Micah and Noah played in the water for over an hour. They weren’t doing much, just swimming around and relaxing. Noah never wanted this moment to end, and judging by Micah’s expression, he didn’t want it to end either.

Noah’s skin was starting to get a little wrinkled, and he climbed out of the water and sat on the edge of the pool, his legs dangling comfortably.

He watched Micah swim a few laps. They were smooth movements, clean and somewhat hypnotic. Micah must’ve noticed Noah’s gaze because he swam toward the edge and pulled himself up to sit beside Noah. Not exactly touching him, but close enough that Noah could feel his body heat.

Micah was still shirtless like before, and he brushed a bit of messy dark hair out of his eyes.

For a while, they just sat in silence, admiring the view from the pool.

Noah spoke first, his voice soft and curious. “You know… I don’t really know that much about your family.”

Micah seemed to perk up at that, his ears swaying back and forth like they were doing a little groovy dance. His wet clothes clung to his body, and his tail dripped behind him.

“You never asked,” Micah said simply. “So I didn’t bother saying anything.”

“Oh.” Noah felt a pang of guilt in his chest. “I realized you recently got lost from home, and I didn’t want to bring up bad memories.”

Micah smiled faintly, his tail thumping just a little faster. “Everything brought back memories at first. How kind you were to me. It really did, but… the more I got to know you, the happier I became.”

Noah’s throat tightened, and he hesitated before speaking.

“Do you feel safe with me?”

Micah’s reply came instantly. “Yes. I do.”

Noah’s breath caught, and he tried to keep his heart rate normal.

“So… do you have siblings?” Noah asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

“I have a little brother.”

Noah gasped, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Really? What’s his name?”

“His name is Nico.” Micah paused for a second before looking toward Noah. “We don’t look very similar though. He looks more like our mother.”

“Does he have a different hair color?”

“Yes. And eye color too.”

Micah was getting very engaged in the conversation.

“What about you? You have two different eye colors!” Noah leaned up closer to his face.

“It’s something natural. At least for me. It has to do with my future as the chief. My father used to have different eye colors until a year ago.”

Noah nodded, listening with rapt attention.

“My father technically isn’t chief anymore, but the pack addresses him as that still. They will continue until I’m officially chief,” Micah said proudly, and something similar to loss flickered behind his eyes.

Noah said nothing and just observed his features.

It stayed quiet for a few minutes, and Noah took a deep breath before speaking again.

“I think werewolves are amazing creatures.”

Micah’s tail tensed on the ground before wagging excitedly.

“You really think so?” Micah scratched the back of his head, looking suddenly nervous.

“Yep! All my life I thought werewolves were creatures to fear. Well, that’s what it said in the books.”

“There’s a reason humans and werewolves don’t mix. Humans see what they don’t understand as a threat.”

“That’s just unfair. If only the world could just treat everyone equally. The dream world.”

“The dream world indeed,” Micah repeated softly.

“Hey, Micah?”

“Human.”

Noah started pouting as soon as Micah called him “human.” “Stop calling me human.”

Micah tilted his head to the side, grinning ear to ear. “What should I call you then?”

“I don’t know… my name, maybe?” Noah stuck his tongue out at Micah.

“Okay, little hu- I mean, Noah.”

“I am not little.”

Micah poked both of his cheeks. “Very little.”

Noah spoke, his voice muffled. “I will get you back for this.”

Micah burst out laughing for the first time. It was a rich, charming, unfiltered sound.

Noah couldn’t stay mad at him after that. So he asked quietly, barely above a breath, “Do you miss home?”

Micah’s expression changed again, and his ears were perking up as if nervous. “I do. When I asked to sleep with you… that was the reason. I didn’t want to be alone.”

He really was scared then…

Noah’s heart skipped a beat, and he gave Micah a small smile. “Well, you have me now!”

“I do?”

“Mhm. But I have a question.”

Micah’s attention locked onto him. He internally braced himself for whatever Noah had planned. “Yes?”

“Can I… can I touch your ears again?”

Micah flushed the color of a ripe apple. “N-no! That was a one-time thing. I don’t let people—”

Noah grabbed his tail and… yoink!

“Ow!” Micah yelped, jerking backward.

“Oops… sorry.” Noah looked sheepish, his cheeks flushed pink. “Are they that sensitive?”

“Yes.” Micah snapped, looking away from Noah.

Noah frowned, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry. But please, can I touch them? Please, please, with a cherry on top? I’ll be gentle!”

“Why does it have a cherry?”

“That’s besides the point. I promise I’ll be gentle. Look at them, they’re twitching and begging for attention.”

“That is not what they’re doing. They are hiding.”

The ears twitched forward, and his tail thumped louder.

A slow smile curled across Noah’s lips. “Look at me.”

Micah looked down at those beautiful purple eyes. He wanted to say no, but… he bit hard on his bottom lip and sighed in resignation.

“Fine.”

Noah immediately reached up and brushed his fingers against Micah’s ears. They twitched shyly at first, as if trying to hide, before relaxing against Noah’s warm hand. Noah’s fingers traced a particularly sensitive spot behind his ears, and Micah sucked in a breath, red to the very tip of his ears.

“Does it feel nice?”

Micah nodded slowly before pulling away gently.

It was getting very late. “We should go home.”

“Are you hungry already?” Noah asked teasingly.

“No,” Micah said, still flustered. “You could get sick in those wet clothes.”

Noah suddenly remembered where they were and that he was indeed in soaked to the bone. Micah stood up and fixed his shirt back on. He handed the beanie to Noah, who carefully placed it over his wet hair.

And without hesitation, Micah scooped up Noah.

“Micah! You have to stop doing that!”

Micah didn’t listen. He just gave Noah that stupid grin and started running all the way back home.