𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚́𝐧 || 𝐉𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥

Chapter 22

Jeonghan came back to himself to find someone holding his hair out of his face and a cool compress pressed against the back of his neck.

“Do you think you’re done, or do you want to sit here for a while?” Minghao asked.

“I’m done,” Jeonghan told him, surprised to realize that the beta was standing a few feet away with a glass of water in his hands. That meant it was Seungcheol standing behind him, holding his hair and mopping his brow.

“Just take it slow,” the alpha said, helping him to his feet.

“I… I don’t understand,” he whispered. “Four babies? I can’t have that many. And in only a few months?”

“Shh.” Seungcheol wiped his face with the cloth, every movement slow and gentle. “I know it’s a lot. Try to take it slow.”

“Why aren’t you mad?” In Jeonghan’s experience, when things went this badly wrong, the alpha’s anger got the better of them, and the omega was always the one to blame.

“I’m not mad,” Seungcheol assured him, even though that hadn’t been his question. “Concerned about you, confused, guilty. All those feelings. But what use would being angry do either of us, huh?”

“It might make you feel better?”

“If I was angry?” Seungcheol asked, his forehead creasing in confusion.

“If you had someone to take it out on.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Jeonghan saw Minghao take a step forward. But then Seungcheol’s hand was on his chin, gently nudging his gaze around so they were eye to eye.

“That’s not how this works, Jeonghan.”

He had the sense that Seungcheol was furious, but the alpha’s voice and touch were so very gentle.

“My feelings are my problem, whether that’s anger or anything else. Taking it out on you, or anyone, is wrong. That’s something kids learn, Jeonghan. If I’m ever angry, even if I’m angry because of something to do with you, you’ll never be the target of that anger. I have ways of dealing with my emotions, just like everyone. And they don’t involve taking my temper out on people who don’t deserve it.”

“Like… like when I ran away, and you pulled me from the river? You were angry but you took care of me anyway.”

“Sure. I was upset that you’d run instead of talking to us, that you’d been hurt, that you’d almost drowned. But I was angry at myself for not seeing that you needed help. And no matter how angry I am, it’ll never stop me taking care of you.”

Jeonghan let the alpha gently enfold him in a hug, taking as much comfort from the embrace as he could. Seungcheol was all mixed messages. He’d made it clear he didn’t want Jeonghan, and yet here he was, exactly where Jeonghan needed him to be.

They helped him back to bed before Minghao shooed Seungcheol from the room.

“Go stomp around and brood, like you’re good at. Jeonghan and I need to gossip.”

Jeonghan sat up, uneasy at the idea of Seungcheol leaving.

“I’ll make you some tea,” the alpha offered. “And you can try those cookies that Minghao brought.”

Knowing that Seungcheol was coming back allowed him to relax a bit. He was taken aback when Minghao kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed next to him.

“You’ve been through the wringer, haven’t you? And I’m not just talking about the pregnancy.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”