Chapter Text
The sun is just beginning to sink past the highest point in the sky as Seonghwa stretches his limbs with an arched back and yawns before mumbling, “It's almost time to go back.”
Beside him, the tan wolf on his back in a thick collection of grass tips his head up and whines.
Seonghwa gives him a look. “Come on, Sannie. We've had enough rest during work hours.”
At that San huffs, jutting his head to grasp his previously abandoned pelt with his teeth. He drags it over himself so he can shift, draping the fabric over lean shoulders with quick, deft movements. Within seconds he has his trousers pulled back on and his torso half covered by the pelt. “It's such a nice day out, though,” he groans, now stretching his human limbs. His pout is audible. “We never get to enjoy these anymore.”
Seonghwa hums. “And Yunho will skin us alive if we come back late again.”
San curls his lip petulantly back at the smirk Seonghwa is giving him. “I'll bite his neck if he tries. Maybe that will calm him down.”
“Ah, and next you'll say the Moon will rise in the day.” Seonghwa pushes himself to his feet and swats the younger omega on the arm to urge him to follow. “Come on.”
Though San grumbles, he’s at Seonghwa’s heels just the same and they make their way back down the hill into the brush where the small group of omegas they’d strayed from stand waiting. Everyone picks up their piles from the day’s gathering in cloth sacks and by the time they hear the deep howl that announces the beginnings of late-hours they can already see the outline of the village on the horizon.
When they’re passing by one of the outer watchtowers at the approval of two large alphas standing guard, San bumps Seonghwa’s shoulder with his own and whispers, “No telling, okay?”
Seonghwa rolls his eyes at the mere implication that he would, but he smiles softly at the younger omega all the same. “Not a word.”
San moves even closer so that his voice can be inaudible to anyone but them. “Not even the elders?”
This takes a bit more consideration. It’s not as if Seonghwa would seek to tell the elders anything about their conversation on the hill, but he isn’t supposed to lie either. If asked, what could he say? Word gets around the village fast and San is pitiful at keeping his eyes–and hands–to himself. None of them would dare to defy the wills of their elders. To do so would be a crime against the Moon Herself. Someone is likely bound to guess eventually.
His smile disappears with pursed lips and Seonghwa looks away. “Just–keep things quiet. Maybe try to give yourself space?” San lets out a slightly pained noise at that, and before this can escalate Seonghwa tries to settle him with a placating hum. “I’ll figure something out, okay? For now–just give it time.”
The younger omega sighs, but he too knows this is for the best. Seonghwa told him that much when they were hidden in the safety of the hill.
He will never understand the pull of a mate over the will of the Moon and the guidance of their elders. These things are what has kept the pack safe for generations, and recently that has been a much greater feat than it would have been in times before. With danger lurking around every corner outside their territory, what could be more important than keeping the pack safe?
He has to shake these thoughts free. He’d promised himself they would stay up on the mountain and he won’t betray his own will. San seeking advice from him is one thing, but it can stay between the two of them. Not even Yunho has to know–and especially not the elders they’ll be attending council with after dropping off their supplies.
The group brings their bags to the village square to be assessed and organized by other omegas and betas that prefer to not leave the village. It’s Seonghwa’s job, earned by being an older omega who has remained a strong and steady presence in the pack, to venture out and bring back anything useful. Building materials, food, things used for various crafting for art or rituals. Whatever he can find. Today his bag is filled with a mix of stone and gems from a creek down past the meadow out west, along with softer pieces of wood from a fallen tree they’d passed on the way out. Nothing terribly groundbreaking, but far better than coming back with nothing, as a couple of the younger omegas have done–but they’re still learning, and they’ll stand on their own eventually.
Seonghwa brushes down his trousers just to be sure they’re clean, sighing, before heading out to wait just outside the elder’s hut. San doesn’t meet back up with him, he assumes someone came and dragged him off to attend to his duties with the troublesome new litters of pups. But after a few minutes of waiting Wooyoung comes trotting up in his wolf form, knipping at Seonghwa’s hip from behind and startling him.
“Woo!” Seonghwa lets out a yelp, knowing it’s him before even seeing him.
Wooyoung ducks around as he tips forward, brushing his tail across Seonghwa before turning around with ears perked and a cheeky look in his eyes.
“What are you, in preheat or something?” Seonghwa glares.
Wooyoung just tilts his head and blinks innocently, clearly with no intention of shifting to speak.
Seonghwa huffs. He reaches a hand down despite his own annoyance to brush along the top of the black wolf’s head. At this, Wooyoung happily flattens his ears and pushes his head into Seonghwa’s hand. Okay, so not preheat, just the usual clinginess. If they didn’t have a meeting to attend and duties to fulfill Wooyoung would probably insist on a scenting, lying in one of their nests, and napping a few hours away. A comforting and familiar pastime, but not something for right now. Instead Wooyoung just leans his weight into Seonghwa’s side and Seonghwa fights a smile while scratching around his ears.
“You know you’ll need to shift once we go in,” he says eventually, eyes flicking around at the other omegas gathering outside the hut.
Wooyoung butts his head back into Seonghwa’s hip.
“Alright, fine.” Seonghwa crosses his arms over his chest.
Wooyoung whines at the loss of contact.
Used to this, Seonghwa just raises a brow down at him. “Come on. Take this seriously, it’s the elders, not some group of needy alphas.”
A single black ear flicks with a huff and Wooyoung relents to just press even more of his weight against Seonghwa, who resumes scratching without another word.
Minutes pass, and then the door to the elder’s hut is opening and everyone starts filing inside. Seonghwa steadies his focus on keeping appearance, standing tall and poised in the eyes of the elders gathered around a table at the center of the room.
He's always felt somewhat intimidated by them while also feeling safe in their presence. Their age proves their strength, having survived and beared generations of pups to keep the pack strong–even through recent years with the war and threats on their territory. They are a symbol of their own worth as much as they are for the pack. And, in their stead, the pack alpha is supposed to enforce the laws they've upheld for generations.
That would be true now, too, if their pack alpha hadn't been killed days ago.
The elders have been restless since the body was carried back. With their luna lost in grief, they've taken up the torch of keeping the pack in check until another alpha can earn their place. When there are so many of them dictating everything that happens within pack territory, it's bound to make even the bravest of wolves skittish.
One elder holds Seonghwa’s gaze when she catches it. He lowers his head to her respectfully, and she glances over toward Wooyoung, the younger omega finally back in his human form and tugging on a spare set of clothes over by the wall.
Seonghwa gives her an assuring look, calm and steady, like he always tries to be for the younger omegas and betas throughout the pack. Being older, it feels like an unspoken obligation. As much as the alphas protect them all he can protect and keep everyone in check in his own ways. It comes naturally. Some of the elders say it will make him a good parent one day. Always soon, they hope. But here he remains, unmated and getting older every day. At least he's not the only one in the known history of their pack to have lived this way. And besides, the elders respect him in turn for what he does. He's proud to be what he is.
When Wooyoung is dressed he skirts right up to Seonghwa’s side like always. Seonghwa took to the omega when they were pups. They weren't from the same litter, but Wooyoung lost his parents to the war when he was barely a year old, and Seonghwa just attached to him in a way that none of the older wolves could describe, much less prevent. He helped to raise Wooyoung despite only being a couple years older and it not being his job to.
Seonghwa has always liked looking after pups. He would have chosen it as his job if the elders hadn't wanted him to be a gatherer, and these days he'll take the momentary freedom of peace away from the village over anything.
Besides, Wooyoung isn't the only one Seonghwa attached to at a young age. They had a small group that gravitated to each other, all from different litters. There was Wooyoung and San first, and then Mingi and Yunho, then Jongho. They all met for different reasons but the pull of the Moon seemed to draw them together. Even since presenting years ago they all still remain so close, a steady presence always around one another in the village, able to lean on each other for support more than anyone else.
Living in such a large and long-standing pack, it's common. Some wolves are closer than others. Seonghwa wouldn't have it any other way than with his friends, no matter if they're unmated or eventually settling down and having pups.
The elders start by asking around how everyone is doing with their jobs and ensuring that the pack is running smoothly. After all, even with no alpha and luna, they still need to work and the village still needs to thrive.
While everyone is talking Wooyoung absentmindedly tugs on a section of Seonghwa’s hair, braiding it loosely over and over and scratching every now and then at Seonghwa’s scalp by his ear. In turn Seonghwa leans close and tilts his head so the shorter can reach him right, a soft smile warming his face.
Eventually though, the elder’s voices darken a little. The air inside the hut grows heavier as it becomes clear that everyone was gathered for a reason–likely something they will not like.
“We have a request of you,” one of the elders announces, standing. “Those that are willing.”
Another rises in tandem. “It's been under discussion over the last several days but we've come to understand that there may be no one better suited for the job than you, our unmated omegas.”
Seonghwa makes the distinction now with a glance around the room. It's true, everyone in here is unmated. There aren't any betas either. Something very out of the ordinary must have happened.
Building on this sentiment, the first elder to stand continues, “As some of you may know, we managed to capture several wolves left behind from the battle with the valley pack. A few of them are injured, many are in distress. Nothing we have done has been able to calm them. They're overwhelmed and in unfamiliar territory, but we cannot assess any of them when they will not approach us to be fed or cleaned.”
The other adds, “We know that with your softer scents you might be able to placate them well enough to discern who is a threat and who is not.”
“Our hope is that some may be able to join our pack.” The first nods and then lowers his head. “We have known great sorrow recently. And many of us have lost to this war. But not everything is lost, and not everyone deserves to be punished for all that we have suffered.”
Seonghwa feels Wooyoung grasp his hand and he squeezes back assuringly, offering a quick and gentle look at the younger.
“Will you do it?” Wooyoung whispers.
Seonghwa grits his teeth. It's likely Wooyoung already knows the answer, but he nods anyway.
The elders ask for those who are willing for the job to step forward, and Seonghwa is one of the first to go. He starts to let go of Wooyoung’s hand but the younger holds steady and follows him up until they're in front of the elder’s table.
Several omegas stay back. They look nervous, keeping eyes away from everyone else as if in fear that a second of contact will mean they're pulled up anyway. It's not hard to understand why. All any of them know of the valley pack since they showed up on the edge of their territory one day years ago is how vicious and bloodthirsty they are. It's been a fight to protect the village territory ever since the first attack. They should be scared of being face to face with valley pack wolves.
But Seonghwa knows better. A pack cannot survive if all of them seek to kill. They may not know why the valley pack showed up and started vying for their territory, but there's no way every single wolf is dangerous to them. Otherwise these ones wouldn't have been left behind, and likely wouldn't have been able to be captured and locked up. If there's a chance there are good wolves among them, Seonghwa wants to try and protect them as he's done for his own pack his whole life.
Otherwise… what else is he good for?
The elders look over the selection of volunteers. They don't seem overly concerned, but a few look skeptical. It's possible they doubt the safety of this entire arrangement rather than the capability of the omegas.
“Very well,” one of the standing ones says. He leans down and places his hands on the table. “These prisoner’s care will fall to you for the time being. You can report anything of note to an elder at sunset each day, but we don't want any of you down there when the Moon is out. Not until we're sure it's safe.”
“What will we be responsible for?” Seonghwa asks quietly.
The elders share firm looks.
“For now, just assessing the state of these wolves. If they have injuries that need cared for, those will be handled if it's safe. You'll provide food and water for them. As well as basic things like warmer pelts, if needed. We want to be sure if it's safe to let them out of their cages at all before we consider anyone integrating with the pack.”
Wooyoung squeezes Seonghwa’s hand again at the same time an elder meets his gaze. The elder gives a faint nod. An unspoken agreement knowing that if Seonghwa is going with them, he’ll help to keep everyone else in line.
The elders ask if everyone is in agreement and understands the terms. Those of the omegas who are volunteering all dip their heads into a bow, and with that the elders seem satisfied to conclude the meeting.
“Good,” one says. The rest rise to their feet. “Remember, no one is permitted to be down in the pit after sunset. Be vigilant, be careful, and be safe.”
There is another round of bows before everyone begins to leave the elder’s hut.
The air outside is crisp with the coming evening. Inside the village there is more shade from surrounding trees and various buildings. At this time in autumn the evenings are much cooler. As he follows along with the group of omegas heading towards the dungeon pit, Seonghwa finds himself wondering how cold it could be down there.
The pit was built generations ago, when the pack became large enough that they needed a space to house potential threats in case any came. They had it long before the war started, but it hardly saw any use before that from what Seonghwa knows. It's a harsh thing, to be locked away underground where the sun barely shines and the Moon’s rays cannot reach at night. The structure is made of thick wood, the thickest they've ever been able to find. Woven tightly with strong rope and draped with palm leaves from the southern shore and straw from their fields along the roof. There are steps down, fully beneath the ground into the large pit. At the end of the steps is one set of heavy doors separating the pack from the dangers housed within.
The omega who reaches the doors first hesitates to open one. She's urged comfortingly by another younger than her, and with that she pushes in. Immediately, a few of them draw in harsh breaths with the wave of new scents.
“Eugh–” Wooyoung is the first to let out. He brings a hand over his nose. “It reeks!”
Seonghwa elbows him with a stern look. Already he's surveying the room and the cages inside, strong wood being all that separates them from the valley pack wolves trapped inside.
Another omega mutters, “There's alphas in here–”
One that is much younger, likely newly presented, whimpers, “We shouldn't do this–”
Seonghwa smells it. He takes a deeper breath in before stepping forward with both hands out. “Calm down and keep your voices soft.”
His eyes scan the line of cages. There are alphas, but most of them must be omegas or betas. Some of them could even be pups. There are too many scents mixing together to discern. But there's a hint of stronger, sharper scents, a telltale sign of an alpha presence. Above all else there is unease in the air. Wariness, and something so deeply fearful. And it is nearly overwhelming. It's no wonder the elders could barely stand to set foot in here, let alone with the collective fear that any of these wolves might charge the bars of their enclosures to try and attack them.
“We aren't here to hurt anyone,” Seonghwa announces when no one else does, as loud as he dares.
They were taught as pups what needed to be done if anyone was ever put in these cages. When there is, there will be food brought to a room in the corner and there is water routed to a spicket there, too. Metal tins are stacked by the spicket, ones small enough that they can fit between the bars if need be. They'll need to fill these tins with food and water, but first they need to discern how many wolves are in here and what state they're in.
Another omega steps forward, close by Seonghwa. “We're supposed to feed you. We can do that, if you let us.”
There are small torches lining the walls that flicker dimly across the room. It isn't much, but it means they can at least see what they're up against. Between four cages there could be more than twenty wolves. It's a much larger number than Seonghwa expected. Hopefully nothing that they can't handle.
“Who are you?” an unfamiliar, small voice calls from within a cage.
The omega by Seonghwa says, “I'm Haewon. I'm from this pack. We all are.”
“You're omegas,” someone else in the cage says. They sound older, darker. “Why would they send omegas to look after us?”
Seonghwa takes another careful step forward and holds his hands up for good measure. He hopes he's in the light well enough to be seen by most eyes. “Listen, I know you're all likely very frightened. You haven't had food, you're in a place you don't know, and we're all strangers. But we mean it when we say we are not here to hurt you.”
“Then why are we in cages ?”
After a brief hesitation, Seonghwa says honestly, “Because we don’t know whether or not we can safely trust you yet.”
The first voice that met them speaks again. It sounds like a pup. “If you can’t trust us, will you hurt us?”
That, Seonghwa doesn’t know. The elders never said what their plans were if it were decided, but his first instinct here is not to lie. If he’s truthful then these wolves should have no reason to not be in return. So, perhaps it’s better to avoid the question for now.
“How about we start by getting to know each other first?” He searches the nearest cage until he finds the eyes of the pup locked on him. He tilts his head, takes a couple more steps until he’s just in front of the bars with enough space to not be grasped if anyone tries to reach through, and slowly crouches down. He speaks gently, directly to the pup. “My name is Seonghwa. What’s yours?”
The pup looks, wide-eyed, back towards another wolf close by him. He seems older, but not enough to have fully outgrown the guidance of his parentage, who must be who he looks back to. They have the same auburn hair and slim features. It’s the pup who looks back at Seonghwa and says, “Jinsoo. I’m Jinsoo.”
Seonghwa smiles. “Hi, Jinsoo. Are you hungry?”
“Yes.” The pup perks up immediately.
But another wolf behind him interjects, harsh, “Don’t accept food from them!”
Seonghwa holds up placating hands again before any of his own pack can overreact. He casts a look around at those inside the cage, doing his best to remain steady even though he’s never done anything like this before. “I know you have no reason to trust us, either. Let us give you one then. We’ll bring you food, and we can eat from it first, so you know there’s nothing that will hurt you.”
He turns back to look for his friend. “Woo.” He gestures toward the doorway in the corner where the food and water should be.
Wooyoung catches on quickly. He treads over and through the doorway and when he comes back out he has two tins in his hands, one with water and one with a chunk of fresh meat. The meat must have been cut barely an hour ago, if he can smell it over the uneasy musk that hangs in the air down here.
Seonghwa takes both tins and places the one with the meat on the ground in front of him. Then he tips back the tin with water at an angle so that the nearby wolves in the cages can see that he drinks it. “See?” He says, holding it out. “It’s safe. I promise.”
Warily, Jinsoo is the first to creep forward. One wolf tries to reach for him, the one who has his same auburn hair. But her fist grasps nothing but empty air and she doesn’t dare move herself.
Seonghwa gives her the calmest and most patient smile he can manage before turning his attention to her pup, now right on the other side of the bars. He keeps his body back but extends his arm far enough to let Jinsoo take the water tin from him. The boy looks between Seonghwa and the water a couple times. In the end, he tips it back, and relief droops his form as soon as he swallows.
Wooyoung returns to Seonghwa’s side again with another set of tins. Seonghwa sets the other water tin just inside the cage, scoots it forward, then takes a chunk of meat and tears a bite off carefully. It tastes just like the rest of their plain bison dishes do. He wipes the little bit of juice that escaped down his chin with his sleeve, then smiles at Jinsoo again. Using the boy as a vessel to prove trust as the rest of the valley wolves won’t budge, he hands a tin of meat to the pup. Hungry hands tug it away and Jinsoo sinks his teeth without hesitation.
Seonghwa can’t help but deflate at the sight of a near ravenous pup eating like this. He knew there was more to the valley pack than just the bloodthirsty killers they’ve seen, but this is a whole new reality. Jinsoo may be older for a pup but he’s still small. He looks like he hasn’t had steady meals as of late, and he eats like he may never have had them. It makes Seonghwa wonder just how rough of a life some of these wolves may have had until they ended up here, and how–maybe–this could be a blessing for them.
He almost doesn’t realize it at first, but not long after Jinsoo starts eating, a few more wolves slowly begin to creep closer. Their heads are low, some in wolf form and some not, and their eyes are wary. Seonghwa takes the chance to wave toward his fellow omegas behind him so they’ll grab their own tins to fill. No one put him in charge here and really he isn’t, but the younger wolves just seem to listen to him when guidance is needed. With this push, they gather up food and water to bring to each cage and begin calmly introducing themselves while pushing tins inside the cages.
Seonghwa brings two sets of tins to the cage he’d crouched in front of, completely uncaring of how much each wolf is getting and more concerned that there is plenty to go around. On the third round when he crouches again a hand suddenly snatches his wrist.
He tenses but doesn’t flinch, registering that while desperate, the touch isn’t aggressive. It’s Jinsoo’s mother looking up at him, clutching a half eaten chunk of meat in her other hand. Her lips tremble with unspoken words and her eyes are misty and sorrowful. He carefully tilts his head towards her.
“It’s okay,” he whispers. The tremors from her hand shake his own, sorrow trickling through the air between them, and Seonghwa feels heat behind his own eyes, too. “You’re not hurt, are you? I can help. If you are.”
All she says back is a quiet, “Please…”
Seonghwa clenches his teeth down over his lip, briefly hesitating again. But he follows his instincts and rises to flip the stone mechanism tied to the bars holding the door closed. As he slips inside no one seems to question him. Some of the wolves are distracted by their food or conversations with the omegas from his pack. Some are still backed against the far wall with nothing but fear in their eyes. Seonghwa keeps his movements slow, making his way to Jinsoo and his mother’s side and crouching by them.
Jinsoo’s mother has begun to sob weakly. There isn’t much sound, at least not that can be heard over the clamor inside the room, but her shoulders shake and her hair hides her face–and something in Seonghwa’s chest aches.
“What’s wrong?” he asks gently.
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry–”
“Don’t be. It’s okay.”
“I–” She hiccups, and her words are barely there. “I lost a pup–my Minwoo–my–my mate… they’re both gone.”
Seonghwa instinctively reaches to stroke her hair and she quivers at the touch but pushes into it all the same.
Apparently having eaten his fill, Jinsoo butts his head into Seonghwa’s side before curling up between the two omegas. He tugs at the fabric of his mother’s skirt and whimpers.
Seonghwa pats Jinsoo’s head. “I’m so sorry,” is all he can say through a tight throat.
Then, he feels a familiar presence at his side and Wooyoung’s blackberry scent breaks the sorrowful air. The younger omega crouches with a damp cloth held out. Seonghwa frowns slightly, but when Wooyoung gestures toward Jinsoo’s mother is when Seonghwa notices the dried, bloody scratches on her arms. He takes the cloth without a second thought.
“Your arms,” he prods, as softly as he can.
She looks up at him, tears streaking down her face, and she doesn’t even notice Wooyoung.
Seonghwa holds up the cloth for her to see. “I can help you. I promise I’ll be gentle.”
She hesitates, her look almost turning scornful for a second. But she must recognize the lack of a threat, either by Seonghwa’s scent or her own judgement. Slowly she raises her injured arms to be cleaned, all while keeping her eyes locked on Seonghwa’s face without mercy.
He keeps to his word, holding each wrist one by one and gently brushing down her arms with the cloth. Whatever did this to her, it had to have happened days or weeks ago. It could have been during the battle that brought her here–or perhaps it could have been before. As the dried blood is wiped away it becomes clear that some of her wounds have scarred, leaving traces of white that look like they could have been claws or chains or both. Seonghwa tries not to focus on them, instead filling the quiet between them with words.
“What is your name?”
Her stare remains and her responses are short and careful. “Hyerin.”
“That is a very pretty name, I like it.” He smiles. She doesn’t smile back.
“Thank you.”
She has to be older than him. If Jinsoo is this big, he could be at least five or six, and most omegas have birthed one liter by the time they’re twenty. Hyerin looks like she carries so much pain, built up over time, and she doesn’t know how to handle care. Seonghwa’s heart breaks for her and the pup that leans in her lap and partially against him.
“I think the Moon sent you here,” he can’t stop himself from saying. “She is graceful, and She doesn’t like pain. We have been praying for the fighting to stop for so long… but maybe it can, if we learn to heal each other like this.”
He doesn’t really know what he’s saying or if Hyerin is fully listening. The look in her eyes is strange, like she’s studying him, trying to figure out what she’s looking at.
He glances around the cage. Already there are more of his pack’s omegas inside carefully tending to other wounds, bringing food closer to those who won’t approach for it, and comforting their supposed enemies. It doesn’t feel like that anymore, though. The fear and despair in the air grows lighter each second. And maybe it’s just Seonghwa, but he feels encouraged by it.
He finishes cleaning the last of the blood from Hyerin’s arms and softens his smile. “There, much better, isn’t it?”
Hyerin pulls her arms to her chest, rubbing them thoughtfully. She looks from them, to her pup, then back to Seonghwa, and nods once before mumbling, “Thank you.”
“Of course. You should eat,” he gestures to a nearby tin. “Take what you need and we can bring more if you want. You won’t starve here. And you won’t have to fight, either.”
He doesn’t know what she’s been through until now, but the way such visceral hope floods her gaze warms Seonghwa’s heart, and he doesn’t need her to smile to know that he’s done enough for her for now.
“I’m going to go see who else needs help, okay?”
She just nods. As Seonghwa departs from her she pulls Jinsoo into her arms tightly, as though she hasn’t done so in a long time. Maybe she’s been too lost in grief.
There are other injuries to tend to. An omega has similar scars on his arms and around his throat. A few wolves have fresh wounds from the recent battle, nothing too serious and thankfully it hasn't been long enough for them to fester. Gashes in their necks and sides or scrapes along their limbs. Seonghwa helps to clean blood and wrap what needs wrapped. He’s sure to bring in plenty of food and water and check for anyone who might not have been helped yet. It’s slightly overwhelming with so many new faces, scents, and names to learn. But Seonghwa believes now that with time, they can safely integrate most of these wolves into the pack as long as they are willing.
He almost loses track of what he’s doing, just getting lost in the process of accessing wolves one by one. He’s in the middle of helping a grumpy alpha clean out dirty battle wounds because no one else seemed to want to, when he smells something in the air change. He bristles, turning his head to sniff warily.
The alpha grumbles something that Seonghwa doesn’t listen to. His walnut scent strengthens, already having sat bitter in Seonghwa’s nose to the point he’s had to fight to keep his lip from curling, even when he knows the alpha can likely sense his distaste. After all, the alpha doesn’t seem too pleased when Seonghwa’s attention shifts.
“Here,” Seonghwa relents the cloth he’d been using into the alpha’s hands. “Just keep it clean and wrap it like I showed you.”
The alpha grunts but otherwise doesn’t complain. He doesn’t seem to care much for Seonghwa, or anyone in here.
Seonghwa makes his way out into the main area with his head raised to catch onto whatever it is he’s smelling. A few other omegas notice him and a twinge of anxiety taints the air. He has to narrow his eyes with a frown to focus, and then– there . An unfamiliar scent like fire and smoke tugs his attention over to another cage nearby.
In front of it stands Wooyoung, by himself, with a tin of water in his hands. He approaches the cage with cautious steps. There’s an undertone of something dangerous in the air–like a warning–and in response, fear from Wooyoung.
Seonghwa is at his side in an instant. “What is it?”
Wooyoung eyes the cage like he expects something to jump out at him. “There’s a wolf in there–” he points to the farthest corner back against the wall.
Sure enough, amongst the shadows and dark dirt, a pelt like the colour of rust sits in a heap, curled up so much it hardly looks like a wolf at all. But Seonghwa smells it–that fiery flickering, the same as the torches on the walls, almost like a flame threatening to lick at them. It’s an alpha. A very angry alpha.
“I nearly couldn’t tell he was there until I heard him–” Wooyoung tries to explain, but in answer a dangerously low growl emanates from within the cage.
Seonghwa holds out a hand to stop Wooyoung from approaching any further. The younger omega latches to it and steps closer to his side. Seonghwa sniffs again, picking up fainter traces. The alpha’s scent is strong, enough to almost overpower everything else in the room and only growing more pungent with each second that passes. Some wolves might gag at the ferocity of it. But Seonghwa can tell that the alpha is warning them–to stay away, to be left alone, because he feels threatened himself. He’s pumping out pheromones like he’s on the verge of attack and his growl is deep… perhaps slightly pained.
“Should we try to feed him?” Wooyoung asks.
Before Seonghwa can respond the alpha’s growl seethes worse, a sign of baring teeth.
Seonghwa drags Wooyoung back a few steps, away from the cage where this alpha is trapped alone. He takes the tin of water from Wooyoung, the younger omega frowning at him.
Wooyoung insists, “Okay, I’m not going near that cage and neither are you. He’s definitely feral.”
Seonghwa clenches his teeth and the tin in his hands, looking quickly back and forth between the alpha currently stinking up the entire pit and Wooyoung. Part of him can’t help but see the ferocity with which the other valley wolves ate and wonder how long they’ve all gone without food. He swears he can smell blood nearby, too. Any wounds the alpha might have will fester without treatment, and he’ll die that much quicker without food or water. Whether he knows this wolf or not, Seonghwa can’t bear the idea of turning a blind eye out of fear and just letting this happen. “Someone has to feed him,” he mutters.
“And it won’t be you, or any of us.” Wooyoung squeezes his wrist. “Give it a day, there’s only a couple hours of light left. We can–talk to the elders, see what they want us to do. We shouldn’t be going near any feral alphas from the valley pack.”
Wooyoung is right. It’s a stupid idea to try, especially when they know nothing. Yet Seonghwa still remains tense, a stone in place for a moment just staring at the heap of the alpha in the corner.
He’s seen wounded and dying wolves return from fights. Most of them have. They know how quickly bad can turn to worse without care. But this isn’t just a case of the alpha’s safety, if he’s dangerous then they can’t risk the lives of anyone else. As cruel as it sounds, it isn’t worth it for a wolf they don’t know. Not someone who isn’t pack.
“Okay.” He backs off.
Wooyoung lets out a sigh, then covers his nose like he did when they first entered the pit and starts dragging Seonghwa further away. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I think we’ve done all we can for now.”
Several omegas start to leave as soon as they notice this.
Seonghwa doesn’t say anything and just lets himself be dragged back outside. The cool, open air is so inviting but Seonghwa’s focus is elsewhere, fixed until he can find a proper solution here.
A wolf will die without water in a matter of days. This one might not have another in him, so there’s no other choice for tonight.
Seonghwa breaks away from Wooyoung to tread straight for the builder’s hut. It’s there that the pack stores any wood and building supplies and it’s there where Seonghwa should be able to find some kind of stick long enough to push a tin of water through the bars without getting bit. He pays no mind to Wooyoung following right at his heels because he expected the younger to do so anyway. And he hardly notices when San slides up to them inside the builder’s hut, too. He’s so used to being trailed by or trailing his friends. It’s second nature, one of the only things he’s never questioned.
“What are we doing?” San asks. “Also, and I mean this nicely, but you both smell.”
“Oh, thanks,” Wooyoung coos sarcastically. For revenge he grasps San by the back of the neck and nuzzles into him without mercy.
San makes a loud noise of protest but his efforts to push Wooyoung away are useless, and he quickly gives up. “I said I meant it nicely,” he whines.
“I’ll bathe later, right now I don’t know what we’re doing but I’m keeping an eye on Seonghwa so he doesn’t do something stupid.”
“Which is?” San does his best to dip further into Seonghwa’s line of sight while being smothered by a clingy Wooyoung.
Seonghwa hums, mulling likely too much over the thickness and length of his choice of sticks in the pile he’s examining. “Trying to find something I can use to get water to a potentially feral alpha.”
Wooyoung huffs. “See? Something stupid.”
“Feral alpha?” San sounds dumbfounded. “What–why, by all the stars, are you looking after a feral alpha and where are they from?”
Seonghwa ignores the question in favour of picking out what looks to be his best option, something that shouldn’t break even if bit before he can pull it back.
“The valley pack,” Wooyoung answers for him, more a complaint than anything. “The elders are having us assess them.”
“The prisoners brought in after the last battle?! That’s–that’s so dangerous! No wonder you smell!”
“Hey!” Wooyoung moves to slap San, but the older omega is quicker.
He grasps Wooyoung’s hands and pushes them down then cups his face, pulling them to face each other. He looks over Wooyoung like a fretting mate–and this, Seonghwa watches with slightly clenched teeth out of worry over San revealing too much, even though he’s always like this with everyone. Everything is different now after their talk up on the hill. Seonghwa now knows that San harbours a lot more for their friend than he should.
“Are you hurt?” San asks him, looking over his face.
Wooyoung pouts back, both petulant and sweet. “I’m fine. Nearly all of them were omegas or betas anyway.”
“But there’s a feral alpha with them? How is that safe?”
“He’s in a cage on his own,” Seonghwa answers. Both of their attention shifts to him momentarily, and it sort of feels as though he’s intruding on their moment. He lowers his head and glances away without thinking. “None of them are in good shape in there, so even if he can’t hurt anyone I’m not leaving him to die of thirst just because he’s aggressive. It could all just be bark and not bite, anyway.” He sighs before turning to return to the pit once more with his stick in hand.
Now it’s Wooyoung who starts with a fretting noise, and he’s quickly at Seonghwa’s heels again. “Hold on–you’re doing this carefully, right? I seriously think you should talk to the elders before you try anything.”
“I have the stick for a reason, Woo. I should be fine.”
San catches up at his other side. “Is it necessary though? Why can’t you talk to the elders?”
“They’ve been in there for nearly three days without water, Sannie.”
Wooyoung groans. “They said we’re not allowed back down there once the sun sets and we’re losing light. I still don’t like the idea of going back when it stinks so bad.”
“So stay outside.”
“I–” Wooyoung huffs, faltering briefly. “I’m not going to be useless .”
Seonghwa takes a gentler breath and stops walking. Both of the younger omegas stop with him, waiting for him to turn and face them. “You won’t be useless, Woo,” he assures. “If you don’t feel comfortable going back then don’t go.”
But, with the same determination he’d held to Seonghwa’s hand when they volunteered to do this in the first place, Wooyoung stares him down. “Fine. I don’t want you going alone. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Seonghwa softens immediately and he droops, reaching forward with his free hand to tug Wooyoung close and nuzzle into his neck. The calming scent of blackberry covers everything for a moment.
“I don’t trust that wolf,” the younger whispers into his hair.
“You don’t need to. I don’t either–not yet, anyway. But you can trust me to take care of myself as well as the rest of the pack.”
Wooyoung brushes his nose over the scent gland at Seonghwa’s neck, offering a deeper sense of comfort at being more enveloped by his scent. He lets out a soft hum before pulling back. “I’m going in there with you, but if he rushes those bars I’m yanking both of us out.”
Seonghwa smiles. He ruffles Wooyoung’s hair, and then the trio are continuing the rest of the way back to the pit.
Some of the unfamiliar and less welcoming scents have drifted up through the doors left ajar, and San recoils first, not having caught a proper whiff until now.
Seonghwa gives him a reassuring look, ruffling his hair as well, before clutching his stick tightly and starting down the stairs. Wooyoung is right at his side, albeit with much less intent and much more dread.
The smell is just as strong as it was when they left, if not worse . The alpha seems to have urged everyone out that isn't from his own pack, because the cages are locked once more and no familiar wolves are in sight. The valley pack wolves sit in similar states to when they first entered the pit, tucked against walls and into corners, some still eating and some just covering or pawing at their noses in discontent. They all have scooted as far as they can get from the lone alpha in the furthest cage.
Seonghwa pushes in though his eyes feel watery from the strength of it and he has to keep blinking to see right. While he moves, Wooyoung stays a step behind, clearly fighting a gag. He crouches to retrieve the water tin they'd abandoned on the ground and he brings it as close as he dares to go to the alpha’s cage. That low growl remains, faint now, but unending.
Seonghwa perches on his knees and attempts to use the stick to carefully push the tin forward. It works well without tipping anything out onto the ground. The dirt is even in here, packed and flat, mostly undisturbed since the pit was first constructed. It makes for an easy enough push right up to the edge of the bars.
Until the tin is just inside Seonghwa doesn't even take a breath–that helps with the worsening anxious and threatening scent anyway. But, once it's in, he exhales and is met with a more distinct growl.
“It's just water,” he says. “You need it.”
There is no answer. The growl barely ceases and the wolf does not move. That could be proof that this alpha is, indeed, feral. He could not understand them at all. Or be so deep in his instincts that talking to him is useless.
There's just… something about the scent that doesn't make it seem that way. Seonghwa can't discern it when he's right in the thick of it so for now he may as well leave well enough alone. The wolf can get water, that means he shouldn't die overnight, at the very least.
“We'll leave you alone,” he mumbles, and with that retracts the stick and makes quick work of getting back out of the pit.
“This is quite literally the worst thing they've ever made us do,” Wooyoung complains as soon as the doors are shut.
Seonghwa lightly smacks the side of his head and shushes him. There's no doubt many of the wolves inside likely just heard him, and their opinions won't be helped by comments like that.
He waits until they're just outside the elders hut once more to scold, “We want them to like us, Woo.”
Wooyoung curls his lips into a petulant sneer and rolls his eyes.
“Wait, why?” San asks. He's doing a decent enough job acting like he's not perturbed by the lingering scents from the pit.
Seonghwa tilts his head. “The elders want us to determine if they can integrate into the pack.”
San blinks. “Oh.”
And Wooyoung groans again. “Don't tell me you're actually agreeing with them–”
Seonghwa is about to tell him that it's not their place to question the elders but San is responding before he can.
“No, it makes sense. If they're not dangerous and they don't want to go back to their pack, why wouldn't they?”
Wooyoung frowns heavily at this. Offense rolls off of him bitterly, a harsher blackberry than his usual tart. “Because they aren't pack? And their pack has spent generations killing ours?!”
It makes sense for Wooyoung to think this. He lost his parents and two of his siblings to the valley pack. Because of them he never got to be close to his family until he made friends and forged his own, makeshift one. For the others it might be easier to show mercy. San still has his family, and Seonghwa has only lost one parent. Still, a part of Seonghwa still feels achy after their time in the pit and he can't help himself.
“Wooyoung,” he mutters, teeth clenched, “there are wolves who lost their families in there, too. You saw them as well as I did.”
Wooyoung looks as though he's been bitten. He swallows visibly, moves to try and speak, but then glances away and starts to turn. “Okay–I'm going to bathe this disgusting stench off, you report to the elders yourself,” he huffs scornfully.
Seonghwa holds out a hand to stop him but it hovers, fingers extended pointlessly, and they grasp nothing as Wooyoung escapes deeper into the village. He sighs and clenches his fist, lowering it back to his side after a moment.
San looks to him with worried eyes.
He relents to jut his head in the direction Wooyoung went. “Go on. I'll talk to him later tonight if he's up to it.”
Before he goes, San reaches out to squeeze his forearm comfortingly, gentle pheromones sweetening the air a bit. He's always good at this, being a mediator for conflict. It's why he works with pups and why he's so close with everyone in their group.
When he scampers off after Wooyoung, Seonghwa feels the slightest bit better but not entirely. He's a little drained after such an eventful day and he knows the stress will catch up to him quickly.
For now, he slips inside the elders hut to report all that he saw in the pit. He mentions the injuries, the wolves who lost family members, and lastly he mentions the potentially feral alpha. The elders don't have much to say. They seem more content to discuss it overnight when there are no longer any other wolves around and they aren't still receiving new information. So Seonghwa reconciles that he's done all he can for now and waits to be dismissed along with the few remaining omegas inside.
They all depart to do their own things. Some return to their dens and others meander towards the dining hall–but Seonghwa has a place he wants to visit before he settles into his evening. A face he wants to see both for comfort and because he hasn't seen it for a few days now. He heads straight for a hut more on the edge of the village center and knocks readily on the door.
It opens a moment later, bringing a waft of chamomile and the warm smile of Mingi. “Seonghwa–hi!” The beta ushers him in right away.
Seonghwa reaches up to give a scratch at the top of Mingi’s head, which the beta hums and leans down for in content. It isn't a surprise at all to see Mingi here, Seonghwa figured he would be when he's barely seen the beta as well outside of meal times. “How is he doing?” he asks, looking around the cluttered main room.
Mingi moves to pick up stacks of empty tins and rolls of parchment and gathers them in his arms. “Stressed. You can't smell it?”
Seonghwa purses his lips. He sniffs once but other than the general aroma of chamomile and vanilla, his own lingering scent overpowers anything else. “No. But I suppose I reek right now, so that may be to blame.”
Mingi pauses at this, sniffing too. It isn't until now that his nose scrunches a little. “Where have you been?”
“I'll explain in a second. Is he in there?” Seonghwa points to the closed doorway on the far wall that Mingi is already meandering to.
“Mhm. Come on.”
The two head inside and immediately Seonghwa is hit with a stronger waft of vanilla. In the back room there are heavier hints of stress, thankfully not too much to be concerned over.
As soon as Yunho turns and spots him, the alpha frowns, drops the book he'd been holding on a desk, and tugs Seonghwa by the wrist into him. His arms wrap tightly from behind and his nose pushes into the crook of Seonghwa’s neck insistently. “You reek of alpha. Do I need to put someone in their place?”
Seonghwa lets out a gentle snort, tilting his head all the same to let Yunho scent him easier. He should have expected this much. “No, unfortunately for right now I think we can keep that option as a last resort. Don't worry though, you'll get to use your new pack alpha privileges soon enough.”
Yunho growls with little malice and more discontent. A complaint, not a threat. His arms wrap even tighter around Seonghwa’s waist, urging the omega to lean into it. “Who was it? I don't recognize these scents at all.”
Seonghwa grinds his teeth, hesitating briefly. “The prisoners from the valley pack.” Before either Yunho or Mingi can respond he continues, “It was the elder’s idea–and I’m surprised they didn’t run it by you considering all the duties you’ve had thrust on you these last few days.” He reaches a hand to card fingers through Yunho’s soft, blonde hair.
“I think that may be exactly why they didn’t tell me,” Yunho grumbles back. His head pushes into Seonghwa’s hand, making the omega giggle.
“That, and maybe this.”
Yunho huffs somewhat indignantly. “I don’t want you smelling like another pack’s alphas, let alone that pack.”
“Well, I was planning on taking a bath after coming here.”
“If you want to be scented then come back after. I don’t have anywhere else to be tonight.”
Seonghwa hums, drawn out and teasing. But there’s a hint of disappointment to it. “I think I’ll leave that to Wooyoungie… if I can get him to.”
At this, Yunho finally draws back enough that they can look each other in the eye but he still doesn’t remove himself from around Seonghwa’s back. He’s still frowning, of course, but this one is more typical of him. “You two are fighting again?”
Seonghwa sighs. “I didn’t mean to offend him, I just didn’t like what he was saying about those wolves in the pit.”
Mingi, who’s been traversing around the room helping to organize the mess scattered about, asks, “What happened?”
“The elders asked us to look after them, bring them food and water, treat the injuries we could. We’re supposed to keep doing this so we can gain their trust, and then maybe they’ll be allowed to join our pack. Wooyoung went with us even though he doesn’t like the idea at all.”
Mingi turns from the shelf where he’s stacking books with his arms crossed thoughtfully. “That sounds like him.” He tilts his head and some of the hair that he keeps swooped back falls into his eyes. “He was probably only going along to protect you.”
Seonghwa groans, throwing up his hands for emphasis. “No, I know that. I just don’t understand how he could look at them and not see that they’ve suffered too. They were hurt, and they’ve lost friends, family– pups , for Moon’s sake!” He buries his face in his hands.
All too quickly, his own stress is catching up with him. He finds himself sinking into Yunho’s embrace, the alpha letting him push his head under his chin and only pulling him closer. It’s likely they both need this as much as the other does.
Three days ago the pack held an emergency meeting that everyone had to attend. They had to reconcile that they would be laying their pack alpha to rest, and mercilessly they were given very little time to grieve with the understanding that they would need to choose a new alpha to run the pack. The elders looked to Yunho before anyone else.
It makes sense. Yunho is older for an unmated alpha and he’s a strong hunter and he’s good at keeping anyone in the pack in line. He’s helpful and hard-working. Of course the elders would choose him to be the next pack alpha. It’s something that can only be done if there is no one to challenge, so Yunho hasn’t had to fight for anything and no one has questioned the elder’s choice. But clearly the beginning of his training and all of his new responsibilities have been weighing on him, if no one except Mingi has seen him for days and this is the state he’s in.
“You’ll work it out with Wooyoung,” Yunho says after a long moment of just drenching each other in comforting pheromones. “I know you will. It’s only the first day the elders are having you do this, and there has to be some good that will come from it if they agreed.”
“You’re right,” Seonghwa sighs again. “I guess it was just a lot of emotions for one day.”
Yunho hums. He rubs his head against Seonghwa’s more for good measure, and it’s nice, just feeling like pups comforting one another again. It isn’t until Yunho makes a softer, more disgruntled noise and fully lifts his head that Seonghwa remembers that sometimes it is different.
“Mingi–” Yunho says, his nose scrunched a little. “Could we not do this today? I can smell your jealousy from here.”
Mingi’s gaze darts back over at that. He looks dumbfounded for a second, and then shameful, his lips curling with an awkward smile as he tries to hide his face before the red can be seen creeping there. Yunho isn’t paying any attention to him, but Seonghwa sees it plainly, and he feels a little warm himself at how worked up Mingi suddenly is over such a simple comment. The alpha might not even realize the full extent of what he said.
Seonghwa thinks it’s sweet. They’ve always been so in tune with each other, as pups they were inseparable, never once caught apart. When they presented there was never any animosity between them, even when Mingi went through a stage where he stood so awkwardly with himself as a beta and convinced himself that the rest of the pack was treating him differently because of it. The two have always just understood each other without even needing to try.
This isn’t the first time he’s noticed something between them, but it is the first time a direct comment has been made–where Seonghwa can hear it, at least–and clearly Mingi hadn’t been expecting it at all.
It’s endearing. Seonghwa feels a bit like he’s intruded now–on their space, the pack alpha’s work room where Yunho is supposed to be doing his training, and where Mingi has remained at his side just like always. He supposes he came here partially for himself, but he’d also wanted to make sure Yunho was doing alright. Maybe he doesn’t need to. If these two are breaching the gap between each other like this then Yunho will be fine as long as Mingi is there to care for him. Once that bond is made it’s hard to intrude upon. Seonghwa doesn’t want to end up caught in the middle of a mating dance.
So he wriggles out of Yunho’s arms with gentle laughter. He tilts his head at the pout the alpha gives him. “I should go take my bath.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Yunho asks, possibly oblivious to the shift in the room.
Seonghwa nods. “It’s getting late, and I can only help myself with a bath and a good meal. Which you should attend–” he nudges Yunho’s shoulder, “–if you have time. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you’ve been taking your meals cooped up in here.”
“I don’t seem to have much of a choice,” Yunho huffs. “They’ve given me so much to read I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to see straight when I’m through with it all.”
“It’s to understand our history ,” Mingi interjects, emphasising the importance even though he’s intentionally keeping busy with menial tasks around the room.
“I knoooow, Mingi-yaaaah~” the alpha drawls like a petulant pup, in true Wooyoung fashion. He sounds both extremely fond and exhausted as he slumps back against the desk. “I never said I wasn’t going to do it.”
“Just making sure you know why they’re insisting on it,” Mingi hums back.
Seonghwa tries not to smile too cheekily, shaking his head as he starts for the door. “Alright, I’ll leave you two to your books.” He addresses Mingi directly, “Make sure he eats and gets plenty of sleep.”
Mingi turns his head back, a little bashful, but he smiles and nods. “Always.”
And Yunho starts to complain, “Hey–don’t talk about me like I’m not right here!”
With that Seonghwa slips back outside and starts to make his way to his den. Inside, he takes one of his finer soap scrubs and a set of far more comfortable silk trousers and a woven top that will drape over his shoulders, along with a pelt to cover up in case the night is too chilly once the sun sets.
The bathhouse is especially busy now, omegas wishing to cleanse themselves the same as him after being down in the pit. Seonghwa meticulously settles his things beside one of the smaller pools of warm water, heated by rocks rotated through fires just outside the building. He strips bare and sinks down into the water with a heavy sigh, already feeling some of his troubles start to melt away into the heat.
It has certainly been an eventful day. One that started like any other but quickly became tense with his and San’s conversation on the hill.
Seonghwa can still hear the desperation in the younger omegas voice as he admitted how much he longed to be able to court Wooyoung, to treat him right and protect him, if it weren’t for the two of them being omegas. While it isn’t unheard of in their history for omegas to be mated, it’s considered highly unusual and in most cases, done when an alpha courts multiple partners and the bond between them is strong enough. Seonghwa had brought this up on the hill, but San seemed resigned to the fact that he hasn’t felt fated to anyone but Wooyoung as long as he’s been alive. That didn’t make sense to Seonghwa at first, but he tried to understand it when San told him that it was just different , when you learn who you want to be your mate. It can’t be like any other bond you have. It’s why mating is sacred. The Moon chooses Her pairs–or groups–carefully. It means that the elders wouldn’t be likely to approve, they may not see the connection between San and Wooyoung for what it is, not when it’s so uncommon and untraditional.
Seonghwa has to hope that maybe with time they could come around. He doesn’t know what it’s like to be mated. But he knows that somewhere out in the woods, far from the edge of the pack’s territory, a crimson bead rests at the bottom of a lake. He’s never returned there since the bead sunk, and the few times he’s caught himself thinking of it he feels heavy with despair he’d hoped to leave behind in that lake. He used to hold so much hope for himself only for the years spent unmated to slowly strip it away from him.
He doesn’t want San to go through that, too. The idea makes him ache even more, the weight of it all becoming worse as he delves it all up within the warm water of the bathhouse that should be safe . He finds himself sinking completely beneath the surface where there is no more noise, only the gentle hum of water.
There are some things he needs to learn to let go of. The past is one of them, and stress is another. No matter the events of the day or what will come after, he has to trust that the Moon will be guiding him. He sends a silent prayer from underwater up to Her, for strength and good fortune both for himself and for the pack, clutching the moonstone necklace he never removes in one hand. He prays for Yunho and Mingi, for San, and lastly for Wooyoung. He even prays for the valley wolves down in the pit, that they will heal quickly and become good additions to the pack.
Prayer has worked before, and usually it is all he has. It is up to the Moon to hear him after that, so he casts his worries away with it for now.
Once he’s clean and dressed he heads to the dining hall. He finds Mingi there, grabbing food for both himself and Yunho to take pack to the pack alpha’s hut. As he’s getting his own portion from the tables that have been set, Jongho slides up next to him.
“Have you seen San and Wooyoung today?” the alpha asks.
Seonghwa hums affirmatively. “Sannie and I went with the gatherers earlier, and Woo helped me with a task from the elders. I think they both retired to their dens for the night if they’re not here.”
“Well they haven’t come to eat, then. I was waiting for them but they never showed.”
“It’s just been a long day,” Seonghwa pats and squeezes Jongho’s arm comfortingly. “Even I wish I was in bed right now.”
The young alpha looks a little sad at that. He lets out a huff, still piling up chunks of meat into a tin. “Make sure you eat well anyways–and take some to them before you go home. If you don’t want to, I can.”
“No, I can do it. I wanted to check on Wooyoung anyway. And get some bread, for Moon’s sake!” He teases, earning a scrunched look from Jongho. With that they part ways.
Seonghwa doesn’t stick around the dining hall for long. He finishes the bit of meat quickly, and only sops up half of his broth with some bread before he can’t stomach much more. By the time he returns to his den the sun has only just set. He clutches the cloth he’d wrapped around a couple pieces of still warm bread and sniffs the air outside Wooyoung’s den nearby.
For tonight he decides to leave the bread on the doorstep and knocks once before releasing some calming pheromones and slipping off into his own den. If Wooyoung takes the bread he likely won’t say anything about it tomorrow. They’ll go back to their usual selves as though nothing happened, only ever discussing things when they linger or are clearly more serious than little squabbles.
After all, it would take a lot to distance Seonghwa from his pack, but especially his closest friends. In the end they are all he has. He wouldn’t give that up for anything, and it’s the most sure thing he’s known since he was a pup.
He drifts off curled under a pile of warm furs in his nest, just hoping that the future will bring more ease than these last few days of stress.