San wasn't sure how long they ran for, but he didn't complain. He could feel the distress coming from his alpha and wished there was something he could do about it.

All of this was his fault as well.
He was the one that had taken Jongho to his old house to get his mind off things. And he hadn't been so subtle with his desire to be with the alpha.

Now look at where that got them.

But he was glad they were together. His feelings for Jongho ran deeper than they probably should with how little he knew the alpha. And he knew he would do everything he could to make this mistake up to Jongho.

Once night started to fall, Jongho slowed the pace and they both worked together to find a place to stay.
The area around their back was a dangerous area. There were a lot of predators that roamed the woods and two wolves on their own stood little chance if they were attacked by a larger pack of wild wolves or even a bear.

San found a small clearing for them to stay in that back up to a large rolling river. The runoff was high this time of year so the river would be impossible to cross.

Jongho huffed and trotted off while San stayed behind and shifted. He dressed quickly and started working on building a fire. It would be useful to keep them warm as well as to keep the wild animals at bay.

Everything had to be done by hand... They were given no supplies or tools, so once the fire was started by furiously rubbing two sticks together, he worked on finding some rocks that he could start to shape into tools.

He could sense Jongho's distress as he tried to hunt for them, but he kept silent out of respect.

After almost an hour, the alpha came back to the clearing with a couple of rabbits dangling from his jaw. He shifted and handed them to San before dressing and sitting next to him.
San worked to start skinning them, but his eyes would flash to Jongho. He was so lost right now. He didn't know what to do, and it was killing him.

The Jongho sighed and covered his face. "I'm sorry." His voice was muffled as he spoke.

"I'm sorry too, for how you were treated... But I'm not sorry about us." He said truthfully.

He felt his alpha's eyes on him so he met his gaze. "Why?"

"Because I know you are a good alpha. I saw the way you interacted with Kennedy. You are capable of love and leadership, but you've been forced to keep it shoved inside you because of your father's treatment."

Jongho just snorted. "I don't even fucking care about that anymore. If he doesn't want me as a son that's fine. I didn't want to be forced to mate with anyone anyway. I'm never going to be my brother..."

"No you're not." San set the rabbit in his hand down and moved to kneel in front of the alpha. "But I think you still compare yourself to him. You're not Mingi. And you never will be. You need to decide what kind of alpha you're going to be. And now is your chance to do it your way."

The younger's mouth opened a little as he studied San and soaked in his words. Then he lifted a hand and cupped the beta's cheek. "You're really ok with this? With the predicament we are in now?"

"You're my alpha now. I'll follow you anywhere." San said, flashing a shy smile as his while purred in agreement.

He shivered as Jongho ran his fingers over the mark on his neck. "And I'll do my best to protect you. I promise. But I'm not a good alpha... So if you ever want to leave, I won't stop you."

San started to speak, but then they both looked to the right as several branches snapped. They were upwind so they couldn't tell what it was, but Jongho placed San behind him and started to growl in warning.

Then a black and grey wolf with a tan face, neck, and belly walked slowly into the clearing. His head was bowed, ears were back, and tail tucked between his legs. Jongho tensed for just a moment, then the wind changed as the wolf laid down and whined. Peanuts... "Yunho?"

The wolf whimpered again and looked at the ground.

Jongho's shoulders sagged and he looked at the ground. San felt more pain coming from him as he stared at the other wolf.

San looked between the two of them but stayed in place as Yunho whimpered again a couple of times. He moved his paws to cover his nose and closed his eyes. San could have sworn he saw tears there.

"Fuck..." Jongho whispered, running a hand through his hair as he turned to San. "This is why I'm not a good alpha." He muttered before moving closer to Yunho and sinking to his knees.

San was confused but also a little angry. Why was Jongho doubting himself so much? And what did this Yunho want? It was obvious they knew each other, but San had never met him before.

Although that did just go to show how big Valentine's pack really was...
Yunho let out another whimper and peeked at Jongho from behind his paws, and all San could do was sit there and wait.

••••••••

Jongho watched Yunho closely. It was obvious the beta was in a lot of pain right now, and he had no idea how to fix it.

"Are you going to shift and talk to me?" He asked, although he felt like he didn't even deserve that courtesy. Yunho let out another whine and turned his head away, sniffing a couple of times. "Why are you here then? Are you just here to rub it in even more? Tell me how much I've fucked up? You don't think I already know that?!" Jongho's anger started to rise at the entire situation.

There was no reason for his friend to be here. Yunho was still a valuable member of the pack. He was one of the best hunters. And they had gotten away with their indiscretions, so there was no need for him to be here.

Yunho sniffed again, then his body started to morph back into his human form. He moved so that his knees were pulled to his chest, curving his body in away that drove Jongho, and his wolf, insane.

"I would never do that to you." The beta said. His lips were pushed out in a pout as he spoke and his eyes were red.

"Then why are you here?" Jongho asked again.

"You left without saying goodbye."

"You say that as if I had a choice." The alpha growled.

"I should have know you had found someone else... When you stopped visiting me less frequently." There it was. Jongho flinched at his words and looked away.

"Was I not good enough for you? Is that why you never claimed me?" Yunho's voice shook and Jongho knew he was trying to hold back the tears again.

Then he felt San tense. Jongho kept his eyes on the ground. He didn't deserve to face either of them right now.

"You... You were with him too?" The younger beta asked slowly.

Jongho nodded.

Silence fell over the camp as all three of them sat there not looking at each other.

Then San surprised them all by sighing. "Well kiss and make up already, these rabbits aren't going to skin themselves."
Both Jongho and Yunho looked at him. It was clear he was still processing, but he had returned to skinning the first rabbit he had been working on.

When no one moved, the beta sighed. "Look. I'm not going to say I'm totally ok with this." He looked at Jongho and pursed his lips. "But... Your father has led a pack while having multiple claimed wolves successfully for years. So, Jongho, if you care for him, which judging by the emotions rolling off you right now you do, then... I'm ok with it. But there will be no more secrets, ok? We are a pack and we need to work together. Obviously we will have to have a conversation when it comes to picking a Luna... But we don't need to worry about that right now."

Jongho was stunned. He had no idea what to say to San right now. He moved closer to him and cupped his face, "San..."

"Really. I'm willing to make it work if he is." The beta whispered before leaning forward and connecting their lips for a quick but passionate kiss. "But no more hiding things, ok? This is only going to work if you are open with both of us."

"I will try." Jongho said, still doubting his alpha abilities.

He turned and looked back and where Yunho was watching them with a mixed expression. Slowly, Jongho stood and walked to him, then kneeled on the ground.

Yunho's wide, dark brown eyes glistened with a mix of firelight and tears. "Why, Jongho?" He whispered.
The alpha didn't have an answer for him. There was no explanation other than he had desired San. So he sat there and waited for Yunho to say something, keeping his head bowed in submission.

After a moment, Yunho leaned forward and Jongho opened his arms automatically to pull him into a hug. The older's body shook as he tried to fight back his tears. "I want t-to be with you. P-Please don't leave me b-behind again."

Jongho felt his heart break a little. "I'm sorry Yunho. I never meant to cause you this kind of pain. I wasn't thinking clearly, with either of you. I don't deserve your forgiveness. But if you want to go with us, you can. Honestly I wouldn't blame San for leaving at some point. I'm off to a great start as an alpha..."

Yunho tilted his head up to lock eyes with the alpha. "That's why I'm here. We've been friends forever Jongho. And... You know I care for you. I want to be with you. Please?"

Jongho kissed his forehead and nodded.
After another moment, Yunho dressed and the three of them gathered around the fire.

The two betas worked to prepare the meal while Jongho tried to figure out straighten out the tangled, fucked up mess in his mind.

••••••••

Written by flamewhipper