Rage.

Anger.

Pain.

Furry.

All of them flashed through Seoho as he charged the alpha in front of him.

His wolf surged forward within him and all it wanted was revenge. It wanted the blood owed for the pain and suffering the alpha had brought him.

"Seoho, no!" Keonhee shouted. He dove forward to try and stop him, but the omega was too fast.

He lunged for the alpha, who was still weak enough that he couldn't get out of the way, and the pair rolled across the forest floor in an attempt to gain the upper hand.

"I'm going to KILL you!" Seoho roared. He could feel his entire body vibrating as it threatened to shift.

"Pl-Pl-Please. I c-can explain." The alpha begged. He used his strength to tip them on their sides, but he couldn't complete the transition to get fully on top.

And Seoho was a flurry of attacks. If he wasn't swiping at the alpha with his nails, he was trying to get a hand around the alpha's throat or rip pieces of clothing from the alpha's body.

"Seoho, stop!" Several voices started yelling at the same time.

Then another body slammed into him. "Stay away from MY ALPHA!"

Seoho snarled and squared off with the beta in front of him while keeping an eye on where the alpha was trying to catch his breath.

"What is going on out here?" Youngjo asked, running over to insert himself in the middle of everyone. His eye flashed red in warning and he kept his knees bent in preparation to attack if needed.

"I'd like to know that too." Hwanwoong said, coming to stand next to his mate. "I know you are new here, and still learning to fit in, but you do not get to attack one of our pack members seeing as we are being kind and letting you stay here."

There was a flash of pride in the head alpha's face at his Luna's words, but he quickly replaced it with anger and stood up straighter. "Why did you do that?" He growled.

Behind him, both Keonhee and Dongju were helping the alpha stand on shaky legs.

Seoho snarled again while trying to keep his body under control. Everything was a vivid shade of gold, except for the alpha. He was still red. "Get out of my way. That bastard deserves to die!"

"You watch your tongue, Omega. You are a guest of MY pack." Youngjo snarled.

His dominance flooded the area, making the four non-alphas all bear their necks, but Seoho was the only one forced to the ground. He whimpered under Youngjo's power but pushed his wolf back in further submission.

"Explain."

"I can."

Everyone turned to look at Leedo and where he was leaning on Dongju for support. His beta looked confused for a moment, but then his eyes flashed sapphire when he saw Seoho watching them.

Hwanwoong stepped toward them and shook his head, "Leedo? What's..."

The alpha sighed and kept his eyes on the ground. "My... My name isn't Leedo. It's Geonhak. And Seoho and I are from the same pack."

A lethal silence fell over the pack.

Keonhee straightened up and took a step back and shook his head. "You are? I don't understand."

"We are. We... We didn't really know each other. I don't think we've ever even officially met. But I... I used to hunt with his parents."

"Don't leave anything out, bastard." Seoho growled. "Tell them what you did."

"Shut your filthy Omega mouth." Dongju growled, moving in front of his alpha, but then he swayed in place. Leedo immediately caught him and supported his weight before he too looked like he was about to collapse.

"Ok, this needs to stop now." Keonhee said. He rushed forward and guided them both to the ground before grabbing water for both from barrels they kept on hand with water from the stream. "These two are exhausted."

"It's ok." Leedo accepted the water and took a drink before letting out a long sigh. "You all deserve an explanation. I'm sorry I never told you before, and... I understand if this means you don't want me in the pack anymore... I've had one too many strikes against me recently." Despite what he said, Leedo glanced up at Youngjo with pleading eyes.

The sight made Seoho sick, especially when Youngjo just nodded and motioned for him to continue.

"Seoho's parents and I... we were some of the best hunters in our pack, that's why we were partnered together. We were relied on to keep the pack fed and healthy. One day..." Leedo swallowed in and attempt to control the shaking that had entered his voice. "One day, we followed a herd of deer into a ravine. It was getting close to winter time and we were trying to stock up on meat for when the herds migrated. It was a stupid mistake... The ravine had always been labeled as a danger, but we weren't paying attention. I... I snapped at a buck and the sound echoed through the canyon, causing a rock slide... All three of us were caught in it, but I was a little further ahead, so I was able to break free. They couldn't." Leedo bowed his head and placed his forehead in his hand. "When I, uh, returned to the pack, they... they saw me covered in blood and thought I had killed them. And I understand why, I had tried to pull them from the rocks so I was covered in their scent."

"So they kicked you out." Hwanwoong said.

"Yes. And sent word to any surrounding packs so I was on my own until I found you. I was so ashamed and... I still blame myself from what happened. Leedo is an old family nickname, so I decided to use that instead and leave Geonhak behind." Leedo dropped his hand and finally made eye contact with Seoho again. "I cared for your parents very much, and I wish every day that it had been me in their place."

There was a sincerity in Leedo's eyes that Seoho wasn't expecting to see. It made him pause for a moment, but he just growled in response before turning and storming away from the others.

He didn't owe this pack anything. Sure, they had taken him in and cared for him, but if they were going to defend that murderer then Seoho had no intention of staying.

At least, that was his thought process until he passed the garden. He could hear the pack talking behind him, but none of the words made sense to him. All he could focus on was the new green shoots coming out of the soil.

It was always better when it was younger... No, not better, but... different.

Seoho pulled some of the shoots from the ground and immediately popped them in his mouth and started to suck on them.

He could feel them starting to work almost immediately. His vision was the first to go. Everything started to sway in place and it felt like he was just floating down a river or across a lake.

All of his anger started to float away with him as well.

The omega stumbled over to a nearby tree and slid to the ground while closing his eyes.

He hadn't realized just how much he needed this until right now.

It was perfect, until he heard someone saying his name. "Seoho?"

"Go away." He snapped.

"What did you just do?" He recognized Keonhee's voice and let out a sigh. "Seoho, why did you tear up my garden?"

The omega flinched and swallowed the sprouts to hide the evidence. "I didn't mean to, I stumbled and fell."

"Right into the salvia's?" Keonhee sounded skeptical and shook his head. "I think I finally figured out what is wrong with you. And it took Leedo's confession to do it." The beta crossed his arms and stared down at the omega. "Your parents died, so you've been doing whatever you can to mess with your mind and get rid of the memories, haven't you?"

Seoho snarled and looked to the side. He didn't want to hear any of this. He didn't want pity or help, he just wanted to get back to his happy place again.

"And so saving me that day was just an accident, wasn't it? You were so messed up you had no idea what you were doing."

"No, you were talking about herbs and I wanted some. Simple as that." Seoho growled. "You're right, anything to get my next fix."

"Is that really how you want to live the rest of your life?" Keonhee asked softly. He crouched down and tilted his head. "By not living?"

"You don't know anything about what I've been through. You don't know pain. You don't know what it's like to suffer every single day of your life for something that you didn't ask for or want." Seoho's eyes flashed gold with his anger, but then he stopped. It was hard too because the effects were already starting to wear off. That was one of the problems with the sprouts, they didn't last as long.

There was a small look of pain in Keonhee's eyes at that statement and in the few seconds he looked away from the omega, he looked like he might break down.

Seoho instantly regretted his words. He had jumped to conclusions and that wasn't fair to Keonhee. The beta had a past, and one that wasn't pleasant from what Seoho could tell. "I'm sorry. I didn't meant that."

The beta offered a small smile and shook his head. "It's forgotten. I know it was the plant. I've already talked to Youngjo. He still feels that we owe you for helping me, so... if you can move past your anger with Leedo, then you're welcome to stay. And, If you're willing to accept, I'll help you kick this addiction. It's not helping you Seoho, you're just running away from your pain."

For a moment, Seoho thought about saying no. He didn't want any of the pain or heartache that came with life, but he was too much of a coward to end it all. But if Keonhee, and his pack, were willing to help him, them maybe he could call this new place home. For now, at least.

But being near Leedo was going to be a struggle. Now that he knew who the alpha was, this having been his first time sober enough to recognize him, Seoho didn't know if he'd be able to control himself.

Keonhee seemed to sense his debate, because he reached forward to place a hand on Seoho's knee. "Leedo is a good man. I truly don't think he meant for any of that to happen to your parents, and I'm sure if you stay he will spend the rest of his life trying to make it up to you. Give him a chance. That's what we've all done for each other. Everyone deserves a second chance to live the life they've always wanted."

There was another flash in Keonhee's eyes as he spoke, one that sparked Seoho's curiosity. The beta was running from something too.

"Fine. I'll stay. For now." Seoho huffed and took Keonhee's offered hand.

The pair walked back to the center of their home where the other four pack members were all waiting for them.

Hwanwoong and Keonhee exchanged a nod before everyone stopped in a semi-circle around Youngjo.

The head alpha looked at each one of them in turn before speaking slowly. "This had been a heavy day, for all of us, so I'm going to say this one time, and only one time. I will not tolerate fighting in my pack." His eyes flashed to Seoho first, then where Dongju had an arm around Leedo's waist to support his weight. "I will not hesitate to ban you and leave you to survive on your own. We are supposed to work together as a team. I know we are all new, and are still trying to learn about each other, but there needs to been at least some trust between all of us if we are going to make this pack work. Got it?"

"Yes, Alpha." All five wolves answered.

Youngjo tilted his head back a little and his eyes flashed red in response. It was easy to see that he was gaining a little strength from the authority he had just earned from his pack. "Good." He turned to Seoho. "If you're standing here, I'm assuming you made the decision to stay?"

"For now." The omega answered while avoiding looking at Leedo.

"No. There's no 'for now'. I need a yes or no from you after that little stunt you pulled with my second in command."

A small whimper of acknowledgment came from Leedo and the alpha bowed his head in respect even while his shoulders shook a little.

Seoho felt his wolf stirring within him and he almost let it free to attack again, but Keonhee shifted next to him and he sighed. "Fine. Yes."

Youngjo held out his arm. The omega hesitated once more, really second guessing his decision, but he eventually clasped forearms with the alpha and felt the pack link wash over him.

"Welcome to my pack." Youngjo dropped their hands and held his arm open. Hwanwoong was there instantly, slotting in next to his alpha and giving a soft smile. "Now, all of you get some rest. Tomorrow we are going to start anew. As one."

~~Written by flamewhipper ~~