Noah stepped out of the shower, dripping wet.

  He wrapped a towel around himself and started dressing.

  His reflection stared back at him in the fogged mirror — flushed even after a hot shower, but also tired. Exhausted.

  This little moment of peace… it wouldn’t last.

  Soon, everything would be over.

  He shook the thought away and pulled on a pair of shorts and one of Micah’s shirts.

  He grabbed a towel and began drying his soaked ginger hair.

  He looked at himself once more, suddenly self?conscious.

  Then he took a deep breath, opened the bathroom door—

  —and found Micah lying on his stomach on the bed, ears twitching slightly.

  Micah’s face lit up the moment their eyes met.

  “Hi,” Noah said softly, suddenly shy.

  They had made out in the shower less than an hour ago, after all.

  “Hey,” Micah replied, scratching the back of his neck as a flush crept up his throat.

  Noah walked toward the bed and sat on the edge, avoiding Micah’s gaze.

  Why am I so nervous?

  Warm breath brushed Noah’s neck.

  “Are you okay? You really haven’t slept properly the past few days…” Micah murmured in his ear.

  Noah’s face burned. He hadn’t even noticed Micah move.

  “I’m fine!” Noah said a little too quickly, blushing.

  Micah grinned and rested his chin on Noah’s shoulder.

  “You really should let me take care of you.”

  “No! I was the one taking care of you a month ago. It feels weird to be taken care of.”

  “Which is why I feel obligated to.”

  Micah pulled Noah into his lap.

  Noah’s arms automatically wrapped around his neck.

  “W?what are you doing?!” Noah squeaked, face blazing.

  Micah tilted his head, genuinely confused.

  He didn’t understand what Noah meant.

  Why am I like this? Why did I even assume that’s what he wanted?

  “S?so… um… are we a thing now?” Noah whispered, flustered by Micah’s closeness.

  “Hm? What do you mean?”

  “I mean… I’m your mate and all… does that make me your lover?”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Micah’s cheeks flushed at the word lover.

  “I—I don’t know… I—I mean… if you want… i?it’s technically your choice…”

  They stared at each other, both blushing furiously.

  After a moment, Micah leaned his head against Noah’s chest.

  “Micah…?”

  Micah looked up, still flushed. “Pet me.”

  “What?”

  “Pet me.”

  Micah burned even redder, shifting until his head rested in Noah’s lap, hiding his face.

  Noah laughed softly at how cute he was and ruffled his hair, fingers brushing his ears.

  Micah’s ears twitched affectionately, and his tail thumped shyly against the bed.

  Micah looked up at Noah’s face.

  “I love you.”

  The Next Morning

  Noah’s POV

  Noah woke up slowly, blinking at the soft morning light.

  He stretched an arm out instinctively—

  —and froze.

  The bed beside him was empty.

  His heart dropped for a second… until his fingers brushed the sheets.

  Still warm.

  Micah had been there.

  Recently.

  Noah let out a tiny breath of relief and sat up, hair sticking out in every direction, Micah’s shirt hanging off his shoulder. He rubbed his eyes and yawned.

  He missed Micah’s warmth already.

  Dragging himself out of bed, he shuffled toward the kitchen.

  ---

  Micah’s POV

  Micah walked into the kitchen, still drying his hair with a towel.

  Instantly, he was ambushed.

  Nico, Kael, and the Chief surrounded him like a pack of judgmental vultures.

  “So… do we still have to go?” Nico asked, tail drooping dramatically.

  “No,” Micah said softly. “Everything’s okay now.”

  Nico’s tail shot straight up. “REALLY?!”

  Kael sighed in relief. “Thank the moon. I emotionally shut down last night.”

  The Chief crossed his arms. “Micah.”

  Micah straightened. “Yes, sir?”

  The Chief narrowed his eyes. “You’re involved with a human.”

  Micah swallowed. “Yes.”

  “A boy human.”

  Micah’s ears twitched. “Yes.”

  “You do realize,” the Chief said, voice low, “that werewolves can easily break humans. One wrong move. One instinct. One slip.”

  Micah’s stomach twisted. “I know. I’ll be careful.”

  “And you know,” the Chief continued, “that a werewolf–human relationship is taboo.”

  Micah’s jaw tightened. “I know.”

  The Chief sighed. “I will allow it. This once. But you must control your instincts.”

  Micah nodded quickly. “I will.”

  The Chief raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you haven’t marked the human yet, considering how close you two are.”

  Micah choked on air.

  Nico perked up. “OH! Speaking of close—remember when I found them in that compromising position when the cops came—”

  Micah slapped a hand over Nico’s mouth so fast it was a blur.

  “NOPE. We’re not talking about that. Go pick what you want for breakfast.”

  Nico mumbled something and scampered off.

  Kael leaned against the counter. “You look so in love it’s disgusting.”

  Micah glared. “I do not.”

  “You do,” Kael said. “Your tail literally wags when he walks into the room.”

  Micah’s ears burned.

  The Chief cleared his throat. “Micah. One more thing. The full moon is coming. You need to—”

  But Micah didn’t hear the rest.

  Because Noah walked into the kitchen.

  Hair damp.

  Micah’s shirt hanging off him.

  Sleepy eyes.

  Soft pout.

  Micah’s brain shut down.

  Noah rubbed his eyes. “Micah… why’d you leave the bed so early…?”

  Micah opened his mouth—

  —but Noah glanced at the clock.

  His soul left his body.

  “OH MY GOD I’M LATE FOR WORK—AGAIN?!”

  He scrambled around the kitchen like a panicked squirrel, grabbing his bag, tripping over Kael, apologizing, tripping again, and bolting toward the door.

  He flung it open—

  Paused.

  Ran back.

  And kissed Micah.

  A quick, soft, warm kiss.

  Then he sprinted out the door.

  Micah stood frozen for three full seconds.

  Then a stupid, lovesick grin spread across his face.

  The Chief groaned. “Oh, for the love of—”

  Kael gagged. “Disgusting.”

  Nico cheered. “HE KISSED YOU!”

  Micah didn’t care.

  He was too busy staring at the door like an idiot.