Trigger Warning

 

Mingyu went dead silent.

 

He wasn't so silent before, he was screaming and crying and hugging Wonwoo tightly but now ... nothing.

 

At least when he was reacting ... Jeonghan felt better about it, Mingyu was sad and angry and was letting his emotions out but the silence treatment wasn't a good sign.

 

Jeonghan couldn't stop sobbing ever since, Seungcheol took him in his arms for a long while, he was shaking himself, with dispair and anger. He wasn't going to lose a family member today, Scoups just refused to accept that.

 

Dino stood there, eyes radiating that purple shade looking behind himself as they left, that creepy looking house, he wanted to do something, he wanted to go in there and scan it for memories but then his Luminous wasn't up for playing anymore games today. His spirit soon died down as he followed silently behind Joshua.

 

Jihoon and Soonyoung were in absolute shock. They had a million question but couldn't get any answers ... too late for that now.

 

Minghao could barely walk and Joshua was staring into space.

 

The Pack was broken ... entirely broken.

 

Jeonghan and Scoups kept a close distance behind Mingyu with Wonwoo in his arms. Extending his hand from time to time to brush his cheek, hold his hand or any sort of skin to skin contact just to check on him but ... nothing so far.

 

Wonwoo wasn't responding and it broke Mingyu beyond repair but ... he was too silent now

 

He will need at least 24 hours before they know for sure.

 

Jeonghan couldn't stop staring at him, lips parted, bruises all over his torso, arms and legs ... he was beaten up to death. The person who did that probably thought Wonwoo was dead and left him there to rot.

It was messy and unforeseen, looking at the bruises, Jeonghan knew that the perpetrator did it arbitrarily and did it quickly because he knew that someone will come looking for him ... he didn't want to waste any time.

It was too personal ... way too personal, and maybe got some pleasure out of it in the process.

 

He left like throwing up again.

But how can he show weakness now? If anything, Mingyu should be the one throwing up but the boy went into quiet mode so suddenly after being restless for a long time.

 

They reached home ... finally,

 

Mingyu placed the love of his life on their bed.

 

Stopped for a while there, scanning his face, drilling every single detail into his head, his heart ached a lot, his inner wolf was surrendering and accepting the fact that they lost their Mate.

But no ... not yet, he can't just give up like this.

 

Jeonghan stood by his side, not saying a word, nobody dared to say a word

 

Mingyu stood there frozen, his eyes scanning Wonwoo's bruised eyes and lips, leaned forward and kissed them lovingly ... saying goodbye?

 

Jeonghan couldn't watch anymore

He turned around sobbing again

 

Mingyu pulled back and started to take Wonwoo's clothes off, changing him into something more comfortable and less dirty.

 

He reached for a towel and started cleaning his wounds

 

"Hannie" Seuncheol called softly trying to take himself and his Mate out of their dazed condition "Hannie he needs us please" Seungcheol suppressed a tear, he swallowed thickly "The least we can do is help him"

Jeonghan soon looked up from his Mate's arms looked at the couple behind him and nodded.

Mingyu was cleaning Wonwoo's wounds, he should help him ... no matter what the outcome was.

 

He nodded and silently walked up to the younger, he took his hands, where he was holding the towel, and adjusted it for him, showing him how to clean them right. He then run down to the infirmary and got bandages and more supplies.

 

On his way up, he saw Seungkwan and Vernon ... when did they arrive?

 

Seungkwan was crying, Joshua nect to him and Minghao not leaving Jun

 

"Is there anything we can do?" Soonyoung asked and Jeonghan shook his head,

 

"Let's ... Humm" his tears threatened to fall again "Let's be here for them okay? I want everybody to be here" Jeonghan said before running upstairs again. Soonyoung's worry was even more obvious ... he nodded

 

Cleaning and bandaging Wonwoo's wounds took a while but the younger looked at peace now. He looked better, his skin milky white even though the bruises were still there, his temperature still icy cold but Mingyu made sure to tuck him well under his favorite warm blanket and once they were done,

Mingyu took a few steps back, let his back hit the wall and slid down to the floor.

 

Defeated

 

There was nothing else to do

 

But to wait

 

————

Jeonghan and Seungcheol ended up leaving the room about two hours later. Jeonghan kept throwing up and crying for too long, Seungcheol thought that he would faint on him any second, he had to take him back to their room.

 

He basically forced Jeonghan out of the room but Mingyu didn't budge from where he was miserably sitting on the floor, a few feet away from Wonwoo on the bed, his back to the wall and feeling ... angry, sad and desperate.

The mere thought of Wonwoo leaving him was breaking every little ounce of him.

 

Before leaving, Jeonghan checked on Wonwoo again,

He looked up at Seuncheol immediately

 

Wonwoo was warmer

 

"He's not so cold anymore" Jeonghan announced

 

Mingyu twitched hearing that, he looked up at his Luna eyes asking for more

 

"I can't feel anything else I'm sorry Mingyu" he was devastated "He's different you know he is ... maybe he just needs more time, bodies don't warm up if they die so it's a good sign right?" He questioned himself, he wasn't so sure but he liked to hold on into that thought for now.

 

Mingyu had a small smile painted on his face "He's fine" he muttered after hours of silence, he swallowed dryly "He's just fine I know he is"

 

Seungcheol smiled sadly, kneeled down to press a hand over his shoulder "We can't know for sure Gyu, please don't be hard on yourself"

 

Mingyu knew the gravity of the situation, he stared back at Wonwoo and nodded, tears escaping his eyes uncontrollably again. His eyes were red, bruised and tired.

"Please ... can you ... I want to be alone" Jeonghan definitely didn't want to leave but ended up being dragged away by Scoups

 

"He deserves some alone time with him ... for better or for worse, Hannie he needs this"

 

"I ... can't Cheol please"

 

In front of Mingyu and Wonwoo's bedroom, Jeonghan was a sobbing mess again. Seungcheol put a hand around him "He'll make it, it's Wonwoo" he mumbled holding his own tears "You said it yourself, he's different, he'll be just fine"

 

————

Wiping his tears away, Joshua took a few steps toward Dino.

The youngest was sitting on the arm chair, his head hanging to the side and completely zoning out.

 

Joshua sat next to him,

"Hey Dino"

 

The younger looked up, his face had an unreadable expression, his eyes still a glittering purple galaxy. Joshua reached his hand to brush over the boy's cheeks "It's beautiful Dino" he said proud of the boy but also curious

 

"Thank you"

 

"I've never seen anything like it before"

 

"No one has" Dino confessed, he didn't feel like talking and it definitely wasn't the time to talk. Joshua looked around, everyone looked like they were coming from a funeral. Minghao clutching tightly into Jun's shirt the other hugging him tightly. Jihoon restless and uncomfortable, Soonyoung trying his best to keep him calm and make him feel safe, Jihoon was always sensitive like that ... Seungkwan and Vernon, the two had their fare share of grief, Seungkwan's hiccups were still loudly heard.

 

This isn't over yet, Joshua reached his hand to hold his Mate, Gosh he just wanted to be buried somewhere with him until this nightmare of a day is over ... everyone was holding on into the small ray of hope that Wonwoo will be okay, he'll wake up soon.

 

Jeonghan was shaking again, retching and vomiting in the bathroom, Scoups by his side holding him tightly and once he was done he hugged him deeply

 

"I don't" his breaths hitched "I don't know how to deal with this"

 

Jeonghan was still recovering from his hypnosis session with that psycho waiter. The disgusting memories still crawling under his skin making him gag everytime a wave of emotions hit him. The sight of Wonwoo on that dirty floor, bloody and ... almost dead only made his insides twist more and more. Mingyu's screams still echoing in the back of his head, the entire scene ... he looked for Seungcheol, clutching into his arms, his Mate's scent was the only thing keeping him sane, he was exhausted. There was nothing he could do, there was nothing anyone else could do.

 

He felt himself being picked off the ground, Seungcheol placed him gently on their bed and moved him closer to his chest. The Alpha leader was helpless .... A new feeling that he will NEVER get used to.

He did his best, he made sure that Wonwoo had more than enough of his venom to survive, it was now all up to Wonwoo.

 

There was nothing he could do except holding his shivering Mate in his arms, he just didn't want to let go, he didn't want to begin thinking about what Mingyu must be feeling right now.

The boy's scent is long gone since they found Wonwoo and he can't blame him for his actions. He will lose his mind as well if he was in his same situation.

The night was still young, Jeonghan couldn't stop crying or shaking and he tried his best to keep him calm.

 

Jeonghan eventually calmed down a little and asked to go check on the others.

 

They slowly walked downstairs ... all eyes on them.

 

Jeonghan felt so guilty for leaving them alone for so long, it's been only an hour or so but he should have been here instead of crying. Everyone was in the living room, everyone looked so broken ... Jeonghan didn't even know where to start ... healing aroma with his spirit? He couldn't even heal himself

 

They sat and talked.

 

"I don't know"

 

Jeonghan replied when they asked if Wonwoo was going to be okay ...

 

"I don't know if it will work or not ... his pulse was too faint and he's different so I don't know how his reaction to the venom will be like"

 

Seungkwan finally pushed himself away from Vernon's shoulder "If he does, his bond with Mingyu will remain the same?"

 

Jeonghan shook his head "I don't know"

 

Minghao clutched deeper into Jun's shirt, burying himself further into his Mate not wanting to hear anything else. He was the closest to Wonwoo, more than anyone else, his best friend's life was hanging in the balance and there was nothing he could do.

 

—————

 

Mingyu finally had it in him to leave the floor and stand up.

 

To be honest, he slid down the wall simply because his feet were no longer able to hold him up. 

 

He walked over to Wonwoo who was laying on the bed ... looking lifeless.

He sighed deeply and fell face first right next to him, he extended his arms to wrap it  gently around Wonwoo's waist  "Please don't leave me" he pleaded, "Please wake up, it will be okay ... just wake up for me"

 

Mingyu barely could bring himself to sit or stand up. He was the weakest right now, he was crumbling, asking and praying to the Gods for any sign, he wanted him back, he wanted his Wonwoo back.

 

Mingyu was laying there for a while now, unable to move, unable to leave Wonwoo's side. His head buried into Wonwoo's side trying not to hurt him any further but not being able to let go at the same time.

He was loosing sensation of the world, his focus was on Wonwoo and Wonwoo alone. His heartbeat, his breaths, his body ... so lifeless.

 

Until

 

Until Mingyu felt something

 

A twitch?

 

He jolted up trying to look for signs

 

"Won? ... Baby can you hear me?"

 

But no ... Wonwoo was the same

 

Mingyu reached his hand check on his pulse and his breaths ... he swears he could feel something. Mingyu's heart was pounding like a hummer, his breaths stuck in his chest and only tears fell of his face again ... he clutched into Wonwoo

 

"Please ... God please bring back him to me"

 

Mingyu didn't know to whom he was praying but he hoped someone would hear them. He clutched the fabric around their blanket and completely blocked the room with his scent, he didn't want anyone to come in for now. He gasped again, his face down holding Wonwoo by the waist and just ... broke down.

 

Mingyu was a mess again.

 

It's been hours and he ended up sleeping drunk in his own tears.

 

—————

 

He woke up,

 

He felt horrible again, he picked his head up "Wonwoo please" he begged again "Wake up—"

 

He stopped as he took a look at Wonwoo's face and jolted up words

 

"You're breathing" Mingyu gasped to himself ... he laughed in disbelief as tears already fell down his face and his breaths hitched. He was so happy and relived "You're breathing" he repeated, clutched into Wonwoo's shirt tighter and broke down sobbing again.

 

He pushed himself away from his Mate, leaned over to place a gentle kiss on his forehead, minding his injuries that haven't healed yet ... but they will, Wonwoo was breathing, it means that Scoups venom worked, his body was changing, slowly maybe but eventually, he's turning into a wolf.

 

Mingyu had to be strong for when Wonwoo actually wakes up, he will need him there.

 

He run to the door, he was about to go get Jeonghan but he didn't have to go too far. His Luna and Alpha Leader were right outside in the hallway waiting for him to let them in but Mingyu was too disoriented to catch on their scents.

 

Jeonghan's eyes were puffy with a red shade underneath them. He was crying, he was crying so much, Mingyu saw him and almost broke down himself

 

"He's breathing" he announced after seconds of silence and Jeonghan's eyes widened and soon heaved relived sigh that almost made him fall down to his knees only for Seuncheol to catch him. The two extremely relived and their scents made it clear to everyone around that things were getting better.

 

"Oh gosh just ... let me see him" Jeonghan run inside the room where Wonwoo looked so small in his and Mingyu's bed.

Jeonghan didn't waste another minute, his spirit manifesting as he leaned over to check on Wonwoo.

He smiled widely, tears rolling down his pale cheeks again, it hurt Seungcheol to see him cry this much but it hurt him even more seeing him helpless and not being to do anything.

 

"He's breathing ... I can feel ... his heart beating steadily, it's working, it's working Cheol" Jeonghan couldn't contain his excitement anymore. He fell to his knees right next to Wonwoo's side holding his hand tightly

"And he hasn't changed, his Pure Soul is still there tickling me like it always does"

 

Mingyu was trembling and even though Jeonghan's aroma was the calmest and sweetest since the entire thing went down, it just couldn't contain the way Mingyu was feeling right there. Seuncheol patted his head and shoulders "He'll be fine Gyu" he leaned over to give the younger a much needed comfort hug "He'll be just fine" while Jeonghan kept checking every inch of Wonwoo.

 

————-

"Mingyu you have to understand, he might wake up ... different"

 

"I don't care"

 

Mingyu looked distant and desperate, everyone surrounding him in the living room, Seungcheol sighed "He might not have the same scent or ... bond"

 

"I really don't care" Mingyu shook his head "I just want him to wake up, I can live with the rest"

 

Jeonghan kneeled in front of him "You should rest, he'll need you when he wakes up, he will be uncomfortable, everything will feel different, smells different ... you know how it is"

 

"I know"

 

"We will all be here for both of you" Seungcheol reassured and no one could object to that, Wonwoo is heading toward a significant life change and they'll be there to help with everything and anything they can ... all of them.

 

Minghao was still holding into Jun like dear life since they got home that day. Joshua in and out checking on everyone and everything, DK helping whenever he could, Seungkwan and Vernon just got back, the two were Mated and they couldn't dare talk about it right now and Dino ... Dino had a Spirit that no one knew what it was.

 

So much was happening but everything was pushed aside because Wonwoo's situation was more important right now.

 

"How long until he wakes up?" Mingyu asked broth curious and worried

 

"A day? Hopefully by tomorrow? It depends" Jeonghan confirmed and Mingyu nodded "I have to be with him, I'll call you if anything" Mingyu glanced up at Jeonghan for the first time since they left his bedroom

"You should rest too ... all of you, there's nothing to be done until he wakes up and I'll let you know if I need anything"

 

"He's right" Seungcheol coed "Everyone just go ahead and rest for now ... Wonwoo will need some space anyways, and Jeonghan and I will check on him from time to time"

 

—————

 

Mingyu couldn't move throughout the entire night, simply sitting by Wonwoo's side, laying next to him, brushing his cheeks ... watching him breathe.

 

"Baby can you hear me?"

 

He started talking to him a while ago

 

"I'm not sure if you do but ... everyone is so worried about you" ... "I miss you"

"Jeonghan said that you're doing better now, how do you feel? Does it hurt? I hope you're not in pain ... are you?"

 

Mingyu continued to soft circles over Wonwoo's cheeks. The boy seemed to be just sleeping, bruised up but sleeping peacefully, his chest going up and down is regular motions.

Mingyu kept talking to him for as long as he could trying to keep Wonwoo company. He doesn't remember when he fell asleep, he didn't even know that he did.

 

He closed his eyes for just a just a second trying to rest them but apparently it wasn't just a second ... because when he opened his eyes again a couple of hours later, it was to the sight he was longing to see since the day before.

 

 

 

Wonwoo laying by his side

Facing him ... awake and looking at him

 

A smile of his face

 

He looked so calm, so peaceful ... the bruises all gone and Mingyu thought that he was dreaming for a second.

 

The aroma

The smell

 

Wonwoo's scent

Toasted Vanilla Champagne it's the same, it hasn't changed not a single bit but it was definitely strong, stronger than ever, it was a wolf scent ... a real wolf scent, clear as day

 

And Mingyu jolted with a gasp

 

He Stopped breathing for a second, his eyes scanning Wonwoo's face laying next to him.

 

To say that Mingyu got too emotional is an understatement. He couldn't help his tears to fall, couldn't help himself to mumble Wonwoo's name ... his inner wolf was howling and screaming and everything exploded inside of him all at once.

 

Their bond was there

And it was strong

It felt more real than it was before

 

Mingyu could feel it and his inner wolf was going crazy

 

Most importantly

Could Wonwoo feel it?