You

19

The first rays of sunlight peeked through Hyunjin’s curtains, casting a soft glow over the quiet room where he and Changbin slept on separate couches. Both of them had drifted off during their late-night conversation, emotionally drained but comforted by the tentative connection they had made. Changbin’s face was peaceful, though his wolf still stirred restlessly inside him, eager to be closer to his mate. Hyunjin, curled up on his couch, clutched a blanket tightly as if seeking some sort of security in the midst of his confusion.

Meanwhile, across town, the early morning buzz of the city had started, and Minho and Jisung were already wide awake, slipping out of bed quietly to head to IHOP. Minho, as usual, had wanted to sleep in, but Jisung’s persistent whining had dragged him out of the warmth of their bed.

“Come on, Min! IHOP’s calling my name!” Jisung had pleaded with his usual puppy-eyed look, tugging at Minho’s hand.

Minho had groaned but eventually given in with a fond smile. “Fine, but you owe me. You always wake me up early for food.”

They were now sitting at a booth in the cozy IHOP, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes filling the air. Jisung bounced in his seat, excitement evident in his bright eyes as he scanned the menu.

“Minho, look! Cheesecake pancakes! Please, can we get them? Pretty please?” Jisung pleaded, clasping his hands together dramatically.

Minho couldn’t help but chuckle at Jisung’s enthusiasm. No matter how many times Jisung pulled that act, it worked every single time. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?” he teased, though his tone was light and affectionate. “But fine, you can have your cheesecake pancakes.”

Jisung grinned from ear to ear, leaning across the table to plant a quick kiss on Minho’s lips. “You’re the best!” he chirped, his eyes sparkling.

Minho rolled his eyes playfully but smiled as he reached for Jisung’s hand. “Yeah, yeah. I’m just a sucker for you.”

They laughed together, their playful banter making the morning light-hearted and easy. Soon, their pancakes arrived—Jisung’s stacked with cream cheese and strawberry sauce, while Minho’s was more of a classic stack. They dug in, Jisung humming in delight with every bite.

“Mmm, these are so good!” Jisung mumbled through a mouthful of pancake, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.

Minho chuckled and shook his head. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

They were in their little bubble, enjoying each other’s company, when suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. Jisung stiffened in his seat, the fork in his hand faltering as his eyes locked onto someone approaching their table. Minho noticed the change in Jisung’s demeanor immediately.

“What’s wrong?” Minho asked, his voice low, concern creeping into his tone.

Jisung swallowed hard, his face paling as he muttered, “It’s him…”

Minho’s eyes followed Jisung’s line of sight, and his stomach dropped when he saw the man approaching—a familiar face with a dark history. It was Jisung’s ex-boyfriend. The one who had hurt him. The one who had left deep scars that Minho had worked tirelessly to help heal.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my little Sungie,” the man said with a smirk, his voice dripping with condescension as he stopped in front of their table. He ignored Minho completely, his eyes locked on Jisung, who looked like he wanted to disappear.

Minho felt the surge of protectiveness roar through him, his wolf bristling under his skin. He stood up from the table, stepping between Jisung and the man, his expression dark and dangerous. “Back off,” Minho growled, his voice low but full of warning. “You don’t get to come near him.”

The man’s smirk didn’t falter, though his eyes flickered with something darker—something more sinister. “I wasn’t talking to you,” he sneered. “This is between me and Jisung. Isn’t that right, Sungie?”

Jisung flinched at the nickname, his hands shaking slightly as he clutched the edge of the table. Memories of the past flooded back, and he felt like he couldn’t breathe.

“Leave,” Minho commanded, his patience wearing thin. He could sense how scared Jisung was, and that only fueled his anger.

But the ex wasn’t backing down. Instead, he took a step closer, his smile turning cold and menacing. “You think you can protect him from me? You don’t know anything about us. Jisung belongs to me.”

Before Minho could respond, the man reached out as if to grab Jisung, but Minho was faster. Without hesitation, he shoved the guy hard, sending him stumbling back.

“I said, back the hell off,” Minho snarled, his eyes flashing with fury.

The ex recovered quickly, his expression turning from smug to enraged. “You think you can keep him away from me?” he spat, stepping forward again, this time with more aggression. “He’s mine, and you can’t do shit about it.”

That was the last straw. Minho’s fist shot out, landing squarely on the guy’s jaw with a satisfying crack. The man staggered back, clutching his face, his eyes wide with shock.

“You son of a—” he started, but before he could finish, Minho grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close.

“Listen to me very carefully,” Minho hissed, his voice dangerously low. “If you ever come near Jisung again, I swear to God, I’ll make you regret it. You’re done. Understand?”

The man’s bravado faltered, fear flashing in his eyes as he realized he had underestimated Minho. He jerked free from Minho’s grip, glaring at both of them before spitting at the ground.

“You’ll regret this,” he muttered, backing away slowly before turning and disappearing out of the restaurant.

Minho’s chest was heaving with anger as he watched him leave, his hands still clenched into fists. He turned back to Jisung, who was sitting frozen in his seat, his eyes wide and his face pale.

“Jisung…” Minho crouched down in front of him, gently reaching for his hand. “Are you okay?”

Jisung nodded slowly, though his hand was still shaking in Minho’s grip. “I… I didn’t think I’d ever see him again,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Thank you, Minho.”

Minho’s heart softened as he pulled Jisung into his arms, holding him close. “I’ll always protect you,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to Jisung’s temple. “No one will ever hurt you again, I promise.”

Jisung clung to Minho, his heart still racing, but the warmth of Minho’s embrace began to chase away the fear. For the first time in years, he felt truly safe.