"He shouldn't sleep much longer." Jimin whispered, smiling down at Yoongi as he bet the Alpha's head.

Wooyoung peered up at him from where he was curled into a little ball on the other side of the bed.

He kind of managed a small smile, but he was just so tired.

Namjoon had brought them food, not much since no one had been to market or hunting yet, but it was enough for some of them to get their energy back. Then he'd dropped the hint that he would probably need the cabin soon, which had Yoongi growling and moving himself between his Omegas and the other Alpha.

Only to pass out a few minutes later.

Apparently this was normal, though it had still scared Wooyoung a bit to see the older collapse suddenly.

All three of them were tired, but Jimin explained that now Yoongi just needed to recharge a bit because of how hard he'd been going and now nonstop it had been. It was important for him to sleep as much as possible now so he could get back to protecting the pack as soon as he could.

That made Wooyoung's thoughts wander back to Mingi and Jongho...

How would their ruts go? Who would help them?

He shuddered at the thought of being needed... there was no way he'd be able to do this again for a long time...

"H-Hyung?" He whispered, voice still incredibly raspy.

"What, Sweetie?" Jimin leaned over Yoongi to give the younger his full attention.

"W-When will this h-happen again?"

Jimin tilted his head to the side, his lips turning down a little. "I'm not sure. We've never really timed it out. But I know Jungkook and I went into heat more often than Yoongi-yah and Namjoon-hyung have had their rut."

Wooyoung scrunched his nose. "I don't want to go through that again." He mumbled.

"I know." Jimin said softly. "It was hard for me too, but... once you get a better feel for your instincts, it gets better. Easier. I promise."

"This didn't seem very easy..."

The older giggled as he brushed some hair out of Wooyoung's eyes. "I think this time was a bit different because you are here."

"Me? What do I have to do with it?" Wooyoung looked up at Jimin with round, glistening eyes.

There's no way he was that important. If anything, he'd just felt like he'd been in the way most of the time, especially when he noticed how much of a connection Yoongi and Jimin had with each other.

It just left him feeling... unnecessary.

Jimin seemed to know where his thoughts had gone because he quickly skirted around Yoongi's sleeping form to pull Wooyoung into a hug. "Young-ah, trust me when I say that you are very important to him now. To both of us."

The younger Omega's chest tightened as he squeezed Jimin back, finding a probably unhealthy amount of comfort from Jimin's fragrant, rosy scent.

A couple more hours passed before Yoongi finally started to rouse once more.

He grumbled and groaned for several minutes, blindly reaching out until he found Jimin and pulled the Omega down into his chest.

Jimin giggled and hugged him back. "It's about time!"

Muffled words followed, indicating Yoongi had his mouth pressed against Jimin's neck.

"What was that?" Jimin tried to pull away but the stubborn Alpha just followed him.

Wooyoung couldn't help but smile softly while watching them. "Hyung, we should probably get back to the others." He said softly, reaching out to place a hand on Yoongi's waist.

He felt the older tense in an automatic reaction to his touch before immediately relaxing into the bed. Then he rolled over so he could pry his eyes open to look up at where Wooyoung was leaning over him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, reaching up to cup Wooyoung's cheek.

The younger leaned into the touch and closed his eyes. A low purr vibrated in his chest as his wolf stirred within him. "Yes. Tired, a bit sore, but I'm fine." He said, knowing that his Alpha needed reassurance.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No." Wooyoung shook his head where it was still pressed into Yoongi's hand.

Relief flashed through the older's eyes and he let his hand slowly fall back to the bed before he turned to check on Jimin as well.

It took him another hour before he was finally ready to roll out of bed. The Omegas had to rush to catch him when his knees buckled beneath him, giving away how out of it he still was.

They helped him into the bathroom where they all bathed and cleaned each other up. Once finished, they dressed and made their way back to Ateez's cabin.

The closer they got, the stronger Wooyoung's pull to be back with San started to become.

There was this itch under his skin that had somehow turned off while he'd been helping Yoongi with his rut, but now that it was over, Wooyoung needed to see San again so badly it hurt.

San seemed to be feeling the same way because mere seconds after the cabin came into view, he was hurtling down the front steps.

The two Omegas ran at each other and collided so hard they both had the air forced from their lungs.

"Missed you." San whispered, squeezing him tightly.

Wooyoung just hummed in response. He was too emotional for words at that moment so he settled for letting his legs go limp and dragging San down to their knees.

He could sense Yoongi and Jimin watching them, his Alpha's eyes turning into a sensation he was always aware of.

San's teeth grazed over the unmarked side of his neck and Wooyoung shuddered. "San-ah, I may need you to help me inside." He whispers with a nervous laugh.

The older Omega pulled away with a look of surprise. Now that Wooyoung was on the ground, his legs were screaming at him and he could already tell that he'd collapse if he tried to stand.

With one easy motion, San slipped an arm behind Wooyoung's knees, wrapped another behind his back, and stood with a small grunt.

"Wooyoung-ah?" Yoongi took a step forward as soon as he realized what was happening.

"I'm fine." Wooyoung looked at him over San's shoulder. "Just a bet sore." He added with a slight cringe.

A look of guilt flashed across the Alpha's face but nothing more was said. Instead he took Jimin's hand and followed him inside.

San set Wooyoung down on the couch and caressed his cheek as he pulled away.

The attention made Wooyoung shiver and he preened a little, looking up at San as if he held the world in his hands. "Missed you." He whispered, finally returning San's words.

"Where is everyone?" Jimin asked, pulling their attention to where he was looking around the room.

"All over the place." San sighed. "I'm not sure where the rest of your pack is, honestly... I'm sorry... But Hongjoong is with Chan, Seonghwa and Yunho are with Mingi, and Jongho-yah and Sangie are upstairs."

"So it's hit Chan and Mingi too?" Yoongi asked cautiously. When he received a nod, he scowled at the floor. "Joon should be any time now then. I wouldn't be surprised if he took at least Jungkook somewhere with him for some privacy. Have you heard from Youngjo or Gunhak?"

"Not yet. I don't know that they will be affected though." San crossed his arms over his chest. "Hwanwoong has never had a heat and he didn't come running when Mingi went into his rut, so Hongjoong and Jongho-yah thought that ruts probably wouldn't hit them either."

Footsteps interrupted their conversation and Yeosang came barreling down the stairs. "Woo!!" He called, flinging himself onto the couch so hard he bounced in place a couple of times before flinging his arms around Wooyoung.

The Omega hugged his best friend with a wide grin. "Hi to you too." He giggled.

A rush of happiness washed through him, a feeling he'd almost forgotten he could have, and he found himself pressing his nose to Yeosang's neck so he can soak in his calming rain scent.

Then a tug came from his link to San and Wooyoung tilted his head just enough to see San staring at the stairs. The tug gets a bit stronger, revealing a sense of anxiety.

That feeling became amplified when confusion started coming from Yoongi as well.

Yeosang pulled away, revealing the stairs.

Where Jongho was standing, gripping the banister so tight his knuckles were white.

"You're back." The Alpha said just barely above a whisper.

Wooyoung felt something heavy weighing on him from all the mixed emotions flowing through his links, but also from the intensity behind Jongho's gaze.

Somehow he managed a timid, "Y-Yeah."

He watched as the Alphas began to stare each other down next. Their scents started to get stronger, reminding Wooyoung of a booze filled night around a campfire.

It was bad enough that his legs started to shake, sparking San into finally moving forward so he could wrap an arm around Wooyoung's waist.

"Jongho." He growled, claiming the younger's attention. "Not now."

While Wooyoung looked up at the older Omega with confusion, Jongho instantly backed down and pressed himself against the wall.

"Okay, something is obviously going on here. Maybe we should give them some privacy, Hyung." Jimin said from where he was hiding behind Yoongi. "Let's go try to get some food."

"We do desperately need some..." Yeosang bit his lip and glanced between the three members of his pack.

"Fine." Yoongi sighed. He lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose before turning to look expectedly at Wooyoung. "Are you coming or staying?"

Wooyoung knew what his Alpha wanted the answer to be. He could feel it within every fiber of their bond.

But as much as he wanted to make his Alpha happy, even his wolf agreed that he needed to stay.

Head Alpha. Stressed. Help.

The words surprised him, causing his eyes to flick in Jongho's direction, which silently answered Yoongi's question.

With a nod, he took Jimin's hand and led him from the cabin.

Guilt started to twist around Wooyoung's heart. He twisted his own fingers together and bowed his head.

A gentle touch to his shoulder had Wooyoung jumping slightly before looking at San.

"Let's go upstairs." San whispered, then turned to Yeosang, "Do you mind? I think we need to talk..."

The Beta frowned slightly, "But-"

"Please, Sangie. I know he just got back, but it's important."

Yeosang tilted his head a little, then his eyes flicked to Jongho. "Oh, um, yeah. I'll... I'll go check on Mingi." He squeezed Wooyoung's shoulder once, then made his way to the back door.

As he did, Jongho slowly walked down the stairs one at a time, like it's the last thing he wanted to do.

"Okay, what's going on?" Wooyoung asked, looking between his two packmates. "Why do we need to go upstairs?"

"I guess we don't now." San sighed softly. He looked at his Alpha with an almost sad expression. "It's alright, Jongho-yah. Just be honest."

Wooyoung's anxiety began to spike. He took a step back so he could look at both San and Jongho without turning his head too much and brought his hands to his chest. "Seriously, what's going on? Why are you guys being so cryptic?!" His mind started to race with all the possibilities, but it latched onto the worst one... "Do... Do you want me to leave? Because I mated with Yoongi-hyung?" He could hear how his own voice was trembling and it was so embarrassing.

"No!" Jongho said almost before Wooyoung could finish speaking. He also took a few steps forward and a look of desperation crossed his face. "That's the last thing I want!"

Good Alpha.

"Then what is it?!" Wooyoung yelled, trying to keep his emotions under control.

"I love you!" Jongho yelled back.

Wooyoung froze in place, eyes growing wide at the same time Jongho slapped a hand over his own mouth.

While his brain malfunctioned as the words started to repeat and repeat and repeat in his head, Wooyoung's wolf seemed to preen under the statement, which didn't help his attempts to process what was happening.

Jongho closed his eyes and slowly lowered his hand. "Young-ah, I... I'm in love with you... And I have been for a few years now."

This couldn't be happening... could it?

His first instinct was to look at San, so he did. And was met with an understanding but slightly sad gaze. "San?"

"It's true. I can feel it through our mating bond... We've already talked about it." San bowed his head a little.

"That's it?! That's all I get?" Wooyoung suddenly felt so betrayed and he took another step back. "You're not even going to fight this? Or- or- or-"

San rushed forward and took both of Wooyoung's hands in his. "Wooyoung, take a deep breath."

"No! What about us? What about all those promises?"

"Nothing has changed with us! Not for me." San tightened his grip. "Wooyoung, I still love you more than anyone else in this world. But I'd be lying if I said my relationship with Jongho hasn't changed as well. You should understand, I know you feel it with Yoongi-hyung."

Wooyoung's lower lip began to tremble. Sure, he felt something different with Yoongi, that was his Alpha, but even his wolf had urged him to stay here instead of sticking with him. But that bond didn't change how he felt about San...

"D-Do you love him?" Wooyoung whispered.

"Young-ah." San said gently, letting go of one hand so he could run his fingers through the younger's hair. "This is more complicated than that."

Instant pain mixed with instant regret in his link with San.

Wooyoung yanked his hands away. He tried to fight the tears threatening spill from his eyes, even as they flicked between San and Jongho.

Good Alpha. Strong. Caring.

"Screw this!!" Wooyoung screamed, then spun on his heels and sprinted for the back door.

"Wooyoung!!" He heard both of them call for him, but he chose to ignore it in favor of running.

He knew he was the fastest runner. He knew he could get away...

How could San not fight for them? How could Jongho just spring that information on him like that?

His mine was racing faster than his feet could take him... Pushing him closer and closer to an all-out panic attack...

Too much... This was all too much.

The games, the change, the pack, the bonds, the lack of freedom...

Wooyoung wanted it to end.

He needed it to end.

He needed all of this to be over.