Chapter Text
Chapter one
It was a regular weekend day for Ein. He was lazily scrolling on his phone, his finger constantly swiping left on dating matches. He scoffed, throwing his head back. “Why are none of them my type? I thought this was supposed to be a matching app,” he muttered, his tail lazily swaying left and right.
Suddenly, his ears twitched. He noticed a German Shepherd walking toward him across the bed. Ein watched the dog, completely unbothered, until it suddenly lunged forward and started aggressively licking his face. Ein wiggled around, trying to dodge the wet nose, when the dog suddenly shifted into a human form—revealing a tall, brown-haired, handsome man.
Before Ein could even process the change, the man began kissing him passionately. Ein's mind went completely blank. He moaned softly as the man kissed him affectionately, one hand slowly sliding under Ein's shirt to caress his skin. Instinctively, Ein wrapped his arms around the man's shoulders.
The man’s other hand slid down, lowering past Ein's hip until his fingers gently traced along Ein's hole, causing the werewolf's back to arch instantly. Cupping Ein's face gently with his free hand, the man pulled him deeper into the make-out session. When they finally parted, panting for air, they rested their foreheads together. Ein's vision was completely hazy, entirely lost in the moment.
Then, suddenly—BEEP BEEP BEEP!
Ein's body jolted upright, his face flushed bright red. He looked frantically around the room, but it was completely empty. He slammed a hand against his forehead, trying to process the intense rush of the dream.
“What the actual heck…” he muttered, his tail giving a slow, nervous wag. He didn’t even know who that man was supposed to be, but damn, he was exactly his type.
Sighing, he checked his phone, only to realize it was already the afternoon. He groaned loudly and buried his face under his pillow. “Great… tomorrow’s my birthday.”
‘My parents are going to nag me about how I'm still single. I just know it,’ he thought bitterly. ‘And worst of all, I still don't have a job!’
He rolled over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. “But then again… why should I even get one if my parents are rich?”
The second the words left his mouth, the memory of his mother scolding him for saying that exact same thing flashed vividly in his mind: “What do you mean you want to be unemployed forever?! You need a job someday, young man! You'll inherit this company one day! If you don't find yourself a good job when the time comes, our family will fall apart, and we'll suffer because of your mistake!” Ein's ears flattened completely against his head at the memory. “It's like I can actually hear her…” he remarked to the empty room.
Dragging himself out of bed, he decided he should probably go get ready. Like it or not, it'll soon be his birthday, and his parents had demanded he visit the company today. “I wonder what they're going to do,” he muttered to himself, stepping into the bathroom.
Few hours later
Ein walked out of his apartment. His outfit was pretty casual—a blue hoodie pulled over a white shirt, paired with black pants.
‘This is formal enough. Right?’ he thought to himself. Deciding not to bother wasting money on a cab, he began the walk to the company headquarters. As he walked, a small storefront caught his eye. Deciding he needed a drink to get through the day, he stepped inside and was immediately greeted by the sight of dozens of cats lounging around. He looked around and realized he had stumbled into a cat cafe.
He walked up to the counter, where a female employee with white hair and bright amber eyes greeted him with a cheerful smile. “Welcome to our small cat cafe! How may I help you?” Ein's face flushed a faint pink. ‘She’s so cute…’ he thought. He quickly shook the thought from his head, focused on the menu mounted above the counter, and pointed. “I’ll take a Caramel Macchiato, please.” “That'll be $5.95!” she chirped, punching the order into the register. Ein pulled out his wallet, quietly grumbling to himself. ‘Dang, I'm about to be broke after this... I mean, my parents will probably give me some birthday money soon, so whatever.’ He handed over the cash, and the girl gestured toward the seating area. “You can take a seat while you wait!”
Ein nodded and chose a table by the window. Propping his chin in his palm, his mind immediately drifted back to his parents. He scoffed under his breath. He already knew exactly how their conversation would go. It was always, “Do you have a girlfriend yet?” or “Have you finally found a job?” He rolled his eyes and looked out the window, watching people walk by and kids playing outside. The sight made him feel a little distant. Back when he was a kid, he rarely ever got to go outside or play with children his own age, and thinking about it always left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Here's your drink, sir.” A deep voice snapped him out of his thoughts. A tall, handsome man was standing there, handing him the coffee glass. Ein looked up and smiled softly. “Thanks,” he replied.
But as he looked closer at the man's face, his heart stopped. The barista looked vaguely like the man from his dream.
Out of pure, unadulterated shock, Ein's wolf ears popped right out, and his face turned bright red.
The barista looked confused by the sudden reaction. “Is there a problem, sir?”
It took Ein a few agonizing seconds to find his voice. He shook his head rapidly. “It's nothing!” he blurted out, instantly standing up with the drink in hand. The man watched him, thoroughly baffled, as Ein practically bolted for the exit. “Hey, excuse me, sir!” the barista called out. Ein flinched violently and turned around. ‘Dang it... now this shit is embarrassing…’ he panicked internally. “Huh... yes?”
The man pointed to the glass cup Ein was clutching. “You can't take that cup outside if it isn't a take-out order.” Ein’s face burned with intense humiliation. “Oh. Uh... yeah, sorry.” He rushed back and handed the glass over so quickly that the coffee almost spilled. “Sorry!” he stammered, nervously fiddling with his hands. The man simply nodded, taking the glass back to the counter to transfer it into a paper to-go cup.
Meanwhile, Ein was having a full-blown crisis in his own head. ‘Fuck, why did I do that?! That was so freaking stupid, oh my Irene! I looked so suspicious, he definitely thinks I'm weird. Am I gonna get arrested for almost stealing a glass?! I'm too young to go to prison! I don't even have a boy— I mean, girlfriend yet! I didn't even get my birthday present! Someone tell my parents I love them... also—’ “Here you go,” the man said, interrupting the chaotic spiral as he handed over the fresh take-out cup. He gave a polite bow. “Please come again soon.” With his mind completely scrambled, Ein gave a frantic nod and rushed out the door. He checked the time on his phone and his eyes went wide. He was about to be late. “What the fudge?!”
He sprinted the rest of the way to the company, his heart pounding so hard he thought he might actually have a medical emergency—which was a worrying thought, but he didn't have time for it now.
Finally, he burst into the lobby. The main plaza was bustling with people rushing left and right, doing whatever it was people did at work. He hurried to the elevator, remembering his father’s office was on the tenth floor. He pressed the button and waited in the quiet capsule. TINK.
The elevator stopped on the fifth floor. The doors slid open to reveal a raven-haired girl. When she looked up, Ein noticed her eyes looked strikingly similar to the cat cafe employee's. They locked eyes for a second before recognition sparked on her face. “Ein?” she asked. Ein blinked, remembering her. “Oh, hey Aph! It's been a while.” He waved. Aphmau smiled softly and stepped into the elevator. To Ein's surprise, she hit the button for the tenth floor too. The ride was silent for a moment before Ein decided to break the ice. “How’s work going?” Aph shrugged, hugging a clipboard tightly against her chest. “Oh, it's going alright. My boss is very kind to me,” she said, a soft blush spreading across her cheeks.
Ein caught the blush and let out a light chuckle. “Ah, I see,” he teased. TINK.
The doors opened on the tenth floor. As they stepped out, they exchanged quick waves. “It was nice seeing you again, Ein! Hope we run into each other soon!” Aphmau called out. Ein nodded, watching her walk off before turning toward his father’s office. Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, he gently knocked on the heavy door.
The door opened to reveal Kim, his father's secretary. She gave a polite, professional bow. “Greetings, Mr. Ein. Your father is currently in a meeting right now, but you may wait inside.” She gestured politely, guiding him toward the seating area.
Ein sank into the chair and aggressively scrolled through his phone, transferring his frustration onto his social media feed. His mind was still completely replaying the interaction with that damn guy from the cafe. Taking a few slow, deep breaths, he managed to calm himself down. He locked his phone and looked around the now-empty room. Kim had stepped out to work on something, not that Ein really cared.
He stood up and began pacing around the office. His eyes caught a shelf displaying a framed family portrait: his mother, his father, himself, and his little sister, Ericka. He sighed, realizing that sooner or later, he would have to do something against his own will for the sake of the family—and it felt like that day was today.
The door clicked open. Kim stepped back inside, followed closely by Ein’s father. His dad had light gray hair, a full beard, silver eyes, and a signature bright blue streak in his fringe that perfectly matched Ein’s own blue hair. Ein quickly stood straight and offered a stiff, formal bow. “It's nice to see you again, father,” he remarked. His father maintained a cold, unreadable expression. He glanced at Kim, silently signaling for her to leave. Understanding the cue, Kim bowed and quietly exited, gently clicking the door shut behind her.
The tension in the room was palpable. Sure, Ein hadn't called his dad in... well, he wasn't sure how many weeks or months it had been, but he hoped that wasn't the issue. Just as Ein started to grow genuinely tense, his father's cold facade melted into a soft smile. He walked over and pulled his son into a brief hug.
“It's been a while, Son. How are things?” his father asked. Surprised by the warmth, Ein blinked. “Oh, they're going nice, I guess,” he stammered. Looking around, he added, “Anyways, where’s Mom?”
His father walked over to his desk, pulling out his phone to send a quick text. “She seems to be busy, but she'll arrive soon.” He set the phone down and stared directly at Ein.
A heavy silence settled over them. Ein already knew exactly what was coming next. His father smiled softly. “So.” ‘Yup, there it is’, Ein thought. “Do you finally have someone in mind?” his father inquired. Ein crossed his arms defensively and leaned back against his chair. “Dad, I already told you that I'm not interested in having a partner until I'm ready!” His father let out a deep sigh, his gaze softening with genuine worry as he crossed his arms. “Son, if you don't have anyone in mind, we won't stop and force you to choose. Or worse, we'll end up choosing someone for you.” “But why not Ericka? I mean, sure, she's still young, but after a few years maybe she'll get a boyfriend or—” “Ein,” his father interrupted. Ein flinched, his shoulders tensing up. He looked away, letting out a sharp sigh.
His father sighed too, his tone serious. “Ein, we need you to continue the lineage. We wolves must stick to the legend to prove our worth. Your mother and I already sacrificed our own freedom to do this. It's your turn to continue it.” Ein closed his eyes tight. He had heard this speech a thousand times before, and usually, it had zero effect on him. But today felt different. “But… what if I'm not interested in…”
He trailed off, his mouth almost betraying his biggest secret. His father tilted his head with curiosity. “Not interested in what?”
Ein hugged himself tightly. Is… is now the time to actually tell him? he panicked internally. In the end, I'll have no choice anyway, he snarled under his breath.
“Dad.” Ein finally raised his head, forcing his eyes to lock onto his father’s. He struggled to find the words, forcing them past his throat. “What if I'm…” He squeezed his eyes shut, finally shouting it out. “What if I'm interested in women and men?!” His father flinched in pure shock.
A suffocating silence stretched on for a full, agonizing minute. But as his father looked closely and saw the raw sincerity in Ein's eyes, his expression completely softened. He let out a long, heavy sigh.
“You're just like your mother,” his father grumbled, though a small chuckle escaped him.
Ein looked up, completely stunned. “Y-you're… you're not mad?” His father shrugged. “I'm not entirely sure,” he admitted, smiling softly. “But all I know is that you’re still my son.” Ein’s eyes widened, and tears immediately spilled over his lashes. Relieved of the crushing weight, his wolf ears and tail popped out, his tail wagging happily against his will. He quickly covered his mouth to muffle a sob. “Thanks, Dad…” His father waved his hands dismissively, trying to act tough, though his face remained gentle. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Then, his expression flattened. “But you still need to have a partner, you know.”
Ein stared at him with total judgment, his tears vanishing in an instant. “Do you seriously have to ruin the moment?” he retorted. Before his father could answer, the office doors slammed open so violently that both of them jumped. Standing in the doorway was Ein's mother, dressed beautifully. She had dark blue hair that perfectly matched Ein's signature blue streak, and piercing cyan eyes. The only minor difference was that she was a husky, but that didn't matter right now. She whipped off her sunglasses and practically lunged across the room, wrapping Ein in a suffocatingly tight hug.
“Eiiinnnyyy!! My son, how has life been?” She immediately cupped his face, inspecting him. “Are you taking care of yourself properly? You better be! Also, have you gotten a job yet? If not, you're lucky because I have a great temporary job lined up for you! Do you already have a partner? And—” “Okay, okay, he gets it, hon,” her husband interrupted, patting her shoulder. He leaned down and gave her a small peck on the cheek, making her roll her eyes affectionately. “But seriously though,” she continued, turning back to Ein, “has anyone been on your mind, Ein-Bun?” The childhood nickname made Ein groan in pure embarrassment. “Mom, we talked about this… no more using that name!”
His mother just cooed loudly. “Awhh! My little Ein has already grown up! What happened to the little baby boy who used to run into our room to sleep because there was a scary little monster under his beddy-wedy?!” Ein thrashed around, trying to break free from her iron grip. “Mom!!” he shouted, his face flushing bright red.
Chuckling softly, his mother finally let him go. Ein took a breath, smoothed down his clothes, and forced himself into a serious mindset. “Mom. I have something to tell you.” His mother gasped in sudden terror. “What is it?! Did something happen?! Did someone say something bad to you?! Did you get in trouble?! Did you—” “Honey…” his father sighed, cutting her off.
Realizing she was spiraling, she cleared her throat and waved her hands dismissively. “Right. Okay, continue explaining.” Ein sighed and gestured for her to sit down, which only made her look more worried. “Okay… so… uhm…” Ein hesitated. He glanced over at his father, who gave him a reassuring smile and a supportive thumbs-up. Feeling a wave of ease, Ein looked back at his mother. She was staring at him without blinking, which was honestly a little concerning, but he pressed on. Clearing his throat, he blurted it out flatly. “So… what I'm about to say is… I'm bisexual, but I'm more interested in men.”
His mother sat frozen for a full minute as the words processed. Suddenly, her eyes went wide. “Oh my Irene!” she shouted, clapping a hand over her mouth. Ein’s ears slowly drooped in disappointment, bracing for the worst. Seeing his reaction, guilt washed over her face instantly. “That's not what I meant!” she corrected quickly. Out of sheer excitement and surprise, her own ears and tail poofed out. Her gaze softened completely as she looked at him. “Ein… I know we might not fully understand what you're going through, but that doesn't mean you're not our son anymore.” A massive wave of relief washed over Ein, tears forming in his eyes once again.
But then she leaned forward eagerly. “So, do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend?”
The touching moment vanished instantly. “Seriously..?” Ein muttered. “What? I'm just asking!” She smiled happily, her tail wagging with pure excitement. “So, when can we meet them?” Ein was completely stunned by the rapid shift. He was about to admit that he was single, but he stopped himself. ‘If I say I'm single, Mom is going to get upset and scold me again.’ A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. “Uh… maybe… in a week! Haha, yeah!” he stammered nervously.
His mother’s ears drooped dramatically. “But… I actually want to meet them quickly. Besides… you never know, maybe I'll give you an additional allowance if you let me meet him tomorrow.” His father looked at her with disappointment and let out a heavy sigh. Then, he shrugged. “Honestly, I'm actually agreeing with her on this one. We need to know who this person is, Son, to see if they're worthy.”
Ein was taken aback. ‘Shoot… actually… I really, really need the money, so…’ “Yeah, sure! Tomorrow it is!” Ein said, forcing a happy smile. His mother clapped in joy. “That's wonderful to hear!” She stood up and walked toward the door. “See you tomorrow, Ein! I hope this person comes!”
The door clicked shut, leaving Ein and his father alone once more. His father stood up and checked his wristwatch. “Ericka should be finished with school by now.” He looked up at Ein. “Son, could you please go fetch Ericka from school?”
Ein nodded rapidly, practically leaping out of his seat. “Yup, sure, that's great!” he replied quickly, desperate for an excuse to escape the corner he had just painted himself into. “I'm going now! Bye, Dad! Work well!” He bolted out of the room and slammed the door behind him, leaving his father standing there, thoroughly worried and confused.