RA | YG [✔]

16.

"Why does your father still think you are dead?" Beomgyu asked when he had recovered from the shock.

"I panicked," Jungwon said haltingly.

"We met accidentally over a year ago," Taehyun said, taking Jungwon's hand as they sat down. "We share an interest in horses." Beomgyu saw the wobbly smile from Jungwon. "I'm terrified of them, but Jungwon loves them."

"You seemed to be an able rider, though," Beomgyu said. He'd woken up in the cart and watched Taehyun escort them inside.

"I fell off when I was thirteen and knocked myself out. I wasn't able to shift and heal for some hours and I had broken a bone. It mended, but it pains me sometimes, and it cured me of a fascination with horses. Anyway, long story short, as I got older, I knew I was going to have to conquer this ridiculous fear. I couldn't be Alpha and not lead my people, so I decided to fight fire with fire and took my father's most rebellious stallion into the fields, some distance away from where our gammas patrolled. I fell off twice before Jungwon couldn't bear to watch me any longer and came out of his hiding place," Taehyun paused. "Best day of my life." He lifted Jungwon's hand to press a kiss on his palm.

Beomgyu's heart warmed at the look of utter devotion that passed between them.

"We met in secret for months," Jungwon continued. "Then...the last time I sneaked away..." His voice faltered and his hands trembled, and Beomgyu immediately guessed.

"The village was attacked, and your life was spared because you weren't there," he answered.

Jungwon nodded miserably. "We don't know what to do. If our relationship is discovered, Jungwon thinks his father will turn his attention to Perse."

"The only good werewolf is a dead werewolf," Jungwon finger quoted. But it was obviously too much for him because he turned in desperation and buried his head in Taehyun's broad chest. Taehyun's arms immediately went around him.

"We don't know what to do," Taehyun whispered.

"You tell your father."

Everyone twisted in shock as Yeonjun's words registered. Taehyun jumped up in alarm, but Yeonjun walked over to them, closely followed by Hyunjin, and then bent down to Beomgyu, plucked him from the chair, and sat back down with Beomgyu now ensconced on his knee. "I missed you," he mumbled.

"The Alpha has retired. One of the humans showed us where your garden is." Hyunjin looked around appreciatively.

"It was my late mother's," Taehyun said, and after a second, firmly pulled Jungwon into his own lap, much to Jungwon's shock and Beomgyu's amusement. "She died three years ago. My parents tried for years to have another child, but unfortunately, they both died during the birth. There was nothing anyone could do."

Beomgyu put out his hand and squeezed Taehyun's arm. "I'm sorry."

"Our pack is small and not highly populated. We are also the only pack in the territory. There are outlying groups of wolves but no Alphas to make a cohesive pack. Most of our wolves are farmers, not fighters. If the humans came, I am frightened for what would be left," Taehyun said somberly. "I don't want to do anything to draw their attention, but..."

"You've mated already," Yeonjun finished, "so to separate the two of you would be impossible." He looked at Taehyun.

"Sire," Hyunjin said, "perhaps the best thing would be to take both of them with us."

Taehyun stared at Hyunjin in understanding. "Because the longer Jungwon stays here, the higher the chance of discovery."

"And the more likely you are to paint a target on your pack's back," Yeonjun finished and stood, depositing Beomgyu gently but keeping an arm around him. "Hyunjin, take Jungwon to the stables where the guards are sleeping. No one took much notice as we came in and hiding him among them will be easy. Taehyun, you need to go and talk with your father. We leave at dawn. I want to get to the boundary to Niandes by tomorrow night."