hannah had no idea.

With this consideration in mind, I consulted your sisters for the best way to get a man to snap. Your eldest sister informed me of a certain garment that her husband was most partial to-

“Oh, ew,” Felix mumbled, sticking his tongue out in distaste.

-and she was more than happy to direct me to the establishment from which she procured it. I hope it will assist you in getting Chan to claim you. If it doesn’t- well, at least you’ll have a good time.

Congratulations on your marriage and welcome to the family!

     B. Hannah

Felix stared down at the letter in shock. He had no idea which was more shocking- that Hannah went to his sister to get advice on how to best seduce one’s own husband, or that his sister actually answered her.

He set the letter down on the desk with trembling fingers and turned his attention to the pile of silk.

The fabric was the palest shade of peachy pink, and Felix saw snips of snow-white lace trim peeking through. It didn’t look like it had much shape resembling any piece of clothing Felix had ever seen before.

It was slippery when he picked it up, watery and flimsy, slipping through his fingers. He held it up to the light, his mouth dropping open when he saw what it was.

It resembled one of his dressing gowns, but cut much shorter, short enough that it would brush the tops of his thighs if he put it on. Light shone through the fabric, just translucent enough to reveal the contours of a body hidden beneath.

There was no embroidery around the lapels, and the front gaped open so much that Felix wondered how much of his modesty this scrap of fabric would preserve.

Felix’s face reddened when he imagined how he would have to wear it. Clearly this was meant to be worn over a nude body, not to be used as a dressing gown. 

How would Chan react when he saw Felix in it?

Felix shivered at the thought, hot arousal already filling his belly. 

Chan already couldn’t keep his hands off Felix, even when Felix was in bed in his loose linen sleep shirt, shapeless and unattractive. 

Chan seemed to enjoy the easy access to Felix. 

Just last night he rolled Felix onto his belly and slid his shirt up to expose his ass, leaning in and eating him out until he came with a sobbing cry. Most nights Felix fell asleep to Chan’s greedy hands groping his hips, squeezing and rubbing the soft skin.

This gown would expose him even more than his loose shirts. 

Felix shivered at the idea of having Chan’s hungry gaze on him in this robe, and his fingers tightened in the fabric.

Would this tempt Chan into claiming him? 

Felix traced a finger over the lace, considering.

Chan’s self-control was paper-thin around Felix, the tiniest wink or half-lidded look getting him on his knees for Felix, ready to give him anything he wanted.

Maybe Hannah was on to something. Felix walked over to the dresser and tucked the robe out of sight, his head whirring with ideas.

Chan liked to finish up business late at night in the study. Felix got him to come to bed earlier and earlier since they got married, but Chan still liked the ambiance of the room at night.

More than once, Felix slipped into the study dressed only in his underthings to coax Chan into bed with sweet little kisses. 

Maybe this time Felix could convince him to mate him and leave his claim on Felix’s neck.

Felix made sure every bit of pink silk was hidden before he turned back to finish gathering up their clothes, already anticipating the evening.

Standing in front of his mirror, Felix had to admit that Hannah and his sister might have known exactly what they were talking about.

The robe fit him perfectly. 

It was cinched in at the waist by a long silk tie, hitting Felix higher up around his navel and making his hips look wider. The warm light from the candles and fireplace glowed on the silk, giving Felix a soft, buttery look. 

The light also shone through the thin silk and showed the shape of his thighs and waist. His chest was almost entirely bared, the front of the robe cut so wide that it draped open to reveal his collarbones. Lace was scalloped over the ends of his sleeves, which went down to his forearm.

Felix’s nipples showed through the fabric, stiff even in the warmth of the room. He stared at himself in the mirror, considering. Tugging a little at the sleeves, Felix pulled the neckline open just a bit more, giving the fabric an enticing drape and only just keeping both nipples covered.

The robe was so short. Felix resisted the urge to yank it down further. Where it was now, it would only just cover his cock if he didn’t move all that much. It only just covered his ass, the barest curve of his cheek visible under the pink silk.

Traces of oil shone on Felix’s skin in the candlelight. He slicked his hole up with oil, preparing himself to take Chan’s cock, before slipping the robe over his shoulders. 

Felix blew out the candles and hurried across the room. 

The firelight glowed deep orange across the room, casting Felix’s shuddering shadow on the dark wall.

The door creaked when Felix opened it, and he prayed that the butler or one of the maids wasn’t out wandering the halls. Once he determined that the coast was clear, Felix stepped out onto the plush carpet of the hall.

He crept down the dark, quiet hallway to the door of Chan’s study, past the vase where Chan placed the enormous bouquet of flowers Felix made for him yesterday, past the paintings Hyunjin painted hanging on the wall.

Chan’s study was at the end of the hall, near the library. Felix still called it ‘Chan’s study,’ even if his own desk and papers now lived in there too.

A light shone out from under the door. Felix smiled to himself, giving his robe a nervous tug. Chan was still in there, working on some account or another. 

Felix opened the door as quietly as he could and slipped inside, shutting and locking the door behind him.

The study was done up in a pleasantly dark blue, and Chan had a wonderful plush carpet over the floor. Felix rather liked spending time in the room when the drapes were pulled open on sunny days.

The desk faced the windows, away from the door, so Chan hadn’t seen Felix just yet. Chan’s quill scraped across the surface of the page, and he set it back in the inkwell with a sigh.

“Yes, who is it?” Chan sounded tired, but he still spoke politely.

Felix crept towards him, his footsteps muffled in the carpet. 

Chan stretched, both arms going up over his head as he made a satisfied little noise like a cat. 

Felix took advantage of the movement to dart forward and slide himself into Chan’s lap. 

He landed on Chan’s thighs, both arms coming up to brace himself so he wouldn’t fall backwards onto the desk and mess up Chan’s work.

Chan grunted, his hands flying to Felix’s waist to hold him.

“Hi, baby,” Chan said, smiling up at Felix.

“Channie-hyung,” Felix said, breathless, leaning down to kiss Chan on the lips, his fingers tangling in Chan’s curls.

Chan’s chest rumbled as he licked his way into Felix’s mouth. He nibbled on Felix’s lower lip, sucking it into his mouth and tugging it with his teeth. Felix whimpered and Chan growled in response, his hands tightening on Felix’s silk-covered waist.

Breaking the kiss with a gasp, Chan leaned back to look at Felix, his gaze flicking down to where he was holding Felix’s hips, over the silk. “Felix… baby, where did you get-”

“Do you like it, Channie-hyung?” Felix interrupted, shifting on Chan’s lap.

Chan’s eyes dragged down the length of his body, catching on the loose collar and Felix’s exposed chest. His hands squeezed down on Felix’s waist and Chan’s pupils were blown wide, dark and hungry as he took in Felix’s tiny robe.

“Sweetheart, Felix-” Chan grunted as Felix moved his hips just so, grinding down on Chan’s stiffening cock. “Not that I’m objecting, honey, but where is this- ah, what’s all this about?”

Felix wiggled in Chan’s lap and Chan groaned, his hands still on Felix’s hips. He gave a little whine when Chan’s fingers dug into his ass, squeezing and groping him.

Hoping that he wasn’t about to say something terribly stupid, Felix leaned down to nip at Chan’s earlobe and whispered, “I want your mark, Channie-hyung. Want you to mate me.”

Chan froze under him. His hands stilled where they were investigating the hem of his robe. 

He drew back to look at Felix, shock written across his face. 

“What? Felix, where did you get that from, baby? Who told you?”

“H-Hannah did,” Felix said, stuttering a little out of nerves. 

He leaned his head on Chan’s shoulder. Chan rubbed his back, trying to soothe him. 

“I should have told you earlier, darling,” Chan said, sighing. He stroked his hand over Felix’s hair and Felix relaxed into it like a happy cat. “I’m sorry, Felix, I just didn’t want to disappoint you.”

“How could you disappoint me?” Felix asked. He craned his neck to look at Chan. “Is it not possible?”

Chan was silent for a moment. Felix raised his head to look at him, fearing the worst. What if it really wasn’t possible? Felix was a human, not a half werewolf.

“I asked my father before our wedding,” Chan admitted. He reached up and cupped Felix’s cheek, smiling at him. “There isn’t much recorded information on the subject. How much did Hannah tell you?”

“Not a lot. Just that I would be mated to you after we got married,” Felix said, sitting up a bit straighter.

Chan sighed and shook his head. “Father didn’t have much to tell me. Half werewolves can form mating bonds without any problems, but I don’t think a full werewolf has ever mated with a human.”

Felix blinked at Chan. “Do you want to try, hyung?”

He tilted his head as he spoke, exposing the long line of his neck and the place Chan was so fond of nuzzling into. It was a bit of a cheap trick, but Chan’s eyes immediately dropped to the crook of his shoulder.

Chan’s hand dropped back to Felix’s hip to squeeze, but his thumb stroked over Felix’s cheek.

“Are you sure you want it, Felix?” Chan asked. “It’ll be painful, and- and I don’t know what might happen to you.”

His hand twitched on Felix’s waist as he spoke. Felix smiled down at him and shoved his face into Chan’s hand, wishing he could purr like Chan did when he was satisfied.

“I want to try,” Felix whispered. He shifted his weight on Chan’s lap, the rough fabric of Chan’s pants rubbing against the soft skin of his bare thighs.

He expected Chan to shake his head and deny him, or to say that it was too dangerous.

But Chan nodded and smiled at him. “Okay, baby. Let’s try it.”

Felix grinned, elated, twining his arms around Chan’s neck. 

Chan leaned up and kissed Felix, cupping his cheek and pulling him further into Chan’s arms.

Felix melted into the kiss, parting his lips and letting Chan slip his tongue inside. Chan growled as his hips bucked up against Felix’s ass, his hard cock pushing against him and making Felix whimper.

Chan’s hands slid around the front of his body, giving his tummy a little squeeze and fumbling with the tie of the robe.

He tugged at the little bow Felix tied and the robe fell open, exposing Felix’s dripping cock to the cool air of the study. Felix made a tiny embarrassed noise and pressed his hands over himself, his cheeks flushing red at how hard he was just from a bit of kissing.

Chan’s chest rumbled as he slipped his hands inside the open front of the robe, groping and squeezing greedily. “ Fuck, baby, you look so good, so pretty…”

He trailed off, burying his nose in Felix’s collarbones and inhaling deep lungfuls of Felix’s scent.

Felix threaded his fingers through Chan’s curls, gasping when Chan nosed over to take a nipple between his lips, flicking it with his tongue and suckling at it.

“Ah, ah-! Mmmn, Chan-hyung, aren’t you supposed to be biting me?” Felix asked, breathless and squirming under Chan’s touch.

Chan’s teeth dug into the skin around Felix’s nipple and he cried out, his cock twitching and dribbling precome.

“Can’t mate you yet,” Chan grunted, absorbed in kissing over every inch of Felix’s chest. Both hands were fondling Felix’s ass and he pushed his hips back into it, reveling in the pleased rumbles coming from Chan’s chest. “Gotta knot you first, then the bite-”

“Yeah, gonna mark me, make me yours?” Felix gasped, his trembling fingers coming down to wrestle with Chan’s collar. “Gonna get your teeth in me-”

“Ngh, Felix-” Chan growled, his cock jerking under Felix’s ass. “What’s gotten into you , fuck…”

He bit down on the tender skin of Felix’s neck and Felix shuddered in his lap, the bite so close to where he wanted it. Chan was so greedy, his touches scorching over Felix’s overheated skin, rubbing and groping every inch of skin, leaving tiny marks from his fingertips.

“Ooh, help!” Felix cried, barely loud enough to carry outside the study. He thrashed a bit, just enough to make Chan growl and pin his wrists. “Help, I’ve been caught by the big bad wolf, nngh, he’s gonna eat me up!”

Chan convulsed under him, his cock twitching violently. The loudest growl Felix ever heard from him burst from his throat and he yanked Felix closer to his chest.

“Felix!” Chan groaned, the growl still rumbling in the back of his throat. “Fuck, don’t talk like that-”

Felix went limp at the growl, his tummy swirling with helpless arousal. He mouthed at Chan’s neck, letting himself give in to the desire to see Chan wear his own mark.

Chan was preoccupied with nosing into Felix’s neck, deep purrs coming from his throat as he licked over the skin. 

Wriggling impatiently, Felix whined and dragged Chan’s hands down to cup his ass. 

“Channie, want it so bad-” Felix panted, trying to push his ass back into Chan’s grip. “Give it to me, want your cock!”

“Greedy baby,” Chan cooed. He slipped his fingers between Felix’s cheeks and groaned when he felt the oil slicking up Felix’s loosened hole. “I’ll give it to you, baby, nice fat knot to fill you up, then I’ll mark you, make you mine…”

Felix gasped and pawed at Chan’s pants, desperate to get his cock out. He’d spent the last few weeks trying to get it stuffed deep inside him as often as he could, whining and presenting his hole for Chan.

Chan ate it up every time, growling and mounting Felix anytime he rolled over and begged for it.

Felix wrapped his fingers around Chan’s stiff cock and gave him a generous stroke. Chan groaned and fucked his hips up into Felix’s fist, his knot already swelling up.

In a daze, Felix guided the fat tip between his legs, pushing it into his hole. His voice broke on a moan when the head slipped inside, the stretch making him shudder in Chan’s arms.

“So big…” Felix mumbled, giggling dopily when Chan’s cock jerked inside his hole. “Mmm, gonna put so many babies in my belly-”

Chan growled, deep in his chest. He pulled Felix down onto his cock in one thrust, seating himself inside and making Felix cry out, his legs shaking. “Fuck, baby, so tight-”

“Yeah?” Felix gasped. He hauled himself upright and gave a tiny little bounce, whimpering as Chan’s cock slid deeper, the swelling knot bumping against his rim. “Does my pussy feel good, Channie?”

“So fucking good, so wet,” Chan groaned. “Gonna cum inside you, baby, stuff your little cunt full.”

Chan thrust hard into Felix and sent him collapsing forward onto Chan’s chest, trembling from pleasure.

Felix shoved his hand between them to rub over his tummy, wet and slick with his precome. “Look, Channie, this is where you’re gonna put your pups-”

Groaning, Chan tangled his fingers in Felix’s hair and tugged. Felix dropped his head back with a cry, rolling his hips down to meet Chan’s thrusts.

Chan dropped a hand to squeeze at Felix’s tummy, a rumbling growl coming from his chest. His hips worked up faster, burying himself deep inside Felix’s hole. “Gonna get so big, so fucking big. All round with my puppies. I’m gonna put a whole litter in your perfect little belly, baby, knock you up.”

Felix whimpered, shivering in a wash of hot arousal at Chan’s words. He braced his head on Chan’s shoulder, pathetic little whines slipping from his parted lips as Chan fucked him, both hands digging into his waist.

He let himself go limp in Chan’s lap, letting Chan use him, fuck into his sloppy hole hard enough to make his body jolt up against Chan’s chest with every thrust.

“Nnnn, Channie-hyung!” Felix hiccuped, trying to cling to Chan’s shoulders. “Harder, fuck me harder- nngh!”

Chan growled and hauled Felix up to spread him out over his desk, sweeping the papers to the floor with a clatter. He didn’t even pull out, just spread Felix’s thighs open wide and shoved his cock in deep, the swell of his knot bumping against Felix’s rim and making him shriek.

Chan landed a sharp smack on the tender skin of Felix’s thigh. “That’s it, baby, let me see you. Taking my cock so well, fuck…”

Felix moaned, collapsing back onto the desk and blinking up at Chan, dazed from the pounding of Chan’s cock inside him. He pulled his legs open wider, the lapels of his flimsy robe falling open to reveal his stiffened nipples and his aching cock, bouncing from Chan’s rough thrusts and dribbling all over his belly.

“Chan, please!” Felix cried, wailing when Chan grunted and fucked him harder, grinding in deep and pushing his fattening knot past Felix’s rim. “Knot me, mate me, wan’ it so bad, hyung!”

He was making entirely too much noise, his wounded animal cries thankfully muffled by the bookshelves. Chan was grunting with each thrust, a growl deep in his chest.

Chan was so rough, fucking Felix like he’d been begging for it, hard and fast and like he was just looking for a warm hole to fuck. Drool slipped down his chin and he sobbed, the pressure of Chan’s knot making tears spring to his eyes.

“Gonna make you mine,” Chan moaned, his thrusts stuttering as his knot started to sink inside. “Fuck, gonna knot you, Lixie, are you ready?”

Felix nodded, whimpering pathetically as Chan slowed to a grind, pushing his over-inflated knot past Felix’s puffy, abused rim. He took a deep breath, trying to relax enough for the knot to slip past his rim.

Felix worked his hips down, screwing his eyes up. Almost there, so close-

They both cried out when Chan’s knot sank inside. Chan shoved it in as far as he could, groaning in satisfaction. 

Felix wailed, wrapping his fingers around his cock to stroke himself, his orgasm building in his belly. 

“Gonna come, gonna come!” Felix whined, squirming against Chan’s rocking thrusts, his thighs trembling around Chan’s hips. “So close, hyung, please!”

“Fuck,” Chan grunted, pulling back to press a kiss to Felix’s lips. “Felix, baby, can I mate you?”

Felix nodded, tilting his head to expose the curve of his neck. He was so close, so ready to tip over the edge-

Chan growled and shoved his face into Felix’s neck, the low noise making Felix’s belly swoop. “You smell so good, Lixie, fuck, gonna make you mine, my mate…”

He thrust his hips forward again, brushing past Felix’s prostate. Felix shrieked, his orgasm hitting him out of nowhere, wracking his body with shivers. He trembled through his climax, clinging to Chan and sobbing as his cock splattered dribbles of cum all over his belly.

Chan bit down and Felix howled, the pain of his teeth breaking the skin dulled into a buzz. He panted, Chan’s rumbles and soothing hand petting his flank calming him. 

Felix’s head thunked back against the desk, chest heaving as he came down from his high, both from his orgasm and the bite.

Chan’s teeth were still buried in his neck, but he released him to lean back and inspect the bite, despite the way Chan’s hips were still fucking inside Felix, seeking out more of that sweet heat.

His mouth was smeared with Felix’s blood. Felix reached up to kiss it away, the taste of it metallic and salty on his tongue. He pulled back to smile dopily at Chan, the bite only just beginning to throb in dull pain.

“Do I need to bite you back, Channie?” Felix slurred, pushing Chan’s curls off his forehead. “Come on, hyung, cum inside my pussy, let me make you mine-”

Chan gave a shocked groan, his hips kicking forward. Felix moaned, his overstimulated hole fluttering around Chan’s cock.

Felix sniffled, bringing a hand down to rub his belly again. He blinked his tears away as he looked up at Chan. “Channie, m’so full, knotted me so good…”

“Fuck, baby,” Chan groaned, watching Felix squirm and cry on his cock. His eyes dropped to see Felix stroking over where Chan’s cock was tucked so deep. 

“Are you gonna cum inside me, Channie?” Felix whispered, still rubbing his lower belly. He clenched down on Chan’s cock, making him gasp. “Pump me full with a litter?” 

Chan groaned, his hips working forward in one, two, three thrusts and then he was coming, spurts of hot cum filling Felix’s hole. 

Felix tugged him down to fix his teeth on the side of Chan’s throat, the same way he had done for Felix. He bit down as hard as he could, wincing when Chan’s body went stiff.

His knot throbbed inside Felix’s hole, and Felix’s bite mark twinged so hard that he almost released Chan.

“Bite harder, baby, that’s it,” Chan gasped, pressing Felix’s head down.

Felix felt the tendons of Chan’s throat, so tender, soft, under his teeth. Chan’s voice rattled in his brain, rumbling and deep. His gums ached and Felix dug his teeth in harder, the tang of blood breaking over his tongue.

Chan groaned, his fingers twitching. 

Felix drew in a breath, shuddering as he released Chan from his jaws. He gasped, a new taste of something rushing over his tongue, a rush of emotion flooding his lungs..

He sniffed the air, nosing back into Chan’s neck. Blood smeared over his nose and cheek, but Felix could smell it, the blood, thick and sweet, and something under that-

“Felix?”

Chan’s voice was far away above him, but Felix forced himself to look up, hazy. 

Chan’s hand traced down his hair and then his cheek, concern all over his face. “Felix, did it take, are you all right?”

“M’fine, hyungie,” Felix mumbled, nosing closer to Chan’s throat. “Smell so good, Channie, mmm…”

Chan petted Felix’s hair. “What do I smell like, baby?”

Felix snuffled around, opening his mouth to huff Chan’s scent down deeper. 

“Mmm, like rain…” He mumbled a bit, pausing to draw in another lungful and consider. “Rain, but the kind after it’s been dry out for a while. And- roses? Dewy roses, in the spring… and trees. Deep trees, like the forest…"

“Did I always smell like that, Lixie?” Chan asked. He sounded excited, eager, and Felix lifted his head a fraction to see Chan searching his face.

“No, hyung,” Felix answered, tilting his face up to receive a kiss. “I like it, you smell so good.”

Chan obliged, pressing a sweet kiss to Felix’s lips. 

Humming, Felix pulled back and shoved his face back in Chan’s neck, attempting to drown himself in Chan’s scent. 

“Mmmm, is this how you feel all the time?” Felix asked. 

Chan made a questioning noise in response, but Felix was already snuffling his way back down Chan’s neck, scent-drunk.

He flicked his tongue out to taste the sheen of sweat on Chan’s skin. Felix could smell Chan’s usual scent under the new one, and all he wanted was to bury his face in Chan’s armpit, to get his scent deep in his lungs.

He shifted, trying to do just that, nosing his way over down Chan’s chest. Felix got distracted by a pert brown nipple, swirling it under his tongue and taking it between his lips to suck.

Chan shuddered and his cock twitched inside Felix, a weak pulse of cum leaking out from where Chan’s knot was stuffed inside him. 

“Felix.”

Felix hummed, distracted, flicking his tongue over Chan’s stiffening nipple.

“Felix.”

Chan tangled his fingers through Felix’s hair and gently tugged him off his chest. Felix squirmed and whined in protest, trying to get back to his suckling. 

A thrum of excitement- eagerness,  swept through his body when their eyes met. Felix frowned, pushing at the strange feeling in his chest.

“Can you feel it too?” Chan whispered, raw hope shining in his eyes. “In your chest- is it-?”

“Yes,” Felix breathed, his hand pushing down on his chest, just below his heart. “Channie-hyung, is that the bond? Did it work?”

Chan’s forehead creased as he concentrated, and Felix gasped as a wash of shivery excitement rushed through his chest.

“Felix, baby- you feel it, you can feel me?” Chan said, searching Felix’s face, expression wild. “Sweetheart-”

Felix buried his face in Chan’s chest, his eyes welling up a bit at the emotion in Chan’s voice. He felt it in his chest, too, warming his body out to the tips of his fingers. 

“It worked, hyung, it worked!” Felix mumbled, turning his head up so Chan could hear him. 

“We’re mated,” Chan said, disbelieving. “You’re my mate, and my husband.”

Felix giggled at Chan’s tone. He dragged his head away from Chan’s neck to press sweet kisses on his cheek, finally leaning in to capture Chan’s lips in a deep kiss.

Chan groaned and pulled him in closer. Felix felt the flickers of Chan’s arousal through the bond, and knew his own stirring desire was echoing across to Chan.

They broke apart, panting, Chan’s hand cradling Felix’s cheek. Felix’s tummy clenched at the love in his eyes, shining up at him. He dreamed of it, once, the first time Chan’s eyes lifted to meet his that night at Whitemarch, of someday seeing the fondness and pure adoration in Chan’s lovely eyes. 

Felix turned to press a kiss on Chan’s wrist.

“How could I ever have been anything else?”

-

Six Months Later

“Felix, darling, where are you?”

Chan’s voice echoed down the hallway of Wildfell.

“In here, Chan-hyung!” Felix called, turning away from his place at the window and making his way across the parlor.

Chan poked his head through the door, his whole face lighting up when he saw Felix. He crossed the room in a few quick strides and gathered him up in his arms.

Felix tilted his head back for a kiss, smiling at the press of Chan’s lips on his. Chan insisted upon greeting him with a kiss, no matter whose company they were in. Felix adored it, even if he pretended to swat his husband away whenever they were with their friends.

Their friends weren’t much better about displays of affection, either. 

Seungmin and Changbin married just a few weeks after Felix and Chan did in a whirlwind of a ceremony. Jeongin’s father had the honor of presiding over the wedding, and the couple left immediately afterwards for a very long tour of the continent.

They were expected to return within the next week, and Chan was charged with the care of Coldridge in their absence. 

Hyunjin took Jeongin back to town with him after Seungmin and Changbin departed.

An old client requested two months of work, and it gave Jeongin the perfect excuse to be married from town rather than at his father’s parish. Felix and Chan made the trip into town alongside Minho and Jisung for the wedding, and then saw Hyunjin and Jeongin off for a quick tour of the highlands for their honeymoon. 

Felix and Chan stayed for a week longer to visit their families, and then made the last bit of the trip back home to keep Jisung and Minho company over the summer.

They were all settled back in the neighborhood, deploring the long absence of Seungmin and Changbin and eagerly awaiting their return.

Jisung hated to have them gone for so long, but Minho took every opportunity to remind him of the lengthy honeymoon he took Jisung on when they got married. Jisung always blushed and looked away whenever it was mentioned, which made Felix burn with curiosity.

He and Chan were unable to go on a honeymoon due to Chan’s condition. Felix tried to find some way to work around it, promising Chan to be careful, to keep the trip as short as possible, but he couldn’t find it in himself to risk endangering others. 

Hyunjin and Jeongin were still living in Longfield, soaking up the hot summer days in the cool shade of Hyunjin’s garden. They would have to leave for the cooler autumn months, back to the city to take up a teaching post and seek out clients, and Felix intended to have Rivington set up for them to return to in the winter.

Felix finally completed his move out of Rivington and into Wildfell. Chan celebrated by mounting him on the floor of their parlor, just barely getting their clothes down far enough to fuck, rough and panting, Chan biting into the scarred mating bite on Felix’s neck.

Chan more than made up for a lack of honeymoon, keeping Felix busy every single day. Picnics in the garden, riding their horses out across the park. Chan made sure to keep the hall stocked with all of Felix’s favorites for meals, perching him on his lap to feed him breakfast.

The evenings were spent in the parlor; Chan answering correspondence, Felix absorbed in a good novel or playing the piano for Chan. Sometimes they hosted dinner, the parlor full of lively conversation and flickering candlelight.

They spent their nights tangled together in bed, the windows open to let in a breeze. Chan loved to strip Felix down and lay him in the sheets, spending hours nosing over his trembling body and pleasuring him until he cried. They couldn’t get enough of each other, kissing and tugging at their clothes in the library, grinding their clothed cocks together in the parlor, and once, Chan spread Felix out over the dining room table to eat him out.

Everything was perfect, and Felix loved it.

They broke apart and Chan beamed down at him, both hands resting on Felix’s waist.

Felix brushed a leaf from Chan’s shoulder and straightened his jacket. “Is Coldridge up to Seungmin’s standards, Channie?”

“For once, I think it is,” Chan replied, leaning down to press another kiss to Felix’s cheek. “I headed back a little early. I have a pretty little wife waiting for me at home, and I can't stay away for long.”

Felix’s giggle turned breathless when Chan’s lips trailed down his neck, leaving wet kisses on his skin. 

Chan hummed as he kissed over Felix’s mating bite, nosing his collar aside to lick the raised scar. Felix shivered as the mark throbbed at his mate’s attention, winding his arms around Chan’s neck.

“All mine, darling,” Chan whispered, his fingers digging into Felix’s hips. “My husband, my mate, all here for me…”

“Yours,” Felix murmured back, tilting his head back to give Chan more room to suck kisses into his mating mark. “I’m yours, you’re mine-”

Chan nosed into the bite, drawing in his scent and sighing happily. “Forever yours, Felix.”

He gazed up at Felix, contentment and love and home all at once in his eyes, everything Felix hoped to see there. 

Felix never once dreamed that he could be the cause of such happiness, such love, but here, living together in Wildfell Hall, ensconced in their lovely sitting room, he found it to be true.