Love Unexpected [2/11]

[london9calling]

Title: Love Unexpected
Pairing: Xiumin/Luhan
Warning: Unbetaed
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Seoul is a dangerous place for wolf human hybrids, extermination orders have been carried out on their species for over a decade. Amidst this life and death reality exist two hybrid pack leaders- one from the streets and the other hidden among the highest rungs of society. When they are forced to work together their lives will change forever – for better or for worse.

Part 1 / Part 2

Wolves generally did not have hallucinations. At least not normally. Luhan wondered how he had ended up hallucinating, because that had to be the only rational explanation for Minseok walking into the Angel Café and stalking straight over to him.

“We need to talk”

Luhan was not sure if he should try to pass his hand through the obviously fake Minseok or just stay silent.

“Minseok hyung! What brings you here?” Jongdae greeted the newcomer, putting down the coffee pot he was holding mid pour.

So Jongdae saw him too? Then…

“Hi Jongdae. I need to talk to Luhan.” Minseok said quickly, turning back to Luhan, “Can we talk here or…”

So he was real.

“Uh, we can go in the back.” Luhan motioned for Minseok to follow. Now that he knew he wasn’t hallucinating he was filled with anticipation – why would the one wolf who seemed to completely hate his guts come waltzing into his café?

Once the two men were seated in the back office Minseok blurted it out:

“I need your help.”

Luhan was not sure he was hearing things correctly. His help?

“But you hate me?”

“Yeah, well I still kind of do but I don’t’ have a choice unfortunately. The cops found out about us and we can’t go home. So….since you guys already know about us and because you made that stupid offer…”

“Are you going to join our pack?!” Luhan tried not to sound too excited but failed.

“No, I don’t want to join your pack. But we need a place to stay.”

Luhan considered Minseok’s request for a moment. Of course he wouldn’t join the Eastern Dawn pack so easily. But this was a step in the right direction. Over the last week it had not become lost on him that two members of his own pack had been ranting and raving about certain members of the Cloud Mountain Pack – it couldn’t have happened in a more perfect way if he had planned it himself. Well, there was the whole Minseok still hated him bit, but they could work on that.

“You can move in with us.”

“Huh? With you? Um, I was wondering if you knew of a place where we could stay safely, not necessarily…” Minseok was shocked Luhan never even asked the reason why they needed a place to stay.

“Yeah, it is safe at our house. You won’t find a place that is safer for a hybrid in all of Seoul.” Luhan answered firmly. He could be confident and imposing when he set his mind to it, and this was one of those times.

Minseok stared into those dark eyes. He did not register any kind of deceit. What he did register was not in his eyes, but was with his nose- how powerfully he could smell Luhan’s scent. He tried to ignore it, but it had become apparent since he had first met the pack leader of the Eastern Dawn pack that his scent was stronger than the other wolves he had encountered – for good or bad.

“You like my smell.” Luhan said, staring back at Minseok just as intensely, “I like how your scent too.”

Minseok felt a heat creep up his neck. What was going on?! He broke eye contact and cleared his throat.

“No, I don’t like your scent. But I do need a place to stay so I will accept your offer on a couple of conditions.”

“Like?”

“You will stop asking us to join your pack. You will realize I am the leader of the Cloud Mountain Pack and you won’t try to tell my pack members what to do. You will stop staring at me like that.” Minseok said firmly.

“Done.” Luhan averted his gaze so he would not “stare like that”.

“And you won’t ask about our past or what we do for a living.”

“Done.”

“One more thing”

“Tell that pup Sehun to stop calling Tao in the middle of the night to talk about dramas. It is annoying.”

“Done- since they live together they can just talk in their rooms. Now I have one condition for you.”

Minseok was not sure he was ready to hear this condition.

“You’ll try not to hate me until you get to know me.”

Yep, Minseok was not too fond of this condition but in his current circumstance he did not really have a choice.

“Done.”

“Great, you guys can move in now if you want. I’ll call Sehun and Jongin to help.” Luhan smiled. Minseok groaned internally. This was certainly going to be an experience that is for sure.

***

“Hyung…have you ever been in a house this huge in your life! And owned by a wolf to boot!”

Minseok shook his head. Tao had not been able to shut up about the house since they had gotten there with their meager belongings. It was getting annoying. Sure the house was huge – okay it was fucking ginormous – but that was obvious. He didn’t need the pup telling him that. Luckily he was saved from more oooohs and ahhhhhs when Sehun showed up, still in his school uniform.

“Tao! I mean…hey Tao.”

If that kid could be more obvious. Minseok shook his head. It was kind of cute.

“Sehun! We are going to be roomies!” Tao ran over to Sehun and the two of them went off together, chatting merrily. Minseok was relieved, he felt like for the first time since that knock on their door he could breath.

Minseok had been given a room in the eastern wing of the cavernous house. It was a nice size room, white with bold primary colored accents. In fact all of his pack with the exception of Tao had been given their own rooms. It was something else to think of how much money the place cost, sitting with enough room for seven people with the addition of five more. He had guessed by the way Luhan dressed, by the way he had melded into society enough to become a student that he had financial resources. But this was kind of ridiculous. How could a hybrid accumulate so much wealth at such a young age?

“My Father had a lot of friends.” Luhan said, approaching Minseok and answering like he could read his mind. Minseok was standing on the landing on the third floor, taking in the sight of the gardens that sprawled over the back part of the estate.

“Must be nice” Minseok muttered.

Luhan just nodded. He knew Minseok was coming from a far less wealthy, far less secure past.

“Well it is your home too.” Quickly realizing he had made a mistake with his words due to Minseok’s eyebrow raise he corrected, “For now anyway.”

“Yeah, for now. Until this whole thing dies down.” Minseok confirmed.

“Well, for now make yourself at home. I thought it might be a good idea if everyone had dinner together tonight, you know to get to know each other and all. See you at eight?”

Minseok nodded. A dinner with both packs? This was sure to be interesting…

***

Kyungsoo was not thrilled to be in their new home. He had a definite distaste for those who had it easy in life, especially if they were of a hybrid nature. The cloud mountain pack had struggled for too long on the streets for this to be comfortable or normal or anything to be happy about – knowing that the Eastern Dawn pack had lived in such luxury. It was a little frustrating to tell the truth.

Kyungsoo sighed. He had just organized his new room, the first room that belonged to him alone in his life. Now he was not sure what to do. Normally he would go out and pickpocket, maybe steal something from a store. But Minseok had ordered them all to stop all illegal activities for now. It was too dangerous with the police looking for them. Now he had free time - what to do. Finally, after some minutes of boredom he decided he might as well just take a shower and lay down for a nap. Maybe he could watch a movie on his phone.

Kyungsoo took off his shirt, throwing it on the bed. He walked towards the big armoire at the corner of the room to retrieve a fresh change of clothes when he heard a gasp.

“Oh my god…”

Kyungsoo whirled around. Shit, he had forgotten to close the door. Standing in the doorway was one of the Eastern Dawn pack members. A Jong-something. He had seen him once before when he was prowling around near the University, but they had never formally met. And now he was gaping at Kyungsoo, shock on his face.

“Who did that to you?!”

Kyungsoo did not have to ask what he meant. Instead he went to the door and slammed it without a word. It was the scars. Hee had seen the scars that crisscrossed Kyungsoo’s back. Deep and wide, they were there to always remind Kyungsoo of where he had come from. And he did not feel like explaining it to the rich kid. Not now, not ever.

***

“Take it back!”

“You take it back!”

Snarls, more snarls. Then some crashing. A vase knocked over, shattering into jagged pieces of blue and white porcelain.

“Break it up!” Yixing dashed into the sitting room to find two wolves preparing to tear each other’s necks out. He could see one of them was Baekhyun, he would know one of the Eastern Dawn pack’s omegas anywhere. He also knew Baekhyun was probably the only omega he had ever met that would fight anyone – alpha or not.

The two fighting wolves did not listen to Yixing’s words and continued biting and clawing at each other. Baekhyun had the larger wolf pinned down on the floor when Minseok burst into the room shouting, Luhan hot on his tail doing the same.

With both pack leaders present the wolves broke off their fight. It was one thing for Yixing to tell them to stop, an entirely different situation when their pack leaders did so. Both creatures shifted back to human form.

“What in the hell is going on here?” Minseok demanded, looking from Chanyeol to Baekhyun and back to Chanyeol.

“He made fun of my height!” Baekhyun whined.

“And that is a reason to kill him?” Luhan asked, pissed off that it had not even been six hours with the new pack in the house and a fight had already erupted.

“He said I look like a big eared freak.” Chanyeol chimed in, sending death glares at Baekhyun.

“If you don’t stop it I will kill both of you” Luhan practically growled the words.

“Don’t tell my pack what to do” Minseok glared at Luhan.

Luhan narrowed his eyes “Then keep your pack in line.”

“I could say the same to you” Minseok spat back.

The two leaders stared each other down, the air tense. No one else dared to move, instead just waiting to see what happened between the two strong willed hyungs.

“You must be Minseok.” The possibility of a fight was killed by the fortunate arrival of an older female entering the room. “I am So Ra, the elder of the Eastern Dawn pack. It is so nice to meet you.”

Minseok eyed the woman’s outstretched hand, looking from her hand back to her face. She was a stylish woman. She was far from a young woman but there was a youthfulness that painted her face, a spark that lit up her facial expression. More importantly she looked kind. He took her hand, returning the greeting.

“I see some of you have been playing. I hope we can all get along in the future.” So Ra looked over at Baekhyun and Chanyeol (who was hilariously covering his nakedness with a throw pillow, his face bright red as he nodded in greeting).

“Good. Now let’s go have dinner.”  So Ra smiled sweetly. This was certainly going to be interesting.

***

Dinner was, indeed, interesting. Baekhyun and Chanyeol kept giving each other the evil eye from across the table (where they had been seated as far away from each other as possible). Luhan noticed that Jongin spent most of dinner staring at the little omega, Kyungsoo. He would have to ask him about it later, there was sure to be a story here. Jongdae and Suho would not shut up about anime, which had the rest of the group groaning. Minseok thought it was the most he had seen his second in command talk in a while.

Sehun and Tao kept feeding each other, with the younger blushing furiously and then trying to play it off like the air conditioning was not turned up enough. Yixing launched into a story about the secret life of plants and how they could actually talk to each other, which is why he thought be a vegetarian was a fabulous idea – but it was all a sad thought since he couldn’t resist meat due to his wolf nature.

So Ra tried to guide the dinner conversation, asking the new comers questions that had nothing to do with their past and everything to do with their personalities (you like the hot weather? Oh, so do I. What do you think about gardening? What television shows do you watch?). Meanwhile Minseok and Luhan stayed unusually quiet, that is until Luhan blurted out an invitation.

“Minseok, would you have a drink with me in the library after dinner?”

Minseok was prepared to turn the invitation down, that is until Luhan spoke the words “I need to talk to you about the police and their interest in your pack. I received some news.” Hell, now he couldn’t say no.

***

Luhan’s “news” was less news than a reason to get Minseok to have a drink with him. It seemed Luhan had some sort of connection with an “in” at the police force. He heard that there were wolves in Minseok’s old neighborhood that were causing trouble, which is something Minseok had guessed given the fact the police had been around. Luhan had no other information – such as what they had done or who they were.

“I don’t see how there could be wolves I did not sense. At least not near our flat.” Minseok remarked, taking another drink of his brandy. He had to admit that expensive alcohol was far tastier than the cheap soju he was used to.

“That is the question.” Luhan finished his own drink, pouring another after he had refilled Minseok’s glass.

When Luhan was filling his cup, his face still in concentration, Minseok caught his smell much stronger than before. It was heady and intoxicating and- oh god, what was happening. His head felt light. He had a very high alcohol tolerance, he couldn’t be drunk, could he?

“Something is going on and I mean to find out what. In the meantime I guess we should all lay low” Luhan put the decanter back on the side table and sat down. Swirling the amber liquid in his glass he looked at Minseok. It was amazing, sitting here with him. He took a deep breath, drinking in Minseok’s scent. It was something he could not explain, how much it attracted him. Which is why he needed to ask the next question.

“Minseok, how old are you?”

“Twenty two.”

“You have to be joking? So am I!” Luhan smiled. But then it just made everything more confusing. How could he be twenty two and still not a confirmed Alpha or Omega?

“Congratulations on being my age.” Minseok retorted. He could certainly be snarky when he wanted to be.

“I should say the same to you. So….you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to but umm…you have never gone through the change, have you?” Luhan’s eyes were wide, anticipating the answer.

Minseok could not believe Luhan would ask him that.

“No, I haven’t. And if you want to start discussing how that makes me a freak at my age then I suggest you shut the hell up. I came from a lab- remember? We don’t all have such a rich past, “Minseok gestured to the room around him, anger lighting up his eyes, “Thanks for the drink.”

Luhan could only stare after Minseok as the man slammed his glass down and stormed out of the library. Luhan suddenly had a headache. This was not going to be easy, that is for sure.

***

It had been a few days since Luhan had so off handedly questioned Minseok’s alpha status. The two had largely avoided each other, that is until Luhan had enough and cornered Minseok outside his room.

“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you about it. Forgive me?”

Big pleading eyes, check. Sincerity…well, Minseok thought maybe Luhan looked sincere. Oh, and that scent, so close and inviting.

“Please, I am really sorry.” Luhan said, hoping it would be enough. He had felt like going crazy over the last few days, getting off to such a bad start with his new houseguest.

“Don’t do it again pretty boy. I forgive you.” Minseok couldn’t believe what had just come out of his mouth. Pretty boy? That scent was doing things to his head.

Luhan smiled widely. Pretty boy?! Minseok could have sworn he jumped up and down slightly too.

“Thanks. I have a present for you.” Luhan announced, pulling something out of his pocket and handing it proudly to Minseok.

It took Minseok only a few seconds to identify the documents. Papers. Identification papers. Luhan must have used whatever resources he had to purchase them.

“I don’t want these.” Minseok handed them back, “And if this is a way to impress me you failed.”

One time Luhan had seen Sehun punch himself in the face. Luhan never understood it until now. As Minseok stormed off, mad again, Luhan had a burning desire to punch himself in the face. Hard.

***

“Hyuuunnnnggg, I am bored!” Tao whined, trying to look cute so his pack leader would give in. All he wanted is to be out of the house for a bit.

“Hyung, I think it would be safe for us to at least take a walk. The other pack has been going to work and school and-“Suho, a voice of reason, spoke up from where he was standing next to Tao.

“We aren’t the other pack” Minseok snapped. He immediately felt sorry for doing it. He was taking his anger at Luhan out on his own pack members, which wasn’t fair. “Fine, take a walk. But be careful.”

“We will! Suho Hyung, let’s go!” Tao jumped up and down in excitement. Finally they would get a chance to be out of the house. As spacious of an abode as it was, it was still inside and far away from the rambling streets that Tao loved.

Suho mouthed the words thank you to Minseok as he was dragged behind the giant maknae. Time to take a walk.

***

Being a lookout was the worst. Suho hated it. Anytime he went along on one the pack’s jobs he was usually stuck the lookout job; largely because he was a piss poor pickpocket, he could not shoplift to save his soul, burglary was impossible for him (too clumsy), and his only real skill was being observant. He hated it.

Of course it was the way the Cloud Mountain pack had survived on the streets and how they had eventually afforded the flat they had to leave (thanks to that bastard Chanyeol). But still, Suho hated that the criminal lifestyle was the only thing they had to fall back on. Living with the Eastern Dawn pack had made that hatred only grow – they were hybrids with jobs. They went to school, had driver’s licenses. All because they had papers that told the world they were in fact human.

Suho heard a noise. He looked down the street, seeing nothing he went back to watching the front of the store. The walk that he had went on with Tao was supposed to be for fresh air only, but old habits were hard to break. Tao had spotted a Gucci knock off bag in a store that he wanted – which meant he would steal it. Suho tried to lecture him the fact they had a place to live, and hence they had no reason to be thieves but there was no reasoning with Tao where fashion was concerned. And that is how he ended up in this situation, eyes scanning the area for the police or any other immediate threats.

It seemed to be taking Tao a lot longer than normal. Suho sighed heavily. He wished he could see inside of the store. And then it happened - so quickly he was not really sure where the person had come from. Well, it wasn’t a person – a hybrid to be exact.

Suho’s back hit the building wall. He tried to recover (summoning the strength that all hybrids possessed) in order to push the unidentified person off of him. It was swift- a bite to the shoulder and Suho was dropping in pain. He stared up and saw a man with ruffled hair that was dyed purple. He was dressed in leather, a dark glint in his eyes.

The man easily picked Suho up by the throat and threw him back into the wall. Suho hurt all over, but he managed to counterattack. He lunged for the man’s midsection, hitting with a thud. The man took the blow well, grabbing Suho again and punching him in the stomach. His fist did the trick and Suho gasped for air, falling to his knees in pain.

At that moment Tao appeared. So did a few more hybrids, who started the attack on Suho anew. Fists flew. Tao managed to subdue the first attacker with strong kicks and a rage that could not be contained. Blood splattered on the pavement as one of the newcomers landed punch after punch to Suho’s face.

Tao turned towards the two hybrids attacking Suho and mustered as much fighting strength as he possessed, throwing one then the other off of his hyung. But these hybrids were different somehow. Not only did the lack any discernable wolf scent until they were practically on top of you, they also seemed to have a stamina that any hybrid Tao met before did not possess. This was not good. They were stronger, better.

Tao threw another punch, and then a high kick. One of the attackers landed hard on the pavement. Suho tried to stand, but gurgled, his mouth bloody.

Sirens sounded- a break in the tense fighting commenced. Tao was surprised when the three hybrids perked their heads up at the noise. They quickly stood and ran, leaving a bloody and battered Suho and bruised Tao watching them flee.

“Hyung, we have to go” Tao whispered, tears in his eyes upon seeing Suho’s condition. He felt like it was all his fault. How could he be so stupid! He slung Suho’s arm over his shoulder and hoisted him up. Time to get home, and fast.

***

“Oh my god! Suho!” Jongdae came running, a feeling of dread taking over his entire body at the sight of the battered man. Suho was leaning against Tao, who was also bleeding from cuts on his face and arms. But Suho, god he was bloody and broken beyond recognition.

“Luhan! Minseok!” Tao called out, setting Suho down on the sofa. He had made it back to the house in record time, fearing for his hyung’s life the entire time.

Minseok came running at Tao’s shout. He had a feeling something was wrong. Terribly wrong. And unfortunately he was right. His heart sunk at the sight of his pack member- injured and weak.

“What happened?!” Minseok rushed to Suho’s side, taking stock of the damage.

“Hyung…they attacked us. Three of them. I went into a store-“

“Fuck Tao, were you shoplifting!” Minseok felt like ripping out the pup’s throat, his anger boiling.

“I….it is all my fault” Tao started crying harder, hanging his head in shame.

“Damnit. Get him upstairs Jongdae” Minseok felt like throwing up. Why was everything so wrong anymore?

***

Both packs met that night to discuss what had happened. Suho was in bed, recovering. Jongdae had refused to leave his side. In a way it was comforting knowing someone else cared so much for the second in command of the Cloud Mountain Pack, Minseok thought.

Tao had been crying and apologizing since he had arrived home, leaving Minseok to eventually tell the pup it was alright, he did not blame him despite his previous harsher sentiments. He didn’t blame him in all actuality, he blamed himself. If he had not told them it was okay to go for a walk, if-

“Don’t blame yourself.”

After the meeting Minseok had gone out to the back gardens for some fresh air. The packs had decided it was best to keep their guard up, listen for any information on the new pack, and leave it at that. Going out to search for them, especially when the new pack was rambling around so far from the house, would be reckless and possibly lead the hybrid strangers to their home.

Minseok sighed. “It is my fault.”

Luhan stood beside Minseok, staring at the small pond that was holding the burdened gaze of the leader of the Cloud Mountain pack. “No, it isn’t. You didn’t know.”

“But if I had done more – if I had told them no, if-“

“You can’t change the past, Minseok.” Luhan’s voice was low, comforting. Minseok felt the tears coming. He didn’t want to cry in front of Luhan but his emotions said otherwise.

“I….do you have identification papers for everyone?” Minseok whispered.

Luhan was honestly surprised Minseok was bringing that up now. But in a way it made sense. If Minseok was blaming himself for their lifestyle, a way to be more human would give his pack a way out of a life of petty crime. They could get jobs, go to school.

“Yeah, I do. Just say the word.”

“Please.” Minseok whispered, the tears starting to flow.

Luhan nodded. Without another word he pulled Minseok to him, holding him in a tight embrace. Minseok did not move, did not struggle to get away as he normally would. Instead he buried his face in Luhan’s shoulder, weeping silently for all of the things he blamed himself for. For once it felt good to have a shoulder to cry on.

***

Sehun had spent the last few hours trying to get Tao to unfurl himself from the weepy ball that he had thrown himself on his bed. It was a hopeless task.

“Tao, everyone knows it is not your fault. Seriously. And plus, you need to treat those cuts on your face.”

“Hunn-ah, It IS my fault”

“Jesus Christ Tao!” Sehun finally launched himself on Tao, prying his head up and his hands away from his face. It did the trick- Tao looked up at Sehun in surprise.

“Let me see those cuts. Are you hurt anywhere else?” Sehun started examining Tao’s face tenderly, moving to his neck and finally his arms. Tao had strong arms, nice arms. Sehun could not help but admire them even at that moment.

“Take your shirt off.” Sehun ordered.  Tao just stared at him in shock. “I said take your shirt off. I need to see if you are injured anywhere else.”

“My…shirt.”

“Yeah. And if you don’t do it right now I will do it myself.” Sehun looked at Tao, crossing his arms to show he meant business.

Tao’s tears dried, a blush crept over his face. He looked down at his t-shirt, bloody from the fight.

“Do you want me to undress you?” Sehun asked, a newfound confidence boosting his words.

“Undress me?” Tao gulped. What was he feeling all of a sudden? What was this warmth that was spreading through his body? Damnit, he was supposed to be immersed in a fit of self-pity, not feeling bashful.

“I kind of want to.” Sehun blurted out. Now was not the time to be saying things he usually thought about in the dead of night, when Tao was sleeping in the bed across the room from him. It was a painful string of thoughts that had intruded his devotion to Luhan; a painful string of thoughts that he had a hard time reconciling. But after seeing Tao crying, Tao with cuts on his face, Sehun’s mind was made up. He needed to see what this was and if undressing Tao was the key then he would…enjoy it. He was done being bashful, at least until Tao was acting like his normal self.

“You…want to… undress me?” Tao said slowly.

“Yeah.”

“But I am just a horrible, no good wolf.” Tao pushed Sehun from him and ran to the bathroom, locking the door behind him with a click. Tao’s loud weeping resuming when the door was shut. He had to continue this pity party! Oh, and he was not exactly comfortable with what Sehun’s words had done to his cock…

“Aish… Men” Sehun laid back on the bed, guessing it would be a long night of waiting for Tao to get the hell out of the bathroom.

***

“What do you like to do?”

It was a simple question that provoked a lot of thought. A few weeks had passed since Suho and Tao had been attacked and the general craziness had died down. Tao had finally stopped crying while Suho was on the mend. More importantly the Cloud Mountain Pack were now documented humans, thanks to Luhan.

Minseok and Luhan’s relationship had thawed little by little, but they were far from best friends. Minseok usually tried to avoid Luhan if he could help it- still unsure of what his scent and his words and actions did to him. Because they definitely did something.

Minseok and the rest of the pack had been adjusting day by day to their new reality. With identification papers they could get jobs, go to school, and even learn to drive. Sometimes Minseok thought accepting Luhan’s offers of human legitimacy made him a hypocrite, but his doubts were quelled as soon as he bore witness to a beaming Kyungsoo announce his new job as a baker (one of his hobbies) at the Angel Café. And then there was Chanyeol, who became a host at a nightclub (his dream job). And then there was his own situation – and Luhan’s loaded question. What did he like to do?

One night he made up his mind. He liked to learn. He had always liked to read, to gobble up any information he could get his hands on. And one thing he liked learning about more than anything was history. It was the foundation of decision making- what came before- and it fascinated him.

“It’s Minseok” He knocked on Luhan’s door, knowing the other man was still up. He had learned over the last month that Luhan slept about as much as he did.

Luhan opened the door “Come in”

Minseok had trouble moving for a moment. And that had absolutely nothing to do with the fact Luhan was leaning against the door, shirtless, wearing only navy blue pajama bottoms that hung a little too low for Minseok’s comfort. Happy trails indeed.

He managed to compose himself, avert his eyes from Luhan’s abdominal region, and sit down in one of the burnt orange chairs that made up the sitting room in Luhan’s chambers.

“You asked me what I want to do- I want to go to school.”

“That is great news!” Luhan clapped and smiled. Minseok had long ago noticed that when Luhan is happy his face contorts into something that is far from the staid, handsome image that is projected during his more serious times. Lately Minseok had begun finding that facial expression endearing, which was a very conscious problem that bugged him.

“I want to study history. If I can, I mean.”

“Of course! You can come with me tomorrow and enroll. The spring semester will start up in two weeks. According to any computer system worth referencing you were a stellar high school student. You will have zero problem attending university.”

“Really?! That is great” Minseok smiled that gummy, crooked smile. Luhan couldn’t help but stare. He liked that smile. Only Minseok could smile like that.

Minseok noticed Luhan’s eyes focusing on his lips. That is when the reality of the situation hit him- a half-naked Luhan and a seductive look and not to mention that scent that was invading his thoughts and-

“Good night!” Minseok abruptly stood and made a beeline for the door.

Luhan watched him go, smiling. It seemed like Minseok was starting to notice things. Things that Luhan had noticed himself over the last month. Like how much he wanted to see Minseok under him, how much he wanted to kiss his small mouth, how much he wanted to see what Minseok looked like shirtless, moaning his name.

Keep it cool Luhan, he told himself, one step at a time. Patience wins the game.

***

The University was anything but the bustling place it turned into when the semester started. It was still winter break with most students having returned home for the vacation. Minseok had tried to look halfway decent for his visit to his future school (his first school ever to be exact). Tao had teased him about taking so much time getting ready, while Suho had given him a cheesy thumbs up. Kyungsoo had asked him to find out about culinary arts classes while Chanyeol was still sleeping off a hangover he had picked up from last night’s festivities. And Minseok, well he had butterflies in his stomach as he approached the enrollment office with Luhan.

“Don’t worry” Luhan smiled at him, grabbing his hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze, “You are just going to drop off your transcripts. Don’t sweat it.”

Minseok smiled back at him, until he caught himself. He yanked his hand away from Luhan’s and mumbled a thanks.

Thirty minutes later his transcripts and registration were things of the past and he was sitting in the Angel Café across from Luhan, sipping an Americano.

“Jongin-ah, we need more flour.”

Minseok could hear Kyungsoo ordering the younger about from the kitchen. Kyungsoo had seemed taken by the Eastern Dawn’s youngest alpha. The two were inseparable anymore, watching movies and baking and playing video games and generally being glued to each other at all times.

“When Kyungsoo goes into heat I think we are going to have some news.” Luhan muttered.

Minseok nodded, “I am guessing so.” He did not hate the idea of the sole omega of his pack mating with someone from Luhan’s pack. In the times before the purge a pack leader would have had been more protective of their omegas, but that was when hybrids were more numerous and pack laws dominated everything. After the purge it was less stringent, and it was all about survival of individual packs- not the social order of the species itself. Plus if Kyungsoo wanted to mate with Jongin Minseok would be the last one to tell him no, even if that meant his own pack was devoid of a hybrid to carry young.

“So, how did you guys all end up working here?” Minseok asked. He had never before questioned it, but he had noted the staff at the Angel Café seemed to consist of the Eastern Dawn pack only.

“I own it.” Luhan took another drink of his coffee.

“I should have known.” Minseok had tried to give up on understanding exactly how Luhan came by so much money or how much he owned, but it still floored him at times. “What else do you own?”

“Hmmm” Luhan seemed deep in thought, “Well, the house of course. The café. Oh, and then there is the university.”

“You own the university!”

Luhan laughed, “No! I was kidding. But there is a hotel.”

“Wait! You own a hotel and you had us move in with you?” Minseok couldn’t believe it. That tricky bastard.

“Yeah. I wanted you to live with me.” Luhan said, his gaze steady and heated.

Minseok averted his gaze. “Jerk.” He muttered.

“What did you call me?!”

“Nothing, Luhan.” Minseok drank the rest of his coffee with one gulp, “I need to run out and get Suho his medicine. Thanks for the coffee. See you later.”

Minseok waved to Kyungsoo and Jongin as he made a hasty exit. Luhan was doing something to him, something he was not so sure he liked. Minseok was not ready for feelings that made his insides feel the way they did around Luhan, not when he had a pack to lead.

***

“Jongdae?!” Suho was sitting up in his bed, reading a manga. His constant companion since his injuries, Jongdae, had excused himself to go to the bathroom. That was a half an hour ago. Suho was getting just a tad bit worried. Okay, a lot worried, hence calling out for his friend.

“Suho…you need to go away.” It was Jongdae. His voice was shaky, he sounded ill.

“What? Are you okay?!” Suho had been laying around for the last few weeks, recovering from the vicious fight with the mysterious hybrids. In that time Jongdae had been around, nursing him, cheering him on almost constantly. The two had become closer with each passing day. They shared their love of anime, their love of mocking people behind their backs, their love of variety shows, and their love of taking the high road when people got petty (even when they could be far pettier). And never once had Jongdae told him to go away. Hell- he was in the bathroom adjoining Suho’s bedroom! What right did he have to tell him to leave?!

“Are you okay?” Suho yelled. No response.

Suho got out of bed and knocked on the door. There was no response so he tried the handle. It was locked.

“Suho, please.” It was more of a whine. “Go..away”

“Are you okay? Do you have food poisoning or something?”

“Nooooooo…Suho, just go”

What was wrong with his friend’s voice? It was all low and husky and…..ohhhhhhhh. The smell hit him. It was so strong he wanted to shift immediately. It was sweet, seductive and he would do anything to have it. And he was not alone.

The door to Suho’s room burst open, a very hung-over Chanyeol standing in the doorway. Without another thought Suho launched himself at Chanyeol. Jongdae was his, and he would protect that with his entire being, injured or not.

***

Minseok arrived back at the house to find Chanyeol sitting on the front lawn, an ice pack on his face.

“What in the hell happened?” Minseok asked, surveying his injured pack member with visible concern.

“Jongdae is in heat.” So Ra answered for Chanyeol as she stepped out of the front door, wrapping her cashmere shawl tightly around her shoulders.

Minseok’s mouth made a perfect O. Of course he had seen this before-Kyungsoo was an omega after all. And when that happened the rest of the pack went a little crazy- okay a lot crazy. But Minseok had yet to go through any change, so it had never affected him - or Tao (who had yet to confirm his status), giving them the unique role of keeping the horny alphas away from the omega. It required a lot of force, a stun gun, and lots of deadbolts. Minseok prided himself in how well he had protected Kyungsoo (who had often voiced his desire to NOT mate with anyone in his pack) during the two times that had happened. But now, now was different. Jongdae was not in his pack.

“Suho is with him, we should let them be.” So Ra sat down next to Chanyeol, rubbing his back to comfort him.

“What does your pack usually do at times like this?” Minseok asked.

“We stay at the hotel.” So Ra replied.

Of course the Eastern Dawn pack didn’t need stun guns and punches and deadbolts- they had a freaking hotel.

“I already called Luhan about it. We should let the others know and then leave ourselves.” So Ra stated.

Minseok nodded.

After calling the rest of the hybrids So Ra took Minseok aside.

“You may not know, but if you do I am not telling you to insult your intelligence. When one member of the pack goes into heat, the others are not long to follow.”

Minseok had not actually known this. He had been too young when he lived with the Cloud Mountain pack – at least in all of its glory when it consisted of several alphas and omegas- to notice the pack’s sexual goings on. In the lab nothing was explained when it came to wolf behavior and after the lab he was with juveniles and then only one omega emerged among them.

“What do we do?” He asked her honestly, not sure.

So Ra had a strong desire to pinch the honest expression, the chubby cheeks that looked at her so earnestly. But that would be out of line. As an elder she had more sense than that. Instead she gracefully answered the wolf’s question:

“The president’s suite at the hotel is equipped for this. But basically we let nature take its course.”

“What do you mean by letting nature take its course?” Minseok was not sure this was a good thing, at least not without an explanation.

“Minseok-ah, wolves mate. The suite is equipped to hold the omegas in isolation, but I am not one to stop them if they want an alpha and that alpha is willing. It is their choice.”

“Won’t all of the alphas fight?”

“In a group this size you would be surprised.” So Ra said, leaving Minseok with those words to ponder.

And ponder he did. What bothered him more than anything was a thought that crept up on him- what if Luhan went after one of the omegas? What if Luhan mated? He felt a pain in his chest at the thought, causing even more inner turmoil. Why did it matter if Luhan mated? It wasn’t like he liked him or anything.

Minseok sighed heavily. Time to go check out the hotel.

***

The Hotel Eastern Sun was impressive. Impressive enough to further Minseok’s annoyance that Luhan had the Cloud Mountain pack move in with him and not into the hotel. It was a selfish act, really.

The Presidential suite at the hotel was on the top floor- Minseok had always thought rooms at the top floor were called penthouses, but what did he know.

“Do you like it?” Luhan asked after giving Minseok the grand tour. Luhan watched Minseok’s expressions closely, wondering if this additional show of wealth would cause a kick in the shins or worse- a verbal bout leaving him feeling like he messed up yet again.

“It is..nice” Minseok answered, walking towards the floor to ceiling windows that gave a to die for view of the city of Seoul.

“Thanks.” Luhan admired the view himself. It had been awhile since he had been here- after all it was far more profitable for guests to occupy the five thousand dollar a night suite than for the pack to crash here.

“Why don’t you work here instead of the café?” Minseok asked.

“I am not really a suit and tie kind of guy.” Luhan brushed a hand through his unruly blonde hair. “I have good people that run this.”

“You are young to have all of this” Minseok gestured with his hand, describing “all of this” with a sweep of his hand.

“I don’t deserve it.” Luhan answered. It had been a few hours since the rest of the pack had gone to their rooms, under the close supervision of So Ra. The woman was a lifesaver. She had the omegas (and Tao) in individual rooms, which were locked from the outside yet completely accessible from her own chambers. The alphas were given one large room – with the master suite cleverly reserved for the leaders. Of course Minseok didn’t know that detail yet, or he would probably be busy throwing Luhan through the window.

“Why?” Minseok asked. It was an honest question. Even after a month he knew little to nothing about Luhan’s childhood. Mostly because he told himself he could care less where the spoiled wolf came from.

“Because my father is the one who made it all. Earned the respect- I just walked into it” Luhan’s words were honest, full of sadness and longing.

“So you are a spoiled rich kid?” Minseok handled sorrow with humor, even if he half meant his words.

“Pretty much.” Luhan answered, “Well, spoiled rich wolf.”

Minseok chuckled. “How did he make so much money?”

“Honestly I am not entirely sure. But there was a large bank account and plenty of connections waiting here when So Ra brought me into Seoul. To me, my Father was a leader, an Alpha, a person of respect that led us in our forest home. We didn’t live like this… when I was growing up. When I got here I had money…I just made more of it.”

After some moments of silence the pair made their way to the suite’s balcony. The overhang offering fresh air and a closer look at the nightscape, which was dancing alive with neon lights. Luhan grabbed some brandy, handing Minseok a drink. It was quiet for some time, both men admiring the city view before them.

“I barely remember my Father.” It was spoken in almost a whisper- a small but welcome confession to cut the silence of the night.

Minseok had no idea why he said it. This was personal- and Luhan was the last person he wanted to share personal, deep dark thoughts with. Maybe it was the brandy, the night air, or something else- but he felt like talking.

“What do you remember? What was he like?” Luhan asked. This was the first time Minseok had mentioned his past- well other than when he was yelling at Luhan for not knowing what coming from a lab felt like. Luhan knew he should tread carefully, but he also wanted to know. After reading a portion of Minseok’s profile he had burned to know more. But his desire for Minseok’s personal history was rooted in something other than simple curiosity; Luhan wanted to know how wronged Minseok had been. Luhan wanted to understand how to protect him.

“He was grey, like rain clouds. When he shifted he was huge…or at least that is what I remember.” Minseok spoke sadly. “He used to tell me that Mount Halla had been our home for centuries; that we were there to protect it.”

“You are from Jeju Island?” Luhan asked. Of course he knew that Minseok was from Mount Halla, but he couldn’t let Minseok know that he had read a good number of government documents outlining this fact.

“Yeah. Mount Halla. It is beautiful there. At least what I remember of it.”

“It is.”

Minseok felt a slight pang of jealousy nearing that Luhan visited his home territory. But then again Minseok had no means to go back, he should curb his jealousy.

“He was well respected. He wasn’t the leader…his brother was leader of the pack. But Father was still so proud…”

“What was the leader like?”

“Larger, fiercer, and far angrier than my father.” Minseok flashed back to those times- when everything- even in a pack setting - were not fully of love and sunshine. It hurt seeing his Father attacked. It hur-

“My Father used to say that little wolves who did not listen to their parents were eaten by a giant cat.” Luhan said, trying to at least lighten the mood a little. The purge had ripped everyone apart- large or small the packs had fallen. The pain was there, and the pain before the purge was present as well.

Luhan realized this. The wolf packs had always lived by a brutal code – a broken relic that was destroyed by the purge. For better or worse. Sometimes after So Ra indulged in a story of old Luhan thought it was for the better the wolves had changed – at least towards their pack members.

“Never heard that before.” Minseok cocked his head at Luhan’s story, curious.

“Yep, a giant cat would get you at night. I used to have nightmares” Luhan smiled, then downed the rest of his brandy. “I still hate cats to this day. Tricky little beasts.”

“You would.” Minseok smiled the gummy smile that took Luhan’s breath away. Minseok recalled his own pack legends “I remember a very old wolf in our pack. He told stories of wolf gods. Of how wolves used to be the kings of the land but humans came. Humans that were inferior because they lost their wolf powers.”

“Don’t tell that to a human.” Luhan smiled.

“I won’t.” Minseok nodded. After a few seconds he spoke again, his tone far more serious “Where would we be if the purge had never happened…?”

Luhan kept quiet, thinking about it. If the purge had never happened his parents would still be alive. The Eastern Dawn pack would still be flourishing – one of the largest packs in Korea and probably the most esteemed.  If the purge had never happened he would be learning how to lead from his Father. And he would not be here with Minseok-which made him feel a certain way.

Minseok broke the heavy silence first “I shouldn’t ask questions like this. The past is the past, right.”

Luhan nodded wistfully. It was, for better or for worse.

“So, are we taking bets on how annoying Suho and Jongdae’s pups will be?” Minseok shifted the conversation to something more light hearted. Plus he honestly wanted to know Luhan’s take on the situation. After all their packs were bordering on family now, whether the two leaders liked it or not.

“If we keep them away from anime…maybe bearable?”

“Ha! Yeah, I know. It will be nice though - if there are pups.”

“Yeah. They will probably be cute- until they develop Jongdae’s snarkiness that is.” Luhan smiled thinking about tiny pups in the house. It felt like a bright light among everything – a new generation of wolves that did not have to witness their pack’s slaughter via the purge.

“And Suho’s self-righteousness.” Minseok added, shivering. It was still mid-winter in Korea and the cold air got to him despite the light jacket he had thrown on.

“Time to go in, leader” Luhan grinned, “We can’t have a frozen Minseokkie”

Minseok smiled back at Luhan until he caught himself. Did Luhan just call him Minseokkie?

***

Sehun was reading a fashion magazine. Well, not just any fashion magazine. It was Vogue, thank you very much. He flipped the pages idly, hoping the heat would come and he could get it over with. By over with, he internally reminded himself he did not want to be mated. If Luhan wanted to fawn over Minseok with the stupid hair and stupid face then he would just stay single thank you very much. Even if he wanted to take Tao’s shirt off.

Sehun’s phone rang, playing the latest hit from Justin Bieber.

“Hello?”

“Sehun-ah, it’s Tao. I thought you might be bored so I called.”

“Yeah, I am kind of bored.” Sehun leaned back on his bead, crossing one leg over the other he began twirling his hair absentmindedly. “But not really. So what are you doing?”

Tao had been put into his own chambers as his status was yet to be determined. He had whined about it, but So Ra was a force to be reckoned with

“Nothing! I hate sitting alone. I am so bored Sehun-ah. You know I hate being bored!”

Sehun giggled, “Yeah, I know. So, I was reading Vogue-“

“This month’s or last?”

“This month’s, what do you take me for?!” Some days Sehun could not comprehend where Tao was coming from.

“Sorry. So what is the latest?”

“Boring. Denim suits are back apparently. Anja Rubik’s on the cover. She says zero things about Miranda Kerr in her interview so I skipped it.”

“You and Miranda. Geez, I almost think you like her.”

Sehun giggled on the phone.

“Not exactly. I mean, she is cute but I kind o-“

A few seconds passed in silence.

“Hun-ah? Hello?”

Silence. Tao checked his phone, the call had been ended. He tried calling again but there was no answer. Geez- he thought the Miranda Kerr question wasn’t that shocking.

***

Knitting was therapeutic to Kyungsoo. Even more so given his current circumstance. He balked at being locked up on a room like a criminal – all because he could maybe, potentially go into heat. Minseok and Tao had protected him just fine before. These precautions seemed too extreme- hell, a stun gun would be far better than being stuck here.

He reached the end of one chain and considered the next color he should add to the afghan. He had a lovely baby blue that would complement the blood red yarn he had knitted perfectly. He picked up the yarn and began untwining the end, then his phone rang – his ringtone “Billionaire” startled him, causing him to drop the yarn.

“Yeah?” He answered far more tersely than he had intended.

“Kyungsoo? Hi!”

Kyungsoo’s face lit up. It was Jongin-ah!

“How are you?” Kyungsoo asked, picking up the ball of yarn as he balanced the phone.

“Good. We just got done playing a video game.”

“Don’t sit too close to the television or you will strain your eyes!” Kyungsoo scolded.

“I know hyung. What are you doing?”

“Knit- I mean, I was just reading War and Peace and some Notes from Underground.”

“Again?” Jongin always felt stupid when he heard about Kyungsoo’s hobbies. Who read Russian novels for fun?

“Yeah, I can’t help it.”

“I guess not. Hyung, I was thinking- when this is all over we should really go to this neat place I found. You get to paint and glaze your own pottery. We could make a Kyungsoo and Jongin rules vase!”

Silence.

“Kyungsoo?!”

“That’s a great idea. I got to go Jongin. Have a great night.” Click.

Jongin was confused how their call ended so quickly. He went back to playing video games with Chanyeol and Yixing, but was a tad bit worried what had happened to his hyung. That was until the intercom crackled.

“Jongin, this is So Ra. Please come see me when you have a moment.”

Chanyeol and Yixing practically dropped their controllers, staring with envy at Jongin. He blushed furiously. So…what was this all about?

***

When Minseok had realized he was sharing a room with Luhan he wanted to protest. His objections were quickly shot down however.

“I hate reasoning it out, but it is true. You are safe here, you aren’t an Omega.”

Minseok nodded. It was true after all, he had not gone through a change. But he wasn’t an Alpha either, which played in the back of his mind. What if…

“If anything changes I will call So Ra.” Luhan said, trying to put Minseok’s mind at rest.

“Okay. Well, you will sleep on the floor, right?” Minseok eyed up the king size bed. He was still hesitant to sleep on it with Luhan.

“Are you afraid I like you?” Luhan teased.

It had hung over them since they became more comfortable with each other. But it was a question that was far from being answered.

“No. You shouldn’t, because I don’t’ like you.” Minseok stated. It was partially true. He still disliked what Luhan represented. The other side of Minseok’s answer, which remained unspoken, was what Luhan did to him. He struggled to keep separate the irrational, less disciplined thoughts from his more principled feelings on the other man.

“You kill me with your words” Luhan clutched his chest and fell on the bed in mock pain.

“Good” Minseok sat on the edge of the bed, taking his socks off. “If you touch me I will rip your throat out.”

“Yes sir” Luhan answered. He picked up a remote and pushed a button, all of the lights except the lamps on the side tables turned off.

“Really?!” Minseok side eyed him.

“Do you like sleeping in the light?” Luhan countered.

Minseok rolled his eyes. He laid down on the edge of the bed, resolute to be nowhere near the leader of the Eastern Dawn pack. Luhan shook his head and smiled. He laid down on his side, sleep soon overtaking him.

***

It was a low and throaty sound.

Luhan was deep in sleep, his mind wandering over his house and So Ra redecorating it in bright pink and atrocious Hello Kitty decor. He hated his dreams sometimes. The noise woke him up. He squinted, trying to find his bearings.

That is right- he was in the hotel. The side lamp was on, casting shadows on the wall. It was the noise again. And then the smell. God the smell. He needed it, wanted it.

It was a strangled sound of passion. A moaning. And the scent – so sweet and inviting and intoxicating, god the scent…

Luhan turned over to see Minseok next to him, writhing. His face was flush, his lips moist and parted, his eyes practically glowing. He had never seen anything so beautiful in all of his life.

“Mine” He spoke it without thinking, without considering the meaning. Something he had never felt before had been awoken up deep within himself. A burning need that had to be sated. The only thing that mattered, “You are mine.” It was a promise.

Part 3