Lycan 17 (Patreon)

author's note: hello everyone! I hope you are all having an amazing week. Here is the new chapter of Lycan. Tomorrow the 3rd part of meeting her and also regalia! 

word count: 2K

Y/N cautiously extended her hand, fingers trembling in the air as she dared not meet the piercing gaze of the massive wolf before her. Fear gnawed at her, conjuring vivid images of razor-sharp teeth tearing through her delicate flesh.

“Y/N…” Niall's voice bore a warning tone as he edged closer, prompting a low snarl from the formidable creature, Zion. Niall, sensing the rising tension, quickly retreated, palms outstretched in a pacifying gesture. He lowered his head, a submissive signal intended to diffuse any further aggression.

Summoning her courage, Y/N let her fingertips make contact with Zion's snout. To her surprise, the fierce beast, with eyes that held galaxies of wildness, closed them in response. His entire frame relaxed as if he found solace in her touch.

As her fingers sank into his soft fur, the rhythm of his breathing slowed. Zion, now seated, appeared to revel in the gentle caresses, and Y/N couldn't help but release a nervous giggle. The intimidating wolf had transformed into a colossal dog, yearning for the simple joy of being petted.

“He is cute,” Y/N declared, a mixture of astonishment and amusement coloring her words as she continued to scratch behind Zion's ears. The air in the room shifted, tension giving way to an unexpected bond forming between a human and a wolf.

Niall's voice carried a mixture of reverence and explanation as he interpreted Zion's silent communication. The massive wolf's eyes, deep pools of wilderness, locked onto hers, expressing sentiments that transcended the barrier of language.

"He can't communicate with you because you are still not in the link, but he wants you to know that he is honored to finally meet you and that he can't wait to meet your wolf," Niall elucidated, his words weaving a connection between the enigmatic creature and Y/N. The anticipation radiating from Zion was palpable, a silent understanding waiting to be unlocked.

Y/N, unmarked and yet to ascend into her role as Luna, stood on the fringes of the pack's intricate connection. The inability to commune through the mind link left her isolated from this profound exchange.

Zion, with a regal demeanor, conveyed his departure. Niall shared the sentiment, detailing that Harry's incessant mental presence demanded the wolf's attention. The wolf's departure wasn't a farewell but a promise—his watchful eyes held the assurance that he would return.

"He says he is going away now because Harry won't stop bothering and trying to take over, but that he hopes to see you soon and that he'll always protect you."

A tender smile curved Y/N's lips as Zion nuzzled her, the weight of his presence dissipating but leaving behind a promise etched in the air. As he retreated, she felt the last lingering touch of his fur beneath her fingertips, a connection made through the language of unspoken understanding. "Thank you," Y/N whispered, gratitude painting her words as Zion withdrew, leaving her with a sense of newfound connection.

Zion's transformation unfolded before Y/N's eyes, a mesmerizing display of nature's duality. Bones cracked and reshaped, fur gave way to skin, and the majestic wolf metamorphosed into the vulnerable form of a human. Harry lay naked on the floor, a tangible representation of the toll Zion's outburst had taken. Exhaustion clung to him, evident in the weariness etched across his features, while his muscles, once rippling with strength, now ached with the aftermath of their shared ordeal.

Niall, ever the swift and decisive one, hurriedly moved around Y/N, draping a blanket over Harry's exposed form. As she kneeled beside him, concern etched across her face, his eyes fluttered slightly, resisting the pull of sleep.

"Is he alright?" Y/N inquired, a gentle touch to Harry's forehead as if checking for signs of fever.

"He is just tired. Zion's outburst exhausted them both. They are one, but at the same time two different personalities," Niall attempted to explain, his words navigating the intricate connection between Harry and the formidable wolf within him. "He just needs to recover and take a bath."

"Okay. Let's pick him up and take him to his room," Y/N suggested, her fingers running through his hair in a soothing gesture. However, her practicality collided with a humorous reality as Niall chuckled heartily.

"He is twice as big as me and bigger than anyone in the pack. He is too heavy. I'll break my back," Niall declared, and Y/N, brow furrowed, began contemplating a strategy to move Harry without compromising anyone's spine.

"There has to be a way," Y/N mused, her brow furrowed with determination as she scanned the room for a solution. "What if we call the doctor and get a wheelchair from the clinic?" Niall, ever the reliable assistant, nodded, swiftly moving to fulfill her instructions. "The floor can't be too comfortable."

In a matter of moments, Michaela burst into the room, flanked by a team of nurses from the clinic. Between Niall and a few other pack members, they hoisted Harry to his feet, seamlessly slipping a wheelchair beneath him. In quiet procession, they rolled him into his bedroom.

Y/N lingered outside the closed door, a sense of nervousness settling over her. It felt like a trespass into his private sanctum.

"Y/N?" Niall's voice reached her, and he approached with a quizzical expression. "What's going on?"

"I don't know. It feels inappropriate," she admitted, a hint of discomfort in her voice.

Niall chuckled, offering a reassuring shake of his head. "It's just your wolf. Since he's the alpha, you feel like you have no permission, but you are his mate. It's just the pack order stopping you. You have more right than any of us. Come in." With that, Niall widened the doors for her.

Stepping inside, she watched as Harry collapsed onto his plush bed.

"Is he alright?" she asked Michaela, who was checking on him. "Doesn't he need liquids or something, or an IV?" Y/N inquired as she pulled the comforter over Harry's body, her concern rooted in her human-centric understanding of health.

"Wolves recover quite quickly, Y/N. He just needs a nap and to relax. He should be fine by the afternoon, but I suggest he rests until tomorrow," Michaela reassured, providing a glimpse into the rapid recuperation that characterized the supernatural physiology of the pack.

"Call me if he worsens or anything, Luna" Michaela said, offering a reassuring smile to Y/N as she gently touched her shoulder. The title "Luna" was an acknowledgment of her role, and with a respectful nod, Michaela excused herself. The weight of that title echoed in the room. Michaela had undoubtedly heard the rumors circulating within the pack, and she sensed the unspoken connection between Y/N and Harry, along with the palpable shift in emotions.

Once the room cleared, Y/N turned to Niall, her nerves evident. "What about the meeting with the elders?"

"I'll take care of that. We'll reschedule it. He is the Alpha," Niall casually replied, a nonchalant shrug accompanying his words. He observed Y/N tenderly caressing Harry's cheek. "I'm assuming you're staying with him?" Y/N nodded, her focus still on Harry's slumbering form. "I'll send you both food. Let me know when he wakes up."

"Alright. Thank you, Niall."

"No problem, Luna," he said, offering a respectful smile as he lowered his head.

"Niall," she called out desperately, her voice echoing through the hallway just before he could seal the door shut. Anxiety gripped her as she wondered what could have triggered Zion’s fury and need to destroy everything . "What triggered his shift?" Y/N inquired, her eyes filled with concern and curiosity.

"Matters of the pack. Don't worry about it," Niall replied cryptically, relieved that she still couldn't fully command him. He knew Harry wouldn't be pleased if Y/N discovered the unsettling truth about a loose murderer. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving her in a hushed emptiness.

Cautiously, Y/N ascended the bed on the opposite side, slipping under the covers next to him. Despite the early hour, fatigue weighed heavily on her, yet the nervous anticipation of touching him kept her wide awake. Hesitant fingers reached out, gently capturing his hand beneath the warm refuge of the blankets. His skin radiated heat, an intensity that, had she not known of his supernatural nature, might have been mistaken for a fever. Y/N intertwined their fingers, closing her eyes, allowing the sensation to envelop her as she drifted into a deep, albeit restless, sleep.

Later, she awoke to an uncomfortable warmth that seemed to suffocate her. Confusion clouded her mind until she looked up and realized that Harry had ensnared her in his arms, pulling her into the protective cocoon of his chest. Attempting to extricate herself without disturbing his peaceful slumber proved futile.

"Where are you going?" he murmured, stirring from his sleep. Harry's eyes met hers, a hint of contentment evident in the depths of his gaze. He had been awake earlier, silently observing her sleep before surrendering to the embrace of dreams.

"Nowhere," she confessed truthfully, a shy smile playing on her lips. "You're just too warm, and I'm sweating," Y/N admitted, as a blush crept onto her cheeks. The intimacy of the moment lingered in the air, a delicate connection that transcended words, leaving them entwined in the vulnerable beauty of the early morning.

"Please, don't go," Harry pleaded, the desperation evident in his voice as he clung to the comfort of her presence in his bedroom. Even in his unconscious state, he could sense her scent and feel the unspoken bond that tethered them together. Having her around was simultaneously confronting and soothing for him, a rare moment of peace that had eluded him for too long. The weight of the recent events bore down on him, especially after Niall delivered the disheartening news about losing the scent of the elusive killer.

"I want you here," he added, his eyes reflecting a mixture of longing and vulnerability.

"I'm not going anywhere," Y/N assured with a gentle smile as she settled onto the bed. Initially disappointed by the postponed meeting with the elders, her desire for answers about her origin and whether she was a wolf lingered. Yet, in the quiet sanctuary of Harry's room, those concerns faded into the background.

"Sorry for waking you up and everything," he apologized, his gratitude evident in his expression.

"That's fine. At least I got to meet Zion," Harry remarked, his smile widening just before Niall knocked on the door and entered.

"I see that you're doing fine," Niall observed, breaking the momentary silence. "Gave us a scare this morning."

"I'm fine. What's been going on today? Fill me in," Harry inquired, sitting up in bed. A tense hush settled between the men, leaving Y/N puzzled as they exchanged silent glances.

"What happened?" she questioned, her gaze shifting between them.

"Nothing," Harry reassured Y/N with a smile, then connected with Niall through the mind link, concealing the grim reality of a murderer on the loose. He wasn't ready to share the unsettling news; the fear of losing her drove him to keep the truth hidden. "I should get to work," he announced, attempting to throw off the blankets.

"Absolutely not," Y/N intervened, determined to keep him from returning to the office. "Michaela said you need to wait until tomorrow. Niall can handle the pack for the day. I mean, what do you have a beta for?" Her words carried a mixture of concern and conviction, a testament to her growing understanding of the intricate dynamics within the pack.