My favorite alpha [chanlix]

8. The Harvest Festival

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　☆　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

"Why can't I come with you?" Hyunjin whined as he paced around Chan's military tent, which doubled both as an office and a bedroom now that they were far away from home. The long tail of Hyunjin's robes dragged along the pelt-covered floor, making rustling noises in the dense silence.

It was already midday. The eerie light of the autumn day spilled through a tiny crack in between the tent flaps, kept open to allow fresh air sweep through the makeshift room which was filled with hazy tendrils of white smoke, drifting from an incense burner strung high up in the sloping ceiling, now and then jingling in its chains when the howling wind caused the whole structure to sway. The warm aroma of sandalwood that slowly settled over the room masked most of the underlying stench of grime and blood of the many battlefields that was deeply ingrained into the canvas fabric of the tent itself, causing Chan's sensitive nose to itch.

The alpha sat cross-legged on a flat cushion at the far end, facing the entrance. His elbows were perched against a handcrafted table in front of him, wiry hands laced below his chin as he followed Hyunjin's motions through the room with a bemused crinkle between his eyebrows.

It was almost a wonder that the tall omega had not yet managed to tangle and trip himself on the many layers of lustrous fabric that he was swept inside of, especially with the abrupt turns he did once reaching one side of the tent, twirling sharply around and then stomping over to the opposite end. While Chan had noted that Felix's apparel consisted of plentiful different cuts and designs, alternating between trousers and tunics, it was customary for northern omegas to wear solely layered robes due to the permanently cold weather of their highlands.

The over-robe was usually the sturdiest one, with a high collar, crafted out of lustrous furs and thick wools. The second robe was worn indoors or outside during the dreary northern summers and as such, it was the most intricate piece of clothing since it was customary to adorn it with beads and embroidery, complimentary of an omega's status for those packs that could afford the luxury. On other occasions such as political banquets, the ornate imagery could also be used as identification marks or even as an intimidating tactic, depicting haunting stories of important ancestral heritage of each pack. And lastly, the innermost robe was used as an undergarment of sorts, made out of soft fabrics to be worn comfortably against bare skin. Of course, with the long and dark winters being as bitingly cold as they were in the North, most omegas wore many more additional layers underneath once the vicious snowstorms hit.

It was a whole ordeal to venture anywhere outside during winter in the highlands. Most people, especially those who lived outside the capital, preferred to bunker up and stay in the warmth of their homes for as long as their rations would permit.

On this semi-cold autumn day in the South however, Hyunjin wore merely a thin, charcoal over-robe that complemented his fair skin and dark hair. Flashes of golden embroidery on red silk of the second layer could be seen now and then as he moved agitatedly around the tent. All in all, it was nothing too pompous since Hyunjin was planning to stay inside and away from any prying eyes. The golden forehead chain with the single gemstone had also been discarded, safely put away in his jewelry box, which was sadly void of any riches besides a couple of seashells that he had traded for with some other northern omegas and a couple of shimmering pebbles of fool's gold, but otherwise gaping empty until he found a mate that was worthy of him.

It made Hyunjin a little sad that he had to wait until he was mated to adorn himself with pretty things, because his family could certainly afford the ritz. In the meantime however, he found a sneaky way around this silly little rule by ordering grand and over the top bedazzled robes whenever the occasion arose. He could not have jewelry? Fine! Then he would have the most extravagant clothes instead. Pish. The courtship gifts were a bigoted boasting game anyway, a way for alphas to showcase their abilities and brag about how well they could provide for their potential mate. The more luxurious a mated omega looked, the higher people thought of their Alpha and their pack. It was never really about the omega and what they liked, or what they truly desired.