All night long, overcome by the dark, Lan Zhan couldn't sleep. Sitting beside the bed that Wei Ying laid on, thoughts of what happened - and what could've happened to Wei Ying consumed him whole. Lan Zhan condemned himself, for he should've gone to the school to collect Wei Ying when he knew danger was out there, and because of his negligence, Wei Ying had to pay the price. 

Yesterday evening Wei Ying had messaged him, informing Lan Zhan he'll be home late. Lan Zhan didn't mind, after all, it was a common occurrence for Wei Ying to stay back after school. It's not after Jiang Cheng came home - which was fairly late considering he normally stays back to practice on the school tracks, that Lan Zhan began to worry. However, Lan Zhan's worries grew when he tried getting onto Wei Ying, and the phone went straight to voicemail when he realized something was wrong. 

After that phone call, Lan Zhan went out looking for Wei Ying. He didn't expect to find Wei Ying covered in blood and passed out on the ground in a back alleyway with a broken arm. But when he got back home with Wei Ying in his arms, he was mentally prepared for Jiang Cheng's wrath and Xichen scolds.

Lan Zhan continued to blame himself all through the night until morning arrived, and when Wei Ying mumbled sweet nothings in his sleep, Lan Zhan finally gave into a tired smile as he brushed his thumb across Wei Ying's cracked lips.

Despite the beatings Wei Ying had endured, he healed rather well, thanks to his newfound werewolf traits. He no longer looked pale dead, and the mini cuts and ghastly bruises were all gone, except for the broken arm - which Lan Zhan wanted to fix when Wei Ying wakes up.

Leaning in close to Wei Ying's pretty face, "Wei Ying," Lan Zhan whispered. So close, his breath fanned against Wei Ying's fluttering eyelashes. "It's time for you to wake up."

Wei Ying groaned. "Five more minutes," he mumbled out. As Wei Ying attempted to turn over, he settled against the injured arm, causing him to jolt awake, wincing in pain. "Mother -

"Language," Lan Zhan interrupted with knitted brows. 

" - Fucker," Wei Ying continued. Lan Zhan sighed. 

As Wei Ying sat up on the bed, he rubbed his head and watched Lan Zhan with scrunched brows and troubled face. "Lan Zhan, last night Xue Yang attacked me." Lan Zhan's eyes grew wide with worry, when he opened his mouth to say something, Wei Ying already grasped what he was thinking, and before Lan Zhan could say, Wei Ying continued, "He has a message for brother Xichen and brother Mingjue. He wants them to hand themselves over to him, or things will continue to get ugly - real fast.

Lan Zhan figured the attack had something to do with his brother. But he didn't expect Xue Yang would be the one to carry out the attack himself. Although Lan Zhan had never seen the man in person, Xichen had shown pictures of what Xue Yang and the others looked like, so Lan Zhan had a reasonable idea of what Wei Ying had to deal with when defending himself against Xue Yang. 

As Lan Zhan opened his mouth for a second time to speak, the bedroom door was pushed open, and everyone entered. Xichen, Jiang Cheng, and Mingjue. "Did Xue Yang gave any indication that he knows about you and A'Zhan being soulmates?" Xichen was the first to voice in all seriousness.

"Don't worry," Wei Ying said, "He doesn't know about us. Because let's face it, if he did, I would've already been dead. I think he was messing around. You guys should've seen him. He's like a real asshat."

"No, the real asshat is the one sitting next to you," an angry Jiang Cheng roared, pointing an accusing finger toward Lan Zhan. "It's his fault you're this way. You failed to protect Wei Ying and now look at him. He's practically a cabbage."

Wei Ying, "What the hell A'Cheng? I'm not a cabbage."

Lan Zhan clenched his fists and stood up. When Jiang Cheng took a step forth, almost challenging him, Lan Zhan's eyes glowed a bright red in warning. "Back off," Lan Zhan gritted out. "Or I'll make you. Jiang Cheng, I don't care if you are Wei Ying's brother -"

Wei Ying, "Hey!"

Lan Zhan, "- you better start treating me with respect."

To be honest, he's tired of Jiang Cheng's constant bickering. He knew Jiang Cheng hated his guts, but at this point, he needed to stand up for himself. Lan Zhan never allowed anyone to push him around in the past, so why start now? 

In the corner, with folded arms, Nie Mingjue was watching all the bickering take place. As if he too had had enough, "Alright, that's enough for today," he stepped between Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng. "We got more important things to worry about."

Lan Xichen, "Yes, Mingue's right. Jiang Cheng, how about you try and cool down a little. Hmm? And A'Zhan, please stop." 

There was a silent plea in Xichen's voice. A request that Lan Zhan knew all too well. His brother was silently begging him not to go further, for Jiang cheng's sake. "Fine," Lan Zhan gave in.

Jiang Cheng tsked, rolled his eyes, and said, "Whatever."

Turning their attention back toward Wei Ying, who still lay on the bed, fiddling with his unmoving fingers on his broken arm, Lan Zhan said, "Tell us everything that happened."

And thus, Wei Ying cleared his throat and began talking while everyone paid keen attention. When Wei Ying finished, the room remained quiet for some time. 

Like everyone, Lan Zhan sat in deep concentration. No matter where his mind wandered too, Lan Zhan figured Jiang Cheng might be partly right; he wasn't there to protect Wei Ying, and this was all his fault. "From now on, wherever you go, I go," Lan Zhan said, breaking the silence. "Xue Yang might not be after me and you, but at this point, we're all in danger. That includes your brother."

Lan Xichen, "I agree. I've said this before, and I'll say it again; nobody knows what's in that little brat's mind. He might hurt you this time, Wei Ying. The next time, however, you might not be so lucky. So we must be prepared for whatever."

Wei Ying, "So, what now? You're just going to stick to me like glue Lan Zhan? What about Jiang cheng? Who's going to stick to him? It's definitely not you, that's for certain."

Lan Zhan, "Brother and Mingue will. They'll stay at your house with Jiang Cheng, and you'll stay with me, here."

Jiang Cheng, "No way. That's not going to happen. I'm not letting anyone one of you fleabags near me. Wei Ying might've messed up, but not me. I don't do that." Jiang Cheng folded his arms and scrunched up his forehead in disgust. "I can handle myself, thank you very much."

Nie Mingjue clasped his hands together, "Then it's settled. You'll stay alone," he pointed at Jiang Cheng, "And you'll move back in," He pointed at Wei Ying. "That's great. Are we done now? Yes? No? Anyways, I'm out of here. Too much drama for one day. Xichen, you coming?" When Xichen nodded, Mingjue speed-walked out of the door without another word.

Lan Xichen sighed, "Well, I best be going. When you're ready - I suggest getting that arm fixed first - come downstairs. A'Zhan can help fix that." 

With that, Xichen too left while dragging Jiang Cheng by the arm before the younger man could get a word out. When Jiang Cheng sought to protest, Xichen said, "Don't worry, Jiang Cheng. He's going to be alright. That's just a little scratch wound for us fleabags," Xichen chuckled.

Lan Zhan watched as everyone, including Jiang Cheng, left the room. Then he sighed and twisted back toward Wei Ying. When he saw Wei Ying getting up from the bed, Lan Zhan quickly got up and grabbed onto his uninjured hand, "Where are you going?"

Seeing Lan Zhan all tensed, Wei Ying smirked when an evil thought hit at the back of his head. Teasing, Wei Ying brought his lips near Lan Zhan's neck. The sensitive part where his scent gland lies. The part where Wei Ying was supposed to mark Lan Zhan ever since they found out about them being soulmates. "What, you think I'll run away from you, Zhan-Zhan?" 

When Lan Zhan gulped, Wei Ying stretched his tongue out and teased at the side of Lan Zhan's neck before breathing into the sweet scent of sandalwood. The movement was so captivating it made Lan Zhan gulped back for a second time. 

Wei Ying then chuckled, pulled away, and pinched at the bridge of Lan Zhan's nose. "Awe Lan Zhan, you're such a cute little fuddy-duddy for a big bad werewolf," Wei Ying cooed.

The comment made Lan Zhan's ears turn red, and the pinch made his nose. "Shameless," Lan Zhan let go of his hand. 

Wei Ying tsked and threw his hand up in the air as he headed for the bathroom connecting to the bedroom, "Lighten up a bit, will you? I'm alive and well. I don't want to talk about what happened last night. It's not like it's your fault."

Lan Zhan was startled by Wei Ying's insensitive comment. Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Wei Ying bleeding out on the ground flashed. "What happened last night was not something that should be taken lightly," Lan Zhan said, "Xue Yang hurt you. If I catch that menace, I'll kill him."

Wei Ying came prancing back out of the bathroom, "Aya, enough already. Come here and kiss me. I know you want to."

Dumbfounded, "What?"

Wei Ying smirked, "You heard me," he said, puckering his lips for Lan Zhan to kiss.

Lan Zhan didn't know what happened at that moment, but all of a sudden, he forgot about last night's events when he found his feet frisking toward Wei Ying while his heart skipped many beats. 

When he got by Wei Ying's side, eyes closed, lips puckered, Wei Ying remained unmoving. Lan Zhan too, found himself closing his eyes as he crushed his lips upon Wei Ying's own. Wei Ying's lips were tasty as always. Finer than any main course meal. Filled with sweet innocence, Lan Zhan moaned when Wei Ying kissed back. 

When Wei Ying's uninjured hand found its way through his hair and pulled, Lan Zhan bit down, earning a needy cry from Wei Ying. 

If he could, Lan Zhan would rather spend forever kissing Wei Ying, his Wei Ying. But he couldn't cause when reality kicked back in, Lan Zhan realized Wei Ying might be ignorant of the potential danger they're facing. The thought made Lan Zhan's soul ached for Wei Ying.

Slithering a hand over to Wei Ying's injured hand, Lan Zhan continued kissing, ignoring his burning lungs and haggard breathing. When his hand grasped firmly over the injured arm, Lan Zhan snaked his other hand through Wei Ying's hair, keeping him firmly in place as they continued kissing as though they've never been kissed before.

As a little child, Lan Zhan was often confused about his long existence. And throughout all those years, Lan Zhan had always felt lost, and sometimes, blind. But having Wei Ying beside him as his equal, he felt found, for now, he could see the world more clearly.

If something were to happen to Wei Ying, if Wei Ying were to be killed, Lan Zhan knew, he too would die. And since the roads were getting tough, Lan Zhan figured it was now time to toughen Wei Ying up a bit. 

With one final stroke of Wei Ying's twisted arm, "Wei Ying," Lan Zhan drew his lips apart and whispered. "Things are about to change." Then Lan Zhan tugged - snapping Wei Ying's arm back into place as he ignored the agonizing wails of Wei Ying's deafening scream.

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