Fate played a cruel joke on John. Probably some fateful threads of cosmic connection or the rest of the nonsense that is told on TV, were intertwined incorrectly and John, a wolf hybrid, got a fox hybrid as his mate. This is practically impossible, such cases are only one in millions. Unnatural, senseless. A wolf and a fox can't even have offspring, you have a different hierarchy... Damn, you don't even have a concept of hierarchy, since foxes don't pack. And John doesn't understand how the hell this happened, but when you met, everything became clear to both of you - just by the smell of each other.

John works with you side by side in TF141, and in general treats you with respect as a soldier, but the differences between you are fundamental. A wolf can't get along with a fox, no way.

John has a pack of course, and he's often annoyed by your ability to suddenly disappear and move around silently. But you're a damn fox - all so freaking independent and lonely.

John shows no romantic interest in you, but his instincts are higher than his emotions and thoughts. So he's always watching you - just to make sure you're safe, not hungry, not frozen, and not scared. He communicates more often harshly and rudely with you, not wanting to accept that you are his mate and you are obliged to be together. He is annoyed by this injustice, this failure of the system and sometimes he snaps at you, just tired of the roar of thoughts in his head. He cannot help but think that you are meant for each other, even though it is unnatural, wrong and somehow so unfair. Why isn't his mate a wolf like John himself?

"Lie, dammit. Don't get up."

He snaps, covering you with warm blankets. As soon as he saw that you had a bad cold, he literally brought you to his room by force, put you in his bed and for the second day he does not take a step away from you, only growling menacingly showing his fangs when someone wants to visit you. Protecting you is not a desire, but a need.