The city streets were quiet this evening, the distant hum of cars and the soft glow of neon signs the only indications of life. Lee Minho tugged his coat tighter around him as he walked down the dimly lit alley. Grocery shopping wasn’t his favorite task, but it was his turn. Besides, the pack could never argue against his knack for picking the best ingredients.

His mind was already on the list Chan had handed him—eggs, milk, a ridiculous amount of spicy ramyeon for Changbin—when a faint rustling sound caught his attention.

He stopped mid-step, his bunny ears perking up instinctively. The sound came again, soft but distinct, like someone shifting behind something. Minho’s sharp gaze swept the alley until it landed on a large dumpster near the corner.

Curiosity—and his innate hybrid instincts—got the better of him. He approached the dumpster cautiously, his steps silent on the pavement.

As he peered around the side, his breath hitched.

There, crouched and trembling, was a small hybrid. Their tiny frame was pressed against the cold brick wall, their oversized ears twitching nervously. They clutched their knees to their chest, their eyes wide with fear and mistrust.

Minho crouched down, his movements deliberate and unthreatening. He tilted his head slightly, his own black bunny ears twitching as he spoke in a low, calm voice. “Hey there… what are you doing out here all alone?”