Love Unexpected [4/11]

[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 / Part 3 / Part 4

A late winter snow fell over Seoul, blanketing the grounds of the Eastern Dawn Pack’s estate in a veil of glistening promise. Luhan needed that promise, especially given the fact his mate had slammed a door in Luhan’s face twice that day.

The first time it had been simple- Luhan had knocked and not getting a response he had entered the room. And then Minseok backed him out of the room and slammed the door.

The second time Luhan had come bearing food. Minseok took the food and slammed the door again.

Luhan zero, Minseok two. This was not the way things were supposed to happen.

“Maybe you should apologize..” Yixing muttered, sick of seeing his pack leader sulk about the house.

Luhan shot him a glare that was worthy of any drama mother in law.

“What would Hyung have to apologize for?” Sehun asked. He was seated with a blanket over his lap, reclining in one of the overstuffed chairs in the largest living room of the estate. Tao was next to him, well as next to him as he could be (he was sitting in the adjoining chair).

“I would say there is something to be sorry for….Minseok Ge doesn’t get this mad for nothing.” Tao replied.

Sehun scrunched up his face in annoyance and looked at Luhan, “Well then did you do anything hyung?”

“He is mad I started the fight.” Luhan muttered.

Sehun scoffed. Tao punched him lightly in the arm in warning.

“You kind of did” Yixing. Leave it to Yixing to side with the enemy. Well, not exactly the enemy – but the dire opposite of what Luhan wanted to admit.

“So you think I should just apologize to him, even if I didn’t do anything wrong?” Luhan asked. Seriously, this relationship stuff was harder than he had ever thought it would be.

“Maybe? I mean if that will solve everything.” Yixing suggested.

Luhan considered his second in command’s advice. Would it really be that easy?

***

Minseok was sick and tired -of flipping channels. Granted he was not exactly in the best physical condition either, his injuries from the fight had left him tired and in need of rest. But being cooped up still drove him a bit nuts. He had already flipped through a variety show (hated the guests), a drama (hated the actors), a talk show (hated the topic) and the news (hated current events). In frustration he tossed the remote control to the floor, deciding to lay in silence and stare at the ceiling instead.

Yep, that is what he needed. A good long stare at the ceiling.

He sighed. This was not exactly what he needed. And then his door opened. He was ready to push Luhan out again. Instead of his mate, the person standing in the middle of his room -tears streaming down his cheeks - was Tao.

“Tao, what’s wrong?”

“Sehun said I was” Tao was choking back a sob, “He said I was stupid and ugly and he didn’t want to be my friend anymore and…”

Minseok was used to Tao’s teenage girl like dramatics. For all of Tao’s ability to be mature at certain times (and outwardly confident and proud) he also had his more vulnerable side, a side he rarely showed except to those very close to him. People like Minseok.

Minseok stood, walking over to Tao he grabbed the hulking Maknae in a hug.

“Tao, I am sure he didn’t mean it.”

“He did!” More sobbing.

Minseok patted Tao’s back, trying to sooth the boy. Before Minseok could indulge in another round of
“Calm down, that blonde haired brat was talking without thinking. He likes you” his door opened again.

“Hyung!” The door shut with a thud. “Hyung! I hit Jongin and he is crying!”

Minseok suddenly had a very, very intense headache. He broke from his embrace with Tao to face a flustered Kyungsoo.

“Why did you hit Jongin?” Minseok was not exactly sure he wanted to hear the answer.

“He said I was cute…like one of those troll dolls. Those things are hideous hyung. Couldn’t he have just called me ugly?!”

“Kyungsoo-ah, is he hurt?” Minseok questioned. The omega of the Cloud Mountain Pack was far from weak – in fact his punch was worse than most of the alphas of the pack.

“No..hyung…” Kyungsoo’s eyes were becoming watery.

Minseok needed a drink. Too bad he couldn’t have one in his current condition. Before Minseok could fully detach from Tao, who was now hanging off his arm still crying and make his way to Kyungsoo the door opened again.

“Hyung! Jongdae told me to get out!” Suho was frazzled, far more than Minseok had remembered seeing him in the past. At least not unless the pack was in the middle of something highly illegal.

“Seriously?!” Minseok had a headache, a really bad headache.

When Chanyeol entered the room shortly after, complaining of Yixing and Baekhyun cheating at rock, paper, scissors like the most deplorable wolves ever Minseok had enough. What the hell was going on? It was time to go see that blond haired rich boy jerk – and tell him to get his pack in order.

***

Four hours ago

The kitchen of the mansion was expansive. It had to be- the place was built to house enough people (or wolves) to require an impressive cooking space. As large as the room was it still felt cramped with twelve people lounging about. Some of them were sipping cola, while Luhan had a beer in his hand. He had decided an apology would not be that easy – because when he had tried it he met the slam of a door for the third time that day.

“So….you want us to flush him out?” Chanyeol raised an eyebrow at Luhan. He had to admit he did not hate the leader of the Eastern Dawn but he could also freely admit he would take Minseok over him any day.

“Are you guys seriously happy with your leaders fighting?” Luhan questioned.

“Well, it is kind of between you two. Why should we get involved?” Baekhyun asked. Luhan cursed him under his breath. Of course one of his omegas would say something like that, the disloyal bastard.

“If you want to see Minseok storm out of here and get hurt, or you like the idea of your pack leader in pain” Luhan winced at how cheesy his words were, but he still meant it, “Than you shouldn’t help.”

“Okay. Baek, you want to go play a game?” Chanyeol was done.

“Baekhyun!” It was So Ra that sternly stopped the omega from leaving with the Cloud Mountain Pack’s alpha. She turned towards the group, “I wouldn’t ask you to do this normally, but at this point we need to be united.”

“Maybe Minseok hyung could just not be so emotional.” Jongdae replied. It was a split second before Luhan was in his face, practically growling.

“Don’t talk about him that way” Luhan spat out.

Jongdae rolled his eyes.

“Okay boys- time to get this patched up. Or I am seriously moving out.” Jongdae shook his head at Luhan’s aggression. Mating had certainly changed things that was for sure.

***

Minseok had left his weepy, needy, unbearably whiny pack behind. They were probably all sitting around his room trading stories of how terrible their lives were. And it was all thanks to that stupid pretty boy’s pack, with their money and their words and their general stupidity. Luhan would hear about this.

Minseok pushed the door to the library open and stalked in, his anger boiling up and clouding his usually keen sense. He never even noticed the white flowers placed around the room. He had failed to notice that the lighting was from the room’s strategically placed lamps and not the overhead chandelier. He had missed it all as he approached the oversized mahogany desk.

“Control your pack!” He practically screamed, staring at Luhan.

Luhan stared up at Minseok, his face calm and serene despite his mate’s anger.

“Are you not even listening to me?!” Minseok asked after a moment of silence.

“I love you.”

Minseok froze. Luhan, wide eyed and honest, spoke three words and then remained silent. His face was pained, the weight of his words hung in the air between the two of them. Minseok wanted to run away. He wanted to forget it. He wanted to forget how much he had been thinking over the last day of what could have happened if he had never decided to pickpocket a handsome blonde man.

If he had never met Luhan he would be back at his flat- or (because of Chanyeol) – chasing down a new, equally shady place to live. If he had never met Luhan he would not be feeling like he wanted to cry. If he had never met Luhan he would not know what it meant to be mated, he would not know how it felt to have another life burgeoning inside. He would not know how it felt to have your heart seize at the whisper of three words.

“Minseok, I love you” Luhan stood, walking around the desk he stood to face his mate.

Minseok swallowed. Why could Luhan do this to him? How could he melt all of his anger, melt all of his resolve to remain hostile and full of regret for allowing such a fight to happen. How could he-

“I love you, and that is not going to change. Please. I am sorry, but I can’t see you hurt. I can never see you hurt.” Luhan held up his hand, reaching to caress Minseok’s face. He was fully expecting Minseok to jerk away from his touch, dismiss his caresses and words. But it was the opposite of his expectations.

Minseok held his head down. Luhan moved closer, sensing the other’s thawing façade.

Minseok’s shoulders began to shake, he was crying. Luhan had no other thought, no other thoughts of conversation and debate and reasoning. He just wanted to hold his lover, to comfort him.

Minseok melted into Luhan’s arms, crying softly. After a few moments he spoke.

“Why do you make me do this?”

“Do what?” Luhan asked, stroking Minseok’s hair as he held him close to his chest.

“Feel like I am sorry for everything. Make me feel like it is my fault.”

Luhan pushed Minseok from him lightly, grasping Minseok’s face in his hands he stared into his large eyes. Those beautiful eyes.

“It is not your fault. I…shouldn’t have started it. But I felt like I would die right then and there if you were hurt. I…love you so much.” It was honest and it was god damn true.

Minseok couldn’t find the words to respond, couldn’t find the words to communicate how guilty he had felt about what had happened. About Tao and Sehun. About seeing blood, about the way the street lights pushed flashes of their injured packs slinking back home. He couldn’t find the words, so he found the actions instead. His lips found Luhan’s, his tears mixing with the sweet feeling of belonging – of making up – of forgiveness.

***

“Do you want to build a snowman?”

“Do you want me to throw an ice chunk at your head?” Minseok responded, staring at Luhan in annoyance. It had been two days since they had made up. The pack was still largely home bound – school and work taking a backseat as the pack’s determined their next move. Granted they were feeling cooped up…but a snowman?

“Come on Minseokkie! It will be fun,” Luhan smiled. It had been like heaven since they had made up. Minseok spent the night in Luhan’s room, then the next night. They had drifted between intense love making and less intense play. They ate every meal together, they indulged in frivolity and were generally happy (with a lot of playful judgment from their packs).

Minseok, however, could not help but feel some anxiety. He had yet to tell Luhan about his pregnancy. So Ra had brought it up with Minseok more than once, asking when he would make the announcement. Minseok wanted the moment to be special, to be memorable. Most importantly he wanted to be fully healed from his injuries before telling Luhan he was carrying pups – he was certain Luhan would decide he had to stay in bed for the next several months if he found out he was pregnant and still hurt from the fight. Minseok’s injuries were healing quickly, but he was still sporting a bandage on his shoulder. In a few more days he told himself…in a few more days he would let Luhan know.

“Minseokkie!” Luhan whined, grabbing his hand and trying to drag him towards the door.

“Fine” Minseok conceded “Let’s build a snowman”

***

The mansion had impressive grounds, a refuge in the bustling metropolis that was Seoul. Luhan had been more than happy to discover this place alongside So Ra, even more joyful when it was confirmed as his home.

When he was sad the gardens were a comfort. When he was happy the paths that wound around the grounds were a place to mindlessly wander, letting his joy mix with the landscape he loved. It was a unique brand of happiness to be able to share this place with his mate.

“The best place to build a snowman is near the greenhouse” Luhan announced. He held onto Minseok’s hand tightly. The ground was slippery with the recent snow; Minseok was still injured and Luhan did not want to see him fall down and further his injuries.

Minseok let himself be dragged (well, carefully dragged) through the grounds towards the large open space near the greenhouse. Months ago this would have seemed like a dream; the only gardens he could afford to be near were the few plants that Kyungsoo grew outside their flat’s door or a flower market or a nearby park. Certainly nothing like this.

“I think we should build a snow wolf” Luhan chuckled, continuing to lead Minseok.

“So original, Lu” Minseok laughed.

“Well, we are not human, right?!” Luhan smiled. The walked in happy silence until the smell hit them.

It was sudden, but it was not foreign. The wind was blowing and the scent was carried on the wind. Minseok and Luhan froze simultaneously. Luhan pushed Minseok behind him, alarmed at what the wind carried.

It was the lone wolf. Luhan would know him anywhere. And it was not a good sign he was so close. The old man had never before wandered onto the grounds of the house. So Ra had made sure of it – to keep everyone away except for the pack. It was dangerous to let other wolves outside of the pack know where they lived.

What flashed in Luhan’s mind was his last meeting with the old wolf – or more accurately their fight. Minseok had attacked him, as had Luhan. And the wolf had said something about Minseok having a bounty on his head…

Luhan emitted a growl, ready to shift as the old man emerged from a copse of trees lying on the far side of the garden.

“What are you doing here?!” Luhan demanded, ready for a fight. He was so busy being defensive he failed to notice that Minseok had stopped gripping his arm tightly. In fact, he couldn’t feel Minseok grabbing onto him at all.

“Why don’t you ask him?” The wolf answered, his expression staid and unmoving.

Luhan knew it was a mind trick. It had to be. What would Minseok know about the old man? Luhan looked behind him for a split second; Minseok was standing frozen – pale. And a word to destroy all preconceived notions…

“Father….” Minseok whispered, staring at the lone wolf like he had seen a ghost. Now Minseok knew where he recognized that scent from. It was from sixteen years ago, from a life that had come before the lab, before the pain. A life that somehow had morphed into an attack, had morphed into his parent coming for him like he was nothing more than prey to be hunted. A life that had drudged up a ghost he thought had long ago left this earth. “Father…”

***

It would be an understatement to say that time froze. Well, not an understatement but an outright lie. Time went backwards, at least for Minseok. Images of a childhood before the purge flashed in his mind. Images of his parents played across his vision, painting a far off memory of life before pain became a daily occurrence. But how…how was his Father alive?

Minseok felt Luhan grip onto his arm, alarmed at his reaction. It was for naught, he could care less at the moment what his mate was doing. He cou-ld care less what anyone was doing...

“We need to talk.” The lone wolf stared at his son, his gaze unwavering and his expression masked in stony resolve.

“How…” Minseok felt like his cheeks were burning. It was cold outside, the snow could attest to that, but his body felt like it was on fire, “Are you…a….li…ve?”

The older man stood, not reacting to the words. He answered simply. “I was given a chance.”

“Is Mom alive?” Minseok dreaded asking the question.

The lone wolf hung his head, the first sign of weakness he had given his son. “No” It was barely above a whisper.

“Then why are you?” Minseok asked. And it was an honest question.

“That is why we need to talk.” Minseok’s father had lifted his head, his momentary lapse of resolve fading as his unreadable stance returned.

“Min-“Luhan was pleading with him at this point, but it was a muffled sound in Minseok’s mind.

“Say it.” Minseok stiffened his posture unconsciously, now was not the time to show any weakness “Whatever you have to say just say it.”

He watched his Father quirk an eyebrow, tilt his head. Yes, this was the Father he remembered. Caring but clever. Tricky and brutally honest at the same time.

“You know you are a fugitive. That should come as no surprise”

Minseok didn’t bother to nod in agreement. It was a fact- he had escaped from a government lab, of course he was wanted.

“But you don’t know why, after everything, you are still at the top of their list, do you?”

As Minseok’s father stepped forward Luhan stepped back, pushing Minseok behind him.

“Ah – your mate is quite the fighter” Minseok’s father smiled, “Good. You will need it”

The old man paused for a moment, seemingly admiring the way Minseok looked over Luhan’s shoulder, all while trying to appear stronger and taller than he was.

“Son, they are after you because you are special. They say you are more human than wolf…”

Minseok did not feel like humoring a man that had been a looming figure for him, a man that he had thought long gone. But most importantly a man that seemed threatening in his actions at the moment.

“What does that have to do with you?” Minseok asked, trying to understand his father’s intent.

“I want to protect you. I want you to be my son again. I want to keep it all away from us…because I couldn’t before” The old man had tears in his eyes.

Minseok was surprisingly unmoved by the words. He was suspicious.

“How did you escape?” He asked.

“I fought my way out.” The old man paused, turning his attention towards the blonde man that was shielding his son “Ask Luhan…I have been here for years.”

Minseok braced for the response he was afraid of. He was afraid of the fact that his Father had been alive and well. Alive and well as he had done his best to lead the stragglers of their former pack – through poverty and hardship.

“It is true, but I don’t understand it. How is he your father?” Luhan whispered.

“I don’t know why he is here...” Minseok grasped onto Luhan’s shoulders tightly, afraid of the way reality had taken a turn towards the absurd.

***

It was a long and sordid tale. An escape from a lab. Running to Seoul with the belief everyone in his pack was dead. A life built up from the gutters, a life spent among seedy characters and blackmail and connections. Minseok’s Father was always charismatic (if not exactly strong, if not exactly a leader of the pack), his skills served him well when he entered the human world and forged networks that opened everything up to him.

Then there was the information, slowly trickling in, of what the government intended for hybrids. How Minseok was of interest to them due to his more human tendencies. Oh, and then there was the request from the leaders of one of the few great packs still left in Korea – find this man and tell me about him; that is how Minseok’s father located his long lost son.

Or at least that is the story he told.

Minseok was skeptical to say the least. The trio of wolves had left the estate and retreated to the Angel Café. Their relocation was driven by a mixture of Luhan and Minseok’s uneasiness of having the lone wolf about (no matter his identity) and the desire to have a place away from the pack to discuss what the hell was happening.

Luhan took a sip of his cappuccino, swallowing harder than necessary (the whole situation had his blood boiling, his mind thrown into unease) he asked point blank “Why would you hurt our pack members to get to your son?”

The lone wolf showed no emotion, “Because I needed him away from the pack.”

Minseok hated the answer. Why? Why would his Father of all people need to see him after so long – but only when he was separated from the pack, albeit much smaller, that he had once belonged to?

“Because I wanted him to know I am here, and ready to protect him without dragging in all of the other pups” The lone wolf said, confidently justifying his actions.

“Which ended up in a fight!” Luhan couldn’t help it, the words came out.

“That you started!” Minseok muttered, noticing that his Father nodded in agreement.

Luhan shot Minseok an annoyed look. Despite the fact they had made up, he was not ready to admit fault for the fight that had occurred at the warehouse.

Minseok’s father chuckled, “I knew you two would be perfect for each other.”

“Says who?!” Minseok blurted out, side eyeing his mate.

“I would guess the pups you are carrying around would agree” His Father answered.

Minseok’s face turned bright red. Luhan looked confused.

“Pups?” Luhan raised an eyebrow “I don’t know why you attacked us, or why you thought waltzing into our home was a good idea. I get you want to see your son, I do.” Luhan took a deep breath “But we need to let this all sink in – especially before you start hurling comments about pups”

“Sorry. But I can’t help it. You cannot ignore the fact you are going to be a Father in a few months”

Minseok, facing his long lost father, wanted nothing more than to shut up said long lost Father. Because he had just ruined everything.

“I am not going to be a Fathe-“Before Luhan could fully unfurl the insults, the remarks about how silly it was, he shut up. Minseok was grasping his arm.

“Lu, we need to go.”

“Tell me we are going to be safe. Promise you will call off your attacks” Luhan stared Minseok’s Father in the eyes. He needed that promise to walk out of the café. He needed that promise to allow his pack to go back to everyday life.

“I promise – as long as you two promise to see me again. Soon.”

Luhan stiffened. “Fine. But we meet alone.”

“Later then. I will leave first.” The old wolf stood, with barely another glance he stalked out of the café.

Luhan watched him go, his confidence born of how long he had known the lone wolf. Until the fight he had never betrayed Luhan or the Eastern Dawn Pack. Luhan seriously hoped he could still trust the man, at least half as much as he had in the past. After the bell on the door rang, signaling the man’s exit, Luhan turned to his mate.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Luhan, we need to talk.”

Luhan hated those words, but he had little choice. He nodded, ready for whatever was to come next.

***

“I am pregnant” Simple. The Truth. Minseok was sitting on the edge of the desk in the office of the Angel Café. His posture was far more relaxed than his mind could ever claim to be- at least at the moment.

Luhan blinked once. Twice. The office of the Angel Café seemed to close in one him.

“With my pups?”

“You idiot! Of course they are your pups!” Minseok gave his mate a deathly serious stare. After the shock of seeing his father he was ready to retreat back into the world that Luhan and him and built around them…he would deal with his Dad later. He had promised to call off all attacks and Minseok desperately wanted to believe him that was true. So he took the leap and let the blonde pretty boy know that he had a family of his own. He had expected Luhan to throw a fit, to be angry he was not informed immediately – instead he was faced with Luhan staring at him, a hungry look on his face. Life was full of surprises.

“I fucking love you.” Luhan whispered, standing up quickly. Without warning Luhan was leaning in to give his mate a long and less than chaste kiss. It was time to celebrate.

***

Magic Eye puzzles were confusing. No matter how much he stared at them he could not see the picture. Why could everyone and their wolf brother make out the image except for him?!

Sehun threw the poster towards the corner of this room in frustration.

“Hun-ah, what is wrong?”

Sehun crossed his arms and pouted. Did that hulking martial artist seriously want to know what is wrong? Seriously?!

“I don’t know Tao. Maybe I am on my period” Sehun answered sarcastically.

“Really?” Tao asked, all wide eyes.

“No!” Sehun scrunched his face up in further annoyance. Tao had entered the room a moment before, coming back from practicing his wushu in the cold and brutal landscape of the gardens. Tao claimed the winter workout made him feel more alive – had his blood pumping in a way the summer heat could not deliver. The idea of working out in the cold made Sehun feel like burrowing under three down comforters while making out with a space heater.

“Is it that poster?” Tao asked, walking to the corner of the room to fetch the source of Sehun’s annoyance.

“So observant” Sehun muttered.

Tao picked up the magic eye poster, carefully spreading it out he walked over to Sehun.

“Just cross your eyes and stare.” Tao smiled, holding up the poster for Sehun to see.

Sehun was done, so done with that blasted thing. But maybe not. He crossed his eyes for a moment, ready to tell Tao to leave.

“A butterfly!” Sehun leapt up, pumping his fists in the air.

“That’s right, Hunn-ah” Tao grinned at his roommate’s happy dance.

To Tao’s surprise his smile was met with a bear hug - with a very crumpled magic eye poster breaking the space between him and Sehun.

***

“Well- I would assume they like the color blue!”

“Because you like it?” Minseok was done. Completely done.

Since he had told his mate of his pregnancy a few hours before he had been bombarded by all sorts of subjective reasoning. The pups must like soccer, because Luhan did. They would enjoy dance and history due to their parents. Maybe they should be named after the last elders of both packs? Oh, wait! It may be a good idea to get them accustomed to dental bones – after all that was how the Eastern Dawn Pack handled teething.

Then there was the nursery scheme, blue and yellow of course. But what if they had girls? Then what? Well maybe So Ra could teach them what they needed to know. Oh, and if they had all boys then they maybe would have a tiny sports team. On the weekends they could go camping and jump in the lake and look at the moon kno-

“Yep” Luhan grinned at his mate, pulling him by the wrist into the baby section of the department store. He was obsessed Minseok thought.

“Luhan, let’s do this later.” Minseok pleaded. Today had been too much, he did not need to shop for his pup’s entire life at the moment.

“Are you okay?!” Luhan asked, concern lighting up his face, “Are you sick?! Do you need to see a doctor?”

And so it started.

“You weren’t asking me that when we you had me pushed up against the wall of your office” Minseok had his own ammunition that he hoped lasted long enough to get through the day.

Luhan blushed, “Well, that was different.” He slung an arm over Minseok’s shoulders, pulling him close. “Let’s go tell the pack the good news, Minseokkie.”

Minseok wanted to punch him in the gut, tell him to shut up. But at the same time he was happier than he had been in a while. Even if his Father had walked back into his life with questionable motives. Even if his life had been chaos for the last few months. Somehow a smiling, goofy, unreasonable blonde man made it better.

“You like me, hmmm” Luhan smirked, noticing his mate’s pensive descent.

“Hmmm. Maybe” Minseok answered, hiding his own smile as he looked at the overly waxed floor of the shop.

Life was funny sometimes.

***

Luhan was beaming. He seemed to have grown a few inches, or maybe he had just focused all of his pride on his tiptoes. He threw an arm around Minseok, which was promptly (and expectantly) shrugged off. But it didn’t really matter to Luhan, he was still happy.

Sehun felt a little like throwing up to be honest. He looked at all of the other wolves – now thrown into disarray at the announcement, and felt like he had taken the low and petty road with his reaction. But he couldn’t help it. He had taken his pack leader’s mating with that underdressed ruffian rather well, he thought. And he had been understanding that Luhan no longer had time for him now that he was busy with his mate. But this…well this was too much. So he wouldn’t be the baby of the pack anymore?! He was miffed to say the least.

“I am going to be an Uncle!” Chanyeol shouted, “Congrats! Time for cigars!”

So Ra shot the over exuberant Chanyeol a look telling him that in no uncertain terms there would be zero cigar smoking at the Eastern Dawn Estate.

“So cool, Lu Ge” Yixing clapped a hand on his friend’s back.

“Pups!” Jongdae seemed especially happy to hear the news. He stood up and gave Minseok and Luhan a bear hug. “Congrats you two!”

Suho gave his own congratulatory message, smiling at Minseok. The two of them had been through a lot. Minseok could tell his second in command was particularly happy at the news, which spoke volumes of their close friendship.

“Does that mean we have to puppy-proof the house?” Tao asked, wide eyed.

“Of course it does!” Baekhyun delivered a smack to the back of Tao’s head, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

“Congrats Hyung.” Kyungsoo shyly gave Minseok a hug, “When are you due?”

“Well, the doctor says it should be late summer.” Minseok placed a hand on his stomach without thinking about it. He did that a lot now, ever since he had received the news he was pregnant.

“Which means none of you should bother Minseok…”  Luhan gave them all a stare down.

“Shut up Lu, I am fine.”

Luhan bit his lip and whispered “I just want you to be okay, Minseokkie”

Minseok knew that Luhan would take the news and turn it into a twenty four seven reason to keep Minseok from doing anything but laying around. Luhan was like that- he was intense when it came to his mate. Minseok didn’t want that kind of attention, he was pregnant, not dying.

“I know, “Minseok responded in hushed tones. He knew to pick his battles, especially if they were better played out behind closed doors.

Sehun watched the interaction, the whispers, the hand that found Minseok’s and gripped it tightly.

“I need to go study. Congrats.” Sehun mumbled, standing up and practically running from the room. The rest of the pack watched him go, but within a few seconds returned to their puppy talk without a second thought for the maknae.

***

“That went well”

“Hmmmmmm” Luhan mumbled into Minseok’s neck.

After they had told the packs the news they had excused themselves to their room. Well, Luhan’s room, but as of late it belonged to the both of them.

“Sehun seemed upset.” Minseok muttered. The two of them were sitting back on the large four poster bed. Luhan had his arms around Minseok, back hugging him as they reclined against the headboard.

Luhan was busy placing soft kisses on his mate’s neck, he ignored the comment as his lips continued their path.

“Luhan, you should probably talk to him.”

“Hmmmm.”

Minseok jerked up into a sitting position, staring back at his surprised mate.

“Really, talk to him. We don’t need Sehun upset right now.”

“Since when did you care so much for my pack?” Luhan asked.

“Since when anything your pack does leads to my pack doing something- stupid or otherwise.”

Luhan nodded. He guessed he had to talk to Sehun, but he would do that later. For now he was otherwise occupied.

“Alright, I will talk to him.” Luhan pulled Minseok back into his embrace, “But I have other things I want to do right now.”

Minseok felt the heat rise in his chest. He could not deny it – no matter how exasperating Luhan could be he never failed to have an effect on him…or his dick.

***

“I thought he had passed away….” Suho took a drink of his brandy, trying to dull the shock.

“So did I.” Minseok shook his head, “But it is him…there is no doubt in my mind.”

Suho nodded. So Minseok’s Father was alive. It was a shock. Suho still remembered when the Cloud Mountain Pack had been taken – well massacred- by government agents. His parents had been killed in front of his eyes, brutally torn apart by bullets and finished with a large knife. So had been the fate of so many, painting Mount Halla red with their blood.

Suho had never even considered the fact that one of the elder members of the pack had survived the purge. Hell, he considered it a miracle that he had been able to escape the lab with Minseok. Having anyone else from the pack survive the ordeal was something the seemed ludicrous.

“What do you think he wants?” Minseok asked. He had tried to reason it out. He heard from Luhan that the man, his Father, had been in Seoul before the Eastern Dawn Pack; that meant he had gotten out of the lab almost as soon as he had arrived. Minseok had heard about how his Father was the one with the inside into everything, the information man that Luhan and the pack could trust. It was a far cry from the image Minseok had of his Father- a large and scary wolf with no place in the world of humans.

“Minseok…I am not sure if this is a good thing.” Suho reasoned out. Minseok’s Father had already lured the pack into a dangerous situation – when Sehun and Tao were taken. Such behavior did not bode well for the man’s motivation.

“I know.” Minseok sighed heavily, “Suho – if anything happens keep the pack in order. Please.”

“Nothing is going to happen hyung” Suho tried to reassure his leader, but his words could not hide his own apprehension.

***

Sehun was busy flipping through the latest Cosmopolitan Magazine, thoroughly annoyed with the publication and with life in general. Who cared about fifteen ways to get a guy? Angry page turning commenced. And then came a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Sehun did not need to turn around to see who had entered the room he shared with Tao. It was Luhan, he could smell him. He could also smell Minseok, which meant Luhan must be coming straight from a rendezvous with his mate.

“We need to talk Sehun-ah” Luhan sat down at the edge of the bed.

“Why?”

“Because it is obvious you are angry about the news.”

Sehun answered with a snort, “Angry? No. Why would you think that?”

“Because you left the room to study. And it is winter break so you don’t have school right now. And you are not studying – you are reading your trashy magazines.”

“This is not a trashy magazine!” Sehun finally turned to Luhan, clutching his Cosmopolitan protectively.

“Fine. But Sehun, don’t be angry. Your hyung is happy Sehun-Ah. And you will always be our Maknae.”

“Maybe that is the problem.” Sehun said under his breath.

“What do you want me to do?” Luhan cried, throwing his hands up. Sometimes kids could be so annoying.

“Nothing! I just want you to be happy!” Sehun stood up and marched out of the room, tossing his beloved highbrow magazine on the floor as he left.

Luhan watched him go, then noticed the discarded magazine laying on the floor- opened to an article entitled “Ten things to drive your lover wild”. Luhan picked up the publication, curious. Maybe Sehun’s reading habits were more useful than he initially thought.

It was fifteen minutes later when Luhan decided it was time to return to his room – ten new and amazing lessons learned.

***

So Ra and the Lone wolf had a mutually beneficial relationship. While So Ra was the elder of a very (well, the only) wealthy wolf pack in Korea, the Lone Wolf was always ready and willing to trade information. Usually for money, but not always. Over the years they had forged an alliance – give and take.

When So Ra saw the Lone Wolf enter the estate grounds the other day she had been a little more than curious. When she heard the conversation that Luhan and Minseok had with the old wolf she sensed dread. So he was Minseok’s Father?

So Ra’s instincts were usually spot on, otherwise she would never have survived as long as she did. Her instincts told her to go find the Lone Wolf and make an attempt, albeit a veiled one, to grasp the situation. That is the reason she found herself at the Lone Wolf’s tiny rooftop apartment, knocking on the flat door with a gloved hand.

There was no answer, So Ra knocked again. Then she heard it.

“I tried, I did.”

It was the old man, his voice coming from below. So Ra crept until she could make out his form at the bottom of the long set of stairs leading up to the apartment, a phone to his ear. She kept quiet, curious.

“Listen. I have another way but I am not sure he will go along with it.”

Silence.

“Give me time. I need some time. You can’t expect him to just welcome me with open arms. Damnit- the kid thought I was dead.”

It had to be about Minseok, So Ra was certain.

It was a second and the old man was up the stairs. His conversation seemed to end abruptly, if So Ra did not possess a speed above that of a human she would have never had the chance to return to the front door to cover up her eavesdropping.

“So Ra?” The old man questioned at the site of his visitor.

“Sung Woo.” So Ra smiled, trying to remain calm, “I brought you some food.”

So Ra held up the wrapped bundle as evidence of the intent of her visit.

Sung Woo nodded, letting the old omega into his flat, ready for a meal with an old friend. Even if he had a sneaking suspicion the elder of the Eastern Dawn Pack paid him a visit for reasons that did not involve food.

***

The playground was deserted, the cold proving too much for the neighborhood kids. For Sehun though it was the right temperature. Cold and desolate and a chill that seemed to take the edge off of his anger. His problem was that he wasn’t exactly sure why he was as angry as he was. He was fully aware that he had a crush on Luhan for years – that was not a secret. But he had thought he had been able to cope, at least reasonably well, with the fact that Luhan had found a mate. So why did it matter so much to him that Luhan’s mate was pregnant? It shouldn’t, it was a logical sequence of events after all.

Yet Sehun felt like punching something.

So something showed up.

“Hun-ah!” Tao was walking across the playground, a yellow scarf with a black skull pattern clutched in his hands, “You are going to catch a cold!”

Sehun pretended like he did not see the tall man fast approaching. But just like that, reality was on him, wrapping a scarf around his neck.

“Why are you here?!” Sehun asked, gritting his teeth.

“Because you are.” Tao answered, making sure the scarf was tucked into Sehun’s jacket before he sat on the adjoining swing.

They swung slowly in silence.

“Why are you upset Hun-ah?” Tao asked quietly, letting minutes pass before he spoke.

Sehun sighed. He didn’t’ offer an answer.

Another few minutes passed.

“Look, Sehun, just tell me what is wrong.” Tao was worried for his friend.

“Nothing.” Sehun answered, refusing to admit anything verbally.

His lack of a confession had an impact on Tao. Sehun braced himself as he saw a side of Tao emerge that was usually reserved for fights.

Tao sprung up from the swing and walked to face Sehun, grabbing onto the chain of his swing to stop Sehun from moving.

“Hun-ah!” Tao’s words were angry and heated, “You need to let it go. You need to grow up!”

“Says the guy who cries every other day!” Sehun spat the words out.

Tao looked hurt, but his strong resolve was not broken. Sehun seemed to shrink in the face of Tao’s demeanor.

“Luhan and Minseok are together, and that is final! If you want to be a mopey idiot for the rest of your life go ahead!”

Sehun swallowed. Something about the way Tao looked, anger and frustration painting his expression, did something to Sehun. Something in his chest. And his groin. Something he didn’t want to admit.

“You aren’t even listening to me! You don’t even care what your best friend has to sa-“

Tao never finished his rant. His words were silenced by Sehun’s lips, the younger man jumping up from his swing and capturing Tao’s mouth in his own. Sometimes silence was truly golden, Tao thought, as he eased into the kiss, forgetting everything he had to say.

***

The brisk wind felt good. It whipped across the soccer field, the wide open space offering the least protection from the cool air. The remnants of snow piled haphazardly on the sidelines solidified the late winter atmosphere. Minseok ran down the field with all of his might, intent on stealing the ball from Chanyeol. It was exhilarating – playing a game of soccer with his pack.

“Hyung!” Tao cried as he managed to steal the ball from a tired Kyungsoo and make a pass towards Minseok.

Minseok received the soccer ball with ease, turning to run down field towards the goal. It was funny how something so simple as playing soccer had so much of an effect on his mood. It had been a long few days (weeks, really); with his Father’s arrival the pack had begun to resume their normal lives – hinged on the promise that no more attacks would be launched towards them.

The ball landed in the goal, flying past a cringing Suho.

“That almost hit me in the face!” Suho threw his hands up.

“Sorry” Minseok smiled, not actually caring one bit. The ball was far from Suho, the haphazard goalie was just being dramatic.

“Okay, we need to switch team members up” Kyungsoo finally arrived where the group was standing. Kyungsoo was not exactly an athletic wolf, the running involved in playing soccer was a bit beyond his abilities (or any athletic goals he ever held for himself). “You guys are too good.”

“Yah! We can beat them!” Chanyeol turned towards the smaller man, shooting him a scowl.

“I think we should just stop.” Suho sat down, hands on his head, “I am so tired.”

“I agree.” Kyungsoo weighed in.

“So do I!”

The group turned towards the newcomer. It would be a lie to say they didn’t know he was coming. Well, at least Minseok knew he was coming but he had ignored it.

Luhan was marching down the field, face red and eyes wide.

“Minseok, you shouldn’t be doing something so dangerous in your condition.” Luhan practically pounced on his mate, wrapping his arms protectively around his midsection.

Chanyeol groaned. He had seen enough of an overprotective Luhan lately to last a lifetime. Suho even shook his head. He was certain he would never be that clingy to Jongdae, even if Jongdae was carrying his pups (which he was not, regretfully).

Minseok felt the familiar fire creeping up from his chest into his face.

“I was playing soccer, Lu! I am not fucking sky diving!” Minseok remained in his lovers embrace, but stiffened his posture. He was sick of being treated like a porcelain tea cup, ready to break at any moment.

“But what if you fell down hard? Or something worse…?” Luhan queried, tightening his embrace.

“Luhan, you have to let me live my life...”

“I have to protect you, Min” Luhan breathed. “I have to keep you safe. I hate thinking what could happen to you…”

And that did it. Minseok snapped. Because the last thing he liked to think about was being a helpless creature, always having to be protected.

Minseok jerked hard, sending Luhan crashing back, hitting the still frozen ground hard. Luhan’s eyes were wide as he took in the back profile of Minseok, stalking down the field.

“Minseokie?!” Luhan called, springing to his feet to give chase.

Minseok whirled around, fury on his face. His pack stayed still, watching the lovers quarrel with more interest than they probably should have shown.

“Damnit Lu! I am not dying! I am not breakable! Give me some space! What are you going to do when I start university?”

“Wait, you are going to go to school?” Luhan looked sincerely surprised, “But Min…”

“And stop calling me Minseokkie, or…I…” Minseok swallowed hard, choking on the words he did not exactly mean but needed to say none the less, “Or I am going to move out.”

That shut up the pretty rich boy. And the pack. Minseok turned and stalked off, letting his words hang over the wolves standing frozen on the soccer field.

***

The movie theater was far from packed. It was a matinee showing of the cheesiest romantic comedy that had been released that year. It annoyed Minseok more. After storming away from his annoying mate he had wandered around for a bit, finally wandering into the darkened movie house.

Minseok needed a place to think, to be alone, and hopefully to forget that stupid jerk face that he had fallen in love with. And here he was, watching two people indulge in gags and stupid bickering amidst a love line that Minseok could have written drunk. Aish.

There was another person in the theater, sitting in the front. Minseok had paid him little attention. That is until the man had turned slightly, allowing Minseok a look at his side profile. He recognized him. He sense him, he had just driven off recognition amidst his own contemplation.

“Dad” It was a whisper, but if the man was truly Minseok’s Father he would hear it. Any wolf would.

The man stood up and walked towards Minseok’s seat, at the far back of the theater.

“Minseok-ah?”

“Why are you here?” Minseok asked, genuinely curious why his Father would be watching such a terrible movie in the early afternoon.

“I needed some place to think” Like father like son, “Why are you here?”

“Well, I needed some alone time”

“Is Luhan getting to you?” His Father asked. He remained standing. In the dark Minseok could not exactly make out his facial expression, but he sensed the older man’s apprehension over sitting near his son.

“You, um, you can sit down if you want to.” Minseok found the words difficult to speak. It was strange, this feeling. This man was his father so he felt some sort of obligation to be close to him, even if he barely remembered him. His memories of certain events were crystal clear, but his memories of how much he cared for his father were locked in a haze. He felt responsibility towards filial behavior but had nothing to back it up, at least nothing he could feel with absolute clarity.

Sung Woo sat, consciously sitting one chair away from his son. He knew this relationship was not exactly full of confidence at this point, he didn’t want to push his luck.

“You know he is a good kid.” Sung Woo spoke carefully, “He has had a lot of responsibility since he was young.”

Minseok huffed. So his Dad was on Luhan’s side? Well, it could almost be a reasonable thing, after all his Father seemed to have spent more years as an acquaintance of Luhan than he had spent living as Minseok’s dad. Which honestly did nothing to calm Minseok’s racing mind.

“Yeah, and he sure likes to show it.” Minseok muttered.

“He loves you” Sung Woo chanced a glance at his son, “But he is a needy person. He has always guarded his pack fiercely. He loves too much.”

“Unlike you.” Minseok wasn’t even aware he had said it until it was too late.

Sung Woo tensed. “How so?”

“You were free this whole time and never looked for me? I mean, you couldn’t find me with all of your connections?” Minseok was hurt by this fact, even if his Father had promised he had searched for him. He felt like it was an embellished truth (if a man who was so connected could not find him who could) and in his current mood he had no problem voicing it.

“I tried” Sung Woo sighed heavily, “Don’t take your anger at your mate out on me.”

Minseok looked straight ahead, not ready to admit anything.

“Do you know how I met your Mother?”

Minseok didn’t. Honestly he had no idea how his Mother and Father had met. Life in the pack was such a distant memory, his time with them so short. He had never had a chance to sit around on a hot summer night, hearing his parents recall the stories of their youth. He shook his head, still not looking at his father.

“She was such a beautiful woman...” Sung Woo said, his words drawing him back through the decades, “I met her at the red moon gathering. Do you know what that is?”

“Was that when the unmated wolves of the province gathered?”

“Yeah” Something about how Minseok recalled this detail made Sung Woo’s chest swell in pride. His son was a wolf after all. “She was small, with eyes that could captivate anyone from a hundred yards away.”

It was silent for many moments, neither man speaking.

“You have her eyes in fact. Honest, fiery but calm eyes…a beautiful contradiction” Sung Woo smiled “She was so sure that she would never be mated, much less to anyone that was outside of her pack. And then we caught each other’s scent on the wind. She smelled like honeysuckle, like lilacs, like a beautiful flower that lingers in the night breeze. I loved her. From then on I loved her.”

“How did she die?” Minseok dreaded the answer but he needed to know. He had always assumed all of the adults of the Cloud Mountain pack had been killed the day that the purge reached them. If not the day of shortly after, when they were dragged off to that horrible government lab.

“I don’t know” Sung Woo felt tears springing up, his cheeks were hot with memories and grief, “I never saw her after the purge.”

Minseok didn’t know what to say. He remembered his mother, what pup could forget their mother? The woman that nursed them, held them, loved them. At least every pup had a mother that hopefully did all of those things, Minseok knew others were not as lucky as him. He remembered her scent the most, a comforting smell that put his mind at ease, a scent that signaled he was safe and the world could not harm him.

Sung Woo chocked on a sob, stiffening his back he held a hand to his mouth. He would not break down in front of his son.

“My greatest regret is that I could not protect her…or you.”

It was the first time Minseok had truly considered his father’s regret, his feelings towards his family – hell, his packs, slaughter. It was painful to consider, because it added on to a grief that Minseok tried to keep buried. He had always attempted to be strong for the remaining Cloud Mountain pack, he was their leader after all. He had long ago given up crying over his past. Long ago he had given up considering things like how his Mother felt or how his Father felt during the purge.

“Minseok” Sung Woo’s voice was raspy, full of the sorrow that had bubbled up in him as he thought back to the decade before, “Just know that I love you.”

Minseok remained still, staring at the floor. The horrible movie playing on the screen. The darkness blanketing the reality of the moment in a way that was welcome by both men. They didn’t want to see the pain in each other’s faces. They didn’t want to feel like kindred souls as they confessed their burdens. They weren’t close enough to share their hurt, their suffering, and their struggles.

Sung Woo stood. Before he left he placed a hand on Minseok’s shoulder, patting his son’s shoulder once and then twice before he took his leave.

Minseok remained in the theater for many minutes after his father left; his mind swimming with feelings of regret, of love, of memories. Of the smell of honeysuckle. Of what it felt like to have parents. He found himself placing a hand on his abdomen as he recalled a time gone by.

***

Sehun was done. Completely and totally done. Or at least he was pretending like it. He pulled the covers tightly over his head, faking a snore.

“Sehun-ah?” Tao whispered.

Sehun was sure his roommate, his best friend, that guy he had kissed yesterday was staring at him. But he would not give in. Nope, he would not give up. He was asleep damnit!

Tao sighed, then sat on his own bed. Or at least that is how Sehun assumed he moved given the slight creak of the bed springs.

Sehun tensed. It was too difficult to avoid someone who you shared a room with. Since the kiss the day before Sehun had been carefully strategizing the best ways to avoid his roommate.

It wasn’t a horrible kiss, or an unwelcome one necessarily. Tao had seemed to enjoy it, his hand finding the small of Sehun’s back as he pulled him closer. Their lips were joined for what seemed like an hour, but was much less time if Sehun had to judge by the clock he spotted as he ran away from the playground. Yep, he ran away.

As Sehun’s face grew hot, as he felt a tug in his stomach, as blood rushed to somewhere blood did not usually rush to (well, unless it was a year ago and he was eying up that picture of Luhan taken in front of that brick wall full of graffiti and edgy promise) he panicked. He had broken their lip lock and promptly ran for his life. He heard Tao call after him, but he kept going. Sehun was pretty sure he had never ran so fast in his short life. Romantic confusion was a great motivator.

So now Sehun was busy pretending to be asleep. He had pretended to be sick earlier in the day – or at least give some kind of impression of why he was in the bathroom for two hours as Tao hung out in the room. Oh, and then he kept getting phone calls whenever Tao approached him. It was too bad the phone never rang, he was hoping Tao bought that he had his ringtone on silent. Or something. Aish.

“Sehun…I know you are awake.” Tao whispered.

Sehun shut his eyes tighter.

“If you want me to forget what happened yesterday just tell me.”

Sehun felt like screaming. So the kiss was so easy Tao could just forget it?

“Hun-ah, if you want to go back to before please just let me know.”

Sehun gripped the blanket tighter, his blood boiling. So Mr. martial arts super wolf was so unfazed he could just go back to before?

“Hun-ah, I have kissed people before. You don’t have to worry, it isn’t like it means anything.”

Tao’s expression was priceless. His eyes were as wide as an owls as his roommate threw off his covers, springing to his feet in one swift motion.

“It meant nothing to you?!” Sehun yelled, his face flushed, “You kissed other people?!”

Tao was not sure how to respond, so he did what he did best.

“Yeah- and why are you avoiding me?!” Tao jumped off his bed and ran to the bathroom door.

Sehun should have known. He should have expected it. He heard the bathrooms door’s lock click, followed by a sob. It was going to be a long night in the Sehun/Tao room.

***

The low lamp light was what welcomed Minseok. The house was sleeping by the time he had found his way back to the estate. It was a long time before he had felt like he could return home, like he could think straight. His anger at Luhan was justified, his mate was being overprotective. Yet his anger could have taken a better route than a threat of leaving. And his Father’s words had helped him realize that more than he cared to admit.

Luhan was sleeping, lying on his side with the blanket scrunched up at his side. The sight made Minseok smile. His mate always looked so innocent, so childlike, when he slept. Not wanting to wake him Minseok carefully grabbed his pajamas, changing into the white t-shirt and grey sweat pants in the bathroom.

As Minseok went to turn off the bathroom light he caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He looked tired, he looked exhausted to be honest. But what he focused on was his eyes. Were they really like his mother’s? How could he forget how she looked? How could his memories focus on things like how soft her fur was when, as a pup, when he cuddled into her side? How could he recall her scent, her words, but not her eyes?

It was a few minutes before Minseok made his way to his mate’s side, slipping under the bit of blanket that Luhan did not have grasped tightly around him. It was a few minutes before Minseok could let his thoughts go. It was a few minutes before Minseok could relegate fractured memories to the reality of a home, a mate, and pups of his own.

Part 5