Chapter 88 - Mending Things 3

He notices the widened eyes, 'I saw what happened. I don't blame you for acting like this. I would too...'

'You saw what happened but you didn't do anything.'

Shit. Did he say anything wrong? 'No, I wasn't-'

'Save it. Thanks for this.' Wonho places the envelope on the ground and is halfway on standing up, 'I did something didn't I? I claimed you!'

Fuck.

'AM I SUPPOSED TO BE THANKFUL FOR THAT? HUH? YOU LET THEM TAKE ME AND CLAIMED ME FOR YOURSELF! You're no saint, fucker!' He utters the last sentence, too softly to be taken as a murmur.

'That wasn't what happened!'

'That's exactly what happened! I read the damn result so just leave me alone so I can break this suffocating bond.'

'Wono! Stay!' He growls unconsciously and as the result, Wonho sits back down, his face pissed and his hands in fists. Minwoo can see how his jaws tightens and tears are forming in his eyes as his body betrays his conscience. And he feels guilty for doing that. 

'I wasn't there when they ra- when they did that to you. I came later.'

'Yeah right. Like anyone would believe that.'

'It's true. I saw what they were doing. There was nothing I could do so I-' The words are stuck in his throat, literally choking him momentarily. And he knows Wonho already knows what he is going to say because he has a hand on his lower right neck, as if trying to hide it even though he is already wearing a turtleneck. 

'I thought claiming you would stop another one from doing it. I'm sorry.'

'Okay. I get it.' Minwoo looks back at Wonho, surprised at the calm response, but what he sees isn't the least assuring - the latter's cheeks are already wet as he keeps wiping them off. 

'So we're done right? We just need to break the bond, and everything will be back to normal.'

'Wonho, I'm sorry.'

'I don't care! I just want to break the bond! I don- I don't want it!' He wants to say something to defend himself but holds his tongue as Wonho hides his face between his knees and hugs them tight. It is a hard scene to see, and it makes him felt even more guilty. It is just like how he was reacting when they were at his place during his first heat - how stressful he was, how desperate he was to cry like this in front of Minwoo albeit him always trying to put up a strong façade. 

'Leave me alone... please. Just leave me alone.' 

Shit. Did his command affected Wonho that much? He never thought about it that far. He should have never used it.

'I- no. Alright. I'll leave. You won't see me again.' He did what he needed to, and this is what Wonho wants. He has no right to convince him otherwise. Not since he left Wonho on the cold pavement that night to save himself. Getting up, he gathers all his stuff before heading towards the man, trying to reach the only route away from the lake behind him. And as he gets closer, Wonho starts to scramble on his feet. 

'Don't worry, I won't do anything. Just...take your time.'

Reaching the nearest bench, he sits down and looks back at the omega. Sure he told the man he would leave, but he is worried. Wonho didn't bring his backpack with him. What if he has another panic attack and cannot take his pills on time? He may faint at the lake, and today is very cold he may freeze to death. 

He knew telling Wonho about this would lead to anything but a positive reaction, but still, it seemed too much for the omega to handle. Minwoo thought telling him what happened would help reduce his burden but based on the reaction, it didn't. In fact, he might have added more to Wonho's plate. 

This was a mistake. 

Rubbing his face in exhaustion, Minwoo tenses up as he detects Wonho's strong scent. It abruptly intensified. It just occurred to him that Wonho had been trying to unsuccessfully hide his scent while they were together, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out why he couldn't do it when he had been doing it for more than a year. 

Wonho is in heat.

'Shit.' Minwoo curses under his breath. He thought Wonho came here to meet him because he was ready to hear him out. Turns out he was wrong. Wonho didn't come here to talk, he came here because he couldn't resist the urge to be with his mate during heat. Just like the last time when Wonho found him in the isolated building. 

'Shit!' He grits his teeth.

Obviously he cannot leave Wonho out here to take care of himself. He cannot trust the omega. Based on his current observation, with the man's breathing loud and heavy, and his shoulders tensed, Wonho is clearly trying to hold it in, as if it is in his control. And based on him suddenly stopped crying, it looks like he didn't realize his first wave is starting when he came here. 

Jesus. How in the world can he leave Wonho alone when the man cannot take care of himself? 

Releasing his scent a little, he is amazed at how quickly Wonho's tensed shoulders relaxed a bit. He still cannot believe his eyes - Wonho is really his mate. If he had any doubt about it back then, this is proof enough.

Waiting a few more minutes for the omega to calm down enough to stand up, Minwoo gets more and more concerned when he realizes that it will never happen. It is getting dark, and Wonho, obviously still oblivious of his omega nature, decided this place is safe enough to be his nest, just like what he wanted to do at the rooftop.

Clearly, he only feels safe because Minwoo is there. He just never realized that.

'Wonho?' He asks gently and the man jumps a bit, caught off-guard after he thought the alpha had left. 'What are you still doing here? I told you to stay indoors during your heat.'