Chapter Text
The news of their father's capture reached them only hours before the guards reported the wolves had crossed the river.
The pack is heading for the royal palace.
They were surrounded.
Even though they were assured the Enigma was still alive and without serious injuries, protocol dictated the title to be passed — if only temporarily — onto his eldest son. And so Dongwon, bounded by duty, had taken centre position at the inner court of the palace where their father had stood only days before. Chest rising and falling rapidly with anticipation, awaiting the enemy to breach the gates.
Wooyoung had taken hold of Kyungwan's hand as they stood a step behind their brother. The poor boy was too young to have any real understanding of what was happening but from the forlorn faces and the general atmosphere he deduced it was nothing pleasant. His tiny hands were clutching his with surprising strength. "Father will be alright, he is strong." Wooyoung reassured.
But the boy was not so concerned about the well being of their father but rather their own.
"Are the wolves coming to hurt us?"
"No, they are coming to make demands."
"What could they possibly want?"
"Cattle, grains, land or gold." Blood and revenge, things Wooyoung did not dare to voice out loud.
Kyungwan nodded solemnly, his tiny body trembling with nerves. Wooyoung felt a surge of protectiveness. "Hey, I won't let anybody hurt you. I promise."
The boy rubbed his cheeks against the back of his brother's wrist, scenting him in an attempt to seek comfort. A gesture of affection they could not allow themselves to share if their Father was present. A small, vicious part of Wooyoung wished the wolves had ripped him apart, devoured him piece by piece...
Master Hoon was right, Wooyoung had no honour. But then again, his father had none either.
Wooyoung turned to check on his other brother who since had taken control of his nerves and was standing stock still while Hongjoong, his best friend and advisor whispered into his ear. It was bizarre to see Dongwon in their father's position, watching him command the pack and scheme with the elders to figure the best way out of the mess their enigma got them into. There was some envy hiding in the deepest corner of his heart too but it was nothing compared to the pride that swelled within him. Dongwon took on the responsibility with grace, leadership suited him more than Wooyoung would ever willingly admit to his face.
Wooyoung forced his shoulders to relax.
Have faith, darling, he recalled the gentle words of his mother, and all will be well.
Face turned upward Wooyoung inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the alloy of scents permeating the air. The anger, desperation and fear of the alphas surrounding him was bitter and sharp at the back of his tongue. His eyes slipped shut and tried his best numbing the urge to release his own pheromones into the mixture.
What use was it anyway? Unremarkable and impotent compared to the others, easily masked by the earthy scent the rain had brought on.
The Goddess gave him another second to enjoy the soft drizzle against his skin before a howl wrenched him back to reality.
Even from a distance, the sound was loud enough to cut through the soft spattering against the ground.
A warning.
A never ending echo inside his skull. Beware! Beware! Beware!
Other voices joined into the howling.
Battle cries of the savages, someone spat behind him. It had his guts twisting in fear and his hold on his little brother tighten.
They had grown up with the tales of the seven clans and how their family came to rise above them all. But those stories only spoke about peace and prosperity in the aftermath of the great war. And though Wooyoung was prideful and held his ancestors at high regard he could not ignore the contradiction of decades long conflicts at their borders and the famine that ravaged the outer lands ever since. Neither could he ignore the reports of mass starvation in the villages up north in the mountains where arable land was scarce. How it drove people to do horrifying things in their desperation.
And so the wolves were forced out of the mountains and prowled the forest and the grasslands looking for a life that was more forgiving. Taking whatever their heart desired with brute force. At first the resistance was strong, the clans had joined as one, landing their talents and resources to the sly fox who promised to reinstate the peace.
But the fox grew greedy and ungrateful, Wooyoung thought bitterly, and so his support waned. Blinded by arrogance the fox was outsmarted in the end. Surrounded by the wolves who grow hungrier by the day.
His father should have seen it coming. Wooyoung had little sympathy for him and would have gladly leave him rot in the hands of their enemy if their family's survival did not depended on him.
The rhythmic thumping of hundreds of feet got louder by the second, as was his heartbeat.
The pack had spilled onto the court in a blur of grey fur and leather. Their faces partially obscured by coal smudged across their forehead and eyes. They barely looked human as they snarled at the onlookers forcing them to back up at the perimeters and give way to their leader.
Silence fell the moment he walked through the gates as if the very air was stolen from their lungs.
Given that this was the first time they had engaged in battle with the freshly appointed clan alpha they relied solely on rumours when it came to his person. The stories painted a terrifying image of a seven foot tall, mountain of a man ravaging the land and ripping people apart with his bare hands.
The alpha in question strode across the court as if he owned it.
And although those rumours were quickly proven false — the man's stature was rather average — his presence was anything but. It demanded attention. The elegance of his movements and the sharpness of his features undoubtedly captured Wooyoung's. Everything about him radiated confidence.
Surprisingly enough, he wasn't around their Father's age either. Wooyoung couldn't tell where he got the notion but he imagined somebody much older. Seasoned warriors dominating the battle field were rarely this young. The man approaching them could not be any older than Dongwon, perhaps even as young as Wooyoung. His uncle would still call him a boy.
With all the assurance of a conqueror the alpha crossed the court and came to stand a few feet away from their little delegation.
His dark gaze pinned on Dongwon with the intensity of a predator locating its prey. It sent a shiver down Wooyoung's spine. No other part of him betrayed an ounce of his intentions though, his expression remained impassive otherwise. His posture straight but open in a way that made Wooyoung hopeful.
Would it be foolish of him to hope the rumours were false on other aspect of his nature too and the man turned out to be a reasonable opponent?
The alpha bent forward in a curt bow that his brother reciprocated a moment later. Wooyoung did the same, urging Kyungwan with a tug of his hand to follow their example. Poor boy was starring at the alpha utterly terrified. The scent of his distress made it all the more harder to keep his features neutral.
"I'm San, head alpha of the Choi clan. I came to negotiate a deal with the Jung clan." His voice was rich and velvety against Wooyoung's ears. Oddly pleasant given the situation.
"You have nothing to offer us, alpha, take your pack and leave." Dongwon's tone was authoritative and firm in a way Wooyoung was not familiar with. A side of him he never got to see until now.
The alpha cocked a quizzical eyebrow, "May I remind you about your Father's situation?"
"Our army outnumbers yours. You won't be able to hold onto the northern lands for long. My father will be returned to us soon one way or the other." Dongwon declared but San was quick to refute.
"Your army had been scattered over the grasslands. They deserted their alpha the moment he was captured."
The mask of confidence slipped, revealing Dongwon's annoyance for having been caught out.
"Many had returned home and more will follow." he stated with such conviction, Wooyoung almost believed him. Fake it till you make it, their father always said, confidence is the key.
"You also seem to have forgotten about something. The army of the seven clans."
"Those warriors know only one alpha and that is their own. The enigma had lost their loyalty a long time ago. You have no power over them."
"They are bound by blood pact." Dongwon reminded him, "As was your grandfather. I am sure you are well aware of the consequences of his betrayal. An example that other clan alphas will be reluctant to follow unless they wish to die an excruciating death."
The muscle at the corner of San's mouth twitched, flashing his canines. "I would be careful with my words — your father's life is on the line."
Dongwon tensed at the thinly veiled threat, his fists curling into a ball.
Wooyoung and the rest of the spectators watched the silent battle of wills unfold.
The two glared at one another, their scents spiking along with their temper. Potent enough that Wooyoung had to fight the instinct to back up and make himself small.
"What would you want in exchange of releasing him?" Dongwon gritted out, glancing sideways over to Yeosang standing still at the sidelines. His mate returned the gaze, cool and steady as always. It always fascinated Wooyoung how one look could hold so much power, reassuring his brother in an instant.
"Land and grains." San replied simply. Then for the first time his eyes left Dongwon and flickered over to Wooyoung and Kyungwan. "And your youngest brother for guarantee."
"NO!" The words slipped past his lips before Wooyoung could stop them. He slipped in front of the boy, hiding him from the alpha's view.
Ironic, isn't it? How quickly one's definition on reasonable had changed when the tables were turned on them.
Reasonable. That's what Wooyoung had wished for, wasn't he? And reasonable he was. San conquered those lands and they had no means to take it back. Taking one of the enemy's family member as charge was a common practice. This is how Honjoong and Yeosang had came to live in the royal palace. But for the same to happen to them was something that Wooyoung had never considered. The mere possibility of his little brother being ripped away from them was unthinkable. His father was the Enigma, their family was untouchable.
Used to be, that is.
"Free our alpha and the grasslands on the northern side of the great river remain yours. The silos are full of the harvest, enough to get your clan through the winter. That's my final offer."
"Am I supposed to just take your word and believe you won't attack us the moment he reunites with the clan?"
Dongwon pushed forward. "I am the Enigma of the seven clans, I—"
"YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A BOY PLAYING KING!" the alpha roared, "Your word means nothing!"
The shift in his demeanour was instant. The sparkles in San's eyes ignited the furry he had hidden so well until now. Under the layers of coarse, grey robe his body tensed turning his lithe form into something far more intimidating, rivalling the beast he was rumoured to be.
The transformation both unnerved and excited Wooyoung. It was the kind of thrill that zipped though his body like a current, spreading to his every limb. Both encouraging him to fell on his knees and apologized in his brother's name and to provoke San further, see how far he could push him until he snapped. Its been a while he had the fortune to play with an alpha like that. The ones at the court had long learnt not to rise to the challenge. But even Wooyoung knew that would be unwise in their current situation.
"How dare you question my honour!" Dongwon took a step forward, teeth bared and ears burning. "A heathen like you, descendant of traitors! Whereas I — I come from a great bloodline of enigmas. My word is the law, irrefutable and final!"
"Do not mistake my youth for gullibleness. I'm neither weak nor inexperienced. Your father made an error by underestimating me, do not make the same mistake!" San warned, his voice dipping into low growl that set the fine hair at the back of Wooyoung's neck on end.
"No harm will come to your brother as long as you keep to your word, I swear on the Goddess. But deny my request and I will slice your father's throat without hesitation. Let's see where the loyalty of the other clans lie then."
The frankness in his voice told Wooyoung he meant every word.
But Wooyoung could not be swayed. Nobody could separate Kyungwan from them. He was too young to be trusted into a stranger's hands. And although he was sure, Dongwon shared the sentiment, Wooyoung also aware there were other reasons that prevented him from agreeing to San's proposal.
Family secrets that he swore to keep.
The very reason why Wooyoung could never inherit their father's title and Dongwon's mate, the one his brother swore a lifetime of loyalty to could not bare pups. For neither of them were what they pretended to be.
Kyungwan was not only second in line for the title of the enigma but he was also the only one who could ensure the survival of their bloodline. Therefore giving him up was out of question. Not even if their Father's life was hanging in the balance.
Dongwon turned sideways exchanging looks with Hongjoong before the latter's gaze slipped from Kyungwan to Wooyoung. The passing glance, however brief it was, held enough remorse to last a lifetime.
My lifetime, Wooyoung thought woefully.
The solution to their problem was obvious but as Wooyoung did not question Dongwon's love and loyalty to their little brother he didn't question his devotion to him either. From the stubborn set of his brows Wooyoung could tell that despite Hongjoong's advice, Dongwon will refuse to offer him up instead.
A decision that will inevitably provoke a war.
A war that Wooyoung knew they could not win.
He turned his attention back to San who just ended a brief and — from the looks of it heated exchange between him and one of his warriors. Wooyoung was also lucky to catch the slight twitch of his jaw as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other. Intrigued, Wooyoung let his eyes wonder and sure enough he caught a glimpse of the tattered leather pants half covered with hastily wrapped strip of cloths, all hidden by his outer robe. Next he spotted the dark stains over his left side that judging by the coppery smell was blood. The alpha was injured, not severely but perhaps enough to impair his mobility which could be used against him in a fight.
An idea started to form in his head.
When his gaze finally returned to his face Wooyoung found the alpha already watching him. His lips curled into an amused smirk. That and the dimples on each side of his cheeks transformed his whole face. From a hardened warrior to a roguish boy that Wooyoung would love to dare into a fight on the training field.
Fake it till you make it. Spurred on by his own cockiness, Wooyoung tried his best to return the brazen look he was regarded with.
His efforts were rewarded with a wolfish grin and a playful tilt of the alpha's head. "What are you looking at, little prince?"
Wooyoung held his gaze. Under the mask of nonchalance he could see the fury shimmering beneath the surface still, hungry and waiting for a sparkle to revive.
If Wooyoung played his cards right he might just save them all.
He let go of Kyungwan in favour of taking a step forward. "Let me trade my brothers place as your charge."
"Back down, brother." Dongwon's voice rang clear but Wooyoung ignored him.
The dark, piercing gaze of the alpha captured his once more. The swirl of emotions sucked him in, drowning Wooyoung in their depth before spitting him out.
"No," came the reply, firm and final. "You are too old to learn our ways. Too sly to be trusted. The moment I take my eyes off you will be running back to cushy life at the palace."
But Wooyoung wasn't taking no for an answer. He pulled his lips into the most annoying smirk he could muster and took another step closer.
"To civilization you mean? Make no mistake I have no desire spending the rest of my life hoarding sheep and sleeping in tents like a heathen but I will if it means my father and brother walk free. I give my word."
It was San who closed the distance between them in the end.
Wooyoung acknowledged the few inches he had on him in height with a tilt of his head.
"What makes you think I would let you sleep in a tent? Oh no, a heathen like me would make you sleep with the sheep." he sneered, provoking series of cackles from his men. Wooyoung's cheeks heated in humiliation. the alpha's gaze rowed over his features with obvious curiosity. "But my answer is still no. I don't need a troublemaker in my pack."
Retreating might had been the wisest thing to do but his wounded pride did not let Wooyoung give up just yet. "Afraid you can't handle me? I expected more from the person who perished my father's army. Perhaps I was wrong and it was luck that got you this far."
Hongjoong gasped. Dongwon grabbed his arm in warning but Wooyoung shook him off.
Finally, his words gauged the reaction he was hoping for. San's expression darkened. The ambers of his ire reigniting, glowing bright in the depth of those black eyes.
The alpha leant into his space, close enough for Wooyoung to feel the warmth of his breath on his skin.
His own scent musky and aromatic, laden with the irony tinge of blood, sweat and mud. The scent of battle. It hit Wooyoung at once with enough force to turn his thought into a scattered mess and send his heart fluttering like butterfly wings.
Never before Wooyoung reacted to an alpha this strongly. Never before he hated himself for being such a slave to his instincts like now. When so much was at stake.
Uncertainty twisted his guts into a knot as Wooyoung watched San's lashes flutter briefly, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed at him.
"Is that a challenge?" he drawled. Everything from the slight sweetening of his scent to the excited gleam of his eyes radiated hope. Hope that Wooyoung was indeed challenging him.
Without blinking Wooyoung nodded.
With the speed of lightening, San grabbed the hair at the back of his neck and yanked Wooyoung's head to the side. The alpha let out a feral snarl against the heated skin of his throat.
Jolt of fear zipped down Wooyoung's spine, his instincts urging him to wrestle out of the hold before San could sink his teeth in him. But he held his ground, heart hammering in his chest.
There were no sharp canines tearing into his jugulars, only hot, moist puffs of air exhaled against his neck.
"Hm... you got courage." San murmured lowly before withdrawing. "Will make it all the more exciting."
Only when his fingers dropped from his hair, scalp tingling, Wooyoung dared to breath again.
From the corner of his eyes Wooyoung saw the guards shift back to their original position. When did they close in on them?
"Your brother clearly thinks himself the better warrior. Let's give him a chance to prove it." Although the words were clearly meant for Dongwon, San's eyes never left Wooyoung's. "We will duel. If he wins, I will take on your offer, release your father and take no charges." his lips curled into a wicked grin, "If I win then I am taking him as my paramour."
Now that was unexpected.
To become a charge Wooyoung could accept, his pride could manage becoming a hostage even. But a paramour? A glorified whore!
That was beyond humiliating. And yet...
"Absolutely not —" Dongwon protested but Wooyoung cut him off. "Deal!"
Dongwon clenched his jaw, no doubt fighting against his better judgement to defy Wooyoung. They both knew that although Wooyoung was an exceptional fighter he lacked the experience San had. The odds were stacked against him.
It's okay, Wooyoung tried to communicate wordlessly, I will be okay.
Because he had to be. As a charge, a hostage or a paramour it didn't matter. His body would be San's to command the details of their relation did not matter, only the lives he would save.
Tentatively Dongwon agreed, "Fine." then he stepped into San, pulling himself to his full height in an attempt to intimidate the alpha. "You will duel. One round to settle it all. No armour. No hidden weapons. No cheating. If the opponents back touches the ground the duel is over."
San looked unperturbed. "Fine with me."
With a sway of his hand the alpha ordered his pack to back up and give them space.
San himself withdrew a couple of steps and started to peel away his fury lined robe. Next went the thick leather vest from around his abdomen and the under shirt. Once his upper body was bare for all of them to see, San held out his arms, "Satisfied?"
Wooyoung swallowed thickly. Fuck.
The alpha looked a lot beefier without his clothes to hide the wiry muscles of his shoulders and abdomen. With his tanned skin exposed it was obvious that the blood on his side wasn't his.
There went half of his advantage, Wooyoung bit his tongue. Shit.
Hongjoong approached to hand him a staff.
"I hope you know what you are doing." Sharp as ever, Hongjoong's words were laced with genuine concern. San's rebellion might have been a serious threat to the Jung clan but it was a sparkle of hope for the rest of the pack. Including Hongjoong's and Yeosang's clans however as the advisor and the mate of his older brother they tied their lives to the Jung clan willingly and irreversibly.
The weight of their lives rested heavily on Wooyoung's shoulders. No matter the outcome, this duel must end with a truce.
"Come on then, little prince. Don't keep me waiting." San bid him closer.
"My name is Wooyoung." he glared at the alpha while shedding his robes as well. Silk and cotton pooled on the ground in a burgundy mess until one of the servants hurriedly took it away.
"My pleasure, Wooyoung." San bowed, his tone a touch too smug for Wooyoung's liking.
He still had his under shirt on, shapeless enough to hide the definition of his muscles underneath. Wooyoung wasn't that much smaller than San even if he didn't posses the inherent strength of an alpha he was still capable enough to make this a fair fight, especially if the injury on the alpha's leg was still fresh.
They settled into the starting stance.
Staff held forward with a steady grip Wooyoung advanced first. The first clash of wood on wood echoed throughout the court, drawing out a series of shouts from their audience.
Adrenalin was pumping through his veins as he dodged one strike after the other. Nothing made him feel more alive than a good fight. Wooyoung lived for the feeling, the high it gave.
San's next blow came down with brutal strength, his staff creaked patheticly but Wooyoung held on, shoving him away with enough force to make the alpha stagger backward.
Wooyoung used the opening to attack. With a clever twirl of his staff he managed to land a blow against his thighs, just above the bandages. San didn't react in any obvious way but his knuckles whitened around his weapon. The ever present smirk faded from his lips.
Emboldened by his new found confidence, Wooyoung rained a series of strikes down on San who blocked every single one of them, much to his frustration.
For a while they went back and forth exchanging blows.
With each one, San became more predictable. Wooyoung started to catch on the patterns of his moves, responding to his offences faster.
Until he got distracted by the tattoos adorning his forearms.
Each ring represented a victory. Lucky, Wooyoung had no time to lament on the number of them decorating the alpha's skin because San's next blow landed across his shoulders. The pain snapped his attention back onto their duel.
But Wooyoung was not the only one observing the other, his fixation San's injured leg did not go unnoticed nor did his balance issues, unfortunately. The width of his stance was not enough to give him stability and withstand the more powerful attacks. A weakness of his that Wooyoung never managed to tackle no matter how many times his uncle corrected him. Not that Wooyoung tried that hard to fix it, because it also meant he could change positions faster. A risk that was worth taking in Wooyoung's experience. Well most of the time. If only San would have stopped trying to trip him up. Damn it!
They seemed to be on even ground as far as skills went.
The alpha was obviously stronger, each clash of their staff resonated through the bones of his arms. Wooyoung was light on his feet and he tried to use it to his advantage. He spun around San and hit him across the bandages once and then on the back of his knees, making the alphas leg buckle and fold under him.
Loud gasps and yells filled the air.
The scent of hundreds of blood thirsty alphas pressed down on them.
But the only sound reaching Wooyoung's ears was San's heavy pants and the scent of his diligence. Hot and persistent as it filled his lungs, halting his movement.
Distracted by his senses Wooyoung noticed the blow coming for his legs too late. With one move San sent him onto his knees, his staff falling from his grip and rolling away.
San swung his staff preparing for the final strike only Wooyoung didn't wait for him, he surged forward gripping the staff with both hands and yanked it sideways.
He seemed to have underestimated both San's strength and his own momentum ending up falling onto his side. The alpha didn't hesitate, before Wooyoung could fully sit up San straddled his thighs.
They were both holding onto the staff with two hands and although Wooyoung knew there was no way for him to gain the upper hand from this position he still gave it his best. He pushed through the burning of his muscles and resisted the force pushing his upper body down onto the ground.
Disappointment slammed into his chest with the force of a full grown bull when his shoulder blades touch the hard stone.
The staff digging into his collarbones, only emphasized the pain. All Wooyoung could do is breath through the soreness and the shame that had his lungs in a tight grip.
He had lost.
In front of his brothers, their clan. The wolf pack.
The warriors barked and slammed their fists against their chest, basking in the victory of their alpha.
When Wooyoung gathered his courage and lifted his eyes to meet the alpha's, he was greeted with a proud smile. Not the smug kind, he himself liked to flash his opponents after a victorious fight but one that stretched across Dongwon's face when he watched Wooyoung decimate the most skilled of the guards during their practice sessions.
"You fought valiantly, little fox." San grinned down at him. Wooyoung returned the sentiment with an annoyed grimace of his own. San rose to his feet and held out his staff for Wooyoung to grab but he swatted it away. He still had some dignity left.
Once they were face to face again, San cocked an expectant eyebrow.
There went the last of his pride, Wooyoung guessed bitterly.
Flushed, he bowed deeply, "The victory is yours." Wooyoung managed through gritted teeth.
"Indeed." San drawled with a wicked edge to his voice.
It was obvious what the alpha wanted as was Wooyoung's aversion to obey.
San didn't even flinch under the fervour of Wooyoung's glare, rather enjoying the scalding heat of those sharp fox eyes.
"On your knees."
The words felt like a physical blow against Wooyoung chest, his body seizing up to withstand the impact.
How dare he!
To get on his knees for a heathen! His upper lips twitched as he fought the urge to bare his teeth.
But there were hundreds of eyes pinned on Wooyoung.
Hundreds of ears that had heard him make a deal with San.
Swallowing his pride, Wooyoung let his knees bend under the weight of his loss, holding eye contact with the alpha as he went down.
No words had followed the gesture, no promises of lifelong loyalty but San seemed to be satisfied regardless.
The earthy scent surrounding the alpha had subtly sweetened with pride and arrogance. If not for Mother Hyun's trusty potion, Wooyoung's own scent would have turned bitter with anger in return. But there was nothing to betray his ire other than the fire burning in his eyes. Because omega or not, Wooyoung was still the son of the great Enigma and so he had never fully submitted to any other alpha.
Nor did he ever planned to.
Well not until today.