Seungcheol threw himself even harder into work at the orchard, both to escape the time bomb that was growing inside Jeonghan, and because he knew he needed the orchard to be a going concern if it was to support the brothers once he was gone. He’d have his salary too, but Jeonghan and Junhui needed a purpose. They wouldn’t want to live off his charity.
He waited impatiently to hear back from Minghao, tempted multiple times to call and see if he had news, but he held himself back. Minghao had promised to contact him when he knew more. Seungcheol hassling him wasn’t going to speed that up.
“Are we expecting a delivery? Someone’s coming up the driveway.”
Junhui’s words broke Seungcheol’s concentration. He set down his tools and wiped a hand across his brow.
“We’re not. I’ll go see who it is.”
He wouldn’t put it past the sheriff to come nosing around now that Seungcheol had sought him out. He hoped Jeonghan had more pie to offer.
As he rounded the side of the house, he saw a familiar motorcycle abandoned on the drive. And there, at the front door, was Minghao.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” the beta said. “I feel like I’ve been driving around the countryside for hours. And that hill… At least I wasn’t on foot.”
“What are you doing here?”
Minghao made a face. “Is that any way to greet an old friend? One who has come to support you in your hour of need?”
“My hour of need?”
“Well, it’s not every day you get an omega pregnant, is it? And don’t give me that bullshit about a friend of a friend. We both know it’s you.”
Seungcheol pushed past his surprise and strode forward, pulling Minghao into a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
“I’m glad you said that. I was beginning to feel unwelcome.”
“Definitely not unwelcome. In fact—”
The front door creaked open, and Jeonghan peered out. Minghao turned, his eyes lighting up. “This must be your mate.”
“We’re not mates,” Seungcheol said quickly, wincing at the expression that crossed Jeonghan's face.
Minghao elbowed him, hard. “Well, why don’t you introduce me to your friend, and we can play at being civilized people?”
“Right, sorry. Minghao, this is Jeonghan. Jeonghan, my colleague and friend, Xu Minghao.”
“Just Minghao is fine,” the beta said warmly, stepping up to Jeonghan and throwing his arms around him in a hug. “It’s good to meet you, Jeonghan. I’ve heard almost nothing about you, except that this idiot here has got you in the family way and is running around like a headless chicken.”
Jeonghan stared at Minghao like he didn’t know quite what to make of him.
“You poor thing, stuck out in the middle of nowhere with two brutes of alphas. Don’t worry, I come bearing gifts. Ginger snap biscuits for the nausea, a heat pack for the back pain, and this lovely cocoa butter cream to keep the stretch marks at bay.”
Jeonghan’s gaze flicked between them.
“Seungcheol isn’t a brute. Neither is Junhui.”
Minghao sighed softly. “Oh, I know that, Jeonghan. But it’s not the same as having other omegas or betas around. Trust me, I speak from experience. Now, how about we go inside and chat? There’s a lot to talk about.”
YOU ARE READING
𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚́𝐧 || 𝐉𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥
FanfictionAn omega without a home. An alpha without a family. They need a pack-they just don't know it yet. Seungcheol put everything he had into fulfilling his father's ambitions, almost dying in the process. After a year spent recovering, he has one thing...
