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"I hate it here," Yeosang sighed, rubbing his arms. He didn't even look like he wanted to pretend he was happy and Hongjoong understood him all too well. He didn’t want to be here either, but as the future heir to the head alpha title, the Sol, he had to participate in the mating run regardless of the result of the ritual. His father was lenient enough in that aspect and while the prospect of mating a good and strong omega from another clan would strengthen his status, it was not forced on him. What he had to do, though, was to show himself entering the hunting grounds.
The tradition was established after the first leaders of the most powerful clans forged a neutrality pact between the packs. It was supposed to strengthen the peace between the people of different factions. A whole new and peaceful era of bonds forged through mateship came with the establishment of the runs.
Many centuries have passed, but the rules of the ritual haven’t changed much. They were simple; each year one of the biggest four packs had to hold a mating run on their territory. Most of the young and unmated waited with excitement for the day of the hunt to come, some having chosen their mate through courting and treating it as the last step to make their relationship official, while the others let their instincts choose a suitable mate.
The same year Hongjoong presented as an alpha, his father forced him to participate in his first run.
Hongjoong shook his head and shuddered at the memory. Everyone seemed to know who Hongjoong was, the older omegas from other clans looked at him as if calculating his worth. He had presented only a few weeks before and still felt like he had milk under his nose. He could barely pop a knot and his sense of smell was so sensitive he got sick and could barely reach the hunting grounds. Back then, his oversensitivity to scents helped him avoid all participants, especially the omegas who tried to tempt him with their pheromones in an attempt to bag the next head alpha.
Hongjoong hoped that this year, too, he would somehow avoid the flock of omegas trying to hunt him. He wasn't ready to mate just yet.
He exhaled heavily, placing a hand on the small of Yeosang's back, rubbing calming circles over the linen shirt he wore. "I know, but it's only for a day, Yeo. It’s our terrain, so we have the upper hand. We know the place better than anyone else and—"
"—and we will stomp them," came the confident chuckle from behind them.
Hongjoong jumped, surprised at the sudden interruption, but Yeosang just stepped aside when Wooyoung spun to hug him. The future Luna rolled his eyes in exasperation making Wooyoung grumble when he couldn’t get his hands on him, but the younger quickly changed the victim of his affection to the alpha.
Wooyoung kissed his cheek with a wetly obnoxious smack. Hongjoong groaned, trying to rub the wetness away. Despite his best attempts to get Wooyoung's hands off of him, the omega was strong enough to just withstand the alpha's squirming. He soon gave up, letting the omega do whatever he'd like. Wooyoung smiled triumphantly.
"This is not a sparring session, Young-ah. Can't you take this seriously, for once?" Yeosang chided, his brows knit together in annoyance.
"Are you sure it's not a sparring session? I think there will be a lot of ground fighting if you know what I mean." Wooyoung wiggled his eyebrows suggestively baring his teeth in a dangerous smirk. Yeosang glared at him unamused. Hongjoong sighed, shaking his head.
"Oh, come on, smile a little! Look at all these losers. Even on their own territory, they wouldn't stand a chance against us. You just need to unclench and have some fun!"
"Like you did last year?" Yeosang snorted and shook his head.
Hongjoong let out a groan, finally shoving the cackling omega off of himself.
"Don't remind me of last year... we were lucky the eastern pack hadn't demanded satisfaction for what you've done to their future Sol." Hongjoong growled but Wooyoung shrugged his shoulders, wiping the tears from his face.
"I did them a favor, he would've been a shitty leader," the omega said, crossing his arms.
“It’s not funny, Woo,” Hongjoong grumbled, patting down his shirt. Wooyoung rolled his eyes.
“For me it is,” he sing-sang, passing Hongjoong and skipping towards the crowd, whistling cheerfully.
They slowly walked closer to the hunting grounds of their pack, nearing the rest of the attendees. The intensity of the scents made Hongjoong nauseous. His nose was still sensitive, so he tried to subtly breathe through his mouth. Too many people were releasing their pheromones. The air was heavy with them.
His inner Wolf growled inside of his mind as his territorial instinct kicked in. The sound spilled out of him before he could reign it in. Yeosang grabbed his arm and shook his head, silently signaling the alpha to calm down.
Familiar scents. Hongjoong had to focus on familiar scents; on Wooyoung's warm and spicy clove, on Yeosang's citrusy magnolia. They grounded him and their familiarity placated his Wolf. They were his pack. They were safe.
Hongjoong exhaled.
Looking over the crowd to search for the rest of his packmates he saw a familiar face. Yunho, his friend from the western pack, stood with one of his younger packmates and stroked his back. The boy looked worse for wear, but he wasn’t the only one who was swaying and covering his mouth. The tall omega waved at Hongjoong when he saw him and smiled brightly.
Hongjoong waved back, but decided against approaching. The young alpha hiding under Yunho's arm seemed uncomfortable enough already and Hongjoong could sympathize. Everything was reeking with pheromones and young alphas were far more sensitive to scents than freshly presented omegas.
Wooyoung tugged at his arm, whining about being ignored. Hongjoong snorted, but he let the omega lead him through the crowd. Yeosang was already chatting with their packmates, giggling at a joke.
The alpha smiled, relaxing a little in the familiar atmosphere of loud bickering and laughter, surrounded by a familiar blend of scents. He could almost ignore the commotion of a different group approaching.
Almost .
The crisp, icy scent was the first thing Hongjoong had noticed. It was like a gust of chilly wind. Fighting with himself to not look in the direction of the alluring scent, Hongjoong grit his teeth and clenched his fists until his nails bit into the soft flesh of his palm.
Hongjoong sent them a warning growl.
None of his packmates, especially the omegas, were fond of Seonghwa and he understood why.
The future Luna of the northern pack was perfect. He was a great warrior and his mind was as sharp as the blades he loved to use. Seonghwa was also ethereally beautiful. His lithe but strong body reminded Hongjoong of a wild cat, graceful and dangerous. His features were seemingly sculpted by the careful hands of the Moon Mother herself and his scent alone took many alphas' breath away.
Few could resist his charm and many fell into the trap of Seonghwa's almost deadly allure and Hongjoong would too...
...if it weren't for Seonghwa's absolutely horrible personality.
Hongjoong was quite used to bossy omegas thanks to Wooyoung's frequent feral outbursts and in the years he had spent with him, he had found a way to tame and handle the rowdy omega.
But Seonghwa?
Seonghwa was extremely cocky. Proud. Overconfident. Provocative. Despotic. He also seemed to hate Hongjoong’s guts, even though Hongjoong did nothing to warrant his hatred.
As soon as he heard the omega’s deeper voice something in him boiled with rage. Seonghwa barely came to the gathering spot and he already had a group of horny alphas surrounding him, declaring their readiness to hunt him. He only laughed at their words, clearly amused by the challenge he was sure he would win.
Hongjoong grit his teeth.
Annoying.
Seonghwa was annoying.
He forced himself to ignore the omega, focusing on his friends instead.
Their scents, especially Yeosang's, soured significantly when they walked deeper into the crowd. Hongjoong glared around at those who decided to ogle his packmate while Yeosang reigned his pheromones in as much as he could, preparing to turn invisible for the noses of the alphas here.
Both of them knew Yeosang was considered prey by many of the participants. Yeosang’s calmer nature contributed to the false image of weakness.
Those who were aware they stood no chance in pursuing Seonghwa usually gravitated towards Yeosang. After all, he was a Luna, too, which made him a great status catch. Usually Wooyoung and his teeth bared with the promise of pain were enough to scare off most of Yeosang's unwanted suitors. Sometimes, though, Hongjoong had to intervene. One angry snap of his jaws and a spike in his scent was all it took for the alphas to leave the omega alone. For now, at least.
Hongjoong sighed deeply, turning to his packmates. "So, what's your plan for today?" He asked, crossing his arms on his chest. When one of their alpha friends shared that their pack will gain a new member Hongjoong smiled, congratulating him. Some of the younger omegas were jittery, the excitement shining in their eyes. Yeosang rolled his eyes when they started to talk over themselves.
"I want this day to end…" Yeosang grumbled, already tired. His scent was barely there, drowned out by the waves of pheromones around them. Wooyoung cackled loudly before he gave him a little nudge. He hugged the young head omega, smushing his cheek against Yeosang’s.
“And you? Any other plans than being a menace?” Hongjoong asked, brow shooting up. Yeosang was grumbling at Wooyoung’s incessant rubbing, but he didn’t push the younger one away.
"Nope. I saw a nice alpha I want to try out this year." The omega stopped the torment and licked his lips, a confident smirk appearing on his face. "If he's gonna suck tho, better figure out what to tell the northern pack, hyung."
"Young-ah..." the alpha warned, which was met by a roll of Wooyoung’s eyes.
"Which one?" Yeosang asked instead, intrigued.
"He's with the ice bitch.” Wooyoung pointed in the direction with his chin. “Wide shoulders, tiny waist. Need to see if he's worth it."
"Just don't maul him too much if he won't meet your expectations. Hyung might really combust this time." the older omega laughed, blowing Hongjoong a kiss when the alpha flipped him off.
Wooyoung unglued himself from Yeosang and put a hand on his heart, raising his other hand in a gesture of promise. "Yeah, yeah. No mauling.” He said with a smile. His eyes, though, glimmered with mischief. “But can I at least break limbs?"
"Wooyoung!" Hongjoong hissed. His pack members giggled at his horrified expression but the laughter quickly died down when the icy scent got closer. The atmosphere grew heavier. Everyone stopped speaking, barely even breathing, postures tense when the group from the north approached them.
Hongjoong turned, taking a deep breath, but all it did was agitate him even more when he felt the chill of one particular scent. Seonghwa stood with his head held high, watching them with a condescending smile plastered on his face.
"Having fun? Maybe save some until we're on the grounds, since you always host the most boring runs."
Hongjoong clenched his jaw. "What do you want, Park?"
"Is this how you welcome your guests, Kim? Impeccable manners.” Seonghwa snorted, shaking his head in mock-disappointment. He crossed his arms and jutted his hip. “What I want is a good challenge. And looking at what you and your pitiful pack had organized, I don't see any." Seonghwa taunted, looking around with superiority, the grin plastered on his face growing wider when the flock around him laughed at his comment.
Hongjoong grit his teeth. He could feel the heat of anger creeping onto his cheeks, but he knew he needed to calm down. Seonghwa was provoking him into a pack fight and Hongjoong couldn't allow it. Not after the issues they had because of Wooyoung's fuckup last year. Hongjoong could smell the sudden spike in Wooyoung’s scent before the omega even moved. The burning sugar mixed with spices, biting his throat and lungs. The iciness of Seonghwa's scent responded to Wooyoung's challenge.
A crowd gathered around them, observing how the two most powerful packs were on the cusp of a conflict. Hongjoong coughed, unable to do anything when it overwhelmed his senses for precious seconds.
"Well if you weren't such a bi-" Wooyoung shouted, surging forward to attack. The scream of the omega forced Hongjoong to snap out.
"Wooyoung ENOUGH !" Hongjoong ran after him and caught his friend before Wooyoung could land the first punch. Wooyoung went rigid in his hold, paralyzed by the sound of Hongjoong’s inhuman voice and they spun in place, almost losing balance. The omega sagged, limp from the sheer power of the command.
"Enough..." Hongjoong repeated, this time gentler, releasing Wooyoung from the hold of his voice. He bit his lip, looking at Yeosang and begging the Luna to take Wooyoung away from him. He despised being able to reach for his alpha voice. It felt barbaric, especially when used on the members of his pack, but Wooyoung had left him no choice. Yeosang quickly dragged Wooyoung away, releasing a cloud of calming pheromones. Wooyoung stumbled, wiping away the blood that trickled out of his nose.
Yeosang shot a venomous glare at the other Luna, a quiet growl resonating within his chest.
Seonghwa laughed, his voice loud like an avalanche and grating Hongjoong’s already tattered nerves.
"Guess your omegas have bigger balls than your alphas. Goddess, what a let down..." Seonghwa chuckled, shaking his head. "Can you even lead a pack? Maybe your brother should take over your position, hm?"
"Do not speak of my brother," Hongjoong said through gritted teeth. Seonghwa only bared his in a triumphant sneer.
The alpha barely held himself back from attacking the omega. His inner wolf started to growl, taking over Hongjoong’s mind. He stepped forward as if in a trance, reacting to Seonghwa rolling his shoulders. Hongjoong was only a few steps away from making a mistake when the warm floral scent engulfed him as he was yanked back into someone's embrace.
Vanilla. Sweet and familiar.
Yunho .
"Hey, maybe we should all calm down? There's no need to jump at each other's throats before the run, right?" The tall omega released Hongjoong from his embrace, but kept his warm hand on his shoulder. His long fingers bit into Hongjoong’s skin, strong and reassuring. Hongjoong blinked away the mist of anger clouding his eyes, and took a deep breath. Sweetness filled his lungs. He placed a hand atop of Yunho’s, silently thanking him for the intervention.
There was a short burst of a sharp, rusty smell in the air when Yunho smiled at Hongjoong in reassurance.
"And who are you?" Seonghwa snarled, glaring at the tall omega.
"A very close friend." Yunho answered with an unwavering smile and the scent of rust came back full force.
Seonghwa narrowed his eyes, looking at Hongjoong and Yunho. "A friend..." the omega repeated under his breath before he started to laugh again. An annoyed grumble resonated from deep within Hongjoong’s chest. Yunho instinctually brought the alpha closer, knowing that he could do something he'd regret later. And while Hongjoong was seething, the omegas were looking at each other, their true intents hidden beneath fake smiles.
"Quite the unusual pair you make. It almost makes me want to congratulate you on your courting. Are you the one who gives him gifts?" Seonghwa said, the mocking tone apparent in his voice. His smile, though, had faded.
"Thank you. At least he'd accept my gifts and genuinely want them. Which can't be said about a certain person's advances."
Yunho laughed, short and low, hugging the alpha again. Hongjoong turned his head to finally take in Yunho's expression. His smile was polite but fake. Hongjoong shuddered. Never before had he seen this expression on Yunho’s face. It was almost venomous, dangerous in a way only an omega’s anger could be.
Seonghwa snarled at this comment and Hongjoong raised his brow in question. Yunho’s arms tightened around him when Seonghwa took a step in their direction. The alpha raised his chin and reciprocated the glare Seonghwa gave him. He clenched his fists.
"I'll see you at the run, Kim.”
"Doubt it, Park.”
Seonghwa huffed and walked past the alpha, leaving the chill of his scent behind. His pack followed after, leaving the whole southern pack seething with rage.
Seconds later Yunho released him from his hold, stepping back. The omega smiled bashfully and scratched his nape. "I'm sorry for butting in like this. You just looked like you needed some help.”
Hongjoong shook his head. “It’s fine. Thank you, Yunho, really. You saved me right there.” He sighed, throwing a glance at Wooyoung and Yeosang who were still glaring at the white-haired omega standing in a circle formed by his pack. He was smirking, laughing at their anger. Hongjoong cleared his throat, getting their attention. “Stop it. Don't give him the satisfaction.”
Wooyoung grumbled something under his nose, but he allowed Yeosang to tug him away. They stepped closer, wanting to properly greet their friend.
"I'll see you at the starting point." Yunho sighed and hugged them briefly. "Don't cause too much trouble to Joongie, okay?”
"You’re going?” Yeosang asked, wincing when Wooyoung screeched in protest, too loud for Yeosang’s comfort.
“But we barely got to see you!”
Yunho let out a strained ‘oof’ when Wooyoung hugged him with more force.
"I know, Woo, but I need to make sure everyone is okay. Luna duty calls.” Yunho ruffled Wooyoung’s hair and smiled apologetically. “We have a few whelps joining the run this year and they don’t take this situation well. You know, scent fatigue and all that. I can’t leave them alone.”
“They’re not going to get used to stuff if you’re going to coddle them!” Wooyoung whined loudly.
“Woo, let him go. You’re going to catch up after the hunt.”
Wooyoung pouted, dark eyes pleading. He ignored Hongjoong’s exasperated sigh and Yunho laughed at the teary puppy eyes. “Hongjoong is right. We will see each other at the feast,” he said, pinching Wooyoung’s nose. “And I plan to drink you under the table,” he added with a grin.
Wooyoung inhaled sharply, stepping back. He looked almost offended before his lips stretched in a smirk. “Fat chance but you can always try.” He shot back, narrowing his eyes.
Yeosang leaned into Hongjoong’s space, looking at the bickering omegas with worry. “If Wooyoung starts dancing on the table, I’m out.” He deadpanned.
Hongjoong snorted and shook his head. “Let’s hope Woo passes out or Yunho wins before that happens.”
“I heard you, you traitor!” Wooyoung screamed, pointing at Hongjoong, who flipped him off, grinning from ear to ear.
Hongjoong finally relaxed a bit, enjoying the easy and friendly atmosphere full of banter. Yunho patted Wooyoung’s back and wished them a good hunt. He waved them goodbye before he trotted back to the overwhelmed young alphas of his pack.
Still, Hongjoong couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. His Wolf was uneasily pacing at the back of his mind, huffing and gruffing.
It lasted until the omegas were called to the starting point. Soon after he, too, moved to the spot, joining the other alpha participants.
The omegas ran into the forest with the first signal, disappearing between the trees. They were given a few minutes, as per the tradition of the hunt, to run as fast as they could and either hide or prepare an ambush for their future mates.
Hngjoong observed the line of the trees until the last of his omega packmates ran deep into the forest. Before he heard another loud sound of the horn Hongjoong let out a heavy sigh.
The flash of white disappearing in the darkness made his inner alpha grumble deep in his mind. It was restless and moody, which was common for the creature, as Hongjoong wasn’t one to give in to his instincts easily. Today, though, Hongjoong reeled from the previous confrontation, even if he didn't want to admit that to himself. The sudden spike of alpha pheromones in the air as Seonghwa ran only heightened the uneasiness. Hongjoong shuddered in disgust and shook his head, trying to focus on something else, something more pleasant than the clash with the future Luna of the north.
His packmates.
There were already a few couples forming long before the hunt had started and today was the day they would finally bond. As the future Sol, Hongjoong had to be up to date with who courted who and needed to be ready to accept the newcomers and bid farewell to those who had found their mates in other clans.
He wondered where they were right now. Not because he was worried for them, no. They were all strong warriors, alpha or omega, and the majority of them wanted to be here. Those who had no interest in mating stayed behind to help with preparing the feast. Out of their pack, only Yeosang and he were forced by their duty to join the hunt.
Hongjoong knew more or less where Yeosang wanted to hide and he smiled under his nose. Yeosang was probably on his way to the northern part of the hunting grounds, near the lake. Barely anyone ventured there, as the terrain was too harsh for inexperienced hunters. Hongjoong knew Yeosang would be safe there.
He glanced at the alphas who earlier tried to pick up Yeosang’s scent to follow its trail, but Hongjoong knew that each of them would fail miserably. They weren't even aware it disappeared even before the signal.
Yeosang had almost perfect control over this aspect of being an omega and pride filled Hongjoong’s chest. With more confidence in his abilities, he would be a great co-leader. Yeosang was so strong already, despite what his mother thought and said about him.
And while Hongjoong trusted the future Luna to make good decisions, he couldn’t say the same about Wooyoung. Hongjoong winced, remembering Wooyoung’s plans for this year’s run. The younger omega did say he had someone in his mind before he ran into the woods, but Hongjoong doubted it would end well. He shuddered at the thought of another clan, this time the northerners, demanding compensation for their alpha being hurt by Hongjoong’s fiery omega.
Wooyoung was a mischievous fox since childhood, getting into all kinds of trouble and even spreading the chaos on Hongjoong and Yeosang. He always had an almost unhealthy obsession with hunts and the rituals around them.
Ever since he presented, there wasn't a year he wouldn't try out a new alpha, only to find them too bland by the end of it. Sometimes it was infuriating, especially when it involved dealing with hurt alpha pride as Wooyoung wasn't one to come back from the hunt without a good fuck or a good fight. Those who made the mistake of treating him as an easy target regretted it as soon as Wooyoung stopped playing nice. He was testing how strong the people he had chosen as potential mates were and if someone didn't meet his standards… Well, Hongjoong had to handle enough clan crises caused by the omega's fierceness.
At the second sound of the horn, he moved with the other alphas.
Most bolted into the forest, growling and releasing their scents like savages to confuse the competition. The air stank of alpha musk and Hongjoong could feel his inner wolf gag at the smell, even though he was fairly used to the intensity already.
But not only Hongjoong seemed to have issues with the stench.
He looked to his left and saw a young alpha struggling to walk. The boy swayed with each step and desperately kept his hand pressed to his mouth. He was one of Yunho’s companions, the whelp who hid under Yunho’s arm at the gathering point. He was green on his face, sweat beaded on his temple and he looked like he was going to trip and fall even before entering the forest.
Hongjoong sighed and approached him, helping the boy to steady himself. He tried to reign his own scent in, careful not to overwhelm the young alpha even more. The whelp bristled at the touch but didn’t growl, wordlessly accepting Hongjoong’s help. Hongjoong could sense the spike of anger that was replaced by submissiveness when the alpha sensed he was much lower in the hierarchy.
“First hunt?” Hongjoong asked, striking a one-sided conversation as he slowly led the boy towards the forest path that hadn't been chosen by the other wolves. It was farther than the main trail, allowing for some respite from the overbearing pheromones.
The boy nodded, swallowing hard. The beads of cold sweat rolled down his face.
“Yeah, first hunts are always the worst… Yunho probably told you this, but it gets better with time,” he laughed, but the boy only shot him a glare, trying to wiggle himself out of Hongjoong’s hold as soon as he recognized the older alpha. He stopped when another bout of nausea hit him, drowning Hongjoong in the smell of sour milk.
The whelp snarled at him, baring his teeth despite the clear weakness and the need to submit.
Hongjoong growled back in a warning. “Listen you little–”
“Jongho,” the whelp interrupted weakly.
Hongjoong snarled, warning him once again. He was starting to lose his patience and the young alpha whimpered, getting paler again. He bared his throat instinctively, realizing he had made a mistake provoking the older alpha.
“Listen, brat, I was trying to help you because your elders would probably gut you if you didn’t make it to the grounds, and knowing Yunho, he would blame himself for that. Either you take the help or I leave you on the clearing and go into the forest alone.”
Jongho looked at him fearfully and shook his head. His scent spiked into a terrified sourness. Hongjoong fought not to wrinkle his nose.
They disappeared behind the trees, away from the watchful eyes of the elders overseeing the run.
Hongjoong helped Jongho sit on a stump and observed how the whelp took deep breaths to calm the nausea. The air seemed fresher here and he finally stopped shaking. With every minute the color came back onto his face, redness replacing the grayish tones.
"Are you feeling better?”
Jongho swallowed, giving a small nod. They stayed silent.
“Hyungie will not mate you,“ said Jongho suddenly, wiping the sweat off his face.
Hongjoong’s brow shot up as he made a confused noise, but the young alpha’s gaze hardened. Jongho stood up, but his knees wobbled underneath him. “Yunho hyung doesn't want to mate with you. He's courted by someone else already."
Hongjoong shook his head, letting out an exasperated groan.
"Easy there," he said, annoyance bleeding into his voice. "I'm not here to hunt Yunho. I'm not here to hunt anyone . Sit your ass down or you're going to faint."
"I don't believe you!” Jongho spat, furrowing his brows.
Hongjoong shrugged. He stepped closer to the boy, releasing a small amount of his pheromones. If his words weren’t able to convince the younger alpha, his scent surely would. Jongho’s nostrils flared and he gagged, but realized there was no intent to hunt and mate within the alpha musk.
”If you insist on protecting your Luna from the big bad alphas, I saw him run to the eastern side of the forest." Hongjoong pointed in the direction with his chin. "But you would be more of a liability to him than help. You’re still smelling of milk, so you don’t feel that yet, but alphas are territorial. Especially during hunts. It would be safer for the both of you if you stayed away from Yunho… or heavy-scented places in general, unless you really want to get hurt so much."
Jongho bit his lip, visibly considering Hongjoong’s words.
Hongjoong gave the air a small sniff, but only the faint scents of his pack lingered in this spot. He turned on his heel. The young alpha looked good enough to be left on his own. He wasn’t a babysitter and what the whelp would decide to do next was none of Hongjoong’s concern.
Hongjoong had other things to worry about, like finding a good hideout. He really didn’t want to stay in one place for too long, in case someone decided to try their luck.
Jongho didn’t move from his spot, but when Hongjoong moved to leave the place he heard a barely audible ‘thank you’. He looked over his shoulder at the younger alpha with a slight smile ghosting on his lips and nodded before he ran deeper into the woods.
It took Hongjoong some time before he reached his favorite spot.
The place was quiet and there was a stronger scent of his clan's markings, enough for him to blend his own muted one and not be immediately found. He climbed the tree, moving from one wide branch to another, from one tree to another. Finally, he sat down, safe from the people that were too focused on the trails close to the ground to look up.
Hongjoong let out an exhale and relaxed against the rough bark. Now he only had to wait until the first horn signaling the participants to come back to the clearing, just like he did every hunt he was at. He made himself comfortable and closed his eyes, drifting into a light sleep.
Suddenly, Hongjoong was pulled out of his nap when something moved in the bushes. Hongjoong blinked lazily and looked down at the spot, careful not to make any unnecessary sound. He could hear two voices in the silence of the forest, not far from his hideout, and Hongjoong choked as soon as he saw the white hair peeking through the high bushes.
“Moon Mother, everything reeks of him.”
Seonghwa emerged from the shrubbery with a wince. He wrinkled his nose, looking back at the small branches as if they had offended him. He stopped right under the branch where Hongjoong was sitting and let out a loud sigh, turning to the bushes as another person revealed themselves.
“Maybe because it’s his territory?” The other northerner sighed, earning an annoyed growl from the omega. Hongjoong lifted his brow high, recognizing the man. He was the alpha Wooyoung wanted to hunt today, so why was he with Seonghwa? As far as he remembered, the northerners were very strict about their rules, one of them banning their alphas from helping omegas of their clan during the mating run.
“Thank you, San, you’re a genius.” The omega snapped at his companion, stomping angrily. The fallen branches under his feet cracked loudly and Hongjoong sensed the irritation spiking in Seonghwa’s icy scent. He couldn’t see his face from his spot above, but he didn’t need to.
Seonghwa moved and Hongjoong prayed for the leaves and branches to hide him well.
The omega’s nostrils flared as he inhaled the air around them. He frowned, looking around. Then, he growled, as if angry at himself. He stopped and glared at San. “I told you not to follow me.”
Hongjoong heard the rustling of leaves and the heavy sigh of the alpha. “I’m staying with you. There’s no way I’m going to leave you alone when we both know at least five alphas have teamed up to look for you. It will get bloody, and you know it.”
“I know, this is precisely why I’m even indulging in this farce. If I can't have fun with him , I might as well find other kinds of amusement,” Seonghwa growled at his packmate. “Weren’t you supposed to be hunting now? Or being hunted? That feral fox you ogled so much looked like he wanted to eat you alive, maybe you should finally man up and get off my dick?”
San only shook his head. He crossed his arms on his chest and jutted his hip. “No need to get your frustration out on me, hyung. Maybe it’s time you stop being delusional and admit that the alpha you want won’t ever hunt you?”
Seonghwa balked then sputtered, trying to find a quippy answer. He wasn’t able to, so he stayed quiet as if he thought about what the alpha had said. Even for Hongjoong San's words were harsh, almost cruelly so, but his inner alpha latched onto the mention of another wolf.
He shook his head, trying to stop himself from overthinking, but the curiosity was strong. Who was the unlucky alpha that Seonghwa had his sights set on? Was it someone from his clan? Whoever it was, Hongjoong wished him luck. If that alpha managed to lay a claim on the arrogant omega during this hunt, Hongjoong wouldn't have had to deal with Seonghwa and his bullshit in the coming year.
So… why was his inner alpha pacing around within the confines of his mind, growling at Hongjoong’s thoughts?
They should be happy about it!
Seonghwa screamed with frustration, bringing Hongjoong back from the world of his inner wolf. He jumped at the high-pitched, frustrated shriek and the noisy beating of wings of scared birds.
“Just let me handle this on my own, goddess dammit. He's stupid, but I have a plan.” The omega grumbled, pacing around and kicking the trunk of the nearest tree.
"If your plan includes insulting him, his family, his friends and overall being a dick to him, then good luck. He’s not an easterner, he won't fall for such a cheap provocation." The alpha walked closer. He placed a hand on Seonghwa’s shoulder before he yanked him into a hug. Seonghwa froze for a moment, but he quickly melted into the embrace. "You're better than that, hyung." San said, this time quieter.
The omega sighed, his arms wrapping around San’s waist. Hongjoong’s Wolf growled inside of his mind, almost surfacing with the fury that was fueling it. Hongjoong caught it in time, forcing it back into his mind.
"I know. It's just so… infuriating that he doesn’t want to hunt me. I tried everything, Sannie…" Seonghwa sighed heavily again, letting go. "You really need to go now. I'll be okay. It’s not the first time I have to deal with idiots with dicks for brains.” He tucked a stray strand of San’s pitch black hair behind his ear. “Now go. I don’t want to get you in any trouble. If someone sees you with me, they will contest whatever claim they think you have on me and this could get very bloody." The omega's tone changed into something much gentler. It was the first time Hongjoong heard Seonghwa speak this way. It was almost… pleasant , in a way.
A sweeter scent wafted up and found its way to Hongjoong’s lungs.
"Come on, my father will gut you if he finds out you were trying to help me," Seonghwa let out a lighthearted giggle. "Enjoy your hunt, and stop worrying."
San tilted his head, looking at the omega for a moment before he let out a sigh. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Sannie, I’m not a whelp. I can take care of myself. Besides, it won’t be my last hunt with how oblivious he is,” Seonghwa replied with his voice surprisingly warm, hugging the alpha one more time, a little longer. A little tighter.
Hongjoong’s eyes widened as he watched from above how the northerners shared an incredibly tender and intimate moment. His stomach twisted with something unfamiliar as the pair parted ways with a smile and a quiet wish for a successful hunt. Seonghwa’s tone was filled with tenderness. The Wolf inside Hongjoong’s brain howled.
When he was sure no one was there and he was alone once again, he let out a louder exhale. His mind was spinning. His Wolf was restlessly pacing inside of his head.
Who was the alpha Seonghwa was talking about? Why was the omega behaving so differently in San's presence? And why was he even thinking about this?.
He swept his hand through his hair, looking at the brilliant blue sky peeking through the crown of the forest. The sun was still high up. Those who were interested in taking a mate still had a lot of time to find a willing partner, all while he had to sit here and not go mad from boredom.
“I’m sure he went this way…” Hongjoong heard through the rustling of the bushes. He focused on the voices and an unpleasant shiver ran down his spine. Three alphas emerged from them, sniffing the air for something. Someone . They reeked of bad intentions, their scents were putrid and heavy. Hongjoong looked at them, frowning deeply.
They screamed trouble and Hongjoong didn’t like them at all.
“Now are you? The other guys probably got to him already. We need to hurry up.”
“Why do we even bother? Someone probably has him folded and crying on cock already.” A girl whined. Her companions glared at her.
The first alpha scoffed. “Then you clearly don’t know him. Bitch won’t go down without a fight.”
“So… We just need to catch him when he tires out, right? That’s your plan?”
“Pretty much.”
“You’re a fucking genius.”
The alphas disappeared behind the trees and it took a while for Hongjoong to process what the group had said…
Were they going to—?
And Seonghwa, at that?
Hongjoong never really got involved in the things happening during the hunt. It was not his place to do so, but this? This was a blatant disregard for the rules of a hunt that all of the clans agreed to and considered inviolable. He needed to act quickly.
He knew that Seonghwa was strong enough to deal with one group of overconfident alphas, but for another group to use his fatigue to even have a chance at mating him? It was unacceptable.
He jumped down from the tree, deciding to take matters into his own hands. What the alphas wanted to do to Seonghwa was barbaric and he couldn't let this happen.
He rushed through the woods, following the faint trail of Seonghwa's familiar icy scent, heart hammering in his chest. He ran faster, the leaves and twigs crunching under his feet, but he cared neither for the pain nor for being heard. He just had to help the omega, even if Seonghwa didn’t deserve such kindness from him. It was still Hongjoong’s terrain, and he wouldn’t let anyone get hurt.
He took a sharp turn as soon as he found a scrap of fabric on the higher bushes. It was saturated with Seonghwa’s scent. Hongjoong cursed under his breath, storming through the forest and praying he wouldn’t get there too late.
The trail was now full with alpha pheromones, getting stronger and heavier as Hongjoong approached the small clearing. Then, he saw it.
A group of alphas circled around the white-haired omega like vultures. Seonghwa was snarling at them, still able to fight but also visibly weakened from the previous clashes. Blood slowly trickled from his nose and there were scratches on his body in the spots where his shirt was torn. The alphas attacked, but Seonghwa weaved through their blows with grace, even managing to hurt one of the female alphas. She fell, knocked out cold.
Seonghwa dodged another punch, panting heavily.
‘Fuck it’ Hongjoong thought, entering the space with a thunderous growl, fully releasing his scent.
The wolves turned to him, taking the gauntlet he threw their way. For the group, Hongjoong was another alpha who wanted to claim what they thought was theirs. He was a threat that had to be eliminated.
The omega didn’t even growl at him when Hongjoong lunged to attack one of the alphas. Instead, his body moved in synergy with the alpha, dealing blow after blow to the group. It was a twisted type of dance in which none took the lead. They were synchronized as if they were one, as if they had done this many times before. His Wolf howled in pure happiness, which was joined by Seonghwa’s short laugh before the omega spun on his heel to knee the tallest alpha in the gut.
It was a beautiful sight, Hongjoong had to admit that.
Seonghwa looked so comfortable in the thick of the fray. His long hair sparkled in the light of the sun, and lean muscles rippled under his skin. He was both powerful and breathtaking, almost as if he was carefully sculpted by their Goddess in her image.
Hongjoong was so smitten by the sight that neither he nor his inner alpha felt someone charging at them. The woman had regained her consciousness and hit Hongjoong square in the jaw. There was little force behind the punch but he stumbled, shaking his head in confusion. She rushed at the omega, but before she could reach him, Hongjoong managed to catch and immobilize her. She hissed when he twisted her arms back and then cried out when the pain was too much to bear.
Hongjoong grit his teeth, ignoring the loud crack of bones. The girl howled and he growled in a warning before throwing her to the ground with force.
She let out a pained gasp as she scrambled to her feet, pressing her hand to her arm with a hiss. She was unable to fight, she knew it, but she still glanced in the direction of the omega, as if she wanted to force Seonghwa to submit to her with just her gaze alone. Hongjoong was ready to growl at her and release his pheromones again, but Seonghwa had beaten him to it. The air around them was filled with icy chill, so sharp Hongjoong had to breathe through his mouth.
She left with her head hung low, whimpering in submission, joining her defeated and humiliated companions. They disappeared in the forest, but he could still hear the faint whimpering. It was getting quieter until it disappeared completely.
They were alone.
"Are you finally amused, Park Seonghwa? Is this what you wanted!?" Hongjoong asked after a while, the adrenaline still simmering in his veins. He did not wait for the omega to answer. He was reeling from the fight, the bitter anger lingering in his scent that he had trouble to reign in.
Pumped up by the fight his inner alpha was restless, growling loudly and demandingly. More fights, more blood, it wanted to see the carnage, to fight with the omega and punish him for being so reckless…
The last of his frustrations at Seonghwa left him, though, when he saw the omega's state. Hongjoong cursed under his breath. Seonghwa was injured and bloodied but even in his sorry state he looked proud and strong, not even a little wary of Hongjoong's next move.
As if he knew Hongjoong wasn’t a threat.
As if he knew he’d be able to take Hongjoong in a fight and have a chance of winning, judged only by their little dance from minutes ago.
If it were any other time, the Star of the North would prove to be a difficult opponent, but Hongjoong knew that today he would dominate over the omega, and their fight would not be without an unfair advantage. Despite the brawl he partook in, Hongjoong was well rested, not tired at all from the hunt since no one seemed to be a contender to mate with him.
Hongjoong, of course, would never hurt Seonghwa, despite all the rage that was boiling inside of him each time the omega had crossed the line. He was not a threat and the alpha wanted to tell him so, lifting his hands in a peaceful gesture. Seonghwa scoffed as if offended by the gesture, but the wind carried his scents in Hongjoong’s direction. He quickly had to cover his nose when he smelled the rich, sweet but crisp notes above the rusty sharpness of blood.
Desire, thick and heavy, filled the air around them. Hongjoong couldn’t help but take another sniff of the sweetness and his inner alpha howled, forcing him to approach the omega. Suddenly, almost all of Hongjoong's thoughts and conversations he had overheard started making sense, the dots connecting themselves into a much clearer picture.
He had been the alpha Seonghwa desired for so long.
God, he was really stupid, wasn’t he?
With his instincts taking the lead for a split second Hongjoong stepped closer to the omega and Seonghwa hissed, baring his teeth like a wounded animal ready to attack and protect himself. Seonghwa’s stance was less than perfect, the tiredness so obvious when his knees wobbled. But the scent of desire grew even thicker.
His alpha snapped its jaws, forcing Hongjoong to run. To hunt. To mate . They had such a perfect omega right in front of their nose. An omega who could keep up with them. An omega who was worthy .
Reluctantly, Hongjoong had to agree with this primal part of his mind. Seonghwa was the definition of a perfect mate; with strength, intelligence, and beauty.
The words Seonghwa had said to his alpha friend rattled inside Hongjoong’s skull.
He doesn’t want to hunt me.
It was far from the truth.
Hongjoong had never wanted anything more in his life than to hunt the omega down and make him his. He wanted to see the omega run from him, but first, he had to make sure they both wanted the same thing.
He had to give Seonghwa the freedom to choose and accept whatever decision the omega would make.
"If you don't want it …" he said through grit teeth, words coming out with difficulty. "...there’s a safe spot up north, by the creek. Say a word and I'll leave. But if you do—" he swallowed hard, Seonghwa's icy scent filled his nostrils once again when the wind blew just right and stirred something even more primal inside of him. His inner alpha salivated at the promise that came with the sweet sharpness of the omega's slick.
Seonghwa was aroused, Seonghwa wanted him and only him, his alpha howled and Hongjoong desperately tried to keep it inside.
"If you do want it, want me… run ."
Seonghwa shuddered visibly, his eyes opening wide with shock. He seemed to have caught the meaning behind Hongjoong's words.
For a long while everything stopped. Seonghwa didn't move, leaving Hongjoong’s Wolf whining desperately for the omega to reciprocate. Hongjoong shushed it down, ready to leave.
A chuckle; deep and dark, reached Hongjoong's ears when he started to turn on his heel. He looked at Seonghwa; at his confident smirk, at the spark in his eyes, and shuddered. The omega panted heavily, tired but visibly excited. Ready to throw another insult at him.
"You still think you can catch me, mutt?"
Hongjoong growled in unison with his Wolf at the challenge and Seonghwa answered with a melodic laugh. It followed him when he made a run for it, leaving the place full of his crisp iciness and mellow sweetness. Shivers ran down Hongjoong’s spine when he inhaled it deeply.
He would give Seonghwa a few seconds more… And then he would hunt the omega down, just like his inner wolf always wanted him to do.
After what felt like hours, Hongjoong couldn’t hear Seonghwa’s fast steps on the fallen leaves. He took a deep breath, his lungs filling up with the almost godly aroma of Seonghwa’s arousal.
He chuffed shortly, following the trail of icy sweetness Seonghwa had left behind, quickly switching from a careful walk to a full run. The excitement of the hunt filled him with a lightness he had never felt before. He wanted to laugh, high on adrenaline, branches breaking under his feet to the sound of his beating heart. His wolf was melting with his soul into one being, finally unrestrained as he howled.
The scent was getting more intense with each stride he took. Hongjoong knew he was getting closer to his prey, but the omega was quick and nimble on his feet and so, so determined.
A low growl ripped itself from within his chest, more animalistic than ever before. White tufts flashed between the wall of trees, sweat splattered like paint against the barks leaving a clear path of pheromones for Hongjoong to follow.
None of them could run at full speed now, the forest too thick in this part of the hunting grounds. Everything was saturated with Seonghwa and it was driving Hongjoong mad with desire. Now, he only needed to find the omega.
He turned, trying to pinpoint where the scent was the strongest, but the wind swatting him harshly in the face wasn’t too helpful. Seonghwa was smart and chose this part of the forest to gain as much advantage as he could, making Hongjoong’s wolf preen with pride. ‘Their mate,’ his inner wolf barked ‘their perfect mate’.
Suddenly, Hongjoong heard a branch snapping and he whipped his head in the direction of the sound. A too-familiar mop of white hair flashed before his eyes as Seonghwa started running again, cursing under his breath. Hongjoong jumped. This was his chance. Seonghwa’s stupid mistake was all it took for him to gain the upper hand in their little game. The omega was tired and despite being faster than Hongjoong, the alpha could now easily catch up to him.
He threw himself at the omega, catching the hem of his clothes and yanking him back by it. Seonghwa let out a yelp and they landed together on the ground.
The omega was kicking and growling, trying to bite Hongjoong to get out of his grasp. They fought on the groundcover, exchanging snaps of jaws and painful, bloody scratches, but Seonghwa’s scent wasn’t putrid from fear. There was only contentment and playfulness. The omega smelled heavily of arousal and the scent got even more intense when Hongjoong finally managed to immobilize him. Their bodies were pressed together, Seonghwa’s hands were held above his head, pinned to the moss beneath.
"And now? Are you amused now?" Hongjoong snarled, still panting from the running and the fight. He looked down at the captured omega, at his sneer, his stormy eyes and the beautiful white halo of his hair spread on the ground like freshly fallen snow.
"Would be, if you finally fucked me instead of boring me to death." Seonghwa spat, lifting himself as much as he could, bringing his face close to Hongjoong's. The alpha could feel the hot breath ghosting on his lips.
"You're so fucking mouthy, omega… " he barked out, squinting at the man beneath him.
He looked at Hongjoong with a challenging glimmer in his eyes, a cocky smirk stretching his lips as he ground his hips against Hongjoong's.
"Then force me to shut up, alpha ." Seonghwa's snarl was stopped when Hongjoong released Seonghwa's wrist from his hold, diving down to the strings bound around the waist as he quickly got rid of Seonghwa's pants. The omega swore when they tore slightly at the seam from Hongjoong's rough treatment and he was flipped onto his stomach. The alpha blinked and threw the fabric he was holding away, leaving Seonghwa half-bare underneath him. The omega squirmed, still trying to stubbornly worm himself out of the hold, more a game than true desire to run away.
Seonghwa stilled when Hongjoong's warm hand caressed the meat of his thigh, a low rumble resonating from within his chest. Short, rough fingers dipped between Seonghwa's legs and his breath hitched.
The squelching sounds were suddenly too loud and Hongjoong's low chuckle made Seonghwa shiver.
"You really wanted it, huh? You're so wet already and I've barely touched you…" the words left Hongjoong's mouth before he could stop himself, his alpha coming to the forefront and rapidly taking control of him.
Seonghwa 'tch'ed , baring his teeth.
"Not because of you, mutt." He snarled, but heat crept slowly onto his cheeks and he did feel the tingle from the desire spreading throughout his body.
Hongjoong laughed deeply at that, already dizzy from the scent coming off of Seonghwa in thick waves. He could feel his control slipping, his wolf starting to dominate his mind with the primal thoughts to breed, to mate, to bite, to claim.
He had to shake his head, the dizziness that came with his rolling instinct was heavy, almost paralyzing. Seonghwa, too, seemed affected by Hongjoong's own pheromones, slick already gushing out of him in copious amounts and making his thighs and Hongjoong's clothes all wet and sticky.
"Not because of me? How funny, I could’ve sworn you’ve started to smell like a bitch in heat when I was fighting those pathetic alphas. Fighting for my territory . You enjoyed it when I was throwing them around, hmm? Wanted me to do it to you, too? Where’s your pride, omega? ” He didn’t know what came over him, but Seonghwa shuddered, the goosebumps on his body rising at the teasing tone of Hongjoong’s voice.
“Fuck off…” Seonghwa mumbled. His words lost the previous heat, though. Hongjoong assumed he won, sharp words feeling much lighter than before when he recognized them as banter and not insults.
“Oh, we’ll get to the fucking soon.” The slap on Seonghwa’s bare asscheek made the omega yelp and jolt on the ground. He turned slightly, shooting the alpha a glare, but Hongjoong only laughed at it. Now Seonghwa looked just like an angry kitten, squirming underneath him while hissing, unable to claw his way out of his hold.
But Hongjoong’s overconfidence at that moment was his downfall. Seonghwa found an opening in his stance, quickly using Hongjoong’s weakness to his advantage and flipping their position. The alpha sputtered, falling heavy to his back. His eyes widened as he looked at the omega. Seonghwa straddled his hips and leaned over him, licking his lips.
Seonghwa held Hongjoong’s wrists together. His free hand traveled along the seam of Hongjoong’s shirt before he ripped the fabric. The sound it made was louder than thunder and the alpha snarled, suddenly feeling the chill of the forest air. It was filled with Seonghwa’s icy but sweet scent and Hongjoong’s inner alpha was going rabid inside of his mind.
Desire set his every nerve on fire, a fire which could only be soothed by being inside of the omega.
“Now look who’s on top.” the omega drawled, pinning Hongjoong to the ground with a triumphant purr. He moved his hips, slotting Hongjoong’s still-clothed cock perfectly between his wet cheeks as he ground on the hardness. He bit his lip and his lashes fluttered to the sound of Hongjoong’s long and surprised whine. “You’re pathetic. You’d be considered a disgrace by my clan, but your cock does feel quite nice, so I think I will forgive you for your weakness.”
Hongjoong bared his teeth and a deep rumble resonated from within his chest, but Seonghwa only smirked. His hold on Hongjoong’s wrist tightened as if he sensed the alpha’s will to fight tooth and nail for control. The control he didn't want to give him.
Not yet, at least.
“Strong enough to make you fall for me." Suddenly said the alpha with a deep, mocking tone. "I know your clan's ways. You wouldn't even spare me a glance if you thought of me as weak. And all these years you’ve desperately tried to get my attention… Why is that, Seonghwa? Do you want to tell me something?"
The omega sputtered and his eyes flashed with something wild when he refused to speak. His hold faltered for a brief second which Hongjoong used to flip their position once again. Seonghwa lay beneath him, breathless with anger, glaring at him while Hongjoong laughed, amused by the redness of his cheeks and ears.
He didn't bother to immobilize the omega further - he knew he had won. Caging Seonghwa’s body with his own would be enough.
Hongjoong leaned forward, pressing his lips to the shell of Seonghwa's ear. The omega shuddered violently. “Now let’s continue, shall we?”
Hongjoong heard him gulping and felt his Adam’s apple bob under his lips when he started kissing the column of Seonghwa's neck. Each time he laid a kiss close to the yet unmarked spot of his mating gland Seonghwa's breath would hitch, followed up with a frustrated hiss.
The alpha smirked, chuckling under his breath at Seonghwa's annoyed expression.
He continued marking him with an array of purple bruises, sucking strongly at the spots on Seonghwa's throat, nipping the skin with his teeth. Seonghwa writhed underneath him. His hands clawed painful marks on Hongjoong's back, making Hongjoong hiss from the sharp pain.
With a growl, he ripped Seonghwa's shirt off of him, throwing it away. Seonghwa’s hands quickly grabbed at the fabric belt of Hongjoong’s trousers, making quick work of unraveling the knot and pulling them down. Hongjoong shimmied out of them before he felt Seonghwa’s hands tangle in his hair almost painfully.
Seonghwa yanked at them to smash their lips in a hungry kiss.
It was sloppy, their hunger rising in both of them as soon as they pressed their naked bodies together. Hongjoong panted against Seonghwa’s lips when they parted to take a breath. Seonghwa cursed.
“If you don’t fuck me right now I swear I’m going to— Fuck!”
Hongjoong bit harshly above Seonghwa’s scent gland.
Seonghwa screamed, his body going rigid. Metallic tang spread all over Hongjoong’s tongue and he lapped at the broken skin eagerly, the blood seeping out and the pheromones sweetening its taste. He lifted his head when Seonghwa’s hand that was tangled in his hair fell.
As soon as he saw Seonghwa’s face, contorted in pleasure, his eyes rolled back so far he could only see the whites of his eyes, he lost control over his alpha. A thunderous growl was ripped out of his chest almost against his will.
“You came, little omega. I bit you and you came. Haven’t even marked you properly, pretty thing. Was it that good?” He babbled against Seonghwa’s trembling form, an almost maniacal laugh resonating within him. Seonghwa punched him weakly, scoffing when Hongjoong’s fingers dipped into the mess on his stomach, spreading it around.
Hongjoong only grinned at the grumbled ‘fuck off’, going back to biting all over Seonghwa’s neck. The omega tipped his head back, giving him more space, but each time Hongjoong’s teeth clamped painfully on his skin he growled in annoyance at Hongjoong deliberately avoiding his gland.
The grumble turned into a long moan when Hongjoong nipped gently at the spot, not yet breaking the skin. Not yet claiming the omega. Nevertheless, a spark of pleasure shot through Seonghwa’s body and set it alight once again, the pit of molten lava that was burning inside of his abdomen was as hot as during his heats.
And Hongjoong’s playful bites and rough touches weren’t even trying to bring the temperature down.
Seonghwa was saturated with Hongjoong’s scent when the alpha finally lifted his head, madness and desire fighting for control. A laugh bubbled from the omega’s lips as he yanked Hongjoong up to kiss him again, tasting the blood on his tongue.
The alpha’s hands kneaded Seonghwa’s flesh. His touches were bordering on painful, but Seonghwa’s moans whenever Hongjoong roughly pressed new bruises were lewd and unrestrained. His scent was rolling out of him, making Hongjoong growl gutturally. All of the sensations; the pheromones clogging his lungs and mind, the high-pitched moans, the clear want … It all made Hongjoong’s head spin. His cock was pressing against Seonghwa’s abdomen, slick with Seonghwa’s release and his own leaking precum.
He needed to be inside of him. To spear Seonghwa through, knot him full and bite into his neck so that the feisty omega wouldn’t even think of leaving him.
Hongjoong grabbed at the meat of Seonghwa’s inner thighs and spread them roughly. His hands slid with ease, the slick that had gushed out of the omega glistened on his thighs. Seonghwa hissed when Hongjoong’s fingers drew patterns on his heated skin. The alpha watched, mesmerized by how the perfectly toned muscles moved under his touch.
His fingers dipped into the mess between Seonghwa’s legs, gathering the slick up. Seonghwa’s hole was quivering when he pressed the pads against the puckered rim, giving in to his prodding and leaking even more slick onto him. Then, he touched himself, spreading it on his cock.
Seonghwa let out a warning rumble. His patience was running thin. This was the moment when Hongjoong pressed the head of his cock to Seonghwa’s sopping wet entrance and pushed.
The omega threw his head back, a long moan leaving his lips as his whole body tensed.
Hongjoong’s Wolf howled at the sensation. Seonghwa’s insides were hot and velvety smooth, wrapping around Hongjoong’s cock tightly. The alpha didn’t wait for him to adjust, not with how the omega was rocking his hips immediately after Hongjoong had fully bottomed out, clawing at his back and hissing out curses and orders for more.
Leaves rustled beneath them. The birds long stopped singing, put to shame by Seonghwa’s beautiful moans.
They looked at each other, completely mesmerized, mad with pleasure that was consuming their bodies and minds. Their lips crashed against each other with renewed vigor. It was a sloppy kiss with too much teeth and tongue, saliva dripping down their chins as they breathed into each other’s mouths.
“Faster! Goddamnit, fuck me faster!” Seonghwa whispered heatedly, raking his nails down the expanse of Hongjoong’s back. He didn’t even feel the pain, so lost in Seonghwa’s gray eyes that suddenly seemed to shine with thousands of colorful lights, forming an aurora in his irises.
They moaned in unison when the alpha obliged. Hongjoong pounded into Seonghwa faster, harder. The noise of skin slapping against slick skin mixed with the sounds of nature made them feel even hotter.
Hongjoong could swear he was on the edge of a rut with how intense he was feeling everything. Seonghwa’s punched-out gasps of ecstasy and his intense gaze were driving him to be even more animalistic. His hold tightened on the omega's hips as if he wanted to stop him from running away. His fingers were leaving red marks that would soon turn into purple bruises, but Seonghwa didn't seem to mind.
It only spurred him on.
He was meeting every harsh snap of Hongjoong’s hips while moaning loudly. He was trembling, every thrust making him shiver violently, his eyes rolling back in pleasure. Hongjoong leaned down to kiss Seonghwa’s swollen and red lips.
He panted into the kiss, the tempo of his hips faltering as he was nearing the end. The omega’s insides pulsed around Hongjoong’s cock. He seemed to be close, too, and Hongjoong sped up, pushing even more debauched moans from Seonghwa's throat.
Seonghwa hugged him suddenly, bringing their sweaty bodies together, caging Hongjoong with his arms and legs, nuzzling into Hongjoong's neck, so close to his gland. Hongjoong shuddered when Seonghwa's hot breath ghosted on his neck, against the most vulnerable part of his body.
He nudged Seonghwa's mark with his nose, taking in the heady scent of arousal. He salivated, letting out a growl when his knot started to grow, catching at Seonghwa's rim.
Suddenly, the omega bit into his neck and went rigid under the alpha, his eyes rolling into his skull. He was cumming so hard, trembling violently as he painted their abdomens with clear liquid.
Hongjoong howled from the pain and pleasure that spread all over his body. His Wolf howled with him, finally happy that the omega it craved laid a claim on them.
White hot ecstasy burst like fireworks under Hongjoong's eyelids.
He came with a deep moan, his knot finally ballooned out and locked him inside of Seonghwa's pliant body. Something in his mind told him it was not enough, pushing him to move despite how tired he was. He needed to be closer to the omega.
He nuzzled harder into the omega's throat, drowning in the bliss of his scent and the erratic spasm of his walls milking him from all the cum. Hongjoong's gums hurt and before he could react, his teeth sank into Seonghwa's neck, the bite mirroring the omega's. The metallic taste of blood burst on his tongue. He moaned when it spread in his mouth, mindlessly licking at the shallow cuts.
Hongjoong’s arms gave out and he sagged, half-laying on Seonghwa’s chest as he tried to catch his breath and lick off the blood from his lips.
“God, you’re heavy. Get off of me,” the omega grumbled, smacking Hongjoong’s shoulder, but he made no move to release him from his hold. On the contrary, Seonghwa let out a shuddering sigh and seemed to tug him even closer, his legs hooking tighter around Hongjoong’s waist. Hongjoong rolled his eyes, licking at the mark on Seonghwa’s neck. A sudden feeling of possessiveness filled him along the bone-deep contentment. This omega was his now.
“I would if you stopped clamping around my dick so hard,” Hongjoong said, playfully nipping above the fresh bite. Seonghwa only harrumphed, but his body relaxed. They didn't let go of each other even when Hongjoong’s knot deflated and Seonghwa’s insides released him. They were panting into each other’s dewy skin, taking comfort in the closeness despite the uncomfortable wetness of their bodies.
“You aren’t that bad, Kim,” Seonghwa laughed deeply, breaking the silence, tracing patterns on Hongjoong’s back. “You’re just incredibly stupid.” Hongjoong snorted and sucked a bruise on Seonghwa’s collarbone. He lifted himself to judge the purpling spot before he kissed it.
“You’re one to talk, Park!” Hongjoong bit back, but his tone held no maliciousness.
“If I knew all I needed to do is to act like a damn damsel in distress, I would have done it much earlier.” Seonghwa rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically. The corners of his full lips lifted slightly.
The edge caused by their conflict dissolved into playful banter as they lay in the greenery. Hongjoong slipped out of the omega, making him hiss a little bit, but he made no move to change their position. He placed this head on Seonghwa’s chest, curling up like a cat and he closed his eyes, focusing on Seonghwa’s still erratic heartbeat.
“You know what? You smell sweeter than I thought.” He murmured, nosing Seonghwa’s chest.
The omega snorted and caressed his arm, deft fingers traveling up Hongjoong’s shoulder. They rested below the still-fresh claiming mark.
“What are we going to do now?” Seonghwa asked, suddenly solemn. He smeared the blood that trickled out of the bite across Hongjoong’s neck. The alpha shuddered, then sighed, pressing himself closer to the omega.
“We laid a claim on each other, it’s only right to go to your clan and ask for permission to finish the mating,” he mumbled after a while. “But this means you’ll have to leave your family and your friends and relinquish your position as a future Luna,” Hongjoong halted, biting the inside of his cheek. “We can also pretend it was a ‘spur of the moment’ bite and let it dissolve over time as we go back to our clans and our duties. The decision is in your hands, Seonghwa.”
The omega hummed, looking up into the sky. Hongjoong knew Seonghwa had a tough choice to make and he didn’t want to hurry him in fear of ruining his life.
“I didn’t spend the past four years provoking you to act as if all we did today was to romp in the forest like fucking animals,” Seonghwa snorted.
Hongjoong felt the tension in his body go away, understanding the veiled message. Seonghwa wanted him. The omega wanted to be with him, regardless of the change to his position in the hierarchy. Hongjoong’s inner alpha yipped like a pup, surfacing to nuzzle Seonghwa and to leave more of his scent on his skin. Soenghwa was drowning in it, but the heady feeling of marking their future mate made Hongjoong want to howl with joy.
Suddenly, Hongjoong was flipped onto his back. His yelp was stopped by Seonghwa’s warm lips slotting against his own as the omega straddled his hips. “And speaking of a romp in the forest… We still have some time to kill, you know? If you’re up to it.” The omega wiggled his brows, shooting Hongjoong a confident smirk. His laughter was as clear as chimes on the wind.
“Careful, little omega,” Hongjoong murmured hotly, adjusting on the moss. He grabbed Seonghwa’s hips, rutting between the still-slick cheeks and Seonghwa’s eyes rolled from pleasure when the tip of Hongjoong’s cock caught at his sloppy rim. “Or you might find out I’m always up for you.”
“Mmmm, don’t threaten me with a good time,” Seonghwa answered sultrily as he took Hongjoong’s erection in his hand, guiding it to his hole and impaling himself. They gasped at the sensation, once again reveling in the connection of their minds and bodies.
“Are you nervous?” Hongjoong asked as they were nearing the gathering point. The last horn resounded a while ago, indicating the end of the hunt. With it, the pair had to slowly make their way back to the main clearing.
They were dirty from the fighting and their claiming, stinking of blood, sweat and cum. Seonghwa was keeping together the scraps of what was once a pair of pants and Hongjoong had to walk through the thick forest shirtless as he had found his shirt ripped to shreds. They had only bothered to wipe the cum off of their bodies with the rags before they moved to the clearing.
Seonghwa hummed, stopping minutely and he turned his face towards Hongjoong. His gray eyes were filled with worry, excitement, and fear.
“I would lie if I said I’m not, you know? Your clan despises me.” He laughed quietly and shook his head. Suddenly, he didn’t look like the overconfident future Luna of his clan, but an ordinary boy who didn’t know how to act as the consequences of his actions dawned upon him.
Hongjoong sighed. Seonghwa wasn’t far from the truth.
“If you weren’t such an ice bitch, they would at least tolerate you. You brought it on yourself.” He said, unable to stop the harsh words from leaving his mouth. He looked at Seonghwa, almost horrified by the brashness of it.
Seonghwa only rolled his eyes but he smiled, more amused than affronted.
“You sound like your little fiery fox friend. Do you think he will try to stop us?” The omega laughed, but he rubbed his arms, avoiding eye contact.
“Wooyoung? No, he has no reason to like you, but he takes the rules of the run too seriously to oppose them,” Hongjoong shrugged. The only ones who could stop them from mating would be Seonghwa’s Sol and Hongjoong’s father. Wooyoung would be thrilled when he finds out. Hongjoong thought a little bit about him and chuckled. “He will, however, try to fight you if you give him a reason.”
“He can always try,” Seonghwa's laugh was melodic. They finally moved from their spot walking a little closer to the edge of the forest before Seonghwa tugged at his wrist.
“Hongjoong?”
“Yes?”
“Can you lead me the rest of the way? My family,” Seonghwa took a deep breath, mildly uncomfortable. “They won’t allow for this mating to happen unless they see me defeated. They need to see that you were strong enough to do it.”
Hongjoong frowned at Seonghwa’s words, not understanding the need to prove someone’s humiliation, but Seonghwa’s clan had a much different outlook on mating traditions than Hongjoong’s.
The alpha nodded, taking Seonghwa by the scruff, despite their height difference. Seonghwa hunched a little bit, biting his lip.
“Is this okay?” Hongjoong asked, not liking how miserable Seonghwa looked. Was this truly necessary?
Seonghwa nodded. “Yes, it’s perfect.” He stepped forward and Hongjoong could only follow him, trying to look as intimidating as he could, even though all he wanted was to embrace the omega. “Ready to meet your in-laws?” Seonghwa chuckled, trying to conceal his nervousness.
“Only if you’re ready to meet yours.”
“I’m ready.”
And Hongjoong believed him.