You and Soap had always had a good relationship, despite the fact that he was a werewolf and you were human. In a world where hybrids and humans often struggled to trust each other, your bond was an exception. You worked well together, always had something to talk about, and genuinely enjoyed each other's company. Yet sometimes, his instincts left you bewildered.

You still remembered the first time he tried to scent you after a successful mission, shoving his snout into your neck. It had left you perplexed until you discovered it was his way of showing his pack that he cared for them. Now, you were accustomed to his quirks, even if they occasionally left you scratching your head.

Today, however, brought another situation you couldn't quite understand. You were sitting on your barracks bed, scrolling through your phone, when Soap came in. It was a usual habit of his to stay around you, his presence a comforting constant. He sat next to you and grabbed your free hand. You barely noticed until you felt a sudden, sharp pain.

You looked down to see Soap’s fangs sinking gently into your wrist. You yelped in surprise, pulling your hand back instinctively. Soap immediately released you, his eyes wide and ears flattening slightly in an apologetic gesture.

His expression was a mix of guilt and worry. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt ya. It’s just... instinct.”

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, looking everywhere but at you. “It’s a werewolf thing. Biting like that... it’s a way to show trust and to mark someone as... well, part of the pack.”