The Werewolf Next Door | WangXian

Chapter 26 - Echoes Everywhere

Wei Ying had a tough time transforming. His blood boiled while his bones cracked and snapped until he found himself unable to breathe. When his canines tore themselves past his gums, he couldn't help but scream through the discomfort.

Wei Ying knew it would be painful, but having Lan Zhan beside him doing the same, felt a tad bit more comforting. And in the end, it was all worth it after he stood beside a white wolf with a pair of matching lilac eyes such as himself.

Wei Ying's wolf - blacker than night - stood as tall as Lan Zhan's towering, snow-covered own. Like Yin and Yang, they fit perfectly together. Wei Ying thought so when he nuzzled his nose against the white wolf's silk-fur, savoring the sweet scent of sandalwood.

When the white wolf whined, revealing its unmarked neck. Wei Ying knew what Lan Zhan wanted. Lan Zhan wanted them to be marked. Lan Zhan needed Wei Ying to bite him, he craved it, and Wei Ying craved it too. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan were made for each other, so it was the right thing to do. All Wei Ying had to do was lean forth and bite down. It wasn't so hard. Then why couldn't he do it?

Well, despite finding himself loving Lan Zhan more as the days went by, Wei Ying couldn't help but wonder from time to time; What would happen once he graduates from college?

Before Lan Zhan came along, Wei Ying had plans and none of them involved having to be in a relationship. He intended on furthering his studies after college to become a doctor. He planned on moving into the city and travel until his heart's content. But since Lan Zhan liked the quiet life, he might not share the same aspirations as Wei Ying.

Wanting to remind Lan Zhan what they came here for, playfully Wei Ying licked the white wolf on the nose before dashing off. And as expected, when he turned back, Lan Zhan was right behind his tail.

Into the darkness, like wild savage beasts, the pair ran barefoot - or in this case - paws - through the woods. Wei Ying loved it. He loved the way the wind sang to him, and he loved the way his paws melted against the forest dirt from swaying past trees and dodging unwanted boulders.

Never had the feeling of being connected to nature felt so real. Wei Ying now understood what it meant to be a werewolf. It wasn't the strength, or the speed, nor the ability to hear beyond human comprehension. No, it was something much more meaningful. A rooted relationship to the earth he never knew he longed for.

Soon, Wei Ying found himself building a fire from within until it reached directly to his core, forcing a loud howl out of his mouth. And when Lan Zhan joined him, and they howled toward the star shattered night as one, Wei Ying felt free, alive, and - reborn.

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When the night got darker, they returned to where their clothes lay shattered on the forest floors and transformed back into their respectable forms.

"How do you feel?" Lan Zhan questioned, slipping on his leather jacket.

Although Lan Zhan said nothing out of the ordinary, Wei Ying could tell the older man wasn't too pleased by what happened earlier. Lan Zhan must've expected Wei Ying to bite him, cause the look of rejection was clear in Lan Zhan's eyes, which made Wei Ying harness a pang of enormous guilt.

"Honestly," Wei Ying shrugged, "A lot better than I thought I would. Hey Lan Zhan, do you think I could beat them now?"

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan sighed in disbelief, "Turning one time and running around the woods doesn't qualify you to be invincible -" Ouch, Wei Ying felt hurt, like having someone tore through his chest and rip his heart out. "- You'll need more training - physical training. This was just to help you in understanding your strength."