Brethren

6

"Why am I always the one who has to get send to buy stuff? I'm no good at negotiating!" Sungmin whined, letting Leeteuk place the large bag of hides and preserved meat on his back.

"Because Hyukjae is too lazy to do it and I've got to stay here to look after the others. Besides, you've got Yesung with you too!" Leeteuk said with a smile. It was a sunny day, and he knew it would be a long walk for them both.

Yesung just stood at the back of the room and watched Sungmin and Leeteuk. They looked like a father and son from his perspective.

"Well why can't you send Kangin or Shindong or something?" Sungmin whined again, and Leeteuk ruffled his hair affectionately

"They're out hunting. Now if you start walking soon, you'll both be back in plenty of time for dinner. I've packed you both lunches and I want them all eaten when you come back, ok?" Leeteuk said.

Yesung and Sungmin nodded. "Yes, mum." Yesung said patronisingly.

Leeteuk just laughed. "Go on, both of you. I'll see you later!"

Sungmin laughed softly and walked with Yesung out of the room and on the long path to the city. It was about an hour's walk, but it wasn't too hot and Leeteuk made sure they had multiple waterskins with them. Leeteuk's orders.

They walked a portion of the way in silence before Sungmin spoke up. "Do you ever think you're going to get mated?"

Yesung normally wouldn't talk about something like this with anyone else, besides maybe Ryeowook, but he knew that he could trust Sungmin with something like this. Once you told Sungmin something, he'd never repeat it.

"No. No, I don't think so." Yesung said with a small frown. He held his hands behind his back as he walked, and shuffled his feet on the dusty path. "I think Ryeowook has changed his mind about me."

"Really?" Sungmin asked, sounding genuinely concerned "He was so smitten with you... do you know what happened to change his mind?"

Ah, a good complain. There was nothing that would help Yesung feel better more than a whine about something.

"I think it's Kyuhyun. The other day, they smelt so strongly of each other, and I saw them come out of the forest together giggling. I think Ryeowook's moved on. He wouldn't have wanted me anyway, I'm just a good for nothing beta." Yesung shrugged. He felt very pitiable right now.

Sungmin frowned and reached up to rest his hand on Yesung's shoulder "Whatever you are, if Ryeowook can give you up that easy he's not right for you. But hey, now that you're on these city trips with me we get to meet lots of new people. Maybe we could find you a mate there!" He suggested.

"Why? Are you chatting to anyone there?" Yesung asked inquisitively, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe..." Sungmin said bashfully, cheeks starting to turn pink.

"Tell me! Who is it?" Yesung was eager to find out now, he really wanted to know who this mystery person was.

"Not telling!" Sungmin pouted "But she's so cute and pretty and funny and charming and smart-"

"Aww, our Minnie's in love!" Yesung stopped walking to wrap Sungmin in a tight hug "When we get there you've got to show me her, ok! And you have to tell me all about her on the way."

Sungmin laughed and wriggled out of Yesung's grip "Oh, Fine." He said with a playful roll of his eyes. "We met a couple of months ago, she's from a separate pack and we met at a stall-"

——

Donghae grabbed Hyukjae's hand and pulled him down to the river a short distance away from their camp. Here it was peaceful, quiet, and most of all, empty. No one would come here for a long while, since people tended to wash in the evenings. They were blessed with the beautiful scenery where they lived, and the river was no exception. Water fell from a waterfall some ten metres up, gathered in a pool and then flowed down a river for as far as the eye could see. It was heaven.

Donghae and Hyukjae had been having these trysts for a few days now. When the alphas were busy, they'd tell Leeteuk that they were going to swim for a bit. He'd let them go, and then they'd run down to the pool. Being constantly washed by the water meant that they never left any scent on each other.

Donghae stripped first, and within a few moments was diving headfirst into the pool of water, floating on his back once he resurfaced. Hyukjae followed soon after, wading in since no one had ever taught him to dive like that.

Hyukjae took the omegas hand and pulled him under the waterfall, getting them both drenched from head to foot. Now that they were hidden behind the crashing water as well, Hyukjae sat on a wet rock and Donghae crawled next to him, pulling his head closer and kissing him.

Hyukjae would be stupid not to reciprocate. He held the omega's head in his hands and held him close, bodies flush against each other. He had been waiting so long for this, they couldn't ask to swim so much or Leeteuk would get suspicious. They loved their pack mum, but he was very overbearing at times.

"You're so damn pretty when your whole body is soaked" Hyukjae said, making Donghae blush.

"You're pretty too... really pretty." Donghae replied quietly, running a hand through Hyukjae's hair, pushing it back.

"Baby, you're gorgeous though. Every inch of you." Several kisses were placed over Donghae's shoulders and neck, making him twitch slightly.

Donghae just whined. No matter what they did here, there were some boundaries they'd never cross and some itches he'd never get scratched. Oh well, at least he tried.

Donghae lay down on the rocks and watched the waterfall, Hyukjae sat next to him. "Ugh... I can't help feeling guilty, but I love spending this time with you." He admitted out loud for the first time.

"I'm the one who'll pay attention to you, baby. I can give you what you need." Hyukjae said, pecking Donghae's lips. "If he won't mate you, it's his loss"

"But I wanna be with you too... at the same time." Donghae said "Fuck these stupid alpha rules! I don't wanna have to marry someone I don't like!"

Hyukjae pulled Donghae into a hug "We'll sort something out, don't you worry baby. Siwon will have to move on soon"