::::::::::In His Arms::::::::::

Wayne hadn't heard that voice in a week now, and he hadn't heard it in that tone except when it was in a situation like this.

The boys froze mid-motion, all of them backing off from him instantly. They all stiffened as if they were yanked off by an unseen leash on their throats, dragging them away with focused motives.

Wayne heard someone curse in a low voice as he blinked blood out of his eyes, his vision blurring as thick boots shuffled further away from him.

And just as the one who even the wind listens to when he speaks, Ren stepped from beyound the haze of snow and his pain, like a nightmare that has always haunted his chest in every angle and in the best way possible.

His shoulders were perfectly square, his coat unbuttoned as it flapped behind him. And Wayne wondered how he managed that dress sense in the cold.

Dark gloves covered his too hands, and wrapped tightly around his neck was a charcoal scarf. Two wolves flanked from behind as he approached.

Wayne recognized one of them instantly, the beta Ajax. And the other looked like he just came out of a fight as the wound of the left over fury was still written all over his perfect face.

But Ajax didn't want to be there, and Wayne noticed too well how he failed to hide the fact that he couldn't care less.

Not that Wayne blamed him, because Ajax never really liked him anyway, especially not around Ren. And he would have thought about for too long, but his cracked ribs were not interested in such matters right now.

“What did I say about bullying?” Ren asked, finally stopping in front of them, his question not directed to anyone in particular.

The boys dropped their gazes to their snow-covered booths, all of them stuttering as their shoulders curled inwardly.

“We–we weren't…I mean, it was just a joke Alpha,” one of them stammered.

“A joke? Ren reapted, narrowly his eyes and giving a dry chuckle. “That's what this is to you?”

He didn't wait for a reply before rushing to Wayne's side and crouched. His gloved hands brushed against his shoulders when he tried to lift him, but Wayne's body was too weak and his knees buckled beneath him.

“Easy,” Ren muttered, adjusting his hold.

He gently settled him against the stone wall, one hand briefly touching against his side where it hurts the most. Wayne winced, and as if he felt his pain, Ren hissed.

He stood back up, towering over the boys like a storm dressed in complete black.

“You all had so much to say just a minute ago,” Ren said tightly, his fists flexing at his sides. “And now you've suddenly gone cold and dumb.”

“No, Alpha Ren,” the boys said in unison.

The third boy, youngest and the cockiest of them cleared his throat. “We didn't mean any real harm. We just got carried away. It's his fault anyway, always looking at us like he's better–”

Ren stepped towards him before he could finish, and that had his mouth shut.

The boy flinched, shrinking away like his spine had vanished.

Having a cocky personality had deceived him, because he'd thought for one second that Ren will let what they'd done just slide. But he was wrong, because Ren was back.

“You didn't just break my rules,” Ren said. “You also disrespected the seat of your Alpha.”

He didn't raise his voice but the air around him did, charging and vibrating with dominance.

Ren went silent for a moment, and Wayne could feel it. The judgement in his bones, and how he calculated what to do.

Ren knew he couldn't let the boys walk away unscathed, not after what they'd done. Not after they'd touched Wayne like that. But he also wasn't the kind who hit kids, not even the assholes in front of him. And as an Alpha, he had solution for almost any problems.

He turned, clenching his jaw. “Hit each other on the face.”

The boys looked up at him like they hadn't heard what he said.

“No Alpha. Please?” The third boy blurted yet again.

Ren's beta, Ajax, shifted where he stood–stepping forward like he was ready to force the order with more than words. But Ren raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks.

“Do it now that I'm asking nicely,” Ren said, his voice dropping so low and commanding it made their wolves whimper with his Alpha presence. “Or I'll take this to the town square and have you three stripped naked, chained and bleed in front of the elders. And trust me, my fist won't be the only thing you'll answer to.”

The boys obeyed instantly. And one by one, they turned on each other. Hesitation washed over them at first, then balling their fists followed.

The first hit landed like a slap louder than the thunder. And another followed, then another–until the sounds of their knuckles in contact with their skin replaced the hush.

Wayne watched as blood smeared across their jaws, their noses bent, and their lips split open.

One of then burst out crying–not from the fists smacking his face, but because of the fact that Wayne watched them humiliate themselves, and that hurt more than the blows ever could.

Wayne should have felt justice inside, maybe even a satisfaction. But all he felt was tiredness. He wanted it to all to stop so badly even when they were the ones bleeding now, and he wondered what kind of omega has a heart too soft for revenge. There were absolutely none.

He looked away, and then he looked up at Ren, who stood with his too legs ajar and arms crossed over his chest.

“Stop them,” Wayne said softly, his voice merely audible.

Ren only looked at him for a second, and Wayne understood that he saw it on his face–he was pleading with him.

Ren exhaled through his nose, then gave a short nod. “Enough.”

The boys stopped immediately, all of them panting and covered in snow and blood.

“I'll make sure the only place you three have to run is the river If I see anything like this again,” he threatened. “I'll tear down your names so low even your own wolves won't answer to you.”

None of them replied, only nodding their heads because their mouths were too swollen to utter a word.

“Get out,” Ren snapped, and the boys made a run for it.

His attention shifted back to Wayne, his hands gently brushing off blood from his cheek.

Wayne hated this part the most. The part where he felt like a kicked up pup in front of him. He could heal, alright–but it wasn't as fast as the real wolves.

“You came back,” Wayne Rasped. “Without a scratch.”

Ren's hand stilled on his face. “I never planned on giving anyone the satisfaction of not returning.”

That made something flicker in his eyes–amusement or frustration? Wayne couldn't quite tell.

“You're lucky I came back at all,” Ren said, muttering this time.

He cradled Wayne's face a little too long before pulling away.

Wayne wanted to ask him more questions. Ask if he missed him a friction of how he did while he was gone. He yearned for it, and he wanted to know if he thought about him at all. But he swallowed down the pit of his stomach with the aches pulling at his bones.

“Why didn't you wait at the bakery shop like I told you?" Ren asked. "And you didn't come answer me when I sent for you."

His voice became calmer, and the bites in his words disappeared when he looked at Wayne. But he couldn't conceal the disappointment that flickered in his eyes.

Wayne managed a painful smile, his face barely working. “I didn't want to be a burden. And I'm not fifteen anymore.”

“And here I am, scraping you off the ground like a prince," Ren half snorted.

And he was right. Ren could never understand what he just said–he was the knight in shining armor to Wayne.

Ren helped him up slowly, careful not to jostle anything too much. One of his hand slid under his arm, the other guiding his back as they made to walk.

His scent–cold cedar and smoke, or ash? It hit Wayne, strong and familiar. The scent that has always felt safe, like the home he never had. He breathed in greedily, pretending it was only the blood lust that made him cling to him.

And he shouldn't have leaned into him out in the open like that, but he did.

One of Ren's surbordinates cleared his throat behind them, but Wayne didn't care what they thought. Not Ajax, or the other one.

To him, they could both choke on their judgements. Because he was where exactly he wanted to be.

In Ren's arms.

And he didn't want to be anywhere else.