Seth's POV
That night, to avoid any awkwardness, I simply shifted outside into my wolf form. I pawed gently at Kyle's door and softly called out. Soon enough, he opened it and let me in.
I leapt onto the bed with ease and lay on my side. When Kyle settled down beside me, I tentatively nudged his cheek with my head — only to find his face cold, and the arm he hugged trembling slightly.
Concerned, I sat up and asked if he was feeling unwell. Kyle shook his head and said he was just cold when he got home late.
After a brief hesitation, I crawled over him like a warm blanket, covering him with my body. He froze for a moment, then chuckled softly, slipping his hand into my fur and pulling me into a tight embrace.
Taking the chance, I buried my nose in the hollow of his neck, inhaling deeply. The sweet honey scent that filled the air made us both emit satisfied, contented purrs. Kyle didn't seem to mind my little gesture—instead, he stroked my back and nuzzled my furry ears, basking in the warmth I gave him, his own scent mingling with mine in a heady sweetness.
About ten minutes later, his body temperature gradually rose. Not wanting to weigh him down all night, I quietly slid off and returned to lying on my side. Kyle turned toward me and, just like last night, wrapped his arms around me, pulling the fur coat over us both and whispered a soft goodnight.
Nestled in his arms, breathing in that lingering honey scent, feeling his chest rise and fall against my back in perfect rhythm, I suddenly wished the next trip to town could be delayed—just so I'd have more time to be his living blanket and warm hearth.
I also hoped that one day, I could hold him to sleep in human form.
I absolutely wasn't spying on Kyle when he bathed.
That day, while patrolling near the village's edge, I spotted a lone figure by the river near the territory border. Our pack had been warned to avoid that place; wild wolves sometimes wandered in, making it dangerous and isolated. I cursed whoever was foolish enough to go there alone.
As I drew closer, I realized it was Kyle, crouching naked by the water.
I recalled him once asking where he could bathe. Without much thought, I'd told him the pack usually bathed in the creek behind the mess hall, usually in groups, and suggested he ask Samantha when he wanted to go.
When he hesitated, worried about being exposed, I hadn't fully grasped that wolves were comfortable being bare-skinned around each other. We shifted and were naked without shame. But Kyle, raised in the city, obviously wouldn't be used to that. After I was called away, I'd forgotten to follow up. I never expected he'd come so far to bathe.
I almost called out, but he stood up suddenly, drying himself with a cloth. At that moment, I was utterly captivated by his bare back.
His skin was paler than his arms, his shoulders and waist noticeably narrower than ours. Still, his arms and thighs were firm—not weak or fragile. Without clothes, and no other wolves nearby for comparison, he somehow looked even sturdier than when wrapped in robes.
My gaze slipped to his tight, full hips. As he rubbed himself dry, their slight movement sparked a vivid image in my mind — the feel of my hands on that flesh — and a sudden dryness hit my throat.
Kyle shivered once he finished drying. That fleeting chill snapped me awake from my hiding spot in the bushes.
Wolves naturally run hotter than humans and are used to bathing in cold streams year-round. But for him, washing in cold water this season was definitely not easy.
Guilt surged through me. I wasn't close to Chris, the pack's only other human, so I honestly didn't know much about human habits. Though I'd told Kyle to ask me if he needed anything, aside from borrowing a blanket once, I'd rarely heard him speak.
I guessed he didn't want to trouble me, quietly enduring the pack's customs.
Watching him dress and prepare to leave, I slipped out of sight. When he passed near my hiding spot, I pretended to have just seen him and greeted, "Hey, Kk, what are you doing here?"
He looked surprised, mouth opening and closing a few times before pointing at the river.
"I… I was bathing down by the river. I'm not used to being naked around others. There aren't many people here, so…"
I blinked, feigning shock. "I see. But this place is on the edge of our territory. Sometimes outsiders come through. It's dangerous… For your safety, you shouldn't bathe here anymore."
Kyle looked up, staring at me with shock and a hint of helplessness. Seeing this, I quickly added, "I'll find you a solution. Maybe an empty cabin so you don't have to bathe behind the mess hall with everyone else. Don't worry, I'll take care of it!"
He paused for a few seconds, then smiled softly, cheeks flushed. "Thank you, Seth. You've helped me so much."
I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed by his praise. "I'm the leader; it's my responsibility to care for the pack. No need to thank me."
Kyle looked up again, an unspoken emotion flickering in his eyes. "So… does that mean I'm part of your pack now?"
I froze, blinking. Just as I was wondering when to ask if he wanted to stay, he beat me to it.
Clearing my throat, nervous and avoiding his gaze, I said, "If you want, you're definitely welcome to stay. So… Kk, will you stay?"
He lowered his head, tugging his robe, silent for a moment before whispering,
"I… can't go back to the city. Even if I run elsewhere, my mother will find me. If I don't cause trouble for you, I want to stay. I want to be part of your pack."
My wolf and I exploded with joy inside, but I kept my voice calm.
"Trouble? No way. Since you arrived, the food's better, the pups adore you, and you've helped Fiona a lot. If you want to stay, we'd be honored."
What I really wanted to say was—
"I would beg you to stay."
Kyle lifted his head, those deep blue eyes shimmering with something like tears. He smiled faintly, his voice teasing,
"So, from now on, should I call you 'Alpha'?"
I waved my hand, thinking No need for that. A few seconds later, I caught on to his joke and laughed heartily. Kyle joined me, his laughter light and clear like the wind through leaves.
When the mood settled, I patted his shoulder and pointed toward the village.
"I'll walk you back. In a few days, we're holding a bonfire to celebrate your official joining. Look forward to it!"
His eyes widened, and he nodded eagerly, following me toward the village.
That night, as usual, I crawled into Kyle's bed and shifted into wolf form to be his big, warm furnace. The joyful scent he gave off, mixed with sweet honey, wrapped around me completely. My mind blurred in that scent, slowly drifting into sleep.
Unexpectedly, Kyle's sweet fragrance and the image of his bare body from earlier that day sparked a rare, vivid dream.
In it, Kyle knelt on the bed, hands on the mattress, his round, inviting hips raised high. He looked back at me, voice soft and breathy, calling my name. His hand reached out, parting his wet flesh. The image nearly drove my wolf insane. Without hesitation, I plunged in, the fierce rhythm making him moan in the dream, his flesh trembling with each movement.
When I released inside him, warm liquid flooding his body, I jolted awake.
Still in wolf form, my member rock-hard, the dawn barely breaking. Kyle was still deep asleep, murmuring softly in his dreams and grinding against me. The sweet scent of Omega arousal hung thick in the air.
I swallowed hard and stared at his peaceful face, flushed cheeks and a light sheen of sweat on his skin.
Though desire burned fiercely inside me, I knew I mustn't take advantage of his defenselessness or the trust he placed in me.
I grabbed the fur coat, covering him carefully, then jumped from the bed and padded to the door. Nudging it open gently with my head, I took the handle in my jaws and closed the door quietly.
Taking a deep breath, I bolted away from the village center, desperate to escape the intoxicating scent of the aroused Omega.
My wolf howled in agony, trembling violently. I ran hard, fighting to calm myself.
And deep inside, I understood one truth—
I was utterly, hopelessly in love with Kyle.