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Chapter Text

What, exactly, San plans to do is a little beyond him. It’s less a matter of what he plans to do and more the issue that he doesn’t know what he can do. Exactly what options are available to him in this situation? San isn’t sure. Asking his parents to simply bestow Yunho’s rightful birth rank seems out of the question, but what other options are available to him? 

His task is made all the more difficult because when San returns—in spite of all his washing and his attempt to rid himself of any evidence of Yunho’s rut—his brother is clearly alarmed by the unknown alpha scent that clings to him. 

“Who is that?” Seonghwa pesters him, following his brother around as San desperately tries to escape the alpha’s watchful gaze. 

“Who is what?” San plays dumb even as he tries to discreetly sniff at himself. He knows that the scent of a rut is strong, but he’d been very particular and thorough when he bathed himself, specifically so that he could avoid this kind of situation. 

Seonghwa appears affronted by his question. “Whose scent is that?” he demands. “I can smell someone’s rut clinging to you.” 

Alright, so denial isn’t working. San opts for a different tactic. “So? Am I not allowed to spend time with an alpha in a rut? It’s not like I’m mated.” 

Seonghwa pauses, considering his brother’s words for a moment. He has a point, of course. It’s not like San was breaking any rules or going against traditions. It’s just that Seonghwa doesn’t know who else San might possibly help through a rut besides the Captain, and he’s just a little alarmed that he doesn’t recognize this alpha’s scent at all. Exactly who is San spending his time with? 

He figures it’s the alpha San’s been working on courting. The one Seonghwa is a little worried about because he has no idea who he is. His brother has really given him almost no clue as to who it might be. “You know, Mom is getting anxious about you,” he tells his brother. “She’s been talking to the General’s mate. They want to try and push forward with the mating ceremony between you and Captain.” 

San chokes on his own spit. “What? I told her that I didn’t want to mate with him!” 

Seonghwa rolls his eyes at his brother’s naivete. “Yeah, but you haven’t given her an alternative. She thinks he’s the only one who can be your mate.” 

“That’s not true,” San scoffs. “I found a good alpha. He’s the same rank as Captain too!” San winces right after he says that because it’s only technically true. 

It does catch his brother’s attention though. “Who?” the alpha asks, confused because he doesn’t know who San could be talking about, and he knows everyone who would be at the same rank as the Captain. 

“Well, like he would be the same rank,” San amends. “Look, it’s complicated! I’ll explain it to you someday. I swear, just let me figure this out for now? I’m trying to think of the best way to break the news to Mom and Dad and introduce him, you know?” 

Sighing, Seonghwa places his hands on his hips and regards his brother critically. “You know, I’m on your side, San,” he tells the omega. “I would help if you just told me what I could do to help you.” 

“I don’t need help,” San insists. 

Seonghwa shakes his head, lips pulling into a frown. “That’s a blatant lie. You don’t want to tell me for some other reason.” 

San turns his head away, too ashamed to meet his brother’s gaze because Seonghwa is right. There is a reason San won’t tell him anything or ask for his help, and it’s that he’s fairly certain even his own brother wouldn’t exactly be impressed by his ideal mate. “I’ll tell you,” he promises his brother anyways. “I just need a little more time to sort things out.” 

Seonghwa narrows his eyes but lets his brother off the hook for now. He does leave the omega with one final reminder that, “I can’t keep Mom off your case forever if you don’t give me something to tell her instead.” 

“I know,” San acknowledges. “I know you’ve been helping me with her, and I am really grateful for it. I’m just not ready to tell anyone yet.” 

“Why? What is there to keep from us?” 

“A lot,” San mumbles. “I’ll tell you in due time.” 

Seonghwa sighs but relents his pressure on his brother. There’s another option he’s been thinking of pursuing anyways. He knows that San is entitled to his privacy, and he wants to respect that, but the longer this goes on the more worried the alpha becomes. 

When he finally leaves his brother, Seonghwa decides to confront the only person he thinks might know something. Hongjoong isn’t all that surprised when Seonghwa comes by his little hut although he is a bit bashful when he welcomes the alpha inside. “What brings you here?” he asks as he tucks his hair behind his ear. He presses his lips into a thin line to hide his smile. 

Seonghwa had been coming by quite often lately to visit the omega. It had been more than a little confusing at first. Hongjoong had figured that the alpha had merely come by to ask about his brother, and at first that’s all it had been. The alpha would come by occasionally to talk to the omega about his troublemaker brother, and their conversations would take off from there. Then the alpha started to bring gifts along with him every once in a while. Hongjoong had been shocked to say the least. 

Initially he wanted to refuse. He didn’t understand why Seonghwa would gift him anything. Plus it felt wrong to take. Not only was Hongjoong interested in a different alpha at the time, Seonghwa was even more out of his league than the Captain was. Of course it was because of his rank that Hongjoong ended up accepting the gift despite his initial worries, scared that Seonghwa would perceive his refusal as rude. 

Since then, Hongjoong has gradually learned to accept the alpha’s gifts, and he basks in the attention the future Head Alpha pays him even as he remains utterly baffled by Seonghwa’s apparent affection for him. All this to say Hongjoong isn’t really surprised to see Seonghwa, although his nerves do flare a little when he notices the rather serious expression on the alpha’s face. 

“Is something wrong?” he asks, the smile dropping from his lips. 

Seonghwa briefly looks up at him before turning his gaze away. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes in advance. “I wanted to talk to you about my brother.” 

Hongjoong blinks, curious as to why Seonghwa would apologize for wanting to talk about his brother. It’s not as if it was an uncommon topic between them. “Has something happened?” 

The alpha takes a deep breath. “He came home smelling of an alpha in a rut.” 

Hongjoong visibly startles at his complaint, eyes widening in surprise. “He did?” What a rather audacious thing to do. Hongjoong thought San was trying to keep Yunho a secret for the most part. “I mean, does your family not really like that kind of thing?” He’s not sure what it’s like for their family. Most people are generally more loose when it comes to this sort of thing. Hongjoong has personally helped Jongho through his rut a few times. Maybe Seonghwa’s family was a bit more conservative when it came to this kind of thing though. 

Seonghwa shakes his head. “It’s not that,” he denies. His brother was welcome to help any alpha through their rut. “I didn’t recognize the scent. I figure it’s likely this alpha he’s been trying to court, but that’s the problem.” Hongjoong maintains a carefully blank expression as Seonghwa turns his inquisitive gaze towards him. “I’m afraid I will simply have to be blunt here. Do you know who this alpha is?” 

Hongjoong is at a loss of words. “I....” 

“I would ask that you tell me who it is,” Seonghwa demands. 

Hongjoong hesitates. “That’s—” he doesn’t know what to say. “San hasn’t told you who it is?” he asks instead. 

“San refuses to say anything,” Seonghwa admits. “I’m concerned.” 

The omega laughs nervously. “I don’t think you have anything to be concerned about,” he assures the alpha. Then he quickly tries to change the subject. “Can I get you something to drink?” 

“Hongjoong,” Seonghwa cuts in seriously, giving the omega pause. “The only thing I want to know is who this alpha is. Will you tell me?” 

The omega is silent for a good minute, gaze cast down as he carefully thinks through his answer. “Why would you think I know anything?” he finally settles on saying. 

“Because,” Seonghwa says matter-of-factly, “he’s come to you for help making courting gifts, has he not? Certainly you must be privy to who it is he’s interested in, no?” Hongjoong bites down on his bottom lip. He does know, but he doesn’t want to say because it doesn’t feel like his place to out San like this. 

“He likes a good alpha,” he finally settles on saying. 

Seonghwa raises his eyebrows at that bold statement. “You know him?” 

Hongjoong furiously shakes his head. “Not personally, no.” 

“Then you’ve met him?” 

The omega scratches the back of his head, unsure of how to answer that. “Well, I—yes. Once.” 

Pleased with the information, Seonghwa crosses his arms over his chest and regards the omega. “Who is it?” 

“I don’t think it’s my place to tell,” Hongjoong pleads in a strained voice. He doesn’t want to give up San’s secret. They agreed not to, and anyways Hongjoong has grown fond of the younger omega. He knows why San is keeping this a secret, and, although he has mixed feeling about it personally, it’s not his decision to make. If this is what San wants, than who is Hongjoong to tell him that he’s wrong? 

Seonghwa straightens himself up, towering over the omega in a way that he feels bad, but he has no other choice. “Hongjoong,” he speaks the omega’s name with such seriousness that it surprises even himself. “I would have you tell me.” 

Hongjoong’s lips tremble at the alpha because it’s the first time in a long while that the omega can say that he’s fearful of the alpha. “Okay,” he relents when the alpha advances on him. “I’ll tell you who it is.” 

San is more than a little shocked that when he next ventures out to Yunho’s cabin on the hill that there is someone waiting there as well. Not just anyone, though, it’s Seonghwa. He’d come up to see Yunho because he thought he might have an idea of how to make this work, and figured they could maybe talk about it. Seonghwa is the last person he would have ever expected to see here, and his heart leaps into his throat at the sight of his brother because what on earth would possess Seonghwa to come all the way out here? How did he even know? 

San stiffens because he knows there’s really only one answer to those questions. Seonghwa knew. He must know. 

San’s suspicions are only confirmed when he spies Hongjoong by his brother’s side. The omega’s head is lowered, chin tucked to his chest, although he startles when San approaches them. “San,” the older omega squeaks out when he sees him. 

Seonghwa tears his eyes away from Yunho’s cabin to look at his brother. “Ah. I didn’t expect to see you here, but I guess I’m not very surprised.” 

San slows his pace as he draws closer to his brother, his lips pulled into a frown as his eyes move between Seonghwa and Hongjoong. He doesn’t say anything when he reaches them. He doesn’t have to because there’s nothing he can say anyways. They all know why they’re here. 

“I’m sorry,” Hongjoong blurts out like he wants to try and at least clear the air before the brothers can start the conversation they clearly need to have. “I know I shouldn’t have said anything, but—” 

“It’s not his fault,” Seonghwa cuts in, coming to the omega’s defense. “He tried to protect you.” 

San stares up at his brother with a tight expression on his face. “I never thought it was his fault,” he says. Then he looks over to the gate. It’s still closed, so either they’ve just been standing there waiting for someone, or Yunho isn’t home. “So Hongjoong told you everything?” 

The omega winces at the accusation, shrinking behind Seonghwa as he turns away from San in shame. “He told me what he knows,” Seonghwa agrees. 

“And he brought you here,” San notes. 

“I brought him here,” Seonghwa corrects. “I knew who this alpha was as soon as Hongjoong told me you were interested in an Unmarked alpha. I knew where to find him.” 

San sucks in a breath, a little annoyed with his brother. “Why bring Hongjoong with you then?” 

Seonghwa smiles cryptically at him, and San absolutely hates that he honestly can’t tell what his brother is thinking right now. Is he pissed? Disappointed? Resigned? San honestly can’t tell. “We’re having an outing together,” he answers. San can’t help but cock his eyebrow at his brother’s answer. “Besides, I thought that if I were to confront this Unmarked alpha, it might help to have someone he at least knows with me.” 

“You didn’t ask me to come with you,” San points out. 

“Admittedly I was hoping to talk to him without you around. I see that won’t be possible though.” 

“Why?” San demands. “What did you want to tell him while I wasn’t around? Were you going to threaten him not to see me?” 

Seonghwa frowns at his brother’s tone. “Don’t be so defensive,” he admonishes San. “I wasn’t going to threaten anybody. I was simply going to ask him to consider letting you down.” 

Even though San expected this to be Seonghwa’s response to the whole thing, he’s still disappointed to hear it from his brother. “I thought you were on my side,” he spits out, half trying to guilt the alpha and half just wanting to express his anger. 

Seonghwa bites down on his tongue to hold back a snappy retort. “I am on your side,” he assures his brother. “It’s because I’m on your side that I’m trying to do this.” 

“You said—” 

“Don’t try to twist any of my words against me,” he barks out before San can even finish his thought. “I understand that you don’t want to mate the Captain, and I’m happy to see you mate someone that you actually like, but you must think about some of your choices, San. You’re not just an omega who can have what they want without any consequences. Anyone else could have been okay. Maybe Mom would have thrown a fit, but I’m sure she would have accepted it if you really liked him, but this alpha? Have you lost your mind? Did you even think about it?” 

San’s lips curl back into a snarl. “Why? Because he’s Unmarked? He shouldn’t even be!” the omega protests, stomping his foot into the ground. “If he were Marked he’d be the same as—” 

“It doesn’t matter,” Seonghwa cuts him off. “He should be Unmarked. Bar that, it’s not about his rank! It’s bad enough that you don’t want to mate with the Captain, no, that you go out of your way to antagonize him, but now you want to mate with this alpha? You know who he is!” 

“So?” San shrieks back. “If anything that should make it more acceptable!” 

Seonghwa scrubs his face with his hands, frustrated by his brother’s stubborn streak. “San, just think for a moment, would you? I know that you think you’re immune to everything because of our family, but don’t think for one second that if the General wanted to turn around and ruin us he could. You’ll surely make him angry by rejecting his son. You’ll definitely incite his wrath if you pursue this.” 

San is actually at a loss of words from that, and he finally backs down from his brother. He grapples with what Seonghwa is insinuating. “And what’s to stop us from doing the same?” he finally counters. “Why are we so afraid of what he can do to us when he’s the one with an illegitimate child?” 

Hongjoong’s eyes widen. He’d mostly relegated himself quietly listening to the brothers, knowing full well that it wasn’t really his place to talk. This, though, this he hadn’t been expecting. 

“Imagine what kind of scandal that would cause. He would be the one who’s ruined.” 

Seonghwa stares at his brother consideringly for a brief moment. His brother brings up a good point except for one glaring issue. “Who do you think the people would believe or side with in that case?” he challenges. “You’re talking about an Unmarked. Even if you told people the truth, do you think they’d side with you?” 

“Then what would you have me do?” San demands, fingers clenching into fists as he tries to control his frustration. 

“Don’t pursue this,” Seonghwa advises. “This isn’t wise.” 

“That’s not fair,” San protests. “I can’t have this because of politics?”

Seonghwa shrugs his shoulders and parts his lips to tell his brother that he’s sorry but that’s just how things are. He’s unable to get the words out because someone intrudes on them. San picks up his scent before he sees Yunho, and he swallows thickly when he turns to face the Unmarked alpha. A heavy weight sits in the pit of his stomach, and his mouth feels like it’s filled with ash. 

The alpha just stares at him before his gaze moves over to Seonghwa and Hongjoong, and his lips pull down into a frown. “You just keep bringing new people over,” he remarks. In his hand he’s holding a couple of rabbits he must have caught in his traps, and he has a basket strapped to his shoulders, filled with materials he likely gathered. 

“You must be Yunho,” Seonghwa remarks, eyes narrowing as he watches the Unmarked approach. Yunho stops beside San. He doesn’t touch the omega, perhaps sensing Seonghwa’s rising hostility, but the omega still finds it comforting. Yunho looks over the alpha in front of him, taking note of his Markings in particular. They look a lot like San’s when the omega applies his Marks just before he leaves, only his are red in color as opposed to San’s usual white. “I’m San’s brother,” he says. 

Yunho looks to San who confirms it with a slight nod of his head. Then the Unmarked turns back to Seonghwa. “What do you want?” he asks. 

Seonghwa trails his eyes down Yunho’s form, taking particular note of the necklace he’s wearing. “I was hoping we could talk,” he says, motioning to Yunho’s gate. 

Yunho’s expression sours at the suggestion that he should invite them inside, however, he begrudgingly complies. He puts away the items he had gone out to gather as Seonghwa makes himself comfortable in Yunho’s front room. San practically glues himself to his brother’s side, the two of them speaking in harsh whispers. Yunho can’t pick up on what they’re saying, and he doesn’t really care, but he snorts when he sees Hongjoong straining to listen in on their conversation while trying to appear like he’s giving them a respectful distance. 

“Seonghwa!” San screeches his brother’s name after what appeared to be a particularly heated debate between them. “Please, don’t.” 

“San, it’s time you start thinking for yourself. I already explained the problem. What do you not understand?” 

“I don’t understand why we can’t use that against them,” San argues. 

Yunho tilts his head as he considers San’s words. He doesn’t really know what they're talking about, but it definitely doesn’t seem to be in the same vein as Yunho would have figured. Completely out of his depth, Yunho figures perhaps it’s time to interrupt. They are discussing him after all. 

“What did you want to talk about?” he asks as he approaches the brothers. He holds up a small hand-made teacup his mother had made to Seonghwa who tentatively accepts the drink. 

“Well, you see,” Seonghwa pauses to glance over to his brother who gives him a meaningful look. Sighing, the alpha looks down at the tea in his cup and takes a small whiff of it. It’s not a brew that he’s familiar with, but it has a very nice scent to it. Deep and earthy. He takes a sip before he continues. “I suppose I don’t want to talk so much as I have a request for you,” he amends. 

“Seonghwa,” San hisses, “don’t say anything.” 

“I’d like to hear what he has to say,” Yunho says, smiling ruefully when San looks at him with wide, fearful eyes. He looks back at the Marked alpha. “So say it. What’s on your mind?” 

Seonghwa presses his lips into a thin line. “Don’t misunderstand me,” he says before he even voices his opinion. “You’re Unmarked, and while that should be the factor that primarily bothers me, it’s not. Understand that I am sympathetic to the circumstances surrounding the reason that you are Unmarked, but I would humbly ask that you reject my brother. He’s simple minded and does not fully understand the consequences of his actions. Therefore I would ask that you tell him to stop. He’s not a good mate for you, and you are not a good mate for him.” 

Yunho narrows his eyes at the alpha’s request and he kneels down in front of him. Folding his arms over his chest, Yunho regards the Marked alpha in front of him curiously. From what little he knows or can gather at least, this alpha is perhaps the highest ranked one in the village, and yet he is oddly respectful despite his suggestion that Yunho isn’t a good option for his brother. 

He holds his hand out to the alpha, showing off the ring of his finger. “I tried to tell your brother to leave me alone multiple times already,” he tells him. “It didn’t work. In fact, it had the opposite effect.” Seonghwa’s jawline tightens as he stares at the ring on the Unmarked alpha’s finger. “I want this. I want your brother.” He pulls his hand back and shrugs his shoulders, not really all that apologetic. 

Seonghwa purses his lips together, disappointed by Yunho’s response. “Do you know who you are?” 

Yunho regards the alpha warily. “What do you mean?” he asks. 

“You’re the General’s illegitimate son,” Seonghwa tells him. He doesn’t notice how Hongjoong perks up at his words,  “Right now the only person who most people find acceptable to be my brother’s mate is the Captain. Your half-brother.” Yunho’s eyes narrow, and he curls his hands into fists. “Surely you can understand what I’m implying,” Seonghwa pleads. “It would cause a riot if word gets out that San is pursuing the Captain’s unknown, Unmarked half-brother.”

“And is it my fault that that’s who I am?” Yunho scoffs in response. “I never even saw myself as anything other than my mother’s son until recently. What do I care who’s son I am?” 

Seonghwa’s nostrils flare in frustration. “No, I suppose you don’t have to worry about it, but San does. Or he should.” He glances at his brother with a tight expression. “Maybe this issue means nothing to you. It probably does mean nothing to you, and I understand. Trust me, I don’t necessarily think that your punishment is fitting of your crime, so to speak, but if you truly do like my brother you would do this for him.” 

Yunho stubbornly remains silent, but Seonghwa can tell that he’s thrown the alpha into conflict with himself. He presses on that advantage. “Or would you have him live this life with you?” he makes a large sweeping motion over the Unmarked alpha’s cabin. It does the trick because Yunho looks stricken by his remark, and he shrinks back as he scans his cabin. 

Of course it’s by no means luxurious. Yunho is often strapped for materials either due to not being able to gather it or not having the time, but he’s done his best with the upkeep. As much as he can to keep it functional. 

San steps in to his defense, “Seonghwa, would you shut it?” He bares his teeth at his brother who mirrors his expression. 

“Be realistic, San,” Seonghwa begs. “If you don’t want to mate with the Captain, I understand. And I will always be your advocate, but I can’t help you in this case. Neither Mom nor Dad would accept you rejecting the Captain to pursue Yunho, and I can’t advocate for you. Not with him.” 

Hongjoong bites back a scoff but can’t stop himself from muttering, “maybe you should listen to your own advice.” He jumps when both brothers turn their attention to him. 

“What?” Seonghwa asks. It’s clear it didn’t actually hear Hongjoong’s words, just heard him speak, and the omega sighs in relief. 

“Nothing,” he squeaks out, looking away from them. “I was just thinking out loud.” 

“About what?” 

Hongjoong laughs nervously, eyes briefly meeting Yunho’s over Seonghwa’s shoulder, and his blood runs cold at the alpha’s gaze. He heard. Yunho definitely heard what he said. “I was just thinking about—” he hesitates for a split second, “—how you could let him prove himself in The Chase.” 

Everyone goes quiet at his suggestion. San brightens up at the idea while Seonghwa seems troubled. Yunho’s expression is unreadable, though, maybe because he knows that’s not at all what Hongjoong actually said. 

“That’s a good idea!” San says in delight. 

“It’s terrible,” Seonghwa retorts. “He’s Unmarked. He’s not allowed to participate.” 

“Can’t you make an exception for him?” Hongjoong suggests. “You’re the next Head Alpha. You have authority over this, don’t you?” 

Seonghwa purses his lips in frustration. He hadn’t expected everyone to take this alpha’s side. “I could, but Father would just veto the motion. He won’t let an Unmarked participate.” 

“I think we could make this an exception,” San insists. “Think about it. They’re both the General’s son. There’s no better reason to let the Captain prove himself over his Unmarked half-brother, right?” He stumbles over the Captain’s name, clearly put off by the idea of proving himself but trying his best to appease his brother. Or at least practice his argument. 

“And why would they even bother allowing that to happen?” Seonghwa challenges. “They don’t have to entertain you or Yunho. If they wanted to, they could mate you off to the Captain.” 

San straightens himself up and squares his shoulders as he places his hands on his hips. “And if I go around declaring that Yunho is the only mate for me? I can quickly disseminate that kind of information throughout the whole village if I really want to,” he threatens. 

Seonghwa actually looks a little scared by his brother’s threat. “You wouldn’t,” he says nervously. 

“If that’s what it takes,” San shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly. 

Sighing, Seonghwa massages his temples with his fingers. Nothing about this is going the way he had hoped and planned for, and now he has this headache to deal with. A little annoyed, his eyes move over towards Hongjoong, petulantly blaming the omega for this mess, but Hongjoong has disappeared. Lifting his head up, Seonghwa looks around for the omega, but Hongjoong is nowhere to be found. 

Truthfully, Hongjoong hadn’t known what to make of Seonghwa when the alpha had begun this odd mating ritual of his. There wasn’t anything about his actions that were particularly odd, but his choice definitely counted as bizarre. The omega had been scared—scared to reject the alpha outright for fear of some kind of retribution—but he had also been incredibly confused. The first gift he figured was just a sign of gratitude. 

Seonghwa often came by to pester him about his brother, sometimes apologizing before he left. He thought maybe the first one had simply been a polite gesture to indicate his appreciation for Hongjoong’s patience with him. But then they kept coming, each more extravagant than the last, and Hongjoong thought he must have been interpreting this wrong. There was no way. 

His confusion only heightened from there. He didn’t want to jump to any conclusions for a number of reasons. For one, Hongjoong hadn’t been interested in Seonghwa. As silly and stupid as it was, his heart and affection had belonged to the Captain at the time. More than that, Hongjoong did not, under any circumstances, want to presume that these were courting gifts. Not when they were coming from Seonghwa—the future Head Alpha. 

It became harder for Hongjoong to deny the alpha’s motivation as time passed, however, although Hongjoong is ashamed to say that he didn’t have the courage to tell the alpha that he should stop. Hongjoong wasn’t interested in him, and he didn’t want the alpha to waste his time. He didn’t really want the alpha to waste anything on him. Hongjoong wasn’t an omega that was worth pursuing, especially for someone of his status. 

He would probably attribute that thought to his shock when he told Seonghwa as much, and Seonghwa had merely acknowledged that he was right, but that he wouldn’t stop. “I know,” he said, dipping his head low as he draped a new set of furs over the omega’s shoulders. He’d been careful to try and not overwhelm the omega with gifts. Given his current living condition, it wasn’t like Hongjoong could really afford to store too many furs, but Seonghwa had felt compelled to replace at least some of them when the omega had off-handedly remarked that none of the ones he had were courting gifts. 

“A friend and your brother gave me most of them,” he explained when Seonghwa had asked. The alpha had been a little alarmed when he’d seen the furs, worried that Hongjoong might have been in the process of courting someone, but the omega had laughed and waved him off. “There are no alphas who would be interested in me. They could do better.” It was meant as a joke, but Seonghwa hadn’t thought it particularly funny, and Hongjoong didn’t seem to love his own joke all that much either. 

This one was much thinner, though, made for the warmer months, and a type of fur Hongjoong was clearly lacking. It wasn’t necessary, but Seonghwa wanted him to have a set nevertheless. “I wonder why I like you so much,” he remarked. 

Hongjoong frowned but pulled the furs closer to himself. “Your parents would be horrified,” he remarked. 

Seonghwa ran his fingers down the furs he draped over Hongjoong’s shoulders. “Certainly they would protest,” he acknowledged, “but it’s not as if there is any rule saying that I can’t be your mate.” 

Hongjoong’s heart rate picked up at the alpha’s words, not only because it was the clearest Seonghwa had been about his intentions so far, but because it had given him hope. His affection for the alpha started that day and had only grown with the days since. Seonghwa was better than he could ever hope for. 

And maybe that’s the problem. 

Maybe Hongjoong had gotten a little too carried away with his hope. 

Seonghwa finds Hongjoong hiding from them in what he presumes to be a storeroom of some sort. The omega startles when Seonghwa opens the door to his little hideout, and he quickly averts his eyes from the alpha. Quietly, Seonghwa closes the door behind them.

“What was that about?” he asks when it becomes quickly obvious that Hongjoong isn’t about to say anything. 

The omega runs his fingers over a wooden crate in the room to keep his mind off of the alpha standing across from him. “What do you mean?” he asks. 

Seonghwa narrows his eyes. Normally he finds Hongjoong rather cute, but this kind of behavior is decidedly not cute in his opinion. “You taking Yunho’s side completely and suggesting he participate in The Chase to prove himself worthy of my brother.” 

“It was just a suggestion,” Hongjoong defends. “It’s not like I’m taking his side. Besides, I thought that was practically the point of The Chase. For alphas below their rank to prove themselves worthy of a better mate.” His teeth dig rather viciously into his bottom lip. “Anyways, your brother really likes him, you know. I get where you’re coming from. The politics and everything. It doesn’t look good if Yunho really is the Captain’s half-brother, but why can’t you support them?” He finally looks up to meet Seonghwa’s gaze. “Don’t you feel sorry for them?” 

“I do, but that doesn’t change the optics of the matter,” Seonghwa reminds him in a strained voice. Seonghwa takes a step towards him, alarmed by how visibly upset the omega is with him. “What’s wrong? I don’t understand.” 

“Is this really about his heritage? Or is it about him being Unmarked?” Hongjoong asks. 

Seonghwa stumbles over his answer. “I mean, both. Hongjoong—”  

“So what? We just have to accept the fact that Yunho loses this lot in life because of who he was born to?” the omega asks, tears welling up in his eyes. “He doesn’t get to be the General’s son. He has to live his life as an Unmarked and can’t even have a chance with your brother because his mother was the same rank as me?” His voice cracks at the end, and Seonghwa freezes. Is that what this is about? 

Hongjoong looks to be on the verge of tears as he stares at the alpha reproachfully and asks, “Is that what I have to look forward to?” 

Seonghwa’s words get caught in his throat, and he can only blink at the omega. “What do you mean?” he finally asks when all his other words fail him. 

The omega laughs, the sound humorless and hollow, and Seonghwa winces at the sound. “People talk, you know,” he tells the alpha. “The markets are filled with gossip. I’d never heard of her before, but I asked around after I found out from Yunho that his Mom was banished. I know she was the same rank as me.” He curls his fingers into fists, nails digging into the palms of his hands. “And what was her crime? That she had a relationship with a higher status alpha? People say that she was in the wrong for pursuing him so relentlessly, but to me it clearly must have been consensual. She bore his child!” 

“The circumstances surrounding Yunho’s birth were an exception,” Seonghwa says, but Hongjoong shakes his head, unwilling to listen to him. 

“Your family banished her for life. And her son along with her.” Hongjoong says harshly. “Because she was an omega trying to mate far outside her rank.” He looks down at the crates before him, suddenly regretting all the times he’d been stupid enough, hopeful enough to accept one of Seonghwa’s gifts. Maybe he should have thought things through more. “What would they do to me?” 

“Hongjoong—” Seonghwa tries to console him, but the omega only pulls back from the alpha when he approaches, eyes filled with suspicion. 

“Don’t,” the omega pleads as he shrinks back from the alpha. “Please, just don’t. Just stop. I won’t speak for your brother, but this is not the life I want. I’d rather be unmated but Marked than be Unmarked because I actually believed I could be your mate.” 

Seonghwa winces at Hongjoong’s words, but the omega refuses to feel bad about it, reminding himself that the alpha’s hurt feelings are nothing compared to the risk Hongjoong is facing. “I appreciate it,” he tells the alpha as if that might lessen the blow. “Thank you for everything. Thank you for liking me, but please leave me alone.” 

“Hongjoong,” Seonghwa says the omega’s name in a plea. He wants a chance to try and explain, to reassure the omega that it isn’t as hopeless as he thinks. Yunho and his mother were different. Hiding them from the village was the entire point of the punishment. Hongjoong might face disapproval, but Seonghwa never thought for one second that he would face the same risk. He could protect him. 

But Hongjoong doesn’t give him the opportunity, lips curling up into a rueful smile. “I’m not a good mate for you,” he says, and Seonghwa freezes as he stares at the omega. “So just...leave me be.” He pushes past the alpha, ducking out of the door. Seonghwa makes a noise of alarm and takes off after him. When he leaves the storage room to follow the omega, he’s stopped by a hand on his elbow. 

He turns to face his brother who shakes his head at him. “Leave him alone for now,” he advises his brother. Seonghwa presses his lips together in a thin line but appears to take his brother’s advice because he stays put. San smiles at his brother. “We both have problems, don’t we?” 

“I…” Seonghwa is at a loss for words, watching as Hongjoong crashes headlong into Yunho who peeks down at the omega curiously. Hongjoong only shoves the alpha away before ducking out of the front door. Yunho’s eyes travel to the brothers, meeting San’s gaze before he tips his head forward in acknowledgement. Then he follows after Hongjoong. “Talk to him for me?” he asks his brother, tearing his gaze away to look at San. 

His brother frowns at him. “And what could I tell him? That everything will be okay?” San sighs, linking his hands together behind his back. “Hongjoong is too fatalistic—not that I can really blame him. He’s a low-born omega, Seonghwa. You must know what it’s like for them.” 

“I can protect him,” Seonghwa argues. 

“Can you?” San challenges. “You’re not the Head Alpha yet, and you know Mom and Dad would be furious with your choice. Maybe even more so at you than me.” He laughs hollowly, tilting his head back against the wall. “At least they know I’m a troublemaker. They always thought of you as being the perfect son. Doesn’t that include mating with class?” 

Seonghwa narrows his eyes at the omega. “Are you saying Hongjoong has no class?” 

“I’m not saying anything about him,” San denies. “I’m reminding you what the Marks say about him. They’d banish him if they thought it would steer you away from him, and you know it.” 

“They wouldn’t do it for life, though! What happened to Yunho’s mother was—”

“Who cares!” San shrieks before his brother can finish. “Who cares if it’s for one week or for life? Do you think he does? Maybe he’s low-born, but at least he’s Marked. Not everyone can handle being out here whether it’s permanent or not. Why do you think we use it as a punishment?” 

“What would you have me do then?” Seonghwa grits out. He’s angry and frustrated, but he knows San is right. Seonghwa could protect Hongjoong but only in the future. 

San sucks in a deep breath, his trembling fingers betraying his own nerves. “We should help each other,” he suggests. 

“San, Yunho is not—”

“He’s the only one for me,” the omega says resolutely. “I know that he’s Unmarked, and I know what it means that he’s the General’s illegitimate son, but he’s a good person and a good alpha. If it’s not the same for you then leave Hongjoong alone and find a higher status omega to mate with.” When he looks over at his brother Seonghwa seems appalled by the notion, and the omega has to bite back a smile. They really were problematic. “Otherwise, let’s work together.” 

Seonghwa breathes in deep but is silent for a long moment. San patiently waits it out, eyes transfixed on the door where Yunho and Hongjoong disappeared from. He hates to admit it, but at this point he probably has to rely on his brother to be his ally if this will work for him and Yunho. “Okay,” Seonghwa finally agrees. 

San perks up, eyes moving back to his brother. 

Yunho pauses and hesitates when he sees Hongjoong crumpled next to his tanning racks, arms wrapped tight around his legs and his forehead pressed to his knees. San’s silent plea had been obvious to him, though, so Yunho picks up what little courage he has and approaches the omega. 

“Are you okay?” he asks as he approaches. 

Hongjoong startles at the question and lifts his head up to look at Yunho towering over his frame. The omega jumps to his feet, lips trembling like he’s about to answer before he suddenly turns his nose up at the alpha. Yunho scoffs although he’s more amused than anything really. 

“Are you really going to be like this?” Yunho asks. “You’re suddenly going to adhere to your village’s rules that you can’t talk to me? We’re not all that different, are we?” 

Hongjoong whirls around to face him, expression bewildered. “We are not the same,” he sputters like the very notion horrifies him. “I am Marked. You are not. We are not the same.” 

Yunho smiles at him. “No, we are not the same,” he agrees. “I’m not scared to be Unmarked, nor do I particularly want to wear your Marks.” 

Hongjoong bristles a little at that. “You should,” he tells the alpha. “Being Unmarked is the lowest of the low. You are nobody. Nobody wants you!” 

It’s not meant so much as a direct attack on Yunho than it is a fact about his position in society, and Yunho doesn’t take it to heart anyways. The alpha just places his hands on his hips, his smile staying put on his face. “San wants me,” he points out. 

Hongjoong flounders. “It’s not fair,” he says once he finally has a hold of himself again. “You are Unmarked, so you have nothing to lose.” 

“Are you that scared of losing your Marks?” 

The omega reaches up to prod at his face like he’s worried he won’t be able to feel his Marks there. “They’re the only thing I have,” he says, breathing out a sigh of relief when he can still feel them, however scarce they may be. “Omegas like me...we don’t have much else. I guess your mother is proof of that.” 

Yunho flinches at his words although he feels conflicted. He thinks he should probably be angered by the omega’s words, but Hongjoong hadn’t sounded like he was trying to be rude. He sounded resigned more than anything. “How do you mean?” he asks, wanting to know what Hongjoong meant by his words. 

The omega scoffs, lips pulling up into the briefest of smiles before his expression drops. “If I had known her, I probably would have scolded her for trying to mate someone so clearly outside of her caste.” His lips curl up in distaste because he knows that’s what he would have done even as he is doing the same thing. “Everyone probably knew it wouldn’t end well, even her. But still, I can’t help but admire her bravery. She must have really liked the General.” 

Yunho is quiet for a long moment, digesting the omega’s words. “I don’t know,” he finally says in response. “She never talked about him much to be honest.” 

“Never?” Hongjoong asks. 

Yunho takes a deep breath as he recalls the few times she would ever talk about his father. She would never bring him up on her own, and most of the times he asked about it she often brushed it off. She never sounded as if she didn’t love the man, though, just that talking about him was painful. “Even knowing what I know now I can’t say I ever got the sense that she hated him for what he did to us, but I don’t know that she loved him either.” 

Hongjoong looks down at his feet, lips trembling as he seems torn between trying to smile and trying to frown. “There aren’t many prospects for omegas like us. Especially when it comes to a mate,” he tells Yunho. 

“Are there not low ranking alphas?” 

“There are, but even they won’t settle down with us,” Hongjoong says. “They have a chance for a better mate if they participate in The Chase. Why wouldn’t they take it? No, omegas like me, we have nothing but our Marks, and if that’s the only thing I can have I’ll do everything to keep it.”

Yunho tilts his head to the side, observing the distressed omega for a moment. It doesn’t seem right. Something feels off about this. What has Hongjoong so upset exactly? “San’s brother,” he finally concludes because, well, Hongjoong had been fleeing from him. “He likes you. Is that not quite literally the best you can do in terms of a mate?” 

“Your mother was banished for liking someone who ranked beneath him! What hope do I have?” Hongjoong bites out, a note of hysteria in his tone. “His family would never accept me. They’d never accept you either!” 

“Unless I proved myself,” Yunho adds. 

Hongjoong laughs, unsure if he wants to cry or scream at the alpha. How dense is he? Is he really that far gone for San? Is San really worth it? “I wasn’t even serious about that,” he says. “You’d never get the chance to prove yourself in a Chase. They’d never allow it. You’re Unmarked!” 

“But I could prove myself in it, couldn’t I?” Yunho challenges. 

Hongjoong swallows down the bile that rises in his throat and sneers at the alpha. “It must be nice being an alpha. Having a chance to prove your worth and mate beyond what you should be able to.” 

Despite his harsh words, Yunho appears unphased like all of the omega’s insults and complaints just roll off him. “Well, why can’t you?” 

Hongjoong’s expression blanks, all his mean words suddenly falling short as he stares at the alpha. “What?” he asks dumbly. 

“The Chase is to prove yourself, isn’t it? So chase down Seonghwa.” He makes a vague motion to the cabin behind him. “Between you and me, neither brother seems like they’d be very hard to catch.” 

Hongjoong stares at the alpha, certain that he must have lost it in his desperation for San. “That’s not—omegas can’t Chase. It’s against the rules.” 

Yunho doesn’t even miss a beat. “Then let Seonghwa chase you.” 

Hongjoong stutters, shying away from the alpha. “That’s not—That isn’t how any of this works.” 

“Why?” Yunho presses. “Is there a rule that says alphas can only chase omegas of a higher status than them?” 

“Well—” Hongjoong pauses as he thinks about it. Is there a rule? Hongjoong isn’t actually sure. That’s just how everyone plays the game. “What does that even matter? Even if it’s not a rule that’s how everyone plays.” 

“What if someone wanted to play it a different way?” Yunho suggests. 

“He wouldn’t do that,” Hongjoong denies, unwilling to even entertain the thought. “Seonghwa has his reputation to think about and his future as our Head Alpha. It’s the same with San, you know. Seonghwa is right. You aren’t a good choice for him mate wise. You should let him go.” 

Yunho’s shoulders tremble as he struggles to contain his growing rage. “Why should I?” he spits out. “Why should I respect what’s best for the village? What have they ever done for me? What have they ever done for you?” Hongjoong’s breath hitches at the challenge as Yunho sneers at him. “They let you wear those Marks? Is that all they’ve done for you? They let you wear those Marks that torture you so much.” 

“So what?” Hongjoong shrieks back at him. “I’d rather have that than be Unmarked! What would you have me do?” 

Yunho rolls his shoulders back and stares down at the omega before him. “Run with me,” he suggests. 

“What?” 

“Run with me in The Chase. Take what you want. You don’t owe them anything.” 

Hongjoong stares at him for a brief moment before he bursts into laughter. It’s a real, genuine laugh that has the alpha relaxing. “You’re so insane,” he remarks. 

“So what do you say?” Yunho asks. “Will you run with me?” 

Hongjoong’s gaze strays beyond the alpha’s shoulders to his cabin where the door opens. San steps out first, followed shortly by his brother. Truthfully, Hongjoong doesn’t think there’s anything to be gained by taking Yunho up on his suggestion. He’d just be embarrassing himself. Nevertheless, he admires the alpha for his own resolve. “If they let you run, I’ll think about running with you.” 

Yunho nods his head, accepting the omega’s answer. “Think about it,” he advises. “Maybe you’ll be surprised by what you get out of it.” 

Seonghwa presses his tongue to the back of his teeth as he considers his brother for a moment. San waits for him with an expectant expression on his face, toe tapping impatiently against the floor. “This is risky,” the alpha finally says. 

“I know,” San acknowledges. “I knew that I was taking a risk when I decided on Yunho.” 

Seonghwa sighs, a little frustrated with his brother. “Why him and not the Captain?” he laments. He doesn’t necessarily ask because he’s curious, but San chooses to answer him anyways. 

“Captain doesn’t respect me,” San pulls a face. “Yunho does.” He clears his throat when Seonghwa glares at him. “Anyways, he’s definitely better mate material. Maybe he doesn’t have access to the same items as us, but look at his ability to thrive in the outlands on his own. It’s more than the Captain would know how to do.” 

“You don’t have to defend yourself to me,” Seonghwa reminds his brother. “I understand Yunho is more than a capable alpha. It is Mom and Dad you’ll have to convince.” 

San purses his lips together in a thin line. “I know, but nothing I ever say will convince them. That’s why I think we should resort to this.” 

Seonghwa’s eyebrows knit together in concern. From an unbiased standpoint, San is right. The only way for him to get their parents to take this seriously is to play a little dirty and get the village on his side, but therein lies the problem in his plan—the part that Seonghwa can’t predict. “How do you know people will take your side? Most of them expect you to mate with the Captain.” 

“Just because they expect it doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily approve,” San challenges. “Besides, Yunho would be like an underdog in this scenario. He would be a tempting choice to root for.”

“He’s Unmarked, though. He’d be an equally easy target to dislike,” Seonghwa challenges. San frowns, considering his brother’s words. This isn’t an exercise so much in Seonghwa trying to dissuade his brother, but to keep him on his toes, refine his argument, convince people to take his side. 

“His mother would be a sympathetic figure,” San finally says. “Most people have forgotten or never even heard of her because of Mom and Dad. Revealing his entire history would make him more sympathetic.” 

“And for the people who would criticize his mother for overstepping her bounds?” Seonghwa presses. 

“Yunho had no control over that,” San answers easily. “He was at the mercy of his parents, and regardless of what people might think of his mother, they all know his father. The man who chose to abandon his son to a life in the outlands to protect his reputation.” San narrows his eyes and leans in towards his brother, “Surely that is something worth getting angry about.” 

Seonghwa folds his arms over his chest. “Most people would have quite a few things to say about that,” he agrees. 

San’s eyes flash with glee as a narrative already begins to unfold in his head. “What more could the common folk like to rally around?” he asks. “An outcast son who could regain his rightful position in the village because he caught the attention of the Head Alpha’s son?” 

Seonghwa holds in a laugh. It’s amusing the way his brother’s eyes twinkle like he already has this grand idea of how their story will be told through the ages. “It’s certainly enticing,” he acknowledges, “but not everyone will like it. There will be those that think he should stay where he is, or that, perhaps, he has done something to you to gain your favor.” 

“But if enough people like the story and talk about it?” 

Seonghwa nods his head. “It would be near impossible for Father to ignore. But that is a big if.” 

“I want to mate an Unmarked. I’m going to have to take risks,” San points out. 

The alpha bites down on his bottom lip although he has to agree with his brother’s words. He still doesn’t really know how he feels about this situation. The logical part of him dictates that San is making a mistake. Yunho isn’t worth this risk. Another part of him—the part that loves his brother and that’s equally dumb enough to desire Hongjoong—wishes this might work for his brother. It’s a small chance, but it’s a chance. 

“So, how exactly do you plan to spread this information?” he questions. 

San snaps his fingers and points to his brother. “I have a plan that doubles as a way to help you,” he assures his brother. Seonghwa cocks an eyebrow at his brother’s bold statement. His next instinct is to ask what San plans on doing, but he knows his brother better than that. San likes his secrets. 

When San barges his way into Hongjoong’s home one morning—the same way he just always does—Hongjoong is shocked to put it mildly. He’s also a little annoyed. He doesn’t really want to see San or anyone from his rank really. For the past couple of days, he’d been considering Yunho’s suggestion, rolling the proposition around in his head before he ultimately concluded that there was no way in hell Yunho would ever be allowed to run in The Chase, so there’s nothing to think about. 

He already resigned himself to swallow his desires and accept his place in the village. San is just a reminder of what he can’t have, and the bitter taste of hatred sits on the back of his tongue. It doesn’t help that he brings Wooyoung with him, an omega he is both unfamiliar with but who also far outranks him. An omega who would easily be considered a good match for Seonghwa. 

“What are you doing?” he asks, voice raised in alarm. He watches as San makes himself at home like Hongjoong’s living conditions aren’t completely incompatible with his. He beckons Wooyoung, who is much more hesitant, to join him, but the omega follows suit. 

“I’m here to ask a favor of you,” San tells him, waving Hongjoong over when the elder stays put near his door. “I also have something to give you in exchange.” 

Hongjoong curls his fingers into fists. He’s kind of sick of San’s deals. “I have what I need for this winter,” he says. It’s a lie. He’s definitely more prepared than ever for winter, but it’s not as if his food supply could be preserved indefinitely. “And I don’t have time to help you with whatever you want.” 

San looks over at him and waves him over again because Hongjoong hasn’t moved. “I think you have plenty of time to fulfill my request, and I’m not offering you something concrete,” he corrects the omega. “Just hear me out?” he pleads. 

Holding in a frustrated sigh, Hongjoong drags his feet over to the two omegas and slowly sinks to the ground before them. He folds his hands up neatly in his lap and lowers his head down. For all intents and purposes, he has no right to turn down San anyways. 

“Rule number one!” Wooyoung suddenly bursts out, reaching out to smack Hongjoong on his hands. It’s not painful, but it scares the omega who snaps his gaze up with wide eyes. Wooyoung only grins at him in return. “You should fold your hands like so.” He demonstrates by placing his right hand over his left, fingers relaxed as opposed to Hongjoong’s which are digging into his clothes. “Also, while you shouldn’t make eye contact with the Head Alpha or Head Omega, you don’t want to look like you’re trying to break your neck. You should look like this.” Once again Wooyoung demonstrates. His eyes are downcast, but he holds his head high. 

Hongjoong sputters. “Huh? The Head Alpha?” It’s about the only word he could cling to. “What are you talking about?” 

“I’m giving you advice on how to hold yourself in the presence of the Head Alpha,” Wooyoung tells him. 

“Oh? Are you?” Hongjoong’s eyes slowly move to San, and he tilts his head to the side in confusion. 

San grins at him. “The Marks you wear are certainly unfavorable, and, given nothing else, that is certainly all they will focus on. However, if you carry yourself like someone they would approve of like Wooyoung,” he nods his head towards his friend, “you’ll at least gain their attention. It might even be enough for them to look past your Marks.” 

For a long time Hongjoong is quiet, frozen in place as he slowly digests and processes San’s words. Then he finally scoffs in response. “Nothing would ever make them look past the Marks,” he says. 

San takes in a breath, puffing his chest out as he stares at the older omega. “Any attention you can get from them, whether good or bad, could work in your favor,” he argues. “All you have to be is memorable. Seonghwa can take care of the rest.” 

“That’s assuming I’m ready to take the risk and make a fool of myself in front of your parents,” Hongjoong hisses. 

“Aren’t you?” San challenges. “My brother is willing to stand behind you. Is that not enough?” 

Hongjoong sits back on his heels, temporarily subdued by San’s words. “You don’t get it,” he says once he’s able to gather his thoughts. “You think the risk is so great to you because of your position, but what about the risk to me? I’d risk becoming Unmarked.” 

“I’m not denying the risk to yourself,” San corrects him. “I’m asking you to trust my brother to protect you from that. He can do it, but only if you meet him halfway. If you can’t be of a higher status, you have to at least act like you are.” 

Hongjoong swallows thickly. “I’d look like I’d be trying to go beyond my means.” 

“What’s wrong with that?” San asks. “I mean, you are. Embrace it. Show my parents that you are worthy. Make them forget, if only for a second, what Marks you bear.” 

Hongjoong meets his gaze. He’s still suspicious, but San can see that his resolve is shaking, and he’s pleased with Hongjoong’s response. He likes the omega, but, truthfully, he’d been a little worried about his brother’s desire to mate him not because he didn’t think Hongjoong was a bad mate because of his status but because he didn’t think Hongjoong was all that interested in being Seonghwa’s mate. 

“I believe that your brother is a good person,” he finally says. “But you are asking too much of me. I’m not a good choice of mate for your brother, and I don’t want to end up like Yunho. There must be better options for him.” His eyes briefly move over to Wooyoung before he averts his gaze. 

“That was different,” San denies. “She didn’t have support. Perhaps the General fancied her—I can’t say—but she never received any kind of support for a bid at being his mate. You have Seonghwa’s. And mine, if you would have it.” San scoots a little closer to him. “If you let us help you it would only serve to help you. I promise.” 

Hongjoong bites down on the inside of his cheek, thinking over San’s offer. “And in exchange?” he asks curiously, remembering that San still wanted something. He doesn’t know what else he could possibly do for San, but he has an inkling that whatever it is has something to do with Yunho. 

San brightens up, clearly pleased with Hongjoong. “I need you to start spreading rumors and information about Yunho,” he says with all seriousness. 

Hongjoong notices the way Wooyoung’s brows furrow together in confusion, and he takes a deep breath and considers San’s request. “Why me?” he asks. “You are the Head Alphas son, surely your word would mean more than mine.”

San nods his head in acknowledgement and folds his arms over his chest. “I have an implicit bias though. If I speak out on behalf of Yunho, the Captain and his family will merely respond in kind to discredit me and him. If it comes about organically, however, from ordinary people, it will be more believable. Besides, his mother was low ranking. He might find more sympathy among those in your caste rather than those in mine.”

“They might not like him still,” Hongjoong warns him. “Even if his mother was from a lower caste that won’t mean they accept him.” 

“I don’t need them to take my side,” he declares boldly despite clearly hesitating a second before. “I just need them to know who he is. I need them to acknowledge that he exists and that he is who we say he is. We have the truth on our side. I’m not worried about the rest.” He thought about it and decided that, while the support would certainly be helpful, it didn’t actually matter. The goal was simply to force him into the conversation so his parents wouldn’t just be able to brush him off when Seonghwa recommended him to participate in The Chase. 

Support didn’t matter now, although it would definitely mean something in the future. 

“I have a question,” Wooyoung interrupts, even raising his hand to draw attention to himself. San looks over to him, a barely restrained smile on his face. “Who the hell is Yunho?” 

“Uhhh,” Hongjoong looks to San for guidance. 

“You can practice with him,” the blond merely suggests. 

Frowning, Hongjoong looks at Wooyoung who stares at him, expression one of barely restrained curiosity. “He’s, well, um.” What the hell is he supposed to say exactly? “He’s an Unmarked alpha,” he says because it’s true. Wooyoung holds in a snort as San slaps a hand over his face, clearly disappointed in Hongjoong’s response. “What?” Hongjoong snaps defensively. “You said we have the truth on our side. That’s the truth!” 

“Why are you spreading rumors about an Unmarked alpha?” He asks, clearly trying to hold back his laughter. He thinks it’s a joke. 

Hongjoong thinks about how he’s going to spread information about Yunho. The alpha is actually quite a sympathetic figure in his opinion. Even if people don’t like his mother for some reason or another, he thinks at least Yunho deserves some sympathy. He didn’t choose who his parents were after all. 

“Over twenty years ago there was a woman who was banished to the outlands. Have you heard of her?”he asks. 

Wooyoung hesitates before nodding his head. “Hasn’t everyone?” he asks. 

“Do you know why she was banished?” 

Wooyoung pauses and blinks, clearly stumped by the question. He crosses his arms over his chest as he thinks about it. No specific reason comes to mind, but it can’t be that hard to guess, right? “Well, because she clearly did something wrong, right?” He looks to San for advice, but the blond shrugs his shoulders unhelpfully. “I mean, she must have broken some serious law, right?” 

Hongjoong licks his lips. Now is the part where things become unclear. No one knows the nature of their relationship except for the General himself. Yunho couldn’t even shed some insight into their relationship, but how he chooses to present this could make all the difference. 

He peeks up at San as if looking for guidance, but the blond omega only stares at him. Clearly this is on Hongjoong. How he chooses to tell the story is entirely up to him. “She was betrayed,” he finally says because in his heart he thinks it must be true. “She was tricked by the General. He fancied her, thought she was a cute omega, but he never intended to mate her obviously.”

Wooyoung narrows his eyes at Hongjoong’s words. “Well why would he? I heard she was low born.” He hesitates when he notices the Marks on Hongjoong’s face. “No offense,” he stutters out. 

“It’s fair,” Hongjoong agrees. “The status difference between them was so great. No one would ever expect him to choose her, especially because he already had a mate and a son on top of that. She was just an omega on the side when he wanted fun, right?” Wooyoung lowers his gaze in guilt. “But then she got pregnant with his child.” The omega lifts his eyes back up to stare at Hongjoong in shock. “That child would have taken the same rank as him even though she was low rank. What would have happened then?” 

“That—but he had a kid already,” Wooyoung stutters out, eyes widening in realization. “Are you saying this Unmarked alpha is his son?!” 

Hongjoong nods his head. “Yes. Punished to be an Unmarked since he was born because his Father wouldn’t acknowledge him.” Wooyoung’s lips part in shock. 

“You’re joking,” he says, practically begging for it to be true. 

“I’m telling you the truth,” Hongjoong says. “She was banished to the outlands while pregnant to give birth to her son who would carry on her punishment so that the General could maintain his reputation. Would you say that’s fair or unfair?”

Wooyoung balks when Hongjoong addresses him, shying away from him. “What? No! I mean—” He bites down on his bottom lip. “I didn’t know she was with child,” he defends. “Is it true, though? This Unmarked alpha, is he really the General’s son?” he asks while looking to San for confirmation.

“He is,” Hongjoong insists.

“He’s also my future mate,” San declares, clearing his throat when Wooyoung audibly chokes. “Hopefully, at least.” 

“What?” 

“Yunho would prove himself during The Chase,” Hongjoong quickly amends, drawing Wooyoung’s attention back to him. “I know he is Unmarked, but he is still the General’s son. Should he not have the chance?” 

Wooyoung stares at him before his eyes inevitably trail back to San. “Are you serious?” he asks. “Is this serious?” 

“Very much so,” San confirms grimly. 

“San!” 

“I want him as my mate,” he says so sharply that Wooyoung quickly falls silent again.  

Wooyoung stares at his friend for a brief moment before he releases a long-suffering sigh. “Your parents will never approve, not if he’s Unmarked. I mean, Seonghwa already wants to go against the grain,” he peeks over at Hongjoong. 

“I know, but I also don’t really understand what these Marks even mean anymore.” 

Wooyoung sputters at his words. “What do you mean?” he asks. “They’re...everything. They’re proof of your rank!” 

“They’re limiting!” San complains. “Because of these Marks the only thing people expect of me is to settle down with the Captain and have his pups, but he’s not a good mate. He might be high ranking, but he’s not the kind of alpha I would like to mate with.” He turns to look at Hongjoong, lips pressed into a thin line. “Wouldn’t you agree?” he asks. 

Hongjoong averts his eyes to the ceiling. “He is an alpha from good stock,” he argues. “One of the few who can match your rank.” From the corner of his eyes he sees the way Wooyoung nods his head along to his words, and bile rises in the back of his throat. “But he’s rude and disrespectful. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to mate with him.” 

“I mean, I understand that,” Wooyoung defends himself when San turns to him with a smug little smile. “You know me! I’ve always been on your side when it comes to the Captain, but you’re jumping from him to an Unmarked alpha. How are you supposed to mate him unless you move to the outlands with him?” 

San straightens up. “First by convincing people that he deserves a chance to participate in The Chase. Then, once he’s caught me, by convincing people that he has a birthright claim to a higher status than just an Unmarked.” 

For a solid minute after he presents his argument, only silence reigns. Hongjoong presses his hands against his thighs while Wooyoung blinks at his friend. “That’s your plan?” Wooyoung finally blurts out. 

San looks offended. “Yeah, that’s my plan. What’s wrong with it?” 

“How are you going to garner support for an Unmarked alpha?” Wooyoung yells at him. “I get it. Captain sucks. He’s an ass that treats you like you’re his mate already, but people generally like him. Not only are you planning to come out and say that you don’t want to mate him, you’re going to tell people that instead you’re going to mate his unknown, what, half-brother? Who, oh by the way, is Unmarked? People will riot!” 

“My relationship cannot be that important,” San scoffs. 

“You’re the Head Alpha’s son,” Hongjoong reminds him. “Of course it’s important. Why do you think I assumed you would mate with the Captain up until this point? Why do you think I—” he cuts himself off for a moment, struggling to find the right words. “People wouldn’t approve of me either,” he finally settles on. 

“He’s the General’s son,” San argues. 

“So is the Captain,” Hongjoong counters. 

“Plus he’s Unmarked,” Wooyoung adds. 

The blond sighs, annoyed by the other two omegas dog piling on him like this. “You heard Hongjoong’s story, didn’t you?” he asks his friend. “Do you think he should be Unmarked?” 

“Well—no,” Wooyoung hesitates. “I just don’t see how this is going to work for you.” 

A pleased smile spreads across San’s lips. “See? You acknowledge that he shouldn’t be Unmarked. That’s a start for me.” 

Wooyoung cocks his head to the side and asks, “How?” 

“We spread Yunho’s story,” he says. “We tell as many people as we can. We tell everyone we can. Even if people disapprove at first, if they at least acknowledge that he shouldn’t be Unmarked, that's progress.” 

Wooyoung frowns but seems to consider San’s argument because he notes, “That is one hell of a bet.” 

“It’s a bet I’m willing to take,” San says before turning his attention back to Hongjoong. “How you told it was perfect, I think. Start telling everyone you know and in exchange,” he looks at Wooyoung pointedly. 

“Oh right.” Wooyoung pulls forward the bag they brought with them. “We have clothes,” he announces. “Something nicer for you to wear.” 

Hongjoong startles at the announcement, watching as Wooyoung pulls out a set of clothes for him. He holds his breath as he eyes the material that Wooyoung lays across his lap. It’s nice. Much nicer than anything Hongjoong is used to, so he can’t help but feel uncomfortable when he offers it up to the older omega. “I…” he tries to refuse the garments, but Wooyoung insists. 

“Learning how to act like a higher status omega includes changing how you look,” San tells him with a grin. “Don’t worry. We’ll trick my parents yet. Just don’t forget your part of the deal.”

Hongjoong hugs the new clothes close to his chest, practically shaking when he feels just how nice the material is in comparison to his rough and worn clothing. He nods his head obediently to San’s demands. “I’ll do my best,” he promises the blond. 

Yunho figures San must have been up to something after Seonghwa’s surprise visit to his cabin. It certainly sounded like the brothers’ needed to come up with some kind of plan for figuring out the whole issue surrounding him, so Yunho kind of suspected San must have been up to something. He only confirms it about two weeks before The Chase when Jongho barrels through the front door of his cabin, panting as if he had sprinted the whole way up the hill. 

“Yunho!” he calls for the alpha. “Is it true? I’ve heard the most insane rumor.” He freezes when he actually stops long enough to notice the blond omega comfortably nestled in some furs on the floor of the main room. 

Yunho looks up from where he’s kneeled before his fireplace before his gaze travels to San. The accusation is clear in his expression although the blond does his best to look innocent. “Is what true?” he asks, picking himself up to approach Jongho. 

The young alpha stutters, eyes moving back and forth between the two of them. “Oh, my God. It is true,” he says, lips parted in awe. 

Yunho cocks an eyebrow at him and asks, “What’s true?” 

“The rumors circulating in the village!” Jongho exclaims as if Yunho is supposed to know what those are. “They say that you’re vying to be San’s mate. That you want to prove yourself by participating in The Chase,” he explains in a small voice, biting into his lip as he eyes the omega sitting on the floor. It doesn’t help that San just gives him a lopsided grin. 

“Isn’t that the point of The Chase?” Yunho asks. 

Jongho hesitates, “Well, yes, but normally someone of your status wouldn’t be allowed to participate. I don’t even know if they’re going to let you join.” He licks his lips and peers up at the Unmarked alpha like he’s seeing him for the first time. “But...they’re also saying you’re not just any Unmarked alpha.” 

“Oh?” Yunho folds his arms over his chest. “I’ve never considered myself anything else.” 

“They say that you’re also the General’s son,” he blurts out. Yunho blinks at him before he turns his head to stare at the omega sitting on his floor. San only shrugs his shoulders and looks away, refusing to contribute any further knowledge. “Is it true?” Jongho asks anxiously. “Are you really his son? Is the Captain really your brother?” 

“I don’t know,” Yunho tells him. “That’s what I’ve been told, but I don’t care if he is my father or not.”

“It is true, for the record,” San adds in because he’s not about to allow Yunho of all people to potentially muddy the narrative he’s worked so hard to build. “What you’ve heard is true.” 

Jongho covers his mouth with his hand, staring at Yunho with wide eyes. “Holy shit. It’s true? You should really be the same rank as the Captain? You’re really—” he glances to San with a fearful expression. “You’re really going to throw your bid in to be his mate?” he asks in a hushed voice. 

Yunho shifts his weight to one leg, head tilted to the side as he considers Jongho’s question. To be completely honest, he doesn’t quite understand what the young alpha is asking, so he answers the best and only way he can. “I’m going to catch him in The Chase,” he announces. “Is that the same thing?” 

Jongho’s gaze slides back over to San who seems pleased by Yunho’s response. “I can’t believe this,” he remarks, pressing his fists against his cheeks as he turns his stare back to Yunho. “I heard the General is scrambling, but everyone says the Captain seems unphased. He doesn’t think you’re a threat.” 

“Hah,” San snorts, crawling closer to the fireplace. “He couldn’t catch me last time. He’d be a fool to think he could do it this time.” He motions to the fireplace when Yunho turns to look at him and whines, “Yunho, I’m cold.” 

The alpha rolls his eyes but returns to the fireplace to finish what he’d started before Jongho interrupted them. It’s not even that chilly out yet and San is bundled up in some of Yunho’s best furs, yet he still complains about the cold. 

“But will Yunho be able to?” Jongho asks nervously. “I mean, he’s the best hunter I know, but he still has to compete against the Captain who’s no slouch either. Plus, he’ll no doubt receive help.” 

“Yunho better be able to catch me if he really wants to be my mate,” San glowers at the Unmarked alpha’s back although there’s little bite to his words. He has confidence and faith in the alpha. 

Once Yunho has the kindling going, he turns to face San, crowding the omega into his furs. “I should be asking whether or not you can actually hide from me,” he says, biting back a smile at the way San perks up in interest. “You don’t strike me as being particularly difficult to hunt.” 

The omega sputters, a little insulted but also pleasantly thrilled by his declaration. “How would you know? You’ve never tried to Chase an omega let alone me.” 

Yunho doesn’t nearly mirror the gleeful expression on the omega’s face, but San notes with satisfaction how the corners of the alpha’s lips just barely turn up. 

“Will he even be able to run though?” Jongho interrupts, oblivious to the chemistry brewing between them. San sighs when Yunho pulls away from him first, holding in his pout. In all fairness, Yunho is just as oblivious, but the moment might have at least held if not for Jongho inserting himself back into the conversation. 

“He’ll run,” San assures them. “My brother will make sure of it.” 

Jongho peers up to Yunho who only nods his head which leaves the young alpha unconvinced. He doesn’t know how he feels about the idea of Yunho participating in The Chase. He would say that excitement is the overwhelming emotions flooding through him. Nevertheless he can’t deny that he’s also apprehensive and worried about Yunho participating. 

Would he even be allowed to? Even if he did, and he managed to catch San then what? Would people even accept it? Would San’s parents accept it? 

“What about you?” Yunho asks, disrupting his thoughts. “Are you going to participate too?” he clarifies when he sees the lost expression on Jongho’s face. 

“Me? Oh, I’m—” he hesitates, rubbing at his nose. “I don’t know.” He hadn’t given it much thought until he caught wind of the rumors surrounding Yunho. 

“I thought you always do it,” Yunho points out. 

“Well—” Jongho is at a loss of words. Yeah, he knows that he usually participates. He kind of figured he would just do it the same as always, but he’d been giving it a second thought recently. 

“Wooyoung is going to run this year,” San supplies casually. Jongho looks over Yunho’s shoulder to the omega, audibly gulping before he quickly looks away. 

“I know,” he acknowledges in a small voice before clearing his throat. “Anyways, I’m way more interested if you’ll be allowed to run,” he tells Yunho. “If they let you run, I’ll do it with you,” he offers. “For support.”

San tries to hold back a snort but nearly chokes in the process. “For support?” he repeats. 

Jongho looks at him again and nods his head. “Yeah, for support.” 

“But I thought—” he cuts himself off when Yunho raises a hand up to quiet the omega. 

“Let him be,” he says. “He can do what he wants, and I’ll gladly accept your support.” 

Jongho grins, pleased that Yunho’s willing to take him up on his offer. Unmarked or not, he’s come to respect the alpha, particularly for his mentorship during Jongho’s years of exile. “I don’t know how many people will support you against the Captain, but I’m on your side at least,” he tells Yunho before abruptly faltering. “I mean, assuming that San wants you as his mate too. You’re not, like, forcing this, right?” he asks the Unmarked alpha nervously. 

San practically bolts from his spot on the floor, unnecessarily furious at the alpha’s assumption. It’s not because he’s implying that Yunho is forcing himself on San. No, it’s because, “I’ll have you know that I have been the one pursuing him.” He jabs a finger in Yunho’s direction, immensely satisfied when Jongho sputters in disbelief. “Don’t get it confused. I’m the one doing everything. He just has to prove himself.” 

“Really?” Jongho asks in awe. “You wanted to mate an Unmarked alpha?” 

San pauses, a little caught off guard by the question. “Well, no. I wanted to mate Yunho, and he just is an Unmarked alpha. That’s all.” 

Jongho still seems fascinated by his answer, though, staring at San like he’s telling him the greatest story. “It’s like a fairy tale,” he remarks, turning his adoring gaze to Yunho. San shakes his head at his remark, settling back down on the floor and carefully rearranging the furs over himself again. The alphas continue to chat with each other, but San focuses on the warmth of the fireplace instead. 

He doesn’t really need to listen to them anymore to be honest. The very fact that Jongho came here to try and confirm the rumors is proof enough that Hongjoong has done his part. The Chase is only two weeks out now. San should probably check in with his brother. 

Yunho can honestly and confidently say that he’s never thought much of his status as an Unmarked. Despite growing up knowing that he was different—that he’d been exiled—he refused to think anything less of himself. The Marks meant nothing to him, and he stubbornly clung to that mindset. Part of it was true at any rate. It’s not as if those Marks had much meaning in his life beyond the fact that he was scorned for not having them, but that hadn’t stopped the feelings of jealousy or victimization he felt as a child when he learned that he could never be a part of the village. 

He came to terms with those feelings a while ago though. Now, however, looking round at all the people gathered for The Chase, the old insecurities rear their ugly head again. Still, he thinks he does an admirable job of keeping his front intact, holding his head up in spite of the stares and sneers sent his way. 

It helps that Jongho follows behind him—a silent but present sense of acceptance. The Unmarked alpha scans the field that everyone has gathered at for a familiar face, immediately making his way over to a small group of omegas when he spies San and Hongjoong. 

“Wait,” Jongho tries to pull him back when he sees where Yunho is heading. He pauses to look back at the younger alpha. “You shouldn’t,” Jongho advises him. “It’s already considered a bit rude to approach an omega during this time but especially because it’s San, well…” 

Yunho hums, considering Jongho’s advice for a brief moment before he heads for the omegas anyways. He waves off Jongho’s protests by simply saying, “I want to talk to Hongjoong. Something tells me no one will care about that.” 

Jongho presses his lips into a thin line but doesn’t refute Yunho’s statement. He’s almost frightening how quickly he picks up on this type of thing. “I’ll wait for you here,” he calls to the Unmarked alpha as he stays put in his spot.

When he approaches them Wooyoung is the first to notice him, and he visibly startles when an alpha approaches them. “What are you doing?” he hisses at the Unmarked alpha when he finally stops beside Hongjoong. San and Hongjoong both look to him after Wooyoung speaks. “You shouldn’t mingle with omegas before The Chase,” Wooyoung scolds him. 

“I just came to check on Hongjoong,” Yunho defends, glancing down to meet the omega’s gaze. Hongjoong flushes, turning his gaze down to his lap. 

San appears visibly disappointed by his response although his eyes narrow in on the satchel Yunho carries. “What’s in there?” he asks, reaching out to prod at the bag only for Wooyoung to grab him by the wrist. 

Yunho twists himself to look down at the satchel, lips curling up into a small smile. “Jongho told me it wasn’t uncommon to have a gift prepared. So,” he pats the bag at his hip, “I came prepared.” San perks up, eyes shining bright with curiosity as he eyes the bag.  

“That’s rather bold of you,” Wooyoung mutters, tugging San back again when he tries to reach for the bag. 

“I’m an Unmarked participating in your Chase,” Yunho reminds him. 

Wooyoung hums, whether in approval or disapproval Yunho can’t determine, and says, “Yes, I suppose it’s an understatement to say you are bold.” He tugs at San’s arms. “We should go before people start talking, or worse, your parents see this.” 

“Oh.” San looks reluctant as he looks to Yunho and then Hongjoong. “You’re okay?” he asks the omega. 

Hongjoong nods his head and smiles thinly. “I’ll be fine. Thanks for all your help, but you should prepare yourself too.” He glances up to Yunho before he turns back to look at the other alphas gathering. “You’ll need to be clever if you want to escape the Captain.” 

“Don’t worry,” San assures him with a smile. “I know what I’m doing.” 

Wooyoung nods his head in agreement and tugs at San’s arm again. “Yes, and we should get going soon. They’ll let the omegas run soon.” 

Hongjoong lifts his hand to wave the omegas off, turning his attention to Yunho. “Did you actually come to see me or was that just an excuse to see San?” he asks. 

“I wanted to talk to you,” Yunho assures him, but Hongjoong remains skeptical. “You were so nervous to run the last time we talked, are you sure about this?” 

“I said I would consider it if you did it too, and here you are,” the omega reminds him. 

“I remember,” Yunho tells him, “I still wasn’t sure you’d actually do it.” 

“I wouldn’t have if you weren’t here,” Hongjoong admits. He drapes his body over his lap and wraps his arms around his legs. “People are already talking about me. Scolding me for stepping outside my bounds.” He laughs a little as he presses his chin to his knees. “There’s no reason an omega of my status should be here.” 

“You have a reason to be here, don’t you?” Yunho points out. 

Hongjoong appears uncertain, pointing his toes together as he nervously claws at his calves. “I hope so,” he says, forcing himself to keep his gaze and the ground and not towards the alphas. Seonghwa never said anything. He never announced whether or not he would participate, and Hongjoong isn’t sure what that means. 

The logical part of him dictates that it means Seonghwa will not participate. He never has, so why would he suddenly do it this year? Hongjoong hopes—prays—that it’s because of him. Seonghwa has always made him feel special, so surely he won’t leave the omega to make a fool of himself. 

Heaving a deep breath, Hongjoong turns his eyes back up to Yunho and tells him, “Most people can’t stop talking about you, though. You’re kind of my saving grace in that sense. Keeps the pressure off of me.”

“If that’s what you need,” Yunho says with a little shrug.

Jongho makes his way towards them now that Wooyoung and San have left, posting himself next to Yunho. “Look at us, the three misfits,” he jokes although none of them laugh. Hongjoong manages a little smile at least. “Don’t you need to do any other final preparations?” 

The omega shakes his head and says, “I’m not San or even Wooyoung for that matter. It’s likely no one will chase me, so I would be putting myself in a detriment by making it harder for an alpha to find me.” 

Yunho stares over Hongjoong’s head towards the other alphas and villagers. He can see many of them leaning in towards each other, whispering. “You should still do your best,” Yunho warns him, narrowing his eyes. “I think there might be some who just view you as a fun target. Some people enjoy hunting too much.” 

Hongjoong shivers, and Jongho nudges Yunho in the side. “Don’t scare him,” the young alpha scolds him. 

“Sometimes it’s better to be safe,” Yunho says with a little shrug. 

“Don’t worry,” Jongho tells the omega instead, waving off Yunho’s concern. “Everyone will be busy chasing the omega they want—” He slaps a hand over his mouth, eyes widening in shock when he realizes just how insensitive he sounded just then. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—” 

“It’s okay,” Hongjoong cuts him off. He finally relaxes his grip on his calves, wincing at the little crescent shaped marks his fingernails leave behind on the skin. “There’s an alpha who will look for me. I’m not worried about that.” 

Jongho blinks at him and asks, “Really?” 

Hongjoong hesitates before nodding his head. “Yeah, so don’t worry about me. Just focus on catching Wooyoung,” he tells his friend before looking at Yunho. “And San. I’ll be okay.” 

Jongho laughs nervously, running his hands up and down his arms. “Thanks, but maybe I should stick around and watch out for you. It’s not like I’ll ever catch Wooyoung anyways.” 

“Don’t say that,” the omega reprimands him while Yunho digs out something from his satchel. 

Jongho blinks when the Unmarked alpha shoves a neatly folded fur into his hands. “What’s this?” he asks. 

“Something to help you,” Yunho tells him. “Smell it.” 

Tentatively, the younger alpha brings the fur up to his nose and sniffs at it. “Smells like an omega,” he notes although he can’t say he can pinpoint who exactly it smells like. 

“It’s San scent,” Yunho confirms as he ties his satchel close again. “Those two are going to try and switch scents.” 

“How do you know that?” Jongho asks. 

“Because San is predictable and uncreative,” Yunho tells him, folding his arms over his chest. “I told him that he should be the one making sure he can hide from me.” He shakes his head, staring off in the direction that San and Wooyoung had run off in. “The fact that he’s staying attached to his friend’s hip just solidifies it for me. It’s just one layer of their strategy I’m sure, but it’s one less obstacle to worry about if you already know it’s there.” 

Jongho furrows his eyebrows together as he examines the fur in his hand. “Then...wouldn’t this help me find Wooyoung and not San?” 

“It will help you find Wooyoung,” Yunho confirms, “so use it to find him.” 

“Then what about you?” 

“I already got a sense of Wooyoung’s scent.” He rubs at his nose, biting back a smile when Hongjoong gasps and glares at him. So that’s why he had come over to talk. 

“Wait, seriously?” 

Yunho nods before turning his attention back to Hongjoong and asks, “The omegas should be going soon, right?” Hongjoong nods his head in response. “Good luck then, stay safe, and I’ll see you in the morning I guess?” The omega nods his head, smiling at the Unmarked alpha as he walks away, Jongho trailing behind him once more. 

The sun will be setting soon, and the omegas will soon be allowed to run into the forest. Tonight feels different to Hongjoong though, not just because it’s the night of The Chase or because Hongjoong is somehow crazy enough to actually participate. It just feels different. Like everything is riding on this night. 

He startles when he hears the horn blow, signaling for the omegas to gather. He throws one last glance in Yunho’s direction. The Unmarked alpha isn’t mingling with the other alphas. He’s not mingling with anyone other than Jongho. “Good luck,” he murmurs in the alphas direction before he pushes himself up from the log he’d been sitting on. 

Whatever may come, it’s on Yunho’s shoulders now. 

Yunho heaves a deep breath as he stares at the forest line on the other side of the field. It’s been nearly an hour since the omegas were allowed to disperse into the forest. He’d enjoyed the initial quiet that fell over the field after the omegas left although the volume had quickly returned as the remaining alphas and village onlookers began gossiping amongst each other again. 

Honestly he sees it coming when the Captain approaches him. Yunho just barely recognizes him, remembering the alpha who had tried to force his way into his cabin a year ago when San hid inside there. The tension between them is thick and charged. Jongho shrinks into Yunho’s side, unable to meet the Captain’s gaze. Yunho knows that he shouldn’t, but he holds the man’s gaze, dipping his head down politely. 

The alpha sneers in response and finally speaks. “People are saying that you’re my brother,” he says through gritted teeth. “You’ll never wear my Marks.” 

Yunho’s jaw tightens at the suggestion and he breaks eye contact with the Marked alpha. “I’m not your brother,” he retorts, “And I have no desire for your Marks.” 

“Ha, I’m glad we can at least agree on that!” He eyes Yunho from head to toe. “The shame you’d bring on our family if you were. Unmarked, living in an old, run down shack on the side of a mountain. And you have the audacity to try court San.” 

“I’m not sure I’m the one bringing shame on the family when your father is doing a good enough job on his own.” Yunho snorts. 

“You dare—”

“He’s the one who went behind your mother’s back to have an affair with mine then kicked us both out to live as Unmarked to what? Save his reputation? Save his courtship? How is your mother doing, by the way?” Yunho tilts his head to the side, figuring the answer is probably not good based on the way the Captain grinds his teeth together. “Shameful, isn’t it?”  

“You shouldn’t even be here. You should have stayed in your cabin where you belong!”

“I was invited to participate,” Yunho argues. 

“Who would invite you? As if you could measure up to being San’s mate! It’s shameful enough that you would even show up.” Yunho narrows his eyes at the man, irked by his words but also satisfied as he watches the Marked alpha’s face turning red from his obvious anger. He isn’t sure the man actually feels threatened by him, but at least his presence elicits some type of response. “You are Unmarked. You have nothing to offer to an omega of his status. The thought of him bearing your pups just—” he visibly shudders, “I would pity him.” 

“Do you have that thought because you’re scared it might actually happen?” Yunho questions. “And just so we’re clear I’m not even all that interested in having pups. I’m here for San, not some hypothetical children.” The Captain sputters, and Yunho can’t resist needling him further. “Do you even like him? Or are you only thinking about what an ‘omega of his status’ could do for you? My understanding is that you are also high status or am I mistaken?” 

The Captain makes a move towards him, but Yunho stands his ground, fingers curling up into fists. It’s enough to halt the Marked alpha halfway. “You should aim for those who are within your means like that silly low born omega who’s participating,” the Captain hisses at him. “Learn from your mother’s mistakes.” 

Jongho shifts beside the Unmarked alpha, but Yunho reaches out to place a hand on his shoulder, and he forces himself not to react. “It would appear to me that San is within my means if only for tonight,” he says. 

“You don’t stand a chance. You don’t have a right.” 

“Then prove it,” Yunho challenges him. “Catch him first and prove that he should be yours. Stop talking down to me about how you deserve him because of your Marks. He’s not yours yet, but you assume just because of your status. I’m ready to prove that I can be a good mate even if I am Unmarked.” Yunho trembles at the realization that he finally understands San, if only a little bit. 

It had always been odd to him. He’d met the omega by complete chance. There was really no circumstance under which they ever should have met, and for all intents and purposes, San probably shouldn’t have ever known he even existed. And yet the omega had shown up in front of him, declaring that he would court Yunho.

He knew, of course, that his status as an Unmarked would always be disqualifying. That’s why Yunho admits he’d initially thought San’s gestures a joke at best and cruel at worst. An omega like him shouldn’t have ever been in want of a mate, so why Yunho? 

The Captain snorts, “How stupid. Do you really think you have the resources or skills to stand up to me?” 

This time Yunho can’t hold back his grin as he says, “We’ll find out then, won’t we?” 

With a huff, the Marked alpha turns his nose up to Yunho and turns on his heels to march back towards his group. Yunho watches him go, still trying to gauge how much of a threat this guy is. Last time he followed San all the way up to Yunho’s cabin, only giving up because Yunho had provoked him enough. Clearly, he has the skills, but Yunho places his faith in San—that he learned from his mistakes last time and is better prepared to avoid the Captain this time. 

He startles from his thoughts when Jongho says, “I can’t believe you stood up to him like that. I can’t believe he’s actually your half-brother.” 

“Just because we have the same father does not make us brothers,” Yunho tells him. 

“I know, but you have to understand that’s how people know you right now. They’ll naturally want to compare you too.” 

Yunho glances in the direction the Captain stomped off to, searching through the gathering of alphas, but he’s lost sight of the Captain. Shame. Yunho was hoping to maybe get a glimpse of his father. He wonders what must be going on in that man’s mind right now, and he’s a bit proud of himself to think that he might just be in a complete panic over Yunho’s presence. 

“Jongho,” he turns back to the younger alpha, “will you track down Wooyoung tonight or no?” 

Jongho hesitates, looking down at the fur in his hands, before he asks, “Should I?”

“I can’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t do,” Yunho shrugs his shoulders. “I only ask because if you do, I’d advise you to be careful.” 

Jongho tenses up. “What? Why?” 

“He’ll be carrying San’s scent. It’s possible that that guy or his friends will track Wooyoung down instead of San, so be careful.” He places his hand on Jongho’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I’d hate for you to get into a fight with them.” 

“Don’t worry about me,” Jongho laughs, fingers digging into the soft material in his hands. “I’ll play it safe. Promise.” 

“Good.” Yunho tips his head forward before the sound of the horn goes off again. It’s time. 

Hongjoong doesn’t meander too far into the forest for a few reasons. One is exactly as he said. Making it too difficult wouldn’t exactly be doing himself any favors. The other reason he settles on staying close to the edge of the forest is because if the night does end rather uneventfully for him, at least he can make a quick and, hopefully, discreet escape. He thinks he might be able to keep his pride intact at least a little bit in that case. 

It’s a smart move overall in his opinion. He knows when the alphas are allowed into the forest to hunt because he hears the horn followed shortly by the rustling of the grass and twigs as the alphas make their way into the forest. At that moment, Hongjoong had huddled himself back into the little alcove he had settled himself into, lips pressed together as most of them quickly moved past him. 

The moon hangs high in the night sky already, and Hongjoong has yet to see any signs of Seonghwa. Maybe he’s made a mistake. He believes that San meant it when he said Seonghwa was sincere, and he admits that he even has some hope, but perhaps choosing to participate in this was a mistake. Tonight was never meant to be for someone like him. It was always meant to be for less fortunate alphas. Yunho had just been too convincing. 

He’s in the middle of mentally berating himself when the scent of an alpha drifts towards him. He tenses up immediately, holding his breath as he tries to focus on that scent. He can definitely tell that it’s an alpha, but from this distance it’s difficult for him to pinpoint whether or not it’s Seonghwa. It could just be another passing alpha, but as the scent lingers Hongjoong finds his heart rate pick up. Whoever it is must be staying around because he knows that an omega is around, right? 

Hongjoong shrinks further into his little alcove, resisting the urge to peek out to catch a glimpse of the alpha. It might not be Seonghwa after all, and if it’s not Seonghwa than Hongjoong doesn’t want to know who it is.

The scent not only lingers but actually becomes stronger as the alpha begins to make his way towards Hongjoong’s hiding place. Hongjoong freezes and his mind completely blanks. Despite putting himself out there like this, he hasn’t actually come up with any plan for how he intended to deal with this situation. He’d spent so much time doubting the fact that Seonghwa would even participate, let alone actually look for Hongjoong, that he hardly pondered on the idea of what it would mean if he did. 

He can hear footsteps approaching his hiding spot, and Hongjoong begins to crawl out of his little alcove when he tenses up, blood running cold. Now that the alpha is close enough, Hongjoong can smell the nuances in his scent. Horrified, he notes that this person isn’t Seonghwa. That’s not Seonghwa’s scent at all. 

Shivering, he peeks around the rocks that framed his hiding spot only to meet an unfamiliar alpha’s gaze. Hongjoong doesn’t know this man. He’s never seen him before, but taking a look at the Marks on his face, the omega can immediately tell that this alpha is quite comfortably above him. He’s not as high ranking as the Captain—and definitely not as high as Seonghwa—but he’s also quite a bit above Hongjoong and even Jongho. The omega would say that the alpha is comfortably in the middle. 

Just as easily as Hongjoong can gauge this alpha’s status, he can just as easily gauge Hongjoong’s, and he makes a face when he sees the Marks on the omega’s face. “What the hell?” he mutters more to himself than anything. He eyes Hongjoong with thinly veiled annoyance. “I know that omegas like to pull pranks and shit on us but seriously? What the hell is an omega like you doing out here?” 

Hongjoong just shrinks away from him, fitting himself back into his alcove to curl up. Shame burns through him at the alphas words. What the hell is he doing out here? 

“I smelled an omega and thought—” the alpha sighs, banging his fist against the rocks of Hongjoong’s makeshift shelter. “What a waste of time,” he mutters before he turns to leave. 

Hongjoong breathes out a sigh of relief that the alpha at least doesn’t waste his time harassing Hongjoong, but the humiliation he inflicts on the omega remains. Curling himself up into a tight ball, he digs his teeth into the top of his knees and hugs his legs close to his torso. 

This is stupid. He’s stupid. He should have just stayed back and watched like he always did. It’s not like there’s any particular point to him doing this. Seonghwa didn’t need to prove himself. He’s the Head Alpha’s son. There was nothing for him to prove to anyone, least of all Hongjoong. 

He knows why he did it though. He knows exactly why he’s here. He’s here for the same reason that Yunho is here—to prove to himself that he’s worthy. Maybe he is a low ranking omega, but Seonghwa likes him. He’s willing to go against his parents expectations for him, but Hongjoong needs to know for himself that he’s worth it. Probably the same way Yunho feels that he needs to do this to prove that just because he’s Unmarked doesn’t mean he’s not a worthy alpha. 

But the alpha’s reaction to him just now rattles Hongjoong’s resolve. The self-doubts that always linger in the back of his mind, annoying but suppressed, suddenly latch themselves into his head, setting his skin ablaze like it’s trying to burst out of him. 

Slowly uncurling himself, he pushes forward, clawing his way out of his little alcove. He doesn’t have any particular destination in mind, he just wants to get out of here. He has half a mind to just leave. There’s no rules against that, is there? He can just walk out of here and run all the way back to his little hut, can’t he? The moon is still high in the night sky. There’s still hours until morning, but all Hongjoong sees when he stares at the moon is despair. There’s no hope up there for him. 

Once he’s out of the alcove, he scrambles to his feet, tripping over a twig almost immediately. With a yelp he catches himself on his hands and knees, wincing when he scrapes the palm of his hands against the ground. Perfect. Just perfect. What an end to his night. 

With a sight, he sits back on his heels, lifting his hands up to examine them as best he can in the dim moonlight. Gently, he wipes the dirt from his palms and notes with relief that it doesn’t look like he’s drawn any blood. He’s so busy cleaning his hands and cursing himself that he doesn’t hear when someone approaches from behind him. 

“Hongjoong.” The omega jumps and releases a startled cry as he whips around to face whoever snuck up on him. 

Fear quickly gives way to relief and then joy when the omega recognizes Seonghwa standing there. “You came,” he says for lack of anything better to say. Then the annoyance sets in. “What took you so long? I wasn’t that hard to find, was I?” Hongjoong shudders at the thought that perhaps Seonghwa hadn’t wanted to look for him.

Seonghwa frowns and bends down to help Hongjoong back to his feet. “No, you weren’t hard to find,” he tells the omega. “I just had a late start.” 

Hongjoong blinks at him and asks, “Late start?” 

Smiling ruefully, Seonghwa lifts the omega’s hands up to examine his palms, running his thumb soothingly over the little scrapes littering his palms. “The General tried to protest Yunho’s participation at the last minute, so I had to deal with that.” 

“Why?” he asks, shivering when Seonghwa wraps his fingers around his wrists instead. 

With a shrug, Seonghwa answers, “I can’t say. Maybe he thinks Yunho really is a threat, or maybe he just wanted to ensure that his son wouldn’t face competition.” 

“Oh.” Hongjoong gently pulls his arms away from Seonghwa’s grip, wiping them down on his pants. “So then you just came here?” 

“You weren’t difficult to find,” Seonghwa tells him with a smile. 

“I wasn’t trying to be hard to find,” Hongjoong pouts. 

Seonghwa hids a laugh behind his fist and takes a step closer to the omega. Hongjoong shrinks down, but he doesn’t back away from the alpha which Seonghwa is quick to notice. Then the alpha reaches out with his arms, wrapping them around the omega’s shoulders and leaning into him to whisper, “Well, since I suppose I’ve caught you now, what should we do? We have plenty of time before the sun comes up.”

Hongjoong flushes and attempts to pull away from the alpha, but Seonghwa keeps him in place. The alpha had asked his question with a suggestive tone of voice, and the omegas body heats up in response to it. “No,” he rejects the alpha’s suggestion. “I’m not going to face the Head Alpha with your scent clinging to me like that. They’d hate me!” 

“They wouldn’t say anything,” Seonghwa protests. 

“That doesn’t make me feel better!” 

Seonghwa laughs, nuzzling his nose into the omega’s hairline. He slides his eyes shut as he takes in the omega’s scent, tightening his hold around Hongjoong.  He asks, “Are you going to be okay?”  

Hongjoong takes a moment to think about that question before he responds. “I don’t know, but I’m prepared.” 

“Yeah?” 

The omega hums in confirmation. He doesn’t know if he’ll be okay. He’s terrified of the thought of facing Seonghwa’s parents because he will have to. There’s no way Seonghwa can walk out of this forest with him in the morning as if it’s no big deal. Wooyoung and San had done their best to prepare him though, so he’ll just have to depend on that. 

“Yunho should be more scared than you,” Seonghwa teases him. 

Hongjoong frowns at the thought of the Unmarked alpha. It’s still a weird thought to him—that San would choose such a low ranking alpha for his mate—but he still finds himself hoping for the best for the alpha. “Yunho needs to find him first,” he points out. 

“He will,” Seonghwa reassures him. “I have faith that he will.” 

Jongho fidgets and fists his fingers into the fur Yunho had given him as he leans back against a tree. This is silly. This is silly, right? Is he really going to try and catch Wooyoung like he stands any kind of chance? He'd been tracking the scent on the fur for awhile now, digging deep into his mind for the pointers Yunho had given him when it came to stalking prey. 

He hasn’t lost Wooyoung’s track yet, but he does feel a little silly the further he goes and the stronger the scent becomes. Wooyoung is definitely an omega out of his league, and while that might not have necessarily been a deterrent before it definitely feels like one now. If anything, Yunho’s situation should reassure him, but it only seeds more doubt into his mind. 

At least San and Yunho had some kind of connection with each other outside of The Chase. They’re doing this because it’s something they both mutually want. Wooyoung at best doesn’t even know who Jongho is and at worst maybe dislikes him because he’s a low status alpha who likes him. Maybe he’s doing this the wrong way. 

Then again, the last time he’d attempted to show his affection he’d been exiled to the outlands for five years. Maybe the real answer is that there’s just no winning in this situation. Maybe he should just catch up with Yunho and help him out with San. The Captain is no doubt getting help from a few other alphas, so maybe Jongho should be there to help him as well. 

Yunho had gone in the complete opposite direction as Jongho though. It would take some time to catch up. 

Perhaps he should make sure Hongjoong is okay instead? He doesn’t like the idea of his friend being left alone like this for the night. Jongho doesn’t want to think the worst, but Yunho wasn’t wrong when he suggested that some people might be less than friendly about Hongjoong’s presence. 

Ah, but the omega had said he anticipated an alpha looking for him. Jongho’s presence might just be a turn off in that case, right? 

Jongho stares down at his feet, pressing his toes down onto the dead leaves around him, crushing them beneath his feet. He doesn’t know what he should do. 

He’s pulled from his thoughts by the sound of running, leaves crunching beneath feet as someone skids to a stop nearby. Looking over, he tenses up when he recognizes Wooyoung. The omega looks out of breath, his chest heaving as he holds his hands up as if in surrender. 

Caught off guard, Jongho quickly ducks behind his tree. He hadn’t expected Wooyoung to just run into him. Peeking around the tree, he watches the omega back up and say, “Wait, wait, Captain. Let’s talk about this.” Jongho blanches and presses himself harder against the tree to hide. The Captain? It’s like Yunho predicated. 

“I have tried to talk about this,” the Captain says as he approaches the omega. Jongho’s nose scrunches up when he picks up on two other alpha scents. That’s rather mean to gang up on an omega like that. “You’re the one who doesn’t want to tell me what I want to know.” 

“I don’t know what you want!” Wooyoung protests. 

“You don’t actually expect me to believe that, do you?” The Captain growls out. Jongho shivers at the aggression in his tone. He should leave. He doesn’t really want to get in the Captain’s way. “You’re wearing San’s scent. You must know where he is.” 

That gives Jongho pause. He said he would have Yunho’s back. Perhaps this was one way he could help. 

Wooyoung scoffs at him and crosses his arms over his chest. “We did this last year and it didn’t trick you. It’s not my fault you wasted your time chasing me down, and anyways that’s the point of this! We just did a more careful job of transferring scents this time. How is it my fault that you were tricked?” 

“I’m not blaming you for San’s antics,” the Captain refutes, “I’m telling you to tell me where he’s hiding.” 

“I don’t know!” Wooyoung yells at him. “You’re wasting your time! We split up after we entered the forest. I have no idea where he went or where he’s hiding. There would literally be no point in trading scents like this if I knew where he was.”

“Stop lying to me, Jung Wooyoung!” 

“I’m not lying!” the omega raises his voice to match the Captain’s and Jongho raises his eyebrows, impressed by the omega’s guts. “And every moment you waste interrogating me is more time wasted on finding San.” 

The Captain lunges forward to grab the omega, and Wooyoung shrieks as he struggles to maintain his balance. “And how do I not know you’re not lying to me? Are you trying to help that dirty Unmarked alpha by wasting my time with you?!” 

“Would you stop!” Wooyoung struggles with the alpha, prying his hands off his tunic and throwing them down as he leaps away from him. “I don’t even know that alpha, but if he’s allowed to participate he has every right to chase San if he wants, but whether or not he does is entirely up to him. I have no influence on it, and I’m not trying to waste your time. You're doing that on your own.” 

“I don’t think he knows,” one of the Captain’s alpha says. 

“He has to,” the Captain hisses back. “If I spent all this time hunting him down, the gap is only closing, and I’m not going to lose my mate to an Unmarked alpha.” 

“Then you better get going,” Wooyoung mocks. “I haven’t seen any sign of the Unmarked alpha tonight, so clearly my trick didn’t work on him.” 

The Captain sneers at him, but Wooyoung just returns it with a glare of his own. They were the same rank, but the Captain has never treated him like they were equals even when they were kids. Instead of lunging for the omega again, the Captain turns on his heels with a huff. “This is a waste of time,” he growls, motioning for the two alphas with him to follow. “I need to find San first.” 

“But we went out of our way to catch him,” one of them protests, eyeing Wooyoung with intrigue. The omega shies back from him and bares his teeth in warning. 

“So? Does he look like he’s worth it?” the Captain barks. 

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind being the one to take credit for catching him. If—if that’s okay with you, of course, Captain,” he stutters when the Captain glares at him. “I just need a little time to claim him is all.” 

Wooyoung shrinks back when the Captain turns around to look at him. He expects the alpha to call his lackey off. They have more pressing matters to attend to, but the Captain just curls his lips up in distaste and says, “Fine, but hurry up. I don’t want to be playing catch up with a worthless Unmarked alpha.” 

“I won’t be too long!” his friend assures him as the other two alphas depart. 

Jongho bites his lips as he watches the Captain depart. He should trail after them. Maybe do something to stall, anything to prolong for Yunho’s sake. When they parted ways, Yunho had gone off in a different direction than him, so he hopes and prays that his friend has had a more direct route to San. The fact that the Captain knows and is on his way makes him nervous though. 

It’s nothing compared to the way Wooyoung’s scent becomes insanely distressed though. Tearing his gaze from the Captain and his alpha friend, he peeks around the tree trunk to look at Wooyoung and the alpha who stayed behind. 

“Stay away,” Wooyoung warns him. 

“You going to run?” the alpha asks in a teasing voice. “I really like the feeling of a chase. Gets me all excited, you know?” 

Wooyoung makes a noise of disgust in the back of his throat, debating whether or not he should run. His instinct is to flee, but he knows that he won’t be able to out run on alpha like this. “I won’t accept your claim no matter what,” he warns the alpha. “Just because you might have technically caught me won’t mean that you have any right to court me. I’ll refuse.” 

“It’s okay. I’m not really all that interested in actually courting you,” the alpha tells him. “I just need a little bit of release.” Wooyoung shudders and throws caution to the wind, turning on his heels to flee. “Yes!” the alpha cries behind him as he allows the omega a head start. 

It’s a terrifying minute where Wooyoung attempts to flee from the alpha chasing him. He only makes it about a minute before another body barrels into him, sending him flying to the ground. “Stop,” he demands, kicking out with a foot, but the alpha just catches him by the ankle and holds him down. “You’re beneath me,” the omega seethes. 

“That makes it all the more fun,” the alpha tells him. “I caught you. It’s my right.” 

“That’s not how any of this works!” Wooyoung shouts back. For one, this alpha hardly caught him. Captain did all the work. And for two, catching did not equate to the right to try and claim an omega. Sure it happened, but it was usually either consensual or at least not entirely unwanted. Wooyoung feels tears spring to his eyes when the alpha claws at his shirt. This has never happened before. Not to him. 

The alpha howls in pain when something smacks against the side of his head. Wooyoung even winces at the noise though he wasn’t quite able to catch exactly what that was. It was hard. Maybe a small rock or something. It halts the alpha in his tracks though, and Wooyoung can’t help but follow his gaze, eyes settling on another alpha not too far from him. 

“Get lost,” the alpha growls at his challenger. 

Wooyoung watches as the second alpha stiffens before he squares his shoulders and straightens up. “No,” the alpha says. “You’re harassing an omega.” 

“Move. On,” the Captain’s friend barks at him. 

Wooyoung digs his fingers into the dirt below him, contemplating his next move. Is this new alpha a friend or foe? Should he try and seize the opportunity? 

“No.” Jongho gulps thickly as he eyes the two of them. “I—you’re...you’re in my way,” he declares boldly. 

Wooyoung blanches, eyeing the Marks on the alpha’s face. He’s on the lower end of the caste systems, and worst yet, the omega eyes the Mark of exile on him. So he’s been banished before. The alpha on top of Wooyoung laughs, turning to face Jongho with a smile spread across his lips. “You must be joking. You think you have a right to an omega like him?” He tugs on the collar of Wooyoung’s shirt, jerking him back and forth as the omega gasps and struggles. 

“It’s The Chase,” Jongho points out with a shrug. “I have a right to try.” 

“Get lost,” the alpha barks at him. “I don’t have time for you. If you really want him just wait until I’m done. I’m not all that interested in actually mating him.” He tugs at Wooyoung again, grunting when the omega digs his heels into the ground to resist him. 

“Let go of me,” Wooyoung demands. 

“Fight me off if you want me to let go,” the alpha shoots back. 

“This is against the rules!” 

“Who cares about the rules! I’m an alpha, and I caught you. If you can’t fight me off that’s your problem.” 

“You didn’t do anything,” Wooyoung hisses, struggling to pull his arm from the alpha’s grip but failing. His stomach twists, heartbeat picking up when he realizes that there’s no way he’ll be able to fight off an alpha. 

Biting into his bottom lip, Jongho watches the exchange with growing discomfort. He feels the urge to just walk away. It’s the easiest thing to do in this situation, but guilt weighs him down. Gathering what little courage he has, Jongho barrels forward to grab the other alpha’s wrist, squeezing it hard enough that he’s able to pry the alpha’s hand from Wooyoung. Then, for good measure, he rams into the alpha with his shoulder and knocks him to the ground.

“He said no,” Jongho reminds him, leering over the alpha in an overall ineffective attempt to assert his dominance. “And you didn’t find him, so you have no right to claim. Even if you did, I told you I’m here to challenge that.”  

The alpha huffs as he listens to Jongho, slowly pushing himself back up to his feet. He taps his temple with his finger and asks, “Do you even listen? I said you can have him. Just let me have fun first.” Jongho quiets down, not because he considers it for even one second but because he’s honestly shocked speechless by the suggestion. “So do we have a deal or what?” 

Wooyoung skitters back a few steps, eyeing both alphas warily, but Jongho sputters when he hears the alpha press him. “What? No!” He glances to Wooyoung who shrinks under his gaze. “I don’t want a deal. I want a challenge.” 

Gritting his teeth, the alpha rolls up the sleeve of his shirt and rolls his shoulders a couple of times. Jongho bends his knees to drop into a fighting stance as well. He sends one last glance in Wooyoung’s direction, jerking his chin in the opposite direction. It’s the only indication he can give the omega to run before the Captain’s friend suddenly lunges for him. Jongho grunts, buckling over and grabbing the alpha around the waist to try and keep himself upright. 

Wooyoung, thankfully, takes the opportunity Jongho affords him to make a break for it right as the alphas begin brawling. 

Truthfully, Jongho isn’t much of a fighter. When he was a kid he brawled and played with the other alphas but growing up as a merchant didn’t really lend itself to fighting much. He’s not like the Captain or his friends, so he’s shocked when he manages to hold his own against this alpha. Well, maybe it’s not so much that he holds his own than the other alpha realizes that he’s just wasting his time with Jongho. 

“I don’t have time for this,” he grunts as he wrestles Jongho into a submissive position once again. “Captain is probably waiting for me.” He releases Jongho who sighs in relief as he struggles to pick himself back up. The alpha delivers a spiteful kick to his ribs as one last parting gesture before he leaves to return to the Captain. 

Coughing, Jongho struggles to push himself up onto his knees. Maybe this isn’t a victory, but he can’t help but feel a little smug at the way the alpha limps off. Wincing with every move, he falls back onto his ass before dragging himself over to the closest tree to lean back against the trunk. He wraps an arm around his waist, grabbing the spot where the alpha kicked him right at the end. There’s definitely going to be a bruise there later. 

He’ll just...rest here until the morning or something. It’s not like he has the energy to make it back out of the forest now. Oh, but what about helping Yunho out? He jerks forward as if to move before groaning in pain. Yeah, he’ll just wait it out here for the moment. He’ll just trust that Yunho will make it on his own. 

After resolving to simply stay put for the time being he expects to be on his own for the rest of the night, so he can’t help the surprised shriek he releases when there’s a touch on his shoulder. The pain in his side flares up again, and he presses down on it harder in an attempt to keep the pain at bay. He turns to look over his shoulder, all the tension melting from him when he sees Wooyoung looking down at him with a concerned expression. 

“You came back?” Jongho asks. “You were supposed to run.” 

Wooyoung pulls back from the alpha, lips pulled into a frown. “I did,” he tells him. 

“And then you came back?” Jongho repeats, unable to fathom what the hell Wooyoung was thinking. 

The omega’s frown only deepens at his question. He folds his arms together over his chest and says, “I thought you said you were challenging him for the chance to have caught me instead.” 

“Ah.” Jongho rights himself again so he can lean back against the tree. It relieves some of the pressure on his injured side. “That was—I was just trying to get him off of you so you could make a break for it, you know? You seemed really uncomfortable.” 

Wooyoung narrows his eyes at the alpha, and Jongho has to avert his gaze only a moment later. The omega plops down beside him, their shoulders knocking together as he also leans back into the tree. “So you saw the whole thing then, huh?” he asks. 

Jongho panics. “Huh? Me? No, I mean, well yeah but it’s not like I thought they would do anything. I mean the Captain, you know? I didn’t know if it was really my place to intervene anyways, but I thought you could use the help.” 

Wooyoung furrows his eyebrows at Jongho’s response. It’s more a jumble of word vomit than an actual answer, so the alpha doesn’t really blame him. “If you were all the way out here though, weren’t you following me? Or is there another omega around?” 

“Oh.” Jongho doesn’t really have an explanation for that. “Well—” 

Wooyoung studies the alpha as he makes another attempt to explain himself. He doesn’t really listen though, too focused on looking the alpha over, paying extra attention to his Marks. He’s not really at a great status, and the omega eyes the X indicating his time spent in exile, but he had put himself out there to help Wooyoung when he needed it. 

“Hey,” he interrupts the alpha who pauses to look at him. “What’s your name?” 

The fact that Wooyoung doesn’t know his name or even remembers him really stings a little, but Jongho swallows it down. “Uh, Jongho,” he introduces, wondering if he should maybe remind Wooyoung that he had gifted him a few courting gifts in the past. No, he’d rather keep his pride intact. 

“Well, congratulations, Jongho,” Wooyoung holds his hand out for the alpha to take which he does hesitantly. “You’re the first alpha to ever catch me.” 

San stills himself, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind his ear as he strains to listen to his surroundings. There’s not much beyond the rustle of leaves and the howl of the wind. It’s been a fairly quiet night for him so far, granted the alphas were allowed to give chase not all that long ago. 

An updraft of wind carries the scent of an alpha with it, and San tenses when he smells it. Turning to look down the hill he’d climbed up, he scans the trees below for any signs of movement. The alpha scent is still faint, not enough for him to identify it. Could be Yunho. Could be the Captain. Whoever it is must still be a ways off though because San doesn’t see any signs of movement. 

It’s a bad decision, or maybe they were just unlucky, San thinks as he quickly heads down the other side of the hill in search of a hiding spot. He caught their scent early, probably much earlier than they ever intended, and he isn’t just going to sit around on his hands and wait for the alpha to find him. Definitely not. He can’t afford for the Captain to find him, and he wants Yunho to prove himself. 

A thrill runs up his spine at the thought. Yunho can do it. San has faith in him. It’s part of the reason he’d even expressed interest in the alpha in the first place. Yunho is definitely a capable alpha, and although this may be a format he’s unfamiliar with, San is sure he’ll be able to pull it off. The Captain wouldn’t be able to catch him, but Yunho could. That’s the whole point. That’s what he wants to prove to everyone. 

He finds a tree large enough to easily hide behind. It’s boxed in by some large boulders, protecting him from a sneak attack, and the foliage around it is tall enough to allow for a stealthy retreat if he needs. Pleased with himself and comforted by the thought that the nearest alpha is still a ways off, he can’t help but be completely caught off guard when he hears a branch snap in the direction he just came from. 

He tenses up immediately and bites down on his bottom lip as he listens for anymore sound. It’s quiet, and he can’t catch the smell of an alpha nearby. He’s almost convinced that he must have imagined it or perhaps a small creature had snapped it under foot, but then he hears the rustle of leaves. Not from the wind. Definitely from footsteps. 

Silently, San ducks down, taking cover in the foliage as he contemplates his next move. He hadn’t expected to be cornered here. This was supposed to be a small stop as he waited to gauge the alpha’s next move and act accordingly. That scent had been so far off. Who could have possibly made it here that quickly? 

More than that, San can’t help but feel on edge. He can’t tell if it’s the Captain or Yunho or if it’s even an alpha. The wind is blowing the completely wrong direction now for San to be able to tell. 

He inches forward slowly, careful not to draw attention to the shifting foliage as he quickly runs through his next potential moves. He could make a break for it, but that would definitely draw attention, and while San might take pride in his ability to run he doesn’t think he can outrun an alpha. Could he sneak by instead? It’s hard to tell when he can’t quite get the alpha’s bearings. 

He inches forward some more as he quickly works to get his own bearings straight. If he can remember where he laid down some of his traps, perhaps he could lead the alpha there and—he shrieks when someone grabs him by the shoulder. Throwing his stealth plans away, San makes a break for it. He doesn’t even think about where he’s going; he’s just focusing on running while chanting in his head that this can’t be the Captain. Don’t be the Captain. Anyone but the Captain. 

“San!” The alpha who calls out for him catches him by the wrist to stop him. Not that he needs to because San immediately halts and turns to face him. He could recognize Yunho’s voice anywhere. “By the moon, I didn’t mean to scare you like that,” the alpha says, looking bashful. 

San barely pays attention to his words, too focused on the relief flooding through him when he fully digests the fact that it’s Yunho before him. “It’s you,” he whispers out before throwing his arms around the alpha to hold him close. “I couldn’t smell you. I was scared the Captain found me.” 

Yunho pats him on the back a few times before he pulls away. “I haven’t seen him since we started, so,” he shrugs his shoulders. 

San cracks a grin, his heart swelling with a mixture of pride and relief before a thought suddenly occurs to him. “That was so fast! I smelled an alpha earlier, but I thought I still had plenty of distance.” 

Yunho frowns, unsure of what San means by that. “The winds have been pretty erratic tonight. I did my best to keep my approach cloaked, but maybe you smelled someone else?” 

“How did you find me so fast anyways?” San demands, planting his hands on his hips. He expected Yunho to find him first, but he though he’d at least put up some kind of challenge. 

“You weren’t difficult to find,” Yunho teases. 

“Oh, come on,” San whines. “I know you’re a hunter—a good hunter—but it can’t have been that easy! I’m not some stupid boar!” 

“You aren’t,” Yunho agrees as he reaches out to poke San in the forehead. “Your ideas were clever, but they weren’t difficult to guess either. I wasn’t expecting the traps though. I didn’t realize those were a part of the game too.” He lifts one foot up to roll his ankle, and San guesses he must have tripped over one of the simpler ones he set up. 

“What do you mean?” he asks. 

“Like I figured you’d try to hide your scent or disguise it completely. I thought at first you’d try to pick up Hongjoong’s scent, but you’re too nice to make him a target like that. Wooyoung was a natural second guess.” 

San scowls a little. Alright, so he hadn’t exactly been sneaky with that one but still, “how do you even know what Wooyoung smells like?” The two of them have hardly even met. There’s no way Yunho was tracking a scent he barely knew. He knows alphas have a keener sense of smell, he refuses to believe Yunho is familiar with any other omega scent besides his own. And maybe Hongjoong’s, but San doesn’t even like to admit to that one. 

“Why do you think I came over to talk to Hongjoong when I did? Just to make you jealous?” 

San struggles to form words to Yunho’s explanation. What? He didn’t think Yunho was such a sly bastard. “I—but you—” He backs up when Yunho moves forward, caging the omega in against the tree he hid behind.  

“I told you that you’d have to do your best to hide from me,” Yunho scolds him although there’s very little bite to his words. “What if this Captain of yours found you first?” 

San pouts, torn between being proud of just how quickly Yunho accomplished his task and upset with himself that he was this easy to catch. Given how early it still is, Yunho must have essentially made a beeline for him. “What about all my traps?” he whines. What more is he supposed to do? Gimmicks like this have kept Wooyoung safe for years, and yet they did almost nothing to deter Yunho. 

“The first one got me,” the alpha admits. “The rest were easy to spot after that.” 

“What? But I placed them down perfectly! I—” San’s breath hitches when Yunho steps closer, further boxing him in against the tree. Yunho’s scent floods his senses, and he decides that he doesn’t care so much about his stupid traps anymore. 

“You placed them fine,” Yunho assures him, tucking the omega’s head under his chin when San practically melts into him. “I guess I’m just used to spotting them. I have to spot my own traps too, you know, and I can’t keep track of every single one I’ve placed.” 

San pulls back from him to glare up at the alpha. “You didn’t dismantle them all did you?” 

 Yunho rolls his eyes at the question. “Don’t be silly. I didn’t have time to do that, and you went out of your way to lay them down. I figured the Captain could have fun with them.” San bites back a grin, glad that Yunho is on the same wavelength as him. “What do we do now though?” the alpha asks. 

Sighing, San lowers himself to the ground, reaching with his arms for Yunho who takes a seat as well. He’s too far though, so San crawls closer to the alpha, practically making himself at home on Yunho’s lap. “We have to wait until morning,” he tells the alpha. 

“Morning?” Yunho repeats, lifting a hand up to steady San by the waist. 

“Why? Is there a problem with that?” San shifts around on Yunho’s lap until he's at eye level with the alpha. His gaze drops down to Yunho’s lips and he swallows back his ever growing desire. “It gives us plenty of time together before my father inevitably chews me out for my life choices,” he jokes, still staring at Yunho’s lips. 

“It also gives people plenty of time to try and find you still,” Yunho points out, but San is far past being able to think about the Captain. Right now, he can really only focus on the alpha before him. The omega leans forward only to be held back by Yunho who growls his name. “San, focus!” 

“I am,” the omega whines, chasing Yunho’s lips when the alpha slides him off his lap. He grunts when his ass hits the ground, whining and generally acting far more dramatic than he needs to. “Please?” he begs. It’s just a kiss. Is Yunho really going to deny him something so simple? 

“You’re releasing your scent like crazy,” Yunho tells him as he reaches down for his satchel. 

“So you make me a little horny. What do you want me to say?” San complains, lips pursing up into a pout when Yunho gives him a sharp look. “Sorry,” he apologizes. “I’m just...really happy that you found me first.” 

Sighing, Yunho pulls out another fur from his satchel. Carefully unfolding it, Yunho brings it around San’s body before draping it over his head and shoulders. “I’m glad too,” he tells the omega. “But I’d rather not ruin it by being found now.” 

San grabs at the fur, poking his head out to inspect it. It does help tamp his scent down a little, but he can’t help but pause when his fingers touch something hard on the lining of it. Tugging it closer to himself, San stares down at the jewels lining the edge of the fur. He gulps, recognizing this one in particular. 

“What’s this?” he asks. 

“A gift,” Yunho answers, pulling it off San’s head to secure it around his shoulders. “You can consider it my first courting gift.” 

San’s gaze snaps up to Yunho, and he digs his fingers into the fur. While Yunho has given him what amount to gifts in the past, he has never explicitly stated that they were courting gifts or in any way a reciprocation to San’s gifts. This is the first time he’s ever said it.

“I thought you said I could never have this,” he reminds the alpha. He still remembers the time he had curled up on the floor of the main room in Yunho’s cabin and teased him about the time the alpha would finally give San a courting gift. The mood had soured when Yunho had ripped the fur from his hands and said he could never have this one. 

“I changed my mind,” Yunho says, avoiding San’s gaze. “Besides, you really liked that one, right?” 

“I love this one,” San says as he holds the fur tight to his body, tilting his head to the side so he can nuzzle into the soft furs. All of Yunho’s wares are surprisingly well made, but they tend to serve a functional purpose rather than an artistic one. This is the one thing San has ever seen from him that borderlines on the luxurious rather than the practical. It’s so uncharacteristic of everything San knows about the alpha, he’d naturally been curious about this fur, so he asks, “Why though? Why’d you change your mind now? You didn’t want to give this to me before so I figured it was really special or something.”

Yunho’s eyes trail down his form before he reaches out to touch one of the little jewels on the fur. He likes it. He’s always been proud of this one in particular, but he especially likes how it looks on San. “It is special,” he confirms, “but so are you. I think it belongs with you.” 

“Really?” San asks, peering up at the alpha. 

Yunho nods his head. “Yeah, if you want it.” 

“I want it,” San insists, hugging it closer to himself. “I definitely want it.” 

Yunho’s shoulders sag in relief, and he scoots closer to the omega again. San takes the invitation and crawls back into the alpha’s lap. This time Yunho doesn’t stop him when San leans forward in search of a kiss. A shiver runs down San’s spine when their lips meet, and he pushes up into it. Yunho’s lips are warm and soft against his own, but it’s also obvious that the alpha has never kissed anyone before. San can practically taste the inexperience on him. 

The omega licks along the bottom of Yunho’s lips, his arms coming out from the confines of the fur to wrap around Yunho’s shoulders. The alpha parts his lips for him, and San immediately seizes the opportunity to lick into his mouth. It’s hot and heavy, and San becomes unreasonably excited as he presses closer to Yunho—as close to the alpha as he can get. 

“Wait,” Yunho gasps out as he pushes the omega off of him. San makes a noise of distress, leaning in for another kiss but Yunho continues to hold him at bay. “I smell another alpha,” he says. 

San tenses up at his observation, jerking away from Yunho as he tries to get a sense of his surroundings again. Just like Yunho says, he also picks up on the scent of an alpha, and his pupils dilate in fear. Shit. 

“San!” He winces at the tone and volume of the familiar voice that calls out to him. 

“Oh no. It’s him,” he whispers. He shrinks down when he recognizes the Captain. There’s another alpha scent with him though. That didn’t bode well. His instinct is to hide, but he knows that he won't’get far that way. The Captain will no doubt find him. 

“What should we do?” Yunho asks. 

“He’ll fine us either way,” San laments. 

“And if he does? Then what? I found you first, didn’t I?” 

San curls his fists into Yunho’s shirt. “He can try and issue a challenge,” he says as his heart seizes and his stomach twists. No, no. This isn’t how he thought this night would go at all. The Captain wasn’t supposed to be here. He was never supposed to be here. 

“You should sneak off if you can,” Yunho suggests. “I can hold him off.” 

“There’s two of them,” San points out, pitch rising in his panic. 

“You’re their target though.” 

San grits his teeth, uncomfortable with the idea of abandoning Yunho here. “You’re just as much of a target for him,” the omega argues. 

“San—” Yunho protests when the omega stands up. 

The Captain’s companion responds almost immediately, pointing San out with a call of, “Over there!” 

“San!” The Captain calls in relief as he approaches the omega. “Thank the Moon. I thought I—” he abruptly halts when Yunho stands up as well, placing himself between the alpha and omega. 

“I got here first,” Yunho growls at him. “Back off.” 

The Captain seems taken aback to see Yunho there, perhaps not expecting the Unmarked alpha to have caught San so quickly. He turns to the omega and says, “San, come here. I can protect you from this Unmarked alpha.” 

“I don’t need you to protect me,” San bites out as he holds Yunho’s furs closer to his body. “I need you to get lost.” 

“Don’t be so stubborn,” the Captain growls back at him. “I know you like playing hard to get but now really isn’t the time. Not with him.” 

“He said to leave,” Yunho reminds him forcefully. 

The Captain takes a step back, evidently surprised by Yunho, although he quickly steels himself. “Know your place, Unmarked. You are beneath me. You have no place with San—” 

“You’re late,” Yunho retorts. “I’m only here for San, and I found him first. You lost, so leave.” 

His brother grits his teeth, fingers curling into tight fists as he begins to shake in anger. “Fine then,” he spits in retaliation. “You might have found him first, but I also succeeded in that task. I challenge you for the right to claim him.” 

Yunho squares his shoulders, ready to respond, but San beats him to it. “Don’t bother,” he snarls. “I’ll reject your claim anyways.” 

“San,” the Captain scolds him, “stop being so stubborn.” 

“Stubborn?” San scoffs. “Who’s being stubborn? How often do you still come after me even though I’ve told you that I don’t want to mate you?” 

The Captain rolls his eyes, clearly dismissive of the omega’s questions. “Stop being silly. I’m the only one who can be your mate. And beyond that we promised each other, didn’t we? Since we were kids.”

“It was different then!” San protests. “I thought you were an alpha worth loving when I was a stupid kid! But you’re just—you’re just an ass! I don’t want to mate you anymore. I haven’t for years!” 

“Who cares what you want?!” The Captain explodes on him, and San immediately shrinks back behind Yunho. “I’m the only one who is remotely fit to be your mate. I know this, your parents know this, everyone knows this. Even you. Stop being a stubborn ass, San. Know your place.” 

Yunho’s blood boils at the way San presses close to him, shaken by the Captain’s words. “Know yours,” he snaps back at the Captain. “Last time I checked you’re beneath San.” 

“And you’re Unmarked,” the Captain snarls back at him. “If anyone needs to know their place it’s you. You never should have left your cabin.” Yunho takes a step towards him, only stopping because San fists the back of his tunic. “I challenge you, brother,” he spits the word out mockingly. “Fight me for the right to claim San.”   

“Don’t,” San advises him. 

Yunho doesn’t heed his advice though, stepping forward to meet his half-brother. “I accept,” he agrees through gritted teeth. 

The Captain grins at him, reaching into his pocket to retrieve a sheathed knife. Yunho freezes when he catches sight of that, his confidence quickly fading. He hadn’t expected the man to produce something like that, and it completely changes the nature of their power balance. Yunho takes a step back from him, warily eying the knife in his hand. 

“What—what are you doing?” San stammers out, his own gaze fixated on the weapon as well. “You can’t—you’re not supposed to bring a weapon here!” 

The Captain scoffs like all the rules are beneath him. “And who was going to stop me?” He pulls the knife from the sheath and raises it up towards San in a threatening manner. “If you don’t want to get hurt, you’ll come to me right now, San.” 

San presses himself to Yunho’s side, stricken with fear. He has a weapon. The Captain has a weapon. No one was allowed to bring weapons during The Chase. It wasn’t the point of it. Yunho nudges his elbow into his stomach, painful enough to draw his attention back to Yunho, but not enough that it cripples him in anyway. 

“You need to run,” Yunho tells him. 

“What?” San sputters. “He has a knife. He could kill you.” 

“He’s after you. Get out of here. I can handle him on my own.” 

“But—”

“Find your brother. Anyone. I can hold him off until then, but I can’t do this if you’re around.” He looks over his shoulder to stare down at San. “I can’t watch out for you at the same time.”

“You’ll be outnumbered,” San protests. 

“I can handle it,” Yunho insists, nudging San again to try and get him to move. 

San hesitates up until the moment the Captain turns to his friend and says, “Get San.” Alarmed, the blond turns tail and runs immediately, heading back towards the direction of the village. He doesn’t look back to see the way Yunho catches his pursuer by the hips, flipping him over to slam him into the ground. He does hear the pained wheeze, though, and he turns to look back, expression filled with concern for Yunho. 

“Go!” The alpha yells at him when he sees San pause again. 

San squeals when the Captain lunges for Yunho, swinging his knife. The Unmarked alpha ducks away just in time, and San finally flees like Yunho had requested. He’s only a distraction right now. He needs to find help. He needs to find back-up for Yunho. 

Growing up in the outlands, Yunho can proudly say that he grew up tougher than most. He knows how to take care of himself and how to scrap, but this alpha is clearly trained for fighting. It doesn’t help that he’s at a distinct advantage by being weaponless either. 

He does his best to give San the head start he needs, though, ducking and dodging every time the Captain swipes or stabs at him. It’s not ideal, but he wants to head in the same direction as San. He needs to find some of the omegas traps or there’s no way he comes out of this fight unharmed. 

“I warned you,” the Captain snarls at him, advancing on Yunho. “You should have gone back home.” 

Yunho laughs at him and spits back, “And what? I should have just left San to you?” 

“Yes! I’m the only one who’s good enough for him. Do you understand now?” the Captain holds the knife up in a threatening manner again, but it only makes Yunho laugh harder. 

“Yeah, sure I understand,” he says, motioning to the knife he’s wielding like a maniac. “You’d hurt him to get what you want.” 

His half-brother presses his lips into a thin line, but Yunho’s blood runs cold at the fact that he doesn’t deny it. “It’s not something I want to do,” he defends himself. “I’m hoping getting rid of you will finally snap him out of it. You should have listened to me.” 

Yunho shivers at the threat and takes one step back from the man. It’s clear to him now that this isn’t just a threat of harm. He wants to eliminate Yunho. If he thinks it will help him get to San, he’ll do it. Yunho doesn’t give it any further thought; he turns and takes off down the hill. 

The Captain chases after him. 

The hairs on Yunho’s nape stand on end as he dives head first back into the thick grove of trees at the bottom of the hill. He just needs to find a good trap. One of San’s good ones. 

Yunho is able to outpace him in large part due to his long legs. He’s taller than the Captain and no slouch when it comes to his fitness either. Growing up in the outlands honed Yunho’s own athleticism. Hunting, surviving required that he stay fit, but that had just been a byproduct of how he had to live. This alpha, though, he’s clearly and specifically trained himself to harness his own fitness. 

Yunho turns to stand his ground just as the Captain closes the gap on him. The alpha brings his knife down, and Yunho makes a cross with his arms, holding it up to catch it before it can hit anything potentially fatal. The knife slices along his forearms, though, and Yunho winces at the pain, fingers trembling when blood streaks down his arms. He doesn’t have a second to waste. 

Lifting one foot up, he slams it into the Captain’s stomach, sending him to the ground and knocking the breath out of him all at once. Then Yunho flees again, ignoring the slick feel of blood on his arms as he frantically scans the area for any of San’s traps. He just needs a trap. Just one good one. 

Hongjoong perks up, turning around to scan their surroundings when he hears the faint sound of yelling. His eyebrows knit in concern, and he subconsciously digs his fingers into Seonghwa’s hand. The alpha winces at the feeling, looking first down at their joined hands before his gaze trails up to his face, and he frowns at the anxious expression on the omega. 

“Is something wrong?” he asks. 

Hongjoong turns to him and hesitates. “I heard screaming,” he says. “Didn’t you hear it?” 

Seonghwa’s frown deepens at his words. “No,” he denies, “I didn’t hear—” he cuts himself off when he does, in fact, hear something. He can’t quite make out the words, but he doesn’t need to. He could recognize that voice with his eyes closed. “San,” he breathes out his brother’s name, dropping his hold on Hongjoong’s hand to take off in the direction of the voice. Hongjoong follows after him, struggling to keep up with the alpha’s pace. 

As the alpha draws closer to the voice, he can make out that his brother is calling out for him specifically, and Seonghwa pushes himself harder to catch up to him. “San!” he echoes back the call, trying to lead his brother in the right direction. 

It works, San entering his field of vision not long after. He looks winded and tired but doesn’t look visibly injured. Seonghwa reaches out to run his fingers all over his brother’s face and down his body just to check though. He notices the fur draped over his brother’s shoulders, but it doesn’t really register in his mind through the absolute panic and concern consuming him. “What happened? What’s wrong?” 

Hongjoong gasps for breath as he comes to a stop in front of the brothers. Unlike Seonghwa though, the fur San’s wearing catches his attention, and he can’t help but stare at it as he pauses to catch his breath. “That’s Yunho’s,” he remarks, recognizing the handiwork. 

San nods his head in acknowledgement and says, “Yeah he found me but—”

“Did he hurt you?” Seonghwa cuts in, eyes ablaze with anger. 

“No,” San denies fervently. “It’s the Captain! He came with a weapon.” 

Seonghwa stares, shocked speechless by San’s words. “He what?” 

“He has a knife!” San cries hysterically. “He threatened us.” 

“Us?” Seonghwa repeats. 

Hongjoong’s fingers tremble, finally registering how odd it is that the omega is on his own. “Where’s Yunho?” he asks. 

“He stayed back to hold the Captain off so I could find help,” San says to Hongjoong before he looks up at his brother. “Please, you have to help him. He’s unarmed!” 

Seonghwa moves his hands down to his brother’s shoulders and swings him around until he’s next to Hongjoong. “Stay here,” he tells both omegas. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Seonghwa—” San tries to protest, but his brother isn’t having it. 

“Stay here!” he snaps at them. He sends Hongjoong a meaningful look, and the omega immediately reaches up to wrap his arms around San’s waist, holding the blond close. Seonghwa gives him a grateful smile. “Where did you come from?” he asks his brother. 

San tries to pull out of Hongjoong’s grip, but the older omega holds him back. Shaking, he lifts his hand up to point in the direction of the hill he had taken up residence on. “Over there,” he says. 

“Okay. Just stay here. I’ll find them, okay?” Seonghwa reassures his brother, waiting until San nods his head before he runs off in the direction his brother indicated. 

This is insane. Did the Captain really bring a knife with him on The Chase? It was strictly prohibited to bring a weapon along with him. Captain knows this. Would he really bring a weapon when he knows it’s against the rules? Why would he even need it if he didn’t think Yunho was a threat? Part of him—the guilty part of him—wonders if San wasn’t mixed up, and it was Yunho who brought the weapon. 

He doesn’t want to think ill of the Unmarked alpha whom his brother is so fond of, but he doesn’t know their rules or customs. It makes more sense that Yunho would be the one to break their rules. As soon as he reaches the base of the hill, he can smell two alphas nearby. More alarmingly, he can smell the metallic scent of blood. 

Pupils dilating, he pushes himself harder, hurtling towards the scent of blood. He comes to a slow halt when he stumbles upon an unexpected scene. 

Yunho is on the ground, leaning back against a tree as he presses his arms into his stomach. His tunic is covered in blood, not enough that Seonghwa thinks his life is in danger or that he’s killed anyone, but it’s alarming nevertheless. Above him is a wiggling net—a trap clearly set off—and Seonghwa has only one guess as to who’s in there. 

“What happened here?” he asks, drawing both the alphas attention. “Why has this much blood been drawn?” 

“Seonghwa!” the Captain calls for him immediately, wiggling and writhing around in the net that he’s trapped himself in. “You must do something about this Unmarked alpha. He’s broken too many of our rules!” 

Seonghwa’s gaze trails from the net down to Yunho who meets his eyes with an intense stare of his own, arms still pressed to his stomach. It’s clear to him now that Yunho is the one who’s bleeding, and for a moment he fears that he must be wounded in the abdomen. “What happened?” he repeats his question to Yunho specifically. 

The Unmarked alpha snorts, tearing his eyes away to glare up at the netted alpha. “He challenged me because I found your brother first. Then he threatened us with a knife.” 

“I did no such thing!” the Captain denies before he returns to appealing to Seonghwa. “You can’t believe anything he says. He’s Unmarked!” 

Seonghwa reaches out to grab one of Yunho’s arms, yanking it away from his stomach only to realize that the wounds are on his arms. “Why is he the one with defensive wounds?” he asks, releasing his hold on Yunho’s hand when he realizes that the alpha’s life isn’t in danger. “I only smell his blood.” 

“I had to,” the Captain insists. “To protect your brother from being claimed by an Unmarked.” 

“San says you’re the one who brought the knife,” Seonghwa tells him. 

“You know your brother,” the Captain urges him, “he’s sly. He’s just saying that because he wants to get me in trouble.” 

Seonghwa side eyes Yunho who only stares at him with a blank look on his face, gauging Seonghwa’s reaction. He expects the alpha to say something in his own defense, but Yunho is strangely quiet. He just stares back at Seonghwa. It occurs to the future Head Alpha that Yunho is reticent because he doesn’t trust Seonghwa. He doesn’t think Seonghwa will believe him over the Captain. 

So Seonghwa motions to the net the Captain is currently entangled in. “How did he end up there?” 

Yunho’s lips twitch up like he wants to smile, but he suppresses it. He shrugs his shoulders and says, “I just found one of your brother’s traps. He just ran into it.” Seonghwa bites back his own smile at his explanation while Yunho’s expression darkens. “But on a more serious note, he came at me with a knife. This was the only way I could think of to defend myself.” 

Seonghwa presses his lips together in a grim expression and turns his expression up the Captain. “You know that bringing a weapon into The Chase is prohibited, don’t you?” 

“Of course I know that,” he scoffs. “If you’d just listen to me—”

“Captain,” Seonghwa cuts him off. “You want to be my brother’s mate, do you not?” 

“I...yes, of course I do. I have since we were younger.” He tries to twist around in the net to face San although it’s evidently quite difficult for him. “We’ve always been promised to each other.” 

“Since you were kids,” Seonghwa acknowledges. “Though lately my brother has not been fond of you. I wonder why.” 

“I can’t say,” the Captain says evasively. “But surely I am a better option than an Unmarked alpha.” 

Seonghwa looks down at Yunho who’s busy trying to stem the flow of blood before he stares back up at the Captain. “Did you or did you not bring a weapon with you when you entered the forest?” he asks bluntly. 

The Captain hesitates before he answers, “I did not.” Yunho lifts his eyes up from his own injuries to stare up at him, as if daring him to say it. “It was the filthy Unmarked. I just managed to out fight him so he resorted to this.” 

Seonghwa looks at Yunho before his gaze drops down to the satchel by his side. He did bring a bag, and, while not strictly prohibited it wasn’t necessarily a common thing to bring. However, did he really need such a large bag just to smuggle a knife in. 

“I didn’t,” Yunho says, cutting through his thoughts, “for the record.” 

“He did,” the Captain insists. “Whose word are you going to believe? His or mine?” 

Seonghwa digs his teeth into his bottom lip, considering it for only a moment before he says, “I’m inclined to believe my brother. Unless you offer me proof otherwise I’ll assume that his word is correct.” 

“Seonghwa—” 

“You found him first, is that right?” Seonghwa asks Yunho. The Unmarked alpha startles when he’s addressed before he straightens up. 

“Yeah. He was,” Yunho points up the hill they’re at the base of, “up there when I found him. He showed up a little bit later.” He jerks his chin up towards the net where the Captain is dangling. “He challenged me for San, and I would have accepted, but he pulled a knife out. I clearly had a disadvantage against that, so I told San to run while I held him off.” 

“And those wounds?” 

Yunho lifts his arms up, grimacing when he eyes the gashes trailing down his forearms. “I couldn’t outrun him, and I couldn’t fight him. This was the best I could do,” he nods to his own handiwork with the net once again. 

“He’s lying,” the Captain protests, struggling against his bindings. 

“We’ll see what my parents have to say about that,” Seonghwa retorts. “For now, we’re all going back together. You can try to convince them if you want, but from where I’m standing you’ve committed quite the grave crime.” He curls his lips up in distaste. 

He knows San has a lot of issues with the Captain. He’s known his brother has had problems with him for awhile, but he’s never quite understood why until just this moment. He hadn’t quite known what to believe coming into this. He truly thought San might have misspoken at first, but looking at the situation before him and the injuries on Yunho, he thinks that he’ll side with the Unmarked alpha in this case. He doesn’t think Yunho brought the weapon in with him. 

Ignoring the Captain’s excuses and sputtered ramblings, he turns his focus entirely onto Yunho to tell him, “You said you caught my brother, right? Congratulations. You’re the first to do that. You’ve more than proven yourself.” 

Yunho stares at the future Head Alpha in awe. He can’t exactly pinpoint what it is, but somehow receiving Seonghwa’s approval like this feels good. “Thanks,” he says in response. It feels lame, but it’s the only answer he can muster. 

“Don’t thank me yet,” Seonghwa tells him. “You’ve technically earned the right to court him, but I doubt my parents will just quietly allow it. You should prepare yourself to deal with them next.” 

Yunho nods his head in acknowledgement. He figured as much. Then Seonghwa turns back to the Captain with a heavy sigh. How disappointing. He expected better from him. 

The near fervent pitch of the gossip that circulates around the village after The Chase is comical. Opinions are quite strongly split. The vast majority of people initially seemed to buy the story that the Captain was innocent and had simply turned the tables on Yunho who was the one to bring a weapon in with him. San’s rather vocal dissent on that opinion had cast enough doubt that the consensus became split. 

One thing that remains despite all this, most people don’t seem too keen on the idea of their Head Alpha’s son mating an Unmarked. Yunho is sympathetic but nevertheless Unmarked, and most people didn’t seem too enthusiastic about his right to court San despite proving himself in The Chase. Yunho can’t say he’s too surprised. He might even go so far as to claim he saw it coming. 

If nothing else though, the heat on him detracts from the heat placed on another rather unpopular candidate. 

Yunho looks up when Hongjoong practically stumbles out of the Head Alpha’s house. He looks dazed as he trudges away although he pauses when he spots Yunho. The alpha thinks he looks nice. He’s wearing clothes unlike anything he’s seen the omega wear. He looks like royalty in them, like someone who should be standing next to Seonghwa. 

The expression on his face doesn’t speak to that sentiment so much though. Probably because of the Marks on his face. 

“How did it go?” Yunho asks as Hongjoong approaches him with his head bowed. 

“They don’t like me,” Hongjoong says.

Yunho tries his best to school his disappointment for both of their sakes. He can’t say that he’s necessarily surprised, but he is a little bit disappointed. The Head Alpha’s reaction to Hongjoong certainly doesn’t bode well for Yunho. Hongjoong might be low ranking, but at least he bore Marks. 

“It’s not all bad though,” the omega reassures him, and Yunho wonders if the disappointment had been evident in his expression. “I’ve been assured that I can’t, or won’t at least, be banished in retaliation.” 

Yunho blinks, wondering if that’s much of a victory at all. “That’s good,” he tells the omega anyway because he knows that Hongjoong had been worried about it. “Is that it though? What about...with Seonghwa?” He doesn’t quite know what he’s trying to ask but it’s the only question he really needs an answer to. Fortunately, Hongjoong seems to know what he seeks. 

“They can’t really do much about that,” he says, tugging at the sleeves of his immaculate tunic. He feels weird wearing such a thing. “I mean, they made it clear that they oppose any motion of us mating, but it seemed they knew they couldn’t stop us from courting each other or even completing it really. Seonghwa is their son and the future Head Alpha. He technically has the right to choose anyone as his mate.” 

“And you?” Yunho asks. “How do you feel? What will you do?”

Hongjoong hesitates, his long sleeves fluttering around as he flails his arms. “I don’t—I don’t know.” 

“Do you want to be Seonghwa’s mate?” Yunho asks more pointedly. 

“I do,” Hongjoong says in a small voice. “But I don’t want people to think that I’m just doing this to try and better my position. He’s quite literally the best thing that could have ever happen to me, and I do like him for that, but he’s also been sweet to me since the beginning too. I like him, and I want to be a good mate for him, but I don’t know that I can be. I mean, his parents don’t like me at all.” 

Yunho looks past Hongjoong when Wooyoung exits the house as well, and he figures it must be his turn. He starts walking towards Wooyoung when the omega beckons him over, but he stops when he’s next to Hongjoong. “You said you wanted to be a good mate for him, right? So just focus on that. How other people feel about you is irrelevant to being a good mate for him, don’t you think?” 

“But—” 

“Think about whether you want to be a good mate for him, or if you just want to look like you’re a good mate for him,” Yunho suggests. “Maybe it will help you decide what you want.” 

Speechless, Hongjoong watches as Yunho walks up to Wooyoung. He understands what Yunho is trying to tell him, but, oddly enough, it leaves him feeling more confused than before. What does he want? To be a good mate for Seonghwa or to be one that everyone else will approve of? 

Wooyoung glances to Yunho as he leads the alpha to the formal meeting room. The alpha looks surprisingly unperturbed by his current predicament, but he can tell that Yunho feels out of his depths. “I’ll give you some advice if you don’t mind,” he volunteers suddenly, biting down on his lip as soon as he speaks it. 

Yunho looks over to him curiously. “Sure,” he says after a beat. “I’ll take any advice you can give.” 

Taking a deep breath, Wooyoung folds his hands together over his stomach and slows his pace down a little bit. “Normally in a situation like this it would be customary for the alpha to sit in front of the omega,” Wooyoung explains as he lays out the seating situation Yunho will encounter when he goes into the meeting room. It baffles Yunho in all honesty. He hadn’t expected that he’d be judged starting from something so mundane as where he chooses to sit. 

“You’re a pretty rare case though. Given your status as an Unmarked I would recommend that you sit behind San in this case,” Wooyoung suggests. “I know it’s probably beneath you, and anyways you earned the right to court San as per the rules of The Chase, but it might at least appease the Head Alpha.” 

Yunho hums, tucking Wooyoung’s advice into the back of his mind. He doesn’t really know what Wooyoung means, but perhaps it will make more sense when he’s there. 

“Hey, I’d like to ask you something,” Wooyoung says, coming to a halt. Yunho stumbles into his side, muttering out an apology when Wooyoung shies away from him. Clearing his throat, the omega rights himself and takes a couple steps back from the alpha to place more distance between them. 

“What is it?” Yunho asks, refraining on commenting on Wooyoung’s actions. 

“Do you—” he hesitates, “You like San, don’t you?” 

Yunho raises his eyebrows at the question. “Of course I do. Why else would I be here otherwise?” 

Wooyoung chokes on his words before he manages to cough out, “I just wanted to make sure,” he defends himself. “San is my best friend, and he hates the Captain because, well, all that man has ever seen is San’s rank.” There had even been a time where he thought that perhaps he could take over as Head Alpha given Seonghwa’s disinterest in finding an omega to mate, but Wooyoung doesn’t express that. 

Frowning, Yunho touches the bandages wrapped around his arms. San had dressed his wounds himself, but the cuts remain sore. Lifting his eyes back up to Wooyoung he says, “If you think I’m here because I’m trying to earn Marks in your village, you’ve completely misread me. I’m not the least bit interested in earning or wearing your Marks.” 

Wooyoung blinks at his response and asks, “Then how do you expect to mate San? There’s no way—” 

“I don’t really care how it happens as long as it does,” Yunho explains. “There are so many frivolous rules you people put in the way, but if I have to play it your way, I will. I only ask that you stop looking down at me because I’m Unmarked.” 

Wooyoung startles at Yunho’s request and turns away in shame. “I wasn’t trying to,” he murmurs quietly. 

“If that’s how you feel about those who are Unmarked does that mean you turned him down?” 

“Huh? Who?” 

“Jongho.”

Wooyoung freezes at the mention of the alpha who caught him just a couple nights ago. “You...you know him?” he asks. 

Yunho tilts his head to the side and, with a smile, replies, “Sure. He spent some time in the outlands, you know? He was just like most of you guys—completely out of his depths in the outlands. He learned though. He’s a good kid.” He narrows his eyes at Wooyoung who shrinks beneath his stare. “I heard he caught you too.” 

“He did,” Wooyoung acknowledges, clearing his throat. “I invited him to court me if he so wants.” 

Yunho smiles. “Ah, did you? I’m glad to hear.” 

He tries to move on, eager to get this meeting over with only for Wooyoung to reach out and stop him. “Um, wait!” the omega says, taking hold of the alpha’s arm. Yunho winces when Wooyoung irritates his wounds, and the omega quickly pulls back apologetically. “Sorry. Sorry! I just wanted to ask if you could, um, tell me about him. Jongho, I mean.” 

Yunho pauses at the request. “Sure, we can do that sometime, but for now I think there’s a meeting I’m supposed to get to.” 

“Oh, right!” Wooyoung flounders. “Um, this way. It’s this way.” 

Yunho has some clue of what to expect when Wooyoung slides open the door to the meeting room and ushers the alpha inside. San is sitting just a few feet in front of him, kneeling on a decorative pillow before both his parents. The Head Alpha and Omega sit next to each other although Yunho notes that San’s mother sits behind her mate. He guesses this is what Wooyoung meant when he advised Yunho to sit behind San to acknowledge his own low status. 

He looks over to Seonghwa who sits against the wall between the two parties as if he’s a referee. The alpha motions for him to take a seat near San, and Yunho stares at the omega’s back. The blond keeps his gaze fixed on the floor, not even looking at Yunho when he enters, leaving the alpha to his own devices as he figures out where he should sit. 

It feels like a stupid puzzle in Yunho’s opinion. Why should it matter? Sit in front of San because he’s an alpha or sit behind him because he’s Unmarked. Either way he’s sure he’ll lose in the eyes of San’s parents. Well, if it’s a losing situation no matter what, Yunho figures he’ll just do what he wants. 

Fiddling with his bandages, he takes his first step into the room, missing the way the Head Omega’s gaze narrows at him. Walking up to San, he lowers himself to his knees next to the omega, foregoing either cushions in front of or behind San. The omega finally seems to wake up, lifting his head up to blink at the alpha. Then he smiles when he sees what Yunho has done. 

“Ah. A cushion.” San reaches forward to grab one of the cushions, but Yunho stops him. 

“It’s fine,” he says, briefly meeting the Head Alpha’s eyes before looking away. The barely repressed anger in his gaze enough for Yunho to know immediately where he stands. 

“The Unmarked alpha,” the man mutters, eyeing Yunho from head to toe before he turns his ire to his son. “When you proposed that he participate in The Chase I only agreed because you said he wouldn’t be able to beat the Captain.” 

“I never said such a thing,” Seonghwa denies. “He had thrown in his bid to court San, and everyone was talking about him thanks to his lineage being leaked. I just figured there would be no harm in letting him participate since the Captain should have been able to perform better.” Yunho bites the inside of his cheeks, wondering if Seonghwa really means it or if he’s just a fantastic liar. “As it is, he’s clearly shown that he deserves a chance.” 

“He’s Unmarked,” his father spits out. “There is no world in which he deserves the chance to mate into our family.” 

“Well the rumors say he’s also the General’s son,” Seonghwa points out. “From what I know I can only assume it’s true, is it not?” 

Yunho perks up at the question. He’d been curious himself for a while. Could that rumor be true? San had presented it as fact, but Yunho had his doubts. His mother had never said anything on the topic, mostly reluctant to talk about his father when Yunho used to ask a child. He frowns, fingers digging into legs. Does it even matter? 

“So what if he is?” the Head Alpha asks. “He’s Unmarked. Worse than that, he was born Unmarked. Even if his father is the General there’s no one of lower status—” 

“Is that even really fair though?!” San cuts in. “Yes, he was born Unmarked, but since when was that a punishment we doled out?” 

“San,” his father spits out harshly, “What are you talking about?” 

“He’s right,” Seonghwa adds, sending his brother a harsh look. Clearly, he doesn’t want San to talk much. “It’s enough that his mother was sentenced to a life banishment, but you passed her sentence down onto her son. A life banishment is rare enough. I’d be curious as to what exactly she did to earn such a thing, but under what circumstances was it determined that Yunho is equally as guilty?” 

“Seonghwa!” he scolds. “You are in no position to decide that.” 

“I’m not,” the alpha acknowledges, “but one day I will be. Will I make the same kinds of decisions as you?” 

“I was just trying to protect a precious friend.” 

San shifts in his kneeling seat, struggling to hold back despite his brother’s clear instructions before. If he speaks he’ll likely only land himself and Yunho in even deeper trouble. But he still speaks before he can stop himself. “You did,” he says through gritted teeth. “But you unfairly punished someone else in the process. You’re still punishing him.” 

“San, he’s one Unmarked alpha,” his father says. “I’m not going to let him use you just so he can regain his rightful Marks. And anyways, you can’t be smitten just because he managed to catch you.” 

“Of course he can’t,” his mother agrees. Yunho averts his gaze when she stares at him, feeling uncomfortable. “This has been going on for a lot longer than we thought.” Seonghwa stiffens up at the accusation, and Yunho hears the way San audibly swallows. 

“What do you mean?” her mate asks. 

“San has been wearing a ring for a few months now,” she points out. “When I asked about it, he told me he shared one with an alpha he liked. I saw one on your finger when you walked in just now,” she says to Yunho. The alpha instinctively glances down, but it’s impossible to see the ring now with his arms folded together. “It matches.” 

“Mom, that’s—” 

“I don’t need to hear your excuses, Sannie,” she sighs. “I’m your mother. I know you better than you think. You planned all this, didn’t you? And you dragged your brother into it to make us believe you were unbiased. First you and now your brother,” she tuts with a shake of her head. “I just don’t understand. You are our children. You could have anyone you want as a mate and yet you settle for two people who lack quality.” 

“Who lacks quality!” San demands when Seonghwa presses his lips together and remains silent. “Why? Because of their Marks or lack thereof?” He looks to his brother for support, but Seonghwa appears unable to muster a response—perhaps too drained from fighting with them earlier while Hongjoong was present. “I saw the way you reacted when Hongjoong was here. If not for his Marks you wouldn’t have known his rank. That’s all they tell you anyways. They just tell you who they were born to.” 

“Who they’re born to is an important consideration too,” his mother argues.

“Why?” San presses. “Hongjoong was more than acceptable behavior wise, and Yunho has proven himself over and over again.” 

“Catching you in The Chase hardly qualifies—”

“He’s done more than that!” San protests. “He saved my life. He’s lived in the outlands all by himself his whole life. He’s a more than worthy alpha even if his mother—”  

“This is a farce,” his father interrupts. “You planned this whole thing out. How do I know you didn’t just let him find you in that case? I refuse to acknowledge his victory in that case.” 

San lurches forward like he’s about to stand up, but Yunho decides to finally speak. “You’re right,” he says, “this is a farce.” 

San catches himself as he falls forward and sputters, “What? Yunho!” 

“You have so many rules,” the alpha complains. “So many restrictions about who it’s okay to court and who’s worthy of mating who, this Mark means this and that Mark means that. I’m sick of your rules. I found your son in The Chase. According to your rules that means I have the right to court him and mate him if he’s so willing, so why do I have to be here trying to earn the approval of people who will never like me because I was born Unmarked. This is a farce.” 

“You dare—” 

“I’m not here to try and earn back any kind of Marks. I’m not interested in them. I’m not trying to use your son in any way.” Taking a deep breath, Yunho folds his hands on top of each other, palm down on the floor in front of him. He bends down and rests his forehead on top of them. It’s the only show of respect he’ll give them.  “I just ask that you honor your rules.” 

“I agree,” San chimes in. “And I do accept his claim.” 

The Head Alpha clenches his teeth together and turns his angry gaze to Yunho when the Unmarked alpha lifts his head up. “Fine,” he spits out. “Court him if you want, but I’ll not ever agree to you becoming his mate. Mark my words.” He waves his hand dismissively when Yunho lifts himself back up. “We’re done here, and I have nothing more to say to you. Leave at once.” 

Yunho releases a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding as soon as he steps out from the main room. He thinks he understands how Hongjoong felt after his meeting like there’s no real resolution or accomplishment to it. They hadn’t said they could stop Yunho, but they also refused to acknowledge him either. It was infuriating. 

San follows after him, but Seonghwa doesn’t come with him. “Yunho,” the omega calls, reaching out for the alpha’s arm. “Are you...are you okay?” 

Yunho turns to look back at him, his annoyance flaring for a moment because San said they could make this work. He believed that. “I’m fine,” he answers after clamping down on his anger. 

“I’m sorry about them,” he apologizes. 

Yunho shakes his head, brushing off San’s apology. “Don’t. I never expected them to like me or even approve of me when they abandoned me to the outlands since I was a child, but where does this leave us? We’re just back at square one.” 

“I can live out there with you—”

“No,” Yunho shoots the idea down quickly. “I told you before that the outlands aren't where you belong.” 

“It is if that’s where you are,” San insists. “You heard them. Maybe they don’t approve but they can’t exactly stop us either. I belong with you. Don’t you dare try to tell me otherwise.” 

“And I’ll never earn the right to Marks. I’m not allowed in your village. What will you do then?” 

“Change the rules,” San answers with unwavering certainty. “We’ll change the rules. Why should being Unmarked bar you from living in the village?” 

“San…”  

“You just said you earned the right to stand by me as my mate, didn’t you? Are you taking that back?” San glowers up at him, fingers curled into fists at his side. 

Yunho shakes his head. “No,” he denies. “I don’t care what other people think about me, and I don’t care that I’m Unmarked, but what can I do when I’m forced to live so far away? I’m not allowed here. I’m not welcome here either.” 

San’s lips curl up into a little grin before his expression becomes more serious. “I have an idea if you have the patience for it.” 

Yunho looks up from where he’s starting a fire when his front door opens, and San stumbles inside. The alpha knits his eyebrows together in concern when he sees the omega. “What are you doing here?” he asks, placing his lit kindling beneath the logs in his fireplace before he stands up to greet the omega. 

San brightens up when he sees that Yunho is working on getting a fire going, and he rushes over to the fireplace even though the flames are slow to engulf the wood. “What do you think? I’m here to visit.” 

Yunho frowns at his response. He’s happy to see San of course. It’s not easy to see each other all that often due to their distance and Yunho is still more or less an unwelcome sight in the village even if San’s parents have little authority to force him out anymore. However, looking at the clouds earlier today, it’s obvious that there’s going to be a pretty severe storm tonight, and it’s cold enough that he predicts there will be quite a bit of snow in the morning if the storm doesn’t continue through the next day. 

“Did you not see the clouds? There’s bound to be a snowstorm tonight, and it’s already late. You won’t be able to get home before it hits.” 

“I know,” San says with a grin. “That’s the whole point. My parents can’t get mad about me staying here for a few days if I literally can’t go back.” 

Frowning, Yunho places his hands on his hips and stares down at the omega. “San,” he says reproachfully. 

“What?” San whines. “Are you really going to protest us being snowed in together?” 

“I didn’t prepare.” 

“You’re always prepared,” San insists.

“It’s cold in here though. There’s still some repairs I should have made earlier,” Yunho protests. 

“You make a great fire though. We can just lay some blankets down here and cuddle,” the omega suggests, eyeing the living room area like he can already imagine what their makeshift bed will look like. 

“San—”

The omega turns to him with his arms held out to beckon the alpha closer while he hushes him. “No more complaints. I’m still working on finding a place for you within the village, but until then I’m okay with spending at least some time out here. I’m happy so long as you’re here.” 

Sighing, Yunho falls into the omega’s arms, holding him close. 

Not much has really changed for him. He still lives out on this little hill all by himself. He’s still Unmarked. San still feels unreachable. And yet his relationship with San seems to have changed. The little courting gestures between them remain, but they feel as if they’re happening with the intention, the promise, that it will become more. Despite their differences and the gap between them, it feels like their mating is more a matter of time and less an unobtainable fantasy. 

“How’s Hongjoong?” he asks. 

San hums, running his fingers up and down Yunho’s back and smiling at the way the alpha practically trembles in his hold. “He’s okay,” he answers. “He’s faced a lot of heat recently because he’s practically guaranteed to be my brother’s mate at this point. Seonghwa moved him to a private little house to keep him from it, but it’s getting better. I think some people are coming around and starting to like him.” 

“Well, that’s good,” Yunho remarks. “What about Wooyoung?” San bites into Yunho’s shoulder, satisfied when the alpha winces and tries to pry him off. “Sorry!” he apologizes profusely. “Mercy, mercy, mercy!” 

San lets up on the bite and presses his cheek there instead. “Stop asking me about other omegas,” he demands petulantly. “I mean, Hongjoong I understand but Wooyoung?” He huffs. 

“Sorry,” Yunho apologizes one more time. “I just wanted to know how they were doing. Especially Hongjoong, but I’m glad to know people are starting to like him.” 

“It’s the same for you, you know,” San tells him. “It helped that the official investigation into the matter officially determined that you did catch me first and that Captain was the one who brought the knife into the forest.” 

Yunho laughs, his chest rumbling against San who nuzzles into him. “You actually investigated?” 

“We had to,” San says. “It was my word against his. It was the only way to actually resolve the matter, and it helped anyways! Some people are starting to say that you should be allowed into the fold of our village. If we get enough pressure, father will have to cave. His ‘precious friend’s’ reputation is basically tarnished at any rate now, so there’s no point in continuing your punishment.” 

“I wonder how I’d do,” Yunho remarks. “I’ve never lived with anyone other than my mother before.” 

San lifts his head up from Yunho’s chest and presses their foreheads together. He says nothing for a moment, just leans against Yunho as his eyes trail down his face before pausing at his lips. He weighs in his mind whether or not Yunho will shove him off if he tries to kiss him. 

“Well,” he says to distract the alpha, “I guess we’ll have a few days to find out how you do living with your future mate.” Then he moves in for a kiss, his whole body heating up from a soft touch. He pulls away when Yunho’s hands begin to wander, fingers dipping below the waistline of his pants. 

“Where are your blankets?” he asks even though he knows exactly where to find everything he needs. “I’ll show you how great my nesting skills are.” 

Yunho cocks an eyebrow at the brag and questions, “Nesting skills?” 

Grinning, San leans in close to the alpha. “Our village seer predicts this winter will be harsh but short. Spring will be here before you know it.” Yunho frowns. Spring means his rut, and he hates them. “You still have a lot to learn about being with an omega, but don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything.” 

He walks away from Yunho with confident strides, on the hunt for his furs and blankets, but he doesn’t answer Yunho’s question at all. 

“What’s nesting?” the alpha calls after him, standing up to trail behind the omega.