Wolf Moon

สิบเก้า

Being the only human of a friend group and having to "babysit" two pregnant cat shifters was not what Beam had envisioned for himself when he was younger. He still didn't know how he got to this point. He tried so hard to fit in with the others...very hard. But he was only human. He couldn't be like the shifters.

Beam wearily rested his cheek on his hand, watching as Yo and Kit talked excitedly in quiet voices about their babies. Or litters, or pups, as shifters called them. Beam shifted in his seat and swallowed back a sigh. Then winced.

He was only human, but Forth was definitely all wolf. In stamina, strength, size, and hunger. Aish, but he was going to be the death of Beam!

Beam whipped his head up when he spotted a certain med student making their way towards the table where Beam sat with Yo and Kit. Before she could say anything, Beam moved to stand between her and the two cats, glaring at her in warning. "I think you've done enough, Pring. Pha and Ming wouldn't be happy to see you so close to their mates."

Pring lowered her head. "I know...I just came to tell N'Yo I'm leaving this college. He won't have to see me around here anymore."

"You're leaving?"

Beam stepped to the side so Yo could see Pring. He stared at her, baffled.

"Yes," Pring smiled sadly, not meeting his gaze. "And...I'm sorry for everything I did. I shouldn't have let that moron Park scare me into going along with his plan. You didn't deserve what he did, and...I'm so sorry, N'Yo. I really am. Could you tell P'Pha I apologize for how I wronged you both? I'd appreciate it, since he probably wouldn't want to see or hear me right now."

"P'Pring," Yo stood up and reached out, grasping her hand. "You apologized. I'm sure P'Pha wouldn't reject that."

Pring lightly squeezed his hand, then backed away, her smile growing more genuine. "Maybe the next time you see me, I'll be a doctor and married. I won't be back for a while, so it's possible."

Yo actually looked a bit sad at that. "Where are you going?"

"Korea, with my mother. Some of my family live there. I can stay with them and finish my studies. N'Yo," Pring turned to go. "Thank you for making him happy. He wasn't at all happy until he saw you. He shines so brightly now." And she was gone.

Yo blinked a few times. "She actually left..."

Beam shared a resigned glance with Kit. Yo was such a forgiving person, they weren't ever going to be able to let the kid out of their sight.

"Was that P'Pring?" Ming slid in next to Kit, curling an arm around his mate's waist and pecking his cheek. "What's she doing here? I thought P'Pha warned her never to show her face around our mates again?"

Beam shrugged. "She came to apologize and say she was leaving Thailand."

Ming was taken aback. "Oh...well, that was decent of her. I'm glad she realized that what she did was wrong."

"I don't think she should've left," Yo said, settling back down on Kit's other side, pouting at the tabletop. "P'Pha would've forgiven her. I know he would. He's not cruel."

Ming's expression became serious. "Yo...I'm not so sure about that."

"What, are you saying you know my mate better than I do?"

"No. But I'm saying wolves aren't as forgiving. If anyone messes with our mate, that memory never leaves. We will always watch that person with distrust. Or, in worst cases," he glanced at Kit. "We...remove them. Permanently."

"I know. Execution is a part of the clowder, too," Yo waved a hand. "But I'm the one who was hurt. It should be my decision. I'm not helpless or mindless now that I'm claimed and pregnant."