Jia Hao got out of the car and looked at the heather-covered hill before him.
Mu Yang had told him he wanted to show him something when they left the house, and he looked around with curiosity.
"Not yet," the werewolf told him with a smile, beginning to undress and leaving his clothes in the car.
A surprised expression spread across Jia Hao's face, and a smile tugged at his lips.
"Not yet," Mu Yang whispered in a kiss before transforming.
Jia Hao looked at the wolf, its thick fur and hazel eyes. He found him beautiful. He wanted to touch him but was afraid of offending him — he didn't know werewolf etiquette.
The wolf gently took the sleeve of his jacket between its teeth, inviting him to follow. The vampire nodded, and the wolf began to climb the hill.
At first he moved slowly, then picked up the pace until it became a run, before circling back to Jia Hao. The latter could feel his enthusiasm, the energy that made his muscles quiver — finally free, and recovering after days of convalescence.
When the wolf dashed once more toward the top, the vampire followed at a run.
Mu Yang waited for him and fell in at his side, stopping as soon as they reached the summit.
Jia Hao looked down: the moon reflected on the pond in the valley below. The scent of grass and damp earth mingled with that of flowers and plants, perfuming the air. The landscape was a tapestry of valleys and hills.
"Is this what you wanted to show me? It's truly beautiful."
The wolf led him to a boulder, and he sat down. Shortly after, a muzzle rested on his legs and two large eyes looked up at him.
"May I?" he asked, extending his hand toward his head.
The wolf pressed into his touch, and Jia Hao ran his hand gently between his ears, then down along his neck and back. The wolf closed his eyes, and a sound like a sigh escaped his mouth.
The vampire sank his hand into the soft fur, watching the shifting expressions on the muzzle.
He moved slowly, as he would have stroked Mu Yang's human body, until he no longer feared doing something wrong, and his hand came to rest on the wolf's relaxed back.
Looking at the landscape, he understood the deep bond that tied the lycanthrope to nature, and he was glad that Mu Yang had wanted to share that part of himself with him.
---
He had been able to breathe without discomfort since the previous day and had finally convinced Jia Hao that he was fine. The vampire had been watching him for a long time without saying a word. Mu Yang hadn't expected him to be so concerned.
"I'm the doctor, remember?" he said with a laugh.
"I'm not sure how reliable you are when you're the patient."
"I want to show you something and, when we get home, you'll feed from me — you need to regain your strength."
"Not yet. I'll wait."
Mu Yang raised an eyebrow. "We'll see." Then he took his hand. "Come on."
He was impatient — and a little nervous. He needed to transform and stretch his legs. He wanted Jia Hao to see him and know him in his feral form, but feared his reaction.
Jia Hao had seen him transformed during the night of the abduction, but they had never spoken about it. First, he wanted to show him that this side of him was not only ferocious, but an essential part of who he was.
He hoped Jia Hao would accept it — and now he needed to know. Jia Hao knew he was a werewolf, but living with it was another matter.
He had given up his family for him and wanted that choice to be made with full awareness of all the facets of his being. Perhaps there was still time to turn back if Jia Hao realised he'd made a mistake.
He had chosen to take him to one of the places he loved most, where he often went to transform: outside Oldgrove, but not too far away, a hill with a wonderful view.
Once out of the car, he decided not to waste time with small talk and stripped to transform.
He had shivered at the way Jia Hao looked at him, but changed form immediately.
He never stopped watching his face, gauging his expressions.
When Jia Hao ran alongside him, he rejoiced, and some of his tension melted away.
Resting his muzzle on his legs and letting himself be stroked was easy, even if for a werewolf it meant complete trust. But his feelings for the vampire were clear — he had no doubts, and he placed total trust in him.
He had felt the initial hesitation in Jia Hao's touch, then saw how gradually it grew more natural until it became calm and confident.
They had stayed close together in silence for a long time. When they returned to the car and he took back his human form, Jia Hao had stepped forward, cupped his face in his hands, and kissed him. In that moment, all tension and fear left him.
Finally, when the vampire whispered "I love you" against his lips, he closed his eyes and sighed with relief and happiness.
They had gone home and made love. Now, lying in his arms, with his heart beating strongly against his ear, he closed his eyes in peace and surrendered to sleep.