One Year Later

San wakes up this morning with a strange warm and fuzzy feeling enveloping his chest and body as a whole. As soon as he opened his eyes, his arms tingled all the way down to his fingertips and he lifted his arms to examine his hands. They felt as if they were asleep, that kind of feeling, and San only remembers a few times his body has had this type of sensation.

All of those times being in the presence of Seonghwa.

His long lost love that he's been waiting to return to him for what feels like centuries, but it's really only been a year. Any time without Seonghwa was too long in San's eyes.

His body as well as his wolf really began feeling the void of Seonghwa about a month or two after they last saw each other. His wolf could tell San was moving even the slightest bit slower than typical, and his health was on a slow but steady decline.

San's only solace was the daily thoughts and remembrances of Seonghwa and his voice telling him that he would come back to him. He would be there soon. The worst part about the definition of 'soon' was that it was subjective. One person's soon could be another person's eternity, and goddess, that's what it was starting to feel like to San.

He never lost his hope, though.

San never once doubted Seonghwa's word.

As much as San didn't want to get his hopes up too high, he did sense wolves coming into Eclipse pack grounds. His senses were going haywire at the new wolves, and as San stood up, the tingling and fire slowly igniting within his body only became stronger.

San took a long and deep breath before he opened the door of his house and made his way to the entrance of Eclipse. His hopes were only getting higher and higher as he thought of the possibilities.

It could be Seonghwa.

His body's reaction and his wolf going crazy could only mean that it is Seonghwa, right?

San starts to run, needing to see if what he hopes is true really is. His wolf is pushing him to go faster, and it's only a second before three figures come into San's view.

There's no mistaking those pure white robes.

San feels his body freeze up as he finally takes in Seonghwa in his entirety, admiring the new length of his hair since he hasn't been able to have it trimmed. He studies the still soft look of his skin, knowing it must feel the same as when his fingers last graced it.

"S-San?"

San doesn't realize the tears streaming down his face just as they did the day they said goodbye, feeling Seonghwa's perfect hands gently wiping the wet streaks on his face similarly to how he did to Seonghwa on that same day.

"You came," San's voice comes out quietly, suddenly feeling this overwhelming vulnerability as Seonghwa's skin on his seems to set all of his emotions ablaze.

"I promised you, didn't I?" Seonghwa whispers, letting his hands trail down San's neck and down his arms until their fingers intertwine, "I only apologize for how long it took..." Seonghwa breathes out, and the hair on San's body instantly stands up as the hot air brushes over him.

San takes Seonghwa into his embrace and his body falls back into the warmth that he's missed more than anything, every piece of one another fitting perfectly with the other. Of course, if their souls were made for each other, then their bodies would also be. Their hearts were made to be connected, and now they finally can knit together and become one for the rest of their lives.

San presses his forehead against Seonghwa's, letting Seonghwa know how much he loves and cares for him through this subtle nonverbal movement, "Don't apologize, my love... When I told you I would wait an eternity for you, I meant it. For you, I would do anything."

Seonghwa's eyes water heavily, his emotions are all over the place since he can't believe he's actually back in San's arms.

"I love you, San..."

"And I love you, Seonghwa," San smiles in adoration as he stares into Seonghwa's beautiful brown eyes. How he's missed his own personal galaxy full of stars he always found in Seonghwa's eyes. Now, it never has to leave.

Seonghwa smiles happily, to which San responds with just as big of one, letting his dimples shine.

San carefully leans in and kisses Seonghwa, their lips slotting together just as flawlessly as he remembers. He feels Seonghwa melt into the kiss at first, but he nervously flinches back, his eyes looking around and he feels like he's back in Chrysalis where he wouldn't dare chance San's life like this.

San notices Seonghwa's scared wandering eyes and he realizes why he pulled away from their kiss quicker than normal, "It's okay, Hwa," he whispers, bringing his hand up to cup his cheek, his thumb gently massaging the soft skin there, "No one here will judge us... You don't have to be afraid anymore," he says, willing Seonghwa to look back up into his eyes.

Seonghwa meets San's eyes as he speaks, and after he hears him, he notices that no one is looking at the two of them in shame. No, far from it. If anything, some of the Eclipse pack members are cooing and smiling at him and San.

Seonghwa realizes that he's not in Chrysalis anymore.

There's no reason to harbor so much fear in expressing his love openly.

"I understand if it will take you a little while to become comfortable, I just wanted you to know that it's okay," San says lightly, keeping his voice calm, but he's surprised when his lips are soon captured once again.

Seonghwa wraps his arms around San's neck and kisses him deeply, putting all of his feelings and emotions into it so San knows just how much he means to him, and that he's not afraid to love him in public.

San's eyes quickly ease closed and his hand moves up into Seonghwa's hair, letting the soft locks run through his fingers as their lips move against each other tenderly. Small gasps for air allowed them to catch their breaths and let their eyes open just enough to see one another for a brief second before San gives Seonghwa one more peck.

Kissing Seonghwa feels like heaven for San, his kisses always feeling so urgent and needy to him. Seonghwa kisses him as if it'll be the last time every time, and it's something San doesn't think he could ever get used to completely, not that he would ever want to.

Finally having Seonghwa in his arms to have and to hold for the rest of their days, he knows it's a feeling that he will cherish for as long as he's able. When San holds Seonghwa, it's as if he opens up all the other lifetimes they've lived together and all of his past selves' emotions and it's a feeling of pure bliss. There will never be a moment where San doesn't cherish Seonghwa.

San vows to treasure Seonghwa until their very last moments of this lifetime.

"We may not have been able to say goodbye like we wanted to, but at least we got to say hello again like we wanted to," San smiles into another soft peck on Seonghwa's lips.

Seonghwa giggles that beautiful laugh that makes San melt, "To many more hellos," he kisses San again before he just eases into his comfortable embrace, letting his head nuzzle into San's neck.

San rubs up and down Seonghwa' back, "Our marks will be there soon," he teases, kissing Seonghwa's neck, "Mine will be right here. What do you think, my love?"

Seonghwa looks up at San with a visible blush on his cheeks and shyness in his eyes before their enclosed world together where it's only them gets interrupted by a cough.

"I don't mean to disrupt you two reuniting, but we're here too," Eunji says, and Areum gently pushes her shoulder.

"Eun, let them be. We can find or way around ourselves."

San and Seonghwa both turn to look at Areum and Eunji, their faces full of embarrassment, but it disappears quickly as they both squeeze each other's hands.

"Ah, yes!" San exclaims, "I'll show you two to your room," San starts walking, Seonghwa tucked into his side as they walk towards the small houses, "You don't mind sharing, right?"

Areum and Eunji exchange glances and shyly shake their heads, "We don't mind..."

Seonghwa giggles once again and looks up at San, taking in all of the details of his face that he can while he shows his sister and Eunji the home they can stay in while they live here in Eclipse.

Word gets around to the pack about three new members, and Yeosang, Wooyoung, and Dongwoo all go to find San. They want to know if the three new members are who they think they could be.

A loud gasp is heard from behind San and Seonghwa.

They turn around to see a wide eyed couple and Dongwoo's smiling face.

"Seonghwa! You're really here!" Wooyoung says maybe a bit too loudly and runs up to them, wanting to hug him, but he knows better after remembering Chrysalis' rules.

Seonghwa smiles warmly at the cheerfulness of his friend, finding it endearing how happy he is to see him after so long, "I promised my love that I'd return home," Seonghwa leans his head against San's chest, "So of course, I'm here."

"I just can't believe it! San has been waiting for you for so long!" Wooyoung's voice doesn't calm down until Yeosang takes hold of his hand and squeezes it.

"It's really good to see you again, Seonghwa," Dongwoo says, doing a small bow towards him, "You're staying for good, right?"

Seonghwa nods, "For the rest of my life."

San's heart pounds in his chest when he hears Seonghwa talk so openly, feeling proud of him. Since he met him, he's really come out of his shell so to speak, and San couldn't be happier for him. He knows how hard it can be to release yourself from the constraints that were put on at a young age, and seeing Seonghwa break out of them has been an eye-opening experience for him.

That evening, Seonghwa and San are back in San's house -- now Seonghwa's house, too -- cuddling on their bed.

Seonghwa looks up at San, his eyes softening when he sees how sleepy his San is. He remembers how much he denied him and himself when they first met, telling him that fated mates weren't real.

How stupid and naive he was back then...

Seonghwa has never been more sure about anything in his life as he is about his love for San. His feelings have never felt more real.

"What are you thinking about, my love?" San asks sleepily, his voice just above a whisper as he kisses the top of Seonghwa's head.

"I'm thinking about how thankful I am to have you, and how much I love you. You are my home, San."

San smiles, bringing Seonghwa into his body, "I'm the luckiest man alive to have you in my arms, Seonghwa."

"I'll be yours forever," Seonghwa whispers, taking in the silence of their bedroom, the only sound being the simultaneous beating of their hearts for each other.

"Forever and always."

End of Chapter Thirty Nine - FINALE

Total Word Count: 108,621