Archive of Our Own

“Minho, tell me you're joking.”

Hyunjin sat at the roughly hewn table in his best friend's hut, wrinkling his nose in displeasure as the heavy, spicy scent of approaching heat kept assaulting his senses. Around him, bundles of dried herbs and hides hung on the walls, the air smelled of wood and ash from the cooled hearth, but that scent — foreign, sticky — cut through everything.

“Do you think I'm happy about it?” Minho wearily rubbed his flushed face with his palms. His voice sounded muffled, hoarse. He sat opposite, legs tucked under him, trying to breathe evenly, but sweat was already beading on his forehead. His entire body, clad in a simple linen shirt, was tense like a bowstring.

“But why?” Hyunjin threw up his hands, his indignant voice echoing through the small hut. “Why today of all days? Today is the day Chan and I bind ourselves before the Moon and the pack! And you...” he dramatically sniffled, pressing his hands to his chest, though genuine, undisguised frustration splashed in his dark eyes.

They both knew: Minho wasn't to blame. The beastly nature, cursed or blessed, didn't obey calendars. But that didn't make it any easier. The friend who was supposed to stand by his side was now sitting here, in the sticky fog of his own scent, and the pack surely already sensed it. Sensed that one of its members was entering heat and couldn't fulfill his duty.

“If my pre-heat hadn't started, I could at least come for part of the celebration, but I... I can already feel it. Probably tonight, my heat will hit full force. I'm sorry, Hyunjin.”

“Sorry?” Hyunjin threw up his hands, about to jump up, but the scent hit harder, making him freeze in place and swallow convulsively. “You're my closest friend, my right hand, the one who's supposed to catch the wreath of sae-um's, and instead you're sitting here and... and you smell so much that my own thoughts are getting tangled!” he blurted out and immediately bit his tongue, realizing how it sounded.

Minho weakly smirked, leaning back against the wall. The movement was smooth, almost feline — his body was already starting to live its own life, obeying ancient instincts.

“Then go,” he exhaled, closing his eyes. “Go to Chan. The whole pack will gather there, alphas will sing, the moon is full tonight, the most perfect one. And I'll... manage somehow here.”

“Manage?” Hyunjin snorted, but guilty notes crept into his voice. “Do you even realize what will happen if heat catches you alone in this shack? You'll go mad by morning! You need to leave an alpha, hyung. There's barely any water stocked, no food, no calming herbs...”

“So now you're a healer too?” Minho cracked one eye open, and a familiar mischievous spark flickered in his pupil before drowning in the haze of approaching heat. “Go already. Chan must be waiting. I can imagine his face: the groom ran off an hour before the ceremony to his omega friend in pre-heat. And by the way, I don't need an alpha. I'm the son of the pack leader, and so what if I'm an omega? That doesn't mean I'll jump on any dick offered to me just because hormones make it hard.”

“Exactly! It will be hard for you,” Hyunjin finally stood up, but instead of heading to the door, he stepped toward the shelves with herbs. “At least let me make you an infusion. So you don't howl at the moon too soon and scare the whole pack.”

He busily rustled through bunches of yarrow, motherwort, and something else Minho had prepared last month. His fingers trembled — either from worry or from that same sticky, sweet scent that was already starting to fog his mind.

“Hyunjin...” Minho called softly, and he turned. “Are you really mad at me?”

A pause hung in the air. Hyunjin looked at his friend — flushed, with damp strands of dark hair stuck to his forehead, with hazy eyes where his usual sharp mind battled the oncoming wave of animal languor — and felt a lump rising in his throat.

“I am,” he answered honestly, sinking back onto the bench. “But not at you. At fate, which always messes everything up. You should be there, with me. Put the wreath of sae-um's on me, so in the midnight I throw it into the river and it returns to the other shore, so you catch it there, meaning the moon chooses you as the next omega to bind with an alpha. Without you, it's all... not the same.”

Minho extended a trembling hand and squeezed Hyunjin's fingers. His palm was hot, dry, pulsing with heat.

“I'll be there. In spirit. Every second.”

“In spirit, he says,” Hyunjin snorted, but didn't pull his fingers away. “Just sit. I'll do it quick. And tell Chan you'll drag yourself there as soon as you can, even on all fours.”

Minho laughed hoarsely, and the laugh quickly turned into a stifled groan — a new spasm rolled through his body, forcing him to arch and grip the edge of the table with his free hand.

“Go,” he whispered. “Seriously, go. I'll manage. It's not my first time.”

“You're lying,” Hyunjin stood up sharply. “You've never managed. But right now, I really am needed there,” he quickly mixed the herbs in a clay mug, pouring warm water from the kettle by the hearth. “Drink this. And promise you'll call someone if it gets unbearable.”

“Who?” Minho smirked crookedly. “All the alphas will be at the wedding. Catching your wreath, then chasing their omegas and saying it's fate.”

“Chan...” Hyunjin started but cut himself off. Ask his future husband, an alpha, to spend the heat night with another omega? Even if that omega is his best friend? No. That was unthinkable. Hyunjin loves and respects his hyung, but he's not sharing his alpha.

“Exactly,” Minho nodded, as if reading his thoughts. “Go. And be happy. That's all I want today.”

Hyunjin froze in the doorway, turning back. The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the cracks in the walls, gilding the dust in the air and falling on Minho, who no longer tried to sit straight — he slid down the wall, eyes closed, breathing heavily. Beautiful even now, in this half-oblivion, in this whirlpool of oncoming heat. Too beautiful to go through this alone.

“I'll come back,” Hyunjin said firmly.  “As soon as I can. After the ceremony, after the first part of the feast. I'll come back and stay with you until... until it's over.”

Minho's eyes flew open — horror mixed with hope splashed in them.

“You're crazy! Your husband...”

“My husband will understand,” Hyunjin cut him off. “Otherwise, I should rethink if this alpha should really be my husband.”

He dashed out the door before Minho could object, and the heavy scent of the omega in preheat stayed locked in the hut, mingling with the aromas of herbs and wood ash.

Minho breathed deeply, clutching his thigh, barely covered by the linen shirt fabric. Soon their territory would empty. Everyone would go to the river — to celebrate the day when Chan, an alpha from the southern pack, long and tightly linked to the northern one, would unite in marriage bonds with Hyunjin. This union wasn't the first in their tribes' history, but Minho was genuinely happy for his friend. He saw how Hyunjin's eyes lit up when Chan appeared, how he reached for him, smiling, and felt in that gaze true love. The same deep attachment Minho noticed in the alpha's eyes. It was that — pure, mutual love — that made Minho persuade his father not to delay the permission. That became one of the main reasons why Minho urged his father to allow this union to happen sooner: love lives eternally, and sometimes it seems every day lived before meeting your mate was wasted.

Minho's father adored Hyunjin, so after just a few formal dinners with Chan, he gave his blessing to this union that would mix blood and strengthen the bond between the packs.

Minho tossed in half-sleep. His fingers convulsively gripped his own flesh near his groin, where the thin linen fabric was already soaked through with moisture. The thought that soon everyone would go to the river was the only thing keeping him from panic.

“Hey, hyung? Are you here?” Minho sleepily pried his eyes open, trying to adjust to the sunset glow from the window and focus on who had come to him. He instinctively pulled his knees to his chest, trying to hide, because in pre-heat, he went mad from the ache in his body and embarrassment. Minho had a very attractive figure: plump, soft hips, slim legs, and a narrow waist, despite a small fold below his belly. Minho knew he was attractive in appearance and body, but his hormones, raging from his heat, wouldn't let him relax, and his inner omega went mad at the thought that someone would see his body lying on the soft hide on the floor, barely covered by the thin shirt.

The one who came realized the omega wasn't entirely comfortable, so he closed the door behind him and released some pheromones into the room. Minho immediately caught them: omega. He wrinkled his nose; these weren't the pheromones he wanted to inhale right now.

“It's me, hyung,” the omega approached closer and knelt beside him, gently wiping sweat from his forehead with a towel.

“Felix,” Minho exhaled softly. “Why aren't you at the river? It's soon...” Minho asked, squirming on the hide, trying to ease another wave of spasm in his lower belly, from which slick trickled down his legs.

“Shh, it's okay, don't worry, they'll manage without me,” Felix helped him sit up. “How do you feel?”

“Shitty,” Minho hissed when his leg cramped, and sticky moisture slid down the inside of his thigh. He squeezed his eyes shut, riding out the spasm, and looked at his friend again. “I'll wait until everyone goes to the river, then go back to my hut. My nest is there, and... my things, and more supplies. I didn't come here to be here during heat; I forgot my things and diaries here and... couldn't leave before morning, and now during the day, with alphas and omegas milling about, I don't want... to show up,” Minho admitted honestly, wincing at how wet and hot it was between his legs.

“That's right,” Felix nodded, helping him drink water. “Your nest is your home, right? Hyung will feel safe there, won't he?”

Minho purred quietly, nodding to him. The nest had always been something sacred for Minho, where he let no one in. No alpha who tried to court him was honored to be in Minho's nest. Even his omega friends never visited his nest. Minho hated when his scent was replaced by someone else's. It felt like an invasion. Unsafe. Uncomfortable. Chase away.

“Do you want to make it to Hyunjin's and Chan's full moon?” Felix asked cautiously.

“I can't, I can barely stand. And... it'll show that I'll be whining every minute.”

“I can make you a decoction that will slightly mute the effect of your heat on your body. It won't go away or delay. Just... your omega will quiet down for a little while. What do you think?”

“Why... why are you telling me this?” Minho's voice was hoarse, tired.

“I want Hyunjin to have all his loved ones by his side on such an important day. He'll be sad without you, you know. And you too. I'm not sure about the recipe, since I've made it a couple of times, but I can try again if you want,” Felix spoke quietly, but his voice held that special, rare confidence that appeared only when he talked about herbs or caring for someone. Minho knew that tone. Felix was the youngest among their pack's omegas, but in healing and potion-making, he had no equal. If anyone could dampen the call of blood without breaking its natural flow, it was him.

“Are you sure?” Minho bit his lip, fighting the urge to whine from another wave of pulling pain in his lower belly. “I don't want to harm myself or... or lose it there, in front of everyone. Imagine the alphas' faces if I, the pack leader's son, start whining during the sacred rite or rubbing against someone while they're exchanging vows?”

Felix laughed quietly, and that sound calmed Minho almost as much as his pheromones.

“You won't. I promise. It won't remove the heat, hyung. Just... dull the sharpest waves. You'll feel the heat, but it won't cloud your mind. You'll be able to stand, speak, smile. And in a few hours, when it's over, your body will catch up. The heat might be a bit more intense, but you'll be in your nest by then.”

Minho hesitated for just a second. The thought of missing the ceremony, sitting here in sticky sweat and regret while Hyunjin exchanged vows with Chan, was more unbearable than the risk of a breakdown.

“Do it,” he exhaled, brushing damp hair from his forehead. “Just, please, hurry. I think I'm about to melt soon.”

Felix nodded and silently slipped to the shelves where Minho kept his herbs. His slender fingers confidently sorted through the bundles, sniffed, set aside the unsuitable ones. Minho watched him through the haze of heat, feeling his body shudder in chills, though his skin burned like fire. He gripped the edge of the hide he lay on, knuckles whitening.

“Tell me something,” he asked to distract himself. “What's happening at the river? Is everything ready?”

“Almost,” Felix replied without turning. He ground something in a mortar, and a tart, bittersweet-minty scent floated through the hut. “The altar by the water is set up, the pups wove wreaths. Chan is already there with the alphas. He's in such a beautiful embroidered shirt. Hyunjin is still at his place, the omegas are dressing him. I escaped when they started arguing about which flowers to weave into his hair.”

Minho smiled weakly, imagining the scene. Hyunjin was always picky when it came to his appearance.

“And your decoction?” he asked, feeling a new wave of spasm force him to arch. “How much longer?”

“Almost done. Hold on, hyung.”

Felix poured the murky greenish liquid into a mug, added cold water from a pitcher, and knelt beside Minho. Supporting his nape, he brought the mug to his lips.

“It tastes like complete crap, don't be surprised. Drink in small sips. And don't get up right away, let your body adjust.”

“Are you sure this will work?” Minho clutched the mug as if his life depended on it. His fingers trembled, and the warm liquid sloshed against the clay sides, threatening to spill. He looked at the murky greenish infusion with hope and fear at once. The omega in him howled at the thought of someone gagging him, forcing him to silence at the most crucial moment — when his body demanded one thing: find an alpha, bury his nose in a hot neck, and let instincts take over.

Felix smiled softly, adjusting the slipped hide from Minho's shoulder. His own scent — calm, slightly sweet, with notes of dry grass — worked better than any decoction, but Minho knew: Felix was just very good at controlling himself. Always even, always quiet, always there when needed.

“I'm not entirely sure,” Felix admitted honestly, squatting beside him. “Last time I made it for myself, when I had to bandage wounds all night for those injured in the enemy pack attack, and my body decided that was the best time for heat. It helped for a couple of hours. Just so I could stand straight and not whine in front of the whole pack while treating them.”

Minho hummed, imagining the picture. Felix, always composed, always with a light half-smile on his freckled face, trying to hide the tremble in his knees under the heavy gaze of the pack.

“And then?”

“And then I didn't leave the nest for three days, and Changbin brought me food and changed the bedding because I didn't have the strength to even roll over,” Felix smirked, but warmth flickered in his eyes at the mention of his alpha's name. “The decoction drains all your energy. You won't want an alpha right now, but you'll be weak as a kitten. And as soon as it wears off, the heat will hit twice as hard.”

Minho pondered. Weakness is bad. Weakness in heat is dangerous. If he can't protect his nest, if some alpha, heated by festive wine and the pheromones of a happy pair, wanders too far from the fire and catches the scent of a flowing omega...

“I'll drink it,” he decided and, closing his eyes, downed the bitter infusion.

The herbal bitterness burned his throat, and Minho coughed, feeling a strange cold tingling spread through his body. The drink was bitter, with a taste of wormwood and something minty, cooling. His bones twisted, his heart pounded in his ears, his stomach cramped. Minho drank obediently, feeling warmth spread through his esophagus, but it was a different warmth — not feverish, but deep, soothing. The heat receded, leaving behind sticky tremors in his muscles and a nasty weakness in his knees. The pulse stopped throbbing in his temples, and for the first time in hours, Minho could take a deep breath without smelling his own slick. He drank to the bottom and leaned back onto the hide, closing his eyes.

For several minutes, silence reigned in the hut, broken only by the crackling of coals in the hearth and Minho's heavy breathing, which gradually evened out.

“It seems... it's working,” he whispered in surprise, listening to himself. The heat hadn't gone away; he still felt the pulsation in his lower belly and the moisture trickling down his thighs, but his mind cleared. The sharp, panicky need for someone to pin him down, cover him with their body, vanished, replaced by a dull, tolerable longing. ”Felix, you're a miracle!”

“I know,” he smiled, setting the mug aside. “But it's not for long. Three to four hours, no more. Enough for the ceremony, maybe the start of the feast. Then it'll let go, and everything will come back. So as soon as you feel your mind starting to fog again — leave immediately. Don't wait until it's too late.”

“Okay,” Minho sat up, carefully adjusting the hem of his sticky shirt. “I need to change. And wash. I can't go there... like this.”

Felix was already standing, extending a hand.

“I'll help. Where's your clothes?”

Half an hour later, Minho — clean, dressed in a light blue shirt like all the omegas today, matching the evening sky, and loose pants — stood on the threshold of his hut and deeply inhaled the cool evening air. The forest smells — pine, damp earth, river freshness — overpowered the sticky trail of his own heat. Felix stood beside him, ready to catch him if his legs buckled.

“Shall we go?” the younger asked quietly.

Minho nodded, taking the first step. His body obeyed, though every movement echoed with a dull vibration in his swollen spots. He knew he was taking a risk, but when they stepped onto the path leading to the river and heard the first solemn notes of songs in the distance, he realized — it was worth it. He'd be there for Hyunjin.

The path to the river wound between old pines, and Minho walked, leaning on Felix's shoulder, feeling strength return drop by drop with each step. The decoction worked strangely: the heat was gone, but his muscles felt like cotton. However, his head was clear, and that was the main thing.

“Tell me about Changbin,” Minho asked to distract from thoughts of what was happening under his shirt. Where everything usually burned and pulsed, now it was quiet and empty. Unfamiliar. Almost scary.

Felix smiled that smile that appeared only when his alpha's name was mentioned.

“What to tell? It's like everyone else. He grumbles if I stay out late with herbs, drags me to the nest early, warms my back at night. Yesterday he caught me in the swamp when I was gathering calamus, carried me home in his arms like a child, scolding so loudly that Wooyoung came out of his house and grumbled at us for disturbing his pup's sleep.”

Minho snorted, imagining the scene. Changbin, eternally serious and frowning Changbin, who melts only around his freckled omega — that was a sight.

“He's good. He takes care of you.”

“He does,” Felix nodded agreeingly. “And you? Haven't thought about it? So many alphas pining for you, and you're still alone.”

Minho fell silent. Of course he'd thought about it. It's hard not to when your body reminds you every three months what it's made for by nature. When you see friends finding their mates, building nests, birthing pups. But Minho remembered too well what it means to be the son of the pack leader. He knew too well the price of his gift — and his curse. The pack's future depends on Minho when his father is gone.

“I don't need anyone,” he answered finally. “I manage on my own.”

Felix said nothing, only squeezed his elbow tighter.

They emerged onto the clearing by the water when the sun had almost set behind the horizon, painting the sky in crimson-gold tones. The riverside clearing was noisy and crowded — almost the entire pack had gathered. Fires burned, game roasted on spits, it smelled of bread and honey. In the center, by the altar adorned with flowers and ribbons, stood Hyunjin and Chan. Hyunjin was beautiful — in a white shirt embroidered with the pack's symbol on the chest, light linen pants, a wreath of saeoms in his light hair, eyes shining with happiness. Chan, tall, broad-shouldered, in a similar light embroidered shirt, held his hands in his and looked at him as if he were the greatest treasure in the world.

Minho froze at the edge, not daring to approach closer to avoid interfering. But Hyunjin, as if sensing his gaze, turned. His eyes widened in surprise, then a happy, grateful smile bloomed on his face, squeezing Minho's throat. He flew across the clearing, pushing aside bewildered omegas, and a moment later hung on Minho's neck, hugging him tightly.

“You came!” he exhaled into his shoulder. “You came, you idiot! I told you to stay home!”

“And miss you being the most beautiful omega on this earth?” Minho hoarsely chuckled, carefully hugging back to avoid falling. “No way.”

Hyunjin pulled away, peering into his face. Worry splashed in his dark eyes.

“How are you? Breathing okay? Won't break down?”

“All good,” Minho nodded toward Felix standing aside. “Our little healer worked a miracle. I'm fine. You can count on me for three hours. Then I'll run.”

Hyunjin squeezed his hand, tears glistening in his eyes.

“Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“I do,” Minho smiled and nodded toward Chan, who waited patiently at the altar but burned them with a gaze full of curiosity and tenderness. “Go already. You're waited for. I'll find a spot with a good view.”

Hyunjin nodded, pressed his lips to his cheek for a moment, then ran back to his alpha, to his happiness, to his new life.

Minho watched him go and felt warmth spread in his chest. It was worth enduring for this.

Felix pulled him to a bench set aside but with a good view. Minho sank onto the roughly planed boards, leaned back against a young oak trunk, and allowed himself to just watch.

The moon rose over the river, full, huge, flooding everything with silvery light.

The ceremony began.

The elder, Minho's grandfather, stepped forward, raising his hands to the sky, and began the ancient howl to the Moon — the patroness of all omegas and alphas, witness to unions, keeper of secrets. And Hyunjin with Chan, holding hands, stepped into the water up to their knees. The water gleamed in the moonlight, washing their feet, cleansing all the past, uniting them into one. His voice, creaky and ancient as these forests themselves, carried over the river, and Minho felt the vibrations resonate somewhere in his chest.

Hyunjin and Chan stood side by side, holding hands, looking at each other as if no one else existed. The elder tied their wrists with a red thread — symbol of blood, fate, unbreakable bond. He pricked each of their fingers with a small knife before drawing symbols of prosperity and strong family on their wrists. Chan whispered something to the omega to distract him from the fleeting pain, and Hyunjin laughed, throwing his head back, and in that laugh was so much life that Minho forgot for a moment how his back ached and how hard it was to breathe.

Minho watched them and felt warmth grow in his chest — not the feverish one from heat, but something entirely different, bright. For his own. For his friend's happiness. For being able to be here after all.

While the elder sang odes to the Moon, all the omegas ran to the opposite riverbank, because everyone loved this part of the ceremony, when the omega throws his wreath of sae-um's into the river, and whoever becomes its owner will be the next omega to bind their fate with their mate.

When Hyunjin, laughing and crying at once, tore the wreath of sae-um's from his head and hurled it into the dark river water with all his might, Minho stepped forward to the very shore. The wreath swirled in the current, carried away, and when it almost disappeared from sight, a strong wave raised by the wind tossed it onto the sand at Minho's feet.

He watched and thought that love is probably the only thing worth waking up for in the mornings. The only thing that makes life something more than just survival.

He bent down, picking up the wet stems smelling of river and flowers, and raised his gaze to Hyunjin. He watched him from the shore, beaming through tears.

“I told you!” he shouted, pressing against Chan. “You're next, hyung! Next!”

When the elder declared them husbands, the clearing exploded with shouts. Alphas howled, omegas clapped, and even Felix beside Minho beamed, squeezing his elbow.

“Beautiful, right?” he asked.

“Very,” Minho replied.

The feasting that followed the ceremony was noisy and boozy. Fires leaped to the sky, snatching dancing figures from the darkness. Alphas competed in strength and agility, omegas led rounds by the water, singing ancient songs of love and fidelity, and pups ran among the adults, tangling underfoot and filling the clearing with shrill squeals.

Minho sat in his spot by the oak, watching the general merriment, feeling his strength melt away like water through fingers with each minute. Felix's decoction was working at its limit, but Minho knew: a little more, and the mechanism would fail.

“Hyung, how are you?” Felix, appearing with two mugs of wine, squatted down, peering into his face. In the firelight, Minho looked pale, with feverish blush on his cheekbones.

“Holding on,” Minho took the mug, gratefully inhaling the spicy scent of rosehip and mint decoction. “But not for long, I think. My body is starting to rebel.”

Felix nodded understandingly, glancing at the celebrating pack.

“You have an hour. Then it'll knock you out. You should leave before the fun really starts.”

“I know,” Minho sipped, feeling pleasant warmth spread through his chest. “I'll wait until they cut the wedding cake, then go. Hyunjin will be upset if I sneak off earlier.”

“He'll understand.”

“He will,” Minho agreed. “But I want to remember this evening. I want to remember him happy.”

Felix said nothing, only squeezed his shoulder harder and stayed sitting beside him, a silent guardian, ready to catch if his legs gave out.

Minho watched Hyunjin dance with Chan. The omega's movements were smooth, almost fluid; the alpha led him gently but firmly, and their bodies, lit by the fire, merged into one. Hyunjin laughed, throwing his head back, and that laugh carried over the river, pure and ringing like spring thaw.

Alphas and omegas passed by, but Minho paid them no mind, only smiling crookedly when someone greeted him.

Gradually, more people appeared on the clearing; finally, wolves from Chan's pack arrived, by tradition they were to come only for the last part of the ceremony, where alpha and omega in their wolf forms howl at the moon, then run through the forest until dawn searching for sae-um, to bring them to the pack leader at morning as proof that their love is truly sincere.

Minho breathed deeply, trying not to think about being surrounded by alphas on all sides. Cool but soft northern ones, his pack; hot and playful southern ones, their neighbors. Minho's head spun from the mix of pheromones around and the liqueur he'd drunk earlier added more fog to his mind. He felt the decoction inside him starting to fade slowly — somewhere deep in his belly, the familiar, viscous warmth pulsed again. His mind was still clear, but his body was sending signals: fingers trembled slightly, breathing hitched now and then, and his gaze involuntarily caught on the silhouettes of alphas flashing among the dancers.

He forced himself to look only at Hyunjin.

He sat beside Chan by the largest fire, flushed, happy, with a wreath someone from the omegas had already rewoven. Chan hugged him by the shoulders, pressing his lips to his temple, cheek, corner of his mouth — possessively, tenderly, greedily. Hyunjin laughed and waved him off, but pure contentment splashed in his eyes, making Minho's heart ache.

“Beautiful couple,” came from somewhere to the side, and Minho, turning his head, saw Jisung approaching. The younger alpha from the southern pack, with eternally mischievous eyes and a bold smile, squatted beside Minho. “And why are you hiding in the shadows, hyung? Come dance. So many free alphas...” his playful voice helped Minho distract a bit.

“Today I'm just watching,” he smiled weakly. “Soon the most interesting part starts, Jisung. You should go down to the river to see all the beauty.”

“I want to keep you company,” Jisung settled on the grass beside the omega and leaned back against the tree. Minho tried not to show that a little more and he'd burst from arousal and excitement. Jisung's pheromones, sweet mint and spruce, made Minho's head spin, but he couldn't turn to him and bury his nose in his scent gland, couldn't lick it, couldn't leave his mark on it.

No. Can't. Minho, no.

Minho forced himself to breathe evenly. One, two, three. He is the son of the pack leader. He's not some omega ready to fall into the arms of the first alpha just because his body has gone mad from hormones. He'll manage. He always has.

“Want more to drink?” Jisung tilted his head and gave Minho a warm smile.

Minho felt slick trickle down his thigh. He shook. The decoction worked, but its effect was melting away every minute. He felt it by the returning pulling pain in his lower belly, how his nipples started burning under the shirt fabric, how moisture gathered between his legs again, soaking his pants.

“N-no,” he stood up sharply and barely grabbed the tree, because a few more seconds and he'd collapse. “I need... need to go.”

“Are you okay? Feeling bad?” Jisung's voice was worried as he stood up and carefully placed a hand on Minho's back.

“Don't touch me,” the words flew out before Minho could process them. A growl, almost animal, tore from his lips, and Jisung jerked his hand away as if burned.

Hurt flashed in the younger alpha's eyes, replaced by understanding. He stepped back, raising his palms in a conciliatory gesture.

“Sorry, hyung. I didn't mean... You just went pale, I got scared that you felt sick and...”

“It's fine,” Minho forced a smile, but it came out crooked. His fingers dug into the oak bark, and he felt his knees tremble. Jisung's scent — sweet mint and spruce — still spun his head, but now fear mixed in. His own fear. “I really need to go. Tell Hyunjin that I... that I left because...”

“Because you're in heat?” Jisung said it quietly, almost a whisper, and there was no hint of lust in his eyes, only concern. “I'll walk you home.” 

“No!”

The sharpness of his own voice scared Minho. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, counted to ten in his head. Felix's decoction no longer held — he felt it in every cell. The heat returned, rolling in waves, and it was treacherously wet between his legs. Minho was steps away from pouncing on the young alpha, with whom they shared not just friendship between packs, but something more personal. Almost no one knew about it, only Hyunjin and Felix, and Minho's father, because once his father very untimely decided to visit his son's hut and caught him on the floor, greedily kissing Jisung while the alpha tried to pull off his shirt. Minho couldn't call it a relationship; he'd never heard words of love from Jisung or that Jisung wanted Minho to be his omega. His mate. Minho never talked to him about it, though he thought about it many times. He hoped that someday Jisung would open his heart to him, but... Years passed, and he said nothing. They sometimes met outside Minho's heat and Jisung's rut; that was their unspoken rule: no sex during heat or rut. They both understood what sex during heat or rut meant, and unfortunately for Minho, the alpha never tried to start a conversation about it. Minho got used to it, but it still hurt. He loves Jisung.

“You don't need to escort me,” he said more calmly. “I'll go myself. I'll manage.”

Jisung looked at him with a long gaze, full of struggle. The younger alpha clearly wanted to insist, but something — either respect for Minho's status or understanding boundaries — stopped him.

Minho didn't wait another second. Turning, he took the first step into the forest darkness, and his legs buckled as soon as the tree crowns closed overhead, hiding him from the firelight and prying eyes.

“Jisung...”

He walked, clinging to trunks, stumbling over roots, cursing his weakness and this stupid heat that chose the wrong time. His shirt stuck to his body, pants soaked through, and every step echoed with pulsation in his lower belly, making him whine from a mix of pain and growing, unbearable desire.

Fragments of thoughts flashed in his head: nest, need to get to the nest, safe there, can fall and not get up until it's all over.

The path to his hut wound between pines, and Minho knew it like the back of his hand, but now, in the dark, in the fog of his own heat, it seemed endless. He fell to his knees when the house was almost in sight, and sat like that for several minutes, pressing his palms into the cold ground, trying to quell the tremor shaking his body.

Air tore from his lungs in hoarse, ragged sobs.

“Get up,” he whispered to himself. “Get up, you pathetic excuse for an omega. Just a little more.”

He didn't get up. He crawled, because he couldn't walk anymore. Clutched grass, roots, anything in reach. And when his fingers finally felt the familiar door jamb, when he tumbled inside his hut and slammed the door behind him, Minho allowed himself to sob.

Tears streamed down his cheeks, mixing with sweat, and he, stripping off his wet clothes as he went, crawled to his nest — a pile of soft hides in the corner, smelling of him, his safety, his loneliness. He climbed in, buried his nose in the fur, curled into a ball, and gave in to instincts.

His body arched on its own, hands reached where everything burned and pulsed, and Minho moaned aloud, gripping his cock. Not enough. It's all not enough. Fingers — not it. Hides — not it. Scent — only his own, but he wanted someone else's, strong, alpha-like, to pin him, cover him, enter...

“No,” he sobbed, biting his own wrist to shut up. “No, don't you dare. You'll manage. You always have.”

Minho growled when he heard the door to his hut open.

No, can't! Stranger! Stranger! Stranger! Defend! Fight! Can't! Stranger! Stranger! Stranger!

Felix cautiously entered, holding a basket of meat and vegetables in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other. He found Minho kneeling in the center of the nest, completely naked, eyes closed, head thrown back. Minho's body was beautiful in its way — wide hips, narrow waist, smooth curve of his back, down which large drops of sweat now streamed. But Felix saw not only beauty; he saw the state. Tremors, fine and frequent, ran through his muscles. Fingers clutched the hide as if trying to tear it.

“Lie down, hyung,” he said softly, kneeling beside. “I'm here. I'll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

Minho opened his eyes. In them, in those dark, veiled eyes, splashed such torment that Felix's heart clenched.

“Leave,” Minho rasped. “Please. I don't want you to see this. It's... disgusting. I'll whine, crawl on my knees, rub against everything... I don't want you to see me like this.”

“Nonsense,” Felix smiled, pressing a cool cloth to his burning forehead. “I'm an omega. I know what heat is. And I won't leave until you're safe.”

“But Hyunjin... the feast...”

“Hyunjin is happy with his alpha right now, and he doesn't need a friend who'll go mad from loneliness in four walls in an hour. But you need me. Alive and sane,” Felix wetted the cloth again and wiped Minho's chest, washing away the salty sweat. “Just breathe. I'm here.”

Minho closed his eyes, feeling heat roll in a new wave, washing away the last remnants of control. The decoction was giving way, and his body, tired of holding back, finally let go. He groaned — muffled, drawn out, arching on the hides, feeling it get wet and hot between his legs again.

Felix, without changing expression, continued sitting beside, fanning him with some dry herb smelling of mint and coolness. He didn't look at Minho's body with judgment or curiosity — only with care, only with a desire to help.

“R-remove... m-mint... arouses!” Minho growled.

“Okay,” he whispered. “It's okay. Exhale. You're in the nest. You're safe. No one will come in here.”

Minho tossed, squeezing his thighs, burying his face in hides smelling of himself, and whined quietly, pitifully. He needed something — a touch, scent, warmth, someone's strong body on top to pin, crush, make him forget everything. But only Felix was nearby, and that both calmed and drove him mad.

“Felix...” he exhaled, not opening his eyes. “W-want... Alpha! Need... alpha. M-mint... arouses... Want... alpha!”

Felix froze, hearing this. Not from fear or judgment — just for a moment his hand with the cloth stopped in the air, and his gaze became more attentive, studying. He knew this stage. When the decoction lets go completely, the mind drowns in instincts, and the most secret comes out. What the omega usually keeps deep inside.

“Which alpha, hyung?” he asked quietly, resuming the movement — now just stroking Minho's shoulders, neck, collarbones with the cool cloth. “Who do you want?”

Minho groaned, burying his face in the hides, but the answer tore out before he could catch it:

“Jisung...” the name sounded hoarse, desperate, with such pain that Felix clenched his teeth. “Want... him to come... to pin... to...” he sobbed, smearing tears and sweat on his cheeks. “But he won't come. Never comes. Never... calls...”

“Why do you think he won't come?” Felix continued stroking him, now along his back in wide, soothing motions. His voice was even, though inside everything clenched from pity for his friend.

“Because...” Minho gasped convulsively, arching under another spasm. “Because to him I'm... just... convenient. When he wants — I'm there. When he doesn't — I wait patiently. And he... he never... said he... wants me for real.”

“You love him,” it wasn't a question. Felix knew it.

Minho didn't answer. He just squeezed his eyes tighter and bit his own wrist, trying to shut up, not howl, not call, not betray himself. But his body betrayed him. It arched, rubbed against the hides, seeking any filling for the emptiness inside that burned like fire.

“I'll go get him,” Felix suddenly said and started to rise.

“No!” Minho grabbed his wrist with unexpected strength, eyes flying open. Horror splashed in those dark, heat-veiled eyes. “Don't you dare. Don't you dare, Felix. I don't want... don't want to be his pity. If he comes only because he pities me in heat... I won't bear it. Better alone... Better like this than...”

He didn't finish. A new wave crashed over him, and Minho groaned aloud, releasing Felix's hand and clutching the hides. His body thrust hips up on its own, offering, opening, inviting — though no one was there to respond.

Felix sat back down. Silently dipped the cloth in water, wrung it out, and placed it on Minho's stomach — cool, heavy, helping knock down the heat for a moment.

“Then just breathe,” he said. “I'm here. I won't leave.”

Time in heat flows differently. Minho couldn't say how much passed — minutes, hours, eternity. He tossed in the nest, burying his face in hides one moment, arching on his back the next, squeezing his own thighs and quietly howling from helplessness. Felix was there — giving water, changing bedding, wiping his body with cool cloth, saying something quiet, soothing.

Hyunjin sat on Chan's lap by the warmest fire, drinking berry wine, when he felt it — a thin, barely perceptible scent of anxiety trailing from the forest. He turned sharply, peering into the darkness between trunks, but it was empty, only branches stirred in the wind.

“What's wrong?” Chan tensed immediately, pulling him closer, scanning the clearing. The alpha always sensed the slightest change in his omega's state.

“I don't know,” Hyunjin frowned. “It seemed to me... or has Felix been gone for a while?”

He scanned the crowd. Hyunjin cursed under his breath, climbing out of his husband's embrace.

“I'll be quick. Check on Minho. Felix is probably with him, but I need to make sure.”

Chan nodded, though worry flashed in his eyes — not for himself, for Hyunjin. The anxiety scent from the omega was too strong.

“I'll go with you.”

“No,” Hyunjin was already pulling on his discarded shirt. “Stay here. You're an alpha; they'll sense you right away, it might scare Minho. I'll go myself. If anything — I'll howl.”

He didn't wait for an answer, bolting from the spot and diving into the forest darkness. The path to Minho's hut he knew as well as his own — they grew up together, shared everything: secrets, fears, first hunt, first heat. And now Hyunjin ran as fast as his legs allowed, feeling his heart pounding in his throat.

Minho's hut appeared from behind the trees unexpectedly. Dark, quiet, only dim light flickered in the cracks — either the hearth hadn't gone out, or the moon filtered through the shutters. Hyunjin froze at the threshold, listening.

Sounds came from inside. Muffled, ragged — sobs, stifled moans interspersed with heavy, raspy breathing. And the scent. Spicy, sweet, heavy scent of a flowing omega, making Hyunjin's own lower belly ache — an echo, a response of his own omega nature to another's heat.

He pushed the door.

In the dim light, illuminated only by the glowing coals of the hearth and moonlight seeping through cracks, a scene opened that squeezed Hyunjin's heart.

Minho lay in his nest — a huge pile of hides smelling only of him. Completely naked, and even in the half-dark, it was visible how tremor shook his body. Beside him, on his knees, sat Felix. The omega gently, barely touching, ran a wet cloth over Minho's burning back, whispering something — probably soothing, judging by the rhythmic, melodic tone.

“Felix...” Hyunjin called, and both omegas jerked. Minho raised his head, and in his dilated, hazy pupils flashed horror mixed with relief.

“Go away,” he rasped. “Don't look. Go away.”

“Don't even hope,” Hyunjin was already kicking off his shoes at the threshold and, without asking permission, stepped closer. Felix shifted, making room.

“He's been like this for an hour,” the younger said quietly. “The decoction stopped working, and now... you see.”

“I see,” Hyunjin knelt, ending up right in front of Minho's face. He looked up at him from below, and in that gaze mixed pain, shame, and such desperate, animal need for touch that Hyunjin's nose stung.

“I'm here,” he said simply. “We're both here. You're not alone.”

Minho closed his eyes, and tears rolled down his cheeks — hot, frequent. He tried to turn away, hide, burrow into the hides, but Hyunjin didn't let him. Grabbing his shoulders, he pulled his friend to him, wrapping his arms around, pressing to his chest, and Minho went limp, burying his nose in his neck, inhaling the familiar, native scent smelling of childhood, safety, home.

“Shhh,” Hyunjin stroked his back, his sweat-damp hair, feeling the large tremor shake his body. “Shhh... I'm here.”

“H-hurts,” Minho exhaled into his collarbone. His voice broken, hoarse — probably he'd screamed while they weren't there. “So hurts, Hyunjin... Empty... Alone...”

“You're not alone,” Hyunjin repeated. Felix from the other side moved closer, placing a cool palm on Minho's lower back, and he sobbed — from relief, from the warmth and scents of friends surrounding him from all sides.

“We're here, hyung,” Felix spoke quietly, evenly, like to a child. “All night we'll be here. Just endure.”

Minho groaned, arching in Hyunjin's arms. Another wave of heat crashed over, drowning everything, and his body lived its own life — hips jerked, seeking any friction, hands clutched Hyunjin's shirt so hard the fabric creaked plaintively.

“Want... alpha! Need alpha... Fuck, want alpha! Need alpha... Need to be filled... Need to be round and filled with pups... Need alpha!” Minho's voice broke into a howl, and he bit into his own wrist, trying to shut up, trying not to howl, not call, not betray this animal, tearing from inside need.

Hyunjin and Felix exchanged glances over his head. Hyunjin's gaze was full of pain — for his friend, for this injustice, for Minho, strong, proud, always composed Minho, now lying here, broken and destroyed by his own nature. Felix looked with wise sorrow, the kind only those who've seen too much and understood too early how this world works have.

“Shh,” Hyunjin pressed him to himself again, letting him clutch his shoulders, bury his nose in his neck, inhale the scent that dulled the edge at least a bit. “We're here, dear. We're here. Just breathe. Just breathe.”

“Can't,” Minho sobbed, smearing tears, snot, sweat on his face. “Can't anymore, Hyunjin. Every time the same. Every time alone. How much longer? How many years will I be alone?”

Felix silently pushed a mug of water, and Hyunjin, supporting Minho's nape, made him take a few sips. He drank greedily, choking, spilling on his chest, and buried his face in his friend's neck crook again.

“What about Jisung?” Hyunjin asked quietly, looking over Minho's head at Felix. He shook his head barely noticeably — not here, not now, not like this.

But Minho heard. His whole body tensed, then he laughed — bitterly, raggedly, almost hysterically.

“Jisung?” his voice trembled, broke. “Jisung is there, by the river. Drinking wine, dancing, flirting with omegas unlucky enough to go into heat at the worst time. And I'm here,” he gestured at the nest, his body, his shame. “Unneeded by anyone.”

“That's not true,” Hyunjin cupped his face in his palms, forcing him to look into his eyes. “That's not true, hear me? You're needed. To us. To me. To Felix. To the whole pack. You're the leader's son, you're the pack's future. And you're not alone.”

“Then why does no one choose me?” a whisper full of such childish, such sincere pain that Hyunjin's heart would have torn if it wasn't already torn. “Why does no alpha come to me not because I'm "convenient," not because "just a fuck", but because... because they love? Why am I always the backup option, Hyunjin?”

Felix turned away, blinking back tears. He knew this pain. Every omega knew it — the fear of being unneeded, the fear of being just a body to sate hunger, the fear of never hearing those words worth waking up for.

“Because you're too strong,” Felix said quietly, not turning. “Because you're the leader's son. Because alphas are afraid. Afraid they won't measure up, that you'll eclipse them, that you won't bend your back to them. But true love, Minho, isn't about who's on top. It's about who's there when it hurts.”

Minho froze. Then slowly turned his head to Felix, and something coherent flashed in his hazy, tear-filled eyes.

“How do... you know?”

Felix smiled that smile that made Changbin's knees buckle.

“I thought the same. Until Changbin came. I didn't open up to him right away. Ran from him long, refused him long, feared long. And he just waited. Just was there: patiently. Not pushy. And one day I realized — with him, it's not scary.”

“With him,” Minho smirked bitterly. “But my "with him" doesn't exist. Never did. Probably never will.”

“It will,” Hyunjin stroked his head, brushing damp hair from his face. “Definitely will. And for now — us. We're with you. All night. And if needed — tomorrow, and the day after.”

Minho sobbed, pressing closer. A new spasm wave rolled through his body, forcing him to arch and groan, but now there were hands holding him, and scents that didn't choke but soothed.

“Sing,” he suddenly asked, burying his nose in Hyunjin's shoulder. “Remember, in childhood your grandma sang? When we were scared to sleep in the dark...”

Hyunjin froze for a second, then quietly, barely audibly, began an ancient lullaby — the one omegas sang to their pups since time immemorial. His voice wasn't strong, but clear, piercing to the core.

Felix joined after a couple lines — thinly, beautifully, a bit nasally, as his mother taught him. And Minho, listening to them, feeling the warmth of their bodies on both sides, suddenly realized: maybe he's alone in his heat, but not alone in this life.

Jisung sat by the fire, twirling an empty mug in his fingers and staring blankly into the flames. Around him, chatter, laughter, drinking, but he heard nothing except one thing — a quiet, pain-filled name Minho exhaled before leaving into the darkness.

“Jisung...”

Not a plea for help. Just the name. But in how it sounded — hoarse, with a break, with that special intonation when words are no longer needed — was everything.

Changbin plopped down beside, handing a new mug.

“Here, drink. Or you'll sour.”

Jisung shook his head.

“Don't want.”

“Listen,” Changbin lowered his voice, glancing at the celebrating crowd. “Do what you want, but I haven't seen my Felix for an hour and a half. And he promised to come for the cake.”

Jisung jerked, raising his head.

“Felix left?”

“Yeah. Right after you talked to Minho. I thought he came to you, but you're sitting here alone.”

Inside Jisung, everything snapped. Felix left right after he talked to Minho. Minho, who was pale as a sheet, who breathed as if every movement hurt, who snapped at him, not letting him touch.

Minho, who was in heat.

”Fuck,” he exhaled, jumping up so sharply the mug flew from his hands and rolled on the grass. “Fuck, Changbin!”

“What?” he was taken aback, but Jisung didn't hear anymore. He raced into the darkness, to the path leading into the forest, to Minho's hut, to the truth he'd hidden from himself for so long.

His heart pounded in his throat, making breathing hard. Branches whipped his face, roots tried to trip him, but Jisung didn't stop. He ran like never before — even on hunts, even fleeing enemies.

Because inside, in his chest, it burned no less than in Minho's lower belly. Burned with realization: he's an idiot. A coward. For so many years he tiptoed around, afraid to approach, afraid to confess, afraid of rejection, that he wouldn't measure up, that the leader's son isn't for him, a simple alpha from the southern pack. He remembered well the conversation with Minho's father, who looked at him seriously and frowned, after that night when Minho's father accidentally saw them together. When Minho's father cornered him to talk, then forbade him to approach Minho. Forbade kissing him and showing his affection, which only Minho seemed not to notice. Forbade touching his son. Because he didn't consider Jisung a worthy alpha. And what could Jisung do against the pack leader? Nothing. So... that's why he left. He didn't keep his promise and rarely, but he stole kisses from Minho and spent nights with him, listening to his moans, leaving kisses on him, entering him the way they both liked. And then disappeared, as if it never happened.

And meanwhile, Minho was dying alone.

The hut loomed before him suddenly. Light in the cracks, quiet voices inside, and the scent — so thick, so sweet, that Jisung's knees buckled and his cock twitched in his pants, filling with blood before his brain could command.

He froze at the threshold, fighting himself. Does he have the right? Will Minho want to see him? Won't he make it worse?

From inside came a groan — drawn out, pitiful, full of that pain that tore Jisung's heart. Then Hyunjin's voice, singing a lullaby.

He pushed the door.

Inside was dim, smelling of herbs, sweat, and heat — so sharply that Jisung's vision darkened. But he forced himself to look.

Minho lay in his nest, wrapped in sheets and furs. Naked, flushed, sweat-soaked, with eyes swollen from tears and lips bitten to blood. He didn't immediately realize who entered — only jerked, trying to cover himself, hide, growling:

“Don't you dare! Go away!”

“It's me,” Jisung's voice broke, came out hoarse, alien. “It's me, Minho.”

Minho froze. Opened his eyes — hazy, filled with heat, but something alive flashed in them. Recognition. And then — fear. Such desperate, childish fear that everything inside Jisung flipped.

“Why did you come?” Minho growled at him. “To pity? To watch me writhe? Leave!”

“No,” Jisung stepped forward, dropping to his knees by the nest. Hyunjin and Felix watched him silently with quiet, tired hope. “I didn't come to pity. I came... to ask.”

“Ask?” Minho smirked bitterly, but the smirk turned into a groan — a new wave hit, arching his body. “Ask... ask to let you fuck me? Well, I know you want that. All alphas want that when an omega flows. Go find another bedwarmer. I'm not in the mood today.”

“I didn't come for that,” Jisung gritted his teeth, forcing himself to look into those hazy eyes full of pain and anger. “I came to tell you the truth. The one I should have told long ago. Too long ago.”

Minho froze, his chest heaving heavily, fingers convulsively clenching the hide edge. Felix and Hyunjin exchanged glances but didn't move — stayed nearby, silent support, ready to catch if things went wrong.

“What truth?” Minho's voice trembled, broke into a rasp. “That I'm just a convenient option for you? That you come only when you want to fuck an attractive omega, then disappear as if I don't exist? I know that already, Jisung.”

“No,” the alpha shook his head so sharply his dark hair whipped his face. “You don't know. You know nothing because I'm a coward. Because I was afraid. Because your father...”

He cut off, but it was too late. Minho's eyes widened, and through the heat haze, a coherent expression broke through.

“My father? What's he got to do with it?”

Jisung exhaled, running a palm over his face. His hands shook — he felt it but couldn't help. Minho's scent, his flowing, ready, open omega, hit his head like wine stronger than any, making the inner alpha howl and lunge forward. But he held.

“Your father caught us then. That evening when we... when I first stayed overnight with you. He came to you, and we were on the floor, you in my arms, and I looked at you thinking: "This is it. This is my omega. This is who I want to spend my life with." In the morning, when I left, I already knew my path to you was closed, that your father wouldn't allow me to be with you. Minho, I was only nineteen then, I had nothing to offer you. Back then, I only had my love for you.”

Minho sobbed, biting his lip. Memories flooded — warm, painful, so sweet that now, in this hell of heat, they seemed a mockery.

“And?” he whispered. “What did he tell you?”

“That I'm not worthy,” Jisung's voice broke, became quiet, almost inaudible. “That I'm an alpha from the southern pack, without special merits, without right to claim the leader's son. That if I don't leave you alone, he'll make my family regret the day they crossed to your territory.”

“He couldn't...” Hyunjin began, but Felix squeezed his elbow, silencing him. Not now. Don't interfere.

“He could,” Jisung smirked bitterly. “And I knew he could. Your father is the leader, Minho. His word is law. If he wanted, they'd exile us. My parents, brothers, all. I couldn't risk them. Couldn't.”

“So you just... left?” Minho closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks again. “Pretended nothing happened? That I'm nothing to you?”

“So I waited,” Jisung leaned forward, dangerously close to the nest, to Minho's body, to that maddening scent. “Waited until I could become worthy. Until I could come to your father and say: "I'm not that boy anymore. I've achieved something. I can provide for your son. I'm ready to give my life for him." I hunted dangerous beasts, went on patrols first, took the hardest tasks. I wanted to become someone he'd accept.”

“Jerk,” Minho exhaled through tears. “Dumb alpha. I didn't need your feats. I needed you.”

“I know,” Jisung extended his hand but didn't dare touch — froze an inch from the wet cheek, giving Minho the choice. “Now I know. And I came. Not because you're in heat, not because I pity. But because I can't without you anymore. Because every time I left, I left part of myself here, in this hut. Because I love you, Minho. Loved since that first evening you smiled at me, and nothing's changed.”

Minho growled; his brain wouldn't let him properly process everything the alpha said. Yes, he could be lying. But... Minho knows his father. He knows the alphas in his family were very serious after Minho's mother died in one of the fights with an enemy pack. Minho remained the only omega in their family. He can understand his father, or rather his desire to give Minho to a more reliable alpha, but... How angry Minho is that all this time he was in the dark and suffered alone. Because of what? Because of his father's fear.

Silence hung in the hut, broken only by crackling coals and Minho's stifled breathing. Hyunjin pressed against Felix, feeling a lump in his throat. Felix silently stroked his arm, not taking his eyes off the two figures by the nest.

Minho looked at Jisung long-long. Through the heat haze, through pain, through years of loneliness and hurts. And saw only one thing — fear in the alpha's eyes. Real, living fear. Not of him, not of the heat, not of rejection. Fear of losing him again.

“You won't leave?” he asked quietly, almost inaudibly. “If I say "stay", you won't disappear in the morning?”

“Never,” Jisung touched his cheek — finally, carefully, reverently, wiping a tear trail. “I swear by the moon, Minho. If you let me stay — I'll stay forever. I'll fight your father if I have to. Prove whatever it takes. Just...”

He faltered, swallowed, gathering courage.

“Just you have to really want it. Not because of heat. Not because of hormones. But because of me. Because you... love too? Even a little?”

Minho sobbed, burying his face in his palm, inhaling that scent — sweet mint and spruce, always making his head spin. Then, unable to hold back anymore, yanked him toward himself, clutching Jisung's shirt, pressing his whole body — hot, sticky, trembling.

“Dummy,” he exhaled into his lips. “What an idiot you are, Jisung. Of course I love. Always loved. Even when I hated you for leaving.”

Jisung growled — muffled, agreeing, pulling him close as if afraid Minho would vanish, dissolve in air.

Hyunjin gently touched Felix's shoulder, nodding at the door. He understood without words. They rose silently, trying not to spook the moment, and slipped into the night coolness, leaving the two alone.

“Think it'll be okay?” Hyunjin asked quietly when they were a few steps from the hut.

Felix turned, looking at the warm light seeping through cracks, and smiled.

“I think yes. Now they have the main thing — honesty. And with that, you can survive anything. Even a leader-father.”

From the hut came Minho's muffled groan — this time different, not pain, but long-awaited relief mixed with pleasure. And following — a low, soothing alpha growl.

Hyunjin and Felix exchanged glances and, without a word, strode back to the river, to their alphas, to the feast, which now seemed to have another reason for joy.

“You know,” Hyunjin said when the firelights showed ahead. “Seems that sae-um wreath worked after all.“

Felix laughed, throwing his head back to the sky where the full moon shone — witness to all unions, keeper of all secrets.

“It worked,” he agreed. “Oh, it worked.”

The creak of the closing door was Minho's trigger. The control, hanging by a thin thread the last minutes, snapped, giving way to pure instinct. He pounced on Jisung like a wild beast on prey, knocking him onto the pile of hides and looming over.

“Mine!” he growled, and there was nothing human in that growl — only an omega's desire finally finding his mate. “My alpha!”

Jisung, caught off guard but submitting immediately, rolled, pulling Minho with him and pressing him into the hides. His own wolf howled in delight, feeling the flowing, ready omega beneath.

“Yours,” he exhaled, tearing the collar of his shirt to give Minho access to skin. “All yours. Always was.”

Minho sank his teeth into his shoulder — not painfully, possessively, marking, leaving his scent. Through the heat haze broke bitter, ingrained resentment.

“Old fool,” he hissed, biting Jisung's collarbone. “Kept us apart... So many years... Because of him I was alone... you were alone...” he growled again, arching under the alpha's caressing hands but not stopping his anger. “I won't let you go,” Minho growled. “My alpha... Alpha will fill me... Alpha will make me round... Alpha will breed me...” Minho hissed, and with each new word his pupils dilated more, words soaked in anger. “Won't let go,” he growled, pressing his nose into Jisung's hot jugular dip, greedily inhaling the scent of mint and spruce. “My alpha... alpha will fill... make round... breed...”

But the more instincts whispered of closeness, the clearer reason pierced with an icy needle of anger. The truth about his father, about years of deception, about senseless suffering — all boiled in him, mixing with heat heat into an explosive blend.

Minho's pupils dilated to blackness, and affectionate whining instantly turned to animal, hissing growl. The words he forced out were soaked in such concentrated, blind fury they could burn.

“Stupid alpha...” he hissed, pushing Jisung away and trying to rise in the nest on trembling arms. His body disobeyed, buckling, but Minho, driven by righteous anger, lunged for the exit. “Decided to lock me up?! Thought I'm a brainless pup?! I'll show him who's worthy and who isn't! I'll tear his throat!” his voice broke into a screechy, pain-filled howl.

“Minho, no!” Jisung was instantly before him, blocking the door. He understood: this wasn't just tantrum, this was hormones mixed with shock from betrayal by the closest person. If Minho broke out now in this state, he'd either freeze in the forest or run into an alpha patrol and cause a scandal everyone would regret.

“Move!” Minho yelled, clutching his shoulders with unexpected strength. Fire blazed in his hazy eyes, mix of desire and murderous rage. “He had no right! No right to decide for me! He stole five years from us! Five years, Jisung! I want to tear his throat!”

Minho lunged again, and Jisung realized: persuasion wouldn't help. The omega's mind was fully in fury's grip. Seconds counted, and before Jisung stood not a flowing omega, but a snow-white wolf with black eyes. His fangs gleamed in moonlight as he bared them. He could be stopped only one way — the one speaking a language even the maddest omega understands.

Jisung stepped back, tore his shirt; buttons cracked, scattering in hut corners. He shifted instantly — an alpha with vast experience, it took mere seconds. Where a man stood, now a huge black wolf with intelligent, worried eyes sat on the floor.

The black wolf slowly, with infinite caution, lowered onto his front paws, pressing his chest to the hide-strewn floor. He bowed his head, exposing the most vulnerable part of his body — the neck, where under thick fur pulsed a vein with hot alpha blood. The throat every wolf guards more than eyes, now open before the white, trembling with rage omega.

Jisung froze, not taking his attentive, calm gaze off Minho. He didn't growl, didn't bare teeth, made no sharp moves. Just lay, sprawled on the floor, and waited. Through fur seeped scent — thick, warm, soothing. Alpha pheromones speaking the most ancient language: I'm yours. I'm not dangerous. I'm your. Do what you want.

The white wolf froze in the passage. His chest heaved heavily, hoarse, ragged breathing mixed with quiet, threatening growling escaped his maw. Black eyes burned with the same wild flame, but something new flashed in them — bewilderment. Minho expected a fight. Expected resistance. Expected the alpha to growl back, try to hold him by force, proving superiority.

But Jisung just lay down. And exposed his throat.

Minho took a step forward, toward that defenseless neck. Fangs bared on their own, instincts howled: bite! Mark! Make him yours! He growled louder, approaching, looming over the sprawled body of the black wolf. Nostrils flared, inhaling the scent — that same sweet mint and spruce, but now laced with submission and such deep, sincere love that Minho's breath caught for a moment.

He lowered his muzzle to the open neck. Fangs touched fur, skin, pulsing vein. One move — and he could bite through. Could punish Jisung for years of silence, for cowardice, for letting father separate them. Could kill him right here, and no one would judge a omega maddened by grief and heat.

The black wolf didn't even flinch. Just closed his eyes.

And Minho... cried.

First quietly, pitifully, puppy-like. Then a howl tore from his chest — drawn out, full of such torment that Jisung's heart would have torn if it wasn't already at the feet of this white, beautiful, tormented beast. Minho pressed his nose into the alpha's neck, buried his muzzle in thick black fur, and howled — sobbing, unable to hold in years of pain, loneliness, unspoken love.

Jisung slowly, infinitely slowly, not to spook, turned his head and licked his ear. Ran a rough, warm tongue over his muzzle, licking tears. Licked again. And again. Until Minho, sobbing and whining, started nuzzling back — not painfully, not angrily, but pitifully, seeking comfort he'd been deprived of so long.

They lay like that on the wooden floor, two entwined beasts, until the storm inside Minho began to subside. The white wolf still shuddered, still sobbed, but growling turned to quiet, pitiful whining. He pressed against the black one, buried his nose in neck, chest, belly — anywhere he could reach, soaking in the alpha's scent, absorbing it, marking himself with it.

Jisung waited patiently. He licked his muzzle, ears, neck, combed fur on his nape with teeth — groomed, soothed.

When Minho quieted a bit, pressing to his side and breathing heavily, Jisung carefully rose. The white wolf jerked, growling — don't let go! — but the alpha just nuzzled his forehead and, gently nudging, led him back to the nest. Minho resisted, not understanding. Jisung was insistent — but not rough. Nudged him deeper into the hut.

They reached the pile of hides, and Minho, undercut by another heat wave, collapsed into them, instantly shifting back to human. Trembling, wet, with red eyes from tears and lips bitten to blood.

“Jisung...” he exhaled, extending his arms.

The alpha shifted a moment later — and now a hot, strong body covered him, pressing into hides, into the nest, surrounding with scent, warmth, protection from all sides. Minho groaned — not from pain, from relief. Finally. Finally not emptiness above, not loneliness, not his own helpless hands. Finally an alpha. His alpha.

“I'm here,” Jisung kissed his face, wet, salty, hot. Kissed eyes, nose, cheeks, lip corners, chin, neck. “I'm with you. Everything will be okay.”

“Mine,” Minho clutched him, wrapping legs around his waist, pressing as close as possible. Slick streamed down thighs, cock stood, pressing into Jisung's belly, entrance burned with fire, pulsed, demanding filling. “Want you. Right now. Please. I can't wait anymore. Jisung, please...”

“Shh,” alpha ran a hand over his thigh, stroking, soothing. “I'm not going anywhere. We'll do everything right.”

He reached for the nearby water pitcher — Felix left it, caring — wet a rag and gently, unhurriedly, began wiping Minho. Face, neck, chest, belly. Each touch made the omega arch and moan — from tenderness and impatience.

“Jisung... please...” Minho whined, bucking hips. “I'm clean, I'm... ready there, I'm flowing already, just enter, please...”

“I know, jagi, know,” Jisung leaned down, kissing his belly, lower, even lower, making Minho clutch his hair. “But I'll do it as I should have the first time. I want you to remember this night.”

He spread his thighs wider and slowly, savoring every second, ran his tongue the full length — from entrance to tip, along the pulsing cock, taking the head in his mouth. Minho screamed — unable to hold back, arching in a bow. The alpha's tongue, hot, rough, did something unimaginable: circled the head, descended, pushed into the hole already leaking slick in anticipation.

“J-Jisung...” Minho choked on his own moans. “More... please... I'm gonna...”

“I know,” Jisung exhaled into his thigh, hot breath scorching wet skin. “Cum in my mouth, jagi. Want to taste you. Want to remember your flavor.”

Minho shook his head, trying either to refuse or pull the alpha closer, and sobbed when the tongue dove in again, teasing, stretching, promising. It was too much — after so many hours alone, after so many years waiting. Too many sensations, too much tenderness, too much Jisung.

He came with a scream, arching and clutching hides with one hand, alpha's hair with the other, pressing him close. Jisung took it all obediently, with reverent growling, and kept licking him even as Minho went limp, breathing heavily and twitching from sensitivity.

“Beautiful,” the alpha whispered, rising higher and kissing his belly, chest, collarbones. “The most beautiful omega on this earth.”

Minho's fingers tangled in Jisung's hair ontheir own, stroking, combing, not letting him pull away. “Don't leave. Don't stop. I want... you whole.”

“You'll get it,” Jisung nipped his earlobe, pleased to hear a new moan. “All night. All heat. All life, if you allow.”

“Allow,” Minho finally opened his eyes — still hazy, veiled by heat, but no longer with that desperate pain tormenting him hours ago. Only desire and tenderness. “Just don't make me wait anymore.”

Jisung smirked, scooping him under thighs and pulling close so Minho ended up on his lap, straddling, face to face. In this position, everything was visible: flushed skin, eyes shining with arousal, swollen, bitten lips. And Jisung's cock — hard, pulsing, pressing into Minho's belly.

“Want like this?” alpha asked hoarsely, running palms over the omega's back, lower back, squeezing buttocks. “You'll control? Take what you want yourself?”

Minho bit his lip, nodding. Yes. Exactly like this. He'd been passive too long, waited too long, allowed circumstances to decide for him too long. Now he wanted control. Wanted to feel himself taking his happiness.

He rose on his knees, one hand on Jisung's shoulder, the other reaching down, guiding the alpha's cock to his entrance. It slid easily — there was enough slick for a whole pack, and Minho hissed from the filling sensation as the head entered him.

“Oh...” he exhaled, throwing his head back. “Ah... Jisung...”

“Shh, shh,” alpha held his hips, not letting him sink too fast, letting him adjust. “Don't rush. We're not running anywhere.”

“I am rushing,” Minho exhaled through teeth and dropped sharply to the base.

They howled together. Minho — from how perfectly, how right Jisung's cock filled him, touching that spot inside burning all these hours. Jisung — from how hot, how tight that hole was, squeezing him to madness.

“Move,” alpha rasped, digging fingers into Minho's hips. “Please, jagi, move, or I'll...”

Minho didn't need asking twice. He started moving — slowly at first, testing, finding rhythm, feeling Jisung's cock slide inside, hitting all the right spots. Then faster, more desperately, impaling himself up and down, gasping for air and unable to hold moans.

“Alpha... fill me... Breed me... Make me round... Fill me with pups!”

“Yes, fuck, omega, I'll fill you... Your hole so tight, such a good omega... Soon you'll carry our pups inside... I'll breed you...”

Jisung looked up at him — and couldn't get enough. Hair tousled over head and neck, flushed chest with hardened nipples, parted mouth spilling such sweet sounds. His omega. His beautiful, strong, tormented omega, finally here, with him, riding him, taking his happiness himself.

“Love you,” Jisung exhaled, thrusting hips up to meet, driving deeper. “Love you, Minho. Always loved. Always will.”

“Me too,” Minho leaned down, claiming his lips in a kiss — messy, wet, in rhythm with movements. “Me too, dummy. How I...”

He didn't finish — the second orgasm wave hit suddenly, knocking air from lungs and making him clench around Jisung's cock so hard the alpha growled, seizing initiative. He flipped them, thrusting into Minho himself, deep, strong, to the base, until he came too, flooding him with hot seed and howling pleasure right into his neck.

They lay, breathing heavily, bodies entwined, covered in sweat and slick. Minho felt Jisung's cock pulse inside, seed leaking, mixing with his own slick, and the thought sent shivers through his body — not convulsive, but content, sated.

“I won't pull out,” Jisung whispered somewhere into his shoulder. “You're holding me so tight inside, you like my knot that much?”

“I want pups,” Minho exhaled, stroking his back. “Stay. Always stay.”

Jisung propped on elbows, looking into his eyes. So much tenderness splashed in the alpha's pupils that Minho's nose stung again. Jisung looked at him long-long, as if trying to etch this moment in memory forever. Minho under his heavy, wet body, hair scattered on hides, lips red from tears and kisses, eyes with no more pain — only tired, sated happiness.

“Handsome,” he exhaled again, because words ran out, but feelings remained.

Minho smiled weakly, tracing his finger over his cheekbone, jawline, damp hair on nape.

“You're not bad either,” he whispered, and that familiar hoarseness Jisung adored since their first meeting crept into his voice. “But if you don't bring me water now, I'll die of dehydration.”

“Wait a bit more until my knot softens or you'll really die of dehydration?”

“Die happy,” Minho giggled, pulling Jisung to his neck. They lay like that for some time, Minho tracing fingers over the alpha's back, Jisung kissing and biting his neck.

Long minutes passed.

Jisung snorted, pecked his nose tip and, carefully freeing himself, reached for the pitcher. Minho hissed quietly from emptiness — his body already demanded continuation, but his mind enjoyed the break.

“Drink,” the alpha brought the mug to his lips, supporting his head. Minho drank greedily, spilling on his chest, and Jisung followed the water trail with his gaze, running down collarbones, chest, to belly. His cock twitched, filling again, but he forced no rush.

“Your heat lasts four days?” he asked, setting the mug aside and lying beside, pulling Minho close. He rested his head on his chest, inhaling the scent — now mixed, theirs, spicy and sweet at once.

“Four days,” Minho yawned. “If not worse. First two the hardest. Then easier.”

“I'm here for all four,” Jisung kissed his crown. “And all future ones too.”

Minho hummed but said nothing. Just pressed closer, feeling heat start rising inside again. The break was ending.

“Jisung,” he called quietly.

“Mhm?”

“If my father comes tomorrow demanding you leave... what will you do?”

Jisung didn't answer right away. Minho felt the alpha's heart beat under his cheek — calm, even, confident.

“I'll tell him what I should have five years ago,” he finally said. “That I love his son. That I'm ready to wait as long as needed. That I'll prove whatever he wants. But leave — I won't. He'll have to kill me to get rid of me.”

“Dummy,” Minho exhaled. “He won't kill you. He just... he's afraid. Since mom died, he's afraid for me. Thinks if I bond with the wrong alpha, I'll...”

“I won't let anyone hurt you,” Jisung interrupted firmly. “No one.”

Minho propped on elbow, looking into his eyes. In the hut's dim, lit only by glowing coals, his pupils started dilating again, breathing quickened.

“Talk later,” he exhaled, leaning and biting Jisung's lower lip. “Now I need something else.”

“What does my omega need?” alpha rolled over, looming above, running nose over his neck, inhaling the renewed, strengthened heat scent. “Tell me.”

“Fuck me,” without shame, straight, looking in eyes. “Hard. Long. Until I stop thinking. Then again.”

Jisung growled agreeing and claimed his lips in a kiss.

Morning found them in the same position — entwined, sweat-soaked, satisfied to half-dead. Minho lay prone on hides, feeling Jisung lazily trace fingers over his lower back, buttocks, inner thighs, covered in dried slick and marks of their night sex marathon.

“How are you?” alpha asked hoarsely when Minho stirred, trying a more comfortable position.

“Alive,” he whispered into hides. “Barely.”

“Eat?”

“Drink. First drink.”

Jisung chuckled but obediently reached for the pitcher. Water ran out mid-night, when Minho demanded "more" again, and the alpha realized now he had a new task — not just satisfy his omega, but simply help him survive.

“I'll fetch water,” he said, rising. “And food. And herbs if needed.”

“Needed,” Minho turned on back, shielding eyes from too bright sunlight seeping through cracks. “Ask Felix. He knows what I need in heat.”

Jisung nodded, pulling on pants. Paused at threshold, turned.

“I'll be quick. You... rest meantime.”

Minho weakly waved, and the alpha stepped into morning smelling of dew, pine, freedom.

He almost reached the stream when a figure loomed on the path. Tall, broad-shouldered, with hard gaze and gray at temples.

The northern pack leader.

Minho's father.

Jisung froze, instinctively assuming straight, respectful stance. Inside everything clenched, but he forced no averted gaze.

“Hello, Sir,” he said evenly.

The leader looked at him long, studying. The air smelled of tension — the old alpha didn't hide his pheromones, and they pressed, testing strength.

“You were with my son,” not asked, stated the leader.

“Yes.”

“All night.”

“Yes.”

“He's in heat.”

“Yes.”

Short, chopped phrases like blows. Jisung didn't avert gaze, didn't justify, didn't soften the blow.

“I forbade you approaching him,” the leader's voice lowered, more dangerous.

“I remember.”

“And you disobeyed.”

Jisung took a deep breath. Now his fate decided. Their future with Minho.

“I disobeyed,” he confirmed. “Because I love your son. Because for five years I did everything to become worthy of him. Because he suffered from my silence, and I — from your ban. And I'm no longer ready to let that happen.”

The leader stepped forward, closing distance to dangerous. Jisung stood still, though every instinct screamed: submit! Bow head! He's stronger!

“You think yourself worthy?”

“I think myself loving. And worthiness...” Jisung allowed a crooked smirk. “Worthiness I proved to you for five years. You know how many times I went on patrols first. You know how many hides of dangerous beasts I brought to the common stock. You know my family doesn't suffer and asks no handouts. I did everything to prove my intentions toward Minho.”

Something flashed in the leader's eyes — surprise? Respect?

“And what do you want now?” he asked after a long pause.

“To be with him. Always. If he wants. And he seems... wants.”

“Seems?” the leader's brow rose.

“Wants,” Jisung corrected. “And I'll do everything so he never regrets it.”

The leader fell silent. Jisung heard his heart pound in chest, blood rush in ears. Sweat stung eyes, but he dared not even blink.

“You know after such talk I have right to challenge you to duel?” the leader suddenly asked.

“I know,” Jisung nodded. “And if you want — I'll face. But before that I'll ask one thing of you.”

“What?”

“Ask Minho what he wants. Because last time you decided for him. I can understand you, then I was young and just presented as alpha, but he is older than me and much wiser than I. He was an adult omega when you locked him in the pack. And he's not a pup to decide for whom he should be with. He's your son, but he's an adult omega with right to his choice.”

Silence hung.

Then the leader... smiled. Barely noticeable, but Jisung caught it before the old alpha donned the mask of severity again.

“Came for water?” he asked casually.

“Huh?” Jisung was thrown by the topic change. “Yes, Minho wants to drink. Minho ran out of water supplies.”

“And eat. After first heat night omegas always want to eat. Need fatty meat to restore strength. And herbs from Felix. Go to him, he knows which.”

Jisung stared at the leader, not believing his ears.

“You... not driving me away?”

“I'm not an idiot, boy,” the leader sighed, and in that sigh was so much fatigue Jisung never heard from him before. “I saw my son fade these last five years. Saw but feared admitting I was to blame. Thought I was protecting him. Turned out — suffocating.”

He waved somewhere aside, not looking at Jisung.

“I'll talk to him. Later, when his heat ends. Make him happy. Otherwise,” the leader's gaze sharpened again, “I'll tear your throat in front of your family.”

Jisung exhaled. So much the whole forest probably heard.

“I will,” he promised. “I swear.”

The leader nodded and, without farewell, turned and strode back toward the village.

Jisung returned to the hut half an hour later — with full pitcher of spring water, basket of food Jisung gathered with Felix's help and understanding smile, and bunch of needed herbs. Minho met him at threshold — sitting in nest, wrapped in hides, sleepy, disheveled, but already smiling.

“You...” he grumbled, but devils danced in eyes. “Took long.”

“Met someone on the way,” Jisung knelt beside, handing water.

“Who?” Minho drank greedily, but gaze stayed attentive.

“Your father.”

The mug froze in air. Minho slowly lowered it, peering into alpha's face.

“And?”

“And we talked.”

“And?”

“And...” Jisung smiled, brushing hair from his face. “Seems he gave us his blessing.”

Minho froze. Disbelief flashed in eyes.

“Don't joke like that,” he whispered. “I won't survive if it's a joke.”

“Not joking,” Jisung pulled him close, kissing temple. “He said he wants me to make you happy. But for now ordered to feed you meat and give herbal decoction.”

Minho sniffled — funny, puppy-like — and buried nose in his neck.

“I don't believe,” he exhaled. “Is this all... a dream? I'll wake now, you'll disappear, father will look through me again, and I'll be alone in this hut?”

“Won't disappear,” Jisung hugged tighter, feeling his omega tremble. “Nowhere. Now I'll be eternal visitor in this hut.”

Minho raised head, looking into eyes.

“Then prove,” he whispered, biting lip. “Again.”

Jisung growled, pulling him back into nest.

۶ৎ

Hyunjin and Felix left Minho's hut and almost ran away, until the night's silence was torn by a full, finally happy howl from there, behind the closed door. Hyunjin exhaled with relief.

“Well, praise the moon,” he muttered, grabbing Felix's hand and pulling him along the path back to the firelight. “A bit more, and I'd probably climb into their nest as third, just to make him stop howling like that. My heart was tearing.”

“Mine too,” Felix nodded, fixing his rumpled shirt on the go. “But now everything will be fine. Jisung won't leave him. You saw his face? He was climbing walls while Minho tossed.”

“Saw,” Hyunjin hummed. “If only your Changbin hadn't whacked him on the head with something heavy to wake him sooner. How long could we wait?”

“They both waited,” Felix smiled with that special wisdom making him seem a decade older. “Just each waited their way. Main thing, they waited it out.”

They emerged onto the clearing, and feast noise crashed over — songs, laughter, roasted meat and tart wine smell. Hyunjin immediately saw Chan — he sat by the largest fire, tense as a string, gaze fixed on the darkness where they should appear.

When the alpha's gaze hit Hyunjin, tension ebbed from him in a physically felt wave. Chan rose in an instant and in a few wide steps was beside, pressing the omega so tight Hyunjin's ribs cracked.

“You're okay?” Chan's voice trembled, unusual for the always confident, always calm alpha, making Hyunjin's heart clench with tenderness. “I almost went mad. Half hour you're gone, anxiety scent, I wanted to run after, but Changbin said Felix is with you and...”

“Shh, shh,” Hyunjin stroked his back, feeling taut muscles roll under fingers. “I'm fine. All good. Even better than good.”

Chan pulled away, peering into his face.

“What happened?”

“Jisung there,” Hyunjin smiled, nodding forestward. “Ran up. Stayed with Minho.”

Chan froze a second, processing, then a wide, approving smile spread on his face.

“No way? Seriously? That alpha finally stepped up?”

“Stepped,” Hyunjin nodded, feeling warmth and calm in soul. “And seems very timely.”

“Well, means soon another wedding,” Chan pecked his crown and, scooping under thighs, sat him on his lap. “And now — let's celebrate ours. I twisted myself without you.”

Beside came happy squealing — Felix, scooped by Changbin, flew up and spun in place, laughing so ringing even river fish probably woke.

“What are you doing, silly!” Felix yelled, clutching alpha's shoulders. “Put me down!”

“No way!” Changbin spun him nonstop. “You vanished for two hours! Two hours, Felix! I thought a bear ate you!”

“A bear would choke on me,” he snorted, but when Changbin finally set him down, hung on his neck and pecked cheek. “I was with Hyunjin. And Minho. And all good.”

“Next time warn me,” Changbin frowned, but eyes splashed such tenderness Felix just rolled eyes.

“Next time Minho will have Jisung, and I won't be needed. So that's it, now I'm only yours.”

“As if!” alpha bared teeth contentedly and pulled him for a proper, long kiss.

Hyunjin, watching from Chan's lap, felt warmth spread inside. His pack. His people. His family.

“Hey,” Chan touched his chin, making turn. “Why sad?”

“Not sad,“ Hyunjin shook head. “Happy. Just... so much today.”

“Agree,” alpha smiled, stroking his back with wide palm. “But main behind. We're bound, Hyunjin. You're mine, I'm yours. Now whole life to get used.”

“Oh,” Hyunjin snorted, poking his chest. “Haven't tired of me after so many years knowing? Sure you want me for life?”

“Sure,“ Chan answered seriously, no doubt in eyes. “Sure since first saw you. You stood on this shore, sae-um wreath in hands, looking at water. And I looked at you. And got — that's it. End. Lost.”

“Poet,” Hyunjin embarrassedly buried forehead in his shoulder, hiding flushed face.

“Only for you,” Chan kissed temple. “Only for you.”

They sat embraced, listening feast noise, Felix and Changbin arguing something theirs, youth starting new rounds by water. Moon rose high, flooding all with silver light.

“Chan,” Hyunjin called quietly.

“Mhm?”

“When we go to forest?” Hyunjin raised head, looking into eyes. In dark they gleamed, reflecting fire. “Tradition. Chase for sae-um till dawn.”

Chan surprised.

“Want right now?”

“Want,” Hyunjin smiled, mischief in smile making alpha's heart skip. “Want you chasing me through forest. Want us howling at moon together. Want by morning bring sae-um to leader and all know — our love real.”

Chan growled — content, content, content—and, scooping Hyunjin in arms, rose.

“Let's go,” he said, ignoring surprised looks. “Why wait?”

“Now!” Changbin yelled, noticing move. “You to forest without us? Hey, stop!”

Felix beside laughed, throwing head back.

“Changbin, what? Their tradition! Let them go!”

“I want tradition too!” alpha pouted. “I want chase you through forest!”

“When leader approves our bond and Moon blesses, then chase, but now don't interfere!”

Hyunjin giggled, hearing Changbin pout. Chan softly pecked his omega's cheek.

The forest met them with coolness and smells — rotting leaves, pine, night flowers. Hyunjin, jumping from Chan's arms, stepped back a few and turned.

“Catch,” he whispered, eyes flashing in moonlight, and shifted.

Gray wolf with white marks on paws and muzzle — fast, graceful, dangerous — leaped into dark, leaving only leaf rustle.

Chan growled contentedly, shedding human form. Brown, almost black beast, large, with clever yellow eyes, bolted after.

They raced through forest, jumping fallen trees, skirting bushes, scaring night birds. Hyunjin veered, zigzagged, tried shaking trail, but Chan raced behind, not lagging a step. He knew this forest no worse than Hyunjin, but main — he knew his prey. Felt his scent, heard breathing, saw tracks even in full dark.

He caught him by old oak, roots deep in earth, branches to sky. Gray wolf, cornered, pressed back to trunk, breathing hard, but eyes burned that fire Chan loved him for.

They froze a moment, gazing. Then Chan leaped.

It wasn't fight — play. Dangerous, wild, but play. They rolled on moss, growled, bit holks, ears, napes, but no blood drop spilled. Only fur flew, breathing hitched from mad rhythm.

Hyunjin surrendered first — shifted back, under heavy alpha body, still wolf. He loomed over, yellow eyes burning in dark, hot breath from maw.

Hyunjin surrendered first — shifted back, under heavy alpha body, still wolf. He loomed over, yellow eyes burning in dark, hot breath from maw.

“Chan,” Hyunjin exhaled, running hand over muzzle, soft fur on cheeks, ears. “Handsome. Most handsome wolf in this forest.”

Chan licked his nose and shifted. Now they lay on moss together, naked, bodies entwined, and above shone that moon — witness their union.

“You okay?” Chan asked hoarsely, brushing damp hair from face.

“Happy,” Hyunjin answered simply. “Wildly, incredibly happy.”

“This just start,” alpha kissed lip corner. “Whole life ahead.”

“Whole life,” Hyunjin echoed, pressing closer.

They lay gazing at moon, till night air made shiver. Chan rose first, extending hand.

“Need find sae-um.”

“Yeah,” Hyunjin took palm and stood, shaking off moss and leaves. “First sae-um, then...”

“Then?” Chan raised brow.

“Then you owe me,” Hyunjin smiled that smile buckling Chan's knees. “Our wedding night not over.”

“Not even started,” alpha corrected, scooping him and carrying into dark.

Didn't search long — Hyunjin, like any self-respecting omega, knew all spots around. They gathered armful, smeared in juice and pollen, laughing like kids, then Chan, unable hold, pressed him to nearest tree and kissed so stars sparked in Hyunjin's eyes.

“Chan...” he exhaled between kisses. “Chan, sae-um's... we'll scatter...”

“Screw it,” alpha already stripping last modesty, if any left after such night. “Want you. Now.”

“What if someone sees?”

“Who? Wolves?” Chan hummed, biting collarbone. “Pups long see tenth dream, other wolves know what alphas and omegas do first wedding night during sae-um search.”

Hyunjin laughed but didn't argue. Pulled Chan closer himself, wrapping legs around waist, feeling alpha's cock press into belly.

“Quick only,” he whispered. “Then carry me home. In your arms.”

“Deal,” Chan entered sharply, making arch and moan.

Good forest hid from prying eyes. Good moon shone bright enough see beloved's face. Good night just starting.

They came almost together, pressed, and stood long recovering, listening distant wolves howl at moon — their pack, their family.

Night fully claimed rights when Chan and Hyunjin, tired but filled with that special, ringing languor after intimacy with beloved, finally tore apart. Sae-um, for which whole night chase started, gathered.

“Home,” he said simply. “Promised carry you.”

“Remember,” Hyunjin smiled, still breathing hard, and, pushing from tree trunk, stepped to him, but legs buckled. Too many emotions, too many moves this night. He'd fall if Chan didn't catch last moment.

“Careful,” alpha smirked. “Said — I carry.”

He scooped Hyunjin in arms, pressing to chest. Omega wrapped arms around neck, buried nose in neck smelling forest and themselves, closed eyes. Each Chan's move echoed pleasant vibration, lulling, promising peace and protection.

“Chan,” he called quietly, when village lights showed ahead, already quieting after stormy feast. “Can we... in wolf form? Enter home as wolves, as ancestors commanded?”

Chan stopped. In dark his eyes flashed yellow.

“Want by tradition, yes? So pack spirits bless our first entry common home?”

Hyunjin nodded, raising head meeting gaze. His eyes splashed same as Chan's — desire make union not just right by law, but right by spirit.

Chan carefully set him on ground, sure Hyunjin stood firm. They stood opposite, forest edge, new hut visible — elders gave as new pair.

“Ready?” Chan asked.

“Together,” Hyunjin answered.

And they shifted.

Chan's wolf — huge, brown, almost black in dark, powerful paws heavy chest — froze, twitching ears, listening night sounds. Hyunjin's wolf — bit smaller but no less graceful, gray white marks, lean fast — pressed to side, pushing muzzle into neck, combing teeth fur nape.

They stood moments, weaving scents, confirming bond ancient beast level.

They ran through forest, two beasts bound not just scent but something greater — what ancients called "moon bonds". Branches whipped sides, paws softly stepped moss rotting leaves, each breath filled lungs night forest aromas mixed each other's scent.

Path to huts wound pines, Hyunjin knew like own fur. He raced ahead, ears flat, tail fluffed — played, teased, made Chan speed. He didn't lag, breathed nape, Hyunjin felt hot breath sending shivers fur.

They burst onto edge huts stood, almost same time. Hyunjin first reached new — elder gave husbands — dropped saeoms threshold turned.

Chan stood steps away, breathing hard, looking him. Wolf eyes burned that fire Hyunjin learned recognize.

Their hut stood outskirts, bit farther main settlement, forest edge — as Chan asked, so Hyunjin feel free anytime go element. Now met dark windows ajar door — someone pack, likely Felix and Changbin, cared supplies brought, hearth ready kindle.

Chan approached threshold first. Stopped, turned Hyunjin waiting behind. Moonlight his yellow eyes burned bright, two coals. He nodded shortly stepped in.

Hyunjin followed.

Chan circled hut, sniffing corners, checking safe. Ancient, almost forgotten peaceful time but living blood motion — alpha checks lair before letting omega fully. Hyunjin waited threshold, sitting hind paws, wolf eyes shining approval tenderness.

Finished, Chan returned door, nuzzled nose into leaf, closing tighter, then approached Hyunjin. Licked muzzle, ear, neck — short, familiar, turned led nest.

They entered home as ancestors entered lairs thousands years — four paws, caution but full right. Inside smelled wood, dry grass hung ceiling, bit — those prepared place. But main — smelled them. Because things, hides, scent already filling space, making own.

Nest arranged farthest, most protected hut corner. Hyunjin fussed month, gathering best hides, softest bedding, adding dry flowers herbs smelling safety home. Now waited — huge, cozy, ready take two.

Chan climbed first, lay, raking hides under, settling comfy. Froze, looking Hyunjin.

He slowly, solemn grace, stepped nest after. Approached Chan close, nuzzled nose his neck, inhaled deep, memorizing moment, scent, feeling — they two their own home, own nest, finally together forever.

Then lay beside, pressing whole body warm alpha side, rested head his haunch closed eyes.

Chan licked ear, combed teeth fur nape, soothing, promising protection. Quieted too, listening two hearts beat even, world cooling outside window quietly crackle.

He softly howled all knew: alpha brought omega their home, this night new chapter life begins. Became family. Moon blessed them.