The first thing Mark felt when he woke up was cold. It took him a few seconds to scan his surroundings and actually recognise where he was, but it was the exact same setting that he woke up to 95% of the time nowadays.
He lay on the left hand side of Jack's double bed, the white walls and bed sheets giving the room a modern and minimalistic vibe. The TV was still on, the faint music from the menu screen of the last game the two played before falling asleep on each other still resonating softly throughout the room.
He looked up to see the window was open. The chilly air spread through the room that was now bathed in a soft orange glow from the rising sun. Mark debated untangling himself from Jack's loose grip to go and close it, but eventually decided against it, instead snuggling into his slim frame for warmth. He felt Jack stir slightly but he didn't wake up.
This was maybe his favourite part of the mornings, when he was able to just lay in Jack's embrace and study his features with no distractions. No activities diverting his attention and no Swedish friends telling him to snap out of it.
It was only ever Felix. Isaac and Ken didn't seem to mind.
But now, he was able to just stare. Watch him breathe, feel his chest rise and fall and listen to the slight snore that slipped out every now and again.
The only things he didn't like about it were that he couldn't see Jack's cerulean eyes, and he couldn't really share the experience with Jack, but Mark was always the first to fall asleep at night anyway, so maybe Jack did the same thing, at night rather than in the morning.
His mind wandered, thinking back to the last time he actually spent a night in his own home, which was at least a week and a half ago now. His dad didn't mind, he never became accustomed to the whole paternal figure sort of role, and as long as Mark was safe and happy, his dad was content. It wasn't as if they didn't text everyday anyway.
Mark was almost 99% certain that his dad was aware that whatever was going on between Jack and himself was more than platonic, but the conversation was never brought up, and so Mark just interpreted that as silent acceptance. He never imagined his free spirited dad to be very homophobic anyway, so coming out was never much of a concern in his mind.
Mark didn't actually know why he hadn't moved in with Jack permanently, but despite already being certain of the answer, he didn't really know the best way to bring up the question. I mean, shouldn't it be Jack who asks, considering it's his own apartment?
His contemplation was cut short, as he felt Jack stirring for a second time beneath him, this time his eyes fluttering open cautiously as a reaction to the dimly lit bedroom. He glanced around his room before his eyes fell on Mark, gazing up at him happily, a small smile growing on his lips as he shifted into a more comfortable position where they were both facing each other.
"Good morning babe," Jack drawled, his voice hoarse but his expression chipper.
"Good morning." Mark replied, leaning forward and kissing him softly.
"How long have you been awake for? You always seem to wake up first." Jack said, his eyes actually filled with concern as he stared into Mark's, as if his slightly later wake up time was a hinderance to his boyfriend.
"Not long." Mark assured him. "Plus, I get to watch you sleep when I... wake up first." Mark almost choked out the last few words, realising how creepy it had came across and causing the other man to blush brightly at the statement, before chuckling slightly and pulling himself closer to Mark in an attempt to calm him down slightly.
"I know what you meant by that... incredibly perverse statement. Don't worry!" Jack cooed, soothingly rubbing the red faced man's back as he buried his head deeper into his bare chest, mumbling some incoherent apology for sounding like such a weirdo.
"C'mon though." Jack chirped, shaking Mark softly out of his grip and standing to shower. "Let's go out for breakfast. I've got a big day planned for you!" He beamed, causing Mark to raise his eyebrow confusedly, before allowing an evil grin to cross his face.
"Only if I get to shower with you." He teased, wiggling his eyebrows at a now giggling Jack.
"As if I'm gonna turn that down." Jack replied with his best attempt at a low seductive voice, reaching out his hand for Mark to take. Both of them grinned foolishly as they headed for the bathroom.
---
"What's the backpack for?" Mark asked curiously as the two exited the pancake house on the edge of town. He had been asking Jack what was in store for them all morning, but hadn't managed to coax a single hint from him, only receiving a devilish half grin and a raise of the eyebrows.
The only thing he knew for certain was that they were going on some sort of hike somewhere. That was the only reason Jack ever put his walking boots on, and he was wearing them right now, so Mark figured it must be the case.
"Will you stop asking questions?" Jack whined, the humour in his voice drowned out by the fake irritation he was trying to convey.
Mark complied, and so was quiet after that, careful not to allow his aggravating manner to become unbearable. In all seriousness, it didn't really matter much to him where they would be going, so long as they went together.
His theory was confirmed as Jack took a right when they exited the pancake house instead of a left, immediately stepping off the cracked road and into the woods that bordered the small town.
This time no path or track was there to lead them the way, and the trees were tightly packed together, making the woods dense and hard to navigate, or at least to Mark. Jack seemed to know exactly where he was going, walking with purpose as he leapt over the various rocks and roots as if it was second nature to him.
Mark grabbed onto Jack's hand, scared that he would lose him in this maze of woodland, especially since Jack was travelling at such a fast pace. Jack only smiled and tightened his fingers around Mark's hand, refusing to take his eyes off the path that he had etched into his mind, in fear that he would lose his place if he turned around.
The whole walk was incredibly quiet, Mark not getting a chance to take in the scenery as he was dragged through the thick forest, the pine needles and leaves underfoot making a crunching noise after each step he took, but Jack kept going, smiling all the way as he reminisced on the last time he came here, at the end of summer.
It must have been 45 minutes since they had left the pancake house, and the sun was shining over their heads as the trees began to become more and more sparse. Despite the sun beating down on them, however, they were both freezing cold, Mark sniffing every five seconds and his cheap knockoff converse soaked through.
The trees were almost completely gone when they reached their destination, opening out onto a vast field of lush green grass, each blade crusted with a thin layer of frost, making the meadow look even more beautiful.
Mark looked around once the two had come to a halt, taking in the incredible surroundings. On one side of the pasture was a huge knoll in the ground, not quite big enough to be called a hill, but still rising far above the treetops surrounding it.
To the other side was a cliff, from which a thin waterfall cascaded down into the stream that passed through the grassy area, the soothing noise of running water making Mark relax a little, closing his eyes and breathing in the fresh air through his nostrils.
On the other two sides of the meadow, were the same towering trees that they had been navigating through for almost an hour, swaying elegantly in the wintry breeze.
It was like heaven, the white from the frost on the ground resembling clouds. There was something Mark loved about the sound of the running water, and the natural smell was incredible. Surprisingly, it was something Mark had never experienced before, not with his mother working non stop to keep him and his brother well fed and sheltered, and his father not really coming into the picture until recently.
And to top it all off, Jack was standing right next to him, squeezing his hand gently as he smiled warmly, his eyes soft and welcoming, with a hint of fear in them. Mark couldn't pinpoint the reason for the fear, but he could always read Jack's expressions, and something was making him uneasy.
"Th-this is my favourite place to come... let some steam off." Jack said softly, his breath misting up in front of his face as his sky blue eyes connected with Mark's vulnerably.
Then it clicked for Mark, the reason why he was acting a bit iffy.
This was Jack's secret place. He had obviously not brought anyone here. Well... he's probably brought Isaac before, but Isaac and Jack seem to know absolutely everything about each other, so Mark didn't bother to count him in this.
It was where he must have come whenever he felt alone, or felt as if things were going wrong, and now he was sharing it with Mark, eyeing him nervously, as if desperate for his approval of the place.
"It's beautiful." Mark breathed wondrously, looking around at the captivating scenery. He had said that to put Jack more at ease, but thinking to himself, it was hard for him to disagree with his statement.
The vibrant blues and greens clashing almost magically with the natural greys and browns of the rocks and the cliff face really did indicate how impressively attractive this place was, and Mark felt himself imagining it in the spring. The vivid colours of the windflowers and warm blue skies danced through his imagination as he fully soaked in what he could only describe as a perfect landscape.
It was like Jack's mini utopia, and Mark felt a little guilty for even treading on the grass, as if his footprints in the crisp blades would subtract from the beauty of the place.
Jack smiled, his original confidence returning to him now that the place had received Mark's verbal seal of approval. He advanced further into the middle of the field before reaching into his backpack and taking out a large tartan blanket. He placed it on the dewy grass, and then went off to find four large rocks to hold the corners down.
He gestured for Mark to sit down next to him on the blanket, which Mark did without hesitation, still staring admirably at his surroundings.
The two sat for what must have been hours, making small talk and just simply enjoying each others' company, but as the day went on, Mark could sense a change in Jack's attitude, especially as the sun began to sink over the horizon.
It was as if he was excited and anxious at the same time, his eyes flickering back to the position of the sun in the sky every once in a while.
"Is everything okay babe?" Mark asked, growing impatient at the developing jitteriness of his boyfriend, but keeping his voice and his facial expressions soft and caring.
"It's just..." Jack started, fumbling with his words and casting his gaze down at his fidgeting fingers below him. "It's... The real reason I brought you here wasn't just for the scenery and a nice picnic out, it's... the full moon is tomorrow. And I thought we should... practice." He said cautiously, watching as Mark's eyes grew wide with fear and uncertainty.
Mark brushed off the unease that the suggestion had cast over him as fast as he could, reverting his expression back to normal, but his head was starting to spin, and he wasn't sure he could let himself go, despite the progress that he had made.
It was obvious that Mark had failed to hide his anxiety, as he felt Jack's cold hand on his knee, his thumb brushing the fabric of his jeans gently as he leaned in closer to him.
"You know how to control yourself." Jack assured him. "You're more than capable of letting yourself go but still dominating your animalistic side. You just need the confidence, you need to believe in yourself like I believe in you."
Mark nodded, forcing himself to believe what Jack was saying as he clenched his teeth, determined to prove to Jack and to himself that his hard work at mastering this level of restraint wasn't all for nothing.
They were miles away from the town, miles away from any form of civilisation, so even if Mark did allow his other self take over completely, nobody would be in real danger.
He was thinking about this too much. Jack's intentions were to allow him to let loose a little, not focus too much on restraint or anything of the sort, but really experience what it's like to have power over his wolf form as well as his human form.
He just had to trust his instincts and his common sense.
The sun was setting, colouring the skies that beautiful shade of pink that was so common in this town, the meadow darkening slightly as the orange sun began to sink below the treetops. The stars in the sky were becoming visible already in such a natural environment, no fluorescent street lights or chimney smoke managed to dampen the magnificence of the currently faded celestial bodies against the pale rosy skies.
Mark was snapped out of his stupor by Jack's hand, outstretched in his direction as he stood over him, grinning sheepishly. Mark took it and got to his feet, helping Jack fold the tartan blanket and following him in the direction of the small hill. Nervousness took over as he observed the skies turning from a pastel pink to an equally soothing shade of purple.
When they reached the top of the knoll, Jack allowed Mark a few moments to take in the overwhelming beauty of the environment, remembering the first time he had laid his eyes on the scenery. They were now standing higher than the treetops, meaning that their eyes could travel for miles over the woods, the horizon dropping off before they reached the bordering towns, and making it look like there was no industry, no buildings. No mankind.
Mark exhaled with wonder, watching the silhouetted tips of the conifers swaying below the darkening purple sky as the stars began to grow more and more prominent, his breath misting in front of him. He squeezed Jack's hand, shooting him glances every now and then to display his gratitude that he would share such a beautiful place with him.
"You ready?" Jack asked eventually, watching the colour drain from Mark's face, but return just as quick as it went, along with a half grin as he tightened his grip on Jack's hand and clenched his teeth momentarily.
"Yes." Mark said sternly, almost robotically, in an attempt to shield his reservations and show that he was eager to prove himself to Jack. Just to occupy his trembling hands, he removed his glasses and slipped them into the side compartment of Jack's backpack that rested on the ground, aware that his senses would be heightened when he underwent the changing and not wanting to break another pair.
With a nod of the head, Jack's eyes were amber, his grip was released from Mark's hand, and he started going through the changing. He made sure to maintain eye contact with his boyfriend, it was as if he was trying to convince him that everything was going to be okay, and to have faith in himself.
Soon enough, Jack had fully transformed, the only difference between him now and on the night of the full moon was his ability to control of his actions, as if he was in some sort of control room in his brain and not just a prison cell watching over as his body wreaks havoc.
With one last supportive glance, Jack bounded down the hill, towards the thick wall of trees on the opposite end of the grassland, leaving Mark on top of the mound, shaking with the uncertainty that he was trying to force himself to forget about.
Slowly, he allowed himself to begin the voluntary changing, flinching less as his body underwent the process. He was growing accustomed to the burning feeling that encased every molecule of his anatomy.
His eyes were that ominous shade of lilac, his teeth bared and the hair on his face and body fully grown in as he remained on top of the grassy hill, focussing solely on controlling his movements for a second.
That wasn't easy though, his body was stiff, his muscles actually hurting with the rigidity of his frame, and his instincts were screaming at him, telling him that its safe to let go, just a little bit more. There was no way for him to enjoy himself if he was this tense and fearful that things would go wrong, and so he remembered Jack's words.
Trust your instincts.
He had to try, for Jack.
He took off down the hill, in the opposite direction that Jack had, led only by his senses as he disappeared into the tangle of branches and tree trunks, navigating the wooded area at such a high speed that every object that he passed was nothing but a blur.
None of that mattered now though, not now that his senses were heightened and a feeling of overwhelming exhilaration washed over him, as he dashed through the forest, his concentration fixed on whatever prey it was that he smelled up ahead.
This was the highest level of freedom that Mark had ever felt, it was a feeling of pure elation, almost magical as he propelled himself further into the woods, masterfully avoiding the countless branches and effortlessly hopping over the protruding tree roots. The scent of his prey was growing stronger by the second.
He hadn't lost total control, but it was safe to say that he was basing all of his decisions on his instincts.
His prey came into view, and he hastened himself even more as he targeted the helpless creature.
---
Jack and Mark lay on top of the hill, hand in hand as they stared up at the midnight sky, jet black in contrast with the twinkling stars that seemed ten times bigger out here than they did in town. The moon was almost full, reaching the final stage of is waxing phase, but not enough to overpower the will strength of the two men.
The grass was growing crisper around them as the frost began to nip at the blades, but Mark and Jack payed the minus temperatures no attention as they continued to look up to the sky.
"It's incredible, right?" Jack muttered wondrously, watching the bright white stars pulsate against the inky sky.
"Mmmh." Was all Mark managed to reply with, his lips parting a little as he felt the corners of them upturn ever so slightly, unable to remove his gaze from such a sight. He was dumbstruck at the fact that he had managed to go eighteen years of his life without seeing the night sky in all its glory, with no streetlights to drown out the magic.
"You know, when I was young, I wanted to be an astronaut." Jack mumbled nonchalantly, not waiting for a response before he continued. "Everything about space just fascinates me so much, the fact that it's so vast and unexplored. It's not that scary form of unknown, like the ocean, space is colourful, lively, unconquerable. No human will ever fully understand what's out there, but that doesn't change the fact that there are endless possibilities when it comes to exploring it. It's not likely that either of us will live to see any extraterrestrial species, but the fact that there's even a chance... it excites me."
Jack shut himself up, before he droned on any longer about something that he wasn't sure Mark was even interested in, but Mark squeezed his hand, sighing contentedly as he processed what Jack was saying, and grinned stupidly at the passion that was in his voice.
Jack turned his gaze to Mark, taking in every feature of his side profile as he lay staring at the sky, smiling lightly at the beauty of the glimmering stars.
It wasn't often that Jack got to just stare at Mark, to really appreciate his attractiveness. The way his unspectacled eyes twinkled along with the stars overhead, the pearly glow that the moonlight gave his perfect skin, the slight crinkle that showed in the corner of his eye when he grinned widely enough. Even the hint of blood that still lingered on his upper lip as a result of him catching that hare was oddly endearing. He was perfect.
Not only his physical features though, Jack found himself admiring every little thing about him, his personality, the low soothing tone to his voice, his goofy adorable laugh. And all that topped off by the pride that Jack was bursting with at the fact that Mark had successfully found that balance of letting go while still managing to keep control, something that Jack had taken months upon months to accomplish.
Yet here Mark was, perfect in every way.
"I can see you staring." Mark said amusedly, not taking his gaze off the stars as he chuckled, his hand squeezing Jack's softly.
Jack felt his cheeks grow hot, but didn't look away. "Can you blame me?" He asked, inching closer to Mark, and pulling his face to the side and closer to his own, so that their noses were brushing softly against each other's.
Jack pulled further forward, connecting their lips softly, and feeling Mark smile before he kissed back, almost immediately wrapping his arms around Jack's waist so that they were pressed together.
He wasn't even bothered by the taste of the hare's blood that mingled with his saliva as he brushed his tongue across Mark's lip, requesting access, and receiving it without hesitation.
________
A/N Hey guys!!!
Woooo!! A nice cheesy lovey dovey chapter with no confrontation or sadness at all!! Who knew I could write one of those hahaha
I really hope you enjoyed it, I'm actually quite proud for once at how a chapter turned out, so hopefully it's as successful with you guys!
And if you'd like to, you can vote or leave a comment about how you think it's going here? I'd really appreciate the feedback! I'm open to learning new things about improving my writing! :D
I'll see you guys in the next chapter if you decide to read on!! Thank you once again!!