Mu Yang blinked and yawned. Then he saw Jia Hao sitting opposite him and quickly shut his mouth.
"Well awake, Xiao Yang."
The werewolf blushed when he heard himself being called that and realized he had fallen asleep on Jia Hao's couch.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep."
"You were very tired, no need to apologize. I hope you're feeling better now."
"Yes, thank you... Hao Ge."
The vampire smiled at the name, and his expression softened even more. Mu Yang noticed he smelled of bubble bath, his hair still a bit damp, and that he was wearing light grey sweatpants and a white sweatshirt.
"Do you know what time it is?"
"Six in the afternoon."
Mu Yang raised a hand to his face, then stood up, folding the blanket.
"I have to run! I'm starting my shift in two hours and have to stop by the house first. Excuse me!"
"You have nothing to apologize for."
Mu Yang kissed him. "I'll make it up to you."
Jia Hao raised an eyebrow, and the werewolf winked at him as they headed toward the door. "Talk to you later!"
The vampire closed the door behind him and looked around the flat, which seemed too empty and silent.
He checked the messages on his phone and found one his brother had sent the week before, asking to meet.
Maybe it was time to accept the invitation, so he messaged him back and they set a date.
He went to change and then went out.
---
The restaurant chosen by his brother was elegant. Jia Hao had imagined it and wore a black suit and a shirt of the same color.
The waiter escorted him to the table. Jia Tian was already seated on the small sofa with red leather upholstery, but he stood up and smiled as soon as he saw him.
Ten years older, they looked very much alike. "I'm glad you finally decided to meet me."
"I'm sorry, I've been busy."
Jia Tian sighed as they sat down. "I understand your reluctance to meet our parents, but I wish you wouldn't cut me out of your life too," his tone was pained.
Jia Hao looked at his brother. He had nothing against him. "Our lives are too different and distant: you're one of the most influential lawyers in the community, and I'm just a warrior."
"I've always respected your choice and never belittled your work. Don't attribute to me attitudes that don't reflect who I am or the bond I have with you. No matter how much you've decided to distance yourself from aristocracy and politics, I'm your brother, and I don't want to be lumped in with those categories. I want you to see me for who I am: a person who loves you and cares about you. It pains me to hear you growing more and more distant."
Jia Hao was prepared for a rebuke for not showing up for so long, but he hadn't expected those words from his brother.
"Jia Tian… please forgive me. I always thought I was a dark stain on the tapestry of our perfect family. I thought that by eclipsing myself, I could lighten that stain, so that in time, maybe it would be forgotten…"
"I don't want to forget that I have a brother."
Jia Hao nodded.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes."
The waiter brought the dishes they had ordered, and they began to eat.
Jia Tian looked at him but said nothing.
"And you?"
"Work takes up most of my time, and our mother tries to arrange meetings for me with single high-society vampires in the little free time I have."
Jia Hao looked at him. "You don't seem happy."
"Would you be happy if your mother meddled in your private life?"
"I don't run that risk: I'm no longer a good match," he laughed, then turned serious at his brother's piercing gaze. "Okay. Sorry. No, I wouldn't find that funny. Tell her you don't want to."
"It's not that simple. They still see marriage as a way to weave social and political ties."
"Jia Tian, society has evolved!"
"Not the vampire one."
"You can't let her decide who you marry! What does our father say?"
"He doesn't intervene."
"I hope you don't feel obligated to fulfill our mother's wishes."
His brother didn't reply.
"Tian Ge!"
He shrugged. "They raised me and financed my studies…"
"Don't even think about it! You've already made them proud. The rest of your life is yours alone and for you."
Jia Tian smiled. "Since when are you so wise?"
"I'm not. I'm just selfish."
"You're not, Xiao Hao. You never were, not even when you chose your path. Don't let their words shape how you see yourself."
They resumed eating and finished their meal.
Jia Tian paid the bill—it was pointless to argue—and they headed out.
"Jia Hao, how long has it been since you last drank blood?"
"Why do you ask?"
"You don't look very well. If you want, I have a friend who'd be willing to let you drink from her vein."
"No thanks, it's not necessary."
Jia Tian nodded. "Take care of yourself."
"You too."
Afterwards, they each went to their cars.
---
"Dr. Mu! Dr. Mu!"
Mu Yang barely had time to turn around when Nile lunged at him, causing the coffee carafe and the cup he was pouring to fall from his hands.
He crouched to pick up the shards as the nurse began speaking excitedly. "They shot another werewolf! He's injured! He's on his way to the emergency room!"
Hearing those words, Mu Yang stiffened, clenching his hands. It was the glass piercing his skin that brought him back to reality. "I'm coming. Prepare visiting room one," he said, standing up. He threw the glass in the trash, looked at the blood flowing from the cuts, washed his hand under running water, wrapped it in gauze, put a glove on over it, then rushed to the emergency room.
---
Can I drop something off?
He looked at his phone screen. He needed to see Jia Hao—to banish the image of the boy with the abdominal wound he had treated from his mind, to clear the smell of blood from his nostrils, to escape the memories of what had recently happened to him.
Sure. I'll wait for you.
He entered the café and bought four double chocolate muffins and a cappuccino. Then he returned to his car.
---
Jia Hao was waiting for him at the door with a smile, and Mu Yang felt his heart lighten.
"Thanks for last night," he said, handing him the package, then turned to get back into the elevator.
The vampire tilted his head. "Not coming in?"
He stopped.
"Xiao Yang." The werewolf turned around. "I'd really like you to stay."
After a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
As he entered, he noticed Jia Hao was wearing a black suit. It made him look elegant and aristocratic.
The vampire followed his gaze. "I had dinner with my brother. He's the type who prefers fancy restaurants."
"It suits you," Mu Yang remarked, highlighting his slender, harmonious physique.
Jia Hao headed toward the couch. "I've always hated these formalities," he said, opening the package.
Mu Yang saw his eyes light up. "Thanks," he said, handing him a muffin and then a cappuccino.
The werewolf accepted the sweet but refused the drink.
The vampire sat down and bit into the muffin.
Mu Yang felt strange that evening: his smile didn't reach his eyes, he was tense, and his hand was injured. He chewed the food while thinking about how to speak to him.
"What happened to your hand?" he asked after swallowing.
The werewolf looked at the white bandage wrapped around his palm. "Nothing."
Jia Hao raised an eyebrow.
"Just some glass shards, really."
But the shadow that had crossed his face did not escape the vampire's notice. He watched him and decided to wait. He bit into the muffin again and watched the other do the same.
"You should stay over more often."
Mu Yang blushed and coughed as the food went down the wrong way.
Jia Hao passed him the cappuccino, and he took a long sip, then looked at the glass. "It was for you!"
The vampire took it back and drank in turn. "It's enough for both of us," he said, licking his lips.
Mu Yang swallowed. He looked at those lips and found them inviting. He set down the sweet and moved closer. Then he kissed them, licked them, tasted them. And discovered he wanted more.
Jia Hao's hands pulled him close and held him, running along his back. "I want you," he whispered in his ear.
A shiver ran down the werewolf's spine as desire grew inside him. "Me too."
Jia Hao gently bit his lip, then stood and offered his hand, which Mu Yang took. He led him to the bedroom, took his face in his hands, and kissed him again.
He stepped back to take off his jacket, then slowly began to unbutton his shirt.
Mu Yang's hands reached his, stopped them, and began undoing the buttons. Jia Hao sighed at the touch of his fingers on his skin.
The werewolf slipped the shirt out of his pants, undid the last buttons, and lowered it off the vampire's shoulders, caressing his smooth skin. He felt him shiver under his touch and looked at his face. He found him beautiful.
Jia Hao took off his sweatshirt and then his T-shirt. He ran a hand over his smooth chest, then down to his pants.
He finished undressing him slowly, then gently pushed him onto the bed.
They continued to kiss slowly, building the tension between them.
Mu Yang stiffened, and the vampire stopped. "Everything okay?" he asked.
The werewolf nodded.
Jia Hao studied his face. "Is it the first time?"
Mu Yang nodded with a smile.
The vampire kissed him again and, with even more gentleness and care, followed and embraced the werewolf's desire.
---
Mu Yang rolled onto his side and rested his head against Jia Hao's shoulder, his hand placed over his heart.
Jia Hao wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close so that his head rested on his chest. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of Mu Yang's hair. His hand began to slowly caress the werewolf's back.
"Stay."
Mu Yang nodded at the request. With his eyes closed, he listened to the vampire's heartbeat. His hand gently stroked Jia Hao's smooth abdomen, while the smell of his skin and desire filled his nostrils.
Jia Hao took a deep breath and smiled. Without moving, he reached for the blanket and covered them both, closing his eyes as he savored Mu Yang's gentle touch and scent.
He didn't even notice himself slowly drifting off to sleep.
---
He was awakened by a groan and the werewolf scratching at his chest.
"Mu Yang," he called softly. "Mu Yang."
Mu Yang sprang up, breathing heavily.
The vampire moved closer, gently touching his shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
Mu Yang shook his head.
"Something's been bothering you ever since you arrived."
The werewolf got up and walked away from the bed, stopping in the middle of the room with his back to Jia Hao.
He was trembling.
Jia Hao took the blanket and wrapped it around Mu Yang's shoulders until he turned to face him. "Please, talk to me."
Mu Yang looked at him for a long moment, then gave in. "Tonight, a werewolf arrived with a gunshot wound to the abdomen."
Jia Hao realized the event had brought back memories of what had happened to him. He still remembered the bleeding werewolf in his arms. Back then he was a stranger, now...
Jia Hao placed his hands on Mu Yang's shoulders and brought his face close to his. "I will find whoever hurt you. No one will ever hurt you again."
Mu Yang raised his face and smiled at him. "I don't want you to go after that lunatic, and you can't guarantee no one will ever hurt me again. I never thought something like this could happen to me... it made me feel helpless, and that makes me feel vulnerable."
Jia Hao pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry. I can't erase what happened, but we can face it together if you want."
Mu Yang wrapped the blanket around them both and let their warmth chase away the cold of fear.