#krmina

Izuku stood outside the small school hut of the village, watching and counting as his students trickled into the hut. He pulls his shawl closer to his body as there's a soft chill in the air. It is the first sign that the summer was coming to an end, it also meant the annual mating run would start soon.

The village will be buzzing in preparation. Izuku was not looking forward to it.

When Izuku entered his classroom all the pups were loudly chattering, excitement buzzing in their barely there scents.

"What's got you all worked up?" Izuku asks as he looks around his class with a small smile.

One of his students raises her hand, "What's a mating run?"

"Oh I know! I know" another shouted so he nodded allowing them to answer, "Its when a soon to be mated couple chase each other into the woods!"

"No its when an alpha chases his soon to be mate into the woods" Another shouts

"My dam says omegas chase their mate" another says

The class turns to their teacher, "Well, which one of us is right, Sensei?"

Izuku smiles and decides to toss out his lesson about the changing seasons to discuss the mating run. He beckons the pups to sit on the rug with him and he waits till they are all sitting.

"Technically you all are" He says and then giggles when the children groan "The mating run is for anyone who wants to become with their special someone. Secondary genders do not matter really, but typically in other villages alphas will chase their chosens into the woods."

"Our village is different isn't it?" A pup with brown hair says "We have different rules"

Izuku smiles brightly and nods, "It's an omega's choice. They do the chasing."

The classroom fills with 'Oohs' and 'Ahhs'.

Every year Izuku's village has a mating run at the end of summer. Alphas give their chosen omega a scented, wearable trinket; a scarf, shirt, a blanket. The omega will wear said trinket to the mating run as a way to represent their chosen alpha and find them in the woods.

The mating run takes place during the last week of summer, prior to that the alphas get a three day head start to get into the woods, set up camp and wait till their chosen one either finds them and spend the week mating/bonding OR their chosen does not choose them and they leave the woods unmated and maybe a bit heartbroken.

They'd have to try again next year, you know, so long as they dont react badly to the rejection. It doesn't happen often but when it does, an alpha is banned from the mating run for the next year.

Some omegas received many trinkets from many different suitors, others received one from the alpha they've been courting. Mating runs are not JUST for courting couples or the unmated. It is also seen as a sport for already mated couples to grow closer, it's really sweet to see an older couple getting ready to do a mating run.

Keeps the magic alive you know.

Originally the mating run was just for natives /only/ but then people would come from all over to participate in the run. The village elders did not see a reason to stop participants as long as they followed the village customs. Plus it brought in trading with all new foot traffic the village thrives greatly this time of year.

"Um Sensei" a student shyly messes with the bottom of their shirt, "How do you know who to choose?"

"You feel it" Izuku says

"Feel it?" The pup echoes

Izuku hums and points to their chest where their heart is, "In here. You'll know the moment you give your chosen a trinket. Or receive one"

The pup beams and Izuku grins.

Truthfully Izuku wouldn't know. He is /never/ participated in a run before despite the many suitors he gets every year. It's really sweet when all these shy alphas come and leave him trinkets or hand them to him with blush high on their cheeks, stammering through a statement about how they hope he chooses them.

He always feels really bad when the end of the week comes and he is handing trinket after trinket back to the suitors. Technically he doesn't have to return them, they were given to him with the purpose of being woven into his nest hopefully. The trinkets are /his/ but Izuku never feels right keeping them.

'It gives them too much hope if I keep them' Izuku said once to a village elder when they asked why he spent so much time giving the trinkets back with an apology.

It'd be better for the alphas to give up on him, find someone who wanted to be mated. But some alphas no matter how many times they get rejected, they try /every year/.

Rejection makes them determined.

A student raises their hand but shouts their question out anyway, "Because our village is an omega choice, is that why old man Yagi never got mated?"

"Yes! Some omegas decide that they don't have an alpha or to be mated. And that's perfectly okay" Izuku informs.

"Are you /never/ going to get mated Sensei?" Another asks

Izuku's cheeks go up in flames from embarrassment, "I- well- you see-"

"I'M NEVER GONNA RUN FOR ALPHAS" A student jumps and yells "THEY'RE GROSS"

This starts an up roar of yelling and for once Izuku is grateful for. Izuku wouldn't know how to explain himself.

The village thinks Izuku is going to be like Toshinori Yagi, the oldest unmated omega in the village. He is a little inclined to agree, he doesn't have an interest in having an alpha and being mated. He prefers teaching the youth, being there for his village and people.

Izuku is /happy/ with his little life.

The day drags on and the pups learn about their village's mating run and customs. Some students can't wait for their turn to run and others are determined to not participate /ever/.

Izuku giggles as he claps his hands to gather the children's attention, "Okay pups! Time to head home!"

"Okay Sensei!" The class says in unison.

Izuku walks toward the hut door to find an alpha standing there. Izuku recognizes him, he helped the alpha's older sister give birth to her first pup during the winter.

"F-for y-ou" the alpha stammers thrusting a neatly wrapped rabbit pelt into Izuku's hands. Blush high on his cheeks "I hope you chose me"

Izuku grasps the pelt and says, "You know you'll be getting this back as soon as the run ends, right?"

The alpha looks at him in the eyes, "Maybe this year you run."

Izuku knows what the alpha means, what he hopes for.

'Maybe this year you run for me'.

Izuku wont. He /knows/ he won't but that doesnt matter to the alpha.

The alpha holds hope.

Izuku's students squeal with excitement having witnessed the interaction. The green haired omega simply shakes his head at his class before sending them on their merry little way.

And so it begins. Another season of the mating run.

- - - -

Hizashi, a village elder watches with a grin as an alpha gives Izuku the first trinket of the mating run season.

He taps his mate Shouta, "Sho look!"

The alpha who was resting with his head in his omega's lap, cracks an eye open to watch the interaction, "Already? Its just got a little cold today"

Hizashi snorts, "It's never too early"

Shouta turns over burying his face in his mate's stomach, "Tell Toshinori to get the good wine ready"

- - - -

× × ×

"I swear this is the right place" Denki says, staring at his map, he twists it to one side then the other. He even squints, "it's supposed to be-"

"DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE ENCHANTED FOREST TO YOU?" Katsuki shouts pointing toward the heavily decorated entrance of a small village

"Well no b-but" Denki pauses tilts his head as he stares at his map "Oh man Bakubro you'll never believe this"

Katsuki squints and Denki turns the map right side up.

"I had the map upside down!" The blonde omega turns the map around to show his pack leader with nervous laughter.

Katsuki roars only in the way an annoyed alpha can. Denki yelps like a scared dog and dashes behind the only other alpha in their small little pack.

"MINA SAVE ME" He yells

Mina pinches the bridge of her nose and takes a deep breath. They've been traveling for ages looking for this enchanted forest that holds this enchanted sword or whatever the hell thing their leader is looking for. He swears this is what he needs for his 'wandering journey'.

See in their tribe when a pup hits a certain age, they go on a wandering journey. To, you know, find themselves, find what guides them, what drives them. You know, have an epiphany of sorts.

Mina thinks it's more metaphorical than literal.

"Why don't we calm down, yeah?" Hanta says pushing out his muted chamomile scent. As a beta he scent isn't strong but it does the trick to weave the tension out of his pack members. "Look let's go into village, find a travelers tavern, bunker down for the night and figure out our next steps in the morning"

Eijirou, the other omega in the pack, slaps a hand on Katsuki's shoulder, "Yeah come on! Im /starving/"

Katsuki doesn't say anything, well not anything audible. He grumbles and shoves Eijirou's hand off his shoulder but leads his pack into the small village. They follow behind him eagerly and quickly, best not to piss off their already irritated alpha.

The village is bustling with noise, people carrying flowers, baskets and all sorts of decorations. It takes the pack 20 minutes to gain someone's attention to ask about a tavern and another 10 to gain the barkeep's attention to ask for a room to stay in.

"One room?" The barkeep says eyeing the pack of 5 "You sure? The rooms are a little small. We can give you two so you guys can stretch out a little"

"One room" Katsuki says with finality in his voice.

They are in a new, unfamiliar place, it's best they stick together.

Mina drapes herself over Katsuki and pinches his cheek, "One room works great! Our pack leader likes us to be close"

Katsuki snarls but doesn't bother shoving her off or denying the claim. So what if he does? What kind of leader would he be if he let something happen to his pack?

The barkeep laughs and nods, "that's a good pack leader"

"The best!" His pack says in unison.

He does not preen nor blush over the praise.

That's stupid.

The barkeep sets the pack up in their biggest room. Which isn't much bigger than the rest but they have enough space that they aren't stepping on each other. After settling in they head back down into the tavern for a quick meal and some information fishing.

"I wonder what's got this village so excited," Denki says watching as two omegas giggle amongst themselves.

"Isn't it a little too early for an autumn festival?" Eijirou questions sliding into his seat next to his mate- Mina, at the table.

Katsuki shrugs, "Different places gots different customs and culture"

Still the buzz of the village peaks the pack's curiosity.

- - - -

Today's the day!

The sun is shining!

The mating run season is upon the village and Hitoshi has purchased his trinket for his chosen.

It is a simple shawl, black lace with hand embroidered flowers that grow naturally around their village. It is neatly folded, thoroughly scented and neatly topped with a purple ribbon.

He is sure his chosen will love it.

"Good luck," the shopkeep says with a soft smile as Hitoshi leaves. 

"Thank you!" Hitoshi replies before leaving.

The lavender haired alpha quickly makes his way through the village toward the school hut. It's a little early in the morning and the village pups are most likely on their way to the school.

But the earlier the better. Hitoshi wants to be the first to give Izuku a trinket today.

"Young Hitoshi!" Someone calls out to him.

He turns to find old man Yagi looking at him with a smile.

Hitoshi bows his head as one does to the village elders, "Good morning Yagi”

Yagi points to his trinket, "For Izuku?"

Hitoshi feels the blush rise high on his cheeks. He is a little embarrassed that everyone knows who he is going to give his trinket to. But he guesses when you gift to the same person for several years, it is not hard to put two and two together.

"I have a /good feeling/ about this year," Hitoshi says with a smile.

Yagi laughs happily, "Well then good luck to you my boy"

Then Hitoshi is on his merry little way. He is just a few feet away from the school hut, he can see Izuku's green curls bouncing as he speaks to the pups that enter when Hitoshi is /smacked/ with the scent of apple maple.

His head turns to follow the scent, his eyes finding a blonde haired omega with a smile like the sun and a laugh like bells.

Suddenly the trinket in his hand feels /wrong/.

He needs to do /better/.

- - - -

The barkeep wipes down the counter as he converses with the small pack of five.

"Does the mating run bring you lot here?" The barkeep asks, eyeing the fact that there are three unmated members in this pack.

"The mating run?" Mina echoes

"Is that what has the village so lively?" Denki questions

The barkeep nods, "it's a special time for our village"

"Aww a mating run" Mina cooes wrapping her arms around Eijirou "I want /us/ to do mating run"

Eijirou laughs leaning into his alpha's touch, "Why? We are already mated"

Mina rubs her cheeks against his, "Oh but I want to chase you into the woods. Follow your scent wherever you lead me /my love/"

"Even if I lead you to the ends of the earth?" Eijirou questions turning his face so their noses brush

"Even then".

Katsuki rolls his eyes at the display.

Gross those two are. Cute but gross, no shame at all to make such declarations in public.

"Sorry little alpha" The bar keep says, "its omega's choice"

This peaks Katsuki's interest but he does not show it. Most villages alpha's do the chasing so this is /new/ for him and his pack.

"Omega's choice?" Hanta questions

"Alphas gotta give their chosen omegas scented trinkets so if the omega choses them. They follow the scent into the woods" The bar keep says leaning on the counter, "alphas gotta go three days ahead, find camp and hope their chosen chooses them"

Mina squeals, "Oh I love this /even more/! Can already mated pairs do the run as well?"

"Sure can!" The barkeep replies "as long as you follow our customs. Most mated pairs in the village use this time to grow closer, keep their love alive, you know"

Mina then sets her sights upon her pack leader. And without looking at her Katsuki shakes his head.

"No" he states with no room for argument but it's Mina, she will /make/ room.

"Please please" She begs

"No"

"Oh pleaseee" She clasps her hands together

"Yer already mated pinky!"

"But mated pairs can still join!" She cries "Please Katsuki! Let's stay until after the run! Eijirou help me!"

Oh great. Here we go.

"Please please" The mated pair echoes together. On their knees, hands clasped in prayer motions.

Katsuki stares down at them, "No. We have places to be" 

"The enchanted forest might not even be /real/" Eijirou says which earns him a glare "Plus it would take us weeks to travel, since Denki read the map wrong"

"Hey!" Denki whines

"We've never did proper courting" Eijirou says "We didn't get /our/ mating ritual"

Which is true they did not. They didn't have /time/ for proper courting and a mating ritual, they all came of age around the same time and had to leave their tribe for their wandering journeys.

Separately. For the first time in all their lives their little pack was going to be without each other.

They agreed to meet up during the winter up north to see how far anyone had gotten in their journeys. Hanta had found himself learning different languages across the land, Denki had learned to become a healer with natural herbs and things of the land. Mina found herself training under a great warrior and learned to wield /any/ weapon.

That winter Eijirou had taken too long to meet up with them. A bad storm had set in and Mina had grown anxious waiting for him, so she went to look for him. Found him half buried in the snow and /freezing/.

She thought- they all thought he was going to die.

When Eijirou came too, she waited no time to ask to become mates.

So no they didn't properly court or have a mating ritual.

"Please! Ill-" Mina hugs her omega to her side We'll never ask for anything /ever again/."

Katsuki crosses his arms, "You ask for me shit all the time!"

"No but this time I'm /serious/! I wont ask!" Mina pleads.

Katsuki stares down at his pack mates, the word no on the tip of his tongue. They all completed their journeys, but Katsuki is /still/ wandering.

He is still /searching./

Hanta wraps his arms around his pack leader, "Come on pack leader! Who knows! Maybe you'll find something you are searching for"

Maybe the whole time, the thing he is searching for, is being the best pack leader he can be.

Katsuki side-eyes him. Eijirou's words of how the enchanted forest might not even be real ring loudly in his head.

Maybe this is where his journey leads him.

Katsuki sighs, "Fine. We'll stay till after the run"

The pack cheers and the barkeep laughs as they pull their leader into a tight embrace. While the pack learns of the rules and customs of this village about the mating run, Katsuki exits the tavern for some much needed air.

Katsuki watches the villagers bustle about, pups running and playing. As he takes a deep breath the scent of fresh pine dances under his nose, Katsuki lifts his head and opens his mouth slightly to huff in the air.

Scenting it. Something /deep inside/ of him stirrs.

- - - -

"Sensei" A pup giggles behind her hand "there is a shy alpha following you"

Izuku does not fully look over his shoulder, just tilts his head slightly. It's enough for him to catch the light blonde spikes hiding behind a hut.

It's that traveler alpha, word around the village is that his small pack is staying in the village for the mating run so that the mated pair in his pack can have their own mating ritual.

It's sweet, noble even of a pack leader to do such a thing.

But he has been trailing behind Izuku for a few days now. He thinks Izuku hasn't noticed but he isn't that /very good/ at being stealthy. It makes Izuku laugh a little, despite him wishing that alpha would leave him alone.

"I see," Izuku says to the pup, "Silly alpha huh?"

The pup nods and leans closer like she is telling a Izuku a secret and giggles, "He is very handsome"

Izuku just smiles and ruffles the pup's hair before sending her on her way home. Izuku then locks up the school hut and makes his way toward the market, mentally making a list of things he needs.

He is picking through spices when one of Hitoshi- an alpha Izuku has known for a long time, mothers calls his name.

It is his dam.

"Izuku, Izuku" The dark haired woman calls "Hitoshi is hurt"

"Hurt?" He echoes looking toward her.

She nods and frantically points to where Hitoshi sits on the floor, grasping his knee with his sire standing over him. Without any more questions Izuku follows the omega toward her son.

"Just put dirt in it! You'll be fine!" Hitoshi's sire says

"Please" Hitoshi says, eyes darting to and fro, high blush on his cheeks, "leave. You are embarrassing /me/"

"You are the one yelling about needing a healer" His sire replies waving her hand about before leaning closer to inspect her pup, "Tis is but a scratch"

Izuku crouches, "what seems to be the problem?"

"I-zuku" Hitoshi stammers, whipping his head around so fast, Izuku leans back to avoid getting slapped by the alpha's single beaded braid.

Hitoshi's sire and dam subtly bump fist as if what they were attempting has succeeded.

Izuku curiously eyes Hitoshi and watches as the alpha squirms. His lilac eyes never meet Izuku's green ones but his gaze forever falls in one place. On one thing, one person, one omega.

Izuku follows that gaze to find the electric blonde from the traveling pack,- Kaminari if Izuku remembers correctly. He helped one of the pups when they had scraped their knee climbing trees.

He is a healer, a skilled one.

Kaminari's eyes flick toward the scene while keeping the conversation with one of villager's going. It doesn't take long for Izuku to piece together what is happening, Hitoshi's sire and dam have read the situation wrong but Izuku has not.

Izuku stands dusting himself off before approaching Kaminari.

"Hi- excuse me" Izuku says smiling softly

Kaminari looks at Izuku and returns the smile, "Hello! Midoriya right?"

Izuku nods, "I know you are offly busy right now but my friend-" he points to Hitoshi who quickly turns his head away as his cheeks become redder "Has injured himself, the village healer is a long walks away from the market. I was wondering if you could help him as you did for one of my students"

Kaminari looks at Hitoshi, his nose flaring in obvious scenting before looking back at Izuku. "I would love to help!"

"That's great! Come with me!" Izuku replies, smiling big.

The two omegas walk back to Hitoshi, who flushes when the blonde omega squats to get a better look at him. Izuku giggles to himself as he watches the alpha stumble over his words. Then he takes his leave to finish his shopping.

He hopes Hitoshi gives the omega a trinket.

They are cute together.

- - - -

× × ×

Katsuki would hate to admit it outloud, /especially/ to Hanta of all people. But he thinks he found what he has been /searching/ for in this village.

He remembers when he left his tribe for his journey. Katsuki had asked his sire what he was looking for when he left.

"Youll know" His dam replied as she ruffled his hair.

"How" he questioned

His sire and dam smiled at him and his sire said, "You'll feel it. In your heart".

So correction, he /does not/ think he found what he has been looking for.

He /knows/ he found it.

Katsuki knows because his inner alpha howls in excitement when he smells that fresh pine scent. The way his heart picks up speed when he sees those green curls.

Katsuki knows because whenever he imagines the future now, he isn't unsure of where he'll be.

Katsuki /wants/ to be by his side.

The omega doesnt even know Katsuki exists.

Katsuki bites back a whine as he watches the omega receive /another/ trinket from another alpha.

It's the fifth one today. Katsuki can't even count the many he has received in the many days before.

Katsuki's inner alpha whines and claws to escape, to offer himself to the omega.

"What are you doing?" Mina questions from behind Katsuki who definitely doesn't jump ten feet in the air.

"Nothing!" Katsuki says, eyes narrowing at her, "What are /you/ doing?"

Mina adjusts the pack on her back and nods her head toward the woods, "Gotta set up camp. The mating run starts tomorrow"

Katsuki is only half listening, eyes still trained on the green haired omega.

"How does one enter the run" Katsuki questions, not looking at Mina.

Katsuki has never wanted a mate but then again Katsuki has never met someone who is so devoted to their people. Someone smelled of /home/ and who seemed to breathe life into everyone around them.

He breathed life into Katsuki and he doesn't even know the omega's /name/.

Katsuki has never wanted a mate more than he does right now.

Mina tilts her head, watching the forlonging look on her pack leader's face, not yet seeing /who/ the look was directed at. "Well you give your chosen, a scented trinket. Then you head into the woods, set camp and hope that your chosen finds you."

Katsuki doesn't respond, watching as the object of his affections laughs at something a pup is saying to him. The wind carries the sound to his ears, making his inner alpha pur at the sound.

"If i were you" Mina says softly, "I wouldn't waste my time. Izuku does not enter runs, all the alphas that have given him trinkets are going to be rejected in the end."

Izuku.

A beautiful name. For a beautiful omega.

"It's what the villagers say. But" Mina starts and leans closer to her leader "Maybe he is waiting for the right alpha"

Finally Katsuki looks at his pack mate, she smiles softly at him, knowingly at him.

"There's a trinket shop in the village. Half price for unmated alphas" She says adjust her pack once before starting to walk away. "Today is the last day to give an omega a trinket. So you best get going now, if you are gonna"

Then Mina is gone as fast as she came, her words echoing in Katsuki's head.

The /right/ alpha. Maybe Katsuki is the right alpha.

- - - -

Izuku is helping the elders set up the village square for the mating run, adding the last flowers to the pillars. When something /heavy/ is suddenly dropped on his shoulders, making him hunch slightly.

When Izuku turns his head his nose gets buried into the fur lining. Izuku's eyes flutter close when the scent of burning cedarwood, sweet yet smokey. It fills his senses and makes his inner omega pur.

He has /never/ smelled an alpha like this.

Izuku's eyes open and he watches at the traveler alpha's back as he heads into the woods with red ears and pack slung over one shoulder. He doesnt turn around to look at Izuku, he doesn't /even/ say a word.

Izuku pulls the cape off his shoulders and clutches it to his chest. He stands there staring even long after the alpha is gone. Those around Izuku whisper but he can't hear them over the thunderous beat that is his heart.

He has never participated in the runs before but why does he have the urge now?

- - - -

Denki ran his fingers over the woven bracelet an alpha had given him, making the cinnamon scent waft around him as he headed to the village square. He found so much comfort in the scent, and he /really/ liked the alpha who had given it to him.

Today is the second day of the mating run. Most omegas already headed out into the woods yesterday. But Denki wasn't sure if this trinket was a joke or not, alphas don't tend to /really like/ him.

He has too much spunk, he is too smart and outspoken for them.

"You are pretty to look at" An alpha had told him once "But you have too much... /personality/ if you know what i mean"

No. Denki didn't know what she meant. Was he a little loud? Energetic sure but Denki didn't think that meant he had 'too much personality'. Katsuki and Mina almost tore that alpha to pieces for hurting his feelings.

Some alphas wanted an omega who was soft spoken, fun to look at and who are submissive. Denki /isnt/ any of those things, so when that purple haired alpha with the pretty tired eyes had given him the bracelet. He thought it was a /joke/ but Hanta pointed out it was hand-made if it was a joke no alpha would go through the effort.

Denki figured Hanta was right or at least Denki was /really/ hoping he was.

When Denki reaches the square he notices two things:

1) The square of the village was decorated beautifully, fire torches lit it up with gentle flames, flowers and vines decorated the pillars. Happy scents of omegas and the villagers filled the area.

2) Midoriya.

The green haired omega paced back and forth in the square, he held Katsuki's cape tightly.

"Pack leader" Denki whispers to himself with a smile as he watches "You sly dog".

Midoriya paces forward like he is going to go into the woods. Denki wills him too, he has never seen his pack leader so smitten with someone. He has only interacted with Midoriya a handful of times but he feels like he and Katsuki would make a great pair.

Then the omega turns around and quickly leaves the square, Denki pouts for a moment before heading into the woods himself. There are many scents muddled and mixed in the woods, Denki scrunches his nose and turns his head because of how overwhelmed he is getting.

As he walks into the woods, he notes that some alphas have set up camp not that deep into the woods. Which would be /absolutely/ insulting (because not setting up camp deep in the woods meant you didn't trust your chosen to find you) if it weren't for the fact that they are /older alphas/, they smile and nod at Denki as he passes by.

One alpha already has his omega sitting beside him as he cooks fish.

"It feels like our first run" the older omega says scenting their alpha.

Denki smiles, he hopes to grow old like that with /his/ alpha. But first he has to find him, Denki's inner omega urging him to be quick.

/Hitoshi Hitoshi Hitoshi/

It chants.

Denki brings his wrist to his nose and takes a deep sniff, then he turns his nose to the air.

Passion fruit mixed with chili pepper - No that's Mina and Eijirou

Burned cedarwood- Katsuki.

Denki picks up a million other scents as he walks before the cinnamon scent curls under his noses and leads him to the left. He walks by a tree stump and the scent is a little /stronger/ but not overpowering.

"This way" He says to himself, "He is this way"

The faint scent is like breadcrumbs. Soft enough that if you /aren't/ scenting for  that specific smell you'll miss it.

Denki loses Hitoshi's scent in the midst of another scent, /really strong/ scent. It makes Denki cough as he pushes a branch out his way. An angry omega pushes past him, grumbling to herself.

"How dare she" She mutters "Heavily scenting as if i wouldnt be able to /find her/"

Denki winces as she stomps away. That /is/ also considered insulting, heavily scenting the area. The subtle scenting is fine, a small guide for your chosen but heavy scenting is to say you don't find your chosen strong enough, good enough to find you on scent alone.

Denki feels bad for the omega and the alpha. He hopes they can work it out for next year.

It's nightfall  when Denki reaches the area where Hitoshi's scent is strongest. He can smell the crackling of a fire along with Hitoshi's scent, feeling way too excited to walk.

He runs.

Happy chirps escaping his mouth as he does so. His inner omega purring happily as Hitoshi's scent becomes stronger. Denki can just hear the crackling campfire before he slides into a small clearing, running right into the alpha's back.

The alpha stumbles before turning around with a slight growl that dies when his eyes land on Denki.

"You came," Hitoshi whispers in awe, cheeks turning pink.

Denki holds up his wrist to show off the bracelet and breathlessly replies, "You asked me to"

"Yeah but you /chose/ me"

"Who else would I choose?"

- - - -

Katsuki looks around his campsite and chuffs proudly when he has determined that it is /perfect/ for his chosen. Unlike a lot of the alphas in these woods, Katsuki didn't make his camp a big 'I AM HERE' sign, did not alter or change what is around either.

His campsite blends in perfectly with the landscape around him.

It's something Katsuki believes Izuku will greatly appreciate. They have everything they could need in this small corner of the woods.

Now it is just the matter of /waiting/.

Katsuki would /love/ to pretend he isn't worried but he is.

And as the days go on and Izuku is a no show. Katsuki begins to wonder if he was too bold, wonder if he had made the right decision.

Slowly Katsuki tries to accept, he /was not/ chosen.

- - - -

It's the second to last day of the run, tomorrow at nightfall all the couples and the unmated alphas will leave the woods signaling the end of the season. There will be a feast, music and everyone will celebrate the end of the summer season.

Izuku clutches the cape in his hands and paces in the square /again/. He has done this everyday since the alpha dropped it on to his shoulders. His inner omega urges him to follow, to find the alpha but he, /himself/ struggles with this desire.

Izuku is /happy/ with his life. He loves helping his village, teaching the pups. He doesn't feel as though he is lacking in life, that something is missing. He doesn't wish for a life of adventure or that he was meant for more.

Izuku in his heart of hearts he knows that the life he leads is a /good one/, a fulfilled one. He doesn't feel like he /needs/ a mate and yet...

Izuku thinks he might /want/ one. 

Izuku whines pitifully before turning and leaving the square. He can't go into the woods because he /thinks/ he wants a mate, that alpha at least deserves a solid answer. He deserves an omega who is /sure/ they want to be with him and mated.

Old man Yagi watches Izuku leave the square, shoulders hunched and a pained look on his face. He knows the young omega is /struggling/, every year Izuku rejects the alphas with ease. Only ever setting foot in the square the final day to wait for the alphas to return their trinkets

But this year, /something/ had happened because everyday Izuku was in the square with a red cape in his grasp and he paced. Somedays Yagi thought he was going to go into the woods and then others he thought Izuku wasn't.

This year Izuku was battling between what he /wanted/ versus what he /already has/.

Good life. That could be greater if he just /listened/.

"Yagi drink up!" Hizashi yells sliding a cup to him "Izuku is 100% gonna reject all the alphas"

Yagi's hand curls around the cup but his eyes follow Izuku. Yagi abandons the cup and chases after Izuku, despite the game he and the other elders created.

They all wanted to see Izuku happy. So seeing him so distressed and torn was heartbreaking.

"Young Izuku" Yagi calls making Izuku turn around

"Yagi" Izuku says "How can I help you today?"

Yagi gives him a small smile, "Are you okay?"

Izuku forces a smile, "Im fine"

Yagi doesn't believe him, Izuku can tell in the way the older omega's eyes soften.

"Can I give you some advice? Omega to omega?" Yagi questions

"Of course"

"Whatever you desire. It can only add to whatever you feel on the /inside/. It can't give you something you don't /already have/" Yagi places a gentle hand on Izuku's shoulder, "Let your heart guide you."

Izuku stares at the older omega, slightly stunned. "R-right. Thankyou Yagi"

"Of course my boy" He replies, "just want to see you happy"

Later that night Izuku tosses and turns in his nest. Sleep evaded him, so he figured sleeping in his nest would bring comfort, ease his inner omega enough that he could sleep.

But it proved to be futile.

The scent of burning cedarwood calls to him. The red cape is in whole another room in Izuku's hut, his bedroom door is /closed/ and the scent still reaches him. Old man Yagi's words play in his head on a loop. His inner omega begging for Izuku to /just listen/.

Izuku is happy with his life. But the longer he thinks about Yagi's words and what /he/ feels.

Izuku realizes his desire will only /add/ to his already happy life.

And there is nothing wrong with being /extra happy/.

With that in mind Izuku packs a small bag, grabs the cape wrapping it around his shoulders and heads into the woods.

The moon is at its highest when Izuku leaves his hut. It's late and no one is in the square, the torches light the area in case someone either returned early or decides /last minute/ to enter the run.

The woods are a mix of many scents but mainly the scent of mating. It is so /strong/ that it could make a village priest blush. Izuku is sure his cheeks are bright red and he has to turn his nose into the fur collar of the cape to block it out. So late in the run, it's going to be difficult to track /his/ alpha.

But /not/ impossible.

Izuku walks further into the woods, using the scents around to avoid stumbling on to a mating couple. That would be bad for many reasons but mainly how territorial a mating couple could be even if this isn't their nest/den. 

Izuku stops walking when the faint scent of the alpha's wraps around his nose and leads him to the right. In the distance he can see a campfire burning so he heads that way, but as he gets closer he realizes the scent is /all wrong/.

The alpha stands up, excited and breathes "Izuku"

It's the alpha that had given Izuku the very first trinket of the season. Not that the green haired omega is /actually/ paying attention to him.

"Wrong" Izuku mutters absent-mindedly as he sniffs the air.

The alpha makes a face and right before he can even approach, Izuku catches the cedarwood scent again and takes off in a sprint. It's /stronger/ which means he is getting closer, he has no idea the way he has broken the other alpha's heart.

The scent leads Izuku /extremely/ deep into the woods which makes Izuku swell with excitement like he is on the tip of something /new/. Izuku giggles to himself when the scent is thickest and strongest in a cave.

"Silly alpha" Izuku huffs with a smile.

The heavy scenting by the cave says two things to Izuku.

1) that he is definitely close to where the alpha has set up camp.

2) The alpha has a sense of humor. By heavily scenting the cave, he was hoping to trip Izuku up as if Izuku would fall for that.

He /knows/ the alpha isn't in there.

A little further from the cave the land dips and if you haven't been in these woods before because of the amount of foliage you'd slip and fall and maybe break something. Izuku crouches, letting one hand slow his descent by dragging in the dirt as he slides down and into the surrounding area.

Izuku makes note of the river that flows off to his left and of all the willow trees. It makes this part of the woods look like something out of fairytales. Like something out the stories old man Yagi used to tell when Izuku was a pup. Its almost daybreak which means Izuku doesnt have much time to linger and take in this beauty.

But he /loves/ the area his alpha has chosen for their run.

The shadows of the night slowly recede as the sun slowly kisses the horizon. It's taken Izuku all night to find /his alpha/ but he finally did it. The alpha's scent is the thickest by two willow trees that lean toward each other, creating almost an arch-way, their leaves draping down nearly like curtains.

Izuku pushes the leaves out the way, stepping into a campsite that if it wasn't  for the last embers of a fire burning and an empty meat drying rack that has been built, you wouldn't even know someone was camping here. Everything in this area is untouched, it's obvious the alpha did his best to leave nature as is.

It warms Izuku's heart to know that alpha trusted him enough to find on scent alone. That the alpha believed that Izuku could, that he didn't need excessive scenting or a campsite that screamed 'Here' for him to find it.

Feeling giddy and ready to start on this  journey of newfound happiness, he searches for the blonde alpha. But the alpha isn't here and Izuku's inner omega whines.

"He is not here?" He wonders outloud, "Did he leave already?"

Izuku sits on a log by the dying fire, doubts filling his head.

He was foolish.

Foolish to follow his omega, to follow his heart, his desire. Adding to his happiness? What a ridiculous idea. This is just what he gets for waiting for so long to make a choice, of course the alpha-

Twigs snap and the sound of fish dropping /hard/ against the ground cause Izuku to whip his head around so quickly he almost falls off the log. There just a short distances away is /the alpha/ that has turned Izuku's whole world upside down simply because he wordless asked;

'Will you join the run for me?'

The alpha stays frozen, like he is too scared to move. Like if he /does/ move Izuku will disappear or get spooked. The omega takes this moment to really /look/ at the alpha.

He is tall and shirtless which shows off his toned muscles and scars that have stories to tell. Izuku wants to run his fingers over them and hear them all, around the alpha's neck is a necklace crafted from teeth and colorful beads. They look tribal and it makes questions dance along Izuku's lips. The alpha's hair catches the morning light and shimmers with it and his red eyes that look as though they were born from fire scan over Izuku.

Their scents fill the area, mixing and blending together creating /something new/. Izuku's eyes flutter close for a moment, taking in the smell that makes his inner omega purr.

/Home/

It says.

The word shakes Izuku to his core but not in fear- in a way that is /right/. There is no other way to describe it, when Izuku opens his eyes they lock on to red. His desire sings in his chest, old man Yagi's words ring in his head, 

'It can only add to what you feel on the inside.'

"I believe this is yours" Izuku says, his voice softly dancing across the open area. Breaking whatever trance they were in, whatever trance the alpha was in because he shakes his head slightly.

"What?" He rasps, his voice cracking then he clears his throat. "What's mine?"

Izuku takes a small step forward, gripping the edges of the cape to keep himself grounded. Then shyly Izuku tilts his head, baring his unmarked scent gland to the alpha, "Me".

- - - -

× × ×

Two years after the mating run

"Kacchan" Izuku calls softly as they make their way out of the small forest. They are just on the outskirts of Katsuki's tribe settlement, Izuku is both excited and nervous it's the first time he'll be meeting Katsuki's parents and tribe.

When the mating run had ended it shocked the village when Izuku had been the /last/ to leave the woods, they hadn't even known he went in. The celebration was in full swing when he exited with a fresh mating bite and proud alpha behind him.

The only one not so shocked was old man Yagi, he simply raised his cup of wine to him and winked.

Katsuki had chosen to stay in the village with Izuku, building a life together there. Izuku had thought that after the alpha would have wanted to leave, travel and go on adventure.

'You are my greatest adventure' the alpha had said.

When Izuku asked Katsuki if he wanted to go back to his tribe, the alpha simply said 'not yet'. He wanted Izuku all to himself, they were supposed to go visit in the spring that first year in time for Katsuki's tribe spring festival but Izuku had gotten pregnant with their first pup. 

Now their first pup is almost three years old  and Izuku is pregnant with their second. The omega thought it is a good time as any to visit before he would be too heavily pregnant to travel and before they ended up with an entire litter without Katsuki's parents knowing they were grandparents.

"Hm?" Katsuki hums, adjusting their pup on his shoulders.

The pup- Amaya is what they named her. Is a mix of her parents as far looks go, green curls with streaks of blonde. Wide, round red eyes and freckles beginning to dust her cheeks. Personality wise? She was /all/ Katsuki, they think she'll be an alpha like her sire too.

She has a nasty grip on Katsuki's hair and the alpha was doing his best not to wince, yelp or whine when the pup tugged on the blonde locks in excitement whenever she saw something she thought was cool.

"What if they dont like me?" Izuku says with a pout, his hand slowly coming to rub this small baby bump.

Katsuki rolls his eyes, Izuku has been concerned this /whole/ trip about that. Katsuki doesnt think that there is a single person that could come across Izuku and /not/ like him.

Even /animals/ like Izuku.

"Tch, they like you /more/ than they like me" Katsuki "I promise"

Izuku giggles a little, "That's impossible Kacchan. Everyone /loves/ you, you're amazing"

Katsuki looks over his shoulder at his mate, trying to hide the way praise from him makes Katsuki feel. "Only /you/ think that."

They walk in silence a bit more, aside from the occasional babble from Amaya when she spots a bird flying overhead. Katsuki looks at Izuku and can still see the worry on his mate's face, and can smell it in his scent. Katsuki knows Izuku's overthinking this, he also knows this worries Izuku so much because of hormones.

So the alpha stops, turns and faces Izuku, "You are amazing yourself you know? You are kind and selfless, you are so /smart/. You are an amazing teacher and great dam. The entire village is obsessed with you."

"Kacchan" Izuku whispers, tears lining his eyes. The ever crier his mate is.

"They'll love you. Not as much /me/ of course or Amaya but close enough" Katsuki grins letting one of their pup's feet go to open his arm and invite Izuku in for a hug.

In the middle of the hug and some extra scenting to ground Izuku. Amaya tugs tightly on to her dam's hair.

"AMAYA!" Izuku scolds rubbing his head, before scooping the pup off her sire's shoulders "That's not very nice little lady"

"NICE!" She squeals, slapping his cheeks.

Izuku nuzzles his pup's hands and Katsuki watches fondly, the happy scent of a happy family filling the area.

- - - -

The sun sinks lower in the sky, painting everything in shades of orange and deepening purple. The rich smell of roasting meats and freshly baked bread  drifts through the air as the small family reaches the settlement. When they pass the entrance of the settlement, laughter and lively chatter spill from nearby huts.

"Is that?" Someone says shielding their eyes from the evening sun "IT IS! WHERE'S MITSUKI AND MASARU?!"

Katsuki leans toward Izuku and says, "Here we go. Get ready"

Izuku laughs and smiles cradling a sleeping Amaya to his chest in her baby sling.

"BAKUBROOOOOO" Eijirou shouts running toward them with his arms open trailing behind him are three pups, all varying in height and obviously age.

After the mating run Katsuki's pack had split up. It was tearful- mostly Eijirou as his entire journey had led him to realize he'd rather adventure with his pack than without them, but he also desperately missed his tribe. So he and Mina left, not after adopting three pups that had lost their parents due to hunting accidents. Eijirou couldn't have any pups of his own, something to do with that snow storm he almost died in years ago. But he and Mina are happy with their pups and their new lives.

Denki ended up staying in the village with his mate Hitoshi, this year they will be welcoming their first pup. Although Denki is heavily pregnant and Hitoshi insists they stay in the village, they will be here in a few short days.

Hanta found work in a far away land working in a kingdom as an advisor. With his knowledge of many languages offers great help to the kingdom. Word is Hanta had found himself mated to a mystery prince, they won't be joining the pack this spring season but they'll be around for summer.

"GET OFF ME!" Katsuki shouts, shoving Eijirou away and snarling like a beast.

Izuku giggles while kneeling down so the Ashido pups can get a good look at Amaya.

"She is so chunky" the oldest pup says

"Like a blueberry" the youngest adds, although blueberries aren’t exactly chunky. 

"Can I keep her?" The second oldest asks

"You may not keep her" Their sire says from behind them with her arms folded "Sorry Izuku. Dont know whats gotten into that one"

Izuku smiles while packing scenting Mina, "It's fine. They might present as an omega soon. I remember trying to hoard all the younger pups in the village before my presentation"

Before Mina can even reply, Katsuki roars loudly, "PINKY GET YOUR SHITTY MATE BEFORE I CHEW HIS ARM OFF"

Izuku and Mina share a laugh before going to gather their mates.

"Kacchan no biting! That isn't nice! I see where Amaya gets it from" Izuku scolds pulling Katsuki away from Eijirou who is being tugged by Mina and their pups.

"I JUST MISSED YOU BAKUBRO" Eijirou shouts

Katsuki just snarls and grumbles "yeah yeah missed you too".

"All this /noise/" Someone says from above all the commotion "That's definitely /my/ brat"

Then the little crowd parts, an ash blonde omega who looks /exactly/ like Katsuki is walking toward them with a brown haired alpha behind her. It's obvious these are Katsuki's dam and sire, Mitsuki and Masaru.

Mitsuki stops in front of them, her eyes dancing between Katsuki and Izuku, their pup and Izuku's baby bump.

"Jeez Brat" She says "You didn't even let him rest after the first pup?"

Katsuki looks scandalized at the accusation and shouts "HE JUMPED ME!"

Izuku blushes furiously as Masaru cooes over Amaya who is slowly waking up.

"Would you like to hold her?" Izuku questions 

"May I?" Masaru replies with a soft smile.

Izuku nods, pulling Amaya from the sling and handing her to her grand-sire.

"You know son" Masaru starts as he lightly pack scents Amaya, "Most return from their journeys with new skills, knowledge-"

"Hell, even a rock" Mitsuki adds and Masaru laughs and nods.

"But you returned with a /beautiful/ family" Masaru says.

Katsuki chuffs proudly with a cocky grin on his face and pulls Izuku to his side.

"Fuck yeah I did" Katsuki says.

Izuku just looks around, taking in the sights, the sounds, and the scents that surround him with a large smile on his face. His inner omega purrs in pure happiness, his heart filling full with unshakeable happiness.

Desires cannot give you what you don't already have.