Another week has passed and Seonghwa ventured further and further into the home of seven wolves and their children. He became more comfortable with them, eating every meal with them now and held more conversations with all in the household. He grew closer with Hongjoong and Yeosang the most, Wooyoung occasionally would spend time with him and Minjun.

After all, if it weren't for the Omega his baby wouldn't have been able to survive thanks to his milk supply. Seonghwa was settling in nicely, as much as he is afraid to admit. He knew he needed to keep moving, before Minjun grows more and makes it noticeable for the others. He was willing to do anything to keep his past a secret, even if it means to run away and never grow roots again.

He was helping Yeosang wash everyone's clothes by the creek running past their home, the silence between the two was comfortable as Minjun napped against Seonghwa's chest in the sling. His dark head of hair in the sunlight was showing hints of brown and red, Seonghwa falling in love with the color and as his son slept he would press kisses every so often to the top of the soft hair.

"He's getting so big already," Yeosang hums, smiling at the sight, "Hard to believe he's already two weeks old."

Seonghwa felt panic slightly rise in his chest, but he quickly masks it from his scent before the other notices, "I know, he's a lot like I was. He grows quickly."

Yeosang hums, chuckling as he scrubbed at a shirt of his, "I can't wait to have pups. It's something I have been passionate about since I found Jongho. I would do anything to have a baby with his nose, his lips, his eyes." Yeosang sighs, "It'll be like I'm falling in love all over again."

Seonghwa smiled, a pang went through his heart at the mention of the word. He never experienced love, the only love he has ever felt was towards his son and his son only. Yeosang finished washing his basket full of laundry, and reaches over to take some of Seonghwa's to help him, "I don't mean to be rude... but... what happened to Minjun's father?" Seonghwa flinches and Yeosang's scent immediately spikes with stress, "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's not something I want to talk about," Seonghwa swallows, "It's still a hard conversation to share for me."

"I understand," Yeosang frowns, "I'm terribly sorry."

The silence between the two now grew tense and awkward, Seonghwa avoided Yeosang's gaze and Yeosang bit his lip as he wracked his brain for a different subject to talk about. He finally looks to the older Omega and spoke softly, "Do you miss your home?"

Seonghwa stopped scrubbing at one of Minjun's blankets and stares at the soft fabric. Home, it's a place where he is supposed to belong and somewhere that feels safe for him. He thinks about the different medical examinations, the scheduled meals and bath times. He felt like a robot instead of an actual person.

Then he remembers the severe consequences of not following said schedules. The heat inducing test from where he was artificially inseminated. The visions of the facility swam across his vision and he felt himself shaking slightly.

The facility was the only place he had for the longest time.

"N-No," Seonghwa set the blanket aside and brings a shaking hand up to cradle against Minjun's back, "I don't."

Yeosang frowns as he watches Seonghwa shake slightly, feeling the fear radiating off of the omega before he finally placed a hand on Seonghwa's knee. Seonghwa looked into Yeosang's kind, hazel eyes, and the omega spoke softly with a hint of sincerity in his tone, "Seonghwa, we will protect you no matter what. You are in safe hands, you can trust in us. Okay?"

Seonghwa licks his lips softly before nodding, he felt his wolf settle at the words and calmness soon washed over the two. Yeosang sighs with a small smile, pulling away to stand, "Come, let's go hang these to dry and then head inside. I think Yunho, San, and Wooyoung are working on a wild pheasant chili tonight for dinner, and I do not want to miss that."

"Wild pheasant?" Seonghwa perks up at the sound of the dish, "I hadn't had wild pheasant in so long."

"When did you have it last?"

Seonghwa chuckles, "When I was pregnant with little one here," Seonghwa looked down at his son and smiles, "I practically craved wild pheasant. But as he grew and my pregnancy went on it became harder and harder for me to hunt. I had to resort to trapping with handmade traps from twigs and rocks."

Yeosang giggles and shakes his head, "That must have been so rough for you, but I see you as a strong person and someone who can pull through a tough situation like that. Giving birth on your own even and with no calming herbs..." Yeosang shivers and he looks at Seonghwa with a twinkle in his eye, "I admire you for it."

Seonghwa smiles pitifully, "It wasn't really anything I could do other than to trust my instincts. If things were different..." he frowns and stands, "Let's head back, I need to change Minjun anyway I didn't think to bring a diaper out here."

The two Omegas carry their laundry baskets back to the house, Seonghwa staying silent the whole way back. However as soon as they get to the back yard of their home near the play ground for the children, Mingi steps out of the house and approaches the two Omegas. He nods to Yeosang, but when he looks to Seonghwa he had a different glint in his eye.

Seonghwa felt his wolf stir at the presence of the Alpha, and he respectfully looked down at the ground. His wolf snarled at him, wanting for him to look at the Alpha but Seonghwa refused.

"Yeosang, Seonghwa. Washing went well?" Mingi's deep voice flooded Seonghwa's senses, and his wolf purred at the sound.

"Yes?" Yeosang spoke, "Everything was fine?"

"Good, glad to hear it," Mingi was silent which made Seonghwa look up at him, catching his eyes with Mingi's beautiful dark irises. The Alpha blushes slightly before he clears his throat, "Uh, Seonghwa. I would like to speak to you in my quarters, if you wouldn't mind."

He turned on his heel and walks back to the house, looking over his shoulder occasionally to see if the Omega was following him. Seonghwa wasn't until Yeosang sets his basket on the ground and grabs Seonghwa's, "Go, he's not very patient sometimes and will start whining if you don't follow him."

"Sangie!" Mingi whines, turning to face them, "Stop talking bad about me."

"See? You have just proven my point to the poor boy," Yeosang shakes his head at Seonghwa before smirking, "Go on, I'll hang the laundry up to dry."

Seonghwa takes in a deep breath, patting Minjun's back gently before making his way towards Mingi. Mingi lead the way into the house, and through the hallway up until they get to a large wooden door that was shut. He pulls out a key and unlocks it quietly to not disturb Minjun sleeping, once the door unlocks he leads Seonghwa inside.

As soon as the door shuts behind him, Mingi gestures to the seat in front of the desk, "Have a seat, make yourself comfortable."

"Trust me Alpha, nothing about this is comforting," Seonghwa wraps both arms around his baby in the sling across his chest, almost as if he were guarding him from Mingi and preventing the Alpha from trying to take him away again.

"Please, I'm not going to hurt you Seonghwa," Mingi calmly assured the Omega, gesturing once more to the seat, "I just have a few things to ask you and then I'll let you be on your way. That is all, I promise."

The Omega studies Mingi's gaze, seeing truth in his eyes before he did as instructed. Mingi took a seat behind the desk and pulls out a pen and a pad of paper, looking up to Seonghwa, "I know this isn't going to be an easy topic... but I have to ask you a few things about yourself. If you start becoming distressed, I will stop. But there are a few things I must know if I'm going to let you stay here for much longer."

Seonghwa nods, "What is it you need to know?"

"Well," Mingi clears his throat, "From what I gathered from the others, is that you don't like talking about your past or where you are from. Trauma I assume is the reason for that," he looks down at Minjun and takes in a deep breath, "Potentially... with your child's father."

Seonghwa licks his lips before swallowing the lump in his throat, "I don't know his father. And I believe I won't ever know who my son's father will ever be."

Mingi nods, "Alright, fair enough." He looks down at the pad of paper and checks off something before he looks back up to the Omega, "Where were you originally from?" Seonghwa presses his lips together, refusing to say a word by pressing them to top of Minjun's head and laying a gentle kiss there. Mingi hums, "Let me rephrase that. Where you are from, are they a threat?"

Seonghwa bites his lip and nods softly, refusing to look at the Alpha. But Mingi was surprisingly patient, and crossed something off the paper in front of him off. Seonghwa's lip wobbles as Mingi took in another breath, "Is there a possibility that they will come looking for you?"

"There is no possibility," Seonghwa whispers against Minjun's hair, "They are looking for me. But I can't let them find me, find my son."

Mingi's breath hitches, "Who are they?"

Seonghwa shook his head, his eyes began to water, "I can't tell you."

"Seonghwa, my pack is in danger now that you have mentioned that those who are looking for you are a threat. I cannot risk the lives of everyone here, there are children here! If any of them die-"

"If I say anything they could kill me!" Seonghwa sobbed, "They could kill me, and take my son away! I can't let them have my baby, please Mingi don't make me say anything more. Please!"

Mingi's lips were pressed together as Seonghwa sobbed silently, his arms never unwrapping themselves from his child strapped across his chest. He shoves the paper into a drawer of his desk before standing, stomping towards the door and opening it loudly, "You're free to go."

Seonghwa immediately stands and rushes to the door, only to be stopped when Mingi grabs him by the upper arm and turns him to face him, "Seonghwa, just know that we can only protect you for so long. If my pack members are in danger because those that are out to get you find you, then that leaves me no choice."

"W-What are you talking about?"

Mingi sighs, "At your six week postpartum check up once Hongjoong clears you eligible to do more active work, I'm going to have no choice but to ask you to leave."

••••