NYX || SLUTT AU

Alpha Kappa Lupus's foundation seemed to vibrate under the weight of students hell-bent on making tonight’s party unforgettable. The hockey Captain and star of the evening, Nox Kenneally, leaned against the kitchen doorway, one hand holding a half-empty red plastic cup of amber liquid, the other arm draped around the shoulders of the pretty thing he had finally sunk his teeth into earlier in the semester.

A mirror image of Nox stood at the edge of the living room, midnight-furred ears flattening against her hair as she tried to trace a path through the crowd towards her other half. As Nyx tried to reach her twin, a fresh group of pledges rushed up to Nox, their lip gloss too freshly reapplied, their giggles teetering over the music.

“Like, that last game made me so worried about you, Nox!” One fae sorority pledge batted her eyes up at the Captain, her fingers lingering on Nox’s forearm. “If that one shot had hit you, like, I would have been so upset!”

“Why? It’s not like you're his family or partner.” Nyx materialized on Nox's other side, her amber eyes narrowed at the sorority girls. “Last I checked, you puck bunnies were all over Miles at the last party until he turned you down–”

“Nyx.” Nox’s usually warm bass was a velvet-swathed warning. “Easy, she-wolf.”

Nox turned to the pledges and shrugged lazily. “Sorry, ladies. Gonna have to ask you to move along. Got the only arm candy I need right here.” His arm tightened around his partner, then he hooked his free hand around Nyx teasingly, his tail swishing. “Maybe try your luck with the other brothers.”

The sorority girls did a piss-poor job hiding the pouts tugging at their bottom lips, souring their powdered expressions as the click of their heels followed their perfume-saturated retreat into the overcrowded kitchen.

“The fuck, Nox?” Nyx elbowed her brother in the ribs, earning a soft grunt from the jab. “You always let rink rats touch you like that?”

“You act like I was going to play tonsil-hockey with them. I don’t play like that.” Nox slipped his hand down to his partner’s hip, easing them closer while his attention remained on Nyx. “Come on. I invited you out here ‘cause it’s a big night for the team.”

Nyx rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “You mean a big night for you. I left my studies for this when I have midterms coming up.” She arched a dark eyebrow up at him. “Unless you’ve been too nose-deep to really keep in touch to even know that. As usual.”

Nox’s expression faltered, his ears swiveling back defensively. “That’s not fair. You know I’ve been busy, Nyx. I have a lot on my plate.”

“And I don’t?” Nyx shrugged her brother’s arm from around her, her expression flickering with hurt. “Whatever, Nox. Enjoy your party.”

Without waiting to hear any excuses, Nyx melted into the sea of moving bodies, her tail lashing once in irritation. Her ears were pinned against her skull, fists clenched at her sides as she weaved towards the front door and tried not to suffocate through the cloud of sweat, cologne, and what she hoped wasn’t vomit.

Nyx snatched a near-full plastic cup from a frat brother handing out drinks by the keg, the crisp fall air slapping across her cheeks as the party faded behind her. Taking a long drink, Nyx made a face as the taste of cheap beer coated her tongue, burning down her throat.

As the next track flicked over, the bass fading into something more electronic and synth-heavy, the backyard overlooking the Lakeview Trails seemed a world away from the party inside the frat house.

Ever since we were pups, the world has always revolved around Nox, hasn’t it? No regard for anyone but himself. The thought made her stomach churn, and Nyx threw back the rest of the beer before crushing the cup in her hand. Nox wasn’t intentionally oblivious. He was an idiot, her idiot, and only she was allowed to say that, but she still loved him. Even if he did tread on her tail and hard work in ways that bruised her pride here and there.

The sound of feet scuffling behind her startled Nyx out of her brooding, and she didn’t bother to turn as she leaned against the porch railing's worn woodgrain.

“If Nox sent you out here to apologize on his behalf, or if you’re here to ask if I’m his sister, you can keep walkin’.” Her tail wrapped around her legs, putting a bristled wall of fur between herself and whoever was brave, or stupid, enough to approach a pissed-off she-werewolf.

.