Destiny Makes Eight

Surprise Encounter

Yunho sat at the top of the steps that led down from the front doors of the mansion. A carriage stood waiting as the Pack members, minus Yeosang and San, scented each other. Yunho had been excluded from the venture into town because of his wound. If Yunho were being honest, he agreed. A bumpy carriage ride didn’t sound very pleasant even though the wound was mostly healed externally, though still sore under pressure. He also worried about leaving when he had no idea how his body was going to react to being without the suppressants for nearly a week already.

Doctor Park had said it could take months, if a presentation happened at all. Yunho knew that if he never presented, his life wouldn’t really change. He would just be a scentless Beta as far as the world was concerned. But a part of him struggled with the fact that something so fundamental had been taken from him. Withheld without his knowledge for years. He chastised himself for never questioning it. Never once believing his medication was the reason for his late presentation. How foolish he had been to trust the words of his Uncle.

Yunho sat more upright when he noticed Seonghwa getting into the carriage with Hongjoong, Wooyoung, and Jongho. His lips parted to voice a question but died on his lips as he watched Mingi giddily give his Luna a kiss through the window before the carriage started to pull away. Mingi spun on his heel and smiled when he saw Yunho still sitting on the steps. He hurried up them, two at a time thanks to his long legs, and knelt in front of Yunho a couple of steps below him. He placed his hands on Yunho’s knees and smiled.

“They’ll be gone until after lunch, maybe closer to dinner, I think.” Mingi explained then cocked his head to the side at Yunho’s furrowed brows. “What?”

“Seonghwa is going with them? Isn’t that…dangerous?” Yunho asked after a moment of watching the carriage disappear down the driveway, dust settling in its wake.

Mingi pursed his lips thoughtfully before he moved to sit next to Yunho. “That’s why we all scent him before he leaves. Hongjoong doesn’t want to keep Seonghwa or Yeosang trapped here. And Seonghwa recognizes the prejudices against Male Omegas. So this is the compromise. We all scent him, covering his Omega scent before he goes out. And two Alphas always go with him.” Mingi shrugged.

Yunho’s eyes shifted between the trees as he thought over Mingi’s response. It made sense to him but he wasn’t sure how trusting he would be himself if he had a beautiful Omega as a Bonded. His chest twinged a little with desire and he breathed in deeply. Yunho’s hands rubbed on his thighs before Mingi covered one of his hands with his own. Yunho looked toward him and couldn’t help but relax at the expression Mingi was giving him.

“You’re worried?”

“Mm…” Yunho nodded, his ears turning a slight shade of pink as he turned his face down.

Mingi laughed beside him and put his arm around his shoulders to hug him. “That’s so cute of you.” Yunho whined in embarrassment at Mingi’s words. Mingi let go and clasped his hands together, playing with one of his rings. “Jongho may seem docile but he’s quite strong. And if Hongjoong is there, no one will even think of looking at Seonghwa wrong. As far as the city is concerned, he’s one of Hongjoong’s Bonded Betas.”

“Does…Yeosang not want to go?” Yunho tentatively asked. He looked at Mingi, hoping the heat in his face would fade quickly.

Mingi frowned a bit and scuffed one shoe on the stone step below them. “Yeosang… he never leaves the mansion. Not since he came here a few years ago.” He looked off into the distance as if recalling something unpleasant.

Yunho’s stomach twisted as he thought over the implications of Mingi’s response. He hadn’t been told much about Yeosang and how he ended up there. It wasn’t their story to tell and Yunho understood that. Yet he couldn’t help but be curious about the mysterious Omega. After learning he’d met Yeosang before, Yunho couldn’t seem to get his mind off of him. The way he moved so elegantly even with the veil covering his features. The pretty little chain around his pale ankle and soft, flowing clothes. Everything seemed alluring yet mysterious and Yunho felt a burning desire to know him. He was surprised that Hongjoong was even willing to leave with Yunho still there. But Seonghwa had assured him several times that they knew Yunho didn’t mean any harm. Perhaps the Luna had somehow forced the Head Alpha to leave for a bit. Besides, San was still around.