Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Changbin and Hongjoong were out chasing rabbits in the woods, along their territory border, when the stench of rotting strawberries hit them.  ‘ Distressed Omega,’ Hongjoong’s voice said in Changbin’s head, and then he was off.  Even in wolf form, he was faster than Changbin.  Their mates often joked that Changbin’s muscles weighed him down.  

‘ I don’t remember smelling strawberries before.  I don’t think the omega belongs to any of the packs in the area .’ Changbin told Hongjoong as they ran towards the smell.  Their pack was the strongest in the area, and as such, they welcomed any new neighboring packs and introduced themselves.  Chan used it as a way to show that they weren’t hostile and wanted to know who belonged in which packs in their area, to avoid any misunderstandings.  

‘ It’s coming from the direction of that new pack that moved in a month ago. ’ Hongjoong said.  ‘ Perhaps they got a new omega .’

Changbin caught up to Hongjoong, who was standing in the tree line on a ridge overlooking the other pack’s territory.  Hongjoong had shifted back to human form, so Changbin followed suit.  As the smell got stronger, they also began to hear wailing and an angry voice.  They both crouched down to be better hidden in the tree line as two people came into view.  It appeared to be an alpha, if the bright red eyes were any indication, and he was dragging an extremely distressed omega behind him.  

Changbin’s wolf was howling at him over the state of the omega.  He was wearing only a thin shirt that barely covered his ass, and nothing else.  His arms and legs were too skinny and covered in bruises and cuts.  His feet were also bare, probably being torn up by the forest floor.  And from the smell, the omega was in a full-blown heat.  

“How DARE you tell me no!” The alpha shoved the battered omega into the snowbank.  “Every time you get your heat, I swear you forget who is in charge.  That nest was PATHETIC, didn’t really even deserve to be CALLED a nest.”  The omega whimpered and curled into himself in the snow.  “You own NOTHING!  Do you understand me?!  You are a worthless excuse for an omega.  You don’t GET to decide where ANYONE goes, especially not anyone better than you.”

The alpha spat, then started to walk back the way he had come, and the omega began to crawl after him.  “P-please…it hurts….please a-alpha…” 

The alpha whirled around and roughly grabbed the omega by the hair, causing him to cry out.  “No, don’t even start with me.”  He stood there holding the whimpering and pleading omega by the hair for a few minutes until another wolf, a beta, showed up with rope and stakes.  

Changbin and Hongjoong watched in horror as the alpha staked the omega to the ground on his back, arms and legs spread.  “You will stay where I put you.  I don’t understand how hard a lesson that is for you to learn.”  

Changbin didn’t believe the stench of distressed omega could get worse, but it did as the alpha and beta walked away, leaving the frail omega in heat, staked to the ground, exposed to the elements.  

‘ Keep the omegas out of the woods, and we need to have a pack meeting. ’ Hongjoong’s voice rang through Changbin’s head as he felt a hand come down on his shoulder, holding him in place.  He hadn’t even realized he was poised to run into the other pack’s territory until he felt the hand.  He turned to look at the other alpha and saw a grim look that probably matched his own.  “I know, but he is still within the other pack’s territory. If we enter without permission, especially to take their omega, it would be a declaration of war.”  

“He’s not claimed,”  Changbin grumbled.  His wolf was clawing at him to do something.  There was an omega in distress, whimpering and calling out for an alpha to ease his pain, and Changbin was just STANDING there, not doing anything.

Hongjoong turned Changbin so he could place both hands on his shoulders and look him in the eye.  “I don’t disagree with you, but you have to understand that we cannot do anything to help the omega without having a pack meeting.  The consequences will affect everyone.”  

They stood locked in a staring match as the scents of some of their pack alphas and betas got stronger. Soon Chan, Seungmin, Yunho, and Jongho had joined them.  

“The actual ever-loving fu-” Yunho slapped a hand over Seungmin’s mouth, cutting off his curse.  

“Well, my vote is murder.”  Jongho stood with his arms crossed over his chest.  “The whole damn pack.”

Chan tried to take in a deep breath, which was difficult considering the stench of rotting strawberries, and shook his head.  His own wolf was practically feral, so he knew that the other alphas around him were not faring that much better.  ‘ Everyone back to the pack den, meeting in 10 minutes, ’ He said to everyone through the bond.

Changbin practically snarled at his head alpha. “There are bears in the woods, we can’t just leave-”

“I will stay,” Yunho said calmly, cutting off Changbin.  Being a beta had its advantages.  He was less affected by the distressed omega scent. “I will keep you updated through the pack bond if the omega is in physical danger…from wild animals…okay, from the wild animals in the woods…”  He sighed.  “You know what I mean.”  He waved his hand in defeat.  They all knew that a pack that would do this to their own omega was no better than wild animals.

The wind switched directions, bringing their scents down to the omega, and he keened loudly.  

“Okay, everyone besides Yunho, to the house. ‘NOW ’”. The last part, Chan had to unleash his Head Alpha voice because the omega was begging and pleading with them to give him a knot now that he could smell them.    

Yunho shuddered and sat down in a meditation position as his pack members obeyed their alpha’s command and ran back towards the house, causing the omega’s whines and begging to increase dramatically. 

Hongjoong saw Seonghwa standing waiting for them on the porch.  His face was set in a concerned look.  Hongjoong practically slammed into his mate and felt Seonghwa’s arms wrap around him in comfort as he pressed his nose right into his mate’s neck, breathing in the comforting smell of vanilla.  “I’m okay, I’m right here, I’m safe,”  Seonghwa murmured as he ran his hand through Hongjoong’s hair, pushing out more of his scent to comfort the alpha.  The rest of the pack returning from the woods stepped carefully around them, breathing in the comforting smell of vanilla and cherries that the two were producing as they entered the house.  

Chan dropped a hand on Seonghwa’s shoulder and made eye contact.  ‘ Bring him when you can, ’ he told Seonghwa through the pack bond.  He knew that Hongjoong might need more than a few minutes to calm his alpha enough to be clear-headed.  

Chan was honestly impressed that Hongjoong had held it together enough to hold Changbin back until they got there.  Tortured omegas were a rough subject around most of his pack, but Hongjoong and Seonghwa especially.  They never talked about their past before they had encountered Chan and his little pack, but there was clearly trauma.  When the two had first arrived in their territory, Hongjoong wouldn’t let anyone near Seonghwa.  His alpha was so protective that they had thought he might have gone feral.  It had taken a long time and a lot of work to get Hongjoong to trust them.  

“I’m a horrible person.” Seonghwa heard Hongjoong whisper miserably into his neck.  Seonghwa gently pulled Hongjoong’s head up to look at him.  

“He was so scared, in so much pain, and all I could think about was how he could put you in danger.” Tears escaped Hongjoong’s eyes and trailed down his cheeks.

Seonghwa wiped the tears and pressed a soft kiss to Hongjoong’s forehead.  “That doesn’t make you a horrible person.  That makes you strong.  Your instinct to protect your pack stopped you from blindly listening to your inner alpha and doing something that could put us all in danger.”  

Hongjoong shook his head.  “I didn’t do that when it came to you.  I didn’t care about the consequences-”

Seonghwa pulled Hongjoong’s face back to the comfort of his scent gland and pushed out more of his calming scent.  “You didn’t act immediately.  You formulated a plan.  You took your time and looked at all the angles.  You didn’t act rashly.  This is no different.”  

Hongjoong’s legs gave out as he let out a sob, and Seonghwa sank to the floor with him.  “You are not ignoring an omega’s pain.  You saw it for the horror it was, alerted the rest of the pack, and made sure YOUR omegas were safe.  That doesn’t make you a horrible person.”

Seonghwa stroked Hongjoong’s back and murmured reassurances to him as he quietly sobbed.  ‘Chan?’ He gently pushed through the pack bond to the head alpha.  

‘ Yes, Seonghwa?’ Chan’s soft voice came back after a few seconds.  

‘Hongjoong is currently overwhelmed with his own misplaced guilt.  We might be a while.’ Seonghwa knew they had been given permission to be late, but he was worried that Hongjoong was going to need quite a bit more than a few extra minutes.  

‘That’s perfectly understandable, love.  I’ll come find you and fill you in for your votes later’. Chan’s voice was so gentle in Seonghwa’s head.  He appreciated that Chan was mindful and took extra care to be gentle with him.  Before meeting Chan and his pack, Seonghwa didn’t think it was possible for a head alpha to be gentle.  Before Hongjoong, he hadn’t realized alphas could be gentle at all.  

“What if there was a bear attack?”  Jisung had shot up from where he had been draped over Yeosang’s lap.

“That’s what I’m worried about,” Changbin whined pitifully.

“No, no.  I mean, we could make it LOOK like a bear attack.” Jisung bounced up and down excitedly.

They had moved past the question of IF they would help the omega and had moved right along to throwing out ideas on how to rescue the omega without starting a pack war, each idea more terrible than the last, in Chan’s opinion.  

“I don’t see how that’s better than the tunnel idea,” Mingi replied with a confused look.  

“It’s so much better see, Jeongin smells like leaves, Seungmin smells like pine.  You all make comments all the time that it’s hard to scent them in the woods because they blend in so well, so their scents won’t be a problem.  We just need to attract a bear to come to the area-” Jisung’s eyes were shining, and he had started talking really fast, like he always does when he gets excited.

“So, how do we explain our new omega to the rest of the neighborhood?  Or do we just hide him in the basement whenever someone comes over?” Jongho sighed.

“That pack isn’t setting foot on our property, ever,” Minho growled.

“Hey.” Yunho’s tired voice came from the entry to the pack den, where they were all gathered.  “They came and took him, so you can stop with the plans to create the world’s most elaborate tunnel system.” He joked, but his face looked like he was under severe emotional strain.  Mingi jumped up and wrapped his arms around Yunho, and dragged him down into the nest with him.  Yunho sighed into the caramel scent, and he melted into the alpha.  

Seonghwa entered behind Yunho, carrying Hongjoong, who was wrapped around him like a spider monkey, with his head buried in the crook of the omega’s neck.  

“There’s my good alpha.” Chan gently cooed as he dislodged himself from the cuddle pile he was currently in with Felix, Seungmin, and San.  Hongjoong let out a small whimper as Chan wrapped himself around the pair, sandwiching Hongjoong in the middle.  “So quick to alert your mates to danger.”  

Seonghwa transferred Hongjoong to Chan’s arms, and Chan carried the younger alpha into the pack nest with him.  He settled down, with Hongjoong’s face buried in his chest and the rest of the pack curled up, flopped down, and cuddled around them.  “We will come up with a plan.  So the next time we will be ready.” Chan assured his upset mates.  

Chapter Text

Chan felt distress coming through the bond and immediately locked his computer screen.  ‘ What’s wrong?’ he asked his pack through the bond. Jeongin came into his office before anyone could respond.

“There’s a beta from that pack at the bottom of the drive,”  Jeongin informed, sounding out of breath.  “I told him to wait for me to get you, but he was really gross to Hyunjin-”

Chan saw red and ran out of his office, and smacked into Seonghwa.  

“He’s going to be okay, the beta didn’t touch him, Jeongin protected him.”  Seonghwa placed soothing hands on Chan’s shoulders.  “He’s in the pack nest with Felix and Mingi now.”  

Jeongin walked out of Chan’s office , and Seonghwa caught his eye. ‘Thank you,’ he smiled at the baby alpha and nodded. Now, I suggest taking some calming breaths before going out there. Make him wait a bit.” Seonghwa winked at Chan and let off a generous amount of his calming vanilla scent.  

Chan let out a sigh and dropped his head to Seonghwa’s shoulder.  Seonghwa was the only mate, other than Minho, who could calm him down almost instantly.  Minho had been with Chan in their previous pack.  It was a traditional pack, and the pack elders were trying to force him and Minho to participate in mating runs and find ‘proper omega’ mates.  Chan chuckled to himself when he thought about how ridiculous it was that now he happened to have 4 omega mates.  3 beta mates and 7 alpha mates, but still, there were 4 omegas in the mix.  

“What are you thinking of, love?” Seonghwa hummed as he ran his hand through Chan’s hair.

“Just how lucky I am that you and Hongjoong stumbled into our territory.”  Chan smiled, then lifted his head to look at Seonghwa’s beautiful face.  “You take such good care of us.”

“We are the lucky ones.” Seonghwa pressed a kiss to the top of Chan’s head.

Chan sighed, then pulled back.  “Thank you.”

Seonghwa gave his shoulder a pat.  “Of course, love.” Then walked with him down the hall, splitting when Chan went towards the door and Seonghwa went towards the pack den.

Chan was met with the stern faces of Hongjoong and Minho in the entryway.  

“You didn’t think you were going out there alone, did you?” Minho asked as Hongjoong folded his arms across his chest and popped his hip out.  

Chan hung his head, then shook it.  “Just, stay back a little bit.  I don’t want to start a fight.”

“Oh, we won’t start it, but we’ll sure end it,” Hongjoong replied.  “The beta may have more of his pack waiting down the road.”

Chan nodded.  There was no arguing with either of them on their own, let alone when they joined forces.  “Let’s get this over with, then.”  

‘Everyone, stay clear of the front drive area while we deal with the trash.’ Minho sent out through the pack bond.  

Chan chuckled despite his anxiety and waved for them to follow him.  He hadn’t much liked the new pack when they had gone over to introduce themselves.  It wasn’t that they were foreigners; Chan and Felix were both from Australia, it was just a feeling he got.  They themselves were a pack with few omegas, but this pack didn’t seem to have any.  Which wouldn’t be at all odd for such a small pack. However, the alphas and even betas seemed particularly aggressive.  In Chan’s experience, aggressive alphas didn’t do well using the omega services in town when they went into ruts.  

Thinking back, Chan was kicking himself because Jisung swore he smelled something coming from the basement when they were there.  Some sort of rotting fruit.  But the scent was so muted that Chan had chalked it up to improper food storage.  None of the rest of the pack was wearing scent blockers, so it didn’t occur to Chan that they would have an omega down there wearing one.  It didn’t occur to Chan that they would hide an omega from them at all.  Or at least not report that they had one.  The whole purpose of the dominant pack introducing themselves was supposed to be so that they knew who the neighbors were and what an outsider scent would be.  It led to fewer misunderstandings.  

As they neared the end of the drive leading to the road, Chan recognized the beta that had been sent.  It was Dominic.  He had been tasked with showing Chan and the members of his pack that Chan had brought on the day of their visit.

“Dominic, what brings you by on this lovely day?” Chan asked pleasantly as he approached.  Hongjoong and Minho were hanging back a respectful distance away.

“Alpha Bang,” Dominic bowed slightly.  “Is everyone in your pack so…pretty?  Or is it just that I happen to have had the pleasure of meeting the pretty ones?”

Chan heard Hongjoong let out a growl behind him.  

Dominic put up his hands in a placating manner.  “I didn’t mean anything other than passing along a compliment.”    

“Is this a casual visit, or is there business you had to discuss?” Chan asked, keeping his raging alpha in check.  

“As my Alpha discussed with you during your visit, we are new to living out in the wild.  We are a city pack, and we came from city packs.” Dominic wiped the annoying grin off his face and got to business.

Chan was aware and found it odd that they would have chosen to relocate in the wilderness, considering that they were all city pack, born and raised.

“My Alpha is planning on having a training hunt this Saturday, in the evening.  We have no intention of straying from our own pack boundary, however, my Alpha wanted to alert the neighbors to avoid any misunderstandings.  I’m told that it can get quite loud when we let our wolves take over and hunt.” Dominic’s eyes took on a slightly sinister glint that made Chan uncomfortable.

“I will inform my pack patrols of your planned activity.” Chan quickly responded, ignoring his wolf’s insistence on questioning WHY they thought that it would be loud when they were hunting.  Chan’s pack wasn’t loud, quite the opposite actually.  Being loud scared away prey.  

Dominic shot him a questioning look.  

“There are bears in the woods, surely you also have routine patrols to make sure the wild animals keep clear of your pack house.” Chan quickly informed.  It was true, there were bears.  He just didn’t want to make it obvious that they were patrolling the border SPECIFICALLY between their two lands after the events a few weeks ago with the omega.  And the beta didn’t need to know that Chan’s pack considered THEM to be wild animals.  

“Of course.  I won’t be keeping you.” Dominic still looked wary, but turned to leave down the road.  

“Have a pleasant day!” Chan called after him, just to be obnoxious.  ‘No one besides the patrols goes outside Saturday afternoon or evening.’ Chan informed through the pack bond.  

‘Hyunjin will need to be picked up from the studio.  He usually gets done around 5 on Saturdays.’ Seonghwa’s gentle voice came through the pack bond.  

‘Mingi, San, and I can pick him up with the car service.’ Changbin quickly volunteered.

Chan smiled to himself.  3 alphas to escort one omega who could very much take care of himself seemed a bit of overkill, but he appreciated the enthusiasm.  

Minho, Hongjoong, and Yunho were on patrol when they heard rowdy wolves snarling and howling in the woods coming from the direction of THAT pack.  They exchanged looks and headed towards the ridge that Hongjoong and Changbin had been on prior, and hid in the tree line.  It didn’t take long to see what the other pack of wolves were noisily chasing.  Hongjoong’s scent spiked, though muted by the scent blockers they had all chosen to wear, the smell of burnt cherries surrounded them.  

‘ Is that the same omega?’ Minho asked.  He felt bad for hoping the answer was yes, because if it was a different omega, that would mean more than one was being tortured by that pack.  The omega was moving impressively quickly, considering that he was given no shoes, and his ankles and wrists were in shackles with chains connecting them, like a prisoner.  

‘It is.’ Yunho was the one to respond.  He laid a hand on Hongjoong’s shoulder to try to offer him some comfort as they watched the omega careen through the forest, looking scared out of his mind.  

The pack of wolves was toying with him. Some came closer and nipped at his ankles as he ran, while others would jump out at him from the trees, causing him to cry out and run the other direction.  It was after one of those scares that the omega didn’t look where he was running and slammed his face directly into a low branch.  His head snapped backwards, and he fell to his knees.  

“Get up, get up,” Minho whispered from where they watched, knowing full well the omega couldn’t hear him. It was more of a plea than an order.  

The omega was dazed, blinking and shaking his head as he was quickly surrounded by the wolves of the pack, growling and snapping at him.  

“That’s enough,” a voice that made a chill slide down Hongjoong’s spine announced to the group of rowdy wolves.  “Now that you’ve caught him, I’ll teach you how to properly deal with disobedient omegas.”

Hongjoong’s legs gave out and he slammed to his knees.  The voice forced him back to the horrible time he had spent in his old pack.  He trembled involuntarily as Seunghyun became visible through the trees.  Taking long, confident strides towards the group, his predatory eyes trained on the poor omega.  

‘What’s wrong?’ Chan’s voice echoed in Minho’s head.  

‘It’s Hongjoong, I don’t know.  He won’t respond to Yunho, and he won’t stop trembling. I think it has to do with the new wolf who looks to be in charge of the farce of a hunt.’ Minho shook his head.  

********Descriptive build up to torture********

Desperate pleading pulled Minho’s attention back to what was going on with the omega.  He had been bent over, face being pressed into the ground, knees drawn up, ass in the air.  The one in charge had some sort of wooden device in his hand and was showing it to the group of unruly alphas and betas.  

“I’m sure you’re curious why omegas would even have balls, since they are made for receiving seed, not giving it.” The omega sobbed, eliciting mocking laughter from the group.  The man walked over to the omega and grabbed onto his balls and pulled harshly, causing the omega to cry out.  “You see, they are just as sensitive as your own.  Just as vulnerable.”  

The way the man said ‘vulnerable’ had a shiver running down Minho’s spine.  His wolf was screaming at him to stop what was happening.  All he could do was stare in shock as the man pulled the omega’s balls between his legs.  The wooden device looked like a board with a hole in the middle.  It opened up into two pieces, and the man clamped it around the balls and let the board fall against the back of the omega’s thighs, trapping the balls stretched and exposed.  

“Omegas who misbehave shall be punished.” Minho snapped his head to the side to look at Hongjoong, because he had murmured that line along with the man.  Hongjoong’s eyes looked far away, like he was trapped in some sort of memory.  ‘Chan, we need you here NOW’ .  Minho didn’t know what was happening to Hongjoong, but he needed to get away from what was happening.  

Minho turned back to the grotesque scene, and the man had a flogger in his hand.  The strands made of knotted rope and looked particularly vicious.  

“Sit on him, I don’t need him flopping about.”  One of the wolves transformed back into human form and sat on the omega’s upper back, pinning it to the ground.  

“Hold his head up, I want to hear him scream.”  

********End of build-up********

Minho’s breath caught in his throat as the omega’s hair was pulled harshly, his chin yanked up, and their eyes locked.  “...please…I’m not bad…they made me run…!’  The voice was pleading inside Minho’s head, sobbing and begging for Minho to believe him.  Before Minho could overcome his shock and respond, the link was cut off by an ear-piercing scream.  

Burnt cherries and strawberries flooded Minho’s senses, and he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the scent plus the intense distress from both the omega and Hongjoong next to him.  Yunho had Hongjoong wrapped in a bear hug and was trying to drag him back towards the house as he kicked his legs out and snarled.  Minho’s mind was filled with Hongjoong’s desperate screams for Seonghwa.  

Minho had no concept of time as he was frozen in shock at the brutal beating he was witnessing.  At some point, Minho was vaguely aware of Chan arriving to help drag Hongjoong back to the house.  A hand on his shoulder, trying to shake him out of his own trance.  Minho’s mind couldn’t focus on anything through the overwhelming input of screaming, pleading, sobbing, and laughing.  The horrible mocking laughter came from the wolves witnessing their own omega being tortured.  

Arms wrapped around him, and Minho’s senses began to clear as leaves and pine began to push out the smell of burnt strawberries.  It took Minho a few more minutes to realize that it was now much quieter.  The screams and laughing were gone; he could only just barely pick up raspy breathing over the sound of the wind through the trees.  

“That’s it.  Just focus on our scents.  Easy now.”  Seungmin’s voice next to his ear began to sound clearer.  

Minho snapped his eyes back open, not remembering having closed them, and tried to stand up, but a hand held him back down.  “Not yet, hyung,” Jeongin said softly.  “Jongho and Changbin are luring a bear.  They thankfully left the omega alone, laughed, and told him to crawl back to the house on his own. So we’re taking him.  Shouldn’t be long now.”

Chapter Text

“LET ME GO!” Hongjoong was screaming and thrashing.  He snarled, kicked, and tried to bite Chan and Yunho the entire way back to the house.  “SEONGHWA!!”  

All Chan knew was that something had triggered Hongjoong, and from the brief sounds and glimpses he had gotten of what was happening with THAT pack, he knew it was something to do with Hongjoong and Seonghwa’s past.  That would have to be a conversation for later.  Right now, he had to get Hongjoong to calm down enough to be trusted around the rest of the pack. 

“I TOLD YOU I’D FUCKING KILL YOU IF YOU LAID A HAND ON HIM AGAIN!” Hongjoong screamed as Chan sat down on the ground in front of their house, forcing Hongjoong with him.  The smaller alpha thrashed and snarled as Chan held him tightly to his chest, hands around the younger’s wrists, and crossed over his chest.  Yunho gripped Hongjoong’s legs in his large hands to stop them from kicking around as violently.  

Chan snapped his head up when he smelled vanilla.  ‘Seonghwa love, I don’t know-’

“It’ll be okay.” Seonghwa’s voice was soft and soothing, though his face was stricken.  “Hongjoong would never hurt me.”  

Hongjoong stopped thrashing and began to sob, practically going limp in Chan’s arms.  “Seonghwa…”  

“It’s alright, love, I’m right here.  I’m not hurt.  Can you breathe for me?” Seonghwa hummed as he gently slid onto Hongjoong’s lap, taking his head into his hands.  

“Seunghyun-  he has you… he was-” Hongjoong’s voice still sounded panicked.  

“Shhhh, love.  No, he doesn’t have me.  I’m right here with you.  With our mates.”  Seonghwa cut off Hongjoong and pressed their foreheads together.  Seonghwa released a generous amount of his vanilla scent, and Chan followed suit with his campfire, to remind Hongjoong that he was there.  Yunho’s bread followed not long after.  

Hongjoong wailed as Seonghwa soothed him.  “I know love, let it out,”  Seonghwa whispered impossibly softly.  

Suddenly, Hongjoong tensed in Chan’s arms and snapped his head away from Seonghwa.  “No!  Seunghyun is here.”

“It’s okay, I’m safe-” Seonghwa tried to soothe.

“No, I mean the tracker.  He’s going to find you!”  Hongjoong was frantic again. Chan had to tighten his grip to keep Hongjoong in place.  

“Remember?  You took my tracker out.”  Seonghwa looked at him with a sad smile and gently stroked Hongjoong’s cheek.  “That was one of the first things you did, love.”

Hongjoong took a few seconds to process what Seonghwa had said, then began to nod.  “Right, right by the river.  That first night.”  

Seonghwa smiled warmly.  “That’s right, love.  He can’t find me anymore.”  

Chan’s brain went into overdrive.  They said a tracker.  What if the other omega had a tracker?  If he did, that would ruin their whole plan before it even got off the ground properly.  ‘Seonghwa?’ Chan waited until Seonghwa made eye contact with him over Hongjoong’s head.  ‘You know I would never pry, but this is important…’ He felt like such an ass for what he was about to ask.  

Seonghwa closed his eyes and took in a stabilizing breath.  ‘Seungmin.’  He sent out through the whole pack bond.  He was too tired, and it was too important to relay the message through others or to repeat himself.  

‘Seonghwa?’ Seungmin sent back, sounding a little strained.  

‘Check the omega for a tracker. Check the upper thoracic spine area, probably between the T3 and T4.  There should be a vertical scar.’ Seonghwa kept his eyes closed.  He didn’t want to see the look in Chan’s eyes as he revealed this part of his past.

‘I see a faint scar there, yes,’ Seungmin confirmed a minute later.

Hongjoong let out a whine, and Seonghwa shushed him gently.  ‘Okay, good.  That’s good.  Now feel around the skin underneath.  Do you feel a foreign object?’  

‘Yes, I think so.  Feels like a pill capsule.’ Seungmin confirmed a few seconds later.

‘Perfect.  You need to cut it out and crush it.’ Seonghwa trusted Seungmin to know what he was doing.  He’d helped Seonghwa patch up their mates on multiple occasions now.  

‘The second you crush that tracker, they’re going to be coming for you.’ Minho cautioned.

‘WE’RE ALMOST THERE, HANG TIGHT’ 

Chan smiled. Changbin was never one to realize he didn’t have to yell in the “pack channel” when he was excited.  ‘Okay, let us know when you’re heading our way.  I need all alphas and betas not currently assigned to report to the lawn to cover up the omega’s scent trail.’  Chan winced and added, ‘and the vanilla.  That needs to disappear as well, just to be safe.’

“You back with us Joong-ah?” Chan gently asked the alpha, trembling in his arms.  

“Ye-yeah.” Hongjoong stuttered out.  “Sorry, I’m back now.”

“No need to apologize.  No harm was done.” Chan soothed and loosened his grip on Hongjoong, letting Seonghwa pull the smaller alpha towards himself.  

“Can you walk, love?” Seonghwa asked, wiping the tears from Hongjoong’s face.

Hongjoong nodded.  “Yeah, I’m better, really.”  

Seonghwa nodded and got up off Hongjoong’s lap, and Yunho let go of his ankles.  “Come with me to the med bay?” Seonghwa asked, holding his hand out to help Hongjoong stand.

“I should really stay to help-” Hongjoong looked unsure.

“If this Seunghyun sees you, that would be more trouble than we would be in if there was a fight and you weren’t here.” Chan pointed out. “And if there IS a fight, I need both you and Mingi in the house to help protect the omegas.”  He laid both hands on Hongjoong’s shoulders and waited for the other alpha to look at him.  “I trust you to take them and run, if it comes to that.  You can keep them safe.  You’ve done it before.”  

Hongjoong nodded and took Seonghwa’s hand, allowing himself to be led back into the house.  

‘Okay, everyone, if this goes south, which I don’t think it will, but if it does, Hongjoong is in charge of keeping the omegas safe.  I KNOW you can defend yourselves.  I don’t know the full details yet, but there is no way I’m letting any of you near that pack.  If you fall into their hands, I can’t imagine what will happen to you.  So listen to Hongjoong.’  Chan knew full well that the omegas could fight just as well as the alphas and betas, but he couldn’t risk any of them being captured.  He’d get the full story later, but from what he’d learned so far, that would be worse than dealing with hurt feelings over being “treated like children”.  

On the list of things Seungmin thought he would be doing today, being dragged by Jeongin through the woods, clutching a semi-conscious, terrified omega, was not one of them.  But here he was.  It was far kinder than dragging the actual omega, but it was still far from an enjoyable experience.  

“Don’t worry, it’s going to work.”  Jeongin strained out as he pulled.  

“I have to admit, I don’t think anyone would even think that THIS was the plan, because of how stupid it is, so it may just work.” Seungmin agreed.  

“It’ll work.  We’re almost to the river.  Changbin and Jongho will have the bear here soon.  Shove the smashed tracker in the deer meat we’re feeding to the bear.  Cover his scent with our leaves and pine.  Then the pack will take care of the rest when we reach our territory.  Easy peasy.”  Jeongin rattled off.

“Yeah, best plan ever,”  Seungmin grumbled.  

“They’ll either believe the bear ate him, or they’ll think he got washed away in the river,” Jeongin grunted.  “Either one works for me.”  Jeongin stopped pulling and dropped Seungmin’s upper body to the ground and sat down panting.  “Okay, we’re to the rocks.  I’m not dragging you over those.”  

Seungmin rolled over and laid the now catatonic omega on the riverbank.  He pulled out the scent blockers they’d brought and gently placed them over the omega’s scent glands, drastically muting the burnt strawberry smell.  

Jeongin pulled out the deer meat from his pouch and placed it on a rock.  Next to it he put the tracker and found a nice rock to use to smash it.  ‘Please tell us when you’re close, and not when you’re HERE.’ He chose to tell Jongho.

‘About one minute out by the pace we’re going, just smash it and run!’ Jongho urged back.  

Jeongin raised the rock and smashed it down on the tracker as hard as he could.  It splintered and cracked to his satisfaction, so he shoved it into the meat.  ‘Chan, we’re incoming!’  He sent through the whole pack channel.

Seungmin lifted the omega into his arms, and he and Jeongin jumped into the river to cross it.  Once on the other side, they started flooding the area with their scent of leaves and pine as they ran directly to their pack territory.  Seungmin could hear the bear careening through the woods towards them and mentally sent a picture of where the deer meat was to Jongho and Changbin.  

Changbin was in front and, thanks to the image Seungmin had sent, knew exactly where the target meat was.  He barely lost any speed as he bent down and grabbed the meat.  He jumped into the air, flying towards the rive,r and threw the meat at the bear’s mouth.  He saw the bear snap it out of the air right before he hit the water.  He surfaced quickly, just in time to have his vision filled with water from Jongho joining him.  

Changbin let out a whoop.  “That was fun!”  He grinned.  

Jongho shook his head.  “Yeah, yeah, let's be quick, I already hear the other pack heading this way.”

The oven timer rang out, and Hyunjin watched as Felix pulled out the third batch of brownies and set the tray on the counter to cool. “I know you bake when you’re stressed, but don’t you think that maybe we have enough?”  He teased as the other omega glared at him.  

“What do you want me to do?  Pace up and down the hallway like Jisung?”  Felix huffed.  

“No, I’m just saying that we have enough brownies.  You don’t even know if the new omega LIKES brownies.  Maybe he’d want cookies instead.”  Hyunjin flashed Felix a conspiring look. 

Felix threw down the oven mitt on the counter and fixed Hyunjin with a stare for a few seconds, then nodded.  “You think chocolate chip or peanut butter?”  

Hyunjin was about to respond when they were hit with the overwhelmingly foul stench of rotting strawberries.   Hyunjin and Felix both doubled over at the sheer pressure of the distressed pheromones.  Yeosang quickly entered the kitchen and opened the windows to air out the room for them, and eventually, the air cleared.  Felix sniffe,d and Hyunjin looked over to see his large, watery eyes.  “Maybe something comforting?”  He offered.

“I’ll make a pie.” Felix nodded in agreement.  

Chapter Text

Mingi was unsettled but Seonghwa didn’t really know if there was anything he could say to comfort the alpha.  The truth was he was about to see something that there would be no preparation for.  Seonghwa knew by how triggered Hongjoong had been, and the emotions he had picked up from the pack bond that their incoming patient would have some horrific wounds.  

He walked over to where Mingi was checking and rechecking the instruments on the table.  “If it gets to be too much, you can step out.  This is probably going to be rough.”  Seonghwa tried to offer some comfort.  

Mingi nodded and looked like he was going to say something when the smell of rotting strawberries started to grow stronger.  Hongjoong opened up the door and held it open for Seungmin who was carrying the omega.  “I’ll be right outside.” He said quickly, then ducked out, shutting the door behind him.

“He’s still awake, but appears to be catatonic.”  Seungmin informed as he gently laid the omega on the exam table.  

“He’s likely in extreme pain,”  Seonghwa stated.  “Every movement will probably cause him pain, so let's keep everything we do to a bare minimum.”  

Seonghwa looked over at Mingi and saw large, questioning eyes.  He motioned for Mingi to come closer.  “While keeping pressure off of his genital region as much as possible, we need to get these…clothes off.”  Seonghwa wouldn’t necessarily consider the torn rags the omega had clinging to his body clothes, but he couldn’t come up with a better word at the moment.  “Mingi, could you place one arm under the omega’s legs, and the other under the lower back, and then lift your arms so the omega’s weight is on your arms and not the table?”  

Mingi quickly moved to do as Seonghwa had asked.  It was heartbreaking to see how skinny and frail the omega was, but it made him light, and Mingi was strong, so Seonghwa wasn’t worried that Mingi would have trouble with the task.  

Seonghwa and Seungmin quickly worked with Mingi to remove all the tattered shreds of clothing from the omega.  ‘ Yeosang, can you grab the large wedge pillows from the storage closet and bring them to the med bay?’ Seonghwa nodded to Mingi, who was staring at the now fully exposed wounds to the omega’s most private area. “Okay, now gently move him over to the bath.  You’ll need to hold him up so he doesn’t rest on the bottom.”  

Mingi shook his head, nodded, then smoothly lifted the omega from the table and walked him over to the already prepared bath.  The omega let out a long whine as he was lowered into the bath. 

“I know, pup.  It stings.  I promise it will be over soon.”  Seonghwa soothed as he gently petted the omega’s head.  “Okay, now gently, clean him.  Do not touch that area, just swish water around it.  We’ll get the rest of it cleaned up when he’s back on the table.”  Seungmin quickly began cleaning the dirt and blood off the omega as Seonghwa soothed the now whimpering omega.  

“Did he hit his head at all?” Seonghwa asked as Mingi lifted the omega up out of the bath, and Seungmin gently toweled him off.  

“He smacked his face pretty hard on a branch,” Minho answered from the doorway.  He was carrying a wedge pillow along with Yeosang.  “It looked like it dazed him.”

Seonghwa let out a sigh.  “I’m concerned about a concussion, then.  Okay, so pillows on the table so that his hips are raised.  Mingi, can you place him with his chest down, be careful not to let his genitals touch anything unnecessarily.”  Seonghwa went to the medicine cabinet and found the vial he was looking for. “Okay, I’m going to give him an epidural.  It probably won’t block all the pain, but it should help.  Seungmin, can you hook him up to the monitors?”  

Seonghwa walked back to the table, closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath. 

“They,” Minho choked a bit, swallowed, and started again.  “They ripped their knots out of him, rather than letting them deflate.”  He explained.  

Seonghwa nodded.  He knew.  Or he had gathered.  Seunghyun probably told them to do it.  “Okay, pup, you’re going to feel a pinch in your spine.  I’m going to be giving you some pain medication.” Seonghwa warned the omega.  “Mingi, can you lift him up from his abdomen?  It would help if his spine was curved up rather than down.”  

Mingi was quick to do as Seonghwa had asked, and Seonghwa gently probed around to find the area he was looking for.  “Okay, pup, you’re going to feel a pinch in 3…2…1. He injected the local anesthesia after the countdown, then quickly inserted the catheter, making sure to tape it in place.  “Very good.  You’re doing so good.”  Seonghwa praised after he administered the first dose of medication.  “You can lower him back down now, Mingi.”

“Is everyone else okay?” Seonghwa asked as he went over to grab the supplies he needed to sew up the tears and stop the bleeding from the omega’s entrance.  

“Nobody came,” Minho responded quickly. “We’re concerned about San, though.  He went a little unhinged when he got his first whiff of the omega’s scent.”

Seonghwa let that news sink in as he quickly cleaned and stitched up the tears that he could reach along the omega’s rim as Seungmin held the poor omega open.  Seungmin packed gauze around the area as Seonghwa went to put the supplies away.  

“Mingi, could you please turn the omega so he is lying on his back?” Seonghwa asked quietly.  He couldn’t avoid the worst part any longer.  “And I’m going to need you to hold him down.  Seungmin and Minho, I’m going to need you to spread his legs and hold them tight as well.”  

Mingi looked at Seonghwa with glassy eyes.  

“I know, but they need to be treated and wrapped so they are protected as they heal.” Seonghwa did know; he knew all too well.  At least this omega had been given painkillers that would offer some relief. He and Hongjoong did not have that luxury when they were on the run.  He shoved the memory aside and turned back to what he had to do.  He grabbed a roll of gauze, a washcloth, and the bowl that had the softest fabric he could find, soaking in the medicinal cream he wanted to use, and returned to the omega.  

Seonghwa rolled the washcloth until it was a tight rope, then gently opened the omega’s mouth.  “Pup, can you bite down?”  He asked gently.  

The omega’s eyes seemed to be becoming more focused now that the pain killers had started to work, and the eyes focused on Seonghwa.  

“Hey, pup.  I know this is scary, and the next part is going to hurt quite a bit.  I promise we are trying to help you.”

A tear slid down the omega’s cheek.  ‘Nobody has given me painkillers before.’ A gentle voice whispered in Seonghwa’s head that he didn’t recognize. 

Seonghwa let out a gasp and felt himself waver.  “Oh, pup, I’m so sorry.”  He reached out and brushed away the tear.  He swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat.  He needed to get through this.  “It’s still going to hurt, pup.  I’m so sorry.”  

Seonghwa nodded to Mingi, who placed firm hands on the omega’s shoulders, and Yeosang grabbed onto the omega’s wrists and held them tightly to his chest.  

“Okay, I’m going to start now.” Seonghwa gently lifted the omega’s cock and wrapped it a few times with the gauze, then taped the gauze with medical tape to the omega’s abdomen, to keep it out of the way, and give full access to the damaged balls.  

The omega shook, sobbed, screamed, and thrashed as much as he could as Seonghwa quickly cleaned, disinfected, and wrapped his balls in the cloth that had been soaked in the medicine.  The noise was so loud it was deafening inside the room.  Tears flowed freely down Seonghwa’s face as he continued to torture the poor omega, not wanting to do a haphazard job.  It needed to be done correctly, or he would have to cause more pain later fixing it.  

******** End of medical treatment ********

Once Seonghwa had secured the last piece of the intricate gauze sling he had made to hold the injured balls, he stepped back abruptly from the table and raised his hands up.  “It's done.  I’m done.”  He felt strong arms wrap around him, and that’s when he realized he had started shaking, and he felt weak.  

“We can take it from here, hyung,” Seungmin assured as Hongjoong scooped Seonghwa up into his arms.  

“Do you want to be alone or with our mates?” Hongjoong asked, impossibly gently as he carried Seonghwa out of the med bay.

Seonghwa wanted nothing more than to curl up in a blanket for the rest of time, but he knew he couldn’t allow himself to do that quite yet.  “We need to speak with Chan.”

“Yes, but it doesn’t need to be now.” Hongjoong countered.  

“He spoke to me, through mind link, Joong-ah.  The omega.  We need to talk to Chan and get it all out.”  Seonghwa knew he was on the edge of an emotional collapse, and needed to get out information to their mates about how to properly care for the omega before he became completely useless.

Hongjoong began walking towards the main room, where he knew the rest of their mates were congregated, giving each other support and comfort.  Chan appeared in the hallway, having an innate sense that they wanted to talk.

“We can go to my office.”  He smiled gently and led them away from the group.  Seonghwa could feel curious eyes boring into him, but he was grateful not to be doing it in front of the rest of their mates.  He was barely keeping it together and didn’t know if he would even make it through telling Chan.

Hongjoong could feel Seonghwa’s trembling getting worse the closer they got to Chan’s office.  He didn’t agree that they should do this now, but he wasn’t going to go against Seonghwa’s wishes, not after what he just had to go through.  

Hongjoong picked the couch and settled them on it.  Seonghwa slid to Hongjoong’s side, but still leaned into him as Chan sat down in the chair across from them.  

“You don’t have to do this now, and you don’t have to say anything more than you are comfortable with.”  Chan sounded tired, but genuine.  

“I appreciate that, but circumstances have changed, and you are owed an explanation, so you can make informed decisions.” Seonghwa’s voice sounded equally tired.  “But first, I need to give an update on the patient.”  

Hongjoong squeezed Seonghwa’s hand in comfort, and was relieved when Seonghwa squeezed it back.  Then he watched as Seonghwa retreated behind his medical persona, sitting up straighter, and his eyes losing focus.  “The omega is extremely dehydrated and malnourished.  Superficial wounds, including cuts and bruises, were found covering roughly 70% of his body.  With proper nutrition, those should heal with minimal scarring.  No broken bones.  The severe bleeding from the rectum due to multiple tears was successfully treated, as well as the severe bleeding and swelling of the balls.”

Chan sucked in a breath and Hongjoong glanced over to see the stricken look on his face.  He had never seen Seonghwa dissociate like this before, and Hongjoong had to admit, it was rather unnerving.  

“The patient was given an epidural; however will be in extreme pain for the next few days to a week.  It is recommended to keep movement to a minimum because even the slightest touch will cause severe pain.  It is recommended that the patient not attempt any strenuous activity such as walking for the next two weeks, and to avoid any penetrative sex or impact play for the next month-”

“Seonghwa, love.” Hongjoong squeezed Seonghwa’s hand hard.  “Can you look at me?”  

Seonghwa slowly turned his head towards Hongjoong, but his eyes were hazy.  

“Seonghwa, do you know who I am?”  Hongjoong let out some of his cherry scent.  

Seonghwa’s eyes searched for a few seconds, then he took in a deep breath, “Hongjoong,” he sighed out.

“That’s right, love.  And do you know where you are right now?” Hongjoong swallowed the lump in his throat.  

Chan let out a generous amount of his own campfire scent as Seonghwa’s eyes darted around the room, looking lost.  

“Chan” Seonghwa’s voice broke, and a few tears fell from his eyes.

“That’s right, you’re safe.  You’re here with me and Chan right now.” Hongjoong affirmed.  

“I’m sorry, I-” Seonghwa’s face crumpled, and Hongjoong pulled him towards his chest as he let out a sob.  

“You’re doing great.  There’s nothing to be sorry for.” Hongjoong soothed, rubbing a hand up and down Seonghwa’s back.  

Hongjoong looked over Seonghwa’s head at Chan.  “That last part is what the doctors would say about Seonghwa.”  Hongjoong began.  “Just like I got confused out there and thought the omega was Seonghwa, he got lost there for a second as well.”

Chan nodded, tears swimming in his own eyes.  “You don’t have to do this, really.  You can both go rest.”

“No, this is important.” Hongjoong shook his head.  “Seunghyun, the wolf who was teaching out there tonight, is from our former pack.  Or at least he was there when Seonghwa and I were.  The situation tonight was exactly the same as so many nights in our former pack; it was unnerving.”

“That’s how you knew about the tracker.” Chan nodded in understanding.

“Yes.” Hongjoong swallowed.  “You know how the more traditional packs are.  They feel that they own their omegas as property.  They can be bought, sold, and traded.  They have ownership papers.  Seunghyun has Seonghwa’s papers.  I wasn’t able to get them before we ran.”  

Chan let that sink in for a minute.  “So, someone probably has papers that say they own the omega in our med bay right now as well.”  

Hongjoong nodded.  “It’s almost certain.  Seunghyun may own him, or he may have been sold/traded/gifted to that other pack, but he had a tracker, so someone has his papers.”  

“There’s something different about him.” Seonghwa softly spoke, sitting up from Hongjoong’s chest.  Hongjoong sent him a look asking if Seongwha was better, and he nodded.  “He talked to me via mind link.”  

“You know, Minho thought that happened to him as well, but dismissed it due to the stress of the situation.” Chan looked deep in thought.  

Seonghwa looked at Hongjoong with sad eyes, “We’re going to have to sit down with the pack and discuss how to deal with the omega, once he’s able to move around.”  

Hongjoong closed his eyes and made a pained face at the memory.  “It seems that this omega has a very similar experience to Seonghwa, so he’s gone through the same behavioral conditioning.”  He looked over at Chan and saw a stricken face.  “You met us after we had been on the run for a year and a half.  Seonghwa had already gone through the pain and done a lot of the work to unlearn that conditioning.”  

Seonghwa leaned forward and fixed Chan with a serious look.  “He’s going to need to be given permission to do literally everything.  To sleep, to shower, to eat, to go to the bathroom.  Everything.  And that permission is going to need to come from an alpha.  Even then, he isn’t going to believe he won’t be punished severely for doing what he was told.”  

“Heavens.” Chan breathed out and fell back into the chair. “Minho said he thought the omega was begging him to believe that he was told to run, that he wasn’t being bad.” 

“And we know this kind of treatment is going to make the others uncomfortable.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard an order given in this house, let alone an alpha ordering an omega to do something.” Hongjoong said with an equally serious face.  “But he will not do it otherwise.  He will kneel in the corner of whatever room he was left in, piss himself and pass out from exhaustion, then beg and plead for forgiveness for having the audacity to have done those things without permission.”  

Chan looked raw and overwhelmed.  He nodded after a few moments and looked over at Seonghwa with overwhelming sympathy.  “Thank you for sharing this with me.  I agree that we need to have a pack meeting about this.  If you would like, I can address it, if it would be easier for you.”  

Seonghwa fell back onto the couch, boneless.  “I would appreciate that.  I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to do this again.”  

“I think we need to keep communicating about our feelings as a pack, and what’s going on.  I agree that it’s going to make people uncomfortable, but if everyone understands why we’re doing it, I’m sure it will go a long way to easing those feelings.”  Chan looked more confident than he had earlier.  “The orders can be gentle, yes?  They just have to be orders?” 

Seonghwa nodded.  “Yes, they don’t need to be firm or domineering.  They just need to be a clear intended order.”  

“We will need to be observant.” Hongjoong clarified.  “If he yawns, instead of asking if he’s tired, or reminding him that he can take a nap if he wants, he has to be told, go take a nap on the bed in your room.”  

“And the bed needs to be stated,” Seonghwa added.  “Omegas were only allowed on the bed when we were being used, never for our own comfort.”

“Oh Seonghwa,” Chan choked on a sob.  

Seonghwa quickly got up and walked over to Chan.  He wrapped his arms around the alpha and pulled him into a hug as he sat down on his lap.  “I’m okay now.  I’m here with my mates.  Happy and healing.

Chapter Text

“I just want to reiterate that no one has to do anything they are uncomfortable with.  Minho, Hongjoong, and I have agreed to take on the responsibility for making sure the new omega’s needs are met.” Chan finished with his speech and took a visual survey of his mates in the room.  

Tears were freely flowing down Felix’s face as he clung to Yeosang. San was sandwiched between Mingi and Yunho, looking lost.  Jisung was pacing, as per his usual, and Changbin stood up and pulled the omega into a hug to calm him down.  Jongho was staring out the window, but Chan knew the alpha had heard everything that was said.  

“That’s why Seonghwa hyung doesn’t like to be touched…down there.”  It was Jeongin who named the metaphorical elephant in the room.  

Felix broke down into full sobs, and Hyunjin joined Yeosang in pulling the omega into a tight hug.   

Chan let out a sigh.  “Seonghwa hasn’t spoken directly on his own experiences, however, last night he and Hongjoong did imply that what the new omega experienced was incredibly similar, if not the same as what Seonghwa had experienced in the past.  So he will need us to be extra gentle and understanding during this time.”  

“So what happens next?” Jongho asked, turning from the window with a serious face.  “Do we keep the omegas in the house from now on?  Do we make up papers for THEM, claiming that we OWN them, in case they get taken by THAT pack?  And what if they find out we have their omega?  Do we give him back?  Do we fight?  What if they get another omega to torture?  Do we stay here?  Do we move?”  

Chan held up his hands to signal Jongho to stop.  “Those are all really great questions, and things we should discuss as a pack.  We’ve never had a hostile pack so close to us before.  It’s certainly easier to discuss how we deal with that when we are still free to live our lives as we please.”  

Jongho leveled Chan with an even more serious face.  “My vote is still murder, the whole damn pack.”

Chan smirked, but it quickly fell into a grimace.  “Yeah?  We just blow up their house?”

“It’s what we’d do if they weren’t our neighbors.” Minho pointed out with a stony look.  “You all heard the muffled screams echoing through this house.  The result of the aftermath of what they did THIS time.  I can tell you, for those of you who didn’t witness it, they are monsters.  This Seunghyun person especially needs to be stopped.”   Minho crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, having said his piece.

“They are right, if this were any other pack, we wouldn’t hesitate,” Jisung called out bitterly from Changbin’s arms.  

There was a round of affirmative noises coming from his mates, and Chan nodded steadily, taking it in.  “Okay, okay but we aren’t doing anything at the moment.  We need to settle from this emotional disturbance first, and we can’t have Seugmin and Mingi tied up with the omega’s injuries when we do this, we need everyone on this mission if we’re going to pull it off cleanly.”

Hongjoong quietly shuffled around the corner as Chan spoke and turned his back to the room as he spoke to Minho.  Chan couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Minho nodded, then shot a look over to Chan ‘Seonghwa needs me,’ he said, then dipped out of the room with Hongjoong.  

********Consensual BDSM********

“Are you sure?” Minho asked as he shut the door to the playroom and flipped the switch that lit the sign outside to signal that it was a private play session.  

Hongjoong had moved back to where Seonghwa was kneeling in the center of the room.  He cupped Seonghwa’s cheek, and Seonghwa’s eyes fluttered up to him, and he leaned in and sighed.  “I need…” 

Minho waited. Seonghwa knew he needed to hear him say it.  He took a deep, steadying breath and tried again.  “The memories are coming up and threatening to take over.  I need to be reminded it…that it feels good.”  

A tear escaped Seonghwa’s eye, and Hongjoong gently brushed it away as it slid down his cheek.  Their other mates were not aware, but Seonghwa actually enjoyed rough play and craved it.  Hongjoong just couldn’t bring himself to be as rough as Seonghwa desperately wanted, which is where Minho came in.  Minho would bring Seonghwa to the edge and show no mercy until Seonghwa completely fell apart and became a sobbing mess in Hongjoong’s arms.  Which is exactly what Seongwha wanted right now.  

They hadn’t told Minho the whole story back when they had started, just that there was past trauma.  He had to admit that if he had known then what he had just learned, he too probably wouldn’t have been able to do the things Seonghwa wanted him to do.  Minho knew he was the most sadistic of all their mates, and that’s probably why Hongjoong and Seonghwa sought him out.  But after seeing what he saw in the woods, and hearing that those things happened to Seonghwa in the past- 

“It’s alright if you don’t want to.” Seonghwa’s soft voice broke Minho out of his spiral.  

Minho fixed Seonghwa with his best simmering glare and stalked over to him, then roughly grabbed Seonghwa’s hair and yanked his head back, causing the omega to gasp, his pupils blown wide.  “I want to destroy you.  I want to use your body as I see fit, and no matter how much you scream and beg, I won’t stop unless you tap out.  Do you understand?” 

Seonghwa’s throat bobbed as he visibly swallowed.  “Yes, sir.” Seonhwa’s voice was slurred, already hazy and close to dropping into subspace.  

“And what do you have to do to tap out?”  Minho gave Seonhwa’s hair another yank, forcing out another cry.  

“Two snaps, or I don’t respond with my color,”  Seonghwa answered quickly.

Minho crouched down and made eye contact with Seonghwa.  “Very good.”  He watched Seonghwa’s eyes roll back at the praise.  

“You,” Minho fixed Hongjoong with his glare.  “You will hold him for me.”  He motioned towards the bench.  “I want him naked, wrists bound in front of him, lying with his back against your chest.”  

Hongjoong rushed to do as instructed, as Minho took the few minutes to completely block out what was going on outside the room.  Seonghwa needed him to have his head completely in the game and present.  When he turned back around, the sight of Hongjoong presenting Seonghwa to him, offering the omega up for Minho’s pleasure, had his own cock beginning to fill out.  

Minho watched Seonghwa squirm slightly as he walked towards the bench.  He grabbed Seonghwa’s bound wrists and raised them above his head, then gently pulled Hongjoong’s own head so it was practically pressed next to Seonghwa’s, then placed the bound wrists behind Hongjoong’s head to hold Seonghwa’s arms in place. 

He then picked up Seonghwa’s legs and placed them on the outside of Hongjoong’s.  “Spread his legs,”  Minho ordered, and Hongjoong bent his knees for more leverage and spread their legs wide. 

Minho smiled darkly at the display, then turned to grab some pillows to help prop Hongjoong up.  He planned on torturing Seonghwa for a while, and didn’t need Hongjoong getting tired.  He walked back around to look at Seonghwa.  

Seonghwa’s cock was already semi hard, and he was slicking up as he squirmed against Hongjoong. “You keep teasing Hongjoong like that.  I’m not going to stop if he decides to fill you up.”  

“Ghost your fingers over his body, I want him good and frustrated,”  Minho told Hongjoong as he sat back on the couch that faced the bench the two were on, spread his arms across the back, and spread his legs.  He was going to enjoy the show for a bit.  “And you, my pretty omega, are not allowed to come until I tell you.”  

Minho watched intensely as Seonghwa’s mouth parted and made the sweetest, aroused noises as Hongjoong trailed his fingers torturously over his exposed skin.  Hongjoong knew Seonghwa’s body better than anyone and knew all his most sensitive spots, and he didn’t shy away from them.  Seonghwa’s hips bucked up, and he twisted and whimpered as Hongjoong’s fingers drove him further towards insanity.  

Hongjoong couldn’t reach Seonghwa’s lower half though, so Minho stood up after a solid 10 minutes and joined in, trailing his fingers ever so gently over Seonghwa’s inner thighs, the back of his knees, then grabbed onto his ankle and briefly stopped at the whimper he got in response, locked eyes with Seonghwa, then began to torture the sole of his foot.   

Minho’s cock was dripping by the time he was satisfied with his work with the one foot, and the sound of Seonghwa’s whimpers and begging as he grabbed the second ankle had him almost tipping over the edge.  

“You beg so prettily.” Minho cooed sadistically, which earned him a sob.  

“Please…” Seonghwa whined out, his breath shuddering as Hongjoong found a particularly sensitive spot with his own fingers.  

“Be a good boy,” Minho responded, then started to torture Seonghwa’s second sole.  “Let me hear your pretty cries.”

Minho loved the sobbing wreck that Seonghwa would become.  None of his other mates had nearly the stubborn streak Seonghwa did.  It was like every time they had a play session, it was a game to see who would make the other one break first.  It was Hongjoong’s job to check in with Seonghwa, and he did diligently.  Very rarely did Seonghwa end the session early.  And Minho had to admit that he was incredibly mean.  

Tears were freely flowing down Seonghwa’s face once Minho dropped his ankle.  “We haven’t even started yet and you’re crying so prettily for me,”  Minho smirked, which earned him a full sob.  “I am going to wreck you.”  

Minho heard Hongjoong check in with Seonghwa’s color as he walked over to where they kept their toys.  He picked up the Wartenberg wheel and turned to wave it at Seonghwa, who whimpered beautifully.  “We’ve just gotten started.”

Chan looked over at the clock.  It had been almost 2 hours since Minho left with Hongjoong.  His firm desire to allow his mates to have private time was warring with his equally firm desire to make sure each of his mates was alright, and properly hydrated.  He relaxed back into the couch and gently tugged on the thread that was the bond between him and Minho.  

After what felt like an eternity, but was probably really just a few moments, it was Hongjoong’s voice he heard in his head.  ‘Seonghwa has given permission for you to come in and observe.’

Chan would by lying if he tried to deny that he was incredibly turned on all of a sudden.  Watching Minho in his element was incredibly hot, and he’d never been invited into any of his sessions with Seonghwa and Hongjoong before.  

Even though he had been given permission, Chan still knocked on the door of the playroom, and waited a few seconds before cracking it open.  “Just wanted to check that everyone was still doing alrig-”

“Get in here and shut the door.” Minho’s voice barked out the order.  

Chan hurried to comply as he heard a smack of something definitely hitting skin, and Seonghwa’s wailed cry.  

“I didn’t tell you to stop, get his cock back in your mouth,” Minho growled out and Chan saw him land another strike of a cane across Seonghwa’s upper thighs.  Chan’s eyes grew wide and his own cock filled incredibly quickly at the sight of Seonghwa, on his knees, his long tongue lapping around Hongjoong’s hard cock, trying to get it in his mouth as his hands were bound behind his back.  His muscles were trembling, and he was dripping with sweat.  Angry red welts were forming on his bare ass and thighs, and Minho had a terrifying glint in his eye that sent a shiver down Chan’s spine.  

“That’s a good omega.” Minho praised when Seonghwa finally managed to slide Hongjoong’s cock into his mouth.  He pressed a button on what Chan recognized as the remote to the vibrating sound, and Seonghwa jolted and moaned.  His face was a sloppy mess of tears and drool.  His eyes were a hazy blissed-out that Chan recognized from seeing in some of his other mates when they were deep in subspace.   

Minho put down the cane and shoved his fingers inside Seonghwa’s hole, gathering up a generous amount of slick, then used it to coat his own cock.  He flicked his eyes up to Hongjoong, “Better hold onto him,” was the only warning he gave before he slid all the way inside Seonghwa to the hilt without stopping as Seonghwa screamed.  Chan was willing to bet that Minho hadn’t given him much prep, if any at all.    

Chan felt his legs go weak and plopped down on the couch as Minho began to mercilessly rail Seonghwa as he screamed and wailed.  Hongjoong tightened his grip on Seonghwa’s hair and thrust into his mouth in time with Minho’s punishing pace, choking him in time with his screams as his prostate was pounded.  

Hongjoong finished first, and Seonghwa was so out of sorts he couldn’t swallow all the liquid, so what looked like half of it spilled out as he openly sobbed.  Minho didn’t let up, instead tightening his grip on Seonghwa's hips so much that there would definitely be bruises later.  Hongjoong pulled back on Seonghwa’s hair, raising his head up, then wrapped his other hand around Seonghwa’s neck and started to squeeze.  

Chan figured it was the desperate gasping for air that sent Minho over the edge, and as he climaxed, he roughly pulled out the sound and snarled, “Come for me like a good omega.”  

Seonghwa’s scream was silent as his whole body spasmed and ropes of come shot out of him.  It was the most beautiful thing Chan could ever remember witnessing.  Minho fell onto Seonghwa’s back and rolled them to their sides as his knot inflated.  Seonghwa’s body was still shuddering with aftershocks and tears rolling down his stunned face.  

“I’m not leaving, love.  I’m right here.” Minho soothed as he ran a gentle hand up and down Seonghwa’s side as the omega trembled and closed his eyes, letting out small whimpers.  

Chan was suddenly struck by the amount of trust Seonghwa was giving to Minho right now, trust that Minho wouldn’t suddenly rip his knot out of Seonghwa and leave him with the physical and emotional pain.  Trust that Minho would treat him in the exact opposite way that he had been treated previously.  The room was saturated with the aroused smells of his mates, and not a hint of distress.  Now that the scene was over, Chan took a second to appreciate how it was on par with some of the rooms he’d walked in on when one of his mates was in heat or rut.  Seonghwa had clearly had a good time.  

“You were so good for us.  The perfect omega.”  Minho murmured.  “I’m so proud to show you off to Chan.  Thank you for letting us show him how beautiful and good you are.”  

Seonghwa whined and curled into himself a little bit, and Chan felt an immediate desire to take care of him.  He stood up quickly and poured a glass of water from the pitcher, added a straw, and walked over to his post-sex-wrecked mates.  “Seonghwa, drink some water, love,” Chan murmured while gently cupping the omega’s cheek.  

Seonghwa opened his eyes, and Chan saw that his pupils were still blown wide.  He gently pressed the straw to Seonghwa’s lips and smiled softly when Seonghwa obediently wrapped them around the straw and began to suck.  

“That’s it.  So good for me.”  Chan praised, and noted the contented sigh he received at the praise.  

Hongjoong appeared at Chan’s side, looking like he’d quickly cleaned himself up, and began to gently clean Seonghwa and Minho off as well.  He also murmured gentle affirmations as he worked.  

“I feel like he’s going to be out of it much longer than it’ll take for my knot to deflate this time.” Minho assessed, still using a gentle voice.  

“I’ll ask Mingi to take the next shift with the patient then.”  Chan nodded as he passed the water over to Minho.  He ran his hands through Minho’s hair and gave him a soft kiss on the top of his head.  “Take your time.”  He wanted Minho to also be gentle with himself and allow himself to come down properly from his dominant role.  ‘I love you, and I love that our mates trust you to do this for them,’ He told Minho through their bond.  

Chan made sure to quickly exit the room to minimize the time the door was open in case someone was in the hallway.  He had been given a gift, and he didn’t want to spoil that trust.  He stopped by the den and asked Mingi to check on Seungmin to see if he needed a break, then waved off the offer from Hyunjin to join the cuddle pile.  He needed to be alone to process the new information about Seonghwa’s kinks and how he had been abused in the past.  Had he developed those kinks because of the abuse, or did he have the kinks before?  Chan didn’t know which answer would make his heart twist more.   

Chapter Text

Wooyoung had no idea how long he had been drifting in and out of consciousness, but he knew this time was different.  His brain was less foggy than before, and the pain was getting worse with every beat of his heart.  It radiated from his groin area out over his entire body, and even his fingertips were throbbing.  He concentrated on not letting out so much as a whimper.  He would be punished for making noise without permission.  

The sound of his own blood pounding in his ears became quieter, and he began to notice an annoying beeping sound, as well as a clicking and whirring.  He racked his brain trying to place the sounds.  He ran through a list of devices he was familiar with in the punishment room, but he couldn’t place it.  As his breathing picked up along with his rising panic at the thought of some new, horrible torture device his alpha was going to use on him, the beeping sped up, which just fueled his growing panic.  

He heard a chair squeak somewhere in the room, and his whole body flinched.  That’s when he realized he was lying on a bed.  His eyes flew open.  He wasn’t allowed on beds.  He didn’t remember being given permission.  He lay frozen in terror for a few seconds, then willed his body to move, fueled by adrenaline and fear.  He let out a cry at what felt like razor blades scraping over his balls as he rolled off the bed and collapsed onto the floor, dry heaving for a few moments as his whole body flared in horrible pain.  

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.  I’ll be good, please!” Wooyoung desperately sobbed as he crawled through the pain to reach the nearest corner of the room to kneel in.  “Please, I’ll be good.  I didn’t mean to.  Please, please don’t throw me in the hole.  I’ll be good, I’ll be good, please, I’ll be good, don’t throw me in the hole-”

Wooyoung felt a hand on his shoulder, and he let out a scream and thrashed away in terror before he realized what he had just done. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Wooyoung couldn’t believe how stupid he was.  He had just earned himself extra punishment.  Whatever mercy he may have been shown was now gone.  

Wooyoung felt a hand grab a fistful of his hair and yank his head up.  “Look at me.”  An alpha voice ordered him.  Wooyoung’s brain latched onto the order, and he snapped his eyes up.  The smell of cherries flooded his nose, and the alpha stared at him as he trembled and tried to control his sobs.  This was one of the alphas from the ridge.  

Wooyoung analyzed the pheromones the alpha was giving off and didn’t pick up on any anger or even frustration.  Instead, he was only getting soothing and patience from the alpha. This one wasn’t going to punish him.  A whimper escaped at the realization before Wooyoung could stop it. 

“What is it?”  The alpha asked.  His voice was firm, clearly expecting an answer, but it was gentle.  

Wooyoung was confused. “Alpha is not angry.”  Alphas were always angry with him.  Why was this one not?  Or at least frustrated.  

“No”. The alpha responded.  “I am not angry with you.”

Wooyoung could tell from his scent that the alpha was being truthful, and that seemed to be what his mind needed to completely fall apart.  He sobbed and started shivering.  His whole body throbbed with pain, he didn’t know where he was, and then there was this strange alpha who…wasn’t angry?  

“Omega,” the alpha commanded Wooyoung’s attention. “You have my permission to be on the bed.  Do you understand me?”

Wooyoung gaped, but realized that he needed to respond.  “Y-yes al-pha.” He managed to stutter out.  

“Repeat it back to me.” The alpha ordered, his eyes showing no anger, but something Wooyoung couldn’t place.

“Alpha has given this omega per-permission to be on the bed.”  Wooyoung breathed out.  His head was now spinning.  He’d never been given permission to be on a bed before.  Not while he wasn’t being used.  Was that what this was?  Was the alpha going to use him-

“I am not going to touch you.  Not like that,” the alpha responded as if he could read Wooyoung’s thoughts.  Before he had time to even process what was said, another person was crouching down next to him.  

“Omega, this is Seonghwa.  He is my mate.” Wooyoung smelled vanilla and glanced over at the other person, and quickly looked away.  “You will obey him as you would me, and answer his questions truthfully.  Do you understand?”

Wooyoung was frozen by his confusion.  Another omega was given privileges of an alpha?

“Omega, repeat back the order.” The alpha’s voice was firm, but still didn’t sound angry.  

Wooyoung looked back up at the alpha, “I will obey your mate as I would obey you, and answer his questions truthfully.”  

The alpha smiled, “Good boy.” Wooyoung’s breath caught in his chest, and a strange, warm wave rolled through his body at the praise.   Before he could even process that new feeling, he was being picked up, which caused another horrible wave of pain to course through his body and he cried out.  

“I’m sorry, pup, I’ll get you more pain medication,” the alpha’s mate murmured in Wooyoung’s ear as he was laid back down on the bed.  Wooyoung’s mind clung to the comforting scents of cherries and vanilla as the waves of pain radiated through his body.  The waves became more and more muted, and his mind got more and more hazy, then Wooyoung felt himself slipping back to sleep.  

“What the fuck is the hole?”  Minho growled.  He didn’t realize it was possible to want to murder that pack more than he already did.  He noticed Seonghwa tense up and was immediately sorry for asking the question.  “You don’t have to…I suppose it’s what it sounds like.” He sighed. 

“It isn’t, it’s worse,” Seonghwa whispered.  He had a faraway look in his eye ,and Minho’s heart ached. “So much worse than just a simple hole in the ground.”

Seonghwa pulled a chair up to the table where the patient was lying and took his hand.  “It was sensory deprivation.”  He ran his thumb up and down the back of the patient’s hand as he spoke softly.  “We would be blindfolded, so we wouldn’t see the person who came to change out our food and waste buckets.  Our wrists were cuffed to chains hanging from the ceiling, so we couldn’t claw at the walls or our own skin.  It was a box, really, not a hole, but it was dark.  Pitch black.  Soundproof.  So quiet ,all you heard was your own blood pumping in your ears.  Even without chains, it wasn’t big enough to properly lie down.  We were left alone with our own thoughts, and the growing pain, then numbness in our hands, our wrists, our arms from being shackled like that.  In our backs from straining to relieve the pressure, and our legs from not being able to properly stretch out.   Once we were finally let out, we couldn’t open our eyes without even the slightest of light burning our eyes.  Our legs and arms wouldn’t work properly, so we needed to be dragged around.”  Seonghwa turned and gave Minho a sad smile.  “You become overly sensitive to any form of stimulation.  Every little sound had you on edge, every touch felt like too much.  That’s when the truly sadistic torture would begin-”

“Seonghwa,” Hongjoong whined, his face stricken.  “Please, don’t.” He sobbed.  

Seonghwa looked like he snapped out of whatever trance he had fallen into at the sound of the sob.  “I’m so sorry, love.”  He stood up and walked over to Hongjoong and pulled him into a hug.  “I’m okay.  You saved me.  We’re safe now.”  He soothed.  

Minho felt like he was going to throw up.  It turns out that it was much worse than he had thought. He swallowed his regret and decided to change the subject. “So, did we all hear him talking in our heads, or was that just me?”

Hongjoong gave Seonghwa a squeeze, then separated from him.  “It was unnerving.  It was like he wasn’t doing it on purpose, but I could hear his thoughts.”  

“He didn’t realize we could hear him.” Seonghwa nodded.  “He didn’t seem to be actively trying to communicate with us.”

“Hey,” Hongjoong offered a hand to Seonghwa.  “Felix made muffins, we should go get some.”  He smiled softly at Seonghwa.  

Seonghwa closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly, then nodded.  “Yeah, muffins sound good right now.”

It wasn’t until the next day that the omega woke again. Mingi noticed on the monitors and alerted Minho that it was happening, so they were better prepared this time.  

“Omega,” Minho said when he saw the patient’s face twist in pain.  “Open your eyes.”

The omega struggled, but blinked a few times before keeping his eyes open.  

No, I’m on a bed.  I’m not allowed on-

“Omega, what did Hongjoong tell you?” Minho cut off the panicked voice in his head.

Hongjoong?  Vanilla, that was the omega, Seonghwa.  Was Hongjoong cherries? The alpha? 

“What were you told about the bed?” Minho prompted in a firm voice.  He didn’t want to scare the omega by letting him know they could hear him.

“This one was given permission to be on the bed by an alpha.  Ch-cherries?” The omega sounded confused and still panicked.  

“That’s right, very good.” MInho quickly praised.  He could feel the omega preen at the praise, and Minho decided right then and there that it would be his mission to feed that praise kink as much as possible in the future.  “Hongjoong smells like cherries. And do you remember his mate, Seonghwa?”

“Vanilla,” the omega responded with a sigh.  

“Such a smart omega, yes.”  Minho praised again.  “What do you smell now?” He nodded to Mingi to release his scent, which he did, and the room filled with caramel.

The omega’s face twisted with confusion. “Caramel?”

“Omega, if you have a question, or are confused, or require clarification, you WILL say so.  Do you understand?” Minho put a little bit of his alpha voice behind his order.

“I-I smell caramel, but alpha?” the omega shrank away, as if expecting to be hit.

“That’s right!  You are a very smart omega.” Minho praised again.  

Mingi bounced over to be within the omega’s view.  “Hi!  That’s me, I’m Mingi.” He smiled widely.  “I’m one of Seonghwa-hyung’s assistants. I know, my scent is confusing.  Everyone thought I would present as an omega, so we were all kind of shocked.  Are you in pain? Do you need another dose?”  His face morphed into the cutest pout. When he saw the omega grimace and tense up all of a sudden. 

“I-” the omega cut himself off.  It's fine.  It really isn’t that bad.  They’ve given me more than anyone ever has before. They shouldn’t waste any more on me-

“Omega, Mingi asked you a question.” Minho cut off the spiral that the omega’s brain was on.  “Are you in pain?”

“Yes, alpha.” The omega quickly responded.  He stiffened for a second and sucked in a breath.  “It hurts.”  

Minho looked over to Mingi, ‘One question at a time.’ 

Mingi bobbed his head up and down in understanding.  Then prepared another dose of pain killers.  

“Thank you for telling us,” Minho said out loud.  “We do not want you in pain, so Mingi is going to give you more painkillers.”  

The omega’s face scrunched up in confusion. “Why?” he breathed out, then snapped his mouth shut and looked scared.

“Thank you for voicing your confusion. I’m very proud of you.” Minho praised again.  He walked closer and looked the omega in the eye.  “I know you won’t believe us now, and that is fine, but not every alpha likes to see omegas in pain.  He let out some of his own scent for the omega.  “My name is Minho.  If you need anything, you will let us know.  Do you understand?” 

“Yes, alpha,” the omega responded, his eyes wide with confusion.  

“Repeat the order back.” Minho reminded.

“If I need anything, I am to let someone know.” The omega sounded unsure, but he repeated it anyway.

“Very good, I’m proud of you.” Minho practically cooed.  

It’s a trap, right?  Omegas are supposed to serve and take only what they are given.  Not to be in the way.  These alphas won’t punish me, but surely they will bring another in to remind me of my place. They’ve already wasted so much on me already, surely asking for anything more would- 

“Hey so ah,” Mingi smiled and approached the omega with the syringe.  “What’s your name anyway?  I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.  It just feels weird to keep calling you ‘omega’, which I can keep doing if that’s what you want, but it would be nice if you wanted to call you by your name…?” 

Minho smiled fondly at Mingi’s nervous rambling and the omega’s shocked face.  He was about to tell the omega it was okay not to answer that question when he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

“Wo-Wooyoung.  My mother called me Wooyoung.” He whispered.  

“That’s a beautiful name. Thank you for sharing it with us.” Minho smiled at him.  

“Nice to meet you, Wooyoung.  I’m going to give you a shot now, if that’s alright.  It should dull your pain.”  Mingi’s big eyes looked at Wooyoung with sincerity and hovered as if expecting a response. 

Wooyoung blinked a few times, appearing to be frozen in shock.  

“Is it alright with you, Wooyoung?”  Minho gently nudged when it became apparent that neither of them was going to move.  

Wooyoung snapped his eyes over to Minho and looked so confused that he might cry.  “I-” 

“Wooyoung, Mingi would like your permission to give you a shot.  He likes to have consent.  Does he have yours?” Minho explained patiently.  

“Of course, alpha can do what he wishes to this one.” Wooyoung quickly responded.  

Mingi looked sad for a second, but Minho quickly shook his head ‘ I’m afraid we’ll need to work on that.  It’s okay, Mingi, give him the shot.’ 

Mingi grabbed onto the IV line attached to Wooyoung’s arm and opened the port so he could push the contents of the syringe in.  Wooyoung’s eyes tracked him the whole time.  “It won’t hurt, I promise.” Mingi smiled softly as he pushed the plunger down and the syringe emptied into the tubing.  “It’ll take the edge off that pain soon.”  

“I-” Wooyoung’s voice caught in his throat, and a tear rolled down his cheek.  “Thank you, alpha.” 

Mingi reached down and wiped the tear away with his thumb, and Wooyoung’s eyes fluttered closed at the touch. The omega let out a sigh and drifted back off to sleep as the pain medication took effect.    

Minho walked into the kitchen and could smell the fresh apple pie that Felix had baked.  A small smile tugged at his mouth as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.  

“That bad, huh?” Felix asked as he pulled out a plate and began cutting a piece for Minho.  

Minho sighed and slid onto a stool at the counter.  “You know I like to give orders, it’s kind of my thing.”

Felix smirked and his cheeks dusted a bit as he placed a piece of pie in front of Minho.  

“It’s just, I don’t know, I feel dirty doing it to him because he CAN’T say no.” Minho stabbed the pie with his fork like it was the physical manifestation of his frustration.  “I don’t know how Hongjoong did it.”  

“I couldn’t at first.” Hongjoong quietly responded from the doorway.  

Felix quickly grabbed another plate and began cutting a second piece of pie for Hongjoong as he slid onto the stool next to Minho. 

“I thought I could help him by being the exact opposite of where we had come from, giving him choices, being careful to never give him an order.  Asking him what HE wanted.  I thought we were doing really good too, until the day I found him trembling, pleading with me to not punish him for falling asleep in his own pile of urine in the corner he had been sitting in for I don’t even know HOW long since I had left him to have some PRIVACY in his own room-” Hongjoong stabbed his own piece of pie with his fork.  “Well, I knew I needed to become stronger, for him.”

“I guess that answers my question of how it’s going.” Chan sighed as he entered the kitchen.  

Felix looked incredibly pleased with himself as he grabbed another plate and cut a third piece of pie.  

“If we’re all here, who is with the omega?” Chan asked gently as Felix slid the piece of pie over to him.

“Mingi is with him,” Minho responded.  “I know he wasn’t part of the initial group of volunteers, but I don’t know he has this way about him, and got the omega to open up and tell us his name, and I don’t think it was because he was asked by an alpha.  He took a bit to think about it before answering. I think he wanted Mingi to know, specifically.”  

Chan froze for a second, then nodded.  “That does sound promising.  We’ll just have to make sure to keep checking in and offering support.”  

“How’s San doing?” Hongjoong asked, keeping his head lowered and staring at his pie intensely.  

Chan let out a sigh.  “He is having trouble settling his wolf.  I’m afraid we’re going to have to buy a new punching bag.”  

“I could make him some muffins, if you think that would help.” Felix offered, his face brightened at the idea.

“I think he would appreciate that.”  Chan smiled at Felix.  “And thank you for the pie.  It’s exactly what I needed.”

Chapter Text

Mingi reached over and silenced the monitor as Wooyoung began to wake up again.  He had noticed that the beeping seemed to make the omega nervous in his disoriented state as he woke up.  He released some of his caramel scent to help Wooyoung to remember where he was as he woke up.  

Mingi let Wooyoung blink his eyes a few times before he spoke.  “Hey, do you remember where you are?”  He asked gently.

Wooyoung turned his head towards Mingi and nodded.  “Yes, alpha.”

Seungmin snorted quietly from where he was at the supply cabinet.  “That’s going to go right to his head.”

“Don’t mind Seungmin, he’s just a bitter, crotchety beta,”  Mingi said with no heat whatsoever and smiled fondly at Wooyoung.  

Seungmin released his pine scent as he approached Wooyoung.  “Do you remember me at all?”  

Wooyoung scrunched his face adorably for a minute then let out a little gasp.  “You smell like pine, that’s why I didn’t smell you that night.”  

“That’s right, Minho said you were a smart omega.  I’m the one who dug the tracker out of you.” Seungmin gently praised.  

There was a knock on the door and Mingi saw Yunho’s head peak around it as it opened slightly.  “Hey ah, is it alright if Yeosang and I come in-” 

He was cut off by being pushed inside by Yeosang.  “Stop being ridiculous.  If you don’t get that treated you’re going to end up with a permanent scar.  I told you specifically NOT to grab the soldering iron if it fell.”

“I get it, okay.  Soldering iron hot, don’t touch.” Yunho tried to placate the other beta as he was shoved into a chair and Yeosang yanked Yunho’s hand out to look at it.  

“That’s going to leave a nasty brand.” Yeosang hissed out.

The smell of terror and burnt strawberries filled the room and Mingi dropped to his knees next to Wooyoung.  All the color had drained from the omega’s face and he was trembling.  

“Wooyoung?” Mingi reached up and placed a palm on the omega’s forehead to try to get his attention and it felt like he was suddenly sucked under water.  

It took Mingi a few moments to recognize the feeling of an anxiety attack and to steady out his breathing.  When he did he opened his eyes and he could focus on what he was seeing and hearing.  

The edges of Mingi’s vision were hazy, and he realized that he was seeing a memory.   He didn’t recognize anything around him, not the room, the smells, or the sounds, until a sob drew his attention to Wooyoung. He was naked, chained on display in what Mingi thought looked like what San had described as a receiving ceremony that some of the ‘traditional’ packs used when trading omegas. There was a spreader bar attached to Wooyoung’s knees so his legs were forced apart and his ankles had heavy cuffs with chains attached to hold his legs in place.  His wrists also had heavy cuffs and chains attached, pulling his arms wide, up, and away from his body. San had said this was for a bodily inspection of the omegas.  

The man who Mingi assumed was the head alpha had Wooyoung’s cock in his hand and was stroking it and taunting Wooyoung as the omega shook in utter terror. 

“Where do you think you should take your brand?”  The alpha’s sick voice was taunting as another alpha began to approach with a red-hot iron in his hand.  

“Wherever it pl-pleases alpha.” Wooyoung’s voice shook.  

The alpha smiled and a chill ran down Mingi’s spine.  “Well, it PLEASES me to mark my property on the face.”  He used his other hand to roughly grab Wooyoung’s jaw and turn his face from side to side.  “But I asked you’re opinion.”  

“I am here to please alpha.” Wooyoung’s voice quivered as the reality sunk in.  

The alpha stepped back and laughed.  “Well, you’re doing a TERRIBLE job.  Such a poorly trained omega I have to deal with.”  He spat.  

The alpha lunged back towards Wooyoung and roughly grabbed his cock, causing Wooyoung to cry out in pain.  “Why would I allow you to walk around with MY mark on your face when you can’t even CONTROL yourself?” He slapped Wooyoung’s cock hard and Wooyoung bit back a scream.  “Are you trying to embarrass me?”

The other alpha handed the branding iron to the head alpha, who flashed him a sick sneer.  “Grab his filthy cock.  Since this trash omega decided he could get hard without permission I’ll have to show him who owns it.”  

The other alpha wrapped one hand around Wooyoung’s shaft and used his second hand to pull back the foreskin all the way, exposing the tip.  “You’d better hold still because if this brand doesn’t turn out perfectly, I’m cutting off.”  The head alpha growled out, then slowly pressed the red-hot iron into the tender flesh.  

Mingi felt himself being violently pulled by the shoulders and Wooyoung’s screams echoed in his head as he felt himself hit the floor.  He barely had time to roll to his side when the nausea hit him hard and he began heaving up the contents of his stomach.   

The ringing in his ears faded and was replaced by the sound of utter chaos.  He could pick up his own scent, clouded with terror along with Wooyoung’s, and he could pick up soured versions of Changbin’s cinnamon and Yeosang’s honey.  The strongest scent was Yunho’s bread, which seemed to be blanketing him on the floor.  

Mingi opened his eyes and was immediately met with Yunho’s concerned ones.  He turned his head and saw Wooyoung had curled onto his side in a tight ball, pulled a pillow tight over his head, and was wailing while Seungmin and Yeosang were at the door trying to stop an enraged Changbin from entering the room.

‘ It was a flashback.  I don’t know how it happened but I was there with him.  Please, he’s scared.’ Mingi quickly sent through the pack bond.    

“EVERYONE STOP!” Chan’s alpha voice bellowed out ahead of the oppressive wave of rain and campfire slammed into Mingi.  If he hadn’t already been on the ground he would have dropped to his knees like Changbin, Yeosang, and Seungmin.  

He heard a thump and turned his head to see that Wooyoung had slid off the bed and was kneeling on the floor.  He had stopped screaming, and his face was blank, which was unnerving.  It was like his mind was gone.  

Chan and Minho stepped past the three in the doorway and entered the room, looking around to survey the situation.  “Changbin,  you will go with Yeosang and Seungmin to the pack nest,” Chan ordered.  

Chan crouched down in front of Yunho and looked at his hand, then placed a hand on the side of Mingi’s face, looking him in the eye. “Are you alright?”  

Mingi quickly nodded.  “Yes, I was disoriented and I’m still confused but I was never in any danger.”  

Chan let out a breath and his face relaxed a little bit.  “Okay, can you help Yunho with his hand?”

“Yes! Of course.” Mingi nodded and Chan helped him and Yunho to stand.  Minho motioned to the chair Yunho was originally in and he sat back down again to let Mingi treat his burn.  Mingi glanced back at Wooyoung with concern and was about to say something when Hongjoong appeared in the doorway.  

“I fear that we’ve done more damage than good,” Minho murmured as he knelt down in front of Wooyoung.  

“We needed to get Changbin under control.” Chan countered.  “I can still smell the terror, I can only imagine what would have happened if Changbin had made it in here, good intentions or not.”

Mingi finished bandaging Yunho’s hand and gave him a soft smile.  “Thank you.  I’m guessing you were the one who pulled me away.”

Yunho nodded.  “We were calling for you, but you weren’t responding.  Your scent was just as terrified as the omega’s and I didn’t know what was going on.  I kind of panicked.  I’m glad it worked.”  He reached up and pressed their foreheads together.  “I was so scared.” He whispered.

Mingi pulled back and turned towards the other alphas who were gathered around Wooyoung.  “I don’t know how, but I got pulled into his flashback.  I think-”  His voice caught and he swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.  “I think it was triggered by Yunho’s wound when Yeosang said you would have a nasty brand.”  Mingi took in a breath to steady himself, but it didn’t seem to help as he began to tremble, remembering what had happened in the flashback.  “They…they branded him.”  He felt like he was going to throw up again, and bent over the trash can just in case.  He felt Yunho’s hand rubbing gentle circles on his back as he dry-heaved a few times.  

The room flooded with vanilla and Mingi felt himself suddenly feel better.

“So he suffered from a traumatizing flashback, which Mingi somehow shared, then was hit with a wall of dominant alpha pheromones.”  Seonghwa summed up softly as he entered the room.  “It isn’t ideal, but nothing that isn’t recoverable.” He placed a hand on Chan’s shoulder and gave him a nod.  

“Setbacks are to be expected.  Especially because we don’t know what might trigger him.” Hongjoong nodded in agreement.  “As far as I’m aware, they never branded Seonghwa, so that is unique to this omega.”

Mingi felt a wave of relief, and then deep sadness passed through him. It hadn’t occurred to him that the same horrible thing might have happened to Seonghwa; it was horrible enough to know it had happened to Wooyoung. Yunho placed a hand on the side of Mingi’s face and made eye contact with him.  ‘Would you like to talk about it?’ Mingi heard Yunho ask in his head. Mingi quickly shook his head and looked at the ground.  He definitely didn’t want to think about it, let alone talk about it.  It wasn’t his story to tell anyway.  

“Perhaps we should move him to a room.  He doesn’t require constant medical services anymore, correct?” Minho’s face was still pinched in concern.  “We can still have someone with him to monitor him, but it doesn’t need to be in the med bay.”  

Chan nodded in agreement as he looked at Wooyoung with a sad, concerned face. “Let's have the omegas set up the spare room for him.”  

Felix knocked on the door to the gym, then made sure any trace of anxiety was out of his scent before he opened the door.  “Hey San, how about you take a break?  I made you muffins.”  

San was at the punching bag, dripping with sweat, snarling, and growling as he pummeled the bag.  The scent in the room was strong chocolate, but it was bitter, clouded with what Felix thought was shame.  He thought that was a strange emotion.  What would San have to be ashamed of?

Felix stepped further into the gym, and San suddenly threw up a hand, signaling him to stop.  “Don’t, please don’t come any closer.”  He sounded miserable.  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Felix shook his head.  “Sannie, you would never hurt me.”

“Not on purpose!” San whipped his head over to look at Felix. He looked so lost.  “I just don’t, I can’t-”

“Sannie, you forget how many times I’ve pinned your alpha butt to the mat.”  Felix gave him a wiry smile and lifted the tray he was carrying. “I brought you muffins, so come eat some with me.”

San visibly deflated.  He hung his head and ripped off his boxing gloves, throwing them to the side as he walked towards Felix.  Felix sat down on the mat and patted the floor next to him, signaling for San to sit down.  “Do you want to talk about it?”

San took the muffin Felix offered him and stared at it for a few seconds.  “My wolf isn’t talking to me.”  He mumbled, then took a bite of the muffin.  

Felix let that sink in as San chewed.  This was certainly not something he had heard before.  

“My wolf is disappointed in me, again.  He kept yelling at me and it didn’t make any sense and now he isn’t talking to me.”  San shook his head in frustration and shoved half the muffin in his mouth.  

Felix nodded.  “You said ‘again’, this has happened before?”

San closed his eyes, and a truly pained look fell across his face.  “You know that I didn’t come from the nicest of packs,” San spoke quietly.  “Well, my entire life everyone thought I was going to present as an omega.  My scent is chocolate and in my pack, only omegas smelled sweet.”  

Felix took one of San’s hands in his and gave it a gentle squeeze.  

“I had a friend.  My best friend growing up.  We were born in the same year.  He smelled-” San cut himself off and a tear slid down his cheek.  “It was thought that he would also present as an omega.  We were inseparable. The night I presented, I don’t remember what happened.  I honestly don’t.  I woke up in chains, my wolf screaming at me about how I was a failure for not protecting our omega.”  

San let out a sob and Felix moved to put an arm around him, which San shoved away quickly.  “No, please.  You don’t understand.  I killed him.” San opened his eyes and looked at Felix like he was afraid of him.  “I went into rut and killed my best friend.  Not only was I considered a failure of an alpha because of my scent, but I killed an omega.  It was deemed more of a punishment for me to live with the guilt than to kill me, so I was cast out.  My wolf didn’t speak to me again for almost a year.”  

San tried half heartedly to fight off Felix but gave in and let Felix pull him into a hug as he cried into the omega’s chest.  “It wasn’t your fault, Sannie,”  Felix murmured as he ran a hand up and down the alpha’s back.  “I’m sorry that happened to you.”  

San pressed his face into Felix’s shoulder, and Felix ran a hand up to hold him, and his fingers brushed against the mark over San’s scent gland.  

“My wolf is punishing me.” San sobbed.  “He won’t let the mark fade, as a reminder of the mate I killed.”  

Felix doubted that it worked that way, but he wasn’t going to argue with San on that point at the moment.  He was definitely going to talk to Chan about it later though.  Felix had watched as San bulked up, and became an efficient fighting machine, as if he was always trying to make up for his scent.  Now he understood the depth of the pain San was carrying around with him.  “Is that why you refuse to let anyone help you through your rut?” Felix asked gently.  

San nodded into Felix’s shoulder.  Felix hugged San tighter and rocked him as he cried.  “I’m not afraid of you, San.  If you want, we could try during your next rut.  We could have as many people in the room as you want to make you feel safe, but you WON’T hurt me, I know it.”  

San violently shook his head.  “No, I’m a monster-”

“You are NOT. You are my sweet, goofy, strong, protective, LOVING San.  You would NEVER hurt me or any of our mates.”  Felix firmly shut him down.  “The first rut is dangerous for every alpha.  Accidents happen.  It doesn’t define who you are.”  

‘ It was a flashback.  I don’t know how it happened but I was there with him.  Please, he’s scared.’ Mingi’s frantic voice boomed in Felix’s head through the pack bond, then seconds later the door flew open and Jongho’s apple scent filled the room, and there was a distinct mixture of scents that were laced with pure terror along with it from the hallway. 

“Oh, okay good.” Jongho deflated and looked a little sheepish.  

San tried to lift his head, but Felix placed his hand on it and continued to hold him.  “Shhh, just a little bit longer.”  He soothed.  

Felix tensed and San whimpered in his arms when he felt the pulse of Chan using his alpha voice, then let it wash over him with the knowledge that it wasn’t directed at them.  “We’re fine Jongho, would you like some muffins?”  

Jongho, not being one to EVER turn down treats, hurried to sit down and take Felix up on his offer.  “Hey ah, Sannie-hyung?”  He asked with what sounded like forced nonchalantness.  “The contractors were going to go out on that mission soon, I know Sota had mentioned that they wouldn’t mind having extra trackers.  We all love you, and please don’t think I’m suggesting that we don’t want you around but, if it would help to get out and clear your head I’m sure Chan-hyung would let you go-”

Felix reached over and slapped Jongho hard on the back of the head, cutting him off.  

“Ow!  Hey, I was just saying” Jongho whined.

“Stupid alphas.  ‘Not saying we don’t want you around’ then proceed to LITERALLY say that” Felix scolded. 

The contractors were a group of seven wolves that would be a pack, except they refused to see themselves as one, and refused to recognize a leader amongst them.  They would be considered rogue wolves but Felix didn’t know of more than 2 or 3 rogue wolves running together for very long before the group fell apart.  

Felix considered the contractors really just a satellite branch of Chan’s pack.  They came by for holidays and random house visits, shared resources and information, and sometimes came by when they wanted support during their heats and ruts. If Felix was really being honest, “sometimes” was more like “all the time” when it came to Junon and Manato and their heats. Some of Felix’s favorite bonding moments had come from those omega-only snuggle fests. 

“No, it’s okay Lixie.  Going on a mission may be a good idea.” San said as he sat up, shaking his head.  

“You’d have something to keep your mind occupied.” Jongho offered, rubbing the back of his head dramatically and shooting a piercing look at Felix that distinctly said ‘I told you so’. 

San let out a soft chuckle.  “More like I’d be able to punch someone that deserved it, rather than destroying more punching bags.”

“That’s the spirit!” Jongho cheered.  

Felix just rolled his eyes and sighed. 

Chapter Text

Wooyoung woke slowly, becoming aware of things in increments.  First was his body.  It didn’t hurt nearly as much as it had before.  It was tolerable; he’d functioned through worse.  Next was that he was in a far softer bed than he remembered ever being in before.  His brain was still foggy, but he remembered voices, alpha voices, campfire, rain, and cherries telling him that he was allowed to be on the bed.  His mind started to wake up in snippets.  He remembered the flashback, then the angry alphas, then the same alphas telling him this room was…his?  That couldn’t be right.  He remembered being told he had permission to use the ensuite bathroom, and permission to be on the bed, then being told to go to sleep.  

Wooyoung finally opened his eyes.  Soft, that’s the first word that came to mind when he looked around the room he was in.  The bed was on a platform, with more pillows and blankets piled on it than Wooyoung could ever remember seeing in one place before.  Tears sprang to his eyes as he resisted the urge to nest.  It wouldn’t be appropriate.  His own pack wouldn’t allow him to nest; he certainly couldn’t do it here, in some stranger’s home.  

There was a large bay window with a window seat to the right of the bed, with more pillows and blankets piled on it.  Next to the window was a bookcase, and a desk on the other side of the bookcase.  There was a large wardrobe on the left, and the door to the bathroom was on the wall opposite the bed. 

The clock on the nightstand said it was almost 5 am.  Thankfully, Wooyoung’s body had woken him up in time to get breakfast started.  He’d spent far too much time lying about, not pulling his weight.  He carefully slid off the bed and padded over to the bathroom.  The alphas had made it clear that he was not only allowed to use the products in the bathroom, but he was EXPECTED to use them, so he quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face.  

He glanced at the wardrobe and wondered if the alphas expected him to change.  They had dressed him in a large cotton t-shirt and cotton pants, but didn’t mention anything specifically about clothing.  He decided it would be safer just to stay in what he was wearing.  He looked over at the bed and thought about stripping the sheets off now, but he probably didn’t have much time before the pack started to wake up, and he really needed to get started on breakfast, so he decided to do it after he’d finished cooking.

Wooyoung realized with dismay that he was on the second floor.  Generally, kitchens were on the first floor, which meant he needed to go down the stairs, which hurt a lot.  He sucked in his breath and held in his whimpers as he slowly descended the stairs, stopping every few steps to let the waves of pain wash over him and coach himself into finishing.  

Wooyoung made it to the kitchen after what felt like an eternity.  It was large and located right next to the large dining room with a huge table.  Wooyoung counted 15 chairs at the table and hoped that was the number of people in the pack, and they didn’t eat in shifts.  He didn’t want to make too little food, that would be a disaster, but he didn’t want to make too much food either.  That would be wasteful. 

Wooyoung opened up the fridge and was delighted to see it was fully stocked and labeled.  He grabbed the Kimchi container along with the cream cheese, scallions, and cilantro to make the Kimchi toast spread.   He set the oven to preheat, thinking that with so many people, it would be faster to make toast that way rather than using the 2-slice toaster. He found an appropriately large bowl in one of the cabinets and mixed up the ingredients he’d grabbed from the fridge for the spread, then covered it with plastic wrap.  

He found rice, and after rinsing enough to feed probably 20 people, he dumped it in the rice cooker and set it to start.  He grabbed a pot and got the porridge started, then went back to the fridge to grab the eggs and veggies to make egg rolls.   

By the time the rice was cooked, Wooyoung had finished the egg rolls, kimchi toast, porridge, kimchi eggs, bacon, pumpkin soup, bowl of fresh cut fruit, fresh squeezed orange juice,  and kimchi pancakes.  He placed the dishes on the warmers to keep them warm, then started the industrial-sized coffee maker.  He stepped back and took in a satisfied deep breath, suddenly feeling incredibly exhausted.  

Wooyoung’s whole body trembled as he slowly made his way back to the stairs, and it felt like someone was slicing his groin with a knife with every step he took up the stairs.  He needed to use the wall as a support as he shuffled his way back to the room that the alphas had said he was to use, and he barely made it back inside and shut the door before collapsing on the floor.  

His whole world was spinning and he’d broken out in a full body sweat and Wooyoung felt like he was going to throw up, which would be very bad if he made a mess in this very nice room, so he dragged himself across the floor to the bathroom, where at least the tiles would be easier for him to clean up.  The fact that the tiles were cold was an added bonus.  It felt nice against his flushed skin as his whole body throbbed in pain and his vision spun.  Perhaps he’d pushed himself too far.  Wooyoung only hoped that it would pass quickly enough for him to be able to clean up after breakfast, and to get the bed stripped so he could clean the sheets he’d used.  

“I don’t know what I’m being buttered up for, but this is delicious.”  Jisung hummed as he took a giant bite of the kimchi toast.  

“I bet Seonghwa-hyung has a whole list of chores for us.” Changbin nodded as he grabbed another egg roll.  “But I am absolutely bribable with food.”

“That’s good to know, but it wasn’t me,” Seonghwa softly chuckled from the entrance to the kitchen.  “Perhaps it was Minho.”

“Nope, his shocked face was priceless when he walked in this morning.  Then he muttered something about having to get to work as he grabbed a piece of toast and ran off again.”  Felix giggled.  

“Well, who was it then?  Because whoever it is, better be prepared to become our new full-time chef.”  Jisung said between bites of his own food.  

“Maybe that’s why they aren’t telling.”  Yunho reasoned.  “Don’t want to be stuck doing it all the time.”

Yeosang narrowed his eyes at Yunho and pointed his chopsticks at him.  “You are not doing a good job of looking innocent.”  

Yunho threw up his hands in defense.  “Do you think I burned that mac and cheese on purpose just to get out of having to cook?”  

“You don’t think it was the new omega?” Jongho asked as he grabbed some more kimchi eggs.  

Everyone paused and looked up as uncomfortable silence filled the room.  

“I don’t think so.” Seonghwa shook his head.  “He was in a lot of pain this morning.  I found him lying on the bathroom floor, unable to move.”  

“You know, Minho could have been pretending to be surprised.” Hyunjin broke the tense silence that followed Seonghwa’s statement.  

The rest of breakfast was spent with everyone accusing everyone else of being the person who was the secret chef.

Later that morning, the proximity alarms started blaring on Chan’s computer screen, and he quickly tabbed over to the outside cameras to see why.  He instantly felt the stab of a major headache as he saw the alpha of THAT pack stalking up his driveway, flanked by Dominic and another wolf Chan didn’t recognize.  

Lockdown protocol.  Make sure to cover the strawberry, cherry, and vanilla scents. Chan sent through the pack channel. He was glad now that they had discussed what to do in the event that someone would come looking for the omega. Chan pulled up the camera feeds of the hallways and the common spaces.  He saw Mingi exiting the medical bay with what was probably the omega wrapped tightly in a blanket being carried in his arms, with an IV bag hanging from his teeth.  A few seconds later, what looked like an out-of-sorts Seonghwa went running up to them, with Hongjoong in tow, and they headed to the elevator together to get to the basement.  

The rest of the pack was busy taking down photos that would contain Seonghwa and Hongjoong, and generally running about, hopefully doing a decent job covering the house in their own scents, covering up enough of the cherry and vanilla to not rouse suspicion.  A knock on the doorframe pulled Chan’s attention away from the monitors.  Minho, Changbin, and Jongho were standing on the threshold, stern looks on their faces.

“It took them a whole week to give a crap about their missing omega,”  Changbin grumbled. “At least I’m assuming that’s what this is about.”

“You know, hyung, it would be easy to slip away while the head of the pack is here, and burn their compound to the ground.”  Jongho offered.  “Perhaps someone left the oven on before they left the house, who knows.  Accidents happen every day.”

Chan smirked a little despite his headache. 

“And if he happened to just fall down some stairs while he was here, I wouldn’t feel too terribly bad about that,”  Changbin added oh so helpfully. 

That drew a small laugh from Chan.  “Okay, okay, I get it.  We agreed we’d wait and do it properly.  I don’t want anyone going rogue and getting hurt.  But if it would make you feel better, you all can join me in welcoming our uninvited guests.”

Hongjoong tried his best to keep his emotions under control for the sake of Seonghwa.  Seunghyun was just outside, and more than likely coming into their home.  It had taken them years to finally feel completely safe and comfortable inside the pack house walls, and now the person responsible for all the pain and trauma was there.  Luckily, Seonghwa had the omega to focus on protecting.  

Seonghwa was very good at compartmentalizing his own trauma when there was someone to take care of.  Hongjoong could only follow his mate in awe as he charged to get the omega and protect him, rather than find a place to hide and cower.  Of course, Mingi was more than capable and met them in the hallway with their charge, heading to the elevator to the basement.  

As they all stepped inside the elevator, Hongjoong smiled to himself at the memory of when they had first been given the tour of the pack house.  He had thought it was beyond excessive for a 2 story house to have an elevator in it.  Of course, just like everything else had been with Chan’s pack, nothing was as it seemed.  

“Hellevator,” Hongjoong spoke the code word loud and clear for the voice recognition AI.  Then the elevator began moving down to the basement. The doors opened onto a large room illuminated mostly by the blue glow of monitor screens blanketing the far wall.  Hongjoong took note that it looked like Yeosang was in the middle of piloting the drone, judging from the aerial view up on the screen and red target dots in various places along the terrain.  

As they entered the room and took places on the comfy couch and chairs arranged in a seating area behind the desks for the drone operators, Hongjoong heard Yeosang’s deep voice calmly murmuring target locations to someone via the headset, probably unaware of what was happening upstairs.  

Hongjoong had barely sat down when he saw a red light blinking at the copilot station, which was currently not occupied.  He pressed a gentle kiss to Seonghwa’s forehead and walked over to the copilot headset, put it on, and pressed the blinking button to answer the incoming calls.  

Sota came up on the video screen, and his face went from surprised to a large smile.  “Definitely NOT the person I was expecting.”  

“Yeah, there’s kind of a situation upstairs that Chan is dealing with at the moment.  So you get me.” Hongjoong replied with a grimace. 

“San mentioned something about a new house guest.  I’m guessing it has something to do with that?”  Sota nodded.

“The human trash finally came by, probably looking for him.  Chan is giving them a tour.”  Hongjoong clenched his fist.

“I hope it ends with a long-term visit to the interrogation room we all know you have down in your basement.” Sota gave Hongjoong a knowing look.  “Oh goodness, is that him?  He’s adorable!” Sota cooed, looking past Hongjoong.

Hongjoong glanced over his shoulder to see the omega sitting in Mingi’s lap, curled up and resting his face practically on top of Mingi’s sent gland.  He hadn’t taken the time to really LOOK at the omega before, but now that he was, he had to agree the boy WAS adorable.  And it looked like Mingi was getting VERY attached because said alpha was busy cooing at and petting the omega in his lap. 

“Looks like you might have another mate sometime in the near future.” Sota teased.

Hongjoong shook his head sadly.  “He needs to heal before he can make that decision.  And it may be quite a while before his mind is clear enough and he is strong enough to know and say what it is that HE wants.” A small smile spread across his face.  “But I know that at least a few of us have become rather attached.” 

“I bet.” Sota laughed.  “Say, would it be possible for us to get an eye in the sky?  We’re about to head into a situation, and it would be helpful.”  Sota asked, turning to the reason he had probably called in the first place.

Hongjoong looked over at Yeosang, whose eyes were still glued to his own screen, but he raised his hand and put up 5 fingers, then 3. 

“Yeosang says he’ll be available in 8 minutes.” Hongjoong relayed the message.  “I can get the coordinates punched in over here for you and transfer over when he’s ready.”

“Oh good, I was hoping to have that deep, sexy voice in my ear today.”  Sota smiled and winked.   “Thanks for loaning us San by the way.”

“How’s he doing?” Hongjoong asked quietly while he worked on getting the second drone set up.

“He hasn’t talked about it, but he seems to be feeling better having an outlet for his frustration?  Anger? I’m not sure really what it is he’s even feeling.” Sota lowered his gaze.  “We’ve been working up a big trade ring bust, and he seems particularly intense about it.”  

“Considering his past with his former pack, that seems like some pretty good therapy for him.” Hongjoong nodded.  “Is that what you need the air support for?”

Sota nodded in confirmation.  “Finally going to take down the Seki pack.”  

“Good,” Hongjoong stated firmly.  The Seki pack was notorious for kidnapping omegas off the street that they found attractive and imprisoning them in large breeding farms to be forced to produce pups who would be sold in black market slave auctions.  “I hope you wipe that scum off the face of the planet.”

“Do not worry, Hongjoong-san, there will be no mercy,”  Sota replied solemnly.  

Chan had to admit that he was not the good man his mates believed him to be.  His wolf was begging him to do what Changbin had suggested and arrange for their current “guests” to have an unfortunate accident, but he didn’t have the guts to do it.  It wasn’t because it was the righteous thing to do; it was because he was scared of the results of a sloppy take-down.  He was scared that he wasn’t strong enough to fight off the repercussions of three vile beings pretending to be men, being shown around HIS home, being introduced to HIS mates with fake smiles all around, entering his house alive, and leaving dead.  

Instead, he stood there and tried to suppress the tremors of rage as he watched the worst scum of the universe smiling sickly and taking glasses of the cherry and strawberry flavored frosted drinks Felix had made with his wonderously kind, generous, intelligent soul.  Offered to them on a delicate tray from the best set of dishes they had in the house, by a submissively bowing, smiling Felix.  

He wanted to rip the glasses from their claws, smash the drinks in their faces, gather Felix up in his strong, protective arms, and hide him away where that trash could not lay their slimy eyes on him, let alone get close enough to touch him with their grimey hands. 

“I have to say, Chan,” The walking human trash of a pack Alpha started to say.  “You are a lucky man.  I can’t get an omega to even boil a pot of water correctly, let alone manage to produce deliciously satisfying drinks for unexpected guests at the drop of a hat.”  

Yunho chose that exact moment to come out of the kitchen with a tray of cherry and strawberry tarts, fresh out of the oven.  He smoothly glided over to the group, the picture of a perfect waiter, and bowed gracefully in front of their “guests”, with his eyes down submissively, offering the tarts to the slimy bastards with the tray balanced perfectly in one hand, the other tucked properly behind his back.   

“Oh, and some more treats for us!” The greedy alpha practically squealed.  Blissfully unaware of how close he was to having his tongue ripped out.  Instead, Chan dug his fingernails into the palms of his hands as he clenched his fists tighter, watching them grab tarts and messily devour them.  “A lucky man indeed.  Delicious food, pretty omegas, and it appears even your betas are easy on the eyes.  You’ll have to tell me your secret.”  

“As tempting as it is to retire to the living room to continue this discussion, I’m sure you are anxious to continue your search for your missing omega.  I’m sure you have other houses to check, since he unfortunately hasn’t made his way to ours.”  Chan smiled and bowed slightly.  

“Ah yes, I had thought that maybe you were trying to hide him cleverly, since I could smell the strawberries, but now I see it was just the smell of your beautiful omega’s cooking.”  The alpha ran his eyes up and down Felix’s body, and Chan had to lay a hand on Minho’s arm to stop him from lunging at the creep.  

“He is indeed a gift.” Chan quickly agreed.  “And I’m sure he is anxious to get back to the kitchen and clean up, so I will allow him to leave and do so now,”  Chan said the last part strongly, making it clear it was an order to Felix.  He stared at Felix until Felix caught his eye.  I’m sorry, it’s the gentlest way of phrasing it that I can come up with.  I’ll make it up to you later. Chan said to Felix through their bond.  

Felix bowed deeply to their “guests”, then headed towards the kitchen.  I’m holding you to that.  I expect to be eaten out until your tongue goes numb. Felix’s voice sounded in Chan’s head.  

Like a starving man at a banquet. Chan agreed.  

The vile “guests” eyed Felix as he walked away.  The pack alpha turned to Chan after the kitchen door closed and winked.  “If I owned something that pretty, I wouldn’t allow it to wear clothes.”  

“Actually, I find it far more enjoyable when the body I desire is covered in beautiful clothing.  It hides the subtle curves and soft skin, leaving room for the imagination to play.  Building the anticipation, teasing throughout the day, making the payout far sweeter.”  Jongho spoke from where he stood, still half turned towards the window, staring out with a straight face as if he was talking about something as innocent as the weather.  “I’m a jealous man by nature.” He said as he turned his head to stare at the other pack alpha.  A blank look that still managed to send a chill down the spine of the poor soul caught in it.  “I don’t want just anyone seeing what is mine alone to look at.  I have no need to show off every inch of that which I possess.” 

Jongho turned back to looking out the window, apparently finished with the conversation.  The three men were clearly a little unsettled, the pack alpha clearing his throat awkwardly.  “Well, that certainly is another way to look at it, I suppose.”

Chapter Text

Breakfast continued to magically appear every morning for the next 4 days, and Seonghwa was beginning to become suspicious.  The omega should have been getting better, yet every morning he was found in terrible pain, and sometimes even passed out on the bathroom floor.  Hongjoong, Chan, and Minho shared Seonghwa’s suspicions.  The timing seemed oddly coincidental to be one of their mates playing a prank on them, and quite frankly, none of their mates had it in them to pull a long-game prank like that.

So Seongwha decided to settle down in the den in one of the large overstuffed chairs with a book and some tea, fully intent on pulling an all-nighter to see who their mystery chef was.  Sure enough, he had dozed off at some point during the night, but the sound of suppressed whimpers coming from the stairs woke him.  He checked his watch, and it read a little after 5 am.  Seongwha smelled strawberries as the faint shuffling of feet passed by the den on the way to the kitchen.  So it was the omega Seonghwa had heard.  

Seonghwa let out a sigh and took his time putting the book away and setting the den back the way it had been before he had arrived.  He honestly didn’t really know what his plan was at this point.  He had been secretly hoping it was one of his mates, and not the omega. Seonghwa made his way to the entrance to the kitchen, and sure enough, the omega was in the middle of preparing another large breakfast.  

Seonghwa made sure to release some of his vanilla scent in an attempt not to startle the omega.  “May I help?” 

The omega startled anyway, dropping the bowl he had just pulled from the cabinet onto the floor where it bounced impressively, then gyrated like a top for almost a minute before finally settling on the floor.  The whole time, the omega stared at Seonghwa, frozen in fear.  

“Oh my,” Seonghwa smiled kindly.  “I didn’t mean to startle you.”  

Stupid, clumsy, worthless excuse for an omega.  Can’t do anything right, now I’ve probably woken the whole hous-

“No harm done.” Seonghwa cut off the self-deprecating voice of the omega in his head.  “My mates sleep like the dead, so I’m sure nobody even stirred.”  Seonghwa winked at the omega as he cautiously approached and bent down to pick up the bowl.  Now that he was closer, he could see that the omega was visibly trembling.  

“You were making kimchi pancakes, yes?”  Seonghwa asked after quickly looking at the ingredients on the counter.

The omega nodded quickly.  His eyes adorably big.  

“How about you sit for a minute and relax, I can take over.”  Seonghwa gestured towards one of the bar stools on the other side of the counter.  

The omega shook his head. 

  Now you’ve got the head omega waiting on you like a worthless child.  What is wrong with you?  You couldn’t make a worse impression, you deserve the worst beating for-

“I insist.” Seonghwa forced out louder than he intended, which had caused the other omega to flinch.  “I like taking care of people, please let me take care of you.  At least let me help.  You’ve been so generous, making us meals for this past week.”  Firm order, state my desire to help, bargain, and compliment past efforts. Seonghwa felt like he was going over a checklist in his head.  A list of things he had noticed Hongjoong had been doing back when he was interacting with Seonghwa after they had escaped from their former pack.  It seemed to work because the omega’s shoulders dropped in defeat, and he shuffled over to the stool and sat down.  

“Why wasn’t I invited to the cooking party?” Felix’s voice came from the entrance of the kitchen, much deeper than usual, being that he clearly had just woken up, judging from the state of his hair sticking up at odd angles.  

Seonghwa saw the omega tense at the voice.  “This is Felix, another of our omegas.”  He quickly introduced, hoping to head off any misunderstanding due to the voice.  

Felix brightened and released some of his blueberry scent as he bounced into the kitchen and right up to the omega.  “Hi!  I’m Felix.” He held out his hand to the omega, who looked like he might just fall over from shock.  

Slowly, he reached up and placed his hand in Felix’s. “Wo- Wooyoung.” He whispered.  

“That’s a beautiful name. Thank you for sharing it with us, Wooyoung.” Seonghwa hummed as he mixed up the batter.  

Seonghwa and Felix made Wooyoung sit while they finished preparing everything the omega had planned on making for breakfast that morning.  Wooyoung seemed to relax into the routine of telling them the next steps and ingredients, and them passing over bits for him to taste to see if the seasoning was correct.  Seonghwa would be willing to bet that, like Felix, Wooyoung felt calmer while cooking.  

“Is cooking something you enjoy, Wooyoung?” Felix asked as Wooyoung sampled the soup, and his eyes closed, and a small smile spread across his face.  

“Mmm, that’s perfect,” Wooyoung responded, referring to the soup.  “I was always good at cooking.  Much better than other things.  I got in less trouble if I stuck to the kitchen.”  

“Well, everyone has been raving about your breakfasts, so I don’t think you’ll have any arguments if you wanted to keep cooking.” Felix winked and went back around the counter to take the soup off the stove.  

Wooyoung blushed and looked away at the compliment.  

“How’s your pain?” Seonghwa asked as he placed the breakfast pizza he had just taken out of the oven on the counter.  “Is it as bad as it’s been the past couple mornings?”

Wooyoung shook his head quickly and lifted his head earnestly.  “I’m better today, I can work.”

Felix shot Seonghwa a look.  

“No one said anything about working,” Hongjoong announced as he strolled into the kitchen.  “This smells amazing!”  

“We found our mystery chef,” Seonghwa responded, nodding his head over to Wooyoung, who looked scared again.  “Wooyoung here has been cooking breakfast for us.”

Hongjoong raised an eyebrow at the name and quickly recovered.  “That was incredibly thoughtful and nice of you, Wooyoung.” Hongjoong praised.  “Everyone loves your cooking.  In fact, I think there is going to be a petition to have you assigned to cooking on the chore list on a regular basis.  Speaking of, I believe I’m assigned trash today, yes?”  

Hongjoong flashed a smile that Seonghwa knew was purely for Wooyoung’s benefit because he usually grumbled about doing his chores, then grabbed the rather full bag of trash from the kitchen.  He gave a little wave on his way back out of the kitchen.  “Save some of that delicious food for me!”  

Seonghwa looked back at Wooyoung and saw that the poor omega was looking confused and overwhelmed.  “Yes, so like Hongjoong said, there is a chore list and the work is divided up.  No one is expecting you to ‘work’ as you probably were expected to in the past.  Right now, your job is to recover.  If cooking is something you enjoy, we can work out how you can continue to do that, much like today, where you sit and direct someone until you have gained strength.”  

Seonghwa turned to Felix, “How about you take Wooyoung back up to his room and help him get changed.  I’ll bring up a tray for breakfast and we can have a little picnic, just us omegas.” 

Seonghwa knocked on the guest room door and entered at the sound of Felix’s voice telling him it was okay.  He glanced at the perfectly made-up bed and untouched nesting supplies and let out a sad sigh.  “Wooyoung, is there a reason you didn’t make a nest?”

Wooyoung looked up like he was caught in a trap.  “I- well, this isn’t my house.  So it wouldn’t be appropriate.  Besides, I’m not very good at it-” 

“ Hongjoong, can you please come tell Wooyoung to nest? ” Seonghwa said with more than just a hint of irritation.  The poor omega needed the comfort of a nest to help heal. 

“-always said  it was horrible and I shouldn’t even bother trying.” Wooyoung finished relaying every horrible thing that he had been told by that OTHER pack.  “The bed is more than fine, it’s fantastic really!  I’ve never had a more comfortable-”

“Wooyoung.” Hongjoong interrupted.  

“Y-yes, alpha?” Wooyoung had flinched more than a little at how sternly Hongjoong had called his name.

“You are to use the materials in this room to make a nest, is that understood?” Hongjoong ordered.  

“Alpha wants me to make a nest for him?” Wooyoung sounded confused.

“No, the nest is for you.  It can be on the bed or on the floor, you may choose, but you WILL make yourself a nest in this room before dinner.  Is that understood?” Hongjoong clarified while giving Seonghwa’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. 

“I-I will make a nest,” Wooyoung replied, looking confused and lost. 

“I’m sure the other omegas will help you if you require help,” Hongjoong said after looking between Felix and Seonghwa to confirm. 

“Come now, let's have breakfast and then we can help you get started,” Seonghwa said gently while setting the tray of food down on the floor and settling in on the ground. 

Seonghwa watched Wooyoung wring his hands and look uncomfortable once he finished his breakfast.  Clearly, being ordered to make a nest wasn’t exactly helping the younger omega get over his hesitation to do so.  

“How about this?” Felix started, having also noticed Wooyoung’s hesitation.  “Seonghwa-hyung makes literally the BEST nests.  How about we let him get started on the base and structure while I help you go through all the materials, and we’ll sort them.”  

Seonghwa gave Felix a soft smile in thanks.  “That sounds perfect.  Could you make several piles for me?  One for things that you absolutely hate for one reason or another, one for things that are just ‘fine’ that will go into the structure, then make a pile of things you absolutely LOVE, and everything else goes in the fourth pile.”  

Felix nodded excitedly.  “On it!”  He jumped up and offered a hand to Wooyoung, who took it hesitantly.  He dragged the other omega over to the closet, threw open the doors, and proceeded to start throwing every piece of nesting material onto the ground.  “It’ll be easier to sort this way.” He explained when Wooyoung made a horrified face at the mess Felix was making. 

“Wooyoung, you mentioned earlier that you enjoy the bed, shall we put the nest there?”  Seonghwa figured Wooyoung would be more likely to agree, and if the nest was on the ground, he feared that the omega would be torn between his nest and the comfortable bed.  He wanted the younger omega to be comfortable AND in his nest. 

Wooyoung nodded and turned his anxious face towards Seonghwa.  “If you think it’s best?” 

“Oh, sweetie, it’s going to be okay, we’ll make sure to put everything back that we don’t use so we won’t leave a mess.” Seonghwa soothed.  He then walked over to the bed and pulled all the bedding off, including the sheets.  Felix was busy handing pieces of nesting material to Wooyoung and getting him to determine which pile it should go in, and Seonghwa began with the structure items, making a solid ring on top of the mattress.  

Seonghwa finished with the base structure at about the same time as the other two finished sorting all the materials in the room.  “Come help me cover all the structure with the items from the ‘everything else’ pile.”  He beckoned.  Surely Wooyoung’s instincts would come to the surface, and hopefully, the younger omega would eventually allow them to take over.  

“Watch this,” Seongwha said with a smile after they had covered the base structure.  He picked up a bedsheet from the pile, flung it out, and snapped it, causing it to slowly drift down to cover the whole nest.  “Now we tuck it in.  That’s the whole base layer.”  

When they finished tucking in the sheet around the outside of the nest, Seonghwa turned to Wooyoung.  “Now it's really up to you.  You’re going to use the pile of stuff you REALLY like to finish out your nest.  I see that you have the comforter in that pile. We’ll use that at the end to cover the whole thing, so you’ll have a nest/bed hybrid.  Does that sound nice to you?”  

Wooyoung turned towards Seonghwa with tears in his eyes.  “It sounds perfect.  Thank you so much.”  He breathed out.  

“Now, now, no need for thanks.  Let’s get to work.  You tell us where to put the items to finish out your nest.” Seonghwa gently patted Wooyoung on the shoulder.  

Once they had finished, Seonghwa gestured towards the newly built nest.  “Now I think it’s time for a nap.  You’ve had a busy morning and need your rest.”  

“Ca-Can I?” Wooyoung asked in a quiet, hopeful voice, which broke Seonghwa’s heart.  

“Of course you can, sweetie.  It’s your nest in your room.  In fact, only YOU can decide who enters your nest.  It’s a rule.”  Seonghwa had heard that the first night his mates had encountered the omega, there had been some horrible and wrong things said about a nest, and he wanted to make sure to stamp out those negative thoughts. “Now, nap time.”

Seonghwa suppressed the urge to grab onto the omega and pull him into a cuddle as he watched the younger hesitantly crawl across the nest and burrow under the covers.  He heard Wooyoung’s breath hitch, then he let out a contented sigh and pulled the comforter closer to himself, which Seonghwa found incredibly cute.  

“You did some of your best work, hyung.” Felix complimented as they left Wooyoung’s room.  

“He deserves the best, poor thing hasn’t been allowed to nest. I wanted to give him the very best to make up for that.”  Seonghwa explained with his eyes far away, remembering his own first nest after Hongjoong had rescued him.  

They really didn’t have any supplies, but Hongjoong did his best to scrounge and steal what he could for Seonghwa to make at least something.  He had been so confused and scared at the time, then Hongjoong walked in with an armful of nesting materials and told him he could make a nest, and that sparked the beginning of love and trust in Seonghwa that he thought had long been beaten out of him. 

Chapter Text

“I’ve asked Dr. Jung to come by to give you a full look over,”  Seonghwa announced the next morning while he and Wooyoung were making breakfast.  “I saw you initially, but I’m not a doctor and don’t have all the machines required to check everything that needs to be checked.”

Wooyoung’s smile melted off his face, and he started to pale.  

“Oh no, pup, don’t worry.  Dr. Jung is my doctor.  He’s an omega himself and an omega specialist.  He has a mobile testing van that he will bring with him so we can get X-rays and other tests to see if there is anything else we need to treat for you.”  Seonghwa soothed.  

“Okay,” Wooyoung replied quietly.  

“I’ll be with you the whole time.  If you like, we can ask Mingi if he will be there for you.  I have noticed that you seem to like Mingi.”  Seonghwa offered.  He understood what Wooyoung was probably feeling.  His own experience with doctors in his last pack wasn’t the best.  They were rougher than they needed to be and served to prolong the trauma.  

“D-do you think he would want to?” Wooyoung lifted his round, hope-filled eyes to Seonghwa.  

“I’m sure he would, as long as he isn’t already busy. Would you like to ask?” Seonghwa lifted an eyebrow.  Wooyoung had been making progress when it came to asking for things, and he was hoping the younger omega might have worked up to the point that he could ask an alpha for something.  

Seonghwa let Wooyoung think about it for about a minute, watching him clearly get himself more and more anxious about the thought of asking an alpha for something.  “How about this, I’ll ask him, but you come with me?”  

Wooyoung shot his head up and nodded enthusiastically.  “Yes, please.  Thank you.”  

“Wooyoung,” Seonghwa waited until he knew he had the younger’s full attention and quiet mind.  “You are doing really well.  I’m proud of you.”  

********Medical Description********

Later on that day, Wooyoung was sitting in Mingi’s lap, with his nose buried in Mingi’s neck, in a chair in Chan’s study.  The alpha was releasing a generous amount of his caramel scent and running a soothing hand up and down Wooyoung’s back. The doctor was standing between Chan’s desk and the seating area, holding a file with Wooyoung’s results, while Chan sat at his desk and Seonghwa sat on the couch with Hongjoong holding his hand.  

“I wanted to, again, thank Wooyoung for being very brave today during the exam.” The doctor started out.  “As I understand, this was the first time for you inside the scanning machines, so I am proud of you for being such a good patient.”  

“I’ll start with the X-ray.” The doctor looked over to Chan, and he nodded.  Doctor Jung pulled out a set of scans and laid them on the desk.  “Remodled fractures of the left ulna and right tibia were noted, as well as remodled fracturing of the clavicle and ribs 4-7 on the left side. The x-rays also show a history of multiple fractures on the feet and hands consistent with beating from a rod.” 

Wooyoung let out a whimper and curled further into Mingi for comfort.  

The doctor took a deep breath and continued.  “The MRI showed brachial plexus injuries on both shoulders, combined with the weaker-than-expected grip strength, which is consistent with nerve damage due to hanging from the wrists tied behind the back.  Since this appears to no longer be an acute injury, treat with heat to increase blood flow”.

“My gods,” Chan breathed out.  “How long would that have had to happen to cause nerve damage?”  

“Damage to the extent as seen on the patient would have required considerable long-term and repeated sessions.” The doctor shook his head sadly.  

“I was bad,” Wooyoung whispered.  

“No, pup, I don’t believe you could do anything to deserve being treated like that.” Chan quickly replied.  

“The CT scan showed extensive scar tissue along the channel of the patient’s reproductive area, consistent with impact and tearing trauma.  Recommended treatment is deep tissue massage, which breaks down adhesions and collagen fibres that can be caused by scar tissue. Adhesions restrict movement and increase pain resulting in an increase in stress. Breaking down scar tissue through deep tissue massage relieves restriction to decrease pain and reduce stress.” Doctor Jung informed. 

Chan nodded slowly.  Seonghwa figured that might be the case, and it appeared that Chan did as well.  

“And lastly, it appears that the, burn, actually healed without issues or excessive scarring. Have you noticed any problems with function?” The doctor was careful not to say the word ‘brand’, per Seonghwa’s request, due to it being a trigger word. 

Wooyoung turned his tear-streaked face towards Seonghwa, confused.  “I don’t understand.”

“Are you able to get hard and reach completion with a release of sperm?” The doctor rephrased.

“I’m an omega?” Wooyoung’s scent spiked with confusion and anxiety.

“Yes, your secondary gender is omega, but your primary gender is physically male.  Therefore, you have the reproductive parts of both a male and an omega, and they should both be fully functional.  Are they?” Doctor Jung tried again. 

“Wooyoung,” Seonghwa cut off the younger omega’s distressed whine.  “Does your pee come out in a stream or is the hole blocked?” 

“A stream”

“Does your penis get hard?”

Wooyoung blinked, and tears slid down his cheeks.  “Y-yes.”

“You’re doing really well, last question.  Do you produce liquid from your penis when you climax?”  Seonghwa praised. 

“I’m not allowed to cum.” Wooyoung replied automatically. 

Seonghwa’s heart shattered.  “I understand, pup, but has anyone forced you?”

Wooyoung nodded and hung his head.  Chan and Mingi’s scents spiked in anger at his response. 

“Did anything come out of your penis?”

“I- I don’t remember,” Wooyoung murmured.  

“That’s okay.  I can use the ultrasound to take a look at the sperm and see if the system is still intact.” Doctor Jung offered.  

“But why?  I’m an omega?” Wooyoung’s head shot up and looked at the doctor with pure confusion. 

“Yes, and as a male you were also born with the ability to father pups.  Just like a female alpha can carry pups. And Beta males and females can father and carry pups, depending on their primary genders.”  The doctor informed. 

Wooyoung sat with a shocked look on his face, like he had never heard this before. 

“The world doesn’t work the way you were taught, Wooyoung. Packs that only allow alphas to father pups and only allow omegas to carry pups are enforcing a social rule, not a biological one.”  Chan gently tried to explain. 

“It isn’t necessary for me to perform the test to see if you're still able to father pups.  Seonghwa is perfectly capable of taking a sample and performing the necessary tests.  It can be done at a later time.  If you would be more comfortable with that.”  The doctor replied, realizing that Wooyoung was going to need more time to be able to consent to anything related to the topic. 

Wooyoung was visibly shaking in Mingi’s arms, and shook his head.  “I-I can do it.” 

“No,” Chan quickly overruled.  “You’ve been through enough for today, and you need something to eat and a nice long nap.  Seonghwa can perform the test at a later date.  Thank you, doctor.  We greatly appreciate you coming out here on such short notice.”  

********End of Medical description********

Mingi carried Wooyoung to the kitchen, where they found Minho finishing up lunch. He set Wooyoung down on a stool at the counter, and Minho slid a bowl of kimchi jjigae stew towards the omega.  “Eat that, but slowly.”  He ordered.  

“Thank you, alpha.” Wooyoung quietly replied, hesitantly looking up at Minho for a few seconds before picking up his spoon.  

“You are very welcome, Wooyoung,” Minho responded softly.  

Chan entered the kitchen with Hongjoong and Seonghwa right behind him.  “I’m going to go to the gym and work off some energy.”  He announced.  

“I’ll come with you, hyung,” Mingi said while sliding off the stool.  He gave Wooyoung a few pats on the head, then followed Chan out of the kitchen. 

Seonghwa heard rowdy voices coming from down the hall and knew the other gym-rat alphas were heading to the kitchen for lunch.  He shot a quick look over to Wooyoung, who looked like he was lost in his own head, processing everything.  

“Wooyoung,” Seonghwa called gently to get the other’s attention.  “There are about to be 2 large, energetic alphas in the kitchen.  They will not harm you; however, if you are uncomfortable, I can tell them to wait until you leave.”  

Wooyoung looked at Seonghwa with lost, glassy eyes.  

“You have met four of our alphas already.  One is Mingi, you like Mingi, yes?  Another is our head alpha, Chan.  He smells like campfire.  Then there is my mate Hongjoong, who smells like cherries, and Minho here, who smells like rain.  The two who are coming are Changbin, who smells like cinnamon, and the other is San, who smells like-”

“Chocolate?” Wooyoung’s voice cracked, and he looked like he was going to cry as he stared at the entrance to the kitchen.  

Seonghwa was about to tell Changbin to have them wait when he turned towards where Wooyoung was looking and saw it was too late.  San was standing frozen in the doorway.  

Chapter Text

The next few minutes turned into pure chaos.  San began whining, then growling and thrashing as Changbin, Mingi, and Chan physically restrained him from moving into the kitchen.  Wooyoung slid off the stool, crying, then screaming out, begging them not to hurt San, pleading with them that he would be good.  This woke the rest of the house up, and pretty soon everyone was there.  The alphas managed to drag San away from the kitchen far enough for the other omegas and betas to slide in and try to calm a now hysterical Wooyoung.  

Seonghwa felt a hand on his shoulder gripping tightly, and he looked up to see it was Felix.  ‘Mate’ . Felix said in Seonghwa’s hea,d and he saw Felix look between San and Wooyoung.  Seonghwa took a moment to really focus on Wooyoung’s wolf.  It took a bit for Seonghwa to get past the surface noise, but he found the voice of the omega wolf, snarling and screaming to let his mate go.  

Seonghwa had never been more grateful for Felix’s specific gift than he was at that moment.  He nodded to Felix and sent out a burst of calming vanilla scent, with Felix following with blueberry.  

‘Chan, let San go.’ Seonghwa told the head alpha once the noise died down.  ‘Trust me.’  

San stumbled, then slowly dropped to his hands and knees when he entered the kitchen.  He cautiously crawled across the floor to where Wooyoung was curled up, sobbing, still begging them not to hurt San and promising to be good.  

“Youngie?” San’s voice quivered as he slowly reached out to touch Wooyoung’s hand.  

“Sannie!” Wooyoung wailed out and lunged at him, pushing him back onto the floor as the omega crawled into his lap and shoved his face into San’s neck. “Sannie, I’m so sorry.  It’s my fault.  I’ll be better, I promise.”

San’s scent started to sour, and his face fogged.  Seonghwa was about to go and try to calm him when he saw Hyunjin slide down to the floor and place a hand on San’s shoulder.  

Seonghwa felt like he was being pulled hard, then suddenly snapped still.  The world around him had changed.  He was no longer in the kitchen; instead, it looked like he had been pulled with his mates to a room that he knew he had never been before, but he certainly recognized.  Seonghwa realized that Hyunjin had used Wooyoung’s ability to somehow bring someone along on his flashbacks, and projected that to all the mates.  Hyunjin’s ability was to take one of their abilities and share it with the group, like an amplifier.  

The room they were in was what Seonghwa had heard Hongjoong describe as the room that the alphas of their former pack would use for meetings and discipline.  Only alphas and betas were ever allowed in the room.  The pack didn’t consider the opinions of omegas of any importance, and their discipline was carried out elsewhere.  Omegas weren’t to see alphas and betas being punished; it was thought that it would undermine the pack hierarchy.  The lowliest alpha and beta are still well above the highest omega.  

Seonghwa didn’t need to look towards the platform to know what was there.  He and Seungmin had been the ones to treat San when he had been found near death in that alley years ago.  Instead, he was more curious as to why they were brought back to this particular memory.  It was Wooyoung’s ability that brought people into his flashbacks, not San’s.  As he scanned the crowd, his eyes met Chan’s.  It seemed that he was also confused.  Seonghwa rounded up his omega and beta mates and brought them over to where Chan and the other alpha mates had dropped in.  

“I don’t know how we ended up in San’s flashback, but I suggest we get out quickly.  This isn’t going to be pretty.” Hongjoong gritted out, his hands clenched at his sides.  He was all too familiar with what was going to happen.  

As if on cue, they heard the first scream rip from San.  

“Not only are you the most PATHETIC excuse for an alpha I’ve ever encountered,”  One of the other alphas in the room spat once San’s scream died down.  “You’re scent alone is embarrassing.  But you went and let yourself get CLAIMED.  What alpha does that?”  

Mingi let out a whimper, and Chan pulled him into a hug and started to run a soothing hand up and down his back.  

“You cost us TWO omegas, you brat.  Now we have a scrawny, pathetic alpha wanna be who has a claim mark of all things, and you cost us your pretty little friend.  Do you have any idea how much you cost us?”  The alpha snarled again after another of San’s screams.  

“There.” Jongho pointed towards the mirror on the wall behind where they had San stretched out.  “It’s a 2-way mirror.  I can hear the omega behind it.”  

Seonghwa had assumed it was just so that the crowd could see the face of the person being punished, but apparently, the mirror had another purpose as well.  He took in a deep breath.  “Try to remember, this is just a dream.”  He said for his own sake as much as the sake of his mates before taking the first steps towards the platform where San was.  

It was difficult to ignore, however.  San was so little, which made sense because he really was barely out of childhood, having just presented.  Naked, arms and legs bound and stretched.  Seonghwa tried to distract himself as the electrodes that had been cruelly speared into San’s skin, making his back and sides look like a perverse pin cushion, began to glow as the electricity buzzed again, delivering another vicious shock.  

While the rest of Songhwa’s mates avoided the platform and looking at San, Seungmin went directly up to it.  He gently cupped the side of San’s head and made a pulling motion, and Seonghwa saw a modern-looking San step out of his past self.  

“I was hoping that would work.” Seungmin smiled.  

“But, I wasn’t unconscious…?” San’s eyes darted around, his eyes full of confusion.  

“Dream rules, I guess it worked because I decided it could.” Seungmin shrugged.  “Are you complaining?”

“No!  No, than- thanks.” San quickly shook his head, keeping his back firmly turned towards his younger self.  “I’m sorry I got you all stuck here.”  

“I don’t think it was you,” Yeosang said as he wrapped an arm around San and pulled him into a side hug.  He nodded his head to the mirror.  “Jongho says the omega is back there.”

“If we’re passing out blame, I’M the one who dragged you all in here, apparently,” Hyunjin stated.  

San shook his head.  “But it was my flashback.  I could feel myself slipping.  He was dead, I killed him.  They told me he was dead-” 

Felix grabbed the sides of San’s head and pressed their foreheads together.  “Don’t.  We don’t need you getting pulled back in.”  

“I think you both may have been experiencing the same flashback.” Yunho gently stated.  

“Huh?” Jisung looked at Yunho like he had sprouted a second head.

Yunho shot him an exasperated look, “Just listen.”  He gestured to the mirror.

“To the wall?” Jisung threw up his arms.

“No,” Yunho sighed.  “Come here.”  He pulled Jisung to the mirror and pressed the omega’s ear to it.  

Jisung’s eyes got big.  

“Sound familiar?”  Yunho had a satisfied look on his face.  The rest of Seonghwa’s mates pressed their ears to the mirror, except Jongho, who had apparently already heard it with his exceptional hearing.  

“Please, I’ll be good.  I’ll do anything, please just let him go.  Please stop hurting him.”  Wooyoung sounded hysterical.  

“So, how are we supposed to get out of here?”  Jeongin asked in a small voice.

“Maybe calm him down?” Yeosang suggested.

“San, do you know if there is a way to get back-” Chan’s question was cut off by Changbin punching the mirror so hard it spiderwebbed.  He hit it again, and the whole mirror shattered, revealing Wooyoung bowing with his head pressed to the floor, pleading with an alpha.  

“Or that works too.” Chan finished.  

Seungmin marched directly over to Wooyoung, and Chan followed.  San let out a sob as his legs gave out, and Yeosang went to the ground with him and held him.  “They said I killed him,” San whined as Yeosang rocked him, trying to soothe him.  

Seungmin pulled out Wooyoung like he had San, but Wooyoung was far more disoriented and fell right into Chan’s arms, still sobbing and pleading.  

“You’re okay, it’s just a flashback.  Can you breathe for me?”  Chan murmured and ran a hand up and down Wooyoung’s back.  Wooyoung latched onto the order and began to take in sharp breaths.  “Good, good.  Like this, slowly in and out.” Chan took slow, deep breaths like he wanted Wooyoung to take.  

It took a few minutes for Wooyoung to calm down, and Chan shifted him so he could see San, who was still muttering about how he had killed the omega.  “You have an amazing ability.  You’re able to show others your memories, yes?”  Chan asked gently.

Wooyoung nodded, his eyes round and looking a little dazed still.  

“Do you think you could show us what happened the night San presented?  The night that San thinks he killed you?”  Chan gently nudged.  

“Sannie didn’t hurt me!” Wooyoung turned his wide, scared eyes towards Chan in panic.  

“Shhh, I know, pup.” Chan soothed quickly.  “I know he would never hurt you, but you see, he doesn’t remember what happened.  Can you show him?”  

Seonghwa felt himself being pulled again.  This time, when he snapped back into focus, they were in a cave.  He heard the sound of scuffling feet and turned to see the younger Wooyoung half-carrying young San.  San looked feverish and distinctly like his rut was starting.  

“See, we’re here.  You’re gonna be okay, Sannie.”  Wooyoung soothed as he laid the other down and propped him against the cave wall.  Wooyoung pulled a water bottle out of the pack he had brought with him and pressed it to San’s lips.  

“It-it hurts,” San whined after taking a drink, and Wooyoung quickly went to soothe him.  “Maybe we should go back.  They can help me in the Omega Center-”

“No!” Wooyoung yelled, startling San into silence. “Sannie,”  Wooyoung scooted closer and took San’s face into his hands.  “It was horrible.  Omegas are strapped down and hooked up to a machine that just…”  Wooyoung’s voice faltered.  “Sannie, it wouldn’t stop.  It hurt so bad.  The betas hooked us up and only checked on us once a day.  They only stopped the machine when our heat was over.”  

Seonghwa winced and shuddered.  It wasn’t such an uncommon practice amongst packs who did not value omegas to hook them up to fucking machines during their heats.  To have that be an omega’s first time would have been especially awful.  

“It hurts, Youngie.” San gritted out and his body tensed against what must have been a particularly strong wave.  

“I can help.  Remember that omega, the one from the city pack?  She told me about some things that they used in her pack that would help, and not hurt.”  Wooyoung explained in a hurried panic.  He started pulling out what Seonghwa recognized as toys that omegas would use during their heats.  “I won’t let them hurt you, Sannie.”  

Seonghwa felt a tear make its way down his cheek as Wooyoung went to lower San’s pants, because he knew what the young omega would find.  

Wooyoung let out a gasp and looked frozen until San let out another whine.  “San-Sannie, you aren’t producing any slick.”  He breathed out.  

“Youngie,” San whined desperately.  “I need…”

“Okay, okay, Sannie.” Wooyoung shook his head and set the Omega toys aside. “What do you need?”  Before San could answer, Wooyoung’s hand had slid up and wrapped around San’s cock.  

San gasped and bucked his hips up into Wooyoung’s hand.  “That, more of that.  Oh, that feels good, Youngie.”

Wooyoung looked confused and scared, but figured out rather quickly how to give what looked like a fairly decent hand job.  San bucked and screamed as he had his first climax, and Wooyoung’s face broke out into pure terror as San’s knot began to form.  The young omega quickly wrapped both hands around the knot and squeezed, and Seonghwa had just enough time to wonder how he knew to do that before San’s distressed wail made his heart clench.  

“No, no no no.” San shook his head, realizing what was happening to his body.

“Sannie, it’s going to be okay.”  Wooyoung tried to calm the young alpha.  “SANNIE!”  He yelled and practically slammed his own forehead into San’s, clearly not wanting to remove his hands from the knot.  

“I-” 

“But my scent-”

“Everyone thought-”

San was practically hysterical under Wooyoung as the omega made soothing noises and begged the alpha to breathe.  

“But I CAN’T be!”  San wailed.  “We were supposed to go together!  Don’t leave me!  I can’t do this without you!”

Wooyoung choked out a sob of his own, then shushed San incredibly gently.  “I know, I won’t leave you, Sannie.  I’m right here.”  

“But they’re coming for us at the end of the year.  Both of us!  They’re going to take you away from me.”  San continued to sob.  

Being that it was a rut, and San’s first rut, his knot was beginning to go down, and Seonghwa saw Wooyoung remove his hands and move them to cup San’s face.  

“They can’t take me away if we’re mated.”  Wooyoung’s voice was stronger than before, with a hint of mischief.  Seonghwa wondered what the omega’s personality had been before the years of torture.  

“That’s stupid, they would never let a mating bond from two omegas stand.” San sounded dejected. 

“Sannie, baby.”  Wooyoung chuckled a little bit.  

It took San a couple of seconds, then his eyes got big.  “Oh!”

Seonghwa looked away from the pair as they started a second round.  Even though it was a flashback, it still felt wrong to be watching them.  His mates had definitely been affected by the scene, most of them also didn’t fit the traditional molds set for their subgenders.  Some of them had also come from packs that would trade or sell away their omegas to other packs rather than allow them to be mated to someone within the pack.  Some garbage about genetic variation.  Which Seonghwa knew to be complete garbage because those packs all traded with each other, so it wasn’t as if they were getting someone that wasn’t distantly related to them anyway.  

Seonghwa heard a snarl, and his attention snapped back to the young couple.  Wooyoung was on top, his teeth sunk into San’s scent gland.  It appeared that had gotten San to pop another knot.  The snarl had come from the entrance of the cave, however.  

A small pack of alphas were entering, some in wolf form, some in human form.  One of the wolves charged towards the couple as San leaned in to claim Wooyoung, and slammed into the omega, ripping him off San’s knot, and flung him into the cave wall, HARD.  

The cave erupted into chaos.  Screaming and snarling from the alphas and from San.  Wooyoung, trying to raise his body off the floor and getting kicked back down.  Seonghwa’s heart clenched painfully as he watched his own mates lunge towards the intruders to try to protect the couple, only to fly right through the bodies like ghosts.  

Everything got quiet not long after a particularly vicious kick landed on Wooyoung’s temple.  He lay still after that, blood pooling under his body, and his eyes slowly drooping towards being closed.  

“See what you did?”  One of the alphas snarled at San.  “You cost us TWO omegas today, you little shit.  You fucking killed him.”  

Wooyoung’s eyes drifted closed, and Seonghwa felt the tug again, being pulled out of the memory.  

For the first few heartbeats, everyone stood frozen, eyes blinking and wrapping their brains around what they had just witnessed, and the fact that they were back in the kitchen.   Chan was the first to move.  He gently slid down to the floor behind San and pulled the younger alpha to his chest.  

Seonghwa also sank down to the floor in front of San.  He carefully lifted Wooyoung’s trembling body from San’s lap, and repositioned the omega so he was sitting up, with his chest pressed into San’s, and Seonghwa placed Wooyoung’s face against the mate mark on San’s neck.  

“I need to go punch something,”  Changbin grumbled, then stalked out of the kitchen towards the gym.  

“I’m so proud of you, San,” Chan murmured.  “You had so much control, especially for a first rut.  Such a good alpha.”

“You did everything right, Wooyoung,”  Hongjoong said as he joined them on the floor.  “Such a good omega.”  

“It is a rare baby omega who knows how to keep pressure around a knot,”  Minho stated as he also joined them on the floor, with a tray of food in his hand.  “I am impressed, good boy.”  He lifted a spoonful of soup to Wooyoung’s mouth.  “Open.”  He ordered.  

Wooyoung turned his head and rested it on San’s shoulder as Minho fed him along with the rest of them on the floor from the plate of food he had brought with him.  Jongho made a large plate of food and muttered something about going to make Changbin eat, then left the kitchen with it.  The rest of Seonghwa’s mates stood awkwardly around the counter and table, grazing on the lunch quietly.  

Once Minho seemed satisfied that everyone on the floor had eaten enough, he stood up and began helping Felix put the leftovers away.  

“It’s been quite the morning.”  Seonghwa gently stated.  “I think a nap is in order.”  He gently ran his hand up and down Wooyoung’s back to get his attention.  “Wooyoung, would you like San to take you to the couch so you two can rest more comfortably, or would you prefer he take you to his room for more privacy?”

Seonghwa waited patiently for Wooyoung to answer, knowing that his mind was probably trying to figure out what it is that Seonghwa wanted, rather than what he himself wanted.  He also knew that there was no way he was getting San to physically let go of Wooyoung any time soon.  

“Couch?”  Wooyoung’s voice was shaky, high-pitched, and fearful.  

“San, are you okay to take Wooyoung to the couch, or do you need help?” Chan asked softly, choosing not to further question Wooyoung.  

San nodded, “I’m okay,” he breathed out.  

In the end, San did require Chan’s support; he was also shaken from the experience, but they managed to carry Wooyoung into the living room, and San sat down on the couch with Wooyoung still clinging to him.  Seonghwa helped unwrap Wooyoung’s legs from around San’s waist as Chan sat next to San.  Chan pulled San’s back to his chest and lay down in one swift motion, ending with all three of them piled on top of each other on the couch.  Chan then rolled them so Wooyoung’s back was pressed into the back of the couch, with San pressed in the middle. Seonghwa tucked a blanket around their shoulders, then went back to the kitchen to help clean up lunch.  

Chapter Text

Safe.  That was the first thing Wooyoung was aware of as he woke up.  He honestly couldn’t remember a time he had felt safe since he was a pup, before he presented.  His wolf had always been on edge in the back of his mind, always waiting for the next trap, the next order, the next attack.  But now his wolf was curled up, content and practically purring.  

As Wooyoung became more aware, he became more confused about WHY he felt safe.  He couldn’t move.  Strong steel bands were wrapped around his torso, keeping him pressed against a body, his back pressed against something soft but unyielding.  He took in a deep breath, and the dominant smell was that of chocolate, like fresh-baked brownies.  Mate Wooyoung’s wolf purred, and he realized that it was San’s arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly.  

Wooyoung could also pick out the scents of four other alphas: campfire, rain, cinnamon, and apples, which were close to him.  His eyes flew open in a panic at the realization that he was so close to 5 alphas.  Why was his wolf not freaking out?  He felt a large hand gently pet the back of his head.  

“Shhh, it’s okay.  You’re with your mate.  No one is hurt.”  The head alpha’s voice was so soft and gentle that it brought tears to Wooyoung’s eyes.  Alphas didn’t comfort.  Alphas took what they wanted, and alphas hurt.  And why was everyone saying mate?  He didn’t have a mate. The bond hadn’t been completed before-

“Hey Wooyoung,”  the blonde omega who smelled like blueberries was crouching down next to the couch, his face slotted between the backs of the heads of two of the three alphas who had taken up spots on the floor, leaning against the couch.  “My mates don’t mean to frighten you.  They are just feeling a little protective right now, after what you shared with us this morning.”  

Wooyoung felt a wave of shame travel through his body at the mention of his panic attack earlier.  The head alpha’s hand tightened around Wooyoung’s hair in response, not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to get his full attention.  “None of that.  You did nothing wrong.  In fact, you did a great job of showing us what I asked you to show us.”  

“Wooyoung,” The blonde pulled Wooyoung’s attention back, and he was smiling fondly at Wooyoung.  “You know how all of us get a special ability when we present?  Yours allows others to see memories in your mind.”

Wooyoung swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded.  “Yes,” he managed to breathe out, not wanting to be punished for not giving a verbal response.  

“That’s a very helpful gift.”  The other omega’s eyes were twinkling, and Wooyoung found himself fascinated by them.  “Would you let me share my gift with you?  I think it would help you to understand what happened with your mate bond with San, and why my mates and I can hear what you’re thinking sometimes.”  

Wooyoung felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice-cold water over him.  That’s not possible.  He couldn’t hear anyone, how can they hear what he’s thinking?  No, that can’t be right, he has to be lying-

“Do you remember the last night you were with your other pack?  When you saw us on the ridge?” The alpha who smelled like rain had turned around and was staring at Wooyoung.  “When you locked eyes with me? You said that you were not bad, that they made you run”.  

Wooyoung hadn’t said that out loud.  He knew he hadn’t. He’d learned his lesson on trying to defend himself when the alphas wanted to punish him.  How did this alpha hear that?  Maybe he didn’t hear that, maybe he had guessed?   

‘Y- yes alpha.” Wooyoung quickly responded when he realized he’d been staring too long without answering the alpha’s question.  

There was a snorted laugh from the alpha who smelled like cinnamon, “Minho-hyung doesn’t guess.  If he doesn’t know something, he stares at you and makes you squirm until you tell him.”  

“And Wooyoung,” the omega drew Wooyoung’s attention back to him.  “We don’t punish here.”  

There was another snort from someone in the room. “That happens in another room.” An amused voice muttered, which was followed by more giggles.

“YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, JISUNG!” the omega yelled over his shoulder.  

Wooyoung was even more confused.  Why were they joking and laughing?  No one was scared or upset, and they talked about punishments as if they were a joke.  His mind started to remember some of the more painful of the punishments he’d been subjected to in the past, until he felt another sharp tug on his hair and the voice of the head alpha cut through the fog of his mind.  “We will explain later, when you are ready.  For now, just understand that you will not be dealt any pain as a form of punishment while in this house.  No,w will you let Felix show you what is going on with your bond?”

“Yes, alpha.” Wooyoung quickly whispered.  He felt San’s arms tighten around him, offering comfort.  

“Sannie, are you ready?” The omega asked.  

Wooyoung could feel San nodding his head.  

“Okay, your mind is going to feel really full.”  The omega warned, then he reached over to Wooyoung and placed a hand on Wooyoung’s abdomen, and another on Wooyoung’s forehead.  

Wooyoung was suddenly standing in what felt like a large, cloudy room.  He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he jumped.  

“Hey, it’s just me.” The blonde omega said with a smile, then after a few seconds, he shook his head and laughed, “Please, think of me as Felix.”

“Felix.” Wooyoung hesitantly said out loud.  

Felix’s smile got bigger, and he nodded enthusiastically.  “Perfect!  We’ll get you using our names in no time.”  

He turned Wooyoung around and gestured for him to look at his feet.  There was a shimmering red line leading off into the fog.  “You see that?  Red lines are mate bonds.  Think of them like phone lines.  It’s a line of communication between you and a person you are mated with.  You have one, see?”  

Wooyoung allowed himself to be led down the path of the line, and his wolf purred when he saw it lead to San.  He looked at San’s feet and saw a bunch of red lines heading out in different directions, and it looked like he was standing on a blue circle.  

“Yes!” Felix clapped his hands together excitedly.  “I’m glad you noticed.  The blue circle is our pack bond.  So, say I want to talk to everyone in the pack all at once, I step on the blue circle”.  Felix danced over to San and stepped out into the blue area ‘TESTING!’  he sang out, and Wooyoung saw that the blue circle lit up when he spoke.  

‘8 out of 10, next time stick the landing,’ a voice snarked back, echoing around the room. Wooyoung noticed the circle had lit up again when it spoke.  

“Unfortunately, you never had a pack bond of your own, so you never learned how to use this form of communication.  But because you are San’s mate, and HE is in the pack, you can use your mate bond to communicate via the pack bond with us.  If you formally joined the pack, we would be able to communicate with you back through the pack bond.”  Felix walked back over to Wooyoung and placed his hands on Wooyoung’s shoulders.  “And because your bond wasn’t completed, you claimed him, but he did not claim you; he can’t communicate with you, while you can communicate with him.  It’s a broken communication bond, but your wolves have claimed each other as mates.”  

“I don’t understand.  I’m not trying to talk to anyone.”  Wooyoung was confused.  He could see very clearly that there was a line between him and San, and San had other lines to other people, one of whom he noted was Felix, but he didn’t understand how Felix was communicating.

One of Felix’s red lines lit up, then Felix nodded and motioned towards Wooyoung.  “Come, let me show you Hongjoong and Seonghwa’s mate bond.”  

As they walked through the fog following a red line, Felix tried to explain.  “In the beginning of any bond, it isn’t very strong.  Your wolf has to really work to get thoughts across to your pack or your mate.  But as time goes on, that bond gets stronger.”  The fog cleared, and Wooyoung saw the alpha who smelled like cherries and his mate standing in front of them, the line between the two was thick, incredibly thick.  

“Do you see how strong their mate bond is?  With a bond this strong, I suspect that they can feel what the other is feeling without even trying.”  Felix smiled at the pair, and they blushed.  “Now you see the lines between them and me?  Not as thick.  We have to make a conscious effort and INTENT to communicate using our mate bond.”  

“So then why-” Wooyoung shook his head, trying desperately to understand.

Felix took Wooyoung’s hands in his and pulled Wooyoung closer.  “You’re wolf is very strong, and very smart.  Your wolf has been using the one-way mate bond with San to try to communicate with him this whole time.  But because you were so far away from each other, San didn’t hear any of it.  Your wolf has been blasting on all frequencies, so to speak, for a very long time, trying to get help.  So when you got close enough to us, we could hear your thoughts when you were in distress, because your wolf has been screaming them out.”  

Wooyoung was suddenly mortified.  He had been invading all their minds with his thoughts without even knowing it, this whole time?  Stupid.  Stupid, ungrateful, clumsy-

“Shhhhh,”  the head omega stepped forward and pulled Wooyoung into a hug.  “None of that.  This is not your fault.”  He ran a soothing hand up and down Wooyoung’s back, and he felt tears sliding down his face.  “Recovery takes time.  It happens when you are distressed, which is a good thing.  We want to know when a member of the pack is in distress.  We all just want to help you, Wooyoung.”  

That caused the tears to flow freely.  Wooyoung sobbed and sank into the elder omega as the tension left his body.  He felt two more bodies wrap around him, and he realized that both Felix and the alpha had come to offer support and comfort.  He felt a kiss being pressed into the back of his head as sobs wracked his body.  It had been so long since he had been comforted, not since he was a pup barely out of diapers.  That was probably the last time someone had held him as he cried.  

Wooyoung’s wobbly legs gave out, and the three sank to the floor with him, holding him, rocking him, and pressing gentle kisses to his head.  Running soothing hands down his arms and back.  His nose was filled with the smell of vanilla, cherries, and blueberries, like the most comforting smoothie.  

Felix giggled.  “We are an awful pack to be around when you’re hungry, that’s for sure.”  

If Wooyoung had any energy left, he’d be mortified to know that they had heard that thought.  He’d be mortified that he was dripping tears and snot on the head omega of the strange pack. He would be better equipped to analyze what was going on to know if he ACTUALLY was dripping tears and snot on the omega, or if this was all in his mind.

He would be better tomorrow.  He would be stronger tomorrow.  But for right now, Wooyoung just didn’t have the energy.  He mentally let go of the last barrier he was holding up in his mind, and he relinquished all control.  He let his mind drift off, riding the waves of comfort being pressed into him. The last thing Wooyoung could remember before he passed into blissful sleep was a soothing voice saying, “Shh, pup, it’s okay.  We’ve got you.” 

Chapter Text

San was feeling pretty proud of himself.  He had managed to lure Wooyoung out of his room and into sitting on the couch in the den to watch dramas with him.  Granted, the said omega was sitting with his legs pulled up to his chest, completely cocooned inside a blanket with only his eyes showing, but he was out of his room for the first time since the emotional breakdown a few days prior.  

San looked over at his best friend and thought that it was kind of cute how he sat there, like some sort of turtle.  Well, it was his best friend, and yet it wasn’t.  It seemed like Wooyoung’s entire personality was just, gone.  He used to tease, laugh, be more than a little clingy, and he used to be loud.  He used to crave attention, but now he shies away from it.  As pups, they had been little terrors, usually because of ideas Wooyoung had.  Now, Wooyoung was terrified to do anything that might bring attention to himself, let alone irritate anyone. 

Seonghwa-hyung had assured him that Wooyoung’s personality would come back in time. That it was probably locked away somewhere safe inside Wooyoung, where it could be protected from the brutality he went through.  Once he felt safe again, his personality would slowly start to return.  

So San had made it his number one mission to make sure Wooyoung felt safe at all times.  It helped that Wooyoung clung to him like a lifeline.  His alpha was especially proud of the fact that Seonghwa said that he was the FIRST alpha Wooyoung asked for something from.  That was a big step for him. He was still the only alpha Wooyoung would ask for things from, which also made his suddenly jealous alpha extremely happy. Their omega felt safe enough to tell them, and only them, about his wants and needs.  Yep, that definitely had San’s alpha puffing his chest out proudly. 

San just wished that he would stop referring to him as “alpha” whenever he asked for something.  

“Oh, just you wait, you neck biting piece of shit.  Minho is gonna FUCK you up.” San heard Jisung hiss from the front door as it flew open.  

“He can have his chance after I get all my questions answered.” Hongjoong’s voice followed a muffled snarl.  

“I’m getting my knives, don’t start without me!” Flex’s deep voice grew louder as he hurried from the front door, past the den, and towards the kitchen.  

San quickly looked over to the bundle of blankets that was Wooyoung, now he couldn’t even see his eyes.  “Youngie, it’s going to be okay.  They were out hunting an alpha prick.  They’re taking him to the basement.  He’s going to be locked up VERY securely.  He can’t and WON’T hurt you.”  San tried to reassure.  

“I’m BLEEDING!”  Changbin whined as he was ushered into the den by an irritated-looking Seungmin.  

“You scraped your arm against a brick wall.  I think you’ll live you big baby.” Hyunjin flicked Changbin on the forehead with his finger as he flopped down on the couch next to the blanket bundle containing Wooyoung. He nudged the bundle with his shoulder, “Alphas, am I right?” He shook his head.  

San saw Wooyoung peek out at Hyunjin with shocked eyes.  

“I don’t know, you may need Seonghwa-hyung to take a look at that.  He may lose the arm.” Yeosang deadpanned as he walked in, handed Changbin a band-aid, and then flopped into a large seat by the tv.  

“What movie are we watching tonight?” Yunho asked as he walked in with Mingi, who tried to bolt towards the tv, but Yunho grabbed onto his arm, physically holding him back. “NOT My Little Pony again.”

“Excuse me, we did NOT get to finish it last time,” Mingi whined, pulling at Yunho to try to get him to let go. 

“Yeah, too much pink for one movie,”  Changbin responded.

“Binnie said WHAT?!” Jeongin entered with a shocked face and sat on the floor by the coffee table.  

“Maybe he DOES need Seonghwa-hyung to check him out.” Jongho sorted from the spot he picked, holding up the wall.  

“What’s wrong with Changbin?”  Seonghwa’s calm voice came from the hallway.  

“Binnie said there was too much pink!” Jeongin helpfully yelled.  

“I’ll set up for a brain scan later.” Seonghwa smiled and ruffled Changbin’s hair as he entered the den. 

San watched Wooyoung like a hawk the whole time.  It seemed that even though the whole pack was showing up, the omega didn’t seem to be distressed.  He scooted closer to San, so San put an arm around the bundle and pulled him in close.  One to make room and two to give Wooyoung a greater assurance of safety.  

“Wooyoung gets to pick the movie,” Chan announced as he entered with a giant bowl of popcorn.  

There was small bickering as well as pillows and blankets being thrown around as the pack got comfortable in the den, waiting for a response from Wooyoung.  

San felt Wooyoung finally take in a deep breath and let it out.  “I haven’t seen a movie since I was a pup.”  He said quietly from the blanket cocoon.  

“Ah, that’s okay.” Chan smiled.  “Sannie, what do you think Wooyoung would like?”

San gave Wooyoung a squeeze, “Harry Potter it is!”

They were halfway through the second Harry Potter movie when Hongjoong, Minho, Jisung, and Felix joined them.  

“Sannie,” Wooyoung whispered.  “What is a neck biter?”

San let out a long breath.  “That’s an alpha who attacks omegas, claiming them but not allowing themselves to be claimed back.  After a while, the omegas are left in extreme emotional distress from the one-way bond, and some end up taking their lives.”  

“Oh,” Wooyoung softly responded.  “That sounds awful.”

San nodded.  “It is.  One of the things this pack does is hunt down neck biters and get them to reverse their bites, freeing the omegas before the alphas are brought to justice.”  

“Oh wow,” Wooyoung breathed out. “That sounds dangerous.” 

“You don’t need to worry.  Chan and the pack would never bring any danger upon the house.  You are safe here.” San reassured. He gently lifted the blanket so he could nose against Wooyoung’s scent gland, and he felt the omega relax back into San’s chest.  

Wooyoung fell asleep sometime during the third Harry Potter movie, so San picked up the omega and settled them both down in Wooyoung’s nest for the night.  

The next morning, San woke before Wooyoung and was fondly staring at his best friend sleeping soundly in his nest when suddenly, Wooyoung shot up. 

“OMG, I’m a neck biter!” Wooyoung exclaimed.

“Excuse me?” San was not prepared to hear THAT come out of Wooyoung’s mouth.

Wooyoung whined and curled into himself.  “I’m a neck biter, Sannie.”

San took a minute to process the emotional whiplash, then responded, “Just whose necks have you been biting?”

Wooyoung peeked an eye out at San, in the cutest way possible, “Yours.” He whispered.  

“Yes, but who else have you been going around biting?” San asked, knowing full well what the answer would be. 

“No one!” Wooyoung was quick to shriek out.  “But it doesn’t matter.  I bit you, and you didn’t bite me back.  I’m a neck biter.” 

San shook his head.  That was not at ALL how it worked.  Or maybe it was.  San didn’t know.  All he knew is that he was fine and in no way in any sort of distress that would cause him to die.  Well, perhaps he HAD been, back during those first couple of years, when his wolf wasn’t speaking to him.  Maybe Wooyoung WAS right.  Who was he to know how it worked if an omega bit an alpha without a bite being returned. 

San did know that currently, he was fine, and therefore, he needed to calm down his best friend before he got himself worked up over nothing. “Well then, since you’ve admitted it, should we go to Chan and see what HE has to say-”

“No!” Wooyoung threw himself out of the nest and blocked the door. “You can’t.  He’ll just say something all reasonable like I’m not because of blah blah blah.”  

San was trying really hard not to laugh at him, but he did smirk at that response.  There it was.  A piece of the old Wooyoung had come out.  San decided he was going to play with him. “Do I look like a damsel in distress about it, Youngie?”  

“No, it’s just… It’s only half done.”  Wooyoung squirmed.  

“Ah,” San started to slowly get up out of the nest and make his way to where Wooyoung was standing. 

“It’s weird, right?  To only have half a bond?” Wooyoung’s voice pitched high and whiny.  

“I don’t think it’s weird,” San said firmly, fixing Wooyoung with his best smoldering stare as he slowly walked towards the omega. 

“Well, it is!”  Wooyoung nervously shouted out, then went back to squirming in front of the door. 

San chuckled. “Okay then.” 

Wooyoung whined.

“Do you want me to bite you then?” San asked, lowering his voice into the range Hyunjin called his sexy range.  

Wooyoung snapped his head up, and his mouth fell open in shock.  “Are you seducing me, Sannie?!”

“So what if I am?” San shrugged, backing Wooyoung up against the door.  “I told you that I didn’t want to be separated from you.  I told you that I didn’t want to do this without you.”

“Couldn’t.  You said you couldn’t do it without me.” Wooyoung pouted.  

San bent down and pecked a kiss on Wooyoung’s cheek.  “It’s been difficult.”  He lowered his head and nosed against Wooyoung’s scent gland, catching the omega as his knees gave out.  “Do you want me to claim you, Jung Wooyoung?” He purred against Wooyoung’s scent gland. 

Wooyoung nodded his head quickly up and down.  “Ye-yes” his voice cracked. “Please,” he begged breathlessly. 

San gently cradled Wooyoung’s jaw with one hand and bent his head to the side, stretching out the omega’s neck and giving full access to the sensitive gland. San licked at Wooyoung’s scent gland a few times, savoring the wimpers it produced from the omega. Once he decided he’d teased enough, he sank his teeth in.  

San was hit with a burst of emotions that almost knocked him off balance. He could suddenly FEEL Wooyoung, like it was his own emotions.  He licked at the wound and kissed it as tears sprang into his eyes.  

“Oh, Sannie, don’t cry,” Wooyoung whined.  

San sniffed and swallowed, trying to deal with all the emotions swirling around in his head.  “It’s going to be okay, now.  I know you are confused and don’t know what and who you can trust, but I promise you, I am here now and will protect you as you figure it out.”

Chapter Text

Wooyoung had to admit that he had not been expecting to walk into a spa when Seonghwa had said it was time to start his physical therapy.  But there he was, dressed in nothing but a robe that was made out of the softest material he’d ever felt, scrunching his toes in the plush carpet, taking in the room.  

There was a chair in one of the corners, and along one wall a cabinet that contained what looked like a large variety of jars and bottles of things. Most of the room was taken up by a table. The table was padded, and there was a sheet folded neatly and placed on it.  There were also a couple of pillows of various shapes under the table.  

Wooyoung smelled vanilla as Seonghwa walked into the room.  “I think it would work best if we start with you on your stomach,” he said as he walked over to the table and pulled up what looked like a padded donut and locked it in place.  “I’ll turn around, you can use the hook on the wall for your robe, and the sheet is for your privacy.  Once you’re settled, let me know.” 

Wooyoung padded over to the hook on the wall and hung up the robe.  When he put his hand on the table to jump up, he was pleasantly surprised to find that it was heated.  He figured that Seonghwa had meant for him to cover his lower half with the sheet, so he did, then rolled onto his stomach.  His face fit into the hole in the donut comfortably, and he tried his best to relax.  Seonghwa had never hurt him.  He would be fine.  “I’m ready,” he said quietly.

Wooyoung heard Seonghwa begin to hum and shuffle over to the cabinet.  “We’re going to be using the stoplight today. Do you know what that is?”  

Wooyoung shook his head as much as the pillow would allow, “No.”

“I’m going to be asking you for your color.  Green means everything is okay, and we can continue.  Yellow means to pause because there is something that is making you uncomfortable, even slightly uncomfortable.  Red means to immediately stop.”  Seonghwa explained.  

Wooyoung heard him walk back to the table, and the top of a bottle pop open.  “I’m going to start with your upper back, then your shoulders and arms,” Seonghwa informed, then he gently put his hands on Wooyoung’s back, causing him to almost jump out of his skin because he was so wound up at this point for some reason.  

“I’m sorry, it’s startling for many people when we first start out.” Seonghwa soothed as he began pressing his oiled hands into Wooyoung’s upper back and slowly pressing the knots out of Wooyoung’s muscles.  “It's the anticipation, and not being able to see what’s happening.”

As Seonghwa pressed his fingers into Wooyoung’s back, his muscles felt like they were on fire, but somehow in a good, satisfying way.  Over and ove,r firm fingers worked at knots and stiff muscles Wooyoung didn’t even know existed.  By the time Seonghwa moved on from his back to his right arm, Wooyoung was a puddle on the warm table.  

“Color?” Seonghwa asked when he made his way down Wooyoung’s left arm and gave those fingers a thorough rub, just like he had the right.  

“Greeeeeeen,” Wooyoung managed to slur out.  

Seonghwa quietly chuckled.  “That’s good.  I’m going to move to work on the scars on your back.”  

Wooyoung listened to Seonghwa hum quietly as he meticulously dug his fingers into the lines of scar tissue crossing Wooyoung’s back.  He lost all sense of time, just floating in a warm, calm place until finally Seonghwa ran his palms up and down Wooyoung’s entire back.  

“Done with the back,” He informed softly.  Seonghwa moved the sheet to cover Wooyoung's back, and it warmed his back almost instantly.  “I’m going to do your legs, then we’ll work on the last area,” Seonghwa said soothingly.  

“Sounds good,” Wooyoung slurred out like he was drunk.  He felt all floaty and warm and relaxed that he didn’t even jump when Seonghwa’s fingers touched his thigh.  

Seonghwa meticulously worked down Wooyoung’s right leg, paying extra care to his foot, then he worked down the left.  “Now for your scars.”

Wooyoung hadn’t looked at himself in the mirror.  He had an idea that he had scars, but to hear Seonghwa say it, and to feel Seonghwa’s fingers slowly, firmly tracing them, made them suddenly real to Wooyoung.  “Are they ugly?” He asked with a breathy voice.  

Seonghwa took a few seconds to respond.  “They were properly taken care of, which honestly surprises me.  So no, they are not ugly.  This will help to soften them so you will have greater mobility.”  

“San, sit down, your pacing is making me nervous,” Jeongin called over his shoulder from where he was sitting with the video game controller.

“Ya!  Don’t blame your poor performance on San.” Seungmin taunted, not taking his eyes off his own screen.  

“I could have baked a whole cake in the time it’s taken you two to get even HALF this boss’s hit points down,” Felix muttered.  “But seriously, San.  You have a complete mating bond now. What do you feel?  Does it FEEL like Wooyoung is in any sort of distress?”  

“I don’t feel ANYTHING from him, that’s the problem!” San whined, throwing his arms up in the air in frustration.

“Sounds like a fantastic massage to me,” Hyunjin smirked.  “I know my brain completely shuts down whenever I get a massage from Seonghwa-hyung’s magic hands.”

“Right?!  Seriously, Seonghwa-hyung’s fingers are just as good as your tongue, Sannie.” Jisung agreed.  “Speaking of, my heat is coming up.  Do you think Wooyoung would mind if I borrow your magic tongue?”

“What?” San shook his head, confused. 

“Well, since you’re taken now and everything, I figured it would be polite to ask your omega for HIS permission,” Jisung smirked. 

“Ya!  I’m still mated to you, too.” San tossed a pillow at Jisung as the omega cackled.  

 ‘San, Wooyoung has requested your presence for this next part.’ Seonghwa’s voice calmly rung in San’s head. 

********Smut lies ahead********

“Sannie!” Wooyoung chirped when San opened the door.  

Seonghwa smiled fondly.  The omega was definitely down , but not totally in subspace.  “Alright, San, the table warmer is on, so if you would please remove your shirt and pants, and lie down on your back, holding Wooyoung to your chest, that would be great.”

“Mmm, get to cuddle with my Sannie.” Wooyoung hummed, pulling a chuckle out of Seonghwa.  

San quickly did as Seonghwa instructed, and Wooyoung wiggled a bit, getting comfortable on top of San, then nuzzled his nose right into San’s scent gland and sighed.  

“Now, Wooyoung, you remember your colors?” Seonghwa began.

“Green!” Wooyoung cut him off.

“Yes,” Seonghwa smiled and shook his head.  “Thank you for telling me.  I’m going to start very slowly.  You tell me immediately if your color changes, understand?” 

Wooyoung nodded his head, rubbing his nose against San’s scent gland, causing San’s eyelids to flutter.  “Yes, Seonghwa-hung.”  

Seonghwa pulled out the rolling stool from under the table and sat down.  He coated his hands with plenty of the healing lubricant he had selected and gently placed his palms on Wooyoung’s plump ass cheeks.  He separated them, pressed his thumbs against the omega’s entrance, and let Wooyoung get used to the feeling for a few seconds before he began to gently rub his thumbs up and down, coating the area with a generous amount of lubricant.  He then switched to slow circles with his thumbs, incrementally increasing the pressure to the level of a proper deep tissue massage.  

At this point, Wooyoung was moaning into San’s neck, with his fingers and toes curling.  San placed a hand on the small of Wooyoung’s back to stop the small grinding of Wooyoung’s hips that Seonghwa was sure the omega didn’t even know he was doing. Seonghwa took his time and made sure that the entire area had gotten attention before he decided to move on.  “Okay, I’m going to put a finger inside now.  Try to relax.” 

The slide was easier than Seonghwa had expected, which told him that Wooyoung was aware enough that he was trying to relax like he had been told.  “Color?” 

“Greeeeen,” Wooyoung moaned into San’s neck.

The rim area was the one with the most scar tissue according to the scans, so Seonghwa began working it with his index finger on the inside, pressing against his thumb on the outside.  He took his time with slow circles, working the tissue out like he was a stiff dough.  Wooyoung’s moans increased, and he ground harder against San’s leg as Seonghwa worked.  

Once he was satisfied with the tissue around the rim, Seonghwa inserted a second finger and began pressing up and down on the scar tissue along Wooyoung’s channel.  The younger omega was slicking up now, and his squirming increased.  

“You’re getting too tense. I need you to release so you can relax.” Seonghwa told Wooyoung as he pressed his fingers firmly against the spot he knew would send shooting pleasure through the younger omega.  

Wooyoung cried out, and his back arched as Seonghwa’s fingers massaged the spot with no mercy.  “I can't, I-I need- Sannie pleeeease.”

“Come for us, Wooyoung,” Seonghwa ordered, and Wooyoung screamed out as he allowed himself to fall over the edge.  Seonghwa continued with the massage on the inside of his channel as Wooyoung lay boneless against San.  

“Alright, all finished,” Seonghwa announced as he gently slid his fingers out.  “You’re going to feel sore tomorrow, and maybe the next day.  I recommend taking long, warm baths with the muscle-relaxing bath bombs.  San knows where they are.  Also, drink plenty of water.  I want to see you back here for another session in a week.  How does that sound?”

“Green,” Wooyoung slurred out.  

Seonghwa laughed fondly.  “I’m glad you’re feeling okay, but I’m afraid I need more words than that.”  

“Warm baths, water, ask Sannie for bath bombs, get to do it again in a week.” Wooyoung summarized.  “Sannie,” Wooyoung whined.  “I’m all sticky.”

San brushed the hair that had fallen into Wooyoung’s face away.  “I’ll take you for a bath.”  He cooed.  

“You two run along, I’ll clean up here.” Seonghwa smiled fondly at them.  “And Wooyoung, I’m proud of you for being so brave today.”

Chapter Text

San carried his very naked mate across the hall to the bathroom with the largest tub because, for one, it was closest, and two it had the largest selection of bath bombs stocked at any given time.  He propped Wooyoung up on the counter, began to fill the tub with warm water, and selected his favorite muscle-relaxing bath bomb and dropped it in, watching it fizz for a few seconds.

“Sannie?” Wooyoung still sounded like he was deep down into subspace.  

San turned to find Wooyoung looking down at his stomach and running his fingers through the sticky release that had been left there.  San quickly grabbed a washcloth, wet it with the warm water from the bath, and went over to begin cleaning the omega up.  “I know, you’re sticky,” San responded.  “Let’s get that cleaned up, then you’re going to take a nice, long bath.”

“Alpha Chan said that we were taught wrong, Sannie.” Wooyoung slurred out while fixing San with a serious stare.  “I made this mess like the alphas do because I’m a boy.” 

“Chan is right, we were taught wrong.” San sighed.  

“I’m still an omega, though.” Wooyoung trapped San’s head between his hands, stopping San from cleaning him up.  

“Yes, Youngie, you are still an omega.  But because you are a boy, and you felt really good, you released like every other boy.” San confirmed for him. 

Wooyoung dropped his hands and nodded.  “Good.  We’re clear on that, then.  I’m still YOUR omega.” 

“Yes, MY omega.” San chuckled, wondering how much Wooyoung would remember of this conversation when he came up out of subspace. “Now let’s get you into your bath.”  He said as he scooped up Wooyoung from the counter quickly, earning him the cutest little squeak.  

“Okay, that’s it,” Hyunjin exclaimed as Wooyoung padded into the kitchen the next morning.  “I can’t stand it anymore.  Please, let me take you shopping for clothing that at least fits.”

“They have a couple of new stores in the mall I’ve been meaning to check out,” Hongjoong interjected from the table.  “We could take you with us today, if you’d like, Wooyoung.”

“I- You really don’t have to spend money on me.”  Wooyoung raised his hands, which were completely lost in the oversized sweater.  “I like baggy clothing.”

“Oh sweetie, I understand that baggy IS in fact a style, but you are taking it just a step too far.  Besides, I haven’t gotten to create a whole new wardrobe in a while, and it’s gonna be fun!  I promise.” Hyunjin grinned.  

Wooyoung shot a pleading look over to Seonghwa, who smiled fondly at the omega.  “Best just let them have their fun.  The pouting will be endless if you don’t let them buy you a whole new wardrobe.”  

That is how Wooyoung later ended up in the Balenciaga store, falling in love with the most expensive hoodie he’d ever seen. 

“Oooo!  And these.” Hongjoong held up a pair of cut-up, baggy jeans.  

“Perfect!” Hyunjin practically squealed.  He lifted the hanger of the hoodie Wooyoung was marveling at off the rack and handed the garment to the other omega.  “Of course, we’re getting this.  What do you think about some t-shirts?”

Wooyoung suddenly felt self-conscious about the scars on his arms, and started fidgeting and looking directly at the ground.  

“Oh, sweetie, you do need something to wear under these hoodies.  It’s okay, you don’t have to show any skin you don’t want to.”  Hyunjin said, suddenly very serious. “Just show us what you like, and we can estimate a size.  You won’t even have to try them on, just feel the fabric to see if you like it or not.”

Wooyoung nodded, feeling more comfortable with the idea now that trying things on wasn’t required.  

“Perfect, now you run along and find shirts with fabric you like, and Hongjoong and I will continue to make dazzling outfits for you!”  Hyunjin smiled and shooed Wooyoung towards a rack of shirts.  

A whirlwind of fabric and a giant stack of clothing on the counter later, Hyunjin and Hongjoong deemed their task complete.  Hyunjin shoved a t-shirt, a pair of baggy jeans, and the red hoodie he had fallen in love with into Wooyoung’s arms and directed him to go change, turning his back to the register so he couldn’t see the total.  

Wooyoung walked into the dressing room in somewhat of a daze.  New clothes, just for him.  Not only new, but specifically picked out FOR him.  Tears sprang to his eyes as he looked at himself in the mirror, wearing the new clothes.  Was that HIM?  He felt more comfortable than he ever had before.  Was this the Wooyoung that was always meant to be?  

He stepped out of the dressing room to see a giant pair of shoes practically shoved in his face.  

“Do you like these?” Hyunjin asked almost manically.  “They would stop your pants from dragging on the ground and getting dirty.  He was holding up a pair of the largest crocs Wooyoung had ever seen.

He nodded quickly, “Yes, they look…comfortable?”

“OMG, Crocs are SO comfy,” Hyunjin said as he put them on the ground and gestured for Wooyoung to try them on.  “We already bought them, so if we guessed on the size right-”

They slid easily on Wooyoung’s feet.  “They feel okay.”

“Excellent eye, as usual, Hongjoong!” Hyunjin clapped. 

Wooyoung followed the two out of the store, still in a kind of haze.  Everything around him sort of melted away, and his world narrowed down to just him and his new clothes.  The fabric was so soft, everything fit him perfectly.  The shoes were comfortable, just like Hyujin had said they would be.  He was so distracted that he didn’t notice that he had fallen a bit behind the other two.  

“What’s your favorite color?” Suddenly, a salesperson from one of the kiosks in the center of the walkway was standing in front of Wooyoung, making him jump back with a little yelp.

“Oh my goodness, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to scare you.”  The woman laughed lightly.  “We can build you a color palette based on any color in the world.”

Wooyoung felt his anxiety rising.  He didn’t know what to do.  He looked around, and he could barely see the backs of Hongjoong and Hyunjin way down the hallway. And he really needed to keep moving, but he didn’t know how to get out of the conversation without making the person talking to him upset.  

The longer the salesperson went on, the more anxious Wooyoung got.  He didn’t know where he was.  He didn’t know where they had parked the car or where they were going.  He’d never been to a mall before.  He couldn’t ask for help; he was a runaway omega.  They would run his prints, and he would pop in the system, and whatever alpha owned his paperwork would show up and take him back to hell.  

Wooyoung caught a glimpse of a mall security guard out of the corner of his eye, and he bolted.  He didn’t know where he was going, he didn’t have a plan, he just knew that he had to get away.  He didn’t want to go back.  San’s pack was so nice, now that he’d had a taste, he didn’t know if he could go back to how it was before. There’s no way he’d be sold to a pack like that.  Packs like that didn’t buy omegas.  

Wooyoung turned a corner and found himself in a quiet, practically deserted end of the mall.  There was a seating area and a giant fish tank in the center of the area.  Wooyoung curled up on the floor, hiding between a chair and a couch, pulled his knees towards his chest, and rested his head on his knees.  He stared at the fish and tried to tell himself it was going to be okay.  They would notice he was gone.  They would come find him, right?  They wouldn’t have spent so much money on him if they didn’t want him, right? Maybe it was just because of San, but they were San’s mates, so as long as San wanted him, they would come find him, right? 

“This isn’t like a cell phone or a ring, I lost a whole PERSON!” Hongjoong shouted in frustration into the phone to Chan.  

“It’s going to be okay, the pack is coming.  We’ll spread out and we’ll find him.”  Chan tried to calm the younger alpha.  “Did you check with security?”

“They are on the lookout, but they don’t have a lost omega in their office,” Hyunjin responded. 

“He’s probably avoiding security.”  Hongjoong pinched the bridge of his nose.  “He probably thinks they’ll print him and contact whoever owns his contract.”

“Well, he would probably be right.” Chan conceded. “Okay, we just need to find him first.  Changbin is already there with his friend Yeonjun, and we are less than 5 minutes out.  Yeosang has the drone up, so if you can let him know what Wooyoung was wearing, that would be helpful in case he left the mall.” 

The phone beeped, and Hongjoong saw it was Changbin calling.  He answered as a 3-way call.  

“I’ve got eyes on Wooyoung.” Changbin got straight to the point, and instantly, Hongjoong’s fear dissipated. “We’re going to approach slowly, so as not to scare him further.”

“Is there immediate danger?  Do you need backup?” Chan inquired.

“No.  He found a secluded spot and is hiding.  I’m going to let out my scent and see if he responds.  He’s at the fish tank at the end of the Samsung wing.”  

Wooyoung already had a favorite fish.  A little one that zipped around the tank, teasing the bigger fish and quickly swimming away.  He wondered if the little fish had friends in the tank, or if he had been taken from his friends to be put in the tank. The fish didn’t get a choice, just like Wooyoung.  It was an accident of his birth, being an omega and born into the pack he was.  He was doomed from birth to be like that little fish.  Having to go where others told him.  He wanted San’s pack to want him.  He wanted them to come looking for him.  He wanted to stay. 

Wooyoung thought his mind was playing tricks on him when he caught a faint whiff of cinnamon.  Like he had conjured it up because he wanted that pack to come looking for him so badly.  Then the smell got stronger, and he distinctly smelled alpha.  Safe.  Cinnamon alpha was safe.  

Wooyoung sprang up and launched himself towards the smell, and slammed into the warm, strong body of Changbin, who wrapped his arms around Wooyoung and held him tight.  “Got you, you’re safe now.” 

“You came for me.  You’re really here.” Wooyoung sobbed into Changbin’s shoulder.  

“Of course we did, Wooyoungie.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we all have grown quite attached to you.” Changbin ran a soothing hand up and down Wooyoung’s back.

“I got lost,” Wooyoung wailed.  “I’m so sorry.  I didn’t know what to do.”

“Aw, there’s nothing to apologize for.  You did everything right.  You kept yourself safe, and you let us come find you.  We’ll always come find you, Wooyoung.” Changbin soothed.  “We love you, you know that, right?”

“Wooyoung!” Hongjoong yelled out as he came running up.  “I’m so sorry I lost you.”

Wooyoung shook his head, “I got lost, my fault.”

“No, Wooyoung, you were my responsibility,” Hongjoong quickly denied.  “I should have been more careful, paid more attention.  This was my fault.  I am SO sorry.”

“Wooyoung,” Chan breathed out as he joined the group.  “Thank goodness you’re okay.” 

“You all came looking for me?” Wooyoung looked around the group with glassy eyes.

“Of course, we did Youngie,” Felix smiled.  “We love you, we’ll always come looking for you.  You’re stuck with us now.” 

Chapter Text

“We’re going to run this like we run every other mission.” Chan started the meeting.  “We go in, get the targets, and get out cleanly.”  

“Just so we’re all clear here, by ‘get the targets’ you do mean murder everyone, right?” Jongho asked.  

“According to Wooyoung, he was the only omega there when he was there.  That could have changed, so we need to be careful with our trigger fingers.  We also may need to keep the head alpha and this Seunghyun alive so they can tell us where they keep the omega paperwork.”  Chan clarified.  “But yes, I do mean murder.”

“We’ll take the house in two teams of 6.  San, Jisung, Minho, Jeongin, and Seungmin with me.  Changbin, Mingi, Yunho, Felix, and Jongho with Hongjoong.”  Chan continued.  “Yeosang, we’ll need you on the eye in the sky, and Hyunjin, I need you to stay back and protect the house.  If any hostiles get to our property line, I want you to put it in lockdown.  Understood?”

Hyunjin spun a knife in his fingers and smirked.  “Don’t worry, boss, no one is setting foot in the house.”  Hyunjin was fast, silent, invisible, and deadly.  The perfect person to have on your side in a home invasion situation.  Chan knew that Hyunjin wasn’t just bragging.  

“My team, our objective is to find the main targets and by extension, the paperwork.  Hongjoong’s team is to clear the enemy compound of hostiles and secure any omegas you should find.” Chan pulled up house schematics.  “This is the most up-to-date floor plan we have.  Hongjoong’s team will take point and go in through the front, while my team will go in through the back and make for this room,” Chan pointed at a room towards the back of the house.  “It appears to be some sort of office, and most likely to hold the paperwork we are looking for.”  

“No heroics, no going rogue.  You encounter something unexpected, you use the pack bond.  I want this to be as clean as any other mission. Is that understood?”  Chan finished, making sure to make eye contact with all his mates.  

After a round of ‘yes sirs’ and nods, Chan nodded, “Okay then, we roll out at 0300.”

Seonghwa brought Wooyoung down to the basement to watch the operation from the video feed.  He figured that would help curb the younger’s anxiety about the whole thing.  Each set of tactical gear his mates were wearing had a camera on the helmet, broadcasting the signal in real-time back to a monitor pulled up on the screens along with the view from the drone overhead.  

Wooyoung sat, cuddled in Seonghwa’s lap for comfort as the house was breached, both the front and back doors at the same time.  Yeosang used thermal drone imaging to relay where hostiles were located within the house.  Wooyoung could see on the screen the process clearly, the precision at which San’s mates took out the other pack almost scared him.  

Yeosang would tell them a room and how many wolves were in it. The person in front would stop just short of the door, the second person would move to the opposite side of the door, and the third would stand in front, kick the door in as the other two rushed inside the room.  The people inside the room were identified and dead within seconds.  Then they continued on to the next room, with the three that were in the back now in the front.  

“They’ve found the head alpha,” Seonghwa quietly informed Wooyoung.  The pack was communicating via the pack channel, so Wooyoung couldn’t hear anything being said besides what Yeosang was saying out loud.  “Still no Seunghyun.”

“Floors 1 and 2 are clear, heading to the basement.” Hongjoong informed.  He led his team down the cement stairs to the basement and was immediately filled with rage.  The room was a cement box.  In the center, there was a floor drain, with a set of manacles hanging down from the ceiling.  Along the wall to his left, there was a hose reel and various whips, canes, and paddles.  There was a large chest with drawers he was NOT going to open along the right wall.  In the far corner, there was a cage with a ratty blanket in it.  That must be where they kept Wooyoung.  

Mingi walked over to the cage and opened up the door.  He lifted up the blanket, and Hongjoong saw there was a crack in the concrete.  Mingi pulled up the slab and tossed it aside.  Mingi’s special ability was to notice things that others didn’t.  He reached into the newly revealed hole in the floor and pulled out what looked like a black cat stuffed animal that had seen better days.  Mingi dusted it off as best he could, then slid it into his gear, behind the bulletproof vest.  

Hongjoong swiped away the tear that slid down his cheek at the thought of Wooyoung being sold or traded away from his home, from everyone and everything he had ever known. From his own family, the only thing he had that was his own was a small stuffed animal that he had to hide in order to keep it safe.  “Basement is clear, charges have been set.  Heading up to establish a perimeter.” 

“Where is Seunghyun?” Chan asked patiently, even though his blood was boiling.  They had the head alpha securely zip-tied to a chair in the center of his own office, and it was taking a LOT of energy to hold his team back from ripping the wolf apart where he sat.  

The head alpha turned his head and spat out some blood, courtesy of when San had landed a punch squarely on the side of his jaw.  “How the fuck should I know.  He isn’t pack or anything.” 

“Fine, I’ll ask you something you DO know then,” Chan moved to the side so the safe was in view.  “What’s the combo?”  

“What is this, a robbery?” The alpha sputtered incredulously. 

“Abso-FUCKING-lutely, now what’s the combo shithead?” Minho responded. 

Jisung snickered from where he was at the bookshelves that he and Seungmin were going through, looking for anything that might be important. Which he may have just found by opening up an ornate, lacquered box.  There was a key inside. “Boss, key.” He said as he tossed it to Chan.

“So I’m going to ask one more time nicely,” Chan said as he tried the key in the lock on the desk drawer.  “And then I’m going to let Minho here ask you, and the thing about Minho is, he doesn’t like you very much.  You see, well, you tell him.”

Minho bent down and spoke with a low voice in the alpha’s ear, “I have this friend.  You may remember him.  He has the brightest smile and makes the absolute BEST kimchi pancakes I’ve ever had in my life.  Now, I wanted to get you all to myself, but my mate here said that we need to get answers out of you before I cut your tongue out, because you see, you hurt my friend.  And I don’t like people who hurt my friends.”  

“Pack, technically,” Jisung interjected.  “Right?  Because he’s Sannie’s mate, you know, the big guy who decked you?  Yeah, HIS mate, and Sannie is pack, which makes him pack.”  

“That slut didn’t have a mating- Ahhhhh!” The alpha screamed as Minho sliced off his ear and threw it into the fire.  

Minho rested his elbow on the alpha’s forearm and held the bloody knife up to the alpha’s face.  “Don’t say mean things about my friends.  It makes me angry.”

Chan opened up the drawer that was previously locked, and he saw a pile of documents.  He glanced through them quickly and saw one with a seal and pulled it out.  It was Wooyoung’s ownership papers.  “San,” he said as he held the documents out towards him.  

San took the documents and glanced at them, and once he realized what they were, he quickly slid them into his tactical vest.  

“We could just take the safe and crack it later.” Seungmin rationalized.  “Yeosang has the other team grabbing the other pieces of art that are actually worth anything out of the house.”  

“Yeah, let's do that.  He isn’t going to tell us anything useful.” Chan agreed, then nodded towards San, “It's your kill.”

San pulled out his side piece and stepped out in front of the head alpha.  “His name is Wooyoung,” San said, then he shot the alpha point-blank in the forehead. 

“Can I borrow Changbin and Jongho?  We’ve got a safe down here that needs moving.” Chan asked as he shoved the other documents into his own vest.  

Once everyone had cleared the house and Yeosang confirmed there were no heat signatures within a mile, Chan lit off the charges, causing the whole house to explode spectacularly.  

“Damn, hyung.” Jisung whistled.  

“Not even going to leave them a splinter of wood, are you?” Seungmin muttered.  

“Such a shame.  You know gas leaks are no joke.  Serious safety hazard.” Minho deadpanned. 

Wooyoung stood next to Seonghwa in the hallway as the rest of the pack came back to the house.  Hongjoong took off his helmet and immediately pulled Seonghwa into a kiss that made Wooyoung blush.  Mingi stepped out from behind Hongjoong and reached into his vest, pulling out the stuffed cat.  Wooyoung’s breath caught in his throat, and his eyes grew big as he made grabby hands at the alpha, making Mingi chuckle fondly as he handed the stuffed cat to Wooyoung.

San was next, offering Wooyoung his ownership documents.  “What do you want to do with these?”  

Wooyoung fixed San with a serious stare and handed him the stuffed cat while he took the documents.  San cradled the cat with the utmost care as he waited for Wooyoung to do something.  

“It’s up to you,” Seonghwa encouraged.  

Wooyoung didn’t even think.  He turned and practically ran to the kitchen, turned on the gas stove, and lit the documents on fire before holding them over the sink to burn.  “Nobody is going to own me ever again.”  He stated firmly.

Chapter Text

Like clockwork, Jisung’s heat hit the next week.  He had invited Wooyoung to join when he asked for San, and Wooyoung declined.  Intellectually, Wooyoung knew that the members of San’s pack didn’t hurt each other, but he didn’t think he was ready to see all the alphas using an omega in heat, no matter how gentle they seemed to be. 

So he was shocked when he walked into the kitchen and found Minho, Chan, and Jeongin in there, fully clothed, and not looking or smelling at all of sex. 

“Alphas,” Wooyoung quickly greeted after recovering from his shock. 

“Wooyoung!” Chan greeted him with a wide smile.  “How are you with snacks?”

Wooyoung perked up, more than willing to be useful, “I can make snacks, sure!  What kind?” 

“Felix and I can help you with that.  It’s just about time for me to switch out and don’t really like leaving Felix alone to shoulder the food and drink front.” Minho replied. 

“Oh, making him wait?” Chan shot Minho a knowing look.  “I bet THAT is going over well.”

“Princess can wait. He’s got plenty of cock to satisfy him up there as it is.” Minho stood firm. 

Felix came into the kitchen carrying a tray of dishes.  “Easy for you to say, Hyung.  He threw a lamp at me when I told him you were busy.”

“Well, now that Wooyoung is here to shoulder some of the load, you’re free to go up there and perhaps save the rest of the furniture.” Chan chuckled. 

Wooyoung pieced together that they were dealing with the heat in shifts.  Which made sense now that he thought about it, since there were so many alphas in the pack.  

Minho chuckled.  “I suppose.  I’d rather avoid having to answer questions about what style and color I prefer when it comes to redecorating rooms.  Wooyoung, would you help me bring up this round of snacks?”

Wooyoung nodded quickly, eager to help.  “Of course, alpha, Minho.” The ‘Minho’ being added after being given a stern look from said alpha. 

“Good boy,” Minho responded, causing a warm wave to pass through Wooyoung’s body.  He smiled softly as he approached the counter and took the tray of mini sandwiches Minho was holding out for him.  

Minho loaded up a bunch of bottled drinks into a large fruit basket and nodded towards Wooyoung, “Okay, let's go then.”

The closer Wooyoung got to the room the pack nest was in, the stronger the scent of omega in heat and sex became.  Minho knocked on the door to the room and waited for a second before opening it.  Wooyoung nearly dropped his try when he realized what he was looking at.

********Short description********

Jisung was on top, railing into Mingi, who was on his hands and knees on the floor, ass up, bending over San, who was lying on his back and sucking off Mingi’s cock. 

********End********

Wooyoung was so shocked, he barely registered Minho taking the tray from him and gently easing him back from the door before he shut himself inside, leaving Wooyoung outside the room with the image of what he had just seen burned into his brain. 

Wooyoung didn’t know how to begin to process what he’d seen.  The omega being on top of two submissive alphas. That’s not how it was supposed to work.  That’s not what he had been taught.  Omegas were supposed to be used.  They should consider themselves lucky if an alpha decides to give them a knot during their heat.  Any pleasure the omega managed to feel during sex was always followed by painful punishment.  Omegas were meant to satisfy alphas, not the other way around.  

Wooyoung didn’t know when Seonghwa had shown up, or that he had begun crying, until Seonghwa was there, wiping the tears off his face and pulling him into a comforting hug.  

“I know, pup.  I know.”  Seonghwa ran soothing hands up and down Wooyoung’s back as Wooyoung sobbed into his shoulder.  

“But, it isn’t allowed.” Wooyoung managed to sob out.  

“It’s allowed here, pup.  As long as it’s consensual, everything is allowed here.” Seonghwa explained, causing Wooyoung to sob louder. 

“And we are officially out of like, everything,” Felix announced as Seonghwa guided Wooyoung into the kitchen and sat him down, him still being in a daze.  “Binnie!  We need to go to the market.” Felix yelled.

“Wooyoung?” Seonghwa rubbed the younger’s back to get his attention.  “Would you like to go to the market with Felix and Changbin?  Some fresh air might feel nice.”  

Did he want to go to the market?  He was being asked like he wasn’t still in the middle of everything he had ever known to be true, crashing down around him as lies. But maybe that was the point. Seonghwa-hyung seemed to always know what he needed.  Maybe getting out of the house and mindlessly following Felix around the market would help him to process the fact that everything in his previous life was turning out to have been lies.  Cruel, horrible lies meant to control and dehumanize him. 

Wooyoung nodded, “Fresh air sounds nice.”

“Perfect!” Felix lit up and bounced over to where Wooyoung was sitting. “The dynamic around here does get a little much when someone is in heat or rut.  I also like getting out of the house for a bit to clear my head.” 

It was around the organic tomatoes that Wooyoung first noticed them.  An alpha and a beta who were paying more attention to the crowd than to the items for sale. 

“Bounty hunters,” Felix murmured, confirming Wooyoung’s suspicion.  

Wooyoung’s adrenaline spiked. This was bad. Very, very bad. 

“It’ll be okay, I can handle them,” Felix reassured. 

Wooyoung shook his head. “No, you don’t have papers.  If they catch you, they’ll take you right to the auction after running your prints.  If I draw them away, and they catch me, they have to wait a week after running my prints for my owner to come claim me before they can auction me.  That’ll give you time to find out where the auctions are being held and come get me.” 

Felix turned his head and sized Wooyoung up.  

Wooyoung squeezed Felix’s hand. “You know I’m right.  Get to alpha Changbin,” he said before he turned and bolted, drawing the bounty hunters out to chase after him.  He dodged people and booths as he ran as fast as he could to get out in the open so he could shift. He was faster and harder to catch in wolf form. 

He hadn’t anticipated a third bounty hunter, however.  The second he cleared the vendor stalls, his feet tangled in a rope snare, and they were yanked out from under him. His shoulder slammed into the concrete and made a horrible cracking sound as pain radiated out from it. 

The bounty hunter began to pull him in like a fish on a line.  Wooyoung didn’t intend to go easily.  The second the man bent down to tie his hands, Wooyoung lunged.  Bounty Hunters wore clothing to protect their necks, so Wooyoung went straight for the eyes.  He sank his nails into the sides of the man’s head and used his thumbs to gouge at the man’s eyes as he screamed and thrashed around, trying to shake Wooyoung off. 

Wooyoung felt stinging pricks on his back followed by excruciating, burning pain all over his body as he lost all muscle control.  He slammed back to the ground and went limp after the taser jolt, unable to fight being bound and muzzled.  He was unceremoniously thrown onto the floor of a van, and his hopes of getting out of this easily died as the door closed and he felt the van start moving.

“Running the prints.”  

Wooyoung heard a ‘ding’ once the search was complete and took comfort in knowing that meant they had found him in the system.

“Damn, bitch has an owner.”    

“Well, he’s gonna fucking pay for my eyesight being taken, fucking cunt.”

“No, he isn’t.  Remember that house that went up in an explosion a week ago?”

“No way.”

“Yeah, bitch’s owner is dead.”

“We still have to wait a week to get paid.  Auction house has rules and all”

“I have a buyer. The art collector is in town.”

“The whore has a mating bite.”

“He doesn’t care about things like that.”

Wooyoung’s blood ran cold, and for the first time in a long time, he was truly scared. 

“I never should have left him.” Felix shook his head as Changbin knelt next to the spattering of blood on the concrete, next to the tire tracks of what Yeosang had determined to be a van.  

“Bounty hunters are usually pretty careful not to damage the omegas.” Chan mused. “Damaged goods bring in less money.”

“Got a DNA match on that blood.  Looks like our Wooyoung put up a good fight.” Yeosang informed. Showing Chan the data pad that had a mug shot of someone who was definitely not Wooyoung. 

“He said he would be held for a week. Not a whole lot of time to find that auction.” Felix felt a little better now that he knew the blood wasn’t Wooyoung’s. 

“Not a whole lot of time to come up with a rescue plan,” Changbin grumbled, his fists clenched. 

Chan shook his head.  “No rescue.  We’re buying him back.”  

Felix, Changbin, and Yeosang all shot Chan questioning looks.

“He said he never wanted to be owned again.” Felix reminded him. 

“I won’t own him.” Chan started.  “Technically, I’d own the piece of paper that gets me a call if he ever gets snatched up again.” 

“That’s actually pretty smart.” Felix conceded. 

“Okay, everyone, let’s get back to the house and get everyone we know on finding out where the next omega auction is going to be held.” Chan directed.

Chapter Text

Chan, Minho, and Hongjoong were all dressed in their most expensively tailored suits as they walked through the front door of an omega auction for the first time in their lives.  Changbin and Jongho were back with Yunho, who had the car positioned for a quick get away once the deal was made.  Chan didn’t want to risk having his face seen in a place like this any longer than absolutely necessary. Even with that thought in mind, they arrived early to the auction, wanting to make absolutely sure they were there at the beginning and didn’t chance missing Wooyoung.

The venue was an abandoned warehouse in a downtrodden part of town.  This was not the high-class kind of venue of the more “legitimate” omega auctions.  Chan was sure that they would be sticking out in their fancy suits, but he wanted to have his bid taken at face value as legitimate and have no one try to fight him on it. He was willing to pay everything they had for Wooyoung; he just didn’t want to have to. 

Each bidder was given an electronic button to press to register their bid.  Discrete.  No raised paddles or hands.  No one would know who they were bidding against, and who won.  Chan supposed that would keep down on the physical fights amongst the clientele, which he was guessing would not be the best in a place like this. 

The omegas were already on site, trapped in cages at the back of the warehouse, separated from the area where the bidders where to be by a chainlink fence.  Though scent patches were being used, there was a clear scent of terror in the air. Chan was having a difficult time keeping his wolf under control. 

“They’re too far away and it’s too dark.  I can’t make out which one he is.” Minho sighed, frustrated. 

“I’m sure the light will be plenty bright on them when they’re on sale.  They’d want to show off the physically attractive ones to get more money for them.” Hongjoong responded bitterly.

As if on cue, a bright floodlight turned on, shining straight down from the ceiling.  A weasely looking alpha walked out and took up the spot at the podium and plastered on a sickening smile.  “Let’s get started before the cops come find us, shall we?”

The Bang pack members stood by in horror as shaking, crying, terrified omegas were dragged into the light, stripped naked if they were still wearing clothing, and auctioned off to the highest bidder before being dragged back to their cages. Omega after omega was sold off, none of them were Wooyoung until finally, the auctioneer held up his hands. “I’ve saved the very best of the lot for last tonight.” 

This is it, Chan thought.  This has to be Wooyoung.

Murmurs broke out in the crowd as a literal child was dragged forward. There was no way it wasn’t a child, Chan thought, until one of the guards pulled off his scent blocker and the room filled with the scent of omega in heat.

“No,” Minho growled next to Chan and clenched his fists.

“That’s right, we managed to catch a pup in his first heat.   Parents were embarrassed and gave him to us practically for free.  How much for this virgin prize?” The auctioneer began the bidding and the price began to fly up.

Chan didn’t even think as his thumb hit the button, topping the highest bid every time someone bid against him. All he could think of was Jisung, alone and scared on the streets during his first rut.  

“Seunghyun is bidding against you, hyung,” Hongjoong murmured, then nodded his head over to the left. “If we let him win, we can take them both with far fewer people around to cause problems.”

Chan shook his head, “ Seunghyun is in the crowd ,” he sent through the pack channel along with a visual of the alpha’s face. “ Make sure he doesn’t make it out of the building .” He turned his head slightly towards Hongjoong. “I need to be SURE this pup is safe.” He explained.

Hongjoong nodded his head in understanding, then nodded towards Minho to follow him to help flush Seunghyun towards the door that Changbin and Jongho were heading towards. 

The bid number stopped going up, so the guards bent the omega pup over and spread his ass cheeks to give the crowd a view.  The number ticked up again, and Chan immediately countered it.  This pup was going to be HIS. No one was going to be raping him tonight if Chan was still breathing. 

Wooyoung was naked.  Bound with a spreader bar holding his knees apart, ankles shackled to rings on the floor.  Shackles around his wrists, pulling his arms up and away from his body with chains hanging from the ceiling.  Muzzle still attached to his face.  They had given him some sort of sedative to keep him compliant.  It didn’t stop him from glaring daggers at his captors every second he got the chance.  

A man with snow white hair dressed in an expensive purple suit entered the showroom.  “Ah, this one still has its spirit, I see.” 

“A fresh catch,” one of Wooyoung’s captors responded. “Lost a good man over it.” 

The man stepped up onto the platform and slowly trailed around Wooyoung, taking in every inch of his exposed body with his eyes. “I don’t mind a piece with spirit. They only become more beautiful in time as they slowly break.”

Wooyoung huffed at the comment, drawing the man’s attention to his face. 

“Take that off.  I want to see the face.” The man demanded.

“Sir, this one has a mouth on him, and he bites.” The captor warned. 

The man gestured with his hand for the captor to do as he said, and Wooyoung felt fingers roughly thread into his hair and yank his head back and holding it painfully tight as rough fingers undid the buckle of his muzzle.  

Once freed Wooyoung coughed a few times and spit the excess saliva from his mouth at the man who removed his gag.  The man jumped back just in time to not get hit.  

Wooyoung began to chuckle. “Oh, you fuckers are in so much trouble, you have NO IDEA.”

The man with the white hair stepped closer to Wooyoung and raised his hand like he was going to touch Wooyoung’s face, which Wooyoung responded to by hissing and biting at him as he lunged forward as far as the restraints and hand gripping his hair would allow him. 

“Yes, I can see this one definitely still has its spirit.” The man responded with a dark gleam in his eyes that sent a shiver down Wooyoung’s spine. He was putting on a brave front, but in reality he was terrified. He was confident that if he was sent to the auction house, he would be rescued.  But if this man took him, there was no way for San’s mates to find him.  

The Collector assessed Wooyoung for another minute, then nodded once.  “I’ll take it.”

********Wooyoung Torture********

Wooyoung woke already feeling stiff and sore some time later.  He quickly realized he couldn’t move.  He was bound, on his knees, chest bent over what he guessed was a footstool, hands bound behind his back, legs bound spread wide, exposing his vulnerability.  A heavy collar was around his neck, with a short chain attaching it to the stool so he couldn’t lift his head. 

“I want a baseline of where my new piece is for training.” The Collector’s voice came from somewhere behind Wooyoung.

“What kind of piece will this one be?” Another voice questioned.

“This one is my new coffee table.” The Collector replied.  “So please assess it accordingly.” 

Wooyoung balked.  What was he talking about? A coffee table?  Wooyoung had endured quite a bit of abuse, slavery, and dehumanization in his past, but never had he been referred to as furniture before. 

Wooyoung suddenly felt a hand wrap around his cock.  “Coffee tables do not make a mess.” The Collector said flatly as the hand began to slowly stroke Wooyoung. “Furniture that makes a mess shall be corrected.” The hand began to squeeze tighter and move faster, generating more friction and a warm sensation began building in Wooyoung’s core.  He could do this.  He used to last for hours.  Surely he could outlast these men.  

“Do you know what a bullet ant is?” The Collector asked, but Wooyoung kept his mouth shut.  He figured it was a trap.  They were referring to him as furniture, and furniture doesn’t talk.  The hand around his cock squeezed as it dragged up from the base and when it reached the tip it rubbed the hand in a circle into the head forcing Wooyoung’s arousal.  

“I have a farm you see.  A whole bullet ant farm.  Do you know why?” The Collector continued.  Now that Wooyoung was fully erect, the finger tips of the hand circled gently around the ridge of the head of his cock and torturously lightly moved millimeters up and down for a few seconds, then the hand grasped his cock tightly and plunged down, then up again.  

“Do you know what the Schmidt Sting Pain Index is?” The Collector asked.  Wooyoung let out an involuntary moan as one hand continued the same torture, and the other hand was now lightly massaging his balls. He heard a sharp thwack and then an intense ribbon of stinging on the back of his thighs. “Furniture doesn’t make noise.” The Collector reprimanded flatly. 

“Where was I?  Ah yes, my bullet ant farm.  Bullet ant venom’s key component is poneratoxin, which is a level 4+ on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index.  The highest posible rating.” The Collector continued. The hand on his balls moved up to start massaging Wooyoung’s entrance. 

“Poneratoxin interferes with the way nerve cells communicate by affecting the sodium channels, which happen to be crucial for transmitting nerve signals.” One finger entered Wooyoung’s ass as the other hand continued to slowly stroke and torment his hard cock.  Wooyoung’s entire body had broken out in a sweat, and he was breathing heavily, while Wooyoung tried to retreat in his mind to the place he had learned to hide earlier in his life. 

“When these nerve signals are disrupted, it leads to prolonged and intensified nerve signals.” The Collector was suddenly next to Wooyoung’s head, running his fingers through Wooyoung’s hair, speaking softly in his ear.  It was impossible for Wooyoung to retreat and tune him out.  The finger in his ass found his Spot and Wooyoung’s breath hitched giving it away. 

“It causes muscle contractions and waves of intense, prolonged pain that can last up to 24 hours.” The Collector’s voice hit Wooyoung’s ear just right, so it caused the nerves down the entire side of his body, down to the small of his back, to contract. 

“I harvest the poneratoxin from my bullet ant colony.  I have found it is an excellent way to correct my art pieces when they do not present properly.” The Collector tightened his grip on Wooyoung’s hair and the finger in his ass mercilessly pressed and rubbed against his Spot while the other hand began to squeeze and stroke him vigorously. 

Wooyoung didn’t know how long he lasted, but eventually he was forced to climax.  He did so with a small cry and tears streaming down his face.  The Collector shook his head and pulled out a syringe.  “Furniture doesn’t make a mess.”  He repeated, then bent the fingers of Wooyoung’s left hand down, causing his wrist to hyperextend, and exposing the palm.  The Collector punctured the center of Wooyoung’s palm with the syringe and squeezed in a tiny amount of liquid. 

Instantly, Wooyoung screamed at the worst pain he’d ever felt in his life. His whole body felt on fire, waves of pain radiated from his palm and the muscles clenched up painfully forcing his hand to stay in the hyperextended position. Pretty soon, his whole body was clenched, and all he could do was scream and sob in agony. 

********End of torture********

Hongjoong had passed Seonghwa the blanketed bundle of terrified omega pup in heat before following Chan and Minho to the basement.  Seonghwa’s inner omega puffed out with pride at being trusted with such an important job. He placed the pup’s nose right at the scent gland at his own neck and let out a generous amount of scent as he carried the boy up the stairs to the large bathroom.  

Mingi already had the bath filled and picked out a set of bath bombs for them when they arrived.  Seonghwa placed the omega in the tub and fished the now-wet blanket back out, handing it to Mingi and nodding his thanks before Mingi left them alone in the bathroom.  He then placed in each of the bath bombs, and they fizzed in a satisfying manner as they spread out all throughout the water in the tub.  Seonghwa knelt down and petted the pup’s hair, and made soothing noises to help settle the pup.  Going through a first heat was terrifying and painful enough without having also been abandoned by your parents and sold at auction.  

There was a knock at the door, then Felix poked his head in.  “I brought the tea, Hyung.” He announced, then brought in a tray with a pot of tea and a teacup containing his own special concoction that made Seongwha’s insides feel all warm and fuzzy when he drank it. 

Seonghwa lifted the teacup to the pup’s lips, “Drink up, sweetheart.” He said, and the young omega did as silent tears still streamed down his face. Seonghwa’s heart clenched at the trust and innocence the pup still had, despite what he had gone through. 

“The nest is ready in the spare room for when you are finished, hyung,” Felix said softly so as not to break the calming mood of the room. 

“Thank you, Felix,  you and Hyunjin are so sweet,” Seonghwa murmured as he went back to petting the omega pup as he relaxed into the bath.  

“Can you tell me your name, sweetheart?” Seonghwa asked gently.

“Yechan,” the omega pup sighed out as his eyes fluttered closed, slipping off to sleep. 

Minho paced slowly back and forth in front of Seunghyun’s vulnerable body. This was the man that had hurt Seonghwa, tortured his mate.  This was the man who had done the same to countless other omegas and sold them off to horrible packs to be treated as nothing more than chattel. This was a man that had taught countless alphas and betas how to be sadists, how to inflict pain, how to humiliate, how to control. The door opened behind him, and Seunghyun’s gaze drifted behind Minho.  

“I didn’t think I’d see you again, pup.” Seunghyun actually sounded a little surprised.

Minho bent forward and used the flat side of his knife against Seunghyun’s cheek to turn his head back towards Minho.  “Eyes on me.” He ordered.

“I’m going to start with an easy question.  Where do you keep the omega paperwork?” Chan asked coldly with Hongjoong at his side. 

Chapter Text

“Who’s trying to kill us?” Manato asked as he entered the den where the rest of the group was gathered.

“No one,” Leo answered frankly.

“Well, that’s new,” Manato replied, surprised. “What’s the mission then?”

“We’re going to be doing recon on the man known as The Collector.” Ryuhei informed.

“That’s the guy with the gross art collection, right?” Sota asked as he jumped down from his perch in the window sill to take a look at the photos on the coffee table. “We getting paid for this, or is this one of ours?”

“One of ours, I figured we needed another hobby since we took out the Seki pack,” Junon answered, throwing a folder on the coffee table to go along with the photos.

All seven of them took their time going over the intel and photos, then prepared to vote. They didn’t have a leader, and they took missions via a democratic vote. A Majority of 5 was needed to make a decision.

“Everyone ready to vote?” Shunto asked after putting down the document he was looking at.

“Hands up if you want to do the job,” Ryouki said, raising his own hand. The rest of the six followed.

It had taken quite a bit of time to get an invite to The Collector’s mansion, but finally, Sota and Shunto were there, about to walk into the place. The plan for the weekend was simple recon. No one had come close to touching The Collector before, and they certainly didn’t want to be sloppy about it when it came time for the take-down.

They were greeted at the front door by a butler, Sota assumed, who he quickly learned was the only member of the staff who wore any real clothing. The entry room was lined with alcoves. Each containing a slave, naked, on their knees, legs spread, hands behind their back.

“They are for guest use for the evening, if you so choose to partake.” The Collector explained as he walked up to Sota, who pried his eyes away from the display.

“No, thank you.” Sota shook his head. Shunto followed suit.

“Such a shame. Well, if you change your minds, the plaque on the wall next to each lists their trained abilities and levels.” The Collector waved his hand towards the alcoves dismissively. “ Please, join me in the parlor for refreshments.”

They turned to enter the room The Collector was gesturing towards, and Sota’s vision was filled with what would have been a beautiful statue, but it was a person. One leg was pointed to the back. The arm on the same side outstretched forward at an angle with the fingers at eye level. The other arm reaching back and down, which turned the torso to show the slave’s back, with the head inclined towards the back. The other leg was bent, as if the slave was standing up and reaching for something.

“Ah yes, this is one of my favorite pieces. I had it moved from the gallery to the parlor so I could enjoy it more often.” The Collector explained as he walked up to the slave and ran his hand down the side of their body. Sota didn’t know whether to be impressed or horrified that he couldn’t detect so much as a twitch from the slave at the touch.

Sota hurried past the statue and into the parlor, hoping that the rest of the horrors would wait until the gallery tour. He had to suppress a sigh when he saw that there were slaves kneeling next to the seating areas with their arms up, holding empty trays, almost like they were end tables. He and Shunto picked seats as far away from the end tables as possible.

The butler rolled out a cart that was a low platform with 4 posts. The front two posts were taller than the back two, and they contained a headstock taking up the top half, and at the base were wrist shackles. The back two had shackles and chains attached to the ankles. The slave was forced into a modified doggie style position, with his head trapped in the stock, his wrists shackled to the front posts, and balancing on his knees with his feet in the air because the chains attached to his ankles weren’t long enough to let them rest on the platform. There were holes in the platform, and the slave’s hands were dangling through them, so the only support he had to maintain the position was the ring of the stock around his neck and his knees.

The platform was turned so the slave was facing away from Sota and Shunto, and he got a full view of the slave’s puffy and abused entrance. Blood and other liquids were dripping from the hole, and Sota could see bruising on his thighs and ass that looked an awful lot like hands had made them. He also saw angry red welts on the omega’s thighs, ass, and feet.

“Guests get to go first.” The Collector grinned with an evil glint in his eye.

Sota waved him off. “I’m afraid I’m not in the mood.”

“No matter,” The Collector’s smile widened, as if Sota's refusal was exactly what he had wanted to happen. He jerked the cart around violently, causing the slave to wobble back and forth on his knees, eliciting a weak whimper. The Collector grabbed a handful of the slave’s hair and jerked his head up violently. “Does furniture make noise? Stop embarrassing me.”

Sota had to suppress the gasp that was shocked out of him when he saw the slave’s face. He had seen that slave before. This was Chan’s missing omega.

The Collector snapped his fingers, and two beautiful betas came through the doors from what looked like a kitchen. Both were naked, save for delicate gold chains hanging in a cascade down their fronts from collars around their necks. They were carrying trays containing snacks and drinks, which, to Sota’s horror, they placed on the omega’s back, like he was a coffee table.

There was a chime, and The Collector smiled over to Sota and Shunto, gesturing towards the ‘coffee table’. “Please, help yourselves while I see who has come to visit.”

“It’s time for Plan B.” Sota said once the butler and The Collector had left the parlor.

“We have a Plan B?” Shunto asked seriously.

“Nope, but it’s time for it.” Sota answered, “That’s Wooyoung, Chan’s missing omega. Ryuhei,” Sota turned on his communicator. “Contact Chan and tell him we’ll see him in 24 hours with one successful body snatch.”

Back in the van, Ryouki shot Ryuhei a look, “Did he just do the thing where he signs off without sharing the plan?”

“Yep. Never gets less annoying.” Ryuhei rolled his eyes. “Junon, I need you all to get to the van stat, the plan has changed,” Ryuhei called back to their home base. Then he punched up the number to contact Chan. Yeosang’s face popped up on screen.

“Hey, didn’t expect a call from you tonight, what’s going on?” Yeosang answered cheerfully.

“No idea, actually, just have a cryptic message for the boss,” Ryuhei responded.

Yeosang laughed, “Didn’t tell you the plan again, did he?”

“Nope.” Ryuhei put an extra pop on the ‘p’ to get his irritation across. “All he said was to tell Chan we would see him in 24 hours with a successful body snatch. I’m guessing someone the boss is looking for is in the house we are doing recon on.”

“I’ll relay the message, but don’t be surprised if you get a call back asking for more clarification,” Yeosang warned.

“Oh, I know. Believe me, no one is more irritated than I am right now.” Ryuhei replied. “Thanks, Yeosang-san.”

“So that was your plan? Cut the power, everybody freaks, and you grab the omega in the chaos?” Shunto whispered incredulously.

“That was...yeah,” Sota whispered back defensively.

“That’s the stupidest-” Shunto cut himself off as The Collector walked back into the parlor with one of the sons of the former Seki pack.

“Well, if it isn’t the Zero Dark 30 All Stars.” The man sneered at Sota and Shunto.

Before Sota could respond, The Collector put up his hand to stop him. “I’ve actually known who you were all along. I was curious, which is why you got an invitation to my home. No need to look so nervous. I wanted to thank you for taking out some of my fiercest competition.”

Sota didn’t like the way The Collector was looking at him. He felt like he was being sized up. He didn’t know how they were going to get out of this evening, let alone with Wooyoung, now that their cover had been officially blown.

“I hear you take commissions.” The Collector continued. “I want you to do a job for me.”

Chapter Text

“When did THIS become the plan?” Junon asked when he got to the van. 

“You're asking the wrong person,” Ryuhei shook his head.  “I’ve lost contact with them, so we’re on our own here.”

“So, we're pulling a Cairo?” Leo asked with a serious face.

“I thought we didn’t talk about Cairo,” Manato questioned.

“We don’t.” Junon and Ryoki replied at the same time.

“Still, I think it might be our best option.  We have the information for the building that houses the security system.” Leo pushed on anyway.

“Is this you volunteering to be the man on the ground?” Ryoki asked pointedly.

“Sure, I’ll do it.” Leo shot back. 

“Now, now, boys, you’re both pretty.” Junon teased. 

There was a chime, and Ryuhei pulled up the incoming call from Chan on the screen.

“Is it Wooyoung?!  Did you find him?” Chan looked terrible.  His face was drawn, with deep bags under his eyes from not sleeping properly for months.  The Bang pack hadn’t taken on a mission since they lost their omega; instead, they had channeled all their resources into finding him again. 

“I’m sorry, Chan-san, you know as much as we do.  We lost contact with Sota after he sent that message.” Ryuhei explained. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up.” 

“You know we are here if you need any help.” Chan sighed. “Please, be safe.” 

Leo took a deep breath, helping him to find his center before walking through the door like he owned the place. He flashed his newly-made credentials to the person at the front desk and headed back to the main server area without stopping to chat.  As he approached the door he was looking for, he sent Ryuhei the signal.  

An alarm started blaring, which told Leo that Ryuhei had successfully hacked into the fire protection system.  He reached the target door and waited for the light on the keypad to go from red to green, signalling that Ryuhei had turned off the suppression system in the room, so it was safe to enter. 

Leo located the main monitor and control station and made his way to it, ignoring the foam covering the ground and all the equipment around him as he went. 

“Did the Halon system malfunction?” A confused voice came from behind him.

“No, our fire protection system just became suddenly self-aware and decided to attack us with whipped cream,” Leo responded without missing a beat. 

Leo turned his head to see a man just staring at him in shock.  

“That was a joke,” Leo explained. “Yes, it appears that there was a fire system malfunction.  Who do we call to get this cleaned up so we can hope to get these servers restarted?”

“I don’t recognize you, are you on the night shift?” The man looked at Leo sceptically. 

Leo held out his credentials for the man to see. “Just transferred from the Kyoto office.” 

“There wasn’t any word passed down of a transfer. When did you get here?” The man continued to question.  

“Look, we only just met, and you seem like a nice guy and everything, so that makes this awkward but I’m going to need you to give me the code for the art collection,” Leo stated.

“Are you threatening me?” The man balked.

“I’m sorry, I must have done it badly. I thought it was pretty obvious.” Leo turned back to the control panel and unlocked all the security doors.  “Give me the code for the override of the art collection security, or I’m going to have to become VERY unpleasant.” 

“0M1A0Y42F0L2Y1” The man responded, shocked. 

The butler wheeled out Wooyoung at the Collector’s hand wave when it became clear that Sota and Shunto were not going to partake in any of the refreshments. 

“Since we’re not playing games, which is refreshing, I’d like to know WHY we would be inclined to do a job for you.” Sota got straight to the point. “You are aware that we tend to work against people like you, right?”

“Oh, come now, you can’t possibly be so rigid.  Just imagine the kind of access you would get if you worked for me.  The kinds of people I could put you in rooms with.  The kind of information you could gather.” The Collector gave them a sick smile. “And in return, I get less competition.  Fewer people in the world to buy up the beautiful pieces, leaving only the rarest, best pieces for me.  Really, it’s a win-win.” 

Out of the corner of his eye, Sota saw the red light of a security camera flicker, then turn off, signalling that the rest of the crew had gotten the message and had formed some sort of plan. He guessed that keeping the Collector busy was going to be important. “So, what is this job you want us to do?”

Wooyoung felt hands. These hands were different than any of the others before.  They were firm but not bruising, not groping or wandering.  They were so different that it dragged him up from the deep headspace he had been living in for he didn’t know how long now. There were words as well, but he couldn’t make out what they were beyond the fuzz in his brain. 

Gentle hands were cradling his head, which felt nice to not be resting his weight on his neck anymore. Other hands were at his ankles, releasing them from the shackles.  A hand rested on the small of his back and rubbed gentle circles to soothe the cramping pain as his ankles were gently lowered from the angle they had been bound in.  

More hands at the shoulder joints, on his chest, lifting his upper body, and the hands cradling his head, moving with them, lifting him out of his restrained position and gently lowering him to a more comfortable, curled-up position on the rolling platform. 

“...what?” Wooyoung managed to croak out.  He didn’t understand. What did they want? 

“Talk later, stealthy escape now.” A gentle voice murmured somewhere above Wooyoung. 

He then felt himself being lifted up into arms and held close to a body. Wooyoung couldn’t stop himself from melting his own touch-starved body into the embrace, and he felt himself being squeezed tighter. 

Wooyoung kept his eyes closed as he was carried.  He had long ago lost the energy to open them, and he feared that even if he tried, he would just become more dizzy than he already was from the movement, so he rested his head on the shoulder of the person carrying him and concentrated on his breathing, until even that was too overwhelming for him and he faded into unconsciousness. 

“Okay, that’s everyone that isn’t in the room that Sota and Shunto are in.” Manato’s voice came over the coms. 

“Let me guess, they’re not on coms, so we can’t tell them to move,” Junon responded.

“Got it in one,” Ryuhei responded. “Leo, maybe if you turn the cameras back on, they’ll see and get the memo?”

Shunto noticed the red light on the security camera turned back on, and he hoped that was their crew sending them a message.  “This is all fine in theory, but I have a demand.” He interrupted.

The Collector raised his eyebrow, “Oh?”

“Yeah, the reason we’re here in the first place, actually.” Shunto improvised. “We’re actually looking for someone.”

“So you wanted to see my collection to steal from me?” The Collector narrowed his eyes. 

“Steal, pay for, either way.  If you have him, we’re leaving with him.” Sota caught on to the plot quickly. 

The Collector assessed Sota and Shunto for a minute. “Bold of you to assume that you could afford one of my pieces.” He finally replied. “But let’s see if I possess something that you covet!”

The Collector stood up and motioned for Sota and Shunto to do the same.  As they exited the parlor, Shunto looked towards the entrance out of the corner of his eye, and he saw that the slaves were no longer in the alcoves, so he hoped his assumption was correct and their crew had managed to do an epic disappearing act. 

The Collector opened the double doors to what was presumably the room where he housed his collection. His face was blank as he surveyed the room.  Alcoves, podiums, and horrible-looking bondage frameworks were all empty. 

“You really shouldn’t have assumed we would EVER entertain the idea of working for you,” Sota said smugly. “Big mistake, big, huge”. 

“GUARDS!!” The Collector bellowed, his face red with anger, and Shunto wished that they hadn’t come to the house without weapons. 

“Pleasure doing business with you.” Sota shot a salute to The Collector and turned to bolt towards the front door with Shunto. 

Chapter Text

Five years later…

“Breaking news.  Prominent Japanese entrepreneur known as The Collector was found dead this morning inside his estate on Jeju Island.”  The newscaster’s voice sounded through the kitchen that morning. “He is survived by no known relatives, and ownership of the entire contents of his vast art collection has already been transferred to a private citizen in Seoul. The auction of the rest of The Collector’s assets will be held-”

Chan turned off the TV and made eye contact with Wooyoung. “They are all safe.  Their paperwork is with the rest. Secure and legally binding.”

“Good.” Wooyoung breathed out, tears springing to his eyes. He nodded, “Good, thank you.” 

“I’m sorry it took so long,” Chan replied sincerely. 

The pitter-patter of tiny feet got louder as two giggly pups came running into the kitchen.  

“Eomma, can I get chocolate chips in my pancakes?” One of the twins asked with the cutest smile. 

“I want cheese in my eggs!” The other twin shouted.  

Wooyoung chuckled fondly, “Of course, pups, help your eomma set the table.”

San came into the kitchen and walked directly to Wooyoung, snaked an arm around his waist, and pulled him in for a deep kiss.  “Mmmm, that’s all the breakfast I need.” He hummed after making Wooyoung’s knees go weak. It had taken him a long time to be able to gain back his strength to stand, let alone walk, after his time spent in the hands of The Collector, and it seemed that San could suck that strength right back out of him in mere seconds. 

“While that’s very sweet, you are going to be a good example to your pups and eat your breakfast like the rest of us,” Wooyoung said fondly. 

Changbin came into the kitchen, and his eyes lit up when he saw that Wooyoung was cooking.  “Mmmm, that’s what smells good-” Wooyoung cut him off by smacking his hand that was going in to try to sneak a taste of the batter.  “Hey!”

“Manners,” Wooyoung scolded and stuck his tongue out.  A gesture which Changbin returned. 

“Uncle Changbin, are we still going to the zoo today?” One of the twins asked from where they were setting the table.

“Of course! And maybe we’ll even take your eomma.” Changbin shot Wooyoung a wink. 

“Awww, but then we don’t get all the ice cream we can eat-” the other twin started to whine, being cut off by their sibling, elbowing them to shut up. 

Wooyoung shot Changbin a withering stare.  “Really?  You spoil them.” 

“How can I not?  They are just so cute!” Changbin responded, gesturing to the twins who were making their best ‘adorable’ faces, to help drive the point home. 

“Tell you what, how about you two pups go with Uncle Changbin while I spend some time here with your eomma,” San said with a sparkle in his eye. 

Wooyoung wagged the spatula he was holding at San, “You too.  Both of you spoil them.” 

“Honestly, we all spoil them Youngie,” Seonghwa said as he entered the kitchen. “But I think some adult alone time sounds nice, if Binnie is willing to take the pups on his own.” 

“I for one could use a good few rounds,” Seonghwa’s voice sounded in Wooyoung’s head.  

Wooyoung’s ears heated up at Seonghwa’s suggestion. The pack had waited about a year after getting him back from The Collector to properly court him, but soon enough, he found that he was mated to all of them, and they had found out just how much his body craved touch and attention. And who was he to say no to Doctor Hwa. 

“Okay, fine, but YOU are dealing with the sugar rush.” Wooyoung pointed the spatula at Changbin, who was smiling conspiratorily at the pups. “No, bringing them back here all hyper.” 

“Yes, eomma,” all three of them said in a chorus. 

********Smut Ahead********

The door had barely shut before Seonghwa began to devour Wooyoung’s lips.  San helped Wooyoung take his clothing off, since he was fumbling due to the intensity Seonghwa was licking into his mouth and making his body go all weak.  

Once his clothes were off, Seonghwa pushed Wooyoung back into the nest and began kissing down his chest, to his abdomen, and finally stared at Wooyoung with what Wooyoung called Seonghwa’s demon eyes, and wrapped his lips around the tip of his cock, bringing a hand up to wrap around the base to hold it steady. Wooyoung arched his back in pleasure and let out a moan, which was quickly swallowed by San taking over devouring Wooyoung’s mouth. 

Wooyoung quickly hardened, and Seonghwa lifted himself up with a smirk, then pulled out the plug he had been wearing.  Wooyoung’s fuzzy brain registered that Seonghwa had prepared himself for this, and he got even harder. Seonghwa wasted no time lining himself up and sinking down onto Wooyoung, all at once.  Wooyoung would have begun rolling his hips, but Seonghwa placed strong, steadying hands on his hips, holding them still, then he began to slowly ride Wooyoung. 

As Seonghwa rode Wooyoung, San, who was now also naked, came up behind Seonghwa and slid a finger into his hole, sliding along Wooyoung’s shaft. Then another finger, stretching and massaging, coaxing Seonghwa’s hole to open up more.  Once he fit in 3 fingers along with Wooyoung’s cock, he seemed satisfied and pulled his fingers out.  Wooyoung felt San’s cock against his, and San took them both in had firmly.  Slowly, he entered Seonghwa alongside Wooyoung while Seonghwa let out a drawn-out cry.  Once fully inside, Seonghwa stopped moving, and San placed his hands on Seonghwa’s hips, guiding him up and down on both cocks, stuffing his hole. 

Wooyoung didn’t even register that Hongjoong had come in until he was there, hand wrapped around Seonghwa’s cock, gently stroking it and murmuring into Seonghwa’s ear as overwhelmed tears rolled down Seonghwa’s face. Suddenly, Wooyoung felt Seonghwa’s hole clamp down on his cock, and Seonghwa seized up and climaxed with a choked-out cry. 

Hongjoong pulled Seonghwa up off San and Wooyoung’s cocks, bent him over, holding Seonghwa’s arms behind his back, and slammed his own cock inside the dripping hole.  Wooyoung felt San’s hands urging him to stand up, and one hand wrapped around his still hard cock and guided it into Seonghwa’s mouth.  

Wooyoung felt San start fingering his own hole open with one hand as he wrapped the other arm around Wooyoung’s waist to help hold him up.  Once he deemed Wooyoung ready, San slowly guided his cock inside Wooyoung, then set a pace to match Hongjoong, pounding so hard into Wooyoung that it caused Wooyoung to shove his cock deep down Seonghwa’s throat in time with Hongjoong’s own thrusts.  

San came first, and the burst of pleasure sent through the mating bond overwhelmed Wooyoung and sent him over the edge.  Seonghwa swallowed all of it before San pulled Wooyoung out and gently laid him down in the nest.  Hongjoong sped up his pace, and Wooyoung shot up to wrap his lips around Seonghwa’s cock and sucked like his life depended on it.  It didn’t take long for both Hongjoong and Seonghwa to finish together.  

All four of them collapsed into a pile of panting, sweaty limbs in the nest.  Wooyoung couldn’t form a coherent thought; he lay there amongst his mates feeling sated, happy, loved, and safe.