Twilight ||| Oneus

~~19~~

When his sobs were reduced to mere hiccups, Hwanwoong held out his hand for him to grasp, helping him to stand on his feet. Hwanwoong cupped the older's cheeks, rubbing his small thumbs under Youngjo's eyes to brush away his stray tears. The look Hwanwoong gives him is so full of love and gentleness that Youngjo melts, caressing his face into his mate's hand before pecking his palm.

Hwanwoong flashes the faintest smile. "Let's go to bed, love." Youngjo looked like he was about to protest, but Hwanwoong wouldn't let him. "He's still unconscious. Keonhee doesn't think that he will wake up for a while. He probably needs the rest... and so do you."

"I just..." Youngjo sighed, "I don't think I should." He bit his bottom lip anxiously.

Thanks to their bond, there was nothing that Youngjo could get past Hwanwoong. He can't hide any emotions from him. The younger knew exactly what Youngjo was feeling, what was eating away at him. He could feel that same heaviness in his own chest. Hwanwoong frowned. "It's not doing anyone any good for you to be out here though. It's chilly."

Finally, after some more convincing, Youngjo allowed Hwanwoong to pull him toward their hut, passing Leedo's along the way. Keonhee exited the alpha's hut just as they walked by. He shivered as the night air chilled his skin. The beta wore a melancholy expression mixed with exhaustion. He turned back toward the doorway to remind Dongju, "Please let me know as soon as he wakes up. I'll be back to check on him first thing in the morning." The couple can only assume that Dongju nodded in response since they didn't see or hear him.

When Keonhee finally noticed the mated couple, his eyes widened, but he was relieved to see them doing the best that they can be. Though, he did notice Youngjo's tear stained face, but he didn't comment on it, which Youngjo is thankful for.

No words were exchanged between the trio because they were unnecessary at the moment. If one of them were to open their mouths, it just might make them all crumble and fall to pieces. For the most part, they've all been holding up fairly well. They were all going through this together. They were all feeling the same things and were able to lean on each other.

Leedo is their packmate and they can't imagine anything happening to him.

When Youngjo and Hwanwoong returned to their own hut, they instantly curled up under the furs, snuggling into each other's warm embraces. Hwanwoong tucked his head underneath Youngjo's chin, purring slightly as he rubbed his nose lightly over his mate's neck. At the action, Youngjo tightened his grip around his omega's waist, feeling only a little more contented than before.

It finally made the realization cross his mind that it could have been Hwanwoong in the other alpha's place. He remembers the story that Hwanwoong had explained. The snake could have very easily bitten his mate, his love. Leedo is struggling to fight off the venom as an alpha. With Hwanwoong being an omega, it's highly unlikely that he would survive it. If Leedo hadn't bravely stepped in front, sacrificing himself, Hwanwoong would be in his place instead, maybe worse.... and Youngjo doesn't think that he could go through that.

Youngjo nuzzled his nose into his lover's blonde locks, as Hwanwoong now snores as peacefully as possible considering the day's events. He deeply inhales Hwanwoong's calming lemongrass scent, and he couldn't imagine never getting to smell the glorious scent again if for some reason he were to lose him.

He feels incredibly blessed to be able to hold him so close tonight, more than ever before. Again, he couldn't imagine being in Dongju's place.

.

.

.

Youngjo woke up to an insistent knocking on their hut's door. He sits up straight in his bed, immediately alert, but still feeling incredibly groggy from a nearly restless sleep. Hwanwoong sat up as well with a yawn, sleepily stretching his arms over his head.

The knocking paused for a minute, as though they were listening for an indication that they're awake before they heard, "He's a-awake! Leedo's awake!!" It was Keonhee.

The couple immediately sprung out of bed, not paying any mind to the wrinkled, tangled furs, and followed Keonhee to where the alpha in question resides.

Keonhee knocked on the wooden door gently, getting a soft, "Come in," from Dongju. They creeped the door open and calmly walked inside, and what they saw brought them all to tears.

Leedo sat upright, propped against a couple cushions. He had his hands resting gently over his abdomen. There was more color on his face now. Dongju carefully helped him take small sips of water, and it was clear that the alpha was incredibly weak. But he was awake, which means that he's fighting the venom. He's going to be okay.

When Leedo notices the three standing their, he looks over at them and flashes the tiniest of smiles, "What's with the crying? You haven't gotten rid of me yet," he jokes weakly, his voice raspy and low.

At that very Leedo comment, Youngjo broke down, falling to his knees beside Leedo's bed, and Leedo's eyes widened. "What are you doing?" Traditionally, a Head Alpha never kneels before any of their pack mates, but Youngjo has proven time and time again that he's not like most pack leaders. At this moment, he was vulnerably submitting before Leedo to show his gratitude and to beg for forgiveness.

Youngjo grabbed ahold of one of Leedo's hands, grasping it tightly. "I'm s-so sorry, Leedo." He cried. "I thought I'd never get to tell you how sorry I am for pushing you away. I thought I'd never get to tell you how thankful I am that you protected my mate. And I thought I'd never get to tell you how lucky I am to have you as my right-hand man. I'm sorry for not being a good leader to you. I'm so sorry." The tears kept coming during his speech, making some of the words almost indecipherable, but the point got across.

Leedo squeezes the alpha's hand to get his attention. If not, Youngjo probably would have kept going. Instead, the Head Alpha looked up into the other's eyes that were so full of warmth. Leedo cracked a gentle smile, "It's okay, I forgive you."

"But-"

He shook his head, "I deserved some of the treatment, and you were disappointed. I understand. As for saving Hwanwoong, I would have done that for any of the pack members, especially him. He's my Luna. Even if we are upset with one another, I will give my life in an instant to protect my Luna."

Leedo has always been so loyal, and Youngjo feels so undeserving. "You really forgive me?"

The other nods.

Youngjo reaches his forearm out, which Leedo gratefully grasps, immediately feeling the strength of their pack's bond run through them. It was an extraordinarily comforting feeling. When they pull apart, they both wear big smiles, and only then does Youngjo notice that everyone else had stepped out of the hut to give them some privacy, which he's thankful for. What he had done was very vulnerable.

There was a light knock on the door before everyone entered again. Youngjo stood from his position on the floor and looked over at Dongju. "I've never officially welcomed you to my pack."

He holds his forearm out to Dongju as well, who looks back at it tentatively, but he grasps it, letting out a contented sigh. Youngjo wonders if the beta has ever felt a pack bond like this one before.

Youngjo looks at his mate and the rest of his pack members with a pleased smile. His pack was small, strange but mighty, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

~~Written by squidster97 ~~