𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫 || 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐖𝐨𝐧

Chapter 16

Mingyu watched Wonwoo’s leopard scale the tree next to the high platform, and then launch himself upward, clearing the wooden ledge by the skin of his teeth. The omega disappeared from view, and two long minutes passed. When he finally reappeared, Mingyu was surprised to see that he was in his human form. Concerned, he shifted back as well.

“Wonwoo?”

“I see two ways through. There’s one between the two oak trees, and some kind of passage through those hedges to the east. The hedge path looks more fun.”

“Fun sounds good. How are you doing up there?”

“Fine. The view’s fantastic. I wish you could see it.”

“Me too. How about shifting back and coming down?”

Wonwoo glanced around and looked back at Mingyu. Even at a distance, he could see the way the omega was biting down on his lower lip.

“Wonwoo?” he prompted.

“Yeah… about that. Going up in my shifter form was fine. But I can’t get down the same way. I have to climb, and I’m better doing that with two hands.”

“You’re joking, right?” Mingyu stood up from his crouch, trying to get a better look at the omega.

“No, not joking. It’s safer to climb down the platform until I can reach the tree than try jumping from here and hope none of the branches break from my weight landing on them. There’s handholds and everything,” he added, as if that made it better.

“We could get help…”

“It’s not that big a deal, Mingyu. Stop fussing. I’ll be down before you know it.”

Before Mingyu could utter another protest, he was climbing over the edge of the platform and grabbing one of the wooden legs that held it up, shimmying down it.

Moonlight bathed Wonwoo’s naked body, highlighting the smooth skin and flexing muscles of his back as the omega worked his way down. He came level with the tree, pausing for a moment and clinging to the pole.

“Why don’t you just climb down the whole way?” Mingyu called.

“The handholds end here,” Wonwoo called back. “It’s for monkeys, not humans, remember?”

Monkeys who’d have no problem moving from platform to pole to tree. But Wonwoo was very human.

“Be careful.”

“Do you think so? I was planning on doing the opposite,” Wonwoo shouted back with a laugh.

“You’re going to give me a heart attack,” he complained.

“Oh? And here I thought I was giving you a nice view.”

Wonwoo wiggled his hips, and Mingyu laughed hoarsely.

“Alright, alright. I get the point. Come down, please. As safely as you can manage it.”

“On my way.”

Mingyu waited, watching with bated breath as Wonwoo tried to move from pole to tree. The omega kept a tight hold of the pole with his knees and leaned his upper body over to take hold of a sturdy branch. Then, using that to lever himself, he swung his body over, reaching for the next branch like he was Tarzan. That was when his plan unraveled, the second branch creaking ominously as it took his weight. There was a crack, and then it split.

Mingyu’s heart stopped, and he started moving as he watched Wonwoo scrabble to grab onto the first branch again as he fell. And then he was gone from view, plummeting downward.