HIDEOUT (Sequel to SHELTER)

5

"Kyungsoo and Jongin are practically inseparable. Has anyone else noticed this?", Zitao asked. Yifan was currently trying to cook a dead rabbit over the fire and Joonmyeon was sitting next to Zitao, shivering while wrapped in a thin fox pelt.

Yifan deemed the rabbit ready to eat and passed it over to Joonmyeon. "Eat it.", he said flatly.

"Thank you, Alpha.", Joonmyeon smiled shyly. Zitao rolled his eyes at the scene.

"Anyone gunna answer my question?"

Yifan huffed as he sat down next to his mate. "I agree with you. It is a bit strange to see my son so happy."

Joonmyeon tentatively bit into his skinned rabbit so he wouldn't feel the urge to speak. It was impolite for Omegas to join a conversation between two Alphas.

"I guess Jongin does seem a lot happier now. It's probably because he finally got to bed a pretty Omega.", Zitao laughed loudly.

Joonmyeon tensed at the words. Jongin was his son, so it was a bit uncomfortable to listen to this.

Yifan laughed too, "I guess you're right. I'm so proud of him finally becoming a real Alpha."

Joonmyeon didn't feel like eating any more of his rabbit. He placed it on the ground in front of him. He layed his head on Yifan's shoulder and wrapped the pelt tighter around himself. Yifan noticeably stiffened. In all the years of them being a mated couple, they hardly ever cuddled.

Zitao raised an eyebrow. "You couples make me sick. I can't imagine being so weak."

"You're only saying that because you couldn't get Hoseok pregnant.", Yifan said matter-of-factly.

Joonmyeon's eyes widened. He couldn't believe his Alpha had just insulted another Alpha like that. A little scared, he buried his nose into Yifan's shoulder.

Zitao only calmly replied, "Maybe if you let me have Joonmyeon for his heat, I'll prove to you that I can bread any Omega. I would love to see your mate swollen with my pups."

A low growl erupted from Yifan's throat. "You're crazy if you think you're getting anywhere near my mate during his heat."

At the mention of heat, Joonmyeon started to feel a bit nauseous. He hated his heat. He hated being unable to resist an Alpha's touch but it was a bit different now. Yifan had finally confessed that he loved him so maybe he would be okay with spending his heat with him.

Zitao narrowed his eyes. "I'm serious. You should be able to smell it too. He's going to go into heat in a couple of days and I'm going to breed him. Just wait."

Yifan growled. "Shut up! You're not going to touch him! Don't even try!"

Joonmyeon knew this conversation was going nowhere. He needed to step in. He looked up from Yifan's shoulder. He tightened his grip on the pelt and crawled over to Zitao. Yifan was watching silently.

Joonmyeon put his hand on the young Alpha's face. Zitao froze at the touch. "I know you're sad that BTS took Hoseok but you can't give up on looking for another mate. I'm sure there are many more stray Omegas that you can find."

Zitao slowly lifted the Omega's hand off his face. "Omega. I understand you're worried about me but please don't be. The only Omega I want to have now is you."

Joonmyeon blinked up at him. "But I'm already mated to Alpha Yifan. I love him."

Zitao locked eyes with the Omega. "You say that now but what if I were to go find Yixing? Then what would you say?"

Joonmyeon took a second to process. "Alpha Yixing?"

Zitao nodded. "Didn't you love him?"

Joonmyeon hadn't forgotten about his first love: Yixing. The Alpha had left the pack before Jongin was born, before Joonmyeon and Yifan even mated. He never thought he would ever get the chance to see him again after the way he left.

Yifan had enough. "Omega", he said sternly, "Go back to my den."

Joonmyeon was a bit startled. "Yes, Alpha." He scrambled to get up and ran into the den quickly.

Yifan got up and grabbed Zitao by the neck. "Don't ever say that name again! And don't touch my mate!"

Zitao nodded as best as he could. Yifan dropped him harshly and went off to his den, leaving Zitao with a new plan to get Yixing to come back.