He is reading by the window sill tonight.
It's a special night, one he waits for every year, and now that it's finally here, he can't keep still. He can't even see the words, and doesn't get lost in the book like he usually does.
His eyes keep looking at the sky, waiting for the full moon to reach its highest point, then towards the wall where he knows he will see two red dots, and then that will be his cue.
It's already a routine he has created for three years now. His parents are already asleep, the whole place quiet save for the occasional hoot of an owl and the cricket sounds.
When he finally sees the sign he has been waiting for, he jumps into action. His bed is already lumped into humanoid form with the extra pillows in his bed truck, the light set under the right shade, too, because he doesn't sleep with lights off, and the window was opened earlier tonight.
The vines act as his ladder as he gets down from his bedroom window and then runs towards the wall, towards the small gate that their feline pets pass through with the guards. He also made sure to keep it unlocked for tonight, and he hopes it still is,
It is! Day doesn't waste time slowly opening it and then closing it behind him, leaving with the padlock in case one of the night guards comes back and locks him out.
There he is, still in his wolf form, and day doesn't even hesitate, happiness bursting from his chest as he runs barefoot towards the animal and throws his body onto it. It doesn't move, the animal two times his size, instead nuzzling him as day wraps its arms around its neck.
It's quite a sight that would send people to paralysis, but to day, this is his best night of the year.
This is when he gets to come and visit day. It's been so long since he last saw him.
"I missed you so, so much," he doesn't realize he's crying until the wolf licks his tears, slobbering, and day starts to laugh, giggling as he tries to get away but can't.
He knows how it goes. They can't get enough of each other after the first minutes, but he needs to get away first. So, the wolf lowers itself on the ground and day climbs onto its back, fingers digging into its soft fur, and holds tight.
This is one of his favorite parts of the night.
The run.
They run in the woods, further than day ever goes on its own, further than he is allowed to until he can see lights glimmering from afar. A town, the wolf told him. Civilization.
Day's home is so secluded and far out in the forest that it's a full three hours away from the nearest town, surrounded by forest only.
By the time they get to the creek, Day's cheeks are rosy from the wind, hair and clothes disarray, but he doesn't mind.
The wolf carefully lowers and day jumps back onto the ground, feeling lightheaded but oh so happy.
"Hi."
Day can't help the giggle, as he jumps into the arms of the boy in front of him. They end up on the soft grassy floor of the forest, his human form not as grounded as his wolf form, but Day doubts that.
The boy laughs, arms wrapped around his form as day buries his nose right onto his neck, breathing in the scent that makes him feel alive. Awake, and the world suddenly is much brighter.
Gods, he missed this so much. Every year it gets harder, and the period when they aren't seeing each other is longer too.
"You are lighter," the boy murmurs, as he too noses day's neck, jaw, and then back to his neck, arms tight around his body.
"new diet."
Not the right thing to say, as the boy growls, clearly unhappy.
"It's okay, I was sick for a month, I had to change my diet anyway."
"Again?" he is distressed. He doesn't like telling day that he worries, but he can tell anyway.
And tonight, he doesn't want to linger on all the pressure he has back home, to be reminded of his failing body or whatever else is wrong with him. he wants to soak in the boy and pray to the gods that the night be longer.
Day tells him all about the books he read, the books that the boy brought for him last time. Fictional books, not the ones that his parents need to approve and reapprove every fortnight. These, he keeps hidden on the floorboards of his bedroom.
The boy tells him of his pack, what he has been doing during the time they have been apart, and how he is finally ending his school and coming back closer to his family.
The school was very military themed, very hard core, and even though Day loves that he will now be closer home, which means he will be closer to him by extension, he wonders how much the boy will have grown when they see each other again.
His body wasn't as strong and muscly looking last time, day notices.
The new developments make him blush, not understanding why he is flustered and aware of his proximity. They always hold each other, not letting go from the moment they see each other to the moment they part ways.
So day pushes that foreign thought away and instead gets even closer to the boy.
"My parents tell me that I am ready to see suitors."
The boy doesn't like this, of course. "I can present as one of your suitors."
"What?"
"Yes. I can ask for your hand in front of your parents, and then we won't be hiding and sneaking around. I want to be able to court you properly. My father says it's important I court properly, as the tradition states."
"But… my family is human. You are a werewolf. They wouldn't take it too kindly."
"They wouldn't need to know."
Day knows it's doomed. He has seen the heads of the animals his father hunts on the weekends adorning his office. He can't risk it.
So he deflects and talks of other things. But his body starts failing him.
"I can't believe I am getting sleepy."
"It's okay, you can sleep, I won't go anywhere."
"But I don't want to. I want to talk and look at you some more. It will be a while before we get to see each other again," he can feel the tears already prickling at the corner of his eyes at the thought.
He kisses his forehead, gathering him even closer. "It's okay, I will try to come earlier this time round."
"But how will you let me know so that I can prepare? I-"
"I will find a way, I promise. You will see me sooner, okay?"
"Okay," day inhales the scent, eyes falling on the flowers that the boy brought him tonight. They are so beautiful. White, pink, and yellow. The third courting gift.
"Sleep now, I will keep you safe. We still have time, mhh?"
"Okay."
And so he sleeps.
Day's eyes open slowly, the soft morning light flittering through the curtains of his bedroom.
He sits up, buries his face in his palms, and breaks down.