Wolf | COD werewolf!au | f!reader x (any combination of things we will discover together, but originally werewolf!johnny)
you didn't know what to expect when you left everything behind to move into your aunt's cottage in the highlands. you hoped to find some kind of purpose to life, instead you find an injured wolf, befriend some of the locals and suddenly life is looking very different.
Part One: in memoriam
Part Two: hand that feeds
Part Three: hungry like the wolf
Part Four: basic commands
Part Five: a name is a name
Part Six: if you feed a wolf a biscuit
Part Seven: the neighborly thing
Part Eight: out for delivery
Part Nine: a menace at best
Part Ten: like ancient, ancient?
Part Eleven: Do you not have manners?
Part Twelve: not a vegetarian
Part Thirteen: bringing home friends
Part Fourteen: a snack
tbd
AO3 link
↓↓↓an, tags + cws below the cut↓↓↓
tags: werewolf au, magic/fantasy!au, f!reader, werewolf!johnny, begrudgingly roommates with a werewolf (only you don't know he's a werewolf), this is supposed to be a fun series of events btw the reader and their wolf roommate, eventual 141xreader, smut
cw: perceived danger, not much else but will add more if warnings arise
an: there are five chapters of this written, with a handful of other ideas for these two. no real plot, maybe an appearance from a few other familiar faces. will reader learn he's a werewolf? who knows.
Updated AN: reader will most certainly be meeting the rest of the 141, John and Simon have already made appearances and Kyle is just around the corner.
an: (updated 1.5.26) officially changing the tags/relationship tags for this because it has had a mind of its own.
He's fucking into you wildly, half crouched in your otherwise empty office. Your legs are up in the air behind his hips, his large hands hold you, one on your ass, one at the small of your back, lifting your lower half as he drives down into you. Your shoulders and head are on the ground, his head next to yours, his body is arched up and over so his forehead is pressed to the floor, his snout pulled down, tucked against your neck. He's panting heavily, throaty moans that are almost like growls slipping out his maw. His thick tail is swishing through the air with every thrust of his hips, the nails on his hind paws digging into the wood flooring. He buries his cock in you sheath deep each time, the fur soft on your bare skin, and getting damp from all the wet arousal, the squelching noises obscenely loud in the office space. Your breasts bounce and flop in your half-upsidedown state, a few bite marks visible on your tender flesh. Your fingers are dug deep into the thick fur of his neck, holding on for your life as your next orgasm builds.
"Good boy, good boy, Johnny, such a good boy," you babble, only half paying attention to your own vocalizations. You're too focused on the feeling of his large prick pistoning inside you, stretching you out and filling you to capacity before sliding back out again and again. You hear him whine, and notice the way his sheath is no longer flush against your body with his thrusts. Instead you feel the base of his cock starting to swell, pressing on and barely making it through the tight ring of your entrance. You lock your legs around him.
"Yes, yes, yes, knot me, Johnny, knot me, I want it, I want it."
His whine turns into a long, low moan, he presses flush against you, holding your pelvis against his, his knot just barely making it inside you before it gets too big. You feel it swell further, and now you're the one moaning— its gotta be the size of a grapefruit, and fuck does it feel good, filling you in a way that nothing else can, pressing on your gspot as he grinds into you, unable to pull out but also unable to stop moving. You cum on his knot, your muscles squeezing it so deliciously tight [that Johnny thinks he could pass out from how good it feels]. As soon as you're tied together, his heavy, furry balls are contracting, his cum safely deposited inside you with no chance of escape. [Make a baby, make a baby, make a baby, are the only thoughts Johnny is currently capable of having as he cums inside you, grinding and twitching against your body.]
Johnny keeps one large hand at your tailbone, supporting your weight, using the other to brace on the floor above your head so he can lift his muzzle to lick and mouth at your neck. His tail is wagging at top speed and he grumbles and yips werewolf noises at you. You're smiling and murmuring back to him, using your thumbs to rub circles into the sensitive part of his ears.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
There's a knock on the door and you panic as Johnny lifts his wide head, baring his impressively large teeth. Shit, you forgot to lock your office door. Someone comes in rudely right as you're hurriedly saying "Just a minute!"
Johnny is snarling at the intruder, forgetting to support you as he moves both his hands to brace on the floor beside your head. You're gasping, hanging on his knot, legs tightening around his waist as soon as he let go of you to try and take some of the pressure off the tie. You're swallowing a moan, the tug of the large knot inside you almost distracting you from the embarrassment of being seen in your vulnerable state. But heat is tingling inside you at the way Johnny is crouched and curled over you, shielding you from prying eyes, even as his cock is still ejaculating periodically inside you. He shuffles forward slightly, dragging you with him, as the intruder squeaks an apology and stutters about needing these papers signed by the end of day. Johnny snaps his teeth in their direction and they immediately drop the folder of paper to the floor and slam the door shut.
Johnny huffs [satisfied about chasing off an intruder who dared to get near his mate] and sits back on his haunches. He's wagging his tail again happily, tongue lolling from his mouth as he scoops you into his arms to lift you onto his lap. You bury your face into his neck fur, moaning at the way the knot feels now that you're sitting on it instead of hanging from it, that impossibly wide stretch something you will never get enough of. Your clit is tingling, begging for more attention already, and you can feel his dick still twitching occasionally inside you. You know from past experience that it is going to be a while before he's done filling you with his seed and knot deflates. You grind your hips in circles, scratching him behind the ear. The stretch of the knot always makes you feel like you're starving, you need more, more, more, just one more orgasm, just one more.
Johnny rumbles, dipping his head to lathe his tongue up your breasts, catching your pert nipples in his teeth with just enough pressure to make you arch into him. He keeps mouthing at your breasts as you slip a hand down to rub your clit, still rocking on his cock. Just one more orgasm, then you'll have Johnny carry you over to the door, lock it, grab those files to quickly sign, then you both can get back to enjoying his knot.
am I on the right track of a werewolf!johnny when I say he probably pants so hard when he fucks you. Like at first you thought surely he’s exaggerating but then you see him working out and he’s the loudest one at the gym. Like everyone gives him an annoyed glance but just puts their music volume louder. Anyway he pants so hard when he fucks you. The sound of his heavy breaths and loud grunts fills the room (sometimes his whimpers because he just can't believe you're letting him fuck you). His warm breath so strong on your neck as he thrusts into you.
Also, maybe: Bites your neck where a mating spot should be, instead its just tender skin because he can't help but nip at it whenever he gets a chance.
FANDOM: NCT [other groups will be featured/mentioned]
PAIRING: Jaehyun x Taeyong, Yuta x OC
WORD COUNT: 4,668
RATING: PG-13
POTENTIAL TRIGGERS: N/A
SUMMARY: Surviving a near death experience comes with a lot of surprises when warlock Jeong Jaehyun finds a dragon in a place that holds tragic memories for him. Nothing is as whirlwind, though, as when Jaehyun begins to meet the little clan of misfits Taeyong has gathered over the years and a mystery is revealed.
TAGLIST: @no1likemybbgcharlie, @spookidema
Previous || Masterlist || Next
Author's Note: To all of my lovely dearies still interested in this mayhem, things are going to start developing soon. We've almost reached the beginning of the first arc I have planned, so bear with me for one more chapter, yeah?
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Jaehyun woke to the sound of muffled music, voices and the smell of food. Blinking, he found himself staring at the high ceiling of the living room, apparently having fallen asleep on the couch after opting to watch some tv after dinner had been served and most of the guests had gone to their rooms. He groaned, reaching to rub at a temple, hoping it would diminish some of the throbbing in his head. He isn't surprised to wake up on the couch; he was certain he hadn't fallen asleep until the earliest of morning hours. What does surprise him is both his lying position and the blanket draped over him, the colorful pumpkin pattern a soft plush. He sits up, glancing around to find a couple of the others are still asleep in the living room; the baby of Youngjo's clan, Dongju, if Jaehyun remembered correctly, and Jungwoo, one of Taeyong's underlings, were curled on the massive bean bag chair, a large navy blanket covering them as they slept. It was adorable, reminding Jaehyun of the family he had in one of his safe houses. The mother he was keeping safe had panicked when he finally managed to call her, but he had calmed her down and let her know she was safe, as were the three children. He got up from the couch, draping the blanket over the back of the couch before making his way towards the kitchen, pausing when he found a sliding door closing the kitchen off from the living room area. Getting closer lends him a better understanding of the muffled voices.
“Oi, Wooyoung! Why did you mess up the eggs?” San questioned as Jaehyun approached the door.
“Just scramble them, you picky cat.” Wooyoung countered with a teasing tone.
“We aren't cooking for everyone, we don't need to scramble them!” San argued, a pout in his voice that made Jaehyun chuckle as he reached to open the door.
“Boys, behave or I will ground you both and tell Hongjoong.” Arashi's voice sent a wave of relief over Jaehyun as he slid the door open.
Despite much reassurance from the others, he was exceedingly worried about her recovering. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him so as to not disturb the ones still asleep before turning to look around. San and Wooyoung were at the stove while Youngjo was washing prep dishes, everyone seemingly content in the routine.
“Well well well, look who's risen to join us.” Yuta's voice caught Jaehyun's attention, the warlock's eyes finding where the vampire sat at the table. Arashi was perched next to him, head on his shoulder as he spoke. “Did we wake you up?”
Jaehyun shook his head. “That would be the headache I seem to have gotten while I slept.”
“Some medicine and tea and you'll be fine. I need some more tea myself.” Arashi replied, righting herself to get up. Her multicolored hair is clipped back with a gemmed barrette, and she paused for a moment as she stood - Yuta reaching to steady her with a hand at the small of her back - before she started towards the counter. “Lady Grey, correct?” She confirmed, Jaehyun nodding as he walked to join her at the counter.
“Sit down.” Youngjo told Arashi softly without looking at her. “We can make more for you and one for him.”
“Youngjo, I'm not helpless. I can handle pushing a few buttons on a machine, for crying out loud.” Arashi rolled her eyes, waving a hand at her familiar dismissively. “Just hand me a mug from the second shelf of that cabinet.” Youngjo sighed, shaking his head, but complied with the command, handing a mug with sunflowers on it to her as she set up the Keurig on the counter. She pulled a glass jar over and popped open the spring lid, taking a moment to breathe in the scent inside the jar with a faint smile. Pulling out a small tea bag, she set one in the new mug while lifting her own to empty the remnants. “You're a brood of mother hens, I swear.”
“How are you feeling?” Jaehyun asked, standing at the end of the counter so that Arashi was still in eyeline of where Yuta sat.
“A little weak, but that'll be fixed once I eat some food instead of sleeping.” Arashi assured. “I was going to make breakfast, but the boys here were obviously not having it.” She motioned her head towards the three currently cooking and cleaning. “They wouldn't even let Yuta help.”
“Look here, Missy, one of us needs to keep an eye on you.” Wooyoung huffed, turning to point a spatula at her.
“Wooyoung, I am fine.” Arashi insisted, shaking her head slightly.
“I'm just glad you're awake. I know the others said you'd be fine, but I was still concerned. I caused-” Jaehyun is cut off as Arashi lifted a hand to stop him.
“First of all, do not apologize. I can tell that's where that was headed.” Arashi stated. “Secondly, I am a healer, I did my job.”
“But-”
“Don't bother trying to argue.” San warned. “Arashi is stubborn as a mule.”
“I can still smack you, Choi San.” Arashi countered, twisting just enough to look at him with a playful smirk. San grinned back, the smile just a tad too wide for a human before turning back to his task at hand. Rolling her eyes, she moved to hand the mug to Jaehyun before placing her own and starting the machine again, setting a teabag in her mug. “ Sugar is on the counter, cream and such is in the fridge.” She let Jaehyun make the tea to his liking before dipping the spoon in a small glass of water to rinse it off. “We came down and saw you, Jungwoo and Dongju sleeping. I didn't want to wake everyone up and cause chaos, so I shut the kitchen door for now.”
“That's very considerate of you, especially having just come back to everyone.” Jaehyun mused, sipping from his cup.
“Being one of the few females in this giant ass clan of puzzle pieces, you learn to remind everyone about manners on occasion.” Arashi laughed softly.
“We’re not that bad, Arashi.” Wooyoung argued.
“Not anymore.” Yuta interjected, chuckling when Wooyoung pouted at him.
“Like you never had a moment-”
“He very likely didn't, Woo. He was raised as a noble.” San countered, reminding his mate.
“Noble?” Jaehyun looked at the vampire, surprise written on his face. “You're a royal vampire?”
“Prince and heir apparent of the Osaka clan leader.” Yuta says, though there's no pride in his voice. If anything, he seems bothered by the fact.
Jaehyun recalled Yuta mentioning that he left home for good reason, and it showed that the story behind that decision still affected him. “I didn't mean to pry.”
“It's actually common knowledge between the clans, it's not like you put a gun to anyone's head.” Yuta countered, reaching for his coffee. “I just prefer not to have anyone think I'm superior to them.”
Arashi was at his side in a few strides, reaching to thread her fingers through his hair. She leaned down, murmuring in a language Jaehyun doesn't immediately recognize due to her soft tone. It's only when Yuta replied back, just slightly louder, that he realized they were speaking in Japanese. Where Yuta spoke in a relaxed manner, Arashi wasn't quite as calm - obviously speaking a learned language despite a strong fluidity in her pronunciation. Although it’s a sweet moment, something about it was intimate to witness. Jaehyun looked away from the couple, startled when he found Wooyoung next to him.
“Sausage or bacon?” The fox inquired, crowded next to Jaehyun as if there wasn't a massive kitchen around them.
“What?”
Wooyoung rolls his eyes. “Which do you want, sausage or bacon?”
“Bacon is fine?” Jaehyun asked more than stated. “You guys don't have to make me anything, this seems like a private-”
“Please don't argue with him. He's more stubborn than I can be.” Arashi's voice chimed in. “Is Jaehyun banished to the table as well, or can he help cook?”
“I really feel like this should be for you guys to have a meal together.” Jaehyun protested. “I don’t want to impose.”
“Once Wooyoung makes up his mind about feeding someone, he won't take no for an answer.” Youngjo explained.
“You're also still recovering, Jaehyun.” Arashi added. “Please, come sit at least. Let the gremlins do their thing.”
“Gremlins?” Youngjo feigned offense as he began mixing batter for pancakes.
“I said what I said.” Arashi mused, lifting her mug to take a sip. The atmosphere is relaxed and playful, and Jaehyun finds he's actually beginning to feel comfortable for the first time since his return. Whether it's the people, the changes in layout, or some combination of the two, he wasn't sure. As food was made, the familiars made sure Arashi and Jaehyun eat first, then Yuta and San before eating themselves. The group was gathered at one end of the table, plates emptied, when the door opened to reveal Taeyong.
“Look who's awake.” The dragon grinned sleepily as he walked in. “Welcome back, little storm.” He goes to get a cup of coffee, still sluggish as he worked. “How are you feeling?”
“I'm good, I promise.” Arashi replied. “I may need a sparring match or two, loosen up after being out for so long.”
“Oo, sparring?” San perked up. “Can I spar with you?”
“I don't mind.”
“You guys fight?” Jaehyun asked. “For fun?”
“You learn to defend yourself young when you aren't human.” San replied. “We spar so we can keep sharp on our reflexes and such.”
“But…Arashi, aren't you at a disadvantage, being a witch?” Jaehyun inquired next. “Our kind don’t typically have the reflexes and such to handle a fight with other nonhumans.”
“Arashi will be fine. She's a damn good fighter, especially with her magic.” Taeyong yawned as he spoke.
“I still need to work on my hand to hand. Yuta and Johnny typically help me with that.” Arashi half laughed knowingly, sipping at her tea again.“But to answer your question, Jae, my siblings made sure I knew the basics of how to fight; to defend myself if nothing else.”
“Would you mind terribly if I tried my hand a time or two?” Jaehyun inquired.
“Oo, I could use another magic user to spar with. The only other pure magic wielder is Joong.” Arashi perked up a bit.
“No magic sparring for a few days, let your magic get back its strength.” Youngjo cautioned, scowling as Wooyoung elbowed him sharply in his side. “Ow, what, fox?”
“Watch it, will ya?” Wooyoung warned with a hiss.
“Oh, you two stop it. I'm already well aware of the tiff Yuta and Youngjo had.” Arashi silenced her familiars, looking over her lifted mug at them before taking another drink. “We’ll discuss it later. In the meantime…Wooyoung, I need you to relax, okay? Youngjo, I need you to not be so tense. Got it?” The two familiars looked at each other, then Yuta and then Arashi before each nodded in turn. “Everything is fine, so stop walking on eggshells.”
The table slowly came back to life as Taeyong joined with his own coffee, perching across from Jaehyun, between San and Youngjo. The little group talked and caught Arashi up on the activities that happened since she went under, the sun gradually lighting more of the room as it rose further. The day passed fairly casually, and by the time the remaining members were awake, everyone had made their way out into the massive yard in the afternoon warmth. A soccer game had started, and those playing were laughing and teasing each other. Jaehyun had gone to get a cold drink, returning to find Arashi on one of the porch swings, fiddling with the pendant of her necklace as she swayed the swing back and forth slowly.
“Are you sure you're okay?” He greeted with concern, head tilting as Arashi blinked and looked up at him.
“I promise that I'm fine, it typically takes a day or two for my magic to recover. I just don't like not having my usual awareness.” Arashi explained. “It makes me feel kind of helpless, and I don't want Yuta having to worry extra about me.”
“I'm sure he'd worry regardless, Arashi. You are mates, y’know.” Jaehyun countered, sipping from his glass. “What's that, if I may?” He pointed at her hand where her thumb and pointer finger held the charm, making her look down.
“Yuta had it designed for me.” Arashi smiles fondly, moving her pointer finger to reveal the delicately shaped rose gold Sakura blossom, the center a beautiful gemstone. “All the women of his family have a different Sakura pendant, the symbol of his family, and since I'm his mate, he wanted to make sure I was included.”
“It's gorgeous.” Jaehyun commented. “Why the gemstone?”
“The gem for the month we met.” Arashi answered. “I never take it off.”
“I can tell you two have a pure, unfiltered love. It's magic in its own right.” He paused for a moment to look out at where the others were playing their soccer game, head tilting before he spoke again. “You know, I've seen several different mated bonds in my life, but I've actually never known the feeling.”
“You've never had a mate?” Arashi’s face fell, but not in pity. “Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry.” She sounded sad as she spoke, her legs stopping the swing. “Maybe you'll experience it soon? Our clan is big enough, even without my familiars' clans.”
“I doubt that's why I'm here, Arashi.” Jaehyun mused, chuckling. “And I'm not sure I even have a mate. After over three hundred years, you learn not to be too expectant.”
“Maybe it wasn't a swipe right moment, but I have learned that people don't just show up randomly for this clan. I like to think we'll figure out why you're here in time.” Arashi countered, unbothered by Jaehyun revealing his age. “To change the subject, though, I am curious about something. At least if the topic isn't too troubling?”
Dark eyes found Arashi's as Jaehyun looked at her. “What is it?”
“This was your home before we found it and made it anew, right?”
“You could say that.” Jaehyun scoffed a little as he spoke, going to lean his back against the railing. He let his eyes wander the porch. “All of you moved here, fixed up the broken floor boards and awful paint, but I can still feel the ghosts, expect to turn a corner and actually see one.” His left hand lifted to brush his fingers over the smooth surface of elegantly carved wood that captured a wolf’s image. “These were just ugly blocks with awful splinters, the rooms were cramped, the yard bare of color and the food was shitty.”
“An orphanage?”
“A poor excuse for one. Although most of the kids I grew up with weren't orphans in the traditional sense.”
“You were sold.” Arashi stated, matter of fact in her tone.
Jaehyun could sense her eyes on him and he nodded. “When I was a child, my kind were hard to come by. Especially my specific breeding.”
“You have reptile eyes…are they not from your demon parent?”
The question was one Jaehyun had never entertained, really, but it did make him wonder, if only for a moment. “I'm not sure. Neither of my parents were - are, I suppose - human.” he answered. “Supposedly it makes me stronger than the normal warlock. I wouldn't know. My mother sold me off as soon as I could speak well, so I don’t really remember anything about her. This place was where I lived until I ran away as a teenager and never looked back.”
“I'm sorry, Jaehyun. That sounds terrible.”
“Painful memories make us who we are, do they not?” Jaehyun mused, his own words inflected with bittersweetness. “I really, truly thought I would never lay eyes on this place again. But…in a way, I guess I didn't.”
“What do you mean?”
“The inside is remodeled, more spacious on the ground floor. The bedrooms are bigger, even without magic, and even the porch is different. There's a welcoming feeling here now where I once felt dread and horror.” Jaehyun let his hand fall back to his side. “I never knew there was such pretty wood underneath that hideous green paint. Or that something so ornate and elegant could be hiding beneath the surface.”
“That's all Chittapon, he's a regular Da Vinci.” Arashi replied. “Each pillar for the porch represents a different member of the clan, and we still have ones that we just sanded down because the manor is so big.”
“A different member?”
Arashi nodded, pointing to the pillars that bordered the stairs leading to the side yard. One was a large dragon, the other a humanoid form with a katana. “Yongie, Yuta,” she then pointed at the wolf Jaehyun had admired. “That one represents Johnny, the other second for our clan.”
“You can recognize each one?”
“More or less. Chittapon gave little nuances to the members that are similar species.” Arashi giggled a little. “Also, Johnny's is the first where he worked on creating fur with wood, so it's a little rougher in design. Took him over a month, but he still wasn't happy with it, even though it's gorgeous.”
Jaehyun couldn't help but laugh quietly with her. “Like I said, maybe I didn't lay eyes on the place in my past. I may be standing somewhere I once did as far as location, but that place is just…not visible. All of you have transformed it.”
“Beauty can sometimes hide in darkness.” Arashi answered, leaning back as she began to work the swing back and forth again. “I wish I could forget my past sometimes, but it's made me a better healer.”
“Healing magic is a beautiful gift, you know.”
“Doesn't do much good in a fight, though.” Arashi countered with a deprecating laugh. “Joong is the one who helped me learn how to fight with my magic instead of being solely defensive with it.”
“But Tae said-”
“Believe me, I was terrible at first, but that was years ago. Being bonded helps, too.”
“Do you share your abilities with Yuta?”
“Sort of, but not in the way I think you're imagining.” Arashi replied. “My senses are a little stronger than a regular witch, but mostly I have a boost in my stamina, which helps in cases of prolonged magic use. Yuta has acute abilities from me as well." She lifted her cup from the cup holder in the arm of the swing, taking a sip from her straw.
“Prolonged…Arashi, how long should you have been awake after helping me?”
“Hmm?” Arashi blinked, tilting her head a little as she thought. “You know…I don't really have an answer for that.” She mused. “In theory, I probably should have been out before you even woke up? It's hard to say since Yuta and I have been bonded for a while. I don't really remember much about the magic wear before we found each other.”
“So I could have killed you by overusing your magic if you weren't bonded?”
“I mean, you were basically in death's arms by the time we got here, if that consoles you at all.” Arashi countered. “But the majority of my overuse was the comatose spell so you didn't rip your stitches or anything. That spell takes a serious toll on any caster.”
“I almost killed you?!” Jaehyun's voice raised a bit, staring at the witch.
“Will you calm down? There's no need to be so dramatic.” Arashi countered, laughing a little before shaking her head. Her tone turned softer as she spoke again. “Please, don't go stressing yourself out on my account, Jaehyun. Had I been anywhere close to that point, Yuta would have been far more protective and way more reckless.”
“You two seem oddly laid back given the circumstances.”
“Rather than being what, exactly?”
Jaehyun jumped as Yuta appeared with the question, walking up from the current game in the yard. His eyes flashed their natural color as he looked at the vampire a moment longer than necessary as he gathered his thoughts. “I just mean that most interbred bonds can be volatile when any danger is presented.”
“Are you supposed to be dangerous?” Yuta asked him, moving to pluck Arashi's glass from her hands to take a drink even as she pouted playfully up at him.
“Surely not in my current state, but I am still a stranger to your clan, Yuta.”
“You were also in grave danger when you came to us.” Yuta remarked. “Most creatures show gratitude for such an endeavor as what we took on in saving you.” He arched a brow, the slightest curve of amusement on his lips as he spoke. “And you've been here almost a week since waking and haven't tried anything dangerous.”
“I…”
“That level of protectiveness is for danger that expresses itself, or when a fight occurs or is about to begin. It's a primal instinct to protect that which we love, especially for the predator breeds.” Yuta continued, moving to stop the swing so he can kiss Arashi’s head, one hand brushing the back of his fingers over Arashi's cheek as he handed her glass back. “We protect our family, our home, when danger presents itself, not because a wounded stranger asks for help.”
“Oi, Yuta! Get back here!” Hwanwoong called, waving his arm. “We've got a game to finish!”
“Scared you can't win without me, foxy?” Yuta called back with a grin, laughing when Arashi smacked at his leg.
“Go, oh great protector, we're fine.” Arashi teased, rolling her eyes before Yuta leaned to steal a proper kiss and head back.
“Y’know…you guys are a good bunch. All of you. I'm glad it's you who found this place.” Jaehyun maneuvered to sit on the rail across from the swing, turning so he can lean back against the wolf shaped pillar.
Arashi smiled fondly, more maternal in the gesture, as she looked out at where the game had continued. “My clan, this family, is full of life from so many walks of it. And this land, this manor, is good to further nurture that. Fate, or whatever you choose to believe in, directed us all together when we needed it, after all. Or that's how I feel about it.” A howl echoed suddenly across the open field and Arashi looked towards the front of the house, even though the porch wrapping around had no full view. “It would appear we have more guests for you to meet.” She chuckled, but didn't move to stand.
“Shifters?”
“And a werewolf.” Arashi chuckled. Moments later, there was a commotion in the house before a tall male opened the kitchen door and looked around. Shoulder length, golden blonde hair peeked from under a beanie as he spotted Arashi.
“The little witch lives!” He cheered, going over to scoop Arashi up into his arms, sending the swing flailing off balance for a moment.
Arashi squealed with laughter as she was spun, hiding her face in the man's neck before smacking at his shoulder. “Johnny, put me down!” she scolded, a playful pout on her lips.
“Arashi!” A young voice cried out as the taller male - Johnny - obeyed and set Arashi on her feet, wandering off to the yard with a call of Yuta's name. A young man appeared as Arashi ran a hand through her hair, his own platinum hair bouncing as he rushed to hug her, eyes a rich color akin to whiskey. “Thank goodness you're okay.”
“Oh, my baby fox.” Arashi hugged back tightly, nuzzling at his shoulder before pulling back to look at him. “I'm so sorry I worried you. Did you finish your trip at least?”
“There wasn't much left of it. Besides, the others understood the urgency here.” Jisung replied before his eyes found Jaehyun and a distinctive air of protectiveness surrounded him. “Who are you?”
“My name is Jaehyun. A newcomer, if you will.” Jaehyun responded with a mix between a small bow and a nod. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“He's a friend, Jisung.” Arashi replied, unaware of the stunned look on Jaehyun's face as she speaks to the young man standing in front of her. “He's fine, I promise. Stand down.”
“Jisung, you didn't need to leave your trip early, we had everything under control.” Taeyong interrupted as he walked up the steps.
“Of course I did, my mom was sick.” Jisung countered, pouting at Taeyong. “Plus, it's been two years, we weren't going to be gone much longer anyway.”
“If anything that bad had happened, you know your dad would have come to get you? Or one of Arashi’s familiars?” Taeyong countered.
“It's fine, Uncle Tae.” Jisung groaned, but his tone was hard to read. “Right now, I'm home ‘cause my family needed me. I'll talk about the trip later.” He turned to give Arashi another hug before darting out into the yard towards Yuta in a blur of white. The vampire spotted and caught him in a hug with barely a stumble and a grin.
“I can't believe-”
“Yongie, don't.” Arashi cut the dragon off, brow furrowed as she spoke. “He obviously needed to come home.”
“But he was so happy when you two told him he could go.” Taeyong offered.
“I’m aware. But for whatever reason, he found he needed to be home more. Yuta and I will talk to him when he's ready. Right now, let's just be happy that he's okay, yeah?” She gave Taeyong a look as she leaned on the railing to watch Jisung interact with Yuta and Wooyoung. Taeyong shook his head with a sigh, but turned to go inside.
“Mom, huh?” Jaehyun asked, looking at Arashi's profile.
“Jisung lost his family in a fire when he was little more than a pup. Yuta happened to find him and essentially adopted him before he found me. Jisung was reluctant to get close at first, but he warmed up to me. Especially once he realized I was Yuta's mate.” Arashi explained. “He doesn't call us his parents often, but he definitely sees us that way.”
Jaehyun made an intrigued noise. “This clan is full of surprises.”
“You don't know half of it.” Arashi laughed a little. “If you stick around, you'll learn the whole backstory in time.”
“I'm not sure about that.” Jaehyun replied. “I've never been in a family environment, Arashi. At least not a good one. I don't want to overstay my welcome or disturb something that's already good.”
Arashi tilted her head as she watched him. “You're a good person, Jaehyun.” she stated. “Whatever is in your past, you overcame it. You run a network of safe houses, for crying out loud. How would you possibly disturb our dynamic?” She let him sit there a long moment, the two of them merely watching each other. “Don’t dismiss it because it's scary.”
“I'm not scared.” Jaehyun defended far too quickly to be believable.
“Then don't do it because it's unfamiliar. Do you think any of us were so easily endeared to each other outside of mates?”
“I reckon it hasn't always been pleasant.”
“Nope. It gets tense, it gets awkward, but that's part of belonging to a family.”
“Arashi, I'm not sure I even know what family is.”
“I didn't either, for a long time. But I figured it out, and something tells me you're figuring it out, too.” Arashi countered.
Jaehyun was silent in response, averting his gaze to the yard for a long time. When he braved to look back, Arashi was gone, and he's now alone on the porch. A sigh parted his lips as he lifted his eyes up to the sky, the faintest tinge of orange beginning to lap at the horizon.
(mango ;v;) for the halloweenie thing, could you perhaps write some headcanons about werewolf Johnny whose wary of humans bc of how he was shot & disabled bc of bad ones, and biting/marking with a s/o whose gotten him comfortable enough to want to show his form/have sex in his were form 😔✊ please and thanks, happy halloweeeen
thank you for your request! what a sweet prompt. johnny always deserves some love! ♡
18+ under the cut! cw for mentions of internalized self-hatred.
Johnny had avoided your eyes for the first few months after you’d met him. You’d learned from his best friend Gyro that he was painfully shy and that he didn’t connect with other people very well, let alone another human. Gyro was the only other human he’d ever bothered to trust and it would take work for Johnny to come around to you.
What you didn’t know is that Johnny desperately wanted to talk to you. Your kind words and respect of his boundaries didn’t go unnoticed by the quiet man, half-wolf and half-human. He hated himself for being confined to this chair when he could once run free and fast across open grass fields after he transformed. While he still had a bit of mobility in his were form, it certainly wasn’t enough to let him run. Johnny didn’t want you to settle for someone like him. In his mind, he was as good as dead.
Months pass, though, and when you stick by Johnny’s side with the same warm smile you had as the day you met him, he starts to soften. It takes a little prodding from Gyro, but eventually, Johnny shyly asks if you’d like to go on a date with him. From there, it doesn’t take long until Johnny starts to open up to you the same way he had with Gyro.
You cry with him when he tells you the story of how he was hunted down and left for dead, bleeding out on the forest floor until he was lucky enough to be picked up by Gyro, a traveling camper at the time. The recovery was arduous and left Johnny more than frustrated, at himself and at the world. It had only been recently that’d Johnny had begun to venture into the outside world again, rightfully bitter about humans.
You changed things though. It took time, he recognized that, but he’d never felt quite so comfortable around someone like he felt around you. Johnny had blushed when he’d told you that, his eyes still puffy from crying. When he asks if he can hug you, you don’t hesitate to wrap your arms around him and are pleasantly surprised to see two fluffy ears perked up on the top of his head when you pull back.
‘Sorry,’ Johnny mumbled. ‘When I get real excited they pop out... That’s why I always have m’beanie on.’
Calling his ears cute just made Johnny blush even more, but it made him feel warm inside — like he could trust you with anything.
You prove it to him when the two of you slowly undress in front of each other for the first time. Johnny’s shy about it. He’s not as muscly as he used to be, and his stomach has grown soft. Even though his arms are chiseled and you find him more handsome than anything, he blushes and shies away from your compliments. When he sees you, though... Johnny lays you down flat and kisses your body, praising you for being so perfect and cute. His ears and tail make an appearance this time, but he holds back from showing you the rest of himself.
‘I promise I’ll show you more soon. But this time, I just want it to be like this, darlin’.’
And it’s wonderful — Johnny, despite how shy he is, is an attentive lover and is more than receptive to your touches. It’s not long, though, until you walk into Johnny’s small cabin one day to find him flushed and panting, ears pinned against his head. He smiles weakly but it’s more of a grimace, really. When you rush over and ask what wrong, he seems embarrassed. ‘Ah, I’m in... Well, I’m in heat. I-I don’t want to force you or anything, so you better get.’
Johnny can barely believe it when you take his hand, clawed tips beginning to poke through, and brush it against your jaw. You want this more than anything, and you’ll gladly have him. Like this. Always.
So he relents, and you watch with bated breath as Johnny’s body shifts into something definitely not human. While it’s still obviously your Johnny, his skin has instead been replaced with sandy-blonde fur that curls in some places. His face has the slightest bit of elongation and the fangs in his mouth stick out of his mouth. He’d look frightening if you didn’t know who he was.
Johnny approaches you slowly with a limp, tilting his head at you and panting. When you nod, he sticks his face into your neck and inhales deeply, whining. You feel a hardness start to grow against your lower half but before you can think too hard Johnny pushes you to the ground and starts to nip at your exposed flesh, tearing at your clothes as he goes.
When his mouth latches onto your nipple you jolt at the feeling of a long tongue swirling around it, a mischievous look in Johnny’s eyes when you glance down at him. How anyone could call a werewolf as cute as Johnny a beast... you weren’t sure. Johnny works you up until you’re panting and hot beneath him, his cock rubbing against you all the while.
When he pulls back, you finally get a good look at him. It’s similar to his own — average and cute, tilted upward and surrounded by a new tuft of fir at the hilt. You do notice one big difference though in that there’s a bulbous knot at the end of his cock. When you swallow, Johnny whines again and leans over to press his mouth into your neck.
His cock ruts against your slick entrance but Johnny hesitates, pulling back to speak with a voice that’s gruff but clearly his. ‘Mark you?’ His tail thumps against the ground and his cock twitches against you when you say yes. Though it’s a little painful, you can’t help but moan when Johnny sinks his cock into you and digs his teeth around your pulse point at the same time, biting down until you can’t stand it before he lets go and laps softly at the mark.
When you’re ready, Johnny howls and starts to fuck into you like he’s crazed. Every part of this feels wild and you think this is why people would call werewolves beasts but you absolutely love it. Despite his brutal pace, you can still tell it’s Johnny from the way he’s cradling your back and how his hand trails over his favorite spots on your body.
You can barely think by the time Johnny’s brought you over the edge and finished inside you, both of you still on the ground and breathing heavily. Johnny’s transformation recedes a bit, leaving him with the ears, teeth, and tail but otherwise looking like the same old Johnny you’ve grown to love.
He eyes the mark on your neck and his eyes flash like he just realized what he had done. Before he can spiral, you pull him into a soft kiss and reassure him it’s what you wanted. More than anything, you wanted to prove how much you adored and cared for him. How much you trusted him.
Johnny can’t help but smile and blush, feeling the exact same way. When the two of you drag yourselves off the floor, you help Johnny to his bedroom and join him for a much-needed nap on the bed, your bodies intertwined as you rest easily.
[Werewolf AU] "Would you like some scritches and belly rubs?" She scratched the top of Joseph's head and cooed affectionately at the two very large werewolves in front of her who were all but making very literal puppy dog eyes at her.
Joseph barked excitedly at the mention of scritches and belly rubs. His tail wagged. He flopped on his back effortlessly, wiggling around as his tongue lolled out of his mouth. The scritches and belly rubs were his!
Johnny whined jealously in response. How dare Joseph get the scritches! They were Johnny’s scritches! He wanted scritches and belly rubs! He carefully maneuvered himself so that he could lay down and roll over onto his belly. Ever since he’d had that altercation with a silver bullet, his legs hadn’t worked that well.
Wolf | COD werewolf!au | f!reader x 141 | Part One: in memoriam
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when you leave everything behind to move to the highlands you think you will spend the time finding some kind of purpose to life. Instead you find something that just might kill you.
complete tags + cws
an: i'm having a lot of fun watching funny animal videos for inspo for this series.
You had lived your whole life in the city, surrounded by buildings, cars and technology. Your life was ruled by phones, laptops and screens. Everything was a technicolor kaleidoscope of wires, lights, and LEDs. There was no escaping it. On the bus, the train, the tube digital displays flashed adverts. At work you swiped a card to get in the building, the elevator whisking you off to your floor without you even pressing a button. At your desk you had your laptop, your monitor, your work phone, your cell phone.
There was even a little solar nameplate that flashed Best Boss throughout the day that your team had purchased you for Boxing Day your first year on the job. And over time that display had flashed dimmer and dimmer, and you knew that one day it would stop all together.
You felt a bit like that, your own battery feeling less and less charged, feeling more and more disillusioned by the city life. Why did you need an app to get into your apartment building? An app to control the temperature of the thermostat, the fridge, the lights.
And so, when your aunt had passed and your father told you that they were going to sell off the property in the highlands you jumped at the opportunity.
The cottage had been described by other family members as a bit of a fixer up (sometimes a dump). Your aunt had called it an oasis. You didn’t care. You made the request for remote work, the denial coming in faster than you would have thought and so you put in your notice and spent the four weeks waiting for that last day of work cleaning up your apartment, packing up boxes that your parents begrudgingly let you store in your childhood bedroom. You packed up your desk at work, giving away most of the bits and bobs that you had no desire to take with you. And on that last day of work, after the goodbye drinks and the hugs, and the best of luck declarations you left with just the nameplate, ready to start the next part of your life.
The cottage was, for lack of a better word, rustic. There was running water and electricity, but even the cell reception was poor this far out in the highlands.
Your aunt had been almost twenty years older than your father, had married young and moved away. You remembered her visiting for one Christmas holiday, bringing with her hand knitted sweaters that itched something fierce and fresh baked tablet that you had hoarded, letting your older cousins take the blame.
There hadn’t been a funeral, or wake, or any kind of memorial after she passed. Your father’s siblings and your aunt had never really been close. They had taken care of her affairs from afar, her own husband having passed many years before.
You felt bad about that, you weren’t sure if there was anyone in town that she was close with, there was no one to point you in the right direction, so you decided to have a little memorial of your own.
In the kitchen you found a well loved cookbook, the pages stiff and yellowed from time, but many of the recipes had been earmarked, some of them with notes written in the margins with things like 'add more butter' 'more pepper' 'Peter, if you are reading this you better add extra chocolate or I will not forgive you.'
You had found the tablet recipe, it had seemed easy enough despite the fact that you had very little experience cooking and certainly none baking. But you gave it a try all the same, completely burning the first batch and having to return to the little store in town sheepishly passing the same items to the pimply teen who had checked you out that morning.
The second batch was edible, but not at all as indulgent as you remembered it being as a child.
By the fifth you were happy enough with the results to do the memorial.
The cottage was outside of town, built onto a plot of land that backed up to a copse of trees. Some of the locals had told you about trails between the fields and trees, looping through the craggy countryside. They warned you to not be caught out at night and told you about points of interest.
The man who owned the one pub in town had told you about a clearing that locals claimed was magic, had even pointed it out to you on a map, a ring of dense trees surrounding it. It seemed like a good enough place to take a picnic and honor your aunt, and if you understand the map well enough it wasn't that far from the cabin. Very little chance of you getting lost or staying out too late.
You found it easy enough, spreading out a rough wool blanket you had found in a chest and then taking out the meager picnic of cold cuts, cheese and tablet. Maybe you would learn to make bread, it felt like the right hobby to take up and then on your next picnic you would have fresh bread to eat with your meat and cheese.
To make it a proper memorial you felt like you needed to say something about your aunt, even if it was only for you. It felt silly standing in the clearing alone, your picnic spread out and waiting to be snacked on. But you needed to say something.
“Um, I guess I want to thank you, where ever you are. I’m not sure if you were religious or anything. Dad always said you were a witch, but I was never sure if that was more of an insult or a comment on your lifestyle choices. I kinda wish we—"
You stopped, not because you were overcome with emotions or couldn’t think of what to say next. You stopped because there on the edge of the woods was a wolf, stalking out of the shadows like something from a horror movie.
Once, when you were a child, your parents had taken you to the zoo. You had been fascinated by the animals. The tall giraffes, the regal lions, the monkeys swinging from branch to branch in their enclosure. But nothing had stuck with you the way the lone wolf had.
The zookeeper had said they were injured in the wild, rejected by their pack and left for dead. You had felt a kind of kinship with that wolf, its somber brown eyes, its gray fur, the way it stood alone on the rocks built into its enclosure. You were an only child, prone to bouts of quiet and discontent, always circling on the periphery of your classmates.
As an adult you had found it easy to throw yourself into work, the label of Best Boss was as much a badge of honor as it was a curse. You excelled at your job because you weren’t afraid to get your hands dirty (metaphorically, literally had yet to be tested). It wasn’t because you were some kind of over achiever, it was because you didn’t waste time chatting in the kitchen over tea, while the rest of the managers spent time during meetings talking about weekend plans and deciding where to go for after work drinks you were finding ways for your team to get their work done faster, easier, more efficient. You sat alone at your desk everyday eating your lunch, closing out cases and responding to emails. And at the end of the week your team got to go home knowing the work was done.
And you got to go home, where your only company was the default 'hello, user' display on the refrigerator that you couldn’t be bothered to update, because why did the refrigerator need to know your name?
This wolf was alone but that didn’t take away from the fear it garnered, the way your muscles tensed, your breath caught in your throat, the chill that skated down your spine. It was nothing like the wolf in the enclosure, trapped by walls and gates and glass with smudgy fingerprints from countless children that like you had pressed their grubby faces in close hoping to see better.
You saw this wolf just fine, its giant paws, its massive head that swung side to side as it took in the clearing. It didn’t have that dejected look that the wolf in the enclosure had. It had a hunger in its eyes, a snarl that revealed sharp teeth and a limp that was pronounced.
They say an injured animal is more likely to attack. You wondered if that was true. Would it attack you? The people in town hadn’t told you about wolves, they warned you about other things, wildcats and reindeer but not about wolves.
“Hey buddy, you, uh, you want some ham?”
The wolf eyed you, continuing to approach, growling lowly in its throat. You took a step back, then another, not looking away from the wolf as you stepped onto the blanket and then knelt down, blindly grabbing at the plate of food. You grasped a handful and tossed it towards the approaching animal. Is it possible it would take the food and leave? Is that what had drawn it to you?
The wolf paused when it reached it, giant maw opening and biting down on what was actually the tablet, not a piece of meat as you had hoped. It seemed to chew it in a way that was far too human before looking up at you, long pink tongue lolling to one side.
Did it like the tablet?
You risked a look down and grabbed another chunk of the sweet and tossed it to the wolf, throwing it further away from you. It watched with a lazy interest before turning its gaze back to you.
Was this it?
Maybe you could throw the whole plate at it, hit it, and then make a run for it?
Unlikely, you weren’t exactly in shape, you couldn’t remember the last time you had done anything more than a walk around the block by your office on a particularly mild day.
You moved to get up and it growled, long and low. A warning. A command? You couldn’t be sure, but you felt a wave of unease and fear tightening in your chest. You really didn’t want to die, not like this.
The indecision to act was crippling, you fell back, trying to create distance but it was quickly too late. The first meaty paw stepped onto the blanket, crushing the flowers you had picked earlier that afternoon, the ones you thought would look pretty on the table in the kitchen.
Next it stepped on the plate, displacing your carefully assembled spread of food, as meager as it was.
And finally, it reached you. Your arms and knees bent as you had tried to awkwardly crab walk away from it in a last ditch effort to save yourself.
The wolf growled again. Up close it was a beautiful beast. Thick tan fur, speckled with patches of dark gray. Cerulean eyes that seemed unnaturally pretty for something so wild and dangerous.
It was easy now to see why it was limping, the back leg was gouged and bloody. The wound was fresh enough that it still bled, thick dark blood dripping into the fur with each step.
Briefly you thought about the Best Boss nameplate you had put in the window of the kitchen, wondered how long it would flicker on and off after you were gone. Wondered how long it would take before your parents called you, worried about the silence.
Would there be anything left when the wolf was done with you? Would your bones be picked clean by carrion?
Would anyone notice at all?
The maw opened, the body of the beast hovering over you, you thought maybe you felt a drop of its blood drip against your bare leg. You felt it but at the same time, you felt outside of your own body. Like you could see the wolf looming over you, see the way its body dwarfed yours, covered yours like something it could possess, something it could own.
You imagined the pain of those teeth clamping down on your flesh, gnawing and ripping away at everything you were, everything you had wanted to be. And really, in the end, you hadn’t been much. How easy it had been to pack it all up to move out here, no one to really say goodbye to, no one telling you to reconsider.
You supposed it would be over soon and in the end, you weren’t really that much like the wolf in the zoo.
Wolf | COD werewolf!au | f!reader x 141 | Part Two: hand that feeds
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your most recent web searches include "wolf wound care" "diet of wolves" "how do you know if an animal wants to eat you"
complete tags + cws
You weren’t entirely sure that you hadn’t died in that clearing. It was hard to accept that you were standing in the kitchen of your aunt’s cottage with a wolf sat in the doorway that led out to the overgrown backyard.
In a move that had shocked you, the wolf hadn’t crushed your throat between those razor sharp teeth, but had instead licked you, its breath hot on your throat, tongue warm and moist against your skin. It had then scented you, first sniffing at the crux of your neck, your hair, the collar of your shirt, before bearing down on your with the side of its own furry body, its weight oppressive and terrifying, you lungs struggling to pull in fresh air as it pressed its body against yours.
Then it was gone, the weight, the fur, the teeth.
When you found the courage to sit up, it was watching you, its uncanny blue eyes tracking your movements as you scooted back, creating more space, but not risking anything too dramatic, lest you draw its attention back to you.
And when you had sat like that long enough for the sun to start slipping down beneath the horizon you thought of the warning the locals had given you. Don’t stay out in the woods after dark.
Was the wolf why?
You didn’t know the answer and you hadn’t waited around to find out. Without bothering to pack up the picnic you had left the clearing. The wolf had watched you, sat on your blanket patiently waiting. For what, you couldn’t be sure.
It hadn’t followed you home. You had glanced behind you repeatedly during the frantic walk back to the cottage. When you had arrived you quickly locked the door, checked all the windows and then turned on every light in the place, going as far as to lock the door to the bedroom you slept in.
In the morning it felt like the whole experience had been a dream, a nightmare fueled by the locals. You wanted to believe that, but the evidence of the previous day was too much. The missing blanket, the dishing from baking tablet still in the sink, the extra meat and cheese you hadn’t packed. The dirty pile of clothes that you had shed off before bed.
The final proof that it had not been a dream had come the next afternoon when you finally worked up the courage to venture outside, determined to not let that experience deter you from the long list of chores you had.
Your aunt had once had an impressive garden, the rows of beds had been meticulously planned out and constructed, and while most of the plants had died out there were still patches of green onions, rhubarb and what you thought might be asparagus. You had never tended a garden before, every house plant you had ever owned had died a quick death under your watch, but you thought maybe this was a way you could honor your aunt.
If nothing else, you would plant a bunch of wild flowers and call it a day.
You had only planned on identifying more of the plants and cross referencing them to the very detailed diagram you had found in your aunt’s notes. The woman had used her own shorthand, so much of the information was illegible to you, but you were trying to decipher the meaning, even if it was just the names of the plants.
The problem was, as you stepped out of the back door you weren’t alone in the yard.
There, on the edge of the property, sat just inside the gated entrance was the wolf. You might have been able to convince yourself that it was a different wolf, even though that would not have made the issue any better, but those cerulean eyes were a dead giveaway. Plus, it seemed the beast had dragged your blanket back from the clearing, the wool fabric now littered with sticks and leaves.
It was unexpected and a little unbelievable. Wolves might be smart, but were they this smart?
“Hey buddy, you need help?”
It wanted something, of that you were sure, but you couldn’t tell if it was motivated by hunger or something else. Something more intelligent than the simple instincts that motivated most animals.
The wolf tilted its head, as if considering the question, before standing and trotting towards you, crossing the yard far quicker than you were able to react to.
You mind screamed danger as you took a step back, body pressed against the outer wall of the cottage. You were too far to make it to the door before the wolf was on you. You hoped that if you stood still it would leave, let you go the way it had yesterday.
The limp was still pronounced, but the blood had scabbed over, matting the fur of the wolf’s leg. The snarl was still there but you realized it was more pronounced with each step of that back leg, so maybe it wasn’t that it was looking at you with aggression but instead was snarling in pain.
In either case, you couldn’t help but remember the warning, animals attacked when injured. It might not have attacked you before, but maybe today would be different?
Today was different. The wolf had approached you, no longer growling the way it had before, this time it batted at your hand with its snout, wet nose pressing against your dirty palm. It sniffed you, pushing your fingers open and your hand from your body, moving then to the pocket of your pants where you had stashed a snack for later.
Leftovers from the second batch of tablet.
It hadn’t been great, but it was still edible. And when the wolf whined, pushing against the pocket and looking up at you with those blue eyes you figured that a beast that ate bones and viscera wouldn’t be too picky about the quality of your baking.
You pulled out the tablet, wrapped carefully in a cloth napkin. Your hands shook as you unwrapped the treat, breaking off a chunk and offering it to the wolf. With a gentleness that seemed out of place for something so large and dangerous, the wolf took the piece from your open hand, chewing briefly before swallowing.
Then, in an even more shocking move the wolf sat, still looking up at you as if waiting for more.
“Um, good doggy?” you choked out the words, heart pounding in your chest as you offered it the second piece of tablet.
When it hadn’t made any moves to attack, you worked up the courage to retreat into the open door to the kitchen. The wolf showing its displeasure by growling when you reached for the door to close it.
So instead you had left the door open, the wolf sitting patiently, blue eyes tracking you as you busied yourself with cleaning up the kitchen, desperately trying to distract yourself from the beast that watched.
Maybe it wasn’t a wolf at all.
You hadn’t grown up around dogs, your father was allergic and as an adult you hadn’t felt that same domestic pull to get a pet to fill the emptiness in your life. When coworkers had shown off their pets at work you had responded with the expected ooos and awws, telling them how cute they were, how handsome, how well behaved as they went on and on about obedience training and socialization.
Despite the bubble of professionalism that you held your coworkers at bay with, talk of pets and children had always seem inescapable.
In any case, the wolf sat at the door in a way that felt very strategic, like it knew you couldn’t handle its full presence. You would find yourself forgetting it was there until your eyes would glance over the kitchen and find it again. Sometimes startling as if seeing it for the first time.
“Are you going to stay there all day?”
You finally asked not expecting an answer but having run out of things to do in the kitchen you didn’t want to leave the beast alone. Would it follow you further into the cottage? Would it finally decide to act?
It tilted its head, as if considering the question before standing. You held you breath, sending out a prayer to anyone who might be listening that the wolf would leave, turn in place and escape back out into the endless forest that surrounding the cottage.
It seemed those prayers fell on deaf ears because the wolf lurched forward, still limping, slowly approaching. The only sound in the cottage was the clacking of nails on tile, all other sound faded away as your focus shifted to the wolf.
Was this it?
The wolf pushed its head into your side again, was it sniffing for more snacks? You didn’t have any more tablet, nothing hidden away in your pocket. But to you surprise, it wasn’t searching out food. It pressed its snout into your hand, rubbing itself against your palm and then moving back to try again.
“Do you want a pet?”
The wolf didn’t answer but it sat down, looking up expectantly at you.
Swallowing down your unease, you reached out your hand and rubbed it over the back of the wolf’s head. The fur was coarse and thick, your fingers sinking in deep as you scratched behind the wolf’s ear. It closed its eye, mouth falling open and tonguing lolling out.
“Good boy.”
The wolf made a sound that was as close to a purr as a wolf could get. When you stopped scratching it pushed its massive head into your leg demanding more attention.
“Yeah, yeah, you’re a very good boy, but you’re dirty and I think you’re still bleeding.”
You knew the animal couldn’t understand, but it made you feel better. As long as it was sitting here it wasn’t eating you.
There was a first aid kit under the sink in the bathroom. It was stocked with the basics, you weren’t sure how similar wound care was for animals, but you were pretty sure that you would need to disinfect the wound and you might not have had any bandages that would work for an animal, especially something this big.
You weren’t sure that the wolf would stay put but you risked it, pointing at the floor and mumbling out stay before stepping away.
You were surprised to find the wolf still there when you returned. You wondered how many people had had a wolf wander into their home and then lived to tell the tale. Actually, how many people had been attacked by wolves? Was that common in this area? You weren't entierly sure that there should even be wolves in the Highlands.
You would have to ask around town later, first you had a wolf to deal with.
“Okay, I need you to stay still.”
The wolf turned its head to the side, ears flopping over in a way that was far too playful for something you knew could end you with one well placed bite.
You took that as sign enough to continue and unpacked the kit on the kitchen counter. You had done a first aid course at work, one of those free lunch and learn seminars that meant you got free food and an hour away from the monotony of your work. You had argued to yourself as the manager you needed to be prepared for anything, but during your time on the job the most you had ever done was hand out a plaster to someone who had gotten a paper cut.
Better to be over prepared then under, you guess.
You were definitely under prepared for dealing with a live animal.
“You are going to have to stay very still, and I am going to see how bad that wound is.”
You weren’t sure what you would do if it was really bad, was there a vet who dealt with wild animals? Did they do house calls? There was no way this wolf was fitting in your car, it had barely fit your suitcase on your way here
“Please don’t bite me,” you pleaded as you moved around the wolf.
Kneeling on the floor was the only way to get a good look at the injury. It was gnarly, the fur of its haunch matted with blood, it was a surprise that the wolf had been able to even follow you all the way to the house.
You would probably need to get it in the shower and wash it off but would have to settle for warm water and a rag.
With a shaking hand you carefully dabbed at the blood, brushing gently at the fur first, wiping at the matting that made it the most difficult to treat the wound, the water quickly turning a murky red as your worked.
To your surprise the wolf remained still as you moved on from the rag and ripped open a disinfectant wipe. You would need to do a restock given the size of the animal and the wound, this first aid kit was mostly geared towards minor household wounds and this was far from that.
“This is going to sting, I am so sorry,” you whisper, voice as unsteady as your hand.
The wolf seemed to watch you from the corner of its eye as you made the move to dab at the wound itself. The rumbling growl that accompanied you pressing against the wound was almost enough to send your scurrying away from the beast.
“I know, I know, buddy,” you cooed, hoping that the sound of your voice was calming even though you were so far from calm.
Cleaning away the blood revealed a jagged but not nearly as deep as you had suspected wound. You could have tried to apply gauze and wrap it but with where it was on the wolf’s haunch you would have needed to use a considerable amount of wrap and you weren’t sure you could have bullied the wolf into the right positions to get the wrap secure.
You finished off with applying an anti-bacterial salve. You made a note to search animal safe products and animal wound care later, if you survived long enough. The wolf hadn’t attacked you yet, but there was still a chance. It might have surprised you by not moving for now, but people said animals had a sixth sense for when someone was trying to help them. Maybe it was just biding its time until it had gotten what it needed?
”All done, you can go now."
You gestured to the open door hoping it would take the hint.
It did not.
“Fine, well, promise not to eat me and I guess you can stay a bit longer.”
It perked up at that, head tilting to the side, ears flopping from side to side as it eyed you.
“Oh, are you hungry?”
It stood up, the movement quick enough to have you retreating towards the kitchen island where you knew there was a knife still out from breakfast. It was a glorified butter knife but it had a pointy end and that would need to be good enough if the wolf decided to suddenly lunge at you.
"Shit," the curse was not enough to stop the wolf as it lurched towards you on unsteady feet. You reached behind you blindly, hand wrapping around the roll you were saving for lunch instead of finding the knife.
If it was hungry maybe it wasn't picky.
It was a good plan, the beast had eaten the tablet. You weren't sure if wild animals could have a sweet tooth, but this one certainly had.
You chucked the roll at the wolf, hitting in squarely in the snout. It let out a surprised yelp before looking down at the piece of bread then back up at you.
It didn't growl the way you expected it to once the surprise had worn off. Instead it leaned its massive head down, sniffing at the offending piece of bread.
"It's fresh, I bought it at the market Saturday."
Saturday, before your life had been changed by the arrival of this unexpected guest.
You knew it wouldn't understand you, and likely wouldn't have cared whether the piece of bread was stale and from last week. It was a wild animal after all.
It unhinged it maw, teeth dripping with saliva as he grasped the soft roll. You wondered if those sharp teeth would bite into you that easily. Would you be a tasty snack for it before it shuffled out the open kitchen door, back out into the woods.
The wolf barely chewed before swallowing down the roll and looking back up at you. At least, that's what it felt like. Those blue eyes, almost too shockingly blue to be natural, watching you and waiting.
"Okay, alright, I can get you more of something, I just don't have any dog food or anything like that."
As it turned out, wolves were not picky, or at least this one wasn't picky. It ate greedily anything you placed in front of it until it stopped, a look that could only be described as satiated on its face, tongue lolling out, mouth pulled in a way that gave the impression of a smile. And when it took a step towards you again, backing you into the corner of the kitchen, it didn't growl or snarl. It pushed its head into your waist, as if begging to be pet again.
And maybe that is what it wanted because it made that sound again that was so close to a purr as you ran your fingers over the coarse fur, scratching behind the ears the way you would a dog. You waited for it to act out, to literally bite the hand that feeds it, but after a moment of petting the wolf seemed to find the attention sufficient and walked away, plopping down in the patch of sun that shone through the open door to the garden.
The wolf lay there as you worked, eyeing it nervously every few minutes to make sure it hadn't snuck away into your home, waiting for you to make the wrong move. It was almost a welcomed presence, the little cottage didn't feel quiet so lonely anymore.
