Chapter Text
"What the fuck is that?" Their manager exclaims angrily, his eyes wide in surprise with a glint of anger in them as well. Changbin stands tall in front of him, shirt pushed off his shoulder to show his mating bite.
Minho and Changbin had talked extensively about it and decided not to reveal that Minho was Changbin's omega. Well more like Changbin had decided that he didn't want people to treat Minho like an extension of Changbin, he was a whole being and being bonded to an alpha shouldn't change that but people tended to act differently around mated omegas and the alpha did not want that for his mate. Minho being absolutely whipped had accepted immediately and after further thinking agreed with him that it was for the best. They also talked to Chan about it, who agreed that it was safer not to disclose Minho's part in it.
"That's a mating bite." Changbin answers matter of factly, face blank but Minho can feel that he is worried, from where he stands back with the rest of the group.
"I know I'm not stupid Changbin. Why do you have it?" Changbin stands his ground not backing away from the threatening aura coming from the manager who looks like he's growing more and more agitated.
"oh, well, when two wolves love eachother very much-" Changbin starts, making the members chuckle internally but their manager stops him.
"Cut the crap and answer." Chan nudges at Changbin as well, silently urging him to give a real answer, Changbin sighs.
"I helped my mate during their heat. They bit me by accident." It feels weird for Minho not to be part of a conversation that includes him in more than one ways but he stays back. The manager runs a frustrated hand over his face.
"How could you be this irresponsible. Couldn't you just control your fucking omega bitch!" The chain reaction from the manager's words would've make Minho laugh if he hadn't been the one being insulted.
"Manager-nim."
"Watch your fucking mouth."
Says Chan and Changbin at the same, Chan in warning looking mad while Changbin's gaze is downright murderous, he probably would've punched him, Chan hadn't been gripping his shoulder the way he is. Minho isn't any better, he almost took a step forward to growl at him but Felix's hand slipping in his stopped him.
"You're going to have to deal with the consequences." He says making Changbin snort.
"What consequences? There's nowhere in my contact that states i can't have a mate. All it says is that i can't have a visible bite, it's not. Let stay believe i have a tattoo or something." He crosses his arms over his chest, flexing his biceps showing the beta manager that he can and will fight him. "And don't talk about my mate like that ever again." He threatens. The manager deflates visibly, that makes Minho's stomach fill up with butterflies.
"I'll talk to the higher ups and I'll let you know." He says sending a disapproving look to both Changbin and Chan. Minho feels a little bad for Chan, he has to deal with this as well as leader of the group, Minho never meant to put more stress on to him.
The moment the manager leaves their dorm they all immediately relax, Changbin turns around and meets his eyes. He feels a rush of warmth and comfort flooding him through the bond, he knows that he doesn't feel it as much as Changbin does because he's not marked yet but it's enough for now.
"Kids, don't leave just yet i have something to say." Minho speaks up, walking to stand beside his mate. The youngers turn back to them from where they had started leaving to regain their rooms.
"What's wrong?" Jisung says confused.
"Even if the wording was terribly chosen, manager-nim was right." The room burts in noises of disagreement, even Chan looks at him with furrowed eyebrows but still lifts his hand up to silence them. "What I did was irresponsible and could jeopardize Changbin's career as well as the whole group. I'm not saying i regret it, what i regret is neglecting my health so badly that I ended up mating him without consent. I expect you all to do better than me." He knows his status as lead omega gives his words more impact and he hopes that they'll listen well.
Once the youngers finally disperse after a collective "yes hyung." and goes back to their rooms or the kitchen to eat, Minho feels a hand slip in his again. He looks down at it then up at Changbin.
"What are you doing?" He asks face void of emotions even if his body feels warm and giddy at the touch.
"Holding your hand." Changbin answers matter of factly not fazed one bit by Minho's antics.
"Who said you could do that?" He cocked an eyebrow. Changbin smirks.
"The mark on my shoulder." He says smugly like he loves saying it, like he loves having Minho's mark.
"Fair enough." He says gripping the younger's hand harder. He starts walking over to his bedroom pulling Changbin with him, passing by a sighing Chan who mumbles about their weird way of flirting and reminding them that they're leaving soon.
The moment the door closes behind them, Minho throws Changbin on the bed following not too long after, his mouth finding the younger's who makes a surprised noise coming from the back of his throat.
"i still can't get used to that." Changbin whispers in between kisses. Hands gripping the older's hips.
"Used to what?" Minho whispers back breathlessly, burying his face in his neck nose filling up with his alpha's scent making him melt. He doesn't think he'll ever get over how calming Changbin's scent is.
"Being with you." He says a starstruck smile plastered on his face. Minho huffs a laugh.
"You were hot when you went all Alpha 'Don't talk about my mate like that ever again'." He said copying the way Changbin talks making them laugh. "Never knew i'd like seeing you get possesive but i got a little wet not going to lie." He whispers making sure his breath hits Changbin's ear, he smirks seeing the goosebumps on the alpha's skin and the grip on his hips tightening.
Changbin places a hand in his cheek to make him look at him in the eyes, they look at each other without saying anything for a while just smiling and enjoying the other's presence until Changbin breaks the silence.
"I love you." The words will always make Minho's stomach erupt with butterflies, he would do anything for this man. He's never been really good with words, he's scared of saying something he'll regret and lose Changbin or start an unnecessary fight because he failed to express himself correctly. That's why instead of saying it back he kisses him passionately.
They've been mated for a total of three days but Minho already cannot get enough of the younger. When he was courting him and Changbin did not notice, his world almost fell apart but he looks at the necklace around his neck every time he doubts himself and all his worries vanish.
A loud knock makes them jump and pull apart. It's Chan telling them that they're leaving for practice in ten minutes. Minho sighs and places his head on his Alpha's firm chest. He feels Changbin kiss the top of his head and smiles to himself. They haven't been affectionate in front of the members the way they are in private, even if sometimes Minho has the strongest urge to show the whole world that Changbin is his and no one else's, he keeps to himself and let's Felix rub himself on his mate. Minho can't promise that he won't scent the shit out of Changbin at the end of the day but the Alpha never complained.
They reluctantly stand up and make their way to the van where the still fuming manager is waiting for them. The practice starts normal, Minho and Hyunjin leading it like usual, when a staff enters the room and call for Changbin and Chan. They all stop for a while looking at eachother, Minho's eyes never leave his mate even after the door closes behind them.
They try to keep going with the practice but around five minutes later Minho feels anger and nervousness wash over him, but it's not coming from him, it's from Changbin.
Minho stops mid choreo too overwhelmed by the intense emotions - he's still not used to feeling his mate's emotions - then try to send the alpha comfort and calm, let him know he's here and everything is going to be okay even if he has no idea what's going on.
So focused on his mate he doesn't notice when the music stops or all the worried eyes on him. "Hyung is everything okay?" Jisung's voice snaps him out of it, he looks around and nods shakily.
"Yes. I'm okay." He says suddenly feeling breathless.
"And Changbin hyung?" Jisung asks, the knowledge that the others know they're bonded makes Minho want to bathe in possessiveness he loves that people know his claim on the alpha. He concentrate back on his mate before finally saying.
"He's angry." That makes the rest frown. Minho knows they don't like the situation either and feels really bad for making all of them go through that. "Let's wait for them to come back." He suggests they're clearly not in the mood to practice hard.
They spend the next ten minutes sitting around in a circle, talking quietly and passing a water bottle around by making it roll to occupy their minds, all concerned about the future of the group. When the door finally opens again, Minho is up in a fraction of second.
He barely has time to think about anything that Changbin is already in his arms, face burried in his neck to be able to only breathe his scent and nothing else. Minho is worried, he's too overwhelmed to focus on what Changbin is feeling, and scared of what he would find. He runs a hand through his alpha's hair to calm in down, his heart squeezes when he feels the skin of his neck getting wet with Changbin's tears.
What happened? Was it bad? Does he have to leave the group? Minho will leave with him he wouldn't be able to live with himself if Changbin gets kicked out because of him. He's panicking and grips Changbin's waist as if scared he'll disappear, never stopping the hand on his hair. He looks up at Chan, who follows not far behind, with a thousand questions in his eyes.
"What happened?" It's Seungmin who asks what everyone has been wondering.
"They tried to force Bin to break the bond." He starts making everyone wince, breaking a mating bond can only be done in the first month of the mating and is extremely painful for the two of them. Just thinking about that makes Minho squeeze Changbin tighter. "When he refused they tried get his omega's information for safety reasons they said but we didn't say anything. They still don't know it's you." He says speaking directly at him. "They're pretty mad and as much as i argued with them they still put Changbin on hiatus, no social, no public appearance they want him to go back to his parents house." Minho bites his lip hard not to let tears fall from his eyes. It's all his fault.
"H-how long?" Felix asks voice breaking, he's probably feeling as heartbroken as the rest of them. Chan sighs he turns to Minho again a grave look on his face.
"Until he tells them who is mate is." Minho can hear gasps coming from the others, some insults and lots of disagreement as he processes the information. Then he lets his arms fall from Changbin's body.
"Let's go, now-" he tries to take a step away from his mate and towards the door to make it right, he has to fix it. Changbin's arms sneaks around his waist keeping him from moving away. He frowns and tries to pry the arms off of him. "Changbin. Let me-" the low growl coming from the alpha makes Minho still and stop fighting. Instead he slumps against the strong body holding him.
"He's right Minho. It's bad enough with one on hiatus we don't need two." Chan sounds pained and extremely tired which doesn't help with the guilt he's already feeling.
"It's my fault. I need to fix it. I don't have a mark so they can't be too mad about it right? Like that they don't put Alpha on hiatus because he did what they told him to and we can keep going. I have to make it right. I-" In any other situation Minho would've died of embarrassment for calling Changbin by his title in front of everyone but he's scared, terrified even, he doesn't want to be apart from him.
"Hyung." Changbin's voice is rough, it makes Minho's mouth snap shut and look at Changbin who pulled his face away from his neck to look at him. His eyes are red as well as his nose and cheeks, Minho can't stop himself from finding him cute even though he never wants to see Changbin looking so distraught ever again.
Only one call from his mate is enough to make all the fight in him leave. He sighs and looks down in defeat. Chan dismisses everyone, saying that practice is cancelled for the rest if the day due to the circumstances. Another manager is waiting for them to take them back home. Changbin reluctantly peals himself off of Minho putting an unwanted distance between them. They still sit close in the car, holding hands but having Felix clinging to Changbin's other arm makes it look more normal.
Once they get back to the dorm it's just as silent as it was in the car. No one in the mood to make jokes or even try to alleviate the spirits. Minho walks straight into Changbin's bedroom, burying himself under the covers in the comforting scent. Once Changbin joins him they don't say a thing for a while. They lay there, Minho's head on Changbin's shoulder and Changbin's arms around his waist.
"I need to call my parents." Changbin suddenly whispers. Minho nods but neither if them make any move to pull away. They hadn't even told their parents yet and now a bunch of strangers knew about Changbin being mated because of a 'company policy'.
"Why can't i just go and say it's me. Then you won't have to leave." He whispers still staring at the back of the desk chair on the other side of the room, eyes unfocused and blurry with unshed tears. "I don't know if I can handle being away from you for too long." They have a very fragile bond and Minho doesn't know how his omega will react to being apart from their alpha before he marked them back.
"We'll make it work. I promise."
Minho is going to cling onto that promise like his life depends on it.
Maybe it does.