Chapter Text
They had run, across lands, cities, towns and countries. They had run to save Jongdae from their own kind.
In the present future, werewolves were very much real, just adapted to and functioning as regular humans with the exception of sometimes turning into wolves to satisfy the animalistic side of themselves. Most wolves in the present future had either integrated into the human lifestyle, or were living deep in the woods in their own packs, and followed their own way of life. And then there were a few rogues like Jongdae and his family who transitioned in and out of the two lifestyles; but really they just led a life of fear, a life specifically of hiding and cowering.
The reason was simple; Jongdae had the unfortunate luck of being born as an omega , and after the massacres of wolves in the earlier 1800’s there were very few omegas left in the wolf world.
Wolves are genetically born with the wolf gene whether it is passed from ancestors, or directly received from parents. They are also born with a specific trait, which distinguishes them as alpha, beta or omega.
Betas were the most common and the normal, well as normal as wolves get that is. Then come Alpha’s who are uncommon but hardly rare. They are born bigger, stronger, and with a built in authority that gives them powers to control packs. They are also born with the ability to knot. And lastly, there was Jongdae’s kind, the Omegas. Omegas are incredibly rare in the wolf world, and for every ten alpha or beta born there is only one omega. They are prized, cherished and considered the perfect breeding machine, as no other wolf was capable of birthing pups. And the reason there is currently such a shortage is because as immortal beings, wolves do not require many children, and thus omegas are born in such rarity.
It was different though in the early eighteen hundreds. Wolves had grown considerably in population and packs had become so big that it was hard for head alphas to look over so many wolves. Eventually pack heads began to lose control, and more then an appropriate number of innocent humans were killed as a result.
This is the starting point when humans also began fighting back and a group of mortals banded together and trained specifically in the art of killing werewolves, they called themselves hunters. At first they only engaged alphas and betas in battle and that only led to more of mankind being killed so instead, one night they staged a huge two way attack. One where they called out to the strongest alphas and betas in the middle of the territories of the two species and led a huge army style warfare. The majority of packs took their warriors and only left behind the young and omegas behind, however what they hadn’t counted on was that the mortals would go back to their villages in the forests and attack their homes behind their backs; It was a brutal kill that was completely underhanded, treacherous and went against all principles of warfare; surpassing even the most vile brutalities of war, and it left so many of the wolf kind murdered in the span of a few short hours.
The huge warfare that took place on the grounds also took quite a few lives, however the wolves returned home victorious but were only met with more blood, this time of their murdered partners and children. And even though they had left a few alpha and betas behind to protect camp it wasn’t nearly enough to save them from the onslaught of the hunters that attacked.
So few omegas survived, and on top of that most omegas were also healers, so even their medical aid was gone, and as a result, the few that they might have been able to salvage also died.
The wolves were wild with fury, rage, and sorrow, and led a savage and wild counter attack the very next day, something the hunters hadn’t anticipated on and ended up eradicating the group completely. The hunters had thought they had seen the wolves like monsters during their wars, but really it would never compare to when a wolf went feral from loss and hatred.
The attack of the hunters however inspired many others across the globe and the result is today, that wolves are few and sparse, only a handful of packs per region with the maximum size being barely twenty. But even twenty was rare, as most packs just stayed under ten.
And of course omegas were sought after to continue the line onwards. These days even three out of five packs are lucky enough to have even one omega. And these omega’s become sick breeding toys who are used however which way the pack desired, and forced to spit out litter after litter of puppies to continue on the lines and increase the wolf population. And sometimes if an omega was unfortunate enough to give birth to another omega, that poor child was sold to whoever paid the highest price when they finally came of age.
Not all packs were like this of course, some were actually kind and cared deeply for their omegas but it didn’t take away from the fact that they had and continue to be used without a care or understanding of their feelings. And thus omegas- also docile by nature- have given into fate.
However there are a few who rebel.
Jongdae’s own mother was born to an unfortunate omega women who had pretty much lost her brains at the hands of her ruthless pack. After witnessing the torture that her mother faced at the expense of those beasts, something in her just snapped, and she ran for her life when she was just shy of her fifteenth year. It was the year when her heat would most probably hit and she would be sold to some other wolf pack to be used as a breeder. So she ran, she ran like she had never run before, with no goal or destination in mind, only cold numbing fear of being caught. Jongdae guessed for a few hours that she might have probably just lost her senses and handed herself over to her wolf, becoming feral, which explained why she ran head first into his father.
While running across no man’s land Jongdae’s mother collided with a figure almost twice her size, someone who would prove to be an integral part of her life, and one who would ultimately give her life meaning. As she snapped out of her daze, reality hit her like a punch in the gut and she tried to run away but he had already grabbed her. An omega is probably something his father never thought he would ever encounter and actually never wanted to encounter in his life again, after what he had seen in his own pack, so running into Jongdae’s mother was a curse. He wanted to tell her to return to her pack and to not stray from the path laid out to her but before he could muster up the strength to spit out life's cruel realities to her, he saw her tear stained face, and the look of pain and helplessness. It had hurt, he could still feel the pang that he felt all those years ago. More than anything, the sight reminded him of his omega father so he couldn’t help it when he shifted back and looked down at the scared frightened child and his heart truly hurt for her. He told her not to be scared and he softly bit into her neck claiming her and eliminating her chances of ever being claimed again while he was alive and fought for her.
After that he looked after her and raised her into womanhood, eventually falling in love silently and from afar, and caring for her every need. They lived in utmost seclusion in fear that other wolves could easily come and force the two into their own pack; and if Jongdae’s father was bit, his mate would also be tied to the pack.
However, somehow, someway they made it, running, escaping, and travelling together. Jongdae didn't know if what they experienced was truly happiness, but he guessed it must be the closest thing they could have gotten.
Eventually when enough time passed and Jongdae’s mom’s scars had healed, she too ended up falling in love with his father and they spent their days much the same but closer than before. She didn’t want to have puppies for the longest time and they were extremely careful, but one day they ended up making a mistake and Jongdae and his litter were born. There was Jongdae, two boys and a girl, but because of the malnourishment, and severe stress, along with lack of medical assistance during the pregnancy, his siblings all ended up dying except small little Jongdae. His father blamed himself for the longest time, Jongdae still has memories of his father's face falling if Jongdae ever mentioned that he was lonely, but really there’s only so much a wolf could have done while lying low, trying to protect his pregnant omega, and also trying to bring home dinner to the table.
After that though it became even more of a run because now there was an omega, AND a baby, and with only one alpha to shoulder the responsibility, the threat of another pack looming over their heads became even more dire. However, during their time they also came across packs that were uncharacteristic friendly. They were willing to protect rogues and gladly take in Jongdae’s little family. But even those times came to an end when smaller packs under the head pack would make a fuss, outraged that a single alpha had an omega all to himself when some packs didn’t even have one. The times of peace were a nice breather for his family though, and ten years after Jongdae was born his mother conceived yet again, this time all the pups made it thanks to the nicer circumstances.
Jongdae was eleven when his mom and dad went to the mortal hospital, and because of the advancements in medical science they had come across a way to stop women from conceiving. Something called Tubal ligation, which finally freed his mom of her lifelong horror. A fear that had followed her since the time she first turned fifteen. She was finally free of her past, and for five years, peace followed suit and their family found themselves amongst the mortals and for once in her life, Jongdae’s mother felt liberated.
They thought they could finally be a happy little rogue family and live without care like other rogues did. His father went out to work and his mother sent him to school while she looked after the puppies. They had four children to feed and two adults but that makeshift happiness wasn't bad at all.
However, that all ended when Jongdae turned sixteen and he finally transformed for the first time. It wasn’t the air of power and authority that omitted from him of an alpha, or even the underlying strength of a beta, instead he reeked unquestionably of omega pheromones, that covered him and every inch of his skin, in through his pores and locked onto his very soul.
His mother fell to the ground and cried as his three little siblings stared on confused at what was going on. Jongdae didn’t know what to feel, probably numb, which was good because it was probably going to be a feeling he would have to get acquainted with from now on.
Later that evening when his father set foot into the house and caught a whiff of Jongdae's scent coupled with his wife's broken, sobbing frame , he acted like he had all those years ago and grabbed Jongdae, his brothers and sisters, and his mother and ran again before any of the nearby packs could smell his new potent omega smell and come to claim him as theirs. Their freedom was short lived, and had once again been subjected to the life of a rogue; homeless and isolated and not a single place they could call home.
They barely found peace before a new hotshot alpha with some big old pack would come banging on their door, demanding that his father hand over Jongdae because they had a good price.
It was when Jongdae was twenty, that his parents decided to finally head back to Korea, a home his parents had left a hundred years ago. They found a run down cabin on the woods in the outskirts of Seoul that they decided to rent, and even though it was a tight squeeze for their family, it was near the woods. Jongdae was forbidden to travel outside his house after he turned so this was the best he got.
Seoul was beauty on its own, the most comforting aspect was that everyone looked like him and so no one looked twice on those rare days when he did get to go outside with his dad.
He knew his parents felt terrible about locking their first born up like some prisoner. And he knew it hurt their hearts on all those agonizing nights when Jongdae went through his change— because he had locked up his wolf too long— causing the wolf to fight back, and demand to be let free into the woods, and to be let out to nature, and the moon, and his calling. Nights like those his wolf would howl and scream and scratch and trash against the door that had been locked to keep Jongdae and the wolf inside. It would howl and howl and cry before finally Jongdae and him both would collapse in exhaustion and the wolf would finally retreat into the recesses of his mind, silently awaiting the next full moon. His mother would always open his door the next morning with a pained look in her eyes.
Or when his heat would hit every six months and there would be no one to take away the painful fire that lit up his core. It was times like these when he would lock his own door and spend four to five days, isolated and in pure agony; sweaty hair matted to his face, body aching from stiffness, bleary eyes, and bleary mind. This time he could barely recall his mother' cries because his own were all he heard. And so as sob after sob wracked his body and when the last of the fire finally extinguished, he would try to piece his broken self back together so that he could show his parents he was alright, and that he was going to be fine, even if he was cracking more and more at the center each year.
However Seoul was the first time they had ever gone so long without their stay being interrupted by a surrounding pack. His mother’s usually worn down face was lighting up again like he remembered when he was a child. His father thought that maybe because they had never lived so close to a city before, and maybe it was because the air was so permeated with mortals, that it was hard to detect their scents. The head pack probably knew there were wolves skimping around their borders but as long as they laid low and didn’t bother them they might not come to check.
Jongdae for once had also found peace; he spent his days happily with his brothers and sisters, and his mother had decided to let the little ones go to school for once and he loved seeing their lit up faces when they came home with lights in their eyes. And he prayed harder than anything that they all grew up to be happy alpha and betas, and no one grew up with the life he did. He also watched TV because they’ve been living here so long that they could finally afford it, and in their backyard he planted a little garden with lots of flowers.
The house faced the woods and Jongdae would go out there to get some fresh air and work on the garden and it made his mother nervous that he went out there but it seemed she didn’t want to take away the small happiness that he had and so she kept her mouth closed. Though if he stayed out longer than thirty minutes she immediately called him back in.
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It was their eighth month in Seoul, and another full moon made its appearence as Jongdae fought to try and gain control over his body again, but as usual it was a losing battle. He heard the turn of the lock on his bedroom door signaling his parents trapping him in his room and Jongdae whimpered.
“change.” his wolf whispered but Jongdae shook his head as the tremors got stronger in his body. He dragged himself under his bed and lay there hugging his knees to his chest, and trying to breath even though anything at this point was too painful. his migraine throbbed dull and resonated inside him and Jongdae’s head lolled to the side, breath coming out in gasps and he wished the pain away some way.
“please please please” he whispered brokenly like he always did but it never stopped and Jongdae full out sobbed.
“run.” his wolf said Jongdae tried to shake his head again but the motion left him dizzy so he just rested his head on the hardwood instead and focused on breathing, but a few seconds later he felt the throwing up sensation that he associated with change, and he knew the shift was coming.
“please…” he whispered again even though he knew it was useless so he dragged himself out— because he would only hurt himself more trying to attempt change under the bed— when his breath choked off again and he heaved hard and painful, his lungs closing up and his vision clouded with black spots, and he didn't know if breath was entering his lungs, he had all but his legs out when he hacked again, and then again, and finally his wolf was out, his skin folding under to let the new skin out and then began the sickening process of change. the slow grinding of his bones rubbing raw against each other as they tried to move into their new place.
Jongdae screamed loud and helplessly on the floor. he probably threw up because everything smelled foul and his fingers twisted and contorted, body and bones breaking before becoming anew again.
“mom… dad… help...” he whispered as a particularly painful set in his spine readjusted and Jongdae passed out from the pain for a second before he woke up again.
A loud snap in his chest followed by a deafening screech which Jongdae realized came from himself, and he passed out again and woke up as his legs were re aligning. he heaved and his eyes were a blur from his tears and panic and pain made breathing difficult so much so he wished he would stop breathing altogether. just take his last breath and make everything in this rotten world stop.
finally after what felt like hours but was probably only five minutes, Jongdae stood in his wolf form still a little battered from the change but nonetheless standing. His mind had faded and only a weak conscious was awake.
“OUT!” the wolf screamed in his head and collided with the door.
“Want OUT!” it screamed in his head, again, and again, and again, as it ran frantic across the room trying to find some way out; some where it could just run outside and be free. It collided with all the walls and tore at the curtains and anything else it could find. howled at the sky and whimpered pained and mournful till finally when it had done enough damage to itself and Jongdae and it was broken and tired it fell to its side and whimpered as bones creaked and shifted again and Jongdae finally settled into his own skin. The second shift was always a lot less painful because black was already fraying around the edges of Jongdae’s vision he had grown numb to the hours of pain he had been enduring.
Jongdae tried to drag himself to bed but everything hurt still and he had no energy. his shoulder was broken and out of place, his nails were torn and ripped off the bud, from all the scratching the wolf did at the door, and he was black and blue in bruises. it was always easier to just pass out on the ground so he did
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He walked out of his room the next day and he probably looked worse than usual because instead of just a frown and hands bunched up in her skirt, his mother actually let a few tears escape as she tried to be calm and walk away but Jongdae saw the shake of her shoulders.
He felt especially horrible today so he walked out to his garden, it was already late in the evening but he decided on pulling out the plants he had asked his dad to get a few days ago. He had gotten the Camellias with his allowance, and planting helped soothe his tired mind and body and he finally relaxed again.
When he checked the time; he only had five more minutes before his mother probably called him in again so he quickly wiped the sweat of his brows and finished planting in the last two potted plants he had gotten. He was sweeping his bangs from his face looking up when suddenly he saw a dash of black in the distance behind a few trees.
Jongdae’s hands and legs immediately started quivering and he couldn’t run inside fast enough, as he abandoned everything behind him and ran.
That was a wolf! Jongdae knew that was a wolf, even if it was only a glance he just knew it was one. It had been too quiet these last few months, it was too easy, omegas never a got a break in the wolf world, they were doomed to suffer and Jongdae knew that, he had let happiness get the better of him and caused him to put his guard down.
Once inside his brothers and sister looked up at him curiously, but he just shook his head and plastered a fake smile on his face. He’s sure if they were a little older they could see the insanity and cracks behind his mask, but because they were still so young and naive they just smiled their biggest back at their older brother.
“Jongdeok-ah, can you get brother’s things from outside? Brother doesn’t feel well.” Jongdae said putting a small frown on his lips; his brothers and sister were used to him always being sickly from his heat cycles and full moons, so Jongdeok didn’t even think twice about it before he ran out and gathered his belongings as Jongdae kept watch from the window just in case.
Later that night Jongdae couldn’t get the replay of the events out of his head, he stayed fairly silent at dinner worrying his parents, causing his mother to hug him close and tell him it would all be okay as she kissed his still healing fingers. He smiled at her and lied that he was just a little tired but she just nodded grimly. His father ruffled his hair and looked at him kindly in the eyes, but he could see the sadness behind them.
“My sweet boy” he said and Jongdae almost felt tears well up, but he ducked down and controlled his emotions, plastering a smile on his face and hiding behind his fake facade.
“Father please, do not look at me pitifully like that. You have always taught me life is nothing but difficulties and that is all I am experiencing. I will be ok, I promise.” And his dad smiled once more, and ruffled his hair and trapped him in a bear hug as Jongdae yelled out indignantly laughing.
Jongdae went to sleep trying to convince himself that it was only a dream or maybe an illusion he might have concocted because he was getting anxious about how the areas packs had left them alone. Or maybe he really was tired from last night and it was just something he thought he saw, Seoul was known to hold a lot of rogues they wouldn’t care right? It was just one more rogue family.
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But of course life is never so kind to him.
Early the next morning Jongdae heard yelling outside, and when he ran towards his window he saw a sleek black truck parked in the driveway and a group of five men. He opened his window and took a whiff, and it was indeed a pack.
He ran to the kitchen to get a clear view of the commotion going on at their driveway and listened.
“Sir with all due respect but how much longer can you continue on like this?” a deep voice rang out “with two omegas I can already imagine your life probably consisted with running from place to place and hiding, fighting trying to keep your wife and child safe. If you would only just listen to my propos—“
“—What so you can make my child and wife into some fuck toy!?!?” his father's deep voice bellowed with rage “Why do you think I have hidden them from the likes of you disgusting packs for so long? NO! IF YOU WANT THEM YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME!” His father roared into the sky and Jongdae wanted to just cry again.
The fact of the matter was that he was exhausted; no matter how hard he tried, fatigue, both mental and physical began to dominate his life. It felt like nothing had been going right these past five years, absolutely nothing.
Jongdae thought of how they would be homeless again, wandering. Trying so hard to settle down even though they knew they never could, he thought of his brothers and sisters bright faces as they went off to school these days, of his mother, of his garden, of some place finally feeling like home. Thinking of that, of everything, something in Jongdae finally turned. He was just so exhausted and done. He didnt want to move again, he didn't want his family to move again, and he was tired of pushing off a fate that seemed inevitable. The car on the driveway seemed expensive, and the pack who owned it seemed very strong and their pheromones thick and heavy speaking of immense and great power, so Jongdae made a split second decision, he opened the front door and stood on the porch looking down at his distraught mother, angry father and five wolves. He eyed the four alphas and a beta as they looked at him in shock and walked toward them.
“Jongdae!” his mother yelled close to a break down “get inside at once!”
But Jongdae was done and tired of all of this, and he was also determined so he ignored his mother’s pleas and went to stand in front of her and his dad instead. He was only a few inches taller then his mother but smaller than all the rest of the men standing there, but he still puffed out his chest and stood his ground even though his omega genes screamed at him to just go and hide. He had never been in such a freighting situation before; never in front and so close to so many strange wolves. He hadn’t been in contact with another wolf since he first changed and if one ever came too close his parents were always there pushing him back to protect him. But now here he was standing trying to protect his family, exposed completely to wolves he didn’t even know but who were so powerful he felt their energies causing his omega wolf to whimper and plead to submit.
He swallowed down the pathetic lump in his throat and instead stared the alpha down. His next words came out quieter than he intended them to be, but he pushed on.
“What is your proposition?” he asked, and kept his eyes steady resisting the urge to look away.
“Jongdae!” his father shouted trying to turn him around, but Jongdae pushed him off gently and grabbed his worn calloused hands.
“Dad no! I’m tired of this I can’t do this anymore, mom can't do this anymore, the kids can’t, and you can’t! This is a decision I am making for myself, please do not stop me!” he said as he eyed the burden and sadness lined on his father' tired features. Wolves weren’t supposed to age past their twenties however sadness, sorrow, and worry still ended up leaving their mark. His father sighed deeply and ran a tired hand down the front of his face, nodding. “We will hear what you have to say, but if there is something we do not like I refuse to agree and we will pack up and leave.”
The strangers stared at one another, but what Jongdae assumed was the head alpha stepped forward and nodded. “You have my word sir,” he said and Jongdae wasn’t sure if he was being sincere or not, but he nodded at his words. “Since the young omega looks like he also has some claims I would like to listen to him first, if that is alright?”
And before his dad could get a word out Jongdae yelled yes. “I-I- you will only take me,” Jongdae said finally, and his mother gasped but he held her hand and squeezed it to reassure her “but my family is to be protected under you but not bound, they are to be settled into a part of your territory but you have no reign over them. And,” he thought, “The only thing I ask is I not be kept like some animal, just basic human treatment is all I ask.” He said the last part quietly and he heard his mother holding back a sob behind him and her hand was shaking, or was that his own?
He finally looked away from the tall alpha's face and looked down staring at his worn shoes.
The head alpha cleared his throat and Jongdae stole a glance up at him and saw kind eyes, that he hoped desperately weren’t a lie.
“I agree to your wishes little omega, anything else?” and when Jongdae slowly shook his head in response, the Alpha went on, “I also want you to know that you won't be taken in as just a necessity without any heed to your feelings and wishes. I am the alpha of this pack and I will make sure that you are taken care of to the best of our abilities and that no harm ever comes your way. I hope you know we are not getting an omega for the sole purpose of a mutt breeder” Jongdae winced at the name, “there are other political reasons too, why having an omega is within our favor. But fear not I will not do anything without your consent.” And the brunette looked up in shock at that. An alpha that actually took an omegas consent into play, but he subtly shook his head. He couldn’t, wouldn’t ever hope for kindness from them. If they were really good people they would let him be. He didn’t want to hope to only be proven horrendously wrong later when they had their way with him and looked at the betrayal in his eyes and laughed at him. He wouldn’t let that happen.
The other alpha an almost equally tall redhead with an even lower voice than the main alpha spoke up “Its true, Kris has always been fair to us and he has only ever used his alpha command a handful of times before and even those were only when there was a dire or important issue at stake. He is not one to abuse his power.”
Jongdae nodded at the words taking them as a grain of salt and then spoke softly after some contemplation “Then I agree to this arrangement, alpha.” He said and the alpha and his pack mates smiled at the words content with the knowledge that their mission proved successful.
“Jongdae…” his dad tugged at his hands and pulled him to face him, eyes stern yet worry lacing his features. He brought his warm calloused hands and cupped his face as he stared at his son who was a gorgeous blend between his wife and himself and his heart hurt for all the hardships his pup had endured and how he still always managed to smile brightly for everyone. “Jongdae are you sure, I do not want to get in the way of a decision you have chosen for yourself, but if you are doing this because you worry I tire of taking care of you or any such thing then you are wrong. I would never swap any life of luxury and happiness in exchange for you son. You ARE my happiness and no amount of sadness or hardships can take that away from me.”
Jongdae’s eyes started blurring but he shook his head as he wrapped his own hand around his father’s one that held his cheek. “No dad, I feel it is time. How much longer can we keep hiding, can ‘I’ keep hiding from this fate? I do not want to run anymore, even if I found another rogue to spend my life with I would still have to live like this and I cant anymore. Its alright, I will be ok. Trust me.”
With a start, Jongdae remembered something and he turned towards the pack, “also alpha!” Jongdae said looking at Kris with his big eyes “permission to also meet my family from occasion to occasion?” Kris smiled at Jongdae asking things so willingly from him already and nodded.
“Permission granted,” he said easily and Jongdae smiled back at his dad. His dad let out a long sigh but looked up at Kris and released Jongdae’s hands to shake Kris’s.
“It is what he has decided for himself so I cannot disagree. But please I beg of you, to care for him.” and Kris solemnly nodded and returned the handshake. “And also if you offer me any money in return for him ill fucking kick your ass.” and the rest of Kris’s pack hid smiles and laughs behind their hands pretending to cough as Kris glared at them, but Kris assured he never had such a plan.
After that everything happened so fast; his father and the head alpha, discussed details about his move and other important things when it came to a rogues being moved into a pack. His mother fretted nervously next to him but he would squeeze her hand and nod at her not to worry, which would somewhat calm her down.
Finally the pack left for the day leaving behind the sharp cat eyed alpha who he learned was named Zitao, and a puppy looking beta named Baekhyun, to guard the house for the next two days. After he finished packing he would be moving into the main packs house and his family would move into a comfortable apartment a little further away which was in Kris’s control and protected under his territory, plus the area was close to a nice wooded land that Kris also owned so his family could easily spend time in the woods and change during full moons.
The next two days were spent between packing and his parents showering him with even more love and attention than usual. While his siblings still didn’t understand what was going on, they did think they were moving again, but Jongdae explained it was close by and they would still get to go to school. Learning this the kids were so ecstatic that Jongdae knew even if his choice ended with him becoming miserable, he still felt he had done the right thing. His parents and siblings didn’t deserve to live like fugitives anymore just so he could keep running. How much longer could he prolong his fate? He was now ready to just give in.
Baekhyun and Zitao would also switch on and off between helping him and his family pack, while the other one kept watch outside. Jongdae caught them watching him once or twice but he didn’t feel like talking to them unless he had to. He just wanted to pretend just a tiny bit longer that this was a dream and wasn’t happening.
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It was the last night he was at the house, everything was packed and ready to go for the morning, and him and his parents just had an extremely emotional conversation after they had put his siblings to sleep. They told him to run if he ever felt like he was being abused and to not think about anything, and that they would take care of the rest. He knew they worried and feared for him so much and he could feel their love as his mom held him close and cried, and his father held his cold hands till they finally warmed up and looked at the carpet sadly. Finally he sent them off to bed and went to sleep in his own room, but even two hours later, sleep wouldn’t come so he sat up and looked out the window at his garden. He thought about how he hadn’t been able to say goodbye to his beloved plants, and wouldn’t be able to in the morning so he thought he might as well do it now.
He got out of bed and pulled on one of his dad’s big sweaters that were laying around and then pulled on his boots for outside, and crept out. He completely forgot about Baekhyun and Zitao though, so when he came face to face with a giant grey wolf, he almost had a heart attack and stumbled down into the leaf pile by the porch. A smaller dark brown colored wolf came around the other side of the house and stared at him dipping its head.
“Gods you scared me!” Jongdae gasped trying to calm his heart rate. “S-sorry I just wanted to go visit the garden, nothing else.” He said and maneuvered away from the wolves heading to the back.
He looked at his garden and it calmed him. Even though he hadn’t had a lot of money to put into the plants, he had tried his best and he thinks he had done as much as he could for them. He saw a couple of few weeds so he decided to pull a few out for old time sakes, and after a while another pair of hands quietly joined him at his side.
He looked over and saw Baekhyun smiling timidly at him so he nodded at him and got back to work.
It was quiet for a few more minutes before Jongdae spoke up “Wh-what’s the pack… like?” he asked as a blush creeped up his neck and onto his cheeks, and he ducked his head.
Baekhyun smiled before he answered “Like family,” he said without hesitation, and smiled. “Everyone really looks after and cares for one another, we are fairly young most of us but we are really close. And I’m not just saying this to make you like us more… we really are like family… and it would be nice if you could be family with us too. “
Jongdae nodded his and looked at Baekhyun’s puppy eyes, which only looked more and more enticing as he continued to stare at them so he looked away. “Ok” he said quietly unsure, especially unsure of himself and if he even really wanted to become family or not, “i'll try” he added as an after thought, and the two worked in companionable silence till the garden was weed free again.
Soon after, another pair of footprints crunched against the ground and Jongdae turned around and spotted Zitao “You know” the alpha started in a weirdly cute voice that didn’t match him at all, “we have a really big backyard at home with great soil that I think you could make an even nicer garden out of.” He said with happiness and excitement lacing his tone and Jongdae blushed and nodded.
It’s true that he had still been a little unsure and still skeptical after Kris left but talking to his soon to be pack mates Jongdae realized they weren’t that bad. He still didn’t trust them yet because who knows how their personalities might change once he was claimed, and away from his family, at their mercy, but he truly hoped it really was like the picture Baekhyun had painted for him.
++++++++++
The next day Kris personally came to settle his family into the new apartment and then take him home.
His family was brought into extremely nice apartments, they could probably never afford on their own. Kris, Zitao, and Baekhyun helped them all move their stuff to their new apartment, and when everything was settled it was finally time to say goodbye, and for Jongdae to lead his own life.
He had promised himself that he wouldn’t cry, but as soon as he looked at his teary eyed mother who was trying to hold back her own tears as well, and his confused brothers and sisters he couldn’t help but break down. He felt like he was a kid again as his dad pulled him into a fierce hug and his mom dabbed at his tears trying to clean his face even though her own face was a mess. When his dad finally let him go, the old alpha gruffly cleared his throat and looked at Kris sternly.
“You better take care of him” he said with emotion so thick in his voice, Jongdae choked up again, but Kris bowed his head in promise.
Finally he said goodbye to his parents and siblings and told them not to see him down, and he would just say bye at the door.
And as the door of the elevator arrived Jongdae, Kris, Zitao, and Baekhyun all stepped in and the omega’s family stood on the other side, and he waved to them trying his best to smile as happily as he could one last time. But then the doors slowly shut and all he saw were the pained faces of his parents.
++++++++++++++
During the car ride to the packs house he tried not to cry but ended up breaking down again. It was all incredibly overwhelming. He had never been away from his parents in all his twenty years of life, and he had never been around so many strange alphas and betas, and all this uncertainty and fear was making his head pound and hurt, he was honestly just so exhausted and it was only twelve in the afternoon.
As they were driving to the pack home Baekhyun sat in front driving the large, black truck, Kris sat in the passenger seat, and he was in the back seats with Zitao. He knew Kris and Baekhyun could hear him sniffling and weeping, but Zitao was the one who looked incredibly uncomfortable and unsure on whether to intervene and say something or not.
Jongdae had been glad he didn’t say anything because he really didn’t want anyone saying anything right now. But he did appreciate when Kris silently pulled out a few tissues from the glove compartment and gave them to him.
After a few more tears and sniffles he cleaned himself up, he didn’t want to meet his new pack mates as a weak little pup. So he pushed down his feelings of anxiety and sadness, and instead thought of his garden, siblings, parents and of happier times.
He probably drifted off because the next thing he knew Zitao’s cat like eyes were looking at him kindly and gently nudging him awake.
“Jongdae,” Kris’s deep voice called from the front, “we are almost home.”
Jongdae blinked back the sleep and yawned letting out a tired “yes alpha.”
And not even two minutes later Jongdae saw a large beautiful timber house come into his view with huge glass windows, and trees all around. It was truly like it was out of a dream. He looked around and realized the house was nestled deep in the forest with a small stream close by and woods as far as the eye could see. His wolf shook in happiness at finally being able to live so nestled in nature.
The car stopped and Baekhyun, Kris, and Zitao got out as Jongdae fumbled with his seatbelt. Eventually Kris opened the door and helped him out and grabbed Jongdae' hand as he jumped down from the high seats of the truck.
Now he heard yells and shouts and thundering footsteps in the house, and then a tall beta stuck his head out. He had thick eyebrows and a stern face, and then multiple other faces poked out behind him, and suddenly all of the pack were stumbling and spilling onto the porch and running towards the car.
The large amount of strong alpha and beta men scared the heck out of Jongdae, and before he even knew it, a terrified whimper left his mouth as he hid behind Kris’s broad shoulders peeking just a little bit over the side as the group gathered.
“Oh my god! Such pretty eyes!” he heard one of them in the back coo, and he also spotted the small blonde beta and alpha from the other day too, when they came to negotiate with his family to give him up.
Someone else chirped about how small he was while the stoic faced one appraised him and murmured, “He’s so tiny and lithe, smaller than even Kyungsoo,” which earned more appraisal, and by now Jongdae had gone tomato red and he honestly felt a little sick.
“That’s enough you guys” Kris said quieting down the crowd and standing in front of Jongdae to cover him up which Jongdae was thankful for.
Now Baekhyun and Tao were standing with the crowd of boys and waiting for Kris to speak again.
“Alright so as most of you already know but for formal introductions sake, this is Jongdae.” he said as he sidestepped a little and Jongdae was shown off to the boys again, who cooed at him some more from where they were standing and Jongdae turned even redder if that was possible and gripped at Kris’s jacket willing the alpha to hide him again which Kris did, but still allowed the omega to see the others.
“And now Jongdae, I’ll introduce the pack. As you know I am Kris your head alpha” and Jongdae nodded cutely at him eyes still on the ground but listening. “Alright, second in command is Suho” Kris said pointing to the small blond alpha that had come with Kris to negotiate. “Then we have the oldest, Minseok and Luhan.” Kris said pointing to a baby faced boy who looked more like an adorable chipmunk than a wolf, and then a gorgeous boy who probably deserved to be called more omega then he did, and they both bowed so he bowed deeper and he heard cheers and yells about how polite he was. “Ok then we have the group’s healer Yixing.” Kris said pointing to an adorable boy with a deep dimples as he cutely smiled and waved at Jongdae, and Jongdae hurriedly bowed back. “He has vast knowledge in omegas from the hundreds of books he has read and dealings he has come across in his old life at home, but he will further explain that stuff to you.
“And I’m sure if you have any knowledge that I do not have I would be glad to hear it. I would like to make your adjustment here more comfortable” Yixing piped in and Jongdae shyly nodded.
“Alright and then we have the beagle line as I like to call them and that is, well you have met Baekhyun, and that’s Chanyeol,” and Jongdae recognized the Alpha as the tall one who came with Kris that day, “and that’s Kyungsoo, though the real mischievous are the first two, Kyungsoo’s more like their keeper.” Kris said with a smile in his voice
Baekhyun immediately piped up, “I resent that” he said, and as the two bickered while Jongdae bowed towards an adorable wide eyed Kyungsoo, and tall Chanyeol who smiled rather wide but warm.
“Oh hush Baekhyun” Kris complained, “alright and this is Zitao you have met him too, and he is my cousin.” Zitao nodded and smiled kindly at Jongdae, and Jongdae nodded back. “But you can just call me Tao.” He said and Jongdae nodded meekly.
“Alright and finally the used to be Maknaes of the family, that’s Kai.” Kris said pointing to an attractive bronze skinned boy with a killer smirk, “and that’s Sehun.” He said pointing to almost the exact opposite of Kai, the incredibly pale and stoic expressioned boy who he first saw come out of the house, but they seemed to oddly compliment each other.
Jongdae nodded and bowed at them too and then faced the whole group and after thinking for a seconds he bowed lowly to everyone and whispered— though he was sure everyone caught it— a quiet “nice to meet you all.”
And he heard loud roars of “cute!” “I wanna eat him!” and “ gaaaah adorable”
Kris laughed at the pack and told them to go prepare lunch as he talked to Jongdae privately and then grabbed his hand, leading him into the house, and to his study.
The house was even more beautiful inside then it was out, though you could see the proof of a bunch of rowdy boys living there from the sweatshirts and snapbacks strewn everywhere, and dirty sneakers that had tracked mud all over the floorboards.
Jongdae laughed to himself, as he realized why they didn’t just need an omega to bear pups.
Eventually Kris took him into a large room that was a bedroom and Jongdae broke out into a nervous sweat thinking Kris was going to bed him right then and there, but then he pushed back a sliding door and revealed a study with deep mahogany furniture and books pertaining to wolf and wolf legends lining the walls among others reads.
“So,” Kris started “how do you like it here Jongdae, is the house and environment to your liking so far?”
And Jongdae nodded meekly, “Yes alpha, everything is very beautiful. I’m honored to be here.”
Kris gave a throaty laugh. “What’s happened to the Kim Jongdae from yesterday who stared the head alpha down?” and when Jongdae didn’t answer, instead only turning a deeper red Kris sighed. “Jongdae,” he said softly caressing the younger’s brown locks that fell around his face in soft curls. “I wish for you to relax here and to feel comfortable. This is your home and I hope you come to embrace it as such on your own accord. We as a pack will also do our utmost to help you fit in and feel comfortable, is that understood?” Kris said.
“Yes alpha” Jongdae nodded.
“Oh and Kris is fine, no one calls me Alpha.” Kris laughed. “But if you need anything Jongdae,” he said suddenly serious “Anything at all tell me ok?” he said and Jongdae just nodded again.
“Good” the leader said satisfied. “Now to get down to the more tricky business. Do you know who the Lupus Legio are?”
When Jongdae shook his head no, Kris nodded. “Most rogues don’t know them or don’t associate with them, but you do know about the massacres of the 1800’s right?” and Jongdae nodded his head yes.
“Well after the massacre a bunch of the elders from various, regions, countries, and continents that survived gathered together to form Lupus Legio, which is Latin for the Wolf Legion. They basically set up a group of rules and lists to follow for all packs, and to avoid the occurrence of the 1800 tragedies ever again. It’s a long boring list, but basically one of the rules is not no more than twenty members in a pack are allowed, and that includes children, and they set up these packs themselves, built borders, enforced rules, and then went to their own countries to implement these laws. The groups were so shattered at that point that everyone chose to follow the elders, and even today the elders from long long ago still reside in the mountains. It’s a few hours from here, but the elders have been looking over Korea and the wolf packs for centuries. Basically I’m telling you all this because elder Kwang-jo initiates new omegas into packs, and it’s a whole ritual of sorts, so this weekend we were thinking of going to initiate you is that ok?”
Jongdae nodded his head wondering why the head was even bothering to ask him. Yes the pack had been kind but it didn’t change the fact that they had taken him from his family, so really the head could do whatever he wanted. Why bother asking him?
+++++++++++++++++
After the talk Kris showed Jongdae around the house explaining how it was built and suited to each of their needs. There were twelve bedrooms, ten bathrooms, so yes some of them had to share, four floors which consisted of the basement, which housed a martial arts training ground for some of the members who took part in the sport like Zitao, Baekhyun and Minseok. And the other half was a clinic type area where Yixing took care of the members; and from what Kris said when a wolf from another pack was hurt most of the region's wolves also trusted Yixing to heal and help the wolf get better.
The first floor held the living room, a kitchen, a large dining room and three bedrooms, the second floor held bedrooms, and then the third floor held a loft area, and then Kris’s large bedroom, Yixing’s bedroom— which also had a study in it because of all the medicinal research Yixing did— and finally now his room.
Just as Kris had finished pointing out and helping Jongdae settle into his room, Chanyeol signified lunch was ready and so Kris led Jongdae back down to the first floor. Jongdae cutely held on to Kris’s jacket again apprehensive to meet his pack mates again. Even though he felt foolish and childish for doing it, it felt like it was the only way to keep him grounded right now. The alpha with his authority made him feel safe and he wanted to be around him and soak in the security he felt. When they reached downstairs everyone was seated already and Kris took a seat at the head of the head of the table and an empty seat had been let for Jongdae on his right side because it seemed he was more comfortable with Kris. Next to Jongdae sat the beautiful beta named Luhan who Jongdae thought did a better job of looking like an omega then he did.
“Kyungsoo made kimchi spaghetti,” chirped Jongin from the other side of the table, “I hope you like it Jongdae” he said with a super huge childlike smile
And Jongdae couldn’t help but return a small one and bow his head “I will” he said quietly.
And then once Kris had served himself and Jongdae lunch, they dug into the food heartily while the table burst into all its noisy glory, the boys let words and stories fly along with the occasional little bits of food that Kris would glare at.
Jongdae was calmed by the closeness of the pack., they were much like his own family except larger in number and unrelated by blood. Plus the fact that he was protected by Seoul’s strongest wolves made him finally relax and feel… safe for the very first time since he had changed and realized he was born an omega. Or maybe all his life he hadn’t felt safe because even before then he was always worried for his mom. Now he could finally be free of these worries.
He smiled a little bit before he remembered the only reason he was even safe though was because he would probably be used left and right by the pack and bear litter after litter of puppies that would probably eventually be raised as warriors and sent away as soon as they came of age. Jongdae shivered at the thoughts.
“Oh right I forgot to mention Ge, we aren’t doing anything with the garden out back are we?” Zitao asked in his cute little voice but a face that completely went against it.
“Um no, probably not, why?” Kris asked.
“Well Jongdae” Jongdae snapped to attention at his name “had a really cute little garden at his cottage home. It was small but from what I could tell, the plants were really well taken care of and I thought he might have fun working in a bigger space here, and we could even buy him other plants.”
Jongdae’s heart swelled at the words and he blushed ‘keep it together Jongdae’ he pep talked himself ‘they are only doing this because you're going to be their breeder.’
“Hmm” Kris contemplated “why not, I remember your garden too, you always worked so hard on it.” and Jongdae looked up shocked.
“So it was you,” he said, “the black wolf, I knew I hadn’t imagined it.”
Kris chuckled. “Someone had to keep a lookout for you, pup,” Jongdae blushed at the nickname. “Why do you think no one bothered your family for all those months?”
“I-I thought” Jongdae stammered. “I thought we just fell under the radar and you couldn’t smell us.”
“Haha maybe if it was another pack.” Chanyeol laughed.
“But Kris runs a tight ship, every rogue is to be listed up with us.” Luhan added.
“Then why not…” Jongdae asked wondering why Kris hadn’t approached his family before.
“I was actually going to, I even came close to your house…. But then I smelled you and your mother, and I knew you had to have been running. A rogue family with two omegas and five children. I understood, so while I would be running out in the woods once a week I would drop by and leave my scent around so it would keep other packs at bay, and I could watch over you.”
Jongdae was stunned at this revelation and didn’t know what to say or where to begin.
A soft “thank you” is all he managed.
++++++++++++++++++++
After lunch Jongdae’s mood was somber, he didn’t know what to think or feel and even though he realized the pack was incredibly friendly, it didn’t stop him from thinking they were probably like all the others.
Baekhyun showed him the backyard and Jongdae felt the dirt and it truly was ideal to plant in.
“How is it?” Baekhyun asked and Jongdae flashed him a small smile, which the other returned tenfold.
After that they headed back into the living room where Kyungsoo was reading, Chanyeol was playing his guitar and singing softly, and Sehun and Jongin were in front of the TV playing what Jongdae remembers are video games.
They all give him warm smiles as he sat down and watched the other boys play. Baekhyun tells him they are playing on something called a PS4, but it all just confusing boxes to Jongdae so he nodded absentmindedly instead and sat amored by the weird device.
He spent the rest of the evening watching Jongin and Sehun play and when he got the idea he even yelled a couple of instructions at the two, which caused the other people in the room to laugh.
++++++++++++++++++++