Jeong Yunho left his home and everything he'd ever known. At 24 years old, he was yet to present and life under his Uncle's thumb was getting worse as the years went on. Yunho knew he had to get as far away as possible. When he found himself in the...
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Yunho sat in one corner of the carriage as the group made their way slowly toward the town. The same place where Yunho had first met Wooyoung and Mingi weeks ago. At the time, he had simply been a traveler passing through. He never expected to see the town again. Nor did he expect to find himself living in a mansion filled with a Pack that loved each other and treated him kindly. It was something unexpected, but Yunho was grateful.
San and Mingi talked with each other about the shops they wanted to visit. It was easy to hear them since their bench was directly across from where Yunho and Hongjoong sat. During the ride, Hongjoong watched Yunho quietly. The Pack Alpha often wanted to observe his Pack while they enjoyed themselves. However, this time, his focus was on Yunho.
To Hongjoong, Yunho’s presence, at first, had felt like a danger to those he loved. Yet something in him had demanded he at least let the man stay and heal. Hongjoong had acted merely as a way to protect his Pack and his Mate. All of them were so important to him that Hongjoong would burn the world if it meant keeping them safe. He knew his instincts were strong and sometimes he listened to them before thinking things through. Hongjoong found it amazing, that even after their more uncomfortable encounters, Yunho didn’t hold any animosity toward him.
In truth, Yunho intrigued Hongjoong. The way he carried himself was both confident and timid. It seemed he was raised in nobility, but wasn’t treated as one. Yunho spoke well and squared his shoulders when he was alone. Yet when he felt threatened or nervous, he seemed to make himself appear smaller. Hongjoong had heard from Wooyoung and Mingi, then later Seonghwa, that Yunho’s family wasn’t kind. He was vague about the details most of the time, but it was enough to understand. Then when Hongjoong learned of the suppressants that Yunho’s Uncle had been giving him, his instincts wanted to reach out for him. Out of his Pack, Yeosang was the only one who truly had a terrible upbringing but that didn’t mean that they had perfect lives. Hongjoong knew his instinct to care for his Bondeds had driven him before. Even then he had felt at war with himself.
Now, several days after Yunho had accepted his apology and his token of protection, Hongjoong’s instincts drew him toward Yunho once again. It didn’t escape him how much Wooyoung talked about him, or how Mingi brightened up ever so slightly whenever Yunho was around. Seonghwa, San and Jongho all liked his presence as well. However, the most surprising had been Yeosang. That day he came home to find his Mate sound asleep on Yunho’s chest burned a hole in his memory.
In the beginning, Hongjoong was fully aware that Yeosang only clung to him because he had rescued him from a terrible fate. And the fresh Mating mark made it difficult for them to be apart. Wooyoung was Yeosang’s biggest comfort when he first came to the mansion. Hongjoong’s heart was already broken for the Omega but seeing him completely fall apart in Wooyoung’s arms had shattered him. Yeosang had cried for hours while Wooyoung tried to calm him. Hongjoong withstood Wooyoung’s screaming when he saw the Mating mark on Yeosang’s neck. He allowed his Beta to berate him and yell until he couldn’t anymore. He felt a lot of guilt for things having turned out the way they had.
