An Idol for the Omega

Chapter 15: Wolf

Jae

"Tell me if I'm wrong, hyung. Did I see Braden turn into a wolf?"

Sitting still, I wait for Alec to answer me. I woke up disoriented, the scene of Braden's tiny frame jerking and expanding in unnatural directions replaying in my mind. In a matter of seconds, fur had covered his skin and he was standing on actual paws, his hazel eyes changing form but not their color.

Hyung seems to look around, gazing past me to his boyfriend and the other giant. I haven't seen Braden since I woke up and I think a part of me will remain unsettled until I see him again. The room stays silent, Alec looking towards the other men wordlessly. It was really starting to creep me out.

I open my mouth to speak, when he shifts his gaze back to me. He's trying to smile, but it looks a little sad. Snapping my mouth closed, I wait for him to answer me.

"Jae, I'm going to explain everything, okay? Please, don't freak out."

Already sort of freaking out, I just nod.

"Alright." Alec takes a deep breath, as if he's preparing himself. This time he smiles and manages to look happier. "I think you should see Braden for yourself." A loud whimper breaks through the room and I look around but don't see anyone else.

Hyung looks calmly at one of the chairs across the room and I follow his gaze. Slowly, a small form emerges, shrinking in on itself. It's the same tawny-colored fur that I saw out in the foyer. The wolf... Braden? He keeps his head down to the ground while slowly trudging forward.

Once he's a few feet away from us, he sits back on his rear legs, never once looking up. A shirt that I recognize as the one I sent weeks ago is twisted awkwardly around the animal's form. I can't look away.

"Braden?" I don't know why I'm whispering. Bending forward, I lean my face towards his downturned one. Speaking slowly, I ask, "You... look at me?"

I hold my breath and wait as he slowly raises up. His ears... they're too cute! They're taller than I would have thought, and look so furry. Braden raises his entire face to mine, and I didn't imagine we'd be this close, our noses only a hand width away.

His wet-looking nose is black, the nostrils flaring with his elevated breathing. Little puffs of breath hit my face and it doesn't smell as bad as I would have thought, actually. Looking down his muzzle, I stare into familiar hazel eyes, the shape different and the gaze sharper.

"Braden," I breathe. Without thinking about it, I raise both my hands and bury them in the slightly longer fur at the sides of his head. It's not as soft as it looks, the strands sliding briskly over my fingers, but I keep stroking, over and over. "Omo!"

Braden gives a gentle little whine and his tongue darts out, licking at the air in front of my face. He moves his paws a few degrees closer to me. Taking that as a good sign, I let my hands slide further, skating over the tee shirt to rub the fur at his exposed chest and legs.

As if he's giving in, Braden scoots in as close to the sofa as possible. I lean back automatically, but he only presses the top half of his body between my knees, looking up at me with his big eyes. I resume stroking him, running my hand between his ears and down the parts of his body I can reach. His tongue lolls out of his mouth, so I assume I'm doing something right.

Without looking away, I ask hyung, "How...?"

"He's a werewolf." Turning my head, I open my mouth, but close it again. I want to say that werewolves aren't real, but I have the proof practically in my lap. Thankfully, Alec must know what I want to say, because he starts to explain without needing to be asked.