Twilight ||| Oneus

~~10~~

He shivered in surprised when he felt the alpha reach for his hand. Their bond was powerful. He interlaced their fingers on top of the sand. When Hwanwoong looked up, Youngjo wore a gentle expression.

"I don't mind waiting for you," Youngjo admitted, "But I need you to do something for me." The younger opened his mouth to speak but before he could question him, Youngjo continued. "Can you please talk to me from now on? About what you're feeling?"

Tears started to pool in the alpha's eyes, which was a rare sight to see. Youngjo must be carrying some burdens too.

"It's just... I don't know how to take care of you. I don't know what you need from me. I want to help you get better, but I don't know what's going on inside your mind. I don't know what all you're struggling with... and it kills me to think that I can't protect you." He drew in a deep breath only to let it out shakily. "So please... talk to me."

After a short moment, Hwanwoong felt tears slip down his cheeks, and he nodded his head. "Okay," he cried. He didn't realize how much everything's been affecting the alpha too.

"Okay?" Youngjo cried with him. Hwanwoong nodded again, and Youngjo pulled the omega into his arms. "We have to talk to each other about how we're feeling, so we can move on together." He threaded his fingers through Hwanwoong's blonde hair, tucking the smaller male into his neck.

"I-it's been so h-hard!" Hwanwoong sobbed.

Youngjo shushed him. "I know. It's okay, it's okay." He soothingly swayed them back and forth in their spots while his mate cried, letting out puffs of warm air against his skin. "We're going to be more open with each other, okay? We're a team, right?" He could feel the smaller nod in the crook of his neck.

—————

The couple leisurely walked hand in hand back to their camp, enjoying the cool breeze through the forest trees. Their shoulders constantly brushed against one another because the idea of being any further apart from each other was unbearable.

Apparently, their break down at the beach was exactly what the pair needed to rekindle their undeniable connection. They were able to talk about everything since Hwanwoong lost the baby. Of course, it was difficult for the omega, but Youngjo was there to comfort him, to give him gentle kisses when necessary.

They whispered casual sweet nothings to each other, letting out soft giggles here and there. They're flirtatious smiles made them look like they were courting all over again. The scene was precious, undeniably cute. And when they walked into the camp-

Youngjo froze in his place, holding out a hand to stop Hwanwoong too and stepping in front of him. Hwanwoong looked up at him in concern as he watched the alpha sniff the air a few times. The leader's eyes darkened.

When Hwanwoong followed suit and inhaled deeply, he was surprised they hadn't noticed it earlier on their walk, but they were probably too consumed by one another to notice.

There's a new wolf's smell in their campsite, in their home. What's even more peculiar is the overwhelming scent of their other alpha pack member. The whole camp is nauseatingly drenched in it. There was something off about Leedo's scent too. He seemed almost panicked, maybe worried. There was definitely a bit of stress mixed in there. The normal relaxed cedar smell of the alpha has turned sour.

The other smell, on the other hand, was sweeter... like a beta, but it wasn't Keonhee.

"Hwanwoong, keep a couple feet behind me please." Youngjo protectively instructed.

The smell led them directly to Leedo's hut. The closer they got to it, the more they understood what this situation was, and Youngjo was heated.

"Alpha, please stay calm." Hwanwoong tugged on his mate's sleeve, sensing the anger building up in the alpha.

"A couple feet behind me, Hwanwoong!" Youngjo rarely used his alpha voice on Hwanwoong, so this was enough for Hwanwoong to cower back in submission, like the alpha had wanted.

Leedo seemed to have been aware of the couple's arrival because he opened his hut door before Youngjo approached it to knock. He swiftly closed the door behind him, so the mated couple were unable to see the stranger inside. The alpha was dazed, frazzled maybe. His hair was a mess, and his clothes looked like they were thrown on in a hurry.

"Youngjo, I need you to hear me out-"

"What the hell is going on here? And who the hell is in there!?" Youngjo uncharacteristically snarled.

Leedo flinched at the leader's tone, not used to seeing the alpha this upset. "Y-Youngjo... p-please. I f-fucked up. I don't know what to do." The younger alpha trembled through his words, the reality of the entire situation overwhelming him.

"How could you fuck a random beta in our camp, let alone bring them here, without discussing it with me? Do you know how dangerous that could be? Do you have any respect!?"

"Nothing happened... at least not in our camp." Leedo looked unusually small next to the angry leader as he rang his hands together nervously. "I h-had to bring him here because I didn't know what else to do!" Leedo's eyes were glossing over.

Before Youngjo could freak out any further, Hwanwoong struggled to step closer again and placed a calming hand on his mate's shoulder, releasing omega pheromones. "A-alpha... please listen to him. He's scared."

At his mate's voice, Youngjo visibly relaxed, finally taking a moment to really observe the whole situation with all of his senses. Leedo did look scared, absolutely terrified about what had just happened. His strong smell reflected it. "You claimed him?" Youngjo knew that that's what must have happened.

The other alpha nodded once slowly, a look of shame painted across his face.

"I... I couldn't control myself. I let my w-wolf take over and I bit him." Leedo started to shake and his low voice sounded broken. A few tears slipped past his eyelids.

Youngjo cursed under his breath and looked down. Taking a moment to calm down before reacting any further, like a leader should, but it wasn't easy. His wolf was angry. Hwanwoong could see the internal struggle.

But then Hwanwoong realized something else... Keonhee was nowhere to be seen. He couldn't smell the beta either. They were too concerned with the new situation to notice before. "Where's Keonhee?" The omega's voice was laced with worry, making the other two snap their heads up and look at him.

Leedo's eyes widened as the realization hit him. "Shit!" He banged his fist against the hut's door in aggravation with himself. "I got carried a-away and I-"

"You left him alone!?" Hwanwoong worried. Keonhee was his only friend, aside from Youngjo, and the beta was unmated. "Youngjo, we need to find him! Let's go. We can deal with this later."

The leader gritted his teeth in frustration, but refused to look at his pack member as he clenched his eyes shut. He was too disappointed. Leedo was his hunting companion and his friend, but how could he be so foolish?

Hwanwoong took off in the direction of the marketplace, tugging Youngjo's arm to follow him. Only then, Youngjo glanced back at the younger alpha to mutter, "You were always supposed to be my right-hand man. I've never been so disappointed in you."

Written by squidster97