He had watched it all unfold.

The alpha getting distracted by a beta, leaving the beta he had come with alone.

And then the beta panicking when the alpha wasn't around.

It wasn't something he particularly cared about... except the beta had something he needed.

More and more wolves were starting to show up and it was getting harder to keep track of everything.

He reached forward with shaking hands, longing to close them around what he needed.

He was so close...

.

.

.

.

Keonhee kept backing away from the main streets of the market. There was no way he was going to be able to keep himself calm now, not when he could smell several alphas getting closer.

Why? Why did this have to happen to him again?

There was no way he was going to get away this time, not when he was in unfamiliar territory.

The next thought that came to his mind was how much he was going to miss Hwanwoong... They still weren't close, but he had hoped they could be friends once the omega started to open up a little more.

How could Leedo just leave him like this?

Keonhee held his herbs close to his chest and ran down another alley.

He would run for as long as he could to avoid what came next...

"We can smell you. Stop running and show yourself." A grizzled sounding alpha called out.

"We just want to take care of you baby boy." That one was a female alpha. Keonhee realized the air must just reek of cinnamon if he was attracting that many alphas.

He spun around again and tried a nearby door, but it was locked. They were all locked.

"Come out, come out!" The female called in a sing-song.

Keonhee rounded another corner and paused to look around.

Keonhee!!

The beta let out a sob when he heard Youngjo's voice in his head. Youngjo! I'm here!

Where are you?

I d-don't know... P-Please... Help me. Tears came to his eyes and his heart raced even faster.

Keonhee take a deep breath. Hwanwoong's voice entered the mix and Keonhee whined. They had come for him. His pack... They had come back for him.

I— I'm in an alley way behind the market. I couldn't find Leedo... And... He was about to continue when three growls made him stop.

Keonhee turned slowly to see three alphas advancing on him from different directions. He started to back away. It was the only thing he could do, even though he knew they were herding him... Guys...

Hang on! We are coming! Youngjo said.

"There he is. What a pretty thing you are." One of the males said. It was the one that hadn't spoken yet. He was big and his voice was deep to match. The alpha cracked his knuckles and licked his lips.

The other male chuckled. Now that Keonhee could see him, the rough voice made sense. He looked to be an older male with patchy black and grey hair and several scars on his face.

The female was admittedly very beautiful. She had a certain grace about her as she flicked her auburn hair over her shoulder and quirked her extremely red lips into a hungry smile. "He is rather cute. One would think he was an omega. But maybe that's what you really are, isn't it baby boy? Just a little omega begging to be filled?"

Keonhee felt his entire body tremble and then freeze. Fear held him in an iron-tight grip and he ceased to function.

Not again...

Just when he thought it was the end for him, a stack of barrels that had been tied to the side of a hut came undone and rolled right into the alphas, knocking all three to the ground. Whatever had been in them had to have been heavy because they all struggled to get back up.

Keonhee looked to see what had happened and he noticed a small omega peeking his head out of a door with a knife in his hand. He had an almost lazy smile on his face as he studied his handiwork. "Bastards." He spat on the ground, then turned to look at Keonhee. "You ok?"

The beta just nodded a couple of times but couldn't find any words. A faded, almost pungent apple smell came from his savior. It instantly made Keonhee wonder if he was sick. Especially when he stumbled out of the house and had to brace himself on the wall.

Now that he was in the open, Keonhee could tell that he was an omega. His petite features and smooth, gentle face were dead giveaways. Although he looked like he was at a very unhealthy weight.

Keonhee was about to say something to him when the barrels started to shift.

Without fully thinking, he ran forward and grabbed the omega's hand and pulled him through the barrels so they could run through the alleyway again.

Keonhee! Answer us! Hwanwoong called out. He sounded stressed, which made Keonhee realize they had probably been trying to contact him for several minutes now.

Sorry, I'm here. I'm ok.

We are in the market, where are you?

I don't know, but I can hear the sounds from the market. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that the omega looked pale. I picked up a straggler... I think he's sick, but he just saved me.

Anger flowed through the link for a moment before Youngjo spoke with a very restrained voice. Do you know who he is?

No... I've never seen him before. But something's wrong.

Bring him with you. Hwanwoong sounded worried. We can at least make sure he's ok and thank him for helping you.

Keonhee made another turn and nearly cried with joy when he saw stalls in front of him. He pulled the omega with him and started weaving through the crowds.

After several minutes, he found his pack waiting for him on the edge of town. Hwanwoong immediately hurried forward and wrapped his arms around Keonhee. "I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried."

The beta hugged him back with one arm and let out a happy sigh. This was the most affection he had ever seen Hwanwoong give anyone and it made him so happy that someone cared about him.

Youngjo also gave him a relieved smile before turning to eye the omega behind him. "Thank you for helping my friend here, are— are you okay?" His forehead scrunched with concern as he spoke.

Keonhee spun around and noticed the omega wavering in place. His eyes rolled to the back of his head right before he started to fall backward. Keonhee lunged forward to catch him before he hit the ground and cradled him close to his chest. "He's thin. I think he may be malnourished. And he's shaking." He looked up at his packmates. "We have to help him."

Youngjo looked like he wanted to protest, but Hwanwoong placed a hand on his arm. "This is different. You can deal with him later. Keonhee's right."

The alpha stared down at his mate and the tension soon dissolved. "Alright, let's go."

"Deal with who?" Keonhee asked as they started to walk home. "Did Leedo come home?"

Hwanwoong pursed his lips and nodded while Youngjo let out a low growl.

Keonhee swallowed the lump in his throat and gazed at the omega in his arms for a moment before looking at where Hwanwoong appeared to be chewing on the inside of his cheek. "What is it?"

"Not only did he leave you behind," Youngjo started, his eyes flashed red as he spoke. "But the idiot..."

"Calm down." Hwanwoong said gently, although he too looked worried. He pressed his lips together once more and gave Keonhee a grim look. "Leedo is home. And he brought a beta with him... A beta that he claimed."

Keonhee stopped in his tracks and felt his body start to tremble. "He... He did what?" The beta didn't know if he should be shocked, hurt, worried, sad... nothing felt right at the moment.

Leedo went from showing interest in him, to suddenly claiming some strange beta? Maybe it was a good thing he never wanted to be with an alpha... They were all selfish and disgusting. Except maybe Youngjo, but Keonhee once again was left disappointed, hurt, and... angry. There was definitely anger there too.

"Don't worry, I'm going to deal with him." Youngjo grumbled. Then he gave Keonhee a soft smile. "Let's get you home though."

Keonhee nodded and followed behind the mated couple.

Yeah, Youngjo was okay. One out of thousands...

The news just reaffirmed one thing for him though.

He would never, ever, be with an alpha again.

Written by flamewhipper