Wei Ying woke up the next morning from some of the best sleep he'd ever had in his life, by rolling over on one of the most comfortable beds he'd ever slept in.
After not shifting for ten years, suddenly going in and out of forms — not to mention running full speed across a mountain — had left him exhausted the night before. He had barely managed to change into the pair of soft, cashmere pajamas that were generously laid out for him, before he collapsed into a deep sleep.
He groaned in surprise as he bumped into a solid figure that was sitting up in the bed beside him.
"So, you have some explaining to do," Lan Yuan said conversationally as his honey brown eyes gazed down at his father. "Everybody at breakfast kept talking about the Sena being in Cloud Recesses. I could barely manage to get Jingyi to shut up about it. I mean, I'm just your child. No point telling me these things, huh?"
Wei Ying shouted in pure delight, dragged the melodramatic teenager down to his level, and then proceeded to wrap his arms and legs around him like an octopus.
"Ba!" Lan Yuan exclaimed. "Calm down a little! Die had to sneak me in and now Jingyi and the rest of them will know which room you're staying in. Do you want to have my pack in here? Because I can leave!"
"I missed you so much, my turnip," Wei Ying laughed as he sniffed at his almost fully grown child like he was still a pup.
"Clearly," Lan Yuan said dryly, but he couldn't even hide the smile in his voice.
"Did I really miss breakfast?"
Lan Yuan laughed. "You missed breakfast three hours ago. At this point your only hope is lunch."
Wei Ying hummed in acceptance as Lan Yuan began to squirm in his tight hold. When he released him, the teenager sat back up in the bed. Wei Ying whined and groaned ridiculously loudly before he sat up and joined him.
"Is Lan Zhan okay?" Wei Ying asked.
Lan Yuan nodded, though he immediately looked down to stare at his hands.
"He let me and Jingyi go with him after dinner last night to kneel before the Alpha. Lan Xichen wasn't even angry, but Lan Qiren called you a name and said no wonder both Jin Guangshan and Wen Ruohan wanted you for….Well it wasn't a nice thing he said. That's how I found out you were here, and that Hanguang Jun attacked the Alpha in front of witnesses," he explained.
Wei Ying had to swallow back a bitter taste in his throat at that, before he could ask, "What did they do?"
"Ba, you're the Sena and Uncle Xichen is an Alpha," Lan Yuan said with a sigh. "Most of the other leaders wanted him expelled from the pack. It was awful! They kept saying that for even slightly offending you, for chasing you and acting so unrestrained, he deserved to be kicked out. Then Lan Qiren eventually calmed them down and said the thing about you being…that. And he said nobody could blame Hanguang Jun for reacting to an asena, and that his reaction shows how powerful he is, and necessary to the pack."
"Then I'm going to have to find Lan Qiren and personally thank him," Wei Ying said.
Lan Yuan shot him a look full of anger and frustration as he hissed, "Ba, he called you a —"
He still couldn't even say it.
"He said even the gods would have lowered to their knees for you at that moment. But with the way he said it, everybody understood that he meant —"
He really seemed to be struggling with getting the words out. And his face had turned an interesting shade of red.
"Lan Zhan gets to still be an Ice Wolf," Wei Ying pointed out gently. "For that alone, Lan Qiren could have called me a soul-sucking whore who fucked all of mankind through fifty generations, and I still would be grateful to him. What was Lan Zhan's punishment?"
"Well he didn't make it easier on himself. Every time someone insulted you, I could tell that he was silently marking the name down on a death list," Lan Yuan grumbled. "In the end they mainly decided that Die should stay away from you, and that he isn't allowed to hunt with the pack for an entire month."
Wei Ying snorted. "Well, that's not too bad. It works both ways being the Sena. They can try to protect me from him but if I don't agree then there's nothing they can do. Lan Zhan doesn't have to hunt with the pack if they don't want him to, but I'm not going to stay away from him."
"I knew you would say that." Lan Yuan looked over at Wei Ying. "You can do whatever you want, but it's not even been a day and you've already gotten him into a lot of trouble."
Wei Ying leaned over to knock their shoulders together.
"I'll be on my best behaviour while I'm here," he said as he raised two fingers.
Lan Yuan snickered softly and shook his head as he responded, "The two of you are so much alike. Die said almost the same thing to me, just before he casually snuck me in here. I don't believe either one of you."
"My offspring is such a cynic!" Wei Ying pressed a hand to his chest as if he was having a heart attack. "Did I snack on too much pao jiao while you were a fetus?"
"I'm adopted," Lan Yuan immediately pointed out with a glare.
Wei Ying pretended to glare right back.
"Asena." He pointed to himself. "You don't know all the things that I can do."
"You are so weird," Lan Yuan groaned.
He reached over to pull his father into a tight hug, and Wei Ying tried not to embarass them both by weeping dramatically at how much he loved this kid.
"I have to get to class in thirty minutes," Lan Yuan said. He slid off the bed and then just stood there for a second to smile. "I'm happy you're here, Ba. It doesn't feel real to see you in Cloud Recesses."
"Enjoy the moment. I might starve to death before I manage to get out of this bed. I can't believe I missed breakfast and you didn't think to bring me something to eat," Wei Ying complained.
There was a sharp knock on the door as soon as Wei Ying finished speaking. Lan Yuan laughed as he looked towards the door and back at Wei Ying.
"I didn't need to. Hanguang Jun said he would take care of it," Lan Yuan said.
He left, and a team of shifters entered instead. There were food, clothes, daily necessities and an invitation for a meeting with the Alpha whenever he was ready.
An hour later, dressed in light blue jeans and a white t-shirt, with his hair still wet from a relaxing morning shower, he went in search of the Alpha. It barely took him another ten minutes before he found the pack leader in a quiet conversation with the Gamma. The Alpha was dressed similarly to Wei Ying, with the exception of the knife strapped to his thigh.
"Wuxian! I hope you managed to get some rest," Lan Xichen said with a smile that lit his face once he noticed Wei Ying.
Both the Alpha and the Gamma bowed to Wei Ying, and Wei Ying bowed back.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Ice Wolves," Wei Ying said. "Xichen, I hope I'm not interrupting."
Lan Xichen waved a hand and laughed. Now that Wei Ying could see his entire face, no longer hidden behind a half-mask, he appreciated the laughter more.
"Just having a discussion with my uncle. He has been plotting since last night, and I've spent all morning trying to curb his enthusiasm," Lan Xichen said.
Lan Qiren's expression seemed more pinched than enthusiastic as he met Wei Ying's steady gaze.
"The Sena has finally made an appearance after so many years away. That you have chosen to visit us in Cloud Recesses first, is extremely prestigious. There have been many pack leaders who are eager for an invitation to meet you," Lan Qiren explained.
Wei Ying inhaled a quiet breath in a fight with his body to remain calm.
"So you sent out a call to the wild hunt to come and feast on my carcass. Is that what you're saying then?" he asked in a deceptively light tone.
Lan Qiren raised a disapproving eyebrow, but Lan Xichen just laughed again.
"I think that's his polite way of saying that he doesn't approve of what you did, Uncle. Now would be a good time to work on fixing it before it becomes a problem and you're left to personally turn away eager Alphas and Lunas from our gate," Lan Xichen said.
"You are an unbonded Sena," Lan Qiren pointed out to Wei Ying in a tight voice. "How long are we expected to wait for the Xiandu? It's been thirty two years already! Surely, it is time to make your choice."
Wei Ying thought of Lan Zhan, backing away from him, apologizing, not wanting him, not wanting to mark him.
He had to clench his fist to stop the wave of frustration and fear.
It was bad enough being the Sena with the expectations of an entire world of shifters. Why would Lan Zhan want to be the Xiandu with all this pressure? He had spent years actively trying to avoid becoming the Alpha of the Gusu pack.
Something had changed. Wei Ying didn't know what had caused the Alpha pheromone to be triggered in Lan Zhan, but the last thing Wei Ying wanted was to force Lan Zhan into a corner. If Lan Zhan really didn't want him as a mate, then that was worse to Wei Ying, than the world being denied their Xiandu.
"I don't owe any of you another fucking thing," Wei Ying said coldly.
Lan Qiren's eyes narrowed in obvious outrage. Lan Xichen quickly stepped between the two of them to diffuse the situation.
"Wuxian, come and take a walk with me," Lan Xichen said. "Uncle, it pains me that even at your age, you haven't yet learned not to overstep boundaries. I'll see you at dinner."
Lan Xichen stepped away from the Gamma, expecting Wei Ying to follow, but Wei Ying had one more thing to say to Lan Qiren, and he needed to calm down to do it.
He bowed at the waist to the surprised elder.
"Whatever your opinion is of me, and no matter how much I disagree with that, thank you for defending the Zeta yesterday," Wei Ying said. "Lan Wangji didn't deserve to be shunned for his actions when I didn't find him offensive."
Lan Qiren huffed and looked away as Wei Ying rose from the bow.
"Of course you didn't find it offensive," the older man said. "While you remain unmated and untamed, we are all playthings to someone of your royal caliber. Yours to kill and yours to tease."
"Uncle. Enough!" Lan Xichen immediately snapped. "Don't forget who it is that you're speaking to."
Wei Ying sucked in a sharp breath.
This Gamma did not like him in the slightest. Maybe it was to do with what happened at the gate, or maybe it was thirteen years ago in Nightless City. Whatever the reason, Lan Qiren was drawing a firm line in the sand. Wei Ying would be wasting his breath trying to prolong the conversation.
He nodded silently at Lan Qiren, and Lan Qiren bowed and murmured, "Forgive me, Tiānzî. Have a good day."
Wei Ying turned and walked over to Lan Xichen, who threw his uncle a disappointed look, before he and Wei Ying walked away.
There was silence for a little while as they walked, before Wei Ying exhaled loudly and looked over at Lan Xichen.
"Fuck me. Is he always that rude to guests?" he asked.
Lan Xichen laughed. "My uncle adores Wangji. He loves me, but my didi reminds him of my father. Serious, hard-working, and an example of the oath that the good of the pack always comes first. He doesn't want to see my brother get hurt."
"And of course he thinks that I'll hurt Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said with a frown.
"Not intentionally. But he believes that as the Sena you don't have a reason to care about one Zeta when you have Alphas fighting wars over you."
Lan Xichen led them along a path towards the sound of grunting, and shouting, and what was obviously hand-to-hand sparring. Even before Wei Ying saw the field, he knew that they were headed to the Gusu training grounds.
"Lan Zhan is not just another Zeta to me," Wei Ying said.
Lan Xichen shot him a curious look, but before he commented, he led Wei Ying into a set of stands that overlooked the massive field.
On the training grounds, students of varying ages of the Ice Wolves' pack were paired together. Each Psi was dressed in the sleek, modern, white uniform of the Gusu warriors, including their spiritual weapon and the knife strapped to one thigh.
Dispersed throughout were the Yunmeng Etas who were either training together or helping to train the Gusu students.
Wei Ying looked out onto the training grounds and immediately zeroed in on Wanyin with one of his Etas in their wolf forms, practicing the Storm Wolves own style of combat.
And moving around the field with all the confidence and gravity expected of a war general, was Lan Zhan with two white wolves who followed behind at his heels.
Wei Ying stared at him.
Once his eyes found Lan Zhan it was like the world narrowed to a spotlight around him. He was so interesting to watch. Wei Ying honestly felt like he could watch Lan Zhan all day and never get bored.
"My uncle is from the older generation. You know how they are," Lan Xichen said, picking up the conversation where they'd left off. "He believes in a two parent home with a child and a stable income. For a shifter, that includes having the support of a strong pack."
Lan Xichen looked over at Wei Ying and smiled.
"When you were born and rumors spread that the Sena was a male, it was nearly impossible for him to understand something so unique," he continued. "For years he used to tell us that we couldn't believe every rumor that we heard about her. And then Wangji met you himself and confirmed that it was true. The one and only male Sena ever in existence. He had to believe it then. Wangji never lies. That day that Wangji had to confess who it was that he had been sneaking off to meet, caused a lot of discord in our pack."
On the field, Lan Zhan was demonstrating a complex sequence of movements to a young Psi. The speed and strength of his hits and blocks caused several of the other students to turn and watch. Wei Ying waited until he was finished before he looked away and turned to Lan Xichen instead.
"I was the Beta of Gusu. His duty was to let me deal with your presence in our territory. When we found out, my father was resigned to it, but my uncle was livid. And Wangji was punished for being so undisciplined," Lan Xichen admitted. "I think my uncle would have preferred if Wangji had said that he was secretly having sex on the mountainside with a female Blood Wolf every day, than to hear that it was to help you."
Wei Ying frowned as he asked in a low voice, "Which one does Qiren hate more; that I'm a man or that I'm the Sena?"
"That it was Wangji, and not me, who found you that day," Lan Xichen replied.
Wei Ying released the breath that he was holding as he turned back to the field to look for Lan Zhan.
The pair of wolves who had been following him around had shifted into their human forms. The two teenagers, along with a group of six others around the same age, were getting their asses thoroughly kicked in a sparring circle against the Zeta. Instead of being upset though, they all shouted and laughed and tried to reform their strategies mid-fight.
"What is your opinion?" Wei Ying asked, still watching Lan Zhan fight.
Lan Xichen reached out to gently stroke the side of Wei Ying's face and Wei Ying turned into the ghost of the touch to look at him again.
"My brother is not selfish, but you make him selfish. He's not impulsive, but he does irrational things for you. And, I've watched him every day for sixteen years as he tries to hide how much he misses you when you're not near him," Lan Xichen said. "Now that I've spent some time next to you, I understand why."
Wei Ying looked at him, at his soft eyes and his jade-like beauty, and the easy smile that was always at the corners of his lips.
"You would make a great Xiandu," Wei Ying said softly. "Patient and kind."
Lan Xichen laughed quietly. "Except, I don't have the passion to chase you across a mountain. And as you're still unmarked, even a wolf as powerful as Wangji isn't strong enough to hold you down."
Except he had been, Wei Ying knew. Lan Zhan hadn't needed to display dominance and aggression, because Wei Ying had willingly shown submission to him. It was Lan Zhan who hadn't wanted the bond.
Wei Ying took a deep breath of cool mountain air, mixed in with just the tiniest hint of morning dew. He briefly squeezed his eyes shut in exasperation, before he opened them to shoot Lan Xichen a pointed look.
"Mingjue doesn't have to be here, but Huaisang does, even though he's not the Qinghe Alpha yet. And Jin Guangyao of course. After that, keep it small. I don't want every Alpha in the nation standing outside my door each morning. I can't guarantee that I'll declare the Xiandu at the end, but if you're all going to fight anyway, you might as well do it here in Cloud Recesses, instead of on another battlefield."
The smile on Lan Xichen's face blossomed into a mix of excitement and awe.
"Thank you, Tiānzî, for this honor," he said with a bow. "You do realize though that my uncle is now never going to shut up about having his scheming work? He'll be impossible to command for a while. We may have to barricade him in his room to keep him humble."
Wei Ying smiled back but it quickly turned into a good-natured groan.
"I might quickly regret this, but if this makes Qiren think better of me then maybe it will be worth it," he said. "Even if he thinks I had other reasons, I'm glad that he convinced your team of leaders to let Lan Zhan stay."
"There is no way that any of them could have convinced me to expel my brother from our pack. I love my brother very much, and I owe him too much to do that. Wangji knew he was forgiven before he even knelt in front of me," Lan Xichen confessed.
Wei Ying snorted back a laugh and shook his head.
"Of course! Of course," he said. "But I'm still grateful all the same."
— — —
They left the training field soon after that.
Lan Xichen had pack business to take care of and Wei Ying kept being invited to participate in various activities throughout the afternoon. Once he said yes to one thing, it became a whirlwind of requests.
By early evening when the nearest of the Alphas and their small team of warriors began to arrive, Wei Ying had already spent half his day literally kissing a newborn on the forehead, surrounded by a team of Iotas. He had a deeply informative and very impassioned conversation with the sentries about border patrol and pack territory lines. Then he spent a few hours in a classroom filling in for a Sigma, and having to explain to a group of six year olds what it meant to be the Sena and how he felt about it.
By the time the class ended he was sitting on a mat on the ground in a semicircle of six pairs of big, bright eyes, and slightly open mouths as he finished up his story about one of the many times that he and Jiang Cheng got into a fight over him eavesdropping on a private conversation between his siblings.
"Pardon me, Sena. There is a visitor waiting for you in the Yǎshì," a Delta said quietly, once the teacher had returned to reclaim the class. "If you come with me, I can take you there."
Wei Ying followed the messenger to just outside the door of a room, where the Delta bowed and excused himself. Wei Ying was left alone to enter a beautiful, elaborate waiting room with its white and sky blue furnishings.
His eyes though, were immediately drawn to the shifter who was sitting on the couch with his combat boots propped up on the table, while he flicked his balisong knife over and over.
"Huaisang! Did you run all the way?" Wei Ying exclaimed. "How the fuck did you get here so fast?"
Nie Huaisang quickly jumped to his feet and saluted Wei Ying sharply. Wei Ying saluted back with a huge grin as the Qinghe Beta dropped the formality and grinned happily back.
"Oh my eyes, Wei-gonzi!" he said loudly. "I wasn't prepared to gaze directly at your radiant perfection after so many years, Tiānzî. I think I've been struck blind!"
"Fuck off!" Wei Ying laughed. "I already know that you had spies on Mo Xuanyu for years. You should be the least surprised at what I look like after thirteen years away."
He strode over to the warrior who was dressed as usual in grey camouflage fatigues. Unlike the eighteen year old that Wei Ying had last seen, this grown up version of Nie Huaisang looked like he was perfectly capable of fighting a team of his own warriors if he ever made up his mind to do so.
Wei Ying pulled him into a tight hug.
He didn't care that Nie Huaisang huffed in surprise and briefly hesitated before also wrapping his arms around Wei Ying. At least Nie Huaisang was a friendly face in a crowd of eager shifters. At least Nie Huaisang knew that his name wasn't just Sena and Tiānzî.
"Thank you for coming," Wei Ying said. "Thank you for not pretending that it's your brother I wanted to see."
Nie Huaisang turned his head so that he could whisper almost impishly into Wei Ying's ear, "Have some mercy on me, Sena. I'm not an Alpha yet, but that doesn't make me immune to your presence."
Wei Ying chuckled softly, but he did mercifully pull away so that he could put some distance between them.
"Speaking of which," Wei Ying said pointedly. "Why is that Huaisang? Why haven't you challenged your Alpha for the pack yet?"
Nie Huaisang looked away, and focussed instead on his butterfly knife as he began to rhythmically flick it again.
"It's not that I'm not trying! I do. I challenge him. But he wins. Or, I lose my resolve in the middle of the challenge, and start to doubt myself," he explained. "It's not easy being his brother. He sets the bar at a back breaking level! I can't climb that high. I'll just disappoint him."
He met Wei Ying's gaze again. This time there was something else hidden in his expression as he reached out to rest his hand on one of Wei Ying's shoulders.
"Besides, I'm not like him. Yes, I kept track of you for years. And now I've decided that I do want a mate to lead the pack with me," he admitted.
Alright. That was both surprising and interesting. Wei Ying took a small step closer to him again just to gauge his reaction. When the other warrior didn't back away, Wei Ying got even closer.
"You want a Luna?" Wei Ying asked.
"Of course not," Nie Huaisang responded, as if it was so obvious. "What would I do with a woman? I wouldn't even know how to touch her."
Wei Ying turned his face towards the side of Nie Huaisang's throat. Not to test him, but because he realized that he had never actually discerned this Stone Wolf's scent. Nie Huaisang was better at keeping his scent secret than even the Sena at this point.
The Beta gently nudged Wei Ying away with the side of his jaw, still keeping his scent locked away. Instead, he was the one to press his nose to the side of Wei Ying's neck and he inhaled quietly, just as the door to the Yashi opened.
"Huaisang," Lan Zhan said in a calm, even, icily controlled tone. "I need you to step away from him. Slowly. Do it right now."
Against Wei Ying's neck, Huaisang snickered.
"Hanguang jun, I haven't seen you in months. Really, Wangji? This is how you're going to welcome me back to your home?" he teased. "Wuxian is divine. Still a powerful, magnificent, unmarked asena. I'm not the only one here who'd kill to have him look at me with interest."
Wei Ying quickly stepped away from Nie Huaisang and shot him a glare.
"Huaisang," he said in warning.
Nie Huaisang's attention flickered apologetically to the Sena, then back to the Zeta who stood just inside the room. He seemed to firm his resolve as he strode over to Lan Zhan and met his gaze with confidence.
"I'm being serious, Ice Wolf," Nie Huaisang said. "I will challenge you and any other warrior, for him. All he has to do is ask. Keep that in mind the next time you tell me to step away from him when he hasn't said it first."
Huaisang slipped past the hidden rage in Lan Zhan's eyes and walked out the door. He closed it behind himself with a loud click.
Then it was just Wei Ying standing in a room with a quietly furious Lan Zhan.
"You shouldn't be alone in locked rooms with Alphas or potential Alphas, in his case. It's not safe, Wuxian," Lan Zhan said solemnly.
Wei Ying's eyes narrowed in surprise and instant fury.
"Really. Wangji," he hissed. "Then I shouldn't even be in this room alone with you, should I?"
The Sena walked towards the Zeta, covering the distance in only a few strides, before he glared at simmering molten gold as Lan Zhan's gaze focussed on him. Wei Ying got close enough for their noses to almost touch before he spoke again.
"I told you I'm not weak!" he snarled. "Stop acting like I need you to show up to be my hero. I can save my own fucking self whenever I want from the big, bad wolves."
He turned towards the door, ready to exit just as swiftly as the Qinghe Beta had. He took one quick step away from Lan Zhan before he was pulled roughly backwards against a solid chest. One strong arm wrapped loosely around his neck while the other held him tightly around his waist.
Lan Zhan felt like a pillar of heat and muscles, and his sandalwood scent was like an aphrodisiac to Wei Ying. Being in his arms, being held by him, no matter how upset they were, made Wei Ying's body instantly respond to the sexy intensity of being near him.
"I want to respect your wishes and I'll follow your instructions," Lan Zhan said into Wei Ying's ear. "Ask for anything, Wei Ying. Just don't ask me to stand by and watch them tear at you again. I cannot do it this time."
"Would you prefer it if I leave?" Wei Ying asked.
Lan Zhan nuzzled gently at the side of his neck. His breath curled against Wei Ying's skin and his lips felt soft and warm there as he inhaled Wei Ying's scent, before he finally said, "If that's what it takes to protect you, then you can leave."
Wei Ying almost growled at him in frustration.
They were standing so close, pressed against each other in a way that allowed Wei Ying to gently rock his ass against Lan Zhan's crotch without Lan Zhan stopping him, and still they were having a conversation about Wei Ying leaving Cloud Recesses to be somewhere else. What would it take to get this man to want to hold on to him, Wei Ying wondered.
"You keep letting me go, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said with a shake of his head. "I don't know what to think about that."
"You keep wanting to leave when I don't have the right to stop you," Lan Zhan responded.
Wei Ying pulled out of his arms and turned to look at him. At his gorgeous face, and the sliver of frustration in his beautiful golden eyes. He leaned in closer, until he was level with Lan Zhan's gaze. Until their chests were almost touching.
"You have the right," Wei Ying said firmly. "If not you, then who the fuck else, Lan Zhan?"
Lan Zhan's pupils visibly dilated at Wei Ying's words.
It took him a few breaths before he finally moved again. This time when he did, he backed Wei Ying firmly into the door before he spun him to face forward.
Wei Ying pressed his forehead against the cold wood, breathing hard as Lan Zhan's fingers slid into the back of his hair and leaned Wei Ying's head to one side. Then his mouth was on the side of Wei Ying's neck, nuzzling into the crook, before his lips slid to the back of Wei Ying's neck and Wei Ying felt the warm, wet slide of Lan Zhan's tongue as Lan Zhan licked and sucked him over and over there.
Wei Ying's knees went embarrassingly weak as he moaned softly and his body trembled. Lan Zhan's arms had to wrap around his waist again to keep him steady. When Wei Ying could stand on his own again, Lan Zhan released him.
Then he took a few steps backwards away from Wei Ying until, once again, they were separated by distance and scent-free air.
"You're killing me," Wei Ying groaned as he turned to look at him. "Seriously."
"I keep forgetting my place. That you're not mine to touch. Not mine to claim. You are the Sena and my brother is the Alpha of Gusu. When I'm near you, I get lost in your scent, and then all I feel is the urge to put my mark on you," Lan Zhan said with brutal honesty.
"But you don't really want to?" Wei Ying asked carefully. "Are you reacting like this only because of my scent, until you come to your senses?"
Lan Zhan turned away. His entire body went still.
"Lan Zhan." Wei Ying closed the distance between them. He reached out to him and gently rested a hand on the back of one shoulder. "Lan Zhan?"
"I want to," Lan Zhan admitted.
His low tenor voice dropped an octave into pure, sexy, desire that buried itself in the pit of Wei Ying's stomach and made his body vibrate with need.
"Every time I look at you. It's all I want. In the cave, before I knew your scent. Even that first time I tracked your blood. I've wanted to mark you for as long as I've known you. As the Sena, you will only bond with the most powerful Alpha. You're not mine to claim. I know that. I forget when you're near me."
Wei Ying slowly moved his hand and silently hovered it near the center of Lan Zhan's back, wanting to do more than just put his hands on him again. In the cave. That first time that they'd met. Before they had even met. And Lan Zhan had said that he felt the pull even then. Even now, when he was determined not to do it.
Please, don't let me embarrass us by lowering to my knees. Please, don't let me beg him, Wei Ying thought helplessly.
Lan Zhan turned around in the absence of Wei Ying's hand on his shoulder. He must have seen the look of anguish on Wei Ying's face, and seeing the hand that Wei Ying held up between them, his expression turned from cold and calm, to pure ice.
"I won't hurt you," he said.
Wei Ying brushed Lan Zhan's chin with the tips of his fingers, and loved every second that their skin was connected. His body burned for this man. This man who meant so much to him. This man who didn't even understand yet that their attraction was more than just skin deep.
"You could never hurt me," Wei Ying said to him. "Nothing in you would ever want to."
Lan Zhan stared intently at him.
"Wei Ying, what I want is to bite you, and I don't want to be gentle about it. I want to hold you down with my teeth against you, until you're whimpering and submitting underneath me," he said in his low, husky voice.
Wei Ying took a shaky breath and swallowed a few times to remember how to form words.
When his brain couldn't think of anything to say though, he just stepped back into Lan Zhan's space instead. He wrapped his arms around Lan Zhan's waist then lowered his head until his forehead pressed against the base of Lan Zhan's throat.
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said softly. "You are the Sena. Heaven on Earth. You deserve to bond with the strongest, and most powerful Alpha who rules a pack. One that everyone can respect. One who will become Xiandu."
I found you already, Wei Ying thought in frustration.
He lifted his head and kissed the tip of Lan Zhan's nose, just like he would have done if they'd been in their wolf forms. Then he released his hold on Lan Zhan's body and stepped away from him.
"There are Alphas coming to Cloud Recesses who will battle each other for the chance to prove their dominance," he said quietly. "Maybe you're right. Maybe one of them will become the Xiandu. Maybe it will even be Xichen."
He didn't wait to hear what Lan Zhan had to say to that parting shot.
He slipped out the door and then hastily made his way towards the training grounds that Lan Xichen had taken him to earlier.
— — —
Instead of less shifters, there were more spread out across the field. Most were training in their wolf form. Wei Ying took a seat in the stands to watch them, but his mind was too preoccupied to pay attention.
His agreement to have the Alphas hold a competition was mostly for everyone to feel included. Wei Ying already knew that it wouldn't decide anything.
"You look like you left that room far too soon," a cheerful voice said, accompanied by the stomping crunch of military boots, and the clinking of metal.
Wei Ying looked up as Nie Huaisang sat down beside him.
"How could I stay? He was on the verge of rejecting me," Wei Ying admitted. There was so much pain in saying the words that he couldn't hide it in his voice.
Nie Huaisang laughed. "Bullshit! He wants you, Sena. You didn't see the look he gave me while my mouth was near your neck. He would have ripped me apart, if I hadn't moved away like he asked."
Wei Ying shook his head, not wanting to explain. But Nie Huaisang had it already figured out.
"You mean he wants you, but he doesn't want to risk accidentally giving you his mark," he said, as he gave Wei Ying a searching look. "But you do want his mark. Is he your mate, Sena?"
Wei Ying nodded. No words. Just a single nod.
Nie Huaisang's face was a study in surprise. So maybe he hadn't completely figured it out, and maybe Wei Ying had managed to keep the connection between his white wolf and himself entirely secret.
"How long have you known?" Nie Huaisang asked, as if it was a piece of a puzzle that he had overlooked.
"A while now," Wei Ying admitted with a deep frown.
"You knew back then? When I first met you in my Da-ge's fortress, you knew?" Nie Huaisang asked. "When I asked you the question about your mate, it was Lan Wangji?" He made a face. "You could barely take your eyes off the Epsilon then, and look at you now. He still has all your attention."
"I knew." Wei Ying ducked his head and inhaled a ragged breath before he very softly admitted, "I think I knew from the second I met him. His voice, his scent, the way I just wanted to be in his space and always close enough to touch him. And then every time after that just made our connection even stronger. He doesn't lead the Gusu pack. He doesn't want to."
"So he's an Alpha?" Nie Huaisang asked.
Wei Ying nodded. "I could never tell his rank in his pack because that rank meant nothing. He has only ever been an Alpha to me."
Xichen was the Alpha of the Ice Wolves. That much was clear. He had trained his whole life to become the leader of the Gusu pack. But Wangji was different.
He was a healer and a teacher, a warrior and a guardian. He knew how to follow a command, but he could also lead an army into battle. He never had to grow into his role or fight for his right to the title. It was always in him. It was in his blood, in every breath, in every decision.
Wangji was an Alpha, because he had never been anything less, and he never would be.
Wei Ying looked out again at the training field of wolves and shifters. There were many of them, but the moment that Lan Zhan walked back out onto the field with his brother, Wei Ying's gaze zeroed in. There was just something so magnetic that drew Wei Ying to him.
"What if he does reject being your mate? What does that mean for you?" Nie Huaisang asked.
Wei Ying closed his eyes against the wave of fear that rushed through him again.
"I would be upset but I could move on from it," he lied. He took a steadying breath. "I won't have my mate, but the world can still have its Xiandu. We just wouldn't be zhiji and there wouldn't be a soulbond. No one else needs to know that though."
Nie Huaisang bumped their shoulders together as he raised his butterfly knife to tap his lips thoughtfully.
"That doesn't sound too bad," he said. "Why keep it secret though? If the Ice Wolves knew that the Sena's mate was one of them, there wouldn't be Alphas still arriving at their gate. Lan Wangji would know that there isn't a reason to hold back."
Wei Ying looked away from Lan Zhan to look at Nie Huaisang.
Instead of answering the question, he asked one himself, "Why do you lose your resolve in the middle of your challenge with your Alpha?"
"I told you." Nie Huaisang shrugged. "Da-ge is strong. He expects too much of me."
"Why else?" Wei Ying prodded.
Nie Huaisang's eyes narrowed and he turned away to look out at the field instead of looking at Wei Ying.
"I would need to fight him to the death. My brother will never just surrender and concede," Nie Huaisang admitted with irritation. "If I take his pack it's not because he failed them. It's because I have to genuinely be better. Otherwise, he would drag his cold, dead, corpse through the streets to avenge the injustice."
Wei Ying exhaled softly. "Right. So, you can't dishonour him by fighting for his pack just to be one step closer to becoming the Xiandu. He doesn't care about that. When you challenge him for the right to lead his Stone Wolves, do it because you are genuinely better. Don't lie to him and pretend you're not. Don't half ass it. He is an exceptional Alpha. Be exceptional too."
When Nie Huaisang turned back to look at Wei Ying, he slowly traced his thumb from the center of Wei Ying's forehead, down the bridge of his nose. As if that's what would smooth the tension on Wei Ying's face. His hazel eyes danced as a small smile raised one corner of his lips.
"The misfortune of being the brother of the Alpha, am I right?" Nie Huaisang mused. "Your Ice Wolf has the same problem."
"Lan Zhan feels he doesn't deserve me. He didn't fight for the right to stand before me like all the other Alphas who've met me," Wei Ying explained. "As if that means fuck all to me. But it means something to him. Of course if I admit that he's my mate he would give up everything to be with me. Who wouldn't? But it's not easy to bind your soul to someone. And it's not easy to be a ruler."
Wei Ying clenched his jaw and looked away from Nie Huaisang's perceptive gaze.
"And all his life he has been expected to graciously concede to Xichen. Now he refuses to admit to being an Alpha because others will think less of his brother. He's too good to allow Xichen to seem any less than exceptional. Especially to the rest of the Ice Wolves."
Nie Huaisang made a face and clutched a hand to his chest. With his head slightly bowed he said, "You're being so serious, Wuxian. Not even a war could stop you from smiling, and I have photos of you smiling plenty, when you were Mo Xuanyu. With so many Alphas here, now you've given your Ice Wolf a reason to fight. Easy fix."
"He can fight if he wants to. That's his choice. I choose to show him that he is also exceptional. That pretending to not be, doesn't make it less true," Wei Ying responded.
He bowed to Nie Huaisang, then with a flair for making a dramatic exit, he vaulted over the barrier of the stands and onto the training ground. When he landed it was on his four black paws as he shifted midair into his wolf form.
Without looking back, he ran across the field towards where the Gusu pack were grouped together.
On the path, wolves and shifters moved aside and then turned in his wake to watch him streak by. He stayed entirely focussed on the team of shifters, all standing in two perfect rows of six warriors each, as they faced the Alpha and his war general.
Wei Ying barrelled towards them, hoping to scatter them like a flock of geese. With perfect timing and unparalleled grace, the four in the middle just somersaulted in synchrony to land at the ends of their lines. The opening they left allowed Wei Ying to pass through to the other side without even needing to slow down.
He skidded to a stop at Lan Xichen's side as the Alpha looked down at him. Then the team of Ice warriors all executed a military salute, again in perfect synchrony.
Wei Ying already liked the Gusu pack so much and he'd barely even been around them for a day.
He shifted into his human form and saluted back at the team. When he caught more than a few wide eyed stares at the ease and speed of his shift, it made him smile. He was getting back into the nuances of the shift, like exercising muscles that he had forgotten about for years.
"Hello," Wei Ying said. He looked around at the team and then at Lan Xichen. "Are you preparing for a fight?"
"Yes. The Alpha of Moling challenged me and Wangji," Lan Xichen explained.
Wei Ying frowned and looked further out the field to where another team of warriors dressed predominantly in white were also standing in a huddle.
"Already? Why? They only just got here. Didn't they only just get here?" He thought about it then groaned. "Minshan is their Alpha."
"Yeah, Su She's an idiot. He doesn't like Hanguang Jun," one of the younger warriors on the team said.
Actually the twelve of them were all young. Their ages seemed to range from fifteen to about nineteen, and Etas were usually around eighteen and older. So these weren't even Gusu's most experienced warriors. At least Wei Ying knew that they were meticulously trained, since they were the same team that he had been watching all day.
"How could anybody not like Hanguang Jun?" Wei Ying asked.
The young warrior's gaze flickered from the Zeta to the Alpha as if he wasn't sure he should be saying anything, but he was already committed to speaking, so he did.
"Su She left our pack because he wanted to be the Beta, but he could never win against Hanguang Jun. Every time he challenged the Alpha, he had to fight the Zeta first, and he said it was unfair because it just tired him out. He's an idiot! How could he expect to win against the Alpha if he can't even win against one warrior?"
Wei Ying looked at Lan Xichen again and asked, "Can I fight him instead?"
Lan Xichen looked amused.
"Why would you want to? This is a fight to determine the strongest Alpha, who might become Xiandu," he said. "Do you plan to fight your mate often?"
Wei Ying kept his gaze on Lan Xichen as he said very seriously, "Every day. If that's what it takes to assure him that he's my equal."
"Unnecessary. Sizhui and Jingyi will fight Minshan and his Zeta. The rest of you may go for a run. It will be over by the time you're back. If they lose, Xichen and I can fight Minshan tomorrow. He can wait until then if he prefers."
Of course, the Zeta knew his warriors best, so when Lan Wangji spoke everyone immediately just responded in a chorus of, "Yessir!"
The two selected warriors stepped forward. The rest stepped back and reformed the line. Then they all saluted in synchrony again before dispersing and walking away.
Wei Ying looked at the two that were left. They seemed confident. But, one of them was his son and the other was the kid who had gotten his son into worlds of trouble since the two of them were five years old.
"Guard each other's backs. Don't be excessive. When the fight is over I want a short report written up by each of you and handed in tomorrow afternoon," Lan Zhan instructed. "Whether you win or lose is not important. This will be your first fight against enemy wolves with different formations and tactics. Learn from the experience."
"Yessir!"
The two subordinates walked away to prepare for their fight. Once they did, Wei Ying started to look around for a good spot to watch. He was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder and he turned to Lan Xichen who was smiling.
"You don't get to fight, but you're welcome to join the pack on our night run," Lan Xichen said. "Sizhui has only ever been personally trained by Wangji, and Jingyi was mostly trained alongside him as well. They're at the top of their class and Sizhui is already a better fighter than many of my Etas. This will actually be an easy fight for them."
"I'm not worried, Xichen," Wei Ying responded. "I was already a Beta at sixteen. I also know Lan Zhan is training Sizhui to be a badass jade assassin. He'll be just as deadly in his wolf form as he is when using his spiritual powers. Minshan might be an Alpha, but Sizhui is my son. And I bet you knew that already."
"I knew. Only me and Uncle do. Not even the other high ranking leaders in the pack are aware of this."
Lan Xichen glanced over to where Lan Zhan was silently observing their conversation, before he continued, "Wangji refused to disclose to the pack who Sizhui's other parent is, and he refused to disclose to the family why he chose to introduce Sizhui to the pack as his own child. Remember what I said this morning about my Uncle? Sizhui's presence did not help."
Wei Ying laughed softly. "And there was Lan Zhan insisting to the rest of the pack that he hadn't been fucking a Blood Wolf on the Gusu mountainside everyday. Then, showing up with a little red pup five years later, who started to call him 'Diē'."
"Wei Ying." The protest was hidden beneath a layer of censure, but Wei Ying heard it in the syllables of his name as Lan Zhan interjected. "It was none of their business how Sizhui came to be my son. Only that he is."
Wei Ying looked over at him and met his gaze directly for the first time since their conversation in the Yashi.
"It's a good thing he's not a red wolf anymore. He's easier to explain now." Wei Ying smiled sadly. "Ah, Lan Zhan. I think I am bad for you. Bad for your reputation."
He focussed on Lan Xichen again. "Is the invitation still open for me to run with you? I need to stretch my legs, and think through some things."
"The invitation is always open while you are with us at Cloud Recesses, Sena," Lan Xichen responded.
Before Wei Ying could confirm his acceptance, Lan Zhan reached out to grab one of his arms. Then Wei Ying felt as the space between them closed as Lan Zhan got near enough for Wei Ying to smell the hint of his sandalwood scent.
"Actually, Lan Zhan doesn't seem to think that's a good idea! So, on second thought, I can just stay here and watch the fight against Moling," Wei Ying corrected smoothly.
Lan Xichen laughed and shook his head.
"I'll stay out of this," he said. "The two of you need to talk, before I have an incident on my hands that I can't negotiate. Wangji, stop looking at me like that. I already pardoned you last night for trying to kill me. It was an invitation to run with the pack, not an excuse for me to chase him."
The grip on Wei Ying's arm relaxed enough for him to slip out of the grasp and step closer towards Lan Xichen and away from Lan Zhan.
"Sena, I'm sorry about my brother. You bring out the guardian in him. In fact, I'll remove his punishment to stay away from you and appoint him as your guardian instead, so that he doesn't become even more overprotective," Lan Xichen said.
Wei Ying nodded. "That would work. Thank you, Xichen."
Lan Xichen's smile did not waver. Instead he bowed to Wei Ying. When he straightened, his light brown eyes seemed to soften around the corners as he reached out to squeeze Wei Ying's shoulder.
"My brother is very lucky that it wasn't a Blood Wolf afterall," he said softly.
"Not luck," Wei Ying corrected. "I wouldn't call discovering me half dead in a cave, and having to spend two weeks of food and spiritual energy keeping me alive, luck. More like his deep misfortune and ongoing affliction."
"Stop," Lan Zhan said. "It was none of that. You were fully conscious and insisted on being annoying. I wouldn't have considered it to be a misfortune, and you're not an affliction."
"I'll speak to you in the morning, Wuxian," Lan Xichen said, as if Lan Zhan hadn't even spoken.
Wei Ying smiled at him. "See you tomorrow, Xichen. Hunt some rabbits for me. I love rabbits! Lan Zhan knows that they're my favorite."
— — —
Once Lan Xichen walked away, Lan Zhan grabbed Wei Ying's arm again and spun him around to face him.
Lan Zhan's eyes had gone all molten gold again as he silently glared.
Wei Ying got lost in the curve of each eyelash and the smooth texture of his skin. He traced the contours of Lan Zhan's perfect face with his own gaze. From those stunning eyes, down the line of Lan Zhan's nose, to the cupid's bow of his lips.
As beautiful and perfect as jade, and as cold and lethal as a dagger. He made Wei Ying want to be stupid. Made him want to reach out to press his fingers to those lips, and to kiss the tip of his nose in front of a field of visiting warriors, to show them who he respected the most.
But warriors didn't fight with their lips and with their fingertips. So Wei Ying glared right back at him and silently challenged him to say something to break the tense silence.
"You're angry with me."
He didn't sound angry himself. He sounded mostly resigned and a little sad.
"I'm not angry," Wei Ying clarified. "But I also don't think that this is the place to have a private conversation. The last thing these Alphas need is to witness an argument between the Sena and his lover. Let's go somewhere neutral and hash it out."
"Lover," Lan Zhan whispered.
Wei Ying smirked at him. "Well, we don't have to go with 'lover', but it's my personal preference, if you're wondering."
He didn't wait to hear Lan Zhan's response to that. Instead he shifted to his wolf form and began to run towards the edge of the field.
Once Wuxian was back on the path into the mountains, he followed his nose until he could discern the correct trail that only the evening before, he and Wangji had run. It took a few tries and he had to keep stopping to sniff the ground. By the time he figured out the way, Wangji had already caught up. Without asking any questions, Wangji took the lead and Wuxian happily followed behind him.
After a few minutes it occured to Wuxian that he had Wangji all to himself, alone on a mountainside with no other wolf around. The fact that they were headed towards a quiet spot was great, but even before they got there, Wuxian decided that Wangji's single minded focus was boring. He wanted to play.
Wuxian yipped to Wangji to get him to stop. When the white wolf turned around to check on him, Wuxian ran full speed and launched himself. They landed in a heap, legs scrambling in the air and on the ground as they tried to get up.
Once they managed, Wuxian pawed at the ground, and then without further warning, he tackled Wangji again.
"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan said in frustration.
Wei Ying laughed in the connection between their minds as they went tumbling on the ground together again.
When they got back to their feet, Wangji eyed Wuxian cautiously and backed away from him. Wuxian lowered the front half of his body into a crouch, stuck his rump into the air and wagged his tail. Wangji growled a low warning and Wuxian growled playfully back at him.
Wangji walked over to him and sniffed at the top of his head. Wuxian rolled over, legs to the side as Wangji sniffed under his chin and at his chest. When Wangji stopped sniffing him, Wuxian raised his head and licked the tip of his nose until Wangji moved his muzzle away and licked at the column of Wuxian's throat instead.
"I thought you wanted a quiet place to talk," Lan Zhan said. "Did you change your mind?"
"I want a lot of things when it comes to you Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said.
He rose to his feet, shook off any dirt and grass still clinging to his fur and then turned his head so that he could press his muzzle into Lan Zhan's shoulder.
Lan Zhan's pure white fur was soft, and he smelled nice. Wei Ying wanted to stay with his nose pressed against him forever, breathing him in like a drug. Before he could though, Lan Zhan began to shift into his human form.
It wasn't as smooth or as seemless as Wei Ying's shift, but no one else would ever be. Lan Zhan's shift was fast though. The air contracted, but there was no sound of bones creaking or muscles stretching, even with a heightened sense of hearing. It took only a few seconds between the moment that Wei Ying was sniffing at fur and instead sniffing at the leg of a pair of white pants.
Wei Ying sighed at the loss of his playmate, and shifted to his human form as well.
Lan Zhan turned to walk away as soon as Wei Ying stepped towards him. It was then that Wei Ying noticed that they really were quite close to the meadow from the day before. Lan Zhan had led them straight to it. Wei Ying caught up to him and then they both silently walked past the tall trees and thickening grass until they were standing together, silently staring at yet another secret place that only the two of them knew about.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said softly. He reached out to take Lan Zhan's hand, and he tugged him toward the center of the meadow where they had been kneeling together, the evening before. "We need to talk about the two of us."
Lan Zhan turned to look at Wei Ying. Then he stepped into his space, close enough that there was barely any distance between them.
"Lover, Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan asked softly.
Wei Ying reached over to lightly trace his fingers across Lan Zhan's lips like he had wanted to do on the training field.
"Mhmm," he murmured. "If you want that. The Alphas are all welcome to still battle for the right to become Xiandu. Xichen and Huaisang and Wanyin, and even Guangyao when he gets here. They can fight to be my Alpha and rule by my side, but I only want you as my lover. If you'll have me."
Lan Zhan's eyes became so sad that Wei Ying's next breath got caught in the back of his throat and he felt his heart sink with worry.
He waited in the silence of Lan Zhan's decision. Every muscle in his body wanted to reach out and wrap himself in Lan Zhan's arms. Every thought in his mind, begged him to take the words back. That Lan Zhan as a lover would not be enough for him. That the Sena needed its soulmate. But Lan Zhan didn't want to be Xiandu, and Wei Ying didn't know what else to do.
"And what would being your lover entail, Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan asked. "How much allowance will I have? And what about when you get married? Will your mate understand you having another man in your bed?"
"I don't know," Wei Ying said, because he didn't want to think about being married to someone else and having to make allowances for Lan Zhan. "People have open marriages all the time though. We could make it work."
Lan Zhan reached over and cupped Wei Ying's face between the palms of his large hands.
"Wei Ying, I'm sure your mate will have no desire to share you once you take his mark. In fact, I'm almost sure that you won't want to have a lover once you have a bond with your mate. What then?"
"I don't know!" Wei Ying snapped.
He felt like he was struggling to breathe. Battles he could do, even navigate the politics of his position in the wolf hierarchy, but this was so difficult. He felt like he was negotiating with his head for something that his heart and soul thought should be a done deal. He had found his true mate, his zhiji, and that was supposed to be the hard part. Was it only him that felt how deeply they were connected? Wei Ying wondered. Or did Lan Zhan only want to remain friends?
But Lan Zhan had said he wanted him, and Lan Zhan didn't lie.
Lan Zhan leaned over until their foreheads were pressed together. Wei Ying closed his eyes and inhaled the soothing, calming scent of sandalwood and falling snow, and everything good in this world that was wrapped up in this man.
"I can't share you, Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said. "I want all of you, not a piece of you that I don't get to keep."
Wei Ying could understand that perfectly.
"Then don't share me with anyone, Lan Zhan. Keep me all to yourself!" Wei Ying said.
"Is that really what you want though? To only be with me?"
"Yes! I want you," Wei Ying admitted hoarsely. "God, I just want you, Lan Zhan. If it means giving up everything to be with you, I would do it. You say you would do anything, but Lan Zhan, it's the same for me!"
"You are worth so much more than me. I don't even have the right to stand near you when so many others are more worthy," Lan Zhan pointed out.
Wei Ying raised his hands and slid his fingers into the back of Lan Zhan's hair. He used them as anchors to gently tug Lan Zhan's forehead away from his own. Lan Zhan's eyes were so beautiful and Wei Ying loved staring into them.
"Xīngān," Wei Ying breathed. "Who could be worth more to me than you?"
Wei Ying leaned forward until their lips were inches apart, and then still keeping eye contact he whispered, "Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan. Are you ever just going to fucking kiss me? Do I have to wait another sixteen years? I want you so much. I need to feel your —"
Before he could finish the thought, Lan Zhan groaned a soft rumbling sound deep in his throat. Then he wrapped his arms around Wei Ying's waist and picked him up. As if Wei Ying didn't weigh much at all. As if he needed him closer; needed him above him so that he could adore him from below.
Wei Ying wrapped his arms around Lan Zhan's neck and leaned down to finally, finally pressed his lips to Lan Zhan's mouth.
"Be my lover," Wei Ying breathed into the kiss. "Say I can have you."
Lan Zhan sucked gently on Wei Ying's bottom lip until Wei Ying moaned and opened his mouth to feel the curl of Lan Zhan's hot breath against his tongue. Their lips crashed together, moving against each other, as Lan Zhan carefully lowered Wei Ying back to the ground. He moved one hand to cradle the back of Wei Ying's head and deepened the kiss until Wei Ying was gasping for air.
"You can have me, Wei Ying. For as long as you want," Lan Zhan said.
Wei Ying reached for him again and Lan Zhan kissed the side of his lips. And then he kissed along the line of Wei Ying's jaw. He followed the path to Wei Ying's chin, and Wei Ying lifted his head to allow Lan Zhan access to his throat. Lan Zhan kissed down the column of Wei Ying's neck, across his collar bone to his shoulder, then back up to Wei Ying's lips. He captured Wei Ying's mouth into another deep kiss that had Wei Ying rocking against him, desperate to keep them pressed against each other.
"Fuck. You smell so good," Wei Ying moaned. "I want to bottle you up and wear you on my skin. I love your scent, Lan Zhan. Oh fuck. I want to live and breathe in it, to fall asleep and wake up beside you, so that I never have to miss you ever again."
"You and your scent both drive me insane," Lan Zhan responded.
Wei Ying reached his fingers up to Lan Zhan's lips, and Lan Zhan kissed and sucked at each fingertip. Until Wei Ying couldn't stand it anymore. He pulled his hand away to press his mouth against Lan Zhan's mouth again. Desperate and needy, as Lan Zhan licked and nipped and sucked at his lips.
"Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan," Wei Ying quietly chanted in between each breath. "Lan Zhan, why weren't you doing this to me when I was sixteen? After the first few days, I really, really, wanted to kiss you in the dark."
Lan Zhan groaned and hid his face against Wei Ying's shoulder.
"Because, Wei Ying, if I'd kissed you when we were sixteen, I wouldn't have stopped until I marked you," Lan Zhan admitted.
Wei Ying stroked his fingers through Lan Zhan's hair. And then he whispered, "Show me. Lan Zhan. Bite me. I want to feel your teeth on me."
Lan Zhan moved his head so that he could meet Wei Ying's gaze. His golden eyes were so dark in the fading light of the evening that they looked black, with rings of amber.
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan rumbled, deep and low.
In the sound there was a warning to not push his Ice warrior too far. That he had already asked for a lot in twenty-four hours. But, Wei Ying didn't care. All was fair in love and war. And the Sena was determined to win this fight.
Wei Ying moved just far enough away to grasp the end of his own t-shirt with the fingers of both hands. He pulled it off in one fluid motion and then quickly dropped it onto the grass. At the look on Lan Zhan's face, and the way his eyes drank in the sight of Wei Ying's body, Wei Ying grinned at him. Lan Zhan wasn't the only one who had trained all his life to be big and bad.
"Do you want a taste? Or are you just going to stare all night," Wei Ying teased. "Come here and put your mouth on me like I know you want to."
Lan Zhan reached out, wrapped one arm around Wei Ying's waist, and pulled Wei Ying roughly against his body.
"Don't complain when you're covered in bite marks tomorrow," Lan Zhan growled softly. "Remember you asked for it."
Wei Ying laughed, as he traced the edges of Lan Zhan's teeth with his fingers. They weren't sharp enough to pierce Wei Ying's skin, but that didn't mean that they weren't going to feel deliciously rough, and painfully bruising.
"Do your worst. I'm not scared of anything you do to me," Wei Ying said.
Lan Zhan leaned his head so that he could drag his teeth and tongue across the side of Wei Ying's neck. Wei Ying's entire body shivered at the sensation. He wrapped his arms around Lan Zhan's waist and had to bite his lower lip to stop the breathy, gasping, moans that escaped as Lan Zhan teased him with nips and gentle kisses.
When Lan Zhan's teeth clamped down on the skin below one shoulder, Wei Ying's body jerked involuntarily and Lan Zhan had to hold him tighter as he softly cried out from the combined pain and pleasure. And in its wake was that desperate, searing thread of need. The ache for more, for the real thing, for his zhiji's mark on him.
"Again," Wei Ying gasped. "Do it again."
Lan Zhan sucked at the flesh until he was satisfied with the bruise. Then he moved his lips and kissed Wei Ying's throat and the corner of his jaw before he lowered his head again and bit down on the side of Wei Ying's neck.
Wei Ying's body trembled again and again, and Lan Zhan held him tightly through all of it.
— — —
Hours later, while the rest of Cloud Recesses was either fast asleep or away on a night hunt. Wei Ying laid in his very comfortable bed, wide awake and thinking.
Most of the Moling delegation had left by the time he and Lan Zhan managed to make it back to the training grounds. Minshan and his two Zetas had stayed. Whether to watch the rest of the competition or for another opportunity, nobody knew yet.
Wei Ying hadn't been able to find his son, much less speak to him.
It had made him a little concerned, until Xichen kindly pointed out that the young Psi was probably soaking his aching muscles in the Cold Springs with the rest of the Etas who had fought that day.
Now that the Gusu mountains were mostly quiet and there were less shifters to be distracting, Wei Ying quietly rose from the bed. He was still wearing a pair of soft and warm pajamas, but that didn't actually matter.
He shifted into his wolf form, then carefully searched through multiple consciousness until he could discern the distinct mental aura of his son. He reached out to gently poke at him until a reluctant communication channel opened up.
Wuxian followed the twists and turns of the large Cloud Recesses estate, until he could escape into the trees and bushes of the cold mountainside.
When he finally sniffed out the scent of ashes, and something distinctly softer, Wei Ying looked around the large clearing and spotted the wolf form of his son, lying on his side in the center of a fluffle of rabbits.
He snickered silently and huffed out loud. It was enough for the rabbits to perk up at the sound of the predator, and then in a mad panic, all rush away to hide in their burrows.
Sizhui looked around unhappily as his companions abandoned him.
"You scared them," he mentally grumbled. "You probably gave them a heart attack."
Wuxian dropped down behind his son and curled his large black body around the white wolf with the light russet markings.
"You do know that you're a wolf?" Wei Ying pointed out without even trying to hide his amusement. "You hunt rabbits for sport."
"That's not true. I've never hunted a rabbit in my life," Lan Yuan said. "If I did, I think Die would disown me."
Wei Ying chuckled. "Okay, well, yeah that's a family trait. Don't tell anyone but I also like rabbits. They're so nice and soft. Probably taste like stew."
"Tiān na!" Lan Yuan groaned dramatically.
Which made Wei Ying so happy and full of love that he leaned over to lick him right across his jaw and over his muzzle.
"Eww!" Lan Yuan responded. He swiped at his own face with a paw as he tried to rid himself of the dampness.
Wei Ying sniffed at the back of his head and then snuggled closer to the smaller wolf.
"I've been racking my brain all day trying to figure out what changed in the last ten years with Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said conversationally. "Lan Zhan was always powerful, but fuck, did I get a surprise when I saw him again. And I couldn't figure it out. Because why now, when nothing changed the first time that I met him."
Lan Yuan was suddenly so still that his muscles had to hurt from being so tense. Wei Ying gently nudged him.
"You made him your Alpha, didn't you, kid?" Wei Ying asked. "When you came home that winter and you asked me about changing your name, you meant 'Lan' for Lan Wangji, not Gusu Lan."
"Two people do not make a pack, Ba," Lan Yuan said.
"No," Wei Ying agreed. "But three does. And eight. And twelve?"
Lan Yuan fidgeted nervously. "It's not twelve yet, actually."
"What the fuck, Suzhui!" Wei Ying groaned. "If it were any other pack but the Ice Wolves, you would all be killed by the Gusu Alpha for insubordination. Xiăo shăguā, have you ever heard of a pack within a pack? You ever wonder why not?"
"We're not a named pack! It's just Jingyi and me, and some other ones who admire Hanguang Jun," Lan Yuan protested.
"Call it whatever you want. It doesn't change what you're doing. Convincing Xichen's warriors to follow another Alpha right under his nose! What happens if there is another war, Sizhui? Will half his pack just not yield to his command?"
Sizhui whimpered, and Wuxian nipped gently at his ear, which quickly got him to stop.
"Hanguang Jun will need his own pack when he becomes Xiandu," Lan Yuan rallied. "You both will. The Sena and the Xiandu are expected to have royal guardians."
Wei Ying snickered. "Xiandu? Well, shit. You have a lot of confidence in your Alpha, don't you? No wonder you pledged your life and loyalty, to follow only his commands."
Sizhui growled low in his chest and jumped up, just so he could turn around and glare at Wuxian.
"Confidence in my parents!" he said. "Confidence in the fact that I know he's your zhiji. The true mate of the Sena. And that you need him for the soulbond. He's your other half, Baba!"
"Who told you that?"
Sizhui dropped back down to his stomach then swiped a paw across his muzzle before he could meet Wuxian's enquiring gaze again.
"Nobody had to tell me," he grumbled. "I've been calling him 'Diē' since I was five years old, and neither one of you even flinched the first time I did it. I know you literally share custody of me. You even allowed him to legally adopt me too, when I asked to change my name. And when everybody in the world wondered where the Sena disappeared to, you sent me back to Cloud Recesses with letters for him that you'd write every month, so he knew how you were doing. You pretend it's all for my sake, but Ba, you're so obvious! You haven't been fooling me."
"Okay, smart and very ingenious offspring of my heart. How the fuck did you manage to hide it from the Etas that you're Lan Wangji's Beta? How did you work around never obeying the Gusu Alpha's commands without anyone else catching on?" Wei Ying asked.
"I didn't have to hide it. Until Jingyi figured it out and then he wanted to join me. So that's when it felt like a pack, and next thing we knew, a few of the others wanted to train with us," Lan Yuan said.
After a short silence when Wei Ying couldn't decide on what to say next, Sizhui nudged at his father with his muzzle. "Are you seriously angry, Ba?"
Wei Ying sighed, but honestly he kind of wanted to laugh.
"I'm just wondering how Lan Zhan managed to let you get away with it. And Xichen too. You're brave, but they're not stupid," he said carefully while he considered further. "The fact that you and Jingyi follow him and fight for him is a dead giveaway of dissension in the ranks. It's one of the ways that Yu-furen used to test her Etas in Yunmeng. Send them out and see who they're willing to die for."
"I still love Uncle Xichen. I'd still fight for him. Diē would die for him and I'd die to protect Diē, so it's not that bad," Lan Yuan reasoned.
Wei Ying gave him a look and said, "Not that bad. Wolves have been killed by pack Alphas for less, and here you are acting tough. What if instead of you returning home to me one winter, I got sent a body bag and a note that your throat had been ripped out by Xichen, for noncompliance? What would I have done?"
"Gone full nuclear on the Ice Wolves of course," Lan Yuan scoffed. "You're the Sena and I'm your son. Jingyi said that's the best defence we had if it all went wrong."
"You'd still be dead, you little turnip! You're just fucking lucky that others in the Gusu pack didn't figure out the truth before I got here," Wei Ying snarled. "Also, don't listen to Jingyi! Jingyi tried to jump from a tree when he was ten years old because he was convinced that you would catch him. If Lan Zhan hadn't saved him, his ass would have been roadkill. Yes I know about that too!"
Sizhui moved closer, to lie in front of his father again, and Wuxian curled protectively around him. The black wolf nuzzled at the hint of light red fur at the side of Sizhui's head, which expanded across his forehead and deepened at his ears.
Wuxian licked at his face with his tongue, and Sizhui tucked his head between their bodies and endured it like a saint.
"Now what am I going to tell people when they ask? That you're actually a sort-of-maybe Ice Wolf? More like a Snow Wolf of the Moling pack?" Wei Ying wondered.
"I'm still an Ice Wolf, Baba," Lan Yuan protested quietly. "Diē is an Ice Wolf, so I am too."
"Lan Zhan's unwavering loyalty to his family is probably what saved you. Xichen doesn't need to worry that Wangji will ever attack him. If he keeps treating you like a Psi in his pack then it's not as obvious that you're the Beta of another wolf," Wei Ying realized.
He nipped at Sizhui's ear, and Sizhui whimpered softly and hid his muzzle between one paw and his father's chin.
"I thought I would always be your Alpha, little warrior. Guess I was wrong," Wei Ying said.
Lan Yuan sighed unhappily. "Ba, you're the Sena. Are you trying to collect all the titles? Besides, Hanguang Jun makes a better Alpha than you. He doesn't treat me like a kid."
"You're my son!" Wei Ying protested.
"Yeah, well, I'm his too," Lan Yuan pointed out. "And for him to have a chance of becoming your Xiandu, he needs to be the Alpha of a pack."
Wuxian rested his head on top of Sizhui's head and exhaled softly.
He couldn't even argue any further because there was no point when it changed nothing. Lan Yuan had stubbornly decided on who he wanted to follow. And really, Wei Ying did love his clever son very, very much for choosing Lan Zhan as his Alpha, instead of Xichen.