We stay like that for a while, until I've gather enough strength to stand on my feet without too much trouble. My mate helps dust me off. "What's your name?" The alpha laughs. "I've forgotten that we haven't properly been introduced. I'm Chanyeol." I decide that his name sounds very pleasing to the ear. "Well, Alpha Chanyeol, I'm Baekhyun."

Chanyeol pats my hand softly, the gentle gesture sending ripples through me. "Don't call me alpha, just Chanyeol is fine. I'm your mate after all. My body shivers upon hearing the word. I still can't believe I have a mate now. I nudge him slightly, "Chanyeol, Can we go now? I want to get out of here." He grasps my hand tightly, "How about we head back to the pack house and have one of the medics check up on you?" I nod, and without another word he exit the cave. "Come on, it's not too far from here."

As we walk through the woods, I can't help but to admire the beautiful scenery around us. It isn't snowing now, so the crisp air mixed with the smell of pine only brings out the forest, which is covered in a layer of snow.

I can see the pack house through the trees. Like any other, it's a mansion style building with a training field off to the side. This one has a white theme, very fitting with the snow. Chanyeol leads me in and takes a sharp left, veering off onto the medic hallway.

He stops in front of the reception desk. "Are there any free medics?" The blonde female looks up. "For who?" Chanyeol gestures to me. She sneers. "Alpha, are you seriously taking in strays now?" Chanyeol's gaze hardens. "Are there any free medics?" His teeth are gritted, and each word come out separate and clenched. The receptionist looks scared. "R-right this w-way." She opens the door and motions to the hallway behind it. Last door on your right, Medic Yixing. Chanyeol shoots the receptionist a glare as he gently tugs me down the hall and into the room.

Inside the room is a friendly looking dimpled guy. He looks at Chanyeol, then me, and then back at him. "Um, Alpha, didn't you have some paperwork to be done for the medical branch?" Chanyeol blinks. "Oh yeah, I did mean to finish them soon." He turns to me. "Sorry I can't stay, find me in my study after, okay?" He ruffles my hair and walks out.

Yixing smiles at me. "Alpha's gotten the lucky pick of the bunch." I gawk at him in awe. "How did you know?" The medic gestures toward my healing scars. "I bet he did that." I look down, noticing that the wound on my leg has closed up nicely. Yixing leads me to a bathroom. "Why don't you wash up and we'll see what to do from there." He hands me a set of comfy clothes, suited for the weather. "Put this on when you're done."

I gratefully accept the clothes and step inside the bathroom. I quickly shed my current clothes and jump into the shower, fiddling with the controls until warm water sprays my back. I gently scrub myself, taking extra care around the cuts. I step out of the shower, feeling better than I have in months. I quickly toss on the undergarments, light blue long sleeve shirt, and dark gray sweatpants. After donning the gray sweatshirt and towel drying my hair, I walk back to where Yixing was waiting.

"Wow, you really are handsome." Yixing pats me on the back. "Up you go." I jump onto the check up bed, the paper crinkling as I sit. Yixing checks my eyes, ears, heartbeat, lungs, and all the other things you would get at a regular check up. "Well, you're relatively healthy and all your vitals are functioning fine. The only thing is that you're undernourished. You'll be able to eat better now that you're with us—I'll tell the chef to make something high in nutrients. Make sure not to eat so fast or so much at once. Pace yourself. Eat a serving of food, wait an hour. If you can keep it down, eat a little more. Other than that, you're free to go!"

I hop down and give Yixing a hug. "Thank you!" Yixing laughs, "No problem. If you want to find Alpha, he'll be in his study. Exit the hall and you'll see the grand staircase in the middle of the main room. That's the staircase that leads to all of the rooms. It leads to two floors, ignore the first one and head all the way up, that's where all the ranked wolves and their mates live. Alpha's room is the one with the double doors at the end of the hall."

I bid Yixing a farewell and head towards the main lobby. Once there, I see some of my new packmates, clustered around in groups, eating and talking. So this seems to be a popular gathering spot. I get a couple curious looks as I head up the stairs. When I reach the top, a long hallway greets me, and I see the double doors at the end. I set off at happy trot and knock on the door.

Chanyeol's POV

I turn around as I hear a knock. I wonder who it is. I walk to the door and give the knob a turn. Behind the door stands my mate, eyes as bright as stars as he rocks on the heels of his feet. Without a layer of grim, his features were well defined. His golden brown bangs barely brushing his almond shaped eyes that glow a deep chocolate brown. A small nose and pink lips. Flawless skin. He's gorgeous.

I bring him into a hug. "You're beautiful. Absolutely stunning." He laughs and gently flicks my nose. "You're handsome too." He wrestles his way out of my hold and spins around, admiring the room as I close the door, automatically locking it. Baekhyun turns around as the lock clicks into place. "So how do these doors work?" I sit on the bed, pulling him onto my lap as I explain, "Each door is opened from the outside with a key." I take out my own to show him. "Because I'm the alpha, I have the master key, but they all function the same way. You put the key into the keyhole and yank it out quickly, kind of like a keycard. The door lock clicks open and you can enter. As you turn the knob, the lock automatically resets, so when you close the door, it locks behind you."

Baekhyun carefully takes the key and examines it. "High tech door locking system. You wolves value your privacy." I laugh at his antics. "Hey, you want to see something cool?" He nods, as I nudge him off my lap and stand up, leading him through a few doors and into a glass walled room. The temperature increased noticeably and I have to shed my jacket. "Sun bathing room. A great place to come during the winter months." Baekhyun takes off his sweatshirt and sits down. "It feels nice! Are you done with your work yet?"

I smile. "Tell you what, you can stay here while I finish my papers. I come back to find you once I'm done." Baekhyun flops down onto the mat. "Sounds good, I've been on my feet all day anyways."

***

I come back a half hour later to find a heap of glowing golden brown fur. Judging from the soft snores coming from him, Baekhyun must have fallen asleep. I sit down and shake off my jacket, leaving me in a tee shirt. It's already getting warm. I gently stroke Baekhyun between the ears, watching him sleep. He's so beautiful. My mate's ears twitch as I set my head down next to him, lazing around in the warmth of the room. His eyes slowly flutter open and upon seeing me, he shifts back to a human. I sit up, watching the whole process.

Baekhyun sits up and throws himself in my embrace. There it is again, that tingling sensation that I felt in the cave. I suddenly have the urge to smother him in kisses, but I resist. I don't want to force him. Baekhyun shifts around until he's sitting on my lap, straddling me. He leans forwards until our foreheads are touching. I carefully wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him closer. Baekhyun's arms snake around my neck as I press my lips onto his.

The kiss is warm and sweet, and the tingling sensation I felt earlier only intensifies. Baekhyun unlatches his lips from mine and I whine at the lack of contact. One kiss, and I'm already hooked. My mate snuggles into me, letting out a content sigh. "I could get used to this." I run my hand through his hair. "So could I."

Our sweet moment is interrupted by the rumbling of his stomach. Baekhyun laughs sheepishly at himself, "I guess with all the excitement, I forgot to eat." I rub his stomach while gently kissing his hair. "I'll tell the chef to bring something up."

I grab my jacket and help Baekhyun up. "Are you coming with me?" He nods as he slips on his sweatshirt. "I think it's about time I've been introduced to a few more of my pack members."

I get an idea. "How about I take you to see the chef, and then we have lunch with the rest of the wolves that live on this floor?" Baekhyun hurries me along, "Sure, sure, that sounds great. Now can we get out of here? I'm burning up!" I laugh as we step out of the room, "You won't be saying that in a second."

And I'm right, because as soon as the regular air hits us, my mate shivers. I hug him, warming him up as we continue down the stairs.

We walk into the relatively empty pack house kitchen. There's one guy, leaning over the stove, cooking. "Hey! Kyungsoo!" He turns around, "Oh hi! What is it, Alpha?" Then he sees Baekhyun. Kyungsoo turns the stove off and runs over. "Is he your mate? He's so cute!" Kyungsoo gives my mate a big hug and I allow a low growl to escape. "Back off. He's mine." Kyungsoo looks at me innocently, "I know, but he's cute." I let out another growl. Kyungsoo gets the message. "Alright, alright, I'll back off. He's yours. Besides, I'm mated already."

Baekhyun laughs at our little exchange. He turns to me, "I didn't realize that you were so protective." I sling an arm around him and turn to Kyungsoo. "So, this is Kyungsoo. He's kind of the pack's unofficial cook. Spends most of his time in the kitchen. Can be very prickly. We used to hunt together as pups. He's stuck to preparing food rather than gathering it though. Left me on my own."

Kyungsoo shoots me a glare. "I am not prickly."

I shake my head. "Whatever you say."

Baekhyun's stomach rumbles.

Kyungsoo smiles at him, "Here." He hands my mate a bowl of stew. "Eat slowly." He turns to me. "Do you want anything?" I point to the fruit bowl, "An apple would be fine. I already ate earlier anyways." Kyungsoo tosses me the apple and I slide into the seat next to Baekhyun, who's slowly eating big spoonfuls of stew.

Kyungsoo sits down across from us. "Is it good?" He asks, motioning towards the stew. Baekhyun nods happily, wiping off the food from his mouth. "Very." He goes back to eating. "You'll need to introduce him to the rest of the pack soon, you know." Kyungsoo absentmindedly points out as he plays with the edges the tablecloth. I take another bite out of my apple. "I know, but I want some time for ourselves first. I still feel bad for almost killing him when we first met." Baekhyun clears his throat. "I'm right here you know." He scratches his nape, "Though I am glad you spared my life."

He turns his attention back to his food, grabbing some bread from the bread basket and using it to wipe off the excess stew in his bowl. He pops the bread into his mouth and stands up. "Where do I put this?" Kyungsoo gets up as well, "Don't worry, I'll take it." He takes the bowl from Baekhyun and inspects it. "Thank you for not leaving any food in the bowl, it makes my job a lot easier."

- § -

Bleh, I know it was sort of a strange place to end it, but it was dragging on and on...

Hope you enjoyed, feedback would be much appreciated!

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Much love,
                   Ali