A Pack's Price

Chapter 26: One of the fondest memories

Hoseok woke up, feeling like he was literally and figuratively on the brink of death. He tried to move, but the pain was too much. He collapsed onto the dirt and huffed. The alpha had dragged him away from the dens and dropped him in a small drainage ditch. It was still muddy from the last rainfall, and Hoseok was worried his wounds would become infected.

He pushed himself to stand, to at least climb out of the ditch and onto the dry dirt above. His first attempt ended up with him collapsing once more and sliding all the way back down. Hoseok didn't want to die here.

He thought of Taehyung, of how the omega had looked at him when he decided to come with Yoongi. He would be lying if he didn't say that it made him feel good to be cared for like that.

The last thing he remembered before falling unconscious was Junho threatening to tear the mating bite off of Jin. He wished he had done something, but he was much too weak at the time. He only hoped the omega was okay.

For now, he needed to focus on getting out. He stood on wobbling legs, and groaned when he kept slipping and had to put in extra effort in order to continue climbing upward.

If Junho killed all of them and ran off with Jin, who's to say that he won't go after Taehyung and the others? He couldn't let him live.

Hoseok grunted as his entire body throbbed in pain and more blood trickled down his fur onto the ground beneath him. His claws dug into the earth as he pulled himself up.

When he finally made it to the top, he collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily with his head spinning. He whined lowly and couldn't help but think of Taehyung, and how upset the omega would probably be if he never returned to him.

His eyes slipped closed and he just wanted to rest for a bit to regain his energy. As he did this, he couldn't help but remember a particularly fond memory he had of Taehyung, even if the omega had probably long since forgotten it.

"Whoa, is Tae going into heat?" Yoongi asked as he covered his nose the second he walked into the den.

Hoseok was sitting against the wall with Jimin laying on his lap. The omega was sleepily watching the dancing flames of the fire Hoseok had built not too long ago. It was autumn, and the nights were becoming colder. Yoongi had went hunting and by the smell of it, Hoseok guessed he had caught a deer.

Taehyung was giggling and running around the den, chasing after Jungkook. The omega had found berries earlier that day and after eating some of them, he had begun to smash them in a small bowl-like rock. The berries had turned into a red liquid, and now the omega was happily 'painting' the den and its occupants. Both Hoseok and Jimin sported a red handprint on their chest and shoulder respectively.

At hearing Yoongi's voice, Taehyung froze and a big grin spread across his face. He skipped over, carrying the bowl and dipping his hand into it. He pressed his hand onto the alpha's arm. "Welcome back, alpha!" He greeted.

How could Yoongi be mad at that? His expression softened, and he reached up to brush Taehyung's bangs aside, tucking them behind his ear. "Thanks omega." He returned with a small smile.

Taehyung's attention was stolen when Jungkook suddenly sneezed. He must've remembered that he was chasing Jungkook, because he smirked and started creeping his way toward the young un-presented hybrid. Jungkook's eyes widened when he realized he had brought attention to himself, and began to run just as Taehyung began chasing him again.

While the two youngest chased each other, Yoongi turned to Hoseok with a frown. "And you... I know we put them before ourselves, but you spoil him too much. He should've went to the mating den a long time ago. Now the den smells like an omega in heat."