Chapter Text
Winter was starting to loosen its grip on the city. The new year had come and gone, and the snow that had once buried the streets in thick, endless layers was beginning to melt, revealing patches of damp earth and slushy sidewalks. The air was still cold, crisp enough to sting Nicholas’s lungs, but it no longer had the bite of deep winter. There was something gentler now, something lighter. Like the season itself was beginning to breathe again.
Nicholas walked slowly beside Euijoo, their boots crunching against the wet snow, hands tucked deep into their pockets as they walked from the parking lot up to the pack’s apartment building. The path they followed was half-cleared, lined with slush and patches of ice. The couple spent most of their time at the pack apartment but whenever they wanted some alone time, or peace and quiet, Nicholas’s own apartment was the perfect place to do so.
The last few weeks had been a blur of warm nights spent curled up in a too-full living room, of laughing so hard his stomach ached, of feeling something he never thought he’d have - belonging. And yet, there was one last thing missing. Nicholas took a deep breath, watching as his exhale turned into a soft cloud in the air.
“I’ve been thinking about something,” he said.
Euijoo glanced at him, sharp eyes soft with curiosity. “Yeah?”
Nicholas hesitated. Not because he was unsure, but because he wanted to get this right. He kicked a stray piece of ice, listening to the dull clink as it skidded across the pavement.
“I want to officially join the pack.”
Nicholas, suddenly aware of the lack of movement beside him, turned to look at Euijoo who had stopped walking. The alpha didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked like he had been waiting for this moment. Then, slowly, like the warmth of spring creeping through winter’s last breath - Euijoo smiled. His lips curved into the softest, most genuine smile.
“I was wondering when you were going to say that,” Euijoo murmured.
“Was I that obvious about wanting to join?”
Euijoo shrugged. “I had a feeling. You’re already one of us, Nicholas. The only thing missing is the official part.”
Nicholas let out a small huff, shaking his head. “I know. I just… want to do it right. If I’m going to be part of the pack, I want Kei and Fuma to accept me officially. I want to go through the rituals. I don’t want to just be the guy that’s been hanging around long enough to be considered one of them. Euijoo was silent for a beat, his gaze searching. Then he exhaled a quiet laugh, stepping closer.
“You’re really serious about this?”
Nicholas met his gaze without hesitation. “Yeah. I am.”
Euijoo’s eyes softened in a way that made Nicholas’s chest feel unbearably warm. Then, with zero warning, Euijoo reached out and grabbed the front of Nicholas’s jacket, tugging him forward. The omega barely had a second to react before Euijoo pressed a kiss against his lips. The alpha’s lips were warm despite the lingering cold air, and it made Nicholas’s breath catch in his throat. When Euijoo pulled back, his smile was wider, teasing.
“Good. Because I’d be really pissed if you backed out now.”
Nicholas shoved him away, face heating. “Asshole.”
Euijoo just laughed, and tucked Nicholas under his arm. The omega grumbled under his breath, but relaxed under his alpha’s warm arm. Nicholas wasn’t nervous. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself. It wasn’t like Kei or Fuma would say no. They’d already treated him like family for months, and everyone else already saw him as part of the pack. But something about making it official - about standing in front of them and actually saying it out loud, felt… big.
So, naturally, he had spent the past week trying to find the right moment. And, of course, he had failed. The pack had been busy with work, classes, and surviving the last stretch of winter. Then Harua caught a small cold, and Nicholas wasn’t about to bring it up while Kei was fretting over the younger omega was curled up in a nest of blankets, sniffling pitifully. And now, Yuma’s birthday was only a few days away. Which meant Nicholas had to wait even longer. Or at least, that’s what he thought - until Euijoo shut down his excuse.
They were sitting on the couch that evening, the apartment quiet except for the occasional sound of the others moving around. Euijoo was flipping through his phone while Nicholas absentmindedly scrolled through a menu, pretending to look at dinner options.
“I was gonna bring it up after Yuma’s birthday,” Nicholas muttered, breaking the silence. Euijoo glanced up, raising an eyebrow. “Why?”
Nicholas shrugged. “Didn’t want to overshadow it. You know how he gets when he’s not the center of attention.”
Euijoo chuckled, shaking his head. “Nicholas, Yuma would lose his mind if you told him you were officially joining the pack on his birthday.”
Nicholas paused, lowering his phone. “What do you mean?”
Euijoo smirked. “He’d love it. Think about it - he gets to have his birthday, and the whole pack is together to celebrate, officially this time. It’s like a double gift.”
Nicholas thought about it, and yeah… he could actually see it. Yuma had been the first one to befriend Nicholas, always trying to make him feel at home, hell he was even the reason Nicholas had met Euijoo in the first place.
Nicholas exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You think Kei and Fuma would be fine with that?”
“I think Fuma will pretend to be annoyed, and Kei will say ‘about time’ and offer you a drink.”
Nicholas huffed a quiet laugh. Yeah, that sounded about right. After a long moment, he nodded to himself. “Okay. I’ll tell them before Yuma’s birthday.”
Euijoo nudged him lightly. “Good choice.”
Now, all that was left was actually following through. The weekend before Yuma’s birthday, Nicholas finally decided it was time.
He had spent days overthinking it, running through a hundred different versions of how the conversation might go. Would they make it difficult? Would Kei say something infuriating? Would Fuma laugh at him? But now, standing in the pack apartment, facing Kei and Fuma as they watched him expectantly, Nicholas realized something. He had no idea how to actually say it. Which was annoying, because he had planned. Sort of. And now he was just… standing there, not speaking, while the two older alphas waited.
Fuma leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, sharp gaze unreadable. Kei was more relaxed, sitting up on the counter, watching with an amused glint in his eyes. Nicholas shifted awkwardly. Across the room, Euijoo gave him a silent thumbs up. The omega shot him a glare, which he just ignored completely. After another painfully long pause, Fuma exhaled sharply through his nose.
“Nicholas, if you brought us in here just to stand there looking like that, I’m going to -”
“I want to join the pack.”
The words blurted out faster than Nicholas meant them to, cutting Fuma off mid-sentence. For a second, the room was completely silent. Kei stared at him. Fuma blinked. Nicholas, suddenly very aware of how tense his shoulders were, forced himself to keep his head up, meeting their gazes head-on.
“I mean,” he added quickly, trying to recover, “officially. Yes, I know I’m basically already a part of it, but I want to do it right. I want to go through the rituals. I don’t want to just be the guy that hangs around - I want to be part of the pack. Fully.”
Kei just smirked at him, shaking his head slightly. “It’s about damn time,”
Nicholas exhaled sharply, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Thanks.”
“We all knew you were going to get here eventually. We were just waiting for you to catch up.” Nicholas shifted his gaze to Fuma next. The other alpha was watching him.
Nicholas held his breath but then Fuma was cracking a smile, his eyes crinkling at the movement.
“You were never not one of us,” Fuma said, shaking his head. “But if you want to make it official, we’ll do it properly.”
“That means going through our rituals,” Kei added.
Nicholas nodded. “I know.”
“And you think you’re ready for that?” Fuma tilted his head.
Nicholas met his gaze, unwavering. “I know I am.”
“Alright,” Fuma said. “Then let’s do it.”
Nicholas felt something settle inside him. It was really happening. Euijoo moved from his spot in the next room to return to his boyfriend’s side, leaning down to whisper in his ear. “Told you they’d say yes.”
Fuma stretched, rolling his shoulders. “Since we’re doing this, let’s plan it right. The first ritual should happen before Yuma’s birthday.”
Kei nodded. “That way, we can celebrate after.”
Nicholas paused. “What exactly is the first ritual?”
The eldest alphas exchanged a look. Then, at the exact same time, they smirked. Nicholas suddenly didn’t like that.
Euijoo patted his shoulder. “Good luck.”
Nicholas sighed. “I already regret this.”
He was already expecting something intense for the first ritual. Maybe a fight. Maybe a ceremony with ancient pack traditions that required blood oaths, dramatic chanting and a virgin sacrifice. But when they all moved into the living room and he sat across from Kei and Fuma, ready to hear what they had planned, they just… looked at him. Like they were testing him before he even knew the rules of the game.
Euijoo had settled beside Nicholas on the couch, watching with an amused expression.
“There are three rituals,” Kei began to explain. “Every pack does things a little differently, but these are ours. They’re not just traditions - they’re what bind us together.”
Nicholas nodded once, sitting up straighter. “Alright.”
“First is the Trial.” Kei smirked.
Fuma leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “The Trial is about proving yourself - not just to us, but to yourself, too.”
Nicholas waited, eyes narrowing slightly. “Meaning…?”
Kei tilted his head. “Meaning you’ll be tested.”
“Could you be more vague?” Nicholas scowled.
“We’ll tell you when it’s time.”
“I hate this already.”
Euijoo, chuckled beside him. “You’ll survive.”
Nicholas glanced at him. “Yeah, but will I survive sanely?”
Kei ignored him. “The second ritual is the Marking.”
“…Like actual marks?”
Fuma shook his head. “Actual marking amongst packmates is a thing of the past, so nowadays it’s just a scenting. This is when we recognize you as one of us. A permanent part of the pack.”
Nicholas, despite himself, felt a strange warmth spread through his chest. He’d been around them for months now, their scents had become familiar, comforting even. But this was… something else. Something real.
“It won’t just be Euijoo scenting you. It’ll be all of us.” Kei told him.
Nicholas blinked. “Even you?”
“I am the pack alpha, so yes. If you join, you carry my scent, too.”
Nicholas sat with that for a moment. Euijoo must have noticed the hesitation, because he leaned in slightly, his voice low but reassuring. “It’s nothing you can’t handle,” he murmured.
Nicholas sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Alright. So what’s the last ritual?”
Fuma smirked. “The Bonding.”
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “That also sounds ominous.”
Kei laughed, an amused smile on his face. “It’s just a celebration.”
Nicholas stared at the alpha. “Wait. That’s it? After all that buildup, you’re telling me the final ritual is just a party?”
Fuma laughed. “It’s not just a party. It’s where we officially welcome you in. You drink with us. You eat with us. You share a night as one of us.”
Nicholas huffed. “Yeah, that sounds like a party.”
Kei ignored him. “But you won’t make it that far if you don’t pass the first two.”
Nicholas exhaled slowly. “Great. Love that.”
Euijoo grinned. “I think you’ll be fine.”
“You think, or you know?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
Fuma leaned back. “So. You still in?”
Nicholas glanced between them. The Trial. The Marking. The Bonding. It wasn’t just some formality - this was real. This was their way of telling him he had to earn his place, even if they already saw him as part of the pack. And honestly? He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Nicholas tilted his chin up slightly.
“I’m in.”
Fuma gave a single nod, satisfied and Kei grinned. “Good. Then we’ll start soon.”
Nicholas sighed, already bracing himself. But for the first time in his life, he wasn’t afraid of proving himself. He tracked down Yuma next, finding the omega laying in bed in his room, scrolling through his phone. Of course he wanted to tell his friend next. Yuma had been the first one to welcome him in. He had been the first one to befriend him when Nicholas had been nothing but cold and distant. The first one to drag him along to pack outings, treating him like he belonged long before Nicholas had even considered the idea himself.
“Hey, you busy?” Nicholas asked, sitting down beside the other omega. “Nope”
“So… I have something to tell you.”
Yuma hummed, not looking away from the screen. “Mhm?”
Nicholas rolled his eyes, nudging him with his foot. “Can you, like, actually pay attention?”
Yuma snorted, locking his phone before dramatically turning toward him. “Alright, you have my full attention, oh serious one. What’s up?”
“I'm gonna join the pack, officially. I already talked to Kei and Fuma and we're gonna start the rituals soon”
“Wait, really?”
Nicholas nodded and Yuma gasped. Like, actually gasped, dramatically clutching at his chest like Nicholas had just told him the greatest news of his life.
Nicholas groaned. “Can you not?”
“No, I absolutely cannot,” Yuma declared, practically bouncing on the bed. “Are you serious? Like, for real?”
“Yes, I’m serious, you idiot.”
Yuma’s grin split his face. “Oh my God.”
Nicholas braced himself as Yuma lunged forward, tackling Nicholas in a hug so tight it knocked the breath out of him.
Nicholas let out a strangled sound. “Yuma, I swear to God -”
“THIS IS THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER.” Yuma pulled back just enough to look at him, practically glowing. “You’re telling me this now, for my birthday? You’re actually doing this for me?”
Nicholas, flustered beyond belief, looked away. “I mean… you were the first person who made me feel like I actually belonged here. It just… felt right.”
Yuma stared at him. And then, to Nicholas’s utter horror, his eyes got glossy. Nicholas’s stomach dropped. “Oh god, please don't”
“I -” Yuma sniffled dramatically, wiping at his eyes. “I just love you so much, man.”
Nicholas groaned, trying to shove him off. “You’re so sappy.”
“I’M NEVER LETTING YOU GO.” Yuma latched back on, refusing to let go and Nicholas just flopped back against the bed, fully resigned to letting the younger omega just cling to him.
There were still a few days until Yuma’s birthday so Nicholas spent the time wondering what the first ritual was going to consist of. Proving himself? What the hell did that even mean? They weren’t gonna drop him off in the middle of the woods and make him find a way out of there by himself, would they?
Nicholas rolled onto his stomach, propping himself up on his elbows as he watched his boyfriend get changed for bed. They were in Euijoo’s room, the soft glow of his bedside lamp casting warm shadows across the walls and Euijoo’s body as he stripped off his shirt before digging around the omega's closet for something else.
His boyfriend had been completely useless when it came to the first ritual, he wouldn't give any hints about it. All the alpha would say is that he had no doubt in Nicholas, that the omega would pass with flying colours. Nicholas just narrowed his eyes. Time to use what little leverage he had.
“Come on,” he said, rolling onto his side, head resting on his palm. “Just tell me.”
Euijoo chuckled, shaking his head. “Nope.”
Nicholas sighed dramatically. “You’re really going to make me suffer?”
Euijoo turned, smirking. “It’s not suffering. Every member of the pack has done it, which means you can too. No problem.”
Nicholas rolled his eyes. “That is not comforting.”
Euijoo grinned, completely unbothered. Nicholas stared at him for a moment, considering. Then, slowly, he sat up, stretching and arching his back like a cat. Then he crawled to the edge of the bed and sat on his knees as he lightly dragged his fingers down Euijoo’s bare torso, stopping at the waistband of his sweatpants.
“Not even for me?” Nicholas purred, tilting his head, voice lowering just slightly. “Are you really going to keep secrets from your boyfriend?”
Euijoo’s breathing hitched - just barely - but he didn’t move. Nicholas smirked, leaning in, mouth dangerously close to Euijoo’s ear as his fingers brushed past the alpha’s waistband.
“I’ll make it worth your while.”
For a second, Euijoo almost cracked. Nicholas could smell the way the alpha’s scent became heady as his hands came up to rest on the omega’s back. But then he let out a breathy laugh, pulling away and tilting his head at Nicholas like he was impressed.
“That was a good effort,” Euijoo admitted. “Really. But no.”
Nicholas groaned, pushing himself out of the alpha’s hand and flopping dramatically onto his back. Euijoo chuckled, watching him with amusement.
“You really thought that would work?”
Nicholas grumbled, muffled by the pillow. “It should have.”
“That’s cute.”
Nicholas kicked him lightly. “I hate you.”
“You don’t.”
Nicholas sighed again, pouting slightly. “Fine. At least tell me if it’s something stupid.” Euijoo shrugged. “It’s not stupid. It’s just… a test.”
Nicholas peeked at him. “A test?”
“Something to prove you’re capable of holding your place in the pack. Something to show what you’re willing to do for the others”
Nicholas thought about it for a moment, turning over different possibilities in his head. He knew Kei and Fuma weren’t going to make him do anything truly dangerous - they weren’t cruel. But they also weren’t the type to go easy on him. So, what the hell could it be?
Nicholas exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “This is dumb. I hate not knowing things.”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” Euijoo grinned.
Nicholas grumbled but didn’t argue. Because as much as it annoyed him not knowing what was going happen… he trusted Euijoo. If Euijoo said he could do it, then - maybe he really could.
Still, that didn’t mean Nicholas wasn’t going to keep guessing until he figured it out. And if he attempted to bribe Euijoo the same way again later that night… well. He wasn’t above that. When he woke up the next morning, he had a text waiting for him.
Fuma:
be at the apartment by noon
first ritual starts then
There was no other explanation. Nicholas sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as he sat up, already bracing himself.
Euijoo, still half-asleep beside him, peeked open one eye. “Today’s the day?”
Nicholas flopped back down. “Yeah. And I still have no idea what I’m walking into.”
Euijoo chuckled, voice raspy from sleep. “You’ll be fine.”
Nicholas glared at him. “You could just tell me.”
Euijoo grinned and rolled over, pressing a kiss to Nicholas’s temple before whispering, “Nope.”
And with that, his initiation into the pack officially began. By the time Nicholas and Euijoo got back to the pack apartment, everyone was already there waiting. The pack sat scattered across the living room, clearly waiting for him. Nicholas took one look at them and immediately felt suspicious.
“Alright,” he sighed, crossing his arms. “Just tell me what I have to do.”
Kei grinned. “So impatient.”
Fuma however, didn’t waste time. “Your first ritual is simple,” he said. “You need to prove that you care about every member of the pack.”
Nicholas blinked. “That’s it?”
Fuma raised an eyebrow. “Do you think it’s easy?”
Nicholas hesitated. Because… no, actually. He knew it wasn’t.
Caring wasn’t just saying it. It was showing it. And knowing Kei and Fuma, they weren’t about to let him get away with a simple, “Yeah, I like you guys.”
Kei, clearly enjoying his internal struggle, smirked. “We’ve set up a challenge. You’ll have to do something for every single pack member.”
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “Like what?”
The alpha shrugged. “That depends on them.”
Nicholas turned to look at the others, only to find them all grinning like they were in on a joke he wasn’t privy to.
Taki bounced excitedly in his seat. “We each get to ask for one thing. And you have to do it.” Nicholas’s stomach sank. “…Why do I feel like I’m about to regret this?”
Yuma beamed. “Because you probably will!”
Nicholas sighed. “Okay. Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
Yuma clasped his hands together, batting his lashes. “I want a hug.”
Nicholas blinked. “That’s it?”
Yuma beamed. “But not just any hug. A good hug. Full-body, no half-assed pats. I want you to squeeze me like you mean it.”
Nicholas sighed dramatically but held out his arms anyway. “Fine. Come here, then.”
The younger omega sprinted at him at full speed. Nicholas barely braced himself in time before the omega collided into him, arms wrapping around his waist as he buried his face into Nicholas’s shoulder. The older let out a soft sigh and relaxed into the embrace, wrapping his arms firmly around Yuma’s smaller frame. He squeezed the younger boy tightly, letting his apple and cinnamon scent wash over him.
Yuma hummed in content, burying his face into Nicholas’s neck before pulling away, a giant smile on his face. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”
Nicholas grumbled. “Next.”
Taki was practically vibrating with excitement.
“I want you to say five nice things about me,” he announced, grinning. “Out loud. In front of everyone.”
Nicholas stared at him in horror. “That is cruel and unusual punishment.” Taki wiggled his eyebrows. “Rules are rules, Nicho.”
Nicholas exhaled through his nose. “Fine. You’re… energetic.”
Taki gasped dramatically. “I knew you loved my energy.”
Nicholas ignored him. “You’re funny.”
“I am hilarious.”
“You make people feel included.”
Taki beamed.
“You’re loyal. And… you have good taste in food.”
Taki clutched his chest. “A compliment about my soul? I’m flattered.”
Nicholas turned Fuma. “Can we move on now?”
Fuma grinned. “Yep. Next.”
“I want you to teach me how to do my eyeliner like yours,” Harua smiled.
Nicholas blinked. “…What?”
“Your eyeliner. It always looks good, and I can never get mine to look that sharp. So, I want you to show me how you do it.”
Nicholas stared for a moment, processing. “Oh,” he said, tilting his head. “That’s a good request.”
Harua huffed, looking proud of himself. “I know.”
Nicholas grabbed his makeup bag from the overnight bag he had brought with him from his own place and crouched in front of Harua, holding his chin as he inspected his face.
“You’ve got good eye shape for it,” Nicholas murmured, tilting the omega’s head side to side. “You just need a better angle when you apply it.”
Harua nodded seriously, like this was life-changing advice. Nicholas smiled, pulling out his pencil liner.
“Alright, hold still,” he muttered as he began to carefully line Harua’s eyes.
The pack watched in amusement as Nicholas worked with precise, practiced strokes, his fingers steady against the youngest omega’s cheek. When he finished, Nicholas leaned back, appraising his work.
“There,” he said, satisfied. “Now you look perfect.”
Harua grabbed his phone, checking his reflection.
“Woah,” he breathed.
Maki whistled. “Damn, Harua. You’re about to break hearts.”
Harua giggled. “This does look good.”
Nicholas smirked. “Of course it does. I did it.”
The younger omega stood up and pulled Nicholas into a hug. “Thanks, Nicho.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Nicholas muttered. “Just don’t mess it up before the day’s over.”
Harua smiled, stepping back. “I’ll try not to.”
Nicholas rolled his eyes but felt something warm settle in his chest.
“I want your chocolate bar” Maki spoke next and Nicholas turned to look at him.
“My what?”
“I saw a chocolate bar in Euijoo-hyung’s room and I was gonna take it but he said it was yours. And your favorite just happens to be my favourite too, so…” Maki shrugged and Nicholas gave the young alpha his nastiest glare.
He had been saving that chocolate bar for a rainy day - tonight actually, to soothe any worries or stress from today’s trails.
“You’re evil,” Nicholas said flatly.
“So, that’s a yes, right?”
“Yeah, you can have it” The omega sighed and Maki stood up with a ‘woohoo!’, running off to Euijoo’s room to claim his new prize. Nicholas just shook his head, glancing over to Jo.
“I don’t have any more candy hidden here if you were thinking the same thing”
Jo shook his head. “I want you to tell us one thing you love about this pack”
Nicholas paused, not having expected that. Everyone else’s requests so far had been silly, but this one felt important. He didn’t have to think long before he was giving Jo his answer.
“You guys make me feel safe,” he admitted. “I never thought I’d want to be part of a pack, but now I can’t imagine not being here.”
Jo smiled, nodding in approval. “I like that answer, thanks Nicholas”
Nicholas smiled back before turning to Fuma.
“Make me a cup of coffee.”
“That’s it?”
Fuma nodded. “That’s it.”
Nicholas rolled his eyes but went to the kitchen, put the kettle on and waited till it was boiling to hot water over the coffee grounds, watching as the dark liquid filled the mug. When it was done, he handed it over.
Fuma took a sip, eyes twinkling. “Not bad.”
“It’s plain, black coffee. It’s literally impossible to fuck it up”
“And yet, I still appreciate the effort of you making it”
Kei sat back in his chair, watching Nicholas with an amused expression. Nicholas already knew to expect something annoying from the alpha. And if it wasn’t annoying, then it was going to be something embarrassing, or maybe something that required him to be overly affectionate in front of everyone.
“Show us a hidden talent.”
“...Huh?”
“You heard me.”
Nicholas just stared at the alpha. Out of all the things Kei could have requested, that’s what he picked?
“I don’t have one.” The words left his mouth automatically, because no way in hell was he about to be put on the spot like this. Unfortunately, his pack knew him too well.
Taki gasped dramatically. “Lies!”
Yuma squinted. “You totally have one.”
Fuma snorted, taking a sip of his drink. “Nicholas, I’ve seen you perfectly cut vegetables without even looking. That’s a talent.”
“That’s called basic survival skills,” Nicholas grumbled.
Harua tilted his head thoughtfully. “Wait, isn’t he really good at folding laundry?”
Taki snapped his fingers. “RIGHT! That time he folded all our towels and made them look like they were fresh from a hotel!”
Nicholas groaned, rubbing his face. “That is not a talent -”
Jo, who had been silent until now, smirked. “I heard him sing once.”
The entire room went still and Nicholas’s stomach dropped.
He snapped his head up, glaring. “You what?”
“I heard you. You were in the shower and I was waiting outside the door for my turn. You were humming at first, and then you just… started singing.”
Nicholas felt heat rush up his neck. “I was not singing.”
“You totally were,” Jo smiled. “And you were good.”
Taki gasped. “NICHO CAN SING?”
“Nope. We’re done. I’m leaving.” Nicholas shook his head, turning on his heel and heading towards the door. But before he could get far, Euijoo grabbed his wrist, tugging him down onto his lap, holding him hostage
“C’mon. It’s not a big deal. Just show them.”
“I hate all of you.” Nicholas glared.
“So uncooperative.” Kei sighed dramatically. “
Nicholas gritted his teeth, his pride refusing to let Kei think he was backing down. “Fine.”
He could not believe this was happening. His entire pack was sitting in front of him, watching him expectantly, their eyes brimming with excitement and mischief. He should’ve said no, should’ve ran out of here faster but here he was, about to sing in front of everyone.
Nicholas can literally remember the last thing he sang in front of someone else. It was years ago when Jia was really young and couldn’t fall asleep because she was sick. So Nicholas held her, rocking her and singing in her ear until the medicine kicked in and she was finally relaxed enough to fall asleep in his arms.
Euijoo must have sensed his hesitation, because he reached for Nicholas’s hand, lacing their fingers together. The warmth of the alpha’s palm grounded him, steadied him. It wasn’t like he was about to perform on some big stage. This was his pack. The people he trusted most. Nicholas cleared his throat.
"Just a little bit," he muttered, his ears already burning.
The pack nodded eagerly, practically vibrating in their seats.
Nicholas sighed, closing his eyes for just a second before quietly starting to sing. The pack had no idea what he was even singing, the lyrics were mostly in chinese and from an artist Nicholas had on repeat recently.
“So can you just trust me, trust me , So I can just trust you, trust you
And we can just trust free, trust free , And I could just love you, love you”
When Nicholas finally trailed off, letting the last note fade into silence, he felt like his entire body was on fire. But then the room exploded into cheers.
Taki nearly flipped the table over. “WHAT THE FUCK, WHY HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING THIS?”
“Nicho,” Yuma gasped, clutching his chest like he was personally offended.
“That was beautiful.” Harua’s eyes were wide. “I literally have chills.”
Even Fuma was grinning. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
Nicholas hid his face in his hands, groaning. “I hate you all.”
"You love us," Maki corrected.
Kei laughed, leaning back in his seat. "Well, damn. That was actually impressive."
Nicholas wanted the floor to swallow him whole. But then Euijoo was gently pulling his hands away from his face. The omega glanced up only to find the alpha looking at him like he was the most amazing thing in the world. Like he was proud.
"You were amazing," he murmured, voice low, just for Nicholas.
Nicholas swallowed hard, his heart doing something annoyingly soft and ridiculous. “Hurry up and tell me your task already”
“I want you to say you love me,” Euijoo spoke softly and Nicholas's face heated instantly.
“I already did that.” Nicholas’s face heated instantly.
Euijoo grinned. “Then say it again.”
Nicholas scowled, looking away. Right in front of the pack’s salad? Ugh. He was still getting used to this whole PDA thing. With a deep sigh, he turned back and locked eyes with Euijoo.
“I love you.”
Euijoo smiled, eyes warm and unwavering. “I love you too.”
The pack cooed and teased the two of them and just when Nicholas thought he was free, Kei cleared his throat.
“There’s one last thing,” he said.
Nicholas groaned, throwing his head back. “Are you kidding me?”
Fuma, grinning, shook his head. “Nope. And this one’s important.”
Nicholas glared at them. “What now?”
“You need to prove that you pay attention to the pack’s preferences. So, you’re going to order everyone’s favorite meal from our go-to restaurant.”
Nicholas froze.
“Wait,” he said slowly. “You mean… I have to remember everyone’s order?”
“Yes.”
“Perfectly?”
“Yes.”
Nicholas stared at them, feeling actual panic settle in.
“That’s eight different orders,” he said, eyes wide in horror. “How the hell am I supposed to know eight different orders?”
Behind him, Euijoo squeezed him tighter. “I believe in you.”
Nicholas turned his glare onto him. “That does not help, Euijoo.”
The pack watched him expectantly, some of them grinning, some of them looking intrigued to see if he could actually pull it off. Taki, ever the instigator, grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
“If you mess up even one, you fail.”
Nicholas groaned. “This is actually the worst test.”
Fuma chuckled. “It’s the most important test.”
Nicholas dragged his hands down his face. “Fine,” he muttered.
He had been around the pack for months now. They always ordered from this place. He had heard them say what they liked. He had seen them argue about who was ordering what, who was stealing bites off whose plate. He could do this. Probably.
40 minutes later, Nicholas had returned from the restaurant, arms overflowing with take-out bags. He had to be sent alone, just in case anyone that went along with him tried to help him cheat. The pack sat around the dining room table, waiting expectantly in silence as Nicholas began to unpack everything and hand it out.
Okay. First, Fuma. His order was easy. “One large tonkotsu ramen, extra pork, no scallions.”
Next, was Kei’s favourite. “One chicken katsu curry, but add a soft-boiled egg on top.” Nicholas remembered how the alpha would always pout and whine when they forgot the egg.
“One oyakodon, but with extra rice.” Jo liked his rice-to-meat ratio more than slightly unbalanced.
“One large plate of gyoza, but pan-fried, not steamed. And a side of miso soup.” A combo Harua always swore by, giving Nicholas a bite every time the younger omega got it.
“One unagi donburi, sauce on the side.” Maki always ordered this and dipped every bite like a menace.
“One bowl of tempura soba, extra crispy shrimp.” Yuma hated soggy tempura, and once had a meltdown when it was delivered wrong.
“One spicy miso ramen, add corn, and an extra slice of chashu.” Taki’s go-to. He never shut up about how his order was the best.
And lastly, Euijoo’s comfort meal. “And one large plate of karaage with a side of rice, extra mayo.”
Nicholas huffed, stepping back and watching nervously as everyone picked up their own orders and inspected them like they were grading an exam. The pack stared at him, and then Taki grinned.
“Damn. You actually did it.”
Fuma looked genuinely impressed. “That was kind of scary.”
“Congratulations Nicho, you passed the first ritual,” Kei laughed, taking another bite of his curry.
Nicholas sighed in relief, gripping the back of Euijoo’s chair as he felt his body finally relax. “Finally…”
But before he could sit down and finish, Taki tackled him into a hug.
“CONGRATS, MOM!”
Nicholas let out an undignified yelp, causing the rest of the pack to laugh at him. And just like that, the first ritual was over.
Nicholas only had a day before Kei announced that the second ritual would happen tonight. Which was annoying because he thought he’d at least get a break before they threw something else at him.
“You’re getting off easy,” Fuma had said, smirking as he leaned against the counter. “We could’ve done them back-to-back in one night”
Nicholas had glared. But now, standing in the center of the pack apartment once again, he was trying to keep his nerves in check.
The pack had cleared out the living room, pushing the furniture to the sides to make space. The room was bathed in warm candlelight, the scent of wax and faint traces of incense lingering in the air. Nicholas stood in the center of the room, surrounded by his pack, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. This was the second ritual - the one meant to mark him with all their scents, to fully integrate him into the pack’s presence. It was a serious moment. A moment meant to be sacred, intimate. And Nicholas, of course, couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
“Is this the part where we sacrifice a virgin?” The oldest omega blurted. “Though that might be a problem, since I don’t think there’s any virgins left in this pack.”
Fuma, who had been standing perfectly still and composed, slowly dragged a hand down his face as the younger members erupted into giggles.
Harua smacked Nicholas’s arm. “You can’t just say things like that!”
Nicholas shrugged innocently. “Why not? Am I wrong?”
There was a pause as the pack exchanged glances but no one answered. Because, well, he wasn’t wrong.
Fuma just shook his head, an amused smile on his face. “Alright, moving on.”
Yuma held his hands up. “Wait, wait, so we’re all just accepting that our entire pack is full of degenerates?”
Nicholas snorted. “I mean, have you met yourselves?”
Taki wiped fake tears from his eyes. “Wow. What a family moment.”
Kei sighed, shaking his head. “Can we please continue?”
Nicholas grinned but nodded, finally allowing the ceremony to move forward. Kei cleared his throat, and just like that, the room fell into silence.
“The second ritual, is The Marking”
Nicholas knew what this ritual meant. Pack members scented each other all the time, casually, in passing, to keep their bond strong. But this was something a bit different. This was a declaration. A permanent, unmistakable way of saying, “You belong to us, and we belong to you.”
“Every member of this pack carries each other’s scent. You’ve been here long enough that you’ve probably already absorbed some of ours just by being around us.” Kei continued.
Nicholas nodded slightly. That was true. He could already recognize the comforting mix of scents around him, could pick them out even in a crowd.
“But this,” Kei said, stepping forward slightly, “is different. This is intentional scenting.”
Fuma smirked. “You’re going to smell like us. Not just Euijoo’s scent. All of us.”
Nicholas glanced at him, then at the rest of the pack. Yuma was grinning excitedly, Harua was practically bouncing and even Jo, usually shy about things like this, looked excited.
Kei’s sharp gaze landed on him. “If you’re not ready, say so now.”
Nicholas lifted his chin. “I’m ready.”
The older alpha studied him for a moment, as if searching for hesitation, before finally nodding. Kei was the first to step forward, which made sense. He was the oldest alpha in the pack. Nicholas braced himself as the pack alpha closed the distance between them.
A year and a half ago, Nicholas would’ve sunk his teeth into any alpha who even dated to come this close. But this wasn’t just any alphas – this was Kei and Fuma. He knew them, he shared jokes with them, ate from the same plate as them, he trusted them. So, there wasn’t any fear coursing through his veins,
But as he stood in front of the omega, Kei tilted his head slightly, baring his neck. Nicholas froze. It was… an odd thing to see. An alpha exposing his neck wasn’t just a formality - it was an offering. A sign of trust. A silent promise that this wasn’t about control or dominance, but about unity.
Kei, who was usually so confident, so cool, was giving him an offering of trust. Nicholas didn’t move, so Kei slowly leaned in. He dragged his nose lightly against the side of the omega’s neck, deliberate and careful, the weight of his amber and cedarwood scent settling into Nicholas’s skin. It wasn’t a dominant scenting, it didn’t aggressively cover Nicholas, instead it just floated over him, sinking into his skin until it made him visibly relax. Then when he pulled away, Fuma was there, grinning.
“My turn, kid.”
Nicholas huffed. “I’m not a kid,”
Fuma just laughed, leaning in to do the same - pressing his scent along Nicholas’s jaw, letting the pack’s claim sink in. Usually, Fuma’s alpha scent was a bit strong for Nicholas’s sensitive nose but this time around it felt a bit different, it was strong and steady – like a shield. It made him feel protected, like an alpha’s scent should. After Fuma, one by one, the rest of the pack followed.
Jo was gentle, quick, his mint and eucalyptus refreshing. The beta didn’t make a big deal out of it, just leaned in, brushed his nose along Nicholas’s neck, and stepped back without a word. But Nicholas felt it just the same. It was an unspoken ‘I’ve got your back.’ After he stepped back, Jo simply patted his shoulder and moved aside.
Maki was quick and efficient, but his smirk said he enjoyed watching Nicholas pretend to suffer through the whole thing. Taki was the opposite - dramatic, drawing it out, clearly enjoying making Nicholas squirm. Harua was gentle, a little giddy, and by the time he finished, he was beaming. Yuma held on a little longer than necessary, sniffing Nicholas’s neck loudly and then grinning mischievously as he pulled back. By the time all of them had left their scent, Nicholas felt surrounded. Wrapped up in warmth, familiarity, the feeling of something unshakable and already feeling a bit float. But there was still one person left.
Nicholas turned to Euijoo, pulse thrumming. He’s been scented countless times by his alpha but he still felt a little nervous – or maybe a bit excited, to be scented by his favourite person. And when his alpha wrapped his arms around him, Nicholas melted. The scent of warm bergamot, fresh pine, something grounding and strong engulfed Nicholas completely, pulling him under like a strong current.
His alpha wasn’t in a rush, he took his time, dragging his nose along Nicholas’s throat, pressing closer than anyone else had. But he didn’t just stop there, with slow, deliberate movements, Euijoo dragged his nose along Nicholas’s scent glands, under his jaw, across his neck, behind his ear. When Euijoo finally pulled away, Nicholas’s head felt like he was floating, like the warmth of the room was melting into his bones, making him slow and soft. He barely even realized he had leaned fully into Euijoo’s chest, his weight pressed against the alpha. He was boneless, warm, content. The omega’s eyelids fluttered, suddenly feeling heavy, like he could fall asleep standing here.
“Juju…” he murmured, voice thick with something soft and unguarded.
Euijoo chuckled, his fingers rubbing soothing circles into Nicholas’s lower back. “Yeah, love?”
Nicholas huffed quietly, turning his face into Euijoo’s shoulder. He could still hear the pack talking, the low hum of voices around them, but it all felt far away.
“Smell nice,” Nicholas muttered.
Euijoo grinned, nuzzling against him once more. “So do you.”
“Is he gonna be functional after this, or did we just break our newest pack member?” Kei laughed.
Nicholas didn’t even bother to glare, he just mumbled something unintelligible, still too lost in the warmth, in the comforting scent surrounding him.
Yuma giggled. “Nicho’s all soft now.”
Taki nudged him. “Should we poke him? See if he reacts?”
Euijoo shot them a warning look, still holding Nicholas firmly against him. “Leave him alone,” he murmured. His voice was gentle, yet protective.
Nicholas, tucked safely in Euijoo’s arms, didn’t even care to protest. His body had gone fully lax, surrendering to the moment, to the pack, to the feeling of truly belonging.
The soft flicker of candlelight cast gentle shadows on the walls, the room warm from the gathered bodies and the hum of life that filled the space. Outside, the last remnants of winter still clung stubbornly to the streets, but inside the pack apartment, it was nothing but warmth. Nicholas barely noticed any of it.
He was drifting somewhere between sleep and consciousness, completely floaty from the sheer amount of scenting he had endured earlier. It had left him thoroughly relaxed, completely surrounded by the comforting weight of his pack’s scents, each one layered over the other until he could no longer tell where one ended and another began. It was intoxicating in the best way possible.
Maybe he should’ve cared. Maybe he should’ve felt embarrassed, maybe even overwhelmed. But right now, curled up perfectly in Euijoo’s arms, his body boneless and heavy in the best way, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything except breathe.
He heard the vague murmur of voices, the soft shuffling as his packmates settled into the makeshift nest of blankets and pillows they had built in the living room. Someone turned on a movie, but Nicholas didn’t even open his eyes to see what it was as the low, familiar voices of the film’s actors filled the room. He simply let himself exist.
He didn’t notice it at first, didn’t realize the deep, steady rumble vibrating was coming from his own chest. That soft, involuntary vibration of comfort, proof that he was so deeply at ease that his body had simply given in. It wasn’t until Harua’s soft, startled whisper cut through the quiet that he even became aware of it.
“Is he… purring?”
Nicholas would’ve groaned if he had the energy, but instead, he only burrowed further into Euijoo’s embrace, willing himself to disappear. But of course, his pack was full of nosey bastards. Euijoo was the first to react, shifting slightly, holding the omega tightly and resting his chin lightly atop Nicholas’s head.
“Shhh. If you wake him up and he stops, I swear to God…” His voice was low, protective.
Yuma, however, was not shushing. The other omega was already crawling closer, eyes wide with curiosity. “No way, he’s actually purring?”
“He’s like a big, grumpy cat.” Harua giggled softly.
The two younger omegas moved closer, pressing their heads lightly against Nicholas’s chest, their weight settling around him like they had every right to be there. And then a second purring sound joined his own, followed by a third. It was instinctual, the way the two younger omegas responded, their bodies naturally harmonizing with his in a shared rhythm of comfort and safety.
Euijoo felt his chest tighten slightly, something fond and protective swelling inside of him as Nicholas, still barely conscious, let out a slow sigh, his body melting further into his hold, fully surrendering to the moment.
And as the soft purring continued between the three omegas, Euijoo simply held him tighter, pressing a quiet, reverent kiss to Nicholas’s hair. He had never seen his omega this peaceful before. And he was going to make sure Nicholas always felt this way.
It was on Yuma’s birthday that it was decided to have the last ritual, the birthday boy himself insisting on both events being on the same day. The pack had decided to hold the ritual somewhere special - not in the apartment where they lived day to day, but at a cabin in the woods, just outside the city.
The cabin sat deep in the woods, nestled between tall evergreens and bare-limbed oaks still shaking off the last touch of winter. It wasn’t grand or extravagant, but it was sturdy, well-loved, and brimming with history. The dark wooden walls were slightly weathered, showing their age, but the place had been well-maintained over the years. The large wraparound porch was lined with a few old chairs and a small wooden bench that looked like it had been carved by hand. The roof was sloped, built to withstand heavy snowfall, and a brick chimney stretched up through the center, wisps of smoke curling lazily into the crisp evening air.
Nicholas took a slow breath, the scent of burning wood and fresh pine filling his lungs. Kei, who had been standing beside him, finally spoke.
“This place is special to us,” he said, voice quieter than usual. Nicholas glanced at him. Kei’s eyes were soft as he looked at the cabin, fond even.
“Years ago,” Kei continued, “Fuma and I came here when we had nowhere else to go.”
Nicholas tilted his head slightly. “What do you mean?”
Fuma, who came up to stand beside Kei, smiled, but it was smaller, more thoughtful like he was reminiscing on a good memory.
“Remember how I told you we encountered some problems when Kei and I first got together?” Fuma asked and Nicholas nodded.
It was when Fuma had come and rescued Nicholas from his father’s place. Fuma had told him that he had gotten disowned by his parents after he told them he was dating Kei, another alpha, which they didn’t approve of.
“Back then, we just needed some space from everyone - some alone time to figure us out, together. This cabin belonged to an old friend. They let us stay here - told us to take as much time as we needed.”
“We spent almost two weeks here,” Kei continued, glancing toward the cabin like he was seeing it through different eyes. “Just the two of us. No responsibilities. No expectations. Just… figuring things out.”
Fuma laughed lightly. “More like figuring each other out. We barely left this place the entire time, only to chop wood for the fire or to drive to the nearest town to restock on food.”
Kei blushed but didn’t deny it. Nicholas could almost picture it - Kei and Fuma, younger, still rough around the edges, isolated in this very cabin, learning each other in a way that had nothing to do with leadership or survival.
He could see Fuma sitting on that very porch, staring into the woods, deep in thought. He could see Kei chopping wood, cursing when the logs wouldn’t split the way he wanted. He could see them arguing over stupid things, laughing about them later, falling into something deeper without even realizing it. Nicholas crossed his arms, staring at the cabin with new understanding.
“And now you bring the whole pack here,” he murmured.
“This place was never just for us,” Fuma nodded, looking back at the omega. “It was given to us when we needed it most. Now, we keep it for the pack - for moments like this.”
“The most important thing about this pack isn’t the rituals or trials, we just do those for building camaraderie. The real reason Fuma and I started this pack was to have somewhere to go to. We wanted to be the type of people that when other members wanted to join this pack, we could be the strong, caring alphas they could turn to. And that this pack could always be a home to them, no matter what.” Kei wrapped an arm around Nicholas’s shoulder and the omega exhaled, gaze lingering on the flickering light in the cabin windows, the sound of laughter and movement filtering through the walls.
“Now, come on. Let’s go inside and get all warmed up”
It was only after dinner that Kei asked if Nicholas was ready for the third and final ritual. The omega exhaled, nodding. “Yeah.”
“Good,” The older alpha said. “Then let’s begin.”
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the pack gathered around the firepit, the warmth of the flames flickering between them. Nicholas stood at the center, Euijoo beside him, Fuma and Kei in front of him. The air smelled like burning wood, pine, something unspoken, and rooted in tradition.
“When Fuma and I first started this pack,” Kei began, his voice steady, strong, “we didn’t want it to just be a pack in name.” His dark eyes flickered with something deep and meaningful, something more than just words. “We wanted it to be a home.”
The pack was silent, listening intently.
“A place where people could belong, where they could feel safe. Where they could be who they are, without judgment, without fear.” The older alpha continued, voice softening slightly.
“And every time someone joins us, we’re reminded why we made this pack in the first place. It’s not just about strength. It’s not just about survival. It’s about family. It’s about choosing the people who will stand beside you.”
Nicholas felt something in his chest tighten as Kei's serious expression turned warm, his eyes focusing on the oldest omega.
“And you, Nicholas, chose us.”
“You didn’t have to,” The alpha continued. “You could’ve stayed on your own. You could’ve found another pack. But you didn’t. You chose this pack. You chose Euijoo. You chose us.”
Nicholas swallowed hard, his throat suddenly tight and Euijoo, standing beside him, leaned in closer, his hand finding Nicholas’s in the dim light, twining their fingers together.
“We don’t take that lightly,” Kei said. “And we don’t take you lightly.”
Fuma, standing beside mate, finally spoke. His voice was low, sure, full of quiet emotion.
“We’re grateful,” He said simply. “Grateful that you trust us. Grateful that you let us be your home. And tonight, we make it official.”
“Nicholas,” Kei’s gaze settled over the omega. “You’ve completed the trials. You’ve proven your loyalty, your strength, and your place among us.”
“Now, you just need to accept it.” Fuma stepped forward slightly, grinning. “Do you swear to protect this pack, to stand by us, to hold us as we hold you?”
Nicholas exhaled slowly, but without hesitation, he answered. “I do.”
Kei grinned. “Then it’s time to seal it.”
Nicholas had been expecting a challenge. Some kind of test. Something that required effort - like another embarrassing show of affection, or maybe even some ridiculous endurance feat. What he didn’t expect was for Taki to pull out a massive bottle of booze and shake it with a wide grin. Nicholas stared at it, then at Taki, and then at the rest of the pack, who looked far too amused.
“…What,” he said flatly.
Harua, always one for dramatics, sighed deeply and leaned forward. “In this pack, when a new member is fully accepted, we all drink together. We all take a sip, share the warmth, the moment.”
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
The youngest omega’s lips curved into a smirk. “Ah, but whatever’s left in the cup at the end…”
“You have to finish it,” Yuma cut in, grinning.
Nicholas blinked. He glanced at the bottle, then at the large-ass cup Taki was currently filling to a rather alarming level. One by one, each pack member took the cup, raised it in a silent toast, then took a sip before passing it on. Harua went first, his small hands wrapping around the cup carefully before he tilted it back and took a quick sip, wincing at the burn before quickly handing it off to Maki.
Maki, unbothered as always, took a slow, measured sip, barely reacting before passing it along. Then came Jo. Then Yuma. Then Taki - who gagged dramatically, shaking his head after swallowing.
When the cup reached Fuma, the older alpha took a long sip, pausing only to exhale softly before handing it over to Kei, who did the same. Finally, Euijoo took the cup. He hesitated, glancing at Nicholas.
Nicholas raised a brow. “What?”
Euijoo smirked and instead of just drinking it normally, the alpha tilted the cup just enough to take the smallest sip possible, barely drinking any before handing it over.
Nicholas gawked at him. “…You asshole.”
Euijoo grinned. “Enjoy, Nicho.”
Nicholas grabbed the cup, looking inside. There was still way too much left. He groaned, glaring at his pack.
“You did this on purpose.”
“Obviously.”
The pack watched expectantly as Nicholas sighed, squaring his shoulders, and lifting the cup to his mouth. The first sip burned. The second made his throat feel like it was on fire.
By the time he finished, Nicholas was lightheaded, face flushed, and slightly regretting all his life choices, but it all seemed worth it when the pack cheered. Nicholas tipped the cup over, proving it was empty when nothing slipped out, not even a drop.
Taki clapped him on the back. “ YOU DID IT!”
“Welcome to the pack, officially!” Yuma laughed.
Even Jo nodded approvingly. “Not bad.”
“I hate all of you.” Nicholas exhaled, blinking hard.
“Sure, sure,” Euijoo murmured, pulling him close, rubbing soothing circles into his back. “Breathe, love. You’re okay.”
Nicholas leaned into him, warm and a little dazed.
“Welcome home, Nicholas.” Kei giggled, already filling up another cup for himself.
Something in Nicholas’s chest tightened. Home. For the first time in his life, that word actually meant something.
The sky stretched out above them, a deep, endless navy dusted with stars. The cool night air carried the lingering crispness of winter, but the fire in the center of the circle kept them all warm, glowing embers crackling softly in the stillness.
“This is the best birthday ever,” Yuma had giggled at one point, snuggling further under the blanket he was sharing with Jo.
Nicholas sat curled against Euijoo’s side, a thick blanket wrapped around both of them as the pack gathered around the fire. Their laughter and easy conversations filled the quiet night, the sound of clinking glasses, shared jokes, and soft murmurs blending together into something warm, something familiar.
“I’m just saying,” Taki declared, gesturing wildly with his cup, “if we were all stranded in the wilderness with nothing but our wits to survive, Nicholas would be the first to die.”
Nicholas, who had been half-drowsy from the alcohol and Euijoo’s warmth, immediately snapped his head up. “Excuse me?”
“It’s true!” Taki laughed. “You’re like, totally useless outdoors.”
Jo smirked, nodding along. “I mean, he’s not wrong.”
Nicholas gaped at them. “I’ll have you know I am perfectly capable of surviving outside.”
Yuma, always one to make things worse, snorted. “Dude, after we got here you complained for two hours that you couldn’t get a phone signal.”
“That’s a valid complaint,” Nicholas huffed.
Harua, snuggled beside Maki, giggled. “Wouldn’t you rather just be inside somewhere warm?”
“I mean, obviously.” Nicholas rolled his eyes. “I’m not an idiot.”
“Debatable,” Fuma murmured, taking a sip of his drink so Nicholas huffed, chucking his empty cup at the alpha. It clipped the alpha’s shoulder with a ‘ting’, making the rest of the pack erupt into giggles.
“It’s okay, Nicho,” Euijoo said reassuringly, pressing a kiss to Nicholas’s temple. “You’re so strong and capable. You totally wouldn’t be the first to die in the woods”
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “You’re making fun of me.”
Euijoo grinned. “Never.”
The pack burst into laughter again as the fire crackled and a gentle breeze drifted through the trees, carrying the faintest scent of spring.