The next couple of weeks passed by, and the pack was awkwardly adjusting to the two wolves that have recently infiltrated their camp. Hwanwoong was in a position that allowed him to clearly observe and understand everyone's individual perspectives. He was the middle man, a peaceful mediator of sorts.

He watched as some tensions subsided, and more curiosity of one another blossomed.

After the spectacle Leedo had created, the members were doing their best to be as welcoming as possible to Dongju, understanding that this was just as difficult for the beta. He clearly didn't want to be stuck here either, but the bond that Leedo had opened up between them made it nearly impossible for him to leave. But they were all making the best out of his situation, including Youngjo.

Youngjo has started to open up and sympathize with Dongju, rather than directing some of his disappointment in Leedo on him. The alpha leader no longer went out of his way to ignore Dongju's presence. Although it took two to tango, the claiming part of the matter lies more on Leedo's shoulders. He should have been more in tune with his wolf, but he let himself slip.

With that being said, Youngjo was still quite cold to the other alpha in the pack, despite Hwanwoong's insistence that he tries. He was still refusing Leedo's assistance on morning hunts, which led to Leedo eventually giving up. Instead, Leedo would go out on his own course, bringing home a decent sized meal for him and Dongju, which usually put the beta in an awkward stance between his alpha and the rest of the pack.

The first time it happened, Hwanwoong smacked Youngjo's shoulder in disappointment. It was sad for the omega to watch, but he couldn't force his mate to change or get over it.

Then there was Seoho. Hwanwoong found himself watching the ill omega from afar fairly often. There was something off about him, and Hwanwoong couldn't place a finger on it. No matter how much Keonhee seemed to treat him with different herbs and remedies, Seoho still seemed to be in a constant haze. If untreated, he was in pain. Keonhee seemed to be at a loss himself.

Keonhee was going through his own problems from what Hwanwoong has noticed, and taking care of Seoho must be a good distraction. Hwanwoong has never felt comfortable with asking, but there's always been something off with Keonhee's interactions with other wolves, specifically with alphas.

From what Youngjo said about their first meeting, Keonhee was extremely timid, fearful of him almost. His first interactions with Leedo were the same. The alphas from the marketplace were a whole other ordeal. This was a normal reaction from an omega, but Keonhee was a beta. So it was a little peculiar.

Then there was the slap from Seoho. The omega's reaction was normal considering his circumstances, but Keonhee appeared more shaken up about it than the former. It's been apparent that something must have happened in his past, but his recent reactions make it more concerning to Hwanwoong. He may need to approach Keonhee about it.

Hwanwoong searched the garden for the male, figuring that that's where Keonhee usually resides in the early afternoon. He's hoping that the beta is alone, so he can calmly approach him with his observations, since it's a touchy subject.

However, instead of finding Keonhee, Hwanwoong raised an eyebrow when he saw Seoho in the garden alone. He was squatted in front of a few of Keonhee's medicinal plants, but Hwanwoong couldn't see what he was doing from behind him. "Hey, Seoho!" he brightly called out.

At the call of his name, Seoho turned around with widened eyes, his fingers fidgeting in front of him. "H-hello Hwanwoong." He nodded his head respectfully, almost nervously, to the Luna.

"Is Keonhee showing you some gardening?" Hwanwoong asked.

Seoho hesitantly nodded and pointed toward the plants he was in front of. "He showed me how to pick these." It seemed plausible. Keonhee graciously showed Hwanwoong and even Dongju how to do simple gardening maintenance, though Dongju hasn't shown as much interest.

Hwanwoong hummed. "Where is Keonhee right now? In his hut?"

The other omega just nodded again before shakily squatting in front of the plants once more. Hwanwoong brushed it off, deciding to find the beta in question.

When Hwanwoong knocked and let himself inside the hut, Keonhee was busy scrubbing the inside of his hut with a rag and sudsy water. He was routinely cleaning his home, following one of Youngjo's requests in case Seoho was indeed sick with something contagious, though that does not appear to be the case. Everyone else has been perfectly healthy since his arrival.

"Hey, Hwanwoong. What's up?" Keonhee asked, placing the rag back in the large bowl.

"Not a whole lot," Hwanwoong casually responded. "I think I just scared Seoho in the garden." He giggled.

"Oh, is that where he is?" Keonhee said it like he had figured as much.

Hwanwoong raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, did you teach him how to pick some of your plants?"

Keonhee nodded. "He was asking me for medicine for his headaches all the time. I figured it would be easier to teach him how to pick them so he could pick the leaves himself whenever he's feeling bad."

The Luna hummed in understanding. "That's not what I'm here about though."

The other tilted his head in curiosity. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to ask you about how you're doing." Hwanwoong wanted to be careful as he approached this. He wrung his hands. "I've noticed something a little... off with you lately. I first noticed it from how scared you were at the marketplace." Keonhee flinched. "And then again when Seoho slapped you. You can talk to me about anything that's-"

"I'm fine!" Keonhee flashed a wide smile. "Really, I'm okay. Those alpha's were large and aggressive. And Seoho's slap just threw me off guard. I wasn't expecting it. That's all. Thank you for your concern though!"

Hwanwoong accepted his answer, but he couldn't help but feel like it wasn't the whole truth. For now, he would let it go though.

.

.

.

Hwanwoong stepped out of his hut with a big yawn, stretching his limbs. It was early in the morning, so the sun has still not risen all the way, giving the sky a beautiful orange hue.

It's been a couple days since Hwanwoong's conversation with Keonhee, and the Luna feels uneasy. His pack was still in shambles, and he uncontrollably wore a lot of the burden on his shoulders.

He decided to spend the morning with himself, and thought he'd be more relaxed in the garden. Staying busy occupied his mind.

When the garden was in eyeshot, Hwanwoong froze. Someone was in the garden.

Usually at this time of morning, most of the pack was still asleep, aside from Youngjo and Leedo who would be out hunting. Hwanwoong squinted his tired eyes to make out the person's features, and was concerned when he realized it was Seoho.

Like the last time Hwanwoong saw him there, the omega was frazzled, jittery even. He was sifting through the plants, almost like he was frantically searching for something. He'd smack the side of his head at times when he grew frustrated. The sight was peculiar at the least. If Hwanwoong didn't know any better, he'd think Seoho was a complete lunatic.

Hwanwoong was about to take a step closer and make his presence known, but thought better of it when the other omega paced away from the garden and toward the woods. That made Hwanwoong furrow his eyebrows in concern. Something was not right.

Why would Seoho enter the woods?

When Seoho was far enough ahead, Hwanwoong decided to follow after him.

Youngjo was adamant about Hwanwoong not wandering off in the woods alone, but these circumstances were different than normal.

As Hwanwoong followed behind Seoho, he made sure to stick to the same pace as the latter, still being sure to keep enough distance between them to not be caught. But judging by the frantic state Seoho seems to be in, Hwanwoong doubts that he'll be noticed. Seoho's mind is on one thing, and what that could possibly be worries the Luna.

Seoho would stop every so often to check his surroundings, sniffing the air here and there. He kept his eyes to the ground, which still goes alongside the idea that he might have lost something valuable to him.

A red flag popped up in Hwanwoong's mind when he realized how far from the campground they have traveled, knowing that his alpha would be angry once he found out that he had ventured out without permission and without proper protection. Youngjo will surely feel their distance through their bond, especially since his mate hunts on the opposite side of their pack home. He's not excited for that round of scolding, but hopefully his explanation will help a little.

Suddenly, without any notice, Seoho took off in a sprint. Hwanwoong was caught off guard and started running after him a tad late. Had Seoho noticed him? Did he catch a whiff of what he was searching for? And damn, how was this omega so fast in his human form?

Hwanwoong struggled to keep up his pace, fully aware that he was falling further and further behind the other wolf. He was really out of shape. If he were to shift, he'd be able to keep up and catch him easily, but that would give him away and probably startle Seoho.

After a while, Hwanwoong had to stop and catch his breath, placing his hands on his knees as he panted for a moment. By this point, Seoho was already too far away, and he knew he wouldn't be able to catch him.

Several questions sprung into Hwanwoong's mind.

Why was Seoho running? What was he searching for? Would he return? Was he going back to wherever he had come from? Was he leaving their pack for good? Why was this wolf so odd?

And damn him for making this omega exhausted after chasing after him.

There was a reason Youngjo didn't like Hwanwoong to be alone in the forest, many of them actually. And Hwanwoong should have been more mindful of it.

A low hissing sound broke Hwanwoong out of his thoughts. It was a sound that he's heard before, but never from this close. His eyes widened at the realization of what it could be, and he searched the ground for the culprit.

To his right, only a couple feet away, was a coiled snake, and it didn't look happy that Hwanwoong was so close. Hwanwoong's knowledge on snakes wasn't the best, but by the looks of this one, it could do some harm. It hissed angrily at him, revving back as though it was about to strike, and Hwanwoong wouldn't be fast enough to dodge.

Hwanwoong clenched his eyes shut, anticipating the horrendous bite to pierce his delicate skin... but it never came.

Out of nowhere, a large chocolate colored wolf leaped in between Hwanwoong and the snake just in time. Instead of Hwanwoong's soft, pale skin, the snake's fangs sank into the wolf's brown fur, piercing the skin of its leg underneath. The wolf whimpered in excruciating pain, collapsing to the ground and rolling, thankfully shaking the snake out of his latch. It slithered away in a hurry.

The air filled with a familiar distressed scent, and when Hwanwoong could finally focus on it, panic set it in.

It was Leedo. Leedo took the bite.

"Leedo!" Hwanwoong screamed, running to his pack member's side.

Leedo painfully shifted into human form, knowing that it wouldn't do him any good to be a wolf right now. He couldn't walk on his leg, so he'd have to be carried back to camp.

"Oh my god," Hwanwoong panicked as he watched the bite on the older's right leg start to swell. Leedo was starting to look dizzy, and his body shined with sweat. "Oh god, oh god. I need to get you some help!"

"It's okay, I'm okay." Leedo replied weakly and his breathing increased. He slightly chuckled. "He got me good didn't he?"

"You're clearly not fine!" Hwanwoong argued.

Leedo flashed a tired smile. "Hwanwoong, I'm glad you're okay, but you're kind of fuzzy..." And soon his eyes started to roll to the back of his head.

Hwanwoong has never seen a reaction so immediate and severe due to a snake bite before, so this one must have been dangerously poisonous. His panic only rose.

GUYS! He called, hoping someone from their pack would hear his urgency through their link. I need help! Leedo's hurt! Hurry!!

~~Written by squidster97 ~~