Chapter Text
Fort-Impasse didn’t forge its reputation for the quality of life it offered. It was, after all, a city built in the south side of the Heyrie Mountains, stuck between a dead-end of an estuary – a narrow thread of water where the sea forged a canyon, tempestuous and rough, the ships that came this way could never return to the sea, or, if they did, it was shattered into a million pieces – and a vast and wild forest that served as a border between this realm and the neighboring one: the Meadow of Dusna, the home of the Wolfblood : a bunch of human look alike so ridden by their instinct they had the ability to turn into wolves .
They were often described as beast: slaves to their most basic instinct even in their human flesh, always chasing after food, sex and blood. Savages to the point it was hard to imagine them able to live in society.
Most people here, in Eswalt, didn’t consider them as persons. They had nothing human about them.
During all his life, Minho had been the witness of that truth. He saw the villages after the Wolfblood had plundered them, leaving the place to burn down, enslaving the only survivors…
The Old Tales, however, had been different. Minho remembered, from his childhood, stories of Wolfblood alphas cherishing their omega the way no alphas in Eswalt would ever do. Moreso, he remembered, from his teenage years, as Chan told him, from seeing it firsthand, how well Wolves lived between themselves as a community, and the respect they showed to each other, regardless from anyone’s second gender.
Fighting, hunting, being respected as a chief, as a strategist. Being allowed to be himself. That was things that the omega Wolves were allowed to do, something Minho had always been envious of.
But Minho was born an omega in Eswalt, son of the marquis of Fallhais, the grim region that surrounded Fort-Impasse, and the allowed rights he had to learn how to fight was just the bittersweet consequences of his mother’s death.
Don’t mind that he grew up fierce enough to make himself a respected battle strategist, that he was an excellent horseman and that he knew all of Fallhais by heart, he would never be sent to battle as a knight.
He would never be Marquis of Fallhais himself. The only status he was allowed to achieve was one of Marchioness of Fallhais, Spouse of the Marquis, once he found an alpha to mate with.
Or, once his father found an alpha for Minho to mate with.
Minho sighed from where he was, perched on one of the thick walls of Fort-Impasse, looking at the view below him. What would a stranger know about ruling Fallhais? Two rows of teeth marked into Minho’s shoulder would never be enough for a stranger to know how to deal with the constant attacks from or toward the Wolfbloods that lingered the Forest of Delusion.
A stranger – a southerner at that! – and a man with so few accomplishments Minho had not even heard of him before being set to marry him.
A barely presented alpha, a guy that was told all his life he would present as a beta – one of the few things Minho had been told about him – fourth child of his parents, and so never prepared to rule over anything.
An unsuitable pup in nothing but status, who went by the name of Kim Seungmin.
Minho groaned to himself, taking his head into his hands. What was his father even thinking? Were there not enough lords available to marry him that he would get such a lame one? Or was Minho the problem as no alphas wanted to mate with him?
No, yeah, it made sense. Minho wondered what kind of reputation he could have in the rest of the realm, but the truth was that there mustn’t be many alphas that wanted to marry an omega that was potentially a better fighter than them.
He knew, at the very least, what the alphas of Fallhais thought. Minho was both a burden, an omega you didn’t want to bother yourself with and a challenge to prove your worth.
After all, how strong of an alpha would be the one able to tame the Omega Beast of Fallhais. The strongest, at least. A reputation that would come accompanied by the title of Marquis of Fallhais, and Lord of Fort-Impasse, the Impregnable City.
Minho didn’t mind alphas. He loved his father, he had great friends that were alphas, and other lots that were great company for battles as well as banquets. He was just aware that most of the alphas that he met talked about him in length when he wasn’t here to listen, about bending him in half and shoving their knots into him, in various level of vulgarity.
So, yeah, Minho didn’t mind alphas, but he didn’t specifically like them either.
(Often, he wondered if Wolfblood were different. If the Alphas at the north of the border were more tender to their mates and chose who they wanted to be with out of love and respect).
He took another look at the view. The road still seemed empty of any carriage. He still had time for a ballad in the forest.
He got down the wall, then went to the stables. His favorite horse, Soonie, was ready in no time. He wouldn’t be out too long, he’ll be back to welcome his future husband, his little brother, that came back from the Capital and the Crown Prince that had decided on a whim to join the cortege and witness the wedding.
*
The more North they went, the worst the landscape became. Kim Seungmin was only acquainted with the infinite fields around his own region – a land of agriculture and few reliefs – and the vineyards and apple orchard that were flowing around the capital, he never went more north than that. Never needed a reason to, before today.
But now he could admire firsthand the terrific beauty of the mountains of Heyrie, cutting the sky in half before disappearing in the clouds. It felt like it shouldn’t be possible for something to rise so high.
Thankfully, Fort-Impasse was held in the still remotely accessible part of the mountain – given that the habitants of Fort-Impasse would allow for you to enter.
Still, even if Fort-Impasse was already visible – and Seungmin was impressed how the tales weren’t even close to the truth about how impressive this city built in the side of the mountains was: an architectural prowess but was also a pure beauty to admire. It felt strong, immutable in the way the mountains it was built in were.
Seungmin spent a good while staring at it. He couldn’t quite believe human from centuries ago built such a marvelous sight, but, once again, the inhabitants from Fallhais always had the reputation to be…well, built different.
Another thing the tales had been talking about, but that Seungmin hadn’t been able to comprehend until he was facing it, was how rough the wind would at this height, feeling like an army of needles against his skin. Even with his cape on, the cold was reaching his bones. None of the outfits he owned were made for the harsh weather of Fallhais, and he had to borrow some clothes to the men accompanying him.
Lee Felix, the second omega son of the Marquis of Fallhais, who had been travelling with their cortege since they left the Capital, had his fair share of laughs at Seungmin’s expense for that.
Seungmin had laughed with him, good natured. After all, what was he supposed to do? Lee Felix would soon be his brother-in-law, and he didn’t want to risk angering the Lee family in any way. Lee Yoongmin – the marquis – had a reputation both as a great battle strategist, and the winner of many tournaments, in his early days. He was a fighter, a great one at that, and he was known to rule Fallhais with a fair, but firm hand. All his men were loyal to him, talking in equals way of his strength and fairness.
Any man would be a fool to try and risk to get on his bad side.
And he cherished his two sons above everything.
Which put Seungmin in a complex position, as he was about to marry one of them. What was even expected of him? He knew nothing of Fallhais beyond the books he read about it and the stories Felix told during their week long trip. However, Felix stories were mostly about childhood memories. Nothing about how Seungmin should act as an alpha or a husband. He also doubted Lee Minho was nothing like Felix talked about him. Because Felix’s stories dated of a few years, when he had been nothing short of a pup, and before Minho got the lovely nickname he had nowadays.
Because see, the mountains of Heyrie were named after the mythical creature that was told to live here. The Heyrie, a gigantic feline, with a fur as dark as night, two heads with twice as many eyes that kept shining a vibrant red. And two tails ending with a venomous stinger.
Just as it had two heads, it had two sides to show the worlds : a creature of fury, who would make thunder appears if one were to anger it, and the one who always protected its own, or the ones It considered as such.
There weren’t many tales about The Beast of Heyrie that could be found, even in the Great Library of the capital. Seungmin could only hope to find more about it in Fort-Impasse own library.
However.
The Beast of Heyrie, with all his furry, anger and ability to destroys its enemies. A creature so monstruous it was used to scare the kids that didn’t want to follow the rules.
The Beast of Heyrie was also the nickname of Lee Minho. Seungmin’s husband to be.
Useless to say, Seungmin didn’t look forward to sharing his bed. Two venomous stinged tails were not on his to-do list.
As they were getting to a more arduous part of the mountain, and getting closer to Fort-Impasse, the cortege came to a stop. Seungmin didn’t have to hear it twice. He put his horse on the side of the road, with all the other ones, as they were given water and allowed to eat the grass that lingered the path.
They had just entered the part of the road that was passing through the heavy forest of Fallhais. The cortege should have been visible from the height of Fort-Impasse for the last hour or so, and now, hidden under the tree, they were waiting for one of the representatives of the marquis to lead them toward Fort Impasse.
Seungmin couldn’t help but wonder how dangerous life in Fallhais was for them to need to escort any carriage from this point on.
Maybe it was just because of the presence of their adored crowned prince and the unfortunate events of his past.
“Wolves usually don’t come this far, and we haven’t had sight of them in the last few days, but we’re never free from a surprise attack. They’ve been even more ferocious in the last year. We suspect something happened in their inside ranks, but none of our scouts have any insight on the situation, yet.”
Seungmin just nods at the information, concentrated at not pissing his pants at the idea of Wolves attacking them.
He lives far away from the border, even more South than the Capital. The lands of Owspal were Seungmin lives are nothing but farming and cultivation. They don’t worry, is the thing. Neither of Seungmin’s mothers felt concerned when they realized most their kids were beta, because they didn’t need strong hands into battle : Owspal was a beautiful land of idleness for nobility that counted mostly farmer in its inhabitants.
Seungmin’s professeur never insisted about his combats skills. That wasn’t necessary for him, the last born of his family, simple beta. That’s why he was allowed days at the library without a care in the world. There, he could read about the Wolves, a morbid curiosity that would take his guts until he would put himself in his warm bed and comfortably forget about it.
And then, surprise, he presented as an alpha. And almost immediately after, his mothers talked to him about an alliance with Fallhais. An incredible opportunity, would say his alpha mother, you can become a marquis, and make a name for yourself. His omega mother had other dreams. Mariage is a good thing, Lee Minho is a strong omega, he will give you many pups.
He didn’t have a choice; it was a direct order from his Lord. But he didn’t think twice before accepting. It felt like a new adventure. A great opportunity.
At what point did he think it would be nice to come in the more ruthless place of Eswalt to marry a beast like omega? For what? Changing air? Discover the world? At the moment, he hated himself.
But, somehow, he was also fascinated. He wanted to know more: about the Wolves, about the Heyrie, about Minho… He could start here, maybe, the cortege would stop for a little while, he had time to walk around a little.
“I’m going to do a little bit of see sight,” he said to no one specific.
“Don’t go too far,” Felix warned him with a warmth voice, “It’s easy to get lost in the woods!”
And there were Wolves, yes, he heard.
Despite what he’s been told, the forest – at least so close to its own border – wasn’t quite that wild. Light passed easily through the trees, and he could walk easily for a while. He made sure to walk in a straight line – he didn’t want to make a fool of himself before he even reached Fort-Impasse – and kept checking regularly that he was still hearing the conversations people had around the cortege as to make sure he wasn’t getting too far. Not that he was getting too worried. If the forest had been so dangerous, no one would have allowed him to wander by himself.
It wasn’t until he felt like he had walked enough, and he was about to turn back, that he remarked that he wasn’t alone.
The boar wasn’t particularly big, but he was already pretty close to Seungmin. It also seemed quite upset, for some reason. Seungmin tried not to move much. He shouldn’t show fear and had to look inoffensive enough the animal would leave him alone.
Apparently, leaving Seungmin alone was – for some reason – not on this boar list. It charged just as Seungmin realized he had to run.
He didn’t care about getting away from the cortege anymore. The only thing in his mind was survival.
He didn’t know how long he ran, and ran, the sound of the boar’s hoof a great encouragement to keep forcing on his legs. It seemed an infinite time, and he wondered how he kept doing it. Was his alpha status to thank for this impromptu cardio? He didn’t really have time to think about it.
Further he ran, worst the forest became, heavy bushes, roots and low branches slowing down his running. He had to stop, soon, or he wouldn’t make it.
The sound of a horse galloping at full speed in their direction was his nail in the coffin. He tripped on one of the roots.
The whoosh of an arrow, the pained whine of the boar, then all Seungmin could hear was the sound of his own blood pumping. What the hell just happened?
When he raised his head from his position the horse and its rider where just in front of him. He didn’t see the face of the rider immediately, hidden under a dark hood. Did the hood stay in place on their head as they were running? Or did the rider put it back on as they were walking toward Seungmin?
So many useless questions, as Seungmin tended to have.
However, the sun caught in the headband the rider was wearing. In the middle was a small metal piece. Even that small, it was easy to recognize the Heyrie that serve as the blazon of the Lee House from generations.
Did Seungmin just made a fool of himself in front of his soon-to-be husband?
All he could see was a dark stare sent to him, before the rider pulled on the string of his horse. Then they were both back to where they came from, disappearing just as fast as they’d appeared.
It’s Felix who found him, way later, as Seungmin was wondering how the hell he would ever find his way out of the forest.
*
The presence of some fool that obviously came from the south into the forest put a stop to Minho short ballad. He had to come back home fast. He didn’t want to imagine what type of scolding he was going to get from his father if he welcomed his future husband – and the crowned prince – in inappropriate clothes.
He was lucky enough his departure from the city wasn’t stopped by the guards – he was almost sure his father would have given them a word not to let him out on this fatal day.
He wasn’t that lucky however when he came back to a small army of knights, in the middle of whose was standing his father, wearing fury on his face way better than he was wearing his awful blue robes.
“Minho! I–”
Minho got down Soonie in a swift move, offering a smile to his father before interrupted him with any type of politeness.
“Father! I would love to talk to you, but I must get ready to welcome our guests!”
He didn’t stay long enough to see the reaction of the man, but a low, angry growl echoed in the court of Fort-Impasse.
Minho wasn’t the type to disrespect his father on the daily – on the contrary, most days he was the perfect son to him, beside a little bit of dry humor his father wasn’t fond of – but today especially, he needed the small act of rebellion.
Soon, his father wouldn’t be the one to own him by law anymore. The few liberties Minho had with him would disappear into the fist of a stranger, and, once again, Minho knew enough alphas not to put faith in his future husband to be part of the good ones.
“You shouldn’t have gotten your father mad just before the wedding.”
Minho didn’t have to look behind him to recognize the knight that his father had sent after him. Changbin was the first son of Lord Seo, a very wealthy man who was in charge of a city in the south part of Fallhais. Changbin has been sent early in Fort-Impasse as a squire and had shared many years of training with Minho. He was one of the rare alphas Minho would call a friend. Changbin was strong, reliable and he had strict principle. When he wasn’t annoying Minho on purpose.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“He’s your strongest ally here. Whatever this Seungmin guy is like, no one would be able to stop him from doing anything to you if he wanted to, once you two are married, beside your father. Don’t get on his bad side today.”
Minho stopped in his tracks. He hadn’t thought of that.
“I know you hate when people feel the need to protect you… But you can’t protect yourself from everything.”
It was… Somewhat true. His father had trained Minho to protect himself from Wolves. To make sure he could defend himself if he ever were to be attacked. After Minho’s and Felix’s mother died, he hadn’t been the same.
Lee Yoonmin, marquis of Fallhais, only had two omegas’ sons to succeed him. Despite that, he never remarried. When his wife had be taken away by the Wolves, he had sworn to get revenge, to get the chief of the Han’s clans head on a spike. He somehow also turned his personality completely toward his two sons :Minho could remember from fragmented memories, how his father repeated that he couldn’t wait to have an alpha pup to educate, until he lost his wife, and decided to love and pampers his two sons, the last souvenir of his dead wife.
Felix was too young at the time to really be influenced by the death of their mother, but Minho remembered the grief, and the weird, sudden change in their father’s behavior.
He lost his mother to gain a father, and more freedom than any omega had been given in this realm.
But the freedom his father gave him had its limits in the laws of the realm of Eswalt, and the reality that alphas would never consider an omega their equal, no matter how many times he proved himself.
“Are you going to follow me inside?” Minho asked in a sarcastic tone as they were reaching his room.
“Is that a proposition? How forward of you, my lord!” Changbin mocked him.
Minho may knew it was false, it didn’t stop his ears from going red. Changbin was a weird alpha: he kept on flirting with Minho but had never made any move that would prove that he was actually interested. They kept an easy banter between the two of them. The kind that made Minho feel like he had a brother from another mother. Someone that accepted him with his fault, and his grumpy character.
“Choke, Changbin, your uninvited from my wedding,” he said as he closed the door.
He could still hear the loud laugh of his friend behind the heavy wooden door: a reassurance he didn’t know he needed, an anchor not to lose himself in the silence of his room.
*
When he returned to the front of the castle, joining his father, guards, and some lords of Fallhais into waiting to welcome the incoming cortege, he hadn’t only changed his clothes, but also his attitude.
His first move was to excuse himself to his father, who gave him a hard stare before sighing and taking Minho in a light embrace. He smelled like pine and home and everything familiar to Minho.
Minho guessed it wasn’t easy for his father either. Could that have been possible, Lee Yoonmin would probably have spent his life with both his sons under his care, but he was getting old, and he couldn’t ignore the Wolves attack anymore. Marrying his two sons was the best way to protect them. And if Felix was still young, Minho was getting old, and he was losing suitors as years passed by and his reputation had grown.
The sound of the horns resonated in the court no long after Minho came to join. Minho felt a sudden moment of realization that he was about to meet the alpha that would be sharing his home – his bed – for the rest of his life. A long shiver travelled his spine, and his guts felt heavy. The only portrait he had received of his fiancé had been made too long ago for Minho to help Minho imagine anything other than a pup.
Was the alpha tall? Was he muscular? Did he get a stoutness from eating too much like the southerner had the reputation to do? Was he the type to talk loudly, or on a quieter side?
Too many questions he didn’t want to have the answer too.
He remembered the lanky fool he had seen in the forest. Why did they even bring a pup with them was beyond him. If that was the state of their knights, the south should be happy Fallhais was fighting their wars for them. He didn’t want to think about the state of the realm were Fort-Impasse to ever fall.
But the boy was probably just one of the prince’s servants. Felix had been prone to – in one of his many letters to his brother – describe in lengths the fact that the nobles in the Capital had servants to help them with the simplest chores. Even getting dressed required a helping hand. But also, the gowns of the Capital were a mess to put on. Not that Felix would ever dare to write that in a letter, he had just wrote about “the finest garments, an intricate pattern made by unparalleled tailor, in such a singular design one wouldn’t dare to just put themselves in it without a second hand,” but Minho had been quick to interpret it : clothes were pretty but a hassle, and he didn’t want to wear them, like, ever.
Still, they were pretty. And it was easy to make the difference between the southerner and the inhabitants of Fallhais that accompanied them when the cortege arrived at the court.
Upon seeing the Crowned Prince, standing straight and proud on his white horse, everyone in the gathering was prompt to kneel. He may not be the main event, but he was still the single most important person present at the moment. The fact that he even made the trip was an honor for all of Fort-Impasse.
He was quick to get down his horse with an elegance expected from his rank. He wasn’t tall for an alpha – around Minho’s own height – but he carried himself with the confidence of someone that was. Well, he kind of was, when everyone else was on their knees on the ground.
The crowned Prince stopped in front of Lee Yoonmin, offering him his hands, and letting the marquis of Fallhais bless him. It felt like too long, pressed against the cold tiles of Fort-Impasse, but it was protocol.
“…And may the Three Headed God light your way in darkness, warm your heart in the cold, and give you strength in battles…”
The prince gave his thanks to the marquis and all of Fallhais for their warm welcome – ironic – and blessed them back. Different, but mostly as long.
“… For the Three Headed God will see your love, respect, and sacrifice, and will always provide in tenfold of what is given to him.”
Same went for the anger, violences and unfairness. But people always thought it to be too negative for a blessing, and strategically left this part out.
When it was all done, the Crowned Prince made sign for the marquis to stand up, and then the marquis made sign for the crowd to stand up as well.
Everyone cheered for the Prince, some blessings being added in screams around them, but Lee Yoonmin had taken upon him to take the Prince in a familiar embrace.
“Your grace, you grew up well, last time I saw you still had the features of a pup.
The prince’s ears colored in a light pink to the compliment – or maybe it was the cold – and his face brightened up with a dimpled smile. Minho’s father was right: Chan had grown up well. Not particularly in height, mind you, but he looked more mature, calm, and he had grown into his features, his muscular form finally filling in his shirts. He felt less like the friend Minho had spend some of his teenagers’ years with and more like the prince he had always been.
“I still feel like a pup on most days,” was his humble response before he turned to Minho.
“Minho, it’s been too long.”
Minho was about to do a curtsy, but before he could move, he had arms around himself in a tight hug. Chan smelled as warm as his company always felt for Minho.
“Bang Chan, you son of a king, you’re suffocating me,” Minho complained in a wounded breath .
Chan laughed as he put Minho down and took a step back.
“Yeah, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t take up your time either, I’ve heard you have a husband to meet.”
He half turned then, raising his arms toward the cortege behind him. One of the riders moved forward. Minho should have guessed it was his husband to be for he was the most luxuriously dress, showing off the wealth of the Kim’s: a deep green coat with a colored flowers pattern. He also wore a darker, more sober tunic that only had golden embroideries at its extremities, and under which the young boy was shivering like a leaf.
Luxurious, yes. Not practical in the slightest, mostly. Maybe Minho wasn’t making such a commitment marrying this excuse of an alpha – he thought as he was recognizing the pup he had saved from the boar earlier in the day.
He had to make a conscious effort not to react negatively at the vision of his future husband. Lanky, yes, weak, obviously. But he wasn’t too bad looking, and he was young. He had still time to build muscle, especially if he only just presented as an alpha. Plus, the weakest he was, the less he would be prone to try to use violence against Minho.
Which could also very well change as he grew into his alpha.
In the meantime, it was a very satisfying feeling to see the young alpha blush after one look at Minho. Yes, be embarrassed of your behavior, Kim Seungmin.
He got down his horse, with less elegance than the Crowned Prince. He obviously knew how to ride a horse, but he had the stiffness of someone who isn’t used to travel for days.
He went directly to stand next to the prince, facing the marquis.
“It’s an honor, my lord, and I can only hope to prove myself to you as a great husband to your son and to provide the best I can for Fallhais. May the Three Headed God give you strength into battles.”
“May the Three Headed God give you strength in battles, son, and may he show us all light in darkness. I know this will be a considerable change for many of us, and mainly for you, but I’m glad you’re here with us, son.”
Minho didn’t say anything, it wasn’t his time to, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to. He exchanged a glance with Chan instead. They may not have seen each other in a long time, but it seemed they were still on the same wavelength.
Kim Seungmin then stood in front of Minho, and they could finally have a good look at each other. Minho wasn’t stopped while doing his curtsy this time.
“It’s an honor to meet you. May the Three Headed God give you strength into battles.”
“May the Three Headed God warm your heart in the cold,” answered Kim Seungmin, and Minho tried hard not to clench his jaw. It was usage after all, and he should be used to it.
He felt like he should add something. Make a comment about his appearance, probably, or about their nuptial, maybe. But all he could think of was Kim Seungmin running for his life being hunted by a boar -he tried not to snicker.
“I hope Fort-Impasse will suit your taste,” he said instead. He felt like doing a curtsy again. That was idiotic. He didn’t know what to do with himself, the whole thing was awkward.
He expected some polite, non-committal answer, but instead Kim Seungmin checked him from head to toe, before he gave him a weird face with the semblance of a smirk.
“Yes, let’s hope,” he said.
Minho’s blood boiled into his veins. In any other situation, he would have fought the guy for even implying an insult, but as things were, he put his best effort in offering a smile back.
“Minho!”
Minho didn’t even have time to turn and see who was calling his name that someone was jumping on him.
Oranges and lavender. Felix.
He caught his younger brother into his arms by instinct, tightening his hold around him as much as he could. The smell had been hidden by the crowd before, but now it was all Minho could scent, and he instinctively reached to get his nose the closer possible to his neck.
Felix must have had a hard time waiting for the ceremonial respects to be done before he could finally salute his brother. He wasn’t the most patient person out there.
“I’ve missed you,” Minho said, a whisper for one person to hear.
“I’ve missed you too,” Felix responded, a hoarse in his voice. He was an emotional kid, “so much, like, you can’t believe.”
They stayed like this a moment before they separated, and Minho could finally have a good view of how much his brother has grown in the last few years. He still had the face of a kid. Would probably always have in Minho’s point of view, especially when he was like this, lips turned down in a pout and trying to restrain his tears.
But he wasn’t a kid anymore. He had grown up so much he was now eyes to eyes with his brother. He had burgeoned in his omega-self, the fashion of the capital perfectly at ease on his body, corset showcasing his thin waist and pearl color highlining his tan skin.
“The capital has been good on you.”
Felix was beaming. He caught his brother’s hands, an unusual gesture from him as Minho expected to be hugged again. A habit he had to develop when he was away, Minho guessed.
“It has been. Everyday I was thankful to be there. But I missed home still.”
This time, it’s Minho who initiated the hug. He couldn’t believe he spent the last few years without seeing his little brother. They used to be inseparable.
However, the time called for it. With the battles at hand, their Lee Yoongmin couldn’t accept the risk that his sons could be hurt, or worse, join his deceased wife in the afterlife. Minho had insisted he didn’t want to leave. His place was beside his father, in time of war or peace alike. Felix had others ambitions in life that the one of a strategist, and even when he insisted, he wanted to stay too, because he was too scared about a life away from his family, it was two voices insisting he stay at the capital until the fights were done.
Felix had been screaming his disagreement until he was forced away. It wasn’t a sight Minho wanted to remember.
After Minho, it’s their father that Felix hugged like his life depended on it. He looked even younger, engulfed in their father’s strong arms. It had been hard on everyone, to have to send Felix away. But they did it for his own good, and it obviously benefited him. Felix may miss Fort-Impasse, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t made to live in the capital. He made friends there, was generally happier, healthier. He was made to grow under the warmth of the sun, not hidden by the clouds of Fallhais.
He felt the gaze of someone on him. Chan was looking endeared by the overall interaction. Minho raised a brow at him.
“Why did you come? I didn’t think our Crowned Prince would make the trip to our humble wedding.”
Chan put a hand on his chest in fake outrage.
“Can’t I have missed you too? We’re friends!”
Minho let out a snort. Of course, they were friends, that’s why he knew Chan wouldn’t have left the capital just for a leisure moment.
Chan smile went from mischievous to almost sad in a second.
“I think it’s sad, that so few people came for the wedding… You and Seungmin both, you’re part of the most important families of Eswalt, but only the people of Fallhais are going to witness your union.”
Minho sighed, before he gave a tentative look to his fiancé. The young alpha was back with the cortege, looking freezing cold as he was talking to someone Minho didn’t recognize.
“We don’t have no choice, with the Wolves hiding in the forest. I prefer it that way anyway. I don’t need the whole world to see… that.”
His wedding, the moment he would give away his life in the hands of a stranger. Maybe today was the last day he could run happy and free.
“Still, that’s not the reason why you’re here, aren’t you?”
A short, forged laugh escaped Chan’s lips.
“No, no indeed, that’s not why I’m here.”
*
It wasn’t recent news that Chan and his father had a disagreement over the way Chan should handle the realm, once his father wouldn’t be there to do it himself. A few years, actually.
The king had given his son a place in his council, he had given him voice to his ideas and… Chan had counter said him ever since.
Not on everything. Mostly, they were looking in the same direction: they wanted peace to the realm, and as long as they were discussing internal business, everything was well. And then they started talking about the war with the Wolfbloods, the King would explains how he expected this war to end…
That’s when Chan started to disagree.
That, and the subject of his own wedding.
Somehow, they were linked.
“I’ve heard you have news on the Han kid. We need to find him and get him here.”
“Here?”
“For the meantime, yes. I have a plan for him before I get him back to the capital.”
“If you keep him here, you’ll have to fight my father before yours.”
Chan sighed, deep and low. He was serious about this, Minho could tell.
“Your father already had his revenge, Minho. I need the Han kid alive, is that clear?”
“Crystal”, Minho said, “but I don’t know if I’m the right person to tell. Chances are I won’t oversee anything once I…”
He stopped after that. Voice too hoarse to speak.
He didn’t realize Chan had moved before he was taken in a tight embrace.
“Maybe I shouldn’t annoy you with that, then. You should spend the day with Felix.”
That wasn’t true. Minho could never be annoyed at being informed of the things happening in Fallhais. Did he like it? Most of the time, when it was bad news, no, of course he didn’t like it. However, being dimmed important enough to be told? And being able to help people around him? That, he appreciated. A lot.
“Yes, of course.”, he said to the prince, anyway.
And Chan must have seen right through him, Minho could see it in the tiredness of his gaze. Still, the prince said nothing about it. What was there to say? They were both playing the role intended for them.
“We should go join the others for dinner,” Chan said, instead, “don’t make your guests wait.”
“You are my guest,” retorqued Minho.
Chan let out the ghost of a laugh as they started walking toward the Great Room, where the dinner would be served.
*
It was a rare sight, for Fort-Impasse, to have so many people reunited together in the Great Room. The last time the Lees had so many visitors had been years ago, as the King himself came to celebrate his reunion with his son.
The fest that was welcoming the heir to the throne and the soon to be heir of Fallhais was monumental in comparison to all the other celebration that were done in the city for the past years. Upon entering the room, Minho had been taken aback by the abundance of food in front of him.
Seungmin, sitting on his right, didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. He wasn’t the only one: Chan, Felix, and all the people from who were from the south looked from bored to nonchalant.
Meanwhile, the habitants of Fallhais all seemed more thrilled by the amount of food, and the diversity of it. Seungmin’s cortege had not only be bringing Seungmin and his men, but also its fair share of typical spices and dishes from the south.
It wasn’t just an ostentatious dinner to celebrate Minho’s and Seungmin’s union, but also a way to show the advantage of their alliance. Seungmin’s wasn’t just some available alpha: he came from a fertile region, with an abundance of vegetation, mainly fruits and vegetables, as well as others plants that didn’t grow on the soil of Fallhais.
Making a merchant route between Seungmin’s birthland was beneficial, but at this point it was also survival. With the many battles at hand, the alphas and beta didn’t have time to take care of the agriculture of Fallhais, and with the years passing the winter were slowly getting harder and harder. A famine would be fatal for Fallhais, and if Fallhais were to fall, the ruin of Eswalt would quickly follow.
“This winter, everyone will be able to eat to their fill!” The Marquis was saying while tapping on an overjoyed Chanbgin’s shoulder.
“This alliance was the best thing that could happen to us,” confirmed Changbin.
Chan put a comforting hand on Minho’s shoulder. He couldn’t relate to what Minho was going through, not when he was the second most powerful man in the realm meanwhile Minho’s entire life was owned by another. Still, he was empathetic of his friend.
Minho wished he could have been allowed to sit beside Chan, sadly, he didn’t have a choice in this matter. Chan was sitting next to the Marquis, of course. An on Lee Yoonmin’s other side was Seungmin, and Minho was just next to his future husband.
Even though he knew nothing of the place, had barely presented, and was meeting the Marquis of Fallhais for the first time, Seungmin seemed at ease talking to Lee Yoonmin. For the whole time of the banquets, the two alphas were talking, discussing the marquis’ various adventures, or anecdotes about the life in Fort-Impasse.
Kim Seungmin seemed curious and interested, and it seemed he had just the type of humor that pleased Minho’s father.
Not that Minho would know, he had stopped listening a while ago. He wasn’t really part of the conversation anyway. Seungmin didn’t seem to have anything to say to him. Sometime the marquis would remember a thing or another and included Chan in the conversation, or one of the knight he lived his adventure with.
From time to time, someone would come to the table and wish the best to the fiancés – oftentimes in hope of recognition, for the officials blessing would happen during the ceremony.
They were the only interactions Minho got during this diner.
He didn’t mind eating by himself. Usually. A calm dinner was never a problem. Except that it wasn’t a calm dinner, he was having. He was literally going to marry the person that was sitting next to him and the only thing he could get to know about him was from eavesdropping on his conversations.
He could have sat there, for the hours long duration of the diner, spacing out and thinking about what his married life with Kim Seungmin could be like.
However, he wanted to stay in denial as long as he could. So he sat there, spacing out and thinking about how the hell they could get their hands on the Han kid instead.
As soon as it was deemed appropriate for him to leave, he did. It wasn’t before late into the night, and he was exhausted. He had one goal in mind, and it was to get back to the comfort of his bed.
He was stopped before barely ten meters after he left the Hall.
He was ready to snarl at the person to let him go before he realized who it was. He didn’t know how he was supposed to act with his future husband. Probably sweet and submissive.
He lowered his head in his best impression of the gesture, hoped it would look the part.
“My lord. Can I help you with anything?” he said, as neutral as he could muster.
“Ah. I’ve been told I would marry the beast of Heyrie, but you’re just some omega after all. How disappointing.”
Minho’s jaws clenched. He would show him some omega if the guy wasn’t about to be the master of Minho’s freedom.
“I’m sorry your expectations weren’t met, my lord. I’m afraid the Beast of Heyrie is nothing but a legend to scare the pups.”
“Funny, I was convinced to have seen it in the Forest earlier.”
“That’s why you shouldn’t be wandering the woods alone, my lord. Trees make the most chilling shadows.”
This time he allowed himself to look at Kim Seungmin in the eyes, offering him his best smile : the one his men described as threatening.
That didn’t seem to bother Kim Seungmin, on the contrary, all his face was illuminated with a new confidence.
“Oh? Is this an invitation to go together?”
What was wrong with this guy? He’s been ignoring Minho all night long, and now he was trying to flirt with him, out of nowhere?
“We’re soon to be married, my lord. We’ll do all you want together.”
Weirdly enough, that seemed to take Kim Seungmin aback.
“Now, if you excuse me, I’d like to get rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
*
Going back to his room, all Minho could think about was Kim Seungmin. What was the guy deal? Did he want to make sure Minho was the one feisty omega everyone was talking about, the one that only a true alpha could ever make submit to him.
He may be a pup that had never been prepared to the role, but he sure easily got the alpha part, in Minho’s opinion.
He was still deep in thoughts as he was changing in his room. And to add to his misery, the dress he was trying to get off wasn’t cooperating.
He was in the middle of insulting it greatly, one sleeve off and the other still in place, the lace in his back only half loose, when he heard a knock.
He stopped moving, suddenly silent. Whoever that was that thought they could come knock at his door in the middle of the night, he’ll make them believe he was asleep.
“Minho? I heard you swearing. »
Felix.
« Come in. »
Felix was already in his nightgown. He should have been in bed for a while, he had left the party long before Minho. Still, he was here, eyes half open, a yawn at the mouth. He looked even younger like this.
“Do you want help?” Felix asked.
Minho almost said no out of misplaced pride, but he wanted to go to bed soon.
“Yeah, sure.”
As Felix was loosening the lace of the dress with delicatessen, Minho finally asked, “what are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t sleep. My room doesn’t smell like anything. Can I sleep here?”
And really, who was Minho to refuse?
Felix got in bed as soon as he was done undressing his brother. He made himself comfortable under the sheets, humming in appreciation as he got his nose into the familiar odor of Minho.
Minho chuckled. No matter how old he’d got, Minho would never be able to see Felix as anything but a pup.
He joined him under the sheets as soon as he was in his own nightdress, getting as close as his brother than he could. He had missed moment like this. To have someone to cuddle closely, someone who knew him and could share his struggle.
“I missed you,” Felix said, once again.
“I missed you too.”
Under minutes, Felix was asleep, Minho caressing his scalp gently. Despite his own exhaustion, sleep didn’t come so easily to Minho. His mine was wandering a mile a minute.
When the birds started chanting in the morning, and the first rays of the sun entered the small room, Minho was still eyes open, staring at the ceiling, holding Felix close and thinking that he was enjoying the last bit of a life he had control over.