Chapter Text
"Journeys end in Lovers meeting."
-William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
#I Don't Believe It If It's Not From You: All Good Things Come In 2
Healing is a slow process.
Especially after one is recovering from an experience that had them just a hair breath away from death. But Jungwon and Riki are determined to overcome this, together. After Jungwon descended back to the land of the living, Riki refused to let go of him even once.
He declines Heeseung's offer of going back to the palace to rest. He ignores Seungcheol's protective growl when he refuses to leave Jungwon's room either. But Jeonghan shushed him and dragged him away. As did Jaeyun with Heeseung.
Jungwon's breathing is still strained, his heart still breaking, but when Riki comes back and brushes his hair, the omega slumps in relief. Jungwon lazily scoots to the side, wordlessly inviting the alpha into his nest. One that he had made since his presentation. One that he spends countless heats in. One that he makes, and re-makes whenever he feels like it.
Despite the implications or the inappropriateness of it, Riki slips in beside him. Unable to help himself. He pulls the tired body close to his and curls protectively around his mate. Because that is what they are, with or without the mark to prove it.
After that, Riki is the only person allowed in Jungwon's nest he refuses to let the alpha leave.
Healing is a delicate process.
It takes time but gradually, Jungwon's scent loses the smell of rot and death. It takes a while, but Jungwon slowly gains the strength to eat and drink. Granted, it's because Riki feeds him like he is a newborn child. But he doesn't mind it.
In time, Riki takes Jungwon on short walks around the house, getting him reacquainted with the walls he spent his entire life in. Jeonghan and Seungcheol do not intervene more than necessary as Riki and Jungwon heal themselves in the presence of one another.
After months, Jungwon starts smiling again. He starts laughing again. He goes on walks on his own and sits beside his parents to talk to them. He still doesn't talk as much as he used to. He doesn't let them touch him either. But he still basks in their closeness and scent that is light and controlled around him. His parents try their best not to overwhelm him or rush his healing process.
Jungwon is more like himself when he is with Riki. The alpha's closeness gradually wakes up the omega wolf in him and heals them both with time and his presence. He hasn't left his side. A few days into his stay, Heeseung had sent over Riki's belongings and Riki is now more or less, a permanent resident of the Choi household.
It takes time but Seungcheol and Seokmin eventually warm up to having Riki around their precious little miracle pup. Jisoo and Jeonghan already adore Riki, though they threaten him once in a while for rejecting Jungwon and starting this mess. But it takes time for their mates to accept him too.
Now those three are the best of friends as they talk and joke around with each other. The time Riki spends with his in-laws helps ease his heart. Happy that his omega grew up with such a loving family with such an accepting environment.
As time passes by, Jungwon gets comfortable in his own skin, he sits by the ancestral shrine, specifically beside Sunoo's plaque, and wonders about the omega and where he went. But then, Riki would find him, as if he has a sixth sense that lets him know when Jungwon is sad and needs him, and with the way the alpha never fails to rush to his side when that happens, he might as well have it.
Healing is beautiful.
The tranquility they bask in, that Heeseung and Jaeyun often drop by to bond with their son's in-laws, is precious. The two families get along well. Heeseung apologizes for the way he acted when he last came here and the bad first impression he made on Jeonghan and Seungcheol. The two forgive him, understanding that the loss of his son would've been eating away at him. They almost lost theirs too.
Jaeyun and Joenghan get along like they are two lost best friends meeting again after a long time. Jungwon was right, his oma did indeed worship the very ground Jaeyun walked on to take care of Jungwon while he was in pre-heat. And Jungwon was also right, for finding the same comfort of his oma's presence in Jaeyun.
The day Jungwon comes to sit between his parents and goes boneless in their hold, they cry. Jungwon smiles tiredly, pretty and exhausted as he sweetly asks his parents to scent him. Jungwon smells like them for the entire week. Riki's heart warms at it.
Now a year into staying together, it is rare to find Jungwon anywhere away from his pack or his alpha. When he is not with Riki, he is either snuggled up in Jeonghan's embrace, cuddled by Seungcheol's side, reading with Jisoo, or concocting medicines with Seokmin. But when he is not with his pack, he is often found curled in Riki's lap, head buried in his neck, as the alpha quietly tells him stories about his childhood, and the two puppies they have back in the palace named Layla, and Bisco, in their nest.
Healing is fruitful.
Riki and Jungwon are responsible for bringing the household groceries from the market once a week. They go out and explore the village, try new foods, play with the children for a bit, and then buy the groceries before going back home to help Jeonghan and Jisoo with dinner. All the villagers love them and they have been asked several times if they are mated. When they deny it, the villagers would say, 'You would be a perfect match when you do.' They carry those words in their heart.
Even though they remain unmated, their necks unblemished from the puncture of their teeth marks, they are domestic like their respective parents. Eventually, Riki has to go back to his home. The parting is bittersweet, neither wanting to leave each other for long, but the promise of meeting each other in three days at the palace for the announcement of their betrothal, the starting of their courting, and the countless scented robes that Riki leaves behind to compensate for his absence is reassuring.
Three days later, Jungwon and his entire family leave their humble home to go to the palace where Jungwon will be honored as the savior of the country, and the betrothal between him and Riki will be announced.
—
Eden's royal fields are enchanting. The pack is housed close to each other in the family wing, a corridor away from where Heeseung, Jaeyun, and Riki live. Despite their insistence, Heeseung and Jaeyun along with Seungcheol and Jeonghan, refuse to let the two lovers sleep in the same room. Not trusting them to stay in their assigned rooms, both parents decide to take their respective kids to sleep with them for the duration of their stay.
Expectedly, the two had thrown tantrums over the arrangement.
"You can sleep in the same bed again after the marriage," Jaeyun had reasoned.
"But, that won't be for so long," Riki had groaned in his oma's embrace petulant like a child.
Heeseung scoffed, and flicked his forehead from where Riki was resting his head on Jaeyun's tummy, the alpha having easy access considering the two were leaning on him. "A courting period of a year is mandatory." Heeseung had been firm in that decision.
Jaeyun stifles his giggles in his mate's embrace as Riki groans, and huffs, in a fit of tantrum. "If you are good, I will convince him to shorten it to eight months," Jaeyun whispers conspiringly to Riki.
The alpha perks up, looking at his oma with twinkling eyes of wonder and awe, but Heeseung squashes that down immediately. "I will not be convinced," Heeseung says, firm and wary as he pinches his mate's waist causing the omega to wince in pain.
"You will court for a year starting the announcement," Heeseung declares, rubbing the place where he pinched Jaeyun soothingly, a silent apology that Jaeyun accepts with a smile. His words booked no room for argument or negotiations.
Riki deflates like a pierced balloon.
—
Jungwon is no different, he whines and pouts as his parents tuck him into their nest between them. "Oma, Papa," Jungwon groans, "I can sleep in my own nest!"
Jeonghan giggles, "I know little one, but you have to stay here for the entire duration of our stay here."
Jungwon whines, "But that's a week!"
Jeonghan coos as he rubs his cheeks soothingly, "You can sleep in your bed when we go home, baby." Seungcheol rolls his eyes, "Get used to it, pup. Because until your marriage, the two of you aren't going to be left alone in a room for a single second."
"But that's so far away!" Jungwon cries dejectedly. He has to wait another year to marry Riki and that makes him desperate.
"Baby," Jeonghan sighs, tucks Jungwon against his chest, and kisses his cheeks lovingly, "When you start courting, you will not even realize as the year goes by in a blink."
They should have mated when they had the chance, Jungwon thinks mournfully. Even though he knows, Riki would never agree to that. Jungwon hasn't experienced a heat. The royal healers who checked him over a few months ago had told him that his body and psyche were recovering and until they are healed, he will not be having heats.
The reason why their marriage is a year away is also to give Jungwon's omega the space it needs to come back to terms with itself and recover. No point in mating if Jungwon's omega wolf is absent during the process. That would be an unfulfilled mating.
And while they both know that, Jungwon and Riki cannot wait to get married.
—
It's torture as Jungwon stands before the crowd, the entire nation invited to behold their savior in his full glory, the generals are all armored as they stand behind the King and Queen. The monarchs looking at the omega with pride in their eyes, Jungwon's parents and relatives standing to the side, teary-eyed.
But all Jungwon can see is the alpha in black armor, a mischievous grin on his face that takes over when their eyes meet, the underlying pride and affection that shines through, and the agonizing distance between them when all he wants to do is run to him and bury himself in that warmth for eternity.
Heeseung drones on and on as he addresses Jungwon and his deeds. The crowd is loud and cheering as Jungwon is given a tiger seal of his own, a significant gift. One that allows him to mobilize Eden's military force as he sees fit. It is something that only the King, his Queen, and the generals are supposed to possess. But Jungwon is the first omega in history to have command over the army, the same amount as that of a general with his troop or as the King with his army.
The ceremony ends with the announcement of a betrothal between General Nishimura Riki and him. The country is joyous in celebrations at the news. When the ceremony is over Jeonghan and Seungcheol embrace their pup lovingly. "We are so proud of you, my little miracle, we always are," Jeonghan whispers wetly as he kisses his baby all over.
Seungcheol is also teary as he rubs Jungwon's back soothingly, pridefully, and affectionately. "You are the greatest pride of our family, wonie."
And Jungwon breaks at that. He has longed to hear those words his entire life. He cries in his parent's embrace as he thanks them again and again. His aunt and Uncle embrace him lovingly too and Jungwon is so thankful, grateful, and happy that his heart is soaring.
Jeongseong, Sunghoon, Yeji, Soobin, Huening Kai, and even Hyeongjun and Serim are present to witness his success. But the one person who helped him achieve it remains missing. A little piece of Jungwon's heart remains empty with Sunoo's absence.
A clearing of throat pulls him away from his friends and he turns to see Riki looking at him with warm eyes. He smiles at him soft and proud and Jungwon responds with an excited one of his own as he jumps his mate and melts into his embrace.
It earns a lot of teasing from his friends, shy giggles from the omegas, and knowing looks from the rest. Jungwon's heart is full of love and happiness as he basks in the scent of bonfire and forest after rain. "I am very proud of you, my love," Riki whispers in his ear and the affection in his tone is louder than anything else.
Jungwon grins, "Thank you," he tightens his embrace.
—
Courting between intended mates always starts with gifts. But Riki's gifts are simple and thoughtful. They fill Jungwon's heart with warmth and heal his omega even with the alpha's physical absence as they come to his doorsteps every month.
Sometimes, Riki delivers them himself. But as the general of the nation, he is often called away to manage the few Yuhan citizens who still think about revolting against the crown. Nevertheless, their exchange of weekly letters never ceases.
The first gift from Riki is the Dagger that Jungwon won, cleaned and sharpened, with an added charm of his own initials inscribed beside the alphas. It reminds Jungwon of when he jumped from the flag pole, unafraid because he knew Riki would catch him.
It reminds him of the nights they spent training together. And he loves it.
The second gift that comes is a seemingly normal stone. But when Jungwon refines it and cleans it, he finds that it's a moonstone crystal. A crystal that keeps one's emotions balanced and in check, known for its healing and protective qualities. He makes a necklace out of it and never takes it off.
The third one that comes is a seed. One that they go to plant together in a small clearing near a stream, a few hours away from Jungwon's house. It blooms into a beautiful daffodil. They plant more and grow a mini-garden of daffodils.
The fourth gift is a sword. Riki had once told Jungwon that a sword only works the best for its master. So, he made him one of his own. The sword fits perfectly with Jungwon's grip and agility. He is more dangerous with a dagger, but with a weapon carved specifically for him, he is untouchable.
The fifth gift is a book. It has the recipe, the list of herbs, and its uses and significance that Jungwon has never heard of before. It aids him greatly in his rendezvous of medicine as he brews a new concoction.
The sixth gift comes in a box. When he opens it, a fluffy white dog jumps on him and licks his face. He finds the letter that came with it. "For my heart, I hope this precious helps you in your journey to heal. I miss you and my heart aches to have you close every day." Jungwon names the dog Maeumi and watches her play with Kkuma and Doljjong every day.
The seventh gift comes in the form of scented robes. Jungwon is delirious and in pain from his first in a year and a half. His omega finally healed enough and begged for his alpha's presence. Heuning Kai, now a member of Yeonjun's troop, is the one who delivers it. "General Riki has requested you to take it easy, he has promised to return soon." Jungwon's heat passes a lot easier with his alpha's scent surrounding his nest.
The eighth gift is a variety of seeds for herbs that Jungwon had complained about not finding in his last letter. Some of the herbs mentioned in the book that Riki gifted were unavailable in Eden's market. Jaeyun is the one who comes to deliver it personally. "I did not know you share the same passion for medicine as I do, Jungwon. Let me know if you need anything more. Perhaps, we can brew something new together," the omega smiles at him as he hands him the pouches. Jungwon plants them in his medicinal garden and watches them grow as he waits for Riki's return.
The ninth gift comes in the hands of a beautiful and sharp-featured Beta, one that he had heard was now mated to Yeji. Shin Ryujin is her name. She is kind and delicate as she hands him a letter from Riki and his courting gift. It's a box full of new fluffy blankets and pillows that carry Riki's scent. They are used in building his new nest.
The tenth gift is Nishimura Riki himself. Though he insists that their outing is his form of courting as buys the omega anything he asks for, all Jungwon asks are kisses and cuddles from his mate as they explore the village and buy groceries like they used to. Riki would be dejected but, Jungwon insists that his safe return is the greatest gift of them all.
The eleventh gift is a home-cooked meal. Riki comes to their house early morning and with Jeonghan's help, cooks up a feast for them all. Jungwon's gift, however, had been waking up to the alpha's persistent but soft kisses as he coaxed him back from dreamland. When Jungwon smiles, Riki bends down to kiss his sternum, right above the moonstone hanging from his neck. "Come on, I made you food," The alpha smiles as he pecks his lips. Jungwon is full of love, and warmth as he eats his fill and naps in his alpha's lap in the afternoon with Maeumi, Doljjong, and KKuma by their side.
The twelfth courting gift is a full set of wedding dresses. It's customary for the Alpha to send his bride a full set of wedding dresses and ornaments for their marriage. Just like Jeonghan said, the year went by in a blink and now Jungwon is getting married in spring.
The ceremony is grand. The wedding is held on the palace grounds. Riki and Jungwon haven't seen each other since the last courting gift came through. The longing and ache only fuel the desire for each other as they anxiously wait for the time to pass by.
Jungwon is dressed in red, his robes made for him, fitting him perfectly. Jeonghan tears up as he dresses him. Jeonghan’s heart softens at the thought that his little pup is no longer the boy that would waddle behind him asking for cuddles. He is getting married, and soon, he will have his own little pups waddling after his son for cuddles and scenting too.
It makes his heart clench in love, pride, and longing all the same.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Jeonghan comments as he presses a sweet kiss on the omega’s forehead. Jungwon closes his eyes and savors the touch. “Thank you, Oma.”
An array of emotions goes through Seungcheol when he sees his son, dolled up and dressed in red, ready to get married. He feels protective and proud all the same and the smile that takes over his face is rewarded with an even sweeter smile from his son. “Shall we, my little miracle?” Seuncgheol extends his arm with a soft smile. Jungwon takes it. Jittering with nerves and happiness.
As Jungwon walks through the elaborate red carpet laid out all through the palace grounds leading to the top of the stairs where they will bow to heavens and earth to announce their union, he is hit with a certain melancholy. He has gotten his happy ending and everyone he loves and doesn’t know are all witnessing it. But the person who played a hand in this is not there.
But the thought flies away when he sees Riki waiting for him at the top beside the King and Queen, shuffling with excitement and impatience. He is awestruck by the omega’s appearance and it’s apparent to everyone present.
The wedding is joyful as they read their vows, and bow to the heavens and the earth, their parents, and their ancestors before they seal it by bowing to each other. It’s beautiful, the people cheer as they throw flower petals at them when they walk down the aisle, hand-in-hand.
But what makes it more memorable is when Jungwon sees the wisp of smoke behind his parents, the foxy featured omega and someone who looks older, kinder, and softer beside him. Sunoo is wrapped under the man’s arms, snug and warm as the omega smiles at him. Jungwon tears up when the man hugging Sunoo nods at him in approval and pride too.
When Riki nudges him, he looks at his husband with tear-filled eyes. Husband… that thought warms Jungwon’s heart to no end. “What is it?” Riki murmurs as his thumb caresses the back of his hand. Jungwon shakes his head, choking back on a happy sob as he smiles at the alpha reassuringly, “I’m just so happy.”
Riki smiles back at that and it’s a wonderful feeling to bask in the comfort of the knowledge that this was his alpha now. His mate, his husband. It makes his heart soar to new heights as love fills every corner of his body down to his bones.
The ceremony stretches on for a long time as the couple accepts gifts from the people and their congratulations. When they are finally allowed to retire to their room, they are both red-faced. But they forget all about it as they talk about the things they have missed out on during their time apart as Jungwon gives in to the urge to build a nest on Riki’s bed.
He uses the blankets and pillows that Riki had gifted him and the ones he had brought from home. The alpha smiles knowingly and lovingly as he watches him. His heart is warm at the thought of finally sleeping in a nest built by his omega after a year of yearning for it. He had missed it.
Finally, they drink the tea to induce their heat and rut. Jungwon’s heat the month before had been delayed for this auspicious night. As their instincts take over, they tumble into the newly made nest together and consummate their marriage. But despite the haze of the drink, their love ripples through the air.
Riki is gentle and attentive. He is thoughtful and kind as he unravels Jungwon in ways he never thought possible. Jungwon is out of his mind and delirious with lust and affection for the alpha by the end of it. The part where Riki places his mark on him is the most blissful moment in his life. And Riki can relate.
They sleep, content, sated, and full of love, with their marks sitting proudly over their scent glands.
The fulfillment and radiance of their union are very clear on their face as they meet their family for lunch the next morning. And that glow stays on for the eternity to come. For when the lovers meet, the journey of grief and longing ends.
And this time, Nishimura Riki and Nishimura Jungwon get their happy ending together.
—I don't believe it if it's not from you.—
©Liyana⋇