TWM | MW [✔]

10.

Introducing Wonwoo to the rest of the alphas was the last thing Mingyu wanted to do. But for the good of the pack, he had to. He considered calling them all to the pack house, but that might overwhelm an already hesitant Wonwoo. It would be better to introduce them one by one. Mingyu had a good idea where to find the other alphas. He'd leave Yeonjun for last, or maybe leave him out altogether. If he took an interest in Wonwoo, it could be dangerous.

He felt the weight of Wonwoo's pitying gaze as they walked. Laying bare the reality of his pack's situation had been hard, but Wonwoo deserved to know the truth. In silence, they traipsed through the meadow toward the lake. During the warmest part of the day, a lot of the pack could be found there cooling off. It would be a good chance for Wonwoo to meet Jinseok, Seungcheol, or even Namjoon.

They heard the pack before they saw them, and Mingyu knew exactly what Wonwoo's eyes would see—lots of wolves, only a handful of humans. Jinseok was in the water, messing around with a few of his hunters. Seungcheol was sitting on a rocky outcropping near the bank. If he was surprised to see Mingyu and Wonwoo, he didn't show it.

"You look like shit."

Mingyu rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, well. We don't all have a cushy desk job like you." With the pack so weak, there wasn't a lot of enforcement needed.

"Oh, don't worry. Namjoon has roped us into hunting and watching the boundary. Covering your ass, as usual."

There wasn't as much of a sting in his words as there would have been had Jinseok been the one saying them.

"The pack needs all the help it can get. Cheol, meet Wonwoo. He's... looking for a more compatible match."

Seungcheol raised an eyebrow, looking past Mingyu to Wonwoo. "Is that so?"

Wonwoo shrugged awkwardly. "Seems I'm not much good at boundary magic. I'll have to find some other way to make myself useful."

Seungcheol's eyes slid from Wonwoo back to Mingyu.

"Uh-huh."

He stepped forward slowly, keeping a close eye on Mingyu as he approached Wonwoo. Mingyu folded his arms and forced himself not to move.

Wonwoo froze, watching Seungcheol with wide eyes as the wolf paused a few feet away.

"I hear you're a druid and not a sorcerer."

"Yeah. Sorry to be such a disappointment."

"No one's disappointed. We haven't had a new mage here in a long time. You're very welcome, no matter what flavor of magic you're practicing."

A small smile graced Wonwoo's face. "At least you're nice. Mingyu doesn't do nice."

Mingyu glowered, which just made Seungcheol grin and Wonwoo giggle.

"Mingyu is an acquired taste, sure. I'm a little more palatable. So, hey, do you mind if I let my wolf get a sense of you?"

Wonwoo audibly swallowed. "Uh, sure, I guess."

Seungcheol's smile turned softer as he stepped closer and reached out a hand, lightly caressing Wonwoo's cheek. Mingyu dug his nails into his palms, almost drawing blood. He sensed Seungcheol's wolf grow stronger, rising closer to the surface at Wonwoo's proximity. But just as quickly, it subsided.

Seungcheol managed to mask his disappointment well.

"You're an acquired taste too, apparently. What a pity."

"My turn."

Mingyu bristled at the sound of Jinseok's voice. The hunter waded out of the lake and sauntered toward them. Wonwoo stared wide-eyed as the naked wolf approached him.