Archive of Our Own

Cherry almond.

Minho’s nose twitched and his eyelashes fluttered as he woke from his fitful sleep. He inhaled deeply, lungs expanding as he took in the plethora of scents around him, some familiar, but most not.

He could smell the familiar scents of his family, could smell the more overwhelming fragrance of the unfamiliar pack they’d merged into. He could smell the antiseptic in the air from the sterile medical supplies, as well as the herbs and balms the healer used to stitch their wounds.

There was another scent, one that was faint and sweet, sticking to the tip of his tongue. He inhaled again, trying to focus on it, eyes searching the hut in hopes of finding the source. It became fainter by the minute, melting into the floorboards and dispersing through the air.

Whoever the scent belonged to was no longer present in the space. His brothers were asleep on the cots across the room, the healer sorting through herbs in the corner of the room with a single candle lit so as to not disturb them.

Even if Minho wanted to search for the scent, his sprained ankle wouldn’t allow him. The healers had given him strict instructions to stay in bed for at least a week while his muscles and the wound on his back healed. He was on day 5 and practically vibrating out of his skin.

He closed his eyes, trying to force himself back into sleep to avoid his boredom once again.

-

“You all have made a lot of chatter spread around the community,” Pack Alpha Bang said, voice amused. He had smile lines around his mouth and his nose was pink from being out in the sun for too long. Minho had spied him playing tag with the pups through the infirmary window more than he could count. When they first saw this, Felix had turned to him with wide eyes and commented that he didn’t know pack alphas could even do that.

Minho had decided then that maybe they had actually found a decent pack.

It was Hyunjin who made a questioning noise, his eyebrows furrowed. His body was curled towards Felix’s, having refused to separate from him since they’d arrived. Nobody had tried to force them apart, not after seeing the matching mating marks on their necks, and especially not with Felix’s broken arm, broken leg, and long scratches down his face. “What does that mean?” Hyunjin bit out, every bit untrusting as he sounded.

The pack leader didn’t seem to take offense. He just let out a chuckle and waved his hand. “Everyone is curious to meet their new packmates!” he explained. “I mean, they might be a little wary considering… well,” he eyed their scratches and bruises expressively, “considering you somehow managed to escape and kill a rabid wolf and all.”

Minho grimaced, his split lip pulling at his skin. And all would be a good way to put it.

He postured a bit, his wolf yelling at him to protect his omegas from another alpha. There wasn’t much he could do, bed bound like this, but at least he could let out scary vibes or something. “What does that have to do with anything?” Alpha Bang had heard the whole story, after all. Why they’d left their pack, why there was a feral wolf, how they were found by the hunting group.

The alpha just smiled at them. “My pack is curious about you all, as I’m sure you are of them as well. My son Chan has suggested we have a feast to welcome you to the pack.” Once again, he eyed their injuries. “I’m aware that you are on strict mobility guidelines, so I’ve sent some of our wolves to the city to grab some supplies to allow you all to move around.”

Felix perked up at that, his hand tightly grasping onto Hyunjin’s. Minho couldn’t even blame him. Their old pack had been… estranged from everything. “They make things to help with that?”

Alpha Bang nodded cheerfully. “Of course; wheelchairs and crutches and splints. Lots of things to help you heal. We’re very fortunate to only live a couple of days' travel from the city. It comes in handy for situations like these.” A pause while he gauged the three newcomers' reactions. “I was thinking about having the feast in a few days’ time, after we get you all situated with your wounds and into your own cabins. What are your thoughts?”

Minho could see Felix out of the corner of his eye, wiggling with excitement at the proposition. He can understand the excitement, the yearning to get out of bed and be in nature again. They had never quite been inside like this, their old pack having been constrained to a network of caves. Minho just wanted his own little pack to be safe and he’d do anything to help achieve that. Felix was the one who’d been hurt the most, after all. Minho would tear down this entire unfamiliar pack as long as it meant Felix would never get hurt again.

Pack Alpha Bang must have seen the hesitation on his face because his voice became softer, his eyes kind, when he spoke again, “If you don’t feel ready yet, we understand that. We can’t even imagine what you three have been through. We don’t expect anything in return for asylum here. I think my son would have my head if I let you get hurt here as well.”

Silence rang through the room for several seconds, contemplating, absorbing the information handed to them. “And us?” Hyunjin asked quietly, his hand gripping onto Felix’s so hard his knuckles turned white. “What would they think of us?” What would the pack think of two mated omegas? He didn’t ask.

The pack alpha took it in stride. His chest puffed out proudly as he answered, though it seemed like he was trying to keep his… alphaness in check. “My pack accepts anyone regardless of who they are, who they love, and where they came from. In fact, my son is currently courting another alpha. I suspect they’ll make a great pair of pack leaders.”

Just like that, all the tension leaked out of the room. Minho felt himself sink back into bed, closing his eyes. He felt like things might be okay again. Like maybe Felix and Hyunjin would be able to finally be themselves without the shame. Maybe Minho didn’t have to be halfway feral all the time protecting those who are precious to him. Maybe they could be happy here. Here, where nothing is familiar, where they’re close to a real city, where there are real cottages and tools to help people walk, and people who aren’t shrouded in tradition.

“Yongbok-ah, Hyunjin-ah.” The omegas both made a humming noise in response. “How do you feel about integrating into a new pack?”

The choice was theirs. Minho would always give a choice, no matter if he’s an alpha or not. In his mind, the omegas’ opinions mattered more than his own.

He gave them a moment to communicate with just their eyes, the way only a mated pair could. Hyunjin was the one who spoke, voice firm. “We can give it a try.”

Minho nodded and looked back at the pack alpha. “We’ll attend the feast,” he said.

Pack Alpha Bang grinned brightly. “Excellent. I’ll let the pack know and will get everything together. Let the healer, Seungmin, know if you need anything from us. It’s a pleasure to have you in the pack.”

-

The night of the feast, Minho was awoken by the sound of Felix’s screams. Disoriented, he jumped out of bed, forgetting about his bum leg, and collapsed to the floor in a heap. His ankle burned, but he doesn’t care. He needs to get to Felix, needs to help him, to calm him down.

There was another person there. They’re speaking and leaning over Felix, and Minho let out a warning growl from where he frantically tried to get up. He managed to get to his knees before Felix stopped and Minho realized the pack healer was leaning over Felix, wiping his face with a cool washcloth, and whispering comforting words.

Hyunjin was there, in the bed next to him, scenting Felix with everything he had and trying to erase Felix’s rotting lavender lemon scent with his own sugared coconut. It helped, though Felix was sobbing, and Minho reached his hand up the side of the cot to hold onto his arm, avoiding where it hurt.

“What happened, Yongbokkie?” Minho whispered.

It seemed like the healer, Seugmin, finally realized Minho was abandoned on the floor, and helped him to sit in a chair by Felix’s side. “He had a nightmare,” Seungmin told him softly. “It happens sometimes, when people experience too much to handle. It’s all a part of healing.”

Minho wasn’t a stranger to nightmares. He still saw it sometimes, a flash of fangs, red eyes, claws. Tasted the blood dripping from his lips. Felix’s anguished face and Hyunjin’s screams. He knew Felix and Hyunjin saw it as well, because this has happened before, though not somewhere safe like this time.

Minho leaned in to nuzzle into Felix’s neck, making sure to scent him properly and release comforting pheromones for both him and Hyunjin. He reached out and rubbed his wrist along Hyunjin’s neck as well, happy to give comfort where it was needed. He felt the need in the way both omegas relaxed into the touch, Felix’s sobs quieting as he slowly dozed into a fitful sleep.

“I’ll call my friend and see if he can bring some calming herbs for when he wakes up again,” Seungmin told them quietly. “For if you both need it as well.” He hesitated, eyes glued to the way Minho was leaning against the cot, refusing to move. “Would you like me to scoot the beds together so you three could sleep like that? I know it must be hard to be apart right now.”

“Please,” Minho said softly, but thankfully. He allowed Seungmin to move him, laying him back on the bed, moving the chair out of the way, and pushing their beds together. He then messed with something underneath, the bed making a locking noise, before stepping back and doing the same for Hyunjin’s bed.

“I locked the wheels and clipped the beds together so they wouldn’t break apart. That should make it easier for you.”

Minho saw Hyunjin smile gently at Seungmin. “Thank you,” he said, soft like dew on petals. His eyes were red rimmed and his face was pale. He traced the bite mark on Felix’s neck with his index finger like he was afraid it would disappear.

Seungmin nodded and made another comment about calling his friend again. He stepped around the beds and through the front door, supposedly to give them some space.

Hyunjin stared at Minho, his eyes tired. His lips were cracked and Minho couldn’t help but feel like he was looking at a mirror of himself. “Do you think things will be better here?” he asked, lower lip trembling.

Minho glanced down at Felix, at the way his eyelids twitch in his sleep. He looked at the bite mark on Hyunjin’s neck, placed so lovingly underneath his jaw. A certain determination fills him, burning him from the inside out. “Anything will be better than where we came from, Hyunjin-ah. And if they aren’t, then I’ll keep fighting until I find somewhere for us to belong.” He rubbed his wrist against Hyunjin’s neck again, avoiding the tender mark. “I’ll protect you both, okay? Everything will be okay because we have each other.”

Hyunjin leaned his cheek into Minho’s palm, a comforting act. “Let us protect you too, hyung. You’re not alone in this. We’ll protect each other.”

Minho chuckled, fondness filling him. He looked at Felix, his brother. Looked at Hyunjin, his brother’s mate. Felt it swell in him until it nearly burst. “We’ll protect each other,” he echoed. “It will always be us three.”

They fall asleep entangled, Minho gently cradling Felix in his sleep, avoiding the painful parts. Hyunjin holding Felix’s good hand, nuzzling against his scent gland. They drink chamomile tea when Felix whines and awakens, given to them by Seungmin’s friend.

The room smelled of cherry almonds when they drifted back to sleep. Minho tasted it in the tea, smelled it in the air, the scent cloying and fragrant in the back of his throat. Minho wondered who could smell so lovely, so curiously nostalgic. He wondered as he falls into sleep if the person would be as comforting as their scent.

-

Despite the nightmares and the fitful sleep, Felix doesn’t let it dampen their mood when the time for the feast comes. He’d always been a people person, always bloomed the most when he was surrounded by others. He doesn’t let the dark bruises under his eyes or the wheelchair stifle that excitement.

Hyunjin bloomed for Felix especially, his dimples showing as he pushed Felix along, coconut scent nearly drowning out any other senses around them.

It gave Minho a burst of energy, and more so of pride, seeing his two pack members attempting to slot into a new pack despite their fears and reservations. It filled him with determination and the need to try his best as well, just in case things go well and they’d like to stay.

The feast is held in the village center, where most pack meetings, important events, and mating declarations occur. The pack had helped move tables and chairs in the center and had lit lanterns as table pieces. Dozens of food platters were placed on the largest table, showing roasted meats, vegetables picked from the fields, and freshly baked bread. Behind the table sat a small wooden stage-like podium between two tall trees that bend together to form an arch. Alpha Bang was there, in a casual discussion with his son and a couple other pack members Minho didn’t recognize. The sun just started to set, spreading pretty pastels over the sky.

“This is beautiful,” Hyunjin breathed, stopping in the midst of the madness. There were dozens of wolves surrounding them, all chatting and joking with each other in a way that showed comradery and comfort. Hyunjin’s eyes nearly sparkled as he looked around, his mouth slightly open in amazement.

Felix was nearly vibrating in his chair, his lavender lemon scent bursting with joy. “I’ve never seen so many people who actually like talking to each other.”

Who aren’t afraid of each other, Felix didn’t say.

Minho hummed but kept quiet, preferring to let the omegas take everything in. He leaned on his crutches and stretched out his bad leg, careful not to put any weight on his sprained ankle.

He vaguely wondered if the sweet-smelling cherry almond omega is here, thought they have to be, but there are too many scents in the air to distinguish between them.

Instead, he slowly followed Hyunjin as he pushed Felix around, introducing himself to anyone who stopped them. They made polite conversation with the pack members, everyone seemingly interested in their stories and relationship to each other. They didn’t even blink when Felix and Hyunjin said they’re mated, only coo about how cute they are together.

If Minho thought Felix was vibrating in his chair earlier, now it seemed like his bones were about to buzz out of his skin from excitement.

“Do you have a mate, Minho-ssi?” An ahjumma asked, a kind smile on her face. Non-judgemental.

Minho humored her, shaking his head in denial. “I don’t. I was too focused on keeping my brothers safe to worry about courting anybody.”

He ignored the looks from said brothers and instead focused on how the ahjumma hummed in understanding. “You’re such a kind alpha, aren’t you?” She asked hypothetically. Before Minho could respond, she continued, “but don’t worry, Minho-ssi, we have many wolves who are waiting to be courted. Hopefully you can find your other half here soon.”

She winked cheekily and Minho could feel his ears turning red and warm. He heard Felix and Hyunjin giggling beside him and sent them a small glare. “Thank you, ahjumma. I’m sure you’ll hear the gossip if I do.”

She laughed but Minho’s mind suddenly went blank as a familiar scent filled his nose. He felt his eyes get slightly glassy as he glanced around, searching almost desperately for that cherry almond that’d been haunting him since he arrived in the pack.

He distantly heard the woman bidding them goodbye, Hyunjin responding in kind, but he couldn’t focus. It was particularly strong right then, like the person just passed by him, but the amalgamation of people around them didn’t make it easy to pinpoint anyone in specific. Minho’s nose had never been good enough to direct him accurately in crowds like this.

His eyes searched over dozens of people, seeing Chan talking with a short, muscular alpha with sharp eyes. He saw Seungmin laughing loudly with an elderly man and a little girl with pigtails. An elderly couple holding hands at a table, two young men cackling loudly and pushing each other like old friends.

He paused there, watching the men for a moment. One was a bit taller with muscular arms and fox-like eyes. He had a boxy grin and dimples that made his eyes disappear. Minho’s eyes, however, were drawn to the shorter one.

He was petite, with broad shoulders and a tiny waist. His legs were turned slightly inward as he stood, the tips of his toes almost touching. When he laughed, he did so with his whole body and fell into his friend like he was confident he'd catch him. His cheeks were rounded and his smile was so big that it looked like a heart. Minho took a small step towards them. His crutches were too loud when they caught on the ground.

“Hello, my fellow pack members and thank you for joining our festivities tonight!” Minho’s eyes were torn from the boy at the voice of the pack alpha, booming over the clearing. All at once, the entire pack went nearly silent.

Minho looked back to where the boy was, but he was no longer there. Instead, he caught Felix giving him a curious look. Minho tried to smile, but he was sure it came out as a grimace instead.

He turned back to Pack Alpha Bang, attempting to focus on his words when his brain was still spinning with adrenaline. The pack alpha was expressing his thanks for all who had helped with the feast, those who had hunted, who had assisted with the set up, and those who had graciously taken time from their busy schedules to enjoy a night of socializing. Chan stood beside him, dimples pressed into his cheeks and his eyes shining with the light of the moon.

“I’m sure most of this pack is aware now of our newest members,” Alpha Bang continued, drawing everyone’s attention to the injured trio. Minho could feel his ears burn and refused to look away from his new potential pack alpha. “I would like to formally welcome Lee Minho, Lee Felix, and Hwang Hyunjin to the Bang Pack. We offer them asylum and support after their courageous escape from the Choi Pack, including the slaying of a feral alpha on our grounds. From what we understand of the Choi Pack, they are very secluded and have extremely traditional and nearly barbaric beliefs. I hope that we can show our new packmates that they are accepted here for who they are, with no expectations.”

A pause for the crowd to clap and cheer. Minho could see Hyunjin lean down to bury his nose into Felix’s hair. Minho was worried about what his face was doing under all the attention.

Chan took over for his father then, walking over to them and handing them each a mug filled with warm, sweet smelling liquid. A sip told him it was a warm fruit juice, with cinnamon and other spices bursting on his tongue. “We’ve prepared cabins for you once you are healthy enough to move out of the clinic. One for Minho, and one for Hyunjin and Felix as mates. Our people were glad to furnish it with the essentials, but you are of course welcome to tweak it to your liking once you’re settled in. I hope that this pack becomes a home for you to feel safe and secure in.”

Minho dipped his head, Felix and Hyunjin following. “Thank you,” he said genuinely. His family uttered their thanks as well, on the verge of tears. “We appreciate everyone’s hospitality and will be happy to serve the pack when our health allows it.”

The rest of the night went by relatively quickly, with small talk and attempts at conversation. Minho tired quickly, as did his brothers. They were eventually herded out by Seungmin, who claimed they needed to rest and heal their bodies.

Minho didn’t smell that enticing scent the rest of the night.

-

They moved into their new homes a week later when the clinic began to grate on their nerves and Minho was at risk of twisting his ankle worse by kicking down the walls. Two houses. One for the happy couple and one for Minho.

It was decorated simply, with just the bare necessities, but Minho couldn’t be picky. It had a small kitchen, a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The furniture was all made from wood, little blemishes indicating it was carved from gentle hands.

Chan had made sure that Minho knew the house was able to be expanded, an extra room or two could be added. “In case you find a mate and pups,” he’d said kindly, and Minho tried not to scoff in his face.

Everyone in this pack seemed to be obsessed with matchmaking, almost like people didn’t have any worth if they were unmated. Minho didn’t care about mates or pups, hadn’t for a long time. Not since he had to worry about his brother, stopping all of his future thoughts in the process.

It didn’t bother him. There were more important things to worry about than finding a mate.

Except the house was lonely and empty. Not lived in or homey at all. When he tried to fall asleep at night, the silence and sounds of crickets forced his thoughts to the forefront of his mind.

On especially bad nights, he woke up flailing and yelling, hands scratching down his arms. It took him a while to ground himself on the nights where he tasted metallic blood on his tongue.

Sleep was no longer a friend to him.

He originally held himself back from seeking help from his brothers, not wanting to insert himself into their space after so long fighting for it. But as the days wore on and his body grew heavy, and the wind was singing to him at night, he decided to give in.

Felix and Hyunjin welcomed with warm arms, asking what had taken him so long. Felix admitted he hadn’t been sleeping well either with his only kin so far away, and they cuddled in front of the fireplace while Hyunjin gathered all the blankets and pillows in the cabin to make a nest for three.

The nightmares were better after that, the sound of his family’s breathing bringing a deep sense of calm. He knew that it wouldn’t always be like this. That one day, his brothers would be healed and allowed to blossom beautifully. That Minho would be able to sleep in his own home, confident that his most important people are safe no matter how far apart they are.

It would be slow, but it would become true.

Slowly, over time, their injuries healed. Felix’s took the longest due to the severity of them, but he didn’t let it bring him down. He had his mate with him, doting on him and taking care of him in any way he could.

Their relationship made Minho’s chest feel tight with pride. Before, they had to sneak around, away from wandering eyes. In the daylight, they would avoid each other’s gazes and pretend like they were just fellow packmates. Not allowed to scent each other, not allowed to touch in fear they’d be found out.

Back then, Felix rarely smiled. He’d begged Minho not to tell their leader when he found out, bowing with his forehead to the ground as the dirt soaked his tears.

Minho swore he’d protect them with his life so they’d never get hurt as long as he was around.

He’d failed, but at least they had a new chance at life now.

With the assurance from their new pack that Felix and Hyunjin’s relationship was respected and protected, Minho slowly felt himself lower his walls. He wandered out more, watching the workings of the pack in preparation for when he could work.

He found himself getting close to Chan and Changbin, who were all too happy to slowly integrate him into pack life. He wasn’t able to hunt yet, but he was able to help prepare the meat when it was brought back, pelting it and cutting it, seasoning it, roasting it until it nearly melted off the bone. The elders liked to pinch his cheeks and butter him up with praise, saying they liked his meat the best.

They’d ask him to mate their granddaughters and grandsons, and chuckled when Minho told them he’s not interested. They’d ask him what would make him interested, what his ideal type would even be.

Minho’s not much for humoring talk like that, but he decided to do just that once. So he told them of his “ideal type”, whatever that was. He recalled memories of his ideal type as a child, of how he yearned for a partner who’s scent brought him comfort. One not too floral, not too sweet. One that was perhaps fruity and bright, but also made him feel like he was wrapped in a blanket.

Someone smaller than him, perhaps? Someone he could provide for, but also who could provide for him. He wouldn’t want to reign over his mate, wouldn’t want to suppress them like he’d seen so much in his old pack. He wanted to be a team, wanted to support them in whatever they want to do. Wanted them to make decisions together and walk through life hand-in-hand. Independent, but secure in their love.

The halmeonis all cooed at him, batting their eyelashes and pretending to faint. They gave him suggestions on omegas who had decided to look for a mate this season, who were accepting courting gifts.

“Soyeon is a wonderful girl,” one woman told him. ”The baker’s daughter. A pretty little thing but hardworking and attentive. Makes the most delightful breads and can even make little designs in them. You’d be well-fed as her mate.”

“There’s Daewon too,” another chimed in, taking a sip from her tea. Minho pretended to be interested, too polite for his own good. “He helps harvest our fruits and vegetables. Makes some of the best soups and stews around here. A little shy, but willing to help.”

An older man from across the room clapped his hands together like he had the best idea. “Oh, Jisungie just started accepting gifts too, didn’t he?”

The group nodded, making affirmative noises. Minho gathered his supplies together to politely begin to remove himself from the situation. At this rate, he would get a list of pros and cons about each available omega. He didn’t like feeling like he was just checking things off a list, would rather love someone for who they were rather than just claim them as a mate.

“Didn’t he put a pause on accepting because he received so many of them and needed to narrow down who he would accept them from?” A woman questioned.

The man nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, that’s true. But he might make an exception. It doesn’t seem to me like anybody’s really caught his eye yet.” Minho nodded along like he was aware, slowly beginning to back away. He was pinned in place when the man began to address him again. “Jisung’s well-liked around here. A bit of a wild card and hard to tame, but people like the chase. Doesn’t help that he’s sweet as pie and has eyes that make you want to protect him. He works all over, too. Helps with hunts, trades, gathering herbs. Likes to spend time in the infirmary with Seungmin, so he knows basic healing skills too. Would have thought he and Seungmin would mate back in the day before Jeonginnie came and stole Seungmin away.”

The information was a bit interesting, to be honest. Minho had met Daewon and Soyeon before, but couldn’t recall ever meeting a Jisung. Most of the pack members had one or two assigned jobs as well, so an omega who could do everything was unusual. A brief memory of cherry almond in the infirmary crossed his mind but was pushed out of his mind immediately.

He wasn’t looking for a mate. He was only humoring the elders and pretending to be open to it. He didn’t even like anybody enough to offer them courting gifts. And his family was more important right now.

“Aish, whoever Minho-ssi decides to court will be the luckiest in the pack,” a lady with white hair laughed, patting his hand with mirth. “Good looking, sweet, a good provider, and a good cook. I’d probably be swooning if I was 50 years younger too!”

“Oh, Halmeoni,” Minho chuckled, ears turning red. ”I’m sure I’d never stand a chance with a lady as lovely as yourself.”

She pretended to swoon as the group cooed and snickered amongst themselves. “Shush, you! Oh, I just know Jisungie would love you to bits. Would probably get drunk on your scent too.”

“Bora’s right,” the man from earlier nodded along. “My nose isn’t as good as it used to be, but I can smell a good alpha from a mile away.”

Weird, Minho thought to himself, trying not to cringe. He was sure he was about to explode in embarrassment.

“Your scent is so complex too,” the man continued. “Can smell some sugared wine and a bit of citrus. Maybe some cloves and cinnamon in there too?”

“Like winter,” Bora confirmed. “Reading inside with the fireplace on and a hot mug of mulled wine. Best way to get drunk when it’s snowing. You’ll feel fine, then you stand up and you’re suddenly horizontal on the ground. All the omegas must love you.”

Minho had a betrothed once upon a time. Not by choice, not through desire to be mates. She’d never liked alphas either, but they’d accepted their fates until she’d encouraged Minho to run. She always told him he was made for better things and someone who could care for him like he cared for others.

She always told him his scent was the only reason she could stand him (despite saying this with a smile on her face and a punch to Minho’s shoulder).

He hoped she was doing okay. He didn’t have time to take her with them, but she never wanted to leave in the first place.

The elders continued to blab on amongst themselves and Minho slowly backed out of the cluster. He felt heavy in his chest, a little something like nostalgia, a yearning like an ache. Felt a lot like embarrassment too.

As he made his way back to his brother’s cabin, he could almost swear he faintly smelled cherry almond as he passed the gardens. He brushed it off, though, gritting his teeth.

He needed to focus on his family.

(Maybe if he kept telling himself that, it would stick.)

-

Minho tried to forget about the elders’ mating discussion. Once upon a time, he wouldn’t have even given it a second thought. Now, he’s not sure what changed, but it was like he couldn’t get that cherry almond scent out of his brain. And just like he couldn’t find the owner of the scent, he couldn’t find the omega named Jisung either.

His brain was trying to connect the two, giving him false hopes. What if Jisung was the cherry almond omega? Would he want to join the courting and attempt to mate him? But then, that man had said he wasn’t taking any more offers, so he might be out of luck anyways.

Not that it even mattered because Minho didn’t catch even a glimpse of this Jisung person, nor another whiff of that delicious scent for the next few weeks.

He spent his days doing his little tasks and bringing materials to Felix; blankets, breads, fruits, vegetables. Small decorations people gifted them for their new homes. He gave them all to Felix and Hyunjin for letting him stay with them, despite all of their protests.

The pack alpha decided he liked Minho’s cooking so much that he officially assigned him to the kitchens for his job. Hyunjin was still Felix’s main caretaker while he was healing, but they found themselves helping care for the pups most days. Minho was proud of how his family was healing so well, and he liked preparing meals for the pack. Many of the pack members liked to make their own meals in their home, but not everyone was able to or wanted to.

That was where Minho and the rest of the staff came in. They would help prepare meals for those who desired and then they would deliver them to their packmates’ doors. Minho especially liked delivering to the elders or the new parents, and he was able to familiarize himself with the pack this way.

He found that he really enjoyed Chan and Changbin’s company, who often invited him to eat with them. Sometimes they had other friends with them, like Seungmin and a young alpha named Jeongin. Felix and Hyunjin also joined from time-to-time.

It was during one of these dinners that Minho finally heard about Jisung again.

“When is Jisung going to be back?” Seungmin asked, snapping Minho’s attention over to him straight away. His heart started to pound in his chest for no good reason.

Chan hummed, brushing a hand through his hair. “He should be back in the next few days. Last time it took him a little over a week to return from the Song pack.”

“Jisung?” Felix asked, his eyes sparkling with something like recognition. Minho was almost offended that his brother had met the mysterious omega before he did. “Where did he go? I haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks.”

“Jisung picks up some of our trading routes on occasion,” Chan explains. “Mingi, who usually deals with the Song pack, had to stay behind to help his mate with his heat. But we needed more crop seeds and cotton, so Jisung offered to go.”

“You let omegas do that?” Hyunjin asked, flabbergasted. Minho understood the feeling, thinking about what it’d be like if his brothers ever had to go out of pack territory. “What if he gets hurt? Nobody would know what happened to him.”

Chan waved off their worries, his eyes softening. He understood, probably more than anyone, what the trio had been through. He’d seen them up close and personal, had found Felix on the verge of passing out. Had seen the blood dripping from Minho’s mouth and the ferocious hunger in his eyes. Another alpha, dead, only a few feet away, his throat torn and bloody. Hyunjin, shielding his mate and Minho with his trembling body, trying to snarl at the unfamiliar wolves who’d found them there. “He’s on a well-traveled path,” he promises. “Hundreds of wolves travel through there every day for trades and other needs. There’s inns along the way and infirmaries if needed. It's a neutral ground where people can meet without fear. If Jisung was hurt, there’d be people who found him and could help him. He’s gone on many trades through the years and is very familiar with the path.”

Felix licked his lips, shuddering. “Our pack never had anything like that,” he murmured softly. “We only used resources available on our own land. We were too isolated from other packs to do trades, and omegas weren’t allowed to leave the caves.”

Minho and Hyunjin pressed themselves closer to Felix, bundling him up between them to spread warmth and love. Hyunjin scented him lovingly, pressing a kiss to his mate’s scent gland.

“You’re not there anymore,” Seungmin told them quietly. He smiled gently at them, eyes warm in the dimming sunlight. “The caves aren’t your pack anymore.”

Chan chuckled, and nodded in agreement. “I’m afraid he’s right. We’ve kidnapped you and now you’re stuck with us.” His voice got lower. “You’re safe here. We won’t let anyone hurt you anymore.”

This time, Minho believed him.

Felix smiled so large that his whole face brightened and it seemed like the sun was reflecting off his cheeks. “This is our home,” he confirmed.

Minho chuckled a bit wetly, his heart squeezing in his chest. “Our pack. We’re safe now.”

Safe was never a word Minho had thought he could associate with their lives. He’d thought they would be stuck in an endless cycle, of Felix coming to him sobbing, and Minho fighting to keep him healthy and happy.

Now, with four other wolves around them and accepting them for how they are, allowing them to make their own choices, and providing food and shelter-

Minho let each of his muscles relax, his stomach unclenching, his shoulders slumping.

For the first time in his life, he didn’t need to fight anymore.

-

Jisung returned three days later.

Minho heard it through word of mouth, through excited whispers in the kitchens, of people wondering what kinds of goods he brought back.

There were other whispers too, people wondering if Jisung had chosen a mate yet. People saying no, he’d been turning all of them down after only a few courting attempts. The longest he’d allowed anyone to court him was for an entire week. Minho’s curiosity was killing him.

In his birth pack, there was never any question about if omegas would allow a courting or not. Mates were picked by the gods and shown to the mudang through her dreams. She then announces the chosen pair and arranges the mating ritual when the omega reaches prime breeding age. Minho’s ritual had been planned for the next full moon when they left.

Felix’s was planned for the next day. His betrothed wasn’t happy when he’d found Felix’s mating mark left by someone else.

The mudang in the Bang pack was younger, less traditional. She blessed couples who came to her with a good life and health. She helped with rituals and spoke of messages from the gods, but never imposed on others or dictated actions. The gods were kinder to her than they were in his other pack.

He hadn’t even meant to be so interested in the topic of courting, but it was suddenly everywhere all at once. The elders had gotten it into their heads that he should attempt to court Jisung now that he was back. A perfect match, they’d said.

Apparently they’d make the cutest little pups together.

Even Minho’s dreams were focusing on courting, filled with snapshots of his teeth burying into the smooth skin of someone’s neck and a belly swollen round.

(He’d embarrassingly woken up rutting against his pillow. Thank the gods his brothers were still sleeping on the other side of the room.)

The chance to meet Jisung came several days after he’d returned from his trades.

The kitchen was wrapping up their delivered meals, placing each one on carts to haul them to the correct recipient. Minho was on delivery duty, his brow dripping sweat after nearly running across the grounds to each door. It was his last meal drop off and he was ready to return to his (Felix’s) cabin to enjoy the rest of his night with his brothers.

Minho was too dazed and sweaty to even notice the enticing scent of almonds and cherries until it was smacking him across the face.

He knocked on the door and it swung open in the next minute, revealing a petite figure. Minho’s eyes unfocused at the delicious, mouth-watering smell that immediately attacked his nose. This close, he could nearly taste the cherries bursting on his tongue, the nutty, roasted flavor of almonds making spit pool in his mouth. There was an underlying scent of vanilla bean, buttery and rich.

“Hi, I don’t think we’ve met yet,” the omega states, and Minho… Minho nearly melts into an ooey, gooey puddle on the ground.

His eyes are the first features he notices. They’re round, deer-like and innocent. A beautiful brown that has a reddish tint in the lowering light of the sun. His cheeks are cherubish, round and malleable, and his hair is a mess of curls that reach the back of his neck. His lips are petal pink with a fuller bottom lip, tongue flicking out to lick nervously at the skin.

Minho is floored. He’s never been interested in anyone before. He’d been betrothed, he’d been around other omegas his entire life. Not once had he ever imagined an entire life with them before he even knew their name.

“Minho-ssi, right?” The omega asks, tilting his head curiously, not deterred by Minho’s shocked silence. “I’ve heard a lot about you, but haven’t had the chance to meet you face-to-face yet.”

Clearing his throat, Minho awkwardly scratches his ear and blinks eleven hundred times in a row. “Ah- yeah, that’s me. Are you…?”

“Han Jisung,” the boy confirms. He smiles and his eyes turn into crescents, his grin heart-shaped. It was like all of the stars aligned for this single moment, like he had more purpose to life than serving his family. It was as if every single thing in his life had brought him here, straight to Jisung’s door, a gift-wrapped present to show that all of Minho’s sacrifices may actually have a reward.

He tried to reel his pheromones in, sure that he’s secreting the scent of red wine and spices through all of his pores. He needed to be normal about this, to show Jisung that he wasn’t a failure of an alpha. He opened his mouth to respond, maybe say something witty, but then he got another whiff of Jisung’s scent, and a literal bead of drool dripped down his chin instead.

He wiped it away, but Jisung saw it anyway. His smile turned into a smirk, his eyes filled with mischief. If possible, his scent got even sweeter. “It’s nice to have another alpha around here,” Jisung practically purred. He leaned against his doorframe, tilting his head slightly to give Minho a look at his bare neck. The veins were so purple underneath his golden skin, begging to be bitten raw. Minho could even see his pulse thrumming against his skin. “It was starting to get a little boring around here, you know?”

Minho tried to tear his eyes away from his neck. “It’s great to be here,” he said around a mouthful of saliva. “My brothers and I are forever in debt to your pack for taking us in.”

“Heard how you killed that feral alpha all by yourself.” Jisung hummed and put a hand on Minho’s bicep, squeezing firmly at the muscle. “Can’t believe they put such a strong alpha in the kitchens. It’s a shame to put all this muscle to waste, but your cooking must be incredible if they’d choose to put you with the food instead of hunting, hm? All the elders just rave about it, saying you’re the ideal alpha.” He pulled his hand away and instead rubbed it on his thick, lower lip, tongue darting out to meet his palm like he was trying to taste it.

“I don’t know about that,” Minho replied, at a loss for words. He felt way out of his element, his whole body on fire. He was sure his ears were completely red and about to burst into flames. He’d never had an omega be this assertive towards him before. “They seem to talk about everybody like that.”

“I’ll be the judge of that, Minho-ssi.” Jisung finally took the bag of food from Minho, his delicate fingers brushing against Minho’s. Minho had to clench all of his muscles to stop himself from reaching out and grabbing onto them. Jisung looked pleased, the corners of his lips turned up smugly. “Give me just a moment to put this down. Don’t move, okay?”

Minho blinked in confusion as Jisung suddenly turned to walk back into his cabin. But he stayed, his whole body frozen as if Jisung had used an alpha voice on him. He didn’t think he could move if he wanted to, feeling like an obedient puppy waiting for his master to release him from the leash.

He didn’t have to wait for long, Jisung returning with a big smile and a jar clasped in his hand. He held the jar out for Minho to take, physically grabbing Minho’s wrist to set it in his palm. His fingers burned Minho’s flesh down to the bone.

It took him a moment to actually realize what he was holding. A small jar, clear and round with a checkered cloth tied on top. It had some sort of red jam in it, viscous and sticky.

“As thanks for the food and a welcome to the pack,” Jisung told him sincerely. He fluttered his eyelashes and gave Minho a beaming, heart-shaped smile. “It’s my homemade cherry jam using fresh cherries from my garden. I used a lot of it to trade with the other packs, but made sure to save some of it.”

Minho grinned, holding the jar to his chest like it was something precious. “Thank you,” he said softly. “I’m sure it’s delicious if you’re the one who made it.”

A pretty pink flushed Jisung’s cheeks and he briefly looked down at his feet with a smile. “You’ll have to find me again and tell me how you liked it. I’ll be mad if you don’t.”

“I’ll find you,” Minho promised. Forever, his brain added.

They bid their farewells, Jisung reaching out to squeeze Minho’s bicep again as he did so. Minho left feeling winded, like a new man. His wolf was clawing at his chest trying to get out, howling at him to go back and claim the man as his.

He pushed his instincts down, clenching his fist around the jar hard enough to turn his knuckles white. He wouldn’t force Jisung into anything. He wouldn’t do anything Jisung didn’t want.

He wouldn’t become the alpha his birth pack had wanted him to be.

(He went to his own cabin instead of Felix’s. He opened the jar gently, slowly dipping a finger in. The flavor burst on his tongue, the sour taste of the cherries mingling with the natural sugars of the fruit. He swore he could taste almonds in his throat as he swallowed another bite.)

(Filled with shame and guilt, Minho came with his hand around his knot and cherry jam smeared across his lips. He didn’t return to Felix’s again that night.)

-

Now that he knew what Jisung looked like, Minho saw him everywhere.

He was at the school when Minho dropped Felix and Hyunjin off, buried underneath a pile of pups. He was in the gardens with dirt smeared on his face and berry juice staining his lips. He was coming back from hunts with a deer dragging behind him and a proud smile on his face.

He also visited the kitchens, sidling up to Minho touching his arms and back and chest with gentle but firm fingers. Jisung touched him in some way every time they meet, whether it be a small brush of their fingers or a meaningful squeeze of his shoulders. Each time, Minho’s ears turned red and his brain came to a complete halt.

“Did you like my gift?” Jisung had inquired the second time they’d met, his hand brushing along Minho’s chest. The sweetness of his scent nearly got Minho drunk.

Minho had thought back to the empty jar in his home, the contents licked clean until nothing remained. He’d pathetically whined when he ran out and laid in bed, depressed, for about 5 hours before spending the night at Felix’s again. “It’s really good,” he’d told Jisung, omitting that part. “I can see why other packs would want to trade for it.”

He had offered Minho another jar with a bright smile, already pulling one from the bag strewn on his shoulder. “Don’t tell the kitchen head,” he whispered conspiratorially, “but I came here just to bring you this. It’s my almond-flavored butter, churned by hand. Figured it may last a bit longer than the jam.”

Minho swallowed and accepted the gift again with gentle hands. “Thank you, Jisung,” he breathed, and Jisung’s scent swelled with delight.

(Minho displayed great strength that night and did not eat the entire container of butter. But he did knot his hand again after tasting it with bread.)

The gifts were another thing that kept happening.

Beginning with the jam, then the butter. Both perishables had key hints of Jisung’s scent packed in them. After that, it was a rabbit for Minho to cook with. Then, a pair of new shoes since his old ones had broken.

Each time, Jisung’s scent burst sweetly each time Minho accepted them before quickly wandering off again. It was so peculiar that Minho didn’t know what else to do except blink at his retreating back in confusion.

-

The elders were gossiping heavily when Minho went to deliver their meals. The subject, as it often is, seemed to be Jisung again. Their eyes all turned to Minho when he walked in.

“Minho-yah!” Youngja exclaimed, gesturing Minho over with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Minho stepped forward and loaded the bags of food onto the table, separating them by item. “Yes, halmeoni?” he hummed politely.

“Have you heard about Jisung-ah? He’s accepted an alpha’s courting attempts and is even courting them back!”

Minho froze, his stomach clenching uncontrollably. He tried to neutralize his face despite the hurt brewing in his chest. Jisung accepted another alpha’s courting attempts? Then why had he been accepting Minho’s gifts?

Or maybe… Minho’s gifts were so bad he didn’t know he was courting him?!

“I… didn’t know that,” Minho responded slowly, hyper aware of the elders’ eyes on him.

Sieun waved Youngja off. “Don’t worry, Minho-yah. There’s still time for you to leap in and steal his heart. Don’t worry your pretty head.”

That, at least, made Minho chuckle, his face warm with blood. “And how do you expect me to do that if he’s already got an alpha?”

“The best way to Jisung’s heart is through handmade things,” Youngja said. “Wood carvings, jewelry, desserts, clothing. He turned down most of the others who tried to hunt for him and show him how strong they were. If you make him clothes, make sure to scent it thoroughly so he knows your intentions.”

Sieun nodded vehemently while Minho pretended like he wasn’t listening so intently. “Jisungie likes to be taken care of, but he likes genuinity above all. Just show him that you want to be with him and love being around him and he’ll give you a much better chance than the people who just wanted him as a trophy.”

“People do that?” Minho asked. He couldn’t imagine anyone not appreciating Jisung like he deserved.

“People see him as a beautiful, capable, fertile omega and just want to claim him,” Kyubok claimed, his voice gravely and deep. He scrunched his nose like he smelled something funny. “Good on him for never giving them the time of day. He knows his worth, and if he didn’t, we’d lock him in a cage until he’d know he deserves only the best.”

If Minho was his mate, he’d make sure Jisung was worshipped every single day. He’d treat him like a god, like someone worth protecting. He’d kiss his skin and braid flowers in his hair every day if that’s what he wished. He’d never equate Jisung to only his looks and virility.

-

He confided in his brothers, Felix’s little hands running through his hair as Minho allowed him to braid it. Both omegas had been healing perfectly thanks to Seungmin’s persistence in safety and care. Even Minho was able to put his full weight on his foot, and his back was scarred but no longer tore and bled.

Felix listened to Minho’s ranting, Hyunjin curled up beside them with his nose in Felix’s scent gland. He nodded with understanding of Minho’s ires and asked questions as needed. “I don’t see the problem here, honestly,” Felix said.

Minho shot up, Felix’s hands slipping from his hair as he turned to glare at him in disbelief. “How is there not a problem here?”

Felix shrugged and gently pulled Minho’s head back in his lap. His nails scratched lightly at his scalp and nearly made Minho purr. “So you have an omega interested in you who happens to be the same one whose scent you’ve been obsessing over. Sounds pretty simple to me.”

“He’s not interested in me,” he vehemently denied, to which both omegas rolled their eyes. “He’s not. He’s just being friendly. We don’t even know each other and he’s been turning down every alphas attempts at courting. Plus, the elders said he already has an alpha in mind that he wants. I’m not going to be a homewrecker.”

“Gee,” Hyunjin said sarcastically, “I wonder who the alpha could be that he has in mind.”

“Hard to say for sure,” Felix replied, giving his mate a small smirk.

“We’ve only talked three times.”

“He’s given you gifts each time.”

“He’s an omega; alphas are supposed to do the courting.”

Felix leveled him with an unimpressed look. Minho was glad he sucked at making eye contact on a good day. “How very traditional of you, hyung.”

Hyunjin smacked his lips in agreement. “I literally courted your brother and I’m an omega.”

“That- that’s completely different!” Minho sputtered.

“Is it?” Hyunjin asked seriously. “This pack isn’t known for being super traditional. They’ve got several same-sex couples, including their next pack alpha who’s not going to be able to sire any pups of his own as he’s mated to another alpha. Why is it a stretch to think Jisung could be trying to court you?”

Minho stayed silent and shut his eyes so he could pretend he was anywhere else.

Felix’s hands, slightly cold, brushed across his forehead gently. “You know you’re allowed to want this, right hyung?” Minho swallowed harshly, but Felix continued. “All these years, you’ve been watching over Hyunjin and I without ever thinking about yourself. We’re safe now because of you. You’re allowed to make your own family if that’s what you want.”

Hyunjin gently removed Felix’s fingers from Minho’s hair and pulled both of them into a hug. The scent of citrus and sugared coconut washed over him like a blanket as both omegas buried their faces into his neck. They scented him, calming his heart and his mind with their unconditional love. “We know you’re scared,” Hyunjin whispered. “You grew up being our protector and don’t know how to really take care of yourself. So let us take care of you now. Let us support you like you’ve done for us.”

“You don’t have to be strong anymore,” Felix murmured in confirmation. “We can carry some of your burdens.”

Minho’s eyes squeezed shut, his face burning hot and his eyes burning. He took a shaky breath which seemed to choke in his chest, lungs paralyzed. When he managed to exhale, it came out as a sob. “I don’t know how to live for myself,” Minho gasped out. Embarrassment shredded his body thinking about how he was an alpha quivering in the laps of two omegas. “But I really want him. I’ve never wanted anything like I’ve wanted him.”

“So let him court you, hyung,” Hyunjin replied warmly, stroking a comforting hand down his back. “And while you’re at it, maybe court him back.”

Felix giggled, which dissolved into little sniffles. He was always a sympathetic crier, getting tearful as soon as he saw someone else crying. His eyes were red-rimmed when he pulled away and attempted to smile reassuringly. “You better court him before I take matters into my own hands and get him to mate us first. Jisungie is incredible.”

Hyunjin laughed, but Minho paused, realizing something important.

“So… how do you even court an omega, then?”

-

“What is that?”

Minho blinked, looking at the object in his hand. “An egg?”

Jisung looked at the egg and then back up at Minho. He seemed amused, his lips turned up in the corners. “And why are you giving me an egg?”

“Don’t people like eggs?” Minho asked dumbly. “You can cook with them and use them in different recipes.” His hand was slightly quivering, holding the stupid egg out like an idiot. When he was helping gather eggs for the kitchens earlier, he saw the egg with the prettiest blue shell and wanted to show Jisung since it was so different from all the regular, white ones.

Felix told him to give the omega things that made him think about him, after all. But judging by Jisung’s expression, maybe he didn’t mean everything he sees.

Despite Minho’s regrets, Jisung used careful fingers to pick up the egg and cradle it in his palm. His eyes were soft and his eyelids fluttered when he gazed up at Minho. “Thank you,” Jisung said, turning the egg around in his hands like he was admiring it. “I’ll be sure to eat it deliciously.”

Minho looked down at his feet, at the new shoes Jisung had given to him. His ears blushed tomato red with mortification. His eyes were drawn to his hand, which Jisung reached out and grabbed softly in his own. Jisung rubbed his skin with his thumb, brushing lightly with a string of sparks. “Seriously, hyung,” Jisung insisted. “I love that you thought about me and wanted to give it to me. It’s very sweet.”

Minho didn't feel sweet. He felt like an idiot and ran home with his fictional tail in between his legs, riddled with embarrassment.

-

They meet each other often after the egg incident. Minho couldn’t complain. He liked to spend time with the omega, even though he always got so flustered while talking to Jisung.

It was like Jisung came to him in a dream, the perfect omega handpicked for him by the goddess herself. As he began to know more about him, Minho realized just how well they clicked outside of their instincts.

Jisung just understood him. He didn’t mind when Minho had a difficult brain day and became quiet. He soothed Minho when his wolf tried to crawl out of his skin to protect those he cared about from invisible threats, a calming finger tracing along the scent glands in his wrists.

Sometimes, Jisung was loud and boisterous, laughing at jokes so hard his body collapsed into Minho’s side. He had his bad days too, where Minho would find him napping under a shaded tree, secluded from everyone else.

“It’s a lot,” he shared once as he picked petals off a flower. “They all have such big expectations of me, say I can do everything. But I’m bad at a lot of stuff. I get in my head a lot and talking to people becomes too much. Everybody has eyes on me and watch every single person I interact with to see who I’m going to mate. The only reason I decided to participate in this courting season was to get them off my back.” He laughed, shaking his head. His skin glittered gold under the sun, his eyelashes forming crescent shadows on his cheeks. “I didn’t even plan to accept anyone’s courting attempts. Nobody’s been interesting enough or cared enough about me. Until…”

He trailed off and never finished the sentence, but he met Minho’s eyes and smiled gently. He plucked another purple flower from the grass and set it on Minho’s knee. “I’m glad you came here, hyung.”

“Me too,” Minho murmured, heart racing in his chest. He felt breathless, like Jisung had reached into his soul and cradled his heart in his palms. “I’m so glad I found this pack.”

I’m so glad I found you, went unsaid.

When they separated that day, Jisung took the scarf from around his neck and draped it around Minho’s instead. It was the same scarf that Minho had questioned why he was wearing one in the middle of summer, to which Jisung rolled his eyes and said it was fashionable.

Apparently they were all the rage in one of the city packs he visited recently. People wore bright colored scarves made from thin materials and something called silk. Jisung’s was so thin it was basically see-through, with pink and yellow and blue pastels. The pinks made the flush on his cheeks seem brighter, his skin kissed lovingly by the sun.

Minho couldn’t resist burying his nose into the scarf when Jisung put it around him, eyes nearly rolling back into his head at the cherry-almond-vanilla goodness that immediately filled his lungs. He felt as though he could suffocate himself with his scent and ascend straight to heaven.

Jisung had a smug grin on his face when Minho came back to himself. “Cute,” Jisung cooed, reaching out a finger to boop Minho on the nose.

Minho decided to ignore that, else his body would burst into flames. “Why are you giving me your scarf?”

Jisung hummed, shaking his head. His eyes were mischievous as he purposefully looked away from Minho’s face. “I wonder,” he said cheekily.

He didn’t say anything else, just squeezing Minho’s bicep and making a kiss face before he walked away.

(Later that night, Minho had a similar experience to that of the cherry jam. Except this time, he had his face buried in the scarf, teeth biting into the fabric to try to keep himself quiet. His mouth was filled with the taste of Jisung when he came.)

-

He ended up going to Chan, who was having a meal with Jeongin and Changbin. They all looked up and gave him bright smiles when he walked in. When they saw his face, their eyebrows furrowed slightly in concern.

Chan began to raise himself from his chair like he needed to fight. “Are you-?”

“How do I court Jisung properly so he knows I’m courting him?”

Silence. Chan’s face went slack, Changbin looked slightly amused, and Jeongin’s face was scrunched in what looked like pain.

“I thought you were courting him,” Chan said slowly.

Minho nodded solemnly. “Me too. But the elders said another alpha is courting him and that he’s courting them back. So I need to make sure he knows I’m interested in him.”

“I’m sure you’re doing a wonderful job courting him, hyung,” Changbin replied.

Jeongin snickered into his hand. “He gave him an egg.”

“An egg?”

“A literal egg.”

Minho glared at Jeongin. “He told me he liked it.”

Jeongin shrugged cheekily. “Hyung was just being nice I’m sure.”

Minho moved to strangle Jeongin, but Chan stepped in before he could. His grip was firm but gentle on his shoulders, massaging his muscles to force relaxation. “An egg is a great present,” Chan assured him. Minho shot a victorious look at Jeongin. “It has a lot of uses. But Minho-yah, what do you mean another alpha’s courting him?”

Right. The facilitator to Minho’s shitty mood. “I mean that another alpha is courting him,” he said shortly. “Youngja, Kyubok, and Sieun told me today. Said he accepted the courting and is courting them back.”

The three alphas shared a look that Minho couldn’t read. But then again, he was never all that great with emotions. It was Changbin who spoke, straight to the point. “Did they say who the alpha is?”

Minho shook his head. “Seems like Jisung has been keeping it quiet.”

Jeongin sighed loudly, shaking his head. “You’re a fucking dumbass,” he said with certainty. At their shocked glaces, he grimaced. “Have you considered the alpha they’re talking about could be you?”

That… hadn’t even crossed Minho’s mind. His entire mind went blank, his face a huge question mark. Felix had suggested that Jisung was courting him, but he hadn’t really believed it. He felt like he hadn’t been courting Jisung very well at all. He’d given him an egg, some flowers that made him think of him.

He hadn’t done anything grand, hadn’t made him gifts or scented any clothing for him to keep. He hadn’t even given him jewelry.

He said as much to his friends, his whole being filled with disappointment.

Jeongin shook his head the entire time, exasperated and slightly annoyed. Beneath it all, Minho could tell he was fond but trying to hide it. “Jisung doesn’t need all that elegant stuff. He doesn’t care about it. All you alphas only want to show him how much stuff you can provide him, how you’d spoil him if you mated him. Alphas are so stupid.”

“You’re an alpha,” Changbin said helpfully in the background.

Jeongin shot him a dirty look. “I’m not an alpha who tries to court omegas by flexing my muscles and having dick competitions. Seungmin was the one who courted me, remember?”

“He did?” Minho asked, interest piqued.

“That’s literally not the point,” Jeongin told him. “The point is that Jisung hyung likes you. He likes that you look at small, stupid things and think about him. For some reason, he liked that egg so much that he put it on his windowsill for weeks until it started smelling bad. And he puts all those flowers you give him in vases and cries every time he has to throw them out. All that matters to him is that you think about him and treat him well. And if I have to hear him talk about how big your knot is any longer, I think I might die.”

At the word ‘knot’, Minho’s body completely shut down. “He wonders about my knot,” he repeated blankly. Jisung and his knot. Minho was worried to even picture it or else he may just pop one right then and there.

Jeongin screamed angrily with his mouth closed while Chan and Changbin just snickered at the chaos. “Did you hear anything I said before that?”

“I think I blacked out a little when you mentioned my knot and Jisung in the same sentence,” he admitted shamefully.

Jeongin gathered his things and stood up, disgust written on his face. “Whatever. Jisung hyung likes you for some reason. Maybe do something about it instead of standing around feeling sorry about yourself.” He walked to the door of Chan’s cabin and briskly exited, not even waving as he did so.

Minho looked back to Chan and Changbin, who shrugged. “Better listen to him,” Chan said. “He’s Jisung’s closest friend, so he’d know best.” A pause. “And maybe don’t give Jisung any more eggs. Just give the poor boy a bracelet or something.”

Minho dropped his head in his hands. This time, it was him who screamed in frustration.

-

It was a rainy day when there was a knock on Felix’s door. Minho, who had been helping his brothers put together a gift basket for a newly born pup, answered the door.

It was Jisung, his hair sopping wet and his eyes relieved when he saw Minho at the door. Jisung grinned, waving his hand like he wasn’t nearly drowning. “Hi, hyung! Figured you may be here!”

Minho grabbed his wrist and gently pulled him inside. “What are you doing out in the rain?! You’re going to get sick!” He grabbed a towel and hastily began to dry the omega’s hair.

Jisung shrugged him away, the grin never fading from his face. “I wanted to see you! Couldn’t let the rain get in my way. And look, I brought you this.” He reached into his (wet) jacket pocket, pulling out a small, wooden box, holding it out for Minho to take.

Minho ignored it for another minute while he finished with Jisung’s hair, brushing the locks down with his fingers so it wasn’t sticking up all over the place. “It couldn’t have waited until tomorrow?”

“Nope. Just take it, hyung.” He thrusted the box out again.

Minho exhaled with fond exasperation, rolling his eyes. He ignored the stares of his brothers on his back as he accepted the box. He opened it carefully, his eyes widening when he saw the contents. “A ring?” he asked in surprise.

Jisung nodded and snatched the box away, only to take the ring out and slide it onto Minho’s ring finger. It fit perfectly, like it was made especially for him. The ring was made out of polished wood, a cherry brown color with an intricate pattern carved into it. He slid it around his finger, looking at it in awe from all angles. “It’s beautiful,” Minho breathed quietly.

The omega beamed proudly at him. “I saw it and just knew it’d look good on you.” He grabbed the hand adorned with the ring and nuzzled his cheek into it, sighing happily. “I’m so glad you like it.”

Minho allowed himself to release some of the hold he had on his scent, the swelling of spices and wine showing how pleased his alpha was. “I love it,” Minho corrected, smiling. “I’m not sure I’m worthy of such a gift.”

Jisung lightly hit his shoulder, faking anger. “You’re worth billions of gifts, hyung. But I can’t make all of that, so you’re just going to have to settle with this.”

Minho paused. “You made this?”

Jisung giggled nervously, waving him away. “Aish, you act like it's the first gift you’ve ever been given.”

“It almost is!” Felix chimed back helpfully, making Minho jump from the sudden reminder of his family’s presence. “You’re the first outside family who’s given him any gifts!”

Now it was Jisung’s turn to gape at him. “Are you serious?”

Minho shrugged, feeling embarrassed for no reason. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Yes it is,” Hyunjin interjected. He turned to address Jisung. “Our old pack didn’t do gifts or courting. He was betrothed in our old pack, but-“

“It doesn’t matter,” Minho interrupted, cutting Hyunjin off. He squeezed Jisung’s hand tightly in his own. “I love your gifts because they’re from you. I think I’d like anything you give me.”

Jisung smiled back, but his eyes were curious, a million questions he wanted to ask. But it wasn’t the time for it and Jisung respected that.

If he’d asked about it, Minho believed he would tell him anything. He’d tell him about his old past, the abuse they suffered, the hierarchy, the arranged matings. The escape and how they got away. The night mares that followed.

He’d share it all, if Jisung wanted to listen.

-

The topic of Minho’s past came a couple of days later, while they were collecting herbs for Seungmin’s infirmary. Jisung was carrying a basket Minho had weaved and given to him that day.

It was a pretty little basket and Jisung had hugged him tightly when he’d gotten it. Minho had taken extra care to make it, sitting with the halmeonis as they taught him what materials to use and how to make patterns. It was one of about ten attempts, this one being the best of the bunch. It had a singular handle to make it easy to carry, as well as a top that could open and close. He had wrapped a pink ribbon around it and tied it into a bow because the color reminded him of Jisung’s lips.

The ribbon was fluttering as Jisung swung the basket at his side, the container already filled with different types of plants and strange-looking fungi.

Jisung was picking a mushroom from the ground when he dropped the question. “So you were betrothed?” he asked. His voice was curious, not angry, and non-judgemental. Just open and trusting.

Minho hummed, steeling himself for the conversation that he knew needed to happen. As he and Jisung got closer, he knew he would have to tell Jisung about his past and how much it still affected him today. “I was,” he stated simply. “My old pack did things a bit differently than they do here, so all of our matings were arranged.”

The omega nodded like it made sense. “I’ve heard they were a lot more traditional, but I didn’t know they even controlled your instincts.”

Minho motioned to the ground where there was a mossy patch of earth at the base of the tree. They sat there, running their fingers through the dirt as they talked, glad to be under the canopy of the trees. “The mudang announced mates when the gods showed them to her in a dream. Then when the omega reaches breeding age, we do a ritual, which includes a public mating and breeding.” Jisung shuddered next to him, a disgusted look on his face. Minho could relate. “My chosen mate’s name was Hana. We were kids when they announced us as mates. We were close in the way that kids who grow up together are, but we never had any romantic feelings towards each other. I was always too focused on my family and she thought alphas were annoying.”

Jisung giggled. “She was right.”

Minho nodded, agreeing with him. “Omegas were seen as lesser in that pack. Since I presented as an alpha, I was the ‘favorite child’, but Yongbok-ah was cast aside. He found himself in Hyunjin and they obviously fell in love.” He winced, thinking about it. “Stupid in love, honestly. Same-sex coupling was frowned upon unless it was between betas. Punishable by death, even. When Yongbokkie’s ‘true mate’ was revealed, they were supposed to mate within the week. Obviously, they became upset and started looking for ways out of the pack. Hana helped us make a plan to escape and it should have been easy to just sneak out and run away.”

Jisung scooted closer to Minho, basket completely forgotten. He threaded their fingers together, pressing the scent glands on their wrists together. His thumb played with the ring on Minho’s finger, twisting it around and around.

“It’s absolutely not Felix and Hyunjin’s faults,” Minho stated firmly before going into the next part. “They were tired of growing up oppressed and thought we were on our way to freedom. But they made a mistake, got too comfortable, and mated with each other right before we left.” Jisung winced, putting his head on Minho’s shoulder for comfort. “Felix’s arranged mate smelled the blood and followed us out. Chased us out. The realization that Felix betrayed him and mated another made him feral.”

He laughed breathlessly, even though there wasn’t anything humorous about it. “I remember his eyes turned red and he grew fangs and claws. I tried to distract him from my brothers, but he ended up grabbing Felix before I could do anything. I remember the sound Felix’s bones made when he crushed them in his bare hands and how he lunged at Hyunjin, but I don’t remember much else. I just remember being scared and thinking about how my brother could die before we experienced happiness.” A shrug and a sigh. “Hyunjin said I went feral too. That my eyes turned red and I ripped his throat out with my fangs. Tore his body apart too. I remember flashes of it, sometimes, usually when I’m sleeping. But I only remember waking up after Felix and Hyunjin cradled in my arms and my brother’s betrothed dead beside us. Somehow I was able to snap out of ferality and I’m glad I did. I can’t imagine what I would have done to my brothers if I hadn’t.”

“And then my pack found you.”

Minho nodded, smiling slightly. “Your pack found us and gave us the happiness we were looking for all these years.”

Jisung’s scent, which was emitting calming pheromones, blossomed at the words, enveloping them in comfort and contentedness. Minho buried his nose into Jisung’s hair, inhaling deeply as the tension released from his shoulders. His wolf was satiated with it’s omega so near to them, protected against the harshness of the world. “I’m glad that you got out of there,” Jisung said, voice muffled in Minho’s shoulder. “I hate that you went through so much, but I’m grateful that it brought you to me.”

“Me too,” Minho murmured.

It was quiet for a blissful moment, listening to the rustle of the leaves around them. Minho watched an orange butterfly land on a brand in front of them, wings fluttering softly. A frog was croaking somewhere in the background.

Then, Jisung spoke. “I saw you when you guys were brought to the village.

“You did?”

Jisung nodded, head moving on Minho’s shoulder. “We thought you and Felix were going to die,” he admitted quietly. “Your wounds were bad and you barely let anyone touch your brothers. We thought you were going to attack us, but Pack Alpha Bang told us to give you some space and some time to heal.” Minho remembered the savage protectiveness that had a deathly grip on his entire body, the uncertainty that they wouldn’t end up in the same place they grew up in. “All we could smell that first day was blood and distress. You looked like you were two seconds from going feral yourself. But apparently you already had.”

“I was scared,” Minho admitted. “I would have died fighting if your pack had hurt my brothers.”

“We wouldn’t have blamed you,” Jisung promised. “Even on that first day, I was drawn to you. Under all that blood, I could smell your determination and protectiveness for your family. I’d never met someone who was ready to fight for who they loved. It made me wonder what that felt like, you know? To be loved by someone so much that they’d kill for you.”

That’s how I feel about you, Minho didn’t tell him. Instead of using words, he just settled for twining their fingers together. Now wasn’t the time.

Jisung smiled like he knew, anyways. “I helped in the infirmary a lot, then. Mostly when you all were asleep. Seungmin had never healed anybody with such bad injuries, so I often did supply runs for him. Even when everyone was asleep, you were still protecting them and holding them close. I really admire that about you. The only thing the pack could talk about was how you’d fought off a feral wolf by yourself, but I just wanted to sit down with you guys and ask how you were really handling things.”

“I don’t think we would have been ready for that then,” Minho admitted. “It took a while for us to open up to anyone. We didn’t even believe Pack Alpha Bang when he told us we were safe and it was alright for two omegas to be mated.”

“That’s why I waited so long,” Jisung said thoughtfully. “I wanted to make sure you were in a good space before I talked to you. And then when you were in a good space, they sent me off to trade so it took me even longer.” A pause. “I was nervous to talk to you, honestly. You were so cool and I thought you might think I was stupid.”

Minho shook his head fervently, dislodging Jisung from his shoulder. He turned to face him, their knees touching and their fingers interlocked. Jisung’s cheeks were bright red, but he was looking straight at Minho anyways, eyes like pools of decadent chocolate. “Never,” he said firmly. “I would have been delighted to talk to you. And…” his voice dropped to a whisper, Jisung leaning in closer to hear him, “I was obsessed with your scent. I tried to find you, but my nose would never lead me to you. I’d never smelled anyone as good as you do. It was like my wolf has been looking for you its whole life.”

Jisung’s face brightened as though he were the sun himself. He reached out and cradled Minho’s cheek, fingers soft on his skin. His thumb rubbed against Minho’s cheekbone, leaving sparks behind with each caress. “Hyung,” he whispered, “I feel the same. I think the gods helped us find each other.”

Minho reached for him at the same time that Jisung tugged him forward, Minho’s hand falling to his waist. Jisung’s fingers brushed against his scent gland as their lips pressed together, Jisung’s fuller bottom lip fitting against Minho’s top lip perfectly. Minho’s entire body was electrified, a gasp of awe escaping his lips at the touch. His entire being was pulled into Jisung’s orbit, his scent surrounding him and clouding his every thought. He squeezed Jisung’s tiny waist, bringing him closer as though he were trying to fuse their bodies.

Tiny teeth bit into Minho’s lip, a tongue touching his own briefly for a taste. Minho was sure he had reached complete bliss at that moment, his head fuzzy with desire and complete certainty that this was his mate. Certainty that this was his mate who was written for him in the stars, who the gods send dreams about. His wolf was settled like it had never been before, still in his skin and basking in the warmth of Jisung.

When they pulled away, Minho pressed his lips to Jisung’s nose, then his forehead. He ducked his head and kissed Jisung’s neck, right over his scent gland, where he nuzzled into. Jisung let out a small, pleased noise, baring his neck to him as the utmost sign of trust.

“Does this mean you accept my courting?” Jisung breathed out when Minho pulled away to kiss the glands on his wrists.

Minho paused, smirking up at him. “Wait, you were courting me?”

Jisung pouted at him, a cute glare taking over his face. It wasn’t very effective with his slightly swollen lips and his large, watery eyes. “Hyung,” he whined.

He didn’t get to finish his sentence before Minho pounced again, pressing him against the moss and kissing him silly. Since he had permission now, he didn’t plan on stopping his urges anymore. And Jisung went along with it, just as pliant and pleased as Minho felt.

They stayed in the forest for far too long, kissing and scenting each other. The sun was setting by the time they found themselves heading back to the village, Jisung’s basket mostly empty. Seungmin didn’t even complain when he saw the fruits of their effort. He just took one look at their red faces, the drunkenness in their eyes, and their entwined hands before shaking his head and sending them away.

Minho didn’t even have time to feel about it when Jisung kissed him in front of Felix’s door and slipped a round, smooth object into his palm.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, hyung,” he murmured against his lips before backing away, tongue darting out to gather any remaining taste of Minho.

Only when he walked away did Minho look at what was in his hand, a chuckle falling from his mouth at the sight.

There, in his palm, was a tiny bird egg the color of the sky. He must have picked it up on the way back from their meeting in the woods.

Minho loved him so much.

-

Minho was sweating profusely under the heat of the sun. His muscles were bulging as he carried stacks of flour through the village from the merchant’s cart. He unloaded them by the kitchens and wiped his brow, letting out a deep exhale. He used his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face, grimacing in disgust.

His eyes were covered by his shirt when he was suddenly attacked, his body tensing as a body slammed into his own. He braced for a fight, his hands clenched into fists to punch whoever was accosting him, but stopped as he heard a whine and a snuffling noise from where the person’s face was crushed against his chest.

Cherry almond blasted him in the face, the scent wavering him on his feet. There were arms around his waist, fingers clenched into his shirt and clawing at his back. When he looked down, he could see Jisung’s curly head nuzzling into his chest, could feel his breath against the thin material of his shirt. “Alpha,” Jisung whined, just as the scent of arousal and slick reached his nose.

Minho’s wolf was immediately growling, haunches raised. Saliva filled his mouth as he pulled the little omega closer to him. Jisung moaned at the movement, looking up at him with red-rimmed eyes, little tears in the corners. His lips were cherry red and spit-slick from licking them and his face was flushed a beautiful pink. Minho could feel himself growing hard in his pants, his body struggling to hold himself against the wolf that was trying to claw its way out of his skin.

“Jisung-ah,” he growled out, his voice low in his throat, teeth clenched so hard it hurt. “What are you doing here?”

Jisung surged forward and buried his nose in Minho’s scent gland, licking at the skin like he was starved. “Heat,” he panted out, breaths hot and heavy. “Need my alpha.”

Minho squeezed his eyes shut, his entire body shaking with the force to hold him back from claiming the sweet omega in front of him. He couldn’t mate him like this, in front of anyone who could walk past. Jisung deserved to be treated better than that. “We need to get you back home,” Minho said tensely. “Too many people around.”

The omega was scent drunk by now, his pants wet with slick, his eyes hazy. He only mewled out another pitiful “Alpha” when Minho managed to pick him up, ignoring the bags of flour he was supposed to be dealing with. Jisung fit perfectly in his arms, curled up small with his teeth nipping at his scent gland repetitively. He had to grab Jisung’s hair tightly in his fist to stop Jisung from biting down harsh enough to bite.

Several curious eyes followed them as he carried him through the village, some filled with envy, others with awe. He growled at all of them, his wolf as protective as ever, maybe even moreso. He wanted to shield Jisung from everyone who looked at him wrong, and would tear out their eyes if he could. He pressed his wrist against Jisung’s own scent gland, smearing him in his scent as if that would deter others from looking.

Jisung’s cabin was close to the kitchens, but it felt entirely too far with so many people looking at them. He tried to set Jisung down so he could open the door, but Jisung let out a sob so loud that Minho couldn’t bear to do so. “Stay,” Jisung begged, clawing at his shirt.

Minho wanted nothing more but to stay, to take care of his omega through his heat. He wanted to bundle him up and feed him soup when he was calm, wanted to make sure he was bathing and drinking enough. He also wanted to hold him down and force him on his knot, hearing his whines as he fucked pups into him. He had to shake his head to clear his vision of his desires, attempting to ignore his desperation as he laid Jisung on his bed. “Can’t stay,” Minho told him quietly, his wolf howling in anger. “You don’t want me like this, Jisungie. We haven’t even finished courting. Courting season isn’t even over.”

“Don’t care about stupid traditions,” Jisung cried, writhing on the mattress. He reached between his legs and pressed his hand down his pants, rutting against his palm. He was so wet that Minho could hear the slickness of his cock as he touched himself. “Want you now, wanted you since I first saw you. Please, alpha, please!”

The pleads made his ears ring, his teeth digging into his lip hard enough to bleed. He should say no. He shouldn’t even entertain this. But Jisung was his weak spot and he never quite learned how to deny him anything he wanted. “Jisung,” he breathed, a little plea of his own.

Jisung reached out to grab his shirt, physically pulling Minho to his lips. The omega moaned high in his throat as their lips touched, like it was the greatest pleasure in the world. All at once, at just the tiny touch, Minho’s inhibitions melted into the air. He was never going to be able to deny Jisung and his omega knew that.

The kiss was messy, filled with spit as Jisung licked into his mouth greedily. Minho allowed him to take what he needed, kneeling over him and grasping Jisung’s waist firmly to hold him in place. He was so sensitive, breath stuttering whenever Minho nipped at his lips and licked along the roof of his mouth. Jisung’s hands were buried in his hair, pulling him ever closer.

“Want you,” Jisung whined, trying to buck his hips up. Minho didn’t let him go very far, holding his hips to the mattress. So much slick was leaking from Jisung that even Minho’s hands were slipping on his skin. “Please, alpha. I’ve been so good for you, haven’t I? Courted you and everything. Don’t you want me?”

Minho hummed, sliding his hands underneath Jisung’s shirt and peeling the material away from his body. “Of course I want you, beautiful,” Minho confirmed, pulled Jisung’s shirt over his head. His chest was flushed as red as his cheek, his nipples a pretty pink color just like the rest of him. “My omega did so well courting me, hm? Alpha was so pleased.”

Jisung sobbed as Minho pinched a nipple, rolling it between his fingers. Minho leaned down to kiss along his neck, licking at his skin. Soft praises came from his lips as he did so, hands roaming the smooth skin of Jisung’s body in something akin to wonder. Jisung, hips finally free, took liberty to grind against Minho’s thigh desperately.

“So desperate,” Minho observed, throbbing in his pants. He watched as the omega frotted his cock against his clothed thigh, slick soaking into the fabric. He could feel Jisung’s cock straining against him, smaller than his own but just as hot.

Jisung’s claws stratched down Minho’s back, the sting making Minho hiss out in pleasure. He pulled him ever closer, face buried in Minho’s neck like he was trying to suffocate himself on his scent. He cried out, his whole body going rigid, and Minho felt a new wetness added to the mess of his thigh.

He brushed calming fingers down Jisung’s sides, hushing him as he flexed his thigh to work him through his orgasm. “So good,” Minho praised. “Just a pretty thing, hm? Made yourself feel so good for me. Such a perfect omega.”

Panting breaths left Jisung’s mouth as he came down from his high, going boneless into the bed. He accepted Minho’s gentle pecks, preening at the attention. “Hyung,” he rasped out, sweat gathering in his collarbones.

“I got you,” Minho assured him. He didn’t go far to pull Jisung’s pants off his body, followed by his underwear. He got himself undressed as well, figured that he may as well before his clothing got completely ruined.

Jisung hummed his praise when Minho took his shirt off, greedy hands feeling along his chest and stomach. When his fingers passed against the scars on his skin, the long scar on his stomach, they were gentle. “My alpha,” he breathed, leaning up to kiss the corner of Minho’s mouth.

The kiss, which was meant to be innocent, ended up getting Jisung riled up again. He licked into Minho’s mouth and aggressively tried to push the alpha’s pants off his hips. Minho had to hold him back with one hand while he discarded his clothing, and when he finished, Jisung wasted no time to pounce on him.

He was insatiable, hungry for anything that Minho would reward him with. Their naked skin slid together with how much slick Jisung was producing, dripping down his thighs and onto the bedsheets. Minho didn’t care how disgusting it should have been. Instead, he trailed his fingers through Jisung’s slick thighs and ran them over his ass, squeezing at the skin until Jisung was whining about his knot again.

Minho didn’t give it to him, instead pushing Jisung face-down on the bed. Like this, his chest was pressed against the mattress, face squished into the pillow. His hips were raised, back arched so he was presenting beautifully to the alpha. Minho’s breath was lost as he gazed down at him, a finger reaching out to press into his slick hole. Just as pink as the rest of him.

Jisung whined out his name as he sunk his finger into him, hole clenching onto the digit. When Minho pulled it out, it was dripping with clear fluid, glinting in the lights. Minho salivated, a bit of drool dripping onto his chest. Here, he could smell Jisung’s scent the best, the sweetness of the cherries, the buttery almonds, the rich vanilla bean.

He couldn’t help himself from leaning in and licking at Jisung’s entrance, gathering all the slick onto his tongue. A noise like he was dying left Jisung’s lips as he did it again, swallowing as much of the fluid as he could. It was everything he dreamed of and more, cherries and almonds and vanilla straight from the source. He felt drunk off of it, his tongue dipping inside of Jisung to gather as much as he leaked out.

He pressed his tongue in as far as he could until his nose was pressed to Jisung’s spine and stayed there. He couldn’t breathe like that, face buried in Jisung’s ass, but he didn’t care. He was experiencing the heavens, Jisung nearly shrieking from the stimulation. Minho pulled away only to take a breath before going back in, lapping at his entrance and pressing his tongue and fingers in until Jisung was cumming hot and heavy on the sheets once again, crying out a loud, “Ah, hyung!”

The heat seemed to subside from Jisung’s body for a moment when Minho backed away. He turned Jisung around and kissed him again just because he could, but Jisung giggled and pushed him away. “Hyung, your face is literally all wet.”

“Because of you,” Minho pouted. A drop of slick dripped down his cheek and he grimaced. “Okay, okay. Wait a second and I’ll get some towels and make sure we have enough water and food to last for your heat.”

Minho found a few towels in Jisung’s bathroom closet. He paused to look in the mirror and admire himself. He looked completely debauched, his face shiny from slick and spit all the way from his nose down to his chest. His lips were swollen and red, hair sticking up wildly with some sort of substances in it. Even his eyelashes were clumped together. He used a hand towel to wash his face and neck off before dragging the towels to Jisung.

He cleaned the omega up with care, brushing the towel over his sensitive bits that were starting to dry with cum and slick. He decided against switching out the sheets, knowing they would just mess them up again soon. He couldn’t help but kiss Jisung again while he cleaned him, basking in the omega’s compliant, pleased mood.

“Hurry and check for food and water,” Jisung murmured after a moment. “I think it’s coming back again.”

Thankfully, Jisung had enough sustenance to last the next couple of days and Minho was back in bed by the time Jisung’s next wave hit.

Minho took his time fingering him open this time, kissing him roughly and making sure he was stretched enough for him. Jisung whined the entire time, claiming he didn’t need to be stretched and that he just wanted Minho’s knot already, but Minho ignored him. If Jisung even felt an ounce of pain during his head, Minho would never forgive himself.

Finally, finally, Minho pulled his fingers away, watching in fascination as slick dripped from his digits. Jisung’s hole winked at him, begging to be filled again. “Please alpha, I’m ready,” Jisung cried. “I’ve been so good! Can I have your knot now, alpha?”

“You can have alpha’s knot, baby,” Minho soothed. He let out a low growl as his hand wrapped around his dick for the first time since Jisung’s heat hit. He was so incredibly aroused, his tip nearly purple with how much he’s straining, precum leaking from him already. He pressed the head of his cock to Jisung’s entrance, gritting his teeth at the immediate give. “Deep breath, baby.”

Jisung, like the good omega he is, inhaled deeply just as Minho pushed in. Instantly, Jisung clenched around him and came again, sobbing and writhing underneath him. Minho didn’t stop, pushed on by Jisung’s pleas of “please please please please”. He could feel every inch of himself sinking into Jisung like a million watts of electricity was flowing through his body.

Minho moaned as he gripped Jisung’s hips so harshly the skin began to turn white. “My omega,” he growled, sinking into the hilt. His head was spinning when every inch was surrounded by Jisung’s heat. He leaned over and sunk his teeth into Jisung’s shoulder, another pleased growl escaping him when Jisung yelped in pleasure. “Mine.”

“Yours, alpha!” Jisung gasped. His entire body was quivering at the fullness of Minho’s cock inside of him. Minho wished he could see his face and the way his eyes rolled into the back of his head as he pulled out and slammed back inside. Jisung cried out as Minho began a steady pace, teeth buried in his shoulder the entire time.

Jisung was so wet that his hole made squelching noises whenever Minho pushed in. Minho could feel it running down his own thighs where they were connected. It was like Minho was moving on instinct, his wolf already knowing exactly how to please his omega. He reached around Jisung to press on his stomach, another snarl exiting his mouth when he realized he could feel himself there.

Minho detached his mouth from Jisung’s skin, licking at the bite to soothe it. “Feel that, baby?” Minho asked, preening. He grabbed Jisung’s hand to press it against his bulging belly. “Alpha can feel himself all the way in your womb. Don’t you want my pups.”

“Yes, yes!” Jisung sobbed. “Want your pups, alpha! Please, please, want you to breed me, please!”

Minho felt like he was hurtling towards the edge of a cliff, his knot forming at the base of his cock. He pushed it in and out of Jisung’s hole with his thrusts, pressing Jisung’s hand even harder against his belly as though he could feel the knot there too. “You’re gonna be so gorgeous filled with our pups,” Minho moaned. He nuzzled his nose into Jisung’s scent gland, licking and biting over it. “Everyone is gonna know you’re mine. My perfect omega, all mine.”

His knot grew until Jisung was letting out meaningless babbles, falling apart on his cock. Minho’s hands found his waist again, harshly tugging him onto his knot, straining against Jisung’s hole. He howled when Jisung’s hole finally gave, his knot submerging into his heat right where it belonged.

“Bite me!” Jisung cried out, pressing back against Minho’s cock. “Alpha, please! Bite me, mate me, wanna be yours, please.”

Minho finally allowed his wolf to take over, gripping Jisung’s hair to yank his head to the side and bury his teeth into the base of his throat where they belonged. The taste of Jisung’s blood burst on his tongue, making them both moan out. He felt Jisung clench around him, body milking him, as his omega came hard against his bedsheets, body collapsing under their weight. Minho shuddered and bit down harder as his own orgasm hit, releasing his seed inside his mate.

He lapped at the bite when he pulled away, his wolf preening when he saw the perfect mark left amongst the purple bruises sucked into Jisung’s throat. “Mine,” Minho purred, kissing the mark, Jisung’s ear, Jisung’s jaw.

Jisung just purred underneath him, a puddle of contentedness and satisfaction. “Yours,” he whispered hoarsely, allowing Minho to roll them into a more comfortable position where they would be stuck for the next twenty minutes. He allowed Minho to fawn over him the whole time, grooming him with his tongue, licking the sweat off his neck. His breath hitched with each remaining twitch of Minho’s cock, the small spurts of cum still filling him.

He hummed as Minho massaged his belly and his sore thighs with gentle but firm hands. Soft snores began to fall from Jisung’s lips, signaling that he fell asleep. The sound made Minho’s mouth twitch into a fond smile. He buried himself into Jisung’s back, cradling him in his arms like the most precious thing in the world, and allowed himself to drift into a blissful state of happiness.

(Later, Jisung bit him back after riding Minho to completion, his teeth stuck so deeply in Minho’s throat that he passed out from the overwhelm of it all. He woke to Jisung’s small, unapologetic grin as he brushed fingers through his hair and pressed water to his lips.)

(Minho was in love with him).

-

They emerged from Jisung’s heat three days later, skin bruised but glowing with pride and affection.

When they entered the elders’ hall, Jungha’s book dropped right from her hands. “Minho-yah?! Jisung-ah?!” She exclaimed, a wide smile taking over her face.

It drew the attention of the others, who immediately swarmed them to fawn over their mating bites.
“Couldn’t even wait until mating season began!” Sieun laughed, patting Minho on the shoulder.

Minho ducked his head bashfully. “It just happened,” he said, grinning at Jisung.

Jisung, his beautiful mate, was pulling the hem of his shirt down to show off Minho’s bite, the perfect placement, the scabbing skin. The elders were eating it up, congratulating him and patting his head affectionately.

“We’re so happy for you,” Jungha told him genuinely. “We always hoped you would be able to integrate yourself with the pack, but I’m glad that you found someone who makes you as happy as you make them.”

Minho tried not to puff his chest out too much, but he failed if Sieun’s chuckle was to go by. “I don’t know what I did in my life to deserve Jisung, but I’ll protect him and nurture him for as long as he’ll have me.”

“Which will be forever!” Jisung exclaimed over the crowd, grinning brightly at him. Minho grinned back as the elders all cooed over them.

Later, when they found their friends and Minho’s family, Felix cried as Minho held him to his chest. Hyunjin was holding Felix from behind as well, emitting calming pheromones. But Minho could see the tears in his eyes as well, the happiness that reflected there.

“I’m just so happy,” Felix told him when he was able to talk without sobbing. Minho wiped his tears away from his freckled face, smiling gently to encourage him to continue. “You finally found somebody who loves you as much as you deserve. And you’re literally glowing, hyung. I was so-” he choked up again, clearing his throat. Minho found Jisung’s eyes from across the room where he was holding a blubbering Chan. “I was so afraid you would never be happy, you know? You’ve done so much for us that you always forgot about yourself. But now you…” He dissolved into more sobs, nuzzling himself into the other side of Minho’s neck, the one without the claim.

Hyunjin smiled softly at Minho, fondness expressed clearly on his face. “You deserve this, hyung,” he said. “We’re glad you have him.”

“I think I was fated for him,” Minho admitted quietly, his heart bearing his raw feelings. “I feel like I finally found peace with him. I think the gods made us for each other.”

Felix only sobbed harder at the comment, but Hyunjin laughed breathily. “You know, I think they did too.”

-

(They went to the Mudang later, for tradition’s sake. She took one look at their mating bites and her entire being lit up with gold. “Lee Minho and Han Jisung,” she said warmly, opening her arms, “congratulations on your union. I’ve been dreaming of you for many years. I’m glad the gods have finally brought you together.”)