There facing Lan Zhan covered in sweat, stood Nie Mingjue. Lan Zhan didn't know much about Nie Mingjue, but whatever little Xichen had told him, Lan Zhan came to the conclusion that the two are lovers, and they've been lovers for quite a while.

However, Lan Zhan's concerns lie inside Nie Mingjue's arms. There an unconscious Xichen lay, lifeless, a nasty gash spread across Lan Xichen's chest underneath the shredded clothes that still clung onto him. His face told a different story - it looked unrecognizable. If Lan Zhan's not a werewolf, he probably wouldn't even recognize his own brother. On the left side of Xichen's face were sliced open by a werewolf's claw, ugly and unpleasant to watch.

Before Lan Zhan could register what was happening, Nie Mingjue already pushed past him, heading inside without so much of a peep. Lan Zhan followed.

Lan Xichen was rushed to the nearest room - a guest room beside the one where Jiang Cheng slept.

Lan Xichen looked bad, possibly near death. Lan Zhan panicked, he didn't want to seem weak in front of Mingjue, but his trembling hands and haggard breath gave him away. When his older brother was placed on the bed, Lan Zhan rushed by his side, and only then did Lan Zhan finally find his voice.

"What happened?" Lan Zhan touched at his older brother's face, removing the blood-soaked hair that's been sticking to Lan Xichen's forehead. "Who did this?"

Nie Mingjue sighed. 

Nie Mingjue didn't want to come here, but he had no other choice. Xichen wouldn't be too pleased once he woke up - when he wakes up. Nie Mingjue was well aware of that. He had put Lan Zhan at risk. Xichen would be furious, but it was a risk Mingjue was willing to take. After all, his Xichen came first. 

"We were attacked," Nie Mingjue eventually said, "your brother, he didn't want you to know. It wasn't supposed to happen this way."

Lan Zhan removed his hand, "know what?" Lan Zhan sounded relaxed, a little too calm, but the white knuckles from his balled fist, and chip from gritting his teeth too much, said otherwise.

Nie Mingjue walked up, putting a hand against his lover's bloody forehead, "for the past few months, we were at war with another pack," Nie Mingjue said, "an alpha pack." Lan Zhan gasped, Nie Mingjue continued, "I supposed you've heard of them by now, the Shuang (frost) pack. Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan, and that bastard Xue Yang. They attacked us three months ago while we were home with the others. They deemed us a threat, afraid our pack would turn stronger than them, they killed Jin Guangyao, took -" Recalling those painful memories, a tear fell, Nie Mingjue quickly wiped it, "took his head clean off, he was sleeping, he didn't even know. Those bastards will pay. Xichen and I have been tracking them ever since then, we lost them, I called him back when I got news of their whereabouts, but they beat us to it. They were waiting -" 

Nie Mingjue's voice cracked, so he said no more. With a sharp exhale, the veins on his hand bulged, a dark liquid flowed, and a hiss fell from Nie Mingjue's lips. The older male watched as the tension on Lan Xichen's face eased, then he smiled - a small smile, but it was a smile nonetheless. Nie Mingjue glanced toward Lan Zhan, but Lan Zhan's sadden face never left his brother's own.

----------

When morning reached, Jiang Cheng had awakened Wei Ying. A pillow smacking against his older brother's head was all it took for Wei Ying to jolt alert with a startle. "Jiang Cheng!" Wei Ying complained, rubbing at his forehead, "why did you do that for?"

Jiang Cheng tsked, turning his back on his annoying brother, "It's late, get up, I'm going to school, and since you're suspended, expect notes. I'll message them to you on lunch break, and they better be written in your book when I get back."

Wei Ying groaned, burying his head back into the pillow. "I don't wanna," Wei Ying whined. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, opening the window, wanting to let the morning sun inside.

When the light flashed in his eyes, Wei Ying faked morphing. And when he was about to give Jiang Cheng a piece of his mind, a scent caught at Wei Ying's nose. Sniffing the air, "do you smell that?" Wei Ying asked, tilting his head up. 

"You mean the scent of disappointment and misfortune," Jiang Cheng replied, rolling his eyes and heading for the door.

"I'm serious. Hey, maybe my werewolf's superpower nose is starting to work," Wei Ying beamed, shining at the tip of his nose.

"Great," Jiang Cheng said in a monotone voice, "Oh, by the way, I haven't seen pretty-boy since I got up, you might wanna check on him."

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying questioned. Jiang Cheng nodded, saying no more, he headed out the door. Wei Ying shrugged, it wasn't like Lan Zhan to not be around in the morning, but it probably wasn't a big deal. 

Stripping himself of his morning clothes, Wei Ying sniffed the air a few more times, and each time he would gag at the scent of a metallic odor filling the air. Wei Ying figured he would have to tell Lan Zhan about cleaning his house more often.

----------

Lan Zhan was nowhere to be seen. Wei Ying searched everywhere possible until he stumbled on the guest door beside Jiang Cheng's own. Turning at the knob, "locked," Wei Ying huffed. He'd been searching for Lan Zhan for the past half hour, Wei Ying was unknowingly worried. Wei Ying rapped against the door, "Lan Zhan, are you in here?" No answer. Wei Ying sniffed at the air, nothing. "Stupid nose only works when you want to. Lan Zhan! Lan Zhaann -"

The door flung open, and Lan Zhan's scent of destress rocked Wei Ying to the core. For a moment, he couldn't breathe. When Wei Ying managed to grasp his mind back, he looked ahead, only it wasn't Lan Zhan who greeted him, but Nie Mingjue. 

Wei Ying gulped, staring awkwardly at the towering giant in front of him. "Who are you?" Wei Ying choked out, a slight touch of jealousy and curiosity lingered within his voice. This couldn't be Lan Zhan's boyfriend, right? Wei Ying hoped not. They would make a terrible pair. 

Nie Mingjue folded his arms, "Mingjue, Nie Mingjue. So you're the wimpy werewolf Xichen had been bragging on about. Hmm, not bad." Nie Mingjue eyed Wei Ying.

"What are you doing in there, and where's Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying tried peeping into the room, only to have Nie Mingjue place a hand, stopping him from going further. "What have you done to Lan Zhan? Move." A part of Wei Ying was boiling, if Mingjue came to harm Lan Zhan, Wei Ying felt he should be the one protecting his alpha. Wait, his alpha? Wei Ying groaned in frustration. "Get out the way before I -"

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan came forth, and Nie Mingjue removed his hand from the door, allowing Lan Zhan to step outside. Lan Zhan looked terrible. His eyes were puffy and red. His voice hoarse, and his lips swollen. Wei Ying wasn't sure if it's the bond talking or just his confused mind, but Wei Ying wanted to comfort Lan Zhan. 

"What happened?" Wei Ying asked, stepping forward, his eyes never straying from Lan Zhan's own. 

Ignoring Wei Ying's question, Lan Zhan directed to Nie Mingjue and nodded. As if the older man could read Lan Zhan's mind, he nodded in return, turned around, and closed the door behind him, leaving Lan Zhan and Wei Ying alone.

"Follow me," Lan Zhan instructed, grabbing Wei Ying by the arm and dragging him to the living room area, tossing him on the couch before joining Wei Ying. Before Wei Ying could voice his concerns, Lan Zhan beat him to it.

"That's my brother's boyfriend," Lan Zhan said, feeling the need to explain Nie Mingjue's presence, for he didn't want Wei Ying to have any inappropriate ideas. "A werewolf pack; Shuang, attacked my brother yesterday, he's in that room you came too. He'll be alright, but I don't know when he'll wake up or if he'll be the same once he does. Now, brother Mingjue is telling me trouble might come to our - my doors."

Wei Ying, "What do you mean?"

Lan Zhan sighed, "I mean, the Shuang pack would be looking for Xichen and brother Mingjue. I'm afraid it won't be long until they realize that they're here. A war is coming, Wei Ying." Lan Zhan was worried, more so for Wei Ying's sake. If Xiao Xingchen and his gang came barging through the front door, Lan Zhan would surely give his life trying to protect Wei Ying. But what if it isn't enough? What if they hurt Wei Ying? 

Thinking of the possible outcomes, Lan Zhan's hand began trembling. In his moment of frenzy, Lan Zhan grabbed hold of Wei Ying's hand, cradling the younger man's palm within his own. "No matter what," Lan Zhan said, "I'll protect you. I won't let them hurt you."

Dumbfounded and disoriented, Wei Ying said nothing. 

----------

After Lan Zhan's little explanation earlier, Wei Ying hadn't seen the werewolf since. He knew Lan Zhan was tending to his brother. Wanting to be of some help, Wei Ying tried numerous times to sneak into Lan Xichen's room, only to be shoved back out by Nie Mingjue. When Wei Ying whined and threatened to tell Lan Zhan on Nie Mingjue, Mingjue only huffed and walked away. 

Wei Ying was unaware that it was Lan Zhan's orders to have him not see Lan Xichen. Lan Zhan didn't want to scar Wei Ying, for the sight of Lan Xichen was truly frightening.

----------

It was in the afternoon, around three when Wei Ying eventually heard from Lan Zhan.

While passing by the doorway of Lan Zhan's bedroom, Wei Ying heard muffled sobs coming from inside. Being inquisitive, Wei Ying planted an ear against the door. It was Lan Zhan. He's crying, but why? Oh, right, his brother. Wei Ying wanted to smack himself for being so gullible. 

With a hand pressed firmly against the door, Wei Ying gently shoved it open. And surely there Lan Zhan was, lying on his bed, face buried in a pillow to stifle out his crying. 

Wei Ying gulped. A bitter taste suddenly forming within the pit of his stomach. Not thinking much, Wei Ying walked over, placing a hand on Lan Zhan's shoulder. Lan Zhan stiffened.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying whispered, taking a seat beside Lan Zhan.

When Lan Zhan paid him no mind, Wei Ying gulped again, contemplating on what to do next. Then a thought crossed his mind. Overlooking Lan Zhan's deliberately frozen body, Wei Ying lifted the werewolf's head, placing it on top of Wei Ying's thighs. 

Lan Zhan didn't budge, nor did he complain. He appeared more relaxed despite him still crying, and that somehow gave Wei Ying peace of mind. "You can cry," Wei Ying hummed, snaking a hand through the long locks of Lan Zhan's loose hair, untangling the knots. "There's no shame in crying. Xichen will be okay."

Lan Zhan seemed to have cried harder at the mere mention of his brother. However, his cries ultimately died down when he heard the faint humming of an enchanting melody coming from Wei Ying's lips. 

As Wei Ying hummed, his hands worked its way through Lan Zhan's hair, Lan Zhan didn't know how much time passed, but eventually, he found himself drifting off to sleep on top of Wei Ying's lap.

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