Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Changbin pretended not to notice Jisung storming into the lounge, flopping onto the red armchair with a dramatically loud sigh. His brunette hair flying everywhere wrong the movements. Changbin thought it was probably around time he should get another hair cut. His lemon scent sour yet again. 

After a moment he cracked his green eyes open to look at Changbin, who'd remained sprawled on the sofa reading his book. Jisung started pouting in his direction pouting as he lay on his chair. He let out another sigh.

Still no response. Jisung looked around his chair, finding a bone from last nights dinner lying on the floor. He picked it up, trying to throw it at Changbin. He was going for playful. Unfortunately, it ended up not bouncing harmlessly off of Changbin's leg, it instead smacked off Changbin's arm with a resounding "Thunk" sound.

Jisung's eye widened as Changbin instantly threw his book down to glare at him. "Why?"

Jisung gulped, trying to sit up straight. "I didn't mean it to do that. I'm still so unused to having so much space!" he tried to explain, badly. They both knew he was bothering him for a reason by now. 

Subtly trying to bring up his original issue, had clearly failed. However even Jisung could see from Changbin's face he was annoyed at him now. Perfect. Changbin snorted. He knew this argument well.

"We've been here for two moons now Ji. We all agreed on who does what chores here."

He began laying back down, picking up his book again. In all honesty, he hadn't read a word. He was trying to read about how to garden but it was so boring. He  had started regretting one of his chores being to do something about their vegetable pack. His whole life he had trained to hunt and fight, not garden. His mother did that, and he'd just, wrongly, hoped that one of the others had learned. Despite that he really was trying to learn the basics at least. Their meals since they'd moved into Chans grandfathers territory were bleak. The lack of variation had finally gotten to all of them enough to actually try to do something about it.

"Ok, but you guys get to actually do something productive with your days. I literally just clean and Patrol."  Jisung whined.

Changbin turned his head to face his moody beta. "I'm literally learning how to garden Jisung. If the chickens didn't hate me I'd switch."

"Gardening is doing something  at least!" Jisung argued, standing now. He walked over to his horizontal pack mate .

He stood over Changbin's form. Changbin scoffed. pushing Jisung slightly as he pushed himself to stand up. 

"If you had learned gardening rather than animal care maybe we could have. The chores were split between everyone equally." Changbin stood slightly short than Jisung but they were almost eye level now. Jisung was annoyed, and probably bored. The monotony of such a small pack wasn't something the men had really considered. They were free from their families and expectations, but freedom came at a cost. The cost was looking after their own territory. 

Jisung was the first to back down, throwing his arms dramatically and storming out of the room, whining about how Changbin should get over his fear of chickens already, or at least grow a cabbage bigger than an apple.

Changbin rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to rise to his bait. He knew Jisung hated his own lack of hunting abilities. He wasn't afraid of the chickens. He just didn't like the way they pecked at his ankles whenever he went into the enclosure. 

It wasn't their fault their old pack hadn't really trained betas or omegas on how to hunt. They had agreed to help train him now they were here, but recently they'd been busy with their own chores that kept them busy most of the day. Plus, they needed to hunt every other day for survival. Its not like they hadn't finished his training on purpose. Hell with Jisung's wolfs speed, they probably would have small prey more often. Changbin sighed, marking his place in the book by dog earing it. Clearly nothing was going to stick now he felt so riled up. He could go and help Chan with his patrol so they could both be free earlier than usual. They all knew Changbin was a terrible teacher, he and Jisung would end up fighting if he tried to teach him. He walked through the mostly wooden and beige Hanok.

It was a beautiful and Large estate Chans grandfather had left them really. They were incredibly lucky to be offered not only the house, but the entire territory when Chans grandfather decided to return to their old pack to live out his twilight years with as little struggle as possible. Its a shame that only the three of them couldn't really appreciate its size. A large family pack could easily fill these halls, however the three of them really only used the main rooms. It felt quiet lonely and isolating honestly with its size. 

He knew Jisung, despite storming off earlier, was watching him from one of the spare rooms by the front door. He could always feel the betas eyes on him when he got like this. Maybe because he knew that despite the man marching off dramatically on a regular basis, he was also incredibly nosy.  Knowing him he was sulking behind a door until Changbin left. 

He began shrugging off his tunic as he walked towards the door.  The  soft linen hitting the floor without much sound. 

He shoved his boots off, followed by his trousers after., making sure to dump his clothing into a bundle by the door.

"I'm going to finish Chans patrol." He announced, where ever Jisung was hiding was probably close enough to the door to hear him without him having to shout. He was aware that once again he'd fallen victim to Jisungs manipulation, but what could he say? He enjoyed life better when Jisung wasn't fighting him.  "Remember the laundry before he's back, he'll be worse than you if I send him back here when you've not done your chores."

He slid open the doors completely naked.  stepping onto the small porch. Looking around, in no real hurry to rescue Jisung from his boredom. He leisurely jumped down the few small steps onto the porch.

He jumped on human legs, he landed on Huge black paws.

He transformed mid jump, he was so used to being in his wolf form that he never really put much thought into it. No one else lived on their property, they had no real Neighbours, there was no reason not to be in wolf form when they left the house.  They wore clothes around the house, or if they were going into town. But within their small pack, they'd agreed being naked on pack territory was fine. It was such a hassle to being clothing with them in wolf form.

Huge black paws landed on the soft dirt. Changbin's wolf form was almost as large as his human form. Muscles evident under his long black, shaggy fur. The difference in eye sight was always crazy to Changbin. How could the forest hold so many colours in detail he never saw in his original form. It was late afternoon, the sun was still to high in the sky. it was mid spring now.  Thankfully, the snow and cold mostly behind them now as he basked in the sunlight seeping into his fur.  judging the time, he knew roughly where Chan should be. He was very particular about how the patrols should be done. He was known for spying on his packmates to ensure they followed the same path he did, so it wasn't hard to figure out where he should be. Thankfully he should be over half way done with his patrol, meaning Changbin didn't need to run across the entire territory to reach their leader. 

He took off into the forest.  Expertly dodging around the red pine trunks, leaping occasionally to avoid roots and other debris. He knew this forest like the back of his hand, he knew roughly where all of the obstacles were. Some he learned harden than others, during their first week here, he'd ran into so many trees, tripped over roots he didn't expect. It wasn't something he'd wanted to repeated and spent many days just learning the area. It paid off, as he leapt over a fallen log, barely avoiding the  branches stick up from the ground. It fell weeks ago, now he didn't even need to slow down.

He ran through the trees until he was half way through the territory, before veering to the left. He would have to exit the trees as he approached where he thought Chan should be. He raced to the edge of their territory, past the clearing. Chans large grey form wasn't there. Pausing, panting to catch his breath, he looked around. 

The grass didn't look disturbed like it should be if Chan had already passed him. Maybe he shouldn't of ran without thinking. Chan had probably heard him and hid. If he could roll his eyes in wolf form he would. Of course Chan would hide from him. Sometimes the man felt way too playful to be their leader, despite being the oldest.  Though he fell so naturally into the leadership role, he was still their best friend. 

With his breath finally caught, he lifted his snout into the air. As he sniffed, he couldn't find any traces of Chan.  He continued along the territory, going the patrol route the opposite way from usual. Maybe something had held him up rather than Chan deciding to prank him. Changbin slowed to a halt, shifting his weight from side to side as he tried to figure out what was the right thing to do. He could head back and return with Jisung, maybe even howl to bring Jisung to him. Those seemed extreme though. If he was just overreacting, they'd never let him live it down. He decided to just follow the path until he could at least pick up Chans scent. He'd then assess the situation before bringing Jisung into it. 

He began the journey though the patrol route, before realising he himself could probably sneak up on Chan. He probably was overthinking again, they hadn't met any rogues since moving to this territory, there was no reason to assume what held Chan up was something bad. Besides, Chan wouldn't expect the alpha to even be here, with a chuckle he took himself back into the tree line, keeping low. It would take slightly longer, but it would be worth it. Chan would have howled for them by now if he was in any trouble. So the saftest bet was everything was normal and fine. 

As he followed the treeline though, he began to worry. Why hadn't he even got a whiff of his leaders cedarwood and mimosa scent yet?  Had he gotten distracted by something, he knew Chan would worry about small things neither he or Jisung could consider threats. Maybe the stress of being the leader was what made him so vigilant.  He shook it out of his head as he continued his now run. Chan would have howled for them if something was actually wrong. Maybe he'd gotten distracted by chasing some small prey. his paws began to pick up the pace, his paws pounding on the ground as he ran.  As much as Changbin kept trying to rationalise everything, he really couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

He was nearing the edge of their territory now, when he finally picked up Chans scent. Relief flooded his veins as he raced closer to it. He stopped dead in his tracks. He could smell more than Just Chan.  Scents of oranges, mint, moss and something disgusting. Tobacco maybe? Changbin's eyes flashed red. The closest pack to them was friendly, but none of them carried the scent of Tobacco. 

A loud snarl ripped through the trees at him. No. Not at him. Just close by. he crouched closer to the ground ad he scanned the clearing. The tree trunks blocked most of his view,  but he knew that was not Chans snarl. It sounded desperate, angry. Chan was never any of those.  be began edging closer to the clearing at the end of the forest. Slight ahead, just up the small hill , he saw what made his body freeze. 

Two white wolves. on their property. A large grey wolf was fighting them. it wasn't Chan, he knew that instantly. This wolf had short hair, he wasn't  as big as Chan's wolf. He also stunk. The Tobacco scent belonged to it. It circled the two white wolfs, trying to find an opening in their defences. 

looking past the three wolves, he  finally saw Chans wolf. his massive form circling a large brown wolf. The smell of  Moss coming from their reaction, probably the brown ones scent. 

Changbin sprinted out of the woods, running towards Chan. Whatever was happening here, it seemed like he might need his help. 

Chan snarled at him, not taking his eyes off of the brown wolf he circled. Closer, Changbin could see both wolves were bleeding. only slightly.  The two were less close in height that changbin thought from a distance. The brown wolf was smaller, but he was still large. Definitely an alpha if the red eyes were anything to go off of. 

"Help the other two." Changbin heard the order. The grey and Brown wolf Cleary the  aggressors .

He turned, looking at the three wolves he hadn't paid much attention to until now. 

One of the  white wolves was significantly bigger than the other. The two of them fighting together, the smaller one  darting between standing between the large wolves legs, or circling his back. The fought together in a  way that told Changbin this was a practised fighting style. The large grey one would attack the bigger one, while it defended itself. The  smaller one would swipe or bite at the attacked legs. It mostly seemed to work as defence for them. Their form was not perfect, judging by the wounds both wolves had, it was more out of necessity they continued fighting.

As Changbin approached, the Tobacco wolf attacked the bigger one better than he had been before, managing to tackle him to the ground. the smaller one scrambled onto its back and began biting. It wasn't as effective as it should be. Either the white wolves were untrained, or they were exhausted. Their forms were coordinated but sloppy. He saw each of them make mistakes with their paws and they battled for control of this fight. 

Changbin jumped into the fight, aiming for the grey ones tail. As soon as he approached he knew tobacco was an alpha. His scent was too strong, and the form was too big to be anything else.  He clamped his jaw shut on the base of his tail and pulled as much as his jaw would let him, forcing his paws into the ground for more strength.  as soon as his paws dug into the earth, he began pulling backwards, trying to give the larger white wolf a chance to get out of the dangerous position.

The grey wolf whipped round as he let off a stream of pained yowls. Claws painfully coming down hard on Changbin's snout, he refused to let go. Both white wolves were back up, takign turns to viciously rake the Tobacco wolves sides and rump. 

The snarls Changbin could hear from the other side of the fight were similar . He briefly hoped it would be Chan winning, but he couldn't afford to be distracted. Not with the tobacco wolf getting a few good hits on him. The tobacco would finally freed himself from Changbin's jaws as he pushed Changbin down the hill, whirling around to deal with the two white wolves. Changbin began scrambling  to climb back up the hill. He locked eyes with the fighting Grey wolf as he ran with all his might

The grey wolf managed to land a hard claw on the large white wolves throat, a fountain of blood erupting from the wound instantly, the scent of mint hit his nose hard. The mint scent from before had clearly come from this one  The wolf crumbled, shifting into human form as it fell, human body  spinning down the hill as he fell, clutching his neck. The small white wolf instantly abandoning the fight to chase his companion down the hill. Changbin gasped. What one earth was going on here, that another wolf felt like he could try to murder someone on their territory? He puffed out his chest as be got close to the top of the hill, narrowly avoiding the small white wolf who was  the half running/half falling  down the hill after their companion. The proximity to the mall wolf confirmed his analysis.  a bitter smelling orange scent hit him as they passed each other.

The large grey one began preparing to jump down after them as Changbin charged up the hill. He tackled the grey as he jumped, both landing with a loud tump, rolling down the hill together in the clash,  Changbin managing to pin the grey wolf as they landed, winding him. He saw the grey wolf start to panic. If Changbin was half as low as this wolf, killing him would of been incredibly easy. instead he pinned him down. Awaiting Chan's command on what to do with him.

He glanced to the white wolves quickly, finally deciding it was safe enough now with this one pinned. 

His heart broke at what he said. The orange scented wolf had also transformed to cradle his companions head in his lap, one hand pushing on his throat, trying to stop the bleeding. The scene felt heart breaking to watch. Both men were blonde, potentially omegas  based off how strong both scents were. 

A  sudden, strangled yelp from atop the hill seemed to give the grey wolf an extra dose of adrenaline, as he suddenly bit Changbin's leg, struggling away from him when he took the large raven wolf by surprise.  Tobacco wolf wasted no time, quickly running up the hill, tail between his legs. Changbin watched the wolves run off their territory, both bleeding heavily. He spent a moment catching his breath before climbing the hill again.  Swinging his head around,  he witness Chan Watching them go. A few scrapes covered his muzzle and torso, but mostly fine. he stood breathing heavy, watching the two disgusting smelling wolves scamper away until they were out of eye sight. 

It gave Changbin a moment to asses his own injuries. a quickly look over what he himself could see reassured him that he was mostly uninjured. His snout hurt bad, but it was already healing fast.  no injuries were really sustained on his torso, his left paw was in surprising pain from that nasty bite at the end, but he figured it was just a surface level pain. If it remained as painful as it felt now, he'd probably walk back in his human form to avoid any issues with healing.  Easy enough to do if the rouges had actually left.

No. Not rogues. Those wolves were well fed and clearly worked together, based of the call for retreat and the fact they'd scampered away together

Once they disappeared Chan finally looked away, searching for Changbin. The two shared a moment, relieved to see the other one was ok after the fight. Chan reach out to carefully lick his snout before Changbin rubbed his head along Chans muzzle. A quick acknowledgement  to show the other they had no serious injury that needed treated fast. Changbin might of taken longer to smell his leader cent to help calm his own nerves after the fight. 

Then both looked around. Changbin knew the two white wolved had tumbled down the hill.  He suddenly ran to the edge of the hill to look down, Chan following. Both men were in the same positions he'd last seen.  One being cradled in his companions arms, unmoving, but breathing. Changbin let out a sigh of relief. 

Chan nudge him away as he began to head down the hill, he stopped fast as he say the man holding his companion suddenly glare at him, trying to take a defensive stance over his friend. Supporting his head as he did.

"Stay back!" a low voice growled at the large grey wolf.  Chans form paused, he lowered his head to the ground in a sigh of submittance Changbin didn't expect. 

The voice was shocking to come from what had been the small orange scented omega. Changbin couldn't take his eyes off of him. 

The blonde, despite the wounds covering his body looked like he was ready to fight both of them. 

Changbin watched as Chan transformed back into his human form.

Chan continued to approach slowly. Stopping when the omega struggled to bring his companion behind him. His stance was clear. If Chan got any closer, the fighting would resume. 

Changbin suppressed the whine trying to make its way up his throat, why was Chan trying to approach the omegas injured friend.  looking at his friend, he could see a similar reaction from Chan. He felt uncomfortable. his hands were held up in the most non threatening manor he could manage. 

"Your friend is injured?" Chan finally spoke. He had stopped inching his way towards them when the omega had placed his friend on the ground to fully face him.

He received no reply, but he didn't need one. All three conscious shifters knew. He saw Chan strain his neck to look at the injured man, trying to assess how bad it actually was.

"He needs medical attention." Chan finally continued after receiving no reply.  "We could bring him back to our home, its the nearest place we can treat him. I can send my beta to fetch the doctor."

The man continued to glare at Chan from his defensive stance. He had no intention of going anywhere with Chan clearly.  Changbin groaned as he decided to unshift as well. 

Wolves cant communicate with non-pack members in wolf form. Maybe oranges would listen to the wolf that help them during the fight. 

"He'll die without the medical care." He finally spoke, trying to copy Chan's posture.

The blond means head whipped from Chan to glare at Changbin instead. 

Oh wow. Changbin watched as the man's eye go from golden to pink as their eyes connected for the first time. Changbin found himself unable to breath as they made eye contact,  Changbin could finally see just how beautiful the injured man actually looked.  Long blonde hair, almost comically large face with a small face.  The omega swallowed. Neither of them looked away from the eye contact.  Despite the inability to breath, Changbin just knew he couldn't tear his eyes off of him. 

Eventually he nodded, breaking the eye contact to check on his companion. Changbin felt himself finally breath again. He'd never felt anything so intense.  

What had just happened. He turned to Chan who looked just as baffled as he did. 

"Bin, can you carry him to the house?" Chan finally asked, deeming whatever just happened wasn't as important as the man with the neck wound. "I'm going to run ahead, and get Jisung to run into town for a doctor. " 

Chan explained as he shifted into wolf form, sprinting away from both of them .

Changbin found himself alone with the breath stealing omega and his companion.

Chapter Text

Changbin crouched by the unconscious man. The scent of mint was weaker than before, but still there. His breathing was slow but steady. 

Probably a good sign. He scooped the man into his arms, noticing that the omega was tall, at least taller than him. His left swung in his grasp as he stood. Unsure how he was supposed to support his head. The breath stealing omega was sudden by his side, supporting his fellow blondes head for him.

It would take longer to get back to the Hanok together, but at least this way they'd hopefully prevent making the mint man's injuries worse.

The walk back felt so much longer than the run to get here. Not only was he having to go slower due to the omegas, but as he walked he was aware of him hamstring burning. He must have pulled something, or it was injured during the fight, he didn't spend time checking. It had him walking with a slight limp. Not one that stopped him, but it did slow him down.

His own wrist hurt, the one supporting the mint mans ass. He looked down to see it had stopped bleeding by now, but it was still inflamed. He might have to have Jisung take a loot at it later, depending on what happened when they got back. It was only minor, but it would probably keep him out of wolf form for the rest of the day. Large bite marks marred his wrist, already starting to turn purple.

Oranges didn't speak the entire walk back, avoiding looking in Changbin's eyes after last time, his concentration was focused on his friend. As they walked, changbin could see the Summer boy was taller than him, but only just. He might be around Jisung's height, or even Chan's. 

He tried to avoid looking in his direction, but he was filled with a need to stare at the blonde. It took almost double the time it took to get to the clearing, to return to the Hanok. Both carrying the mint man and his own leg struggling with even their slow pace.  Slowly but surely they walked through the forest together, Changbin would signal any turns they needed to take by gesturing with his head.  The passed by the red pine, the occasional maple tree, Jolcham oak. Changbin knew each tree, and hoe to go around them for the fastest route home. 

As they approached the Hanok, orange's froze, a small hand sudden grabbing onto his bicep, the other underneath his companions head.  Changbin did not enjoy the feeling. Nope. Not at all. Tearing himself out of his own thought, concerned, he followed the blonde mans gaze to see a small brown wolf racing out of the house. From this distance, his size was pretty hard to distinguished. Changbin knew that brown blur.

"That's Jisung, our beta. I think Chans sent him to fetch a doctor." He explained, trying not to focus on the fact one of the mans small hands had grabbed onto his bicep. "The town is about 7 miles away, if you follow the dirt road, It'll take a long time for the doctor to arrive, it makes sense to send him as fast as he could."

The blondes eyes didn't leave the retreating wolfs form, but he seemed less worried as the hand grabbing him lost some of the intensity. Now his hand just held onto his bicep. Changbin was trying his best not to let his scent show that he liked it now. Masking his scent, knowing the intensity would probably return so fast in the omega.

"How many of you are there?"

It was so quiet Changbin almost missed it. the mans voice so deep he almost mistook it for a growl.

"Three, me, Jisung and Chan, the one you already met." Changbin explained as he tightened his grip on the man in his arms. "We should hurry."

The blonde seemed to hesitate for a second before nodding and keeping pace with Changbin. the hand not cradling his friend still lightly holding Changbin's arm.

He didn't say  anything, unable to trust himself. Instead, Changbin guided them towards the front door of the Hanok. But he knew Chan was worried. He would never send Jisung into the town by himself normally. In fact he'd made it a rule a month ago that they could only go into town as a full pack. Neither of the three of them were comfortable in human towns, even if this one seemed pretty friendly. The rule was specifically mostly for Jisung as well. Their youngest was easily frightened and anxious about going many places outside their territory alone. Blame that on their upbringing. Chan must think its a serious injury to ask Jisung to go there himself.

They approached the house, the door wide open. Changbin breathed a sigh of relief. The idea of trying to open a door with his current trio seemed impossible. As they walked up the to the porch, Chan appeared in the hallway, waving them in. He stood in the doorway, his grey hair flopping over his eyes.

He felt the blonde tense up, his scent guarded now. Of course, he seemed to have a deep mistrust of Chan earlier. How he could have so much anger towards Chan, but seemed to trust Changbin  was confusing. Honestly everything about the summer boy confused Changbin.

Flashing his leader a quick smile, he followed him through the hallway, unsure where he should place the man in his arms. Chan walked quickly, easily bypassing Changbin to lead the trio to one of their spare rooms. 

Following Chan he realised they were heading to one of the many spare bedrooms the estate had. The room was mostly empty, a bed was setup. Bandages and other medical supplies he didn't recognise, were set up on the bedside table.  An arm chair had been pushed into the room, from the living room.  The room was mostly scentless, the window had been opened. Perfect choice from his pack alpha. Changbin couldn't help but be feel grateful to Chan for taking charge. His own panic was starting to set in as they approached the bed. He carefully placed the man down on the bed.  Finally the three men stood around the bed.

"I've sent Jisung to the village." Chan began talking as soon as the man was placed on the bed. "At my best guess, the doctor could be here within a few hours, but that means we'll have to do our best until they arrive back."

He looked in the omegas direction. "Do you have any medical knowledge? I doubt Changbin knows much more than me." He paused to check on Changbin who shook his head. 

The blonde looked at Chan and shook his head, "Minho knew a bit about healing. He once trained to be a healer." The blond replied. Voice hoarse and filled with sorrow as he looked at the unconscious blonde. 

Chan nodded along, pulling out some wet rags from a basin he'd brought in.  The smell of alcohol hit Changbin's nose. 

"Ok, well first up. I think we should try to clean the area, and then apply pressure to the wound until it stops bleeding. I think its a good sign that its no longer heavily bleeding." 

Changbin wasn't sure if the alpha actually knew what he was talking about, or if he was trying to calm the room. Regardless, it was working for Changbin. The feeling of panic was finally starting to leave his body. Chan would know what do to.

Chan handed the wet rag to the omega currently standing by Minho's(?) "I'm sure you'd rather be the one to do this."

The omegas eyes narrowed as he all but snatched the rag from Chan's hand. 

Changbin could smell the rag, despite standing at the bottom of the bed. It was doused in Alcohol, presumably to help sterilise the area. Alcohol was expensive, and mostly useless on shifters. They needed an incredible amount of it compared to humans to get drunk, the pack only had alcohol in case of emergency. An omega with his throat bleeding probably was a good enough reason to use it.

The omega bent down to dab at his friends neck. He was hesitant, almost too gentle in Changbin's opinion compared to earlier. It seemed like he held great love for the unconscious mint scented man.  He began being more deliberate with his swipes after ensure he wasn't making it worse, or getting no reaction from his companion. As he cleaned, Changbin couldn't stop looking at this hands. 

They were small, especially when he considered oranges was taller than him, they trembled when they began, but he seemed to gain confidence as he worked. The dried blood quickly giving way under the rag those hand controlled.

The wound itself, when Changbin could finally see it, didn't look as bad as he originally thought. He'd spent the better half of an hour thinking the man was nearly decapitated. Instead, he could see a ragged, long cut almost in the centre of his neck. Starting just below his jaw, and ending at his collar bone. It was deep, though nowhere near as deep as he'd thought.

If he recovered, it was going to leave a nasty scar. The recovery would most definitely suck, but it looked survivable.

As oranges wiped down the affected area, both alphas could smell the mint scent in the room growing stronger. Almost as strong as the other three scents. Both of them felt the relief flooding their systems. A weak scent after an injury was a terrible sign, it seemed like Minho's scent was just hidden under the mud and blood. 

Chan waited until he deemed the area clean enough before motioning for him to stop. 

"Ok. I'm going to apply pressure with this dry rag. I'm hoping if his body is starting to heal, it'll finally stop the bleeding. Once done, we'll wrap it in bandages and hope that's enough until the doctor gets here."

 Changbin was pretty sure now that it was all just guesswork now. His leader had went into leader mode now, ordering them around as he began trying to apply pressure to the neck without strangling his patient. Changbin found himself ordered around the room to fetch supplies, the omega was sent to the arm chair to be out the way, and Chan himself fussed around Minho, trying everything he knew about healing to save him. 

Eventually he stood back from Minho. His neck was wrapped in bandages now, His breathing steady.  "I....I think that's all we can do for now." 

The omega quickly scrambled from the chair he'd been told to sit in for the past half hour, to his friends side. Standing by the bed examining him. Changbin was not jealous when the blond pushed some hair off of Minho's forehead.  

"It might be worth cleaning the rest of his wounds, yourself as well." Chan continued, taking a step back to give the omega more space at the opposite side of the bed.  "Anything we can do now to lessen the doctors work later is a good thing. It'll help prevent infection."

Chan quickly left the room, not saying where he was going leaving Changbin alone with the omegas. 

Changbin quickly picked up one of the few clean rags left, pouring some of the alcohol onto it. He passed it towards the orange scented omega. He grabbed it without looking away from Minho, quickly he began to treat the smaller wounds along his friends body. Working from him chest downwards.  He took time to disinfect each small wound that covered Minho's body.

Changbin looked down at his own body finally. Inspecting his wrist first. It was now a deep shade of purple around the bite mark, the rest of the wounds had already healed along his face and torso. A quick glance at his leg assured him it was a pulled muscle in his calf, not a wound. It meant he only really had to treat his wrist, and make sure to wash well later tonight to clean out the smaller unimportant ones. 

He grabbed another rag, grimacing as his wrist stung. It was better than getting an infection from the mangy mutt from earlier. Who knows what kind of infection he could get from it. 

Chan knocked on the wall as he re-entered the room, carrying the laundry basket. 

"I've brough clothes. I figure all of us could benefit from not standing around naked when the doctor arrives." Chans demeanour was back to his normal playful self it seemed.

Tension instantly vanished from Changbin's shoulders.  His leader and best friends smile truly could change a room. Changbin also thought Chan  would never smile like he was now if he was truly worried about the injured omega. 

He handed Changbin the clothing he had dropped by the ground earlier. Unwashed. Jisung had not washed them it seemed. Changbin frowned remembering the entire reason he'd been out there with Chan originally.

He approached the two omegas with the basket.

"Choose whatever fits. Our beta washed and dried these today, there shouldn't be much of a scent on them."

Changbin pursed his lips. So Jisung had done the laundry, he'd just left Changbin's clothes unwashed. That boy and his mood swings drive him crazy.

He placed the basket on the floor by the bed.

"I wouldn't put anything on his top half, I'm sure they would get in the doctors way. I put a blanket in there that you can tuck around him while we wait." Chan continued as he went to leave the room, motioning to Changbin to follow.

"We'll be in the living room, second left in the hallway from here, shout if you need anything."

He gave a quick head bow as he left. Changbin watched him go before facing the omega.

"I'll help you move him to dress him." he offered. 

The blond shot him a quick glace, avoiding his eye before nodding. He grabbed a pair of shorts as Changbin easily moved his body to help dress the mint man.

The side effect of helping however, was how strongly the scent of oranges overpowered his senses. He'd known the mans scent was Oranges, but this close he could pick up subtle hints of Mimosa. The man smelled like summer, in every sense of the feeling. As he place the mans lower back onto the bed, he couldn't help but continue to steal glances at the blonde. His face was covered in freckles. Dark grey eyes, he was sure he even saw freckles on his eyelids as he focused on his friend. He was blinding up close. it hit him almost as bad as when he'd looked into his eye for the first time.  The omega was breath-taking without even trying to be. 

Changbin kept his eyes on only his face, refusing to look at his body out of respect. His mother taught him manners and he'd be damned if he ignored it.  As he went to step back from the bed, he heard his summer boy talk again. The same low voice he'd heard before. How could someone who looked so tiny have such a deep voice. 

He was too busy thinking about his voice that he realised he'd missed what he'd said.

"Sorry?" He asked. 

"I said, my name is Felix." The omega repeated as he looked at Changbin. 

He couldn't control himself, this time he looked into his eyes again. Watching them turn pink. The same breath stealing reaction happened. This time however, he was able to see a similar reaction in the blonde.  At least it wasn't a one way effect between them. 

His eyes had lost their sharpness, instead his eyes looked amazing. They were big, open eyes. They really suited his face, now that Changbin thought about it. His long blonde hair reached past his shoulders, framed around his face. While it was a mess now, even having his friend blood dried into it currently, Changbin couldn't help noticing just how perfect he looked. 

He nodded, quickly moving his eyes away from his summer boy. Felix. 

"I'm Changbin." He finally managed to get out. His throat had never felt as tight as it did now. 

He mentally shook his head to clear his mind.

"I'll go join Chan now, shout if you need anything." He gave the man a quick bow before all but running out of room the find his pack alpha. 

The reaction was driving him crazy. What was this omega doing to him? He never felt this nervous around anyone. Yet now he was running out of a room holding his clothes close to his chest. 

Chan was pacing in the living room when he finally re-joined him. He knew Chang had been listening in on what they were doing, considering both doors had remained open. 

Changbin gave him a nod as he sat in the remaining arm chair. Fully letting himself sink into the lumpy cushions. 

"What a day" he finally sighed.

  Chan chuckled as he finally fell onto the couch. Exhaustion settling over both of them as they say in silence. 

silence. 

It seemed like an eternity of silence as they both felt the exhaustion hit like a wave. Neither man had really done anything too physically since leaving their last pack. Content with hunting, patrols and household chores most days. Almost every muscle in Changbin's body was sore.

"What happened?" Changbin finally asked. Despite everything, his curiosity was still unsated. 

 Chan groaned as his head hit the back of the couch, looking at the ceiling. 

"I was doing the patrol, when I'd first heard them. I thought at first the closest pack were doing some form of training until I realised how close they were to me. When I came into the clearing the two white ones were already there. " Chan finally began to recall what had actually happened. 

"The bigger one, Minho, fell asleep they ran, the brown wolf started attacking him. I thought he was going to kill him honestly."

Chan's jaw swung open. To enter another packs territory without permission was as act of war normally, to kill another wolf on another wolf's property was almost unheard of. It went against most wolves instincts to do such a thing on non pack property. 

"That's when I attacked the brown one. I'd tackled him off the downed one and then..." Chan trailed off.

"Before you arrived, I'd kind of joined the white wolves side to avoid a murder. I still have no idea why those two were so aggressive. "

Changbin recalled the positions he'd seen in the fight, Chan story made sense.  

"Were they Rouge's?"

Chan shook his head in return, finally looking at his packmate.

No. They shared the same scent underneath their own scent. Both were alpha's so I doubt they were the only people in their pack. "

Chan sat up straighter, moving across the couch so his knees were touching Changbin's .

"I have a theory. Though, it's only a guess for now." He explained in a hushed whisper. "I think their alpha has commanded them to hurt the two that are now in our spare room. "

Changbin's eyes widened. It made sense, but why would anyone give a command that extended past their own territory. To put his subordinates on such a dangerous path, it wasn't what most leaders would want. Not to mention the two currently sheltered in their house current were omegas. 

"What could two omegas have done to warrant such a reaction though?". He finally asked. 

Chan sighed shrugging. "Maybe they did something. But." He paused. "Not all packs treat alphas, betas or omegas like our old one does, remember that my family came from another pack before joining yours?"

Changbin nodded. He and Chan had met when Changbin was ten, Jisung already followed Changbin around and very quickly the three had been inseparable

"My original pack treated omegas and betas badly. When my sister was close to presenting, they snuck us out in the middle of the night. We left that pack behind for fear she'd present as either. Not because they didn't want either, but because of how badly the pack leader treated them."

Chan made eye contact with Changbin.

"Some packs treat omegas specifically badly. Hell our pack wasn't the best. You saw how betas were treated."

Changbin nodded. Of course he did. While violence wasn't used often in that pack, he'd witnessed plenty of verbal attacks on them. He knew Jisung was always punished harder than he and Chan were for their joined schemes and games. While they weren't in danger, they weren't allowed to hunt, mostly being persuaded into doing work around the territory, such as gardening, while omegas were mostly kept in their homes or with other omegas.

When Chan had first heard of his grandfather wanting to give him the territory he'd jumped at it. Changbin and Jisung happily joining him. It's why they'd been trying to train Jisung to hunt, to do patrol. They both knew how much he wanted the ability to do everything they were expected to do.

Chan sighed falling back against the back of the sofa. "We shouldn't make any judgements. If they are dangerous, I'm sure they'll be too preoccupied to hurt us. Though if they are to recover here without explaining what happened, we'll have to make sure Jisung isn't put in a position he could be harmed." He finish with a shrug.

Changbin nodded along. Looking at his leader he could see similar wounds to his own across his face and arms. Not deep wounds, but plenty of scratched and tooth marks. Thankfully nothing to worry about. 

Suddenly, changbin realised he was still naked, he'd done everything since leaving the clearing in his birthday suit.

He sat up, quickly redressing himself, his eyes fighting to stay open. He couldn't remember the last time he'd fought. He had never been in a proper fight, not really. He'd been present at territory disputes, but due to being a teenager at the time he was never in the fray like he was today. Mostly his training came from the actual training their old pack has insisted on. He was sure Chan was the same, considering how young they'd met. As he looked at how calm his leader was though, he wasn't sure. Surely no one would fight a child in a way that would make him so nonchalant with today?

"I think I'm going to make Miyeok-guk for dinner " Chan finally spoke after what felt like an age of awkward silence. "We still have all the ingredients from the last time we went into town, if Minho wakes up at any point, liquid seems the best option for food. I think we still have rice, it'll take a while. But Jisung won't be back for a while." 

Changbin nodded along, trying his best not to fall asleep. 

Chan stood giving him a pointed look. "Don't dare come in the kitchen" he told him. Memories of the last time he tried to help with cooking still burned into both their brains.

"Take a nap. I'll wake you if anything happens."

Changbin nodded, adjusting his position to be as comfortable as possible. He finally stopped fighting his heavy eyelids. 

Changbin started to drift off, thinking of orange trees.

Xxx xxx

Changbin woke with a start, Chan shaking him. He narrowed his eyes at him. Trying to turn his head to go back to sleep. 

Chan shook his shoulder again.

"YAHH!" he shouted groggily. Finally actually opening his eyes. Why was he trying to wake him this late at night. 

Night.

Oh. His eyes blinked

 Chan was standing in front of him, lit only by the fireplace that had been started at some point. It must be night now.

As if finally noticing the fires light illuminating Chan, and his injuries. Suddenly had memories rushing back to him. The summer boy. The fight. The injured omega. Oranges. Mint. He took in a deep breath, finally looking at Chan. 

"What time is it? What about the man?" He asked. 

Chan backed away, smiling. "I think I hear someone approaching the house." Changbin swung his head around, looking out the window trying to take in the sounds. It was loud but distance. Not wolves 

As he strained his ears, he couldn't make out what the sounds were. Maybe horses? 

Chan walked towards the window. " I think it's a carriage and horses. It could be the doctor. "

Changbin nodded, groggily wiping his eyes. They both left the room, heading to the front door, awaiting the approaching horses.

It wasn't that changbin hadn't seen horses before, he had. He had never ridden in a carriage before, he knew the others in his pack hadn't either. In most wolf packs, there was no reason to bother with them. The carriages were a human thing, especially for a long distance journey thing it seemed. He'd seen them in town, Jisung had asked a guy who steered them what they were.

Chan lit a few lanterns as they waited by the door. 

"I checked in the room before I woke you," Chan finally talked again. "Both were asleep, but we'll need to take a few lanterns in when the doctor is in so they can work." 

Changbin noodles, watching two large black horses finally coming down the dirt path that led to the estate. 

It was a smaller carriage than the fancy ones Changbin had seen in town , probably only big enough for 4 people. It finally pulled up at the house.

A raven haired man climbed down from the seat at the front, looking up to the porch. " Are you Chan? The one who needed a doctor?" His voice was calm, eyes that seemed to stare into your soul. 

Chan nodded. "Yes, an omega is hurt. We've done what we could to help, but no one in my pack is a healer." Chan explained.

Changbin looked past the man to look at the carriage. Was Jisung inside of it? He couldn't see his packmate, nor smell him near by. 

"How was he hurt?" The man asked. 

"There was a fight, at the edge of our territory. Two wolves were attacking him. We brought the injured one and his friend to our home while we waited."

The man nodded. Finally giving a small smile. 

"I had to check your stories matched." He explained as he hurried to open the carriage door, placing a small stool by the door.  

The door swung open as black and white haired man stepped out. He was tall, especially as he approached the two alphas on the porch. He was slightly shorter than the raven haired man, but still it felt like he would tower over both of them. He carried a large leather bag under one arm. 

And finally a brunette fell out of the carriage, managing to missing the stool. Tumbling ungracefully out of the door.

Changbin suppressed a laugh, badly, as Jisung stood up straight. Their beta was not only ok, he was completely himself. Meaning these two had treated him well. Jisung sprung up and raced to his pack, grabbing on to Changbin's shoulders excitedly as Chan began leading the two into the Hanok. 

Jisung's lemon scent washed over him. "Binnie!! I rode in the carriage!"  

Changbin nodded along as Jisung told him all about the ride here. Maybe he felt a little jealous, but he was excited for his friend. 

Jisung finally let go of him to approach the horses. 

"Seungmin told me how to set them up in the stable" he paused by horses looking at Changbin. "The place we've been storing the extra fire wood is a stable he thinks, he'll be out soon to properly do it."

Changbin nodded along as he started heading back inside. "Ok" he gave a quick wave to his beta. 

 Changbin headed down the hallway to the room they had put the omegas. Changbin figured that Minho must be ok, considering Chan hadn't said anything. 

Chan had led the two men, who'd began setting up different equipment across the spare table. Looking around the room, he could see Chan standing beside the bed at the other end of the room. Felix, clearly just woke up with the noise, sat on the couch, hugging his legs. He was blinking tiredly as the three men moved around the room, not paying too much attention to him. 

The Oreo haired man stood assessing Minho on the bed, before turning to Felix. 

"What happened? I'm the doctor, Jeongin, and I need to know exactly what happened to treat this properly. " He spoke with a clinical tone to his voice previously, now he seemed warmer. Maybe the two didn't actually trust the two alphas. 

Felix blinked in his direction . " A wolf clawed at his neck, he was in wolf form when it happened and transformed back to human almost instantly." He called, "the other two stopped the bleeding when we got back here, but he hasn't woke up yet." 

The Oreo haired man nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.  

He turned to the raven haired man. 

Go help the beta with the horses Min. Then join me back here." He paused before looking at Chan. "Where can I wash up before we begin? Also we need food after, your beta interrupted us as we were about to have dinner." 

Chan nodded, leaving the bedside to lead the men to where they kept water for washing. They passed by Changbin by the door. 

As they passed, changbin was surprised. The black and white haired man had a strong scent of cinnamon, with an undertone of Eucalyptus. An omega? It shouldn't be a surprise, Felix had already shown that omegas could be aggressive. If anything Jeongin seemed to be  straight forward, never sugar-coating everything eh said. Changbin decided he liked it. 

The taller man, Seungmin, also left the room. He  smelled of vanilla and daisies. Also an omega.  Also  so different from the few omegas he'd known from his last pack. No wonder neither had truly trusted the betas story then. Most likely they'd come across liars who required their help before. 

Felix now left the chair, had made his way to Minho's bed. Sitting gingerly by the bed, he stroked his hair. 

Changbin focused on Minho. His breathing was better than before. It sounded more like he was asleep now. 

The scents of orange and mint mingled in the air, both contrasting and comforting. No one in their pack knew their relation to each other yet, but they were clearly close.

Changbin felt a pang of jealousy he was not ready to tackle yet. Today had been far too long a day to actually tackle any hard questions about himself. That was tomorrows problem.

"How is he?" Changbin finally asked, realising how creepy he might appear from looking at the pair.

Silence followed as Felix looked over his friend. " Ok? I think? He's breathing more steadily now. "

Changbin gave a quick grin towards them, realising he couldn't see him, and grunted out an affirmative sound. 

Felix looked up at him slowly. "He's my brother, He's never been injured like this before. I don't know if its normal that he's like this."

Changbin tried not to look shocked. It made sense. They fought together, seemed to be escaping the other wolves together, and Felix hadn't left his side since he was injured. Brothers.  He tried to not let it look like he was relieved as he felt. 

Changbin nodded back to the blonde, giving him a small smile.   It restarted the blondes pink eyes again. Why did they keep doing that.

He had no idea how to reply as he found himself just gazing at the pair as Felix resumed stroking his hair. He occasionally seemed to inspect the smaller wounds that covered the man. If he was closer, or if the light was better, he could probably tell if they had started healing yet or not.

Changbin glanced at his own wrist, inspecting the wound. It had gotten more purple by now, but the wounds itself were mostly gone, leaving only a few holes from the wolves incisors. His body was healing at the rate it should, that was good at least. 

He returned his gaze to Felix. His wounds were mostly in his face and arms from what he remembered. They looked in a similar stage of healing to his. 

Before Changbin could embarrass himself from talking again, he heard sounds of the doctor and Chan returning. 

The doctor had his hair pulled neatly back, no longer framing his face wildly.

"We will need silence, not interruptions. That means no one in the room except for myself and Seungmin. " As he finally looked at the door, where Chan stood close to Changbin, as they turned to leave. Felix hovering near the bed unsure if it included him. 

 "Take your mate with you, he'll also count as a distraction. Especially as they seem close."

Changbin felt his blood freeze. Mate? Neither he nor Chan had one. Surely the doctor had already been told these omegas were not their pack by Jisung. 

"Mate?" Chan asked, also frozen where he stood, mid walk. 

The doctor blinked. Confusion in his eyes as he turned to Chan. His eyes flicking to Felix and then Changbin. 

"Both of their eyes are pink no?" He finally asked, resuming moving his equipment. "Please direct Seungmin into this room when he returns. I'll need him for this check." 

Changbin's mouth remained floundering trying to think of words before giving up. What? His eyes were pink as well? Why hadn't Chan mentioned this. 

His eye instinctively looked to Felix, finding the man looking at the doctor in confusion, before walking towards the door. 

The trio silently made their way out of the room.  No one spoke. 

Chapter Text

Chan quietly led the pair into the living room, not quiet sure what to say to them. As the trio began to enter the room, the front door slid open as Jisung finally returned home, with the raven haired man with him. Seungmin towered over Jisung, despite being behind him as he looked to the trio for the doctor.

"Doctors through there". Chan finally spoke, pointing with his arm to the room. Seungmin nodded, giving them a quick head bow, before scurrying into the room.

Jisung quickly joined the trio with heading into the living room. They followed him, with no better idea of what to do as they waited.

"Fuck. Uh. I forgot about the food!" Chan suddenly exclaimed. He motioned to the room in front of them. "Sit anywhere. I won't be long." As he ran out the rook towards their kitchen.

Jisung laughed at their alphas behaviour, quickly sitting on the sofa, close to the arm chair. Clearly leaving the omega with space if he wanted. Changbin, still with the inability to speak, chose the arm chair again. Quickly resuming the seat he'd had before the doctor arrived. 

Felix seemed to hover in the door way before choosing a cushion on the floor. He quickly took a kneeling position on the floor, and Changbin tried not to notice. Why would he choose arguably the least comfortable position in the room. The way Felix sat reminded him of his old pack and their strict ways. It was none of their business, truly, what Felix chose to do.

Jisung continued smiling, completely unaware of his packmates confusion and panic. He was practically bouncing on the sofa talking about the horses and carriage again. "What took me an hour and a half took less than an hour!" He finally finished, not picking up on the tension from Changbin.

One again, his eyes found Felix. Who, despite his earlier aggression seemed to be nodding along to Jisung's story. He seemed more relaxed than any time before. Maybe it was knowing his brother was being treated by someone who knew about healing, or Jisung's infectious excitement. Changbin could only guess it was fixture of both. Despite Jisung's high energy, he had a calming effect when he was excited. 

Changbin found himself smiling along with his best friend. He was happy Jisung got to ride in the carriage, he knew how interested in the human town his friend was. It seemed he'd managed to get over his anxiety at some point between meeting the doctor and arriving back home.

"Anyways." Jisung finally concluded. "What happened here? Chan only told me when I had to tell the doctor. Is the man ok? Is he..."

"Living?" Changbin guessed, nodding. "He's alive. Though I'm not sure what state he's actually in besides breathing. " He paused to look at Felix, who was looking at both of them, his eyes had their guard back up. Jisung smiled even wider somehow.

"Good. I was worried we were taking too long when the doctor spent time collecting stuff from his work building."

"Work building?" Felix asked suddenly. His voice sounded strained.

Jisung nodded and began recounting what he'd been doing since he left. "So it took forever to get to the town right." He looked at Changbin who nodded along. "Well when I got there, the streets were busy, I had to run around naked asking for a doctor. Everyone was looking at me, like I chose to run around naked, and not that I got there in a hurry. Until a woman, pointed to a building saying a wolf doctor worked there. "

"I ran to the building, but it was empty. The doctor was gone. A man eventually came up to me and explained the doctor had finished for the day. But of it's important the doctor lives in this other building. So I went to the other building, apparently interrupting their dinner. "

He paused when he only received blank looks. "Jeongin and Seungmin live together." They both nodded along.
"So I told them everything and they didn't believe me. So I started trying to convince them until Seungmin started believing me. He helps me convince the doctor to visit the man."

"Minho" changbin interrupted him.

Jisung nodded back. "So the doctor agrees, but he insists that I go help Seungmin prepare the horses and carriage whole he goes to his workshop to get supplies. "

"Long story short. Seungmin showed me how to ready the horses, put me in the carriage and we stopped by the doctors office before taking the carriage here. "

Changbin let himself relax as Jisung finished the story of his adventure.

"Weren't you nervous?"

"No! That's the thing. Well. I was. Until the doctor agreed to come back with me. Seungmin is really nice! He's really calm, and he introduced me to their horses. Jeongin is....not as nice but he seems like he takes his job very seriously. And to be fair." Jisung began scratching his head in embarrassment. "I interrupted their dinner, with claims there was a dying man in our house. Both of them weren't happy about leaving their dinner uneaten."

"Oh, that explains why the doctor was saying he wanted fed." Changbin nodded. It made sense to his original attitude. Leaving your dinner, along with entering a mostly alpha pack to treat an omega would leave most omegas uncomfortable.

After only a moment of silence, Jisung turned to Felix.

"So.....who are you?"

Felix jumped. Clearly not expecting to have to talk to the energetic beta.

His eyes dropped to the floor. "I'm Felix, my brother is the injured man." He mumbled, toying with his knee.

Jisung nodded, finally realising the energy coming off the omega. Changbin noticed him shuffle a little closer to him on the sofa. Jisung shot him a look, he answered with a shake of his head. Now was not the time to get into what he'd missed. 

"I'm sure he'll be ok, Seungmin assured me that the doctor was very good at his job. He mostly treated omegas, apparently he refuses to treat most alpha's. Especially house calls to several alphas, so I'm sure he knows how to treat omegas."

Felix nodded, still avoiding eye contact.

The next hour passed with a lot of anxiety in the room. Jisung and Changbin talked amongst themselves, any effort to include the omega in conversation mostly went unanswered, or answered with as little words as possible. He refused to make eye contact with either since the doctor had dropped the "mate" line. Changbin himself was trying his best to avoid thinking about it. His brain felt fried with all the events of today to even trying thinking about it.

Yet as they spoke, he couldn't help his mind wandering. No one he knew had ever had pink eyes when looking at each other.

The conversations and thinking stopped as Seungmin entered the room. A few flecks of dried blood on his hands and tunic, hair a little messed up. A smile on his face as he greeted them with a nod. He looked tired, Changbin noticed. It must take a lot of energy to save someone's life.

"It was a success." He announced, Felix almost fell asleep he stood up instantly. Looking at Seungmin.

"You can go see him when the doctor leaves, Jeongin has sewed the wound shut, and disinfected the area. He'll tell you how to treat him, what time expect later. " Seungmin told him, awkwardly accepting a hug from the smaller blonde.

Changbin found himself jumping to his feet, similar to Jisung. That was amazing news.

He heard loud footsteps as Chan appeared behind Seungmin. His smile more dazzling than it has been all day. The pack themselves felt a collective relief as the dread of today finally lifted.

"Great timing. The food is ready. I hope miyeok is ok for you both? It has venison in it."

The doctors assistant nodded, finally free as Felix let go of him.

"That will suffice." He agreed, before he began walking back to the spare room. He paused, looking back at Chan."I presume we are able to use the same area for cleaning?"

Chan nodded. "Yes, I'll send Changbin to refill the water. Jisung, come help me set the table?"

Changbin nodded, already beginning to make his way towards the door, Jisung quick behind him. The pair were used to getting their tasks done when given one, especially when it was close to dinner time. 

Felix pulled himself out of their way as Chan led the beta towards the kitchen, hovering in the room until the doctor would tell him he could return to his brothers side.Changbin was definitely not avoiding the omegas eyes as he left the room. Similar to the chickens. He wasn't afraid. He was just being cautious.

Changbin grabbed the large half empty bucket before walking to the kitchen to grab the less full bucket and tying them to the plank of wood they used to avoid having to do several trips. Emptying both onto the grass by the porch. Before making his way down the garden towards the well. The well had clean water, the placement was very convenient for the pack. Clean drinking water this close to the Hanok was incredibly useful.

They were able to wash with clean water, as well as drink it, clean their dishes with it and even use it for food like rice. It was incredibly useful.

He had taken the empty buckets on plank, replenishing their drinking water at the same time. It was only when Chan had mentioned water he became aware of the fact he hadn't drank since the fight, not had Felix or his brother. His throat was parched, it felt raw. It was crazy how he'd managed not to even notice with the adrenaline keeping him going before and after his nap. He took a drink of water from his hands from the bucket on the well before bringing the buckets back with him.

He entered the house, dropping the plank by the door. He quickly delivered one bucket to the wash room. Felix was no longer in the living room when he walked past. Meaning the doctor and assistant would be waiting on him. Then he grabbed the drinking water bucket before making his way to the kitchen.

As he walked through the dining room, he saw Jisung setting bowls of miyeok on the table. Plates of side dishes sat around the centre of the table. It seemed Chan had raided what was left of their store room and pathetic vegetable garden.

He walked past Jisung to the kitchen, where Chan was looking out cups.

"Why do we only have 5 cups?" He asked, turning to changbin. Changbin tried to avoid his gaze.

He knew exactly why. The 6th broke last week during a game he and Jisung had played. They'd bother agreed to secrecy, hiding the evidence and hoped Chan wouldn't notice. The game had been fun until the small ball they were using smashed the cup, the evidence might still be hiding in one of the set of drawers in a spare room. 

Based off Chan's look he either knew and wanted an explanation, or he wanted to talk about what the doctor had said. Neither of which Changbin particularly wanted to discuss. Instead he shrugged , grabbing the empty jugs and began filling them with a water.

"Who knows, maybe Ji left it on a floor in one of the rooks when he was cleaning." Quickly bringing the jugs to the table. "You and I can share, it would give everyone else their own."

He heard Chan make a sound of agreement. Neither wanted to share with Jisung. A man known for knocking his cup over during dinner if it was slightly moved from his normal placement of it. Also for swinging arm movements when he talked in general, it was a guarantee their food would get soaked if they shared with him.

As Chan began following, he started panicking. He really wasn't ready for this discussion. Instead of talking though, Chan walked out the room. Changbin tried not to sigh in relief, knowing Chan would use that reaction to jump into an interrogation. 

Changbin ignored Jisung trying to talk to him,  to try and listen to what Chan was doing. He heard muffled talking, before Chan reappeared in the door way. He was probably telling the omegas food was ready. Followed by loud thumping, footsteps, coming back to the dining room.

The omegas finally followed Chan into the room.

Chan quickly taking his place at the head of the table on the cushion he always sat. Jisung and Changbin quickly grabbing seats on either side of the long rectangular table. Leaving space for the omegas. Normally they would sit anywhere, but it felt right giving their guests the ability to choose where they wanted to sit.

The trio made their way in, Jeongin taking the seat next to Jisung awkwardly. Seungmin entered the rook with confidence, sitting directly opposite of Chan, at the foot of the table. He seemed to do everything with such a calm confidence.

Felix took the last seat available, and quietly sit down next to Changbin. Changbin pretended not to notice how he shifted the cushion closer to the calmer omega, away from him. Tried not to take that personally. 

"Minho won't be joining us. He should be awake by the morning, and should be able to drink broth. I don't suggest he should leave the bed any time soon as the injury might get irritated easily." Jeongin explained to the group.

Chan nodded along, motioning to the food and water placed on the table. "Please eat as much as you want, as you can see I really overcooked earlier, so there's plenty for everyone." He flashed a smile down the table, only really returned by the raven haired omega. The raven haired omega had cleaned up, as had the doctor. Both wore nicer looking clothing than the pack, along with Jisung's story earlier, Changbin knew they must spend a lot of time in the human town rather than amongst a pack. 

Changbin was hyper aware of the fact they hadn't offered Felix any water since the incident. His voice since waking up implied he very much needed it. The guilt was strong. But as they all sat down. He noticed Felix neither eating or drinking. He tried to subtly look at the group, both doctor and omega had began tucking in immediately. Jisung had barely waited for them to sit down before eating.

Felix just sat at the table looking at things.

Changbin started pouring water into Chans cup, pausing before filling Felix's as well. Before returning the jug to the table.

He began eating slowly, trying not to stare at the man beside him. Waiting to see if he would drink what he'd offered. 

Felix suddenly downed the water, drinking the cup dry in seconds. Tiny hands wrapping around the glass. 

Changbin's stomach tightened. So he HAD been thirsty the entire time. He quickly put his spoon down to refill the cup. Hoping the omega would drink as much as he needed. Maybe he was shy, didn't feel like he was allowed to eat or drink. If he refilled it every time, surely the omega would realised he was very much allowed to consume what was put in front of him. He really wanted to give him unlimited water, if it took multiple trips to the well, he was willing to do it. He wouldn't even complain like he would if Chan made him do it.  Instead, he watched fromt he corner of his eye, that Felix seemed to only sip the second glass. 

Conversations began around them, mostly between the two groups. The doctor and Seungmin spoke amongst themselves, while Jisung started telling the same thing he'd told Changbin and Felix earlier. Changbin nodded along, trying not to keep his eyes on the blonde man who'd finally began eating his bowl of miyeok. Slowly, as of unsure he was allowed, but he was eating.

Changbin tried to actually focus on what his pack was talking about, now he knew Felix was eating, he should stop being so obsessed with him. Chan was telling Jisung of what he'd missed in detail now.

"And then the wolves ran off together, Minho was bleeding heavily, that's when I ran ahead to ask you to run into town." Changbin felt relieved. He hadn't told Jisung about the whole pink eyes thing. He would figure it all out tomorrow when his brain was capable of thinking about just getting through the night.

Changbin was mid drink when Jeongin finally directed a question towards the pack.

"When did the whole pink eyes thing start?"

Changbin choked on his drink. What the fuck.

"Around the time the fighting stopped." Chan replied.

Changbin's head whipped round at him to stare, noting Jisung doing the exact same thing.

Welp. The time to tell Jisung was now.

The doctor nodded before looking down the table to them.

"You know what it means right?"

Changbin shook his head as he finally turned to look at the doctor. He was aware of his palms sweating, he saw Felix's head spin to the doctor as well. At least they weren't the only ones in the dark. 

The doctor sighed, still not stopping eating. Actually watching the doctor eat, Changbin was impressed. He seemed to just not ever be full the way he shovelled food into his mouth, speaking seemed to be the only time he needed to breath.

"It means your wolves think your perfect for each other. It's rare, but it's a known thing in most places. " The raven hair answered instead. He looked awkward, his off white shirt's sleeves were rolled up to avoid them getting dirty.  The assistant seemed to be much more normal about food. He was looking at Felix rather than Changbin.

Changbin was suddenly very aware of how hot he felt. If Jisung looked at him, he knew he would get called out. Though, all wolves were staring at the Doctor and the assistant now, rather than amongst themselves.

Seungmin, seeming to notice how awkward the room had just become, resumed eating his soup. Changbin could SWEAR he saw him smiling into that fucking spoon. He was wrong. These omegas were not Minho's rescuers. They were demons.

"Well....That would explain it I guess." Chan finally spoke, breaking the silence.

What the fuck did that demon mean? If it was a thing, wouldn't he already know about it? No one had ever spoke about it in their last pack.

Jisung turned to look between Chan and Changbin.

"What the fuck happened when I wasn't here?" He demanded.

Changbin scratched his head.

"To be fair. You were gone a while." Chan replied, trying to lighten the mood. He stopped as soon as Jisung directly his glare to him alone.

Changbin found himself trying to finish his food faster. What on earth was the normal response to that. His wolf just decided Felix was the perfect mate....despite only just meeting him? It didn't make sense. Sure he hadn't stopped thinking about the man, and now oranges were his favourite scent, sure he was beyond beautiful, in both forms and sure, he might of dreamt about oranges earlier, but surely that was normal. Surely.

Changbin couldn't even convince himself it was wrong, how was he meant to convinced Jisung or Chan....did he want to?

"So what does that mean?" A deep voice asked Seungmin, ignoring the alphas at the other end of the table completely.

Seungmin quickly finished his mouthful before looking at the blonde. 

"It means, the longer you spend with him, your wolf won't want to leave."

Come again? Changbin suddenly sat up straight needing to hear what was said next, abandoning his almost finished soup. 

"If the bond grows strong enough. You'll mate for life. " Seungmin answered. He sounded almost sad, Changbin noticed he wasn't making eye contact with Felix, he was instead looking at his hands. 

Felix didn't reply, not did he continue eating. He just seemed to stare at his half empty bowl.

Suddenly everything in changbin, wanted to comfort him. His body just wouldn't move. Couldn't.

What did that even mean, a bond had already started between them somehow. He knew about wolf bonds, everyone did. Packs were a bond, especially for the leader of the pack. Mates had bonds. Families formed bonds with each other, similar to friends, but strangers did not form bonds out of thin air. Surely he'd notice if one had just sprung up inside of him.

"You should leave now or be stuck together for the rest of your lives basically. It could already be too late for the leaving option. "

Changbin could of swore his own eyes fell out of his head. What the fuck.

Jisung cough violently, Chan patting on his back.

It essentially made the entire table go silent.

"I can't leave without Minho." Felix all but whispered back to the omegas. Seungmin gave him a sympathetic shrug

"Then your stuck together."

Changbin tried really hard not to take Felix staring at the table nervously biting his lip personally. He himself had very conflicting feelings on this information. He abruptly stood, and all but bolted out of the room. 

Jeongin finally turned to  the alphas at the table, eyes sharp. 
"Your unhappy with the information?"
 He was met with both he alpha and betas head turning to him instead of Seungmin, eyebrows furrowed.

He hummed at the response. " I've come across a lot on my few years as a doctor in town. As far as I know, it's the truth. I have 0 reason to lie to you. In fact, I figured it was better to warn Felix of what I knew. "

"By the way. Is there somewhere for us to stay here tonight?" Jeongin asked, as though the pair hadn't just dropped life changing news on the group. As if Felix hadn't just ran away from the table. . "I would like to keep an eye on Minho, not to mention it's dangerous to travel at night. Especially with how much Seungmin had to push the horses to go so fast. They deserve their rest."

Chan nodded happily, way too happy for a change in conversation. "We have another spare room you can both take. , I'll show you when your done with dinner. "

The silence settled on the table once again. Jisung following Felix's lead from earlier and stared at the table. Likely unable to speak without saying something that might upset people now. Changbin couldn't blame him. He felt the same. How could he say anything, that wouldn't somehow make tonight even worse.

Judging by Felix's reactions to him and Chan, he and his brother being chased by the wolves from earlier, the fact his brother could have died today thanks to alphas, surely he had some deep mistrust of alphas. And it's not like Changbin could blame him. What if this bond became inseparable overnight, and he was now stuck with his pack. Or would he and his brother demand he left here with them.

"If anyone is finished, you can leave." Chan finally address the table. "I think it's fair to say some people would like to not be here." He said it with a smile, Changbin not missing how it was definitely directed towards the omegas at the table.

What did surprise changbin was the raven haired omega starting to stand. The bringers of insane news stretched as he stood, motioning for Chan to lead the way to where they were to sleep. Completely ok with how dinner ended judging by how relaxed he looked. They might genuinely be Demons. 

Chan stood up, leading them to the room beside Minho's.

Leaving Jisung and Changbin alone in the dining room.

"What the fuck" Jisung whisper yelled across the table to Changbin.

"I didn't fucking know" he hissed back. "It's not like that was a thing in our pack!"

Jisung looked at him, clearly still trying to process the information at the dinner. 

"Why wouldn't you mention colour changing eyes? We literally talked for an hour when I got back!"

"How could I, he was in the room with us?! How the fuck do you start to tell someone something like that!"

Jisung seemed stumped by Changbin's reply. Their whisper shouting at each other was heated, but with no bite. Changbin knew he was mad at being left out, but he genuinly had no time today to explain things to him. Hell, he hadn't even spoken to Chan about any of it. 

Both Jisung and Changbin found themselves floundering when their alpha returned. Unable to even explain why they were made at each other this time. Chan gave a heavy sigh as he began picking up the dishes. The seated two joined him, the parade heading to the wash basin loudly.

The three sat around the dish washing area as they began the joint chore. Normally this was Changbin's job, however. It didn't seem fair for anyone to wash everything themself.

"So.....that was something" Chan said as he scrubbed some seaweed from the rim of a bowl.

"Yeah no shit." Jisung snapped.

"Chan, what the fuck do we do? Surely that can't be true? A mate bond developing without mating isn't real right?" Jisung started demanding, throwing a spoon angrily back into the water.

"We take it on day at a time." Chan gently reprimanded Jisung, handing the spoon back. "Neither Binnie nor Felix chose this happening. "

Changbin just couldn't find it in himself to reply to either of them. His entire world felt like it was crumbling right now.
The trio quickly washed the dishes, placing them back in the cupboard. Chan put the lid back over the soup. It would be fine to eat tomorrow. It was more lucky Chan had a habit of over cooking. He'd managed to make more than enough for 7 people, when he'd meant to only cook for 5.

"Let's head to bed." Chan finally suggested as the trio sat around the kitchen.

Xxx xxx

Changbin had feared he wouldn't sleep at all that night, but honestly he passed out the second he hit the bed. Chan had suggested all three of them slept together, something they didn't do as often as they did when they first moved in, but Changbin truly appreciated having his pack around him that night. It didn't take a genius to know that Jisung loved it, he always did. Chan normally preferred his own space, but he was always so conscious with his packs needs.

Before bed, changbin had taken a quick look in on the room Minho was lying in. He'd seen Felix asleep on the chair. He's thrown a blanket over him before retreating like the idea of being seen being nice to him right now would set him on fire.

Spending the night sheltering from reality with his best friends had honestly done him a world of good.

When he awoken, it was just Jisung in the bed. Chan scent still Hun around them, meaning he had left the bed within an hour ago. Looking around, he could guess it was early morning. The room wasn't dark anymore, but it wasn't light. Casting everything in an almost grey colour.

He lay in bed, completely unready for the day. He felt just an overwhelming amount of sadness in his chest, iced with hopeless. He waited, willing to let himself wallow in it, when he noticed. It wasn't his.

His eyes shot open, as he sat upright. The feeling felt like it had overtaken his entire body, but it wasn't his. He had nothing to feel sad about. Sure he got the news about his wolf deciding a random man was his mate, but he didn't feel sad about it.

The only person who would be feeling that kind of sadness, was the exact person he'd been worried he'd develop some bond with overnight. Fuck.

Chapter Text

Should he go and talk to him? It seemed the simplest option, could he talk about this insane situation right now? No. Changbin decided. He should actually think about what he wanted. The worst thing he could do now is put hid foot in his mouth and ruin things between them anymore than he'd managed last night.  Moon knows how much the two omegas had been through, Felix seemed distrustful of his entire pack.

If the doctor was right last night, and this bond was happening, and he was pretty sure it was. He had to be more sensitive to Felix and his brother. He'd have to prove that he, and by extension his pack, were not like the people who had attacked them. The lack of sleep last night, mixed with the sunlight coming through the window directly onto his face, were not helping his morning panic.

Jisung finally stirred beside him. His head pushed into Changbin's thigh. His hair messy from sleep,  his face scrunching as he came to consciousness. He blinked open, as he threw an arm around his packmate, pulling him closer. 

"I think this is the first time I've ever seen you awake before me" Jisung mumbled into his leg.  He struggled to untangle their limbs as he sat up. Changbin groaned in responce, deciding to go try and go back to sleep. He threw his upper body back down. Landing with a soft thump. Jisung now leant over him as he poked his side unrelentingly.

"Oh no, your awake now!"

In an attempt to escape he began tickling Jisung's side, resulting in both of them wrestling with each other until they fell to the floor.  

"Ok I give up!" Jisung wheezed between his giggles.

Their giggles eventually subsided as they both gave up, lying tangled in the blankets that had fallen with them. Changbin's mind finally felt silent as they'd fought. Jisung was still out of breath, silent laughing as he tried to control himself again.

"Hyung?" Jisung asked, finally breaking the soft silence that had fallen around them. "It's weird this whole mating thing happened before Chan got a mate right?"

Changbin's eyebrows shot up. It was weird. Pack alphas were the pack members expected to take a mate. He made eye contact with Jisung, who was watching him quietly. Eventually he gave his packmate a weary nod. both of them knew they'd left their familial  pack to avoid the strict hierarchy and expectations, but their pack hadn't really discussed what would change.  Chan was a very laid back person, but he was still their chosen pack leader. Technically Chan was the person to set rules, even if he himself only ever really set rules about chores and keeping their territory safe.  

Jisung nodded back sympathetically, throwing his arm around his pack brothers shoulders. " We're not a normal pack though. I'm sure the thought hasn't even occurred to Chan. He's nothing like leader Sung"

Changbin could only groan, turning away from Jisung  as he sat up, subtly pushing his arm off him. A small panic started inside of him again. He really hadn't considered Chans expectations or feelings on the matter. The last thing he ever wanted to do was upset Chan. Chan, the man who would do anything to help either of them, the man who jumped straight into the fight yesterday to help people he didn't know.  He couldn't betray him in anyway, He wouldn't. 

Jisung sat up, bumping his shoulder against him. Pulling him out of the cage that was his own feelings, something Jisung always seemed to know how to help.  The one he'd never had to consider upsetting because they just knew each other so well. 

"Jisung. The doctor and his assistant weren't lying. I can literally feel him this morning." Changbin finally whispered, watching the betas eyes widen. He decided to confide in Jisung first. Use his reaction to help him understand how he could even try broaching the topic with Chan.  Between wolves, it took time to form a bond. Potential mates often courted for weeks to see if they could build a bond or not. It happening overnight was unheard of, at least as far as he knew. He knew that not every pack was the same as their family pack, maybe other wolves knew more than them. Though Changbin doubted that, surely this would of gotten out from any traveling wolf or near by towns?

"What does it feel like?" Jisung finally asked curiously, finally breaking the silence. He didn't sound judgemental, he sounded curious.

"Sadness. Mixed with an awful dose of helplessness."

Changbin pretended not to see his pack mate beginning to pout. Jisung was the emotional one out of his pack, he was quick to empathise with anything that wasn't a bug. Its why he looked after the chicken, he thought he could give the chicken enough understanding to make her less mean. He'd cried over bugs being stepped on, even though he hates them with a passion.  Of course Jisung would be the wolf ready to empathise with their new house guests.

"I mean I'm sure it's mostly to do with his brother right?"

Finally changbin faced him, worried, nodding to Jisung. 

Changbin angrily pushed himself to stand, trying to create distance between the two of them. Changbin didn't know why he felt so angry, he just felt an overwhelming need to leave. Jisung quickly sprung up, but remained standing where he was. He looked longingly at his friend before deciding to just stay where he was. Changbin tried to give him an apologetic smile before leaving the room. His mood was not Jisung's fault. He just felt so torn with the whole situation.

"Calm down before you leave at least. We have so many guests right now, surely you don't want everyone thinking your so angry so early?" Jisung finally found words as Changbin was about to slide the door open.

Changbin stopped his arm as he was about to slide the door, his eyes finding his beta's. He stared at him before lowering his head. He breathed deeply, trying to breathing exercises they'd been trying recently. All of them had issues with feeling overwhelmed, especially Jisung since they'd left for this home. 

Finally feeling like his bones weren't going to jump out of his skin, he slid the door open quiet, before making his way down the hallway. The room next to them had housed the doctor and his assistant, based off of the snores he could hear, he knew they were still asleep. The door to the spare room the omegas were staying in was left open. Their once mostly empty House now felt so full. 

Changbin peered inside as he walked past.

The uncomfortable  arm chair stood at the bottom of the bed where it had been placed yesterday. Maybe, Changbin thought that maybe they should of given permission to Felix to move it if he preferred. Last night had suggested that the summer boy clearly didn't know what he was "allowed" to do. Felix  lay curled up on the chair, no blanket, still asleep. His hair was still a mess, Changbin made a mental note to suggest he take a bath today. He looked so pale and dirty, though his small face wounds had healed now, leaving only dried blood as evidence of yesterday.

Felix looked so different from how he'd looked when they met. Looking much healthier, his breathing was steady, the slow rise and fall of his chest settled the fear inside of Changbin. At the very least, he'd managed to get some sleep. 

Finally passing by the door, he walked towards the kitchen. Figuring that was where his pack alpha was.

As he approached he could hear muffled banging, along with all the doors being closed. He made his way through the dining room, into the kitchen finding  Chan busying himself with preparing some food. A large pot placed over their fireplace.

"What time is it?" He asked, blinking into the mostly dark room. The only light was the lantern by the firepit, and the firepit, which was  now obscured by the large pot. Low orange light emanating his friends face. 

"Early morning. I didn't know when people would wake up, those birds woke me again." Chan replied, not looking up from whatever task he was doing. It looked like he was cutting more vegetables from where Changbin was standing. There really couldn't be much left in their tiny vegetable garden now. Changbin hadn't heard any birds, but Chan generally blamed these mysterious birds when he couldn't sleep.  Chan had always struggled with sleeping, much more so when he was stressed. 

He pulled himself to sit on the kitchen counter, near Chan but with some distance between them. How was he supposed to even talk about last night. He has to tell Chan about the bond he woke up feeling, but found himself hesitant. Maybe he should talk to the omega first. Surely he would feel less intimidating than asking his pack leader if he felt betrayed. 

Chan worked in silence, a comfortable one. Occasionally asking Changbin to pass him kitchen utensils, or ingredients like water.  He knew Changbin was lost in his own thoughts again, more than happy to let him come to him when he was ready, rather than force Changbin to talk before he was ready. Until he eventually sat back grinning as he finally finsihed his struggle with the remaining cabbage. 

"Food will be ready in maybe an hour? I can just leave it to simmer, occasionally stirring and then we can all eat."

Changbin looked into the pot as Chan placed the lid on it. "Soup again?" He was sure he'd seen more seaweed in his ingredients. 

Chan nodded.

"The doctor implied Minho could be awake today, so I think it's the best call. We're almost completely out of meat already though. We'll also need to make some trades in the village soon."

Oh. It was almost summer, hunting was in a good place now, but the wolves were still recovering from winter. Their first months here were struggling to keep themselves fed, meaning their storerooms were pretty bare. 

"I'll check Ji's traps? Or we could go hunting later?" Changbin asked. Brightening up as he figured out he could actually help out his leader rather than only deliver bad news and his haunting thoughts. 

Chan nodded. "I think we should probably do both. Jisung's traps could be a good idea for lunch, or even dinner, but I'd feel better of we had more in the storeroom. Especially if we're keeping several guests here for a few days."

Changbin jumped down from the counter he'd sat on. Everyone in the pack knew Changbin wasn't allowed to actually help in the kitchen. "I'll bring Jisung with me, we can go and check his traps and be back within an hour. We never checked them yesterday so I'm not sure what the situation will be."

Changbin was quick to try and leave the room, his hands were already tired of all the wringing he'd been doing to avoid saying anything to Chan.  

"Bin, wait a sec."

Changbin tried to stop himself from sighing as he turned to his pack alpha, knowing full well his behaviour this morning hadn't  gone unnoticed. 

"Listen. If you want to talk about the whole imprinting thing...." Chan left it hanging as he looked to Changbin. His Dark eyes looking straight through him. Shit. Of course Chan knew, he could read both of them like a book. He felt omnipotent  at times to Changbin and Jisung, always able to see through their terrible lies. In the dark, his eyes took on a new look, almost passive, with a hint of something else. Changbin couldn't know what he wanted, not without even looking at him. Instead he focused his eyes on the wall behind him. 

"I don't think I'm really ready to talk yet." Changbin finally managed to squeak out. His voice smaller than usual, very different from his normal behaviour.

Chan nodded, pointing his head towards his original destination as if giving him permission to leave. "Just know, I'm here whenever you want to talk Bin."

It felt like another stab to the heart for changbin as he faked a smile back. Chan being so forgiving and insightful made it worse to go against what he knew pack leaders shouldn't have to put up with. He tried to pretend like he wasn't running out of the room as fast as he could, while keeping at a speed that Chan wouldn't shout him back for.  He definitely didn't run down the hallways back to where he'd left Jisung.

The brunette beta was finally out of bed and dressed, the bed was made. He turned with a smile towards the slightly smaller alpha. "Did it go well?" 

"I'm going to check your traps if you want to join me." Changbin offered instead. Turning  towards the front door, stopping to get dressed himself. It probably wasn't the best idea to run out in his sleeping clothes. Jisung didn't reply, but still followed him as they walked toward the front door, grabbing their boots in a comfortable silence. The world felt better when they didn't need to speak about the betrayal running through Changbin's heart this morning. 

The pair left the Hanok quietly, aware of disturbing all of their guests. Heading across their garden, past the chicken and vegetable patch, towards the forest. Traps were not that common on wolf packs, their own familial pack looked down on them. Preferring to hunt themselves. Jisung was a genius though, he'd found easier ways to actually hunt smaller animals, Changbin couldn't believe how small minded they were. Jisung saved them all hours of hunting in the late  winter when they'd moved here.  Another thing Chan had allowed them the freedom to do,  letting Jisung do the things his brain came up with.  Watching Jisung fully grow into a much more confident person here was reason enough for both Changbin and Chan to be grateful of their new life. 

Changbin followed Jisung's lead as they entered the forest, amongst the giant trees he led them to areas Changbin hadn't thought to hunt before. With how thick the thicket got, it made it hard to hunt in wolf form. Instead, Jisung had cleverly hid his traps better. In the underbrush, hidden beneath leaves and moss, lay a trap that Changbin might of walked right past if Jisung hadn't known where it was. As Jisung picked up the trap, Changbin could see the carcass of a squirrel.  Jisung quickly opened the trap, placing his prize in Changbin's empty bag. he moved the trap away from the area he'd originally retrieved it. He replaced the bait and rehid the device. 

"So why did you ask me to join you and not Felix?" Jisung finally broke their silence as they trekked down the forest to the areas he'd left their traps.

"He's asleep." Changbin mumbled, mostly avoiding the real topics he wanted to avoid. 

"I think it's pretty cool." Jisung offered as they approached a second trap. It was empty, and the bait was missing. A fox had managed to outsmart the trap, probably.

"Cool?" Changbin asked.

"Yeah. The whole "your wolves decided your perfect for each other" seems so much easier than trying to court someone in our parental pack y'know?"

Jisung quickly replaced the bait from the bag he'd grabbed before they left,  before leading them to the next trap location.

"Other than the whole we have barely spoke to each other, and literally can't create distance to avoid it because his brother is in some kind of critical condition?" Changbin asked as he stomped after his friend.

"Well yeah, sure. There's downsides. Felix seems like a nice person though."

Silence fell between them as they walked between the next 3 traps. Managing to find a squirrel, and a hare in two of them. Changbin knew Jisung wasn't wrong, and that he was being unfair about the situation in general.  He also knew he shouldn't be taking his frustration at yesterday out on Jisung.

"Maybe it's not a bad thing, but I'm not sure I'm ready to say it's a good thing." Changbin finally mumbled. 

Jisung shot him a smile.

"Maybe you should just talk to him at some point when we're not all stuck around the table or at his brother's sick bed."

Eventually they returned to the house. Despite the sun's higher position, they'd only been gone about an hour. The rest of the house still snored as they re-entered. Leaving their boots by the door, they brought the small game to Chan in the kitchen, who'd been delighted by the additions to their storeroom.

The 2 rabbits and 3 squirrels and a hare that they'd have more than enough meat for 7 wolves for at least today. They wouldn't even need to salt the carcasses to keep them longer. The benefits of a large number of wolves rather than the three of them. They could even use the skins for trade like Chan wanted, to replace some of the food they'd used for their guest. Chan took time complementing  Jisung's efforts, Changbin stayed to watch Jisung glow with the praise. He loved his pack, truly.  

Changbin quickly excused himself as Chan and Jisung sat down to prepare them for today. All three of them knew Changbin was their worst cook, truly a master of burning anything. He'd just get in everyone's way or set fire to something important.  Instead he had a new plan.  One that even he could manage. 

He had time before the rest of the house woke up, he quickly took  time to visit to the washroom to wash off yesterday's grime. Unwilling to return to the kitchen and face his pack, where he knew the other two would eventually be discussing Felix, Minho and what a mess Changbin had gotten them tangled in.  Instead, he decided to try and do something nice for the omegas. Well. Felix, Minho still hadn't woke up.

The three of them rarely went through the effort it took to take a bath, not when there was a lake nearby, but the tub was there. It was a hassle to filled buckets of water, heat them, and then add to the tub. But from how dirty the omega looked earlier. Perhaps a bath would be worth all the effort.

Before he could talk himself out of it, he grabbed the carrying pole they had, and two empty buckets, he headed down to the well. The well worked pretty well, but it still took a lot of time.  It took 6 trips, and constantly jumping between the wash room and the sitting room to heat enough water. Eventually , the small bathtub was full, warm and honestly it looked nice. The  heat was a welcome feeling after his cold morning.

That's how he found himself standing in front on the room with the omegas.

He knocked on the door, Felix instantly waking from his slumber. He watched Felix jump from his slumped position, alert. Eyes hardening. Felix relaxed upon seeing it was him at the door. Thankfully without pink eyes this morning. His eyes looked directly at him as they held eye contact, before he blinked sleepily in his direction, before slowly drifting back to his brother. He seemed tired, and exhausted. Maybe he'd joined Chan and Changbin in their mostly sleepless night. 

"There's a bath. If you want it."

Changbin managed to mumble out, unable to take the eye contact, thankful for Felix's watchful eyes being back on Minho. Everything about this omega put him on edge, both in a good and bad way. He was just so scared of upsetting him. It made him so aware how little he actually knew him

"There's also soap, Jisung traded a bunch of his traps for soap at the start of spring in town." He explained, scratching his head just to have something to do with his hands.

A careful smile appeared on Felix's face, it was the first real smile he'd seen from his summer boy and he felt his heart grow three sizes at the sight of it. How could another humans face change so drastically with a smile. Instead of terrifying, Felix looked wonderful. even under all the dried dirty and blood, he was beautiful.

Sure Felix was beautiful when he was wary or defensive, but he was radiant when he smiled. Changbin knew he wanted to see him smile more. 

Felix began standing up, slowly walking to Minho's bedside. Changbin watched as he stroked Minho's hair gently. Minho himself could probably use a bath when he woke up, if the doctors allowed it.  Lying in bed in just as much dirt and even more blood, couldn't be healthy.  his hair looked especially bad, greasy and even from this distance he could see dried blood in his hair line, the back of his hair  was stained red still. 

"I can stay with him, or have Jisung sit with him?" Changbin offered. He probably wouldn't want to leave Minho in Chan or Changbin's care, just to bathe. The man did look healthier than he had yesterday, but just imagining his packmate in a similar situation, he knew it took more than that to leave them. Both men stared at Minho on the bed.

"He might take your head off if he wakes up next to an alpha he doesn't know." Felix finally said, not looking up from his brother.

Changbin softly nodded back, pushing away from the door frame he'd been leaning against. Leaving space if Felix wanted to push past at all. 

"I'll have Jisung come sit here while you bathe, he's doing nothing anyway." He tried his best to sound more confident than he felt.

He heard Felix move, turning in time to see him press a kiss to Minho's temple before finally beginning to follow him.

Changbin hid his smile as he lead Felix to the washroom. With it being so close they didn't have to go far, just a few rooms down from the spare room Felix had slept in. He slid the door open, showing Felix the bath. He pointed out where the soap and towels were kept.

"I'll go and tell Jisung to stay in Minho's room, take as much time as you need." He finished up, giving Felix a smile as the boy nodded back.

Changbin finally made his way into the kitchen again, finding Jisung working  across the room from Chan, sitting on the ground to work on the prey animals his traps had caught while Chan tended to his soup. They didn't stop talking as Changbin entered, but he also couldn't quiet make out what they were talking about.  He tried to strain his ear as he approached, but it was  something about the rate squirrel furs went for compared to rabbits.  Changbin probably had the least interest in the town  out of the three of them. Human towns were very confusing to him, he didn't quiet understand how money worked.  in their old pack, they'd only really traded with traveling wolves, paying with hospitality and furs, humans required so much more work. He was thankful once again that it was Chan and Jisung that were his family now. 

Jisung looked up as he entered the kitchen, sending a full smile in his direction.  Chan echoed the reaction, though he didn't fully look up from his own task. 

"Ji, can you go sit in the room with Minho until Felix is back or the doctors go in?" He asked.  Jisung looked to Chan for permission to leave before getting up, patting off his trousers and quickly washing his hands. He left without saying anything.

Changbin began trying to help Chan before being shooed away and forced to clean the dining room instead. Changbin began wiping the table before sweeping the room. He lsot hismelf in thought as he tried to do a good job of cleaning for once. If he had to be in this situation he could at least help his packmates in this matter. 

some time passed before he even noticed, too bust concentrating on this one dark stain in the floor. No matter how many times he mopped the area, it wouldn't leave. 

"Hey." Jisung interrupted Changbin, standing in the doorway. "The doctor has went in to look over Minho."

Changbin followed Jisung into the kitchen to update Chan on the situation. 

Surprisingly, less time passed than expected when Seungmin entered the dining area. He gave an awkward bow.

"Minho is awake." He announced, a small smile on his face.

The three wolves let out a collective sigh of relief. Jisung nodded back, a large smile breaking out on his face.

"Do you have broth still?" He asked awkwardly. "The doctor thinks it would be better to eat in his room with Felix to put less stress on him while he's still in a sensitive condition. "

Bang Chan nodded along, already going to find a tray they would bring food through for the two omegas currently in their spare room. The tray had been a gift from Changbin's mom, something they had never really used before. It sat alone in an empty cupboard, he quickly gave it a rinse in the bucket before wiping it clean. He began stacking bowls, cups and a jug of water onto the tray as Changbin poured soup into the bowls. Quickly stacking the bowls and cups was a difficult balancing act, but it left enough room for the jug of water.  

Chan carefully lifted the tray up again, much heavier than he'd expected. The liquids really added more weigh than he'd thought. Seungmin approached him with open arms for the tray. Asking for the tray, without actually voicing it, before leaving the room, and alphas behind.

"Well. That's amazing news right?" Jisung asked the other two. 

Changbin nodded back to him. "I'm glad he's awake so fast, it seemed so serious yesterday."

Serious was an understatement. Yesterday Changbin had thought the man might die, yet today he's awake. He looked better, now that he thought about it. Earlier when he'd seen him, he looked more alive, despite being unconscious.

Eventually the Seungmin re-joined them, with the doctor with him. Chan shooed both Jisung and Changbin into the dining room with bowls and cutlery. Following behind them with the pot of soup, sitting it directly in the middle of the table. Jisung returned to the dinning room with another jug of water. 

The doctor nodded at them in greeting as he waited for his breakfast.  They'd come to expect that Jeongin didn't talk unnecessarily, it was refreshing coming from a pack of loud people.   The man was so confident in what he did say that he seemed to feel very little need to add anything extra. Seungmin instead normally acting as his mouthpiece if it wasn't important.  Content with a silent breakfast, everyone began eating. 

"So, Minho's awake." Seungmin interrupted them half way through breakfast after a soft smack from Jeongin. 

Changbin looked up, Jisung had said so, but he'd not really known anything about the mans condition. 

"Hes awake, but still unable to talk, nor should he get out of bed." Jeongin continued. "He'd out of critical condition but he could still be risking an infection. I would suggest giving his brother some way to clean him, perhaps water and a rag to care for the area."

"How long until he is fully healed?" Jisung asked. the 5 wolves sat around the table even spaced, but somehow his voice just carried differently from the omegas voices. 

"Maybe a week? Maybe less." Jeongin replied, as he began gulping his glass of water down. 

"Anyways." Jeongin started, as he finished eating his breakfast. "I believe our work here is done, we'll probably be out your hair in an hour or so. We'll be back, in a few days to check Minho's recovery so going well. Thought I do think he should be fine."

Chan blinked in shock. "I know you said he was doing well, but to be doing so well you feel safe leaving is crazy. Thank you both so much for your work yesterday." He gave a small bow from his sitting position on the floor. Changbin and Jisung echoing his bow. Relief flooding through their veins at the news. Surely the doctors wouldn't leave if they thought the man was in any immediate danger. Jeongin waved them off, getting to his feet. His assistant standing with him, paying almost no attention to the bowing alphas and beta. It still genuinely shocked Changbin how tall both omegas were,  both towered over Chan, despite him being the tallest of their pack.

As they finished breakfast, the doctors retreated to their room to begin packing up their belongings, and feeding their horses with the remaining vegetables from breakfast that Changbin hadn't noticed. Once again Chan was just thinking so far ahead of him.  Chan gestured to the table with his head, before looking at changbin. Before he himself stood to follow with his "Horse breakfast." Seungmin didn't look unhappy that Chan followed him out to the horses, while Jeongin shut the door in Jisung's face when he tried to help him. Changbin watch him change tactics before knowing on the open door of the other omegas room. 

Changbin let out a soft chuckle before heading back into the kitchen. The last unused bucket of clean water had been warming on the open fire, a small mercy from Chan to do the dishes with. Once again, Chan showing why he was the one they chose to lead them. Changbin settled on the floor as he began washing the cutlery first. 

Changbin's thoughts were interrupted maybe a minute into his task though, as he looked through to the dining room to see a white haired man entering.  He quickly looked down again, hoping Felix hadn't seen, trying to look focused on his task. 

Changbin looked up as he approached, holding the tray Seungmin had left with earlier. When he'd last seen the tray it was piled high with steaming bowls and a full water jug, as Felix sat it on the counter he could see the water jug was empty. He stood up to receive the tray, softly taking it from the counter to place down with the rest of his dishes.  Unlike last night, the bowl he'd prepared for him was empty, as was the bowl. Felix looked down the whole time, doing his best not to make eye contact with him.

Changbin was too busy looking at Felix, and looking busy, that he almost missed the deep "Thank you." Felix had muttered.

Felix turned to leave, when Changbin decided to actually speak

"Minho's doing better?" He asked. Despite being told by the doctor, he figured Felix would have a better grasp on how Minho was doing. Not only that. It gave him an excuse to talk to him.

Felix turned back, and nodded. Still looking at the ground, he replied. "He was awake when I got back to the room, I left to get the doctor and he cleared him to sit up and drink. He can't really talk yet, mostly he's been communicating with his hands."

"His hands?"

Felix finally looked up, and he began flapping his arms to try and show him how Minho had been communicating. Which was mostly, exacerbated arm flaps and making fists with his hands. Changbin couldn't stop the laugh that left his lips. 

Felix looked at him in shock at the sound before replying his his own soft laugh.

"That's pretty much all he's done since he woke up." Felix finished. He still avoided eye contact, but he was now finally looking in the general area of Changbin. A win for now in Changbin's opinion.

Changbin grinned back at him. The air felt the easiest it ever had between them. Even if it felt as though Felix had his mind on something else. It was nice. Since he'd stopped treating him and his pack as hostile targets, he felt like he might be seeing his real personality.  a somewhat soft and sweet man. 

"Are you both doing ok?" Changbin asked.

Felix nodded, distractedly. "We're fine, the problem is we still don't know what happened to Hyunjin. We kind of need Minho to heal faster so we can try to find him."

"Hyunjin?" Changbin asked. It was the first he'd heard of this person.

Felix nodded, sighing. "He was with us when we left, but he split up from us a while before went ran into Chan yesterday. I don't know where he went, without Minho being able to move by himself, it's not like I can go find him.  I know he must be terrified right now." 

The white haired man looked almost as exhausted as he felt. His grey eyes filled with fear and sadness thinking of his lost friend. His hands clasped together in such a painful manner, Changbin wanted to reach out and comfort him.

"We could try checking out the area outside of our land? He could just be hiding nearby?" Changbin offered instead. He knew Chan would want to find this missing man if he found out. They could probably ask the doctors to put off leaving until they were back in case he was injured as well. 

Felix looked hopeful towards him. His eyes were huge when he wasn't on guard, Changbin swore he could see a put forming on his face. "He's our friend, a brown beta. He was being chased by another wolf, but with everything that happened yesterday, it didn't really feel safe to mention him."

Changbin stood straight, "I'll go find Chan, he's out best tracker. If anyone could find someone near by, it's him."

Changbin couldn't believe that within 24 hours, they'd fought other wolves, met two omegas, started some kind of bond with one of them and now? Now they finally felt like they could trust them enough to get them into even more hassle. As he left to find Chan though, it shocked him how little it bothered him. 

////////

Chan left the house when he saw Felix heading into the dining room with the tray Jisung took through earlier. He knew Changbin was avoiding talking to him right now, and he didn't feel like forcing the issue. He knew he'd talk in his own time, the younger Alpha was normally evasive on matters of the heart, but eventually his need to talk always won. Besides, Felix himself seemed nice enough. He cares for his brother, who was now awake. Maybe he would tell Changbin about how they ended up here and it wouldn't be what Chan thought. Though. He knew their scent. He is so sure they were from either his first pack, or one of the ones around them. Not great for two omegas, but it explained why they arrived the way they did. His parents let his first pack when he was a child, when they suspected his sister could be an omega or beta. Thankfully Chan didn't remember too much from there, he was maybe 10 years old when he'd last been part of that pack.

He chose to stay as silent as he could when he joined Seungmin out with the horses, two large animals well rested after their journey yesterday. The taller omega instantly began fussing over both of them, petting them, checking their flanks to ensure they were alright after being left for most of the night.  Once he seemed satisfied he turned to Chan, taking the vegetables he'd offered to begin feeding the beasts.

 "They seem happy." Chan finally commented, looking at the dark haired man. 

Seungmin turned to face him. "They don't often get vegetables, you've just given them candy for breakfast. Of course they are happy." He gave Chan a wry smile, that tugged at a part of Chans heart he never knew existed. the pretty omega had such a strong personality that really shined when he felt confident. Chan decided. 

Just as he was about to reply, he heard the front door slam open. Concerned her quickly turned, seeing Changbin standing in the doorway looking almost frantic.

" Chan! There's another wolf!"

Chan Shoved the tray of vegetables into Seungmin's arms, turning to instantly scan their surroundings. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he turned to Changbin, waiting on an explanation.

"With Felix and Minho. There's a beta, named Hyunjin. He didn't mention him last night because he didn't trust us, but now he's worried about his friend. With Minho not supposed to move, they can't try to find him their self. "

Chan nodded, finally understanding the situation. Another wolf? That was now alone in the woods for such a long length of time?

"I can take Jisung out with me to find him, if he's anywhere near by. Though I'm not sure how much this Hyunjin would trust us, based off the other two. "

Chan heard a sound, as he focused behind changbin, seeing a blonde head in the door way now. Felix he assumed. 

"I can come with you." Felix offered. "Hyunjin absolutely wouldn't trust you without me. "

Chan nodded, quickly changing his plan. If he could go with Felix and Changbin, leaving Jisung with the doctors and Minho, he might stand a chance of helping this beta.  "Ok change of plan. Changbin and Felix, if you both join me, I'll have Jisung stay here in case Minho needs anything. " He turned to Seungmin. "Could you and Jeongin stay until we are back in case the beta needs medical care?"

 Seungmin nodded back, eye wide. "I'll talk to him, we'll be here." He quickly promised, his gaze turning to Felix as he and Changbin now stood near by. "Will you be ok?"

Felix nodded. "It doesn't matter, I don't know where Hyunjin is. He's alone and Minho cant go looking. "

Chapter Text

The three wolves set off, Chan's massive Gray form flanked by Changbin's equally huge ebony  form, followed by Felix's  much smaller snow form.  Chan had doubted the omegas ability to keep up with them, but as they set off, it was clear how fast Felix could run. His small form showed restraint as they ran, as though he was holding back for the pace Chan had set, despite Felix's exhaustion and thinner form, and Changbin's injured paw yesterday, the three managed to make good time as they ran towards the forest. Chan tried to clear his mind of the raven hair omega from the stables out of his mind as he ran. He had to focus on the mission. A beta was out there, potentially alone and hurt. 

As they approached the territories border, he signalled to Changbin to set a new marker as he and Felix ran past the border. Felix's white form  finally tore in front of him as he took the lead  out of the territory. Chan tried to set a pace that both kept pace with Felix, but slow enough for Changbin to easily catch up to them.  Noticing his pace, Felix forced himself to slow down a little, as he took in his surroundings. Chan knew they had to be on alert outside of their territory, especially after yesterdays events.  Once Changbin caught up with them, Felix was off again, the two alphas running behind.  

 Felix led them past a large oak tree, probably older than his own grandfather based off the size of it. An easily recognisable landmark, right next to a large trench. Chan began to slow down as Felix began climbing down into the Trench. Amongst the large roots and foliage, the scent of oranges and mints, with a subtle hint of Mimosa,  hit Chans nose. A third  smell, he noticed as he began testing the air, Rosemary.  The rosemary scent was much less potent than the other two, reminding Chan painfully of the same scent strength of Jisung.  He knew the rosemary scent belonged to Felix's beta friend. The indents in the moss and foliage showed 3 wolves had rested here briefly, if he had to guess. 

Tracking a beta would be harder than tracking an omega or alpha due to their weaker scents, but Chan focused as much as he could on the scent. he saw Changbin attempt the same, while Felix seemed to have caught the same trail he had. Hyunjin went the opposite way of Felix and Minho yesterday. 

Once he he was sure he had the correct scent he took off after it. Felix and Changbin both springing to follow him. Chans paws hit the forest floor hard as he set the fastest pace he could while concentrating on the trail. Luckily it hadn't rained last night, the scent they had now was the best case scenario. They couldn't afford to lose it. 

 They followed the trail, taking longer than they expected. The long run was hard on all three as they had to actively avoid tripping over protruding roots and taking branches to the face as they ran. He heard Felix react before the new scent hit his nose. Stale blood. His sharp eyes flicked around the forest. In the same direction of Hyunjin's scent, he could see traces of blood on several leaves, broken branches, chunks of fur lying around the area. He felt the familiar old panic rise in his belly, before he pushed past it. Now was not the time to get caught in old memories. He pushed forward, eventually hearing the other two doing the same as they continued to follow the trail. 

He raced forward, hoping to find the beta uninjured. Felix shot past him, clearly worried for his friend. Chan pushed himself to go faster, while following the betas scent over the blood. The continued at a much faster pace than they had been traveling. Throwing cation to the wind. The fur and blood convinced Chan they were looking for an injured wolf. It was worth the risk.  Right now there was no time for caution.

Chan yelped as his paw caught in an upturned root, sending him flying forward into another trench. The speed they'd been running, for so long, it almost winded him in his confusion.  Groaning he got to his paws, before stopping. He was now snout first with a human foot.

He heard Felix transform back into his human form as he ran past the body, past Chans sprawled form. He didn't even spare a glance at the fallen alpha as he ran to another body. Chan felt his blood run cold.  He did a quick glance at the body the foot in front of him belong to. A middle aged man, maybe in his mid to late 40's. A full greying brown beard, covered in deep wound, unskilfully applied to the man. The fight was done for survival, not from a killer.

His eyes finally  travelled to where Changbin hovered near Felix, still in wolf form.  They were a few  metres from him, Felix crouched on the ground. He was cradling a mans head. Sniffing the air confirmed what he thought. The scent from  the man in Felix's arms were Rosemary and Mimosa. Dreading what he would find, he sniffed the dead man. Only Mimosa was still detectable on his skin. The one by Chan was from the pack the others had come from, the one Felix was cradling smelled similar. The same scent that the aggressive wolves and the omegas carried. It also belonged to his first pack. 

He changed into his human form as he approached the trio. Long grey and white fur becoming hard muscles again. His hand seeking out a place on Changbin's large ebony wolf head. he felt Changbin's tail swish, acknowledging he was there. 

Hyunjin, lay unconscious, but his chest was moving with him breathing He was pale, not in great shape, lips almost blue, clumps of hair missing from his human forms head. But breathing. . Chan let out a shaky sigh of relief. He looked over the man better as he crouched on the opposite side of Felix, cautiously touching the man, moving foliage to look at injuries better.  Small but deep wounds covered his body, in particular his arms, and vital point. None life threatening from what he could tell. Hyunjin had come out of his fight in better shape than Minho.  He first thought the man was unmoving, but up close he could see small shivers clearly ran through the uncurious man.  If Chan had to guess, the man had collapsed exhausted after the fight had finally ended. 

 If he'd lay unconscious on the forest floor overnight from the same exhaustion as Felix and Minho, of course he wouldn't wake up from the cold. Hypothermia was all he could think of. Not that he knew much about hypothermia, other than how to avoid it, An exhausted would might not even consider it.  Frowning he looked around the area. No scents of a larger pack, meaning the retreating wolves from yesterday were probably gone for now.  Maybe they considered both wolves to be dead if they came across them/didn't come back. 

He turned his attention back to his party. Felix cried into his friends head on his lap, while Changbin began searching the area, on alert. Chan was glad, he was too busy looking at the body and the injured man to  truly be on guard. He had to get the four of them back to their territory before any of those wolves came looking for their packmate. 

"We should head back, the doctors will know how to better care for him." Chan finally spoke. Both Felix and Changbin's heads turned to him, he felt his heart hurt when he saw Felix's tear streaked face meet his own. "Between us in human form," he addressed Changbin, "we can get Hyunjin back to the house, and we can find a place to bury that one on the way back."

Changbin nodded, before returning to his own human form. Both men in human form, they would be more vulnerable, but it was the only way to carry both bodies. Chan bent down to pick up the older mans body, almost struggling to lift him. It made sense that he would carry the person he wouldn't care if he had to drop, should other wolves appear. It didn't sit right with him to not find a burial spot for the other wolf though. The pack he shared with Changbin and Jisung taught the teachings of the moon goddess, that they should consider all life sacred. Even the people who didn't deserve it. He never fully agreed with it as a young teenager, but as he looked at the dead man, he knew he didn't want anyone in his pact being left tot he elements of the forest.

Changbin carefully lifted Hyunjin out of Felix's hold, carefully pulling the man into his arms to start the trek home. Felix choose to return to his wolf form, practically under Changbin's feet in an attempt to stay close to Changbin and his unconscious friend. Chan managed to get the dead wolf in a fireman's lift, as he jogged to keep up with the others.

Unlike their run towards Felix's friend, they took the way back to their territory slower. Carefully walking through the thicket, their footsteps mostly muffled by all the foliage. Chan couldn't let himself relax so far from their territory. Earlier he forgot to be careful because of his worry, but he knew better than that. He knew he was responsible for the three wolves who were with him now. He tried to keep both his ears and his eyes peeled, constantly trying to look in every direction as he walked, trusting changbin to take the best way home.

Returning to their territory felt like it took way longer than their journey to find the missing beta, Chan felt almost as though he couldn't breathe until the territory line finally came into view. Now came the problem of what to do with the body. He didn't want to bury him on their territory, but he also couldn't just leave it behind. He would have to bury the body, send Changbin back alone with Felix and Hyunjin, and care for all three omegas alone until he was done. There lay the issue.

By now, Chan had mostly decided he trusted the omegas. At least, he trusted Felix. The small wolf since he calmed down, seemed very skittish. He didn't make eye contact often, he barely spoke. Meaning he was probably right in his earlier assessment of the two. Minho and Hyunjin couldn't really be a problem either. Both too injured to pose a threat to Changbin of all people. He'd have to rely on his own judgement here. Even knowing they probably came from the same pack, he knew he couldn't hold it against them. Especially no when he took into account that the two were omegas. 

"Bin." He finally spoke, speaking the silence between the three conscious wolves. Looking to his friend, he'd stopped as soon as Chan spoke. "I'm going to bury this guy outside the property. Send Jisung or yourself to come help if you can. Don't stress if you can't though. Follow what the doctors say to help Hyunjin first. It's up to your judgment when you get back. I'll try to be fast, but I'd rather not leave him lying outside out territory. "

Changbin nodded before he continued walking, readjusting his arms for the man lying in them. Felix's white wolf form close by his heels. Chan watched them walk through the forest in their territory until he couldn't see them anymore before he turned his back to them as he set the body down and transformed back into his wolf worm. He began the slow work of digging the hole. Digging a hole large enough to bury the man would take him a long time.

Changbin sped walked back to the house as fast as he reasonably could. He was worried about the man in his arms, Felix's friend. When they found him, his lips were turning blue, covered in wounds, especially his right leg. Carrying him honestly worried Changbin, he was tall, his legs had to dangle meaning it could potentially be making his leg even worse. Not to mention, even while carrying him, he was so cold, he would shiver constantly despite being out cold. Changbin wasn't prepared for any injuries, none of his pack really were except for Chan, even then.. Chan knew the basics of tending to wounds. None of them were really educated to care for this type of damage. He could only hope that Seungmin managed to convince Jeongin.

Felix was practically running around his legs the entire march home, reminding him so clearly of yesterday with Minho. he, Minho and Hyunjin had been having a hard time, something Changbin and his pack knew nothing of, except for how it ended for now.  He could only hope that the doctors could help Hyunjin and the three could reunite finally.  Changbin half ran towards the house now, scared that the longer they took, the more Hyunjin's condition could be worsening. 

Barging into the house, he quickly chose to head towards the room Minho was in. Knowing from Felix's words today and the pervious that they didn't trust alphas, and Minho himself had some training in healing, seeing Hyunjin might let him relax. Even with the state Hyunjin was in, he was alive. He was with them. 

He heard Felix transforming as he entered behind him, running to catch up with them as he opened the door. He could hear his out of breath breathing and heavier footsteps as he hurried to keep up with Changbin.  Changbin ran into the room Minho was in, surprised to see Minho sitting up in bed talking to Jisung. Jisung had moved the armchair to sit beside the bed, legs curled up under himself as both the omega and beta drank cups of tea together.

Minho sat flapping his arms at Jisung, clearly engaging in some form of conversation with Jisung. Changbin had no idea what they had been talking about, but he almost felt guilty for interrupting such a calm moment for them. Almost. Hyunjin was still in his arm shivering. 

Minho stopped conversing with Jisung immediately as changbin entered the room, his eyes widened as he looked towards Changbin carrying a cold and battered Hyunjin.

Jisung jumped off the chair, hands swinging.

"What the fuck?!" Jisung screamed.

Changbin looked to Minho, before turning to deposit the man into the bed. Minho pulled back the duvet as his friend was placed next to him. He immediately began checking Hyunjin over in a similar way to Chan.  His eyes, similar to Felix, were huge. Especially while widened in shock. 

"He was lying on the ground in the forest!" Felix quickly began explaining as he abandoned following Changbin,  to crouch by his friend on the bed. " Minho, he's so cold. He didn't wake up the whole way back."

Minho quickly lay against Hyunjin's side, sharing his body heat with his beta. One hand stroking the poor mans head. Listening to his brothers quick explanation of how they found Hyunjin. 

Jisung started pacing in a circle around his side of the bed. "How the fuck do we help someone that injured? Does he have hypothermia? We're not equipped to deal with that!"

His well groomed hair, quickly becoming an unruly mess of curls as he ran his hand through it in panic. Jisung's biggest tell of feeling too stressed out. 

Changbin nodded back, having backed away from the bed as soon as he placed Hyunjin to give Felix room. "Is the doctor still here?"

Jisung's eyes widened as he stopped pacing. He stared at Changbin as he nodded back. 

"Yeah. Yes. He's in the dining room doing some paper work! Should we run a bath to heat him up?!" Jisung's panic seemed appropriate for once, changbin was already working overtime to keep his own in check. Looking at his now wild haired friend, he felt a similar need to pace the room.

As Changbin was about to reply that he thought it couldn't hurt, he saw Minho grab Felix's arm and violently shake his head.

"Minho says no to that I think?" Felix spoke up. He looked to Minho who nodded back, gesturing with his arms an X. He then pointed at the duvet. Felix watched for a few seconds before continuing. "Maybe more blankets?"

Again, Minho nodded back to his brother. Felix clearly understood his brother better than he did, changbin couldn't understand any of his panicked arm flaps from each other yet Felix seemed to just know what he meant.

Changbin turned to leave the room, grabbing as many blankets as he could find before returning to the room as Jisung was leaving the room to grab the doctor.

As he was passing the blankets to Felix, Jeongin burst into the room to run to Hyunjin's side, practically pushing Felix out of the way in his haste. Changbin's hands shot out to steady the omega and stop him from falling. 

"Everyone else leaves!" He announced as he crouched next to Hyunjin's bedside. He pointed to Minho. "Not you. You stay where you are for now."

Felix awkwardly got up from where he himself was crouched directly next to the doctor. Giving a nodded, not to anyone, just an in general nod like he'd expected sent out.

"Have heated water available for when I send Seungmin out to you all to retrieve more supplies. I'm not sure what we'll need." Jeongin continued, like he expected everyone to listen. To his credit, there was no malice to his words.  Both Felix and Changbin began to leave the room, seeing Seungmin quickly approaching from the hallway, Changbin quickly pulled Felix towards himself, giving Seungmin space to pass in Felix's almost dazed mindset. Seungmin didn't turn to them or greet them, instead hurrying to Jeongin side with the same bag he had packed away this morning.

Changbin led Felix out of the room, closing the door over as they left. Jisung stood in the sitting room practically bouncing on the spot as they finally approached.

"So?! What's happening? What HAPPENED?!" He half shouted as Changbin finally got close enough to not alert the entire house to Jisung's confusion.

Changbin pushed his way into the room, softly forcing Jisung to give them space to enter the room as he walked towards the sofa. After yesterday, he paused, and motioned to Felix to sit in the remaining arm chair in the room. Before sitting down on the side of the sofa closest. He could try to be more thoughtful about the omega.

Jisung quickly chased after the pair as they entered, taking the other side of the sofa.

Felix followed slower, he sat Changbin a confusing looked before gently sitting on the arm chair like he expected it to be a trick. Rather than focusing, Changbin turned to look at Felix after a quick nod to the blonde.

Changbin turned to Jisung. "I'm going to do the water first, in case they need it soon. I'll explain when I'm back." 

Changbin stood up, leaving the room quickly to go towards their well. He filled the largest bucket they had with fresh water, before lugging the heavy bucket back into the sitting room.  Jisung had started the fireplace for him, a low setting that would heat the pot quickly enough. Meaning it so Changbin could just empty the bucket into a pot and place it on the fireplace to heat. Once the water was beginning to heat up .

Satisfied, he returned to his seat between the omega and the beta. The silence around them probably meant Felix hadn't explained the situation yet. 

" Well, we set out to find Hyunjin, Felix and Minho's friend. We found him in the area outside our territory, the thicker part of the forest." He began to recount the story of how they found Hyunjin thanks to Chan's tracking skills. "When we finally found him, he was on the ground unconscious. Another wolf lay beside him, dead." 

It was a hard sentence to say, the beta had to fight another wolf to such an extreme extent, leaving himself unable to find his friends again. It was horrifying. Especially to tell Jisung, a beta with terrible fighting skills. He didn't want Jisung to feel unsafe around the beta, Felix's worry for his friend, and the state of the beta when they found him, pretty much confirmed what Changbin has thought. The man was not a natural fighter. He probably had just a little more training than Jisung himself.

Jisung's eyes widened as he listened. For once not interrupting Changbin, instead listening intently. His face didn't betray fear of the new beta, it looked closer to being worried for him.

"Chan made the decision to turn back to human form and carry both wolves with us, including the dead one. Chan is burying him this now, you know how he can be with following the rules of the moon goddess. He sent us ahead with Hyunjin to get treated as fast as possible. " Changbin finally finished.

Yes he told a much shorter version of the story, he'd probably spend all night telling Jisung everything about the event, but for now he felt drained. It was such a stressful morning after last night. It wasn't even no one yet and now they had 5 strangers in their house thanks to these wolves they knew nothing about.

Jisung nodded again, seemingly calmed by the events being known somehow.

"I'm sure he'll be fine now he's here, the doctors know what their doing." He finally said.  Changbin felt himself relax at Jisung's words.  Jisung stood up.  "I'm going to go and help Chan, you guys should probably rest for now."

Chapter Text

It took several days for Hyunjin to wake up. 

He spent a few days mostly asleep, waking occasionally before managing to pass out. Jeongin fed him, stayed mostly by his side. Watching him for any signs of organ failure or problems. 

Minho watched throughout the days as the blueish colour on his lips, around his eyes and fingers began turning back to their regular hue. He watched as his beta began to gradually stop shivering, and his own body temperature rose. As Hyunjin ate, used the bathroom in his groggy moments, as his wounds began to heal themselves. Jeongin said minute he had seen the man, he needed round the clock care for his survival and recovery. The idiot alphas that had summoned them to the house were not smart enough to help Minho, they wouldn't be able to care to Hyunjin at all. Minho knew the doctor wasn't happy staying in the Alpha's house so long, but it couldn't be helped. Hyunjin needed someone as well trained as Jeongin. 

Jeongin was a blunt man. He refused to bow to others, he refused to maintain niceties and manners, when he could just get to the point. Maybe it was his upbringing in the mountains, or maybe it was his training to be a doctor. He was a hard man to get to know, and Minho respected him for it. The only times the omega was gentle, was when he talked to his assistant, Seungmin. Minho had spent considerable time with the pair as they looked after Hyunjin. It reminded him a lot of how people saw himself, he treated similarly to how he treated Felix and Hyunjin. Only really listening to Seungmin when he had to sleep. 

Even now when he came in to check on the beta, he didn't greet Minho.  He simply began his examination of the man, pulling back the duvet to look at his now bandaged leg, lifting clothing to ensure the wounds were healing as expected. The black and white haired omega finally pulled back, covering the beta once again with the duvet. Finally he took the temprature of the betas forehead. His hand lingered longer than usual, a small frown finding its way onto his angular face.

Minho looked up at him expectantly. "Is everything ok?"

Minho still lay in bed next to the beta. His throat now capable of whispering. His voice wasn't back yet, both short whispers seems to not affect his throat too much at this stage of healing. His blonde hair had been braided back from his face, similar to Hyunjin's dark hair. If he had to guess, Felix probably braided both their hair to keep it away from their wounds. Minho had allowed it as it kept the hair off the healing neck wound, enjoying seeing Hyunjin hair looking less awful than it did unbound. Minho had inspected his head several times, Hyunjin had lost so much during his fight, the once thick hair looking far too thin for him. 

Jeongin pulled his hand back sharply, nodding instead of replying, before taking a sharp turn to leave. 

Minho chose not to question it, as he rolled over to cuddle back to the the now warm beta. He hated being alone now that they were free. He understood Felix offered to help around this house, that he even cooked with Seungmin at times.  It didn't mean Minho was happy about it. He detested the idea of his baby brother spending time with unknown alphas. 

Minho had felt almost nothing but fear and anger since he woke up. How could they have done everything to leave their pack, only to end up in another mostly alphas packs territory. And worse, Felix seemed ok about it all. He had barely met those omega doctors before Felix decided to tell them about Hyunjin. Before Felix took off with two of them, leaving Minho with a talkative beta, before Hyunjin finally came to the same home. Found almost dead from those monsters.

Sure, Minho thought, he was obviously happy Felix had told them as it might of saved his beta, but he couldn't believe anything had happened in one night for his own brother to blindly trust alphas like that. Ok sure they had one beta that seemed nice enough, but not enough to trust them. He silently fumed in bed, tucked into Hyunjin's side. His voice was slowly coming back to him, but he needed rest a lot more than normal. Felix spent most of his time with him and Hyunjin, but he kept leaving. Speaking to those men. They'd argued about it yesterday....kind of. Yesterday Minho's voice had come back as a whisper, the argument didn't go anywhere, due to Felix pointing out that neither Minho or Hyunjin were in any position to attempt leaving this place yet.

Since then, Minho silently fumed and cuddled his unconscious beta. What he wouldn't give to see his brown eyes again. 

Felix finally returned to the room with another jug of water, smiling brightly down towards the two on the bed as he sat on the same arm chair he's been sleeping in. "Minho, how's he doing?" 

Felix's deep voice, despite their argument, always helped calm Minho down. The comfort of his brothers voice was exactly what he wanted right now. He only wished he could hear Hyunjin's laughter again and he might be able to finally think clearly. 

"He's still asleep. He's been mumbling, but it's still barely a whisper. I need him to wake up so we can leave this place. " Minho replied, making a grabby hand for his empty cup. 

Felix stood, pouring him a half full cup before handing it over to him. Jeongin and Seungmin would arrive every few hours to try and get water down Hyunjin's throat, the hydration helped his skin and with his healing. Minho had been allowed to drink by himself since he woke up, thought with his stage of healing, Felix's help in mundane task such as pouring water helped him keep strain off the wound. 

As Felix passed him the cup, he didn't miss the look of sadness on his brother's face. He chose to pretend he didn't see it, instead he drank the entire glass slowly. Letting the water help his throat feels less shredded. The last few days were rough on his throat, he only just got the ability to speak back, and every time he talked, his throat would feel horrible. He doesn't want to think how Hyunjin might feel when he wakes up. 

"Hyung. You heard how long the doctor said his recovery would take. At least two weeks, up to Five days for Hyunjin to wake up." Felix finally spoke. He still stood by the bed, waiting on Minho to let him know if he wanted more. Instead Minho handed the cup bad with a head shake. 

"Felix. We cannot stay here that long. The pack could still decide to track us down before then, or these alphas could decide to show their real face. We aren't safe when there's anyone but us." 

Felix let out an exasperated sight as his face fell into his hands on the chair. Minho had to restrain himself from copying his actions. They've ran in circles with this same conversation several times.  Yet he couldn't stop pushing to leave. They needed to be Safe. 

"Minho, they know where this territory is. They would be here by now if that was a problem. I don't want to leave when Hyunjin can't walk. It's not safe for him to travel the second we wake up. Your also in no fit state to travel. You can't even transform again yet!" Felix half shouted back. Almost as thought he heard his volume, Felix took a pause to breath and calm himself down. getting more comfortable on the armchair. 

Minho looked at his brother in surprise. He knew he could be dismissive towards Felix some times. His need to protect him occasionally over shadowed his want to listen to him. Instead he took in the blonde in front of him. He looked healthy, at least compared to himself and Hyunjin. But he looked tired, still too skinny. If he was being critical, he would of decided the boy shouldn't be traveling yet either. Meaning of he and Hyunjin looked worse, they might be forced to stay here. He and Hyunjin had to look even more defeated than their smallest member. 

"Hyung. Please listen to the doctors. " Felix finished his rant. Staring at his Minho with his saddest eyes. 

Minho was not immune to Felix's eyes. He was a long time sufferer of them in fact. Felix had perfected his eyes on Minho over the years, forcing his older brother to do everything he asked, and Minho was normally helpless to them. This time, he forced his eyes to look at Hyunjin. Really look at him. Taking in his now healed shallow wounds, his lips no longer blue, but still not quiet their usual shade of red. His broken leg, and potentially broken ribs. He knew those wounds would take time to heal. He also knew they didn't have time. They'd both been so injured escaping their pack. 

"Felix. If the pack came for us now, we would be fucked. Neither Hyunjin nor I are in any position to run. Staying isn't an option." 

Minho tried to keep his voice clear, but the emotions he felt kept into his voice. His voice wavering on the last sentence. 

Felix watched him, eyes never truly leaving Minho. 

"Perhaps we could tell these people why we want to leave." Felix asked, his eyes now looking hopeful, finally moving to look at their still unconscious beta. "It could buy us time until Hyunjin wakes up at least." He quickly rushed out at Minho tried to argue back. 

The brothers stared at each other. Almost daring the other to speak back. Minho knew it was a terrible idea. Alphas especially could not be trusted, especially ones he didn't know. 

Felix was feeling brave today it seemed. 

"Minho. They seem nice. They went and found Hyunjin, and brought him back here to be treated. The doctors came here at int he middle of their dinner to care for you, they offered to stay here until Hyunjin didn't need them. How can any of them even come close to that pack? Based on their actions alone, surely we have to trust them enough to tell them why we ran into them days ago."

"What if they kicked us out before Hyunjin wakes up?!" Minho snapped. He didn't mean to. Felix always drew more emotions out of him than anyone else.  

"Then at least we know and we can do what you want to do right now." Felix counted instantly.  Oh. Minho realised too late he'd been tricked. He sat back, annoyed. His eyes narrowed as he took in his younger brother. He could  see Felix was holding back that smug smile of his. 

"When did you get smart enough to trick me." He finally asked frustratedly unable to make eye contact with him. Staring at the wall like it was the most interesting thing in the world. 

"When you became too stubborn to see sense." He heard Felix mutter before shooting him a scowl. When did his baby brother learn to fight back against him. To call him out, when he himself understood Felix was right. Avoiding the topic wouldn't help. He couldn't help but feel proud of him. 

"Ok." He finally said aloud. Hating himself for admitting he might be wrong. He knew they couldn't avoid this conversation the entire time it took Hyunjin to recover. 

Felix instantly brightened. His one watery eyes gone replaced by the half moons his eyes became with a real smile. Minho allowed himself to feel happiness in the response. Felix was such an honest person that avoiding questions must of been eating away at him. 

Felix practically bounced out of the room, leaving him and Hyunjin in the room alone. Minho looked to Hyunjin, "well. I guess you better focus on recovery soon pup." 

That's how an hour or so later, Minho found himself leaving his beta in the hands of Jeongin the doctor, to enter a room with the other doctor, the beta he'd previously met, and the two alphas he'd managed to avoid so far. 

Minho entered a sitting room holding Felix's hand, following him. The two alphas and their beta sat on a couch. The tallest of the three in the middle. All dark haired, dark eyed. Two had more muscle than most in their old pack, but judging from how they looked sitting. Minho might be taller than all three, Hyunjin was definitely taller.

The doctor, Seungmin, stood near them, but not with them. He knew the doctors met the pack right before he himself woke up here. Clearly they weren't close, but Seungmin at least, seemed comfortable being around them.

An arm chair matching the one Felix had been sleeping on sat in front of the couch. They'd presumably moved the chair to let Minho rest. It faced the 4 wolves stood around in the room.

Minho watched the packs eyes as they entered. The betas round eyes looked at them both happily, while the alpha in the middle gave nothing away. Minho felt like he was looking at cold eyes. The other, the shortest but more muscular of the three his eyes flew instantly to Felix before looking past both of them. Minho felt a scowl appear on his face at that.  None of them had any right to look in Felix's direction, never mind directly at them. He caught the tallest ones eyes as he scowled. The taller one averted his eyes. 

Seungmin looked towards him kindly as they entered, moving to greet the pair. A polite bow as he softly held Minho's arm and gestured towards the arm chair. 

"Minho, you should sit down. Try not to stress yourself out too much." 

Minho couldn't help thinking about how much Seungmin had perfected his bedside manor. The kindness that radiated from him right now was comforting. Almost as comforting as he had been when he awoke in an unfamiliar bed.  It was no wonder Jeongin liked him, the two were opposites when it came to bedside manners.

Minho sat on the seat, leaving room to Felix to sit on the arm of the chair. He knew his old pack wouldn't allow omegas to sit on furniture, either this pack was playing mind games, behaving for the doctors sake, or didn't fully buy into their old packs ways of thinking. Their reaction to Felix sitting on the arm of the armchair would tell, Minho decided as he sat down. Felix shooting him a look as he looked at the arm rest, but doing as he was told. 

Minho watched the pack, noticing a lack of reaction in any way. Interesting. He decided to hold onto that thought for later. 

"Minho, thank you for deciding to talk to us." The tallest of the pack finally spoke. Minho couldn't help but be intrigued at his accent. It was similar to both his and Felix's. Was he from the same area as them? The packs around him were known for holding similar beliefs to his old pack. "We can understand it'll be hard to talk about, but we will also answer any questions you may have from us in return." The largest alpha finished. His voice was soft, not patronisingly, just soft. "I'm Chan, this is my beta Jisung." He gestured to the beta Minho had actually met before, though briefly. 

"And this is Changbin." Chan finished, his hand lifting to show the shortest of the trio. 

Minho gave a brief nod as Chan listed their names.  Trying his best to memorise those name should any of them attempt anything. Rather than waste time introducing himself, as he knew Felix had introduced the three of them to him while he was passed out, he decided to forgo it completely.  Instead, Minho decided to go straight to what he needed to say.

"We are from pack Lee. " He opened with, taking in Chan's eyes widening in shock. So he definitely knew the pack, Minho noted. 

" The lee pack is. Not known for much beyond their cruelty. Especially towards betas and omegas. We lived on the outskirts of the pack for most of our lives. Our aunt, Soo-Jin was a healer, she had began training me when our pack leader took over. Tagon." Minho had to force himself not to spit as he spoke about the event that changed his entire life. 

" Tagon Park took over after he challenged the previous leader 15 ago. Once he was named the leader of our pack, everything changed. Most members of the pack went from mistreated to either abused or the abuser. " Minho's eyes were cold as he looked to the trio as he spoke. 

Other than widening his eyes, Chan had no reaction to his words. Jisung, the beta, seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve. He reacted to every sentence. Often glancing between Minho and Felix as though checking Minho was telling the truth. Not in an insulting way, more like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. The other alpha wasn't far off Jisung, though perhaps a little more guarded than Jisung. 

Sighing, Minho continued with their story. 

 "For a while, the three of us were left alone, as the main healer of the pack and her assistant, no one wanted to start problems by casting the same abuse on us. It started slowly. Random insults and being belittled as I helped Soo-Jin care for this new version of the pack. Felix was still young when he took over, he would spend most of his time in the shack with us but he didn't learn the way I did. Around the time he took over, a lot of the omegas and betas left. If we'd of known what would happen, we would of left as well. But we stayed. "

 "Five years ago. It all changed. Tagon decided omegas couldn't be healers. He demanded Soo-Jin step down. She refused to bow to his decision. She threatened to leave. She....she told me to pack up in secret, to grab what we needed to leave."

Minho had to take a break from their story as he began to relive the horrible memories. Felix grabbed his hand in one of his, using the other to comfortingly rub the back of it.  Something he had learned from Soo-Jin, Minho mused as he focused on the feeling. Despite the age gap between them, Minho was glad they grew up with Soo-Jin. She may have not been Felix's mother, but he saw her in him everyday.

"Soo-jin died that night." He chose to save the details. No one needed to hear how it happened, what he saw from alphas and betas that had been treated by his mother figure. How they murdered the only omega that had ever stood a chance of leaving.  He and Felix knew exactly how she died, and neither wanted to live through it again.

 "She died, and it cemented what type of pack they were going to be. All unmarried omegas and betas were forced to live separately from the alphas. That's where we met Hyunjin. We were given little to eat, forced to put up with alphas entering our area whenever they felt like it, we other no option to fight back or leave.  I tried leaving several times after Soo-Jin, none of them were successful."

He paused knowing the end was worse.  The only joy in Minho's life was Soo-Jin, Felix and Hyunjin. He'd lost one now, he felt like he was in hell waiting on Hyunjin waking up and re-joining them again. 

 "I was labelled a trouble maker at that point. I was an outcast, forced to do what could only be seen as the worst tasks,  but it was worth it to find a way to leave with Hyunjin and Felix. None worked. Until the night Tagon turned his sight on Felix.  The night after he made the announcement, I killed three betas. I grabbed Hyunjin and Felix, and we ran." Minho hissed out the last part. He felt shame for his choice of action, but he also couldn't regret it. Not when his brother and Hyunjin got away from that pack, away from that territory completely.  

"That's why we forced our way out, that's why we ran for a week straight before we ran into you days ago. 

Minho looked them in the eyes watching as horror washed over the trio and the doctor at his words. He watched as they took in the horrors that had been their life. Minho felt his own eyes water as he gritted his teeth and stared at the wall behind the men. He couldn't bring himself to look at any of them, not at Felix.  

Reliving his life felt horrid, but he would do what he did the night of their escape a thousand times over if it meant Felix was safe from that man. If it meant Felix and Hyunjin were safe from that pack. He would not falter in his protection of his packmates, he would ensure the lights of his life got to live away from any alpha who would dim their bright souls. Tagon was a monster, and so long as Minho lived, he would never be able to touch either of them.

He'd expected a reaction from the trio. He wasn't sure what type of reaction he would get, when he could finally look at those in front of him. What he didn't expect was to see the shorter two with tears in their eyes. The short one wiped them away, while Jisung let them fall freely. Chan in the middle was nodding to himself. He was the only one of the three that didn't look shocked. Pained maybe was the word that his mind offered at the look. It was strange. He had a knowing look to his expression.

"I'm also from pack Lee." Chan said finally, breaking the silence that bad fallen over the room. "My parents are betas. They...they left the pack around 15 years ago. When the leader at the time had began acting badly towards betas and omegas, not long after his take over. I don't really recall much from the time, I was young when we left.  I only my remember my mother waking me in the middle of the night to leave. She was pregnant with my sister at the time." His eyes finally looking Minho in the eyes.

It was Minho's turn to be shocked. How had three members who'd escaped the lee clan fond themselves so far away from the lee territory.

"My parents were scared that my sister would be an omega or beta child, that's how we ended up coming to pack Park. That's where I met Changbin and Jisung. While it had it's issue with treating people fairly, it was bearable. It's also why we" at we, he gestured to his packmates. "It's why we left there as well, though admittedly we were allowed to leave. We didn't need to fight our way out. No one should be treated differently for how they were born."

"My grandfather offered his old territory to me last time we spoke. He and his packmates wanted the security if a larger pack, and I wanted to leave our clan. We've spent the few months we've had here building a home that's equal for all of us. "

If Minho was speechless before. He didn't know what he would be now. To hear an alpha address the mistreatment of betas and omegas felt liberating. It didn't mean he trusted any of the trio, but he felt some walls inside him break.  Chan was like him. Someone who escaped Tagon's cruelty. Someone who'd left another pack for his betas sake. Unlike Minho, he'd tried to build a life for his packmates, he'd managed what Minho couldn't despite being of similar ages. 

Minho was glad his brother hadn't stopped rubbing his hand. The steady rhythm gave him some stability as he found himself shocked by the alpha in front of him. 

As Seungmin went to speak, they heads a quiet "inHo" shout.

Without thinking, Minho jumped up from his chair, tearing his hand from Felix as he sprinted to the room he left Hyunjin.

As he slammed through the door, he found his beta struggling to open his eyes, calling his name again. Struggling to open his eyes, but as Minho entered they fully opened. Hyunjin was awake.