Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tour has taken a toll on Ni-ki. He hasn’t slept properly in almost two weeks. Barely getting two to three hours of sleep each day before having to do everything all over again. 

Don’t get him wrong, he loves touring. He loves traveling to new places and seeing his fans. It’s probably the best part of his job. 

Maybe it was his own conscience that wasn’t letting him sleep in peace at night.

Ni-ki has been hiding a secret for far too long. He had planned to come clean when the group first debuted but then he chickened out. He was sure more than one member would be disappointed in him. Or maybe everyone was going to be upset at him for all the years he lied to them. 

So instead of telling the truth, Ni-ki decided to continue hiding who he truly is even if it was slowly killing him inside. Especially now that Ni-ki can’t seem to be able to stop thinking about the handsome alpha that sticks close to his side almost all the time. The alpha always stands way too close to him, sometimes causing their hands and arms to brush. Which results in Ni-ki dashing to the bathroom to be able take deep breaths to steady himself. 

Ni-ki knew something was wrong with him the moment he caught a whiff of the alpha’s scent yesterday afternoon. Ni-ki couldn’t only smell it, he swears he could almost taste his spicy scent on his tongue. Sunghoon’s delicious scent almost made him fall to his knees on the spot. But that would’ve blown his cover so Ni-ki rapidly made an excuse saying that he was feeling sick and locked himself in his room for the rest of the night.

And maybe karma is finally getting back at him for lying all these years because he is now laying in his bed feeling utterly sick. He feels like shit. He can’t even get his own hands to stop shaking.

Their manager had made him stay in bed while the rest of the group attended a fansign. What was supposed to be a mild cold was turning into something much worse. 

Deep down Ni-ki knew that what he has isn’t a cold. It was something stronger than that. He could tell the suppressants were slowly starting to subside.

He struggles to stand up from his bed to make his way to his drawer, wobbling unstable as he approaches to open it. He searches for the small compartment he built to hide his most well kept secret. 

When he opens the compartment with shaky hands Ni-ki realizes he is absolutely doomed.

Ni-ki has spent most of his life swallowing pills, sometimes shoving them dry in his throat when he feels his own body betraying him. Sometimes shoving more than two pills at once when he feels his body slowly succumbing to its natural nature. He always kept an extra bottle just in case, just to be safe. As an idol he couldn’t afford to lose the precious medication. His entire persona depended on those pills alone. The only other person who knew Ni-ki took them was his manager. He had agreed to supply and replenish them as necessary as he deemed it too risky to have Ni-ki pick them up from the pharmacy each month.  

At first Manager Yuki had been extremely against what Ni-ki was doing. He had tried to change his mind multiple times. He had even involved Ni-ki’s doctor at one point. His doctor had warned him of the possibility of growing resistant to the suppressants he has been taking throughout the years. Ni-ki had begged and cried to cycle out the dosage so his body could continue functioning as a beta. The doctor had shaken her head and looked at him with pity. 

“I can not ban you from using suppressants. My goal is to help omegas as much as I can. As of now, this will work. But do you understand what I mean? What I am trying to say?” The doctor said.

Ni-ki looks at the doctor with a void expression. He understands, he just hates the fact that she is right.

“One day is going to happen and nobody will be able to stop it.” The doctor’s tone softened. 

But Ni-ki was a stubborn man and he refused to be seen as weak. He didn’t want to be weak and helpless. He had decided that he would rather live his life hiding as a beta, than feeling alone, oppressed, and a slave as an omega. 

At the end of the day, the manager gave in. Ni-ki needed access to his regular suppressants and Yuki was willing to cover for him. It was a secret between the two of them. A secret they had kept from everyone for years. Yuki still begs Ni-ki from time to time to tell the members the truth but Ni-ki has already made up his mind. He will take this to the grave. 

Ni-ki grabs the small tube of cream out from the drawer and squeezes some of it out. He smears and applies it all over his scent glands hoping that this will help stop the painful aching. He then grabs the empty bottle of pills and stares at it as he feels his whole world crumble. 

He didn’t realize he was out of his suppressants until it was too late. He had been taking more and more pills during the tour to keep his primal instincts at bay. He forgot to check on the stash he keeps hidden. The group had been away from the dorm for too long and Ni-ki had fucked up. He had forgotten to ask his manager for a refill. He thought he had enough. He clearly did not. And now the side effects were finally affecting his body.

Fuck, it’s too hot. Ni-ki’s knees give up on him and he drops to the floor. Am I in heat?

Ni-ki has never really gone through a proper heat. The strong medications have always prevented him from going through it. He has only felt a bit of cramping here and there until it fully stops. 

He can feel the cramps in his lower stomach now causing a soft whine to leave Ni-ki’s lips. His body starts running very hot and Ni-ki can’t make himself stop shivering. He can’t ignore the strange twisting sensation in his guts and the sweat beading his brow. In fact, his entire face is covered with perspiration. 

Ni-ki gets enough strength to grab his phone from his pocket and dial a number he knows by heart. It only rings once before he picks up.

“Ni-ki?” 

“Yuki hyung,” Ni-ki can’t help but cry out in pain. 

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Ni-ki hears footsteps, Yuki is moving away, probably trying to find a place with more privacy so nobody overhears their conversation. 

“I–I,” Ni-ki stutters. 

“Do you need me to go back to the dorm? Do you need anything?” His manager asks frantically. 

“Heat–” Ni-ki whines. Just saying it out loud makes him want to die. He knows his entire career is at risk now. If the members know… No, they can’t!  

“I think I am in heat.” He cries out.

The sweat on his temples starts dripping down his face. His room was getting unbearably hot. He can feel his gland pulsing on his neck. The mild headache turning into a migraine.

“Okay.” Yuki says calmly. “I’ll – I’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Just hold on, okay? Stay in your room.”

“Don’t tell–” Ni-ki starts sobbing. “Don’t tell them please! They can’t know!”

“I won’t. I won’t. I promise.” Yuki says calmly hoping that his tone helps Ni-ki’s concerns vanish.

The line goes dead and Ni-ki starts crying uncontrollably. He doesn’t know how he is going to get away with this. How is he going to keep his heat hidden from the other members, who were all alphas?

It was just not possible. 

The moment they step in the room they’ll know. They’ll smell it in the air. 

His phone alerts him that a text has been received. Ni-ki's sluggish fingers type in his passcode to unlock the phone. 

It was a text from Manager Yuki. He reads the message with glassy, unfocused eyes.

‘ On my way ,’ it said. 

Ni-ki doesn’t have the strength to reply back. Instead he lets his phone fall on the floor with a loud bang.

Please, please, please don’t let it be my heat. Please don’t do this to me. Ni-ki begs as tears fall through his face.

Ni-ki blinks stars from his eyes. He swears the room starts spinning at one point. He doesn’t know how long he has been lying on the floor. He can hear his phone ringing somewhere in the distance but he can’t seem to find it. His hands reach through the floor, searching for it, but he is unsuccessful. 

The phone’s ringing gets louder and louder as the minutes pass. A constant reminder that the world is still spinning even if Ni-ki is completely out of the picture. 

The lighting in his room blinds him and the ringing makes his head pound harder. He wants it to stop. 

Make it stop!

Ni-ki tries to push himself off the floor, tries to get to his bed but his arms are so weak he ends up falling flat on his face. He cries out in pain as the metallic taste fills his mouth. He fucking bit his tongue. Blood slowly fills his mouth.  

He can’t do anything but let his face rest on the cool floor at this point. His body shivers and the pounding headache keeps getting worse. He was also sweating so badly. His shirt now clinged to his damp skin. 

Ni-ki can feel himself falling under. That’s until someone walks in his room.

Ni-ki doesn’t notice it at first but then the scent of alphas falls on him. Unfamiliar alphas. He doesn’t know any of these scents surrounding him. Ni-ki’s eyes shoot open. He recoils back when he realizes he is surrounded by four men dressed in coats and safety vests. 

He looks around in a circle. He is completely surrounded with no escape.

Ni-ki clutches his abdomen and wheezes when another set of cramps hit his lower stomach.

“Whaaat-” A half gasp escapes Ni-ki’s lips. 

What is going on? He tries to say but he can’t form the words in his tongue.

Ni-ki sniffs the air and confirms that there is a faint odor over the alphas’ scent. Something chemical that reminds him of a hospital or maybe a clinic.

“Nishimura Riki?” He hears a deep voice on his right but Ni-ki refuses to acknowledge it. He doesn’t turn to look. He doesn’t speak a word. 

Ni-ki pulls back wincing when he hears someone step closer to him. His chest starts to heave as his breathing becomes rapid and shallow. He tries to draw in enough air but all he feels is the burning in his lungs. He can’t seem to get enough oxygen in them.

“Nishimura Riki. Twenty years old. Japanese. An unmated omega.” Another man says. “First heat. He has never been registered with the Ministry.” 

Ni-ki’s heart pounds erratically in his chest. He swears his room is spinning again as his hands touch the cold floor to keep his balance. 

“The Ministry?” He whispers as panic hits him. His haze clears for a second and he is able to comprehend that these men are wearing badges of the city council plastered across their vests. 

Who told them? Who snitched on me?

Ni-ki’s biggest nightmare is coming true right in front of his eyes. All omegas, regardless of their gender, must be documented by the Ministry. But the thing is, Ni-ki has never wanted to go through the process of registering as such. Ni-ki doesn’t want to lose his freedom and he refuses to have his personal information plastered where the public could see it or access it. 

That’s why he had lied about being a beta since the day he presented. His family knows what he truly is and Yuki does as well, but Ni-ki had never confided in anyone else. Too scared that one day someone was going to betray him… just like today. 

This was really happening. His gaze drops to the floor as he thinks about his future, his goals, his dreams. All being thrown to the trash.

Being an idol and an omega wasn’t unusual but it wasn’t pretty either. Apart from all the expectations idols already have to meet to keep their fans and the company happy, omegas also have to put a facade to encourage their omega fans to obey and follow society’s rules. 

Be pretty. Be delicate. Smile. Listen to your alphas. Listen to your superiors. Don’t think, just do. 

It was all bullshit and Ni-ki wasn’t going to follow any of that. 

There are some omega idols that have been very vocal about wanting to change the system. To find some type of equality between alphas, betas, and omegas. At least in the music industry. But it was still a work in progress. 

So until then, omegas still have to suffer through humiliating processes like the one they are trying to enforce on Ni-ki. The fact that Ni-ki is so out of it to the point he’s unable to form complete sentences, doesn’t help either.

“Sweet thing, you know omegas should not be staying with groups full of alphas while in heat. We can’t let you roam around in your current state,” one of the men said as he got closer to Ni-ki. 

“I’m n–not an om–omega,” Ni-ki stutters as his body shudders in fear.

“We can smell you from miles away, darling.” Another man said.

“No, no –” Ni-ki cries out. “You have the wrong person. I am a beta!” 

“It’s for your own good. We are here to protect you.” The deep voice man said. 

Someone touches Ni-ki’s shoulder and he cries out in pain. He winces away from the touch. It feels so wrong, having a stranger touching him especially when his skin is already sensitive. 

“An omega should know better than to resist. You know we are doing this for your own protection.” Someone says. “It’s a safety precaution.” 

A firm hand envelopes on Ni-ki’s wrist, tugging him away from where he is. Ni-ki yells and whirls around. His instincts tell him to fight back. Don’t let untrusted alphas touch you . Ni-ki bares his teeth and snarls when another man grabs his other wrist.

“Don’t make it harder on yourself, sweet thing. You’ll be fine. I promise.” 

“Let me go!” Ni-ki growls. He puts up a fight. He slams his shoulder against the man on his right causing him to lose his balance in surprise and stumble to the floor. 

“You little shit!” The man snaps. “We’re just trying to do our job here.” 

“Relax, darling.” Someone on his left says. 

Another set of arms grab him from behind and pull him up. Ni-ki’s legs wobble. He’s so unstable that if the alphas weren’t there to hold him up, he would’ve crashed to the floor again in seconds.

“Don’t touch me, please, please…” He is barely whispering now. He feels delirious. 

Where’s Yuki?

Ni-ki looks around for his manager. He had texted he was on his way a while back. 

Where is he?  

The alphas start pulling Ni-ki out of his room. Ni-ki fights, he thrashes around and even tries to slump back down to the ground but it was useless. The alphas were way stronger than him. 

The world seemed to stop as his racing heart slowed. He is panting uncontrollably. 

This is it. This is how my life ends. 

Omegas could either submit or defend and fight back when surrounded by unwanted people. Most omegas end up submitting because it is the easier and safest way out.

But Ni-ki wasn’t a normal omega. He wants to defend. He wants to escape the terrors that await him.

So when he finds a chance, Ni-ki bites hard on one of the alpha’s hands. His teeth pierce the skin, drawing blood. 

“Fuck!” The alpha yells as he pushes Ni-ki’s head off him. Ni-ki bumps his head against one of the other alpha’s shoulders. He instantly flinches away. 

“Hey, what are you doing? I told you he’ll cooperate. Don’t–”

“Yuki?” Ni-ki’s eyes wander around as he is being pushed through the living room. His eyes lock with Yuki’s. 

Ni-ki’s anxiety doubles when he realizes Yuki is just standing there, staring at him as he lets them take him away. He’s letting them do this to him. 

Ni-ki can’t help but feel utterly betrayed and… enraged. He shakes in rage.

Yuki, on the other hand, looks ashamed with a bit of sadness in his eyes. 

He called them. He snitched on me.

Ni-ki lets out a painful cry as he feels like his heart is being ripped out of his chest. He has been betrayed by someone he had trusted blindly. Someone that was supposed to be his support, his friend. 

Hands wrap around his waist and arms tighter. 

“Don’t you dare hurt him! We have a deal!” Yuki yells at the top of his lungs. “We have a fucking deal! There’s no need to act like savages!”

Ni-ki manages to elbow someone in their stomach as he tries to wriggle out of their grip. But it isn’t enough to escape their tight hold. 

“Yuki hyung, please don’t let them!” Ni-ki shouts hysterically. He can’t tell if their manager is still there with them or not but he doesn’t care. He still begs. “I promise – promise to be good. Please!” 

Ni-ki squirms and kicks as they approach the front door. If he lets these alphas take him out of the dorm, Ni-ki knows it will be over for him. There won’t be a turning back from it. 

“Yuki!” He begs. His throat hurts from all the shouting.

A hand wraps on his neck and squeezes hard. Ni-ki chokes on air as the pressure increases. He still tries wriggling out of their strong grip.

“Fucking hold him down!” A guy yells. 

“Don’t let him move. Keep him still!” 

Ni-ki feels a sharp pinch in his neck, which makes him squirm in their hold. His eyes widen as he feels liquid being injected into his body slowly. His muscles start to seize, his eyes roll back. He can feel his energy being drained away from him. His arms and legs feel heavier than before. He blinks as his eyelids start feeling too hefty to keep open. He can feel himself falling under it, slowly slumping in their hold.

“Please…” He begs one more time before his eyelids close shut. 

No, no, no, don’t. 

“Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you.” Someone says.

Ni-ki’s vision finally goes dark. He blacks out. 

“Did it work? Is he out?” The alpha asks. 

“Yeah, it is working just fine. Give it a couple seconds.” 

“Grab his legs.” One of the bigger alphas commands. “Tie him up, just in case.”

“He’s going to be fine, right? You didn’t fucking inject a weird drug into his blood, right?” Yuki asks nervously. 

“Relax, it’s just a very strong tranquilizer we use when dealing with feral alphas and omegas. He’ll be fine.” 

“I want to drive with you guys just to make sure he’s settled fine and has everything he needs.” Yuki responds. 

“That’s no problem. You can follow our van.” 

“How long until he wakes up?” Yuki asks. 

“Probably about two hours. We’ll get him settled just fine. There’s nothing to worry about.” 

“Okay.” Yuki nods his head. He can’t help but feel regret as he watches the alphas carry an unconscious Ni-ki out of the dorm. He knows Ni-ki will hate him for this but there wasn’t another option. Hybe’s CEO had caught on to what was going on between him and Ni-ki. Yuki knows he should’ve been more careful but the tour messed everything up. He had been called into a meeting earlier this morning after the CEO had received a notice that Ni-ki had fallen ill. 

Yuki had tried to cover for him but it had been useless. It turns out that Yuki had been followed throughout all these past few months as he made the monthly rounds to pick up Ni-ki’s suppressants from the pharmacy. 

He had no option but to come clean. 

He had to follow explicit directions about how to handle Ni-ki’s first heat. Ni-ki has to be interned in the Omega Wellness Facility until his heat is over. There was no point in arguing against their superiors. It was an order that both Yuki and Ni-ki have to follow. And if they don't follow through, both of them are going to get fired from Hybe. 

So Manager Yuki picked the best option. 

The moment he hung up Ni-ki’s call, Yuki had dialed the Omega Wellness Facility’s phone number. He had provided Ni-ki’s details and address. Yuki was told they were going to send some of their staff to the dorm in a couple of minutes to pick up the unmated omega. 

Yuki had rushed out from the fansign making up a stupid excuse to give to the other managers. 

As Yuki had bolted out of the room, a set of worried eyes followed his movement. 

Sunghoon watched him go. He knew something was wrong. 

Something had happened to Ni-ki. 

Sunghoon can’t concentrate at all. He doesn’t know how he will continue to face the fans while his mind is clearly somewhere else. 

The only thing in his mind now is Ni-ki. 

Is he okay? Why did Manager Yuki bolt out of here like someone just died? Why hadn’t anyone updated them about Ni-ki’s health? Was he taken to the hospital? Why hasn’t Ni-ki texted me at all?

These were all thoughts that went through Sunghoon’s mind. He was driving himself insane with all the worrying and what ifs. 

“He’s going to be fine.” Jay says as he takes a seat next to him. 

“What?” Sunghoon turns to look at him. Part of him is glad to be pulled out of his misery and into the real world. 

“Ni-ki.” 

“What? Did he text you?” Sunghoon looks at Jay with so much hope. And then that hope gets squished to the ground. 

“No,” Jay shakes his head. “I was just reassuring you that he will be fine. He doesn’t get sick often but when he does he falls hard. Just give him a couple of days. He’ll be running around the dorm when we least expect it.” 

“I have a bad feeling.” Sunghoon whispers as he closes his eyes. He can feel a headache starting soon. 

“Why?” Jay says with a confused look on his face.

Sunghoon opens his eyes and turns to look at the other alpha. “I saw Yuki leave in a rush. He looked worried. I can’t help but think that something happened to Riki.” 

“Maybe it was his wife?” Jay said, eyes searching. “We can’t just assume it’s about Ni-ki.”

“I’m telling you man,” Sunghoon snarls. “My intuition is telling me Ni-ki is not doing well.” 

Jay looks at Sunghoon again as if he wants to say something but keeps his mouth shut instead. That’s until his eyes fall on Sunghoon’s neck.

“Sunghoon, damn. Your neck.” Jay’s eyes narrow. 

“What?” Sunghoon snaps. 

Jay’s finger touches Sunghoon’s scent gland causing him to hiss. 

“What the fuck?” Sunghoon says as he slides away from Jay. “What’s your fucking problem?” 

“Dude, your scent gland is so red. Did you scratch on it or something?” 

Sunghoon’s brows furrow. “No. I haven’t touched it at all. Why? Is it super red?” 

“Yeah. It looks like a rash. You should get it checked.” 

“I’ll get it checked now. I don’t want any of the fans to freak out about it.” Sunghoon says as he stands and walks away. 

There’s always a medic or nurse at events like this so it doesn’t take too long to find the makeshift clinic. 

He walks into the room and the nurse greets him. 

“So what’s going on? Are you feeling sick?” She says.

“Not really. One of my members pointed out that my gland is kind of red and I was wondering if you have something to cover it with?” Sunghoon says slowly as he sinks down into one of the chairs. 

“Well let me take a look at it first. Have you been touching or scratching it?” She asks. 

“No.” 

Sunghoon winces when he feels her cold hand on his neck. 

“It’s definitely irritated. Looks like it might start to swell soon.” The nurse mutters. “Has your fated mate already started their heat? Or are they in pre-heat?” 

He stares at her, his brain is mush. 

“I’m sorry.” He feels his heart pounding against his chest. “What?” 

She looks at him incredulously. “Your fated mate. You know what I mean right?” 

Sunghoon blinks at her as he slowly shakes his head. He knows what a fated mate is. He just doesn’t understand why she is bringing this up at all when it is very clear Sunghoon has no mate, especially a fated one. He doesn’t even date around. He barely has time to sleep. 

“I know what a fated mate is, ma’am. I just don’t understand why you are asking me this when it’s clear I am not mated. I’m an idol.” His words come out a bit harsh. The headache slowly gets worse and worse as the time passes. 

“Omegas can get swollen glands from time to time depending on the amount of stress they are under but alphas… Alphas don’t get swollen red glands unless their fated mate is close enough to trigger it to happen or they are in rut. Have you been going out more or maybe hanging around new omegas? Is anyone in your group an omega?” 

Sunghoon's head is pounding like crazy. He can barely keep his eyes open at this point. 

“No, we are all alphas. Well, except our youngest member. He is a beta.” Sunghoon explains. “I haven’t gone out with omegas. I think the last time I was near one was during one of the year end award shows. Our staff is composed of betas and alphas.” 

“Well the only thing strong enough to cause this is your fated mate. You must’ve crossed paths without you realizing it. The omega is probably going through pre-heat now since your glands aren’t completely swollen yet.” 

Sunghoon can’t believe what he is hearing. A fated mate that he has never even met? Maybe it was someone at the convenience store he stopped by yesterday.

He can’t help but feel like his heart is breaking in two as his mind wanders back to Ni-ki. 

He had always known Ni-ki was special to him. Recently, Sunghoon had thought about maybe someday mating the cute beta. Sunghoon had never minded bonding with a beta instead of an omega. It didn’t bother him at all. Maybe if they are still both single when they are older. Maybe after they’re done with their idol careers, when they can settle and live happily. 

But if Sunghoon really has a fated mate there is no point in thinking about Ni-ki as anything but a friend, another member of the pack. It would be pointless. 

“Are you sure?” Sunghoon asks as he holds his breath in. 

“Yes.” 

“Is there anything that can be done to stop it?” Sunghoon holds his throbbing head in his hands as he struggled to think straight. 

“Not really. Unless you find the omega and reject them to break the bond. But you know there’s consequences to that, right?” 

“Consequences?” 

“Yes. You’re both going to suffer from the rejection. In some cases, both die. In other cases, only the omega dies. It all depends on how strong your connection is. Fated mates are rare and precious. You should be happy you have one.” 

This can’t be fucking happening , he thinks as he swallows around the lump in his throat. 

“For now, cover the gland and don’t touch it. Once your mate is done with their heat it’ll go back to normal.” The nurse says calmly like she isn’t giving him some of the worst news he has heard in his entire life. 

“And what will happen if we never cross paths again?” His body stiffens. 

“Believe me, you’ll cross paths. You’re fated mates. It’s bound to happen.” 

What am I going to do? Sunghoon thinks. Am I supposed to tell the managers about it? His pack? 

“Don’t make that face, boy. It might happen years from now.” The nurse says chuckling as she hands him a patch. “You want me to put it on or are you good?” 

“I’m good–” He says hoarsely. 

“Oh!” The nurse exclames. “I almost forgot to tell you! In some cases, their heat can trigger your rut even if you aren’t in close proximity. You are destined to be together which means there’s a deeper emotional and biological connection between the two.” 

“What?” Sunghoon blurts out. “Are my swollen glands – Does this mean my rut is near?” 

“Very likely.” 

He grunts as his shoulders slumped. 

“Sunghoon?” 

It was Jay. 

Sunghoon turns to look at the other alpha that is now leaning against the door. 

“What?” He snarls. The headache, his aching gland, and the new information being provided to him just makes him angrier. 

“You okay there?” Jay’s eyebrows shot up. “We got to go. Manager Kim said there’s some stuff he needs to discuss with us at the dorm.” 

“Yeah, we’re done here.” Sunghoon says as he stands up. 

The nurse eyes him carefully before she says, “You should get that checked with your primary doctor if it persists.” 

Her eyes darted to his gland back again. It seems like she wants to say more but then her eyes dart towards Jay and she decides it's better not to disclose anything else. 

Sunghoon nods his head and bows. 

“Will do, thank you.” He manages to say as he tries to mask his facial expression with indifference. 

“Let’s go.” Sunghoon says to Jay. Jay follows close behind. 

“What did she say?” 

“It’s nothing. Might be a reaction to the fabric softener. If it persists I was advised to go to the doctor.” 

Jay can’t help eyeing Sunghoon suspiciously but then he decides not to probe further. 

He knows Sunghoon is lying to him. The tension in the younger alpha’s shoulders is quite noticeable and his angry scowl gives him away. 

“Alright. Let’s go home.” Jay says. 

Yeah, let’s go home to Ni-ki. Sunghoon thinks. 

I hope he is okay. 

I hope I was just overreacting. 

He was, in fact, not overreacting. 

The moment he stepped inside of their dorm, Sunghoon knew something was wrong. 

He could smell a faint scent, a type of cleaning chemical that reminded him of a hospital. Their dorm had never smelled like that. Sunghoon’s eyes met Heeseung’s briefly and he could tell the other alpha had catched it too. 

When they finally approached the living room both Manager Kim and Yuki were already waiting for them.

“Take a seat.” Yuki said and the members followed. Jungwon sat in the middle. As their Pack Alpha, his spot was always the center. 

Sunghoon feels restless as he notices Ni-ki’s door is still closed. No signs of the beta anywhere. It felt way too wrong to be sitting, holding a meeting, without Ni-ki. 

His alpha chanted Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, inside his head.

All Sunghoon wants to do is to stand up and barge into Ni-ki’s room to make sure he is okay. 

“Is this about Ni-ki?” Jungwon speaks up first. 

Manager Kim looks at Yuki and nods at him to proceed. 

“Uhh yes, partly.” Yuki says. 

“Partly?” Heeseung asks. 

“Is he okay?” Jake can’t help but glance at Ni-ki’s room too. 

“He’s fine.” Manager Kim says calmly. 

But Sunghoon gets another whiff of the disgusting chemical aroma and he knows it’s all lies. He can feel the tumultuous unstoppable rage building up inside of him. Sunghoon shoots daggers with his eyes at Ni-ki’s closed door. 

“Ni-ki is not going to be able to work for a couple of days. We’re putting him on hiatus for at least a week or two until he feels better.” 

The sound of Ni-ki’s name snaps Sunghoon into full awareness. His eyes looking straight towards Yuki. 

“What?” He snarls. 

Jungwon turns to look at Sunghoon, surprised at the tone of voice Sunghoon is using to address their managers. 

“Sunghoon,” Jungwon warns.  

“I promise he is fine. He just needs time to recover.” Yuki says but he avoids their questioning eyes. 

“Can we see him at least?” Heeseung asks. “He has been in that room for a whole day. I bet he is hungry.” 

“We can give him some company–” Sunoo is cut off. 

“No.” Manager Kim says firmly, commandingly. 

“Why not?” Sunghoon questions as he feels his anger brewing up. Sunghoon’s eyes snap to Yuki, wide and outraged.

“He’s not here, boys.” Kim says. 

Wrong , his alpha hisses inside of him. His alpha was getting more vocal as the time ticked by.  Ni-ki should be here by our side. And yet he was nowhere to be seen. 

Where is he? 

“Where is he?” Jay asks as his eyes also dart to Ni-ki’s room. 

“We can’t disclose that information.” Kim says harshly. He didn’t say it but they all knew what this meant. 

Don’t ask. 

“That’s bullshit.” Sunghoon chuckles stiffly. He is fuming. Everyone in the room can tell. “Ni-ki is pack therefore we have the right to know.”

“Not this time, boys.” Yuki said softly, trying to calm them down a bit. 

Sunghoon stands up abruptly. Jungwon looks at him like he will murder him any second for showing defiance. Sunghoon should know better. 

But Sunghoon doesn’t care. 

“You can’t keep him away from us,” Sunghoon barks back. “Whatever he’s going through, he’ll need us and you fucking know it!” 

Before anyone can stop him, Sunghoon moves directly to Ni-ki’s bedroom and snatches the door open. 

Manager Kim and Yuki are on him in seconds pulling him away from the door. But Sunghoon has seen enough. Clearly, Ni-ki hadn’t left on good terms or he had been fighting something internally to go around thrashing his own room. It was a mess… and it smelled so bad. 

So wrong, Sunghoon tells himself. 

Ni-ki’s room reeks of antiseptics and disinfectants. It didn’t smell like Ni-ki at all. Since Ni-ki is a beta, he doesn’t really have a unique scent. He just smells like a mixture of the pack’s scents all mixed together. That was just Ni-ki. He’s the one that brings us all together. 

“Where the fuck did you take him?” A muscle in Sunghoon’s jaw jumps. He was losing control. 

“Stop asking about this. We already told you we can’t disclose more information until further notice. You guys need to go rest. You all have a schedule tomorrow and we need you up early in the morning.” Manager Kim says. 

Before anyone can try to argue with that he adds, “That’s an order. Ni-ki is fine but we can’t tell you anything else. Go to sleep and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

Yuki and Kim walk towards the door without glancing back once. Nobody says anything as they watch them leave.

Once Yuki and Kim are gone, Jungwon turns to his pack. 

“Let’s just wait for updates. I’m sure if something bad had happened Yuki would’ve told us by now.” 

“I don’t know.” Sunoo says as a tear falls from his eye, clearly overwhelmed by everything that was happening.

Sunghoon is done hearing all of this nonsense. He moves and walks past Jungwon. Their shoulders brush against each other but Sunghoon doesn’t stop to apologize. He goes straight for his jacket and puts it on. Then he grabs his shoes. 

“I’m ordering you to stay put until we get more information about Ni-ki’s whereabouts.” Jungwon uses his Pack Alpha’s voice this time. It is thick and full of power. Definitely a command that Sunghoon’s own alpha is supposed to obey. He shouldn’t defy it.

But he does. He shoves down the need to obey, he resists it. Instead, he snaps his fangs back.

“Fuck you, Jungwon.” 

Sunghoon shoves him back and goes straight for the door. 

“Do you really think you’ll be able to find him like that? Be fucking rational for once!” Jungwon snarls. He is fucking pissed. 

Jungwon knows. Jungwon knows where he is. 

In a second, Sunghoon is grabbing Jungwon, rattling him by the collar of his shirt. 

“You fucking know.” He growls. “Where is he?” 

Jungwon tries to push him off but Sunghoon has gone feral. 

“I don’t know!” Jungwon barks out.

“Stop lying!” Sunghoon shouts. “I know you too well, Pack Alpha. What a fucking joke. I can’t even trust my own pack.” 

Jungwon’s eyes widened. He looks at Sunghoon like he has just slapped him in the face or kicked his cat. 

Heeseung and Jay are there trying to separate them. 

Once they succeed, Sunghoon shrugs them off and starts walking to the door again. 

“I begged.” Jungwon whispers. “I begged them to tell me. They said it's confidential. All they disclosed was that he is still here in Seoul but I have nothing else to give you, Sunghoon.” 

Sunghoon doesn’t turn to look at him. He heaves as his lip curls into a scowl. His scent gland is itchy and burning, it’s driving him crazy.

“Don’t wait up for me tonight.” Sunghoon mutters as he walks out the door. 

I’m bringing you home. He thinks as he steps into the cold night in search of the beta that was consuming his entire life. Ni-ki was in his mind all the time. 

“Nishimura Riki,” Ni-ki’s eyes fluttered open slowly as he heard a speaker humming to life somewhere nearby. A woman’s voice echoed around him. 

“Welcome to the Omega Wellness Facility. It’s a pleasure to have you here.”

Chapter Text

Ni-ki’s eyes remain close but he can still briefly feel hands on his skin as he is pulled in different directions.

But the hands on his skin soon disappear. Everything seems to stop all at once.

He was left alone… or so he thought.

“Nishimura Riki,” Ni-ki’s eyes fluttered open slowly as he hears a speaker humming to life somewhere nearby. A woman’s voice echoed around him.

“Welcome to the Omega Wellness Facility. It’s a pleasure to have you here.”

Ni-ki grunts annoyingly as he holds a hand in front of his eyes to block the blinding lights that are making him see stars. The room is agonizingly bright. His droopy eyes try to adjust to the glowing light coming from the overhead lamps.

Ni-ki is laying on a big wide bed. His panting increases with urgency as the seconds go by. His very sensitive skin brushes the soft white sheets and the cramps in his lower stomach painfully continue. 

The sound of metal scraping on the floor makes Ni-ki tense. He watches with wide eyes as the metallic electronic door is dragged open along the far wall.

What is going on? Where am I? Ni-ki thinks dizzily.

A petite woman with long white hair appears through the door frame. Her heels click sharply as she walks inside the sterile room. The echo makes Ni-ki’s head pound.

“Nishimura Riki,” she says as she gets closer to the bed.

Ni-ki tries to move further away until he hits his head against the headboard. There is nowhere else to run to. Nowhere else to hide.

“There’s no need to feel scared,” she says apologetically. “I’m here to assist you. To help you calm down.”

“I-I,” Ni-ki swallows the lump in his throat. “Don’t need your help.”

“You are going through your first heat.” She says calmly, completely dismissing what Ni-ki has just said. “Of course you need help. We’re here to support you.”

“W-we?” Ni-ki stutters as his body begins to tremble uncontrollably. The lady is definitely not an alpha but her presence feels like a threat to the omega.

“Yes. Our alpha and beta volunteers will come in to assist in calming you down. Omegas feel much better when alphas are close by. Their scent will help soothe your pain. But if none of our alphas are suitable, we can always send you a beta.”

“I’m not an omega!” Ni-ki shouts as his lips pull into a snarl. A starburst of rage radiated behind his eyes at the thought of unfamiliar alphas or betas getting close to him. It’s not what he wants.

All he wants is to go home. 

Back to his hyungs.

Back to his pack.

Back to Sunghoon. 

“We know who you are. There’s no need to lie any further,” she says so calmly. “If you resist this will only get harder for you. An alpha’s presence does reduce the pain. An alpha can also help reduce the amount of time your heat can last. The longer the alpha stays, the less overall pain you will feel.”

“I don’t want an alpha,” He says through clenched teeth, as he fists the sheets.

He feels helpless. 

So useless.

“You will once he steps in the room.” She says as she turns around. 

The lady starts walking away, ignoring Ni-ki’s yells and curses. She doesn’t even glance back once.

She’s out the door in seconds and Ni-ki hopelessly watches the door close shut behind her silhouette.

He can’t seem to make his limbs move. Whenever he tries to stand up a shot of pain goes through his spine and he drops back to the bed with a loud thud.

He feels like a trapped animal in a cage. He tries to take a deep breath, to calm his racing heart but it doesn't seem to work. 

His breaths come fast and shallow. And he can't help but close his eyes as the pain inside gets unbearable.

Ni-ki realizes that maybe... just maybe... he is now only a prisoner.

Being an omega meant Ni-ki will always be a prisoner. His rights were going to be stripped away from him and he can't do anything to stop it from happening.

The speaker crackles to life again. “Alpha number one will be put to the test. K is a strong alpha. Unmated. Pack Alpha for &Team. Main provider for his entire pack. His pack is composed of nine members, including himself. Twenty seven years old. Also Japanese. An alpha trained to care for omegas in distress.”

Ni-ki can feel his own heart beating in his ears as he hears all the details that are being listed about this unknown alpha. His mouth dries up and his eyes start to water. He feels so helpless. He doesn’t want an alpha. 

Well, he does. 

But he only wants Sunghoon. 

“No,” He croaks out in a whisper that goes unheard. 

The metal door opens again and a tall man walks in slowly. Ni-ki can’t really tell what he looks like because the alpha is still too far away but he can definitely smell him. The strong smell of alpha stings his senses. He smells like smoke and the smell of cigarettes. Ni-ki’s nose scrunches up in disgust. He absolutely hates it.

Ni-ki can’t help but try to make himself smaller against the headboard as he watches the door close and lock automatically behind the alpha.

The alpha is a true predator. He walks slowly but with much confidence. He spots Ni-ki's curled figure immediately. His nose catching the whiff of the distressed but sweet omega.

K can't contain his excitement. He loves it. He loves how sweet Ni-ki smells. So in a few strides the alpha finally closes the gap and stands in front of the bed. He is now close enough for Ni-ki to study his features.

The man is handsome and tall. His shoulders are broad and he is dressed in a simple but fitted black shirt. He could maybe be a model if he tried. But even behind all that beauty, Ni-ki can’t help but feel like this is utterly wrong.

The alpha decides to sit on the edge of the bed, still leaving enough space between him and the omega.

Maybe he does this to gain Ni-ki's trust. Or maybe it was just a facade to get what he wants.

“I’m not here to hurt you, Ni-ki.” The alpha says softly.

Ni-ki gasps as he realizes the alpha is speaking to him in Japanese.

If they were anywhere else, if Ni-ki was still considered a beta, he would’ve jumped up and down in happiness at finding a fellow Japanese in Korea. Right now though, he can’t help but feel complete disgust.

Ni-ki’s lips curl into scowl and his brows furrowed.

“Go away.” A simple command slips through Ni-ki’s mouth before he can stop it. He completely forgets that he is speaking to an alpha and not his pack.

The alpha’s eyes flash red, clearly taken back at hearing the fragile omega tell him what to do, ordering him around like he is superior than an alpha.

But instead of lashing out, the alpha’s lips turn up into a smirk.

“You might be what I have been searching for all this time.” K chuckles. “A firecracker. A little brat.”

“I’m not,” Ni-ki snarls as he watches the alpha move closer to him. “Not a brat.”

A flashback of another alpha flashes through Ni-ki's mind. 

"You're a little brat," Sunghoon had once said to him. "But I will let it slide because you're too cute even when you act like a little shit."

But the memory is cut short.

K moves fast, way too fast for Ni-ki to react. He was on top of him in a second, quickly erasing that memory from Ni-ki's mind and instead demanding the omega's full attention.

The alpha’s hand moves to caress Ni-ki’s cheek which causes the omega to startle as he backs into the headboard again. 

“I’m not going to hurt you, princess-” Ni-ki sees K’s hand appear in front of his face, dipping low towards his cheek.

Ni-ki’s fight instincts kick in and he sinks his teeth into the flesh of K’s hand deep before he knows it. His canines hurt a bit at the amount of force he uses to split the alpha's skin open. Hot blood gushes into his mouth but Ni-ki doesn’t let go. His body is on full alert at having the unwelcomed alpha in the same room as him, in the same bed as him. Right on top of him. Invading his personal space like it is not a big deal. 

Growling, the alpha moves to squeeze Ni-ki’s neck hard as he swears in agony.

“You bitch!” K growls. He shoves Ni-ki away causing the omega's head to bounce against the headboard hard. Ni-ki should be thankful his skull doesn’t crack into two.

Sunghoon, Sunghoon, Sunghoon, where are you? Tears form in Ni-ki’s eyes.

The speaker buzzes again somewhere in the room.

“K!” The woman's voice says angrily. “Rule number three. Do not use force to bring the omega into submission. He’s already going through his heat. He’ll bend at your will if you treat him well. Use your alpha voice if you must but never use physical force. I need this omega intact for further investigation as I explained to you before.”

The alpha nods his head once. It's the only sign that shows he actually listened to what was said.

The alpha’s eyes are still bloody red. His hand is covered by his own blood and he still looks at Ni-ki like he is seconds away from killing him.

“You’re a little bitch that needs to be taught manners.” K says dangerously loud. “Did nobody ever teach you to obey your alphas?”

K stalks forward until he is almost on top of Ni-ki again.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Ni-ki’s insides twist in agony.

But at the same time, Ni-ki feels the disgusting wet liquid slipping out of his entrance. His own body forces itself to prepare for the unwanted alpha.

His body is ready to take someone Ni-ki has never wanted. Someone he will never want. Because after all these years, there’s only one alpha that rules his mind and heart.

Park Sunghoon.

Even if Ni-ki will never get to tell him. Even if he will never see him again.

Park Sunghoon is always going to own every single inch of him regardless.

“Please don’t.” Ni-ki whimpers as he puts a hand on the alpha’s chest. He weakly tries to push him away, to set more space between them.

True comprehension of his situation finally clicks in his mind, but his instincts shriek with increasing alarm as the alpha remains by his side like a nuisance.

My heat, Ni-ki thinks. It's here.

Ni-ki doubles over with a whimper as he feels more slick ooze out of him. And although Ni-ki’s scent is getting sweeter there is still a hint of bitterness to it. He hasn't fully accepted K as his alpha.

When the unfamiliar, white hand of the unwanted alpha ghosts in his periphery again, Ni-ki snaps his head up with a ferocious, growling snarl.

K’s face falters for a second as he realizes his alpha’s pheromones are not working on Ni-ki. The pheromones were supposed to make the omega relax but it does the exact opposite. 

Ni-ki finds an opening when the alpha is distracted and he runs away from the bed, toppling over in the entangled sheets. But he recovers quickly enough to back himself away from the alpha and into the corner of the room. Ni-ki’s heart rate ratchets up as he makes himself smaller by pulling his knees to his chest.

But this doesn’t dissuade the growling alpha. On the contrary, it only makes him want Ni-ki more.

The alpha likes the chase and Ni-ki was providing just that. A nice game between a predator and it's prey before the pleasure would occur. 

Behind the screens, Sooha watches everything unfolding in the other room.

“Subject eleven thirty is showing signs of rejecting alpha number one.” Han says as he furiously types on the keyboard.

“He's refusing the alpha volunteer. Ni-ki doesn’t deem him compatible or worthy.” Sooha says in fascination.

“Why do you sound so happy about this?” Han says, as he shakes his head in annoyance.

“Because this means I might have finally found the subject I was looking for.” Sooha turns to look at Han with a big smile on her face. “It means I might have a chance.”

“I still don’t understand why you are studying omegas? They are at the bottom of the hierarchy, dear. Haven’t you seen the news? Nobody takes them seriously.” Han scoffs as he continues recording all the important details happening between K and Ni-ki.

“Oh, I know.” Sooha says. “I have experienced it first hand. But that’s not the point. I don’t care about how our society works now. The only thing I care about is how I can change it, shift it so the disgusting alphas no longer hold control of us.”

“We can’t go against alphas, Sooha.” Han tries to reason with her although he knows it is pointless.

“Of course we can’t. Unless we have something stronger to hold against them.” Sooha says.

“Like what?” Han scoffs one more time. “You think that useless omega is the answer to our problems? Think again. He can barely escape K’s claws. Soon he’ll submit to him.”

“I just need to observe him closely. If Ni-ki is really who I think he is, I’ll have everything I need to set my plan in motion.” Sooha says calmly as she watches the monitors.

“And what is that?”

“A fated mate.”

“Those are myths, Sooha.” Han grumbles. “Nobody has heard of one in the last fifteen years. It was probably all part of people’s imaginations.”

“It was not!” Sooha says angrily. “Fated mates are real and they are the key to my plan.”

“Really? You think Mr. Nishimura will obey you? He’ll do everything you say?” Han spits back. “I can’t believe I am wasting my time on this.”

“You know you owe me. I saved your life.”

“Yeah,” Han rolls his eyes. “I know. You don't need to remind me.”

“You are so narrow minded, dear. A fated omega can make their alpha bend as they please.” Sooha explains. “That’s exactly what I need to make alphas bend down on their knees. It’s what I need to move them down the hierarchy.”

“Is that your plan? To create a formula to inject into alphas to make them, what? Your slaves?”

“They won’t be my slaves. They’ll be an omega’s slave. A taste of their own medicine.”

“And who’s going to help you achieve this?” Han huffs. “Me?”

“The omegas that have raised against the system. Did you know even omega idols are part of this movement?”

Han looks at her in disbelief.

“A world where alphas can no longer command omegas to do as they please. A world where omegas are not at the bottom of the hierarchy but instead seat at the same level as the betas. Doesn’t it sound beautiful?”

“Sounds like a suicide attempt. Quite unrealistic when there is no real concrete proof that fated mates are still a thing.”

“They are.” She says with sparkling eyes. “Just look at how he tries to bite and scratch this alpha, Han. An omega going through their first heat should’ve crumbled at K’s touch. He should’ve opened his legs by now. But this feral omega is still fighting for his life. Waiting for the right alpha to walk through the door before fully submitting. He’s waiting for his mate.”

“And how are we supposed to lure this alpha to us?”

“We don’t.” Sooha chuckles.

“We don’t?” Han asks, baffled.

“The alpha will find his way here without us having to move a finger. If Ni-ki has a fated mate, he’ll find a way to his distressed omega.”

“We will see about that.” Han says warily.

“I know so. I can feel it.”

Sooha watches Ni-ki slap K on his left cheek. He snarls as K tries to pry his legs open one more time. Ni-ki’s fingernails scratch K’s wrists as he tries but fails to remove K’s hands away from his sensitive body.

“Cut the cameras.” Sooha commands and Han does as he is told.

“Don’t you want to see what happens?” Han says.

“I am not that cruel, Han.” Sooha looks at him with a stoic expression. “If Ni-ki isn’t who I think he is, then there is no need to watch him debauch himself for that alpha. I have already seen enough omegas become sluts for cocks. There’s no need to watch one more.”

In the other room, Ni-ki continues to fight for his life.

“Stop!” Ni-ki growls as he tries to push the alpha off him with all his force but K only presses harder, closer. 

“I heard the rumor from the guards, you know.” K licks his lips. His eyes gleam in the flickering white light as he gives Ni-ki a glance full of hunger. “Don’t know how you were able to hide for so long. But then again, nobody ever checks on the betas. They're not that important anyways.”

Ni-ki stiffens in recollection of all the years he hid as a beta. All the years he hid who he truly is from his new family... from his pack. 

“Why are you doing this to me?” Ni-ki whispers as his eyes drift to K’s hungry stare. “You don’t even know me.”

“I do not know what the lady wants from you,” K switches back to Japanese as he glances towards one of the walls in the room. “But if you let me, I can get you away on time before she comes for you. Before she can hurt you.”

Someone must be watching them, Ni-ki notes as he turns to look at the corner K had previously glanced at. He can’t see anything out of the ordinary but maybe they installed a camera to monitor him… like a prisoner.

“What do you mean?” Ni-ki tries to not flinch away from K’s touch when he caresses his cheek.

Ni-ki can feel bile coming up his throat. He tries to keep it down as he swallows one more time.

“By becoming my omega.” K smiles at him with adoring eyes. “You’re too beautiful to be trapped here.”

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Ni-ki goes into panic immediately. K's presence in the room feels so terribly wrong.

“I'd rather die!” Ni-ki snaps as he uses his legs to hit K right on the crotch. It gives him enough leeway to move away from the alpha and run for the door. He tries the handle but it is, of course, locked. He knows banging on it would be pointless so instead he grabs one of the lamps from one of the tables and raises it up.

It doesn’t take long for the alpha to gain his strength and stalk forward towards Ni-ki.

I am so dead, Ni-ki thinks as he looks into K’s murderous eyes. The alpha is furious, even his scent gets stronger. The smell of rancid cigarettes fills the entire room and it makes Ni-ki's legs wobble. 

“Oh omega,” K says angrily. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

In a blink of an eye, K is in front of Ni-ki gripping the side of his face. Ni-ki tries to hit him in the head with the lamp but it is knocked out of his hand when he is thrown to the floor. Ni-ki’s face gets roughly pressed against the cold marble floor.

Ni-ki feels like he is underwater, like he can’t breathe and his heart beats so hard it might explode out of his chest at any second. There are hands on Ni-ki’s shoulders that then move towards his neck. The grip on his throat tightens.

“Please,” Ni-ki says numbly.

He shivers, eyes wide as the pressure on his neck keeps increasing.

I don’t want this, Ni-ki shrieks in his mind.

Please let me go, Ni-ki wants to say but his voice is completely gone.

“You should be grateful.” K’s thumb brushes against Ni-ki’s scent gland causing Ni-ki’s eyes to flash with anger. K proceeds to murmur soothingly, “You should be grateful a strong alpha like me even suggested the idea of being together. Do you really think your friends, your group, will want you back after all the lies you have fed them all these years?“

Ni-ki’s head is suddenly slammed against the floor again. All Ni-ki can feel is pain. His body is trembling, his neck is being squeezed by the deathly grip of the alpha, his glands pulsate, and his head… he swears he is probably bleeding at this point.

But then -

His entire body feels like it caught on fire.

Ni-ki thrashes on the floor as his mouth parts and his throat finally closes, breaking all air circulation from his system. He squirms weakly as black spots appear on his vision.

He feels the fire and heat somehow circulate through his blood and veins.

Stop. Please stop! Ni-ki begs inwardly, as he feels his entire world fall apart.

And suddenly –

He hears the metal door open. It hits the wall.

Footsteps… definitely more than one.

The pressure on his neck is somehow lifted and Ni-ki’s instinct is to gasp for air.

A mixture of scents fill the air. Betas, alphas, and perhaps an omega? He’s not quite sure. He can’t pinpoint it and at this point he could care less.

Ni-ki screams when a hand touches his arm. He flinches back but his desperate cries get muted by a hand that is roughly clamped over his mouth. Ni-ki continues screaming but this time he screams someone’s name.

Sunghoon’s name.

Sunghoon! It is a muffled, agonized plea straight from his heart. As if the alpha would ever get to hear that.

But obviously he couldn’t hear him. He wasn’t there. He was never going to be there.

Ni-ki was alone. Like he has always been. The lonely weirdo from the pack. 

The odd one out. 

“You have to fucking stabilize him!” Someone yells in the distance. “I’m not about to let him die before I can get what I want. You better keep him alive or you are all dead by noon. Take some blood samples while you are at it.”

It was the same woman’s voice. The voice coming from the speaker.

“It’ll be over soon,” Someone says softly. An omega. Their scent hits Ni-ki’s nose like a breeze of fresh air. “We will give you something so you can rest, okay?”

Ni-ki can’t even nod back. All he can feel is the agonizing fire spreading through his body. He feels like he is being burned alive.

A needle is jammed into his neck, right next to his scent gland. Another needle is stabbed in his arm. 

Sunghoon. Ni-ki’s eyes roll back before sliding completely shut.

But this time instead of seeing K’s face in front of him, he sees the beautiful face of an alpha.

The only alpha Ni-ki has ever thought about. The only alpha he has ever wanted.

Sunghoon.

Sunghoon’s patience was running thin, ready to snap with every single step he took away from the dorm. Away from their home.

Sunghoon walks the packed streets with unusual trepidation. His hands are fisted in his jean pockets as he avoids being hit by other people’s shoulders. His eyes can’t help but wander around in search of the tall boy that had somehow stolen his heart and walked away with it. 

But everytime he looked, he came up with nothing. There was not a single trace of the tall beta anywhere near the location of their dorm.

The longer he walks, the more he begins to suspect that maybe Jungwon and the managers had actually lied to him and the rest of the group.

Maybe Ni-ki was actually in great danger? Maybe his health had worsened?

So instead, Sunghoon walks in the direction of the closest hospital. If Ni-ki was still sick, they would’ve taken him to the hospital for a check up.

He has to be there.

As he walks down the streets, Sunghoon can’t help but dial Ni-ki’s phone number again. Sunghoon’s phone pressed to his ear as the call went straight to voicemail one more time.

He furiously types yet another text message to the younger beta asking him to call him immediately or to tell him where he is so Sunghoon can go look for him.

The messages all go through but they are left unseen.

By now Sunghoon is one hundred percent sure there is something wrong going on. Even when the other members have fallen ill the communication between the group has never been compromised. Everyone has always been able to call the sick member to try to cheer them up. But now… he can’t even get hold of Ni-ki.

He can’t even hear his voice.

Sunghoon knows Ni-ki can take care of himself. He has always been quite independent. But this thought does nothing to soothe Sunghoon’s anxiety and nerves though.

Sunghoon strides the streets with increased urgency, trying in vain to find Ni-ki.

When he finally sees the entrance to the hospital, he lets out a sigh.

His inner alpha tells him to try to smell around and see if he can find a trail of Ni-ki’s scent but he is unsuccessful.

Ni-ki’s scent is almost nonexistent so Sunghoon can’t rely on it at all. Instead, he barges inside the hospital and heads straight to the reception area.

“I’m looking for a beta that was probably brought into this hospital earlier today.” Sunghoon clears his throat as he tries to sound friendly instead of in despair.

The nurse turns to look at him up and down as if she is still deciding if she wants to help him out or not.

“And what is your relation to the patient?” The nurse asks.

“Uhh I am his–” Sunghoon wrecks his brain trying to figure out what to say.

“If you are not related to the patient then I must ask you to step out. You are holding up the line.” She says as she looks away from him and back to her computer screen. She is already dismissing him.

“I’m his mate,” he blurs out.

“His what?” She looks at him again.

“His mate. He is my mate.” Sunghoon says more convincingly like what he is saying is true.

It was a shameless lie, given that Sunghoon had never suggested anything to Ni-ki. Not even once.

A glint that he couldn’t figure out flashed through her eyes. Her lips pinching into a straight line. She is probably still deciding if she believes him or not. But the desperation on Sunghoon’s eyes caused her to sigh in defeat.

“What is his name?” She asks.

“Nishimura Riki. But he also goes by Ni-ki.” He says as he grabs the counter and squeezes hard as she types in the name into their data records.

“There is no one here that goes by that name.” She says flatly.

“Can you please check again? Nishimura is spelled with–”

“I know how to spell Nishimura. I have searched for him and he is not showing up. Are you sure he was brought into this hospital?”

“Is there another one nearby?”

“Not really. There’s another private hospital right outside of Seoul. It’s probably about thirty minutes away by car.” She explains.

All they disclosed was that he is still here in Seoul but I have nothing else to give you, Sunghoon. Jungwon’s words come back to him.

If he is not here, where could he be?

Sunghoon’s anxiety and desperation are so palpable that the nurse looks at him with a bit of concern.

“He might have been taken to one of the facilities. Have you heard of those before?”

“What?” Sunghoon mumbles.

“There’s a couple of wellness facilities in Seoul. Those serve as clinics as well. Your mate might have been taken over there instead. It’s usually more affordable than a hospital, depending on the case.” The nurse explains.

“How many facilities are there out in Seoul?” Sunghoon asks as he grips the counter harder.

“There’s exactly three. One is the Alpha Wellness Facility, the Omega Wellness Facility, and the Beta Wellness Facility.”

He must have been taken to the Beta Facility then, Sunghoon notes.

“Unfortunately, there was a rather serious case that occurred in the Beta Facility a couple of days ago. They had to evacuate everyone when part of the building caught on fire.” She explains calmly. “The betas were sent to the Omega Facility.”

“How far is that from here?”

“About twenty minutes away.”

“Do you have their address?”

“Not really but let me look it up for you,” she types on her keyboard rapidly. Then she grabs a notepad and scribbles the address down for him. “Here you go.”

He bows his head down to show her respect and appreciation for everything she has done for him.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

“I hope your mate is okay and that you find him quickly,” She says sweetly. “I can tell his heat already hit him with full force. Your glands are bright red.”

“What?” He shrieks as he slaps one of his hands on top of it. He immediately regrets it as the gland starts pulsing angrily at the contact. He hisses in pain.

“I don’t recommend touching it or scratching it. It’ll just make it worse.” The nurse says. “Try to find your mate fast. That’s the only way to cure that.”

She points at the gland as she shakes her head until he finally lifts his hand away from it. The pain is still there but at least it doesn’t burn as bad anymore.

“How…” Sunghoon begins. “Is this…”

The nurse's eyes soften as she sees Sunghoon’s body tense.

“You’re one of the very few to be fortunate to have one.” She whispers as she tries to keep her voice low. Sunghoon notices the nurse scanning the crowd before she leans close to the counter. “If I were you, I wouldn’t let anyone know. Cover the gland. If anyone asks, just tell them you’re in pre-rut. There’s a reason why you don’t hear about fated mates that often anymore.”

Sunghoon’s eyebrows furrow in confusion as he tries to understand what he is being told.

“Just keep it covered. When you get to the Omega Facility don’t mention it to anyone. Especially the evil witch.”

“Evil witch?” Sunghoon mumbles.

“Yeah. Their annoying director.” The nurse rolls her eyes as her tone goes back to normal. “I worked under her supervision for a year. It was enough to make me run away as fast as I could.”

“Thank you for the advice.” Sunghoon says courtly. He can’t help but glance at the clock.

I’m wasting time.

“Go, go, go!” She waves him off. “I hope you find him.”

Sunghoon genuinely smiles at her and pushes away from the counter.

He doesn’t even realize he is running down the hall. He’s too focused on getting to the facility.

Too focused on finding his Ni-ki.

The moment he steps out of the taxi Sunghoon knows getting Ni-ki out of that building will be harder than expected.

Guards stand near the big wooden doors. A metallic fence goes around the entire perimeter and every visible entrance has a lock on it.

Clearly the facility was either too concerned about the omegas safety or it served as a whole prison to keep them locked inside.

And Sunghoon is going to find out which of the two is true.

His instincts tell him to stay away, to not go in. But his alpha also yearns to find Ni-ki. To hold him in his arms again. So without any further thought, he steps closer to the main gate.

The moment he steps closer to the fence his phone starts ringing. He scrambles to accept the call and puts the phone next to his ear. 

And when he does he immediately barks into it without bothering to check the screen.

"Ni-ki?"

"No, dude! Don't you ever check your caller ID?" Jay snaps from the other side of the line. 

"Do you have any news about Ni-ki?" Sunghoon says as he completely dismisses Jay's question. 

"No but Jungwon is going insane. Now that you're also gone he realized how fucked up it is not to know where our only beta is located. He has been on the phone with Kim and Yuki all night but so far they haven't disclosed anything else." 

"Then don't waste my time!" Sunghoon snarls. "Call me only if you hear about him or have an update on his location."

"Sunghoon," Jay says. "Come home. Jungwon is a mess and you have no idea where Ni-ki can be. Let's come up with a realistic plan that we can all be involved in."

"No." Sunghoon grunts. "I can't keep wasting time."

He shuffles closer to the gate and one of the guards finally catches his movement. 

"I got to go." Sunghoon says quickly as he watches the guard approach him slowly. 

"Wait, wait, wait!" Jay yells. "Where the fuck are you?"

"The Omega Wellness Facility."

"The what?" Jay says incredulously. "What are you going there?"

"I think Ni-ki was brought here. He wasn't at the hospital so I was advised to come here."

"Are you nuts? You can't just walk in to one of those facilities. Let me call you a taxi and-"

"No." Sunghoon groans exasperatedly. The guard is only a couple of steps away from him now. "I really have to go but if you don't hear back from me in four hours, come get me."

"Sunghoon are you fucking mental? Those people are not nice. They are-"

There’s a bit of shuffling on the other side before a muffled voice comes from Jay's line. 

"Is that Sunghoon?" Jungwon asks in the background. "Tell him to come home immediately. No, Jay. That's enough. Tell him this is a damn order!"

Sunghoon ends the call right before the guard stands in front of him. Sunghoon pretends he doesn’t hear the last bit. Or at least that’s what he will say later when he’s asking for Jungwon and Jay's forgiveness for disobeying them. For going against the Pack Alpha.

"This is private property. I must ask you to please leave the premises." The guard says coldly. 

"I am here for an omega," Sunghoon says with confidence to hide the fear and desperation he is feeling right now.

"You and every other alpha that sniffs the enticing heat these omegas release." The guard chuckles. "Go home."

"I-" Sunghoon gulps. "My mate is in there."

"Your mate?" The guard's eyes narrow into slits.

"Yes. I believe he was brought here by mistake and I need to take him home with me." Sunghoon says quickly as he feels his phone vibrate in his pocket. 

It's probably Jay or Jungwon. 

"You're not the first one to try this card on us but I'll let the director deal with you tonight. I don't get paid enough for this crap."

The guard moves away from him and grumbles a "Follow me". 

Sunghoon doesn't question it. He walks behind the guard until he is finally standing in front of the big reception area. 

"Yuna will help you," the guard turns and walks out of the building without saying another word. 

Sunghoon walks towards the counter and spots a red headed lady behind the desk. 

"Hello," Sunghoon says. "I'm here to-"

"Let me guess?" Yuna interrupts him. "You're here for an omega and you want to request their immediate release?"

"Yes." Sunghoon says. "Well, not really. He is not an omega but I was told some betas were transferred to this facility?" 

"Name?"

"Nishimura Riki but he also goes by Ni-ki." 

Yuna turns towards her computer and types quickly. Her brows furrowed as she stares at the screen. 

She turns to look at Sunghoon with pure disgust.

"I advise you to go home unless you would like me to call security."

What?

"I'm sorry... What?" Sunghoon snaps as anger quickly rises inside of him. 

"I am asking you to go home." Yuna says again more sternly. 

"Not until you confirm if Ni-ki is being held captive in this facility!" A starburst of rage radiated behind Sunghoon's eyes. His lips pull into a snarl as he is denied access to see his... not his... Ni-ki. 

"Held captive?" Yuna's evil chuckle echos down the hallway. "That omega was brought in and admitted to the facility legally earlier today. Sure, he was knocked out but someone signed him in."

Omega?

"He is not an omega, you must've searched for the wrong person. His name is spelled-"

"There's only one Nishimura Riki on file. He is an unmated omega." Yuna says with a glint of surprise in her eyes. 

Sunghoon's face pales.

He is an omega? No, it can't be possible. He is a beta. He has always been a beta.

"Oh God!" Yuna exclaims as she realizes that Sunghoon has no idea about who Ni-ki truly is. "You don't know, don't you? You had no idea that he is an omega? A fertile and sweet omega." 

Yuna's voice felt like daggers on Sunghoon's mind. 

"Discharge him. I'm taking him home." Sunghoon growls. It was a command not a simple request.

"Can't do." Yuna smiles at him mockingly. "There's strict rules we must follow. Only the person who brought him in or his mate can get him released."

"I'm his mate," Sunghoon barks out.

Yuna chuckles. "Did you not hear me say he is an unmated omega? There's no bite mark on his neck."

"He is my fucking mate! Get him out!" Sunghoon's expression cracking into something dangerous.

The sound of heels clicking sharply on the marble floor came from the end of the hallway. 

"You better leave." Yuna says as she glances back to the narrow hallway. "I'm telling you this for your own good."

"I'm not leaving without him." Sunghoon snarls in warning. 

Yuna's eyes glance to Sunghoon's neck and he stiffens. He quickly uses the neck of his jacket to cover his gland. 

Sunghoon turns to his left when he notices a petite woman appear. He can tell that she is much older than him due to her white long hair. 

"Is there something wrong, Yuna?" She turns to the other lady. She smiles at her but it doesn't reach her eyes. 

Fake, Sunghoon thinks. 

"Not at all!" Yuna exclaims. "He is about to leave. Right?"

Yuna turns to look at him with pleading eyes. 

"No." Sunghoon says firmly. "I'm not leaving without my mate." 

"Oh?" The older lady says. "Your mate? May I know who they are so we can resolve this for you?"

She gives as stern look at Yuna before turning to Sunghoon again smiling. 

"Uhhh, sure. His name is Nishimura Riki. I would like to get him discharged so I can take him home with me."

"Nishimura Riki?" She says curiously. 

"Yes." Sunghoon bites out. 

"And you are his mate?" 

"He is not." Yuna interrupts. 

"Is he or is he not?" The older woman asks him directly, ignoring Yuna's comment. 

This is it. Sunghoon thinks. If I say no, Ni-ki will stay locked in this facility. And if I say yes... I would be lying. 

"Yes, he is my mate." Sunghoon seals the deal. 

"Alright then, follow me." She says calmly. 

"But-" Yuna starts saying.

"It's okay, Yuna. I'll take care of this." 

Yuna bows her head and heads back to her desk. She gives a pitiful glance at Sunghoon before looking back at her computer screen. 

Sunghoon follows the other lady down the narrow hallway.

"My name is Sooha, by the way." She says. 

"Sunghoon," he states. 

"Nishimura Riki was brought in earlier today," she explains as they walk together through the sterile hall that remind him a lot of a clinic. 

Sunghoon can help but glance at the few people that walk through the other side of the hallway. 

Alphas. He notices quickly. They smell like alphas. 

"Oh yes," Sooha says. "I see you have noticed our alpha volunteers already."

"Alpha volunteers?"

"Yes, they are here to assist those omegas that are currently in heat."

Sunghoon doesn't like that. He can't help but feel like there's something eerie about the entire facility. The building is too quiet, too clean.

“We have sound proof rooms,” she says pridefully. “The facility was renovated last year to help improve our patients rooms and other amenities.”

Sunghoon nods his head. He could care less about anything she is saying. His eyes dart around as he searches for any signs of Ni-ki. 

But there's nothing out there that hint that Ni-ki is in there somewhere. 

She motions him to get in an elevator and he does so quickly. They stand inside in complete silence until she speaks again, "I know you're not his mate. That omega is unmated. There isn't a visible mark on him." Sunghoon's body tenses. He knows he has been caught. "You're not in trouble. Don't worry. I must inform you that, Ni-ki, refused our alpha volunteer."

"What?" A loud growl comes out of Sunghoon's mouth. Just imagining Ni-ki with another alpha is enough to make his blood boil. 

"You must understand that an omega needs an alpha. If he doesn't have one, we provide him with one. Especially when we deal with an omega's first heat." 

"First heat?" He growls.

"Yuna didn't tell you? Nishimura Riki is going through his first heat. We can't let him go through it alone."

"So instead you decided to force a stranger onto him against his will-"

"Now, now, now, there's no need to get all aggressive. He refused this alpha so we took the volunteer out of the room. After all, we are not savages here."

"You still brought a stranger near him. Do you hear yourself? That is fucking insane-" Sunghoon's voice is dangerously loud, full of anger.

"Lower your voice." Sooha snaps. "Or I won't hesitate to call security so they can escort you out of here."

Sunghoon snaps his mouth shut. 

He is not leaving without Ni-ki. Even if that means he has to bite his tongue and play nice with the crazy lady. 

She must be the evil witch the nurse mentioned before, he recalls. 

"Good, I see you're not a stupid alpha after all." She says as the elevator doors finally open. They both walk to another sterile hallway. 

They finally stop in front of a handle-less door. Sooha taps a rapid pattern into the keypad, before she clicks on the green key, she turns to look at him. 

"I am usually quite strict when it comes to unsolicited alphas coming in to my facility and lying to my face. But something tells me you might be different. That maybe Nishimura Riki might actually accept you as an alpha after rejecting our best candidate. If I see him reject you, I'll get you pulled out that room in seconds. With that being said, do you still wish to enter?"

"Yes," Sunghoon says instantly without hesitation. 

"Alright then." Sooha turns and presses the green key. The door unlocks automatically. "I must warn you though, he is not in the best condition. He had an altercation with our volunteer so he is currently sleeping."

Sunghoon wants to curse at her... maybe even search for the alpha so he can kill him with his bare hands for touching what is his. 

Instead he nods once as he reaches for the door. 

"Good luck." Sooha says. "And don't make me regret giving you this opportunity. I can be really mean when provoked."

"I don't need luck." Sunghoon mutters as he walks into the pristine white room. 

I don't need it because Ni-ki is mine. 

He has always been mine. 

In front of Sunghoon a prison cell is revealed. The wall's in the room are almost completely bare. There isn't much decoration and the room was painted in pure white.

A whiff of blood hits his nose first when he walks in. It wasn't just anyone's blood. It was definitely an alpha's and also an omega's blood. There was a faint smell of cigarettes until something sweeter followed. Sunghoon didn't know what it was, where it is coming from. Regardless, he can't help but take a lungful of the sweet scent. 

There is a massive bed against one of the walls, a broken lamp near one of the corners, a bit of blood on the floor too. 

Sunghoon walks further inside the room. He accidently steps on the shattered bit of glass from the lamp that now lays on the floor. A throaty whimper rumbles from behind the white sheets.   

Is that you?

He wants to call out for Ni-ki but he is too afraid that the person laying on the bed is not who he is looking for.

Where is this scent coming from? Why do I like it so much? 

He slowly walks towards the bed unsure of what awaits below all of those white sheets. His scent gland throbs in his neck the closer he gets.

"Ni-ki?" His own voice coming out thick and husky as he slowly approaches the bed. The sweet scent that surrounds him is driving him crazy.

The body in the bed shifts as another whimper comes out of the omega. But then the omega starts growling. 

A tuft of dark hair and wide brown eyes peak over the edge of the bedsheets. 

Ni-ki.

Sunghoon feels like all the air in his lungs has been punched out of him. 

Sunghoon blinks slowly, his mind suddenly connecting all the dots together like puzzle pieces. Rage blinds him but it is quickly followed by overwhelming concern for Ni-ki. 

He has been an omega all this time.

Sunghoon growls at the thought but he tries his best to suppress his anger.

“Ni-ki?” He questions, blinking confusedly when Ni-ki's head ducks back down behind the sheets once more. 

Is he scared of me? Sunghoon thinks. Seeing Ni-ki hide away from him in fear causes Sunghoon to snarl. Without wasting more time, Sunghoon grabs the sheets and tugs them down. 

Ni-ki shrieks. "No!"

Sunghoon is hit by the most delicious scent of strawberries and a hint of chocolate. Sunghoon can't help but lick his lips as his gaze flickers to scan Ni-ki from tip to toe. Sunghoon tries not to get on top of Ni-ki. But he badly wants to shove his face into Ni-ki's neck and nestle in.

Ni-ki is definitely an omega. Only an omega would smell this good.

My omega - Sunghoon can't help but claim him as his, even if it is only in his mind. 

Sunghoon's pupils dilate when another wave of Ni-ki's sweet scent reaches his nose.

Ni-ki reaches for the bedsheets again to try to cover himself away from Sunghoon's sight. 

"No, don't look!" Ni-ki blurts out as he shakes his head frantically with frenzied, wide eyes.

Sunghoon grabs the sheets and throws them to the floor away from Ni-ki's reach as he growls at the omega. He hates that Ni-ki doesn't feel safe enough to show himself. He can't help but assess him and Sunghoon absolutely hates what he sees.

There's a faint purple bruise already forming on Ni-ki's neck. Another faint bruise on his right arm... and his hair, it is sticking out everywhere as if someone had tugged on it.

"Baby," Sunghoon lets the endearment slip and that seems to pull Ni-ki back to him. 

Tears form in Ni-ki's eyes. "I-I'm s-sor-rry." 

He bares his neck for the alpha. Ni-ki can't help it, it comes naturally to him. Especially because the alpha standing in front of him is the one he wants. The one he gravitates to.

There is something so enticing about the handsome alpha, both on and off the stage. Even when Sunghoon isn't in his idol mode, Ni-ki can't help but swoon over him. He is big, strong, tall, and so capable of providing for an omega.

Fuck, Ni-ki thinks. His inner omega screams at him to submit.

Submit, submit, submit!

What he would give to submit to the alpha, to be claimed and wanted and loved—

"You lied to me," Sunghoon snarls slowly lowering himself on top of Ni-ki, caging him in between his body and the bed. Shoulders tense and his chest heaving with each deep breath he takes. Ni-ki didn’t need to look at Sunghoon's face to know instantly that the alpha is pissed. He could smell it.

Ni-ki stiffens but says nothing. His lips press together as he looks towards the ceiling instead. A blush runs across his cheeks. He swallows and his mouth gets suddenly too dry.

However, the omega doesn't make an attempt to push Sunghoon away from him like he had with K. 

Ni-ki will never be able to push Sunghoon away.

"Why did you lie to me?" Sunghoon growls, voice was harsh and deadly. An angry rumbling noise is heard coming from the alpha's inner chest as he moves even closer to Ni-ki's face.

Ni-ki can feel the anger simmering under Sunghoon's skin. Their eyes lock and the omega immediately realizes just how much the alpha has been hurt.

Because of me. Because I lied to him.

"Hoon,” Ni-ki blurts out, knowing that whatever he will say will not erase the fact that he didn't trust Sunghoon enough to reveal his true identity to him. 

"Why didn't you tell me? Do you..." Sunghoon drops his head, his forehead bumping against Ni-ki's... in defeat. 

"I was so worried about you... I thought the worst," Sunghoon sights as the admission slips out. "I searched for you all over but I couldn't find you and then no one wanted to tell me where you were. Why...W-why didn't you tell me what was going on? I co-could've helped."

Ni-ki's tears fall like a waterfall, completely wetting his cheeks. 

"Sorry, I'm sorry!" Ni-ki moves his face to present his neck to the alpha once more. He'll give anything to Sunghoon as long as he forgives him. So he offers the ultimate treasure he has hold on for years. 

He submits. 

And the alpha can't help but fall into temptation. He will take whatever Ni-ki gives him. 

"Don't ever lie to me again.” Sunghoon says softly as he leans forward. His breath fans gently over Ni-ki’s burning skin. “Never hide anything from me again. Understood, Riki?”

He doesn't wait for Ni-ki to acknowledge what he said. He knows his omega will obey. He had used his alpha voice for the first time and he would use it again if that meant Ni-ki will stay safe with him forever.

Sunghoon dips his head and latches his teeth around Ni-ki's gland, stroking his hot tongue over Ni-ki's pulse.

Sunghoon releases alpha pheromones unintentionally causing Ni-ki’s eyes to darken with lust. His body stiffens and tightens for a brief moment before he unconsciously bucks his hips up, grazing against the alpha’s prominent bulge. 

Ni-ki gapes, stunned silent when he realizes his body is producing more slick, it oozes down his hole.

"Mine," Sunghoon snarls, sucking hard against his gland when he smells Ni-ki's arousal.

Ni-ki, on the other hand, obeys and let's Sunghoon taste him as he releases a pathetic whine. 

Ni-ki grips Sunghoon's arms and pulls him closer to him with surprising strength. Sunghoon collapses on Ni-ki with a grunt as the omega's arms and legs wrap around him in a clingy embrace. 

Sunghoon can’t tear his eyes away from Riki. He trails his gaze over every bruise, every mole. He’s already memorized their placement anyways. 

Ni-ki tries to get under control, but that all seems to fly out the window now as he is face to face with Sunghoon and his scent. The aching and fire inside of him increases. 

He wants Sunghoon. 

He needs him. 

"Camera." Ni-ki whispers as Sunghoon's tongue grazes his gland again. 

That seems to snap Sunghoon out of the daze he is in. "Camera?"

Ni-ki whimpers and nods his head. 

"Oh-" In a moment of clarity, Sunghoon remembers where they are, that someone is most likely watching them.

"Please!" Ni-ki yells as another wave of arousal hits him. 

Ni-ki manages to let out a soft whine, resistance melting as the alpha’s intoxicating scent envelopes him.

“Hoon…” Ni-ki whimpers. The word was strangled, helpless and so painful with ache. A plea. 

"Tell me to stop before I fuck this up, before I do something really dumb." Sunghoon grunts.

"D-don't want them to see." Ni-ki whispers embarrassed.

"I won't let them. I promise." Sunghoon says. "Because I'm the only one allowed to see you like this. I'll find a way out, okay?"

Sunghoon can't help but growl possesively. He has never shared his things with anyone and he wasn't going to start with Ni-ki.

He will always be the only one allowed to see Ni-ki in this vulnerable state. He had absolutely no intention of sharing this side of Ni-ki with anyone.

He is mine. 

Ni-ki nods his head acknowledging Sunghoon's promise. 

"I’ll take care of you,” Sunghoon says, voice hoarsely. That makes Ni-ki beam, hands and legs squeezing Sunghoon closer. 

"You have to be good though," Sunghoon chuckles lightly. "Will you be good for me?"

Ni-ki nods his head eagerly but Sunghoon quickly notices the pained and feverish features that show in his face.

His heat is getting worse.

Ni-ki's hot red swell of his gland is exposed to Sunghoon's greedy eyes.

That's how my gland probably looks. Sunghoon thinks.

My body knew Ni-ki was mine before my brain could catch up. 

"I need you to nibble on my neck and ear. I'm going to call Jay so the pack can get us out of here but we can't let them know I have a phone so you have to block their view," Sunghoon whispers on Ni-ki's ear. "You can be as loud as you want."

Ni-ki stiffens and erupts in an outraged growl. His head snapping up to look at Sunghoon. Pure fear transforming his face and Sunghoon understands what is wrong.

He instantly regrets making the omega feel unsafe again so he rushes to add, “I won't tell them, I swear. They won't know.”

Ni-ki wasn't ready to reveal his identity to the rest of the pack and Sunghoon had to respect that. It wasn't his secret to tell so he had to keep his mouth shut instead... at least for the meantime.

"You promise?" Ni-ki whimpers.

"I promise." Sunghoon says immediately. 

He plants a wet kiss on Ni-ki's lips before whispering, "Are you ready, baby?"

Ni-ki's anger and doubts slowly subside. He trusts Sunghoon. He trusts him to keep his secret.

"Yes, alpha." He whimpers as he submits and follows the alpha's request. 

His tongue slips out without much thought, it comes naturally, tasting the salty skin on Sunghoon's neck. He can't help but lick the throbbing gland as well. He sucks the swelling flesh into his mouth. 

And as Ni-ki devours Sunghoon's neck, the alpha struggles with shaking hands to get his phone out without making it too obvious. 

He groans when Ni-ki's teeth graze his earlobe.

But even if he would love to take and mark the omega as his right this instant he knows he wouldn't forgive himself for doing so in what seems to be a prison cell. 

So instead, he rapidly dials Jay's number. It rings twice before the other alpha picks up. 

"Sunghoon!" Jay yells.

"I don't have time. I need you to come get me and Ni-ki out of the Omega Facility. We are locked in. Can't really get out without help." 

Ni-ki pants hard as he continues to suck on Sunghoon's neck making sure his head blocks the phone. 

The omega whimpers hating the fact that his alpha is busy with something else... someone else.

Pay attention to me! Ni-ki wants to shout but he remembers he has to be good. 

Must be good for our alpha.

Must obey.

"Omega Facility? Why the fuck are you still there?" Jay exclaims. "Locked in? Are you being held hostage or something?"

"Just get your shit together and come get us. There's something wrong with this place."

There's a permeable hint of fear in Sunghoon's voice that Jay catches. 

Jay also hears the whimpers and moans coming from someone that sounds just like Ni-ki but he doesn't ask. It's something that can wait until they are back safely in their home. 

A garble string of words fall from Ni-ki's spit-shined mouth as he continues to nibble on Sunghoon's neck.

"On it." Jay says.

Sunghoon doesn't wait for Jay to say anything else. Too scared that whoever is monitoring them had noticed the phone by now. He hangs up immediately.

His lips find Ni-ki's in an instant. He bites at Ni-ki’s bottom lip and kisses him passionately. He explores the taste of him to the point he draws out soft whines and breathy moans from the omega.

The moment Ni-ki releases more slick, the kiss turns filthy. It's all teeth and tongue and muffle sounds. They can't help but rut against one another. 

"I can't take you here," Sunghoon grunts. "Everyone will see."

"Don't care," Ni-ki whimpers. He's already so far gone he would do anything even expose himself to others just to have Sunghoon. 

"Never thought you would be so shameless, little brat. Do you like being watched?” Sunghoon chuckles as Ni-ki opens his legs wider, making space for his alpha. 

"Please, please, please!" Ni-ki yells as tears form in his eyes from the desperation of wanting Sunghoon inside of him.

"You're lucky I do not like to share." Sunghoon huffs. "Although I do enjoy hearing you beg." 

Ni-ki starts rocking his hips back and forth trying to get some friction to sedate his hunger. 

"Alpha!" He says without thinking. He can't believe he is letting his omegan instincts take over as if he didn't hide them for years. How easily he had bend over to please Sunghoon. 

"Greedy slut," Sunghoon huffs and Ni-ki moans at the gentle degradation. 

He should be offended but it does the absolute opposite for him. His cock throbs painfully against his pants. 

Sunghoon's breathing grows ragged.

"I'll give you everything you want once we are out of here." Sunghoon growls. 

Ni-ki's eyes roll and with a gasping sob he shouts, “Sunghoon." 

A shiver runs up Ni-ki's spine as the alpha desperately settles in between his spread legs. 

Sunghoon inhales deep lungfuls, his gaze darkening. 

“I can smell you.” Sunghoon purrs loudly, a rarely heard noise. “You are so wet for me, aren't you?”

And Ni-ki couldn’t deny it, anyone with a nose could smell how ready he is for Sunghoon. 

My slick. A shiver of mortification travels from Ni-ki's toes, up to the top of his head.

"It's okay, baby. You smell so damn good but I need to bring you home first." Sunghoon moans.

I'll bring you home.

Where you belong. 

Right next to me.

Sooha watches with a bright smile at how Sunghoon and Ni-ki's encounter unfolds. 

"I told you." Sooha says.

Han can't believe what he is seeing. After watching Ni-ki reject K and then coward in fear when the alpha nurses moved him to the bed, he had thought Ni-ki would do the same to this new alpha. 

However, it was quite the opposite.

The omega had melted the moment the alpha had closed in to his personal space. 

"I told you he would only submit to his fated mate." 

"So what now?" Han asks.

"Cut the cameras off. Let's give them some privacy."

Han turns the cameras off as instructed. 

"I'll keep them locked until his heat is over. I'll need some blood samples from the alpha as well." Sooha explains as her eyes glimmer with hope. 

"Do you want me to send a group of alphas to retrieve it?"

"I want the alpha blood to be collected once he marks Ni-ki as his."

"So we just wait?" Han scoffs.

"Yes. We'll check on them tomorrow morning. Based on what I have seen so far, the deed should be completed by then." 

"Alright then," Han nods.

"We'll start the plan in motion once we have the blood samples. I'll even give Ni-ki the chance to break free from the shackles that will bound him to this alpha. A thank you gift for being the key to our salvation."

"I don't think he will want to break free." 

"Even if he doesn't, I'll still break the bond. That boy doesn't deserve being tied to an alpha. There's a reason why he hid as a beta all these years. He wants to be free like me."

Don't worry, Ni-ki. I'll make sure that you are set free even if that means taking your alpha out of the equation. Sooha thinks as she walks out the door.

Chapter Text

Ni-ki’s fingers curl around Sunghoon’s shirt, clutching desperately. His scent is getting thicker. He smells ripe, overwhelming, almost narcotic. Ni-ki’s sweet scent floods through the small room, curling into every crevice and it burns against Sunghoon’s restraint like acid.

“I need you.” Ni-ki whimpers. His voice is raw and sweet as strawberries. “Sunghoon, please…”

Sunghoon clenches his jaw as he tries to control himself. He tries to stay strong although Ni-ki is becoming an impossible temptation to ignore.

“I know.” He whispers, pressing his forehead to Ni-ki’s. “I know, baby. Just hold on. Jay’s coming soon. We’re gonna get out of here.”

Ni-ki’s body trembles beneath him as his skin keeps getting warmer and warmer. He nuzzles closer, purring again. The sound is low, desperate vibrations that echo against Sunghoon’s chest like a dying heartbeat. 

“Don’t leave me.” Ni-ki mumbles.

“Never.”

But Sunghoon’s heart is thundering for a different reason now.

The cameras are watching. He knows someone is out there.

He glances subtly at the corners of the ceiling where the lenses blink, cold and unblinking. He remembers Ni-ki’s whispered warning: they see everything . There is no window, no big vent, not even a drawer to break open. The only door out is tightly sealed against the white walls that resemble a sterile testing lab. 

Because that’s what this is, wasn’t it?

A cage.

A lab for an experiment.

And Ni-ki is the subject. Or maybe both of them are now…

From the other side of the glass, Sooha watches with a disturbing sort of serenity. Her white coat drapes like a queen’s mantle, her fingers steeple under her chin as she stares at the screen.

“Oh, he’s strong.” She murmurs to the silent room. “Look at him fighting it. Resisting the bond. Totally fascinating.”

Han shifts uncomfortably. “Sooha… should we really be—”

She holds up a hand to silence him. 

“Hush. This is soulmate behavior. You see how the alpha refuses to claim despite the omega's begging? He’s prioritizing safety. That’s what a real alpha looks like. Loyal. Obedient. Soon, they'll both submit. And once they do then we will take what we need.”

Back in the room, Ni-ki arches up weakly against Sunghoon’s body, whispering broken things—half-pleas, half-mating calls.

“Sunghoon… it hurts,” he gasps. “It hurts so much…”

Sunghoon shuts his eyes. His inner alpha howls to answer Ni-ki’s pleas, to ease Ni-ki’s pain the way nature demands. But his logic and rational side stays firm. He can’t do it. Not here. Not like this.

He turns his head slightly, pressing his lips to Ni-ki’s damp temple. 

“Breathe through it. Just breathe, baby. I’ve got you.”

But every second is pure agony.

Sunghoon’s phone buzzes against his thigh—vibration only. A reply from Jay.

Sunghoon grabs Ni-ki carefully and places him right above his leg so Sunghoon can check the phone discreetly without letting whoever is watching them know he has asked for help.

[JAY]: 

got ur location. gimme 15. bringing help. 

guys are with me.

HOLD TIGHT!

Sunghoon’s eyes burn with relief. Fifteen minutes. He just needs to keep Ni-ki safe for fifteen more minutes.

But it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Not when Ni-ki is slipping under.

“Sunghoon…” Ni-ki’s voice cracks like shattered porcelain. “Why? Does alpha don't like me?”

Sunghoon feels something splinter deep in his chest.

“No, baby.That’s not it. ” He whispers truthfully. “I… We can’t. Not here where someone is watching. Later, I promise. I swear I’ll take care of you.”

Ni-ki lets out a sob. It’s loud and painful. It sucks Sunghoon’s breath out his lungs. 

And then Ni-ki is all over him…kissing him. Not desperate, but soft. Final. As if trying to seal the bond before he loses consciousness.

Sunghoon catches him before he rolls off the bed fully.

“Careful,” He says hoarsely, cradling Ni-ki closer. “You’re not allowed to get hurt, baby. We need to get out of here first. Okay?”

Ni-ki starts trembling, fingers still curled into Sunghoon’s shirt like it is the only thing keeping him tethered to this world. His breath comes in short gasps, his cheeks flushed deep pink, pupils blown wide with need. His body is burning up, and the omega part of him that had been long hidden, so fiercely suppressed—is clawing its way out.

“Sunghoon…” Ni-ki whimpers again, lips brushing Sunghoon’s throat. “Please! Just for a second! Please make it stop…”

Sunghoon’s entire body is coiled like a wire. The scent in the room keeps getting thicker with omega slick and suppressed alpha instinct. He can’t give in. Not now. Not here. Not with them watching.

Sooha frowns as she stares at the screens.

“He’s stabilizing Ni-ki. He is controlling Ni-ki’s outburst. They're resisting. I don’t have time for this!” Sooha grunts. “I may need to increase the gland stimulant. Otherwise the mating urge might stall again…”

She reaches for one of the switches.

Han tries to stop her by grabbing her arm half way. 

“Sooha, do you know what the hell you’re doing?” Han yells. “This is dangerous shit! We haven’t tried this before. It might kill them!” 

“You think I give a shit?” Sooha laughs cruelly as she snatches her arm back. “I just need their stupid scent glands, Han. Or do you forget our overall goal?”

She pulls the switch and soon enough the vents carry more than just air.

“Initiate controlled pheromone flood. Increase heat stimulant and alpha pheromones to 85% saturation. Let’s see if biology can override sentiment.” Sooha smiles.

A small hiss echoes through hidden vents in the ceiling of the room. The air shifts instantly tainted with chemical lust.

Sunghoon feels the air shift. Ni-ki whimpers under him. His body tenses with a fresh wave of heat-induced agony. It hits him like a storm. His back arches violently.

It hits Ni-ki first.

The omega lets out a strangled gasp, eyes snapping wide before rolling back completely. His entire body jerks violently, back arching off the bed. 

“Ah!!” The scream is pure pain and hunger, his body responding far too fast for him to understand. “Alpha!”

“Ni-ki?!” Sunghoon grabs him, barely, arms locking around Ni-ki’s convulsing form. “What the hell? What’s happening?!”

And then he smells it too.

The heavy, synthetic spike of omega and alpha pheromones, engineered and wrong. His instincts surge forward, burning through his self-control like gasoline through dry brush.

Ni-ki clutches at him now, his thighs quivering around Sunghoon’s hips. His slick has now soaked through both layers of clothing between them, hot and humiliating. The omega’s body releases everything in a desperate bid for relief.

Sunghoon feels it. Every drop. Every moan. Every purr.

“Shit—”

Ni-ki’s head lolls, lips parting and drooling, eyes glazed. His body is pliant and begging, grinding weakly against Sunghoon’s lap as another whimper rips from his throat. 

“S-Sunghoon. Alpha. I can’t! I can’t! Make it stop—!”

Sunghoon snaps.

The sharp, animal snarl that tears from his throat is unlike any sound he has ever made. He surges to his feet, Ni-ki clinging to his chest like a ragdoll, and rips the first camera clean off the wall.

One. Sparks fly.

Two. Wires tear.

Three. Plastic shatters as it hits the floor.

Four. He grips the last camera he can reach and turns toward the mirror behind it, staring straight into the face of his captor.

“You’re watching, aren’t you?” He growls, voice so low it could strip paint. “Come out here. Face me. Open the door. Or are you too much of a pussy to face me?”

He drops the camera and steps back towards the wall with Ni-ki still cradled in his arms, trembling and leaking and ruined from the stimulant surge.

He lifts Ni-ki higher into his arms, pure rage igniting his scent like wildfire. 

“You want an alpha?” Sunghoon growls into the air, staring up toward whatever mic they are listening through. “I swear to god! If you don’t open that fucking door in the next ten seconds, I will burn this whole place down with you in it.”

From the other side of the glass, Sooha simply smiles.

“Oh, Sunghoon,” she whispers. “You’re perfect .”

Meanwhile, outside…

A black van screeches to a halt at the edge of a remote road, just where the GPS signal has finally died. Behind him, two other vans followed. Heeseung at the wheel of one and Jungwon already stepping out of the other before the engine had fully stopped.

“This is it.” Jay says, already moving.

They all looked ahead. Beyond the tall trees and the narrow, cracked road lies a facility surrounded by reinforced fencing topped with barbed wire. A single building. White, sleek, silent. No sign. No people. But cameras mounted at every corner.

“What kind of hospital looks like this?” Jake asks, narrowing his eyes.

“It’s definitely not a hospital.” Jay mutters. “It’s a fucking compound.”

Sunoo steps closer to the fence, fingers curling around the mesh. “Are they even in there? Are we sure? Are you sure, Jay-hyung?”

Jay pulls out his phone, tapping to Sunghoon’s last message.

[SUNGHOON]: 

we’re trapped. bring help. don’t trust anyone here.

- 31 minutes ago.

But since then… nothing.

No typing dots. No calls. Just silence.

Jay’s jaw tightens. 

“He sounded… wrong. Desperate. I’ve never heard his voice like that before. Angry. Scared. Like he didn’t think he was gonna make it out.”

The wind blows through the clearing, but no sound comes from the facility.

“We can’t just stand here.” Heeseung finally says, stepping forward, scanning for a gate or guard post. “If they’re inside and in danger, we break the fuck in.”

“Yeah? How?” Sunoo snaps, frustrated. “There’s guards. I see them! Look.”

Sure enough, two armed men pace along the inner fence, dressed in black, weapons slung over their shoulders. More shadows move just behind the tinted front windows.

Jungwon shakes his head. 

“If we go in loud, we risk them using Sunghoon and Ni-ki as hostages. We need a plan.” Jungwon mutters, already hating all of this.

Jay’s knuckles whiten around the fence.

“They’ve done something to them. I know it.” His voice cracks slightly, but he keeps it together. “Sunghoon’s the most grounded alpha I’ve ever met. He doesn’t panic. He doesn’t break. And when I picked up that call? He was… shaking. I could hear it.”

A long silence stretches between them.

Heeseung is the first to move. “We find another way in.”

“Back entrance?” Jay looks up.

“Tunnel, sewer, fucking rooftop. I don’t care. There’s always a way.”

Sunoo crosses his arms tightly. “And if there’s not?”

“Then we make one.” Jay’s gaze turns back to the building, his voice a near whisper.

Inside, on the other side of the compound walls, Sunghoon still holds Ni-ki close as his heat rages harder than ever before, the scent of chemicals still clinging to the air.

And from her monitoring room, Sooha watches both groups. One trapped in agony, the other desperate to breach the walls.

She leans toward her mic, smiling coldly.

“Let them try.”

The sterile glow of the monitor room flickers softly against Sooha’s sharp cheekbones. Her eyes don’t move from the screen, watching intently as Sunghoon moves to sit on the cold floor, cradling Ni-ki like something precious instead of what she intended him to be: a trigger. A tool. A test.

Ni-ki writhes weakly in Sunghoon’s arms, flushed and soaked, body begging to be claimed. His heat has reached a critical point. Any ordinary alpha would have mated him already. Marked him. Broke him.

But not Sunghoon.

No, this alpha whispers calming words, presses kisses to Ni-ki’s sweat-soaked hair, shields him with his own trembling body.

Sooha’s lips curl in disgust.

“All alphas,” she hisses under her breath, voice low and trembling with rage, “are the fucking same.”

Han shifts nervously behind her, pretending not to hear the venom boiling under her words.

“They pretend they’re gentle. Noble,” she sneers, rising slowly from her chair. “But I’ve seen them. Every one of them wants the same thing in the end.”

She slams her hand against the console, causing Han to jump.

“So fucking take him !” She screams at the screen, chest heaving, pupils blown wide. “Fucking ravish that stupid virgin omega, you knot-headed alpha! Do what nature made you for! Fucking knot him!”

But still, on the other side of the glass, Sunghoon’s voice remains low, loving, steady.

“Hold on, Ni-ki… just a little longer. I’m right here. I won’t let them touch you.”

Sooha’s hands curl into claws.

“He’s ruining it. He’s ruining everything. ”

She spins toward her tech team, seething. “Increase the dosage again. Full stimulant flush. Max saturation. I want that room turned into a furnace. Let’s see how long he lasts then.”

“But Sooha! He’s already showing signs of overheating!” Han tries to explain.

“Do it.”

A red warning flashes briefly on the console as more chemical pheromones are pumped into the sealed room. Han looks away, unable to stomach it.

Inside, the air turns heavier, hotter. Ni-ki sobs faintly, clinging to Sunghoon as his body thrashes, glands swollen to the point of bruising.

Sunghoon’s eyes go wide as the omega's scent becomes maddening. Unnatural. Drenched in desperation and chemically induced arousal.

“Ni-ki! Baby, stay with me. Look at me, ” he pleads, brushing Ni-ki’s hair from his soaked forehead. “Don’t close your eyes. Don’t give in.”

Ni-ki moans faintly, barely conscious. “It hurts…”

And still, Sunghoon resists.

Sooha's nails dig into her palms until blood wells at her fingertips.

“Fine,” she snarls. “If he won’t break… I’ll find another way to tear him apart.”

Ni-ki’s body trembles violently in Sunghoon’s arms.

His breath comes in shallow pants now, lips dry, face flushed far beyond what is safe. His skin radiates heat like an open flame, his thighs sticky with slick, body twitching with overstimulation. The chemical saturation in the air has gone from unbearable to life-threatening.

Sunghoon gently adjusts Ni-ki’s weight across his lap, cradling him against his chest, fighting back panic as he feels the rapid thrum of the omega’s heartbeat.

“Ni-ki, look at me. Stay with me, baby.”

Ni-ki doesn’t respond, just whimpers faintly, his eyes glassy and unfocused. His head rolls weakly against Sunghoon’s shoulder.

Sunghoon growls, shaking off the haze of synthetic pheromones clouding his own senses. He has to stay sharp.

Not only for himself but for his omega.

Because although Ni-ki hasn’t been claimed, he is Sunghoon’s. 

He peels off his jacket and shirt and tries to press the omega down onto the cold tile floor. But the boy whimpers and tries to climb back into his arms.

“No. Ni-ki. I know it hurts, but you’re overheating. You’re going to fry your nervous system if I don’t bring your temp down. Please, just for a second! Trust me.”

The omega’s breathing hitches.

“That’s it,” Sunghoon coaxes, kneeling beside him. “Come back to me. I’m right here.”

Right as Ni-ki is settled on the cold tile, the door slams open with a mechanical hiss.

“Enough.”

Sooha’s voice is shrill, cutting through the room like a scalpel.

Sunghoon shields Ni-ki instantly, teeth bared, his body crouched protectively around the feverish omega. Behind Sooha stand five armed guards in black, stun batons lit and ready.

“You’ve made your choice, Sunghoon.” She spits, striding into the room. “You had the chance to ease his suffering. To give us a clean read on the soulbond. But instead, you coddle him like some sainted fool.”

“You’re killing him!” Sunghoon barks, veins bulging in his neck, chest heaving as he looms over Ni-ki like a wall of fury. “He’s not some lab rat! You’re burning his body alive with those drugs!”

Sooha rolls her eyes and gestures sharply. 

“Take the omega. We’ll extract the gland samples while he’s still viable. Bonded or not, his scent is blooming. That’s all I need.”

The guards move forward.

Sunghoon snarls like an animal as he comes to stand to his full height. It is quite visible that Sunghoon is slipping into full alpha form. 

“ Touch him and I’ll rip your arms off. ”

The guards falter for a second.

Sooha narrows her eyes. 

“You can’t stop all of them. Step aside.” She says, chuckling.

He doesn’t move. Instead, he slowly leans back down and whispers against Ni-ki’s temple.

“I’m not leaving you. I’m not letting them take you.”

Then he turns his head, voice suddenly colder than death.

“You want a bonded pair so badly?” He snaps at Sooha. “Try testing what happens when an alpha goes feral from having his mate stolen.”

For the first time… Sooha hesitates for a second. 

Sunghoon’s deadly eyes are too much to handle.

Jungwon’s hands tremble as he presses his phone tighter to his ear, pacing just beyond the fence while the others scout the perimeter.

“Pick up… come on, pick up—”

The line clicks.

“Hello?” 

The manager’s voice crackled through the speaker, far too calm for how frantic Jungwon sounds.

“What the fuck is this place?” Jungwon snaps, skipping any pleasantries. “Where is Ni-ki? Why the hell did you let them bring him here ?”

A beat of silence.

“Jungwon, I understand you’re worried, but this is out of my hands now...”

“Don’t. Don’t give me that PR bullshit. You let them take our maknae to some fenced-in facility and we haven’t heard from him since he was taken. Do you even know where Sunghoon is? Ni-ki’s not okay, and I know you know that.”

The manager sighs, his voice low. “It was Hybe’s call. Not mine. I had to call the facility or else Ni-ki was going to get kicked out of the group. It was this or permanently saying goodbye to him.”

Jungwon’s stomach drops. “What?”

“HYBE made the decision.” The manager repeats slowly. “The company has protocols for when a new omega presents, especially when their heat is… unstable. The facility ensures he doesn’t bond with someone inappropriate under pressure—”

“No, no, no.” Jungwon’s voice rises in disbelief. “There’s no omega in ENHYPEN. Ni-ki is a beta. What the fuck are you even saying?”

Another pause.

The manager sighs on the other side of the line.

“He was pretending , Jungwon.”

Jungwon’s blood runs cold.

“What…?”

“Ni-ki’s an omega. He has been since before debut. He’s been taking suppressants the entire time. I found out and helped him keep it undercover. I would pick up the suppressants each month.” He sighs. “But he ran out of them this month and that triggered his first real heat. We fooled the company for a while, but they catched the irregularities. Mainly, stalked me going to the pharmacy each month and then giving them to Ni-ki. That’s why they pulled him. Ni-ki fooled everyone. Until he couldn’t anymore.”

Jungwon takes a step back, reeling. “No. No! He would’ve told us. He would’ve told me. ”

“I’m sorry, Jungwon. He didn’t want anyone to know. But the truth is, he broke regulations and they had to act.”

“You locked him in a compound, ” Jungwon spits out, voice shaking now. “You let some strangers, some weirdos, take him like he’s nothing!”

“It’s a certified omega medical facility.” The manager sighs again. “Government approved facility. It’s not a damn jail, Jungwon!”

“He’s a kid!” Jungwon’s voice cracks fully now. “He’s our maknae. I don’t care what your protocols are. Get him out of there. Now. ”

“I can’t. He’s in the middle of his heat. He’s unstable. Removing him now can be dangerous, not only for him but for the entire group.”

“I’m calling the police.”

“Jungwon,” the manager warns, voice low. “Don’t do something you can’t undo.”

“I don’t give a shit.” Jungwon hisses. “If something happens to him, you’ll be answering to more than HYBE. You’ll be answering to me.”

“My hands are tied.”

“Well untie them!” Jungwon grunts. “Or I swear, I’ll involve the police. The media. I’ll go to HYBE’s front gate with a megaphone.”

“Don’t be stupid. You’ll ruin your careers.”

“I don’t care about careers right now,” Jungwon growled. “I care about Ni-ki not dying on a fucking omega facility floor!”

The manager remains silent as if he has gone speechless.

So Jungwon hangs up.

When he turns around, his face is pale, but his jaw is locked with fury. The others step closer immediately.

“What did he say?” Heeseung asks, tension thick in the air. “He’s getting Ni-ki out of there?”

Jungwon exhales like he has been punched in the gut. 

“No.” Jungwon whispers. “Ni-ki… he’s not a beta.”

“What?”

“He’s an omega.” Jungwon says. “He’s been hiding it this whole time. HYBE found out and stuck him in there. ”

Jake pales. Sunoo covers his mouth.

“And Sunghoon’s in there with him? So he must know by now.” Jay curses under his breath. 

Jungwon nods. 

“He’s in heat. That’s why they did it. They’re trying to control him. Or I don’t know. Maybe it’s something worse.”

Heeseung’s expression hardens immediately. “Then we go in. We don’t wait. We don’t knock.”

Jay’s hand clenches into a fist. “We break the doors down. ”

Jungwon nods once. “Let’s bring him home.”

Inside the facility… 

“Stay back!” Sunghoon roars as he shifts instantly into a crouch, shielding Ni-ki with his body like a wall of steel.

Ni-ki whimpers weakly beneath him, arms barely strong enough to hold on, but still curled around Sunghoon’s waist like a lifeline. 

“Don’t let them take me,” Ni-ki begs, voice thick with pain. “Alpha! Don’t let them—”

“I won’t.” Sunghoon’s voice cracks. “You’re staying with me.”

Sooha steps in, flanked by five guards this time. Their weapons are drawn, their movements precise.

“He won’t mate him,” she snaps coldly. “Get them apart. I want the omega prepped for extraction.”

The guards don’t hesitate.

Sunghoon lungs at the first one. Only to feel a sudden, sharp sting in his leg.

“Ah!”

He stumbles, knees buckling. He looks down.

A needle.

The serum is already spreading under his skin.

His muscles seize.

“No. No, no, no— fuck! ” Sunghoon gasps as he collapses beside Ni-ki, his body rapidly going numb. “What did you? What did you do to me?!”

“A localized paralysis compound.” Sooha says almost gleefully. “Non-lethal, but highly effective for controlling wild alphas like you.”

Sunghoon can’t move at all.

Not his arms, not his legs, not even his fingers. His heart races in his chest, panic crashing into him like a wave.

“Ni-ki— ”

But it is too late.

The guards surge forward.

Ni-ki screams. Shrieks like a madman. 

His entire body thrashes violently as they grab his wrists, his ankles. His glands pulsing with fevered scent. 

“NO! Let me go! Alpha! SUNGHOOOON!”

“Don’t touch him!” Sunghoon’s voice sounds hoarse with rage and desperation. He tries to drag himself forward, only managing a pathetic twitch. “I’m right here!”

Ni-ki fights like a cornered animal.

He even bites one of the guards that squeezes his waist a bit too hard. Kicks another guard. But the omega is still too weak, disoriented—his heat-addled body too slow to defend itself.

Tears stream down Ni-ki’s flushed face as they rip him away from Sunghoon’s reach. His fingers scratch at the ground, leaving red trails on the floor.

“ALPHA!”

The word shatters something inside Sunghoon. Probably his already broken heart.

Sunghoon has never heard his name called like that before, like it is sacred , like it is the last breath someone had left.

“I’m here, Ni-ki!” He shouts, voice breaking. “I’m not leaving you! I swear!”

But they drag the omega out anyway.

Ni-ki’s screams echo through the corridor as the door slams shut behind them.

And Sunghoon, frozen and helpless on the cold tile floor, can do nothing but scream his agony into the sterile, watching silence.

Ni-ki’s screams have long since dissolved into sobs.

The corridor lights burn above him as the guards drag his limp body down the pristine hallways. His limbs barely responding and his heat-shocked nerves still pulsing with loss. His scent glands ache, swollen, abused by synthetic pheromones, his whole body screaming out for his alpha.

“Sunghoon…” His voice cracks, no louder than a breath. “Where is...Sunghoon…”

No one answers.

He feels like he is drowning in his own scent, slick drying down his legs, heat pressing against every nerve like barbed fire. His body betrays him, begging for a knot, for comfort, for touch, but his mind is spiraling in grief, raw and open from the bond being severed.

They turn sharply into a chamber. Cold, metallic, clinical.

He is tossed onto a padded exam table. His limbs flopped weakly.

Then she enters.

Sooha.

Dressed immaculately in her white coat, clipboard in hand, smiling like she has just acquired the rarest of pets.

Ni-ki curls weakly into himself, teeth chattering despite the sweat clinging to his skin.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Sooha coos, brushing a gloved hand against his damp hair. “You poor thing. Don’t cry. I know this hurts. But you’ll understand in time. This is all for the greater good. I’m trying to help you here. I’ll set you free.”

“W-where… S–Sunghoon…” Ni-ki whimpers, voice breaking.

“Your alpha?” She asks sweetly. “He refused you. You saw it, didn’t you? When it really mattered… he didn’t claim you. He let this happen.”

Ni-ki sobs, shaking his head, but the doubt has already started burrowing its way in. The pain of rejection, forced or not, settles like knives in his chest.

“He… h-he—was trying… to help…”

“No,” Sooha says softly, but firmly. “He was restraining you. Controlling you. Just like all alphas do. It’s instinct , Ni-ki. That’s all they are. Biological cages dressed up as protectors.”

She leans down closer, her voice silky.

“They keep omegas weak. Dependent. Tied to bonds they didn’t choose.”

Ni-ki trembles harder.

His heat is burning through him again, deeper now that Sunghoon isn’t here to ground him. His vision blurs. His hands grip the sheets as tears fall hot and fast from his eyes.

“Why does it— hurt —so much…”

“Because your body is conditioned to obey the bond.” Sooha murmurs. “But your mind ? It can be rewired. Your mind can still be freed.”

She stands up and turns to a tray of gleaming metal instruments.

“You’re lucky, you know. Your bond isn’t sealed. That means your scent glands are still untouched. Still pure. And I need them… for liberation.”

Ni-ki’s blurs eyes track her movement, but his strength is gone. His inner omega is cracking.

“I can’t… I just want him back…”

Sooha turns, holding a gleaming injector between her fingers.

“You don’t need him,” she whispers, smiling almost fondly. “You’ll see. Once we cleanse the instinct, you’ll be more than just an omega. You’ll be free.”

She approaches the table, needle gleaming under the lights.

And Ni-ki, sobbing, helpless, whispers through his cracked lips, “Alpha… please…”

Some of the guards move at the flicker of Sooha’s wrists. Ni-ki, of course, panics when they approach him. But it is three against one so he is easily overpowered. 

They strap him to the cold metal surgery table, the harsh white lights glaring down on him, merciless and unblinking. And they also somehow manage to get a muzzle on him to avoid him trying to bite through the procedure. Ni-ki’s limbs are spread and restrained, muscles trembling with exhaustion and pain. His chest heaves unevenly beneath the sterile sheets.

His eyes flutter open, catching movement from the corner of his vision. Sooha stands just beyond the edge of the table, a gleaming needle still clutched in her gloved hand.

Ni-ki’s jaw tenses against the muzzle that now immobilizes his bite reflex. His neck lies exposed, vulnerable, completely helpless.

A shiver runs down his spine.

Sooha leans closer.

His breath hitches as the needle slides forward, sharp and cold, then pierces the raw, reddened surface of his exposed scent gland.

Pure, searing pain explodes through his veins like wildfire.

His body convulses violently, nerves aflame, mind fracturing into chaos.

His eyes rolled back, whites showing as the agony overwhelmed him.

Sooha’s lips curl into a triumphant smile.

“This is exactly what I need,” she whispers softly, eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction.

Pulling back the first needle, she doesn’t pause. Doesn’t stop.

On the other hand, she holds a second syringe. This time drawing fluid from Ni-ki’s gland, the precious biological material she needs for this to work.

She transfers it carefully into a small vial, labeling it with clinical precision.

Leaning down to Ni-ki’s trembling ear, she whispers with a voice as cold as steel.

“I just injected you with pure alpha fluids, cum, pheromones, hormones. Everything your body needs to go into full heat. Since your alpha out there refused to claim you I had to resort to these extremes.”

She brushes a finger along the side of his face.

“Soon, I will scrape away your scent gland altogether. Remove the last chains of instinct and alpha dependence. You will be free.” Sooha confesses.

Ni-ki whimpers, too weak and broken to protest.

Sooha straightens and holds the vial up to the light, her eyes alight with vision.

“I extracted a sample of your gland cells to replicate a formula,” she explains, voice low and steady. “A serum to induce complete alpha docility and submission. To turn the strongest alphas into nothing but obedient beasts.”

Her smile widens.

“Soon… omegas will rule the world.”

Ni-ki barely understands what she is saying to him. He doesn’t even know where he is anymore.

The lights above him blur into a halo of white heat. His skin feels like it is on fire, drenched in sweat and slick . His thighs stick to the cold metal beneath him. Every breath feels like swallowing glass. His scent gland throbs violently against the air, raw and swollen, screaming for relief.

But it isn’t Sunghoon’s scent that fills his head anymore.

There is nothing of his alpha in this.

The heat is all wrong. It feels wrong. It claws at him, pulls at him, drowns him in something unclean and foreign. Deep down, he knows this isn’t natural—knows his body is reacting to something that isn’t Sunghoon.

And yet, he whimpers.

He craves it.

The ache twists through his spine, deep and merciless, and he lets out a broken, muffled sob beneath the muzzle strapped to his jaw.

His wrists yank weakly against the restraints.

He doesn’t want anyone else.

But his body doesn’t seem to care.

His inner omega is in full chemical bloom, falsely triggered, artificially enhanced and now it wants any alpha, any knot, any claim to end this agony.

“Please!” The muffled sound that escapes his throat is desperate, delirious. “Someone, anyone…”

He cries openly, his head rolling to the side, vision swimming.

His thighs tremble as more slick spills between them. It wouldn’t stop. He is soaked, drenched, helpless, humiliated. The scent of it fills the sterile room like a curse, too rich, too strong. He can feel it dripping, feel it pool under his spine, his body betraying him over and over.

The worst part?

He wants to rip his own scent gland out.

The urge is so strong, so primal, that his arms jerk hard against the restraints, muscles straining, wrists bleeding where the cuffs dug into skin. If he could just get his hand free, just reach his neck, he would tear it out. End this. End everything.

He thrashes. Screams behind the muzzle.

“I don’t want this!” Ni-ki sobs in his head. “Not like this, not like this. Please, please! Someone make it stop…”

But Sunghoon’s scent isn’t here.

Only pain is.

Only the phantom of stolen alpha hormones running like poison through his blood, twisting him, mutating his instincts until all that remains is this horrifying need to be filled, bred, used.

Like a fucking toy.

His mind is cracking under it.

He weeps into the table, cheeks wet with tears, mouth open and too swollen to form more than gasps.

Sooha watches from the corner of the room, lips pursed thoughtfully.

“He’s close.” She murmurs. “One more injection, and the bond to his original alpha will break completely. Ni-ki will beg for any knot and any alpha.”

Ni-ki doesn’t hear her.

He is too far gone.

Alone.

Begging in his own mind.

“Alpha… please… please anyone…”

And outside these four walls, Sunghoon’s eyes snap open.

The paralysis starts fading.

And he can hear his mate screaming.

The lights above flicker.

The silence in the room buzzes with electricity, tension thick enough to choke on.

Sunghoon lies where they’d left him, body still, limbs limp. The paralysis serum has numbed every muscle to the core. For long minutes, he can do nothing but lie there and scream inside his own skull, helpless, caged in his own body.

Until now.

His fingers twitch again.

Barely. Like an echo of a memory.

Then again, this time, stronger.

A jolt of heat burst through his chest. It isn’t from his body, it is from Ni-ki.

Something is wrong. Terribly wrong.

He feels it.

A scream, silent and mental, rips through the half-formed bond like a blade. Desperation, shame, agony. Heat. Not the natural kind. It is like acid in his bloodstream. Like someone has contaminated Ni-ki’s core.

“Ni-ki…” Sunghoon breathes hoarsely, mouth cracked and dry. His arm moves, just barely, scraping against the tile.

He forces it higher. Every nerve screams. The serum fights him, trying to keep him still, but instinct surges past it.

The bond surges past it.

His mate is in pain.

Real, soul-shattering pain.

They were doing something to him.

Sunghoon’s lips curl in a silent snarl as he drags himself forward an inch, then another. He can feel his left hand now, his right leg. Every part of him that comes back online is immediately full of rage.

Not fury. 

Alpha rage.

That deep, instinctive, violent drive to protect .

To destroy.

He grips the edge of the wall, using it to haul himself upright. His head pounds, sweat dripping down his temple.

“Hold on, Ni-ki,” he rasps. “I’m coming.”

He limps toward the locked door. Half-dragging, half-stumbling.

Then it hits him again.

Ni-ki’s broken, torn scream across the soulmate bond.

The unbearable, humiliating ache of a heat that isn’t his alpha’s. A forced need. A body gone wild. The terror of being alone.

Sunghoon’s eyes darken.

He sees red.

He slams his shoulder into the door—once, twice. On the third, the lock cracks due to the amount of force Sunghoon uses. Metal groans.

He bares his teeth.

Boom.

The door bursts open.

The corridor beyond is silent.

But not for long.

The facility stands quiet and sterile under the moonlight. It’s chain-link fences and patrolling guards make it seem impossible to breach.

Until it isn’t.

RRREEEEEEEHHHH!!

An alarm rips through the night.

A siren. Sharp. Echoing across the compound like a death knell.

From the shadows of the tree line, Jungwon’s head snaps up. “That’s coming from inside.”

Heeseung’s body goes perfectly stiff. “That’s not routine.”

“No,” Jay mutters. “That’s a panic alarm.”

They see it immediately. The guards who had been stationed around the fence, suddenly rushing inward, drawn to the source.

Jungwon doesn’t hesitate. “ Move. ”

The five of them run low, fast and silent.

They follow the edge of the building, pressed to the shadows, heartbeats pounding. The siren is still blaring, red warning lights flashing now along the roofline.

“Look!” Sunoo hisses, pointing.

Near the back of the building, just above ground level, is a single rectangular window. Small. But not barred.

Not secured.

Jake grabs the nearest rock without needing to be told.

“One chance,” he whispers.

CRACK.

Glass shatters.

The window frame groans, glass breaking and falling inward. The sound is swallowed by the wail of the sirens.

“Go,” Jungwon orders as they all begin to climb up the nearest tree so they can jump the fence and get through the window.

Jay climbs through first, sliding into the dark room beyond. The others follow, one by one. Heeseung helps Sunoo through last, then drops down inside himself, feet landing soft on tile.

They are in. Well… barely.

The room is cold. 

A storage room, maybe. Metal shelves and locked cabinets. Emergency lights flickering from under the door, flashing red.

Jay’s voice is grim.

“They’re scrambling inside. We have to find them now. ”

“And do what exactly?!” Sunoo says as he freaks out now that they are technically inside. “They have guns!”

“I don’t think they’ll really kill all five of us.” Jay tries to reason. 

“We don’t know!” Sunoo shrieks. 

“Okay, let’s calm down.” Jake tries his best to mediate between the two of them.

Jungwon’s jaw clenches. “We need to fan out, stay quiet. Stay hidden. We just need to find them.”

“They’re gonna regret touching either of them.” Heeseung cracks his knuckles.

“Guys!” Sunoo tries again. “Am I the only one thinking straight!? We might die out there! Hello, we are just idols!” 

“So what do you want us to do?” Jay shouts back. “Just wait until Sunghoon’s and Ni-ki’s bodies are brought out of here?” 

Sunoo recoils back as if he has been slapped. 

“Sunoo,” Jungwon intervenes. “You’re with me. I won’t let them shoot you, okay?” 

Sunoo slumps against the door but nods regardless. 

As the others disappear into the dark hallway, their shadows flickering past the red emergency lights, Jungwon and Sunoo stay low in the storage room. Jungwon’s back presses to the wall beneath the shattered window.

His hands move fast.

He pulls out his phone, thumbs flying across the screen as the piercing wail of the facility alarm vibrates through the walls.

First, he calls 911.

“Emergency response,” comes the calm voice on the other end.

“This is Yang Jungwon. From ENHYPEN,” he says quickly, quietly. “Two of our members—Park Sunghoon and Nishimura Riki—were taken without proper consent to an unauthorized omega facility. They are in danger. I have location coordinates or you can track my phone. I need medical and law enforcement support immediately.”

The dispatcher hesitates. “Sir—”

“They are being held against their will! Something is going on. The younger one is barely nineteen.”

That catches her attention.

He rattles off the address.

Then, one more move.

He opens his email.

Composes one line, attaching a photo of the facility from earlier that Jake had taken, and sends it directly to one of the biggest entertainment reporters in Korea.

Dispatch.

Subject: URGENT

“If we don’t make it out, tell the world what this company did.”

 - YJW

He clicks send.

The weight of it all presses down on his chest but his heart is steady.

Was this reckless? Absolutely.

But what choice did they have?

He stares at the cracked screen of his phone and whispers under his breath.

“I’m not mourning two bodies.”

He tucks the phone away, stands up, and takes one last breath.

Then he and Sunoo run into the fire with the rest of them.

The hallway is a blur.

Sunghoon’s body surges forward, rage and bond-blind instinct guiding him like a predator locked onto its target.

The moment he shatters the door, the sirens erupted.

Red light spills down the sterile corridor like blood on tile.

Somewhere down the hall, doors slammed. Voices bark orders. Boots thunder on the floor. Guards scramble.

But Sunghoon doesn’t stop.

Can’t stop.

The scent trail hits him like a punch to the gut, not just Ni-ki’s scent, but what had been done to it.

It isn’t just heat anymore.

It is corruption. Foreign alpha pheromones. Clinical chemicals. Pain. Slick. Humiliation.

Violation.

Sunghoon snarls, eyes burning.

He turns a corner and comes face to face with two guards sprinting toward him.

Too slow.

The first barely raises his baton before Sunghoon slams him into the wall with a sickening crunch. The second guard tries to inject him another serum but Sunghoon grabs the needle mid-air and jams it into the man’s own thigh.

The guard crumples, screaming.

Sunghoon doesn’t look back.

He sprints deeper, faster, scent dragging him through turn after turn.

His fingers flex like claws. His canines ache.

He is past fury.

This is primal.

Lethal.

Feral.

And then, he skids to a stop.

A massive steel door. Reinforced. Locked down.

And behind it—

Ni-ki.

Sunghoon staggers forward, hands pressed to the cold surface. He can feel him... just beyond.

His mate.

His omega.

In agony.

He hears the choked sobs. The whimpers. The faint cling of restraints. And worst of all, Ni-ki’s scent, drowning in false alpha pheromones, soaked in chemicals, screaming to be claimed.

Sunghoon slams his fists into the door. “ OPEN IT! ”

Inside, Ni-ki flinches.

Sunghoon lets out a roar that echoes down the corridor.

His voice cracks from the force of it.

“I’M HERE!”

He slams again. Again. The metal shakes.

“I’M COMING FOR YOU!”

He steps back, muscles trembling, teeth bared, ready to tear through steel if he has to.

If Ni-ki is even one breath away from collapse—Sunghoon swears he will break necks. 

Because now he isn’t just an alpha.

He is Ni-ki’s alpha.

And he will kill anyone who thought they could take that from him.

Ni-ki has gone completely quiet.

Not from peace, never that.

But from exhaustion.

The restraints have cut deep red marks into his wrists, his body slick-soaked and trembling. His skin glistens with fever-sweat, and his eyes are open but glassy, barely tracking light.

The heat is a tidal wave now, crashing through his muscles, scrambling his instincts. His scent gland throbs with a fiery ache, still stinging from the first needle, from the invasive hands that had no right to touch him.

The worst part?

His mind has started to let go.

He doesn’t know where he is. Doesn’t remember who he is waiting for.

All he wants is someone. Any alpha. Anything to end this torment.

His lips part in a weak, broken whimper.

A voice.

Muffled.

Muffled, but real.

“I’M HERE!”

Ni-ki’s eyes flinch. His heartbeat skips.

That voice.

Another bang. A roar.

“I’M COMING FOR YOU!”

Sunghoon.

Sunghoon.

Sunghoon.

It comes rushing back in a flood, like the slam of memory and instinct tangled together:

Sunghoon’s scent. His hands. His voice when he whispered, “I’ve got you.”

Tears welled in Ni-ki’s eyes, sliding down his flushed cheeks as he cries through the muzzle still strapped to his mouth.

His alpha is here.

His alpha.

“Shut that damn thing up!” Sooha snaps from behind her surgical tray. “He’s seconds away from breaking, and I will not let instinct win now.”

Ni-ki’s body jolts.

He turns just enough to see her, lab coat flaring as she steps forward with a gleaming needle filled with the final dose and a knife—one that will erase everything. Erase Sunghoon. Erase the bond.

“Once this is in,” she hisses, gripping his throat and tilting his head, “your scent gland will never remember him. You’ll be free of the lie. And the rest of the world will follow.”

Ni-ki’s eyes widened. He screams—but it is nothing behind the muzzle.

Sooha raises the needle. Her fingers are steady.

Then the door explodes.

BOOM.

Metal snaps off its hinges.

Sunghoon tears through it like a storm let loose from heaven, eyes feral, chest heaving, blood still on his knuckles.

The second he sees Ni-ki strapped down, shivering, drenched, gagged, neck exposed beneath a needle...

He doesn’t speak.

He lunges.

Sooha barely has time to turn.

Sunghoon tackles her off her feet with a rage that doesn't stop at impact. The needle flies from her hand, skidding across the floor with a high metallic scrape.

Ni-ki sobs behind the muzzle, body still bound, but his eyes locked on the only thing that matters.

Sunghoon.

Snarling. Defending. Choosing him.

But it still doesn’t stop the inferno blazing beneath Ni-ki’s skin.

Not heat, not anymore. This is something else. Something unnatural.

It burns through his veins like wildfire, creeping up from his scent gland and flooding outwards, curling into every crevice of muscle, scraping its way down to the bone.

He can’t think.

He can’t see.

The red lights above him blur and pulse like a heartbeat, like blood behind his eyes. His body thrashes against the restraints, every nerve aflame, every movement feral.

His hips buck up. His wrists tear at the bonds. His chest rises and falls like he is drowning in fire.

That voice again.

Sunghoon.

Alpha.

The word isn’t even thought. It just echoes instinctively in the crumbling cavern of Ni-ki’s mind.

He twists, teeth bared behind the muzzle, panting like a rabid creature.

Something approaches him, a figure. A limb.

Ni-ki lunges, eyes wild, trying to sink his teeth in, to bite, to defend himself. A sharp hiss rips from his throat as his muscles convulse. But the muzzle holds fast. He can’t protect himself. Can’t even mark the threat.

He shrieks in frustration, back arching off the table as his scent gland screams with unrelieved pressure, his body rejecting the false heat, rejecting the lack of bond.

A hand reaches again.

WHAM.

A foot crashes through the air and kicks the guard away from the table so hard he slams into the cabinets on the far wall.

Ni-ki whimpers, chest heaving.

But while Sunghoon is busy with the guard, Sooha comes back with the knife. She is barely able to cut through when Ni-ki screams like he is being killed.

The pressure on his neck is gone. But Ni-ki can feel something dripping out. 

He begins to hyperventilate.

Warm hands.

His scent.

Sunghoon is there.

Finally, truly there.

“Ni-ki,” the voice is raw and sharp, but beneath it is terror. “Ni-ki, I’ve got you. Look at me. Look at me.”

Ni-ki’s head lolls, eyes fluttering, dazed and half-unconscious. His body convulses again, and this time something wet runs from his nose. The pressure in his gland is peaking, too fast. Too much.

He begins to slip.

“I’m here.” Sunghoon says again urgently, voice shaking now. “I’m here, baby. I’m so sorry. I’m gonna get you out. Just... hold on. ”

But Ni-ki can’t hold on.

The world starts spinning. Scent, light, heat, pain. It all blurs.

Darkness.

Sunghoon can’t hear the alarms anymore.

He can’t see the chaos beyond the room.

He can only feel the way Ni-ki’s scent hits him like poison.

It isn’t right.

It isn’t his.

It is a warped, vile concoction of stale alphas. Foreign pheromones. Layers upon layers of synthetic hormones and slick-soaked chemicals pumped into his mate until the natural sweetness has been drowned.

Sunghoon’s stomach churns.

He staggers closer to the table, nearly gagging, his throat closing up at the sheer wrongness of the smell coming from Ni-ki’s exposed neck. It isn’t one alpha. It isn’t even two.

It is dozens.

Vials, syringes. Every one of them pumped into the omega’s gland.

“Wrong,” Sunghoon whispers. “Wrong. Wrong...”

His knees buckle as he reaches for him.

“He smells wrong! ” he hisses, bile rising in his throat.

Behind him, the door burst open a second time.

Jay and Heeseung surge in like fire. They see the scene instantly.

Jay doesn’t even blink,  he launches himself at the nearest guard, taking him down with two brutal hits to the head.

Heeseung is on the other in seconds, slamming a knee into his gut, kicking the dropped taser far across the room.

Sunghoon barely notices.

His eyes are glued to Ni-ki.

Still restrained.

Still shaking.

Still burning in heat, a cruel, exaggerated kind of slick-heavy heat that clings to every inch of him like punishment.

But there’s also blood coming out the gland. A gland that has been cut open, violated. 

Sunghoon reaches up to tear off the muzzle first, trembling fingers fumbling with the clasps until it clatters onto the floor.

Jay is already unfastening the wrist restraints, expression pale and angry.

“What the fuck did they do?” he growls, eyes sharp. “What is this place?!”

Heeseung swears under his breath as he frees the ankle cuffs. “We need to get him out now. I can hear the cops outside.”

Sunghoon leans over Ni-ki, gently cupping his cheek.

“Ni-ki?” he whispers. “Baby. Look at me.”

For a moment...nothing.

Then Ni-ki’s eyes cracked open, red-rimmed and wet.

And he flinches.

Cowers. 

Turns his face away from Sunghoon’s touch.

Sunghoon’s heart shatters.

“No,” he breathes. “No. Ni-ki, it’s me. I’m here. It’s Sunghoon. Please…”

But Ni-ki trembles harder, curling slightly in on himself, heat-slick thighs trembling, eyes wide in fear and confusion. As if he doesn’t recognize the one person who would burn down the world for him.

Sunghoon wants to scream.

Sooha is gone,  somewhere in the chaos, she escaped. Probably with her goddamn petri dish of stolen gland cells and omega blood.

But none of it matters.

All that matters is this.

This shaking boy, strapped down, reeked of strangers, stripped of himself, and still somehow fighting to exist.

And Sunghoon has to get him off that fucking table.

He slips his arms under Ni-ki’s back and knees, lifting him carefully.

Jay steadies them as Heeseung clears the door.

Sirens blare in the distance. Footsteps thunder down the hall. The facility is caving in from every side.

But Sunghoon holds Ni-ki against his chest and whispers, again and again:

“You’re safe now. You’re mine. I’ve got you. You’re still mine.”

And Ni-ki, barely conscious, buries his face into Sunghoon’s neck and breathes him in.

The facility is pure chaos.

Red lights pulse through the halls. Sirens scream above them. Security has collapsed into panic. Staff scrambles in every direction like rats fleeing a fire.

Sooha moves fast, her coat flapping around her legs, one hand pressed tight to her chest. Her breath is ragged. She doesn’t even glance up, too focused on getting out, on protecting what she holds, on disappearing.

She turns the final hallway toward the emergency exit...

And slams into a body.

Hard.

A hand snaps out and grabs her arm before she can recover.

Jungwon.

His eyes are cold fire.

“Where’s Ni-ki?" He spits out.

Sooha freezes. But only for a second.

Her other hand moves subtly towards her coat, tucking something deep into the inside lining.

Sunoo steps up behind him, panting from the sprint. He sees it.

He grabs her wrist and tugs down.

“What’s that?” He demands.

And before she can twist away, Sunoo rips the object free.

A small sealed vial. Glass. Cold and faintly glowing.

Inside, floating in a solution, is a shard of flesh and liquid.

Red. Torn. Glandular.

Sunoo’s face contorts in pure horror.

He nearly drops it. “W-what the hell is—?”

Sooha lunges.

“Give it back!”

Sunoo recoils, stepping away as she claws toward him. Her face is crazed now—desperate.

“That’s mine!” She shrieks. “You don’t understand what that is! What I need it for! That is science! That is revolution! It is freedom!”

Jungwon shoves her against the wall, forearm pinning her throat. “That’s Ni-ki. Smells like him. You took something from him.”

Sooha bares her teeth, still fighting to reach Sunoo. “He’s the key! Don’t you idiots get it?! He’s the future!”

“Sunoo,” Jungwon growls, without looking away, “run.”

Sunoo stares at the vial, the horrific realization sinking in.

A piece of Ni-ki’s scent gland.

A piece of his trauma.

His violation.

His pain.

Tears fill Sunoo’s eyes as he turns and sprints down the hall, clutching the small vial like it is burning his skin.

Jungwon holds Sooha fast as she screams after them.

“I’ll start over! I’ll find another omega! You can’t stop it!”

But her voice grows fainter.

All that matters now is giving Ni-ki back everything she took.

The facility doors burst open.

Smoke from the triggered alarms still pours out from inside, curling into the night like ash. The first to emerge are Jay and Heeseung, moving fast, flanking Sunghoon, who carries Ni-ki wrapped in a thermal blanket stolen from a medical kit. His omega is unconscious—feverish and shaking, scent twisted with trauma and synthetic pheromones, but alive.

Behind them comes Sunoo, clutching something wrapped tightly in his shirt, face pale but determined.

Jungwon and Jake step out last. Calm, cold-eyed, and furious. Jungwon has a couple bruises but much less than Sunghoon who has probably broken a knuckle or two. Sunghoon also has Ni-ki’s blood on his hands, his fists clenched. Jungwon moves towards the front with a protective force standing between his members and anyone who might try to get near.

They are met by chaos.

Bright lights from news cameras instantly cut through the dark, snapping photos like strobe explosions. Dozens of reporters shout all at once. Police has formed a perimeter—line after line of black jackets and vests, some pushing people back, others running into the building with weapons drawn.

“That’s ENHYPEN!”

“Are those HYBE artists?! What happened inside?!”

“Is that an omega?! Who is it? Who authorized this?!”

“Was this a government facility or a private one?”

Sunghoon doesn’t stop. He doesn’t speak. He keeps his head bowed, Ni-ki cradled tightly in his arms, one hand cradling the back of his head protectively.

Jay is the first to raise his voice.

“Back. All of you! Back the hell off!”

Flashes go off in every direction. Microphones are shoved forward. One reporter tries to duck past the police tape.

Until Jungwon steps in front of them.

He says nothing.

But the look on his face makes even the boldest cameraman back off.

Behind the press, ambulances pull up. Paramedics run forward. One woman gasps when she sees Ni-ki’s state, eyes fluttering, body soaked in slick and heat-fever, barely breathing.

“We need oxygen, and a stretcher, now!” She yells.

As they move in, Sunghoon finally hands Ni-ki off.

But not before brushing his fingers against his mate’s cheek.

“Hold on,” he whispers. “I’m still here.”

He doesn’t let go until the last second.

Not until Ni-ki is put in the stretcher and put inside the ambulance. 

Meanwhile, the press swarms behind them trying to get the juicy story. 

More police arrive. Officials begin shouting orders. The whispers are already spreading. Omega experimentation, illegal containment, unauthorized medical procedures on omegas.

Reporters scream into their microphones.

“HYBE has not released a statement—”

“Sources confirm the omega’s identity is ENHYPEN’s youngest member—”

“The idol group reportedly broke in to rescue their own—”

Sunoo stands just behind the ambulance, still clutching the hidden vial.

He doesn’t speak.

But he makes sure the cameras see his face.

See all of them.

Because the world needs to know: this isn’t a typical scandal.

This is a crime.

And they are done staying silent.

Inside the ambulance, time unravels.

Ni-ki lies limp on the gurney, sweat dripping down his temples, soaked through every layer. His face is pale, lips cracked, body twitching with involuntary spasms. Machines are blinking erratically, vitals unstable.

The paramedics hover, voices urgent.

“BP’s crashing. He’s not regulating!”

“There’s too much pheromonal interference! The heat cycle is fighting itself!”

“The alpha compounds, there’s multiple kinds, they’re all clashing!”

Jay’s voice cracks from nearby. “What the hell does that mean?!”

The senior medic turns, breathless and grim. “It means the omega’s body is rejecting everything in him. Those foreign alpha fluids. They’re incompatible. His system is collapsing. It’s too much for one body to handle.”

Jungwon pales. “Can’t you drain it? Extract it?!”

“We can. At the hospital,” the medic replies, already snapping open syringes and tubes, “but he’s not stable enough to make it there.”

The driver already turns the ambulance on, putting the gear on drive.

The sirens scream.

And Sunghoon is frozen in place.

He is on the floor, next to Ni-ki’s stretcher, blood on his hands, still holding the omega’s palm.

And Ni-ki is dying.

His scent gland is bleeding, swollen and red. Overstimulated and raw leaking a cocktail of chemical alphas that don’t belong to him. That never should’ve been near him.

“So you’re telling us Ni-ki is going to fucking die?!” Jake screams from the side. “Just like that? He can’t make it to the hospital?” 

“No.” The medic says firmly. “I won’t lie to you. We are fifteen minutes away. With how things are progressing he’ll be gone in five.”

And suddenly, Sunghoon knows what to do.

Without a second thought, without even fully deciding, he moves.

He leans forward.

Opens his mouth.

And bites down.

Hard.

Straight into the abused, burning flesh of Ni-ki’s scent gland.

The medics scream. Someone lunges to stop him.

But it is too late.

Sunghoon sucks.

And the moment he does...

Ni-ki convulses beneath him.

His body seizes, muscles locking, the pressure peaking, a choked cry escaping from his throat as if being ripped back into his body.

Sunghoon tastes it, all of it.

Rotten pheromones. Artificial slick. Old, foreign alpha fluids... not his.

He spits it out. Onto the floor. Onto his own hands.

And then he sucks again.

And again.

Until his mouth is full of heat and bile and grief.

He remembers seeing this on TV once. Recommendations on what to do if you ever get bitten by a venomous snake in the middle of the forest. 

So that’s what Sunghoon does. 

He tries to extract the venomous poison from the unknown alphas.

Until the scent finally changes.

Until he feels his own bond sink in, deeper than instinct, deeper than fear.

The ambulance moves a bit as the paramedics finally shove Sunghoon away, yelling, “ Enough! We have him. We have him now!”

They connect wires. Tubes. Oxygen.

Ni-ki stops convulsing.

He is still feverish.

But his scent…

It isn’t foreign anymore.

It isn’t Ni-ki. But it isn’t alpha either.

It’s claimed.

Sunghoon’s.

Sunghoon backs away slowly, gasping, lips stained. He leans into the wall of the ambulance, hands shaking as he wipes the taste of strange alphas from his tongue, over and over.

The others stand frozen outside, still watching through the open back doors.

Jungwon’s voice is soft.

“You just claimed him.”

Sunghoon doesn’t speak.

Doesn’t have to.

The bond in the air says everything.

Ni-ki is his.

And nothing will ever be the same again.

The doors close.

And Sunghoon rides with him into the night in the back of that ambulance.

The ER doors crash open.

A flurry of doctors and nurses rush forward, the gurney rolling fast under their hands. Ni-ki’s body is still trembling, hooked up to machines, his skin pale and clammy, blood pressure dipping with every second.

Sunghoon follows behind, chest heaving, face slick with sweat and blood and rage.

“Where are you taking him? Let me in! I need to—”

He reaches to follow but two pairs of arms grab him from behind.

Jay and Jungwon.

“Sunghoon, no! Stop! ” Jay grits out, trying to hold him back even as he struggles.

“He needs me! He just got stable, he’s- he’s not safe alone!”

“He’s with doctors, not monsters!” Jungwon snaps, eyes wide with equal parts fear and grief. “This isn’t the facility anymore. You have to trust someone.”

Heeseung steps in, voice lower, steadier, but firm.

“He’s not stable. You need to let them through,” he says, as Ni-ki’s stretcher disappears behind silver surgery doors. “No one’s going to hurt him. They’re trying to fix him.”

Sunghoon is still fighting.

Still tasting the bitter sting of other alphas in his mouth. Still seeing Ni-ki's scent gland, bruised and bitten, bleeding and marked by people who had no right. His chest burns with the imprint of his own desperate bite. The one that might’ve saved Ni-ki or might’ve broken him for good.

The only thing worse than the thought of losing Ni-ki is not being there if it happened.

But...

He trusts them.

He trusts him.

And so, finally, Sunghoon sags into Jay’s hold, fists clenched so tight his knuckles bled.

“I should’ve gotten there faster,” he whispers.

“No one was faster than you.” Heeseung says, eyes burning.

Just then, Sunoo appears, hands trembling, face still pale. In his hands is the tube he’d been guarding like a lifeline, the piece of Ni-ki they’d stolen.

He hands it silently to the nearest nurse, who disappears down the hall.

Jake stands further off, talking to an officer, eyes serious, posture tight. His voice is calm, but the tension in his jaw gives him away.

The truth is coming out.

Everything.

The illegal detainment. The experiments. The cover-up.

The lies.

And yet right now, none of that matters.

All Sunghoon can do is stand there, staring at the silver doors, whispering to himself:

Three hours later…

ENHYPEN stands in the cold, over-lit corridor of the hospital, surrounded by white walls and silence.

It is late, or maybe it is early. Time has started to blur the moment they’d gone in through that window and decided they weren’t idols anymore, but brothers willing to burn the world down for the youngest of them.

The doctor stands before them, tired but kind. Her voice is calm. Clinical.

“Ni-ki’s gland has been severely damaged.”

The words sink in like weights.

None of them speak.

She continues, gentler this time. 

“We did everything we could to repair what was left without interfering with the... with the claim. Sunghoon’s bite is deep. Timed just right, honestly. It was the only thing stabilizing his pheromonal collapse.”

Sunghoon flinches but says nothing. His jaw is clenched, eyes glassy but fixed forward.

“He’s not out of danger,” the doctor goes on. “The trauma will have lingering effects. But the biggest factor in recovery now is whether the bond takes. If it anchors him.”

Jungwon steps forward. “What do we need to do?”

She looks at each of them in turn.

“Sunghoon needs to stay close. Physical proximity. Touch, scent, voice. Anything to reinforce that his body is safe now. The bond is still new, not fully matured. His inner omega will be disoriented.”

Heeseung frowns. “And the rest of us?”

“Your scents. Your presence.” The doctor folds her hands. “Omegas in distress sometimes latch onto familiar packs. Their instincts go deeper than memory. They reach for safety. He knows you... at a glandular level, likely even more than you think.”

Jay crosses his arms tightly. “Does he know about the claim?”

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “He’s just been told he survived. That his gland is injured. That the suppressants he took for years have caused a bit of hormonal damage but that it can be repaired with time. Nothing else. It’s best not to overload him. Let him wake up first. Let his body speak to him before his mind does.”

Sunghoon’s voice is barely above a whisper.

“What if he doesn’t want me?”

The doctor looks at him gently. “Then we’ll deal with that, too.”

Silence settles again.

Jake leans against the wall, running a hand down his face. “So what now?”

The doctor glances toward the recovery ward. “Now? We wait.”

And so, they wait. Every one of them on edge, hovering between guilt and hope. Guarding the door not just as friends, but as pack. The only thing between Ni-ki and the world that had tried to destroy him.

The room is completely silent. Sterile white. With only the soft beeping from a heart monitor echoing through the walls. Faint scent of antiseptic in the air.

Ni-ki stirs slowly.

His lashes flutter, his body sluggish and heavy, like waking up underwater. His chest aches. His limbs tremble. Something in his neck burns with a dull, pulsing throb. It isn't like the heat.

It is deeper.

He blinks slowly. The ceiling is unfamiliar. So is the air.

His mind catches up slowly.

The facility.

The pain.

The needle.

The table.

His heart lurches forward. A small gasp escapes him as he tries to sit up, but his body refuses to move too fast.

A nurse notices and steps in gently. 

“You’re okay,” she says, softly. “You’re safe. You’re in a hospital. We got you out.”

Ni-ki’s lips move, barely audible. “How…?”

“We’ll explain soon. But for now… what matters is that you’re alive.”

He exhales shakily, tears pricking his eyes.

Alive.

But something feels different. Off.

His gland. It hurts. Not in a heat way. Not even from pain, exactly.

But something is there.

She helps him sit upright in the hospital bed, stiff and trembling. The stiff gown clings to his sweat-slicked skin. His neck ached. The scent of antiseptic couldn’t hide the fact that something has changed. Something deeper than pain, deeper than survival.

He can feel it. Something in him is no longer his.

The nurse returns with a warm voice and careful hands. 

“We… we did everything we could to preserve your gland,” she says carefully. “There was damage. But we were able to stabilize it. And the rest… the rest will depend on how your bond responds.”

Ni-ki blinks. “Bond?”

“You’ve been claimed.”

The words hit him like a punch to the chest.

“No…” His voice cracks. “No. I didn’t—who…?”

The nurse reaches over to the bedside table, lifts a mirror, and hands it to him with careful hands.

Ni-ki takes it.

He doesn’t want to look.

But he does anyway.

He freezes.

A bite mark.

Not from the needles. Not from the trauma.

A claim.

Not just anywhere. It is centered over the wreckage, like someone had tried to erase the pain. Cover it. Replace it.

The bite on his neck is angry red, still healing. Not from a needle, not a scalpel. Teeth. An alpha’s mark.

He drops the mirror.

“What… who did this to me?” He asks, voice hoarse.

His breath hitches. “Wh–who… claimed me?”

The nurse hesitates for a second. Then with a soft voice says,

“Your mate is just outside. Would you like to meet him?”

Mate.

The word sinks like a hook into his stomach.

Ni-ki hesitates. His hands clenching into the blanket. He doesn’t trust the pounding of his heart. He doesn’t trust this place, this body, or this bite.

But something in him still nods.

Fear twists in his stomach. He isn’t sure if it is instinct or shame or heat-sick memory.

The nurse smiles kindly and steps out.

The door opens again.

And in walks Park Sunghoon.

Ni-ki’s eyes lock on him instantly. And everything about Sunghoon. His scent, the way his shoulders slouch like he’d been carrying a mountain, the blood under his nails that haven’t quite been scrubbed off, make something inside Ni-ki curl and ache.

The second their eyes meet—

Ni-ki knows.

Every broken part inside him, every shattered instinct, pulls toward him.

His fingers tighten on the blanket. “You…?"

Then his mind whispers and reminds him of Sooha’s voice.

“You think he’d claim someone like you willingly?”

“He didn’t want to touch you. You begged, and he refused.”

“You were disgusting to him.”

“He rejected you. Didn’t I tell you alphas only want one thing?”

Ni-ki’s throat closes. His hand flies to the bite on his neck.

Sunghoon doesn’t speak.

He just steps closer, slow and careful, like Ni-ki might vanish if he breathes too hard.

“You…” Ni-ki chokes. “You said no. You didn’t want me.”

Sunghoon stops in his tracks, expression twists. “Ni-ki—”

“You bit me.”

“To save you,” Sunghoon says quickly. “You were dying. Your body was shutting down. They pumped you full of strangers. I—I didn’t know what else to do—”

“I’d rather die,” Ni-ki spits out with full venom.

The words cut like razors.

Sunghoon goes still.

Ni-ki’s eyes are burning now. “I don’t need your pity. You didn’t want me then. Don’t act like you do now.”

There is silence.

Crushing, heavy silence.

Sunghoon swallows hard. His jaw clenches, but his voice stays soft.

“I didn’t mark you out of pity, Ni-ki.”

“Then why?”

“Because I love you.”

Ni-ki flinches.

Sunghoon’s chest heaves with all the words he can’t say. Not now, not when Ni-ki’s body is still trembling and his scent still reeks of pain and chemical burns.

So instead, he steps back.

His voice cracks on the edges. “You were dying. I—I didn’t know what else to do.”

Ni-ki’s eyes well. 

“I’ll wait outside. I won’t force anything. But I’m not sorry I saved you. And I am not sorry I claimed you. I don’t regret it… not even a little bit.” Sunghoon says firmly.

And with that, he turns, walking out the door without another word.

Leaving Ni-ki alone again. With nothing but the bond burning under his skin.

The room is quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of Ni-ki’s monitors.

Then the door opens.

Slowly, one by one, they enter. Jay, Sunoo, Jake, Heeseung, Jungwon, Sunghoon. Each with eyes tired from a sleepless night and hearts strung tight with unspoken fear. And the second Ni-ki catches a whiff of their scents, the tightness in his chest loosens just slightly.

His omega instinct stirs.

Recognizing them not just as friends, but as pack.

They don’t rush him. Just stand by the bed, offering soft smiles, gentle hellos. And when Sunoo sits on the edge and carefully takes his hand, Ni-ki doesn’t pull away.

But it is Sunghoon. Standing slightly behind the others, whose scent cuts through everything .

Prominent. Firm. Lingering.

Of course it would be. The bond always speaks loudest.

He can’t meet Sunghoon’s eyes. Not yet.

A knock at the door. The doctor re-enters, holding a clipboard.

“I wanted to talk with all of you, together.” She says. “Ni-ki’s condition is stable, but the recovery path ahead is… complicated.”

She glances at the maknae. “Your scent gland was not only damaged but chemically invaded. You’re rejecting what's left of the foreign compounds, but we’re unsure how long that will take.”

Ni-ki nods slowly, chewing the inside of his cheek.

The doctor turns to Sunghoon. “We need to observe whether your bond is taking fully. It may help his system normalize. But that requires more than just casual proximity.”

“How close?” Heeseung asks.

“We recommend Sunghoon and Ni-ki remain in the same room for the next seven days. Twenty-four hours. Same air. Same space. Daily scenting and light gland cleaning if needed, especially if there’s any residual liquid discharge.” The doctor answers plainly.

“That’s… I mean, we live in the same dorm. Isn’t that close enough?” Ni-ki flushes. 

The doctor shakes her head. “Not for a bond formed under trauma. You two need full scent saturation. That requires shared walls, uninterrupted time, and preferably skin-to-skin exposure at least once a day. Nothing sexual,” she adds quickly, noting the way Ni-ki’s eyes widen. “Just touch and shared warmth. It’s instinctual.”

Sunghoon shifts, cheeks red.

“…He was in heat.” Sunghoon says suddenly. “When I… when I bit him.”

The words hang in the air.

Ni-ki’s breath catches on his throat.

“Yes. But the trauma shut it down. His body is too weak to reenter a cycle anytime soon. You’re safe. Both of you.” The doctor offers a small, understanding smile. 

Jay places a hand on Ni-ki’s shoulder. “It doesn’t have to be anything big. Just… rest. Let us help.”

Ni-ki’s mouth opens ready to say no, to push it away again, to reject the claim and the rules and the future he hadn’t asked for.

But before he can speak, Jungwon steps forward.

Voice quiet but firm.

“We’ll get it done. We will help the bond finalize and we will monitor so Ni-ki can heal properly.”

There is no room for discussion.

Not in that tone.

Not when the leader has made his call.

And for once, Ni-ki doesn’t feel angry about it.

Just tired. Just… held.

He gives a small, reluctant nod.

Sunghoon looks at him then, and Ni-ki meets his gaze for the first time since waking up.

The bond buzzes. Faint, fragile, but there.

The sliding hospital doors open with a soft hiss as the nurse leads them toward the dark van parked by the curb. The sun has only just started to rise. The world still tinted in bruised blues and early gold.

She walks beside Sunghoon, her voice low and steady as Ni-ki hovers quietly behind, bundled in a hoodie two sizes too big, hood over his face.

“You’ve been briefed on the bonding protocol.” She said, handing Sunghoon a folder. “Everything’s inside. We’ve scheduled his follow-up appointments weekly, starting in three days. I marked them here.”

Sunghoon nods, clutching the papers like they are more fragile than they look.

The nurse continues, glancing at Ni-ki. 

“He may struggle with scent sensitivity, paranoia, and mood instability. If he becomes agitated, calm exposure to familiar pack scent should help. Sunghoon, he’ll need you to guide the bonding gently. Reinforce your presence.”

Her eyes soften. “The nest will be important. And so will you.”

Ni-ki flinches slightly but says nothing.

She doesn’t push. Just reaches over and presses a small glass vial into Sunghoon’s palm — filled with a mild gland soother.

“Use this only if he spirals. But try to let the bond do the work first.”

Then she steps back, nods once, and watches as the van doors close.

Back at the dorm, the hallway feels too quiet.

The lights are still dim. Familiar posters on the walls. The smell of floor polish and reheated leftovers. A thousand memories.

Ni-ki barely lifts his head as they climb the stairs, Sunghoon just a step behind him the whole way, not touching, but there.

The door to Sunghoon’s room opens with a soft creak.

And Ni-ki freezes in the doorway.

Of course it would be here.

The doctor had made it very clear: he needs to be surrounded by Sunghoon's scent. This room. His bed, his closet, his air. It is the safest place to anchor the bond and hopefully mend what had been torn apart.

Inside, the bed is already half-covered in hoodies and blankets. Familiar ones.

“Sunoo and Jake were here earlier,” Sunghoon mutters, stepping past Ni-ki. “Said they’d keep dropping off stuff for your nest.”

As if on cue, the door opens again and Sunoo pokes his head in, arms overflowing with more blankets and a pair of Ni-ki’s old pajamas.

“I brought your night shirt!” He chirps softly, trying to sound normal. “And Jake’s digging for that blue blanket you never shut up about.”

Ni-ki blinks, startled. “You remembered that?”

“Your omega was always there. Even if you weren’t listening to it.” Sunoo gives a cheeky smile. 

He sets the bundle down by the bed and hesitates, gaze lingering on Ni-ki.

“Let me know if you need anything else, okay?” Sunoo says softly.

He leaves with a gentle click of the door.

And then they are alone.

The room is dim, warm from the heating unit, and smells overwhelmingly of Sunghoon. The bond buzzes in the back of Ni-ki’s mind, frayed but persistent.

He stares at the pile of clothes, dread coiling low in his gut.

“I don’t know how to make a nest.” He admits, voice tight. “I’ve never… I never let myself.”

There is a pause.

Then Sunghoon crouches down beside the bed and pulls his favorite pillow into the center.

“Then I’ll help you.”

Ni-ki swallows something tight in his throat as Sunghoon begins layering blankets, tucking hoodie sleeves in careful loops, fluffing the edges. Each movement is quiet. Intentional.

No pressure.

No judgment.

Just him, building a place for Ni-ki to fall apart in.

When it is done, Sunghoon turns and holds out his hands.

Ni-ki steps forward.

Sunghoon lifts him gently and sets him right in the middle of the mess they made, surrounded by scent, warmth, fabric.

Ni-ki curls up slowly, arms wrapped around one of Sunghoon’s sweaters. It is rough around the edges but safe in a way he didn’t know he needed.

He doesn’t say thank you.

He doesn’t need to.

Sunghoon just sits beside the nest.

“We’ll figure this out. One day at a time.” Sunghoon whispers. 

The lights in Sunghoon’s room are dimmed to a soft golden glow, casting shadows against the wall. The nest is warm now, lived-in, Ni-ki curls up in the center like a tightly wound knot of bones and nerves.

He hasn’t said much since settling in.

He didn’t need to.

Sunghoon sits nearby, cross-legged on the floor, watching as Ni-ki’s breathing evens out just slightly. His face is still pale. The line of the bite on his neck has darkened into a deeper mark. Angry and raw but no longer bleeding.

A soft knock echoes from the door.

Jake peeks in and holds out a bundle. “Pajamas.”

Sunghoon nods, taking it with a quiet “Thanks.”

The door shuts again.

He turns back toward the bed, where Ni-ki has shifted slightly, arms still clinging to one of Sunghoon’s old hoodies like a lifeline. His eyes blink lazily, dazed from fatigue but still aware.

Sunghoon stands and steps closer, voice soft.

“You need to change, Ni-ki. Into something more comfortable.”

Ni-ki groans faintly, face scrunching in protest. “I don’t wanna move.”

Sunghoon lets out the faintest breath of a chuckle. “Then I’ll come to you.”

He pauses just at the edge of the nest.

“Can I come in?”

There is a second of hesitation. Then, barely above a whisper...

“Yeah.”

Sunghoon steps into the nest slowly, like approaching a wild thing, careful not to upset the circle of safety they’d just built.

Ni-ki doesn’t pull away.

Sunghoon kneels beside him and sits on his knees, setting the pajamas gently beside them. He looks at Ni-ki’s face. The tension in his jaw, the guarded look in his eyes, and whispers.

“Can I help you change?”

A beat passes.

Then Ni-ki nods once.

Sunghoon moves slowly, cautiously. Not because he doesn’t want to touch him, but because he respects how sacred this moment is.

He gently tugs up the hem of the hoodie Ni-ki is wearing, sliding it off over his head, exposing the bruises still healing along his arms and collarbone.

Ni-ki doesn’t meet his eyes.

Sunghoon doesn’t push.

He unfolds the pajama shirt and carefully slips Ni-ki’s arms into the sleeves, fingers brushing against skin far too warm.

When he leans in to button it, he can feel the soft hum of Ni-ki’s breath against his neck. The bond shimmering, faint and trembling, but it is there.

Then comes the pants.

Sunghoon’s hands are gentle as he unfastens the hospital-issued bottoms and helps Ni-ki out of them. Ni-ki hisses once, sensitive, but doesn’t protest.

“Sorry,” Sunghoon whispers.

He pulls the soft pajama pants up, adjusting them gently around Ni-ki’s waist. It is quiet work. Familiar. Careful.

Once done, Sunghoon sits back on his heels.

Ni-ki finally looks up at him.

Eyes rimmed red. Exhausted.

But safe.

Sunghoon doesn’t move to leave. 

“Do you want me to stay?” He asks.

And Ni-ki, who has spent his whole life running from being known, from being vulnerable, from being omega—

He nods.

Then whispers, “Just for a little.”

So Sunghoon crawls in beside him and pulls one of the heavier blankets over them both.

He doesn’t touch Ni-ki, not right away.

But when Ni-ki shifts in the dark, searching.

Sunghoon lets their fingers tangle together between them.

And finally, they sleep.

Together.

Bonded.

Alive.

The following morning…

The dorm is hushed, blanketed in the warm glow of early sunlight filtering through the curtains. Birds chirp distantly outside. No alarms. No chaos. Just stillness.

Sunghoon stirs first.

His eyes open slowly, lashes fluttering against his cheek as he adjusts to the soft light. The first thing he registers is warmth.

Then... weight.

Ni-ki is curled close beside him, nestled in the middle of the carefully built nest, his fingers still locked tightly around one of Sunghoon’s hoodies, like it is the only thing keeping him grounded in this reality.

Sunghoon doesn’t move at first.

He just watches.

Watch the way Ni-ki’s face has finally, finally relaxed. No tension in his jaw. No pain pulling at the corners of his eyes. Just peace. Sleep. Softness.

Sunghoon’s hand moves on instinct.

Gently, he reaches out and brushes his fingers across Ni-ki’s cheek, light as a feather. His skin is warm under his touch, the faintest flush painting his face from sleep.

Ni-ki exhales, lips parting slightly.

And for a moment, for just a flicker of time, he leans into it.

Sunghoon’s breath catches. His fingers linger, reluctant to leave.

But eventually, he pulls away, settling back.

Then Ni-ki stirs.

A quiet groan. A small shift of weight. And then…

Dark lashes flutter open.

Sleepy, disoriented eyes blink up at him.

Sunghoon offers the smallest smile. “Hey.”

Ni-ki doesn’t respond at first.

Instead, he inhales. A deep, involuntary breath, and then again, slower. His brows furrow slightly. His eyes soften.

His omega is stirring.

Something clicks.

The hoodie in his arms, Sunghoon’s scent, is comforting in a way that isn’t just emotional. It is instinctual.

Safety.

Alpha.

Mate.

Ni-ki blinks, confused but not panicked. He looks at Sunghoon again, really looks, and his expression shifts. Just subtly, but enough.

Sunghoon notices it.

The recognition isn’t full yet.

But it is starting.

Ni-ki’s voice is raspy, still thick with sleep.

“…you smell nice.”

It is barely a whisper, but Sunghoon’s chest tightens.

He doesn’t answer right away.

He just whispers back, careful not to scare the moment away.

“So do you.”

Ni-ki’s fingers curl tighter around the hoodie, eyes fluttering close again, forehead pressing into the sleeve like he needs the scent to ground him.

The bond is faint, fragile… but it is there.

A thread. A pull.

Sunghoon reaches out again, brushing hair away from Ni-ki’s forehead.

“You hungry?” he asks gently.

Ni-ki murmurs, “Not yet.”

That is okay.

They have time now.

And Sunghoon can wait. 

There is a soft knock on the door.

Sunghoon doesn’t move from where he sits beside the nest, legs stretched out, fingers absently carding through the edge of a blanket. Ni-ki is still half-curled around his hoodie, more awake now, but unwilling to move from the comfort of the scent-drenched pile.

The door cracks open.

Sunoo peeks in with arms full.

“I brought food.” He says.

Behind him comes Jake, balancing a tray of warm soup, rice, and toast. Jay follows, carrying drinks, Heeseung brings an extra blanket, and Jungwon steps in last, his eyes already scanning the room, noting the atmosphere, reading Ni-ki’s posture and Sunghoon’s closeness like a silent observer collecting data.

The nest is intact. Ni-ki looks a little more rested. The hoodie still clutched tightly in his grip says everything they need to know.

Progress, but slow.

The boys set everything down quietly, speaking in soft voices. No one asks questions. No one comments on how close Sunghoon sits or how Ni-ki keeps leaning subtly toward him, unconsciously seeking his presence.

They all gather around in a loose circle near the edge of the bed, giving Ni-ki space as he slowly, carefully, eats from a bowl Sunghoon holds up for him.

He still doesn’t talk much.

Doesn’t say “thank you,” doesn’t complain, doesn't argue.

Just eats.

Listens.

Watches.

After a while, Jungwon clears his throat.

“The doctor said the first few days are the most important.” He recalls, eyes flicking between Sunghoon and Ni-ki. His tone is soft, but decisive.“Your body is still trying to accept the bond, Ni-ki. And your gland is still trying to figure out if it even can.”

Everyone grows still.

Jungwon continues, “We only have seven days to try to fix what is damaged before the gland scars over. That means we have to be proactive. No holding back, no ignoring instinct. We don’t get to try again if we mess this up.”

Ni-ki stares at the tray in front of him.

“So I think you two should start the daily scenting… now. Today. The longer you wait, the harder it’ll be.” Jungwon softens his voice. 

Silence follows.

No one disagrees.

Even Jay, who often plays devil’s advocate, only gives a solemn nod.

Jake rubs the back of his neck. “We’ll keep things quiet around here. Make sure you’re not disturbed.”

Sunoo offers a warm smile. “We’re here, Ni-ki. Okay? Anything you need.”

Ni-ki doesn’t speak. He just gives the faintest nod, barely perceptible.

But no one misses it.

And no one pushes.

They all stand quietly once breakfast is done, collecting dishes and folding up extra blankets that haven’t been used. One by one, the members make their way to the door, careful not to linger too long or say anything that can overwhelm the delicate atmosphere.

Jungwon is the last to leave.

He looks between the two of them. Ni-ki nestled in the nest, Sunghoon seated at his side.

“You just have to give it a try. At least once.”

Then the door shuts.

And the room is quiet again.

Sunghoon turns to Ni-ki, heart careful in his chest.

He doesn’t reach out yet. Doesn’t press.

But he speaks gently, voice almost a whisper.

“We don’t have to rush it. Just… whenever you’re ready.”

Ni-ki doesn’t answer right away.

But he didn’t pull away either.

A couple of hours later…

The door is closed. Locked.

No sounds filter in from the rest of the dorm.

Just soft breathing.

And silence.

Sunghoon kneels over Ni-ki in the nest, arms braced on either side of his shoulders. Ni-ki has sunk down from the headboard where he’d been resting, now laying flat beneath him, framed by pillows and blankets that carry Sunghoon’s scent from earlier, but faint… too faint.

This... this is different.

More intimate than anything they had ever done.

Neither of them speak as Sunghoon hovers above him, eyes locked onto Ni-ki’s face, his body tense with restraint.

“You sure?” He asks, voice low and hoarse.

Ni-ki nods slowly, chest rising and falling. “They said it’s necessary.”

Sunghoon searches his face again, but Ni-ki isn’t flinching. Not pulling away.

So he exhales, shakily, and leans down.

Carefully.

Deliberately.

He presses his nose to the side of Ni-ki’s neck, right where the bruised gland sits hidden beneath soft, healing skin. The scent is there. Omega. Warm and faintly sweet, but…

It is wrong.

His alpha instincts recoil as he draws in the mix.

The stale stench of hospital soap.

The chemical sharpness of suppressant pills.

The bitter, ghostly trace of other alphas that didn’t belong.

Sunghoon flinches slightly, jaw tight.

Ni-ki stiffens. “Is it bad?”

“No,” Sunghoon says too quickly, too sharply. He clears his throat. Softer now, “No, not bad. Just… not you. Not yet.”

Not mine, he doesn’t say.

His hands tremble as he presses closer.

He can’t help it.

His mouth moves instinctively, lips brushing along Ni-ki’s gland, not biting,never again without consent, but hovering there. Breathing in. Letting his own scent pour from his skin in waves.

He nudges along Ni-ki’s jawline, then down to the hollow of his throat, dragging the scent from his chest and marking it with his own. The curve of his nose gliding across heated skin, mouth barely brushing.

Ni-ki trembles beneath him, clutching the hoodie he still holds.

Sunghoon’s control slips a little more.

He needs Ni-ki to smell like him.

Like safety. Like home.

Like his.

His lips press to the crook of Ni-ki’s neck. His scent glands activate instinctively, rolling waves of musk and clean pine across Ni-ki’s sweat-damp skin.

Sunghoon moves slowly scenting his collarbone, the dip between his ribs, the sides of his throat. He drags Ni-ki’s shirt up, baring more skin, needing to overwrite every single wrong smell that clings there.

Ni-ki bites his lip, arches slightly.

“Sunghoon,” he whispers, breath catching.

Sunghoon freezes, his face buried in Ni-ki's throat.

“You okay?” Sunghoon murmurs, voice rough.

Ni-ki blinks up at the ceiling, lashes fluttering. “I think… I think it’s working.”

Sunghoon eases back just enough to see his face.

Ni-ki’s cheeks are flushed. His eyes are glossy, pupils slightly blown. His Omega instincts are finally reacting. Not in fear, not in agony, but in recognition.

Sunghoon smiles faintly, forehead pressing against Ni-ki’s.

“Good.” He whispers. “Because I’m not stopping until you smell like me again.”

And then he lowers his mouth to the curve of Ni-ki’s shoulder and continues.

Slow.

Steady.

Careful.

The room fills with the scent of Alpha, finally familiar, finally right, seeping into the walls, the bed, the nest.

And Ni-ki, now wrapped in that scent, finally begins to relax.

Something definitely shifts.

It happens slowly. Like fog peeling back to reveal the sky. One moment, Ni-ki lies beneath Sunghoon, tense and unsure. The next, he breathes in.

And everything inside him changes.

The scent in the room is no longer sterile, no longer laced with chemicals and cruel touches that had never belonged to him. It is warm now. Heady and firm and Alpha, but not aggressive.

It is Sunghoon.

Clean pine, winter musk, and a faint trace of something warmer underneath, something that only surfaces when he is near Ni-ki. It settles into his skin like a balm. Wraps around his ribs. Tucks into the curve of his hips.

He feels it in his throat, in his stomach, in his bones.

His omega stops bracing for pain.

And begins to rest.

Ni-ki’s body goes slack beneath Sunghoon’s, his chest rising with a shaky breath as he blinks up at the man hovering over him.

Sunghoon is flushed, jaw tight, pupils blown dark, but still watching him. Still waiting. Still gentle.

Ni-ki doesn’t understand it fully. Doesn’t know why his arms move upward, or why his legs shift but before he can think about it, his thighs wrap around Sunghoon’s waist. Tightly. Anchoring him in place.

Sunghoon sucks in a sharp breath, both hands bracing against the bed as he looks down at him.

“Ni-ki…”

“I don’t know why,” Ni-ki murmurs, voice still soft and confused. “But you smell like… like I can sleep again.”

His legs only clutch tighter, heel hooking against the small of Sunghoon’s back.

Sunghoon groans, not from pain, but from something deeper, heavier.

The bond pulses quietly.

Then comes the scent.

That scent.

A small, barely-there spike of sweet omega, subtle but unmistakable. Like a spark of instinct flickering to life after being choked for too long.

Sunghoon’s body goes still, heart thudding hard in his chest.

Ni-ki tilts his face into the pillow but doesn't let go.

“Stay right here,” Ni-ki whispers.

And Sunghoon… he obeys.

He lowers himself carefully, weight settling between Ni-ki’s legs, chest pressing to his. His arms curve under Ni-ki’s back, holding him close but not too tight. Just present. Just safe.

Sunghoon buries his face in Ni-ki’s neck again and breathes him in.

Ni-ki shivers.

But doesn’t flinch.

Doesn’t recoil.

His fingers slide up Sunghoon’s back and hold him there. Just like that, as if letting go will shatter everything they have just rebuilt.

“You smell like home.” Ni-ki whispers faintly, barely audible against Sunghoon’s ear.

Sunghoon feels something behind his ribs crack wide open.

They stayed like that.

One tangled breath at a time.

Later at night…

Sunghoon is dozing lightly, arm curled around Ni-ki’s waist where he lies pressed against him in the nest.

A whimper.

Soft. Barely audible.

Then it turns into something harsher. A gasp. A twitch.

Sunghoon blinks awake just in time to feel Ni-ki start thrashing.

“No! No!”

His voice is ragged, strangled. Legs kicking out in tangled blankets, fists clenching. His whole body locked up in panic, like he is trapped in some unseen cage.

Sunghoon sits up instantly.

“Ni-ki,” Sunghoon whispers, hands gently gripping his shoulders. “Hey. Wake up. It’s just a dream, wake up!”

But it is no use.

Ni-ki’s eyes are shut tight, his breathing ragged. A cold sweat is breaking across his skin. His nails scrape blindly at the fabric of the hoodie still clutched to his chest like a shield.

Like he is still back there. On that table.

Still being touched by people who didn’t care if he screamed.

Sunghoon’s throat clenches. He leans in closer.

“Ni-ki, listen to me. It’s not real. You’re safe. You're home.”

But it isn’t getting through.

So instinct takes over.

Sunghoon moves quickly, carefully, shifting until he is flat on his back in the nest. He pulls Ni-ki on top of him, adjusting his limbs until the boy’s chest is pressed tightly to his own.

He wraps both arms around Ni-ki’s back. One hand splayed protectively between his shoulder blades and with the other he tilts Ni-ki’s head down.

Right against his neck.

Against his scent gland.

“Come on,” Sunghoon whispers, voice cracking as he holds him tighter. “Smell me. It’s me. I’ve got you.”

Ni-ki struggles for another second. Legs twitching, breath caught. 

He inhales.

A ragged breath. Desperate. Shaky.

Right against the warm, pulsing spot at the base of Sunghoon’s neck.

Then another.

And another.

The trembling begins to fade. His fists loosen. His body softens in slow waves as if peeling away from the grip of some invisible terror.

Sunghoon’s hand rubs soft, soothing circles against Ni-ki’s back, the motion repetitive and grounding.

“You’re okay,” he murmurs, kissing the side of Ni-ki’s head. “You’re here. With me. You’re safe.”

Ni-ki doesn’t respond with words.

But he lets go of the hoodie for the first time.

His fingers instead curl into Sunghoon’s shirt, then into his side, until he is clinging to him. Arms looping around Sunghoon’s torso like he can’t bear even an inch of space between them.

A sound.

Faint.

Soft.

A low, content vibration rises from Ni-ki’s chest as he presses his face tighter into Sunghoon’s neck.

A purr.

Not a hum. Not a breath. But a true omega purr.

Subtle and steady, like a heartbeat.

Sunghoon freezes.

It shakes him to the core.

He swallows hard, arms still firm around Ni-ki’s frame as the realization hits him.

Ni-ki’s body has never made that sound before.

Not during training. Not in the dorms. Not during his heat.

Because Ni-ki had never felt safe enough to let it happen.

Until now.

Until him.

Sunghoon closes his eyes.

His chin rests against Ni-ki’s head, his fingers still stroking gently across his back.

“I’ve got you,” he whispers again. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

The purr doesn’t stop.

The following morning…

The first thing Ni-ki registers is pure warmth.

Not just the cozy kind from blankets, but a warmth that pulses.

Lives.

Breathes.

His cheek is pressed against something solid and smooth, something that rises and falls gently beneath him. His arms are tangled tightly around it, legs hooked over it, chest molded to it.

And slowly… reality sinks in.

Sunghoon.

His eyes flutter open in a panic.

And sure enough, Ni-ki finds himself sprawled directly on top of the alpha. Face buried into Sunghoon’s neck. Their bodies tangled together so completely that there isn’t a single part of Ni-ki not touching him.

What the hell.

Ni-ki blinks blearily, trying to figure out when or how this happened. The last thing he remembers clearly was… the hoodie. The nest. A scent. Safety.

But now...this?

Sunghoon is fast asleep beneath him, head tilted slightly to the side, one arm lazily looped around Ni-ki’s waist. His breath ghosts through Ni-ki’s hair, slow and steady. Peaceful.

Ni-ki’s heart is anything but .

He shifts slightly, just an inch, trying not to wake him, but it is enough to make the arm around his waist tighten. Instinctive. Possessive.

A groggy voice murmurs into Ni-ki’s hair.

“…Where are you going?”

Ni-ki freezes.

“I—nowhere,” Ni-ki whispers, cheeks heating in embarrassment. “I was just... um…”

His brain scrambles for something logical to say.

“Woke up.”

Sunghoon hums, not yet fully awake, and leans his face a little closer into Ni-ki’s temple.

“You’re still purring.” Sunghoon says softly, almost like he is talking in his sleep.

Ni-ki blinks, confused. “I’m what?”

Sunghoon smiles faintly against his skin. “You were purring last night too. Loud. Right after you calmed down.”

Ni-ki’s face goes scarlet. Even his ears turn red.

His fingers clench the fabric of Sunghoon’s shirt where they have been loosely resting. He tries to pull away a little again, but Sunghoon’s hand splays wide over his back, grounding him.

“You okay?” Sunghoon finally asks gently, his voice clearer now.

Ni-ki nods slowly, even if his body doesn’t quite know what to do with itself. “Yeah, I just… I didn’t think I’d be… this close.”

Sunghoon’s thumb brushes a soothing line across Ni-ki’s spine.

“Well,” Sunghoon grunts, “you practically kept climbing onto me in your sleep. I wasn’t gonna push you off.”

Ni-ki groans quietly, face burrowing into Sunghoon’s chest in sheer embarrassment.

Sunghoon chuckles, barely holding it in. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.”

A pause.

“Feels good, actually.”

Ni-ki goes still at that. Not in fear. Just surprise.

Sunghoon feels it and clarifies softly, “I like being the one you reach for.”

Another beat of silence.

Very faintly, almost shyly, Ni-ki responds.

“…I didn’t know I was. Reaching out, I mean.”

Sunghoon’s arms tighten just slightly. Protective. Warm.

“You were.”

And neither of them move for a long time after that.

Well… not until they get interrupted. 

The scent of eggs, rice, and something sweet filters in before the knock.

The knock comes. Two quick raps, familiar and bright.

“Room service!” Jake’s voice calls through the door before it creaks open.

Sunghoon is still barely awake, blinking blearily from where he lies tangled in the nest of blankets and scent-soaked shirts, body pleasantly warm, arms lazily curled around—

Nothing.

Because the second Ni-ki hears Jake’s voice, he bolts.

In a flurry of limbs and heat-flushed skin, Ni-ki scrambles off of Sunghoon like he has been electrocuted. Blankets flying, one sock halfway off his foot. In his panic, he completely misses the edge of the mattress and crashes to the floor with a muffled thud and a loud snarl.

“Shit!”

There is a brief pause.

Until Jake burst out laughing.

He walks in with a tray in hand, placing it neatly on Sunghoon’s desk as Ni-ki groans from the floor, one hand rubbing the back of his head.

“You okay down there, champ?” Jake teases, peering over the edge of the bed.

Ni-ki turns his face to the floor. “I’m going to die.”

“Don’t,” Jake replies too cheerfully. “You just started looking a little better.”

He crouches down beside him, one warm palm brushing through Ni-ki’s mussed hair with a gentleness that contradicts his teasing tone.

Ni-ki freezes for a second. Still not quite used to so much affection, but then relaxes just enough to let it happen.

“Look at you,” Jake says quietly, genuinely. “Already moving better. Breathing better.”

Ni-ki doesn’t say anything, but his eyes soften a little as he sits up, tugging one of the blankets down with him to cover his legs.

Jake stands and turns toward Sunghoon, who hasn’t moved from the bed, head propped lazily on one arm.

“I take it the bond’s helping,” Jake says with a knowing glance.

Sunghoon shrugs, clearly still waking up. “He slept on top of me last night. I didn’t exactly have a choice.”

“I did not climb,” Ni-ki snaps weakly from the floor. “Or slept on top of you! I must’ve rolled or mistaken you for the mattress, that’s all!”

Jake smirks. “Rolled. Climbed. Mounted. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Ni-ki launches a pillow at his face.

Jake catches it one-handed.

“I’ll come back later for the dishes. Try not to fall out of bed again.”

As he leaves, he tosses over his shoulder, “Glad to see you again, Ni-ki. Really. ”

The door shuts with a quiet click.

And silence returns.

Ni-ki sits with his back against the wall, blanket draped over his lap, cheeks still burning.

Sunghoon stretches on the bed, arms behind his head, watching him with a smirk of his own.

“You did sleep on me.” He says smugly.

“Shut up.”

“Your legs were around my waist.”

“I swear to God, Sunghoon!”

Sunghoon chuckles and pats the space beside him in the nest.

“Come back. Breakfast’s gonna get cold.”

Ni-ki hesitates.

But only for a second.

Then he crawls back in.

Ni-ki has picked at the rice with his fingers, nibbling here and there, but his appetite hasn’t returned fully. Not yet. Sunghoon isn’t pushing it either.

The two of them sit side by side in the nest, close but not quite touching, when another knock comes, slower this time. Measured.

Jay enters with a white bag in one hand and a serious expression on his face.

“Doctor sent this.” Jay says simply, lifting the small medical pouch. “Said it’s time to start the wound maintenance.”

Sunghoon sits up straighter, immediately alert.

Ni-ki blinks. “What… maintenance?”

Jay opens the bag, taking out a sterile bottle and a pack of pads. 

“Your scent gland,” he says gently. “It’s still raw. Still vulnerable. You need to start cleaning it daily. To prevent infection and help regulate the bond.”

Ni-ki stiffens immediately.

Jay doesn’t miss it. His voice softens even further.

“There’s also… another method.” He says carefully, avoiding Sunghoon’s gaze at first. “More traditional. More instinctive.”

Ni-ki narrows his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Jay hesitates, then glances at Sunghoon, who is already tensing.

“It’s called… scent-healing.” Jay explains. “Or gland-soothing. The alpha uses their mouth to stimulate and clean the omega’s scent gland—”

Ni-ki's entire body jolts.

He surges upright like he has been burned.

“No. No, no. You’re not touching it.” Ni-ki snaps, panic immediately rises. “No one’s touching it!”

“Ni-ki, breathe.” Sunghoon says quickly, already reaching for him. “It doesn’t have to be now. Jay’s just telling us.”

But Ni-ki has already backed against the wall of the nest, chest heaving.

Jay opens the bottle quietly, trying to move slowly, showing him the liquid. 

“This part is just topical. No one’s biting. No licking. I swear. We’re just going to clean it, okay?”

But as soon as that clinical smell hits the air — sterile, chemical, like disinfectant from a table that once held Ni-ki down — it happens.

Ni-ki’s eyes go wide.

His body locks up.

And then he screams.

He kicks out hard, hands swinging, trying to tear himself out of the blankets.

“No! Get it off me! Don’t touch me. Don’t!”

Jay drops the pad, startled.

Sunghoon dives forward, grabbing Ni-ki’s wrists but not roughly as he tries to anchor him. 

“Ni-ki! Ni-ki, it’s me! It’s just me!”

But Ni-ki doesn’t see him.

His body is fighting like it was back in the lab. Back on the table. Back under her.

The door slams open.

Jungwon and Heeseung are already rushing in, Jungwon immediately drops to his knees as he tries to talk Ni-ki down while Heeseung helps Sunghoon push Ni-ki gently back against the mattress.

“He’s panicking!” Sunghoon shouts over Ni-ki’s cries. “Hold his left side. He’s gonna throw himself off—”

Heeseung moves fast, bracing Ni-ki with his arm, while Jungwon holds his face with both hands.

“Ni-ki, it’s Jungwon. You’re in your room. With us. No one’s gonna hurt you.”

But the scent is still in the air. It stings.

Jay grabs a towel and waves the open bottle away, tossing the gauze pads aside. 

“Too soon,” he mutters under his breath. “Damn it! I should’ve known the smell would trigger him.”

Sunghoon is pale, sweat beading on his brow as he watches Ni-ki writhe beneath them, completely overtaken by panic.

But even in the chaos, Sunghoon leans down and murmurs.

“Omega. Look at me.”

His Alpha voice isn’t loud.

But it cuts through the haze.

Ni-ki’s eyes, wet and red, flicker towards him instinctively.

“Just scent,” Sunghoon promises. “I’ll make it better. I’ll fix it. You don’t have to be scared.”

Ni-ki whimpers, body sagging slightly between them.

The tension doesn’t vanish, but it begins to shake, crack, unravel.

Jungwon keeps murmuring soft reminders. Heeseung rubs circles over Ni-ki’s shoulder. Sunghoon’s scent floods the space, and Jay quietly tosses the first bottle out the door and replaces it with a milder alternative.

Ni-ki is panting, but at least his body stops jerking. His wrists go  limp under Sunghoon’s grip.

“I’m sorry.” He whispers brokenly. “I didn’t mean—”

“You don’t have to be sorry,” Sunghoon whispers back, brushing a thumb under Ni-ki’s eye. “You were hurt. You’re healing.”

Ni-ki swallows hard, tears still clinging to his lashes.

Jay steps forward again, cautiously this time.

“I’ll leave the medicine on the dresser. Let Sunghoon do it later, on your time.”

The others nod , quiet understanding in their eyes. They go out slowly.

Ni-ki collapses into the bed like his body has nothing left to give.

And Sunghoon holds him there, saying nothing more.

Because healing isn’t easy.

But Ni-ki isn’t alone anymore.

Night falls slowly over the dorm.

The quiet is thicker now. Not tense, but tired. Worn.

The others have long gone to their rooms, leaving Sunghoon and Ni-ki alone again. The leftover scent of stress and fear has been slowly replaced by something softer. The warmth of shared space, the faint comfort of a nest beginning to smell like home.

Sunghoon sits cross-legged on the bed, the opened medical kit on the nightstand. He switched out the strong cleanser Jay used earlier for something gentler, neutral in scent, made especially for omega glands post-trauma. The doctor had said it would sting slightly , but it wasn’t abrasive.

Ni-ki sits beside him, legs tucked underneath himself, back stiff. He is quiet. Alert, but not frozen like earlier. Watching everything.

Sunghoon doesn’t rush.

He waits.

Until Ni-ki speaks first.

“…We’re doing it now?” Ni-ki asks, voice quiet.

Only then did Sunghoon meet his gaze and nod. “If you’re okay with it.”

A long pause.

Then a short breath, shaky but real.

“…Okay.”

Ni-ki turns slowly, exposing the side of his neck. There's still bruised in places, raw where the bite mark sits, angry and red where needle punctures had marred the skin. The actual gland is still swollen, skin thin and tender.

Sunghoon’s throat tightens.

Someone had done this to his omega.

And all he can do now is help him heal.

He soaks the soft cloth in the liquid and gently presses it to the outer skin around the gland, just to test.

Ni-ki winces.

Sunghoon immediately pulls back. “Too much?”

“No,” Ni-ki whispers. “It’s fine. Just… don’t warn me. Just do it.”

That alone says enough. How Ni-ki has learned to brace, to flinch, to expect the worst. But Sunghoon will never be one of those people.

So he nods.

And with steady hands, he cleans.

He moves slowly, dabbing and swiping in careful, practiced motions. Never too long in one spot. Never too firm. His other hand rests on Ni-ki’s shoulder, grounding him, rubbing small circles with his thumb.

Ni-ki is shaking, but stays still.

A breath.

A soft one.

Almost like a sigh.

It escapes Ni-ki without meaning to. As if something deep in him is realizing that this pain isn’t meant to hurt. That this touch is safe.

Sunghoon drops the cloth after a final sweep, and carefully tilts Ni-ki’s chin. 

“I’m done.” Sunghoon says softly.

Ni-ki blinks, almost surprised.

“…That’s it?”

Sunghoon nods. “For tonight.”

Silence lingers between them, thick but not uncomfortable.

And then Ni-ki whispers, “...You were gentle.”

“I’ll always be gentle with you.” Sunghoon responds without missing a beat.

Ni-ki looks away, visibly shaken by the tenderness of it all.

Maybe no one had ever said that to him.

Or meant it.

Sunghoon doesn’t push. He only reaches out, brushing a hand through the back of Ni-ki’s hair, not for the sake of scenting, but just to soothe.

“Tomorrow… we can try the other method. But only if you want.”

Ni-ki pauses.

His fingers go to the edge of the bandage that now covers his cleaned gland, like he can still feel Sunghoon’s touch there.

“…We’ll see.”

And that, that is enough for now.

Day four

The room is quiet again. Not with tension, but with the kind of silence that settles after long conversations and unspoken truths. Nobody said it aloud, but everyone knew tonight would be the night.

Sunghoon sits on the edge of the bed, hands resting on his knees. He has laid out a fresh towel, prepped the softest pillow he could find to support Ni-ki’s neck, and closed the window to make sure the space stays warm and still. His scent lingers everywhere now. Not overwhelming, just present, anchoring.

Ni-ki hasn’t said much since the doctor’s final message earlier that day:

“If he’s ready, and you’re steady, you can try the instinctual method. It may help the gland start rebalancing itself — but only if it feels safe.”

Now, Ni-ki stands barefoot near the door, a hoodie too big on his frame, sleeves swallowing his hands. His hair still looks damp from a shower.

He is anxious. That is obvious.

But he isn’t backing away.

Sunghoon rises slowly, stepping forward, stopping just close enough for Ni-ki to hear his heartbeat.

“…We don’t have to do anything,” He reminds Ni-ki gently. “You know that, right?”

Ni-ki looks up, lips slightly parted. His voice is soft. “I know.”

His eyes flicker away for a moment. 

“…Will it hurt?” Ni-ki whispers.

Sunghoon shakes his head. 

“No. It’s not biting. Not claiming. Just… licking. Comforting. You can stop me anytime.”

Silence.

Then Ni-ki gives the smallest nod.

“…Okay.”

Sunghoon doesn’t ask again.

He only takes Ni-ki’s hand and leads him toward the bed.

They settle quietly. Ni-ki sits between Sunghoon’s legs, back against his chest, his hair swept to one side to expose his neck. His breath comes in soft puffs, uneven but not panicked.

Sunghoon leans down, mouth close but not touching yet.

“Can I?” He whispers.

Ni-ki tenses, then nods.

And only then does Sunghoon begin.

His tongue traces lightly over the outer curve of Ni-ki’s gland, avoiding the center where it is most sensitive. The taste is faintly bitter, still touched by chemical remnants, but underneath it is his omega’s scent.

Sunghoon doesn’t push.

He works slowly. A gentle rhythm. One pass at a time. Letting Ni-ki feel every second of it. His hands rest low on Ni-ki’s sides, anchoring him, never gripping.

The first few licks make Ni-ki tremble.

But when Sunghoon murmurs “I’ve got you,” and adjusts his touch just slightly, the tremble shifts.

Not fear.

Not tension.

But release.

Ni-ki leans his head further to the side.

And something in his scent changes . Subtle, but there. As if his body has finally recognized what his heart is trying to believe: this alpha is safe.

Sunghoon continues, licking over the bite once, then again, circling it like it is sacred. Every time his tongue passes over it, he tries to pour in comfort. Devotion. Healing.

Eventually, Ni-ki’s hands come up to cover Sunghoon’s on his waist.

“…It doesn’t feel like when she did it.” Ni-ki confesses, so quietly it barely counts as sound.

Sunghoon pauses. His chest squeezes hard.

But then he turns his head and presses a single kiss to Ni-ki’s temple.

“It never will,” he whispers. “Because I love you. And I will never hurt you.”

The stillness that follows is heavy. But not with dread.

It is the stillness of beginning again.

Ni-ki leans back into him, heart thudding slow.

The rhythm stays steady for a while.

Sunghoon works with a patience he didn’t know he had. Tongue slow and purposeful, dragging in gentle circles around the edges of Ni-ki’s scent gland. Every stroke is measured, meant to soothe, to ease.

Ni-ki has relaxed more than either of them realized.

His body is pliant, hands resting over Sunghoon’s where they sit loosely at his waist. His cheek pressed into the pillow Sunghoon has tucked behind his head. The tension has melted from his shoulders. He isn’t trembling anymore.

Sunghoon adjusts his angle slightly, and with careful precision, leans down and lets his tongue finally trace—

Over the very center.

The rawest part.

The bite mark.

The place where everything is still tender, half-healed, exposed.

Ni-ki’s breath catches and then breaks.

And without meaning to, he makes a sound.

It starts low in his throat. Just a soft hum, something airy. But it built into something deeper — soft and rhythmic.

A purr. A moan.

It rumbles from his chest like an engine trying to start, shaky and uneven at first, but then smooth. Steady. Resonant.

Sunghoon’s lips part in awe. He’d only ever heard Ni-ki purr once before. Half-asleep, traumatized, clinging to a hoodie. But this…

This is for him.

Because of Sunghoon.

The alpha doesn’t stop licking. If anything, he grows gentler. Softer. He mouths over the scent gland with reverence now, working slowly to ease the worst of the ache, to tell the omega underneath his hands:

You’re safe. I’m here. You’re mine.

Ni-ki shifts faintly, pressing back against him with more intent, like he wants to be closer. His purring grows stronger. Sleepy. Warm.

Sunghoon can feel his own heartbeat slowing to match.

The room dims around them, quiet except for the soft whir of the heater and the sound of Ni-ki's breathing. At some point, Sunghoon stops licking, just pressing his mouth there, warm and firm over the mark. His nose buries into the skin just beneath it. His arms wound more securely around Ni-ki’s middle.

Ni-ki murmurs something inaudible, but content. His fingers curl into Sunghoon’s, one leg draped over his.

Sunghoon holds him tighter.

The purring continues.

And that’s how they fall asleep.

Wrapped together in warmth, safety, and the sound of instinct finally being allowed to exist in peace.

After Doctor’s Appointment

They don’t talk much on the ride home.

The van is quiet, filled only with the gentle sound of tires on asphalt and the distant hum of music from the front. Sunghoon sits close, but doesn’t touch Ni-ki yet. He just keeps his warmth within reach. 

When they finally get back to the dorm, the others respectfully give them space, shuffling off to their own rooms with soft goodnights and unspoken worry in their eyes.

Sunghoon opens the door to his room, their shared space now, and Ni-ki steps in first.

Everything looks the same. The nest is still made up on the bed. The faint smell of chamomile from the diffuser. One of Ni-ki’s hoodies draped over the chair.

But something in the air has changed.

Ni-ki goes to sit down at the edge of the bed. He is silent for a long time. His fingers twisting at the fabric of his sleeves. Sunghoon stays by the dresser, watching. Waiting. Giving him enough space to breathe.

Until finally, Ni-ki breaks the silence.

“They said… there’s a chance I might never produce my scent again.”

Sunghoon’s brows furrow instantly.

“They said it gently. The doctor was careful. But she was honest. It might never come back.”

“…Ni-ki.”

“I’ll still be able to regulate some of the instincts with enough scenting, but it won’t be mine. Not the way it’s supposed to be.”

Sunghoon takes a step forward, carefully.

“I’m a defective omega.” Ni-ki says as he looks away.

That is the word. Sharp and final. Like Ni-ki has been holding it back all day.

Sunghoon’s jaw clenches.

“I won’t heat the way others do. I won’t carry the right pheromones. And even if I’m bonded, it’s always going to feel a little—” Ni-ki hesitates, then whispers, “broken.”

Sunghoon opens his mouth, but Ni-ki raises his hand to stop him.

“And when these next three weeks are over… when the checkups are done, and my body is stabilized—”

His voice cracks, but he forces the words out.

“You’re free to break the bond. If it hasn’t taken fully, the doctor said it wouldn’t destroy either of us. You can still find someone with a proper gland. Someone who can scent the way I can’t. Someone that smells like an omega. Someone—”

“Enough.”

Ni-ki flinches.

Sunghoon crosses the room in three quick strides. His voice is still low, but tight with anger. Not at Ni-ki, but at the fact of Ni-ki even thinking this way.

“You think I care about that?” Sunghoon snaps. “About your scent, your cycles, your gland function?”

Ni-ki looks down, eyes glassy.

“Do you even know how long I’ve been in love with you?” Sunghoon confesses.

That makes the omega blink. His heart stopping for a second.

“How many times I’ve had to sit next to you, wondering if you’d ever look at me the same way I looked at you? Wondering why I felt pulled to you, even before I knew what you were?”

Sunghoon crouches in front of him, resting his hands gently on Ni-ki’s knees.

“This isn’t some duty for me. I’m not staying because I feel bad. I’m staying because this is where I want to be. You are my omega. And nothing about you is defective.”

Ni-ki’s lower lip trembles.

“You could have died,” Sunghoon whispers, voice raw now. “They almost destroyed you. And now you’re here, still standing, still fighting, and you think I will walk away because of some scent issue?”

His hands slides up, cupping Ni-ki’s face gently.

“I don’t need your scent. I just need you. ”

Ni-ki finally lets the tears spill, slow, quiet.

Sunghoon leans forward and presses his forehead against Ni-ki’s.

“If you never produce scent again, I’ll still carry yours in my bones. Because I know it. I lived it. I smelled it when we were trapped in that room. And you’re not broken. You’re just healing.”

A shaky breath escapes Ni-ki.

“…You’re so annoying,” the omega whispers.

Sunghoon huffs a small laugh. “I get that a lot.”

Ni-ki’s hands curl in Sunghoon’s hoodie.

And for the first time that day, he feels safe enough to cry. Truly cry. And let it out against Sunghoon’s chest.

Two days later…

Sunghoon notices it first. The way Ni-ki’s skin stays warmer than usual. Not fever-hot, not dangerous, but just… off. His palm is damp where it rests over Sunghoon’s chest, his breath shallow in sleep. Sunghoon thinks that maybe it is just the nest being too thick, so he adjusts the blankets and lets Ni-ki cling to him.

But by morning, the beads of sweat along Ni-ki’s brow are impossible to ignore.

And the weather outside isn’t even warm.

Sunghoon frowns slightly as he helps Ni-ki into a clean hoodie. 

“Are you feeling okay?” Sunghoon asks, thumb gently brushing along Ni-ki’s temple to wipe the sweat away.

Ni-ki leans into the touch more instinctively than consciously. And then gives a small nod.

“I think so,” he murmurs. “Just… feel full. Like I’m too warm inside.”

Sunghoon’s brow furrows. “Should we tell the doctor?”

“We’re going anyway.” Ni-ki mutters. “They’ll probably know what it means.”

Still, Sunghoon can’t help the subtle way his alpha instincts kick in, slowing down his movements, making sure Ni-ki has water. Making sure he wears a breathable shirt under his hoodie. Whatever this is… it isn’t normal post-trauma heat regulation.

It is something deeper.

At the hospital, the shift becomes clearer.

They have just entered the lobby when a gentle-looking omega nurse, soft-spoken and kind-eyed, approaches the check-in desk. She smiles at Sunghoon in passing, nodding once. It is harmless. Polite.

But Ni-ki’s body moves closer.

He steps into Sunghoon’s side, brushing their arms together. His hand curls in the hoodie sleeve, knuckles brushing Sunghoon’s.

Possessive.

Sunghoon notices. His inner alpha definitely notices.

Then, a male omega nurse appears from the hallway to guide them toward the examination rooms. 

“Park Sunghoon and Nishimura Riki?” He asks gently. “We’re ready for you.”

Ni-ki stares.

His fingers curl tighter into the fabric at Sunghoon’s side, and he takes a half-step in front of him, not even fully realizing it until the nurse gives him a look of faint amusement.

“Right this way,” the nurse chuckles lightly, unbothered.

Sunghoon leans down and whispers just loud enough for Ni-ki to hear.

“You’re being a little too obvious.”

“I don’t care,” Ni-ki mutters under his breath, eyes locked on the nurse’s back. “He shouldn’t be touching you anyway.”

Sunghoon blinks.

There it is.

The shift.

Ni-ki isn’t just bonded. He isn’t just surviving. His instincts are beginning to bloom in full. Possessiveness. Heat sensitivity. Emotional imprinting. Everything they had feared was broken — is starting to repair itself on its own.

They sit in the waiting room for a few minutes until they are called in.

Sunghoon reaches over, grabbing Ni-ki’s hand. It is warm. Not feverish just flushed. His cheeks are pink, too, and there is a glassy look in his eyes that hadn’t been there even yesterday.

“After the doctor checks you,” Sunghoon says gently, “you should tell her everything. Don’t hide how you feel.”

Ni-ki turns to him, expression softening just a bit. 

Ni-ki nods and ends up going in by himself while Sunghoon stays behind in the waiting room. 

The room is bright and sterile. Not in a bad way... just… quiet.

Calm.

Ni-ki sits on the padded exam table, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, hoodie discarded and folded neatly beside him. He is in a thin cotton shirt now, the material clinging slightly to the skin of his back where a thin sheen of sweat  begins to form again. He feels too warm, like there is a slow, simmering fire running just beneath his skin.

The doctor, Dr. Min, taps something into the chart and then gives him a gentle smile. 

“I’m going to check your vitals again and take a close look at your wrist glands. You’re not in pain, right?”

Ni-ki shakes his head. “No pain. Just… warm.”

“We’ll get to that. Let’s start slow.” The doctor nods.

She checks his pulse first. It is strong and a little fast.

Then comes the blood pressure. High for someone like him.

She moves to his wrist next, her gloved hands soft as she holds it up to the light. Her brows pinch slightly.

“Still reactive,” she murmurs. “Which is good. But—” she reaches for his other wrist, cradling it, thumb brushing along the faint gland hidden just under the skin. “This one’s swollen. Do you feel that?”

Ni-ki nods. “It’s been… tingling.”

Next, she gently tilts his chin to one side. Her eyes zeroed in on the scent gland just below his jaw, where Sunghoon’s bite mark is still faintly healing. It has scabbed nicely, no infection, but the skin around it is flushed.

Dr. Min touches her fingers near it. 

“Any sensitivity here?”

Ni-ki winces. “A little. It comes and goes.”

Dr. Min pulls back slowly, then sits on the rolling stool in front of him. She folds her hands.

“You’re not imagining it,” she says softly. “Your body is reacting.”

Ni-ki’s eyes dart up. 

“To what?”

She takes a breath. 

“You’re showing early signs of a secondary heat.”

Everything goes still.

“The first heat was forcibly interrupted,” she explains. “Medically and psychologically. Because of that, your cycle was never completed. So now that your body has a bonded alpha so close it is starting to prepare for it again.”

Ni-ki blinks. 

“But… it’s too soon. My gland isn’t even healed.”

“I know. That’s why we’re monitoring everything closely,” she says. “You’re not entering full heat yet, but your core temperature, gland stimulation, and hormonal rhythm all suggest your body is syncing again. Especially because your alpha hasn’t left your side.”

Ni-ki looks down at his hands.

He can still feel Sunghoon’s scent on his skin. The way it has cling to his hoodie. The warmth of sleeping in his arms.

“It’s… because he’s here?”

Dr. Min’s smile softens. 

“It’s because your body trusts him. You’re safe now. And your instincts are starting to understand that.”

Ni-ki feels like something cracked open inside him. Not pain, just clarity.

“Does that mean it’s… going to happen again?” Ni-ki asks. “A real heat?”

“We don’t know yet.” She says honestly. “But we’ll keep track of your symptoms daily. I’ll send a full schedule for scenting and rest. If you do enter heat again, this time it will be natural. Not triggered by chemicals or trauma.”

She pauses, then adds gently.

“You’ll have control. And your alpha will be there with you… if you let him.”

Ni-ki looks away quickly.

His fingers dig into the hem of his shirt.

“I’m scared.” He whispers.

“I know,” she replies. “But you’re healing, Ni-ki. Faster than any of us expected. And that… that’s a very good thing.”

Ni-ki nods his head once and grabs the paperwork.

He says his goodbye as he walks towards the door.

The omega steps out into the hallway, pulling his hoodie over his head as he adjusts to the cooler air. The exam room has left him with a strange hollow feeling in his chest. Not fear, not quite, but something more unsettling. Heat. Need. Want.

And then his eyes catch the sight down the hall.

Sunghoon.

Standing by the corner. Talking to someone.

A nurse. An omega nurse. Pretty. Smiling too softly. Her manicured fingers are pointing at something on a clipboard, her other hand gesturing animatedly as she hands Sunghoon a pamphlet with a pink cover.

She laughs at something he says. Tilts her head. Too much hair flipping.

Sunghoon, to his credit, looks polite. Attentive, even if a bit awkward. He doesn’t step away when she leans slightly closer.

Ni-ki’s steps falter.

His hand tightens around the file the doctor has given him.

His chest prickles with something sharp.

He watches Sunghoon tuck the pamphlet under his arm, bow slightly, and offer a half-smile. The nurse smiles back, wide and soft, and Ni-ki snaps.

He stalks forward. Quick and quiet.

Sunghoon turns just in time to see him.

“Ni-ki,” he greets, straightening. “Hey, how’d it go?”

But Ni-ki doesn’t answer right away.

Instead, he glances at the nurse, then back at Sunghoon. His voice is sharp.

“Who’s that?”

Sunghoon blinks. 

“Oh! She was just explaining something. About cooling pads. For your temperature.”

Ni-ki’s gaze doesn’t soften. He turns his head just slightly towards the omega nurse. 

“You’re done now, right?” Ni-ki snarls.

There is a beat of silence.

The nurse seems startled. But she recover quickly and gives him a tight smile as she bows. “Of course. If you need anything else—”

“We won’t,” Ni-ki cuts in.

Sunghoon’s eyes widened, a little stunned by the sudden coldness in Ni-ki’s tone. The nurse takes the hint and walks away, her perfume lingering in the air like a challenge.

Sunghoon looks back at him, amused. 

“What was that?”

Ni-ki doesn’t answer until they are in the van.

The moment the doors close, Ni-ki turns to him sharply.

“You liked her.”

Sunghoon blinks. “What?”

“That nurse. You were smiling at her.”

“I was being polite,” Sunghoon says, his tone confused. “She was just doing her job.”

Ni-ki crosses his arms, hoodie sleeves pulled down to his knuckles. 

“You let her stand close. Let her touch your arm. You didn’t pull away.”

Sunghoon opens his mouth and then closes it again. Realization clicked.

“You’re jealous,” he says quietly.

Ni-ki flushes immediately. “I’m not. It’s not like that—”

Sunghoon leans closer, not touching, just close enough to smell the shift in Ni-ki’s scent.

Possessive. Tinged with unease. A flicker of omega spike under the surface.

Ni-ki keeps his eyes trained on the van floor.

“I’m your bonded alpha,” Sunghoon says gently. “That means I don’t want anyone else.”

“You didn’t tell her to back off.”

“I didn’t think I needed to.”

Silence.

Ni-ki chews on his lip.

“It’s not fair.” Ni-ki says quietly. “I don’t want to feel this way. But I do. I hate it. I don’t want people to look at you like that. Like they could have you.”

Sunghoon’s face softens.

“You already have me.”

Ni-ki doesn’t answer. His throat bobs with the effort to keep his emotions down.

Sunghoon reaches over, curling his fingers around Ni-ki’s wrist, thumb brushing over the bruised gland still healing beneath the surface. 

“No one else touches me. No one else makes me feel like you do.”

Ni-ki slowly glances up. The truth in Sunghoon’s voice anchors him to reality.

“I just…” Ni-ki swallows hard. “I can’t explain it. But when I saw her... I wanted to growl. I wanted her to back off.”

“That’s because we’re bonded.” Sunghoon says softly. “That’s your omega speaking. You don’t have to apologize for it.”

Ni-ki leans against the seat, exhaling shakily.

And when Sunghoon gently pulls his hand toward him, resting it between them, Ni-ki lets it happen. Fingers interlocking like it is always supposed to be this way.

On the following day…

Sunghoon can’t focus on anything else.

The scent is completely different.

Not faint. Not hospital-sterile. Not the usual quiet sweetness he has grown used to.

This is thick. Molten. Warm and cloying, like syrup dripping off heated skin.

Omega.

His omega.

Ni-ki shifts slightly in the nest and the scent pulses stronger. Sunghoon stops breathing for a second. Something low in his spine tightens. He nearly reaches out before he catches himself.

“I—uh—I’m gonna go get water,” Sunghoon mutters, standing way too fast.

He barely makes it down the hall before Sunoo grabs him by the hoodie, yanking him into the hallway corner like he is trying to stage a damn intervention.

“You smell it, don’t you?” Sunoo hisses.

Sunghoon blinks. “Smell wha—”

“Don’t play dumb,” Jungwon says, appearing behind him with his phone pressed to his ear. “It smells like pure omega in here. It’s thick.”

Sunghoon swallows.

“I thought it was just me,” Sunghoon admits. “But yeah, it’s… hitting hard now.”

Sunoo gives him a look. 

“Hoon. The hallway smells like Ni-ki.” Sunoo whisper-yells. 

“More like Ni-ki-in-heat.” Jungwon mutters, voice tight. He covers the mic of his phone and adds, “Doctor’s already on the line. I’m asking what to do.”

Sunghoon rubs his face. His whole body feels restless, warm, and twitchy. Like he has been plugged into a live wire.

“That fast?” Sunoo asks, voice low. “He was fine earlier.”

“No, he wasn’t.” Jungwon says, expression pinched. “He’s been warm for days. Today just tipped it over.”

“I told you the clinging was heat-prep.” Sunoo adds. “And now the scent’s getting stronger. It’s only a matter of time.”

“How much time?” Sunghoon asks.

Jungwon turns slightly, speaking into the phone again.

There is a pause.

Then he looks back at Sunghoon, gaze sharp.

“She says maybe a few hours. Maybe less.”

Sunghoon stiffens.

“She also says.” Jungwon continues, lowering his voice. “You need to be ready. Emotionally. Physically. Mentally.”

Sunghoon nods.

Sunoo leans in, a bit softer now. 

“He’s going to need you, Sunghoon. Like, really need you.”

Sunghoon runs a hand through his hair, heart pounding.

“I’ll be there,” he says firmly. “No matter how this goes. He’s mine.”

Jungwon nods, satisfied.

Behind them, the faintest sound of movement Ni-ki’s bare feet padding across the dorm, his scent trailing after him like a promise.

It is sweet.

It is wild.

It is real.

And then the heartbreaking whining starts.

Ni-ki is crying again. 

Worse than before. This time the sobs aren’t just from pain. They are from want. From a need so sharp it has him tearing at the nest, writhing, begging through helpless little cries muffled in Sunghoon’s pillow.

Sunghoon stands near the door, hands clenched in his hair, face flushed, chest heaving. He can barely breathe.

The scent in the room is overpowering. Omega. His omega. And Ni-ki has stopped pretending.

When Sunghoon gets close enough to the nest, Ni-ki tries to claw at Sunghoon’s shirt, tries to kiss him, whimpering with need when Sunghoon pulls away. Tempting Sunghoon over and over again — each time more desperate than the last.

And Sunghoon...

He is at his breaking point.

The moment Ni-ki lets out another high, aching whine, Sunghoon’s knees almost buckle.

He grabs his phone with a shaking hand and dials the doctor’s private line.

She picks up on the second ring. “Sunghoon?”

“I can’t—” His voice cracks. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold back. He’s... he’s not in pain anymore, he’s just—” A choked breath. “He wants me. I can see it. But I don’t want to take advantage of him. He’s still healing. I can’t—can’t just—”

And that’s when the doctor tries to calm him down.

“You’re mated.”

Her voice is calm. Grounding.

“If Ni-ki wanted to reject you, he would’ve done it long before now. When he was traumatized. When he was in the hospital. When he saw the bite. He could’ve rejected the bond. But he didn’t.”

Sunghoon doesn’t reply, heart pounding hard in his chest.

“He wants you, Sunghoon. You’re his alpha. He’s begging because his body knows you’re the only one who can finish what was stolen from him. This is not the same heat he was forced into. This one is yours.”

Sunghoon closes his eyes as Ni-ki cries his name again from the bed.

“You’re strong,” the doctor says softly. “You’ve done everything right. But it’s okay to stop resisting now. Giving in to your instincts… is not going to hurt him.”

Sunghoon swallows hard.

“He won’t wake up and hate you. Not for this. Not when he’s begging to be made whole.”

Then quietly, almost too softly to hear, she says.

“It might even help him forget.”

That does it.

Sunghoon lowers the phone as he hangs up, still trembling, and slowly turns toward the bed.

Ni-ki has stopped crying. He is curled into the middle of the nest, panting — cheeks flushed, skin damp with sweat, and eyes locked on Sunghoon.

And when Sunghoon steps forward, Ni-ki’s hands reach out.

No hesitation.

Just pure need.

Sunghoon kneels at the edge of the bed, Ni-ki doesn't move.

He just looks at him.

Eyes wide and vulnerable. Chest heaving.

Sunghoon reaches out. Slow, reverent, and cups Ni-ki’s cheek.

“You have to tell me,” Sunghoon says, voice rough. His thumb brushes over Ni-ki’s burning skin. “Don’t let it be just your instincts. Don’t let it be just mine.”

Ni-ki blinks up at him. Lips parting. Trembling.

“I need to hear you say it.” Sunghoon murmurs. “Do you want me?”

For a second, Ni-ki says nothing.

And then his bottom lip quiveres.

“Yes.”

Sunghoon’s heart beats faster.

“Yes,” Ni-ki repeats, a little louder, desperation cracking through. “Yes, I want you. Please—please don’t make me beg anymore...”

Sunghoon moves instantly, crawling into the nest with careful precision, like approaching something sacred.

Their bodies meet with a breathless gasp.

And this time, this time, he doesn’t hold back.

He buries his face in Ni-ki’s neck, finally letting instinct flood him. His scent poures over the omega in waves, drowning out everything else. Medicine. Hospital. The ghosts of every hand that had touched Ni-ki without permission.

Gone.

All that remains is them.

And the first soft sound that falls from Ni-ki’s lips—

It is a purr.

Last follow up appointment…

The examination room is dim and sterile, but not cold. Not anymore.

The moment Ni-ki walks in, wrapped in one of Sunghoon’s hoodies, the sleeves too long, his bonding mark still tender, the room seems to shift. He doesn’t flinch when the nurse asks him to sit. He doesn’t recoil when they ask for his wrist. He lets them touch him now, gently, cautiously.

Because Sunghoon has walked him in and kissed his cheek before waiting just outside the door. That scent still lingers on Ni-ki’s skin, wrapped around his bones like armor.

The doctor entered a few moments later, clipboard in hand, expression soft behind her glasses. She doesn’t speak immediately. Just observes him.

“You smell like an omega now,” she says kindly.

Ni-ki blinks, surprised. “I… do?”

She nods, walking over with a faint smile. 

“Not chemically suppressed. Not chemically forced. Just... omega. Natural. Yours.”

Ni-ki doesn’t respond, but his fingers clench tighter around the hem of the hoodie. There is a quiet kind of pride in her tone. No pity. Just truth.

“I ran your bloodwork early this morning.” She continues, flipping through the tablet she holds. “And it confirms what I suspected: your gland is healing perfectly. No abnormal scarring, no persistent hormone crashes. Your bonding with Sunghoon finalized just in time.”

Ni-ki swallows thickly.

“You said before,” she continues, glancing at him, “that you used to struggle sensing scent variation. That nothing smelled right. Flat. Foreign. Is that still the case?”

Ni-ki shakes his head. “No… now I notice everything . Especially him.”

The doctor smiles again. 

“Let’s test that.”

She reaches into a sealed cabinet and removes four scent pads. Each enclosed in a sterile container. 

“These are all alpha sourced samples, different hormone compositions. I want you to smell them and describe what you feel. No wrong answers.”

Ni-ki nods, wary.

The first pad is opened. He inhales.

He gags.

“Too sharp,” he croaks. “Like something’s rotting under soap.”

She closes it quickly. 

“That’s a Class-B alpha. Not a good match for you.”

The next two are even worse. One too musky, one too chemically bitter. His nose wrinkles, his stomach turns, but he says what he is supposed to. His senses work again. He can tell the difference.

Then comes the final one.

The doctor hands him a sealed pad. 

“This is yours.”

Ni-ki blinks. “Mine?”

“It’s a sample of Sunghoon’s scent profile. Taken from your nest blankets. I want you to smell it and compare.”

He peels the lid slowly and sniffs.

And instantly relaxes into the chair.

“Warm,” he whispers. “Safe. Not sharp. Sweet, but… deeper. I don’t feel sick when I breathe it in.”

“Comfort?”

He nods.

“Desire?”

Another nod.

She carefully closes it and writes something down. 

“Ni-ki, this reaction, your ability to distinguish scent again, to recognize danger, to relax into comfort... it’s not just instinct coming back. It’s neurological. This is your brain healing. Your sensory receptors are working again because you’re not under chemical or emotional suppression anymore.”

He looks up slowly.

“You’re coming back to yourself.”

The words make his eyes sting unexpectedly.

“Would you like to share the results with Sunghoon?”

Ni-ki doesn’t hesitate. “Yes. Please.”

The doctor opens the door and gestures, and a second later Sunghoon enters the room, cautious but smiling, looking at Ni-ki first instead of the doctor.

“You okay?” he asks, gently squeezing Ni-ki’s hand as he takes a sit right next to his omega.

Ni-ki nods and squeezes back. 

“They have my results.” Ni-ki mutters softly.

The doctor gives them both a soft smile as she pulls up a full chart on the screen behind her. Lines, bars, percentages. But none of it makes sense at a glance, but her voice explains everything to them.

“When Ni-ki was first brought in, his omega pheromone levels were 18% of baseline. It was barely enough to trigger a heat cycle and dangerously low for someone his age. His body was chemically overridden, his gland partially suppressed, and his response to alpha pheromones was completely shut down.”

Sunghoon’s jaw clenches. Ni-ki stays still.

“But now, just days after finalizing the bond, his omega pheromone levels are at 82% and rising naturally. That’s unheard of in a recovery case like this, especially one involving experimental suppression methods.”

She taps the screen.

“This—” She gestures to a highlighted line, “is his hormone spike after your mating. A clean, healthy surge. The bond stabilized his nervous system, triggered receptor recovery, and helped re-establish omega scent production. His body knows what it is now. And most importantly…”

She turns to Sunghoon.

“He knows what he is. And who he belongs to.”

Sunghoon’s throat bobs as he swallows. Ni-ki’s fingers are still clenched tightly in his. And he doesn’t let go.

“So what now?” Ni-ki asks quietly. “Am I fixed?”

“You’re healing.” The doctor chuckles lightly. “Which is better. You’re not a science project anymore. You’re an omega with a bonded alpha, a functioning gland, and your own scent again. That’s all I care about.”

Ni-ki looks at Sunghoon. 

“Guess you’re stuck with me, alpha.”

Sunghoon leans in and kisses his temple. “I’ve never been happier to be trapped.”

The dorm isn’t loud like it used to be.

The lights are warm. The windows are cracked open just enough to let the evening breeze clear out the lingering scent of heat, but the air still pulses with Sunghoon’s alpha claim, layered thick over every surface Ni-ki has touched.

He doesn’t mind. It makes him feel safe. Anchored.

The others have already been home when he and Sunghoon return from the hospital. Jungwon is in the kitchen. Jay has been fussing with the humidifier in Ni-ki’s room. Jake lingers in the hallway with a bag of omega-safe snacks he clearly panic-bought in bulk. No one rushes him. No one makes jokes.

And Heeseung waits.

He sits on the edge of the living room couch, nursing a lukewarm tea, watching Ni-ki with quiet eyes as the youngest curls up next to Sunghoon. One of Sunghoon’s arms is thrown lazily over Ni-ki’s shoulder, palm flat over the omega’s belly, fingers curling in instinctive protection.

Ni-ki looks different now. Not just the scent, which is unmistakably his again, but his posture too. Still a little cautious. Still quiet. But not hiding.

Heeseung gives him a small nod.

“You okay with us talking for a minute?” Heeseung asks, voice low.

Ni-ki blinks at the question, then looks up at Sunghoon.

Sunghoon gently squeezes his side. 

“You’re safe. It’s just stuff we didn’t want to overload you with before.” Sunghoon says gently.

Ni-ki nods, hesitantly. “Okay.”

Heeseung leans forward, elbows on his knees.

“There’ve been… consequences,” he begins. “After what happened to you. After the hospital. After Sooha.”

Ni-ki’s back stiffens instantly.

“She’s in jail now.” Heeseung says plainly. “Being held without bail while they build the case. She’s already admitted to unauthorized chemical use and illegal scent suppression. But the real problem, what everyone outside is angry about, is why she was able to do any of that in the first place.”

He pauses, voice heavier now.

“The omega center, beta center, and alpha center have all been shut down. Indefinitely. The investigation’s still ongoing, but government reps came in last week. Turns out none of the procedures Sooha was running had any medical oversight. It was all tied up in private contracts and performance clauses.”

Ni-ki stares at him, silent. His breathing is tight.

“And HYBE?” Ni-ki finally asks, voice brittle.

Heeseung looks at Sunghoon before answering.

“They’ve been hit with massive backlash.” Heeseung says. “Not just from fans. From the public. From parent groups. Omega rights groups. Hell, even beta unions. People found out they sent a newly presented omega, without full medical support, into one of the most intense government-approved facilities.”

Ni-ki’s voice cracks. “Alone.”

Heeseung nods. “Yeah. Alone. And now everyone knows it.”

There is silence. The only sound is the soft hum of the kitchen fan, and the slow rustling of Sunghoon’s fingers stroking over Ni-ki’s side in long, grounding motions.

Ni-ki pulls the hoodie closer around himself.

“You were placed on an indefinite hiatus,” Heeseung proceeds. “Until you decide what you want to do. If you want to come back or not.”

“Why didn’t anyone tell me earlier?” Ni-ki whispers.

Sunghoon kisses the crown of his head. 

“Because you were still healing. You had nightmares just from me touching your back for the first week. I didn’t want you carrying the weight of everything outside when you were barely holding onto yourself.”

Ni-ki clenches his jaw. “But it’s my weight.”

“I know,” Sunghoon says softer this time. “But now you’re strong enough to carry it without shattering. That’s why we’re telling you now.”

Jay enters the room quietly, placing a cup of water in front of Ni-ki, then sits on the floor near his feet without saying a word. The others follow one by one. Jungwon stays near the kitchen island, arms folded. Jake sits cross-legged on the carpet, expression unreadable.

They aren’t crowding him. They are just… there.

Not pretending everything is fine. Not trying to erase what had happened.

Just staying close. So that if Ni-ki did shatter again... he wouldn’t fall alone.

After a long moment, Ni-ki looks up.

“So what happens now?”

Heeseung runs a hand through his hair. 

“Now? There’s a full external audit of every omega enrolled in those facilities. Survivors are being relocated. Counseling is being mandated. Public outcry is loud. They’re not letting this one get buried.”

“And me?”

“You’ve already done the hardest part,” Sunghoon says softly. “You survived it.”

Heeseung nods. “And you get to decide what happens next.”

Ni-ki curls further into Sunghoon’s side, letting the quiet linger again. 

“Do you want to go back?” Sunghoon asks quietly.

Ni-ki turns his head slowly. “To HYBE?”

Sunghoon nods. 

“To the company. To the group. To the cameras. The interviews. The pressure.”

Ni-ki looks down at his knees, fingers curling into the couch.

“I don’t know,” he says softly. “Sometimes I think about it and feel excited. Like... part of me is still there, dancing, laughing, rehearsing.” He hesitates. “But other times, I remember the smell of that clinic. The way my skin crawled when they touched me. And I just… shut down.”

“That’s okay, Ni-ki. You don’t have to decide right now.” Jungwon intervenes.

Ni-ki leans his head against Sunghoon’s shoulder.

“I want to go back,” he admits softly. “Eventually. Not right now. I think… I think I need to finish healing. Really healing. Not just physically.”

Sunghoon exhales, a slow nod.

“Then we’ll wait.”

Ni-ki’s eyes widened slightly. “We?”

“I’m not leaving without you.” Sunghoon says simply. “I’m on hiatus, too. Until you’re ready. And don’t try to argue. I’ve already cleared it with the company. They’ll just say I’m taking personal leave.”

“But—”

“No ‘buts.’” Sunghoon tilts Ni-ki’s chin gently. “You’re not just my omega, Ni-ki. You’re my partner. My mate. We do this together.”

A beat of silence passes between them.

Then Ni-ki laughs softly, almost tearfully. “You're way too good at this alpha thing.”

Sunghoon smiles, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Only for you.”

There’s a quiet promise lingering in the room. 

When Ni-ki is ready, they will return together.

Both Ni-ki and Sunghoon.