Howl into the Night

Published: 6/20/2025

Artist: PunkerLazer

Wolf Harry growled as the humans opened the door. He was guarding his mate, and he barred his teeth as the humans looked in.

"See... they're fine!" the man said.

"They're in the same cell! Draco was worried!" the woman responded.

"Well, we aren't going to do anything about it, now."

Harry growled, staring at them until they closed the door. His mate had been so exhausted he slept right through it. His mate had been so fretful that it hurt him. Harry licked his small, human-like mate. He didn't care about his mate's form... his mate was beautiful no matter what. He licked the angry mark that caused his mate pain and the bond mark that wasn't his. The smell of the old rival was nearly gone. Harry wanted him gone and licked harder.

His mate stirred and whined. Wolf Harry nuzzled his cheek to put his mate at ease. He couldn't, wouldn't hurt his mate.

His mate exposed his own throat and wolf-him put his nose right into it. It was the same spot where his bondmark was on his neck. His mate wanted him to bite him, and his wolf wanted to bite him.

Memories of his angry human mate stayed in his mind. Permission. Consent. His wolf wouldn't assume anything. His human-half had promised to protect his mate, too. He licked the spot his mate presented. This meant something. It was instinctual to bite there, though his mate was a wolf already... or not.

Mate... he thought as he lick-bathed his mate again, trying to make sure that his scent was on his mate as much as possible and no one else's. Everything but those areas his mate had nipped at him not to. He respected his mate... his pack leader....

When his mate rose up, he lowered his body respectfully, wagging his tail in hopes of pleasing his mate. His pack leader looked up at the ceiling, sniffing. Trying to find the moon. It was time... the change was coming. Wolf-him whined, and his mate rubbed his head against him, calming him. His mate pressed on his side and nudged him to the ground as the change started, crippling him.

He could see his mate go down, whining and spasming from the pain, too. He wanted to help his mate but couldn't as the pain took him. His mate crawled to him, and wolf-him grabbed his mate's hand as he went unconscious.

***

Harry woke up on the cement floor, covered in a blanket. "Fucking hell."

"Oh, morning, Harry," Ron said from a chair outside the cage.

He sat up, aching from sleeping on the floor as the Cushioning Charm had worn off. He found Draco, dressed and inspecting the bars, thoughtfully.

"Here's your clothes. Hermione went home to check on everything. They didn't find us this time. But... Fred and George said that there were some reports of werewolf sightings. No attacks, though."

Harry looked at him and then to Draco. Memories came back: Draco frightened and cowering in terror from him, Harry breaking through the bars and showing that he meant no harm, Draco examining him, and then Harry licking and claiming his mate. Mate?! Oh, holy fuck! Oh Merlin... he licked nearly all of Draco... twice! He sucked in a breath.

Draco turned to look at him. "Do calm down, Harry. I reassured Ron and Hermione that nothing untoward happened. It's okay, Harry."

"But... but I...."

"You didn't do anything that I'm upset about. It was a wolf-thing, Harry, like scent marking. You didn't take advantage or do anything... offensive," Draco said, but looked away, embarrassed. He went back to staring at the bent bars of the cell.

Harry didn't know if he was saying it for Ron's benefit. Ron came over with his clothes and handed them to Harry. He tried to put them on, but his hands were shaking from the change or the tension.

"Draco said to wait here until you were conscious. So, we stayed here. He covered you if you're worried."

"We shared a dorm for six years, Ron, and you're dating Hermione," Harry scoffed and got dressed.

Ron had laughed and brought him a pain potion vial, which he drank. His tremors faded. He looked to Draco, though. His mate. Where was that coming from?

"Draco... is the baby okay?" he asked

Draco lowered his head, still looking away from him. "He's... it's fine, that I can tell. Granger checked it before she left."

"Okay... and you? Are you okay?" Harry said, nearly whining. Draco could probably smell his concern.

Draco grunted. "Peachy. How the fuck did you do this? You used magic... as a werewolf, Harry. That's unheard of."

"I don't know. You were scared, and it was driving me crazy... sorry. I... wolf-me didn't understand it was me... or it did."

"Draco said you didn't do anything to him," Ron said, staring at him.

"No... I couldn't. I wouldn't..." Harry said, feeling the panic start to take over at the thought.

Draco whipped his head around and came over, strength and confidence in his step. Harry barred his neck and whined. Merlin, the wolf urges were so strong still, and they demanded that he submit. In front of Ron, Draco stroked his bondmark, and Harry struggled to remain standing.

"Calm down, Harry," he ordered, quietly, and let go of him.

Harry turned to meet his eyes hesitantly. Mate. Eye contact was allowed. Draco was his mate. What the fuck was happening? Harry rubbed his face, trying to understand.

"Everything is so easy as a wolf, is it?" Draco huffed and walked away.

Harry dropped his hands and almost whined. He hated the distance. He wanted his mate close. Bite him, his mind urged.

"Can you take us home? Not that I don't trust Harry. Touching each other is not advisable right now," Draco murmured.

"I... I thought you said he didn't do anything? Are you worried...."

"I am not worried about him right now. The full moon setting doesn't stop everything, Ron. Our instincts are in overdrive. Getting close or talking about stuff will set off... things. He needs food, too."

Harry snarled, very wolf-like, "You-food-need!" He had to protect their cub. Harry blinked. Again... what the fuck?

Ron and Draco looked at him. Draco waved to him and sighed, "Example one. Harry's still a new wolf."

"Okay, I can take you first," Ron said. However, as soon as Ron reached for Draco's arm, Harry's drive to protect went off and he lunged at Ron, growling.

Draco jumped into Harry, though, and took him to the floor. Draco snarled and put his mouth right into Harry's neck, nipping their bondmark without teeth. Harry dropped all resistance and submitted to his mate. He didn't move. It wasn't fear that gripped him, though. His mate wasn't angry. He was showing who was in charge.

"He is pack," Draco growled under his breath.

Harry still didn't move as his mind tried to understand what his urges and instincts were doing. He whined as though showing contrition for... whatever he had just done. Defend his mate? Was Ron... an enemy? A rival? What was happening?

Draco slowly got up, and Harry did too, though he had to fight his urge to remain on the floor prostrate. He looked at Draco for an answer, but Draco looked away.

"Example two, Weasley. You can take me back now," Draco said.

Harry whined, all aggression gone. His mate was leaving.

"I... can... take you both," Ron muttered, and slowly took Draco's arm and then Harry's.

They Apparated to the front step of Grimmauld and went inside. Ron followed, watching them curiously. Harry just went to the kitchen, confused, but set on making breakfast for his mate and cub. He shook his head. What the hell? Realization hit him. Draco knew that this... that this was happening... he... knew something. Mates... he knew that. Draco's nose and mouth had been at that spot since before he was bitten.

He stopped and glared at doorway. Draco was there with Ron, who was looking back and forth between them.

"Guys... what's going on?" Ron asked.

"We're alright, Ron," Draco said, leaning against the door.

"Are we? What is going on?" Harry demanded to know as well.

"You're a werewolf, Harry. It doesn't start and stop at moon rise and set," Draco replied, smelling... sad.

"What?" Harry said, now concerned, too.

Draco shook his head. "We need to eat. Do you want help?"

Harry shook his head, turned back to his task and cooked in silence. Ron didn't want to leave, but Draco managed to convince him once Harry was done cooking and they hadn't had another... encounter. Argument didn't sound right in Harry's mind. But Ron left, stating he'd be back soon. Harry plated Draco's breakfast and then his own. When his mate started to eat, so did he. They finished their meals, and Harry sent the plates to the sink.

His eyes met Draco's, and he resisted the urge to look away in deference. "What is going on? What is... you know... you... you call me that too... don't you?"

Draco lowered his head. "Yes."

"Mate," Harry growled low, and Draco's eyes flashed as he said it.

Draco breathed in and nodded. "Mate."

Harry felt confusion and anger flood through him. His mate kept this from him.

"Harry, it's not... permanent... for you. It's the bondmark and spending a moon together. He... Lupin... said that the close proximity would do this. It's not a... soulbond."

"Remus? Wait, you've been calling me your mate since the first full moon?!" he gasped.

"Yes," Draco whispered.

Harry's mouth dropped. "Why didn't you... why didn't you tell me!?"

"It wasn't permanent. You weren't a wolf then... it's only for wolves. You would never feel the pull, and I couldn't... I couldn't admit that and you reject me."

"That's why you... with Remus...."

Draco's growled and barred his teeth before controlling himself. "He's a rival. He's not my pack."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Draco... you didn't tell me after I was bitten either."

Draco looked away from him, smelling guilty and sad. "I knew... I knew you'd start doing it too, but how can I talk about it... when I... I thought you'd... take me. I... never expected that... that it would happen like that, Harry."

Harry whined, remembering his mate's fear... of him. "I couldn't hurt you... the thought causes me physical pain, Draco."

Draco shook his head. "It doesn't make sense. It can't be the sire bond. Every wolf in that pack was bitten by Fenrir and didn't cower at his feet. They challenged him. Biting to turn doesn't make them mates."

"We messed with the bondmark though."

"So did Greyback. I submitted to him..." Draco swallowed. "...like you did. Is that it?"

Harry lifted his head. "You did not make me do that... I... I wanted it. I wanted you to know that... we were mates. I respected you...."

"You submitted to me. It doesn't make sense. I'm an Omega. You're an Alpha."

"Maybe I'm not... or you aren't. Isn't Omega a position? That's what the healer said. That's all it means, Draco."

"What? But I'm an Omega...."

"Draco... this is your pack. I'm your pack... and, apparently, Ron," Harry said. As soon as Draco had declared Ron a packmate, Harry accepted him.

Draco grimaced and shook his head. "No... I'm an Omega."

"Those are just words, Draco."

Draco shook his head, distressed. Harry whined and slowly took him into his arms. He pet him gently.

"Let's go lie down, okay? I'm... I'm still tired and you probably are, too," Harry murmured, and Draco nodded and walked upstairs.

Harry was confused when Draco walked past Draco's room and into Harry's. Draco hadn't gone into Harry's room since the last full moon. Draco walked to his side of the bed, and Harry went to his. Harry stripped down to his boxers, and Draco did the same. Harry went through the motions, slipped under the covers, and wasn't surprised when Draco did, too. But Draco came right over. He looked at Harry before sliding in beside him. He put his head on Harry's shoulder, held Harry's arm and wrapped his legs around Harry's.

"Mate," Draco almost growled, wolf-like, rubbing his face on Harry's chest and shoulder.

Harry almost cried. He missed this so much. The last month had been just torture. Draco was scared, hurt and nervous, so nervous, that it made Harry scared, hurt and nervous. But Draco wasn't scared anymore. He was happy, relaxed. As soon as Harry's wolf form exposed his throat in submission to Draco, all fear vanished. Harry would never hurt him, wolf or not.

"Mate," Harry murmured back, and leaned in to kiss his mate's head. They hadn't really talked or worked it all out, but Draco felt safe and happy. Really, that was all that mattered to Harry. He fell asleep, cuddled next to his mate.

Going on vacation until July soon, so I probably won't update this one for a few weeks.