TOAO | MW [✔]

Seventeen.

When they returned home, Piper practically plowed Wonwoo over in his enthusiasm to get back to his master. Wonwoo just laughed as he toppled to the floor and was attacked with licks as the wolf whined and huffed, nosing and sniffing at his neck and body, clearly making sure he was alright. The wolf spent several minutes inspecting the mating mark on his neck before he seemed satisfied that it was okay. Then he laid down on top of Wonwoo, right in the entryway, and refused to move. The omega just laughed and petted his wolf as he pressed his cold nose into his neck and whined at him, making soft grumbling noises of complaint at having been abandoned for so long.

For Wonwoo, it was summertime and he had no school to teach. He spent some days with Mingyu, though not as many as he'd like as the alpha did have to work. Some days he spent playing his various instruments or reading. Other days he did the same thing he did most of his summers and took a cab across town, or had Mingyu take him to the Goyangi Children's Home and spent days teaching music to the kids who lived there. He often spent his summers and free time volunteering. Having grown up in the system, he knew how much it meant to these kids to have an adult spend time on you and make you feel wanted and special. The home didn't have much budget for musical instruments, but they did have recorders, and an electric keyboard, so he was able to teach a bit of choir to them. Wonwoo tried to go at least once or twice a week and spend time with the pups there.

On a few afternoons, when Mingyu had nothing else to do, the alpha accompanied him. Those were some of the best times, as the alpha played games of tag, basketball and soccer with the rowdier kids, while the more introverted and less social ones gathered around Wonwoo. A few of the kids there had disabilities, and like Wonwoo, had been given up by their birth parents and became wards of the state. Mingyu had instantly volunteered to pair them with service wolves once he got some new pups in and trained them up, an offer graciously accepted by the staff. He always liked to pair children with young wolves, so they could grow together. His offer had been accepted gratefully by the director of the home, once he explained that they wouldn't have to pay for his services. His business was a charitable one, and the state and donations were how he kept his business funded.

Wonwoo had wondered if he could fall more in love with his mate, but he found that it was actually quite easy. Little things that the alpha did every day made Wonwoo feel more and more in love, and when he'd volunteered to pair the pups at the children's home with service wolves...Wonwoo hadn't known what to do or feel. He was unequal to the volume of emotion inside himself and the moment they got home, Wonwoo attacked his alpha, jumping into his arms and shoving his tongue into his mouth with desperation. Mingyu stumbled back toward their room, stopping several times to push Wonwoo up against walls and ravish him before moving closer to their destination.

Construction on their new house began a week after they got back from their honeymoon, and things were moving along smoothly. Though a few weeks into it, things were halted by the summer rains that made everything muggy and damp, but to Wonwoo, it was the best. He snuck out of bed in the night and out to the back porch to sit and listen to the rain and smell the fresh scent that reminded him of his mate and inevitably, of their first kiss. He wondered at how far they had come in such a short time. He wondered at how material of a change could take place in a mere three months. But here he was, in his new home, with the love of his life, and every day he was surrounded by bustle and noise, and to him, that was the most joyous thing he'd ever known. But there was one thing missing. Wonwoo pressed his hand to his lower belly and let his eyes fall closed. He wondered what it was supposed to feel like, being pregnant. He didn't feel much different than usual, but he didn't know what to expect.

He'd only been outside for about half an hour when he heard the door open and two sets of footsteps approach him, both dear and familiar, Mingyu's even stride and Piper's soft tip-tapping of his claws on the wood. He smiled as he felt the swing jostle and sway when Mingyu sat next to him and a gentle hand caressed his cheek. He turned his face into that touch, purring softly at the quiet attention of his alpha. He could feel the concern radiating off of him, and before long he found his way into Mingyu's lap, curling up there like always with his forehead pressed to the side of his neck and his feet resting on the swing. Mingyu held him there for a long time, using his feet to gently push the swing back and forth as they enjoyed the sound and smell of rain and the warmth of each other's presence.