Chapter Text
Katsuki trudged through the pine forest, the fine snow slipping between the branches and clinging to his thick fur. His lupine body, far larger than that of a common wolf even as an omega, carried the extra weight of pregnancy—a constant reminder of that cursed night.
The last heat had been hell. More intense, more premature, all because of some random alpha whose pheromones had overwhelmed him like an avalanche. Strong. Overpowering. And worst of all, strangely familiar, as if his body recognized something his mind couldn’t name.
The memory of what happened afterward was blurred—hot blood, sharp teeth, the scent of mint and cedar saturating every breath. He’d woken in a cave, the alpha’s warmth enveloping him from behind, and it should have disgusted him, should have made him want to claw his own skin off in revulsion. But it didn’t. His body had betrayed him, arching into that presence as if it belonged there.
It had taken every ounce of his damned stubbornness to escape without looking back. He’d erased his tracks in the snow, smothered his pheromones, buried any proof he’d ever been in that place. And it had worked—the alpha never found him.
But something inside him burned with anger as the days turned to weeks and no trace of the idiot appeared. "Of course he wouldn’t come," Katsuki had snarled to himself, his paws sinking deeper into the thickening snow. Yet the emptiness in his chest was an insult. His body, damn it, still longed for that alpha’s warmth, the security of those strong, scarred arms, the scent that made him feel—
No. He wasn’t weak. He’d survived alone until now, pregnant, without a pack, without an alpha. And he would keep surviving.
Winter was coming, and with it, the birth. His heavy belly made every step a battle, his aching muscles protesting with each movement. Lycanthropes were strange creatures—born as wolves, only taking human form after a week. Katsuki didn’t care. He already lived as a lone wolf, and his human form was just another weakness he couldn’t afford.
But when the contractions started, when the pain bent him double in the snow…
He hated to admit it, but in that moment, he’d wish for the scent of mint and cedar again.
Katsuki growled low, his ears flattening against his skull as he scanned the forest with sharp eyes. He needed a place. Now. Not just any hollow or burrow—a den, safe enough to endure the birth and the cursed days that would follow, when his pup would be helpless in human form.
Damn it. The thought of being trapped in his fragile form for months, exposed, vulnerable, just to care for his young made his fur bristle. But he had no choice. And he was no coward. If he had to, he’d tear his own flesh apart to ensure the little one survived.
With heavy steps, he pushed through the pines, sniffing the frozen air. Until—there. A crevice in the rock, nearly hidden by fallen branches. It wasn’t large, but it was dry, sheltered from the biting wind. It would do.
In a few brutal motions, he cleared the entrance with impatient swipes of his paws, then dragged in branches and dry leaves, shaping a rough nest with his claws. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was his. And if he wanted to survive, he needed more—food.
Instinct pulsed under his skin, urgent. Before the pains began, before his body betrayed him again, he needed strength. With a keen nose, he followed the trail of a rabbit, moving in deadly silence. A leap. A sharp snap. Hot blood running down his throat.
It wasn’t enough. He hunted more in the following days, devouring his kills with voracity, saving the damp pelts between his teeth to line the nest. It wasn’t perfect, but it was warm. It was protection.
And when the wind howled outside, Katsuki buried himself deep in the den, his body aching but ready. He didn’t need an alpha. He didn’t need a pack.
He would survive alone, as he always had.
Then, at dusk, the first stabs of pain came like knives. Katsuki gritted his teeth, a snarl escaping between short breaths. Not now. Not so soon. But his body didn’t lie—the contractions were real, relentless.
He writhed in the nest, his front paws digging into the earth in sharp, abrupt strokes. He wouldn’t scream. He wouldn’t cry. His pup would be born strong, or it wouldn’t be born at all.
The pain came in waves, each one stronger than the last. His fur, once bristling with tension, was now soaked in sweat and melted snow. He didn’t want to thrash, didn’t want to seem weak—not even to himself. But when the first truly powerful contraction hit, a ragged growl tore from his throat.
"Fuck—!" he thought.
His muscles tightened like ropes stretched to their limit, his body demanding he yield, that he surrender to instinct. But Katsuki fought. He pushed against the cave floor, claws carving deep grooves into the earth. He wouldn’t whimper. He wouldn’t scream.
But then came the worst part—the pressure.
Something inside him shifted, an unbearable weight bearing down as if his insides were being ripped out by force. His body trembled, flanks heaving with ragged breaths. It was like being torn apart alive.
"Shit—shit, shit—!"
He had no choice. Hours had passed since then, excruciating and agonizing. The sun cast weak pink rays through the small cave entrance when, with one last defiant snarl, Katsuki let instinct take over. His body arched, muscles pulsing in a primal, inevitable rhythm. And then—
A whimper.
Not his.
Something small, wet, and alive slipped onto the nest of pelts and leaves.
Katsuki froze for a second, his heart pounding like a war drum. His pup.
The tiny body trembled, covered in a thin membrane that he quickly tore away with his teeth, clearing the airways with rough licks. The scent of the pup flooded his senses—blood, life, his .
The golden little body gasped, lungs filling with air for the first time. And then—a weak, almost indignant squeak.
Katsuki stared at that tiny, fragile thing, dependent on him for everything, and something in his chest clenched.
The pup, blind and deaf, instinctively curled into the warmth of its mother’s body, seeking protection.
And Katsuki didn’t push it away. Instead, he wrapped himself around it, covering it with his warmth, his scent. His offspring.
His responsibility.
The first three days passed in a slow, feverish rhythm inside that refuge of earth and fur. Katsuki didn’t leave for a single second—his pup was too small, too fragile to be left alone, and he was no careless omega.
The stockpile of meat he’d stored before the birth still held, but he could feel hunger gnawing at his insides. His once-strong body was exhausted now, muscles tense from nursing and constant vigilance taking their toll. But he wouldn’t complain. Complaining was for the weak.
The pup whimpered, trembling like a leaf in the nest, and Katsuki huffed, pulling it close with his snout.
"Such dramatic. You got that from your sire, that’s for sure," he thought, but his movements were careful as he turned onto his side, exposing one of his milk-swollen teats. The tiny pup sniffed the air, clumsy, until it finally latched on with a determination that almost made Katsuki laugh.
"Tch. Hungry, huh?"
The omega watched, narrow-eyed, as the pup sucked eagerly, its tiny front paws pushing against his belly as if trying to extract every last drop. It was ridiculous. It was… strangely satisfying.
But then came the thought he had been avoiding since the birth:
A name.
Shit. How had he been dumb enough not to think of that before? These past months had been all about survival—about not getting caught, about not breaking. But now, with that tiny creature clinging to him, ignoring it was impossible.
He licked the pup’s head with rough strokes, cleaning the remnants of milk dripping from its snout. He needed something strong. Something worthy.
Nothing sappy, nothing sentimental. Something that sounded like a warning, like a challenge.
His jaw tightened slightly as he considered.
And then—
"Kazuki."
The name echoed in his mind like an ember. Strength. Light. Something that burned, something that wouldn’t go out easily.
The pup let out a small sigh, content, and Katsuki felt an odd satisfaction.
"Suits you, little pest."
The scent hit his nose like a knife.
Katsuki froze, muscles locking beneath his bristling fur. A strong stench of an alpha in rut.
No.
Not now.
The odor was unmistakable—heavy, dominant. An alpha hunting an omega, instincts razor-sharp, ready to tear through any resistance with his fangs.
Katsuki clenched his jaw, smothering a growl. Shit, shit, SHIT. He had hidden his tracks. He had buried his scent, camouflaged the cave’s entrance with branches and rotting leaves. But the wind had betrayed him—or maybe fate itself, dooming him to this trap.
And then—Kazuki moved.
A small squeak escaped the pup, followed by a faint whimper, just loud enough.
The alpha’s scent shifted instantly—now thicker, more focused.
Katsuki curled around the pup, baring his teeth in deadly silence. No. He wouldn’t allow it. Alphas in rut were more violent than usual, the bastards killed pups that weren’t theirs from unmated omegas just to breed their own.
Fuck.
The steps came slow, calculated. Hooves breaking twigs, snow compacting beneath the weight of a wolf much larger than him.
Stopped.
Right outside the entrance.
Katsuki barely breathed. He could hear the intruder’s breathing, feel it warm against the leaves concealing the cave. His heart pounded so hard it hurt.
A long, deep inhale. The air heavy with the forest’s scent and the invader’s presence. A dry scrape against the stone. Sharp claws testing the ground. Katsuki remained still, muscles coiled like steel cables, every fiber of his body braced for a fight.
The alpha stepped inside like he owned the damn place. His size was overwhelming, much larger than Katsuki, his gray fur rippling in the cave’s cold breeze. The scent was suffocating—thick pheromones, violent and oppressive. But Katsuki didn’t move. His body shielded Kazuki, keeping the pup from the intruder’s sight. But it wouldn’t matter. The alpha could smell him.
"Omega." The growled word rumbled through his mind, laced with possession.
Katsuki bared his fangs, a fierce snarl curling his lips, his chest heaving with furious breaths. He was no submissive mutt. He never would be.
The alpha took another step, predator eyes locked onto him.
"You’re mine."
Rage ignited before Katsuki even registered it. He lunged.
The impact was a thunderclap of muscle and claws, the two rolling across the cave floor in a blur of fangs and violence. The air filled with snarls, the crack of bodies colliding, dried leaves crushed beneath their furious struggle. Katsuki sank his teeth deep into the alpha’s neck, the bitter taste of blood flooding his mouth.
The alpha roared in pain and hurled Katsuki against the cave wall. Agony exploded through his spine like fire, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.
Kazuki was crying behind him, a small, fragile sound—and the alpha heard it.
Shit.
Katsuki’s rage burned hotter. He lunged forward before the alpha could take another step toward Kazuki. If that bastard wanted his pup, he’d have to rip him from Katsuki’s claws.
And he wouldn’t do it without a fight to the last drop of blood.
Katsuki didn’t hesitate. His body moved on instinct, as if every muscle had been programmed for the only thing that mattered: protecting his pup.
He launched himself at the alpha again, claws digging into flesh, teeth seeking any exposed part he could tear apart. Warm blood coated his tongue, the iron scent mixing with sweat and adrenaline. But the bastard was strong. Strong as hell.
The alpha roared in pain and fury, striking back with a violent swipe of his paw. Katsuki felt the claws slash his flank, searing pain burning through him, but he didn’t give in. He rolled across the cave floor, lungs burning, and pushed himself up again, even with his legs trembling.
He couldn’t lose.
But fuck, he was weak. He had given birth only three days ago! In seconds, the alpha was already on top of him.
Pain exploded as he was slammed onto the ground, his back crushed against the cold stone. The alpha’s weight pinned him down, claws digging into his shoulders, forcing him down. Katsuki growled and struggled, but he was exhausted, his body battered, his breath tearing through his throat.
Above him, the alpha bared his jaws, teeth seconds away from sinking into his neck. Katsuki tried to break free, tried to fight back—but then the alpha froze.
His ears pricked up, dark eyes narrowing. He lifted his head and sniffed the air.
Katsuki felt it too.
The scent was overwhelming. Dense, raw, a silent command imprinted in every particle of air. Heavy, dominant pheromones, far stronger than those of the alpha pinning him down. And the wolf was coming.
Fast.
Katsuki barely had time to think before a fierce howl shattered the distance, a deep, primal sound that made the alpha above him bristle instantly. The air thickened, charged with tension, static crackling in the space.
Then came the noise.
Leaves crunching. Branches snapping. The thunder of powerful paws pounding the ground with relentless speed. The alpha holding Katsuki growled, but his body was stiff. His instincts screamed that he was no longer the predator in this space—he was the prey.
Katsuki felt the shift in the other’s stance, the rigidity of his muscles, the hesitation. And he took advantage of it.
With a guttural snarl, he twisted his body with all the strength he had left and sank his claws into the alpha’s side, ripping a grunt of pain from him. The movement was enough to break the other’s focus and make him step back.
And that was exactly when a colossal shadow emerged at the cave’s entrance.
He came like a storm, a blur of brute strength and overwhelming fury. And then the new wolf was revealed: dark green fur, glowing emerald eyes like burning embers. His roar thundered through the air, a sound charged with absolute power, demanding submission. A deep scar slashed through one of his eyes. The newcomer was massive, making the other alpha look small in comparison.
Katsuki felt his own body react before he even realized it—his omega instincts on high alert, recognizing that alpha on a primal level.
The other alpha, the intruder, froze. His whole body trembled under the presence of the newcomer, his survival instincts warring with his pride. He knew. He knew he didn’t stand a chance.
One step forward. Then another.
The new alpha never took his eyes off him, the threat dripping from every tense line of his body. The invading beast tried to resist, tried to hold his stance. But it was useless.
The new alpha glanced at Katsuki, then at his tiny pup, still crying in his nest. Fury flashed through those green eyes. He bared his teeth—sharp and enormous—and growled, a sound that made Katsuki’s inner omega whimper and bare his neck.
The invading alpha hesitated. His entire body vibrated with tension, his breathing heavy, instincts screaming at him to run.
But the new alpha wouldn’t let that happen.
Because the new alpha didn’t wait.
He lunged like lightning, and the impact was brutal. The air filled with furious snarls and the sound of bodies colliding. The cave echoed with the crash of their battle, the ground trembling under the sheer force of the newcomer.
Katsuki watched, panting, his eyes wide.
The invading alpha tried to fight back—raised his claws, attempted to bite—but it was useless. The new alpha was faster. Bigger. Stronger. He dodged with ease, muscles moving like steel beneath dark fur, and retaliated with a devastating strike, knocking the other to the ground.
There was no balance in the fight.
The gray alpha growled, trying to stand, but the dominant one was ruthless. He grabbed the invader's nape with his teeth and hurled him against the cave wall with brutal force. The impact sent rocks tumbling, and the intruder's body collapsed for a moment.
But the fight wasn’t over yet.
Desperate, the invader lunged again, his fangs seeking any opening.
He found none.
The newly arrived alpha dodged with an impatient snarl, and in one fierce movement, sank his teeth into the other’s jugular and drove him into the ground, pinning him down.
A roar echoed through the cave.
The invader’s eyes, once filled with defiance, began to dim. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his body tense under the overwhelming weight of the new alpha. He struggled—his last resistance. But a second later, as the teeth dug a little deeper into his flesh, his body went still. Blood now stained the ground where the two alphas had clashed.
The silence that followed was deafening.
The only sound filling the cave was Kazuki’s broken cries, small and fragile, making Katsuki’s chest ache. He couldn't afford to be distracted, but everything inside him screamed to grab his pup and run.
The new alpha remained still for long minutes, still holding the lifeless body of the invader beneath his claws. His chest rose and fell in controlled pants, a low growl reverberating through the stone around them. Then, unhurriedly, he released his opponent, letting the limp body drop onto the dirt floor with a dull thud.
Slowly, he turned.
Katsuki swallowed hard.
The alpha’s muzzle was covered in blood, a sticky crimson sheen contrasting against the dark green fur. His eyes were locked onto him, burning with an intense, indecipherable glow.
Fuck.
Katsuki had no chance.
His body screamed in pain, muscles exhausted, blood dripping from deep gashes. But he refused to yield. Even trembling, he forced himself to stand. His paws faltered for a moment, but he willed himself to stay upright, positioning himself between the alpha and Kazuki.
He bared his fangs, fur bristling, trying to appear bigger, more threatening.
The alpha remained where he was, simply watching. After a few seconds, he began to move forward.
Slow steps. Careful.
Katsuki’s growl deepened. His chest burned, but he wouldn’t back down.
“Stay back!” he ordered, a snarl ripping from his throat, baring his fangs at the other.
It was ridiculous. He knew it. This alpha could crush him in seconds if he wanted to. But that didn’t matter. He had a pup to protect.
The alpha stopped.
His eyes remained fixed on Katsuki, assessing. Then, something unexpected happened.
He let out a low sound, a rough whimper. And to Katsuki’s absolute shock, he lowered his body to the ground, folding his legs until he lay completely down. His massive head rested on his front paws, his eyes still locked onto the omega.
And then, he turned his neck, exposing his throat to Katsuki.
Katsuki froze.
His chest rose and fell too fast. His mind, always sharp and ready to act, was now blank.
What…?
This didn’t make sense. Alphas didn’t do this. Not for omegas. Not for anyone. This was a gesture of submission. Of absolute trust. And, more than anything, of recognition.
And in that instant, with the strong, familiar scent overwhelming his senses, the realization hit him like a tidal wave.
This was him. The alpha who had shared his heat nine months ago.
And he was submitting.
To him.
Fuck. Katsuki wasn’t prepared for this.
He remained tense, every muscle in his body on high alert, while the alpha stayed lying down, his large head still resting on his paws, his throat still exposed. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.
Because he was.
Even crouched on the ground, he still looked like a beast lying in wait—large, covered in muscles, his dark fur stained with fresh blood. The metallic scent still hung thick in the air, mixed with the heavier, more familiar smell that made something inside Katsuki stir.
Shit.
He didn’t remember this alpha being so threatening.
In fact, he didn’t even remember that heat week clearly—a fog of instincts and blurred sensations. But he had a vague impression that this alpha… he wasn’t like this. Katsuki couldn’t imagine him tearing a whole wolf apart on the damn cave floor.
In his memory, he was a needy idiot.
Now he was here, gigantic, covered in the blood of the other alpha, and yet… whining like a damn pup.
The low, trembling sound made Katsuki clench his jaw. He watched as the alpha curled in even tighter, his muscles tensing, his whole body lowering as if he were trying to seem smaller. Which was ridiculous. As if he could be smaller. As if he weren’t the most imposing thing in that space.
Katsuki growled, low.
He didn’t want this shit. Didn’t want this mess. Didn’t want to deal with it right now.
He needed to get to Kazuki.
The pup was still crying, small, muffled sounds of desperation that made Katsuki’s chest ache. He didn’t need to look to know Kazuki was trembling, squirming in the empty nest, searching for the warmth of the mother that, for a moment, wasn’t there.
Shit.
With one last glance at the alpha, Katsuki began to move. Careful steps, never turning his back on him. He didn’t know how the bastard would react to Kazuki. If he’d see the pup as a threat, as a target. His whole body was ready to attack if necessary.
But the alpha didn’t move.
He just stayed there, watching.
His eyes burned, alert, but he did nothing but maintain his submissive position. After a few minutes of tense silence, Katsuki made a decision. He turned quickly and dove into the nest, ignoring the sharp pain in his side as he crouched down.
The heat of Kazuki hit him instantly, and he pulled the pup against his chest, feeling the little one cling to him, small and fragile. The crying turned into soft sniffles, the trembling easing.
But Katsuki didn’t relax.
His eyes were still locked on the entrance of the nest.
Because outside, in the middle of the cave, that alpha was still waiting.
Katsuki curled up in the nest, his body still buzzing with adrenaline as he pressed Kazuki against him. The pup sniffled against his chest, sobbing softly, but at least he wasn’t shaking as much now.
“Shh… I’m here, okay?” Katsuki purred softly, licking the soft little head of the pup, feeling the warm, familiar scent of milk that always calmed him.
He kept his eyes on the nest entrance the whole time.
Then the alpha moved. Slowly, looking hesitant, he lifted his head slightly off the ground, his ears turning forward. Katsuki didn’t like the way his eyes were fixed on the pup, too focused, full of an interest that made the omega react immediately.
A deep growl rumbled from his throat, his teeth bared in a clear warning.
The alpha froze.
For a second, Katsuki thought he was going to back off, or maybe say some bullshit authoritarian line, the way alphas always did. But, to his surprise, the other did the exact opposite.
He whimpered.
Again.
Katsuki blinked, incredulous. The sound was high-pitched, almost… desperate? What the hell was wrong with this bastard?
And then, out of nowhere, a voice echoed in Katsuki’s mind.
“C-could I see him?”
Katsuki tensed. Shit. He hadn’t expected his voice to sound like that. Given the alpha’s size and overwhelming presence, he would have imagined something grave, deep, resonating from the chest. But no.
The voice was low. Soft.
So damn insecure.
And that just made everything seem even more ridiculous.
This monstrous wolf, who had just massacred an opponent, who was covered in blood and still exuding overwhelming pheromones—was there, whining on the ground like a damn pup and asking permission to see Kazuki.
Katsuki stared at him for a long moment, too stunned to even react.
This alpha was an idiot.
A huge idiot. And, apparently, completely pathetic.
And something inside Katsuki liked that. Not that he would admit it. Never.
He felt the hairs on the back of his neck bristle, his eyes narrowing as he kept Kazuki safe against his chest. The omega's body ached in several different places, and he was sure he'd suffered deep cuts in the earlier fight. His pup's breathing was irregular, but at least he had stopped crying. That was the only thing that mattered.
But the alpha was still there.
The damn idiot was still there.
"Fuck off." Katsuki growled, his teeth bared in a clear threat. "You're covered in blood and you want to get near my nest?"
The alpha blinked, as if just now noticing his own appearance. His gaze fell to his own body, his paws stained, fur hardened by dried blood. The dark liquid still painted his snout and chest from the damage he'd caused moments ago.
His eyes widened a little, as if genuinely surprised, and then he awkwardly stood up.
Katsuki reacted instantly.
He hunched over Kazuki, growling low, muscles tensed and ready to strike if the bastard dared come closer. But the alpha froze, seeming to realize his mistake.
"A-ah, I didn’t... sorry, Kacchan, I-I’ll clean up."
The alpha's voice echoed in Katsuki's mind again, and he almost lost focus on the situation.
Kacchan?
What the hell kind of name was that?
Katsuki was so stunned by it that he barely registered the moment the alpha turned and hurried out of the cave, heavy footsteps fading into the snow-covered forest.
He stood there, blinking slowly.
Kacchan.
It was a nickname. A stupid, childish name. But... something about it made Katsuki hesitate.
The sound was familiar.
Not enough for him to remember clearly, but still...
Shit.
That bastard probably called him that during that week. Maybe he whispered that name against his skin while—
Katsuki cut the thought off before it went too far.
He growled to himself, shaking his head and focusing on what really mattered.
Kazuki.
The pup was breathing better now, his small body warmed against Katsuki's chest. That was what mattered.
Minutes passed slowly, the cold of the cave intensifying without the alpha's dominant pheromones to warm the space. Katsuki forced himself to keep his breathing steady, trying to ignore how the silence weighed on his ears.
And then, he came back.
The dark silhouette appeared at the entrance of the cave again, and Katsuki instinctively growled low. But this time, the alpha seemed... different.
The blood was gone.
The thick fur was now damp and slightly disheveled, dripping small drops as he advanced inside. Snow covered his back and paws, small white layers stuck to the dark fur.
He was cleaner. Less threatening. But still huge as hell. Katsuki kept his body stiff, his sharp eyes analyzing every detail, waiting. The alpha stopped a few meters away, not daring to get any closer, the expectation in his eyes obvious. And that irritated Katsuki more than it should have.
The alpha stood there, at a safe distance from the nest, snow dripping onto the cave floor and looking like a wet pup. Katsuki stared at him distrustfully, keeping Kazuki firmly against him, feeling the pup's warmth mixing with the cold of the environment.
Then the alpha's voice echoed in his mind again.
"Kacchan, please—"
"Shut up."
"I just want to see him!"
"Fuck off."
The alpha lowered his ears, a whining sound coming from his throat. Katsuki wanted to roll his eyes so hard that he’d probably break his neck.
"I promise I won’t do anything! I just want to look!"
"Look, my ass! Stay there and stop bothering me!"
The alpha dragged his front paws on the ground, his huge tail lightly tapping against the side of his body, like a damn dog waiting for permission to get on the couch.
"But I—"
"One more sound and I’ll rip your damn tongue out."
"...What if I get just a little closer?"
"I’ll rip your balls off too."
The alpha let out a sincere whine, as if Katsuki had just hit him. The omega couldn’t believe the shit that was happening. This huge, muscular, dominant-as-hell wolf, who literally massacred another alpha five minutes ago, was there whining.
Begging for permission.
From him.
From an omega.
This was ridiculous.
In any other scenario, he’d be dead by now. No alpha would let an omega talk to him like that, much less flatten his ears and shrink like a scolded pup.
But this idiot was doing exactly that.
"Don’t you have any pride, you piece of shit?" Katsuki growled, incredulous.
The alpha let out an indignant groan.
"And here you are whining like a lost pup, damn it."
"It’s because it’s you!"
Katsuki froze.
He blinked, processing what he heard. The alpha realized his own mistake too late and immediately lowered his head, averting his gaze and moving his paws on the ground as if suddenly the earth was the most interesting thing in the world.
"I didn’t mean it that way, Kacchan..."
Katsuki gritted his teeth.
"Stop calling me that."
"But Kaccha—"
"FUCK OFF!"
The alpha whined again, his tail thumping the ground in lament. Katsuki had never felt so emotionally exhausted in such a short time. This was hell.
He just wanted to sleep.
But this damn alpha was there, huge, dripping snow, and begging like his life depended on it. Katsuki looked down at Kazuki, still hidden against his chest, breathing softly. He looked back at the alpha, still standing, waiting, ears flattened, and huge eyes full of expectation.
Damn it.
"If you step into my nest without permission, I’ll rip your throat out," he growled.
The alpha immediately lifted up slightly, his tail wagging once.
"Then I can—"
"Get closer already before I change my mind, damn it."
The alpha practically lit up the damn cave with his excitement. He jumped to his feet, his disheveled tail wagging with too much energy for a wolf the size of a house. Katsuki immediately regretted every single one of his life choices.
"Slow down, damn it!" He growled, the fur on his neck bristling. "If Kazuki wakes up again, I swear I’ll rip your face off!"
The alpha froze mid-step, looking like a pup caught doing something bad.
"I’m going slow," he whispered, completely serious.
He wasn’t going slow.
Katsuki rolled his eyes and held Kazuki more firmly, adjusting the small warm body against his own. The pup made a soft noise, moving his paws in the air, but at least he was still asleep.
The alpha began approaching again, this time a little more controlled. Just a little. Katsuki watched as the other walked across the cave floor, his steps careful, his breathing slowing as the distance between them shrank.
He was still huge as hell. Even without the blood staining his dark fur, he still had an overwhelming presence. The kind of presence that made others bow without thinking.
But not Katsuki.
He kept his fangs bared, even though he wasn’t growling anymore. The alpha stopped a few meters away, looking closely at Kazuki for the first time.
The silence dragged on.
And then, without warning, the alpha made a sound.
Low.
Almost a whine.
"He’s... small."
Katsuki blinked slowly.
"Of course, he’s small, you asshole, he’s a pup."
The alpha didn’t respond immediately. He just stayed there, breathing slowly, his eyes fixed on the pup sleeping against Katsuki’s chest. He didn’t move. Didn’t try to get any closer. He just stared.
And Katsuki felt it.
It wasn’t like the other alpha’s gaze, that damn invader, full of challenge and threat. This gaze was... soft. Laden with something that Katsuki didn’t want to name. And fuck, he hated that. Because he knew exactly what this son of a bitch was thinking.
He knew because he was doing the math too. Nine months.
The timing matched.
The scent matched.
The damn nickname matched.
Katsuki felt the fur on the back of his neck bristle again, but this time for a different reason.
He took a deep breath.
"Don’t even think about it."
The alpha shifted his gaze from Kazuki to him, blinking in confusion.
"Think about what?"
"What you’re thinking." Katsuki growled low, holding the pup tighter against him. "This pup is mine. You have nothing to do with it."
The alpha remained silent.
Too long.
And then, after a second...
"But—"
"Shut up."
The alpha whined. Katsuki really considered banging his head against the wall until he passed out. He laid down just outside the nest, his heavy head resting on the edge of the pelts, his green eyes still fixed on Kazuki with an... idiotic expression.
The omega huffed, irritated.
This son of a bitch really didn’t know when to quit.
"Kacchan, come with me."
The alpha’s voice echoed in his mind, soft and low, so different from his presence. Katsuki glared at him, the fur on the back of his neck standing up again.
"Where to, you shit alpha?"
The wolf raised his head, genuinely offended by the question.
"I have a name, you know?"
"As if I care about your damn name."
The alpha made a hurt noise, like Katsuki had kicked his paw.
"You forgot my name again, Kacchan?"
Katsuki froze.
Again?
He blinked slowly, his mind processing the sentence.
The alpha watched him closely, his eyes shining in the dim light of the cave, his tail moving once before stopping. It was as if he was waiting for something. Like he really believed Katsuki would remember.
But his mind was a blur.
That week of heat... was a chaotic mess of confusing sensations. Scents, touches, too much heat. Nothing was clear enough to be a complete memory.
And apparently, this wasn’t new to the other wolf. The alpha sighed, shaking his head slightly before speaking.
"Izuku."
His voice was firmer this time.
"My name is Izuku."
Katsuki didn’t react.
Izuku.
It didn’t sound strange. But it also didn’t stir anything in his mind.
The alpha seemed to know this, because his tail drooped slightly and he looked away for a moment before meeting his gaze again.
"I hope you don’t forget this time."
The fucking hopeful tone made Katsuki growl low, the fur on his tail bristling again.
"Don’t care," he retorted, his patience already at its limit. "Now leave me the fuck alone."
Izuku didn’t.
"I want you to come with me, Kacchan."
Katsuki huffed, exasperated.
"Are you deaf? I just told you to leave me alone, damn it!"
"It’s not safe for you to stay here alone." Izuku continued, his voice far too calm. "I have a pack, a protected territory. You and… the pup would be fine there."
"I don’t need your fucking pack."
"But—"
"But nothing, asshole! I’m not going anywhere with you!"
Izuku shut his mouth, as if he was finally processing that Katsuki’s response was final. But he didn’t seem satisfied. In fact, he seemed even more determined, and that pissed Katsuki off more than it should have.
He felt his muscles tighten, anger burning hot beneath his skin. This fucking alpha really thought he could just show up out of nowhere, act like he had some right over him and his pup, and just decide that they were going with him?
Hell no.
"We don’t need you." Katsuki growled, his eyes sharp. "So shove that pack idea up your ass and fuck off."
Izuku blinked, and then, as expected, whimpered. Again. Izuku let out a long, dramatic sigh, ridiculously exaggerated, as if he were the most suffering creature to ever set foot in that damn cave. Then, with a slow and calculated movement, he lowered his head and rested it back on the edge of the nest, as if he wanted to stay there.
Katsuki huffed, irritated.
And then… nothing happened.
Neither of them moved.
No sound but Kazuki’s steady breathing and the cold wind outside.
Time passed.
Slow.
Ridiculously uncomfortable.
Katsuki forced himself to ignore the absurd presence of the alpha outside the nest, focusing only on the pup against his chest, the warmth of him, the way his soft scent filled the space.
But his patience had a limit.
"Are you done with this shit yet?" He growled, breaking the silence. "Aren’t you gonna leave?"
Izuku didn’t even open his eyes when he answered.
"No."
"No?" Katsuki repeated, incredulous.
The alpha shook his ears, his breathing steady.
"I’m staying with you."
Katsuki stared at him like he’d just said the sky was green.
He really had no shame, did he?
"You’re gonna stay," Katsuki repeated slowly, as if speaking to an idiot. Which, technically, he was. "Here. In my fucking cave?"
"Yes."
"Your pack won’t miss you?"
Izuku finally opened his eyes, but didn’t move.
"They know I make my own decisions."
Katsuki huffed.
"So you’re leaving them to stay with an omega you saw once in your fucking life?"
This time, Izuku lifted his head slightly, his eyes meeting Katsuki’s for real, and something in them made Katsuki hold his breath. Because his eyes weren’t shining with idiocy this time.
They weren’t filled with that irritating energy, or that fucking hope that made Katsuki want to headbutt him.
They were… sad.
More than Katsuki thought possible for an alpha this size. Izuku stared at him for a long moment, not blinking, not hesitating. Then, with a voice firmer than before, he said:
"I’ll do anything for Kacchan."