TWM | MW [✔]

13.

Wonwoo trailed after Mingyu back to the hut late one afternoon. Their morning of magic and sex had left him ready for a nap, and he had to force his eyes open more than once.

"What the hell?"

He almost walked right into Mingyu when the alpha stopped abruptly.

"What's wrong?" he asked, trying to hide a yawn.

"Who's been messing with my hut?"

Wonwoo peered around Mingyu and blinked. "Are those... daisies?"

The outside of Mingyu's hut had been bare and utilitarian when they'd left it that morning. But someone had decorated with a fresh coat of paint and colorful flowerpots scattered all around—he spotted fuchsias and asters alongside the daisies.

Mingyu didn't say anything more, just strode forward, his shoulders straight. He stopped in the doorway and peered inside. Then he waved Wonwoo forward and moved back, crossing his arms.

Wonwoo hesitated, looking from Mingyu to the now-foreboding doorway.

"Um..."

"Just look."

He didn't know what to expect as he stepped forward and peeked through the door.

"Oh, wow."

It wasn't just the exterior that had undergone a transformation. There were two chairs tucked under the rickety table, a small bundle of blankets folded on the end of Mingyu's bed, and a little pile of cushions. The table now held a lamp, and there was an actual mirror, free of cracks, hanging on the wall.

"How..."

He turned back to Mingyu, only to find the alpha staring into the woods. Wonwoo followed his gaze and spotted Riri and another wolf he didn't know among the trees. From the slight frown of concentration on Mingyu's face, he could tell they were talking. It was hard being on the outside, needing to wait for a translation to understand what was going on.

The frown fell from Mingyu's face, his expression smoothing into something thoughtful and maybe a little pleased. The edges of his mouth tugged upward into an almost smile as he turned his gaze toward Wonwoo with exasperated fondness.

"It's for you," he explained. "They did it for you."

"Who did?"

"Some of the betas got together, scrounged up a few supplies."

Wonwoo knew how little the pack had, which made this a big gesture. "Why? I don't..."

"It's their way of welcoming you." Mingyu looked pleased, if a little sad. "I guess they have hope, now that you're here and we're making it work, that things have taken a turn for the better."

Wonwoo took all that in as he glanced back at the hut. This seemed like more than a simple welcome, considering the pack's situation. He was missing something.

"What things?"

"Hmm?" Mingyu had crouched down to examine one of the flowerpots.

"What things, Mingyu?"

The alpha peered up at him and then looked back down at the flowers with a frown.

"The cubs," he said softly.

Wonwoo knelt next to him. "You mean them being able to shift? I don't think my magic's going to help with that."

Mingyu shook his head. "No. If you were mated to Namjoon or Cheol, maybe. But the watcher magic has nothing to do with that."

Wonwoo wasn't following. "Then what? How am I supposed to help with their cubs?"

"I didn't mention this before, because... well, the pack feels it pretty deeply. There's a lot of stigma attached. Our lack of mages doesn't just mean our cubs can't shift. It means we don't have any cubs."