Chapter Text
One week from tomorrow, it will be the Omega prince’s 20th birthday.
Tomorrow is the big day. Tomorrow, Yunho will enter the village and meet the boy proper, under the guise of being his suitor. It’s taken months of planning to get here, and it hadn’t been easy - playing the good guys, earning the pack leader’s trust enough that he might trust Yunho with his son. But finally, finally, Yunho had been accepted, and now, in just one week, their hard work will pay off. The rest of the pack has only just arrived in their makeshift camp, a few miles south of the village. It’s been two long, miserable weeks of travel, from the southern plains up into the valleys of the mountains. Now, with the sun down, most of the pack is asleep, rebuilding their strength.
All except for Hongjoong. He’s struggling to sleep, too full of nervous energy, his thoughts swirling with the week ahead of them. He knows, more than anything, that this has to go well. If they fail, it will be their heads on the line, and while he's fine putting himself in danger he can't stand the thought of his actions getting any of his packmates hurt. He knows he should be resting, realistically, but instead he’s sitting up next to the fire, wiping down his sword for the thousandth time. He only looks up when a figure sits down heavily next to him. It’s Yunho; the younger Alpha looks about as worried as Hongjoong feels, his eyes dark and his scent sharp and sour with anxiety. Sighing, Yunho leans against Hongjoong's side, his head resting on Hongjoong's shoulder. Hongjoong nudges his head against Yunho's.
“You should be sleeping,” Hongjoong says, knowing good and well he’s a hypocrite for it. Yunho shrugs half-heartedly.
“Can’t.”
“Don’t tell me you, of all people, is nervous?” Hongjoong teases lightly, without venom. “This is what you’re best at, you know.”
“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” Yunho mumbles in response. He doesn't react to Hongjoong's teasing, and his voice is strained with nerves. Hongjoong hums. He knows that Yunho doesn't like doing things like this; especially not something that involves an innocent. But of them all, Yunho is the only one that stood a chance of winning over the pack leader. Mingi couldn't play the charming suitor if his life depended on it, and it would be too much of a risk for Hongjoong to do it himself.
“It could only be you,” Hongjoong says softly.
Yunho lets out a long breath, his hand finding Hongjoong's knee and thumbing mindlessly over it. “I know.” He stares into the fire, the flames dancing in the reflection in his eyes. He is truly striking, Hongjoong knows; strong, handsome features, a big build, and the charisma to lie his way into anywhere. “You’d better be ready, when the time comes.”
“I’ve been ready since we left home,” Hongjoong answers, forcing any nervousness from his voice. “Nothing to worry about.”
Though even as he says it, they both know there’s a lot to worry about. This could very well get them killed. And they have no idea what to expect from the young Omega; he’s a wild card, that could behave in any which way. His cooperation - or lack thereof - could make or break their whole plan. Not to mention the pack leader surely won't take kindly to it. Yunho sighs.
“..they’re going to come for us, you know,” He says finally. His voice is steady, but Hongjoong can scent how scared he really is. It rolls off of him in waves, overpowering the rest of the scents in the camp.
And yet there's nothing Hongjoong can say to make it feel better. They both know what's at stake. If they're lucky, they'll slip away unscathed.. but that's only if they pull everything off perfectly. Hongjoong takes a breath, trying not to consider the alternative. He can't let himself be afraid. Not where the others can see. They're relying on him; to be strong, to keep them on the right path. He lifts his sword into the firelight, so that he and Yunho are reflected in the glinting metal.
“Let them come. And when they do, we’ll be ready. The only thing that awaits them is death.”