Something was different about the Howler Pack that day. The pack led by Min Yoonjae became busier because of the whispers of the members who knew about a rogue who was saved by Yoonjae.
Hyunji, who is the center of attention, is now eating her dinner in silence accompanied by Chaewol who continues to talk to her. The female omega was really friendly. She doesn't care about Hyunji's rogue status. Instead of Chaewol, it was Yoonjae who was worried about his woman's safety. For some reason, that night he saved a rogue and finally brought him back.
No one knows about the relationship between Hyunji and Yoonjae. Only the two of them felt different about each other. The pheromones they smell add to these vibrations to continue to increase.
Hyunji, who was initially confused, is now starting to like Yoonjae's pheromones. The smell of fresh wood reminded her of the forests where she lived.
Three days in the Howler Pack—Chaewol who told them the name of their pack, Hyunji started to feel at home even though she just stayed in the room and only peeked out of the window. Whether it's because of the crowds of people, whether it's because Yoonjae's presence makes her comfortable.
Iris is the one that's happiest. Since the first time, she really liked Yoonjae's presence. Their healing process went quickly because of their good mood.
"Chaewol-ah, I think I'm starting to recover," Hyunji said to Chaewol.
"That's good news! Once you're completely recovered, I'll take you around the pack, see the lake that I often visit, then we can do activities together—," Chaewol was so enthusiastic about talking about the plans she had made. Hyunji was of course happy to be well received, especially since she could see Yoonjae, but she had to leave because she no longer had a reason to be here.
"But Chaewol-ah, I have to go," Hyunji interrupted.
Chaewol who heard this stopped talking and her expression changed. At the same time Yoonjae entered the room with a fruit basket in his hand.
Yoonjae never approached her if Chaewol wasn't there. Therefore, when Chaewol was here, the man could only come with a smile on his face when he looked at the omega in front of Hyunji.
Even though Hyunji was curious to death about the relationship between these two people, she remained silent and tried to accept the fate that Yoonjae was her mate.
"Yoonjae!" Chaewol greeted the alpha cheerfully. There was a twinkle in his face when she saw the man coming. "I have a good idea."
"What idea, Moonie?"
"What if Hyunji became my personal assistant?"
It wasn't just Hyunji who was surprised, Yoonjae was also surprised by the girl's words.
Actually that's a good idea. Since Yoonjae was constantly around Chaewol, that meant she would also be around the guy. But considering how much the guy doesn't like her and her status, Hyunji can be prepared if Yoonjae refuses and kicks him out.
"Yes, I don't have a problem," Yoonjae answered beyond expectations.
"Thank you Yoonjae," said Chaewol happily and hugged the man. Hyunji should be normal, but for some reason something in his heart seemed to be throbbing painfully. Even though it was just a touch.
"Can you meet Minsu in the kitchen? She was looking for you earlier."
Chaewol nodded and left feeling happy. Leaving Hyunji and an alpha who is her mate. Iris herself was shy there. They don't know what Yoonjae's inner wolf is like and have never heard its voice.
"Listen," the low voice started the conversation. "Maybe Chaewol said that you are her assistant, but your job is to keep her from getting hurt. If she gets hurt, you can leave my pack," continued Yoonjae in his alpha voice.
Hyunji thought Yoonjae agreed because he was starting to accept her. But it was unexpected that Yoonjae was now threatening with his alpha voice.
There are still many things Hyunji doesn't know because she grew up living alone. But can someone tell her what a couple's relationship should be like? Is it really like this, or is she the only one like this?
***
(Hyunji POV)
My first day out of the cubicle was amazing. The alpha, beta and omega werewolves went around doing their own activities. Exactly like what I've seen in other packs.
To the east, several well-built alphas were preparing their weapons. Then in the north the betas are preparing their hunt, and in the west the omegas are busy near a cabin with their respective activities. Everyone is busy welcoming winter which is almost here.
"Hyunji-ah, let's go to the cabin to help the other omegas," said Chaewol who was walking beside me. I just nodded in agreement with her invitation because from now on, I have to follow all her orders. Even though my heart is a little doubtful, I'm sure that little by little I can find out about Yoonjae as my mate and what his relationship is with Chaewol.
"Minsu-ah!" Chaewol called someone when we arrived. A light brown haired female omega approached us with a smile on her face. "Chaewol-ah, is this what you mean?" Minsu asked.
"Of course. Hyunji, this is Minsu, she takes care of the kitchen pack."
I got to know Minsu and several other omegas in this cabin. They are friendly omegas even though some of them are still awkward with me being a rogue.
"Hyunji-ah, so you live alone in the forest?" Minsu asked curiously. I nodded my head trying to answer their questions.
"Do you also know about the guardian pack?" asked another curious omega.
Guardian Pack, who doesn't know them? They are sacred werewolves who guard the valley in the north. I have visited almost all the packs, Guardian pack, Warclaw pack, Ice keeper pack, Forest pack, Blackmoon pack and Frostbite pack. Only the Shadow and Bitter packs have never been touched by me because they are unfamiliar and hard to find.
I smiled and nodded my head slowly to answer their questions. They only asked whether I knew or not, not whether I had been in or not because the answer was, it was clear I was being chased before I even had time to show my nose.
"So they really exist huh.." the omegas started chattering to each other while doing their work when Sunghoon, Yoonjae's assistant, came to call Chaewol.
"Luna, you were called by the alpha to his cabin."
Sunghoon's call to Chaewol distracted me. Luna?
"Luna is the mate of the alpha pack leader, Hyunji-ya," explained Iris, who knew what was inside my head. I walked after Chaewol and Sunghoon while continuing to ask Iris.
"If Chaewol is Luna, then why are we her Mate?" I asked Iris.
"I don't understand either. I've never communicated with Yoonjae' Wolf at all," explained Iris sadly.
"Aren't you guys tied?"
"Who knows.."
Seeing Iris sad made me even more curious about my status. This is all very confusing. Doesn't the moon goddess make each werewolf only have one partner?
"Moonie," Yoonjae called when Chaewol arrived. Sunghoon himself said goodbye after his task was finished. He smiled as if he was welcoming the omega into his arms and made my chest beat painfully.
Seeing me still standing behind, Yoonjae looked at me and told me to go rest while he would spend time with Chaewol.
Moon goddess, I still don't understand this all.
***
Even though I had a little objection, I still agreed to Yoonjae's request based on my love for him. I don't understand why the moon goddess connected me with that cold-hearted alpha. Even though he didn't reject it directly, I could feel the immense pain in this relationship. I don't know why I suddenly miss my life as a rogue out there. This pain is a different kind of pain, one that I can't treat like a physical wound, I have to endure the pain in my heart to stay sane.
"Hyunji, let's go to the garden at the back. I want to check the harvest this season," said Chaewol. As Yoonjae's future partner, she is truly loved by all the pack members.
On her way, many people always called her 'Luna'. A beautiful name, as beautiful as the moon. It's highly unlikely that I'll get that title. As a rogue, my status is very worrying in this pack. I could hear whispers behind me every time I passed them as the queen' bodyguards.
I never knew what my past was like before this. What I remember is at that time I was still a teenager and was raised by a wild wolf who lived on the top of Mount Jinri. They can't turn into humans, and neither can I who thinks that I'm not half human and half wolf.
My first transformation came after I met Maya. A very beautiful rogue omega. I consider her my second mother after the wolves.
But unfortunately she disappeared on one full moon night several years ago. That's where my search began. I went to various packs to look for her, but was thrown out and almost forced to leave.
"Look! This is the plant I planted. Yoonjae really likes oranges, that's why I planted some," said Chaewol happily. She tried to pick up some fruit, but because of her small body, she had a little difficulty.
I reached out to help her take some of the oranges, making her very happy.
Not long after the last orange I took, Yoonjae came with his dominant alpha aura. He approached us – more precisely, approached Chaewol who smiled at him.
"Yoonjae, I picked some oranges for you!"
"Thank you," he replied, rubbing her head.
I was just silent and silently touched the top of my head.
"Where are you going after this?" Yoonjae asked Chaewol. "I want to go to the kitchen with Hyunji."
"Coincidentally, me and the others have just returned with mountain goat meat. You can prepare some good food with it."
Mountain goat meat is my favorite. Maya often caught one for us to eat together. I smiled secretly, feeling the longing to say hello again.
I accidentally saw that Yoonjae glanced briefly, then looked away again. For today, I try not to care. Maybe next time there will be something that can help me overcome this dilemma.
***
After dinner, I walked alone to the back of the omega's cabin. There is a small lake there which is quite hidden, but is often used as an emergency water source besides the river.
I sat on the edge of the lake and dipped my feet into it. I'm in a pretty good mood tonight after eating food I've been longing for a long time. While looking at the moon which was only half at the moment, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. From this scent, I knew that it was Yoonjae who came, making Iris happy.
Without a sound, he just stood quite far from me while looking at the moon.
"Pretty good for your first day," he said suddenly. "Listen, even if we imprint, I can't have a relationship with you."
"Why?"
"That's none of your business, to be honest, I'm quite regretting my decision."
"Aren't you the one who tortured yourself and your inner wolf?"
"Well, I hope the moon goddess makes us unmatched forever."
When Yoonjae said that, my chest hurt. It hurt so much that it made me short of breath.
I just understood, if this is what people say rejection is.
***
After Yoonjae's rejection that night, the next day I had a fever again.
I couldn't move my body and kept feeling dark around me.
I could hear Chaewol's worried voice, but unfortunately I couldn't open my eyes or make a sound. I don't know how long it took, the sounds around me disappeared and were replaced by another atmosphere like I was in a field of flowers.
In that scene, I saw myself under a tree while staring in a direction. There was Yoonjae, a girl and a boy. Is that their family? Yoonjae and Chaewol?
For some reason, I felt tears dripping from my cheeks, causing me to suddenly wake up.
"Hyunji-ah, are you okay?" Chaewol asked.
"Ah, yes, I'm fine," I said, still a little out of breath.
"Wait a minute, I'll get you a drink."
After Chaewol left, I only realized that Yoonjae was there. He leaned against a table and looked at me with his arms folded.
***
(Yoonjae POV)
I was speechless when I heard the news that the rogue fell ill right after my rejection last night.
Under the cover of being the pack leader, I arrived in the health room and took care of members' conditions to prevent Chaewol from having negative ideas toward me.
When I arrived at the room, for some reason my heart was beating fast. My heart somehow felt a pain that I had never felt before.
I watched her for a long time until she suddenly started to shed tears in her sleep. What did she dream of?
This somehow makes me feel guilty. I should have known that imprinting was not an easy matter. By me rejecting her, it was the same as opposing the moon goddess and now the one who felt the consequences is her. Honestly, I have a reason for every action I take.
Chaewol came back in a hurry, even though there was a healer ready to help her. When she saw Hyunji wanted to get up, she tried to help her and went back to get a drink.
"Are you better?" I asked her.
The girl didn't answer. She looked confused and was still in a weak body condition. Soon Chaewol returned with two cups in her hands. One is water and another is a potion that I'm sure is from Jungho.
That day I kept thinking about how she was doing, even though she was able to walk around in the afternoon.
***
To be continue.