Chapter Text
Mingi had never been perceived as a typical omega. He had few pure omegan qualities; he was too tall, too muscular, and he could never speak in that sweet, lilting voice that so many of his elder omegas did. What this meant for Mingi was that he was known for always walking slightly hunched over, trying to make himself appear smaller, and his voice usually came out in a hushed whisper—if he ever spoke at all. Silence was his companion in all tasks of life; it was better that way, and he had learned that the hard way. When he, as a younger pup, spoke or laughed too loudly, he was always disciplined. The punishment for an omega who had not yet learned the virtues of being seen and not heard was to meditate at the Altar for one night. A young pup faced with that punishment for the first time always underestimated the toll it took on the body to be in a kneeling position for such a long time. The first couple of hours were uncomfortable but not unbearable. Then you start to feel the packed dirt beneath your knees, and once you notice that, the feeling of the night's chill is not far behind. After several nights in front of the altar, alone with only his own thoughts and the blessed God of Lune for company, Mingi had learned to appreciate being quiet. He had finally understood why the Alphas were the ones that should speak and not the omegas. The God of Lune had made him see the errors in his ways; he didn’t have much of value to say, anyway.
After that revelation, life in the pack had become easier for Mingi. The great God of Lune had even spoken to the head Alpha and assigned Mingi his official pack duty as a medicinal forager—a great gift for his obedience. Ever since then, his days passed in a similar routine. He rose with the sun, gathered his belongings and exited the omegan nest. He was usually one of the first wolves to wake and always slept close to the opening so as to not disturb any of the other omegas. On his way to the nearby stream he passed the Altar and spoke his first prayers of the day while placing a hand on the stone, asking for a safe return and a fruitful harvest. When he washed himself in the stream he took extra care to feel the water move along his skin and prayed, knowing that this was how the God of Lune blessed his omegas with health and fertility, both things Mingi desperately craved and needed. He had never had his first heat when he turned twenty years of age, making him a fruitless omega in the packs eyes, and unable to be pupped. He knew that it made him a burden to his pack, a waste of food and resources and although three years have passed since then, he still prayed for a miracle every time he submerged himself in the water. Maybe this time the Lord would grant him his wishes. Everybody knew that the God of Lune worked in mysterious ways.
Once dry again, he dressed for the day and then set off to begin his search. Mingi never bothered with bringing any food along with him when foraging. Rations were strict and fruitless omegas deserved to eat very little when there were others in the pack who needed the sustenance more. He understood this, had never complained, if the God of Lune wanted to bless him with foraged food for him to eat then He would provide him with it.
Foraging for medicinal herbs was something Mingi found great enjoyment in doing. He felt closer to the God of Lune when being alone in the forest, only his thoughts and the sounds of nature to accompany him. Not many wolves were allowed to leave the camp grounds, especially not omegas. This is why Mingi was lucky in his role and he was incredibly grateful. Omegas in the pack were usually delegated acts of water. That meant cleaning, washing clothes, preparing the cold food and collecting drinking water from the spring at the edge of the pack grounds. Alphas, betas and omegas have always had different delegated roles based on their internal element given to them by the Lord. Omegas were of water, they were soft, calm and pure of heart and mind. Betas were of earth, they were seen as sturdy, nurturing and logical. Alphas were of fire, they were warriors and hunters and were the only ones who could tend to the fires, they were therefore the only ones who were allowed weapons and to cook food over a flame. Only an omega could placate an alphas inner fire, that was why they were always supposed to be available, to keep the pack peaceful and calm. The God of Lune was the only being of air, He was the giver of life and all beings breathed His air.
Mingi had to move slowly as he worked, careful not to scratch his delicate skin on any thorns or branches. An attire with more coverage would perhaps help in that regard but as he had been taught from a young age, being an omega meant that he was to be on display. He knew that he should always be available if an alpha required his services. Such were the words of the Lord and he did not want to bring famine upon his village for questioning the rules. He took a deep cleansing breath at the thought. Besides, he quite liked the spring clothing, it was much less tight than the winter attire and also offered some coverage, compared to the nudity required during summer.
The day passed slowly, but Mingi’s searches were fruitful. He carefully plucked leafy herbs and small spring flowers, comparing every single one to the pictures he had in his notes, before putting them in his satchel. It wasn’t until the sun had almost set that he finally made his way back towards the pack grounds, satchel full of different herbs that the pack Healer would use to treat the sick. The closer he got, the more Mingi felt that something was wrong. There was too much movement among the tents and an energy of unease permeated the air. It was when he fully breached the tree line and entered their camp grounds that he noticed why; they had visitors.
~
They had been travelling for days when they come upon the small village by the mountainside. At first, Hongjoong didn’t think much of it, it looked like any pack of a smaller size with limited resources. When he, Seonghwa and Yunho left the others in their own camp to take a closer look, he started to question what it really was that they had found. All the smaller tents in the village seemed to be centered around three bigger tents, two smaller and one huge, as well as a fire pit. Wolves where milling about here and there, some of them where barely even dressed despite the early spring chill. It was clear to Hongjoong that they were used to being alone out here, no one seemed to be on guard duty and he had not felt any scent markers on the trees as they approached. Close to the biggest tent there were several wolves gathered around a structure made of what looked like dark stones. What they were doing Hongjoong could not see, but he could hear grunts and moaning intercepted by small squeals.
“I don’t think this is a good idea guys.” He turned to face Seonghwa and Yunho, who had both been looking at the same thing with clear apprehension.
“Maybe we should just continue further along the river and set up camp there.”
Hongjoong said as he looked to Seonghwa, his pack beta and second in command.
“Hongjoong we need to at least ask them if they have anything to trade,” Seonghwa lips turned slightly downwards when he spoke “and I have a feeling that there is something here for us, something important.”
Hongjoong didn’t like it, but Seonghwa was rarely wrong when it came to his intuition.
“Alright I’ll trust you, but we will continue to observe and only make contact at dusk.” He took a deep breath and turned back towards the wolves in the other camp who were still unaware they were being watched “I have a feeling that this will be very different from what we are used to.”
They spent the next few hours perched further up the mountainside, just observing the other pack and their camp. It seemed to Hongjoong that the stone structure was of great significance to the pack. After the group surrounding it dispersed, they left a lone naked wolf on top of it, who was later carried off by a few other, also practically naked, wolves towards the river. Every wolf who passed by the structure stopped and touched the stone before continuing on their way.
“That’s probably the pack alpha.” Yunho said quietly next to him as he pointed towards several wolves who had stopped what they were doing and looked to the man now making his way from the big tent towards the stone structure. The wolves who were undressed kneeled on the ground as he passed and other wolves nodded their heads in respect.
“You’re probably right.” Hongjoong agreed, it would be strange if he wasn’t the pack alpha.
“And I suspect that the wolves that are undressed are the omegas.” Seonghwa spoke up from his position slightly below them on the mountainside. “This must be a religious pack if they adhere to the ancient belief of the omegan availability.” the last part of his sentence was spoken with an undertone of disgust.
Hoongjoong would be surprised if that was true, no pack that he had met in all his years as pack alpha, even further out north, had adhered to such outdated beliefs. He took a deep breath in and then whispered on a long exhale, more to himself than the others, “I hope you’re wrong Seonghwa, I hope you’re wrong.”
They made their move when the sun started to set. Yunho had suggested that they approach confidently and out in the open and Hongjoong agreed, this pack might not have guards or a secure border but they did outnumber his small pack, sneaking around might get them attacked. They moved towards the camp, they did not hide but they also didn’t immediately announce their arrival to make themselves known.
The first wolf to notice them was one with barely any clothing on their body. This up close Hongjoong realised that Seonghwa had been correct, it seemed that the omegas barely wore any clothing to cover up their body. Hongjoong looked at the omega who was avoiding eye contact, her hair was kept in a long braid and what little clothing she wore was made from an almost sheer material in a light shade of blue. She seemed to be frozen with fear, so Hongjoong took mercy on her and was the first to speak.
“We come in peace.” She twitched minutely at the sound of his voice. “Can we speak to you pack alpha?” She gave no answer, just a slight nod and then she scurried away between the tents.
“I suppose we’ll wait here,” Yunho said while looking around. “This is such a strange place hyung, why is nobody moving outside of the camp border?”
“I have no idea Yunho.” Hongjoong tried to look between the tents to see if anyone was coming back to greet them.
They had to wait longer than Hongjoong expected before they heard the sounds of footsteps coming towards them.
“What brings you here strangers?” From between the smaller tents came a voice which Hongjoong suspected belonged to the pack alpha. Hongjoong had never considered himself a tall wolf, but even he was taller than this alpha, who was almost wider than he was tall. The wolf directed his question to Yunho, probably expecting the taller and broader alpha to be the leader, but Hongjoong was the one who answered.
“We come from a nomadic pack travelling through your area.” He tried to make his voice loud and clear, to be heard by all the wolves who had gathered around them.
“We come to you with goods to trade and tales to tell.” It was how they usually introduced themselves, but Hongjoong noticed that it was the wrong thing to say in this pack. A hushed murmur surrounded them, fear shone in the eyes of the onlookers.
“We do not seek any goods or tales from you strangers.” the other pack alpha tried to make his voice as loud as Hongjoong but failed. “Our pack is provided for and guarded by our great Lord the God of Lune,” he raised his stocky arms towards the darkening sky “why He brings us this evil now, I do not know.”
This was not at all what he had expected to hear and he did not know how to respond without being rude. Hongjoong raised his hands in a placating manner when he tried to answer,
“I don’t really understand what you’re-“
“The Lord is testing us!” the other alpha turned away from them towards his pack members. All of them were looking at them with big, fearful eyes. Hongjoong directed a panicked look of his own towards Seonghwa, they did not want any hostility, but Seonghwas gaze was directed elsewhere; towards a lone wolf standing far away in the tree line. His clothes marked him as an omega. Hongjoong saw what was about to happen and before he could stop it Seonghwa spoke,
“We can leave if you give us an offering.” it effectively silenced the lead alpha of the other pack, who looked back at them.
“And what might that be?” He asked.
Seonghwa cleared his throat and looked towards Hongjoong, who stared back at him with doubtful eyes. "You did this, so you must solve it," was what he wanted to say to him, but in the end, it was Yunho who spoke.
“Our pack is in need of balance, if you give us one of your omegas we will leave your pack alone.”
Hongjoong couldn’t help but stare at him in shock.
~
When Mingi arrived back at the camp grounds they were standing just at the camp border, speaking to head Alpha. A chill went down his spine when he heard head Alpha speak of tests from the Lord. One of the prophesied tests of the Lord had finally arrived. Head Alpha often spoke about the trials of the God of Lune, how his most devoted subjects would be tested in their faith and how only the strong ones would persevere. Outsiders would come and bring evil and misfortune. They would try to break apart their pack and the pack would have to protect themselves however they could. When the strangers brought up an offering it was not only Mingi who was surprised, he could see head Alpha look back at them with wide eyes and a quiet murmur went through the gathered crowd.
“Yes,” head Alpha raised his voice again, clearly having come to a conclusion. “I will give you what you ask,” he raised a pointed finger at them “if you promise to never return to this place.”
The gathered pack became deathly silent. Mingi held his breath and stared down at the grass beneath his bare feet. This was the price they had to pay for the goodwill of the Lord. One of their own had to be sold, traded for the others’ redemption. He looked back up towards the head Alpha when he raised his voice again.
“Gather the omegas by the Altar!” With a flair to his loose fitting clothes he turned his back to the strangers and started walking towards the center of their village.
It took Mingi a moment to realise that he too was an omega that was supposed to gather at the altar. He quickly made his way towards the others in the camp. Their head Healer quickly spotted him and took his satchel with herbs before herding him towards the Altar. Once there, Mingi fell in line with several other omegas. They were of all ages, both the ones who where too young to yet have had their first heat and the elder omegas who where not already pregnant. As their pack’s only dud he was surprised that he was allowed to be presented at all. They were all kneeling on the ground before the Altar, heads respectfully tilted towards the ground and hands clasped behind their backs, the submissive posture he had been taught since childhood.
This was the moment when he actually got to see the strangers up close. To him, they all looked like Alphas. All of them were muscular, strong and had an air of confidence about them. The shorter one of the three had fierce eyes that wouldn’t waver to anyone, not even head Alpha. Mingi felt a tingle along his skin when that gaze passed over his own body. He did not dare raise his eyes far enough to actually see their faces after that happened. The two taller ones stood on his left and right side respectively and were both stoic and quiet, letting the shorter Alpha do the talking for now.
“Is this all of them?” The fierce Alpha asked head Alpha.
“Yes, every one of my omegas you have here on display.” Head Alpha gestured broadly with his hand “You can pick which one you would like to bring with you.”
Despite the cold, Mingi felt a bead of sweat trickle down his neck and pool at his clavicle. He did not dare move a muscle for fear that they would notice him. He was already the tallest of the omegas in his pack, and his angular face made him stick out like a sore thumb compared to the meek faces of the others.
When the one on the left hand side of the shorter Alpha leaned in to whisper something, Mingi felt both their gazes move in his direction again. All the omegas flinched when the voice made the announcement.
“That one,” the Alpha said. “We choose that one.”
Mingi dared to raise his gaze from the ground to look to who the finger was pointing at.
“Ah! Yes that would be Mingi,” head Alpha spoke with near manic joy in his voice. “He is a fine choice.”
Mingi didn’t know how to feel, he felt everything, and then nothing at all.