TOAO | MW [✔]

Sixteen.

Wonwoo woke up sore, happy, and totally at peace with the world. When he turned his head, his neck ached and throbbed. The previous night, he and his alpha had made love for hours after their claim had been made. Afterward, Mingyu had filled the tub with warm water and carried him to the bath for the traditional bathing after the first mating night. He'd meticulously cleaned every part of him, not leaving an inch of his skin untouched. Wonwoo had felt his love and reverence in every gentle stroke of the washcloth over his tender skin. In those soft, loving moments he'd felt like the most loved, luckiest creature who ever lived.

He reached a hand up and touched the spot that was partially healed by Mingyu's licking, still scabbed over, as all mating bites were for the first week or so. He traced over the sore spot and started up a soft, involuntary purr. The sound roused his mate and a strong arm wrapped around him, pulling him back against the naked body of his new mate. Mingyu added his own low purr to his as he nosed over the nape of his neck. They didn't speak or move for a long time, just enjoyed the warmth and comfort of the morning and basked in their new mating.

Eventually, their quiet cuddling was interrupted by Mingyu's stomach growling. He hadn't eaten much at dinner, too distracted by his mate, so he was starving. Wonwoo giggled as the alpha's stomach let out a loud rumble and he rolled over to face his alpha so he could find his lips and press a soft kiss there. He curled his arms in front of him and leaned his forehead against the alpha's chest, snuggling in there for a few moments to enjoy his scent and warm embrace.

"Good morning, mate," Mingyu said, his voice husky and deep from sleep. Wonwoo giggled again, wiggling in his embrace happily as he pushed his little nose farther into his chest.

"Good morning, mate," Wonwoo returned, still bubbling with happiness.

Mingyu couldn't help but squeeze him tight in his arms and laugh with him. He'd never been happier than he was in that moment. He was mated. Fully and truly mated, and that made him the happiest alpha who had ever lived. For the first time in so long, he was just happy. There was no one and nothing that could reach him through the bubble of pure joy surrounding him, cocooning him with his mate in the early morning warmth of the bed...except his stomach, which wouldn't shut the hell up and let him enjoy his honeymoon morning.

"Let's get up and make breakfast, or else I'll be tempted to eat you instead," Mingyu laughed softly as his stomach gurgled and protested the lack of food.

"Ooh...Well, we wouldn't want that, would we?" Wonwoo purred out seductively. But before Mingyu could respond and crush him in his arms to kiss him, he rolled away and slid out of bed.

Mingyu just looked at his mate for a few moments as he stood there, totally bare in the peachy glow of morning filtering in through the gauzy curtains on the windows. The sunlight made his skin look impossibly soft, though Mingyu knew that it was far softer than mere eyesight could convey. His pale skin was softly flushed and matched with the glow of the early morning light. With his bare face, slightly puffy from sleep and his pale hair catching and reflecting the light, he was absolutely stunning. The alpha sometimes got a jolt of that and it was like he was seeing him all over again for the first time. He knew somehow that he'd never get over that. He would never stop seeing Wonwoo and just be stunned by his beauty and the fact that he was his.

The omega turned and made his way into the bathroom, and Mingyu scrambled out of bed to follow him, not wanting him out of his sight. He could feel his rut, just on the cusp of hitting him and even the idea of a closed door made him anxious. He knew he was crowding Wonwoo as they brushed their teeth but his mate seemed happy and content with his closeness, even if he hovered around him like a worried parent, full of an unfamiliar anxiety. It felt like if he couldn't see and touch his mate, that something horrible would happen. He knew his rut hormones were responsible, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with. When he was kicked out of the bathroom so Wonwoo could pee, he paced back and forth in front of the door, antsy to get back in. When it was his turn, he was sure he'd never taken such an efficient piss, which was a weird thing to observe, but factual. He was relieved, hands washed, and out the door in under two minutes. The second he opened the door and saw Wonwoo, he felt like he could take a deep breath again.