Chapter Text
Chi Cheng: 12 | Wu Suowei: 6
The dense, ancient forests of the nature preserve on the outskirts of the city were no place for a six-year-old, especially as the late afternoon sun began to dip behind the mountains, casting long, eerie shadows through the trees.
Wu Suowei sniffled, rubbing a dirt-smudged hand across his teary eyes. One minute he had been chasing a peculiarly bright blue butterfly away from his family’s picnic spot, and the next, the path had completely vanished. Everything looked the same—towering trees, thick underbrush, and an unfamiliar, quiet stillness that made his small heart race.
He was lost. And his legs were getting tired.
—
The heavy oak walls of his father’s office felt less like a sanctuary and more like a cage.
Chi Cheng paced the length of the room, his jaw clenched tight. His blood felt like it was boiling, a restless, chaotic energy thrumming violently beneath his skin. Every few seconds, without him meaning to, his fingernails would elongate into sharp, dark claws before he forced them back with a strained exhale.
Sitting behind the large mahogany desk, Chi Yuan Duan watched his son with calm, calculating eyes. He recognized the volatile hum of a young, overpowered Alpha whose wolf was desperate to break free.
Chi Cheng stopped his pacing and braced his hands on the edge of his father's desk, the wood groaning slightly under his sudden grip. He kept his head down, taking a jagged breath. "I need to run. It feels like... like it's going to tear its way out of me if I don't let it out."
Chi Yuan Duan gave a single, understanding nod. "The mountain preserve is empty on the northern ridge. Go. Burn it off, Cheng'er. Don't fight your wolf."
Chi Cheng didn't need to be told twice. He bolted from the compound, his body moving with unnatural speed as he headed straight for the dense, ancient forests of the preserve.
The moment his boots hit the soft, damp earth of the tree line, the suffocating pressure in his chest peaked. Usually, he maintained control by relying on the standard beta shift—the heavy brow, the elongated fangs, the sharp sideburns, and the glowing eyes that allowed him to fight while staying fundamentally human.
But today, the beta shift wasn't enough. His wolf was too large, too restless to be contained in a human shell.
Chi Cheng let out a guttural roar that morphed halfway into a deep, echoing snarl. He threw himself forward, giving in entirely to the change. It wasn't the quick, localized shift of his claws. It was a violent, fluid realignment of his entire skeletal structure. Bones cracked and reshaped themselves in a painful, exhilarating symphony.
When his front paws slammed into the dirt, he was massive, imposing wolf like the size of a caucasian shepherd a little bit huge, but not larger than the pack alpha, with powerful shoulders and sharp, intelligent eyes that burned with the undeniable fire of an Alpha heir.
He dug his claws deep into the soil and took off, a blur of dark shadow tearing through the preserve. The wind whipped through his fur, and his heightened senses drank in the raw, overwhelming inputs of the forest—the scent of pine, damp earth, and distant prey. He ran relentlessly, letting the wild energy consume him until the suffocating tension from his father's office finally burned off, leaving only the sharp, predatory clarity of the wolf.
Then, his ears snapped back.
Beneath the rustling leaves and the distant calls of birds, his hyper-tuned hearing picked up a sound that didn't belong in this deep, isolated part of the preserve. It was a rapid, frantic fluttering—a tiny heartbeat, thrumming as fast as a trapped bird's.
Chi Cheng slowed his relentless pace into a heavy, loping trot, his golden eyes narrowing. A second sound drifted through the trees: a soft, watery hiccup, followed by a quiet, pathetic sob.
A human child. But as he drew a breath, his senses caught something else—an underlying current beneath the salt and fear that he couldn't quite grasp. And they were absolutely terrified.
Normally, he might just monitor the perimeter or subtly guide the intruder out from afar to protect the pack's secrets. But right as Chi Cheng dug his massive claws into the dirt to pause and listen, the wind shifted.
The scent hit him.
It wasn't just the scent of a frightened human. There was that sharp, crackling undertone of ozone, like the heavily charged air right before a lightning strike. But what completely overwhelmed him was the sudden, intoxicating wave of scent that followed: sweet milk, fresh rain, and warm freshly baked buns. The impact was so jarring it nearly knocked his massive frame off balance. Instantly, the volatile, restless hum in his blood evaporated. His wolf went dead silent. The only thing left was a singular, roaring instinct that completely hijacked his brain: Mine. Protect. Mate. Mate. Mate.
Chi Cheng lowered his massive belly closer to the damp earth, making himself as completely silent as possible. His muscles coiled tight with a newfound, desperate focus. He crept slowly through the thick underbrush, his padded paws making absolutely no sound on the forest floor. He was drawn forward by the magnetic, undeniable pull of the scent and the quiet, heartbreaking sniffles just ahead.
He moved silently through the shadows until he reached the edge of a small, dappled clearing, pausing just behind a thick row of bushes to look at the tiny, lost boy rubbing his teary eyes...
—
A twig snapped loudly to his left.
Wu Suowei froze, his breath hitching. The bushes rustled, the leaves parting to reveal a massive, imposing silhouette.
It stepped out into a patch of dappled sunlight. It was a massive wolf with thick, midnight-black fur, and sharp, intelligent eyes that glowed with a faint, unnatural gold and red.
Chi Cheng lowered his massive head, letting out a low, rumbling breath as he stepped closer to the tiny, shivering human boy. He knew he looked terrifying. He prepared himself for his mate to scream or run.
Instead, Wu Suowei stopped crying. As the giant beast padded forward, he just stood perfectly still, watching quietly as the wolf began to slowly circle him. Chi Cheng moved with lethal, predatory grace, dipping his heavy snout close to Wu Suowei's small frame. He inhaled deeply, taking in the overwhelming, grounding scent, his wet nose brushing just barely against Wu Suowei's jacket.
Wu Suowei didn't flinch. He simply tracked the dark wolf's movements with his large, round eyes, entirely unafraid, until he slowly tilted his head up and locked his gaze directly with Chi Cheng.
The moment their gazes met, a jolt of pure instinct surged through Chi Cheng. His eyes flared a brilliant, blood-red—the undeniable mark of his wolf reacting to its mate. Yet, the terrifying aura of the predator didn't seem to reach Wu Suowei at all. Instead, the red flash just seemed to calm the storm, and a strange, warm feeling of absolute safety washed over Wu Suowei.
A wobbly, gap-toothed smile broke across Wu Suowei’s face. He reached out a small, chubby hand.
"Puppy?" Wu Suowei whispered.
Chi Cheng completely froze. Puppy? He was a terrifying, apex predator of the Chi Pack line!
But when Wu Suowei took a clumsy step forward and buried his small fingers into the thick fur of Chi Cheng’s neck, the young werewolf Alpha melted. A deep, rumbling purr-like growl vibrated in his chest—a sound of pure contentment.
"You're a very big puppy," Wu Suowei concluded, giggling as the 'puppy' nudged his cold nose against his palm. The fear of being lost completely evaporated. "Are you lost too?"
Chi Cheng let out a soft huff, his golden eyes fixed solely on the boy. Chi Cheng immediately dropped to his belly in the dirt, making himself as small and unthreatening as possible, carefully bumped his snout against Wu Suowei's waist, tossing his massive head back toward his own shoulders. He couldn't speak, but his intentions were clear: Climb on. I've got you. I'll take you back.
But Wu Suowei just blinked, completely missing the silent invitation. Instead, Wu Suowei turned and took a tentative, clumsy step through the thick brush, ready to walk himself out.
Immediately, a deep, vibrating rumble echoed from Chi Cheng’s chest.
Wu Suowei stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around, his lower lip jutting out in a confused pout. "What are you doing, big puppy?" he asked, wondering aloud as he tilted his head at the massive wolf still crouched expectantly in the dirt.
A beat passed as Wu Suowei stared at the broad, muscular back. Then, his large eyes lit up with sudden understanding. "Oh! Do you want me to ride on your back?"
In response, Chi Cheng gave a sharp, affirmative bark that was surprisingly gentle for his size.
Giggling, Wu Suowei scrambled over and clumsily climbed up, his small hands clutching tightly to the thick, dark fur of the wolf's back. Once his mate was secure, Chi Cheng rose smoothly to his paws and began to carry him through the woods.
Delighted by the ride, Wu Suowei reached forward with one hand, wanting to pat the big puppy on the head. But with the bouncing movement of the walk, his tiny, clumsy fingers missed the mark. Instead, he accidentally grabbed a hold of Chi Cheng's sensitive, pointed ear and gave it an enthusiastic pull.
Chi Cheng let out a soft, involuntary growl, his massive head dipping sharply from the tug. Any other wolf would have snarled or shaken the rider off, but Chi Cheng merely let out a long-suffering huff. He forced himself to remain perfectly steady so his mate wouldn't fall, patiently absorbing the clumsy affection.
Seemingly realizing his mistake, Wu Suowei released the ear and adjusted his hold. His small hand flattened out, gently patting and caressing the thick, dark fur from the nape of Chi Cheng's neck all the way down his broad back. The soft, rhythmic strokes sent a deep, vibrating purr rumbling through the young Alpha's chest, the gentle touch easing away any lingering tension as he continued his trek. Every time a low-hanging branch threatened to swipe at Wu Suowei, Chi Cheng carefully ducked, bracing his solid body to keep his tiny rider safe.
When the trees finally began to thin and the distant, panicked shouts of Wu Suowei's parents echoed from the trail, Chi Cheng lowered himself back to the ground so the boy could slide off. He couldn't go any further without causing a panic.
Wu Suowei turned, wrapping his little arms around Chi Cheng's thick neck in a tight hug. "Thank you, big puppy. Bye-bye."
Chi Cheng watched from the shadows of the preserve as Wu Suowei ran into his mother's arms. He committed the scent, the face, and the name they called out—Suowei—to his very soul. He was only twelve, but as he turned to slip back into the deep woods, Chi Cheng knew exactly who he would be looking for from now on.
—
The next three days were pure agony for Chi Cheng with a newly discovered mate.
Chi Cheng was usually a picture of stoic discipline, but lately, he was a restless, pacing menace in the Chi Pack estate. He skipped his afternoon combat training, much to his father Chi Yuan Duan's silent amusement, and spent hours memorizing the exact scent that belonged to his mate.
He had to find him. In human form, this time.
The scent trail led Chi Cheng away from the mountain preserve and down into the bustling, residential streets of the city. He tracked it with single-minded focus to a local elementary school park just as the afternoon bell rang.
Chi Cheng leaned against the wrought-iron fence, his posture stiff, his dark eyes scanning the sea of children. A few older students whispered and pointed at him—he was already unusually tall for his age, carrying an intense, unapproachable aura. A couple of brave girls tried to walk over to say hello, but Chi Cheng didn't even spare them a glance. He never entertained anyone; people always came after him, but he simply didn't care.
Then, beneath the chaotic noise of a hundred shouting children, his ears twitched. He filtered out the overlapping sounds of the playground until he locked onto it—a rapid, steady thrumming. It was that exact same tiny, bird-like heartbeat he had heard in the woods.
A second later, the wind shifted, confirming it.
Sweet milk, fresh rain, and warm, freshly baked buns.
Chi Cheng's gaze snapped toward the source. Sitting on a low wooden bench, away from the loud chaos of the swings, was Wu Suowei. He was aggressively swinging his short legs, a large sketchbook resting on his knees.
Chi Cheng pushed off the fence and walked over. His heart was hammering a frantic, rhythmic beat against his ribs. He stopped right in front of the bench, casting a tall shadow over Wu Suowei.
Wu Suowei paused his scribbling and looked up. He blinked his large, round eyes, staring at the intimidating older boy standing over him.
"What are you drawing?" Chi Cheng asked. His voice was naturally deeper than other boys his age, as he struggled to soften his authoritative edge for his mate.
Wu Suowei didn't shrink back from his tone. Instead, he tilted his sketchbook up. On the page, rendered in enthusiastic, messy black crayon, was a massive, lopsided creature with pointy ears.
"My puppy," Wu Suowei said proudly. "I met him in the woods. He’s very big."
Chi Cheng felt a rush of warmth bloom in his chest. He sat down on the bench next to Wu Suowei, ignoring how his jacket bunched up. "Is that so? He looks... fierce."
"He's not fierce," Wu Suowei corrected, pouting slightly. "He carried me. He's nice."
Wu Suowei turned his head, finally taking a proper look at Chi Cheng’s face. He tilted his head to the side, his gaze locking onto Chi Cheng’s dark eyes. For a split second, a flash of red bled into Chi Cheng’s golden irises, a reflexive reaction to the proximity of his mate.
Wu Suowei gasped softly. He dropped his black crayon. Without a hint of fear, he reached out with a small, dirt-smudged finger and pointed right at Chi Cheng's face.
"You have his eyes," Wu Suowei whispered, a look of profound wonder on his little face.
Chi Cheng’s breath hitched. He wasn't sure how to explain werewolf genetics or the supernatural world to his mate. So, he didn't.
Instead, Chi Cheng reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, expensive, foil-wrapped chocolate he had taken from the estate's kitchen. He placed it carefully into Wu Suowei's palm.
"I'm Chi Cheng," he said, making a silent, unbreakable vow right there on the playground bench. "I live near the preserve. If you ever get lost again, or if anyone bothers you... just shout my name."
Wu Suowei looked at the shiny chocolate, then tilted his head, his little brow furrowing in genuine confusion. "But if you live by the preserve, and it’s so big, how will you hear me? How will you know?"
Chi Cheng looked down into those bright, trusting eyes. His wolf purred in his chest, already fiercely tethered to that tiny heartbeat by an invisible, unbreakable thread. "I'll just know," he promised softly, his tone leaving absolutely no room for doubt. "I'll always hear you."
Wu Suowei accepted this with an easy nod, completely believing him. A bright, gap-toothed smile spread across his face—the exact same smile he had given the wolf. "Okay! Thank you, Chi Cheng Gege!"
Swinging his short legs eagerly against the bench, Wu Suowei beamed. "I'm Suowei! Wu Suowei." He proudly held up six slightly grubby fingers to emphasize his point, frowning slightly before tucking one thumb away so the math was right. "I'm six. How old are you?"
"Twelve," Chi Cheng answered.
"Twelve!" Wu Suowei's eyes widened comically, as if twelve were an impossibly ancient age. "That's so big. You're super tall for a Gege. Is that why you have cool eyes? Can you reach the top of the big slide?"
Before Chi Cheng could even formulate a nod, Wu Suowei was already taking a quick breath and barreling into his next thought. "My favorite color is blue and yellow. Like the sky, and like the butterfly I chased in the woods! What's yours? Do you like red? Oh, wait! Do you know the big puppy from the woods?"
Chi Cheng sat perfectly still, utterly captivated by the endless, energetic stream of words. People when infront of him always measured every single syllable they spoke to him, fearful of his lineage, his intense gaze, and his temper. But his mate just kept happily chattering, pulling him effortlessly into his bright little orbit.
As he rambled, Wu Suowei's small, clumsy fingers busied themselves wrestling with the foil. He carefully peeled the shiny wrapper back to reveal the chocolate inside, happily popping it into his mouth.
"Black," Chi Cheng finally replied to the barrage of questions, his tone carrying an endless reservoir of patience. "And yes. I know the dog. He is... mine."
Wu Suowei gasped in pure delight, his small mouth forming a perfect 'O' around the rich chocolate. "Wow! You have a giant puppy!"
Chi Cheng nodded, a rare, faint smirk touching the corner of his mouth. The wolf inside him settled completely, purring in his chest and curling up securely around the pre-bond.
Chi Cheng's faint smile faded slightly as his gaze swept the bustling playground. The park was relatively safe, but his sharp senses picked up the loud, chaotic chatter of older kids and the rumble of passing cars on the nearby street. What he didn't pick up was the scent of a guardian nearby. The protective instinct that had been purring contentedly in his chest suddenly flared with a sharp, vigilant edge.
"Why are you out here alone?" Chi Cheng asked, his deep voice carrying a sudden, heavy weight. "Where is your mother?"
Wu Suowei swung his legs, entirely unfazed by the shift in Chi Cheng's tone. He pointed a chocolate-smudged finger toward the school's main building. "Mama is inside talking to the teacher. She said to wait by the swings, but the big kids were being loud and mean. So I came over here to draw my puppy!"
Chi Cheng's jaw ticked, leaving a child unguarded in an open territory was unthinkable. To a newly presented Alpha with a fragile, unsuspecting mate, it was completely unacceptable.
"You shouldn't wander off," Chi Cheng said strictly, though he made sure to keep his voice low so he wouldn't frighten his mate. He shifted his stance, moving just a fraction closer so his broad shoulders subtly shielded Wu Suowei from the view of the street. "It isn't safe. You shouldn't just talk to strangers."
Wu Suowei swallowed his bite of chocolate and frowned slightly. "Well, you told me your name, so you're not a stranger," he pointed out with flawless child logic.
Chi Cheng tilted his head, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he tested the boundaries of the fragile survival instincts of his mate. "What if I'm a bad person? What if I kidnap you right now?"
Wu Suowei paused his chewing. He didn't shrink back, and his little face showed zero fear. Instead, he looked up, his large, bright eyes locking directly onto Chi Cheng's.
For a long, silent moment, Wu Suowei just stared at him. It wasn't a blank, childish stare; it was a profound, deeply searching look. It felt as though Wu Suowei was effortlessly peeling back the intimidating glare, the heavy Alpha aura, and the wolf beneath the surface, looking straight into Chi Cheng's very soul. Like he saw the whole of him, and he didn't flinch.
Then a soft knowing smile broke across Wu Suowei's face. He reached out and patted Chi Cheng’s knee with a comforting, chocolatey hand. "You're not bad," he declared with absolute, unwavering certainty. "It's okay, Chi Cheng Gege. I have you now! You're really big, so nobody will bother me."
Chi Cheng stared at the small hand on his knee, the fierce, protective knot in his chest tightening until it physically ached. He let out a slow exhale, completely resigning himself to his new reality. He couldn't fight this kind of gravity.
"No," Chi Cheng agreed softly, his dark eyes scanning the perimeter of the park one more time before settling back on the bright-eyed boy. "They won't. Finish your chocolate. I'll sit right here with you until she comes."
Wu Suowei happily took another bite of his chocolate, kicking his light-up sneakers against the wooden slats of the bench. But after a moment of chewing, his little brow furrowed in deep thought. He looked back up at the older boy.
"Chi Cheng Gege," Wu Suowei suddenly said.
"Hm?" Chi Cheng hummed, shifting his attention fully to his mate.
"Chi Cheng Gege is too long," Wu Suowei announced, his words slightly muffled by the candy. He tilted his head, his bright eyes studying Chi Cheng's stoic face with open curiosity. "Can I call you something else?"
Chi Cheng blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Within the pack compound, he was addressed with strict deference. No one had ever asked to call him something else. He looked down at his mate, whose cheek was currently smeared with a tiny speck of chocolate.
"Like what?" Chi Cheng asked, genuinely curious as to what this fearless little mate of his would come up with.
Wu Suowei hummed, swinging his legs faster as he pondered. Then, his face lit up. "Cheng-ge!" he declared triumphantly. "It's shorter! Cheng-ge, Cheng-ge."
He tested the name out a few times, grinning widely when it rolled easily off his tongue.
Chi Cheng felt another warm, settling tug right in the center of his chest. It was a simple nickname, informal and deeply intimate in a way he had never experienced before. His wolf practically vibrated with contentment at the sound of it falling from his mate's lips.
"Cheng-ge is fine," Chi Cheng replied smoothly, his voice a low, steady rumble. He reached out, his thumb gently swiping the stray speck of chocolate off Wu Suowei's cheek. "You can call me that."
Wu Suowei's smile rivaled the sun. "Okay, Cheng-ge!"
Chi Cheng watched the sheer joy on his mate’s face, his chest tightening with a profound, quiet fondness as that grounding scent of sweet milk and warm, freshly baked buns washed over him again. "Then I will call you Da Bao," he stated softly.
Wu Suowei stopped swinging his legs and tilted his head, his little brow furrowing again. "Da Bao?" he repeated, testing the syllables. "What's that?"
A rare, genuine warmth flickered in Chi Cheng's dark eyes. "It means precious," he answered simply. It was the only word that even came close to describing the overwhelming weight of Wu Suowei was to his wolf.
Wu Suowei's cheeks dusted with a faint, pleased pink, and he kicked his light-up sneakers happily against the bench. "Okay! I can be your Da Bao."
Before Wu Suowei could try out his new favorite nickname (Cheng-ge) again, Chi Cheng’s ears twitched. His sharp senses caught the familiar sound of the heavy school doors opening, followed immediately by a scent that carried the same underlying notes as his mate, mixed with a warm, floral perfume.
"Suowei!" a woman's voice called out across the playground, laced with a mild thread of panic.
Wu Suowei immediately jumped down from the bench. "Mama! Over here!"
A woman hurried across the playground. As she got closer, she slowed down. Her tiny six-year-old was standing right next to a much older, incredibly tall boy dressed in expensive, dark clothes, who radiated an intense, unapproachable aura.
But as she gently pulled Wu Suowei to her side, her eyes widened slightly in recognition. She knew exactly who this boy was: the son of the city's mayor, the ‘heir’ to the powerful Chi family.
"I told you to wait by the swings, Baobao. Why did you wander off?" she asked, smoothing her son's hair.
"The big kids were loud," Wu Suowei explained easily, leaning against Mama Wu's leg. Then, he pointed up at Chi Cheng with a chocolate-smudged finger, beaming proudly. "But it's okay! Cheng-ge sat with me so nobody would bother me!"
Mama Wu looked back up at Chi Cheng. Beneath the surface of ordinary human perception, she possessed a latent, ancient magic. Usually, the pull of a true mate bond was something entirely closed off to outsiders, completely invisible to the naked eye. But this was her child. Because her own magic was tied so intimately to Wu Suowei, the veil of the world lifted for just a fraction of a second.
She could see it clearly: a brilliant, pulsing red string anchored deep within the center of the young Alpha's chest, extending straight down to tether perfectly to her son's chest. It was the glowing, undeniable magic of a mate bond that had suddenly and permanently linked this powerful young werewolf to her boy.
Her wary expression melted away, replaced by a deep, knowing smile.
"Thank you," she said warmly, her eyes holding Chi Cheng's gaze with a silent, profound understanding. "That was very kind of you to watch over him."
Chi Cheng stood up from the bench, naturally towering over them despite his young age. He offered a slight, formal nod of his head—the respectful, ingrained manners of the mayor's son slipping effortlessly into place. "It was no trouble."
She smiled softly again at the serious, adult-like phrasing. She knew exactly what kind of safety he meant. "Come on, baobao, let's go home and wash that chocolate off your face."
"Okay!" Wu Suowei grabbed his mother's hand and took a few steps toward the park gates. Suddenly, he stopped, his bright eyes widening as he remembered the large sketchbook tucked under his arm.
"Wait!" He let go of his mother's hand and quickly trotted back to the bench.
Fumbling slightly with the thick paper, his tiny, clumsy fingers gripped the edge of the page he had been working on. With a loud, uneven rip, he tore the drawing from the spine, leaving a jagged edge behind. He held it out, proudly offering the slightly crumpled paper to Chi Cheng.
"For you, Cheng-ge!" Wu Suowei beamed, thrusting it up toward him.
Chi Cheng looked down at the messy crayon drawing, his chest tightening all over again. He took it with the utmost care, holding the paper as if it were a priceless, fragile artifact. "Thank you, Da Bao."
Satisfied, Wu Suowei turned and ran back to his mother, grabbing her hand once more. As they continued toward the gates, the little boy twisted around, waving enthusiastically with his free hand.
"Bye-bye, Cheng-ge!"
"Goodbye," Chi Cheng replied, his voice a low, steady rumble that easily carried across the distance.
Chi Cheng didn't move from his spot by the bench. He stood perfectly still, his hands clutching the paper, while his dark eyes tracking, until Wu Suowei and his mother completely disappeared around the corner of the street.
—
Two years before, a ten-year-old Chi Cheng sat rigidly in his mother’s private office.
Zhong Wen Yu preferred to conduct her affairs here, in a sleek, brightly lit space that was entirely separate from the heavy, traditional oak of Chi Yuan Duan’s head office at the pack compound. It was a space of sharp intellect and quiet power, much like the woman herself.
Chi Cheng was supposed to be reading a thick, leather-bound book on pack lineages and Alpha territorial law. Instead, his dark eyes were fixed on the polished mahogany desk, his brow furrowed in deep thought. He closed the book with a heavy thud.
"Mom," Chi Cheng asked, his voice already carrying the serious, commanding weight of his bloodline. "How do you know if someone is your mate?"
Zhong Wen Yu paused her typing. She adjusted her glasses, looking across the desk at her son. Her gaze was sharp but fond.
"The books tell you it's about scent," Zhong Wen Yu began, leaning back in her chair. "They say it's a perfect biological match designed to strengthen the pack. But that is merely the clinical definition, Cheng'er."
She stood up and walked over, resting a hand on his shoulder. "For an Alpha, your wolf is a creature of violence, dominance, and volatility. It is a storm you have to constantly keep a leash on. When you find your mate, you don't just smell them. You feel them. They are the only quiet place in your mind."
The heavy oak door to the office clicked open, and Chi Yuan Duan stepped inside. The imposing Pack Alpha of the Chi Pack leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. He had caught the end of the conversation, a knowing smile softening his typically stern features.
"Your mother is right," Chi Yuan Duan rumbled, stepping fully into the room. He walked over to Zhong Wen Yu, effortlessly wrapping an arm around her waist. The way the two powerful werewolves leaned into each other was subtle, but to Chi Cheng’s sharp senses, the air around them felt utterly grounded.
"You're a Chi," his father continued, looking down at him. "You won't entertain people. People will come after you for your status, your power, and your name. You'll learn to ignore them all. But your mate? Your wolf will know them before your human mind even catches up."
Chi Cheng frowned, trying to grasp the abstract concept. "How?"
"It feels like gravity," Chi Yuan Duan explained softly, his red Alpha eyes flashing briefly. "One moment, you are walking through the world, relying solely on your own strength. The next moment, their scent hits you, and suddenly, they are the center of your universe. The violence in your blood settles. The only instinct left is absolute protection. You will look at them and know, without a single doubt, that you would burn the world down before you let anything harm them."
Zhong Wen Yu smoothed Chi Cheng's hair, her sharp features softening into something uncharacteristically solemn. "You won't have to guess, Cheng'er. We are creatures of the moon, constantly walking a razor's edge between man and wolf. Without a tether, an Alpha's raw power will eventually drag him into the dark until he turns completely feral. Your mate isn't just a partner; they are your anchor. They are the single, vital thread that binds you to your humanity when the wolf tries to consume you. When the time comes, finding them will be the most undeniable truth you've ever felt. You won't just know it in your mind—your wolf will claim them before you even take your next breath."
At ten years old, Chi Cheng had cataloged the information strictly as a biological fact—a strategic necessity to be aware of so he wouldn't lose his mind in the future. He hadn't truly understood the overwhelming, world-tilting gravity his father described, nor the terrifying desperation of needing an anchor.
—
The first full moon since meeting Wu Suowei in the mountain preserve was tearing Chi Cheng apart from the inside out.
This had never happened before. In the months since his very first shift, the transitions had been manageable. Deep within the secured basement of the Chi Pack compound, the scent of his parents—the formidable presence of his father and the steady calm of his mother—had always been enough to ground him during the agonizing changes. They were his pack. They were his anchor first.
But tonight, the young Alpha's wolf violently rejected them. The wolf had found its true mate, and it refused to be tethered by anything less.
Every time Chi Yuan Duan spoke, trying to guide his son through the pain, Chi Cheng’s chest heaved with a frantic, suffocating panic. His claws gouged deep tracks into the reinforced concrete floor, his eyes bleeding into a blinding flash between feral red and blue. His control wasn't just slipping; it was aggressively fraying. The noise in his head was deafening.
Zhong Wen Yu, sensing her son's spiraling panic, stepped forward and reached out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
It was a devastating miscalculation.
The wolf perceived the touch not as comfort, but as an intolerable restriction keeping it from its mate. Chi Cheng thrashed, his body moving faster than his mind could process. His claws lashed out in a blind, instinctual strike.
A sharp tear of fabric and a sudden gasp echoed against the concrete walls.
Chi Cheng froze. The feral fog parted just a fraction—just enough for him to look down and see four bloody claw marks dragged across his mother's forearm.
Horror pierced through the haze. He had hurt her. The wolf inside him was thrashing against its cage, entirely deaf to the pack, demanding the only thing that could silence the violence before he hurt them again. It demanded its true anchor.
Before Chi Yuan Duan could move to secure him, or Zhong Wen Yu could utter a word of reassurance, instinct completely hijacked Chi Cheng’s body. Driven by blinding guilt and a sudden, irresistible gravity pulling at his chest, he didn't think; he just moved. He lunged for the heavy basement window, shattered the latch with a brutal strike of his fist, squeezed through the narrow gap, and bolted into the night.
He ran. The cool air whipped past him, but he couldn't feel it. He was a blur of shadow and predatory desperation, sprinting blindly across the preserve. The noise of the world was deafening, threatening to pull him entirely into the feral dark. But through the chaos, an invisible thread pulled tight in his chest—a sudden, irresistible gravity drawing him toward the scent and heartbeat of his mate.
He tracked it to a quiet, two-story house in a residential neighborhood. Chi Cheng scrambled over the garden wall, his elongated claws effortlessly finding purchase in the wall as he scaled the side of the house.
He reached a second-story window. It was cracked open to let in the warm night breeze. With a silent, desperate heave, Chi Cheng hauled himself over the sill and tumbled onto the wooden floor of the bedroom.
He lay there for a moment, chest heaving, his fangs bared and his claws digging into the rug. He was dangerously close to losing himself. But then, he took a breath.
The room was saturated with the scent of his mate.
Instantly, the roaring storm in his head dropped to a quiet hum. The violent trembling in his limbs stopped, but the shift itself could no longer be held back. Chi Cheng gave in to the change. Midnight-black fur erupted across his skin until a massive, imposing wolf stood in the center of the quiet bedroom.
But the feral, dangerous edge of his wolf had completely vanished as he padded silently toward the bed.
There, tucked under a blue quilt dotted with cartoon fishes, was Wu Suowei. He was fast asleep, a small, rhythmic puff of air leaving his parted lips.
Chi Cheng let out a shuddering, rumbling exhale from his large snout. Needing to be closer to his anchor, he carefully stepped up onto the mattress. His massive weight made the bed dip significantly as he curled his large body right beside Wu Suowei, resting his heavy chin gently against Wu Suowei’s side. The golden fire in his eyes faded into a calm, steady glow.
The sudden movement and the dip of the mattress shifted the quilt. Wu Suowei stirred, rubbing his eyes with small fists. He blinked sleepily into the dark, his vision adjusting to the giant black wolf taking up half his bed.
He didn't scream. He didn't even look surprised.
"Puppy?" Wu Suowei mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He shifted closer to the massive heat radiating from the wolf, his small fingers blindly reaching out until they sank deeply into the thick, dark fur of Chi Cheng's neck.
Chi Cheng closed his eyes, a deep, rumbling purr vibrating in his chest as he leaned imperceptibly into the small hand.
Wu Suowei let out a soft yawn, his cheek resting against the wolf's solid shoulder. "You came to visit," he murmured, his eyes already fluttering shut again as he snuggled fully into the protective warmth. "Good puppy."
Chi Cheng didn't move. He just lay there in the moonlight, knowing that as long as Wu Suowei was safe, he would never lose himself to the dark.
He would deal with the consequences later.