Our Way ||| Ateez

7

"Momma, can I get a snack please!" Avayla asked as she tugged on Seonghwa's hand.

"Sure baby, we will look for something. I need you to be good while we are in here though, ok?" He looked down at his daughter. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she looked around the small market. She just nodded in response and moved closer to him as a group of older kids walked by.

It was a little bit of a sensory overload. Mingi had driven them to the nearest human city, almost two hours away, to find some of the things that Maria needed. There were so many people around, it messed with his senses.

"We don't need much, right?" Seonghwa looked up at Mingi, noticing that he too looked on edge.

"No. Just some herbs and crystals."

"Good. I want to get home as soon as possible." The omega reached down to take his daughter's hand so he knew where she was.

He was impressed by how well she was behaving right now, but the wide eyes on her face told him that her senses were being overloaded too. She would mostly likely be showing signs of her wolf within the year.

They still needed to plan something for her birthday...

"This way." Mingi said, pulling them to the right and down a small alley. He had spotted a small spice shop tucked in the corner.

Stepping inside, Seonghwa knew they'd be able to find most of what they needed. Dried herbs hung form almost every section of the ceiling and there were jars upon jars of dry, ground, and fresh spices.

A kind old lady shuffled up to them and asked how she could help, and Mingi gave her his list. Avayla followed after her, watching with wide eyes as she sorted through everything.

Seonghwa poked around the store, loving the aromas that washed over him. But there was something that he had been wanting to ask Mingi and now that they were alone, he figured he should.

"What's wrong, precious?" Mingi asked, walking over as if he had sensed what Seonghwa was thinking. "I can see it written all over your face, so don't try to hide it."

Taking a deep breath, Seonghwa bit his bottom lip and looked up at his mate. "Why did you do it?"

The sigh that came from Mingi indicated that he knew exactly what Seonghwa was referring to. "Because I needed to know that they were ok. When San said they were locked in this form because of a spell... It made me remember when my father took over my mind and turned me against all of you. I'll never forget the horrible things I said about Wooyoung, or visiting Yeosang and mocking him in his cell..."

Tears started to well up in Mingi's eyes and Seonghwa took his hand to comfort him. The alpha's voice never wavered though.

"I had no idea that I was under a spell either. If anything, I thought my life with you was a lie... That... Being back with Lance and my father was where I belonged. That's why I locked the door. I know it was the foolish thing to do, but I was so scared that they would go after Ava and Theo."

Now Seonghwa turned to pull him into a hug. "You're right, it was foolish... When are you going to learn to talk to me about these things?" He reached up to cup Mingi's chin. "We went through this before with me finding out about you being from Alpha Pack, and again with your father. Mingi, I chose you as my mate. I chose to give you my heart." He fingered the necklace Mingi wore every day with the 'S' and 'Baby Girl' charms on it.

Mingi let out a loud sniff and buried his face in his omega's shoulder. Seonghwa could tell he was fighting so hard to not cry in public. "I'm sorry, Hwa."

The older hummed. "Have I ever told you that I love it when you call me that?"

"No." Mingi said, pulling back to smile at Seonghwa and run his hand through his hair.