When he licked his lips, a copper, sour taste filled his mouth. He wiped his lips in shock and saw blood on his hand. Sharp, red and terrifying.

How come he'd missed it all this while?

He could remember correctly though, how, during the fight, Barry had targeted a blow at his lip and succeeded. But the blow was weak, doing little damage. The major damage must've been done when Kai whacked him with his stick.

Kai pushed his pack a little away from him so he could sit properly and dig in it. He brought out a plastic baggie of cotton gauze squares and motioned for Ian to turn. The cut on his lip was deeper than Ian initially thought, given the way the blood was dripping down now.

“Thank you,” Ian said, grateful.

Gently, Kai smothered Ian's lip to daub away the blood. This close, up and personal, Ian could finally see, and he appreciated the flecks of black in Kai's impossibly cerulean blue eyes.

And his scent...God. It engulfed Ian's senses, made his body sensitive. It was pure, innocent, wholly omega. He had to blink several times just to stay focused.

“I ran away because I was afraid. I knew how it would all end, and I was sick... I was sick of it all,” Kai said quietly after a long moment of silence.

“Hmm.”

Kai nodded. Long, slender fingers folded in the gauze and he wiped the cut on Ian's forehead. “I didn't want to see anyone hurt. I was terrified of both of you. Fighting, and having to watch him kill you too.”

Ian scoffed gently. “He had nothing on me. It'll take a better, more stable Alpha than him to even rattle me, Kai.”

“You're from the North, Sir. You don't know — ”

Ian didn't know what came over him. He grabbed Kai's wrist in a tight hold, growling. “Don't call me that. I have a name, Kai.”

Through his hold on Kai, he could feel the omega's racing heart in his wrist, the hitch in his breath, and his eyes going round like saucers. Kai leaned back, anxious to get away, but gave up when it was clear to him that Ian wasn't willing to let him go anytime soon.

“Forgive me, Sir. I'm sorry,” he blurted out quickly, his neck and face flushing a deep, bright red as he ducked his head to look away from Ian. “I only meant respect. I didn't know you would take it any other way.”

“Calling someone sir isn't respect, Kai. Yes, it shows respect — ”

“But that's the same thing, isn't it?”

Ian shook his head. “No, it's not. You can show someone respect without truly meaning it. But first, that person must prove it. You respect me only when I've done something worthy of your respect. Do you understand?”

In all honesty, Kai didn't. He squeezed his eyes shut. His eyelids were damp, and they had been inside long enough for Ian to know it wasn't from the rain. “Hey, Kai. Look at me.”

When Kai didn't raise his head to obey, Ian released his wrist and cupped Kai's chin, lifting his face up a bit. “Kai,” he whispered gently, patiently. “Come on. Look at me.”

Ian could see the fear in Kai's gaze, but the little omega met his eyes anyway.

“Good. You only respect me,” he repeated, “when I've proven myself worthy of your respect, okay? That's how things are meant to be done.”

“B-But you're an Alpha. You're — ”

“I am, but that's no longer a valid reason to respect anyone. Respect is birthed by trust. I've only known you for a few hours, but I can tell that you don't trust me, and I'm not saying it's bad. It's not your fault. Given your circumstances, I understand why your trust has been eroded completely.”

“I didn't even want this arrangement in the first place. I don't want to be given away just like that to an Alpha. One I don't even know. I-I — ” Kai caught himself before finishing. “Ian.”

“As much as I hate to say it, that was never your decision to make in the first place. Your Elders and Alpha arranged it because it was in the best interest of your pack.”

Ian loathed the idea too. Even more than Kai did. “Sometimes, there are things we do for the pack that are sometimes more important than what we want for ourselves.”

Kai sagged helplessly against the cave wall, letting out a soft sigh. “See why I ran? This is hard. I just want... I just want to disappear. Off the face of the earth. I just want...”

“Hey, it's okay. I know the feeling,” Ian said as he tried to get comfortable again. “It won't be as bad as you think. I'll make sure of it.”

Kai said nothing, and Ian allowed his head to rock to the side so he could watch the soaking rain at the shelter's entrance. Beyond the treetops, the sky was still a heavy gray. “It sure looks like it'll be raining for a long while. You've been running at full speed for quite a while, so you must be exhausted. Why don't you sleep?”

Kai shook his head. “I'm not tired.” He slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle a yawn, but it was useless. Ian was watching him intently, his lips curled up in amusement. Kai beamed sheepishly at him. “Okay, fine. Maybe I am sleepy. Just a little.”

“Finally, we're being honest,” Ian chuckled, reaching out to take the backpack from him. He flattened it into a pillow and motioned to Kai. “Stretch out,” he said. “I'll watch over you while you sleep.”

Too tired to argue, Kai stretched out on his side and rested his head on his pack. After a few seconds, he wiggled and rolled onto his back. Then onto his side again.

Ian watched this quietly in amusement, until Kai, with a frustrated huff, pushed the bag out of the way and rested his head on the Alpha's solid thigh.

Tucking his hands underneath Ian's leg, he wiggled to get comfortable, and within a few deep breaths, Kai was soon fast asleep.

Warmth like no other seeped into Ian's clothing, making his cock throb. He loved this. He loved how comfortable Kai felt resting on him.

Even though he was crossing his boundaries. Coursing through a space that wasn't his.

It had been nine months since his last relationship hit the roof. They broke up amicably, with no hard feelings, after each of them realized that their responsibilities to their respective packs were causing a strain on their relationship. Ian was disappointed, but it was only because he would miss sleeping next to a warm body and waking up to sweet kisses plus a passionate embrace.

With no relationship to distract him, Ian had thrown himself completely into his work until he had almost succeeded in blotting out the gaping, poignant emptiness inside him.

Almost.

The soft rise and fall of Kai's chest indicated he'd drifted into a deep sleep almost immediately. Sitting where he was, in that position, Ian had no place to rest his hand except on Kai's shoulder or cheek.

Electricity crackled, surging in between his palm and Kai's skin.

Fuck.

It was no use denying the connection even if Kai was asleep. It was obvious. Ian had never experienced that electricity with anyone before. He squeezed his eyes shut to silence his inner wolf jumping all over the place, and screaming in glee that they'd just found their mate.

Of course, Ian had always believed that there was one mate out there who truly belonged to him and him alone. He always knew. Pharrell had been under pressure to breed a heir. Ian was under no such pressure, but he knew he'd be next in line on the Elders list to find a mate and breed.

Ian would resist it as actively as Pharrell had done until the pack Alpha had truly found his mate.

But the thought of Kai as his mate? It simply wasn't possible. He couldn't even let himself dream that far and wild. It could not happen. Not now.

Kai was a part of the negotiated deal. A vital part. He had a mate waiting for him already in the North. A no-nonsense one at that.

Absently, Ian sank his fingers through Kai's damp hair. It was soft and smooth, the dampness notwithstanding. He pushed them back so he could see Kai's face clearly as he slept peacefully.

Letting his head fall back against the rock wall, he closed his eyes. Now wasn't the time to worry his head about finding fated mates. He was confident that Barry, even if he'd woken up by now, wouldn't be chasing after them any further that evening. He just hoped the other omegas managed to get down the mountain as fast as possible and called Pharrell as he asked them to. Once they had cell reception, they could get Pharrell, who would mobilize a team to come and get

 him and Kai.

Figuring out the way forward was all on him. It was what he was known for. 

His job.