Archive of Our Own

Right when the sun started setting down, dowsing Minho’s white fur in golden streaks of colour he settled in for the night. It was one of the rare nights he could take off from pack duties. And as the sun set down, he got comfortable against the rock still warm from the day’s heat. His ears were picking up sounds – crickets, the stream running through the forest, the leaves fluttering against the warm wind.

Nights like these were his favourite. Calm and spacious in his chosen solitude. There were fewer and fewer of them as he got older, and more so when he became a young wolf with pack responsibilities piling on top of him.

No one could have denied him wandering about though. It was nobody’s business what the fighter wolf did in his free time and no one would dare to go against the wolf that had been guarding them. For months and months, Minho prepared the contraptions and built the walls that guarded the South pack territory. He lead the pack with his ideas on how to make this a safe space. He learnt many lessons, finding holes in the fences he built, the traps completely turned to dust and yet somehow he was never once attacked. He wondered if missing the attacks by mere minutes was a blessing or if was it his curse to have lost so many pack mates. He now knew the territory and traps set up better than anyone. They respected him immensely so his privacy and the right to a day off was a given.

He also felt rather secure in his favourite spot. It was within their territory and he hadn’t encountered any lone wolves in this place. It felt secluded, up on a hill, hidden from three sides with a wall of tall pine trees. You could see the rest of the forest almost from a bird’s eye view. Minho had felt a connection to it every time he came to rest his head. Being so up high made him change his perspective, and that’s the kind of reminder he appreciated every once in a while.

Melting into the comforting rock, he would have been fast asleep if not for a wolf’s howl that sounded so pretty in the distance. Minho lifted one of his ears upon instinct, sniffing the air as if he could smell the wolf from that far. Reaching out to the distance as if those mere centimetres could bring him any closer. He felt silly doing this, the beautiful voice was somewhere far, too far for him to indulge it and undoubtedly not in their territory. That wolf’s howl was so powerful that he felt his coat hair rise. Like any wolf hybrid, he could hear for miles and miles. He fell against the rock once more, enjoying the melodious voice until something made it cut off. Minho perked up at that once again. He let out a trying howl. It was too pitiful and quiet for anyone to hear. The silence amplified his sudden heavy breathing. No one would stop their howling so abruptly unless they were attacked or worse. He hoped it wasn’t the latter.

The forests weren’t safe any more.

His home was being attacked, every pack in the forest had experienced this. The sudden terror of wolves disappearing, made his pack feel uneasy and forced the elders to come up with new forms of security, new rules and duties.

The nightmare was never ending. Wolves have been discovered all around their pack territory or in the forest stream that passed through it. Lifeless, too late to be saved. Someone was hunting them, someone dangerous and hungry that left no survivors.

Minho shivered just thinking about it. The simmering warmth from his favourite rock felt fleeting as if at any moment it could disappear. Like it was a figment of his imagination and not the remainder of the sun’s comforting touch. He had hoped to rest in solitude that night but he didn’t feel like it any more. The wolf slowly got up and padded down the rock towards home.

🌕

Jisung juts out his nose higher and smells the air. It’s thick in a way that’s familiar which makes him wonder if living on one part of the Earth means you have come to know the rest of it. Can rain taste different if it falls from the same sky?

He’s never been in this part of the forest but that smell alone makes him feel like he has just come home. Like he’ll get to see his parents emerge from the densely growing trees, the way they would scold him for being so far away from home and immediately welcome him to cuddle. But then it fades and he reckons it’s nothing like how his parents smell. He walks some more, every step is now heavy and if it weren’t for his stubborn promise to keep going no matter how much it hurts, he would have given in and dropped to the wet grass bed.

The beasts that were chasing him guided him to the southern part of the forests where he knew that another pack resided. He must be near the pack territory because he can smell other wolves too.

It has been a hell of a few days of trekking through the damp forest grounds just to see any other wolves parading. Anyone that could help him at all. But everyone’s heard or experienced the dangers of walking through the forest alone so it’s just his luck that no one has shown up ever since he got attacked.

He goes back to the smell that seems to surround the grounds he’s just reached. It’s sprinkled everywhere, so enticing and intoxicating, floating everywhere like it belongs here. And somehow, involuntarily, it starts bringing up memories from his past, he’s so sure of it that they’re his, he’s so certain he lived through these before and isn’t, in fact, dreaming but each time he tries to grasp them they slip away and he just can’t remember enough to have an idea what they were about. Maybe he’s started hallucinating, at this hour of the night, starved and exhausted, he wouldn’t put it past him. It’s been way too long since he’s eaten and the wound on his side has been feeling numb which probably isn’t a good thing.

Just a few more steps after all and someone will see him, someone will help…

He flops onto the wet grass and hopes he got close enough.

🌖

The footsteps softly squish the wet grass and leave footprints all around the patrolling area. Wolves are walking around the perimeter, on edge, ready for a surprise attack from any side. Before they can see anything wrong, the metallic smell of blood reaches their noses. They still and look around.

“Hey, there’s someone there.” One of them shouts.

“Is he still breathing?”

An Alpha kneels closer and checks the pulse of a lifeless man.

“I think so.”

“Help me get him up, let’s get him to Hyunjin.”

🌗

Jisung tries to open his eyes but they’re stubborn and too heavy from the sleep. Before he even rubs them someone greets him on his left.

“Oh, hello. You’re finally up.” Jisung moves his head to face them. The handsome wolf, guessing from the rich and exotic smell, is an Omega.

“Good morning. Oh, ow, ouch.” His neck stings from the movement and the rest of his body seems to have given up. Every single muscle pulses with pain from the arduous journey. He attempts to get himself up but to no avail. Every time he moves, his body reminds him of the bites, the scratches and all the other bruises it had endured during the fight. But at least now he feels cleaner and patched up.

“Wanna tell me what’s got you this messed up?” A tall handsome wolf asks him.

“The beasts in the woods, I’m sure you’ve heard.” He says nonchalantly. Then adds, “Tit for tat, where am I?”

“The south pack.”

Jisung hums, at least his internal compass had the right guess.

“Where about do you come from?”

“Oh, I’m from the North.” He says proudly.

The Omega widens their eyes at his response and Jisung feels the need to explain. He’s not crazy, he just got chased.

“I think I almost blacked out running from the beasts, then after the fight I lost sense of direction and ended up here somehow.”

The Omega still looks at him like he has two heads.

“You’re a lucky one, we haven’t had any survivors yet. You’re the first one.” The sweet smelling wolf walks around Jisung’s bed, looking at him curiously.

“No one lived long enough to tell a tale, I’m sure the elders will want to have a word with you.”

Jisung has never been to the North and he’s never met the North pack elders. The trips his parents took there happened when he was too little to travel such distances. All packs value knowledge sharing in times of distress and even way before so he’s not surprised he might get questioned.

“Our pack also lost many wolves to them.” He takes a minute to speak again. “I’m a fast runner, I think that was my advantage but my stamina isn’t that great. That’s why they caught up to me.”

“I see. Well, now that you’re here, you should rest.”

“How long?”

He does appreciate the hospitality but he’s not sure he wants to spend more time than needed in this bed. As soon as he can go, he’d love to explore and get to know the South pack and then figure out a way to go home safely.

“Until you recover at least.” And that sounds like an order.

This is an atypical interaction for him. Not that he hasn’t taken orders from an Omega before, he has. But if he weren’t so beat up, they would normally scent each other, check for mating marks, and squeal in happiness when they find one. Happy for the other that they have found a mate. In his current state, Jisung has no energy to do so. Instead, he tries to get to know him:

“What’s your name?”

“Hyunjin. And what is yours?”

“I’m Jisung.”

Hyunjin starts mindlessly snacking a bowl of fruit. The smell of the fresh blueberries reminds Jisung that he hadn’t eaten yet and the last thing he smelled had guided him here. Before the wolf leaves him, he takes his chance with something that he’s curious about.

“Say do the trees grow moss a lot here?”

“Here? No way, they must be more common where you are from.”

“They are… But I swear I can taste it in the air, smells like home too. There’s a hint of something… Delicate yet it carries a slight sweetness with it. I think that smell alone made me come here.”

“Oh, really? If you have a sweet tooth, I have bad news. We have no bakeries around here” the Omega laughs. “I suppose the closest thing to them would be just some deliciously smelling wolves. We have plenty of those.”

“I’ll take my pick.” Jisung smiles at him.

“Moss and something sweet, let me think.” Hyunjin puts away the bowl of berries. He looks at the wolf like he’s trying to decipher something. “There’s someone I know… That could be what you’re looking for. Maybe I can introduce you but the chances are low, my guy. No one’s successfully courted him ever since he presented.”

“Why?”

“He tells me no one’s caught his eye which is crazy because you have such eye candy everywhere you look, hell, if it weren’t for Lix I wouldn’t know who to pick. Lixie is my Omega.” He eyes the newcomer for a reaction but Jisung’s face doesn’t betray any of his thoughts. “But you needn’t worry about that, let’s make sure your wounds heal first. Don’t move from this spot. Anything you need just shout my name, and I’ll get it for you.”

“Thank you. I haven’t eaten in some time, can you please get me something to eat?”

“Sure, I’ll ask in the kitchen.”

“Thank you.”

🌘

Minho rose from his deep nap. He yawned barring his sharp teeth at any who’d dare look at him, it was a habit he’d seldom let go. Although, at this hour he only had the birds for company. Even if he was an early riser, it was way too early for his liking. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when he started looking for what woke him up until he smelled the air. There was something new that caught his attention. He blinked and looked around in confusion. It was a smell so delicate and intoxicating. He would’ve noticed had it been there before.

New smells were not uncommon when they had visitors from other packs and yet Minho already got used to the party of people that arrived a few days ago.

The aroma lured him out of slumber, teased his nostrils and made his mouth water. Is this dangerous? Is this how those beasts tempt the wolves to follow them into the darkness of the forest and then mercilessly kill them? Can Minho outsmart them? He stands up tall, ready to face the fight. His feet involuntarily move towards the source. If he’s quick and sharp there’s no way he will be caught. He slowly trails the smell straight to the infirmary. Wait, the infirmary, not the forest? That’s where Hyunjin spends all of his time, is he in danger? Minho quickens his pace in his haste to save his friend from something that smells so enticing. Dangerous in how addicting it is. The temptation rivets through his body. Minho’s saliva starts dripping from his slightly open mouth. The thought of giving in does not easily go away. What would happen if he did?

The smell is at the tip of his tongue. It’s so close, it must be near. God, this fucking smell. So tasty, so balanced like it’s made for him. Like it’s crafted to satisfy his needs, the curiosity and the lust that it evokes in him. The sole thing he needs in life. He needs to have it. He needs to taste it, he needs to have it in his mouth right about now. He must find it. If he could just have a piece of it, even a small one. Who could smell like this? To be so familiar but not yet explored. Who could take over his mind so easily that all he can think about is the all encompassing need for it?

Is it a flower? A perfume? A pie?

As he waddles closer and closer to the infirmary, other notes reveal themselves. It’s more potent here, the tones of pine trees feel like coming home. Minho is ecstatic. Until he steps at the entrance. There are no flowers here, no pies.

It’s a wolf.

His whole world crashes down right at this moment. He knows this will change everything for him. All the years of rejecting Omegas and Betas, occasionally Alphas. The years of wondering why nothing feels right with anyone. Wondering what can others see in each other that he can’t? He doesn’t fear for Hyunjin’s safety any more, he only cares about somebody lying on the infirmary bed. Does he know them? If only, he could come closer get to know them and taste it for himself.

Suddenly his friend comes into vision. He’s startled back to reality.

“Ah, you’re here. No need to worry, he’s harmless, for now.”

But he barely hears the words. They fall slow and quiet by his ears, his sole focus not wavering from the wolf in front of him.

“Isn’t it your day off?” Hyunjin asks him but Minho doesn’t react. Hyunjin looks suspicious at the non-response. The nurse looks at the trembling legs and the saliva pooling in his mouth.

“Minho, no!”

There’s a certain hungriness in Minho’s eyes that startles Hyunjin. It’s something he hasn’t seen from his hyung ever before. He anticipates an attack on the resting Omega and before Minho’s wobbly legs can do any damage, Hyunjin blocks the view from Minho’s sight.

“Out! Get the fuck out of here!” Hyunjin snarls. “If you touch him, I’ll bite your balls off. You know I’m a biter. Don’t fucking test me.”

Minho was never the one to listen and he could take Hyunjin easy and yet the seriousness of his tone, the stance and the blocked view make him come back to himself. He feels shame. He can’t recognise his body. What is happening? Why can’t he resist the overwhelming desire to come closer? It doesn’t feel like a rut. But it’s strong enough to overtake him so completely.

If he could just come closer… If he could just take care of his mate and just lay next to him… He’s clearly been through something and he can help. He could help but Hyunjin is in the way.

He bares his teeth, sure to show his sharp canines to Hyunjin.

“Minho, I warn you. Go away! Go to the rut dens, I won’t let you near him in this state.”

Rut dens but that’s too far away from here? And my mate needs help.

My mate?

He blinks. What mate? Minho whimpers at the thought like that. He hasn’t even had a proper look at the other wolf and yet he thinks of him as his mate. What is wrong with him? He’s stunned at his stream of consciousness. This is not right, can’t be right.

He lowers his tail and walks away with his head down. The further he gets away, the more sense he seems to gain over his body. The scent in the air is a persistent reminder of itself and yet Minho feels like he can breathe a little lighter standing some distance from the infirmary tent.

Minho runs breathlessly to the pines, to his favourite place to find solitude, a place he kept to himself and liked to lay down and sunbathe. The thoughts didn’t leave him alone.

What the hell was that?

He’s met and been with Omegas and Betas before but no one had elicited such a visceral reaction from his body. No one had made him want to claw Hyunjin’s eyes out just so he could take a peek at the Omega resting.

It’s dangerous.

For them both. What if he can’t control himself, what if the Omega doesn’t want him in the same way? What if he rejects him?

Oh, the momentary pain that pierced him at the thought. He could not live with the rejection. He notes that his blood pressure is rocketing and realises all of these ideas that had just come into his head made him even more agitated. He needs to calm down.

So he gave his way under the legs and laid on top of the rock, closed his eyes and let the lingering smell of the pine trees guide him to clarity.

He has to stay away from him.

At least until he can control his body again.

It’s better to hide.

It’s better for the mate to be safe.

It’s just that… Minho can plan and he can be cautious but there’s no way he could keep himself away from the Omega. They’re in a confined space, and sue him he wants to take a better look at him. He wants to know every single detail about him. And he also wants the Omega to know him. He could ease the mate into a meeting, he could court him. It’s a common practice between Alphas, Omegas and Betas, right? Auntie Mae would always have courting in her tales as part of getting to know each other. So that’s what he will do. Ease them both into it.

They came to his mind first. Flowers. They didn’t have a flower shop in their territory, the trading has been difficult this summer. No one had wanted to travel through the forests if it would cost them their lives. Minho knew of a few wolves that were passionate about flower picking, he loved the way they would decorate their dining tent with anything they could find in the forest. But it was still the early hours of the morning and with most of the pack sleeping, he couldn’t ask them for help so he went to the only place he knew of - the open field where he used to spend his careless days and play a lot with other wolves as a pup. In the early rays of morning sunlight, he picks daisies in the field where they grow.

He moves quietly through the pack grounds. Minho’s warm shadow appears at the back of the tent where no one would see him, he has to pinch his nose not to smell the Omega, and he has to will himself to not let go of the hand that is obstructing his airways once he sees the quietly sleeping boy. The brown wolf looks so peaceful and soft when he sleeps, Minho could never disturb his slumber. But the impulse to smell is burning his lungs.

He feels deep longing when he watches him but he can’t be here long either or else he’ll run out of breath. So he leaves the daisies on the other side of the Omega’s pillow for him to wake up to and let him know that someone cares for him. Even from a distance.

🌑

After breakfast, Minho sees the elders strolling around with the wolves from other packs. After lunch, they close off from the pack discussing important matters judging by their concerned faces and when dinner comes the eldest Alpha of the pack howls at everyone to gather around.

Pack gatherings called by the Alpha weren’t a common thing, so something was up.

Their pack Alpha stepped out to the front.

“My pack, these past few months have been extremely uncertain, with more bloodshed than answers and we are still mourning the loss of Yejun, Suho, Arin, Jia and many young wolves that have left us recently. I will be honest with you and I’m here to say that we still have no answers to who is harming the wolf packs. Our top fighter wolf Minho has been leading the search for the beasts and helping us enforce the many safety precautions to help us survive these attacks. However, we haven’t caught any of those responsible for the killings. A few days ago, the elder council welcomed our dear guests from the Northern, Eastern and Western packs. We have shared the difficult learnings that each pack has been forced to make and yet, we are unable to ensure everyone’s safety.

You must have noticed that for years we have upheld traditions and good trading relationships with all the packs that surround us and besides wanting peace in our forest, it has been so because of tales we heard when we were young.

And as the moon will rise this evening, we will begin following these tales as a last resort. Most of you, apart from our guests are familiar with Aunty Mae, the great storyteller of our pack. Mae, will you do the honour and tell us the prophecy?”

Auntie Mae trudges closer to the centre of their formation and takes the pack Alpha’s hand who helps her get into her chair. A wooden sturdy thing that looks older than she is and has helped her paint the tales Minho has fallen asleep to many moons before. She props her wooden cane against it where there is already a dent for it in the wood, and exhales a relieved sigh.

“My children, we have been living under the protection of prophecies for centuries. Tales have been told from one generation to the other about how wolves should be, tales that we have come to know as children, that have taught us to tell bad from good and many of those I have told you myself. In hopes that more than anything these tales will become second nature for any wolf. Now there’s one tale that you have not heard till now.” She stops for a dramatic pause. “And that is because I had hoped to never have to tell it to you. As a young wolf myself, I saw the world as hopeful and never thought these dark times could be upon us. Alas, it seems we can’t escape it now. So today, I will tell you a story.”

The younger wolves of the pack stop running around at those words and flop down right at Mae’s feet. Their tales are wiggling in excitement and as much as they try to keep calm, their excitement bubbles in their little bodies turning them into twitching, restless little pups.

Minho spots the white and grey wolves who are the parents of these little rascals bundled up further away and gazing with profound love at them. He softens at the sight. He has a lot to protect here.

The rest of the crowd settles in as well. Mae is a good storyteller and due to her old age, she rarely makes time for evenings like this any more.

Minho rests his head around his paws, as much as he is anticipating a good story, he’s not sure he truly wants to know it. He can feel that after tonight things are going to change. It prickles his skin and he braces for the change it will bring and yet he’s sure nothing could prepare him for it anyway.

Mae’s voice picks up and carries through the crowd.

“It starts how everything does in this world. With a breath, with moonlight, with a young wolf opening his eyes and meeting the world for the first time. He grows up with no care in the world. Exploring the woods as is his birthright and making them his home. He explores the forest vast and luscious under his nose. Jealous of the carelessness and free spirit trouble follows him invoked by dark magic it lures the wolf to the depths of the forest to split his soul in two. Two broken souls driven by the emptiness and loss of their second halves get lost in the forest and wander off, creeping into the darkest shadows, to hide in the hidden roots and leaves to fall asleep until they can be reborn again.

And when trouble thinks it has won, the universe will make it their destiny to shine the path for two wolves to meet one day. Fated by the moon, born of different packs, not rivalled against each other, their destinies intertwine where if one were to meet the other peace would be restored in the forest. They are the keepers of secrets, love unyielding, when they’re bound in unity, they will be the pack’s last hope to defeat the evil in the forest.”

Mae’s voice travels through the pack and lulls them into a world best known to her. She ends her story with everyone’s attention still with her and even the younger wolves have calmed down to pick up on the tiniest details.

“Well, that’s how it goes.”

“Thank you, Auntie Mae. And thank you everyone for listening in. Just as the night falls around us, we would like to let you know that all packs have agreed to help in the search for the two destined wolves. To help the search, in a week, all wolves who have matured and haven’t mated yet will begin their journey through the forest to all the other packs in our hopes that this will help them meet each other quicker. We hope that this mating course will deepen our relationships with other packs and also let you familiarise yourself with the forest and feel its spirit. We hope it guides you to the mate you’re meant to find.”

The quietness suddenly melts and the wolves start chattering about the news. Minho strides away from the crowd and closer to the infirmary. He’s not sure what’s dragging his feet there again, maybe it’s the whiff of the familiar smell again. Like his nose has a magnet for it.

Minho falls stiff as soon as Hyunjin peaks out through the entrance.

“What are you doing here?” Hyunjin crosses his arms.

“Nothing! Nothing. Why do you think I was doing anything here?” He plays it off nonchalantly.

“Do you need my services Lee Minho? Or is there any other reason you have been circling the infirmary? I told you that wolf is fine, you don’t need to worry for our safety.”

If anything Minho is scared for the wolf’s safety but he plays along.

“Is that so? Where is he now then?”

“He left again. Because he’s a dumbass and sneaks out when I’m not looking. Keeps talking about a smell that feels like home and he needs to find it in the woods. Honey, I’m tired, I can’t keep holding him off. I’d rather leave it to the guard dogs.”

“Hyunjin, baby, if you call me a guard dog again.” He warns him with saccharine sweetness.

“What will you do? We both know you can’t do anything now. Lixie will be upset.” Hyunjin fake pouts. “And you would never hurt my baby.”

Minho bites on his tongue and growls.

“So what’s it to you? What do you want from the injured wolf?”

“Well, first of all, I need to know how he ended up here. For our safety.”

“He walked.”

“From where?”

“He says he’s from the North.”

“A Northern wolf walked all the way to South? On his own?” Minho widens his eyes.

“Well, not really. Apparently, those big bad monsters in the forest were chasing him so he made it halfway like that and then he tired out, they attacked him, and he somehow walked away from the fight all the way here.”

“There’s no way. No one has survived an attack. No one has lasted long enough to tell us what has attacked them.”

“He must be the one.” Hyunjin lazily replies. “I patched him up and if he listens to me, he’ll be good as new in a few weeks.”

“I need to talk to him.”

“Well, be my guest. He should come back. You can wait for him.”

“And rot with you in the same room? Thanks but I’ll find my way to him.”

“Have fun, I hope he hasn’t wandered off to the forest again.”

Minho eyes him warily. He better not, the forests aren’t safe for the mate.

🌒

A few hours later, Jisung sneaks into the infirmary again.

“Where have you been?” Hyunjin taunts him.

“Nowhere.”

“It’s not safe for you to wander around.”

“I’m fine, see, I’m back! I didn’t go past the fence and anyway, I didn’t find what I was looking for.” Jisung pouts.

“You must’ve missed him.”

“Missed him? I swear that wolf is avoiding me. Every time I think I know where he is, he disappears. Every time I’m close to him, he melts into thin air.”

“That’s how he is. You won’t find him until he wants you to.”

He flops onto the bed and trails his finger over the tiny petals of the daisies he found on the first day. They have started to dry and Jisung hasn’t figured out a way how to make them last longer.

“That’s unfair.”

🌓

When morning comes, all single wolves are busy preparing food and packing for the journey through the forest. To find themselves a mate, to take a chance on their destiny.

Minho notices a stubborn wolf that looks out of place because he’s the only one that looks rough, with scratches and wounds dressed meticulously by Hyunjin standing next to him. He ducks to hide from them.

“Jisung you can’t stand on your own two feet,” Hyunjin argues.

“I can! I have to be there.” The new wolf does not relent.

“Jisung, seriously, you need to rest.” Hyunjin almost pleads.

“You know, that wasn’t really in my plan.”

“I’m sure!

“Jisung…” The wolf growls and Jisung snarls back. “Fine… Let me carry you at least.”

“I don’t want to be carried.”

“You’re injured.”

“I know. I can feel it.”

“So what are you going to do? Limp around the forest?”

“Maybe if I can find some crutches, I can do just fine.”

“We’re in the middle of the forest, how do you expect me to find crutches here?”

“Well, don’t look at me like that! Go and look for them.”

He feels Hyunjin’s judging gaze.

“I need to be there. What if this is my sole chance to find a mate?” Jisung says, unblinking.

“I can’t let that go.”

🌔

Minho curls up in his favourite place on top of their grounds. The rock where he watches sunsets when he has free time. Something lures him there, away from the pack grounds. He thinks about why he hides, he thinks about how this rock has been a point of clarity for so many times. He feels so connected to the forest, the air is so fresh up there and he’s always found the pine trees nearby soothing. He hums in contentment. And then backtracks. The pine trees? The ones he watches calmly, something that might look out of place but they fit right into the landscape. He’s always felt so close to them only now to realise he’s been chasing Jisung’s smell all along.

Jisung turned his whole world upside down. He was already getting used to being alone, thinking that a mate just wasn’t in the stars for him. He began to accept his fate and then the younger came and all the feelings of affection, of a building hot feeling, the need to have him as his, to consume him and treasure him every day until the day’s end. It’s overwhelming at least and at most, it’s something he’s been trying to overcome. To trust his instincts, to gain control over his body around Jisung. At moments, it had left him feeling embarrassed, especially since in all his life no one had ever told him this is how it feels like to fall in love with someone, to want something so bad, so desperately that all the rest of the world falls silent in comparison.

He suddenly feels a primal need to hunt and provide for his Omega. He scavenges the forest, slowly, hunting. He spots a rabbit, jumps swiftly and snaps his neck with his teeth.

The catch in between his slack jaw is stiff. He wants to give this to his mate. He wants to make him understand, it’s for him. Everything is for him.

The closer he gets to the tent, the more his desire takes over him. He’s now too familiar with it. Pacing the pack grounds around the newcomer, never coming to him face to face. He lowers his head and places the rabbit at the entrance of the infirmary. Leaves in silence once again.

🌕

Jisung sniffs the air, and his wolf whines in impatience. There’s a fresh blood smell wafting through the opening in the tent. He stalks away from his bed and stares at the bunny on the ground that could only be a catch of a wolf. He comes closer to it and he swears the same wolf’s smell lingers. The same wolf who left his clothes on his bed yesterday, the same one that brought him those daisies the day before. The one he keeps seeing in the crowd and he always disappears before Jisung can get any closer.

“Where did you get this?” Hyunjin comes behind him.

“Found it on the porch.”

“And this?” He holds up the wolf’s blue hoodie.

“Found it on my bed.”

“Care to explain. What is going on?”

“I think someone is courting me.”

“That’s…I mean…So outdated.”

“I knowww! It’s yeah… But I like it?”

“It’s even weirder that you came here seeking that wolf’s scent and that same wolf is my friend. Don’t tell him that I called him that.”

“Wait. You know him?” Jisung swiftly turns to the Omega. “Tell me, please, tell me about him.”

“There’s nothing to tell. And you can ask him yourself since he keeps showing up here. How did he even get to the infirmary? I’m keeping watch.”

“Well, you’re not very good at it.”

“Say another word and you can kiss my ass goodbye. Sleep under the stars for all I care.”

“Really? Can I?” Jisung’s face lights up.

“Oh my god, of course, you would like it. But you still need to heal. And what if it rains? You’ll get wet.”

“What’s a few raindrops, I can hide under the tree. I just don’t like the cold so if it gets too cold, you’ll welcome me back, won’t you?” Jisung dilutes his eyes into cute little boba balls.

It’s easier to pretend it does not have an effect on Hyunjin so he acts as if he’s blind and can’t see the cutest little face in front of him. He resists the urge to coo at the cutie and goes back to the tent.

“You will, I just know,” Jisung teases after him in confidence. Then follows him in.

“Sooo…Your friend. What’s he like?”

“Annoying. Just like you.”

“What does he look like?”

“Like… A God of Love.” Hyunjin sighs. “Some would say.” He adds.

“Really?” Jisung pauses. He’s enthralled with the idea of seeing him for the first time but with the way it’s been going it might have to wait.

“I’m just confused… I guess… Why wouldn’t he show his face?”

“What? Is he running away from you? That’s strange, he’s really not the type to run away from anything, especially after showing up here in the middle of the night. If he didn’t like you, he would’ve told you already but I don’t know, maybe I scared him off the last time he came but that would be too funny.”

Hyunjin smiles at the idea.

“Hmm… He’s also gifting you things… I have never seen him do that.”

“You saw him here? And didn’t tell me?”

“You were passed out and needed to heal. Few other things can come between me and him but I won’t let anyone disrespect my patient’s healing time.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me! I wish I would have met him then.”

“Trust me, you wouldn’t want to meet him in the state he was.”

“What state?”

“He was in a rut. I’m pretty sure…All the signs showed it.”

“A rut? So he’s an Alpha.”

“Yes and we don’t let any Alphas wander about when a rut or a heat hits but he must’ve missed the signs. I sent him to the rut dens, I don’t know how but he listened.”

“You have separate dens for that?”

“Of course, we live in a forest but no one wants to smell pheromones and we don’t need the kind of chaos it could bring. So we keep safe. I’ll show you sometime.”

“Oh, I think my heat is about to hit.” Jisung frowns. “I’ve been feeling more agitated and my bones started feeling heavier, it shouldn’t hit so soon but I suppose all the stress from the attack made it come sooner.”

“Right. Unless… Jisung, why are you wearing his hoodie?”

“It’s nice, I like it. It’s like a little piece of home in this new place. Why do you look so concerned? Does he have a mate or something?”

Hyunjin bursts out laughing.

“Minho? A mate? No one’s been successful at even getting close to him. And when they do, he always rejects them. He’s never been the relationship type or friends with benefits type or anything romantic type, really since you showed up he’s been acting the strangest I’ve seen and that is saying something.”

Minho.

Mate’s name is Minho.

Hyunjin squints at the sapphire blue hoodie.

“Take it off.”

“No!” Jisung whines. “It’s mine.”

It belongs to mate. His inner Omega purrs.

“Jisung, all these gifts are making you go into a heat.”

“Oh.”

“So, take it off.”

“But…I don’t…want…to.”

“Even if you go into a heat?” He looks surprised. “Suit yourself! If you’d like, I can show you those heat dens since you’ll be needing them soon.”

“Do you really want to go through a heat without a mate? Without anyone who can help you?”

“Mate will be there. He’ll help me.” Jisung doesn’t let up.

He will show up. He’s sure of it.

“Don’t be stupid, Minho barely shows his face and I hate to break it to you but you’re not even mated!”

“I mean. You are right, maybe he won’t show up again… But I don’t mind.”

‘Suit yourself. Let’s go to the dens, you can familiarise yourself with the space and maybe start preparing for when it hits.”

“Okay, let’s go!”

🌖

That evening after dinner Jisung calls after him. Minho stills and thanks for his wits to come to dinner in wolf form.

“Wait!” Minho paused mid step.

“Don’t run this time.” So he’s noticed.

“Your eyes are always on me.”

“I’m guessing you’re the one that keeps leaving me gifts around.” He blushes. “I never got to thank you. So…Thank you!”

Minho follows Jisung’s form curiously. He speaks so animatedly, that it’s silly but Minho thinks he can understand Jisung better just by observing him. He’s also really cute.

He nonchalantly pushes Jisung to the ground and looms over his face.

“Hey!” Jisung squeaks.

“You’re a pretty white wolf you know that. I guess you do.” He adds as if talking to himself. “I wonder how you look in human form.”

Jisung’s hand instinctively goes to caress Minho’s head and neck. Minho’s body instantly relaxes and he considers flopping into Jisung’s lap. But that would be right damn embarrassing. What if someone saw and recognised him? He wouldn’t hear the end of it.

He leans into the touch more and when Jisung hits the right spot, his legs just crumble. Fine. He can let himself give in.

“You like pets don’t you?” Jisung giggles his angelic laugh. “Noted.”

I like pets from you, silly.

Minho lays at his feet completely relaxed and purring. Jisung smiles at the puddle in front of him.

“Don’t run from me. Not any more.”

🌗

Later at night, they have the pack host a dancing party. Everyone is invited so when Minho spots him he beelines to the place where the Omega sits. He grabs him by the hand.

“We’re dancing??” Jisung yelps looking at the gorgeous man before him.

“Wait.” Jisung looks confused for a second then dives in closer to Minho’s scent gland and he has a hard time thinking about anything at all. “You smell familiar.”

“I do?” Minho bites his lip.

“Yes, you are that wolf. Are you really?”

“You might need to be more specific, angel. There are hundreds of wolves here.”

“Yes, but you’re only one. You’re the wolf that keeps looking after me and leaving me gifts. That’s you isn’t it?” Jisung doesn’t let go.

“You have a good nose on you.”

Jisung lights up from within and it’s the most wonderful reaction Minho has gotten yet. He suppresses his inner wolf craving to envelop him in a hug or kiss him numbly. It’s just their first date. He needs to calm down.

“I stopped running from you.”

“Why did you? Run?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yes.” Jisung looks at him hopefully.

“I was terrified. You see, you’re the first wolf that I ever liked. The first wolf that caught my Alpha’s attention.”

“I am?” Jisung blooms into a beautiful heart-shaped smile.

“The one and only.”

“What’s your name, darling?”

“Jisung.”

“I’m Minho.”

“Come, let’s dance.”

They sway and move to the beat of the music all night while the moon shines above them.

🌘

“I think I’m obsessed,” Minho confesses.

He ties a strap to his backpack. They’re both preparing for the trip in a few days. Chan will accompany them as a guardian since he already has a mate. Chan and his mate Minhyuk will both be going and leaving the pups to the pack while they’re gone. Chan is the one with just as much experience in fighting troublemakers as Minho.

“Obsessed with what?” Chan looks at him warily, folding his clothes. Minho can’t tell them apart, the clothes are all black.

“A scent.”

“A scent?” Chan whips his head. That’s new.

“Yup.”

“Oh, Minho, my Minho. Those are the words I’ve been wanting to hear my entire life. With whom pray tell are you obsessed with?”

“I didn’t say it was a wolf.” Minho still thinks he can get out of this conversation unscathed. It’s one thing to tell Chan he likes a scent, and completely another to tell him the scent belongs to a wolf from another pack that just ended up in the south after being chased by those monsters they have been so closed off from.

“You know living within a wolf pack where every single wolf has an enticing scent, you’d think it was implied… maybe? It must be a surprise for you, I’m sure but you can handle it.”

“I’m not sure I can. Chan, is there a cure for this?”

“A cure? Hmm… Let me think… You could start by buying a dozen sex toys but my advice would be to make a move on said wolf. There is no cure for the desires of the heart, my dear.”

“It’s not a wolf.”

“Whatever you say, baby.”

“If I may say so myself, about time! About time, Lee Minho, the Alpha who hasn’t been seduced by any wolf finally loses his mind for someone. I just pray that wolf can handle you.”

Hyunjin bursts into their tent.

“Are you crazy? Giving him your hoodie?”

“What’s so crazy about it?” Minho is taken aback.

“You’re making him go into a heat.”

“What?” Chan gasps. “A heat?”

“Seriously, how could you not know this?” Hyunjin is baffled.

“I don’t know much about Omegas.”

“Why?”

“I’ve never been with one long enough.”

“Oh.”

“Never?”

“No.”

“This is so stupid. Why would you leave all these gifts for him?”

“Because I wanted to, I didn’t think why. I just did.” Minho explains dumbfounded.

“Oh, Minho.” Chan sighs.

“Well, giving them a hoodie usually signals you want to claim them. Or you’re being nice and giving it for their nest.” Hyunjin explains.

“That’s… Alright. I don’t think I would’ve been misunderstood in that case. But then why did he go into heat?”

Both his friends look stunned. That’s a bold confession for someone who has never been interested in any Omegas or Betas.

“Probably from sniffing too many of your pheromones from all the gifts you’ve been giving him. It’s only natural, no wolf can resist their nature.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to cause him pain like that.”

“Good because you’re going to fix it.”

Hyunjin grabs his wrist and drags him away.

“I- Me? What do you mean? Where are we going?”

“To the heat dens.” He sounds determined and the grip on Minho’s wrist won’t ease up.

“Heat dens?”

They walk all the way to the heat pods. Hyunjin dumps his ass inside the heat pod and shuts the door behind him. Minho couldn’t smell the pheromones from the outside but now the smell is so potent it punches him with full force.

“Good luck.”

🌑

When Hyunjin showed him the rut dens he was impressed by how clean and comfortable they looked. How convenient they stood with the white interiors and soft beds and beddings. Small fridges with snacks and shelves of snacks for Omegas and/or their partners to eat. The dripping water fountain situated by the bed seemed very convenient for getting hydrated during their stay. No smell went out, no smell went in, only muffled sounds could escape. It was miles more comfortable than the heat dens he had at home.

He was feeling uneasy the whole day. And yet when he felt the first pains, he dismissed it. Maybe it’s all in his head. He’s confused the abdominal pains so many times before, it wouldn’t be the first.

Going into his heat in a totally new pack, felt daunting. His Omega was getting irritated and jumpy, more sensitive than what he was used to.

Hyunjin saw him nibbling on the dinner the kitchens so kindly prepared, reached up to his forehead and dragged him to the heat den. He told him to stay here, to let him know if he wanted him to bring anything and that he was bringing him help.

None of the luxuries of the den mattered to Jisung any more, the heat was scorching his skin, every moment eliciting pain even if Hyunjin brought him painkillers. It would all be too late, he’s already drenched in his misery.

Time seems to pass too slowly. He put the sapphire blue hoodie he wore against the pillows but it pained him too much to look at it. His Omega was adamant that it was not enough and how can he even call it a nest at all? He pitied himself and his future self for having to endure the pain and the heat for the next 5 days. But when the door opened, he saw the Alpha freeze. The scent of an Omega in heat slammed into him. An immense relief floods Jisung’s chest but even then his body doesn’t let him up. The pain courses through twice as hard as if it found the purpose for it. Jisung whines pitifully for wanting someone so badly, having them right where you want them but too far away from where he really wants them to be. Inside Jisung.

“A-Alpha.” He barely manages to conceal his whine and his tears. But finally, he is here and the moss and vanilla scent is calming him without the Alpha even doing anything about it.

“Help me.”

Someone shoves him into the den and closes the door behind him. The Alpha stands stunned at the sight.

“Come here. What are you even waiting for?” He barks at him for taking all the time to get to him and all the little hairs on Minho’s arms stand up.

“I- just. Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Jisung has never been more sure of anything. He crawls through the bed so he can come closer to the Alpha’s potent smell. It works best at clearing his head from the pain and works even better at clouding it with such desire it will burn him from within.

“This is not a hookup, is it?” Minho sounds shy and unsure but Jisung really has no time for any more waiting.

“Does it look like one? My man, you will be chained to this bed for the next week. Eating my ass for breakfast. I’ll be riding your cock once you can’t hold up yourself and give out right on this bed. Is it giving ✨hookup✨ to you?” Jisung tilts his head in annoyance.

“No. Well. No.”

This Omega takes no bullshit.

Jisung claws at the bed frame and ruts into the sheets pitifully, his body shaking from the pain and the heat. His pitiful attempts are bringing him no relief. Not when he knows what he really wants and needs.

When Minho comes closer to the bed, suddenly Jisung moves towards him, arching his ass up without ever stopping to rut against the sheets. He whines louder and slick rushes from his hole. God, he’s so perfect. Minho can’t believe his eyes that the only Omega he’s ever truly wanted is presenting himself to him. Fuck. He is ready for his Alpha, ready and waiting for him.

Fuck.

“You look incredible.”

More slick gushes from his hole. Minho is already feeling his cock fill out in his pants.

“Hyung, why haven’t you done anything yet? ‘M waiting.” He trembles.

Minho can tell, he’s pouting and the slicked hole looks so inviting.

He’s made for me.

“Once I’m in, there’s no going back,” Minho tells him. “I can barely control myself now. If you let me in, I will never leave.”

Please take care of me.

“Okay.” More than okay, that’s all he ever wanted. His Alpha.

“It’s okay. Alpha’s got you. I’ll take care of you.” Jisung melts at the reassurance.

I could get used to this.

I really could.

Minho takes off his pants, and Jisung mourns the view he can’t see. It’s okay, they have time.

“Are you always this wet?”

“No, just for you.”

Jisung is still grinding on his own but his legs won’t hold him.

“Hyung, please, do it for me. Take the lead.” He wails.

Then more shyly.

“I need you… Um… I need you to take the lead.”

Minho finally pushes his tip into the Omega.

“Ahh…sss…”

Fuck.

He slides it further and grips Jisung’s hips for better control. Starts rutting their hips slowly but gradually picking up speed. With every punch to his hole, Jisung lets out a beautiful moan. It goes straight to Minho’s dick.

Jisung can feel Minho breathing right beside his ear and something in his demeanour makes him feel small and quiver. His whole back is covered by Minho and if they were in their animal forms, Minho’s drool would be pouring from his jaws. He’s so close, and Jisung’s neck is straining. And then he thinks the tension is all over, Minho goes over his shoulder and bites into a pillow right beside him. He grunts and pushes into Jisung deeper.

That could’ve been his neck, that could’ve been his scent gland. And the worst part is that he would’ve let him claim him. He still wants it so bad.

“Hyung, you can bite me.”

Minho’s eyes shoot him a wide stare. It sends chills over his body.

Jisung automatically bares his neck for easier access to his scent gland.

Alpha wants to bite, he can bite me. Bite me. Me. Please, bite me.

“You’re crazy. Don’t say that.”

Minho has to remind himself that the Omega is in heat so he can’t take all of his words as a green light, if he weren’t in heat, he might’ve really done it.

The heat overtakes Jisung and his legs spasm and his feet curl up when he orgasms.

“Come, baby. You did so well. You took me so well.”

Minho isn’t in a rush to go over his orgasm because he needs to last long for the Omega. He needs to relieve him of the pain and desire mixing together.

They lie there for a few when Jisung is hit with another heat wave.

pretty, pretty, Alpha

Suddenly Jisung’s nails catch on Minho’s shirt and tear it apart. Minho’s breathing picks up. Suddenly he feels like a prey.

Jisung is in bliss.

what a pretty Alpha stumbled into my nest

Minho is excited and scared for what’s to come. What will his Omega make of him after the heat?

“Now that you’re in my nest, you can run by you can’t hide.” Jisung smirks.

“Jisung will do as he pleases, will you let him?”

“Whatever my Omega wants.” Minho lets out a breathless answer. “Anything you want.”

Jisung intertwines his hands around the Alpha’s neck which makes him feel like he’s given up all control. He’s just Jisung’s to do as he pleases. It’s overwhelmingly hot.

A surge of desire flows through Minho’s body. His cock picks up in interest.

Jisung wraps his hand around it and puts the tip in his mouth. He purrs tasting his own slick on Minho’s dick. Slick pours out of him as soon as he gets a taste.

Minho thinks he’s close to exploding into pieces. Any wrong move and he could really give in. The pink angry tip looks perfect to Jisung and as much as he would want to blow Minho’s brains out, he’s much more interested in making him cum inside.

He lets his hands wrap around Minho’s neck once again. He positions his hole right above Minho’s cock. Feels the slick drip on Minho’s skin. He takes one hand and lets the cock slide in. He lets out a soft “ahh” sound when it’s finally back where it belongs.

Jisung feels much more energetic since the first time he came so he doesn’t ask for help this time. He goes at his own pace, spreading his cheeks over Minho’s hard cock. The slide is so heavenly, if he could if he could…just…ride him like this forever…

Minho grips his hips which gets Jisung;’s attention.

“How do I feel?” Jisung asks.

“Like heaven.”

He listens to the heat building inside him, he has to give it to Minho, he’s been holding his load for a while now. He’s red all over starting from the ear and Jisung would love to lick his skin but it feels too late for it now when his body trembles a second time.

“Alpha, you can come.” He taunts. “Come inside me. I know you want to.”

Minho lets go and Jisung swears he can feel the cum fill him up.

“Good Alpha.” He says proudly.

There’s no time for a break. Minho pulls him up by his hips, not letting the cum spill out. Drapes him over the backrest of the white sofa. He pushes in deeper.

“Fuck, baby” Minho wails. “You’re gonna kill me.”

Minho takes him by the hips so he can get the angle right, have more control and hit the spot he wants. Jisung writhes underneath him.

“Alpha, please, rougher.”

Minho growls and presses himself onto the sofa, going at numbing speed, as he tires and feels Jisung’s hips tremble beneath him, he snaps his hips like it’s a dance routine.

“Minho, ‘m close.”

He doesn’t stop because he knows what the Omega wants. He trusts his instincts and knows what’s best for his Omega. He presses Jisung’s whole body into the mattress and takes his wrists in his hand.

“Knot me, knot me, knot me.” Jisung chants as a silent prayer.

Minho grips his hips, lets his knot fill out and lets the Omega release onto the sofa.

Jisung is a puddle beneath him. Locked into the knot, there’s no way he can move away.

A few stray tears escape his closed eyes. And the sight pulls at Minho’s heartstrings.

“Baby, are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m feeling so good.”

“Fuck, I’ve wanted you to knot me since I first smelled you. ‘M just so happy.” He looks up to Minho teary eyed.

Carefully, with the knot still inside him, Minho grabs him by the waist and turns him so they can face each other. They both blush but it just feels right.

“Hey, my Omega.”

Jisung bites down on his bottom lip. Minho reaches out to wipe away a few stray tears.

Jisung reaches out and wraps his arms around him.

“Can we please go to the bed?”

“Of course.”

Minho picks him up and takes both of them, tied by the knot inside Jisung. Once in bed, Jisung comes even closer and wraps a hand around Minho’s waist. And like nothing happened he goes to sleep.

Minho’s heart pounds at the sight until it slows down.

In the morning, they wake slowly.

Jisung’s hands are still wrapped around him.

“Oh.”

“Good morning, baby.”

“Um…Hi.”

“I love your arms around me.”

“Ah.”

“I really do.”

“Thank you for not letting me go.”

Minho kisses him on the nose, and on the cheek, trails morning kisses down his neck and hums happily.

🌒

The heat ends quicker with Minho’s help. They both feel exhausted but when the time comes for them to go to other pack territories, they’re ready.

Minho is still not sure what they are and what this means. He nevertheless trails around Jisung everywhere he goes.

The first day trekking towards the Western pack passes in a blur because of how tired they both are. Jisung can barely see in front of him when they reach the pack grounds and he just immediately falls asleep when he finds himself some space. Minho curls up not too far away from him. His paws inevitably reach out to Jisung in the middle of the night.

When the sun rises on the next day, they both feel much more well rested. They get some breakfast and in the afternoon the elders offer for everyone to pick baskets and go to pick some berries in the clearing.

It’s light and airy today. They don’t really think about it but they stray from the main path and go further from the others. The birds are chirping as they walk past the trees.

“What?” Jisung smiles shyly.

“You are beautiful.”

“Do you mean it?” Jisung smiles more brightly.

“I do, with all my heart.”

It’s funny how the sun plays into the game as well, making his honey skin seem warmer, and inviting.

Minho has the sudden urge to push Jisung to the closest tree and kiss him numbly. It’s all in his head, of course. Because Jisung is wearing a soft sweater, the material is almost see-through, any of the threads could get hooked onto the tree and he doesn’t want to damage it.

So he takes the next best thing. He puts his arm around Jisung’s waist and props them both up against the tree. The predator catches its prey and pulls them both in.

It takes the younger by surprise and Minho enjoys the startled eyes and cheeks about to bunch up from understanding what Minho is doing. He looks at the innocent looking face waiting for the realisation to hit.

He softly grips the Omega by the back of his neck and smashes the younger’s lips with his own.

He pushes their lips together softly. Like they have all the time in the world to explore how their mouths taste. Minho devours Jisung’s every breath until Jisung has no more and then he loans oxygen to him, making him discover a new way of breathing. Nothing will ever be the same once they’ve both tasted what they can have. Minho bites down on Jisung’s bottom lip and steals it into his mouth. Jisung is his and Minho will make sure he knows it too.

“Hyung, you taste. Maybe it’s the berries.” Jisung chuckles. “You taste like all I ever want to do is eat you for the rest of my life.”

He says it so softly but makes fire burn in Minho’s chest, startling Minho with the flames that reach his racing heart. Who says that? Who admits this so easily?

“You have a way with words.”

“I like your way with your lips too.”

Minho smirks at the flattery. He has never been kissed like that but kissing has indeed earned a new meaning with Jisung’s lips on his own. The feeling of warmth makes it harder and harder for Minho to suppress his growls. For once, he doesn’t feel like containing his desire. For once, he feels like he can be freed by indulging in all that Jisung can offer. Their faces inch closer and closer in impatience to kiss again, and again.

A tree branch snaps in the distance. And that puts both of them on alert.

Someone else could be picking berries here too but with the looming dangers hidden in the forest, it’s better to be cautious.

They hastily part and in quiet understanding that it’s better to be safe while the beast could be near them in the forest and they’d rather head back to the pack.

Minho doesn’t want to let go so quickly, his eyes darting to Jisung’s hand. He takes it, face melting with a soft smile and his whole body vibrates from excitement.

They walk quietly, so anyone that can pose danger to them misses their trail and leaves them alone. Jisung squeezes their hands together, and Minho squeezes back.

It’s a childlike action but it warms up their cheeks nonetheless.

All colour seems to drain from Jisung’s face when he looks forward and backward and it dawns on him that they’re surrounded. And they’ve been walking into the beast’s claws unknowingly.

The berry baskets get dropped first. Then they growl and make themselves shift.

Minho looks around, scanning the numbers of the enemy and working out their odds. Even if he’s a fighter wolf, there are too many of them and too few of Minho and Jisung for it to be a fair fight. If it has to be this way, he’d rather fight till the last drop of blood and let Jisung escape.

“Run!” Minho shouts and his Alpha roars in order. They’re not mated and Minho is not the pack Alpha for it to take any effect on Jisung but it makes the younger scowl back at him anyway.

“I’m not leaving you alone here!”

“One dead is better than both.”

“Tell that to your mother.”

Minho rolls his eyes.

Fine. He’s not letting them die.

The beasts circle around them. Minho and Jisung don’t even have the time to share a gaze before they get attacked. Minho snarls and pulls out his claws. He relentlessly attacks anyone who goes near them. Jisung moves swiftly and watches his back. They don’t dare to separate.

The adrenaline is pulsing through their veins, and both of them are following each other’s moves, attacking whenever there’s an opening.

At one point they both get cornered. Minho calls for Jisung’s attention with a tap then he yells jump and they both jump up clawing their way out. And soon the forest around them stills.

“You’re glowing…from within.”

“You should look at yourself.”

And it’s true. They’re both glowing. A blue soft light. Everywhere he turns, he sees the light footprints left on the forest bed.

The beast’s snapped neck is glowing the brightest.

“I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“I didn’t think we could win an unfair fight like that.”

“You don’t think…?”

“What?”

“That we are…That’s what the legends say.”

“What…The wolves everyone is looking for?” Minho cackles. “Why would we be?”

“Right! Ridiculous.” Jisung chuckles but looking around them lies at least a dozen of beasts, all black like they’ve been swallowed by darkness. All dead too.

“We should head back.”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.”

“Tha- No! You stayed! So thank you… for staying.”

“I wouldn’t have left you.”

“Neither would I.”

“Oh, you’re bleeding!”

“What?”

“It must be the old wound.”

“Well, you can’t walk like that.”

“Sure, I can. I made greater distances alone.”

“Now you don’t have to.”

What?

“It’s nothing! I can go on my own.” And he strides away, struggling with his left side.

“I’m not letting you.” He picks Jisung up carefully. “Hang on to me. Let’s go back home and get you to Hyunjin.”

Mate needs to heal.

“Yes, Alpha.” Jisung smiled sweetly. Minho’s chest rumbles.

🌓

They walk out dishevelled. The tears in their clothes reveal that it’s not from a heated make out session. Minho is still carrying Jisung and it’s warm wherever their bodies touch.

“Oh God, Jisung, Minho, what happened?”

Someone shouts for Hyunjin to come.

“We got into a fight with the monsters in the woods.”

And that’s about all they can really say without revealing what actually happened.

“Oh…”

“There was…”

“A few… of them.”

“Wow, there’s not even a scratch on you.”

“Except for Jisung’s broken stitches, we’ll need the Hyunjin’s capable hands to fix him up pronto.”

“It’s like he has a radar for these things, it’s what? Your second time in contact with them and yet you’ve been barely touched by them.”

“Well, I was lucky that Minho was there.”

“Mhm, don’t leave his side, you hear me.”

“Not planning on it.”

“Right, let’s go to the care wing.”

Minho carries him to the spare bed but Jisung catches his worried gaze.

“Min, don’t panic. I swear, I already feel better. Having your smell surround me makes me feel better.

“Huh, you say it reopened when you fought?”

“Yeah, why? Is something wrong with it?”

“No, not exactly. It’s just that the last time I took care of your stitches which was like yesterday. You’ve made more progress in a day than the past few days we got you here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your wound is practically healed, Jisung.”

“Healed?”

“Uh huh.”

“What the fuck.”

“Do you think the beasts did it? Maybe their venom is healing to you.”

“No, no way. I don’t believe it. Whenever they find me, they’re intention is never to heal, trust me.”

“Well, soon you won’t need a bandage at all if you heal at this speed.”

“That’s nice, I suppose yet we have no idea what happened.”

“Did you see anything that could explain it?” Hyunjin asks Minho.

“Hmm… No. Nothing.”

They ponder about it for a few then leave the matter since there’s no logical explanation they can think of.

🌔

They were making their way to the second pack. Minho has been spotting some new members of the travelling pack, a lot of them were getting to know his own pack which for light conversations all around him. Jisung was getting familiar and chatting away with Minho’s friends, Hyunjin and Felix. The three Omegas seemed to get along well. Minho knew of the instinct to scent each other but still, the first time he saw them do it, his Alpha looked at Jisung possessively. He even complained about it to Jisung.

“I just don’t like how everyone’s smelling you…”

“Minho, they’re just Omegas, that’s how we greet each other. You don’t have to worry your pretty little Alpha head about it… Plus they all said I smell nice.” Jisung blushes.

Mate and I go well together.

“They did?”

“Yeah, yeah… Felix said Jasmine and Moss mix nicely together.”

Minho let out a happy purr.

“See, it’s not so bad.”

They travel through the forest, through grounds Minho isn’t familiar with but he notices a change in Jisung’s behaviour. His tail starts twitching but then stops. Then it repeats again. Is it excitement?

He knows Jisung is from another pack but they’ve yet to talk about it. It’s actually kind of cute how his tail twitches and starts swaying fast the more forward they go.

He suddenly stops, the whole body vibrating, shoots up his snout upwards and lets out the most longing sound. The howl sounds devastatingly beautiful, something so uniquely Jisung’s that it startles him and makes him gasp in awe. There’s no way. The tone of his voice is so clear and just as fresh as the day he first heard him, on his favourite rock back home. Realisation dawns on Minho that Jisung did come to them injured, Hyunjin did mention that he was from the North yet Minho doesn’t know from where exactly. It strikes him that what the distance they covered in the few days Jisung had to travel all alone, injured because the beasts hurt him.

It’s his home, it must be.

Jisung runs towards the trees and Minho’s heart clenches. He shouldn’t run, what if his stitches rupture yet he is so excited to be home, Minho can’t really blame him.

🌕

Everyone has to greet Lisa and Rosie, the Alpha and Luna of the Northern pack. It’s only nice as they are the hosts of the pack. This is not the kind of greeting he expects when he steps into their tent.

“So you’re the mystery boy, our Jisungie has taken an interest in.”

“Sorry?”

“Oh, he hasn’t told you yet? You’re meeting his parents.” She says smugly.

“Oh. I am very honoured to meet you.” He bows stiffly and deeply out of respect.

“Who are you, my child?”

“I am Lee Minho, the top fighter wolf of the South pack.”

“Great, so you’re either going to be killed or will have to kill to rise to an Alpha.” Lisa rolls her eyes.

“I think, what my darling is saying is that you’ll have to rise to some challenges in your position.” Rosé tries to lighten the mood.

“And if you do even try to hurt our Jisungie, I will personally sniff you out and skin you alive,” Lisa adds.

He has no reason not to believe him. It’s startling to notice a few wolfskins displayed behind them. He gulps.

“Oh, and I’ll help you” Rosé supplies.

“Of course, you would, you’ve always had a great nose on you.” The short-haired Alpha caresses her cheek.

“You flatter me, darling.” She melts at the spot.

“That’s what I always liked about you.”

They seem to have forgotten Minho is even standing there.

“Understood, uh, misses. Thank you for… welcoming me.”

He walks out without looking back.

🌖

Minho sneaks away from the pack and explores the grounds by himself. He likes to know the place before he can really settle. Their living grounds are quite similar to his own, although there were many more dens and burrows built using the natural bed of the forest. Snooping around he somehow ended up back close to the main living grounds where he could see other wolves roaming around.

He held his breath as a familiar voice reached him.

“So Jisung, did you find your true love yet?”

“What? Shhh… Noo~” he looks around like someone might hear and blushes.

Mate is looking for true love?

“I’ve only been gone for a few weeks!”

“Well, you better not waste time! Please tell me someone caught your eye!” Sunwoo begs him.

“It’s complicated. We’re both single so of course, we have to go on the trip with everyone else to find a mate.”

“We? Jisung, don’t tease me now. Who is he? You’ve been gone for two weeks and all I’ve been thinking is that you find yourself a big bad wolf who can rail you all night.”

Minho fights the growl that threatens to escape him.

No wolf. Mate is mine.

Jisung doesn’t need a big bad wolf, he can have Minho! Minho isn’t big or bad but he can surely satisfy his every need, whatever his Omega wants.

He snaps his eyes shut.

What is even happening? He never wanted someone like this. He was never interested in any wolf, and really he didn’t feel like he needed to rush but now suddenly all his wolf wants is Jisung. It doesn’t make any sense.

He should get away from here lest someone notices him.

He should find his friends.

As soon as he turns away, it’s like every bone in his body is against it—some unpleasant feeling flutters inside of him.

He doesn’t want to go. Not really.

What if Jisung gets hurt, what if something bad happens while Minho is gone? What if he’s too far away to save him? He can’t let that happen.

“Oh, hey Minho, I’ve been looking for you!”

“Felix!” he gasps. “Oh, uh, good to see you!”

“Ever since the trip started, you disappeared! What have you been up to?”

“Nothing!” Minho lies, unsure why he feels the need to.

“Have you been caught up in someone’s tail?”

“Of course not.” Minho smiles through the uncomfortable feeling of having to lie to his friend. It’s not like he wants to but he’s never been infatuated with someone and Felix knows it, all of his friends know that it’s so unlike Minho to go into the woods and follow a trail of delicious smell that isn’t food.

“You’re not.” Felix deadpans, then slowly walks around him, tracing his finger around his shoulders. “Tell me, is that why your tail is wagging any time I mention it? Is that why, you’ve been trailing behind one particular wolf that showed up a week ago in Hyunjin’s infirmary? Hyunjin has caught you snooping. This behaviour is very unlike you, Minho, and we both know it. So what’s up?”

The shell of him protecting whatever he thinks he’s protecting cracks a sliver and liquid pops onto Felix’s chest.

“I don’t know why it’s happening. It’s like I’m possessed.”

“I think it’s good for you.”

“Oh, shut up!”

“So… Jisung.”

“Yes, Jisung.” It rolls it off his tongue so nicely. The sharp sounds as well as the wispy and consonant ones make his mouth orgasm. The wolf’s name is so pretty.

“He has a honeyed voice, and he smells so good, I might actually end up eating my arm before I get to eat him. I want to be near him, I want to protect him and most of all I want him to be mine. I want him to belong to me and only me. It’s been frustrating me.”

“Isn’t that why we are here for?”

“I just don’t understand why now.”

“There’s never a good or bad time to fall in love, is there? It just… sort of happens.”

“You’re right. I guess… I am still confused as to why I never felt anything for anyone.”

“Just enjoy it, Min. You can’t understand the ways of the universe. What’s meant to be will happen whether you worry about it or not.”

“Thanks, Lix.”

Felix dotes his freckled smiley face and sneaks his way into a hug.

“Ohhh.” Minho lets out his breath just to annoy him a little.

“Never change.” Felix hugs him tighter.

🌗

Sunwoo can’t let go of the topic.

“Have you told him about the thing yet?”

“What thing?” Jisung plays innocent.

“What thing? Really, you’re playing dumb as if that’s not the first thing you care about.” His best friend knows him better than anyone.

“Oh, don’t pout, you big baby, I know it’s hard, you’ll have to tell him someday.”

“Better sooner than later,” Beomgyu adds.

Jisung huffs.

“I know. But we’ve just met and it feels too soon to even approach it but also I know it’s such a major deal breaker for some Alphas. I just… don’t want to ruin it.”

“It’ll save you the heartbreak later on.” Sunwoo supplies and Jisung knows he’s right but still…

“Yeah, the more serious it gets, the harder it will be if he’s against it.” The Omega noses at his scent gland to calm him down.

“I hate it. I hate that it’s such a thing that I even have to talk about it. it’s so unfair… if he comes…“

“I guess I gotta be a mother…” Beomgyu and Sunwoo join in. They rush to comfort him.

“We know, baby. We know but think of it as building trust too. you’re both new to this relationship, it’s better to build trust right from the start.”

“What if he says it’s fine but it’s not really fine and leaves me for another Omega or some shit.” He pleads.

“Well now you’re just spiralling, trust is something you have to build and you can start by not imagining scenarios in your head that haven’t actually happened.” Beomgyu pulls him back to reality.

“And if he does… I’m not saying he’d walk away without a scratch afterwards… we all know your moms have sharp nails.”

“Oh noo, I need to tell him about my moms,” Jisung wails.

“I think I saw him walk out of the lion’s den during dinner.”

“WHAT??!?”

“I guess it’s already happened, huh.”

“Oh my god, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Did you forget all the guests get to greet your lovely parents as a sign of gratitude?”

“Oh, shit, I kind of did… Damn it, I should’ve warned him.”

“Oh baby, there’s no warning ever good enough when your other half has to meet the parents.” Sunwoo cackles.

“God, I hope it went well. I wonder what they think of him.”

🌘

“Come, gather around, this evening we have a chase.”

Minho feels his skin prickle and his paws get colder.

“Something’s wrong. They’re in danger.”

“You did NOT…” Minho snarls and pierces everyone with a stare. “Where are they?”

Minho growls.

“Hmmm.”

“Minho wait! I haven’t announced the start yet.”

He’s struck with a bad feeling, the urge to kill anyone and everyone that passes his way and the fear of losing Jisung. He can’t give in to any of those feelings because to give in means he giving up his chances to save Jisung from the beasts that are crawling in the forest. He will not let them have their way. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever until he can stand beside Jisung.

His head turns towards the smell he can so clearly taste on his tongue, he doesn’t need to guess any more, Jisung must be somewhere there in the direction his nose is leading. He tries not to ponder what this means but the thought slips away through his guards anyway. Only true soulmates can smell each other miles apart and know exactly where they are.

At least that’s helpful now.

🌑

The cold tingles in Jisung’s body and at first he thinks it’s just because it’s almost night time and that’s why it’s cold. He bundles himself up, hides in his own fur and lays at the top of the field bracing for a bit of a long wait because who knows how far the Alphas and Betas are. But then it dawns on him that just a few minutes ago it wasn’t that cold and really the summer nights so far have been nothing but pleasant so it’s not the night. And if it’s not then it’s something far worse coming at them.

“Fuck, fuck, seriously. Who even thought of doing a chase in the middle of the forest when we have these beasts running around? Fuck fuck fuckitty fuck fuck.”

There is no one to defend them but themselves.

He howls a calling, a danger warning and that’s enough for all of them to stir and pick up their ears and respond.

Uhhh what’s next?

What the fuck next should he do to save everyone’s asses? Why is it even him, why can’t someone else do it?

He breathes in and out. There’s not much time.

He howls again, an invitation. Come closer. And fast.

He hopes that’s enough. He hopes even Omegas and Betas furthest from him can hear it.

If they gather together, there’s a higher chance they can save each other. If they can see what’s happening, there’s a chance no wolf will be left behind.

The forest is vast but he hopes they’re not too far and that the help is coming. They need to make their stance as soon as the beasts come.

The wolves start gathering around. Jisung turns himself to be a human.

“Look, I can feel the monsters coming. Help is on the way so we have to fight as best as we can until they come.”

He looks around and a shiver runs down his spine as he notices the weakest Omegas, the youngest ones and the ones who haven’t got the skill to fight. Their distressed smells cloud his mind. He needs to save them.

“Anyone who is capable of standing in the front please do so, the ones who don’t have any experience, keep close. Don’t attack, run south if they spot you. Everyone is coming to our help and they will be here. I’ll take count and then we run south, closer to everyone else.”

They run and get chased by the beasts. Jisung looks around at the carnage around him.

There’s just…too many of them. They look much fiercer this time for some reason.

He prays for Minho to get there sooner. His Alpha must know and be looking for him.

The Omega uses his speed and dips every time he gets attacked. He ferociously defends the wolves around them. The beasts are taking damage but they are outnumbered.

Jisung spots Minho’s head first, a little out of breath but there’s just no time. The Alpha launches himself towards the beasts closest to Jisung and trusts Jisung to take care of himself seeing how his eyes shine ablaze and he hasn’t lost the fire in his blood.

And then all at once he’s being attacked from all sides. He can’t even see what’s going on the field any more. The monsters are way too large for him to have any sense of direction. It probably doesn’t look that good from the outside either.

“Minho!” Jisung shouts in despair.

Jisung slashes their backs and the beasts whine in pain. Their broken skin shines in a ghost of blue.

“I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry, I shouldn’t have left you.” Minho cries.

“It’s okay. You did nothing wrong. You saved me twice now if we’re counting. And thrice, if we’re counting the time I had my heat.”

“You’re okay. You’re okay.”

Jisung kisses his forehead.

The rest of the pack catches up to them and the monsters scurry away. They take the injured wolves back inside the fence.

Jisung squeezes around the supple flesh. He helps Minho get up and carries his weight until they reach the pack grounds. He makes sure to touch him, skin to skin, under the black shirt. He thinks it must be his mind playing tricks on him but Minho is much warmer wherever he touches. They head to their den, away from each other, Jisung helps him up to the bed. Undresses his pants and puts his hands around the wound. He thought of the last time he was injured and how Minho’s hands emitted the same heat to his wound, they never figured out how it happened that his wound healed so quickly. He softly reaches out to the skin around the cut and they both watch as a soft blue light travels through Minho’s skin in rivets. Seeps into his skin and bones and everything around his wound closes up.

Jisung ponders for a minute then says:

“I think I know why they’re attacking us. They’re not attacking the pack. They’re looking for us.”

“For us? What do they need from us?”

“I don’t know. But every time there’s been an attack in our pack, I was near or just left. I think they must’ve been tracking me and well, they caught me. And that day when we were gathering berries, why would they come directly at us? And no one else?”

“Okay, it’s plausible. But why?”

“You don’t think…?” Jisung is afraid to voice it.

“What?”

“That we’re them… the lost souls.” It sounds ridiculous even to him.

“Oh no. No, no, no, no. What?? Are you out of your mind?”

Minho’s Alpha doesn’t like the idea. Doesn’t even want to consider it because if it were true it would mean that danger awaited them inevitably. He did not want his Omega to be put in danger. Not if he can help it.

“Minho… Think. What else could it be?”

“That’s insane. We can’t be them. We’re just us. It’s just you and it’s just me and we’re not a part of some prophecy. That’s absurd.”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe we’re not a part of some elaborate plan by the universe to end up together. But that wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”

“I mean… not the getting together part but the rest of it? How are we supposed to save everyone else? Do they have an instruction manual for that or something?”

“We can ask but I doubt it.” Jisung laughs.

They both seek each other out, bodies moving closer to touch and to comfort.

We can’t be them. It’s just us.

🌒

Life resumes back to normalcy that evening. The elders had planned for a lavish dinner and although it came sooner than anyone anticipated, it served as consolation from being attacked and many Omegas started feeling at ease when surrounded by their packs.

“You are very pretty tonight.” Jisung blushes at the comment. “Is it me or is your cleavage showing?”

Jisung looks down and then bites his lip in annoyance.

He wore a shirt with a lower neck just because and Minho took the opportunity to make him laugh.

He meets Minho’s mischievous eyes that just make him lose his last bit of composure. Since the dinner is formal, he holds back but still giggles and punches Minho’s left shoulder in retaliation.

“I loved your pecks the first time I saw them, and I love the teasing that’s going on now.”

Sometimes it’s hard to believe the kind of stuff that comes out of his mouth. He nibbles on his lips and huffs.

“Why do you do this?”

“I like your reactions. They’re like a gift to me.” Minho answers sincerely.

“You’re saying you looove me.” The Omega teases and laughs.

“I do.”

Jisung hiccups at the worst possible time.

“Do you want a drink?”

Jisung looks at him with wide doe eyes and blinks.

Minho stands up from their table like he’s annoyed like Jisung can’t take care of himself and Minho has to do it for him but that’s not the whole truth. Because as he walks away towards the beverage table Jisung sees him clenching his fist. It’s like he’s holding back.

While he waits for Minho to come to their table, he comes to the realization that Minho loving him isn’t the most shocking fact at all. He’s felt it all this time, he’s feeling it now. Minho has been the kindest and most caring Alpha he’s ever met, the most beautiful one too. The love that he feels is ever present like an invisible shadow that’s always guarding him. And isn’t that what Jisung has always wanted?

After they’ve met, Jisung has never wavered in his intentions and neither has Minho. It feels like Minho is the other half of the soul, the half he’s been so desperate to find ever since he was born.

“Here you go.”

A glass of water thuds right in front of him. It’s strange but he’s feeling shy and avoiding Minho’s eyes not because he doesn’t want to look at them but because Minho just said out loud that he loves him and Jisung isn’t sure he’s ready for that yet.

“Thank you.”

The hiccups subside and the water feels refreshing running down his throat. He puts down the glass in front of him. Looks to the right of him and searches for Minho’s hand. They intertwine their fingers and Jisung pulls both of their hands into his lap.

Until the food comes here, they can just hold them.

🌓

“Would you like a dance?”

“Yeah!”

The dance floor was busy with most Alphas, Omegas and Betas taking to the cramped space. There was nothing easier than to follow the rhythm of the music surrounding them. Jisung and Minho shimmied around each other and pulled out the most unique moves they could think of, still dancing in sync and laughing their lungs out.

Minho wrapped his arm around Jisung and pulled him in. Instantly the smell of moss and that spicy hint of vanilla calmed him down. They were both sweaty and that only enticed him more. They swayed their hips, hiding their faces in each other’s necks.

Jisung loved being wrapped up in the Alpha’s arms. It was moments like these that made him feel right where he belonged. He felt at peace but also excited about what it could lead to.

They both breathed in each other’s scents.

“Jisung, I don’t think I can dance with you like this. All I can think about is your ass.”

“Let’s get out of here.”

As they make their way towards the den Jisung remembers that he needs to say the thing that’s been on his mind.

“Actually, there’s something I should tell you,” Jisung gulps and in that moment, the world quiets down, it’s only his beating heart and the changing expression on Lee Minho’s face that matters. His resolve waivers. They stop behind some trees, it feels secluded even if it is just a few steps away from the dance floor. This could change everything between them. This could be their last conversation. He feels a sharp pang in his heart.

“What is it?”

“I-…” He exhales. Then the next thing that comes out of his mouth is something he says more to himself than the Alpha standing next to him “It’s better if I do it sooner than later.”

Minho looks at him patiently, sensing that it’s not an easy topic for the Omega. Jisung feels the calming pheromones that Minho is releasing and although it helps, it just makes him worry that nothing is as good as it seems. That nothing is long lasting, that the warmth he’s been feeling from being with Minho is temporary and can disappear at any moment.

“I don’t want to have pups. I don’t want to have heirs, I don’t want it.” He sounds determined, his chest jutting out and fists clenched at his side yet tears fall as soon as he speaks. He continues regardless. It breaks him inside for some reason and the sudden distance between the both of them makes Minho bent on finding out how had it come to this.

“It’s not that I can’t, I just don’t want to. And I think you should know. Before we pursue anything further.”

“Jisungie…” Tension leaves the older in a slow breath.

“Do you ever wonder why we were made this way? I did a lot. When I was younger.” Jisung continues.

“There’s just so much pressure to be this one thing, everyone around me seemed to want pups, to try for it, to build their whole life around it but everything that comes with it just never made sense to me. I think it’s great for others, I mean, wonderful. I just never saw it happening to me.”

“I don’t want my body to go through it. Birth scares me. The Omega bodies change and accommodate for the pups so much yet it feels so machinelike. Like even if I was born an Omega, it never was my choice to be one. Don’t get me wrong, I like being an Omega but all the baggage that comes with it, it’s unfair. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to get pregnant.”

“It’s your choice. It’s yours and yours only. I don’t know who told you otherwise but they were wrong. I will support you whatever you decide, I promise.”

“Okay.”

Jisung’s legs seem to give out from the weight of the confession and Minho’s response so the Alpha rushes closer and takes the younger into his warm embrace.

“It’s going to be okay. You’re okay, darling. I’ll keep you safe and will never let anyone make you do anything you don’t want.”

“Okay.”

“One day, I hope we can talk more about this. When you want to tell me. I hope you’ll feel safe enough to do so.”

“Thank you, hyung.”

“I would do anything for you.”

“Hyung!” Jisung swats at him. “You can’t just say things like that.” He giggles.

“How can I not when it’s the truth?”

“Oh my god.” Jisung whines then flops back onto Minho. Nuzzles his face near the scent gland.

“Tonight, can I just cuddle you?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Minho’s hand is still draped around Jisung’s shoulder when they head towards their living arrangements. They pass by Felix and Hyunjin who are coming back to the dance floor. Felix and Jisung reach out their hands and Felix pulls him closer. Now both of their significant others are standing a little further away from them. Far enough not to eavesdrop.

Felix looked at him hesitantly.

“How did it go?” He whispered, unrelentingly keeping Jisung in his embrace. Jisung confessed to Felix that morning what he would try to tell Minho at dinner. Felix was as supportive of it as anyone could be.

“He’s okay with it,” Jisung says back.

“Oh! That’s good! That’s good, isn’t it!” He quietly celebrates.

“It is! Yeah… But still, I feel like I let him down.”

“Oh, Jisung. Did he tell you that?”

“No, no, he didn’t. It’s just how I feel.”

Felix presses his lips.

“You can never let anyone down. Not in a million years. Now go, loosen up a little. We’ll talk about this later.”

🌔

They head East to the final leg of the journey. Although Minho had never been there, the Eastern pack had his favourite traders. They would always come to the South with baskets full of fresh fish, the most beautifully looking silks. That’s the pack he learnt how to make sushi from and years later, it was still his favourite dish.

When they reach the pack grounds and settle in. The elders invite them for lunch and after lunch all couples are encouraged to participate in an ancient ritual.

“Hyung, you look so lost.” Jisung giggles at him.

“This is just something… I have never seen it before.” He looks disoriented. “What are we supposed to do again?” He looks around everyone and sees Changbin and Seungmin taking off their shirts. Just like everyone else around them. Chan and Minhyuk are further away looking out into the woods for any danger.

Hyunjin and Felix are left to supervise closer to the group and seem to be gossiping about something. But really Minho feels overwhelmed by everyone taking off their shirts and basically getting naked in his face. It’s a tad bit distracting. He’s seen many wolves and humans naked but the air is charged with pheromones and sexual tension which catches him off guard.

Jisung seems amused by Minho’s reaction and feeling pity for him he takes the older’s hand and drags him a bit further away from the pack so they can have a more private space for themselves.

“Let me go first and then you can do the same.”

“Okay.”

Jisung places a little bowl against one of the tree branches nearby. He comes closer to Minho’s broad chest and starts lifting up his black tee. For some reason, this makes Minho’s ears start to burn. Jisung signals him to lift up his arms and helps him to take it off.

“I can keep going.” Jisung smirks, “If you don’t want your clothes to get wet in the water later.”

Minho looks shy and embarrassed.

“Are you sure it’s… necessary?”

“I would recommend it.” He smiles so innocently.

“Alright.”

Now that Minho is much less clothed than Jisung is, he loves the change in the power dynamic. Minho’s naked body is also just so nice to look at.

“Okay, now you’re ready for the honey ceremony. In the East pack it’s a popular ritual for couples who want to take their relationship to the next level.”

Minho listens attentively.

“So, now.” Jisung blushes this time. “I will paint on you with honey, tell you what I appreciate about you and… paint our future.”

“Oh.”

Minho’s curious eyes watch the blush on Jisung’s face spread like the sun rays of the warm summer sunset behind them. Jisung dips his finger into the little bowl and smears it under Minho’s right collarbone.

“I don’t think I’ve told you this but after I got attacked I’m almost certain it was because of your smell that I made it safely.” Jisung pauses and looks into his eyes. “Thank you for saving me.”

Minho gulps at the confession and as he tries to form the words, Jisung’s finger shushes him. His lips are now glistening from the honey. If Jisung wasn’t so focused on the task at hand, he would lick it off and kiss Minho’s warm mouth.

“Shhh, be quiet, baby.”

Minho listens with respect for the ritual.

Jisung draws near the left collarbone.

“I have to mention that the time we were spotted in the forest picking berries, you saved me once again. Thank you.”

Jisung bites his bottom lip as if holding back. He draws the honey down the middle.

“I also didn’t get a chance to thank you for gifting me all the gifts.” He blushes. “From the daisies to the rabbit, to the hoodie. Your scent made me feel like I was coming home. I was a little less lonely in the first few days. It made me feel that someone cared for me. You did.”

Jisung slowly draws the dots under Minho’s ribs. Every touch tingles Minho’s skin and makes it so hard to stand still and just take it.

“Most of all.” Jisung follows the lines from the ribs to below his tummy. “Thank you for choosing me. For wanting to be with me, for loving me, for being my soulmate right from the start.”

Jisung looks up to see Minho’s eyes glistening, emotional.

“Jisung.” It takes the younger’s breath away, how his name falls from the Alpha’s lips so softly. “You were made for me.”

“I know.”

And there’s nothing they need to say more. They both know, it’s them They are the people everyone is looking for, they are destined for all that has happened and all that will happen to them after this is all over.

Jisung instinctively looks around for something to wipe the honey with but since they are in the middle of the forest, there are, of course, no tissues.

“Hey.” Minho draws attention to himself. Then softly takes Jisung’s hand by the wrist and wraps his mouth around Jisung’s fingers.

“Hyung.” Jisung whines. “You’re making me horny in the middle of all this.”

Minho just smirks. So proud of the reaction Jisung elicited.

“It’s your turn now. Will you be patient for me?”

“I will.”

“Do you want to take everything off or just the shirt?”

“Everything off, I want my warm clothes afterwards.” Jisung winks.

“Okay, suit yourself.”

Minho starts vehemently taking off his clothes. Jisung is naked in seconds and drawing attention with every high-pitched protest.

Now they’re even.

Minho takes the honey bowl and slows himself down before painting it on Jisung’s skin.

“I’m not as good with words as you are but there’s no one else I’d rather spend my life with. A thousand lives, each and every single one of them, I would pick you.”

“Hyung.” he gasps softly.

“You have saved my life as well. You have made it impossible to live without you by my side.”

He teases him because Jisung’s face is alarmingly turning into a pouty and teary-eyed forest animal. And Minho means every single word but he doesn’t want to make him cry.

“Your pecks, your ass, your most enticing smell and the rest of you, are my favourite part.”

Minho’s face is so fond again.

“Don’t cry, little one, I’ll be forever yours. If that’s what you want.”

“I do.”

“Then I do too.”

Jisung snorts then.

“Hyung you were supposed to paint the honey on me.”

“Oh, right.”

Quick fix, he thinks by just pouring it all over Jisung’s chest.

They both laugh at how ridiculous this all is and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Minho catches Jisung by his waist, the honey bowl drops to the ground with a thunk.

He lightly caresses Jisung’s nipples over the honey. Jisung’s body rolls back, head falling in defeat and he lets out an impatient sound. Minho makes him lifts him up by the hips, tosses him over the shoulder and runs towards the river. They both fall in, splashing at each other, only laughter and Jisung’s high-pitched screams can be heard. They wash off the honey and Minho runs to the shore.

“Hyung!” Jisung shrieks in laughter. “Leave my clothes alone!”

Minho is too busy running towards the forest and laughing delightfully.

“Minho!” Jisung can’t contain the joy on his face. He’s never wanted to catch someone so bad, to kiss them so hard for this. God, he loved chasing and being chased by Minho. It’s the little things that make life exciting.

🌕

They stay at the Eastern pack for a few more days. It’s a joyous time. When they return back to the Southern pack, Minho’s home. Life returns to normal. They join the bonfires in the evenings. The fire is teasingly licking the night sky. An unspoken understanding falls between them that this night is for them to rest. This night is theirs to do whatever they want. Jisung has been playing games with his friends all evening. It’s full of laughter, light teasing and rowdy shouts all around.

They leave the crowd and Minho guides him to his favourite place. The rock that’s surrounded by pine trees and overlooks the forest.

They spend the whole night gazing at the stars and talking about their lives. Inevitably the topic of being the wolves everyone is after comes up.

“Do you understand what this means?”

“Yes, do you?”

“Yes.”

“Tomorrow we can tell the pack but today… Today is still ours.”

Jisung swallows his bottom lip and looks up at his hyung above. He noticed a corner of Minho’s lips twitch. But Minho didn’t move.

Making Minho his was as easy as breathing.

He took one look at the older’s lips, sneaked his hand under his jaw and started softly kissing him, tasting every inch of Minho’s mouth.

His cock was already pulsing, every inch of him feeling the tension. He snuck his hand under the pants to cup Minho’s half-hard cock earning a hiss in his own ear. Moving his head to the right, he slid his lips around Minho’s neck, planting soft kisses and sucking little in places that would make Minho writhe beneath him.

Jisung wrapped his waist around Minho’s waist and hoisted him more to the middle of the bed.

“Are you ready, baby?”

“Always.”

“Let me claim you.”

“Please.”

Minho finally let his teeth sink into the most beautiful golden neck of his Omega. After a few quick breaths, Jisung reciprocated the same by imprinting on Minho’s neck.

“And now you’re mine.”

🌖

In the morning, they reveal their secret to the elders. Tell everyone that they have mated which sends the crowd into various levels of cheers and congratulations.

“It’s time. Now that we know you’re a part of this and that you have the power to defeat it, we have to find the monster first.” Their pack leader tells them.

“We can’t let anyone get hurt if we can prevent it.”

“What if we can’t win?” Minho worries.

“It won’t be just you. We’re not leaving you alone.” Chan and Minhyuk step out and make a promise.

“We will come too.”

“Us too.”

More of their friends join.

“It’s too dangerous. If we don’t make it who’s going to guard our packs?”

“If we don’t make it everyone else is doomed too.”

“Fine. Then we must destroy it.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

🌗

They eat dinner, pack and then go to rest. Tomorrow, at the light of day the eight of them will venture on a journey outside the guarded walls of their territory.

Minho flops onto their bed. Jisung smiles at the ruffled hair and wet tips from the wash up. Minho looks so soft, it’s a sight he’d never want to miss.

He trails his hand around Minho’s back, following the curve and moves with it to elegantly lie on top of him. He hugs him from behind and nuzzles into the older’s skin. Minho is not trying to impress him or woo him or calm him at all but he doesn’t need to. It just so happens that his smell fresh out of the shower is both soothing and arousing for Jisung. He could get used to this.

“How is my big bad wolf tonight?”

Minho grumbles. It’s neither yes, nor no.

“You’re worried aren’t you?”

Jisung doesn’t need to ask. He feels the tense muscles under his fingertips. The non-verbal response just confirms what he’s sensing.

“Me too.” He admits.

Minho sighs. It’s pointless to pretend in front of your soulmate.

“I don’t want you to come.”

“Hmm, you know what? I feel the same.” Jisung lips upturn sadly.”But if we’re both not there then who’s going to be saving the world? That’s kind of the point.”

“I know.” a soft sigh like acceptance of the fact. “I’m scared for you, for me, for everyone we might lose tomorrow.”

“You can’t win a fight without fighting.”

Minho turns his neck back and looks serious.

“May it be our last with those damn monsters.”

“May it be.”

Jisung can’t resist tucking his face into Minho’s neck and peppering kisses all over it. They’re so soft and pleasant that Minho is sure to get hard if Jisung doesn’t stop any time soon.

“Jisung, baby, I need to save up my energy.” He sighs defeated. “Please.”

“Just hold me then.”

They change their positions and entangle their bodies on the bed. Two halves of the moon make one full.

“Always.”

“And forever more.” Jisung grins. And maybe he’s not far off. If a wishing star brought them both close and they lived thousands of lives together only to be separated for one to find each other again. Maybe forever is not too far off.

🌘

They said goodbye to the eight of the team that were coming with them. They’ll be trailing behind to lure the beasts out and make them think that Minho and Jisung are walking alone. Minho and Jisung volunteered to be bait, hoping to attract the monster’s attention.

They didn’t want to be too far away from each other so they howled at 20 minute intervals to check their positions. The plan was that once the mated couple was attacked, the pack would run out to meet the beasts and surround them. On the same day, 3 other wolves would venture to other packs to inform them of the fight and prepare medical supplies and beds if they would ever need them.

Minho and Jisung head North. One step after the other, getting closer to Jisung’s home and further from Minho’s.

🌑

They are spotted about a day’s worth of trek. Not long to go until the North pack. They feel the weather getting colder and then see the dark monsters charging at them. This time they are ready. Or at least they think so.

“Here you are.”

“And here goes nothing.”

Jisung lets out a howl to the rest of their pack to indicate their location. But no one howls back.

For a moment their determination wavers but there really isn’t much time to waste when the beasts are coming at them. Both of them growl and stand in their position and when the right moment comes they both go at them, sharp nails and teeth injuring anyone they target.

It takes a while for them to finally get a breath in and when their pack still hasn’t shown worry seeps in. Jisung calls out a few more times. The monsters are closing in on the two of them.

The beasts keep appearing from the sides and the couple shares a glance. If this is how it’s going, their chances of surviving are getting lower and lower with every second that passes.

Then suddenly they realise that their pack has been herding the beasts towards them. It’s a relief to finally see them closing the distance. Circling the monsters into one place. Acting as one body they follow Minhyuk’s lead to swarm them from all sides.

Chan and the rest of the pack are making it easier for Minho and Jisung to attack the beasts, claw at their bodies and kill them. With every kill more and more bodies glow blue from scarring. Minho and Jisung’s claws are lethal to them.

Then finally, panting and exhausted they stand at the pile of unmoving monsters.

The pack bundles up, scenting each other and howling in victory. They head to the closest pack grounds to them to rest.

🌒

3 months later

“Hey, hey, Minho! Come!”

Jisung’s voice reaches him unexpectedly, floating around from the Alpha and Luna tent that he’s been in all morning. He looks ecstatic and it’s hard not to smile in response.

Minho follows him without a word because he would follow him anywhere and everywhere the Omega goes.

Inside, Rosé and Lisa are bathing and feeding Luca’s and Lily’s kittens. Minho has always felt fond of cats and kittens but he never had any pets in his life.

You see, kittens and wolves seldom get along since one can be eaten by the other, it helps that they’re hybrids and prefer human food but he could never live with the thought of a what if.

He picks up one of the kittens, the one that already has been fed and looks too sleepy to stand on its legs. They pass the afternoon taking care of the babies and observing them. When they leave for their den in the evening, it’s the only topic on their mind and Jisung seems to be especially excited about welcoming new family members to the pack.

After a late dinner, Minho and Jisung get comfortable under the stars, shielded by the bushes and the walls of the den, it’s another quiet night just for them.

“Hyungie… What if we… Took the babies with us… To raise them together? I know you like them. You can’t hide that from me. And my eomma’s won’t mind. They’re already busy with the pack so it would only help them… In a way.”

Minho considers it for a minute.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Yes, I’m sure!”

“What about the south pack? What if they don’t take them in or worse? Try to eat them?”

It’s a valid concern but Jisung’s parents got cats a few years ago and so far they had no problems with the cat and wolf relationships. It helps that they are Alpha’s and Luna’s cats, of course, but now that the packs have gone to their normal lives thanks to Minho and Jisung, they have much to be grateful for. Minho and Jisung now hold important positions and are generally well respected.

“We can always travel back and find them a home in the North again. Hmm and if anyone tries to eat them, well… Hyung, won’t let them! And no one would go against you! I believe they’d be fairly protected.”

Jisung noses at Minho’s scent gland just because he likes Minho’s scent and is never satisfied with how close he is to it.

“So, what do you think, hyungie?”

“Okay, let’s do it.”

Jisung jumps out from Minho’s embrace and kisses him all over. Minho giggles and pines him down to defeat in the kiss-off competition which it suddenly becomes.