"A Promise in the Mountains: Shan Luan's Escape"
Days slipped into weeks, each one meticulously filled with planning and relentless research. Shan Luan, once Hana in another life and world, sat hunched over a flickering screen, diving deep into forums and articles on omega pregnancies. He searched obsessively—nutrition advice, stress management techniques, herbal remedies, and most critically, ways to mask an omega's scent.
"Even if I hide the mole… Kang will smell me. Especially after the baby is born," Shan murmured to himself, his fingers trembling as they scrolled. He read about scent-blocking patches and calming teas, even fringe medical procedures to nullify scent temporarily.
It was risky, even dangerous.
But the stakes were too high.
One night, as the wind rattled the apartment windows, a thought ignited in Shan's mind like wildfire: disappear. Not just hide, but truly vanish. Cut all ties. Escape Kang Jin-ho entirely.
He turned to Davey, his only confidant, eyes fierce with clarity.
"I need to leave. Somewhere far. Remote. A place where omegas live freely… where alphas can't follow."
Davey blinked. "You mean... go off-grid?"
Shan nodded. "It's the only way. For the baby."
They poured over maps and blogs, marking regions with strong omega communities and minimal alpha presence. Each red circle on the map was a chance at freedom. They pooled their savings, sold off anything unnecessary, and crafted a plan.
Davey rubbed the back of his neck as they stuffed clothes into bags. "I'll come with you, Shan. You won't be alone in this."
Shan looked at him, eyes glossy. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
But he also knew he couldn't vanish without raising alarms. People would come looking. So Shan drafted a letter, typed with precision.
"To whom it may concern," he wrote. "I've accepted a long-term international position with my partner. It's sudden, but necessary. I appreciate your understanding and support."
There was no partner. Only a desperate need to build a believable lie.
The night before they left, Shan stood in front of the mirror. The dark mole on his right cheek—drawn on each morning with specialized makeup—gazed back at him. A tiny, silent defiance against a system that wanted to own him.
He touched the small swell of his belly and whispered, "I promise you… I'll protect you. I'll give you a life with love and freedom. Even if it means leaving everything behind."
At dawn, with bags slung over their shoulders and hope in their hearts, Shan and Davey slipped into the early morning crowd. Their hearts thudded with anxiety, eyes flicking over shoulders at every alpha they passed. They switched transportation routes constantly, moving like fugitives in their own world.
After days of exhausting travel, their bus wound through mountain paths until finally, it stopped in a secluded village surrounded by pine trees and wildflowers. This was it—freedom.
The villagers, mostly omegas and kind betas, greeted them with warmth. Shan clutched his belly as a kind elder placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're safe here," she said gently. "You and your child."
They found a modest cottage on the edge of the village, overlooking a sun-dappled valley. There, life began anew.
Shan busied himself with cultivating a garden, taking prenatal classes, and learning herbal remedies. He sat with village elders to understand safe childbirth practices, drank calming teas, and practiced scent masking rituals rooted in nature.
Davey, ever gentle, remained by his side. "You're doing amazing," he said one evening, placing a hand on Shan's shoulder as they watched the sunset. "You're stronger than you think."
Shan gave a quiet smile. "Some days I feel brave. Other days… terrified. But then I feel the baby kick, and I know—there's no turning back. I have to make this life work."
As the months passed, his belly grew round, a beautiful, sacred reminder of the life inside. The fear of Kang Jin-ho still loomed, but it no longer consumed him. Shan refused to let the threat dictate his peace. He had a new life, a new purpose. This wasn't just about survival anymore—it was about rebirth.
One morning, as he placed his hand over his growing stomach, he whispered again, voice stronger this time:
"I won't let the world write our story for us. We'll make our own ending."
And with the sun rising over the valley, Shan Luan, the omega who had once been Hana, stood ready—more than ever—to protect what mattered most.
Scene: Snowfall and Shadows in the Village
The mountain wind howled outside, whistling through the trees like distant voices. Inside the modest cottage on the edge of the village, Shan lay curled on a thin futon, a hand gripping his swollen belly. The fire crackled softly, but his skin was clammy with sweat.
Davey hovered nearby, wringing out a cloth and pressing it gently to Shan's forehead.
"It's happening again," Shan whispered through gritted teeth. "The cramps… they're worse this time."
Davey's brows furrowed. "You need to see Elder Mako. This isn't normal."
Shan let out a bitter laugh. "Nothing about this is normal, Davey. A body that isn't mine. A pregnancy I never wanted. And a future I'm not even sure I can survive."
Davey knelt beside him, pressing his forehead to Shan's shoulder. "You're not alone. I'm right here. Always."
Shan's expression twisted, eyes glistening. "But you can't stop it. You can't take this pain away."
"I know," Davey said softly. "I hate that I can't. I'm an omega too. If I were an alpha… maybe I could do something, protect you better, give you security, strength—but I can't."
Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken guilt and frustration.
---
A Few Days Later: The Village Clinic
The village's healer, Elder Mako, examined Shan with calm hands and knowing eyes. She was firm but kind, her presence grounding.
"Your hormone balance is fluctuating too wildly," she told Shan. "Your body is under constant stress. If you keep pushing yourself, it may lead to preterm labor—or worse."
Shan clenched his jaw. "I can't stop now. If I let myself rest, I'll start thinking. And if I think, I'll fall apart."
Davey reached out, squeezing his hand. "Then fall apart. I'll hold you together."
Shan's voice cracked. "You say that like it's easy. Like you're not breaking too."
Davey looked away. "I am. But I don't have the right to complain. You're the one carrying everything—literally."
---
Later That Night: Quiet Between the Storms
Shan sat outside the cottage under the stars, his hands cradling his belly. His breath fogged in the cold air. Davey brought him a shawl and sat beside him.
"The baby's been quiet today," Shan murmured. "Sometimes I worry they can feel my fear."
"They probably can," Davey replied honestly. "But they'll also feel your strength."
Shan's lips trembled. "Do you think I'll make it? Through the birth?"
Davey hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. But not alone."
Shan turned to him, eyes haunted. "Do you ever wish you were born different?"
"All the time," Davey said. "Not because I hate being an omega, but because I hate how the world treats us. And I hate how powerless I feel watching you suffer."
Shan nodded slowly. "You're the only thing keeping me going, Davey."
"And you're the bravest person I know," Davey said. "But even brave people are allowed to break."
---
Pregnancy Complications Intensify
In the weeks that followed, Shan's condition worsened. His ankles swelled, and he was plagued with bouts of breathlessness and sharp abdominal pain. Sometimes he couldn't stand without blacking out. The healer warned them again:
"You must prepare. The baby may come early, and not without risk."
One stormy night, Shan collapsed while returning from the community well. Davey carried him in his arms, tears streaking down his face despite the rain.
"Hang on," he whispered. "Please, just hang on."
---
Closing Scene: A Glimmer of Hope
After another difficult night, Shan woke to find Davey asleep at his bedside, hand still gripping his. The fire was low, and outside, the snow had begun to melt.
Shan touched his belly. The baby kicked, slow but strong.
He whispered, "I'm still here."
Then, louder: "We're still here."
Davey stirred. "You're going to make it."
Shan didn't answer right away. But for the first time in weeks, his expression softened.
"Maybe," he said. "As long as I have you—and them—I just might."
---
Scene: The Storm and the Cry
The wind howled again, fierce and cold against the thin walls of their cottage. It was midnight when Shan's scream split the silence.
Davey bolted up, rushing to Shan's side.
"Shan?! What—what is it?!"
Shan clutched his belly, his whole body shaking. "It's time… it's happening… oh god—"
A gush of warmth soaked through the bedding.
Davey's heart dropped. "Your water broke. Already? It's too early!"
Shan grabbed his wrist. "Get Mako. Now."
---
Scene: Chaos in the Quiet Village
Davey sprinted through the snow-covered path to the healer's hut, banging on the door with frantic urgency.
"Please, he's in labor—he's bleeding—please!"
Elder Mako didn't waste a second. Within minutes, she and two village midwives were gathering their supplies and heading to the cottage.
When they arrived, Shan was doubled over, pale and slick with sweat. He was breathing fast, too fast.
"I can't—I can't—"
"You can," Mako said calmly but firmly. "You will. We need to slow your breathing, Shan. You'll pass out if you don't."
---
Scene: Labor Begins
Hours passed. The fire roared, midwives moved in coordinated silence, and Davey never left Shan's side.
"Focus on me," Davey whispered, gripping Shan's trembling hand. "You're doing everything right."
Shan groaned through another contraction, his voice strained. "It hurts… I didn't think… it would hurt this much…"
"I know," Davey said, tears in his eyes. "But you're stronger than the pain. You've made it this far."
Blood stained the cloth under Shan's hips. Elder Mako's face grew grim.
"We need to move faster. The baby's in distress. Shan, when I say push, you must give it everything."
Shan's breathing hitched. "What if I can't?"
Davey leaned close, pressing his forehead to Shan's. "Then I'll carry the fear for you. You just focus on bringing your baby into this world."
---
Scene: The Final Push
The storm outside raged, echoing Shan's cries. Pain wracked his body, his back arched off the bedding, teeth clenched so hard his jaw ached.
"Now!" Mako called.
Shan screamed, pushing with all he had. Tears streamed down his face, his hands digging into Davey's arms.
Another push. Another scream. Then—
A small, wet cry broke through the room.
The world stopped.
The midwife lifted a tiny bundle, red-faced and wailing, wrapped quickly in a soft cloth. "It's a boy."
Shan sobbed, his body trembling with exhaustion and relief. Davey could barely breathe.
"You did it," Davey whispered. "Shan, you did it."
Elder Mako handed the child to Shan, gently placing him against his chest. The baby quieted almost instantly, nuzzling close to the sound of his parent's heartbeat.
Shan stared at the tiny face, lips trembling. "He's here… he's really here…"
---
Scene: Aftermath
The storm passed. Morning light broke gently through the clouds.
Shan, pale and weak, lay curled around his newborn son. Davey sat beside them, eyes still red-rimmed from crying.
"I thought I was going to lose you," Davey admitted softly.
"You almost did," Shan whispered. "But not today."
Davey chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from Shan's damp forehead. "What will you name him?"
Shan looked down at the baby, love blooming despite the pain and fear. "Jian. It means strength."
Davey smiled. "Then Jian it is."
Outside, the village was still. But inside the small cottage, a new life had begun—fragile, but full of hope.