Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In-ho lets out a grunt as he falls to the floor, landing flat on his back with a thud.

Just a few years ago he would have been immediately back up on his feet, but all he can think about at the moment is how much his bones are creaking and his muscles are aching, and it’s just that little bit more difficult to catch his breath. As a young man at the beginning of his police career he would have been ready to go another round, but now he really feels every one of his fifty-two years.

He’s getting too old for this.

“Sorry,” Woo-seok says with a nervous smile, offering his hand to help In-ho up.

“Don’t apologise.” In-ho grins as he accepts the help. “I told you not to hold back. You’re getting good at this.”

Woo-seok beams at the praise.

They’ve been sparring together for a few months now, and although Woo-seok was one of the less experienced alphas in the pack, he’s come a long way. His combat style had been sloppy and undisciplined to begin with; the result of only a short stint in the military, and bad habits picked up in his former line of work and in prison. But he’s improved immensely following dedicated training time with In-ho and Hyun-ju in particular. He’s much more focussed and confident, and the fact that he’s managing to take down In-ho on a semi-regular basis can only be a good thing (or at least, that’s how In-ho is trying to look at it; he’s not sure if that necessarily a good thing for him).

Today is a rare group sparring session. In-ho generally trains with the other alphas in the pack one on one or in small groups, but he’s brought them all together this afternoon so that they can observe and learn from each other.

As he casts his eyes around their makeshift gym, he can’t help but feel a burst of pride in his chest.

They’ve all done well and shown good improvement, despite being under immense pressure. Ever since they’d learned that In-ho is likely to be challenged as Pack Alpha, In-ho has insisted on sparring with all the other alphas in the park regularly. He needs all of them to be able to put their best foot forward at a moment’s notice, and to be ready to defend their pack. They have no idea what they’re going to potentially face when the challenge comes, but having the skills and confidence for an old-fashioned duel is an essential starting point.

In-ho looks over the other side of the room to where Hyun-ju and Jung-bae are still trading blows. Hyun-ju clearly has the upper hand as the younger and more experienced party, but Jung-bae is able to hold his own. He’s come a long way as well, clearly out of practice from years out of the military, but his Marine training has served him well.

Yong-sik is hovering at the edge of the room, watching the action nervously. He is probably the least skilled of all of them, but In-ho can’t fault his commitment. Yong-sik has attended all the sparring sessions and given it his all, clearly keen to prove himself to the other alphas, and to be a part of the effort to protect the pack which has given him and his mother a home.

There’s a sinking feeling in In-ho’s stomach though as he thinks of the one alpha who isn’t with them. The one alpha who probably would have been the strongest and most skilled fighter of them all. The one alpha they’ve lost.

Do-hyun’s death still haunts In-ho’s dreams every night. Every time he closes his eyes he sees the Recruiter’s sadistic smile and hears the sound of the gunshot. He is always powerless to stop it.

It was his fault. His Second, his brother’s mate, is dead because In-ho was too reckless. Because he tried to take care of a problem without really thinking it through, because he was so arrogant as to think he couldn’t be defeated. He won’t make the same mistake again.

This time he will be patient and cautious.

In-ho can feel himself getting angrier and angrier the more he thinks about Do-hyun, so he decides to bring the session to an end.  He doesn’t want the others picking up on the rage in his scent and thinking it’s directed at them.

“Good work everyone,” In-ho tells the group. “That’s enough for today.”

He goes to gather his towel and water bottle as the others chat and start to cool down.

“You could do this in your sleep, you know,” Jung-bae comments as he grabs his own towel next to In-ho’s. “You could beat any of us in your sleep.”

In-ho sighs. “Perhaps. But could I defeat him?”

He doesn’t need to name their opponent for Jung-bae to know who he is talking about.

“You don’t even know that he’ll want to fight, In-ho. I know it’s the traditional way of challenging and what almost everyone goes for, but he could pick any challenge for you. Hell, he could make you play ddakji.”

“Is this supposed to be a pep talk?” In-ho asks wryly.

“No, I’m just saying…I think you’re as prepared as you can be. You’ve spent an awful lot of time down here in the gym, and I think it would do you good to forget about this for a little while and spend some time with your omega. And I’m not just saying that because he’s my best friend.”

In-ho chuckles. He’s come to really value Jung-bae’s support over the last few months. Especially since Jung-bae had been (rightfully) so distrustful of In-ho when they left the island and when he’d joined In-ho’s pack. But In-ho is glad to have earned Jung-bae’s trust now, and might even dare to tentatively label them as friends. He is still in need of a Second for the pack - a role which In-ho has avoided replacing following Do-hyun’s death - and Jung-bae is the most likely contender of all the alphas at the moment.

In-ho nods. “I think you’re right. There’s not much more we can do now except wait to receive the official challenge. We’re as ready as we will ever be. We shouldn’t drop these sessions altogether, but I agree we should spend more time with our mates and children and the rest of the pack.”

Jung-bae grins. “Well in that case, I’m off to see if my omega wants to join me in the shower.”

Woo-seok, who has clearly been listening to them, lets out a wolf whistle.

Hyun-ju shakes her head fondly as she grabs her water bottle and starts to head upstairs. Yong-sik gives In-ho a gentle pat on the arm as he leaves.

“That sounds like a good idea to me,” In-ho grins, slinging his towel over his shoulder and wondering if Gi-hun might be in the mood for a shower.

*****

When In-ho gets back to his room, he’s pleased to see that Gi-hun is already there. 

The omega is on his knees rummaging around in the back of the closet for something, muttering under his breath, which gives In-ho a rather lovely view of his omega’s behind.

“Hey.” In-ho smiles as he leans down to drop a kiss to the back of Gi-hun’s neck. “Looking for something?”

Gi-hun sighs, tossing an empty shoebox to the side. “I’m looking through some of my mom’s old stuff. She had a box of family recipes that I wanted to show Geum-ja.”

In-ho hums. “Where’s Jun-hee?”

“Jun-ho took her out for a walk with the boys. He wanted to get some air.”

In-ho feels a sense of relief wash over him. He’s glad his brother is getting out of the house again. Jun-ho has been incredibly withdrawn ever since Do-hyun’s death, and it’s taken him a long time to start to feel more like himself again. In-ho’s concern has been growing by the day, but it looks as though Jun-ho might finally be starting to come to terms with his grief.

Gi-hun lets out an ah-ha! as he withdraws from the closet with a grin, holding another tattered shoebox which is clearly what he was looking for. He raises an eyebrow when he sees that In-ho is in his gym gear.

“You’re all sweaty,” he comments. “Sparring again? That’s every day this week.”

“We’re going to cut down our sessions. I don’t think we’re going to be any more prepared than we are now. And all this might not even be needed anyway if the challenge isn’t a traditional fight.”

“Good.” Gi-hun presses a quick kiss to his lips. “You’ve been working yourself to death over all of this.”

“Can you blame me? My pack is under threat.”

“I love that you want to protect us all, but it’s no use if you’re exhausted and burnt out. You’ve got to look after yourself first. Or at least let me look after you.”

In-ho chuckles, settling his hands on Gi-hun’s slim hips and pulling him close.

“I can think of a few ways you could look after me,” he murmurs in his omega’s ear.

The sparring from earlier has got In-ho riled up; he’s full of alpha energy, his brain telling him to protect and to claim. He needs to mark Gi-hun, to brand him with his alpha scent to warn any challenger that this omega is his. This pack is his.

Jung-bae casually mentioning that he was going to shower with Dae-ho had made In-ho’s cock twitch at the thought of doing something similar with Gi-hun, but he knows there’s no way they’re going to make it to the shower; he has to have his omega here and now.

Gi-hun rolls his eyes fondly, leaning in for another kiss, lingering a little longer against In-ho’s lips this time. “Oh, go on then.”

It’s all the permission In-ho needs.

He joins their lips together again with a hungry hum, his scent flaring with arousal. Sometimes he still can’t quite believe that Gi-hun allows In-ho to touch him like this after everything they’ve been through. Yet here he is, the omega who had once stood defiant against In-ho with rage in his eyes, melting like putty in his arms. The omega whimpers, his scent soft and sweet, and it’s clear he wants this as much as In-ho.

If Gi-hun is bothered by In-ho’s post-workout sweatiness, he doesn’t say anything. He just laughs as he lifts his arms over his head so that In-ho can get his shirt off. They strip each other with familiar ease, clothes falling to the floor before In-ho walks Gi-hun backwards towards the bed, their lips still joined as they tumble onto the mattress in a tangle of limbs.

This never gets old. As long as he’ll live, In-ho will never get bored of this.

To be naked with an omega is one of life’s great pleasures, and the fact it’s Seong Gi-hun beneath In-ho makes it all the more gratifying. He kisses down Gi-hun’s bare chest, teasing a nipple with his tongue on the way, nipping at the omega’s soft belly and then the tops of his thighs.

He spreads Gi-hun’s legs with ease, kissing up Gi-hun’s hip to run his tongue over the other man’s cock. If there’s anything that can make him forget about his worries, it’s this.

He hums as Gi-hun moans, swallowing his cock in one polished move and sucking. He holds Gi-hun down by the hips, working his lips and tongue until he has the omega writhing. He grins around Gi-hun’s cock, intoxicated by the smell of the omega’s aroused scent. He’s dizzy with it. It’s maddening.

Gi-hun could make In-ho do anything with this scent. In-ho would do anything under the spell of this scent. It’s like a drug; addictive in both the best and worst way. It makes In-ho want to pin Gi-hun down and fuck him so hard he won’t remember his name.

No other alpha could do this to Gi-hun. No other alpha could give Gi-hun pleasure like this or have him writhing on the bed like this. That is in In-ho’s power alone.

In-ho trails his lips down down down, over Gi-hun’s balls until he finds his omega’s folds, and then he licks.

“Alpha,” Gi-hun sighs, digging his fingers into In-ho’s scalp.

He’s loud. Someone will probably have heard that.

But In-ho doesn’t care. He wants them to hear. He wants the whole pack to be reminded that Gi-hun is his omega, and that no one could satisfy Gi-hun like this.

In-ho smiles as he kisses and licks up and down Gi-hun’s slick folds, teasing the omega’s clit with a flick of his tongue for only a moment before pulling away.

“Lube?” In-ho offers.

“Please,” Gi-hun sighs.

Gi-hun is already soaking wet, but sometimes extra lube is always helpful these days for his comfort. Menopause hasn’t always been kind to Gi-hun, but it’s never been a barrier for them.

In-ho retrieves a condom and the tube of lube from the nightstand, rolling the condom onto his cock swiftly before warming the lube between his fingers. He traces Gi-hun’s hole gently before nudging one finger inside, and moving it carefully in and out, slowly building a rhythm as he adds a second finger, and then a third.

“I could just make you come on my fingers,” In-ho teases.

“Shut up and get your cock inside me,” Gi-hun moans.

In-ho is only too happy to oblige.

He hitches Gi-hun’s thighs up around his waist, slotting between the omega’s legs perfectly as he nudges his cock against Gi-hun’s slick entrance. He pushes forward gently through the glistening folds, leaning down to press their foreheads together as he nudges in inch by inch.

He gives Gi-hun a moment to adjust once he’s fully inside, and then he starts to thrust slowly, his lips never leaving Gi-hun’s. In-ho knows that Gi-hun expects to be fucked, but In-ho is in the mood for lovemaking. And judging by the noises Gi-hun is making, he doesn’t have a problem with this.

In-ho kisses any inch of skin he can reach. Gi-hun’s cheeks, his nose, his neck, shoulders, chest. His hands follow his lips, touching and stroking and cupping soft flesh, marking this body as his.

This is what In-ho could lose if he doesn’t win the challenge.

He already lost a family once before because of his own failure, and he can’t afford to do that again.

“Come back to me,” Gi-hun says, sensing that In-ho’s thoughts are slipping elsewhere, before pulling the alpha in for a kiss just before he comes.

In-ho sighs as he spills inside of his omega, his muscles rippling as he collapses. A sense of peace washes over him; for just a few moments there is no threat to his pack, there is no impending challenge. There’s just him and his omega, content and in love.

He rests for only a few seconds before wrapping his hand around Gi-hun’s cock, stroking at pace and chuckling breathlessly when the omega comes over his own stomach a minute later.

Gi-hun’s chest heaves as he takes a moment to catch his breath.

The room is flooded with their entangled scents, warm and sweet and grounding.

“I love you,” In-ho says gently, brushing their noses together.

“I love you too,” Gi-hun murmurs, his eyes shining.

As In-ho leans down for a kiss, he knows that this is worth fighting for.

It’s worth dying for.

*****

It happens a little under a week later.

In-ho and Gi-hun turn up to breakfast slightly later than usual one morning, thanks to Jun-hee throwing a tantrum over getting dressed, which means In-ho is already in a low mood by the time they make it to the kitchen. He’s exhausted and in desperate need of coffee, so he doesn’t really register the slightly odd atmosphere in the kitchen as he shuffles over to the fridge for milk, mumbling a good morning to everyone.

It’s only when he swears under his breath after dropping coffee granules all over the floor that he realises the room is completely silent.

Jun-ho, Jung-bae, Dae-ho, Hyun-ju, and Woo-seok are all sat around the kitchen table, the air heavy between them as they all look at In-ho. Yong-sik is stirring something on the stove, his back turned to everyone as if he’s distancing himself from whatever is going on. Their scents are bubbling with anxiety.

In-ho frowns, about to ask what’s wrong, until he sees the lone brown envelope sitting on the table in front of them all.

It reminds of him of the morning they received the letter inviting the omegas for their fertility examination. This time his heart sinks even more as his eyes shift from the letter to the uneasy faces of his packmates.

It’s not as if they haven’t been expecting this. They’d all known it was coming. But it feels different now that it’s about to become reality - now that they know they are truly under threat. This strong, loving, supportive, close-knit pack - this family - that they’ve built together could be taken away from them.

Gi-hun sighs and picks up the envelope.

It’s government issued. Stamped across the front in big bold red letters is Department for Pack Integrity.

In-ho wordlessly takes the envelope when it is offered to him, the eyes of everyone in the room burning into him. He opens it and unfolds the paper inside, his heart pounding as he begins to read it.

Dear Hwang In-ho,

We are writing to inform you that the Department for Pack Integrity has received a formal challenge for the leadership of your pack, the Hwang Pack, from an eligible alpha.

As Pack Alpha, you may legally be challenged for the leadership of your pack no more than once in a five year period by any alpha who is a citizen of the Republic of Korea and is over the age of twenty-one.

The challenge was received by this department from Jeong Min-jun on 18th September 2028. As the challenge was issued by an eligible alpha and you have received no other challenges since the formation of your pack, the department considers this challenge to be legal and legitimate.

The challenge will take place on 2nd October 2028 at 10:00. Please report to the address on the reverse of this letter with all your pack members in attendance. Failure to do so will be considered as an abstention from the challenge and the leadership of your pack will automatically be legally transferred to the challenging alpha.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch using the phone number at the top of this letter.

We thank you in advance for your co-operation.

Department for Pack Integrity

In-ho tries to keep his expression neutral. He doesn’t want the pack to panic.

Jeong Min-jun.

It’s not a name he’s familiar with, but he knows exactly who he is. He wonders if it’s even the Recruiter’s real name or just another alias. It doesn’t really matter though. The government considers him to be a legal challenger, and In-ho will have no choice but to play his game and respond to the challenge.

“Is it legitimate?” Jun-ho asks, finally breaking the silence.

In-ho nods. “Yes. Government issued. It’s legal.”

Dae-ho lets out a little whimper. He’s holding baby Eun-seo in his arms, and he clutches his daughter a little tighter, sinking closer to Jung-bae.

“Is it him?” Woo-seok asks. “The ddakji bastard?”

“I would assume so,” In-ho replies. “The name of the challenger in the letter is Jeong Min-Jun. I don’t know if that’s his real name. I don’t know anyone else by that name though, so it must be him.”

In-ho hands the letter to Gi-hun to read, and it’s slowly passed around the table. The room is silent again as each person takes a few moments to read through it, and Gi-hun shifts a little closer to In-ho, trying to give him a reassuring look. He’s holding Jun-hee in one arm, but he uses his free hand to squeeze his alpha’s arm as he gently nuzzles his neck.

“Two weeks,” Hyun-ju frowns. “I’m guessing that’s standard preparation time, but it’s not much.”

“We’ll be okay,” Jung-bae says firmly, rubbing Dae-ho’s back as he holds his omega close. “We’ve been expecting this. We’ve already been preparing for a long time.”

In-ho can feel his stomach churning.

He can’t let them see the disquiet he’s feeling. He’s the Pack Alpha; they look to him for guidance and reassurance, and right now he needs them all to be calm. He can’t afford to show any weakness or any indication that he’s worried about this in the slightest.

“Pack meeting in one hour,” he says.

He ignores Gi-hun’s worried gaze as he walks briskly out of the kitchen, his coffee long forgotten.

It’s only when he’s out of sight that he allows himself to breathe faster, his lungs taking in air almost uncontrollably as he takes the stairs two at a time.

He just about makes it to the bathroom in time.

He falls to his knees in front of the toilet and vomits the contents of stomach.

*****

Even though they’ve known this was coming for a while, the pack meeting ends up being a bit chaotic.

In-ho can’t blame his pack mates; the reality of the threat seems to have hit them now that they’re actually faced with it. He doesn’t think the mood among them has ever been so low since the mourning dinner they held after Do-hyun died. He knows he’s not just facing a legal challenge for his pack leadership, but also a challenge to keep up pack morale and keep everyone engaged - a challenge to make them believe that they can win this.

They’re all sat around the table in the dining room, as per usual for a pack meeting, apart from the children who have been ushered to another room by Geum-ja to play some games. The letter is being passed around once again for everyone to read, and  there’s a sense of dread and unease thick in the air. Everyone seems to be having a very frantic and animated conversation with the people around them, and it takes In-ho three attempts to get the pack to settle down and listen.

Gi-hun shoots him a reassuring look as the noise in the room dies down to a low murmur and then eventually silence, all eyes around the table landing expectantly on In-ho.

“Alright.” In-ho clears his throat, deciding to get straight to the point. “Now you’ve all seen the letter. There is nothing in there that we were not expecting to see. We have known this was coming for some time. The alphas and I have been preparing, and I am confident that I can win the challenge. I wanted to bring you all together this morning to hear any questions or concerns you may have. So…fire away.”

The faces around the table stare back at him apprehensively. No one wants to be the first to speak, or to vocalise their fear. But after a moment of silence, Gyeong-seok leans forward in his chair at the other end of the table.

“Is there any way we can get out of this?”

He looks tired. Exhausted. Na-yeon has been very unwell lately, and it’s clearly taking its toll.

“No,” In-ho replies gently. “The law is quite clear. Pack Alphas can be challenged for their pack by any eligible alpha. This is a legitimate challenge which I am legally obliged to respond to.”

Gyeong-seok sinks back in his chair, his shoulders slumping, and Woo-seok reaches across to pat his shoulder.

“And we think he’s doing this for revenge?” Hyun-ju asks. “This man. The Recruiter. Jeong Min-jun. You said that when you saw him with…when you were with Woo-seok and Do-hyun. You said that this man told you that he was being paid to do this by the people who funded and organised the games.”

“Yes.” In-ho nods. “He also has a personal vendetta against me though. He spoke about this a little when we saw him. He believes that I wasn’t worthy to be the Front Man. He feels affronted that I was chosen for the role after winning the games, when he had worked on the games for many years. And he thinks I was foolish for walking away from it. He believes I wasted an opportunity which I didn’t deserve, and which should have been given to him.”

“Why doesn’t he just kill you?” Yong-sik asks with a frown.

It’s a question In-ho has asked himself many times. The truth is he knows very little about Jeong Min-jun, but what he does know is that this man does seem to have some sort of moral code, abhorrent as it may be to most people. He does not murder for no reason. He is comfortable to kill, but only when he feels it is justified by his code. He has many other methods to inflict suffering within this code.

There are things worse than death after all. 

In-ho sighs. “He knows I’m not afraid to die. A challenge would give him a legitimate reason to kill me though, either legally or by his own reasoning. But he knows that a defeat here would be more humiliating for me than death.”

“There are three possible outcomes to any challenge,” Gi-hun adds. “I know most of you won’t have experienced one of these before, so it might help if we explain what happens in each of the three potential scenarios. One, the defending Pack Alpha is victorious, and life goes on as usual. No other alpha will be able to issue a challenge again in the next five years. Two, the challenging alpha defeats the defending Pack Alpha. The defending Pack Alpha is killed, and the challenging alpha legally acquires leadership of the pack. Three, the defending Pack Alpha yields and goes into exile. The challenging alpha gets the pack, but legally cannot kill the former Pack Alpha. The former Pack Alpha can have no future contact with their pack.”

“He will try and make me yield so that I can witness his vengeance,” In-ho says quietly. “I do think he would kill me eventually though. If I did yield and I went into exile, it wouldn’t be legal for him to kill me. There will be official adjudicators watching. But I’m sure he would hunt me down and do it sooner or later. He would consider my failure in the challenge to be a legitimate reason to kill me, whether it’s legal or not.”

The smell in the air is becoming more despairing the longer they sit here, but In-ho can tell that Gi-hun is working hard to try and mask everybody’s scent.

“I’m not going to yield though,” In-ho adds quickly. “If I lose the challenge, it will be because I’m dead.”

“If it looks like you’re going to lose, will you consider yielding?” Jun-ho asks immediately.

He fixes his gaze on In-ho, his eyes slightly challenging.

“No. I will die defending this pack.”

In-ho says it with no hesitation, but he can tell that’s not the answer Jun-ho wanted to hear. He can see his brother’s jaw tighten a little, and while he knows that Jun-ho is still grieving the loss of one member of his family, yielding is not an acceptable option.

“What do you think he’ll make you do?” Dae-ho pipes up nervously. “For the challenge?”

The question at least allows In-ho to focus his attention somewhere other than his brother’s scrutinising gaze.

“It could be anything,” In-ho replies. “Most people traditionally choose a fight. This is what I’ve been training for, and I would be confident in a duel; I’m experienced in combat. But he could choose anything. The other possibility I’ve been considering is that he may ask me to play a children’s game. Like the ones we all played on the island. If that’s the case, then I feel confident about that as well. I won the games remember, and I spent years observing people play these games.”

“What happens if you are defeated?”

The question comes from Gyeong-seok at the other end of the table again, looking even more troubled.

“What happens,” the omega continues, “if you are killed or you yield, and this man is legally in control of our pack? I know you said you are confident you can win, but do we have a contingency plan? I don’t mean to sound as if I’m questioning your competence, Pack Alpha; I know you will probably win. But if you don’t…what then?”

There’s gentle murmuring around the table, and In-ho knows he needs to put a stop to this train of thought before it dangerously derails. He cannot have the pack think that there is no hope, even in the worst case scenarios.

“If I am defeated, then all is not lost,” In-ho says reassuringly, raising his voice a little over the murmuring in an attempt to take control of the conversation again. “Under the law, we do get a second chance. If I’m defeated, another alpha from the pack can defend against the challenger and become the Pack Alpha if successful. I’ve been training the other alphas of the pack so that they can be confident if and when that time comes.”

“Another alpha from the pack can’t defend the pack until a period of three months has passed,” Jun-ho points out.

“So…what? In that scenario, we’d have this asshole as our Pack Alpha for three months?” Woo-seok frowns. “And even then, whoever steps up to defend the pack might not even be successful.”

“Okay, worst case scenario.” Jung-bae cuts in. “You’re defeated, and whoever else steps up to defend us is defeated. Couldn’t we just refuse to recognise this guy as our Pack Alpha? We could run away? Attack him? Surely we don’t just have to submit to him.”

In-ho does not like where this is going, and he glances at Gi-hun slightly wearily. It’s as if he can physically feel the worries of every person in this room stacking on top of his shoulders, building and building and crushing him as the burden grows -

“He could make our lives very difficult,” Gi-hun replies, clearly sensing that In-ho needs some support. “He would have legal rights as the Pack Alpha, and he could get the police or courts involved if we defy him.”

“But I don’t want you to worry about that,” In-ho adds quickly. “Because it’s not going to happen.”

As he looks round the room, his heart sinks as he sees fearful and doubting faces looking back at him. It’s been a long time since he’s felt pressure like this, but then it’s been a long time since he’s had so much to lose.

“I know you are afraid,” he continues softly. “But we are ready. And I promise you I will give my life to keep you safe. If anyone wants to talk to me or Gi-hun in private then please do. In the meantime, you are dismissed. Thank you.”

He feels a little guilty for ending the meeting slightly abruptly, but he hasn’t got the energy to continue with it. He can feel Jun-ho’s gaze burning into him, but thankfully his brother doesn’t question him further.

Everyone files out of the room quietly, and only once In-ho is alone with his mate does he allow his shoulders to slump.

Gi-hun immediately wraps his arms around his alpha, his scent warm and comforting.

“You’re not alone,” Gi-hun tells him. “You’re not alone.”

In-ho couldn’t be more grateful to have Gi-hun by his side, but the truth is he does feel alone. He almost feels as alone as he did in the games, when he was the last man standing after killing his competitors for the money that would fail to save his omega and unborn child. He almost feels as alone as when he was the Front Man, making decisions that would go on to result in the deaths of thousands of people.

And he feels alone now that he is the one solely responsible for keeping the people he loves out of the hands of a sadistic alpha.

But he doesn’t say this to Gi-hun.

Instead he holds his omega close and kisses his temple, taking comfort in the love of this man he doesn’t deserve.

TO BE CONTINUED 

Chapter Text

Over the coming days, In-ho sticks to his promise not to over prepare.

He spars with the other alphas as usual, but for no more than forty-five minutes a day, and he tries to spend the rest of his time keeping himself busy with Gi-hun and Jun-hee rather than thinking about the impending challenge.

His anxiety and agitation start to manifest themselves in other ways though.

In-ho’s alpha instincts begin to take over, which is a natural response to the knowledge that his pack is officially under threat. He isn’t even really aware that he’s doing anything particularly different until Gi-hun calls him out on it, and points out that he’s becoming overly protective.

“I know it’s hard and it’s easy for me to say this,” Gi-hun says carefully as they’re getting ready for bed one night, “but you have got to relax more. Your herding is making everyone stressed.”

“Herding?” In-ho frowns. “I am not herding.”

Gi-hun raises an eyebrow. “You’ve been so protective of the omegas these last few days. Possessive even. At first it was just me, which was fine, because I’m your mate and I’m used to it. But now it’s everyone. You’re definitely herding.”

In-ho’s frown deepens, which causes Gi-hun to roll his eyes.

“Come on, In-ho. Think about it. What about this evening when you tried to get everyone in the living room together to watch a movie? Or yesterday when you followed us all to the nesting room and stood outside while we were in there?”

In-ho can feel himself turning slightly red as realisation dawns. He hates to admit it, but Gi-hun is right. Now that he thinks about it, he has spent the last few days wanting to know where all the omegas were at all times. He just wanted to know they were safe. He hadn't been exactly outright pushy about it, but he thinks now about how Jun-ho had snapped at him yesterday when he’d tried to escort his brother to lunch, even after Jun-ho had said he wasn’t keen to join the rest of the pack. Or how he’d found Dae-ho working out in the gym alone this morning and had tried to encourage him back into the living room to play board games with everyone else.

In-ho feels a little mortified now that Gi-hun has called him out, as he realises his behavior is very much herding. It certainly wasn’t intentional, but he knows it must make the omegas anxious to have the Pack Alpha constantly hovering around them like that.

It dawns on In-ho that even this evening he’d wanted the omegas close when they all sat down to watch Geum-ja‘s favorite TV drama. Gi-hun had sat next to him as always, but In-ho had put an arm around his mate and tucked him close to his side; a move that Gi-hun had seemingly welcomed, even though they are rarely physically affectionate in front of the rest of the pack.

In-ho had grabbed Gyeong-seok’s wrist as he’d walked by to get to the chair next to Hyun-ju (he almost wants to die of embarrassment when he recalls he practically growled at poor Gyeong-seok), but the omega had very graciously allowed In-ho to manhandle him onto the couch on the other side of him. Thinking of it now, he’d actually snapped his fingers at Dae-ho, gesturing to the floor, and the young omega had dutifully taken a seat at In-ho’s feet while shooting a placating look at Jung-bae, who had looked livid. Geum-ja must have sensed what was going on, as she too perched herself on the end of the couch next to Gyeong-seok.

Only Jun-ho had refused to indulge In-ho’s behavior, choosing instead to take a seat next to Woo-seok.

It’s so obvious now that In-ho has been herding, and he’s utterly ashamed. Ashamed for allowing himself to be controlled by his own alpha instincts, and ashamed for not even realising he was doing it.

He cringes as he thinks of how he’d spent the evening nuzzling Gyeong-seok’s neck and scenting him, and curling his fingers in Dae-ho’s hair to stroke his head. Both omegas had been terribly kind to humor him; Gyeong-seok had returned the scenting and had laced their fingers together, and Dae-ho had nuzzled In-ho’s leg from his place on the floor.

In a rare moment of weakness, In-ho had imagined what it might be like if he were a more traditional Pack Alpha. He had very briefly imagined what it might be like to fuck Gyeong-seok and Dae-ho right there and then in front of the whole pack, as is his right. He had imagined what it would be like if the two of them willingly stripped and bared themselves to him, what it would be like if they opened their legs for him and allowed him to pleasure them. He’d imagined how they’d moan for him and want him because he’s a good Pack Alpha. He’d imagined how he would claim them and cover them in his scent so that no other alpha would ever dare to harm them.

But the thought had only been fleeting; he’d reminded himself that there are three other adult omegas in this pack - his brother, his elder, and his mate - and they would be disgusted if they had known his momentary fantasy, no matter how entitled he is to it as Pack Alpha.

“Look,” Gi-hun says gently, cupping his alpha’s jaw and breaking In-ho’s spiralling chain of thought. “I get it. You’re about to be challenged for the pack, and you’re anxious about us. But we need to find a balance between you feeling that everyone is protected, and ensuring that your relations with the omegas are maintained and all pack members are happy. The omegas are not happy being monitored so closely by the Pack Alpha, and it’s starting to annoy the other alphas, particularly Jung-bae.”

The mention of Jung-bae has In-ho flushing even more as he thinks of his earlier fantasy involving Dae-ho.

He opens his mouth to argue, pauses, opens it again. “I’m not… that bad,” he defends himself weakly, cringing at how much it sounds like a question rather than a statement.

“Your behavior is starting to rub off on the other alphas,” Gi-hun says gently. “Jung-bae used to only be like this with Dae-ho, but now he’s constantly checking in on where I am all the time too. Hyun-ju and Yong-sik aren’t too bad at the moment, but I can tell it’s making them anxious and they feel as though they should be helping you to keep an eye on the omegas. Woo-seok is probably the worst. This morning a big group of us went out for a walk, and I caught him trying to herd Jun-ho, Gyeong-seok and Dae-ho together so that he could escort them. Gyeong-seok was lovely about it as he always is, and Dae-ho was very sweet as well, but I could tell they felt a bit awkward. And Jun-ho was definitely not happy about it.”

In-ho knows that Jun-ho is not fond of herding, no matter how fond he is of the alpha.

“I’ll try to tone it down,” In-ho promises gently. “Thank you for bringing it to my attention. You really are so very good at being Pack Omega.”

“It’s what I’m here for.” Gi-hun kisses his cheek gently. “You just need to calm down a little and trust that we’ll all work together to keep each other safe.”

In-ho nods, and they finish preparing for bed in silence.

“While it’s on my mind,” Gi-hun says slowly as he slides beneath the covers. “Can I ask you to do something for me?”

“Name it.” In-ho climbs into bed next to him, lifting an arm so that his omega can settle on his chest.

Gi-hun sighs. “If it comes to it, and it looks like you’re going to fail the challenge…will you yield?”

In-ho hesitates, tightening his arm around his mate.

“Please,” Gi-hun begs. “I know you would rather die for this pack than give up, but you can’t just let him kill you, In-ho. It would devastate the whole pack, especially Jun-ho and I. You’re no good to anyone dead. At least with you alive, there’s always a chance you could win back the pack or figure out a plan. Please, In-ho. Promise me.”

“I can’t do that, Gi-hun. I am not letting that maniac get his hands on this pack. I will defend the pack until my dying breath. I can’t give up.”

Gi-hun sighs. “Stubborn alpha pride.” He kisses In-ho’s chest. “Just think about it. Please. For me.”

They don’t say any more on the subject as they rearrange themselves in bed to settle down for the night.

It’s then that In-ho can’t help but notice they’re sleeping an inch or so further apart than usual, and his heart aches a little.

*****

From that point on, In-ho tries to distance himself from the omegas.

It’s clear that his behavior isn’t particularly reassuring to them at the moment, and in fact seems to be having the opposite effect, so it’s clear to him that they will be a lot less stressed if he backs off a bit. Especially Jun-ho, who seems to be becoming increasingly irritated by In-ho’s protectiveness.

Instead In-ho chooses to spend his time either in his office or in the gym, either alone or with one or two of the other alphas.

Today he’s sparring with Woo-seok, who is putting up an impressive fight. He’s still no match for In-ho in combat, but his focus and discipline is improving every day, and In-ho has to privately admit that he’s impressed with Woo-seok’s rapid progress.

While he had once strongly disapproved of Woo-seok joining the pack (and had most definitely disapproved of Woo-seok’s obvious feelings towards Jun-ho), In-ho finds himself becoming fonder of the younger alpha by the day. Woo-seok has proved his commitment and loyalty to the pack to such an extent that In-ho is almost considering rethinking the alpha ranks.

In-ho holds out a hand to help the other alpha up, who is lying flat on the mat and swearing angrily under his breath after losing his balance from one of In-ho’s blows.

“Well done. You’re getting better at this every day.”

“Still not good enough to beat you,” Woo-seok groans as he’s pulled to his feet. “All I ever seem to do is get my ass kicked.”

“That’s not what I see,” In-ho chuckles, tossing a towel and a bottle of water in Woo-seok’s direction. “What I see is a committed alpha dedicated to protecting his pack, who is honing his skills and improving every day.”

Woo-seok grins as they take a seat on one of the benches at the side of the room. “You know, I’m kind of starting to think that you might actually like me.”

He takes a swig of water and waggles his eyebrows.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” In-ho jokes, leaning his head back against the wall as he waits for his heart rate to slow down.

The two of them sit in companionable silence for a few moments as they catch their breath and rehydrate. In-ho glances at Woo-seok, who is gulping back water as if he’s been lost in the desert for two weeks.

He’s actually been thinking about Woo-seok’s role in the pack a lot lately, and there’s a particular thought that has been occupying his brain for the past few days. He hasn’t shared it with anyone yet, but suddenly sitting here alone with Woo-seok in the silence of the gym feels like the right moment.

“While I’ve got you here,” In-ho says slowly, thumbing the lid of his water bottle, “I wanted to talk to you about something quickly.”

“If you’re going to ask me to join you on a top secret mission to kill the ddakji bastard, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to decline.”

In-ho does actually laugh at that, despite the morbid reminder of what happened the last time they attempted such a mission.

“No, nothing like that. It concerns the challenge.” He clears his throat. “There’s something I need you to do for me.”

Woo-seok’s smile fades, his face becoming serious as he sits up straight. “What is it?”

“I need you to do something for me if I fail.”

Woo-seok blinks.

“If you fail? I thought you were confident you would win?”

With the exception of Gi-hun, In-ho has so far avoided talking about the possibility of his failure with anyone else in the pack. He doesn’t want anyone thinking that it’s a likely possibility, no matter how true that may be. Losing hope can be a dangerous thing, deadly even, as he’s seen too many times before in the games. False hope can be equally as dangerous, but little or no hope is perhaps the most perilous.

This is a necessary conversation though, and he trusts that Woo-seok is in the right frame of mind for it. He’s stronger than most give him credit for.

“I am confident,” In-ho replies. “But I’m asking you to do this for the same reason I’ve been asking all the alphas to train with me. As a precaution. Just in case.”

The other alpha eyes him warily.

“What is it that you want me to do?”

In-ho sighs. “Do you remember when the Recruiter, Jeong Min-jun, captured us?”

“How could I forget,” Woo-seok scoffs.

“After he killed Do-hyun, he said to you that if you play by the rules next time, he’ll consider making you his Second. Well…if I lose the challenge, and if he offers the role of Second to you or asks for a volunteer, I want you to take it.”

Woo-seok looks as though he’s about to laugh, but there’s a look of startled confusion on his face, as if he can’t quite work out whether this is a joke or a serious request.

“You want me to support the man who could potentially take your pack from you?” he clarifies slowly, clearly assuming it’s the latter based on In-ho’s blank expression.

“I want you to pretend to support him.”

“Why would I pretend to support him? If you lose and that bastard gets the pack, I don’t want anything to do with him.“

In-ho’s lips almost twitch into a smile in response to Woo-seok’s obvious loyalty to him. He knows this is not going to be an easy sell.

“Because it’s a position that will give you power. And you can use that position to protect the pack until such time as you and the other alphas can agree which of you will come forward to defend the pack and reclaim it. If I lose, you’ll legally have to wait for three months until one of you can challenge Jeong. Three months with him as Pack Alpha could feel a lot longer without someone restraining him a little.”

“Restraining him a little? He’ll be the Pack Alpha. He can do as he pleases. What the hell am I supposed to do to protect the pack? Like you said in the pack meeting, it’s not like I could just kill him or we could all gang up on him. The repercussions could be far worse if he’s legally entitled to the pack.”

In-ho can sense the helplessness in Wo-seok’s voice already, as if he’s already imagining himself in such a scenario, and picturing just how powerless they would all be.

“You won’t be able to protect the pack completely,” In-ho agrees. “You won’t be able to stop him from doing all of the cruel things he might decide to do. But you might be able to make things a little bit less awful for everyone. You could stop some things from happening. You’d have some position of influence.”

Woo-seok lets out a heavy sigh, rubbing his hands over his face. He suddenly looks more tired than he did when they were sparring, and In-ho feels slightly guilty for dumping all this on the other alpha’s shoulders. Woo-seok now looks almost as burdened as In-ho feels.

“You would have to play your part carefully, of course,” In-ho adds. “You wouldn’t be able to outright object to everything he does. You’d have to give the illusion that you’re on his side. That you support him. That you’ve decided it’s not worth the hassle to defy him, and your life would be easier as his ally than his enemy. You have to give the illusion that you were never really loyal to me, and that you are only a member of this pack to serve your own self-interest.”

“Is that what you believe?” Woo-seok chuckles slightly bitterly.

“Of course not,” In-ho replies softly. “I know I questioned your loyalty and your character when you joined the pack. I know I haven’t made things easy for you. But you have proved yourself to be a reliable and trustworthy member of this pack. Jeong doesn’t know that though. You are the only alpha in this pack who did not take part in the games. He will see you as an outsider. He’ll see you as someone who perhaps has less reason to be loyal to me and the pack. And from your interactions with him so far, it’s clear that he underestimates you. You are the only alpha in the pack who could convincingly persuade him you’ve switched sides, especially given your background. But I trust you to use that role to do all you can to subtly protect the pack. It won’t be easy. You’ll feel as though you’re betraying the pack, but I promise you that you will be doing the opposite.”

Woo-seok looks as though he just wants to go to sleep and never wake up. “If I’m pretending to be his reluctant ally, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do that much to protect the pack.”

“There is one thing at least you might potentially be able to do,” In-ho says quietly. “When we were captured, and Jeong said that he’d consider making you his Second, he also said that you could have your pick of the omegas. Now there’s no guarantee that he’ll still allow that, but I got the sense it was a serious offer. Something he thinks he could use to buy your loyalty so that you can help him keep everyone in line. If that’s the case, there’s a good chance you could provide some extra protection for one of the omegas. You know what will happen to them if this man becomes Pack Alpha.”

Woo-seok’s face darkens. “Yeah. I think we’ve all got a pretty good idea of what will happen to them.”

“I know Jeong mentioned that he wanted Gi-hun as his Pack Omega, but there’s a chance he could pick any one of the omegas for that role. Jun-ho or Dae-ho would be the obvious choices as the youngest and most fertile omegas of the pack. Either one of them would be the ideal prize for a challenger. Even Gyeong-seok could potentially be at risk; he is also very beautiful. I am hoping that we can safely say that Geum-ja would not be considered. Her age may actually be an advantage to her if Jeong is respectful of elders.”

Woo-seok’s face is starting to go pale now, his eyes widening as the conversation grows more disturbing.

“Regardless of who he picks to be Pack Omega,” In-ho continues, “it’s still his prerogative to have any adult omega he chooses in his bed. Not to mention the freedoms he would likely take away from them. I expect there wouldn’t be very much at all they’d be able to do without his permission, and Atonements would probably be commonplace for any rule breakers.”

“I get it,” Woo-seok says, looking slightly nauseous.

“If he allowed you to pick one of the omegas as a mate, it wouldn’t protect them entirely, but it might shield them from the worst of it.”

“You want me to pick Jun-ho?” Woo-seok questions immediately.

In-ho hesitates. In his heart, he would want Jun-ho to be as protected as possible. He loves Gi-hun with all his being, but he knows his mate would stubbornly refuse to be taken under Woo-seok’s protection if it meant leaving the others vulnerable. But Jun-ho would likely be equally as furious if he was chosen, given how headstrong he is.

“I want you to pick whoever needs that protection most at the time,” In-ho replies eventually. “Be strategic in your choice.”

Woo-seok nods. “Got it. But in the interest of full disclosure I should probably let you know that I might find it difficult to be impartial when it comes to something like this.” He swallows, not meeting In-ho’s eyes. “Because I’m in love with your brother.”

He smiles and rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, as if he’s expecting In-ho to attack him for that confession. But In-ho just smiles warmly back at him, accepting in a way he never thought he would be when they first met.

“I know,” he says gently, clapping Woo-seok’s shoulder. “And I hope you can you use your love for Jun-ho as motivation to protect him and the pack that is his family. It’s not just Jun-ho and the omegas who will need your support though. Jung-bae, Hyun-ju, Yong-sik…they’re going to feel helpless. There won’t be much they can do to protect the omegas they love. They may even have to do some things themselves that are painful for them. You must protect them as well.”

“You’re talking as though this is already decided. As if it’s actually going to happen.” Woo-seok can’t keep the frustration from his voice now, nor the worry. “You’re talking as if you really think he’s going to win.”

“He’s not going to win,” In-ho says with as much confidence as he can. “But we have to plan for contingencies. We hope for the best but plan for the worst. That was my job once. Planning for contingencies. When I ran the games, we always had a Plan B. And this is our Plan B.”

Woo-seok opens his mouth to reply, but then the garage door opens.

They both snap their heads round, as if they’ve been caught doing something that they shouldn’t be doing, but then they relax when Gyeong-seok appears, giving them both an embarrassed smile.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” he says, shuffling into the gym tiredly. “I was hoping to speak to the Pack Alpha for a few minutes. It’s quite urgent.”

He looks anxious, his posture slouched and his arms folded over himself. Woo-seok’s face immediately softens before he stands and grabs his towel and water bottle.

“No problem,” Woo-seok says as he gathers his things. “He’s all yours. I was just leaving.”

“Thanks for your time today,” In-ho says to the younger alpha. “It’s always helpful to spar with you. I hope everything we talked about is alright with you.”

Woo-seok claps In-ho on the shoulder. “It is. You can count on me.”

In-ho can feel the relief settle in his stomach as he watches Woo-seok give Gyeong-seok a quick kiss on the cheek before heading for the door. That’s one less thing to worry about at least. He can sleep a little more easily tonight knowing that someone will be here to watch over the pack if the worst happens.

“Come.” In-ho pats the spot on the bench next to him with a warm smile. “Apologies for being all sweaty.”

“That’s alright.” Gyeong-seok smiles tiredly again, exchanging cheek kisses with In-ho before taking a seat. “I don’t need long. I just wanted to talk to you about Na-yeon.”

“How is she?” In-ho asks, his heart sinking. 

Over the last couple of weeks Na-yeon has been having fainting spells again, and Gyeong-seok had taken her to the hospital that morning for some tests. They’ve all been incredibly worried considering her medical history.

“She’s in good spirits. But she has to be admitted. It looks like she is becoming unwell again and will need treatment.”

It’s not the news any of them wanted to hear. The poor girl has been through enough in her short life, and her illness returning at this particular moment seems particularly cruel. For Na-yeon and for Gyeong-seok, who has been through hell to support her.

“I’m so sorry.” In-ho wraps an arm around the omega and kisses his temple. “What do you need from me? What can I do to help?”

“Her treatment.” Gyeong-seok swallows. “It’s experimental. A little bit different to last time. It sounds promising but it’s very expensive.”

“Say no more. I’ll make the arrangements to pay.”

“Thank you.” Gyeong-seok sighs with relief. “I’ll need you to consent to the treatment on my behalf as well.”

In-ho can feel the anger start to burn through his veins. The anger at the society he is a part of - a society which doesn’t even allow omegas to consent to medical treatment for their own children. Usually it’s the child’s father or the mated alpha of the mother who needs to consent, but as Gyeong-seok doesn’t have either of those, he will require his Pack Alpha’s consent instead.

“Of course. Leave the paperwork on my desk and I’ll read through it all immediately after I’ve had a shower. I will ensure everything is in place today.”

“Thank you, In-ho. I was also wondering if you would possibly give consent for me to stay at the hospital with Na-yeon instead of here. The doctors are insisting that I have your written permission if I am to stay at the hospital with her overnight. I know we have a challenge to prepare for, and I promise I will be there on the actual day, but I don’t want Na-yeon to be all on her own, and I don’t think I’m any use to anyone here in my current state.” He sniffs. “I’m sorry. I have to be with my daughter. She’s feeling so unwell. She’s so frightened and lonely -“

“Gyeong-seok.” In-ho takes the omega’s hands in his own and kisses them. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Of course you can have my consent. You belong with your daughter. We’ll do everything we can to support you both. I’ll go to my office right now and sign whatever paperwork you need me to so that Na-yeon can start her treatment, and you don’t have to be away from your daughter a minute longer than you have to. Alright?”

“Thank you, Pack Alpha.” The relief on Gyeong-seok’s face is clear, his shoulders relaxing as he instinctively curls himself into In-ho’s side.

In-ho cups the younger man’s jaw with one hand, stroking his thumb across Gyeong-seok’s cheek gently.

“There is on one condition though, and I’m afraid I’m going to insist upon it. I want at least one other member of the pack to be with you at the hospital at all times. They don’t need to be in the room with you and Na-yeon; you can have all the time alone you need with your daughter. But I would like someone else to sit outside or in the waiting area. Just so that you’re not on your own and someone from the pack is there if you need them. Non-negotiable. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Pack Alpha.”

“Good. Usually this would be something that would fall to the omegas, but given we don’t know how long you’ll be there, I don’t want the burden to fall on just four people. We will all take turns. I’m sure everyone would want to help you, and I’m sure Woo-seok and Dae-ho in particular will be keen to be there for you. I will ask Gi-hun to accompany you to the hospital as soon as I have signed the paperwork and he will stay with you for the first few hours. And I’ll ask Jung-bae to organise a rota so that we’ll have set shifts.”

“Thank you,” Gyeong-seok sighs, offering his neck for a scenting. “Thank you so much.”

In-ho comforts the omega with his scent as best he can, and then true to his word, he gets the paperwork signed and the arrangements made immediately. He makes a mental note to ensure that Jung-bae includes him in the rota, as he’s desperate to see Na-yeon himself.

It seems that as Pack Alpha he has an ever-growing list of problems which have him teetering on the edge of a pit of despair, and he’s at risk of tumbling down at any moment.

Luckily he has a loving pack to pull him back before he falls, and it’s all the motivation he needs to make sure he wins this challenge.

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter Text

From then on, the days leading up to the challenge seem to pass by in a blur.

In-ho forgoes any further training in the gym to spend as much time as possible at the hospital with Gyeong-seok and Na-yeon, which serves as an excellent distraction. He plays gonggi and card games with Na-yeon while Gyeong-seok gets some sleep in a chair in the corner of the room, and he’s pleased that the young girl is in good spirits at least. Her treatment leaves her feeling sick and tired, and he can’t help but admire how incredibly brave she is.

It infuriates him to no end that the hospital requires his consent for Na-yeon’s treatment on a daily basis. Not because it’s an administrative burden, but because he hates how Gyeong-seok has no official say in his own daughter’s care. He has to rely on the support of his Pack Alpha, and In-ho can’t help but feel nauseated at the thought of what might happen if he loses the challenge. He simply cannot tolerate a situation where Gyeong-seok has to beg another alpha to allow Na-yeon’s treatment to continue.

It makes In-ho all the more determined to win.

The day before the challenge, In-ho decides that he could use some fresh air and some time away from the house, so he invites Jun-ho and his nephews to join him for a walk through the park. It’s rare for Jun-ho to voluntarily leave the house these days, so In-ho is pleasantly surprised when his brother agrees without any further persuasion.

It’s a very peaceful afternoon. The sun is particularly bright for October, shining on the first few leaves that have started to dust the pathways, glinting red and gold. It’s chilly though, and the boys are wrapped up in thick coats and hats. Little Ha-joon toddles on ahead of them, occasionally stopping to pick up a leaf or a twig to excitedly show to them, while his baby brother babbles happily from his place in the sling across Jun-ho’s chest.

“How are you feeling about tomorrow?” Jun-ho asks as they amble along, slow and relaxed.

“I’m as confident as I can be.”

In-ho doesn’t really know what else to say.

Jun-ho walks a little closer to him, linking their arms together. It makes In-ho smile; it’s been a long time since they’ve been close like this, or since Jun-ho has shown him any proper physical affection. Their relationship has never quite been the same since In-ho joined the games all those years ago, but it’s starting to feel more like it once did. It’s starting to feel more like it did when they were both young ambitious police officers dedicated to their careers and to their family. They’re both very different men now, but the love they’ve always had for each other has helped them get to this point.

“I know you’re under a lot of pressure,” Jun-ho says quietly, “but there’s no one I would trust more than you to defend this pack. I know the great lengths you’ve gone to before to protect the ones you love. I know you can do it again. We’re all behind you.”

In-ho nods quietly, his eyes focussed on Ha-joon ahead of them.

“I’m grateful for your belief in me,” he says in a low voice, “and for your optimism. But if something happens to me tomorrow, I need you to stay close to Woo-seok. He’ll take care of you.”

Jun-ho raises an eyebrow playfully. “You trust Woo-seok now?”

“I’m being serious, Jun-ho. You know what could happen to you if I lose tomorrow.”

“You’re not going to lose tomorrow. And even if you did, I’d be fine. I can take care of myself.”

“Jun-ho. You are young, beautiful and fertile.  You’d be a prize for any challenging alpha.”

“I’ve played the whore before.”

In-ho clenches his jaw. He doesn’t like to think about the incident between Jun-ho and one of the VIPs. Jun-ho is always quick to remind him of how that incident ended as evidence that he can take care of himself, but it doesn’t stop In-ho from imagining what might have happened. It’s the same thing that almost certainly will happen if the Recruiter wins the challenge tomorrow and becomes Pack Alpha.

“You’ve played the whore,” In-ho points out. You’ve never been the whore.”

Jun-ho tenses next to him.

“Maybe I wouldn’t have to be the whore if Do-hyun was still here.”

That stings, and it must show on In-ho’s face, because Jun-ho’s expression softens.

“I’m sorry,” the younger man says immediately, squeezing In-ho’s arm. “I didn’t mean that. I just…I miss him every day. And little things set me off.”

In-ho wraps his arm around his brother. “I’ll be defending the pack in his memory tomorrow.”

Jun-ho squeezes his arm again. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I’m sure you’re sick to death of it.” He kisses In-ho’s cheek. “I’ll stay close to Woo-seok. I promise.”

It’s at that moment that Ha-joon spots a swing set up ahead, and waddles back to them to tug In-ho’s sleeve.

“Uncle!” he says excitedly, pointing at the swings. “Push me?”

In-ho smiles properly for the first time in days, and so does Jun-ho.

For the rest of the afternoon, In-ho pushes his nephew on the swing, and all he focuses on is the boy’s cheerful laughs and the warmth in Jun-ho’s eyes.

*****

That night, In-ho makes love to Gi-hun as if he might never get the chance again.

He gets off to an embarrassing start when he fails to get hard, his brain still occupied with thoughts of his task tomorrow, but Gi-hun’s firm steady hand slowly coaxes him to life. In-ho is slightly afraid that he won’t be able to maintain his erection, but even when he softens a little, Gi-hun is there with his clever fingers and his warm lips and his smooth skin.

When In-ho is inside his omega, he can feel the spark between them as they make eye contact - the same spark he’d felt when he was Young-il, when their desire for each was new and frightening. That spark burns hotter and brighter as he fucks Gi-hun slowly, his hips snapping in time to the perfect rhythm they’ve always shared. They are two sides to the same coin, yin and yang, alpha and omega, two halves of a whole. They always have been.

Beneath In-ho is an omega who loves him despite all the terrible things he has done. An omega who has healed him and put him back together again. An omega who has helped him build a family again.

“I love you,” In-ho whispers, his voice trembling as he leans down for a kiss. “Gi-hun. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Gi-hun sighs, throwing back his head and baring his neck as he comes.

This is what In-ho is fighting for.

This is what he cannot lose.

This is what he will die for.

*****

On the morning of the challenge, In-ho is surprisingly calm.

He’s always been good under pressure. His decades of experience as a police officer has taught him how to keep his cool in dangerous situations. It served him well when he was a contestant in the games, and later on when he was running the show.

And it’s not that he never felt fear in those situations, because he did - whether it was during a particularly dicey investigation, or a game he wasn’t sure he’d survive, or when he’d question every decision he’s ever made as he watched hundreds of people be slaughtered in front of him.

Hwang In-ho is always afraid, but he’s very good at hiding it.

At the start of his career he’d had an instructor at the academy, a mentor of his, who had told him that fear is incredibly important. Fear is what drives people to do things they thought were beyond their capabilities; it is the ultimate motivator. Fear only becomes dangerous when you allow it to control you.

This is the most difficult thing that In-ho has ever done, because he doesn’t think he’s ever had so much at stake. He’s had to fight for a pack before - a much smaller pack - and he’s had to fight for his life. But so many people are depending on him now.

The pressure is immense, but In-ho is calm. He thinks of his instructor at the academy, and how he will use his fear to achieve victory.

When he arrives at breakfast with Gi-hun at his side and Jun-hee on his hip, everyone is already waiting for them in the kitchen, and it really hits him then just how many people are relying on him.

Everyone goes silent for a brief moment when he walks in, and then Geum-ja is taking Jun-hee from him and ushering him into a chair with a full plate of food already waiting on the table.

“You need all the energy you can get,” she says firmly. “So eat up.”

She has clearly told the rest of the pack to leave In-ho to eat his breakfast in peace, as the silence quickly breaks into a ripple of chatter, leaving In-ho with his thoughts. Woo-seok is having a rather animated conversation with Yong-sik and Hyun-ju at the other end of the table. Dae-ho is gazing glumly at his porridge as Jung-bae gently rocks their baby in his arms. Jun-ho is trying to feed both his sons at the same time, and waves Gi-hun over when he spots the older omega, clearly wanting to discuss something with him.

Gyeong-seok is sat in the chair next to In-ho, eating quietly by himself, his thoughts clearly focussed on the one member of the pack who isn’t here today. It’s been a few days since In-ho has actually seen Gyeong-seok, and even though he knows it’s a requirement for every member of the pack to be in attendance at the challenge, he’s very glad that Gyeong-seok has made the effort to leave the hospital a few hours early and join the pack for breakfast this morning.

In-ho leans over to speak to Gyeong-seok in a voice low enough that no one else will hear.

“I will end this quickly today,” he says softly, “so that you can be with your daughter again as soon as possible.”

Gyeong-seok smiles warmly. He reaches over to take In-ho’s hand in his own.

“No matter what happens today,” he says quietly, “I am yours. Every omega in this pack is yours. The law might tell us that somebody else will be our Pack Alpha, but our hearts will always know who our real Pack Alpha is.”

In-ho feels a pang of guilt sting his heart as those words make him want to gently pin Gyeong-seok down on the table and fuck him. He knows it’s only his alpha instincts making him long to claim every omega in this room, but he still hates himself for being so primal.

He clears his throat. He is not a brutish alpha who thinks only with his knot.

In-ho squeezes Gyeong-seok’s hand. “Well I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that the law and your heart are telling you the same thing.”

Gyeong-seok’s smile is still warm, but there’s a weariness behind it as well, as if he can’t bring himself to dare to hope that this is going to go the way they want today. That weariness quickly fades into something else though as he leans in closer, his voice even quieter.

“You know, we’ve all been talking,” he says softly. “About how we will celebrate your victory.”

In-ho’s heart skips a beat. “Oh?”

“Mm. The other omegas and I are particularly eager to show you our appreciation.”

In-ho’s heart beats a little faster. Gyeong-seok is not usually a particularly flirtatious omega, so to hear him speak in such a tone only further triggers In-ho’s alpha instinct to protect and dominate. In-ho glances over at Gi-hun, who is still talking to Jun-ho and doesn’t seem to be taking any notice of In-ho’s conversation.

“Don’t worry.” Gyeong-seok looks a little shy now, turning slightly red. “It was Gi-hun’s idea. He was the one who floated it with the alphas. You do such an incredible job of taking care of us all. And we just want to take care of you a little bit after this.”

In-ho’s alpha brain is in overdrive now, his traitorous cock hardening beneath the table. He had always promised himself that he would never be the kind of Pack Alpha to use his omegas like playthings, but he had never in his wildest dreams imagined that the omegas in his pack might actually offer themselves to him with Gi-hun’s blessing. The fact that Gyeong-seok seems to be hinting that they’re considering this is the greatest honor and privilege. In-ho truly had no idea that they thought so highly of him.

It also makes his heart bubble to know that Gi-hun is so certain of In-ho’s love for him, and that he feels so secure in his position as In-ho’s mate and Pack Omega, that he is not only willing to entertain the idea but to actually suggest and support it himself.

In-ho attempts to will away his erection as he tries to think of how to respond to Gyeong-seok, but then Dae-ho stands up with his bowl of porridge and shuffles over to them, before wordlessly settling himself cross-legged on the floor at In-ho’s feet. He begins spooning porridge into his mouth, his face turning red as he avoids looking at anyone.

Jung-bae shifts Eun-seo onto his hip as he heads over to the counter to pour some more coffee, passing by In-ho on his way to lean down and whisper in his ear.

“He’s feeling a little anxious today. Would you mind humoring him?”

In-ho is a little taken aback by the request, but he doesn’t hesitate. He rests his hand on Dae-ho’s head and strokes his fingers gently through the long strands of hair, massaging his scalp soothingly. Dae-ho immediately relaxes, less embarrassed now that his silent request for affection hasn’t been rejected, and he nuzzles In-ho’s leg just like he did the other day.

Jung-bae gives In-ho a small grateful smile. Just a few months ago, In-ho would never have imagined that he would ever have this level of trust and respect with Jung-bae. He never would have imagined that Jung-bae would allow In-ho to touch and comfort his omega like this, let alone entertain the idea of Dae-ho offering himself to In-ho. And yet here they are, with Dae-ho at In-ho’s feet, and Jung-bae looking grateful.

And In-ho knows that’s because Jung-bae trusts that In-ho will do his best to look after Dae-ho as Pack Alpha.

It is a huge responsibility, and one that In-ho does not take lightly.

The omegas are unusually clingy for the rest of the morning. They gravitate towards In-ho under the pretence of wishing him well for the challenge, but he can tell from their scents that they’re hovering around him for their comfort as much as his.

Gi-hun smiles fondly at In-ho as the pack finishes breakfast and begins to get ready, clearly pleased at the way he’s treating the omegas this morning.

Their presence is actually giving In-ho a little confidence boost, and suddenly he can’t shake the thought of what might happen if he actually wins. He now has a vision of making love to Gi-hun with Gyeong-seok and Dae-ho lying next to the Pack Omega on the bed, naked and sighing softly as they touch themselves and patiently wait for their turn.

In-ho would pleasure each of them with his lips and tongue and hands, and then with his cock. He would show each of them just how treasured they are to him, and they would give themselves to him fully, they would open themselves to him as the alpha who saved them all.

Jung-bae and Hyun-ju would watch all of this with deference and pride, pleased that they have a Pack Alpha who is so generous and loving to their omegas. They would be impressed by how skilfully In-ho brings each omega to orgasm, and they would be grateful for how expertly In-ho manages the level of intimacy with each omega - enough to make them feel cherished by the Pack Alpha, without undermining their alphas or stepping on their toes. In-ho’s love for Gyeong-seok and Dae-ho is different to Hyun-ju and Jung-bae’s love for them; it is not romantic but he loves them as a good Pack Alpha should, and the other alphas would have great respect for him for making that distinction clear.

Only after he had brought each omega to climax would In-ho move aside for Jung-bae and Hyun-ju to take his place with their own omegas, allowing them to reaffirm and strengthen their own intimate bonds with their lovers. 

And then it would all be about Gi-hun; In-ho would focus all his efforts on his mate, his one true love. He’d make love to Gi-hun again while his pack bonded around him in the most intimate way possible.

Jun-ho wouldn’t be forgotten, of course. In-ho would ensure that one of the other alphas would see to Jun-ho’s pleasure - Woo-seok perhaps, as a reward for his support and loyalty. And then Jun-ho would forgive In-ho for Do-hyun’s death, forgive him for his involvement in the games, forgive In-ho for lying for so long, forgive him for tearing their family apart. Jun-ho would forgive it all once In-ho is victorious, and once he finally has In-ho’s approval to be with the man he’s wanted for so long.

In-ho has to snap out of his daydream sooner than he would like when it’s time to gather his things. He hasn’t won the challenge yet, and he mustn’t allow anything to distract him from his goal.

The omegas follow him from room to room as he collects the things he needs - water bottle, towel, and a bag of clothing, toiletries and other essentials in case he loses and is sent into exile. Dae-ho and Gyeong-seok in particular are reluctant to leave In-ho’s side as he gathers the paperwork he needs from his office. Even Jun-ho, normally so fiercely independent, stays close to him all morning.

In-ho allows himself to be more affectionate than usual with them, looping an arm around Dae-ho’s waist and brushing stray hairs from Gyeong-seok’s face. He kisses Jun-ho’s forehead just like he did when his brother was a young boy, and he smiles when Jun-ho doesn’t even complain or pretend to be affronted.

“I lost you once before,” Jun-ho tells him just as they’re getting ready to leave. “I don’t want to lose you again.”

In-ho holds him close and scents him.

He wishes he could give his pack more certainty, especially the omegas.

But for now all he can give them is his word that he will do his best.

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter Text

They arrive at the venue in good time.

It’s a large warehouse on the outskirts of southern Seoul, bland and nondescript on the outside, except for a large sign that reads Department for Pack Integrity. In-ho has actually been here once before, and he remembers thinking at the time that he hoped he’d never have to return.

His pack dutifully follow him inside, where they are greeted by a receptionist behind a large polished desk. She takes In-ho’s details and tells them to take a seat in the waiting area. There is only one other group already sat down among the three rows of chairs - a small pack of just four adults. A middle aged woman, who In-ho presumes must be the Pack Alpha, gives him a sympathetic smile.

Gi-hun sits beside In-ho with Jun-hee in his lap, and he holds In-ho’s hand as the rest of the pack quietly takes their seats.

The waiting area reminds In-ho of the government building where the omegas’ fertility exams took place - cold and soulless . It’s the kind of place you want to leave as quickly as you enter.

As he glances around at the peeling paint on the walls and the posters encouraging omegas to get their fertility checked regularly, he can’t help but think about the last time he was here. Although he has never participated in a challenge himself before, he has witnessed one. Nearly two decades ago, In-ho’s father had been challenged by one of their neighbors, who had submitted a formal request on Jun-ho’s eighteenth birthday to be mated with him, and had been immensely displeased when his request had been refused. In-ho had watched from the sidelines with his step-mother and Jun-ho as his father had defended their pack in one of the rooms in this very building, and he had been bursting with pride when his father successfully pinned his challenger to the ground.

In-ho’s father had never shown a single moment of fear or hesitation, and In-ho only hopes that he can display the same honorable courage today.

They wait in silence for maybe only five minutes or so until In-ho’s challenger arrives.

Everyone turns at the sound of the whoosh of automatic doors opening, fixing their eyes on the familiar man who enters. As usual, he’s dressed in a smart suit and tie, and is carrying a briefcase. He pauses, turning to look at them with a smile that would appear friendly to anyone else, but most definitely has a sinister quality to it as his gaze meets In-ho’s. The challenge is clear in his eyes.

The Recruiter, Jeong Min-jun, walks over to the reception desk to provide his details, smiling politely at the receptionist as she types away at the computer for a few minutes. He then takes a seat in the waiting area over the other side of the room. He places his briefcase at his feet and doesn’t look at the Hwang Pack, his eyes instead focussing on the posters on the opposite wall.

In-ho has to restrain himself from going over there right now to wrap his hands around the alpha’s throat and kill him. Luckily Gi-hun squeezes his hand reassuringly, his scent sweet and soothing.

Thankfully they don’t have to wait long. In-ho is slightly worried that Woo-seok might start a fight before the challenge even begins, as his scent is souring more and more by the minute, and the smell of anxiety in the room is becoming dangerously strong. But within just a few minutes, a short man in a suit with greying hair and glasses appears from the double doors next to the reception desk, a clipboard tucked beneath his arm. He’s wearing scent blockers, but In-ho can tell by the way he carries himself that he’s an alpha.

“Hwang In-ho?” he calls, and In-ho immediately stands. The whole pack stands with him.

“Yes.” He straightens himself to his full height, taking a step forward and focussing on Gi-hun’s scent just behind him.

“Are all members of your pack present?”

“All except one,” In-ho confirms. “One member of my pack has a medical exemption as she is currently in hospital.”

“You have the paperwork and a letter from the hospital?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He checks his clipboard. “And Jeong Min-jun?”

Jeong stands, his smile broadening as he picks up his briefcase. “Present.”

“Excellent. I will be your adjudicator for today’s challenge. Please follow me. We have a few pieces of admin to go through before we get started, but it shouldn’t take long.”

Jeong stands aside, waiting for In-ho to lead his pack through the doors. He observes each member of the pack as they pass him, the eerie smile on his face never fading. In-ho’s pack mates avoid making eye contact with the Recruiter as they walk by, and Jeong keeps a respectful distance as he follows behind them. As much as In-ho hates him, he knows that Jeong won’t try anything funny before the challenge has begun. He has a great love for the rules after all.

They’re led down a long corridor with a row of closed doors on either side, before they’re ushered through one of the doors at the very end.

The room looks almost exactly the same as the one where In-ho’s father completed his challenge many years ago. It’s a large room with a wooden floor, blank walls painted a dull blue, and no windows. It looks like a small high school gymnasium. There are benches on either side for seating, and a small desk in the corner, but otherwise it’s empty.

This whole situation is giving In-ho unpleasant flashbacks to when he participated in the games. It reminds him of how he and the other players would be led to some oddly decorated arena with no idea of what they were about to face, afraid for their lives. He wonders if the others have drawn the same comparison.

Everyone files in and stands in the middle of the room a little awkwardly while the adjudicator places a stack of papers down on the desk. Jeong stands a little further apart from the pack, clearly giving them their space. Nobody says a word as the adjudicator sorts through his paperwork, nor when two young omega men quietly slip into the room and whisper something to him.

The adjudicator scribbles something onto his clipboard before addressing everyone in the room.

“Before we begin, Mr Lee and Mr Yun here will take the children to another room down the hallway for the duration of the challenge. They’ll be perfectly safe; we have toys and snacks for them. Whilst we request that all members of the pack are present today, we don’t allow children to watch the challenge itself given the distressing nature. I understand that you have five children in your pack, but one of them is not present today as they have been granted a medical exemption. Do you have the paperwork please?”

In-ho hands over the letter that the hospital had given him to confirm that Na-yeon would be too unwell to attend. The adjudicator examines it and nods, seemingly satisfied.

The two young omegas come forward to take the children, and In-ho feels a little pang in his chest as he watches one of the men gently prise Eun-seo from a tearful Dae-ho’s arms. Gi-hun kisses Jun-hee on the forehead before handing her over with a quietly furious expression on his face, and Jun-ho hugs both of his boys tightly before allowing them to be led away. Thankfully the children are too young to understand what is going on, but their mothers are clearly anxious to be separated from them. It’s heartbreaking to watch, and it’s yet another reason why In-ho wants to end this as quickly as possible.

Once the children have left, the adjudicator speaks to Jeong for a few moments in a low voice, presumably confirming his details. He then turns to In-ho and inspects his paperwork, before checking everybody’s identity documents to ensure that all pack members are present. The whole process doesn’t take long, but In-ho is starting to feel jittery and irritated; he’s keen to just get this over with, and every minute that is wasted is just another minute of anxiety for his pack members.

“Excellent,” the adjudicator finally says, scribbling something on his clipboard. “I think we have everything we need. Now, could I ask your packmates to take a seat on the benches on this side of the room please. You’ll all need to remain seated throughout the challenge, as assistance or interference from packmates is strictly forbidden.”

In-ho watches them all drift off to the side to take their seats. Jun-ho kisses In-ho’s cheek and squeezes his hand before he goes, and Gi-hun lets In-ho scent him one last time.

“We all believe in you,” the omega says softly. “Good luck.”

And then he’s gone, leaving In-ho standing alone in the middle of the room. It suddenly occurs to him that if he loses, that was probably the last time he’ll ever get to touch Gi-hun.

“Mr Hwang, Mr Jeong, please stand facing each other in the center of the room.”

In-ho’s eyes drift from the solemn faces of his pack to Jeong, who still has that calm smile on his face. He still looks so relaxed and at ease as he makes his way over to In-ho, as if this is something he’s done a thousand times before.

The adjudicator stands between them.

“Jeong Min-jun, you have put forth a formal challenge to Hwang In-ho for the leadership of his pack. The government considers this to be a legitimate and legal challenge. What form do you desire the challenge to take?”

Jeong’s smile widens a little as he observes In-ho like a shark circling prey.

“Mr Hwang can pick the form of the challenge,” he says.

That surprises In-ho a little; he hadn’t been expecting to be able to choose what form the challenge would take. That is usually the privilege of the challenging alpha. In theory it should give In-ho an advantage, but he’s wary of the apparent generosity. He senses a little arrogance from the man opposite him, who clearly thinks he can win no matter what In-ho decides the challenge will be. In-ho can’t afford to display the same arrogance, nor to be complacent.

He could pick anything. Anything he’s good at. He could pick something like ddakji or gonggi, but he knows Jeong is likely skilled at anything they would have used in the games. To In-ho the choice is obvious. He should pick the thing he and the other alphas have trained for; the thing he is most confident at.

“A duel,” In-ho says.

He catches Gi-hun’s eye off to the side, who gives him an encouraging smile.

Jeong doesn’t react at all. He just stands there with his hands folded neatly in front of him, and with the same smile on his face. It’s infuriating, and slightly terrifying.

The adjudicator nods. “Very sensible to keep it traditional - most people pick a good old fashioned fight. Very well. Now, let me remind you of the rules of a duel in a challenge. This is not a fight to the death. Injuries will be inevitable, but your intention is not to kill, and if it looks as though you are intending to kill your opponent, we will have to stop the duel, and you will forfeit the challenge. Is that understood?”

In-ho nods. “Yes.”

Jeong grins, his eyes still fixed on In-ho. “Yes.”

The adjudicator clears his throat before continuing.

“However, killing your opponent will be allowed in one circumstance only. The duel will end when one of you voluntarily yields. If you manage to get your opponent onto the ground, you must offer him a chance to yield. If he does not, only then will you have the right to kill him.”

In-ho can sense both Gi-hun and Jun-ho staring at him intently from the side of the room, their gazes burning into him.

“Mr Jeong. If you yield, Mr Hwang cannot kill you, but you will have no legal claim to the Hwang Pack, and you will not be able to submit another challenge for a five year period. Nor will any other alpha. Do you understand these terms?”

“I do,” Jeong replies without hesitation.

“Mr Hwang. If you yield or if you are killed, then Mr Jeong will legally acquire leadership of your pack. The legal rights you have enjoyed will automatically be transferred to him, as well as any property or assets registered to the pack in your name. If you yield, then Mr Jeong cannot kill you, but you must go into exile. You must leave your former pack’s household and legally you must have no contact with any members of your pack. However, if you yield or are killed, another alpha from the pack may lodge a counter-challenge against Mr Jeong after a period of three months has passed. That alpha would then become the Pack Alpha if successful. Do you understand these terms?”

In-ho nods, trying to look as calm as possible. “I do.”

He knows the terms all too well, and he doesn’t want to overthink them in this moment. Otherwise he runs the risk of getting lost in them, and he can’t afford to lose his focus.

“Good. Then let’s begin. Starting positions.”

The smile finally fades from Jeong’s face as his expression turns serious. He holds his eye contact with In-ho for another moment, before he begins to remove his jacket and tie. He calmly walks to the side of the room with the empty benches where he’s left his briefcase, and he carefully sets down the items of clothing. Finally, he neatly rolls up his sleeves past his elbows, and unfastens his watch, which he places in his left pocket. He makes his way back to the middle of the room where In-ho is waiting, already bracing himself for the beginning of the fight.

In-ho turns to look at his pack one last time. They are all looking at him with nervousness on their faces, but he thinks he sees a hint of admiration too. It could just be his imagination of course, longing for the love and approval of his pack, but he’s almost certain he can see it. He glances at each of them in turn quickly - Jun-ho, Woo-seok, Jung-bae, Dae-ho, Gyeong-seok, Hyun-ju, Yong-sik, Geum-ja. A silent promise to them all that he will not let them down.

Finally, he looks at Gi-hun one last time, who offers him a warm smile and soft eyes, silently communicating his support.

You can do this.

“Are we ready?” the adjudicator asks, stepping back to give the two alphas the space they need.

In-ho takes a breath, banishing all other thoughts from his mind. He focuses on his breathing, his heart rate, his stance. Right now nothing else matters except the man standing in front of him. The man he will defeat. This is what he’s trained for. This is what he’s prepared for.

He’s ready.

“Then here we go. On my count. Three -“

In-ho thinks of the first time he kissed Gi-hun, both of them still dressed in teal tracksuits and clinging to each other on the deck of a boat.

“Two -“

He thinks of the first time he held Jun-ho after leaving the island, vowing to himself to never let anyone harm his brother ever again.

“One -“

He thinks of the first pack dinner they all attended just after the Hwang Pack was formed, and how he’d forgotten what it felt like to be a part of a family.

“Begin!”

Neither of the alphas move first. Instead they just stand there and study each other, clearly trying to anticipate the other’s intentions. Jeong looks calm, hands folded in front of him with that smile back on his face. He’s not in a fighting stance like In-ho, as if he’s simply waiting for In-ho to do something. As if he’s daring him to do something.

One of them needs to move first.

In-ho decides to give himself the advantage.

He lunges, fists at the ready, but Jeong suddenly snaps into action and blocks him easily.

And that’s when it begins.

In-ho lets his instincts take over, and he begins moving with practised ease, his muscle memory taking over so he doesn’t even really register what he’s doing. He trades blows with the other alpha at such speed that he’s soon grunting with the effort of dodging and attempting to attack. He manages to get a few hits in, and likewise Jeong strikes In-ho a few times, but at the moment they seem to be pretty evenly matched. All of that time spent training seems to be paying off now; it’s as if he just knows what to do. He knows the exact moves he needs at a particular moment without having to think. Jeong is a skilled fighter though, and he doesn’t even look as though he’s breaking a sweat.

The room is silent apart from their grunts of effort. In-ho had told the pack beforehand that they shouldn’t cheer him on; he would prefer not to be distracted. But he can almost hear them holding their breath with anticipation. He knows it must be hard for them to remain quiet and he can just about smell the anxiety and nervousness in the air, but Gi-hun is doing a very good job of masking everyone’s scents.

In-ho’s first stroke of luck comes when Jeong just narrowly fails to block one of In-ho’s fists, which connects sharply with the other alpha’s jaw and sends him reeling back. In-ho takes the opportunity to attack again while Jeong is disorientated, aiming a kick to the other alpha’s legs and feeling a sense of elation when the other man stumbles and falls to the floor.

This could be easier than he expected.

In-ho is over the other man swiftly, a foot on his chest holding him in place as he decides to take his chance.

“Do you yield?” In-ho asks immediately.

A small part of him almost hopes that the other alpha says no, just so that In-ho can kill him.

Jeong is breathing heavily, and for a moment In-ho almost thinks it’s over. But then that manic glint returns to the other man’s eye along with that crazy smile. He leans forward and sinks his teeth into In-ho’s shin.

In-ho cries out in agony, trying to keep his foot in place, but Jeong takes the chance to knock him off his feet as well. He’s pretty sure he hears someone - possibly Dae-ho - let out a gasp from the sidelines.

Suddenly they’re both scrambling to their hands and knees in an attempt to gain the advantage, to attack the other first -

And so it continues.

In-ho has no idea how long they fight for. Their speed seems to double once they’re on their feet - they exchange blows and kicks and punches endlessly, working their way across the room in a haze of violence, their scents a red mist of alpha aggression. In-ho quickly loses count of the number of times he’s struck - on his legs, his stomach, his chest, face - but he manages to get Jeong a few times as well. He feels a deep sense of satisfaction every time he hits or kicks the other alpha, desperate to hurt this man who is a threat to his pack.

It seems evenly matched for most of the fight. Whenever one of them seemingly gains the upper hand, the other quickly drives him back. It’s exhausting, and In-ho wonders if it will ever end. He keeps his focus though. He cannot let his pack fall into the hands of this man.

He manages a few punches to Jeong’s middle in quick succession, and for a moment he thinks he has it. For a moment he thinks he’s winded the other man and it will only be seconds until he has him on the floor again, until he has the other alpha gasping for breath, until Jeong refuses to yield and In-ho can wrap his hands around his throat and squeeze -

But then in just a split second there’s a kick to In-ho’s groin, and a knee to his stomach, and then a fist to his jaw and an arm to his back -

He’s on his back on the floor, and he doesn’t even have a moment to gasp for breath before there are kicks and punches raining down on him from all sides. He’s being beaten over and over, and now it’s not just Dae-ho he can hear gasping - there are sharp intakes of breath and even a choked sob he can hear coming from the side of the room. There’s a brief pause when he attempts to bring himself up to his knees, but a swift kick has him back down again.

The roles are reversed now. Jeong’s foot is on In-ho’s chest, pressing down hard.

In-ho can taste blood. He can smell blood. He’s bleeding and he’s pretty sure something is broken, everything feels bruised and numb at the same time, and he can’t breathe.

He can’t bring himself to look at his pack.

Jeong leans down, his hair in disarray and blood on his face, but that smile returns once again.

“I’m just deciding,” he says in a low voice, only slightly out of breath, “which of your omegas I’m going to fuck first.”

In-ho lets out a guttural cry, lunging upwards only to be met by a foot to his face, a sharp crack filling the room as his nose breaks.

There are more gasps and sobs from their audience, which echo in the large room and make In-ho squeeze his eyes shut with shame.

The foot is on his neck now, closing down on his windpipe. Not enough to cut off the air supply completely, but enough to leave In-ho unable to fight back. He’s struggling, grasping at Jeong’s leg but it’s no good. The other alpha stands firm, pinning In-ho to the floor with his foot as if In-ho is nothing but an insect - insignificant and weak in the eyes of his opponent, ready to be crushed.

“Do you yield?” Jeong asks, a little louder for everyone to hear.

In-ho growls, flailing on the ground as he desperately tries to claw at the other alpha. 

Jeong gives a sharp kick to In-ho’s stomach, and he’s coughing now, truly winded.

“In-ho!” Gi-hun calls from the sidelines, his voice panicked. “You have to yield!”

In-ho can’t. He can’t yield. He knows his chance of winning this is slipping through his fingers, but he will not voluntarily yield. He will not give up his pack without fighting until the very end, doing everything he possibly can to save them. He will die fighting.

If he cannot win, he will die from shame anyway.

A foot connects with his head, leaving him dizzy and his vision white.

Jeong grins down at him, before turning to address the pack sat on the benches, their faces pale and terrified as they watch the scene unfold before them.

“Your support for Hwang In-ho is misguided,” he says to them. “Why would you want this man as your Pack Alpha? He doesn’t deserve any of you. Think of everything he has done to you. Everything he has put you through. He has helped oversee the deaths of thousands of people. He was quite happy to oversee your deaths too, until he had the chance to knot a pretty omega. This man lied to you. Manipulated you. Called himself by another name and pretended to be your friend so that you would trust him. He would have you believe he has changed, but the truth is that Hwang In-ho is rotten to the core.” Jeong turns to fix his gaze on In-ho. “At least I’m honest about what I am.”

He aims another kick to In-ho’s middle which elicits another sob from someone in their audience.

“I’m going to ask you one more time,” Jeong says calmly. “Do you yield?”

In-ho wants to say fuck you, but instead remains silent.

“Very well then.”

Jeong looks at the adjudicator, who studies In-ho for a moment before nodding.

This is it. This is how he dies.

There’s a firmer kick to In-ho’s middle, and then his chest, his groin, his head, countless kicks over and over until everything starts to feel numb -

“Wait!”

In-ho is vaguely aware of some shouting from the sidelines, and then someone appears in front of him, throwing their body over him, shielding him from the vicious attack -

In-ho can tell from the scent that it’s Jun-ho before he even opens his eyes. When he does open his eyes, his brother is on top of him, his eyes wet and his scent thick with fear and sadness.

“Please,” Jun-ho begs, turning to look over his shoulder at Jeong. “Stop.”

“Move, omega,” Jeong demands smoothly. “I’m going to kill him. It is my right.”

Jun-ho doesn’t budge, and instead wraps his arms around In-ho a little more tightly, as if that will do anything to stop this maniac.

“Mr Hwang,” the adjudicator interjects from the corner of the room. “You cannot interfere with the challenge. It is against the rules. Please return to your seat. If you stand in Mr Jeong’s way, it will be his right to kill you as well.”

That gets In-ho’s attention.

He stiffens, squeezing Jun-ho’s arm, and coughs a little as his lungs burn.

“Jun-ho,” he manages to choke out. “Go back to your seat.”

Jun-ho squeezes him tighter. “I’m not leaving you. I’m not letting him kill you. I already lost you once and I went through hell to get you back. I’m not losing you again. I’m not letting you go, In-ho.”

In-ho starts to panic now. It’s clear that Jun-ho is too stubborn to move, which means they’re both going to die.

After a few moments, Jeong lets out an annoyed sigh.

“Very well. You can watch me kill your baby brother first, Hwang. You’ll have to wait a little longer for your turn.”

In-ho has no time to react before Jeong punches Jun-ho square in the face, who isn’t quick enough to intercept and ends up sprawled on the floor.

“A pity,” Jeong says softly. “I think he would have been the omega I’d have fucked first.”

Jun-ho’s nose is bleeding, and he’s too dazed to get himself to his feet before Jeong is aiming his foot in the direction of Jun-ho’s head -

“Wait,” In-ho wheezes, his throat dry. “I yield.”

It’s painful to say it. It physically hurts. It’s heartbreak equal only to when his first omega and unborn child died.

The whole room is silent, and In-ho really wishes that Jun-ho would have just let him die.

“What was that?” Jeong asks softly, frozen with his foot poised above Jun-ho’s head.

In-ho swallows. “I yield.”

“A little louder please, for everyone to hear.”

“I yield,” In-ho repeats, shame burning through him.

It is the scenario he had feared the most. A fate worse than death. Too shameful to comprehend.

Jeong doesn’t say anything. He just calmly moves his foot away from Jun-ho’s head, relaxing as he folds his hands in front of himself and smiles, waiting for the adjudicator to speak.

“Congratulations, Mr Jeong,” the adjudicator says. “You have won the challenge. As of today, the Hwang Pack has been transferred to your leadership, and will become the Jeong Pack.”

The adjudicator’s words blur into one as In-ho goes numb. He’s vaguely aware of there being some mention of paperwork for Jeong to complete, a medical team to see to In-ho’s injuries, and the word exile being used several times.

That’s right. He’s officially in exile now. His pack is no longer his, and legally he must have nothing to do with them.

He has failed them.

He turns to look at them, but his eyes only find Gi-hun’s.

There is no word to properly describe Gi-hun’s expression. Devastated. Disappointed. Broken. None of these adjectives do it justice.

The only time In-ho has seen Gi-hun look like this was when Gi-hun discovered In-ho’s true identity during the games.

In-ho has failed him. He’s failed them all.

He closes his eyes, wishing he were dead.

The Hwang Pack is no more.

END

(The Hwang Pack will return…)