Chapter Text
That Alpha looked across the campfire again.
Sicheng clenched his teeth together tighter.
He had been sitting there ever since the wolves that had found him had helped him come here and the one with the round face had started to patch him up.
Usually, Sicheng would know what his deal was. All alphas had been interested in the same thing ever since that dreadful presentation two moons ago.
For some reason, he felt like this one might actually not be thinking about that. There wasn’t this gross desire in his eyes, the desire to show Sicheng who was boss and where his place was only to then ask him to let them touch him.
He looked a bit scared, almost. Nevermind when he wasn’t trying to ogle him, he was sewing and stealing short glances.
Pain bloomed through his shoulder from where the healer was working and it was difficult to hold still and keep quiet. Sicheng took a deep breath through his clenched teeth. He didn’t want to show any weakness, he hated weakness, no, despised it. He had been treated as the very best, a beacon of hope for the future, because of how tough he was.
Until he had presented as a ‘useless’ omega, that was.
“Sorry,” the round-faced Alpha (had his name been Koyoung?) muttered but Sicheng didn’t reply. He couldn’t, his teeth were stuck against each other and if he tried, his façade would break. That was not an option, never but especially not now.
He had no idea what the deal with this pack was.
The sewing Alpha was trying to subtly look at him again.
Who even took in random strangers that had made peace with dying on their border?
Weird.
“I’m almost done, just… I think a bit more, it’s really, um, gaping.”
Sicheng knew for a fact that the wolf trying to take care of that gash had no experience with this. His hands were remarkably steady for someone who certainly was no more than a full turn of seasons or so older than he was, though. Sicheng could respect someone who had a lot of determination. He prided himself on the same thing.
“Are you sure it’s okay? You’re looking pale,” asked the Alpha of the pack, not just any alpha, the type that there were plenty of, but the leader.
Sicheng gave a short shake of his head, unable to do more.
He almost hissed when he felt the stab of the needle once again, but he managed to keep it in.
He hated showing weakness, even the smallest hint was already too much and would have consequences.
Worst of all that people would think he was always weak when he wasn’t.
“You’re really a tough peanut, huh?”
Sicheng sent the alpha that had just spoken a glare, hoping that would shut him up. He had been mouthy since he had shifted and if he could also be in wolf form, Sicheng was sure he would never be stopped all day.
He was irritating.
“It’s a compliment, just say thanks.”
Sicheng snorted, grateful for the distraction from the pain.
He had never used to feel any distaste for alphas, how should he have when he had fully expected to be one as well?
The second his scent had turned sweet and his eyes blue, that had changed, though.
Now he was disgusted by most, something he wouldn’t have thought possible until two moons ago. It was like this had been hidden from him all his childhood and only now revealed.
“Be quiet, Yuta, now isn’t the time.” The Alpha crossed his arms. He was bulky, tall, too. Well suited for the role, well, as well-suited as it got here.
Again, it was an odd pack, very odd. Very young, too.
If Sicheng was to take a guess, he’d say the people here had been kicked out or fled, too.
For what reason, though, he wasn’t sure. He also wasn’t sure they weren’t all doomed to face their ends sooner rather than later anyway. If someone in neighbouring territory knew this was basically inhabited by puppies, they’d not hesitate to take the lands for themselves even if they were meagre and small. There wasn’t even a proper village, only four tents, one a bit bigger and probably large enough to fit the entire pack if Sicheng’s impression of the number of members was correct.
So far, he had counted two omegas and four alphas. Not a lot of people.
“I think it’s okay like this,” announced the guy in charge of Sicheng’s gash, much to his relief. “I’ll tie it up, but you must be careful for the next moon at least. I’ll help you keep it clean because it’s located in a bad position.”
Sicheng nodded. He knew the deal, he had suffered enough injuries hunting or fighting already, though of course none as bad as this one.
The alpha that was still peacefully sewing across the campfire glanced over again. Sicheng would have doubted his smelling abilities and thought he could be an Omega, after all, but his eyes were unmistakably red, dark red, like an alpha’s, not blue like an Omega’s.
“Here, I’ll lend you this for now, alright? I’m sure we can figure something out quickly before winter gets cold, you look like you’re frozen to the bone already.” The omega that had waited between the alphas that were clearly guarding Sicheng offered, holding out a tunic.
Sicheng’s teeth were still stuck together from pain and shock coursing through his body, but he nodded. It was a nice offer and he did feel cold, the pair of trousers had not offered much warmth on this chilly autumn day. Not ideal to sit without a shirt for longer, even right next to the fireplace.
His shoulder screamed in agony again when Sicheng moved his arm just a little to get into the piece of clothing and he couldn’t avoid taking a sharp breath.
“Careful. Let me help you, we can get you dressed without using that arm, just let me do it!”
Sicheng felt too embarrassed to nod. At least he had spoken softly to make his offer, probably not allowing anyone else to overhear and conclude how bad Sicheng’s state truly was.
Holding still was much better. It didn’t hurt, the other wolf was gentle as could be and before he knew it, Sicheng was dressed and already felt warmer, but he also felt pain and exhaustion take over as the shock from getting found and picked up wore off.
It was too early. He wanted to push his body back into that state to keep going, but it couldn’t be willed, he knew he was powerless against instincts.
Or he would have done some much more significant things against them and never ended up here.
“So.” The Alpha stepped in front of them – but not too close. He had his arms crossed and face set, but he wasn’t trying to intimidate Sicheng, he was just doing his job. Sicheng clenched his fingers into fists to keep them from trembling.
No weaknesses!
“Please tell me your name.”
Right. He hadn’t given it earlier due to pain – but he still couldn’t give it. Tears were wanting to drop and Sicheng bit them back with all the power he had.
The omega’s hand was suddenly on his back, gently stroking up and down. He must be feeling how Sicheng’s muscles spasmed even just sitting there.
He didn’t mention it, though.
It was comforting and worrying. It was all too easy to collect information to use against him later.
That someone had done that was why he was here, in the first place.
The round-faced alpha from earlier was back now, taking his other side.
“I can give you some white willow bark. It’d be good for healing, too, it’s anti-inflammatory.”
Sicheng had no idea about herbs and these things. He did know that inflammation was what ended up killing more people than their wounds, though, so he gave a curt nod.
“How bad is the pain?” The Alpha asked, having come closer. He sounded softer now, but Sicheng couldn’t properly see his face anymore, his eyes not wanting to focus. “Sorry, you seemed unaffected, but it’s a nasty wound…”
Sicheng glared back at him. He couldn’t let him know how bad it was, could he? But what else should he do? This pack was small and he was dependent on them right now.
He hoped that wouldn’t prove to be the worst decision of his life, but right now he was out of options. While he had thought his life would be over just a bit ago anyway, once he had known he’d survive, his will to live had burnt hot again, not letting him give in and put at risk again what had almost slipped away.
“It’s fine. I’m Sicheng.”
Just four words were all he could manage and he had to dig his fingernails into his palms to avoid the sob that wanted to follow them. The pain blooming from his hands outweighed that from everywhere else at least for the moment, long enough to press his lips together and shut up.
“That’s a pretty name!” It was the mouthy alpha again and Sicheng hoped his glare was chilling.
With his vision swimming, he couldn’t be as sure as he would like to be. From what he could tell, the other was still grinning.
What an annoying person!
“Johnny, how about we do all the introduction maybe in a few days or so? Sicheng needs his strength to heal for now.”
Ah, right, Johnny was the Alpha’s name.
Sicheng felt himself forgetting it again just seconds after being reminded.
His head was too full and fuzzy.
He realised someone wanted him to stand up and he somehow managed to get to his legs. He supported himself on the shoulder and arm of the other person. It was the healer. He smelt calming, his natural scent mixing with the herbs he must be working with.
So…
Was this a good idea?
Sicheng had no clue. He was just so incredibly tired and everything hurt and the second he was left alone in the tent they had brought him to, he was already passed out, fast asleep.
He woke up a few times.
His body knew he was in foreign territory and wouldn’t let him rest properly, but he was too exhausted to stay up and do anything to make himself feel safer.
At least he had a roof over his head and water to take sips from before going back to sleep.
The sun must have already risen high by the time Sicheng woke and didn’t immediately pass out again.
He tried sitting up.
It was difficult, but he managed. His body was sore and his shoulder hurt worse than he remembered it to have hurt last night. Much worse. The healer had left him with some bark, just where…? There!
Sicheng hurriedly broke a piece and bit down on it, chewing it to get it to release its effect.
He wanted to flop back down and doze off. Everything hurt and he was just so incredibly tired.
The uncertainty of his situation and the potential danger he was in weighed heavier though, so he only allowed himself to rest a little longer before he should get up, leave the tent and get an overview of the situation.
He tried to recall what had happened yesterday afternoon, but it was blurry. He remembered the tall and broad Alpha of the pack and the healer as well as the caring omega that had given him the tunic he was still wearing. It was sticking to his shoulder now where the wound had probably seeped overnight.
At least it had stopped bleeding for now, something Sicheng hadn’t been able to achieve on his own.
He also remembered the shy alpha across the fire, the one that had strangely been sewing, which didn’t fit his worldview. Plus the mouthy one…Yuta? The name was nice, so it had stuck. Sicheng remembered the alpha calling his name pretty. It annoyed him even to remember, but he was in no place marching around and demanding respect from alphas.
He was glad they had helped him or he knew he wouldn’t have seen today.
Would they want something in return?
He didn’t really have anything to offer, which was how he had gotten himself into this situation, in the first place. He didn’t fit in a pack, not how people wanted him to.
He probably didn’t fit here either.
Yet alone, he wasn’t too confident he’d survive for long.
The realisation made him tear up and Sicheng angrily wiped his eyes with his good hand.
When he heard the leathers of the tent being moved, he jerked upright, a spark of pain accompanying the sudden move.
The sun was bright outside, especially for an autumn day, and someone poked their head inside. It took Sicheng a second to remember him, but it was the Alpha.
“Oh! You woke up?”
“Have you heard of many people fancying to sit while sleeping?”
Sicheng glanced up at the Alpha for just a second, then turned his eyes back to the ground. He had never liked looking straight at people, but now his bothersome instincts made it even harder for him.
“No, not really. Glad to hear you have a sense of humour under the warrior’s attitude.”
It wasn’t exactly what Sicheng had expected. Or rather, the opposite of that, but a good opposite. It let him hope even when he had not expected that to be an option.
“I’ll get Doyoung or do you need anything?”
“No.”
Sicheng hesitated for a second. He’d much prefer to stay here, not move, and wait for the Alpha and Doyoung, he was the healer if he remembered correctly, to return and tend to him – but he also hated the idea.
So, he pushed himself up despite his body groaning and protesting his actions.
The world spun for a second when he was upright, but it calmed down after a couple of seconds.
“Wow, slow, slow, slow, you were on death’s door yesterday, I don’t think you should be walking anywhere if I remember Doyoung’s words.”
“I wasn’t, it’s just a scratch,” Sicheng argued, wanting to push past the Alpha.
“It’s not a scratch, are you mad? Wait!”
Sicheng was already leaving.
He wasn’t even sure what he was doing, but the tent suddenly felt too tight and restrictive, like he was trapped.
He wasn’t some doll to keep inside. The Alpha had called him a warrior – and that was what he was, what he had always wanted to be and what he was going to be regardless of the colour of his eyes and the ability to bear a child.
The air outside was damp and cool despite the sun hanging high in the sky. The scents were muted over the taste of the willow in his mouth, but distinctly foreign and still wrong to him as an outsider.
It was impossible to hide that they were all basically puppies here, but that same thing fuelled the hope Sicheng had not known he could feel.
“Hey, excuse me? We still need to talk even if you might not be as weak as Doyoung was sure you would be.” The Alpha had caught up.
Sicheng halted. Here, outside, he felt confident enough to face him.
“What about?”
“What about? What you’re doing here, where you’re from and where you’ll stay. I won’t just accept anyone into this pack if they could bring us in danger!”
Sicheng glanced up at the Alpha’s face.
It was true, that was a leader’s duty. He was well within his rights to ask this from Sicheng, he’d even expect it.
Sicheng wasn’t even sure what he was doing here, so maybe talking about it would also help him figure that out.
The second he opened his mouth, his stomach grumbled, so loudly he saw people look up where they had been trying to subtly overhear them from the fireplace.
Sicheng had successfully hunted while he had been wandering through the woods on his own, but with his injury, it had been a while since the last caught rabbit.
It was more than mildly embarrassing and Sicheng pressed his good hand against his stomach, hoping to shut it up.
“I guess we should talk over lunch then.” The Alpha laughed.
He scarfed the stew down so hurriedly, he choked several times, but no one stopped him and he got a second helping from the same alpha that had been sewing yesterday.
He really didn’t fit Sicheng’s worldview, but he wouldn’t ask. The Alpha was the one asking the questions now that they had both eaten and were just sitting next to each other.
“How did you get injured?”
“Wasn’t careful.”
Sicheng played with the spoon. It was nicely crafted and the perfect size. He wondered who had made it.
“Um, and more?”
“Nothing more.”
“I mean, did you fall? Was it an attack?”
“I crossed paths with a bear.”
He was lucky he had gotten away alive.
In the forest, there was a hierarchy. Wolves weren’t on the top, though. They might have sophisticated villages, cook their food, cultivate the land and make fibres into clothes, but the deadliest predators around were bears. You didn’t want to mess with them.
“Where?” The Alpha knew that as much as Sicheng and from how his voice got pressed, Sicheng understood he worried for his pack, as a good Alpha should.
“Not close to your border, no wolf’s land far north.”
“Okay. How did you even get there, in the first place? How old are you? 15?”
Sicheng considered rolling with it, but the older he was, the sooner he might have to get mated.
Under no circumstances was he going to get mated to an alpha.
He was in no shape to leave and he knew he wouldn’t be for a few more moons, maybe even seasons. He needed a place to stay and this pack seemed more promising than he could have imagined.
“I turned 14 before I left.”
“Ah. You left on your own terms?”
Sicheng shrugged. He wasn’t keen on answering this question.
“Or because you were suddenly supposed to do needlework and listen to alphas?”
Surprised, he looked up.
He had not expected that.
Not like he kept it a secret, but it usually had been a realisation rather than a suggestion.
The Alpha was grinning, though, not like he thought this annoying and was set on changing Sicheng’s behaviour for the better – or what he considered the better.
“I guess you’ll fit right in then – if you want. Over there, that’s Taeil. For him, it was the other way around.”
Sicheng followed the nod and, of course, it was the alpha from earlier. He looked up now and gave a small wave. He was kinda cute, very non-threatening. No wonder he would have been raised as an omega.
It was beyond Sicheng how someone could prefer that life, but maybe he didn’t understand because it had been different for him.
“You don’t expect anyone to come looking for you?” The Alpha asked.
“You’ll be in trouble if someone did,” Sicheng concluded. It was obvious. This pack had weak defences, not even a single mature alpha from the looks of it.
He had not expected to feel as upset by the realisation, though. As… protective?
“Guess so. So?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t expect them, but there’s always a chance. I think they wouldn’t find me. I got pretty far.”
It was the truth and what he honestly hoped.
He’d rather be alone with the wound he was struggling with than return home. After his mother’s passing, he had nothing worth returning to, which was why he had left, finding it unbearable to stay a second longer.
It didn’t feel like that here, though. Maybe it’d turn out to be a wrong assessment later, but right now, Sicheng genuinely wanted to stay.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right, there is always a chance,” the Alpha muttered, eying Sicheng. “I’d rather take it, though, than leave you to die.”
Sicheng scoffed, but he was relieved.
He had no plans to bite the dust yet – but it wouldn’t hurt to have a safe place to ensure it didn’t still happen.