Wynter started to cry just as Wooyoung's bath started to get cold, so he figured it was the perfect time to get out.

After toweling himself off, he noticed Yeosang had left a fresh set of clothes on the counter for him. They looked to be a good fit, maybe a little baggy in some places, but they would do.

He slipped on the sweatpants and large fluffy, blue sweater, loving how the sleeves were so long that they covered his hands, and stepped out of the bathroom.

Yeosang had Wynter on bed and was leaning over her, playing with her hands to try and calm her down. But the omega looked up as soon as he sensed Wooyoung. "Oh look! There's your mommy." He cooed, reaching out to tickle the girl's cheek.

Wooyoung leaned over and picked her up, smiling as Wynter studied him with large, round eyes. Her crying stopped immediately as Wooyoung sat in the rocking chair in the corner and lifted his sweater up to feed her.

He hissed when she attacked his tender skin.

"Are you ok?" Yeosang asked, sitting on the bed while giving him a concerned look.

"Yeah..." Wooyoung tried to adjust a little to get more comfortable. "Just sore. That bath was amazing though, thank you."

The older beamed and nodded. "I find a good hot bath always helps me too. Now I think the best for you to do right now is to just keep relaxing. Things have been stressful for you, and that's not good for you or Wynter." Yeosang hesitated, then glanced at the door. "Oh boy... Someone would like to talk to you, are you feeling up for it?"

Wooyoung had an idea of who it could be. He wanted to say no, but at the same time he didn't feel like he could because of the help he had received...

So he nodded.

Yeosang nodded back and went to the door.

San walked in a moment later, a worried look on his face, but as soon as he saw Wooyoung sitting up in the rocking chair with Wynter, he sighed. "I'm glad to see you're doing ok."

Yeosang came to stand beside him, eyeing the beta nervously. "What do you want, San? You really haven't helped things much today."

San flinched and nodded. "I know. I'm sorry..." He ran a hand through his blonde hair and fell to his knees. "It's just... When I found out that S-Seonghwa..." The beta's hands started to shake.

Wooyoung and Yeosang exchanged a glance, and Wooyoung could tell that the other omega had no idea what was going.

"When I learned he had forced himself on you... Without your consent, and claimed you... I just snapped because I... I came from an abusive relationship."

"San..." Yeosang said, rushing forward to kneel next to the beta. "Oh honey, I'm so sorry." He pulled San into a hug.

Wooyoung watched as the beta turned and hugged Yeosang, clinging to him as he fought of his tears.

Suddenly he was forced back to the night just over nine months ago when Seonghwa had claimed him. He shivered and pushed the red eyes and dominant growls away...

"I'm sorry that happened to you, San." Wooyoung whispered, wincing as Wynter shifted.

"I'm sorry too. And I didn't mean to make things worse..."

Yeosang chewed on his lip and looked at Wooyoung. "I know that Seonghwa seems like he is a timid alpha, but I think that, deep down, he is a lot stronger than he give himself credit for. If he lost control, I'm guessing Hongjoong is going to offer to help him tame his wolf. We did the same with Jongho when he got here. But, what is your background?"

Wooyoung looked down at his daughter. "I was supposed to be mated to an alpha from another pack. My role was to serve him and be a dutiful omega and give him pups. That's what my father told me."

Yeosang's eyes flashed gold and Wooyoung found himself worried about his reaction. "That is complete bullshit."

San looked at Yeosang too and backed up a little bit.

"You make it sound like... Like... Like you were going to be this alpha's slave!"

Wooyoung closed his eyes and looked away, feeling uncomfortable with Yeosang's tone.

"That's what you were taught to believe... Wasn't it..." The older said in a low whisper.

Not opening his eyes, Wooyoung said, "I was raised to serve my alpha. To hunt when needed, clean, and take care of him, or her, and provide my alpha with pups. And in return, my alpha would provide me with a home and protection."

He heard a low growl and didn't know if it came from San or Yeosang. All he could focus on was the growing pit in his stomach. As he said that, he realized he was already failing as an omega because he wasn't doing his best to take care of Seonghwa. He knew he needed to be better...

Once he was feeling better, Wooyoung vowed that he would try to be better. Then maybe Seonghwa would accept him and wouldn't want to stay with him just because of Wynter...

"Wooyoung..." Yeosang said, moving forward and reaching to cup the younger's cheek. "You need to get those thoughts out of your head, because that's not how it works as all. Being mates is a partnership. Yes your alpha is supposed to protect you, yes you give your alpha pups. But you give yourself pups too. And you work together to raise them and give them a happy home. Being mates is..." Yeosang looked like he was struggling for the words.

San was also watching the omega, waiting for the words to form.

"Being mates is... They should be the first person you want to see in the morning and the person you want to sleep with every night. They are your strength, your friend, your lover. Your mate is your other half. You are a team." Yeosang paused again. "Hongjoong... I want to tell him everything, every day. I feel empty when he's not around, even if he's just doing a perimeter run. When he's not at my side, I'm nothing. And when I see him playing with Asher and Irys... My heart feels so full. He is my other half. He makes me want to live."

Wooyoung closed his eyes as a fresh wave of agony washed over him. He wanted that more than anything. But he had been robbed of it... First by his father, then by Seonghwa...

A gentle hand grabbed his and he peeked at San. He saw the pain on the beta's face and knew that he understood exactly what Wooyoung was feeling right now.

They were both jealous of what Yeosang had.

****
Written by flamewhipper