um, sirs... this is not part of my job description?

by HyukaDolphinScream

Summary:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kai likes his job.

The pack is warm, affectionate, great at doing chores when bribed with snacks.
Sure, they cuddle him, scent him, tuck him into bed, and occasionally use him as a human chew toy— but he assumes that’s normal boss-employee behavior.

The pack likes Kai. A lot. Like, “this is our boyfriend and we share custody” a lot.

They think he’s in on it.

Kai is absolutely not.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

or, the pack thinks they asked kai out to be a part of the pack as their boyfriend and he thinks he's just there as an attendant.

Notes:

another poly abo kai-centric fic. who else is surprised?

i hope you all enjoy! this has multiple parts (don't worry, i'm finishing this one i promise)

Chapter 1: 1

Summary:

do hugs and kisses count as salary?

is getting doted on by your bosses considered fair compensation?

Huening Kamal Kai has no fucking idea.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Hm.” Kai puts his hands on his hips, head tilted as he surveys the mating room. The bed is neatly arranged, with just a couple of pillows. On the bedside table are some toys, lube, and condoms, which he eyes with a pleased hum.

 

The clothing rack is complete with spare clothes: a pair of pajamas, a couple of shirts, shorts, and some fresh underwear. 

 

Yeonjun’s heat usually lasts up to three days, but with how much stress his job has been putting on him lately, Kai estimates it’ll take at least five— seven max days. He makes a mental note to buy more electrolytes tomorrow just in case.

 

There’s a three-tier service cart a few feet away from the bed. On the top tier is a jug of water, a cup, some painkillers— since the omega tends to get headaches during his heat— and a plate of mixed fruits he can snack on during breaks.

 

Below that are slices of kimbap and chocolate loaf bread for Soobin and a few extra water bottles with electrolyte packets. Yeonjun doesn’t like eating heavy during his cycle, so it’s up to the Alpha to feed him. There’s also a small trash bag that Kai can replace later when it’s full.

 

On the bottom tier are spare towels for when things get messy, cooling and heating gel packs because the omega gets fussy with his body temperature during the mating process, lip balm, and a first-aid kit— just in case their wolves come out and things get a little too heated.

 

The mini fridge is also stocked with carbonated drinks, which Soobin always craves when helping with his omegas’ heat. A few chocolates bars and Chobani cups for Yeonjun, and extra bottles of water for when they want it cold.

 

Kai takes a step back, surveying the space like an artist admiring his work. Everything’s clean, aligned, and smells faintly of matcha and fresh linen— his scent blending faintly with the diffused traces of the pack’s pheromones. The air feels calm, balanced. Comfortable.

 

“You are very precise when it comes to these things.” A deep, guttural voice snaps him out of his thoughts. Kai turns around to find Beomgyu leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and that half-lazy, half-predatory grin tugging at his lips.

 

“Oh. You scared me, hyung.” Kai says with a small laugh, one hand pressed against his chest. “You walk too quietly. I didn’t notice. How is Yeonjun-hyung feeling?” He shrugs, eyes scanning the room. A pleased rumble echoes in his chest.

 

“Probably a little cranky, still fussing over his nest. It won’t be long until his heat spikes, though.” Beomgyu says, stepping closer. 

 

“I wanted to prank you but I decided against it. Besides, you look cute fussing over things during our cycles.” He opens his arms, eyes turning into crescents while he laughs. Kai blinks, hesitates for a moment, then obliges. 

 

The Alpha’s hugs have always been grounding— firm and steady without suffocating him. Kai’s chin finds its place on Beomgyu’s shoulder, his hands coming to rest lightly at his sides. It’s comfortable, familiar, even if the closeness still makes him vaguely confused. 

 

The older male’s scent blooms around them: citrus and musk. There’s a hint of pride in his pheromones. Kai feels it settle into his skin, his chest loosening at the familiar rhythm of Beomgyu’s heartbeat in his ear.

 

“I just want the best for the pack,” The beta murmurs after a while, more to himself than to Beomgyu. His chest vibrates with a soft chuckle. “You always do, pup.” Then a kiss lands gently on his temple, the contact so brief it could almost be mistaken for nothing. 

 

Kai blinks, startled, pulling back just a little to look at him. 

 

“...Was that—?”

 

“A thank you,” Beomgyu interrupts smoothly, his grin returning, but softer now. “You did good, Ning. I’m sure both of them will be pleased.” The beta tilts his head, still a little puzzled, though not displeased. 

 

His skin feels hot where Beomgyu’s lips had touched him, and he’s not entirely sure if it’s from embarrassment or the Alpha’s warmth. Kai decides not to dwell on it. “Shall we go?” Beomgyu asks, guiding him toward the door with a hand on his lower back. 

 

“The two of them should be out of Soobin’s room any minute now.” He nods, letting himself be led. As they pass the Alpha’s room, Yeonjun’s vanilla scent seeps through the door, richer and sweeter than usual. 

 

“His scent’s getting stronger. It’ll probably peak soon.” Beomgyu hums “Yeah. You timed it perfectly, again. Even Soobin and I can’t predict when it will happen.” He mutters with awe in his voice. “It’s nothing. Besides, I do it for the pack.” The beta replies sheepishly.

 

“And we thank you for that. Everything has fallen into place ever since you became a packmate.” Beomgyu squeezes his waist a little tighter. Kai hopes the Alpha can’t hear his heart beating faster.

 

“Are you sure there’s nothing else I can add to the mating room?” The beta asks, tone fretting just a little. He glances over his shoulder like he’s already planning another checklist in his head. “I’m sure, pup. C’mon, you deserve to rest.” The Alpha says with a laugh. 

 

“I mean, before you were here, we just ordered in and forced each other to eat enough to not pass out during the mating process. When I tell you we had to fight Yeonjun-hyung to get some food in his tummy.” Kai laughs with him, shaking his head. “That sounds chaotic.”

 

“It was,” Beomgyu admits. “And then you showed up and suddenly we’re a well-oiled machine. Civilized. Heats and ruts became more comfortable. And we didn’t come out of the mating room like zombies anymore.” The Alpha murmurs, holding his wrist up and scenting it.

 

“Civilized is a stretch,” Kai says, eyeing Beomyu with awe as the smell of freshly squeezed lemons and sandalwood blooms in his skin. The sound that leaves him next is a soft, involuntary purr that rumbles in his chest— low and content. 

 

He doesn’t even notice it at first, not until Beomgyu’s head looks up at him, eyes gleaming in quiet amusement. “Sorry. I guess that slipped out.” Kai’s cheeks redden. “Don’t apologize,” Beomgyu murmurs, voice fond. 

 

“Just means you’re happy.” The beta hums, the corner of his mouth lifting. He is happy. It’s only been three months since he moved into the pack house, but it already feels like home—

 

Belonging to a pack feels good. Being useful feels amazing. The thought makes the purr come again, quieter this time, vibrating faintly under his ribs. “I just like helping,” he says simply, rubbing the back of his neck. “Makes me feel like I’m a part of things.”

 

The Alpha watches him for a moment, expression softening. “You are part of things, Ning.” He smiles at that, a little shyly. He doesn’t overthink it. To Kai, it sounds like gratitude— an Alpha who’s proud of their beta for keeping the pack together. 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Oh, Kai. Come sit!” Taehyun lifts his head from the couch, his voice muffled by the cookies stuffed in his mouth. He’s buried in a blanket like a burrito, a half-open pack of cookies resting on top of him. 

 

The television blares with the sound of a boxing match, the crowd roaring faintly through the speakers. “Is that new?” Beomgyu asks as he takes a step closer. “It’s live!” The omega beams, chewing noisily. 

 

“I’m checking tweets while watching. Everyone’s cheering for the guy in red shorts, but I think the blue shorts guy’s gonna win.” Beomgyu, lounging on the other side, snorts. “You said that last time too, and your guy lost in the first round.” Taehyun pouts, punching his shoulder gently.

 

“That was a warm-up match!” He protests. “Sure, babe.” Beomgyu says, rolling his eyes fondly before reaching over to pat the seat between them. “C’mon, pup. Sit here.” Kai obeys, sliding down between the two. 

 

Taehyun immediately moves his cookies to the table so he can burrow closer, his blanket brushing against Kai’s arm. The beta lets him, instinctively adjusting to give him space. 

 

“Is your pre-heat coming too, Tyun? Did Yeonjun’s trigger yours?” Beomgyu asks, peeking around Kai’s shoulder. “I don’t know. Do I smell like it?” The Alpha inhales subtly, then shrugs. “You smell sweeter, and you’re more high-strung than usual.”

 

Taehyun giggles. “I’m just excited because I’m watching another live boxing match. And also happy that Kai’s here. He’s helped us so much. I’m so glad Soobin-hyung asked him to be a part of the pack.” He purrs, linking arms with the beta and kissing his shoulder.

 

Kai feels pride bubble up in his chest, warm and full. His scent spikes, and the pair inhales sharply. It’s not the kind of praise he knows how to respond to, but it’s nice. The satisfaction hums quietly beneath his ribs. 

 

“I really like your scent.” Beomgyu murmurs, reaching over his thigh to squeeze it before retreating with a gentle smile on his face. Kai coughs. “Me too. Oh, right. Aren’t you tired? You were in the mating room for an hour.” Taehyun asks, voice softening.

 

“No,” Kai answers, honest as always. “You know I find it relaxing. I like being of help to you guys.” The Alpha nudges him with his shoulder, amused. “You don’t have to be helpful all the time. We already adore you as is.” Kai hums, unsure with what to say.

 

He doesn’t really understand how they can be so casual about affection. He’s never seen another beta in a pack quite like this— welcomed, teased, coddled. There’s no precedent, no rulebook. 

 

Kai’s role is simple. He’s the attendant— the neutral ground between the Alphas and omegas, the calm in the middle of their cycles, the one who takes care of logistics and makes sure no one passes out from dehydration or exhaustion. 

 

The person who helps build nests, soothes altercations between Alphas before they escalate, settle disagreements between omegas when hormones run high.

 

That’s what Kai expected when he first joined them three months ago: structure, boundaries, professionalism. A clear sense of hierarchy where he could quietly fit himself in and stay out of the way.

 

But what the beta got instead was something else entirely.

 

They include Kai in everything. 

 

Movie nights where Beomgyu hogs the popcorn bowl, grocery runs where Yeonjun insists on pushing the cart even though he keeps bumping it into displays. Him being invited to pack dinners, debates about who’s the better cook while Taehyun feeds him (it’s Soobin).

 

The youngest omega throws a blanket over Kai when he falls asleep on the couch after washing the dishes and cleaning the house, and Soobin— ever the responsible Alpha— carries him to his room with a fond sigh if he finds him passed out in the living room. 

 

Yeonjun, meanwhile, praises and coddles him endlessly for doing things he thought were just… basic. Folding the laundry. Restocking the fridge. Making their respective drinks.

 

They treat Kai like he’s one of them, not someone who’s there out of duty. It confuses him. Not because it’s bad— he actually quite likes it. The teasing. The way they don’t make him feel like he’s intruding. 

 

But it’s new. 

 

Kai has seen betas in relationships with an Alpha or an omega before. That’s normal. But a beta being inserted into an already established pack— one with deep, intertwined bonds and history? That’s not something he’s used to.

 

Even the pack Alpha and omega treat him with the kind of closeness he’s still not sure how to handle. Anyway, they treat him kindly. They’re patient when he doesn’t know what to do, appreciative when he does, and they never make him feel like he’s overstepping. 

 

So Kai stays in this strange, blurry middle ground— half caretaker, half packmate— content in the affection they keep offering him, even if he hasn’t quite figured out where, exactly, he fits in it.

 

He leans back, sinking into the couch as Taehyun curls against his side and Beomgyu rests his head on his shoulder. The air feels cozy, filled with the steady buzz of the TV and the comforting blend of their scents.

 

Suddenly, the faint tang of vanilla cuts through the air—soft but intoxicating. It seeps in slowly, curling around the room before settling like a gentle fog. Woodsy undertones and ylang-ylang follow, rich and aroused, signaling one thing.

 

They all turn toward the hallway just in time to see Yeonjun being bridal-carried by Soobin, who looks both amused and exasperated. “Another boxing match? Really?” The pack omega teases, his voice lilting even through the haze of his heat. 

 

His “heat costume,” as he calls it, is the usual— one of Soobin’s old t-shirts, thin and a little ratty, clinging to his flushed skin. Probably with nothing underneath. 

 

Yeonjun’s lips are red and swollen, his hair mussed, and a fresh bite mark blooms on his exposed shoulder, pinking deeper by the second. “It’s not like you have to stay and watch, hyung,” Taehyun grumbles, eyes still half on the TV.

 

“How are you feeling?” Beomgyu’s tone lowers instinctively, a hungry growl edging the words. “Down, boy. It’s my turn tonight,” Soobin says, rolling his eyes. The younger Alpha only snorts, his grin widening. 

 

“Am I not allowed to look at my beautiful mate?” Taehyun giggles at that. “You’re allowed. Just don’t sneak into the room in the middle of the night.” 

 

“Aw, darn it,” Beomgyu sighs dramatically. “There go my plans for the night.” Kai stifles a laugh, turning it into a cough instead. He doesn't notice the fond and affectionate smile Taehyun throws his way.

 

“Don’t miss me too much, Beommie. We can ask for back-up if I tire him out.” Yeonjun purrs, poking the Alpha’s dimple repeatedly. “Oh?” Soobin hums, his smirk lazy and dangerous as he nips at Yeonjun’s ear. 

 

“Are you challenging me?”

 

“No,” Yeonjun says with a drowsy smile, “I’m being realistic. Your stamina is not as good as you think, honey.” He teases. “Anyway, we’ll be back in five days. We’ll check in every few hours or so.” Beomgyu gives them a thumbs up.

 

“I’ll send a text when we need something,” Soobin murmurs against his mate’s neck, already half distracted by the omega’s scent. “Don’t bother,” Taehyun calls, waving lazily from the couch. “Kai already prepared everything in there. Just tell us if something goes awry. Have fun!”

 

“Love you!” The pack leaders chorus in unison as Soobin adjusts Yeonjun in his arms and heads for the mating room. “Love you too!” Taehyun and Beomgyu reply immediately. Kai, caught in the middle, gives them a small, sheepish smile. 

 

“Good luck,” he says under his breath, even though no one asked for it. Soobin pauses at the doorway, flashing a grin over his shoulder. “We’ll have to reward you after this, pup.”

 

“Oh, I’m sure there’s no need—!” Kai begins, but the pair are already gone, the door slamming shut behind them. Their scents hang in the air sweet and musky, lingering like the memory of a kiss.

 

For a moment, the three left in the living room just stare at the closed door before bursting into a fit of giggles.

 

“Does anyone want ramyeon?” Kai asks, eyes flitting between the two. “I’ll have jjajangmyeon,” Beomgyu quips immediately, leaning in to press a kiss to his shoulder. The beta jolts— he always does— and then gives a small, helpless smile. 

 

They’re being weirdly affectionate again today. 

 

Or… maybe this is normal? 

 

Kai still hasn’t figured that part out.

 

“With eggs?” The Alpha nods eagerly, squeezing Kai’s thigh before reaching over and stealing the blanket straight off Taehyun’s lap. “Hey!” the omega yelps, glaring. “Whatever. I’m coming with you, Kai. Let’s leave this loser behind.”

 

Beomgyu cackles, leaning further into the couch as Taehyun stomps toward the kitchen like a disgruntled cat. “My baby’s so cute when he’s annoyed.” The Alpha sighs dreamily. Kai snorts, reaching over to pat his head— something he only does when he’s comfortable. 

 

It earns him a soft rumble of approval from Beomgyu’s chest. “You should sit next to Tyun later and try to make him less annoyed, hyung,” Kai advises. “Or he won’t sleep next to you again and come to my room.” Beomgyu snickers, eyes sparking with mischief. 

 

“Not that I mind. If Tyun wants to go to your room, let him. I’ll join in when he’s asleep anyway.” The beta shakes his head, half exasperated, half amused. 

 

Their clinginess is confusing, yes, but it’s also… endearing. Familiar, now. Something he’s grown used to in these three months.

 

“Right. I’ll be back with food, hyung. Don’t eat too many cookies and get yourself full before dinner.”

 

“I make no promises,” Beomgyu says, already reaching for the pack again. Kai sighs and stands, padding toward the kitchen. Taehyun is already moving around with purpose, opening cupboards, taking out bowls, and turning on the stove. 

 

He’s clearly still sulking— but in that soft, harmless Taehyun way that never lasts long. Kai leans against the counter for a moment, just watching him. Watching this odd, warm little life he’s stumbled into.

 

“Hyung told you about me being cute when I’m angry again, didn’t he?” Taehyun asks, exasperated but already smiling like he knows the answer. “Yeah,” Kai admits, stifling a laugh as he sets the pans and pots on the sink. 

 

The omega tears open the ramyeon packets with practiced ease, then starts chopping vegetables with that distracted, domestic energy that always makes the kitchen feel smaller. “What ramyeon do you want today, Ning?”

 

“Jin Ramyeon with sausage and eggs. I don’t want something heavy tonight, or else my face will get really puffy and you guys won’t recognize me anymore.” Taehyun giggles, bumping their hips together like it’s the most natural thing in the world. 

 

“Don’t be like that. You’re adorable when you’ve just woken up. We all like your cute and puffy face.” Kai coughs— too sharp, a little strangled— while filling the pot with water. His heart is hammering, embarrassingly loud in his own ears.

 

It’s always like this with them. They say things so lightly, so sweetly, like affection is just another household chore— something you toss toward each other in passing, like blankets or inside jokes. 

 

And Kai never knows where to put that in his brain. The way they talk to him, touch him, tease him… none of it matches the beta roles he’s seen or heard from other packs. He angles his body away, trying to hide his reddening face as he turns to the stove.

 

Taehyun doesn’t seem to notice— or maybe he does and just doesn’t care. He drapes an arm over Kai’s back for a second, warm and grounding, before grabbing the sausages. 

 

“Honestly,” The omega continues, voice softening, “I think you look cutest in the mornings. You always peek out of your blanket like a baby wolf.” Kai practically chokes on air this time. 

 

He fixes his gaze intently on the boiling water, finding it a simpler task than wrestling with the distracting presence of the omega nearby. 

 

Taehyun’s scent— rich caramel mingled with a delicate sea salt, calm and faintly sweet— wafts over Kai in soft waves, brushing against his senses like a gentle nudge that refuses to be ignored.

 

It’s fine.

He’s fine.

 

This is just how they are: affectionate, open, unfiltered.

And he… well, he’s learning.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Beomgyu did sit beside Taehyun for dinner— bright, clingy, and trying far too hard to coax the omega out of his supposed “annoyed” mood. Which would’ve worked… except Taehyun had already gotten over it back in the kitchen with Kai.

 

And somehow, that only made the entire situation worse.

 

So at 10 p.m., Taehyun ends up crawling into Kai’s bed with a dramatic huff, dragging his favorite pillow behind him like a child running away from home. The pillow, of course, is saturated with Beomgyu’s scent, vibrant and utterly playful.

 

Kai doesn’t even question it anymore. He just lifts the blanket, accepting Taehyun with the same resigned grace he uses when fixing the pack’s arguments or opening jars they pretend they can’t open.

 

The omega immediately curls against him, clinging like a koala while Kai lies stiff as a board— because every time someone from the pack cuddles him, his entire brain threatens to blue-screen.

 

By 10:36, Taehyun is snoring softly into the beta’s shoulder. And right on schedule, the bedroom door creaks open. Beomgyu pokes his head in, eyes sparkling with mischief, and waves at Kai with both hands like they’re sneaking out past curfew.

 

He waves back— helpless, fond, sleepy.

 

“Is he asleep?” Beomgyu mouths.

 

“Yeah,” Kai whispers. The Alpha pumps his fist in silent victory. Beomgyu tiptoes inside (dramatically, unnecessarily) and slides into the bed next to Taehyun, wrapping an arm firmly around the omega’s waist. 

 

The reaction is immediate: Taehyun melts, turning toward his mate instinctively, nose brushing Beomgyu’s collarbone. Kai sighs in relief. 

 

Mission accomplished. Emotional damage minimal.

 

Kai starts to gently inch away from them, giving them space— because this is usually where he bows out, leaves them to their own devices, and reclaims his personal bubble.

 

But then—

 

“And where do you think you’re going?” Beomgyu’s voice is low, rugged, and far too awake for someone who looked half-asleep thirty seconds ago. The beta flinches like he’s been electrocuted.

 

“Um. Nowhere?” he squeaks, inching back to his original spot. Beomgyu releases a deep, satisfied chuff— short, territorial, unmistakably Alpha— and tucks Taehyun closer while still facing Kai, like he’s making sure the beta doesn’t slip away again.

 

Only when Kai settles does the Alpha finally close his eyes. The room fills with slow breathing, the soft thrum of contentment settling over the three of them like a heavy blanket. The beta lies awake for a little longer, staring at the ceiling.

 

He doesn't understand how they want him in their pack. 

 

Kai’s role as their attendant— neutral, dependable, comfortably in-between— blurs more and more with each passing day, smudging at the edges until it resembles something warmer, softer, more intimate than anything he ever signed up for. 

 

And his heart… his heart doesn’t know what to do with that.

 

Kai has never seen a beta inserted into a perfect pack. Two omegas, two Alphas— pairs who had already mated, tied their souls together, built bonds so complete and intricate. So where was his place in all of this? Where did he belong, if not as the one who observes, assists, and quietly keeps their lives running smoothly?

 

Betas date Alphas. Betas court Omegas. Betas settle into tidy, well-defined dynamics. Even without soul ties, it usually works— at least on the surface. The mark might be there, but without a wolf to communicate with their partner’s, the connection is fragile.

 

Alphas and Omegas aren’t made to fight their instincts; it’s not that they don’t try, but the pull is always there, unrelenting, and visceral. Only the strongest, most patient individuals could maintain a relationship that goes against that current— and even then, it’s exhausting.

 

That’s why, despite how common these pairings might be, most of the time it’s better to stick to your own lane: an Alpha with their omega, a beta with another beta, each connection natural, balanced, sustainable. Step out of it, and it’s not just complicated— it’s almost impossible.

 

So how can a beta like him join an already established unit?

 

An attendant being scented before going out, casually pulled into their movie nights and grocery trips, or dragged into the pack pile like he’s been part of it for years?

 

An attendant who gets kissed on the hairline when an omega sleepwalks into his room, or growled at half-possessively when he tries to leave the bed too early?

 

There’s no precedent.

No logic.

No explanation.

 

He’s the plus one.

The middle ground.

The attendant.

 

Sometimes the beta wonders if he’s misunderstood something— if their kindness comes from his usefulness, from their naturally affectionate ways, or if this is simply how people treat their attendants.

 

Kai doesn’t hate it.

He likes it a lot.

 

He’s just not sure what to make of it yet.

 

Kai lets out a small sigh and closes his eyes, trying not to overthink things when there’s a perfectly comfortable bed underneath him and two sleeping packmates breathing softly at his side.

 

He’ll figure it out later.

 

For now, he lets sleep pull him under.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Chapter 2: 2

Summary:

does Kai’s exclusivity contract really require them to drench him in their scents and get him scent-drunk before he goes out to a bar?

is it proper punishment to be used as a chew toy when he comes home late?

Huening Kamal Kai, once again, has no fucking clue.

Notes:

scent-drunk— a state in which someone becomes overwhelmed by their pack’s scents or pheromones, causing their senses to flood with comfort or desire until they behave as though intoxicated. it mirrors the effects of alcohol, blurring judgment, lowering inhibitions, and heightening emotional or physical responses.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“You ready?” Yuna asks. “Um, not yet. Let me just—” Kai rummages through his clothes, cringing when he realizes clothes don't magically appear even if you try to manifest it or visualize it inside your head. 

 

Fuck.

 

I guess I really need to go shopping.

 

“Are you seriously just now looking for an outfit?” she sighs, pure disappointment dripping through the speaker.

 

“Look, when you guys said hang out, I didn’t know it’d be at a bar! You know I don’t have anything with me.” The beta cheers when he finds a black mesh top shoved in the very back of his wardrobe. 

 

It’s the very "thoughtful" gift Renjun gave him last year— something Kai swore he’d never wear unless his life depended on it. Turns out? His life kind of depends on it.

 

It’s a little tight. Cropped. Definitely scandalous.

But he… surprisingly doesn’t mind.

 

“What do you think about this?” Kai turns on the front camera and holds it up. He’s still in his boxers, water dripping onto his chest. Yuna gasps. “Oh, that’ll do. That’ll definitely do. With the leather jacket? Mmm.” She licks her lips obnoxiously.

 

Kai gags. “Can you not?” The omega cackles like the menace she is. “Should I do your makeup in the car?”

 

“Are we sure we’re just hanging out?” Kai deadpans. “Yeah,” she smirks, “and maybe get you laid if we could.” Before he can argue, something rattles outside his room— hard enough to make him jump. “Is everything okay out there?” he calls out worriedly.

 

“U—uh, yup! I just have to go over to Soobin and Yeonjun for something! I forgot we still haven’t chosen the movie, haha.” Beomgyu’s voice cracks like he’s been caught doing something illegal. Kai narrows his eyes. “…Right.”

 

“Is that your pack?” Yuna wiggles her eyebrows. “Yeah. They're having a movie night.” The beta answers while squeezing into his jeans.

 

“Did they even allow you to go out?” He scoffs. “Do I seriously need their permission for this? But yeah, I told them I was going out with friends. They’re fine with it. Would be weird if they weren’t.”

 

“Mhm, if you say so.” Yuna doesn’t sound convinced at all. She’s applying sparkly eyeshadow now, dressed in a maroon cowl top and a leather miniskirt paired with fishnets— looking like she walked straight out of a scandal.

 

“You realize the moment they see you in that mesh top,” she drawls, “they’re going to combust, right?” Kai shrugs, rubbing a towel through his hair. “Why? It’s normal club attire.”

 

"It doesn't look normal on you. You're hot as fuck. I'm pretty sure you won't get out of that house alive," she mutters. “What are you even talking about? You’re overreacting.” Kai rolls his eyes, wrestling the mesh top down his torso.

 

It's not covering anything, but he'll be wearing a leather jacket over it anyway.

 

Yuna tuts loudly. “I’m not overreacting. I’m predicting.” He ignores her. “Hey— actually, wear something red,” she suddenly says. Kai blinks. “Why?”

 

“I want us to match.” He surveys the room helplessly. “I have red socks and dangling ruby earrings, will that do?” Kai asks, remembering that Renjun once shoved a jewelry box into his hands with an annoyed, ‘you need accessories, you plain breadstick.’

 

In it were all the things Renjun's ex had given him when they were still together. Kai took it without complaints. Free stuff is free stuff!

 

“That’s perfect,” Yuna says, pleased. The beta, now satisfied with his slightly damp, aggressively towel-dried hair, rushes to his vanity table and grabs the earrings. They sparkle obnoxiously under the light— Renjun would be proud.

 

“Wait,” Kai pauses, holding the earrings mid-air, “if we match, wouldn’t that shoo away people? Aren’t you hoping to get some tonight?” Yuna tilts her head, thinking. “I was actually thinking that you get laid. Who knows, maybe they’ll find it appealing.”

 

“…Appealing,” Kai repeats flatly.

 

“Like a buy 1 take 1 deal.” Kai makes a noise like he’s dying inside. “Dude.” The omega only laughs harder. “You know what? Whatever. It’s okay. We’ll figure it out when we get there.” He grumbles, sliding on his red socks. 

 

Kai’s phone is on the bed. He grabs it, checking his reflection in the camera once more. “How’s this?” he asks. Yuna hums approvingly. “That’s hot. You’re hot. Are you ready? We're on the way to yours.” The beta snorts. 

 

“Thanks, I guess. Yeah— just need shoes and I’m done.”

 

“Perfect. Okay, bye. Love you!” Yuna blows a kiss into the camera. “Yep, love you too.” He ends the call, puts the phone is his pocket, hangs his wet towel over the drying rack, and heads for the door.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I thought you were going to a friend’s house,” Yeonjun says, crossing his arms. He’s stationed right outside Kai’s room like a guard dog, eyeing his outfit with a mix of disapproval and… hunger? 

 

The beta refuses to acknowledge that part. Maybe he was mistaken. 

 

“That’s what I thought. Turns out we’re heading to the bar instead,” he mutters, already feeling tension weave itself into the air like static. "It was a last minute decision." Kai adds.

 

This is okay, right?

 

“Right.” Yeonjun clicks his tongue.

 

Okay. Probably not.

 

Then his hand clamps around Kai’s wrist— warm, firm— and he drags him toward the living room. “Emergency,” the omega announces. Kai freezes. “…What’s the emergency, exactly?” Yeonjun ignores him completely. 

 

He plants the beta in front of the couch like he’s presenting evidence to a court. The other three packmates snap their heads toward him.

 

Taehyun gapes, not knowing what to say. "Oh, what's this?" Beomgyu licks his lips, his emerald green eyes sparkling with interest. Soobin surveys him from head to toe, letting out a very deep growl that nearly shakes the air.

 

“What?” Kai asks, voice pitching higher. “Why are you all—”

 

“He’s not going to a friend’s house,” The pack omega cuts in smoothly. “He’s going to the bar.” Soobin’s expression twitches— visible displeasure first, sharp and instinctive— before he swallows it down and turns it into a low chuff of annoyance. 

 

Kai watched his jaw work, noticing how his scent shifted and sharpened— warm, woodsy notes mixed with his signature ylang-ylang sweetness, turning sour.

 

The beta’s stomach flips.

 

Is… is that bad?

 

Does an attendant actually need permission from the pack?

 

Should Kai have searched that up?

 

Technically, he’s just a homemaker, a plus one in their pack… Does that still count?

 

“Who are you coming with?” Beomgyu asks casually— Kai doesn’t notice the glare, but Taehyun cringes at it. He swallows thickly as he’s pulled down to sit on the couch. “Yuna, Renjun-hyung, Minhee, and Gaeul.” The younger omega narrows his eyes. 

 

“And they are?”

 

“Uh… omegas, an Alpha, and a beta.” Soobin nods, thinking— calculating. Then he glances at Yeonjun— some silent conversation passing between them, the only time Kai hates a mind link.

 

Sigh.

 

“You take the wrist, I take the neck,” The pack Alpha orders nonchalantly. Kai's mouth opens and closes like a fish. “Wait— wait, what—” He doesn’t get the rest out.

 

Yeonjun grabs his wrist— gentle, but solid enough that the beta startles. The omega brings it to his nose, and that’s the exact moment Kai's thoughts end. 

 

Whatever protests he had lined up evaporated like mist.

 

Soobin moves behind the couch, steps slow, deliberate, his presence wrapping around Kai like a shadow. Soobin's lips ghosts across the nape of his neck— and then the Alpha noses at the skin just beneath his ear.

 

Kai jerks— or at least, he tries to. His body doesn’t quite obey.

 

Soobin’s scent unfurls around him in deep, rolling waves, velvety and grounding and impossibly possessive. It settles over his shoulders like a weighted blanket, sinking straight into his bones.

 

“H—Hyungs. What are you—” His breath stutters.

 

The beta’s eyes glaze over, lashes fluttering. Heat prickles across his skin, rising in a rush that makes his knees wobble. Kai’s entire body goes pliant before he can stop it, muscles easing, breath thinning, instinct pulling him into that soft, dangerous syrup-slow haze.

 

Yeonjun’s vanilla-maple floods the space around his wrist next— cloying and passionate, thoroughly wrapping around him. Kai’s matcha scent responds instantly. It sputters, startled at first… then it blooms, swelling up from somewhere in his chest.

 

It sharpens around them— responding to the pair's obvious attempt at scent marking. The beta feels it push outward, reaching instinctively for theirs, as if his body hasn’t gotten the memo that he’s supposed to be neutral. 

 

His scent is does it anyway— soft matcha turned smoky, lush at the edges, curling into their pheromones like it wants to be claimed. Kai’s lips part soundlessly. He should pull away— tell them to stop. 

 

He should remember he’s the attendant, not a packmate, not someone who needs this kind of marking, this kind of reassurance, this kind of—

 

But Soobin dives in again like he can’t get enough, his lips grazing over the beta’s scent gland, pressing a soft kiss, and Yeonjun’s fingers tighten subtly around his wrist as he inhales, vanilla-maple flaring richer.

 

And Kai—

Kai can’t think at all.

 

Taehyun makes a pleased trill deep in his throat, his fingers toying with the material of Kai’s jacket before drifting lower, tracing the edge where leather meets mesh. The light scrape over bare skin makes him jolt, a shiver racing down his spine.

 

Beomgyu sits back like he paid for front-row seats, arms sprawled over the couch, a slow, cocky smile spreading across his face. His pupils are blown wild— interested, entertained, just a little possessive. Not being subtle in the slightest.

 

They’re not just scenting Kai. They’re pushing their pheromones— heavy and purposeful— enough that it coats him, sinks into his clothes, settles in his hair. They’re basically drenching him in pack scent.

 

Kai thinks they’re being way too much— overreacting, dramatic, ridiculous.

 

…but then it clicks.

 

Of course they wouldn’t just let their attendant wander off. Of course they wouldn’t risk someone taking the person who keeps their house running, keeps everything in order, who smooths over their messes. 

 

That’s… practical. 

 

That’s exactly what someone in his role should expect.

 

And yet… the thought sends a little spark of giddiness through Kai, impossible to ignore. He exhales, lets his shoulders relax, and lets them have their way. When they finally pull back, Kai’s pupils are blown, cheeks flushed, and his knees are trembling from the weight of it.

 

“Don’t be out too late. Or try to get too close to other people.” Beomgyu mutters. “They’re literally my friends, hyung—” Taehyun cuts in, chin propped on his hand. “Yeah, don’t enjoy yourself too much just because you’re surrounded by omegas.” He stares at the pair.

 

Kai's friends are all mated. What are they even talking about? But they don’t look ready for conversation, logic, or reality, so he keeps his mouth shut. 

 

Soobin, fully satisfied, pets the beta's hair. “You may go,” he says proudly. Kai’s still scent-drunk when he stands, nearly stumbling. Beomgyu steadying him makes him want to sink through the floor.

 

“Careful there, pup. Maybe you shouldn’t go after all. You look unwell.” Kai glares murderously. The Alpha raises his hands in surrender, but he has that smirk on his face that Kai just wants to wipe off. Ugh. He fixes his hair and straightens his jacket.

 

Stupid Alpha.

 

Then Taehyun pipes up, bright and innocent, as if they didn’t just hound him earlier. “Lean down?” Kai sighs— because of course— and bends. The omega kisses his cheek. Beomgyu does too, just because he can. They make sure it leaves a wet mark on the skin, glistening against the low lights of the living room.

 

Only then do they wave him off.

 

"Can I actually go now?" He asks defeatedly.

 

"Yes, you may go." Soobin chuckles, finally letting the movie play in the background, sitting with his mates on the couch.

 

Finally— finally— Kai gets out the door after wrestling his feet into his shoes.

 

He steps outside, thoroughly disgruntled and a little scent-drunk, and his friends by the car immediately exchange looks. “We were going to ask you to pre-game with us,” Gaeul teases, while Minhee holds up a bottle of vodka, “but you’re already… a little too out of it.”

 

Kai slides into the car beside Yuna and grunts. “Shut up. Just— drive.” He presses a hand to his temple and closes his eyes, trying to will the lingering heat, the dizzying swirl of the pack's scent, out of his head.

 

What the fuck was that?

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“You’re late.” Kai shouts profanities, hand pressed to his chest as he glares at the perpetrator. “I told you to stop doing that, hyung! I’ll really die someday if you keep it up.” He hisses, but his heartbeat betrays him, racing far too fast.

 

“You’re late.” Beomgyu repeats, calm but unyielding, his arms crossed as he studies him like he’s measuring the beta’s patience— or testing it. “We were worried. You weren’t answering our texts.” He grunts, kicking off his shoes. “My phone died.” The Alpha huffs, clearly unconvinced.

 

But what else can he do? Kai spent almost half of the day looking for what to wear that he absolutely forgot to charge his phone.

 

Maybe it's time to use his salary for something important... like a power bank.

 

Ugh.

 

“Looks like you had plenty of fun. Did anyone approach you at all?” Kai rolls his eyes, trying to keep his composure. 

 

Seriously? After all that scenting, they really thought someone was stupid enough to snatch him away? Jeez.

 

“Of course not, hyung. I literally smelled like all of you before I left. It’s just my friends’ scents overlapping with yours.” Beomgyu lets out a satisfied chuff, like a predator pleased with its prey.  “So? Why did you take too long?” Kai exhales, sagging slightly. 

 

“We had to send Gaeul and Yuna home first. They were… really drunk.” The beta doesn’t know why he feels the need to explain— he isn’t theirs. Kai’s technically just their employee, but he does anyway.

 

They've built a rapport over the months, with Kai increasingly growing attached, which means the weight of disappointing them is heavier than he first arrived at the pack house.

 

“Okay,” Beomgyu says, expression unreadable. “You’ll have to mention that to Yeonjun and Soobin tomorrow. They were worried sick.” Kai nods automatically, unsure why, but unwilling to push back. The Alpha leans closer, nose wrinkling in disgust. 

 

He can smell it— the alcohol, the sweat, the lingering scents of Kai’s friends clinging stubbornly to him. “Come. You’re sleeping with me tonight.” Before the beta can even protest, he’s being shepherded down the hall. 

 

The lights are already out elsewhere, the faint scent of the pack members wafting softly through the house. “What about Tyun?” Kai asks, hesitant. “Sleeping with the hyungs. It’s just you and I tonight,” Beomgyu says irritably. 

 

There’s a low, almost imperceptible growl in his tone, and the beta decides it’s not worth testing. He allows himself to be guided toward the bathroom. 

 

“The scent remover’s already in there. Clean yourself properly. I’ll grab your skincare and sleepwear for you,” Beomgyu adds, closing the door behind him with a soft click. Kai groans in disbelief, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.

 

He undresses and steps into the shower, letting it wash over him and carry away the layers of pheromones, sweat, and alcohol clinging to his skin. 

 

Kai’s thoughts, as always, drift to them— the Alphas, the omegas, the strange, dizzying way they insist on claiming him without saying it outright. He shakes his head again, chuckling softly to himself.

 

What the hell is wrong with these people?

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Beomgyu comes back just in time to see Kai drying his hair, sitting on the edge of the bed with only a towel around his waist. “Wear this. I don’t want you catching a cold,” he murmurs, handing over folded clothes and underwear.

 

The beta pauses, setting the dryer aside. The moment he picks up the garments, his nose twitches— they smell familiar, close to his heart, and to his wallet. Kai starts chortling.

 

The pajama pants are unmistakably Yeonjun’s. The shirt reeks of Soobin. The sleeping mask and socks are very, very Taehyun. Their scents are so thick over the fabric that it almost feels like they're there with him. Kai giggles, holding it close to his chest.

 

“What? You don’t want to wear it?” Beomgyu asks, brows knitting. “You smell better already, like a clean slate. But something’s missing. You don’t smell like us.” His voice softens, and he cards gentle fingers through Kai’s damp hair.

 

Ah. So that’s what this is about.

 

The Alpha was really upset. Apparently, the others were too. “Did you guys plan this? Whose idea was it?” Kai snorts. “Who else but Yeonjun?” Beomgyu rolls his eyes. “Come on. Get dressed so you can do your skincare and sleep. It’s already two in the morning.”

 

Kai obeys and disappears into the bathroom. When he comes out, Beomgyu looks awfully pleased— purring. The beta steps forward and without hesitation, and Beomgyu wraps his arms around Kai’s waist, burying his face into the beta's stomach.

 

“All better,” he growls, inhaling their combined scents. "Okay, hyung. Enough." Kai huffs and pulls away so he can start on skincare, but Beomgyu doesn’t go far— just watches him quietly, towel in hand, gently drying the rest of his hair.

 

The beta would protest, tell the Alpha that he doesn't need servicing, but his citrus scent, although mellowed, is still a bit bitter, so he decides against it.

 

Besides, it's efficient. And the way Beomgyu is scratching his scalp makes him want to fall into the mattress and sleep.

 

“Did you find someone who caught your interest tonight?” he asks. Kai immediately shakes his head. “No. I’m focusing on uni and keeping the household running. I don’t have time for that.” 

 

Beomgyu warbles, satisfied with his answer, and pulls him closer again— even as Kai is patting serum into his skin. The Alpha hugs his waist from behind, nose brushing Kai’s nape.

 

“Are we serious right now?” he mutters, feigning annoyance. “Totally serious.” Beomgyu replies, letting his canines graze Kai’s shoulder, neck, and nape in light, teasing bites. He has more decorum about it, unlike Soobin who just goes directly for his scent gland.

 

Each brush of teeth is punctuated by a soft chuff of approval, and the Alpha’s eyes glint mischievously as he watches Kai’s reactions. He jerks, heat blooming under the prickly sensation. “Will letting you mark me like this make you less upset, hyungie?” Beomgyu pauses, letting the words sink in. 

 

Then he turns Kai to face him, eyes sharp and gleaming. “Yes,” he says simply, voice low and possessive. “So keep doing your skincare, stay still, and don’t even think about moving. You’re mine tonight.” He leans down, presses a slow kiss to Kai’s ear, then returns to gentle nibbles.

 

The beta exhales exasperatedly, realizing he’s powerless against Beomgyu’s possessiveness— which he finds he doesn’t mind at all.

 

When Kai's finally done with his skincare, the Alpha doesn’t even wait— he grabs him by the wrist and pulls him straight onto the bed, wrapping an arm snugly around his waist and pressing a firm kiss on his scent gland.

 

Okay, maybe he and Soobin are one and the same after all.

 

“Stay here.” An order, not a suggestion. Kai snorts but shifts anyway, adjusting their position until his back is flush against Beomgyu’s chest. “How's this, hyung?” The Alpha growls low in his throat before nipping at Kai’s shoulder blade. 

 

“Perfect. You’re perfect.” The words land low in Kai’s stomach. Beomgyu’s voice is always deeper when he’s tired, rough around the edges, and the gruff affection in it makes something flutter painfully in Kai’s chest.

 

He feels the Alpha’s breath ghost against the nape of his neck, hot and steady. Large hands are splayed over his stomach, thumbs brushing idle, absentminded circles into his skin like Beomgyu doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.

 

Kai’s breath stumbles.

His brain follows a second later.

 

He laughs— quiet, shaky— just to ground himself. “Okay, hyung. You’re not mad anymore, right?” There’s a small shake of the head behind him, the faintest rumble of a purr against his spine. Kai swallows hard, heat curling embarrassingly at the tips of his ears.

 

“…Okay,” the beta mutters finally, because it’s safer than saying anything else— safer than admitting how the words made him feel lightheaded, or how Beomgyu’s hands on his tummy make him want to melt into the mattress.

 

The Alpha just nuzzles closer, completely unaware of the chaos he caused. He smells like lemon candy and soft sandalwood, which means he's no longer annoyed.

 

That's good.

 

“We can never stay mad at you, pup. Sleep.” Beomgyu’s voice softens. The weight of drowsiness— and whatever remained of his irritation— melts off him. 

 

“I already put ibuprofen in the bedside drawer. Take it in the morning after you eat.” He presses a chaste kiss to Kai’s hair and tightens his hold, as if afraid the beta might slip away again. Kai relaxes fully for the first time all night. 

 

“Okay, hyung. Thanks for waiting up for me.”

 

“Always.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kai steps out of Beomgyu’s room looking like he spent the night being manhandled by a wild animal— which, honestly, he kind of did. His hair sticks up in soft, uneven tufts. His neck, ears, and shoulders are in different shades of red, pink, and purple.

 

Kai’s matcha is barely there, drenched under the heavy blanket of his bosses’ scents. He makes it three steps down the hall when Beomgyu appears behind him, stretching like a cat that just finished ruining furniture.

 

Completely unbothered. Completely arrogant. “Pup, slow down,” he murmurs like he didn’t spend half the night chewing on him. “You’re walking like a newborn foal.”

 

“Only because someone used me as a bedtime chew toy, and practically got me scent-drunk after a hangover. You even did it when I was just waking up, hyung. You're ruthless.” Kai mutters. They enter the dining room together, and everything stops. 

 

Yeonjun’s spoon pauses mid-air. Taehyun’s eyes widen a fraction. Soobin straightens in his seat like he just smelled blood in the water. Three sets of eyes hone in on Kai. 

 

Then:

“Kai,” Soobin says, low and authoritative, “come here.” The beta barely has time to blink before the pack Alpha is already standing, maneuvering him in front of the table like a parent checking a child for bruises. 

 

Hands firm on his shoulders. Turning him into the light— assessing, cataloging, inspecting.

 

Soobin leans in, nose brushing against Kai’s neck. He shivers. A deep, pleased growl vibrates out of the Alpha’s chest. Satisfaction rolls through him so strong it shakes the air. “Good,” Soobin murmurs, tone warm and possessive.

 

He lifts his head and, without looking away from Kai, leans sideways to give Beomgyu the softest peck on the lips. “You did well, Gyu.” Beomgyu crows like a proud young Alpha receiving an award. 

 

“I always do,” Beomgyu says egotistically. “Look at these marks. That’s craftsmanship.” He tugs on the neckline of Kai’s shirt and shows his artwork. The two omegas chirp in satisfaction. Kai slaps his hand away. 

 

“Ugh, hyung. Do you really have to show them?” He collapses into his seat like he’s aged a decade. Yeonjun, seated beside him, doesn’t even let him settle. Two fingers hook under Kai’s chin, tilting his head up. 

 

“You didn’t sleep enough,” he states, just a hair away from the beta's face. Kai swallows thickly. “And your pupils are still blown. Are you scent–drunk? Beomgyu, I told you not to overdo it.“ The perpetrator just chuckles, shoving some cereal in his face and chewing loudly, obviously unbothered. 

 

Beside him, Taehyun shakes his head in disgust, wiping his mate’s lips with a tissue. "You're such a messy eater." And then giving him a soft peck on the cheek, which Beomgyu deemed was not enough so they end up kissing while feeding each other.

 

Cute.

 

“Are you dehydrated? Did he at least give you water? What about ibuprofen? How’s your head?” Kai grunts.

 

“Hyung, please. Don’t nag at the table. I’ll drink medicine when I’ve eaten breakfast.” Yeonjun ignores him, brushing his hair back, checking his temperature with the back of his hand like a mother hen.

 

Then Soobin places a warm bowl of samgyetang in front of him. “You wore everything,” he notes. Satisfied. Almost… fond. Kai pokes at the soup. “Beomgyu-hyung made me. And I didn't mind. It's comfy.”

 

“Hm.” Soobin hums, deep and approving. “Good.” Across the table, Taehyun leans forward, elbows propped, gaze cool and sharp. Then he asks, in that deceptively soft voice: “Did another omega approach you?”

 

Kai startles. “What? No! Of course not. I practically smelled like the whole pack. Nobody even looked my way.” The reaction he gets is bizarre. Yeonjun’s shoulders relax. Soobin actually exhales, long and relieved. 

 

Taehyun nods, self-satisfied. Beomgyu grins proudly and pets his hair. The beta looks around, confused out of his mind. “…Why are all of you acting like that?” Yeonjun shrugs, separating the chicken from the bone before feeding it to him.

 

“Nothing. Did you have fun, at least?” He nods. “Yeah. I only came home late because Gaeul and Yuna were blackout drunk. We sent them home first.” Taehyun hums. “Okay. Eat up. You need some food in your stomach before drinking some medicine.” 

 

While the two omegas fuss over him like he’s a small child— Soobin and Beomgyu start languidly making out across the table. 

 

Like they know he’s watching.

Like they know he can’t say anything about it.

Like they’re doing it because he’s watching.

 

Kai freezes mid–chew. The spoon hangs awkwardly between his lips as he stares at the two alphas practically growling into each other’s mouths— hands on jaws, thumbs stroking cheeks, breathing each other in like they’re trying to fuse souls.

 

The beta’s ears go hot. He immediately stares down at his soup, as if the vegetables might save him from secondhand intimacy. Yeonjun pats his hand sympathetically, biting back a grin. “Just ignore them,” he murmurs, scooping another spoonful and holding it up to Kai’s mouth. 

 

“They’re being gross on purpose.” Kai opens his mouth automatically— because Yeonjun is bossy and because he’s too overwhelmed to protest— and swallows. Taehyun nods, sliding into the seat beside him with a mug of tea. 

 

“They’re just stroking each other’s egos,” he says dryly. “Alphas do that.” At that, Soobin and Beomgyu immediately pull apart just enough to turn their heads in perfect sync, eyes narrowing with matching mischief.

 

“Funny,” Soobin says, wiping Beomgyu’s mouth with his thumb. “Because it’s your turn next.” The young Alpha smirks at Taehyun and Yeonjun. “Yeah. Hope you’re warmed up.” Yeonjun snorts. 

 

“What— like we’re gonna kiss just because you two feel like showing off?” Beomgyu shrugs. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” Both omegas cough, glaring at the two. Kai chokes on air. Yeonjun quickly shoves another spoonful of soup into the beta’s mouth to distract him. 

 

“Ignore them,” he repeats firmly, thumb rubbing soothing circles on Kai’s wrist. He obediently swallows the fourth spoonful he’s been fed like a toddler. He exhales slowly.

 

What a way to start his morning.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

what did you all think of this chapter?

like always, each member will get their own time with kai!

please watch our precious attendant miss all the hints they're throwing at him <3

Chapter 3: 3

Summary:

...is it still a normal company outing if your boss insists you help pick lingerie?

is being included in the shopping spree an incentive for his hard work?

will his suddenly expanded “job description” come with a raise? (not that kai would care if it didn’t—)

only the Moon Goddess knows.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Try this on.” Kai gives him the most exhausted, pleading look he can manage— his fifth one today— yet Yeonjun ignores it with all the grace of someone who absolutely does not care. 

 

The omega shoves another pile of clothes into Kai’s arms and nudges him back into the dressing room. At his feet sits two baskets overflowing with outfits. One's for his clients, the other is theirs. It grows a little more monstrous every minute.

 

They’ve been in this one store for almost two hours. Two. Hours. A measurable eternity spent with the beta being shoved in and out of the dressing room, rotating through shirts, pants, jackets, and whatever colorful, avant-garde nonsense Yeonjun plucks from the racks.

 

Kai should be home right now— cleaning rooms, prepping lunch, pretending not to notice Taehyun stealing snacks before dinner. 

 

But Taehyun’s at university, Beomgyu’s at a game launch party for something he programmed, and Soobin naturally followed because he’s the face of the franchise.

 

Which leaves Yeonjun.

 

The omega, who spent an entire ten minutes whining dramatically into the group chat about “being abandoned by his mates like a Victorian ghost bride,” until Kai— who is not a pushover, absolutely not— just so happened to be mid-shower and just so happened to get dressed really fast.

 

…He kind of regrets it now.

 

“How is it? Did you like them?” Yeonjun chirps when the beta emerges in the latest outfit. Kai nods. Of course the clothes are great— He’s a fashion stylist. Dressing people beautifully is literally the omega’s superpower. 

 

But Kai is sweating, slightly dizzy, and has never changed clothes so many times in such rapid succession. He prays, silently and with great desperation, that this is the last round.

 

“Let’s buy them,” The omega declares, plucking the clothes from Kai’s hands and tossing them into a separate basket already filled with pieces for Soobin, Taehyun, Beomgyu, and himself— because apparently he “missed them so much he just had to buy everyone gifts.”

 

“Hyung, there’s really no need—” Yeonjun glares at him with a look that could slice through metal. Kai immediately shuts up and obediently picks up both baskets, nearly tipping over from the weight.

 

“You never use your allowance on yourself,” the omega scolds him. “It’s good to treat yourself sometimes. And it’s not healthy to think about servicing us 24/7.” 

 

Kai doesn’t argue, mostly because he’s physically incapable of doing so while carrying what feels like two years’ worth of purchased clothes.

 

“Are we done, hyung?” he asks, carefully hiding the desperation in his voice. The omega surveys the haul, proud and satisfied— like a cat that just brought home an entire family of birds as a gift. He nods. 

 

“Let’s eat first, then we’ll go to another store.” Kai’s face crumples. Yeonjun stifles a laugh. “Don’t make that face. It’s the last one. I promise.” The beta has been lied to before. But never by someone who smells this good.

 

He supposes it’s not the worst situation he’s encountered in his 23 years of life.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The restaurant is warm and softly lit, lanterns casting amber light across polished tables. It’s cozy— too cozy, Kai thinks— because Yeonjun keeps leaning in like they’re sharing secrets instead of lunch.

 

“Open,” Yeonjun sings, lifting a piece of chicken toward his mouth. The beta blinks slowly. “I—I can feed myself, you know.” His pout is immediate and aggressive. 

 

“My hand is already up. Don’t make me reposition. That’s rude.” Kai suppresses a flustered noise and leans forward, taking the bite. He chews slowly, mostly because he’s trying not to choke on his own embarrassment. Apparently, that’s the wrong choice.

 

“Why are you chewing like that?” The omega whines, shaking his wrist dramatically. “You’re taking so long. My hand hurts.” Kai nearly chokes. “I’m sorry! You don’t— you don’t have to feed me, really. I can—”

 

Yeonjun shoots him a look that could incinerate an entire city block. “Huening Kamal Kai. Don’t insult me.” The beta’s ears turn red. He clears his throat. “Then… Can I feed you instead?” He gestures toward Yeonjun’s plate, timid.

 

Kai figures it’d be less embarrassing than being the one who’s getting fed. The omega blinks, thrown off for a moment, then nods with the dignity of a pampered prince. “Hmph. I’ll allow it.” He smiles endearingly, pulling Yeonjun’s plate closer to slice the vegetables for him.

 

“Such a pretty omega— why isn’t he with an Alpha?”

 

“Poor thing, stuck with a beta—”

 

“What a waste—”

 

Kai doesn’t hear any of it. He’s too busy cutting chicken into neat bite-sized pieces and making sure he doesn’t spill rice everywhere. His brows are furrowed in concentration like he’s performing surgery.

 

Yeonjun, however, hears everything. His scent sharpens, the warm sweetness he usually carries curdling into something dark— vanilla turning smoky and bitter, maple burning into a sharp, caramelized edge that prickles at the back of the tongue.

 

A low, warning growl rolls out of his chest as he snaps his head toward the murmuring table, irises flickering dangerously as if daring anyone to keep talking.

 

The whispers die instantly. Kai startles, the spoon clattering against his plate. “Y—Yeonjun-hyung?” The omega’s eyes glow faintly amethyst, pupils narrowing into slits. His jaw is clenched so hard a vein appears under his skin. 

 

Yeonjun’s hands tremble where they grip the table. He looks one second away from letting his wolf take over entirely. Kai has never seen him like this.

 

Is he sick? Did something trigger him? Did the food upset him? Did Kai do something without realizing?

 

Yeonjun can be dramatic, sure— pouting, whining, throwing mild tantrums over the little things— but this isn’t drama. This is instinct. This is distress.

 

“Hyung?” The beta leans in softly. “What’s wrong?” No answer. Yeonjun is still glaring holes into the murmuring table, baring his teeth, every line of him rigid and trembling with barely controlled rage. 

 

He doesn’t know what’s happening, doesn’t know what set him off— but all he cares about is the omega’s well-being.

 

So Kai does something he rarely does on purpose. He pushes his scent out. Soft matcha drifts into the tiny space between them— gentle, careful, warm. It’s sweet at first, the familiar scent he always carries, but now it’s threaded with a faint, bitter undertone of worry.

 

Are you okay? Tell me what you need.

 

The effect is immediate.

 

Yeonjun’s wolf stutters— startled, confused, momentarily pulled away from its anger. His shoulders twitch, breath catching. The omega's eyes snap sharply toward Kai, his pupils flickering as if struggling to regain control of his wolf.

 

Seeing that small opening, the beta reaches out. Kai cups Yeonjun’s cheek gently, thumb brushing along the omega’s cheekbone. “Did… did I do something wrong?” Yeonjun bites his lips, conflicted. The wrath in his eyes falters a little.

 

“What are you upset about, hyungie? I’ll fix it." The omega hisses, eyes closing. "Let's not ruin your make-up, hm? I know you worked so hard on it." Kai trills, trying his best to soothe Yeonjun.

 

The omega's shoulders heave up and down, and his grip on the table loosens slightly. "I won’t complain, even if we have to go to, um… three more boutiques.” That does it.

 

Yeonjun melts.

 

Like candle wax under flame, every tense line softens— his shoulders drop, his jaw unclenches, his eyes lose their sharp glow. Yeonjun's scent returns to normal, and he offers Kai a relieved smile.

 

“You,” he whispers, grabbing Kai’s hand. “Are the cutest idiot I’ve ever met.” The beta bites the inside of his cheek. “…So you’re not mad at me?” Instead of answering, Yeonjun lifts the beta’s hand— still cupping his face— and presses a slow, tender kiss to the inside of his wrist.

 

He's scenting Kai. In public. Sweet vanilla cream with maple drizzle coats him, he can almost taste it in his tongue. Yeonjun's no longer angry. Good.

 

“Never at you,” he murmurs, calm and composed. “Not even once, my darling.” Kai lets out a small breath of relief, shoulders sagging. “Are you sure okay now?” he asks quietly. “Mm-hm.” Yeonjun squeezes his hands. “Let’s eat.” And they do— quietly, peacefully.

 

The entire restaurant studiously avoids looking their way now, thoroughly spooked by the omega who nearly growled the decor off the walls… and the beta who managed to calm him down with nothing more than a touch and a worried brow.

 

Kai feeds Yeonjun another bite of chicken, cheeks faintly pink. The omega trills, swinging his legs a little. “Good job,” he says softly. “Perfect bite.” Kai coughs into his fist.

 

What kind of lunch is this?

 

A date?

 

No. Definitely not.

…Probably.

 

He focuses on his food and pretends his heart isn’t racing.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Uh, I don’t think I should be here—”

 

“Do you want me to cause another scene, pup?” Yeonjun asks in a deceptively sweet voice. He straightens immediately. “I meant that we should go inside. Haha.” Kai reaches for Yeonjun’s wrist and gently pulls him into the shop— a lingerie boutique.

 

His face heats instantly.

 

There are people everywhere— mostly omegas browsing racks of lace and silk while their Alpha mates wait outside. A few Alpha–omega couples shop together, openly flirting, giggling, practically eye-fucking each other while comparing racy underwear.

 

Kai’s ears burn. He picks up a basket and nods, ready to follow wherever Yeonjun goes.

 

The omega moves with purpose, flipping through racks with practiced ease.

 

“Latex? Mm, no, too hot.”

 

"Linen? Soobin doesn't like it. Too scratchy for him."

 

"Satin? It gets bothersome when I'm in heat."

 

Yeonjun hums, moving on the silk section. “This is cute, don’t you think? Let’s all get matching sets.” Kai blinks at the pajama sets— smooth, cool, harmless.

 

He exhales. “It’s cute,” agreeing softly. “Which one do you think suits me best? Pick some for the others too.” Yeonjun’s voice is casual, but the request nearly buckles Kai’s knees. “Um…” He doesn’t trust his fashion sense. 

 

The beta also doesn’t trust himself not to disappoint. But Yeonjun smiles— kind, encouraging. “There’s no wrong answer, pup. They’re pajamas. Take it easy.” He says sweetly. Kai inhales. “Okay.” He steps up to the rack, determination flickering.

 

I can do this.

 

He chooses a deep-purple three-piece for Yeonjun— camisole, mini shorts, and a kimono with black lace trimming. The omega’s eyes twinkled. “I like it,” he warbles, holding Kai by the arm and squeezing.

 

Something in Kai glows.

 

He picks navy-blue pajamas for Soobin— simple, comfortable.

A maroon romper with books embroidered on the sleeves for Taehyun.

A shorts-and-top set for Beomgyu, who hates being covered at night.

 

When he turns, basket full, Yeonjun is already smiling like sunrise. “Such beautiful picks, pup. You chose these with our tastes and habits in mind, didn’t you?” The beta’s back straightens. His chest lifts, and he preens— actually preens— like praise is a warm hand smoothing down his spine. 

 

"Yeah, hyung,” Kai says, gleaming. His scent slips out, sweet matcha edged with pride. "Of course. I wanted to make sure that everyone will like it."

 

The omega chirps and rises onto his toes to kiss Kai’s cheek. He freezes. The beta's scent flutters even sweeter for a second before he wrestles it back under control. “You did well,” Yeonjun murmurs, adjusting the basket in Kai’s hands as if arranging something precious. “You always do.”

 

Kai swallows, hard. “I—I’m glad you like them.”

 

“Like them?” Yeonjun laughs, soft and musical. “Baby, I love them. I’m sure the others will too.”

 

Kai’s chest feels tight with affection. “You’re good at this,” He adds, brushing his knuckles against the beta’s hand. “So stop acting like you’re going to mess up every time.”

 

“Okay,” Kai whispers— and actually believes it. “Now,” the omega purrs, “pick something for yourself.” He scratches the back of his neck. “O…kay.”

 

The beta wanders a bit, Yeonjun shadowing him happily, until something catches his eye: a penguin pajama set. Tiny penguins lounging under beach umbrellas, sipping martinis like little alcoholics. “This,” he whispers, almost proud.

 

Yeonjun coos. “That’s perfect!” He grabs the right size and drops it into the basket. Kai feels his confidence spike, his stomach fluttering at the acknowledgement. The omega hums, linking their arms loosely. 

 

“Now… one more section.” Kai follows his gaze. The nightdresses and lingerie section. His heart jumps into his throat. Yeonjun’s grin turns wickedly fond. “Don’t worry. I’ll walk you through it, pup.”

 

And the beta— flustered and helplessly obedient— nods and follows him in.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“You think this’ll look pretty on me?” Yeonjun holds up a royal blue lacy slip dress with delicate corset details, the flowers embroidered across the chest blooming vividly in the boutique’s soft lighting. 

 

It’s beautiful on its own, but seeing the omega holding it to his body makes Kai’s breath hitch until he feels faint. He looks everywhere but at Yeonjun— eyes darting toward the ceiling, the floor, a display of silk robes— anything less dangerous.

 

“Um… I’m not— I don’t know…” he mutters. “Hueningie,” Yeonjun purrs, sweet and coaxing. “Look at me when I talk to you.” His voice switches, wry and authoritative. Kai obeys instantly, head turning toward him as though pulled by a string. 

 

The omega lifts the slip dress to his torso, angling it the way he does when he fits clients, waiting patiently. 

 

“Well?”

 

“I… think it’s pretty,” Kai blurts out, the answer comes out small and uncertain. Yeonjun’s lips purse. “Oh. You don’t like it that much.” The beta jolts upright. “What? No! That’s not— I just don’t really know much about these things. I have no experience with picking lingerie, hyung.”

 

“Hm.” Yeonjun’s pout deepens, his whole expression melting into something theatrically forlorn. “Yeah. It’s okay. It’s okay if you don’t want to help. I just thought since you picked such beautiful pieces for us earlier, you had an eye for these things.”

 

The downturn of his lips, the faint crease between his brows, even the subtle droop of his scent— all of it tugs at Kai’s conscience. He recognizes the guilt-trip, knows the omega is laying it on thick, but it still makes something in him twist. 

 

Yeonjun is too cute, sulking like that, almost delicate in his disappointment. The beta exhales softly. “I think… it’s too simple for hyung. And another color suits him better.” He pauses, surprise flickering across his features. “Really?”

 

“Yeah. Um…” Kai extends a hesitant hand. “Let me show you.” Yeonjun places his wrist in the beta’s palm without hesitation, allowing himself to be led deeper into the boutique. 

 

People watch them— omegas glancing curiously, Alphas sniffing the air, some pairs openly flirting while their partners feign interest. Kai doesn’t notice and instead focuses on the rows of lace and velvet, carefully scanning the displays until something catches his eye.

 

He reaches for a maroon baby doll dress. The velvet cups shimmer under the soft lighting, lace trimmings forming elegant crisscross details across the chest. A long slit runs down the middle, the skirt airy and delicate.

 

“This,” he stammers. Yeonjun’s eyes light up immediately, but before he can comment, Kai continues awkwardly, “Um… so the hyungs can see you wearing the undies.” His face burns at the admission. 

 

Is this still professional? Is he going to get fired?

 

Helping with cooking, laundry, and room maintenance is one thing. Preparing nesting materials, allowing the alphas to scent him during pre-rut, assisting in setting up the mating room— those are expected duties for an attendant. 

 

But this? Picking outfits to set the mood?

 

Kai supposes it makes sense. Another task to support the pack. If fashion is Yeonjun’s expertise, care-taking is his. He finds the thought oddly grounding, even a little exciting. Another role to fill. Another way to be useful.

 

Unless he gets fired.

 

“I know you like showing off, hyung,” he adds under his breath. Yeonjun smirks. “I do. I love this. You're right, this color suits me better." His gaze drifts, landing on a couple a few racks away. 

 

Kai's still employed.

 

Yay.

 

Yeonjun’s smile has an edge to it now, the expression sliding from pleased to predatory-sweet in a way only an omega with something to prove can manage. 

 

Without warning, he steps closer and loops both arms around Kai’s, pressing himself flush against the beta and nuzzling his cheek into his shirt with deliberate, syrupy affection. 

 

“W—What—” The beta nearly stumbles with how fast his heart jumps, breath catching in his throat. Kai’s fidgets with the basket in his hold, his matcha scent fluttering out in startled wisps. 

 

He tries— feebly, uselessly— to tug his arm back, but Yeonjun only clings tighter, the weight of his body warm and teasing. Across the aisles, the omega who had earlier called Yeonjun a “poor thing” stops dead mid-sentence, lips parting. 

 

Her eyes widen, then narrow, then flick down to Yeonjun’s arms wrapped around Kai like a victory flag. Her Alpha boyfriend— still clutching his phone— finally glances up with a confused grunt.

 

Yeonjun’s grin reaches his eyes, prideful and arrogant. “I wish you could see how good your choices are,” he croons, voice honey-thick with pride. The omega’s eyes flick mischievously toward Kai, then deliberately toward the girl watching them.

 

The beta squeaks. “Hyung—!”

 

“You don’t need to be shy, my baby,” Yeonjun drawls, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. “You’re very good at leading me.” His fingers trace up the beta’s arm, soft and possessive. “And helping me pick lingerie too… You’re so sweet.” Kai swears his soul has left his body.

 

“Hyung— please—” he whispers, trying again to pry Yeonjun off him, but the omega only presses closer, chin resting on Kai’s arm like he belongs there. The woman watches with a tight jaw, arms crossing defensively. 

 

Her Alpha boyfriend blinks between them, baffled, clearly missing the entire territorial subtext. 

 

Yeonjun absolutely does not.

 

He tilts his head just enough to catch her eye, giving her a slow, lazy once-over before smiling triumphantly and nuzzling Kai again— this time dragging his cheek along the fabric like a cat marking its territory.

 

Kai is blushing so hard he feels delirious. “Hyung, why are you— what are you doing?”

 

“Hmm?” Yeonjun purrs, as if innocent. “I’m appreciating you.” He curls a strand of Kai’s hair around a finger. “I mean, you’re taking such good care of us, Hueningie. Taking care of our home… picking bedroom clothes…” His smile turns downright sinful. 

 

“Our beta’s very talented.” Kai makes a garbled noise in his throat. “I— I wasn’t— I was just helping—” he stammers, tugging at his arm. “You’re doing more than helping,” The omega insists, squeezing tighter as if daring the girl to keep watching. 

 

“You’re leading me.” Kai thinks he might pass out. His knees wobble. His scent flares, sweet but mortified, and he tries to flatten it down. Yeonjun, absolutely pleased with himself, gives him another affectionate bump of his cheek.

 

The other omega sniffs sharply and turns away, muttering something under her breath— something that sounds suspiciously like show-off.

 

Yeonjun cackles— bright, unrestrained, delighted. His pheromones spike instantly, filling the air with vanilla and maple— so thick with victory and pride that Kai can practically taste it on his tongue.

 

It rolls off him in large waves, like an omega who has not only won but intends to rub it relentlessly in his enemy’s face. Kai coughs in panic, grabbing the baby doll and stuffing it quickly into the basket as if hiding incriminating evidence. 

 

“I think we should go home, hyung. You’re having too much fun teasing me.” He quips.

 

“Baby, I’m not teasing you,” The omega insists, though the sparkle in his eyes downright betrays him. “It’s only proper that you see it, right? Since you’re the one who picked everything.” Kai scoffs, fixing the basket in his arm. 

 

“It’s not funny.” He turns sharply toward the counter and starts marching with single-minded determination, clutching the basket to his chest like a shield against further embarrassment. 

 

Yeonjun follows behind him with a sway in his step and laughter bubbling out of him— it’s domineering and grating on the ears (it’s the most wonderful thing he has heard in years). The omega looks like he has just discovered his new favorite toy: flustered Huening Kai.

 

They pass the same couple again, and Yeonjun— because he’s conceited and self-assured, executes a casual, flawless hair flip that belongs on a magazine cover. 

 

Then he reaches forward, captures Kai’s free hand, and threads their fingers together with an almost lazy confidence.

 

“Don’t leave me like that.” Kai freezes mid-step. His pulse leaps. He doesn’t dare look down. One glance at Yeonjun’s pouting face and he might melt into a puddle right there between the satin robes and the lace corsets.

 

The omega girl from before stiffens visibly. Her gaze turns to Yeonjun’s radiant, haughty expression. She scowls. Yeonjun smiles harder, showing his canines. It’s a direct hit.

 

“Wait!” Yeonjun calls lightly, tugging at their joined hands. “Let’s go back. What about Taehyun?”

 

“No,” Kai hisses, eyes locked on the counter as though it’s a holy shrine. “Do that on your own.”

 

“But he’ll cry if we don’t get him something—”

 

“Hyung,” Kai interrupts, voice low with desperation. “The counter. Please.” The older male giggles. “Aww, someone’s shy.” The beta’s shoulders rise defensively, his fingers tightening around the basket’s handle. 

 

“I’m not shy,” he lies, cheeks glowing like embers. “I’m just… done.”

 

“Done?” Yeonjun echoes, leaning in until his breath brushes Kai’s ear. “Done because you picked lingerie for me? Or done because you saw how good you are at it?” The beta makes a wounded little sound. “Hyung—!”

 

They reach the counter. Salvation at last.

 

Kai thrusts the basket forward, determined to pay, leave, and get at least five minutes of peace before Yeonjun finds a new way to turn him into a tomato. 

 

The cashier takes one look at the pile of items— pajamas, rompers, lace sets, and the unmistakably bold babydoll— and then at the beta’s bright-red face.

 

The faintest smile curls at her mouth.

Yeonjun sees it.

Yeonjun chirps.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

After dinner, the pack drifts into the living room in that lazy, satisfied way they always do after a long day of work. Kai places three neatly wrapped paper bags on the coffee table, clearing his throat like he’s about to deliver a speech he never wanted to make. 

 

“Before anyone says anything— it’s Yeonjun-hyung’s money. I only helped pick them.” No one pays attention to that disclaimer. Soobin opens his first, carefully pulling out the navy-blue pajama set. 

 

The fabric slides soft and cool over his fingers, and his face warms with something shy but glowing. “These are… really nice.” He steps closer without hesitation, reaching up to flick the edge of Kai’s ear playfully. 

 

“Thank you, pup. I’ll probably sleep better now.” The beta mutters something about Yeonjun’s wallet, but the Pack Alpha’s is already admiring the stitching. 

 

Beomgyu is much less restrained. The moment he pulls out the shorts-and-top set— light, airy, absolutely no pants in sight— he lets out a triumphant cheer. “Finally! Someone in this house respects my thermal struggles.” He ruffles Kai’s hair until his curls stand in ridiculous directions.

 

The beta snorts. “I know you hate waking up sweaty, hyung.” The young Alpha’s grin turns teasing. “So you do think about me at night.” Kai swats him with a throw pillow. 

 

Taehyun is gentler. He lifts the maroon romper from his bag as if it’s fragile, tracing the embroidered books along the sleeves with a small, pleased hum. “These are beautiful…” His voice softens. 

 

“Thank you, Hueningie.” Kai chuckles. “The books reminded me of you, Tyun. We had to get it.”

 

Taehyun purrs and hugs the romper to his chest. It’s sweet and calm and almost domestic… until Yeonjun decides to change the soft, wholesome mood.

 

“Oh, also,” he says lightly, scrolling through his phone, “Kai helped me pick lingerie.” Soobin’s head snaps up, pupils narrowing into slits. “When can we see you wearing it baby?” Beomgyu growls, deep and hungry. “Yeah, hyung. Show us how pretty it is on you.”

 

Yeonjun smirks, eyes half-lidded. “Someday soon. We have to wait until the time is just right,” he giggles, winking at both Alphas. Soobin swallows like he’s imagining the day right now.

 

Beomgyu grumbles under his breath, something about omegas being sly and wolfish.

 

Taehyun, however, pouts instantly. “Where’s mine?” Yeonjun points at Kai without hesitation, deflecting the blame. “He wanted to go home early, so we didn’t buy one.” Kai whips around. “Hyung! It’s your fault. You— you kept teasing me.”

 

Taehyun gasps, scandalized and betrayed. “So it’s because of you.” He glares at Yeonjun, who tries to act cute and offers boutique vouchers like some peace offering. “Kai really wanted to go home, honey. It’s not me, I swear!” The Pack omega doubles down.

 

“I— no. That’s not— hyung, please—” He looks at Yeonjun pleadingly. The oldest of the pack averts his gaze, cuddling up to the Alphas. 

 

Beomgyu and Soobin immediately drape themselves over Yeonjun, hands running along his sides as they growl and coo, clearly affected by the lingerie confession. Kai just stares helplessly, realizing this fight has somehow become entirely his responsibility.

 

“Tyun, are you mad?” The omega harrumphs, flipping his hair and stomping his way to his room. “Don’t follow me!” Taehyun slams the door behind him.

 

“I’ll make it up to you.” Yeonjun says while cringing. “You threw me under the bus, hyung!” The beta hisses. 

 

Kai chases after Taehyun, spending the rest of the night trying to soothe him with snacks, hugs, soft reassurances, and his clothes (half of his wardrobe ended up in Taehyun’s bed. All freshly scented.)

 

Such is the life of an attendant.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

he'll get there... eventually. maybe.

Chapter 4: 4

Summary:

...does getting bit by your boss and serviced like a mate during his pre-rut count as job enrichment?

is being included in their nightly rituals still a part of his job?

...

is this something else entirely?

Huening Kamal Kai doesn't fucking know anymore.

Notes:

this one's a little long, i hope you all enjoy!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I have to leave, hyung,” Kai whines, twisting uselessly in Soobin’s arms. The Pack Alpha is glued to him— literally fused to his back— hot breath dragging across Kai’s nape as though memorizing every inch.

 

Soobin’s pre-rut is in full swing. His eyes are a shocking, unsteady blue, flickering like they can’t decide whether to focus on the present or sink fully into instinct. 

 

His pupils are blown wide, scent pouring off him in thick waves of cedarwood and ylang-ylang, clinging to the beta’s skin like steam. “Kai,” Soobin growls, his voice smoky and demanding, “you’re not properly scented yet.”

 

“You bit me twice already.” Kai gestures at his neck petulantly. “I smell like I drowned in you. I need to leave before your wolf eats me.” The Alpha ignores the complaint entirely, hauling him in again and burying his face deep into Kai’s scent gland. 

 

His teeth graze the surface— not biting down, but with slow, claiming laps that make the beta shudder. And that’s the thing. Kai isn’t pack. He’s an employee who handles chores, routines, pack care, organization.

 

Not… this.

 

Not the kind of closeness reserved for bonded partners— Alphas and omegas with the biological safeguards and healing abilities to withstand real marking. Betas don’t have that. Betas can’t get marked. Not without consequences. 

 

If an Alpha or omega ever clamped down on Kai’s scent gland the way instinct might urge them to, he’d end up in a hospital bed.

 

Kai knows this.

Soobin definitely knows this.

 

And yet here he is— leaving hickeys in the hollow of Kai’s throat, darkening bruises along his collarbone, dragging his tongue in slow, heated lines beneath his jaw as if he wants to bite down but is holding himself back with bone-deep restraint. 

 

It’s possessive without being binding. Pack-coded without the official right.

 

Too intimate.

Too dangerous.

Too easy to misunderstand.

 

Another reason betas shouldn’t… shouldn’t entertain ideas. Traditions exist for a reason. Alpha–alpha, omega–omega— even those pairings have safety nets. 

 

But a beta with an Alpha or an omega? A beta inside a pack hierarchy?

 

It leaves too much to the imagination. Too much that could go wrong.

 

Kai tries not to think about it. He tries not to read into it. Instead, the beta focuses on the evidence the Alpha has already left behind today— evidence Kai walked straight into the moment he got out of bed.

 

Beomgyu stumbled out of Soobin’s room barefoot, in his shirt and nothing below, smelling of arousal, irritation, and very obvious satisfaction, muttering, “I just wanted to wrestle him before getting the mating bite. I got something else entirely.” He huffed.

 

“You don’t look like you hated it.” Taehyun said, smirking at his limp. His eyes flick downwards, purring at the imprints of Soobin's hands on his mate's skin. “You’re lucky I love you. Or else…” Beomgyu grunts. “You enjoyed submitting, pup. Let it go. Tell you what, my wolf proposes you do the same thing, whenever or wherever you want.” 

 

Soobin had been preening behind him, chest puffed up, licking lazily at the fresh mating bite on Beomgyu’s skin while the younger Alpha swore vengeance. 

 

“I will make you regret that. You won't be walking for a week. And I'm knotting you too.” Beomgyu hissed. “We’ll see about that.” The Pack Alpha chuckled, lapping at his neck.

 

Yeonjun was no better— humming in front of the hallway mirror, wearing his collar boldly. Not just any collar— the one with Soobin’s name on the tag, gleaming in the light.

 

His shirt was a deep V, exposing more skin than what is work appropriate. Faint marks dotted his chest and shoulders (and thighs!), the kind only a very enthusiastic Alpha in pre-rut would leave.

 

Taehyun looked more modest but no less proud, quietly sipping coffee with a newly renewed mating bite peeking from his neckline. His scent was soft, content, pleased— ecstatic to be claimed again.

 

Kai walked through all of that, arms full of laundry, trying to pretend it was something he should be seeing. Now, he’s trapped in the last step of Soobin’s ritual: scenting his attendant before allowing him to exist in public.

 

“Soobin-hyung,” Kai tries again, voice high and helpless, “I’m wearing your clothes! This sweatshirt is basically a neon sign that says ‘Property of Choi Soobin.’”

 

“So?” The Alpha mutters, rubbing their cheeks together like a wolf settling a mate. “You were trying to leave.” Kai sputters. “I’m trying to go to class!” Soobin groans like the beta just told him the world was ending. 

 

Another pre-rut symptom— dramatic, greedy moping. “You’re supposed to stay with the pack during pre-rut,” he complains. “Or at least smell like it.”

 

“The pack left,” Kai deadpans. “They escaped. Like fugitives. And I already smell like everyone.” They left fast, whispering “good luck” to Kai as they slipped out the door.

 

Finally—finally— Soobin lets him go, though he presses a lingering kiss to Kai’s cheek and pats his ass like he’s sending his spouse to work. “Be back soon,” he murmurs, gentle in a way that makes the beta’s chest ache. 

 

“I’ll make you egg tarts.” Kai flushes. “You don’t have to—” Soobin growls. “Okay! Thank you! Egg tarts are great, hyung.” He practically launches himself out the door. The beta dives into Renjun’s car with the speed of someone escaping a predator.

 

Renjun stares at him, stifling a laugh. “Dude. Did you get mauled?” Kai slumps into the seat. “Soobin-hyung’s in pre-rut.” Renjun shivers. “Ah. That explains why the entire neighborhood smells like cedarwood and sin.” Kai covers his face. 

 

“I’m going to cry.” The omega snorts and pats his back. “I know the feeling. Jeno’s the same. Just a little more… proactive.” Kai lets out a gag and claps his hands over his ears.

 

“Stop! I don't want to hear about your mating rituals.” Renjun just laughs and starts the engine.

 

And Kai— marked up and scented to hell— sinks into the seat with a defeated sigh.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kai barely gets through the university gates before his phone buzzes.

 

Soobin-hyung 🐺:

What flavor of egg tarts do you want?

 

The beta stares at the screen and types back, walking fast toward his lecture hall. Renjun is a teaching assistant in the Marketing Department, so the two went their separate ways.

 

Kai:

Just normal egg tarts are fine, hyung.

 

He sits at the back, greeting familiar faces when his phone buzzes again.

 

Soobin-hyung 🐺:

Do you want cookies too? I can bake cookies. But you like soft ones, not crunchy, right? I can make both. Beomgyu likes crunchy cookies.

 

Kai:

Hyung, I’m literally in class. Please stop fussing.

 

Another buzz. Yuna looks at him, wiggling her brows.

 

Soobin-hyung 🐺:

I squeezed grape juice for you. Fresh. No seeds. I strained it twice. Put it in the coldest part of the fridge.

 

Kai closes his eyes, praying to the Moon Goddess that he gets through his lecture learning something useful. “Fun morning?” Yuna whispers beside him. He turns and flicks the omega’s forehead.

 

“Rude!” She hisses, rubbing at the sore spot. “By the way, where’s Gaeul?” Yuna grimaces. “She’s in heat. It’ll be a while before she comes back.” Kai hums, looking down on his notebook. 

 

“I’ll take some notes and send it to her. Do you want to come with me and buy her some snacks? You’ll have to be the one to deliver them, of course. Because, you know.” The beta points at his neck.

 

“Sure. I was planning to buy her a care package anyway. Thanks.” Yuna grins, then leans heavily on his shoulder, her scent warm and teasing. “You’re really reliable, you know? If I wasn’t into omegas I would definitely—”

 

Kai grabs her face and shoves her away before she can finish, ignoring her offended squawk. His pulse spikes with immediate, murderous panic.

 

“You don’t know what you just did, you bitch.” He massages his temple, already envisioning Yeonjun’s devastated expression— and Soobin’s horrified, rut-driven glare— when they smell another wolf rubbing up on him.

 

The beta can practically feel the aggressive scenting already, the way they’ll drown him in their pheromones until he’s dizzy and drunk off it.

 

"Oh, I know. That's why I did it." The beta laughs sardonically and takes her coffee cup drinking it all in one dramatic gulp despite hating the bitter taste. "Yah! You don't even like coffee." Kai scoffs. "Yeah, I don't. I did it to spite you." The pair glare at each other when his phone vibrates again. 

 

Soobin-hyung 🐺:

Do you want anything else? I can prepare something warm for when you get home. Also, keep your marks exposed. Other Alphas might—

 

"Jeez." Yuna grimaces at the text. "Yeah, so keep it down, brat." He turns his phone face down on his desk before Soobin starts threatening the entire Alpha population within a 10-kilometer radius. The beta tries—tries— to focus on the lecture, taking down notes, highlighting the key points. 

 

But the moment he relaxes in his seat, he feels someone hover behind him.

 

Then another.

 

Then a third.

 

Kai stiffens.

 

“Oh my god,” Chaeyoung whispers, staring at his neck. “Are those mating marks?” Dongpyo sniffs the air. His eyes almost pop out of their sockets. “Why do you smell like— is your mate an Alpha? Kai, you didn’t tell us you were mated.” The beta wants to die.

 

He tugs up his collar. The hickeys. The bruising. The scent— Soobin’s scent— is practically smothering the back row. Kai smelled like he crawled out of Soobin’s bed ten minutes ago.

 

Which…

He kind of did.

Just on the couch.

 

“Guys, it’s— that’s not—” he stammers, face red. Yuna doesn’t help defend him. She laughs, patting his back. “Who wouldn’t?! Our Hueningie is so charming.” The omega chirps.

 

Yedam’s grins. “You’re right. He’s such a sweetheart. But I didn’t expect him to be into Alphas.” He says, clearly amused. “You smell like you got claimed, Kai. I guess your mate really loves you.” Dongpyo ruffles his hair. “Lucky bastard.”

 

“I didn’t!” Kai squeaks. “I’m a beta! Betas don’t get— It’s just— my boss is in pre-rut, okay?!” 

 

That doesn't help.

 

At all.

 

Chaeyoung gasps. “Your boss?” Kai drops his forehead to his desk.

 

“I should’ve stayed home,” he mutters.

 

His phone buzzes again.

 

Soobin-hyung 🐺:

Kai? Why aren’t you replying? Did something happen? Do you need me to pick you up? Are you hungry? I can drive there right now—

 

Kai scrambles to type in his phone.

 

Kai:

DO NOT COME HERE HYUNG IM BEGGING YOU

 

He hits send. Two seconds later…

 

Soobin-hyung 🐺:

Okay. 😞 If you need anything, tell me. I’ll bring you whatever you want. Just… come home soon.

 

Kai melts.

And dies a little inside.

 

The beta sighs, rubs at his own heated face, and tries not to think about how good grape juice sounds right now.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Just give in, Kai. There’s no escaping from— mmph—” Yeonjun’s sentence disappears into a mouthful of ramen. He happily slurps while Soobin wipes the corner of his lips with a napkin. “Thanks, babe,” he mumbles, cheeks full and sparkling with pride under the attention.

 

Soobin doesn’t even sit. He’s standing in the dining area like a sentient tornado, pacing around the table with a focused intensity— feeding them each their favorite dishes like he’s physically incapable of leaving them unattended.

 

Ramen with different toppings for Yeonjun.

Stir-fried beef tripe for Beomgyu.

A meat mountain (with rice buried somewhere deep in the center) for Taehyun.

And a seafood platter— already shelled, neatly arranged for Kai.

 

The Pack Alpha had been alone for the day when Taehyun arrived early. The moment the omega stepped through the door, he was devoured— pulled into the couch cushions and drowned in Soobin until his legs shook. 

 

Yeonjun arrived shortly after, nearly tripping over the smell of sex still thick in the living room, only to find Taehyun dazed and glowing, and Soobin sitting smugly on the couch like a well-fed cat.

 

Now, he channels the leftover madness into this.

 

“Yeah, isn’t it fun being able to order him around?” Beomgyu teases, swinging his feet like a gremlin. Soobin looks at him, unimpressed, cups his cheeks in one large hand, and shoves a rice-loaded spoonful of tripe into his mouth.

 

“Eat,” he orders. The Alpha pretends to choke dramatically. Soobin panics, grabbing a cider, uncapping it, and rubbing Beomgyu's back in frantic circles. “Gyu? Hey! Hey— are you—”

 

“Got ya.” Beomgyu grins. Instead of being annoyed like usual, Soobin melts and pinches his cheek, cooing. “You brat.” Then he turns to Taehyun, picking up different cuts of meat between his chopsticks and offering them with that same single-minded focus.

 

“Open.” Taehyun beams, leaning forward obediently. “Thank you, Alpha.” He kisses Soobin’s cheek, leaving a happy, shiny mark behind. Soobin puffs up, his wolf glowing at the praise.

 

And then he comes for Kai.

 

The beta sits rigidly, hands flat on the table, doing everything in his power not to look like a flight risk. Servicing them is his job. Being fed like this is not a part of his role.

 

But Soobin is in his pre-rut, and this counts. Technically. Kind of. Kai can’t decide whether that makes things better or worse. 

 

The Alpha has already removed the meat from every crab, shrimp, and lobster on the platter— meticulously, obsessively— leaving perfect pieces arranged like artwork. He scoops the ideal ratio of rice and seafood onto a spoon and turns to Kai, pupils blown wide.

 

“Ah.” Soobin’s voice dips, gentle and expectant. The beta hesitates for exactly one second before his instinct— and the Alpha’s scent pushes him forward. He opens his mouth. 

 

The moment Soobin slips the bite past his lips, something deep in the Alpha’s chest rumbles— growling, pleased in a way that radiates through the room. His hand brushes Kai’s cheekbone, thumb lingering a moment too long.

 

The beta swallows hard.

 

At least they’re all happy.

 

After feeding every last one of them— monitoring bites, fixing ratios of rice to meat, adjusting chopsticks like a fussy mother hen— Soobin finally straightens. His eyes are still electric blue, bright and simmering, the wolf beneath his skin pleased. 

 

He lets out a soft croon, low and vibrating, before turning toward the oven.

 

The Pack Alpha pulls out a tray like he planned this hours ahead. Fresh egg tarts, the crust perfectly blistered. And next to them— cookies studded with nuts, and chunks of chocolate, toasted and perfectly crisp, exactly how Beomgyu likes them.

 

“Thanks, Soobin! I’ll bring some for work tomorrow,” Beomgyu warbles, already biting into a cookie. He leans over and kisses the Alpha loudly on the lips, deliberately making a dramatic mwah noise.

 

Soobin preens, shoulders rising by the second. Kai lifts his own tart with shy, careful fingers. “Thank you, hyung.” His voice comes out softer than intended.

 

Acting almost on instinct— the beta takes Soobin’s hand and presses it to his cheek, rubbing gently, matching the way omegas often nuzzle. He does it without thinking.

 

Soobin’s wolf reacts instantly.

 

A deep chuff leaves the Alpha’s throat, and he ruffles Kai’s hair so hard he almost drops his tart. Heat curls into his chest. The beta looks down immediately, hoping nobody notices the way his ears turn red.

 

Taehyun definitely noticed. The omega’s lips twitch downward, and the beginnings of a pout threaten to flatten the atmosphere entirely. His scent shifts— burnt caramel, touched with jealousy.

 

Soobin’s wolf snaps to attention. The Alpha crosses the room in two strides, cups Taehyun’s cheeks, and kisses him firmly on the lips. “Wait a moment,” he murmurs against the omega’s mouth before heading toward the fridge.

 

Instantly, Taehyun’s scent brightens— amused and triumphant. From the fridge, Soobin pulls out a fruit bowl already prepped. Peaches, sliced and cored, arranged like he made it hours ago just for this moment. 

 

He also retrieves chocolate-covered hazelnuts and strawberries— the ones he knows Yeonjun hoards in secret stashes in his room. The Pack omega perks up. “Those are mine,” he whispers.

 

Taehyun’s earlier pout vanishes entirely once Soobin places the peach bowl in front of him. “I thought you forgot about me,” He whines, though the grin tugging at his lips gives him away.

 

“How could I forget you, pup?” Soobin’s voice goes soft, the kind that melts bones. “All of you are equally important to me.” The omega hums, leaning forward to bite the scent gland on Soobin’s wrist in gratitude. 

 

The Alpha’s wolf surges, eyes flashing brighter, a satisfied growl rumbling from deep within his chest. “My love,” Soobin croons before turning to Yeonjun, offering him the chocolate-covered hazelnuts and strawberries.

 

“Thank you, Alpha.” Yeonjun trills, proud as a cat showing off his collar, now dressed entirely in Soobin’s clothes. Actually— all of them are.

 

The Pack omega is wearing one of Soobin’s oversized T-shirts, practically slipping off one shoulder. Taehyun is drowning in a navy hoodie that could fit two of him. Beomgyu has Soobin’s sweatpants rolled at the waist three times and still steps on the hems.

 

And Kai… Well, Soobin’s sweaters only reach a little past his hips. The beta is just a few centimeters shorter, so on him, the clothes fit more like relaxed loungewear than the comically oversized look the others are stuck with.

 

They look at each other and start laughing.

 

At this point, it’s starting to look less like a pack and more like a cult dedicated to Soobin. They all smell like him— with a hint of sharpness from his pre-rut— thick and layered over their own scents.

 

And no one complains.

Not even a little.

 

They knew, the moment they walked out of the house earlier, that Soobin would spend the next thirty minutes painstakingly scenting every single piece of clothing he planned to force on them later. 

 

Shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, even socks— Kai saw the pile on the couch before Soobin could hide it. And of course, they wore them anyway.

 

The room settles under Soobin’s satisfied gaze.

Heavy. Comforting. Very much Alpha.

 

All four of them— fed, relaxed, their pheromones soft and sweet— look back at him with varying degrees of affection, amusement, and long-suffering fondness.

 

Yeonjun smiles behind a strawberry he’s nibbling.

Taehyun chirps and rubs his cheek against his sleeve, inhaling.

Beomgyu lazily kicks his foot against the table leg, smirking.

Kai sits stiffly, trying to pretend this is normal but looking undeniably comfortable in the borrowed sweater.

 

Soobin’s wolf preens. His eyes flash, hot and electric, pupils blown just a little too wide for comfort. The Pack Alpha lets out a low, sanguine rumble— more vibration than sound— before he finally settles into his seat.

 

This is all he wants.

His pack close.

His scents on them.

Their pheromones peaceful.

The house full and happy.

 

Everything in order.

 

And Kai, pressed into his sweater and smelling faintly of matcha overlaid with Soobin’s scent, tries not to think too hard about the fact that he looks… right there.

 

Right where Soobin put him.

 

Soobin digs into his dinner: rabokki, a plate of bossam on the side, and a bowl of lettuce to wrap it all in. His wolf is still restless and hungry, but now it’s tempered by the contentment of having taken care of his pack.

 

Between bites, he keeps reaching out— fixing Taehyun’s hair, wiping Yeonjun’s lip, nudging cider toward Beomgyu, and offering Kai more food and grape juice every time their eyes meet. And every time, his wolf purrs.

 

The room hums with contentment.

 

And Kai— quiet, overwhelmed, confused— keeps pretending this is all normal.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“And where do you think you’re going?” Kai freezes, déjà vu washing over him like a cold wave. He turns slowly, caught between confusion and guilt. 

 

Dinner just ended and Soobin insisted on doing the dishes, of course— so the four of them stayed seated, chatting about how their Alpha had been blowing up their phones all day. 

 

“I just put his messages on my second monitor so I could respond immediately.” Beomgyu boasted, flaring his nose proudly. “I called him and let him listen to my lecture and say how much he misses me in my ear for hours.” Taehyun snorts. 

 

“He seemed perfectly satisfied leaving me alone since I got the brunt of his pre-rut symptoms.” Yeonjun said, laughing. “People even thought I was an Alpha… until they turned around.” The omega tugged at his collar, stifling a laugh. Then all eyes turned to Kai. 

 

“What about you?” They all chorused. “Um, he threatened to come to uni because I didn’t respond for like, five minutes,” the beta mumbled. “That is the most Soobin thing I’ve heard in my life,” Beomgyu snickered. 

 

“He used to be like that in college. Wouldn’t leave us alone unless he could hear us breathing.” The three of them, with the Soobin’s mark on their necks, looked at each other and started giggling. Kai admired their bond, hoping the same for himself.

 

“What are you all talking about?” Soobin appeared behind them, Yeonjun immediately pinching his side for drying his hands on his pajamas. “I told you to use the kitchen towel for that,” the omega scolded him, clicking his tongue. 

 

“Sorry,” Soobin said, sheepish. “Were you all talking shit about me?” Taehyun laughed and patted his bum. “Of course not, hyung. We were talking about how manly you are during pre-rut.” 

 

“Just during my pre-rut?” The Pack Alpha asked, offended. Beomgyu pretended to ponder, hand rubbing his chin. “Yah!” The room erupted in laughter, their mixed scents a welcome chaos on the dining table.

 

With a long-suffering sigh, Soobin herded his mates toward the pack room. 

 

Kai used the moment to try and slip away, already thinking of the Pack Alpha's room— imagining the chaos of clothes flung everywhere, all obsessively scented to give to the pack. It would need cleaning. 

 

It always needed cleaning when Soobin was like this. “I’m just going to your room to clean up…” he tried to explain, already halfway there. “No.” Soobin’s voice dropped. “You’re coming with us.”

 

Kai opens his mouth to protest but stops dead when he sees the Alpha’s eyes flash. Soobin wasn’t just pouting. His wolf was pouting. Sulking, even. It was ridiculous. It was adorable. 

 

As the designated beta, the mediator of all things emotional and hormonal, it’s his job to keep the balance. Maintain peace. Manage moods. Prevent a pre-rut Alpha from spiraling into melodramatic heartbreak.

 

So Kai sighs, resigned but soft, and offers his arm. Taehyun immediately loops through it with a chirp. Yeonjun laughs and takes the other arm. Beomgyu hums to himself, slapping the omegas’ butt.

 

"You're lucky I have my back turned on you." Yeonjun threatens him, while Taehyun let out a startled squeak.

 

Soobin smacks Beomgyu's head, gives him a short scolding, and follows them like a pleased, oversized guard dog. Kai, hearing all of it happening behind him, couldn't help but shake his head. Together, they walked toward the pack room.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The pack room is huge— big enough to fit all of them, their habits, and all their instincts at once. A massive King-sized bed dominates the center, the blankets always soft, always smelling like matcha since Kai does the laundry and wrestles to put it on.

 

They rarely use it.

 

Only when the Alphas refuse to let anyone out of sight during pre-rut or post-rut. Only when the omegas get distressed during their heats and need to sink into a bed thick with pack’s scent.

 

And sometimes— on chaotic, whim-driven nights— the omegas choose to nest here for fun, dragging their blankets from their personal rooms and ignoring the actual nesting room that was designated for this.

 

There’s a bathroom attached— spacious, with a round bathtub big enough to fit all five bodies at once. 

 

In the corner of the main room is a minifridge that Kai restocks daily with finger foods, drinks, and emergency microwave meals. And because that became a habit, there is, of course, a microwave too.

 

A closet full of spare clothes completes the space, making it clear this room was designed so no one has to leave whenever they get broody or clingy. Kai stands there, taking it all in.

 

Only one thought fills his mind:

Ah. I’m trapped forever. I will never get out of this room alive.

 

“Let’s brush our teeth first,” Soobin says, his voice absolutely unchallengeable in pre-rut. Everyone nods and files into the bathroom. The sink runs almost the full length of the wall, big enough for all of them to stand shoulder to shoulder. 

 

The beta tells himself not to think about how unintentionally domestic it looks: five toothbrushes, five faces crowding the mirror, five bodies bumping elbows and hips as they laugh and pull ugly expressions at each other.

 

Kai lets himself relax. He has to. Fighting it would only irritate Soobin, and the Alpha’s wolf is far too close to the surface right now. So the beta sticks out his tongue. Beomgyu snorts toothpaste foam.

 

Yeonjun leans dramatically onto Kai’s shoulder like he's fainting. Taehyun giggles into the sink. Soobin watches them through the mirror, electric blue eyes soft and unbearably fond. 

 

After brushing their teeth, they move on to skincare, which is, in reality, just the five of them aggressively tapping serums and moisturizers onto their faces while laughing like idiots. Kai gets moisturizer smeared on his cheek by Yeonjun.

 

Beomgyu pokes his nose with a serum dropper. Taehyun bumps shoulders with him, and Soobin rubs lotion on his neck like it’s part of some ancient pack ritual.

 

And Kai— who should not enjoy this, who should maintain professional distance— lets himself get pulled along. Smiling. Joking. Letting them drown him in affection like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

 

When they finally step out, the King-sized bed seems to inhale them. Soobin climbs into the middle— of course— and the omegas instantly flank him, pressing into his sides like magnets snapping into place.

 

Beomgyu settles next to Taehyun, automatically reaching for his mate. Which leaves Kai beside—

 

“Hi, hyung,” he says nervously, perching at the edge of the mattress. “No.” Yeonjun pouts immediately, grabs the beta by the wrist, and yanks him down into the bed with zero hesitation. His entire body freezes before melting, unwillingly, into the cuddle puddle.

 

They don’t talk.

They don’t need to.

 

Soobin’s pheromones roll through the room in slow waves, thick and soothing, settling over all of them like a comforting blanket. His wolf warbles, vibrating through their bodies, and deep into their bones.

 

A few minutes into the comfortable silence, Soobin fishes his phone out of his pocket. “Guys.” That single word has all of them perking up instantly, as if a treat bag has been shaken. 

 

“I’m giving you free reign over my phone. Buy whatever you want. No limits.” Beomgyu bolts upright like he’s been electrocuted. “No limits?” he asks, eyes sparkling with dangerous glee. “Yep,” Soobin confirms, completely unfazed. 

 

“Who wants to go first?” The young Alpha’s hand flies up faster than instinct. “You have it, Gyu. I still need to think about mine,” Yeonjun mused, already scrolling through his mental shopping list.

 

“Same. I have to check which books I haven’t bought yet.” Taehyun wiggles out of the cuddle pile and fetches his phone, mumbling to himself.

 

Beomgyu, backed by the power of financial freedom, immediately goes feral. He scrolls for thirty seconds before going, “Oho… jackpot,” and taps on a Rolex.

 

He checks out with a villainous grin and hands the phone back to Soobin, eager to watch the Pack Alpha regret everything. But Soobin only smiles, beckoning him closer with a curl of his fingers.

 

Beomgyu pouts, surrendering. Soobin bumps his nose softly against the Alpha’s scent gland, growling just enough to make him melt. “Alpha is glad to spoil you,” he murmurs. Beomgyu huffs, cheeks pink. 

 

“Well, now this isn’t fun anymore.” Soobin kisses his cheek before letting him return to his spot, Beomgyu muttering “stupid Pack Alpha” under his breath. “Found it,” Taehyun cheers, snatching the phone. He buys a few novels and dessert cookbooks for the Pack Alpha. 

 

The second he hits purchase, the omega melts against Soobin’s chest and nuzzles his neck, nibbling the edge of his scent gland. “I’m happy you’re happy, baby,” He croons, kissing Taehyun's head.

 

“I’m next!” Yeonjun practically sings as he takes the phone. He buys makeup, skincare, and clothes based purely on their vibes. “Will Alpha be able to see you wear them?” Soobin asks, tone expectant and affectionate.

 

“Yes,” Yeonjun giggles. “I’ll do a swatching party for you if you want.”

 

“I’d love that.” Soobin steals a brief, adoring kiss. Then he turns to the last one. “Now, Kai.” The beta freezes. “Huh?” The Pack Alpha holds the phone out patiently. Kai takes it like it’s a holy artifact. 

 

The beta nearly faints when he sees the Rolex. He then scrolls frantically for something— anything— that won’t give him a heart attack. Something cheap. Reasonable. Sensible.

 

Aha.

 

Kai goes to an online grocery store. A few hangers with different functionality for Yeonjun's clients' clothes. Dishwashing liquid. New sponges. A wooden spatula because Beomgyu literally set the last one on fire trying to make dalgona (the Pack omega “punished” him after that stunt). Paper towels. Kitchen wipes.

 

Kai wiggles happily, proud of his haul. “Oh? What’s got you all giddy?” Beomgyu asks, leaning over with sparkling eyes. “Finally spoiling yourself?”

 

“Let me see.” Soobin takes the phone. Then his expression shifts— from eager, to confused, to profoundly unimpressed. The beta’s soul leaves his body. “W—what’s wrong, hyung? Is it too much? Hold on, let me— "

 

“I said anything you wanted. Not things for the house.” Soobin pinches his cheek. Kai scratches his head. He did want new stuff for the house. “We’ll order these too, but pick what you want, pup.”

 

“What did he buy?” Taehyun raises his brow. “Dish soap, hangers, and a wooden spatula,” The Pack Alpha announces. “Ning…” Yeonjun looks at Kai like he’s personally offended. “When he said anything, he meant it.”

 

The beta looks between them helplessly. “A—are you sure?” Soobin kisses the top of his head. “Yes. Go ahead, sweetheart. Even Gyu bought a Rolex.” Beomgyu checks his wrist dramatically. “Gotta keep track of the time, you know.”

 

Kai exhales and finally buys something he’s wanted for months:

A small, soft, huggable penguin plushie.

 

He beams and hands the phone back. “That’s it?” Yeonjun gasps. “Just that?”

 

“I—I don’t want to waste money,” Kai mumbles. Soobin clicks his tongue, cupping the beta’s cheek tenderly. “I’m working hard so all of you can buy what you want.” The pack nods solemnly as if this is a universal truth.

 

“How about this,” Soobin offers. “I pick something for you, and you tell me if you like it?” Kai nods hesitantly.

 

I guess that’s okay. Makes things easier for me.

 

They immediately huddle together, heads squished, whispering dramatically and debating amongst themselves. 

 

Kai giggles, a soft purr slipping from his chest without him meaning to, and Soobin chuffs, “Excited?” The beta whispers, “Just a little.”

 

“What do you think of this?” Soobin shows him the screen: a life-sized bunny plushie. Cute and huggable. Kai clamps a hand over his mouth to stop himself from squealing. “You like it, huh?” Beomgyu teases.

 

Kai’s scent leaks— matcha ice cream sweetness— filling the room instantly. “Let’s order it then.” The Pack Alpha beams, pressing checkout. Kai practically launches himself onto Soobin, wrapping him in a full-body hug. 

 

“Thank you, Alpha! Thank you thank you thank you—”

 

“I guess you really like plushies, Ning,” Taehyun laughs.

 

“I love them,” Kai admits, nuzzling Soobin before backing away, flustered.

 

Whoops.

 

“At least we know what to give you for your birthday,” Yeonjun says brightly. “Oh, you don’t have to—”

 

“We want to.” Beomgyu flicks his ear. “Is that all?” Soobin asks. “Should I buy each of us a Rolex?” The young Alpha chirps. Soobin hands him the phone. Beomgyu recoils. “Never mind. It won’t be satisfying.” He takes the phone and puts it on the bedside table.

 

“Let’s sleep. I’m tired,” Taehyun yawns, his neck and collarbone littered with marks. “Oh, I’m sure you’re tired,” Yeonjun grins wickedly. “Hyung!” Taehyun shoves him. “Ow! Alpha, protect me!” Yeonjun hides behind Soobin’s arm, sticking his tongue out.

 

“You—!”

 

“Shut up and cuddle already.” Beomgyu quips, voice rough with exhaustion. Soobin doesn’t even bother arguing— he just hooks a hand around both omegas’ napes and pulls them in, pressing slow, claiming kisses to their cheeks, the corners of their mouths, the tips of their noses.

 

It’s soft, but it’s the kind of soft that comes with teeth behind it. The kind that makes omegas melt on instinct. The grumbling dies instantly. Their shoulders drop. Their wolves fold.

 

“Come here,” Yeonjun growls, low and coaxing, grabbing the young omega by the jaw and dragging him into a kiss that is anything but innocent. Their mouths slot together messy, warm, Taehyun gasping when the Pack omega licks into him.

 

“You picked that fight,” Taehyun murmurs against his lips, nipping his bottom lip hard— enough to make Yeonjun hiss. His fingers tangle in Taehyun’s hair and tug until the his breath stutters. The omega's cheeks flush pink, pupils blown, a sound too soft and sensual slipping out of him as he melts forward, clutching at Yeonjun’s shirt.

 

The air shifts— thickens— each breath warmer than the last. Soobin watches them with a slow, blissful chuff, pride flickering in his cedar-sweetened scent. Beomgyu’s eyes are heavy, hungry, amusement curling at the edges as if he’s deciding whether to join or just enjoy the show.

 

Kai looks away quickly— face warm, heart tight, like he’s seeing something he shouldn’t, like he’s standing too close to a flame meant for someone else.

 

“Good Night, everyone.” Beomgyu receives his own goodnight kiss, biting Soobin’s lips as retaliation because he “wasn’t fun to prank”, and Kai— flustered, still holding the image of the bunny plushie in his mind— gets a soft kiss on the cheek. 

 

“Good Night.” They chorus. Then they all curl into Soobin, their breaths syncing, scents relaxed and content. The pack room drifts off to sleep, safe in the arms of the Pack Alpha who spoils them without hesitation.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

do you all think he's getting the hint now?

Chapter 5: 5

Summary:

...

is getting used as a personal chair and chew toy (pt.2) still part of his job?

...

this is still normal, right?

Notes:

hello! as a very bad tyunning writer, his section actually ended up being so long so i cut it into two (maybe three) parts? same upload schedule as usual. i hope you enjoy :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Do you want me to help you with that?” Beomgyu manages through a half-stifled laugh, gesturing at the sight before him: Taehyun perched neatly on Kai’s lap like a spoiled cat.

 

The beta tries— really tries— to pretend he isn’t burning up, flipping through his notes like his pulse isn’t pounding against Taehyun’s cheek. Kai had barely gotten the chance to settle into his coursework when there was a soft knock at his door— a timid, “Can I come in?” followed by the gentle sweep of the omega's scent drifting through the crack.

 

He opened the door without thinking, and the smaller male slipped inside with wide eyes and restless fingers twisting the hem of his shirt. What Kai didn’t expect— or rather, what he should’ve expected— was for Taehyun to crawl straight into his lap with the single-minded determination of a wolf to calm his pheromones.

 

One moment, the omega was sitting beside him; the next, he was climbing onto him, settling in with a soft exhale, face tucked against Kai’s throat as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

 

And now the beta sits frozen, praying to the Moon Goddess that it won't upset Taehyun's mates— while said person squirms on his thighs, warm and pliant, purring whenever Kai’s hands steady at his waist.

 

The taller male’s ears burn, his voice caught somewhere between a protest and a plea, while Beomgyu watches the entire scene like he’s witnessing his favorite romance drama unfold in real time, thoroughly entertained.

 

“Don’t call me a ‘that’,” The omega snaps, offended, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. Kai inhales deeply— slow, resigned, a man begging the Moon Goddess for strength. 

 

Taehyun’s pre-heat has fully arrived, and instead of clinging to one of the Alphas like he usually does— whining for Soobin, or curling himself around Beomgyu’s waist— the omega has chosen him. Chosen Kai. As if the beta is the most natural place for his body to be, the safest spot in the room.

 

And who is Kai to refuse? This… this is part of his role in the pack. It's what he tells himself as Taehyun sinks into his lap, the weight of him heavy enough to make his breath catch for reasons he refuses to examine.

 

Still— the beta wonders, with the last functioning corner of his brain— if Taehyun really needs to sit in his lap to “balance out his hormones.”

 

If he needs to press close enough that Kai can feel every shift of his body, every soft exhale against his throat.

 

...If Taehyun needs to wiggle around like that, as if the beta is nothing more than a living chair, forged solely for the purpose of holding him through his pre-heat.

 

The omega fidgets around again, even clingier than normal as he edges closer to his coming heat. Beomgyu steps deeper into the room, leaning against the desk with an easy smirk. “I’m going out to buy some food. What do you want, baby?” he asks, voice dripping with honey.

 

“I want matcha ice cream and matcha boba,” Taehyun answers immediately, then twists around on Kai’s lap until he’s straddling him— legs wrapped around the beta’s waist and even the chair, like he’s trying to fuse their bodies together. 

 

Is this even allowed?

 

He chokes, eyes wide, silently begging Beomgyu for mercy. The Alpha, naturally, ignores him. “Alright, baby. Anything else?” Taehyun turns to Kai, tilting his head innocently. “M—me?” Kai squeaks. The omega nods, expectant.

 

“Uh… sea salt caramel ice cream?” he tries. The way Taehyun preens at his answer nearly sends Kai to the afterlife. The omega pepper kisses along Kai’s cheekbones, and jaw, tightening his legs possessively.

 

“What a charmer,” Beomgyu says in a tone that sounds suspiciously like it means something else. “Careful, Ning. He bites. Don’t you, my love?” Taehyun responds by sinking his teeth into the beta’s shoulder. Kai hisses at the sudden pressure in his skin.

 

A charmer?

…

Wait.

 

“Hyung—!” Kai tries to defend himself, but Taehyun snaps his attention onto him like a laser, daring him to speak. One glare. One. That’s all it takes for him to clamp his mouth shut and sit obediently beneath him. If Taehyun didn’t seem offended, then… maybe it wasn’t that bad?

 

“What about me, my love?” Beomgyu croons, lifting Taehyun’s chin with a finger. “Where are my kisses, hm? I’m getting a little jealous.” The omega warbles approvingly, grabs Beomgyu by the nape, and kisses him— hungry, messy, loud. 

 

The sound is right beside Kai’s ear. Their breaths exchange against the side of his neck. The slick noise of lips meeting and parting echoes like a microphone pressed directly to his skull.

 

Oh. My. God.

 

This is the end. He’s going to die. 

 

Heat rolls off Taehyun like a furnace, and the omega squirms in Kai’s lap with little needy movements that make the beta’s hands shake. His handwriting devolves into absolute nonsense across his worksheet. 

 

He mouths a silent prayer, but it goes unanswered as the two finally break apart, panting softly. “Bye, my love. Take good care of him for me, will you?” Beomgyu says, the smirk audible. Kai grits his teeth but musters a painfully polite, “Yes, hyung.” The Alpha kisses his hair before leaving, chuckling under his breath.

 

The door closes. Peace, blessed peace, settles over the room. Kai slumps back into his chair, already accepting that his coursework is a lost cause. He’ll redo it tonight. At Soobin's office where he can print a copy. When Taehyun is unconscious and not using him as a booster seat.

 

“I’m going to do the laundry, Tyun,” he tries weakly, looking at his laptop and seeing that it’s already 10:30. Kai will have to cook and clean the house too, so the omega clinging onto him would not be ideal. 

 

“Tyun?” Taehyun responds by latching onto Kai’s scent gland and dragging his tongue across it, slow and indulgent. The beta shudders, knuckles whitening against the arms of his chair. 

 

“Later,” he murmurs, his sea salt caramel scent blooming— sugary and intoxicating— wrapping around Kai like a tender embrace.

 

“Fifteen minutes,” The beta whispers, defeated. He tilts his head back, staring up at the ceiling while Taehyun marks every inch of his throat.

 

He wonders— not for the last time— what in the Moon Goddess’ name his life has become.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“You do all of this on your own?” Taehyun asks, eyes wide as he watches Kai drag in a massive laundry basket— so full it looks like it’s one jolt away from toppling over.

 

“Yeah?” The beta answers, a little confused by the disbelief. He sets the basket down, rolls his sleeves up, and starts tossing all the whites into the washing machine. He’d already separated them earlier in the morning. This part is easy.

 

Taehyun sits on the counter, lower lip wobbling as he stares at Kai like he’s witnessing a tragedy. “Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t need any help?”

 

“Yes, Tyun. I’m okay. No need to feel bad about me.” The beta smiles softly, unfazed. This is his job, after all. He gets paid. He gets benefits. He gets to live in a mansion with handsome roommates. Honestly? It’s better than any dorm he’s ever had.

 

“What about you?” Kai adds, closing the washer door with a firm click. “Are you sure you’re okay with just… watching me do the laundry? Soobin-hyung was looking for you, you know?”

 

Taehyun rolls his eyes, swinging his legs childishly. “He’ll have me when I’m in my heat. I just want to be with you for now.” The omega’s voice drops bashfully at the end, eyes darting away.

 

Is that what he should really be shy about?

 

“Oh. Alright.” Kai pushes away the mental image of Soobin “having” Taehyun— something his brain absolutely does not need right now— and instead redirects his thoughts to lunch prep, dinner prep, fridge inventory, and literally anything else.

 

“I wanted to see how you spend your day in the pack house,” the omega whispers, even more timid this time. “Oh, Tyun…” Kai wipes his hands on a towel before stepping over to him, reaching up to pinch his cheek gently. 

 

“You’re awfully cute.” Then he spins back to the machine as if he didn’t just say that, completely oblivious to the way Taehyun’s ears turn pink. The beta moves to the dryer next, pulling out Yeonjun’s load— mostly delicate designer pieces meant for clients. 

 

They pay extra to have them washed, steamed, and ready to wear. The incentive from that alone helps Kai’s savings tremendously.

 

“Yeonjun-hyung used to do this on his own,” The omega murmurs, watching with mild fascination as Kai fishes out a small notebook from one of the cupboards. “He doesn’t like it when we try to help.”

 

“I get it. He’s awfully organized and—” The beta cuts himself off with a sigh. He doesn’t need to finish the sentence. Taehyun laughs knowingly. “Yeah, I know. Beommie sucks at doing any kind of housework, Soobin-hyung’s only good in the kitchen, and I’m just lazy.”

 

Kai chuckles with him, folding clothes according to the notes in the little book— item by item, outfit by outfit. He tucks each neatly into separate paper bags, lining them up on the counter like a boutique display.

 

With the dryer empty, Kai heads back to the washer, tossing in the colored load next as if it’s second nature. The omega watches him with bright, affectionate eyes— equal parts fondness, admiration, and the kind of yearning that Kai continues to miss entirely.

 

Kai’s crouched down on the floor and he stands up, feeling an ache settling in his shoulders. The beta winces, cracking his neck with a sigh. “Are you okay?” Taehyun asks worriedly. “Yeah. Just— you know. Tall guy problems.”

 

The omega puffs up his cheeks, offended on instinct, and beckons him closer with a sharp flick of his fingers. “I’m going to ignore that indirect insult. Turn around,” Taehyun orders. 

 

Although confused, he obeys— only to jolt when he feels steady hands plant themselves on his shoulders. “Oh, it’s okay! You don’t—” The omega squeezes the life out of him. “Okay! I get it. Thanks,” Kai wheezes, trying not to sound like he’s being wrung out like laundry. 

 

Taehyun massages him with surprising strength, and Kai finds himself staring at the washing machine, watching shirts and socks swirl like some sort of hypnotic screensaver. 

 

“I should tell Soobin-hyung to have a folding station built,” The omega suggests, thumbs digging into a knot that makes Kai groan. Taehyun’s fingers slow at the sound, then he continues, clearing his throat. “Since it’ll make things easier for you.”

 

The beta doesn’t even try to contest it. A folding station does sound heavenly. “Not just because of Yeonjun-hyung’s clients,” Taehyun continues, “but also for us. Although, you could just fold our clothes in our rooms, right? The floor is uncomfortable, and dirty.”

 

Kai shakes his head immediately. “No, no. I wouldn’t want to intrude.” The omega goes quiet. “Tyun?” He asks carefully. Taehyun doesn’t stop massaging him— if anything, his fingers grow gentler— so Kai assumes he’s not actually upset. Probably.

 

“I’m tired,” Taehyun finally huffs, dropping his chin on Kai’s shoulder and wrapping his arms around him again. The omega’s breath is warm on his neck. Kai softens. “Sorry. Do you want me to massage your hands?” Taehyun perks up instantly. 

 

“Seriously?” The beta chuckles. “Yes, Tyun. As payment.” But the omega scoffs and shakes his head. “Nevermind then.” Kai can practically hear the pout. “Tyun? Are you upset?” A tiny, offended little harrumph is his answer.

 

“Okay, okay,” He concedes with a laugh. “I’ll massage your hands. Because I want to.” Kai turns around— and nearly jumps. Taehyun is right there, close enough that their breaths mingle, close enough that Kai can see the faint flush high on the omega’s cheeks.

 

“I want to massage your hands, since you helped with the pain on my shoulders.” He murmurs, eyes steady. “Can I?” Taehyun swallows, his gaze flitting to the beta’s lips for a split second before looking away. “F—fine. Only because you want to.” 

 

The omega holds out his hand petulantly, and Kai takes it, laughing under his breath as he kneads gently at the spots he knows must hurt. 

 

Taehyun chirps, lashes fluttering, and before Kai can react, he shifts forward, wrapping his legs loosely around Kai’s waist like it belongs there. “U–um, is this position needed?” The omega scowls at him like he just denied him scenting privileges. 

 

“Got it,” Kai blurts out before he can get strangled. He works on the other hand. The omega melts into him, cheek rubbing against Kai’s shoulder like he’s trying to scent him without making it obvious. The washing machine sings its usual tune, snapping Kai out of the moment.

 

“Hold on,” The beta says, free hand reaching up to cup Taehyun’s cheek. He gives it a gentle squeeze— one that makes Taehyun blink, startled— and then he turns back toward the machine to press the dryer option.

 

The machine hums to life.

 

Kai smiles, pleased with the advanced technology he gets to experience. Soobin bought the all-in-one model— the kind that washes, dries, and practically raises your kids— except for folding.

 

But that’s okay.

 

Kai enjoys folding clothes.

 

He turns around to face Taehyun again, smiling when he finds the omega half-dozing against the wall, eyelids fluttering like he’s fighting off sleep. His cheeks are puffed up, his scent softening and dulling, drifting lazily in the air.

 

“Should I take you to your bed, Tyun?” The beta asks gently. Taehyun’s eyes snap open. He shakes his head so fast his hair fluffs up. “No. I want to be with you.” Kai chuckles. “Will you be sticking beside me the whole day?”

 

“Yes.” The omega crosses his arms, chin tilted up in challenge. “You got a problem with that?” Kai doesn’t answer right away— he’s thinking, mentally rearranging chores and schedules to figure out how to make it work. But Taehyun doesn’t know that.

 

He stiffens.

 

The omega’s scent dips— once sweet caramel, now fading into something flat and cool, like syrup left out too long on the counter. “You know what, I’ll leave—” Kai moves without thinking. He scoops Taehyun up the second his feet hit the floor, lifting him like he’s weightless. 

 

Well, those gym sessions sure did pay off.

 

Taehyun squeaks, clutching his shoulders, eyes wide with shock as the beta easily sets him back on the counter. “No, no. Don’t pout, Tyun.” Kai says quickly, thumb brushing the omega’s cheek. 

 

“I didn’t say I didn’t want you with me the whole day. You’re a sweetheart— how could I hate that?” The omega still looks stunned by the way Kai carried him like he was nothing. The beta's words are melodious in his ears, and he feels himself get redder by the second.

 

“D—did you just—” Before he can finish, Kai warbles deep in his chest, the sound low and a little awkward. His scent unfurls around them— smooth matcha, placid and grounding, wrapping around Taehyun’s fading caramel like a soft blanket. 

 

It seeps into the omega’s clothes, into his hair, until he can’t breathe without inhaling Kai. “Tyun,” He murmurs softly, meeting his eyes. “It took me longer to reply because I was thinking about how to make it work.” Taehyun blinks, breath hitching.

 

“It’s not that I didn’t want to spend the whole day with you,” Kai continues, voice steady, careful. “I was just listing things in my head.” Taehyun lets out a weak little grunt and throws his arms around the beta’s middle, hugging him hard. 

 

“I thought you hated me.” That breaks Kai’s heart open. He hesitates only a moment before pressing a soft kiss to the omega’s temple— gentle, reassuring, earnest. “Don’t you ever say that, Tyun,” he whispers. 

 

“I don’t hate you. I don’t hate any of you. You’re all important to me.” Taehyun’s scent blossoms again, caramel turning heavenly and golden, wrapping around Kai like sunlight. The washing machine starts singing its tune again. 

 

The beta shifts, trying to pull away— but Taehyun whines, small and needy. So Kai stays, one hand coming up to pet his hair, slow and soothing. “Five minutes?” He asks quietly. “Five minutes,” The omega whispers back, already melting into him.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I think we should give you a higher allowance,” Taehyun says with a grimace, watching Kai put the folded clothes in the cabinets and hang the freshly pressed ones in the closet. It’s the last room— Soobin’s. They had kicked the Pack Alpha out earlier, and not gracefully. 

 

Soobin had been sulking about not having Taehyun’s attention during his third day of pre-heat, already vibrating with the urge to pounce the moment he saw Taehyun show up with Kai, who was carrying a basket filled with clothes and cleaning supplies.

 

“Hueningie,” The Alpha whined, voice going soft like a spoiled cat denied treats, “You can clean my room with me inside it.” Taehyun groaned. “Hyung, no.”

 

“What do you mean no? This is my room and I’m staying,” Soobin declared, crossing his arms like a toddler refusing vegetables. Kai shifted nervously. “B—but hyung! Tyun already said you’ll have him during his heat. S—so…”

 

Soobin’s sulking morphed instantly into a satisfied, sinful grin, electric-blue eyes dragging over Taehyun like he’s something the Alpha plans to unwrap slowly. “Oh. So that’s how it is.” Kai blinked. “Wh—”

 

“My darling,” The Alpha mourned dramatically, turning to Taehyun with a wounded frown, cedarwood scent going cool and droopy, “I was hurt. I thought you were avoiding me.” 

 

Taehyun deadpanned. “I literally slept on top of you last night, hyung.” The Alpha ignored his prior statement, moaning and complaining about being set aside by his mate, and dying cold and alone.

 

“You tried to pull my shorts off this morning.” Soobin whipped his head toward the omega, scandalized. “Only because you said you were cold!” Taehyun stared, unimpressed. 

 

“You took fifteen minutes to stand up and grab me pajamas, hyung. You were just feeling me up.” Kai sputtered in the doorway, pretending he wasn't hearing any of this. “You were tempting me!” The Pack Alpha fired back. 

 

“I was half-asleep, you moron,” The omega groaned, massaging his temple. Soobin clutched his chest dramatically. “See? Even now you deny me. My heart… it aches.” Taehyun’s scent soured with annoyance, and Kai was about to intervene when— 

 

“Oh, please. Will this do?” Soobin barely has time to react before Taehyun kisses him— messy, eager, all heat. The Alpha’s growl rumbled low in his chest while Taehyun’s soft little whine responded.

 

Their scents spiked— cedarwood going hot and spiced, caramel turning molten— while the beta whips his head away, victim once again to unsolicited pack PDA.

 

They’re pressed close, Soobin’s big hands on Taehyun’s waist while the omega clings to his shirt and purrs into his mouth. They finally separate with a wet sound, remembering Kai existed in the room with them. The Alpha licked his lips, eyes glazed. 

 

“Mmm. Yes. That’ll do.” He caressed Taehyun’s face like he just rewarded him, earning an elbow to the ribs. Kai cleared his throat, ears red. “S—so… hyung, can we clean now?” Soobin straightened, his scent now back to normal. 

 

“Yes, Kai. You may. I shall allow it.” The omega smacked his arm. “Get out.” Soobin pouted, grumbling, “You’re all so mean to me today. I’ll go bother Junnie then,”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Now, in the present moment, Taehyun is still perched on the large beanbag in the corner of the Pack Alpha’s room— the spot they usually lounge in when Soobin is too busy with work to cuddle— watching Kai tidy everything with slightly droopy eyes.

 

“Hm? I think the benefits already make up for it,” The beta answers softly, though he wouldn’t mind the extra income. Kai will have to leave eventually, once the pack settles down. The thought hits too hard, squeezing tight in his chest.

 

The beta shakes his head to chase it out. Taehyun’s on his pre-heat— he’ll notice if Kai gets emotional. And of course—

 

“You smell sad.” Taehyun sits up, brows knitting.

 

Shit.

 

“Huh? No, no. I was just thinking about how much I miss egg tarts, haha.” Kai bends down and starts vacuuming— loudly— hoping the noise is enough to deter the omega from prodding at emotions he doesn’t want to spill open.

 

“I’ll text Beommie-hyung. He’ll bring some.” Taehyun offers. “It’s okay! I’ll live without it.” The beta quickly smiles and keeps cleaning— wiping down furniture, disinfecting surfaces, scrubbing the bathroom, changing sheets. 

 

Taehyun watches him go through the motions with ease, humming softly as the vacuum fills the room. The Pack Alpha normally stays holed up in here for work— modeling gigs, beta-testing games and writing out his report. 

 

But ever since Kai arrived, Soobin had started limiting his work to three games at most and four hours in his office so he could spend more time with the pack. 

 

No one said it outright, but everyone was ridiculously proud of Kai for standing up to him that day.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I can’t watch you starve yourself and work yourself to the bone while your omega is out here suffering with his pre-heat,” Kai had scolded him, eyes sharp, voice surprisingly firm for someone usually polite. 

 

“Get your shit together and take care of your pack. Stupid Pack Alpha.” Before Soobin could even snarl back, the beta shut the laptop with a decisive clap and shoved him out of the room, locking the door in his face.

 

The Pack Alpha blinked, stunned, still processing Kai’s audacity, when a fist flew out of nowhere and cracked against his cheek. Soobin grunts, holding his jaw. “I’ve had enough of you holing up in that damn office,” Beomgyu hissed. 

 

He looked disheveled— hair a mess, shirt ripped, and fresh red claw marks down his arms. Taehyun must have lashed out earlier, overwhelmed and frightened without the Pack Alpha around to stabilize him. “If you don’t stop this, I swear I’m telling the boss to get you fired.”

 

Soobin couldn’t even defend himself, the young Alpha grabbed him by the collar and dragged him down the hall with zero mercy. “You’re going to our omega.” His voice wavered— angry, but exhausted. “And you’re fixing this now, hyung.”

 

He hauled the Pack Alpha straight into Taehyun’s room where the nest was already a mess— blankets kicked around, pillows in disarray, Taehyun curled inside trembling and smelled sharp with distress. Soobin froze, guilt choking him instantly.

 

Meanwhile, Kai calmly tucked the office key into the pocket of his cleaning apron, hidden safely. He didn’t return it until Taehyun’s hormones stabilized enough for Soobin to function without spiraling.

 

Later, the Pack Alpha shuffled out of the room looking appropriately punished. “Thanks, Kai. You’re right. I’m a stupid piece of shit,” he muttered. 

 

His hair was a disaster, a bruise forming on his cheek where Beomgyu had punched him, and two deep bite marks ringing purple on his neck— evidence that both Yeonjun and Taehyun had taken turns disciplining him for neglecting the pack.

 

“Um… if you think I’m spending too much time in my office again, you can— uh— do that again,” Soobin added quietly. “Even if I growl or threaten you… please don’t back down.” Despite his height and Alpha status, he looked small. Tired. Honestly remorseful.

 

Kai sighed and awkwardly patted his back. “Don’t get carried away, hyung. The pack comes first. You can get a thousand more jobs, but your packmates? They’re precious. Don’t ever let them go.” He hesitated, voice dropping. 

 

“Also… you’re not kicking me out for yelling at you, right?” Soobin snorted and ruffled his hair. “Of course not, pup. Thanks for snapping me out of my stupidity.” With a grateful bow, he headed back to Taehyun, determined to stay where he was needed.

 

Kai let out a long, shaky breath when he was gone. He’d kept the pack together, stopped Soobin from spiraling, and— thank the moon— managed not to get fired for his… very unconventional approach.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“We’re done.” The beta wipes his forehead with the hem of his shirt. “K-Kai!” Taehyun chokes on his spit. “S—sorry!” Kai blurts, dropping his shirt and scrambling. “I forgot you weren’t in the bed!” Face burning, he grabs the laundry basket and vacuum. 

 

“Um, Tyun. I’ll take a bath first and start preparing lunch,” he says, trying not to sound like he’s fleeing the scene. He isn’t— Kai’s just sore everywhere from nonstop work, and a hot bath sounds like heaven. 

 

Taehyun seems to catch on immediately, his expression softening. “I’ll stick with Yeonjun-hyung in the meantime,” the omega says as he slides off the beanbag. Before leaving, he rises onto his tiptoes and presses a gentle kiss to Kai’s cheek. 

 

“Thank you for everything you do for us, Kai. We’re so glad you’re here.” Then he slips out toward Yeonjun’s room, and soon the hallway fills with giggles— probably the Pack omega teasing Taehyun for being clingy.

 

And this is exactly what Kai works so hard for. If he ends up smiling like an idiot while taking his bath, well… no one has to know but him.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 6: 5.5

Summary:

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~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“We could’ve just ordered in, you know?” Taehyun murmurs, watching him dart around the kitchen like a house fairy. Kai finishes preparing the ganjang-gejang and slides the container into the fridge. 

 

Because Beomgyu hates seafood, he also prepares the ingredients for gamjatang, leaving a pot of water ready for dinner. Lunch is already half done— steamed cabbage rolls, kimchi fried rice, and thinly sliced pork and beef.

 

They’ll have to eat outside since Kai needs to grill the meat, and a little sunlight will do Taehyun good. His temperature always gets weird during pre-heat— body running cold, skin constantly craving warmth— hence the need to cling to someone like a personal heater.

 

“Definitely not. Take-out during pre-heat is a no-no,” Kai says firmly as he loads the cabbage rolls into the steamer and closes the lid. “You need healthy food, Tyun. Your body is preparing itself for, um… some rigorous exercise.” Taehyun smirks, amused.

 

“You know you can just say mating, right?” The beta chokes on his own spit, face reddening. “Exercise,” he insists, grabbing the grill with both hands. 

 

“I’ll help you,” Taehyun replies, still perky, trailing behind him and opening the door to make the trip easier— hovering close as his caramel scent curls around Kai’s shoulders.

 

“Oh, are we grilling meat today?” Beomgyu arrives right on time, hopping off his Harley and removing his helmet. He stretches lazily, his right hand gripping a suspiciously large paper bag. 

 

The omega immediately bolts toward him, peppering his face with kisses while peeking excitedly over the bag. “What’s in there?” he demands. Beomgyu laughs, pinching his cheek.

 

“Calm down, cutie. Just what you asked— ice cream and boba. And we were running out of grape juice, so I bought a few bottles. You like them, don’t you?” His eyes slide to Kai, softening. “...I do. Thanks,” The beta whispers, shy as he adjusts the umbrella and wipes down the table. 

 

The sun is vicious today, and Yeonjun despises tanning, so Kai opens it wide, letting shade swallow the spot whole. 

 

“Should I help you with that?” Beomgyu asks after parking his Harley, just as Taehyun disappears inside, humming happily with the paper bag clutched to his chest. “Um, maybe you could help bring out the banchan and the meat?” Kai suggests.

 

“Of course, pup. Did our darling give you a hard time?” The beta shakes his head with a small laugh. “Not at all. Nothing I can’t handle. Thanks, hyung… for helping me. And the grape juice.” Beomgyu chuffs, craning his neck up to kiss Kai’s cheek.

 

“Aish, of course. Anything for you, pretty thing. I’ll be back!” he says before heading inside. Kai touches the spot where he kissed him, teeth sinking into his lip.

 

This is fine. Just normal boss-employee stuff. Absolutely nothing else.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The young Alpha returns with the others— Yeonjun carrying the utensils, Soobin balancing drinks and glasses on a tray, Beomgyu holding the meat and banchan, and Taehyun trailing behind, already halfway through the ice cream and boba he was supposed to bring out untouched.

 

“Ah, I was going to go back for those,” Kai says sheepishly, wiping sweat from his brow after setting the charcoal into the grill. “You don’t have to do all these things alone, pup,” Soobin grins, patting him on the head.

 

The beta starts cooking the meat, having already brought out the kimchi fried rice and cabbage rolls. Soobin tries to help, but Kai gently shoos him away, insisting they all sit. This is his job, after all. His role. To cook, clean, mediate their arguments, and stabilize their hormones.

 

Soobin, robbed of the chance to play doting Alpha, sighs dramatically and drops his head onto Beomgyu’s shoulder. Yeonjun climbs onto Beomgyu’s lap a moment later, kissing them both alternately while scrolling through his phone. 

 

The Pack omega shows them funny memes with delighted giggles as both Alphas, hopelessly in love, pinch his cheeks and coo at him like he’s their favorite toy. Taehyun waits patiently beside Kai, arranging the plates and scooping rice to make things easier. 

 

His smile is soft, content, eyes lingering on the trio who are busy canoodling. Their flirtatious pheromones wash through the air, settling and soothing his wolf, reminding him that his pack is happy.

 

Kai hums to himself while cutting the meat into pieces, doing everything he can to keep his mind off… everything. He repeats his roles in his head like a panicked prayer. Cook, clean, do the laundry, manage the household, clear disagreements, stabilize their wolves.

 

Cook, clean, do the laundry, manage the household, clear disagreements, stabili—

 

“It’s burning!” The beta curses under his breath and flips the meat off the grill, sighing in relief when he sees it’s only slightly charred. 

 

Crisis averted.

 

“Should I help you?” Soobin tries again, hopeful, almost wagging an invisible tail. “Hyung, it’s done already,” Kai laughs, setting the plate of meat on the table. “Eh? You haven’t touched your food,” he frowns, glancing around.

 

“We were waiting for you,” Yeonjun says simply, trying to stand but immediately gets trapped when the young Alpha tightens his grip, refusing to let him leave. “You can eat here. I’ll feed you,” Beomgyu murmurs, stealing a kiss from the Pack omega’s cheek. 

 

“Fine,” Yeonjun grumbles, putting his phone down— though the blush creeping up his neck betrays him.

 

Kai blinks, thrown off balance. They didn’t really have to wait for him. He could’ve eaten right after. What if they wanted more meat? “Oh, thanks.” He replies instead. “Baby, do you want Alpha to feed you?” Soobin coos at Taehyun, cupping his cheek.

 

“Want Kai,” Taehyun whispers, looking up at the beta with a small, hopeful smile. Kai resists the urge to grimace. 

 

Why does he say things like that? 

Why does nobody ever scold him for it? 

Why does everyone act like this is normal?

 

He sits beside Taehyun, exhaling slowly, forcing his mind to go blank. Just the omega. Just feeding him. Just this moment. Nothing else.

 

“Open,” Kai whispers, holding up a piece of meat with chopsticks. Taehyun’s eyes twinkle, lips parting obediently. The omega melts after the first bite, leaning onto the beta’s shoulder like he’s absorbing warmth straight from the source.

 

“So good.” Taehyun warbles, his feet doing a little dance under the table. The other three laugh, eyeing him fondly. “There you go, Tyun,” He murmurs, keeping his voice steady, gentle, focused. Feed Taehyun. That’s the task. 

 

He’s in his pre-heat, and you’re the one he wants.

He’ll be upset if you push him away. 

This is also part of your role.

 

The omega hums happily with each bite Kai brings to his lips. His scent blooms— sea salt caramel bubbling sweet and steady, wrapping around the beta in effortless waves. 

 

It’s grounding, comforting, but it also makes his chest tighten in ways he can’t afford to acknowledge. The others eat quietly, only stealing glances when they think Kai isn’t looking— each glimpse strangely tender, like they’re witnessing something too lovely to disturb.

 

When Taehyun licks a smudge of sauce from his thumb, Kai claps lightly. “Good job, Tyun. Now stay with the others. I’ll clean up.” Two sets of Alpha eyes snap toward him instantly— predatory, protective, tense.

 

Soobin’s cedarwood spikes and Beomgyu’s citrus flares, bitter and restless. 

 

Even Yeonjun’s omega aura flicks at him like it’s nudging him back into line. “Kai,” Soobin says slowly, “at least let us do something. Please.” Concern threads through it— real and painfully gentle.

 

Beomgyu shifts, scooting Yeonjun into the empty chair. “Yeah. You’ve been working all day. It’s driving us crazy sitting here while you still do everything.”

 

The beta freezes, torn in two directions— duty pulling one way, instinct tugging the other. It’s his responsibility to handle the housework. His job. His role. The structure that keeps him sane. 

 

But soothing skittish Alphas is also part of his responsibility, and right now their wolves are pacing hard under their skin. He exhales, shoulders dropping in quiet defeat. “…Okay. You can do the dishes.”

 

Soobin and Beomgyu instantly brighten, relief punching their scents into the air. “Finally,” The young Alpha groans, already dragging the former toward the sink. The omegas laugh when Soobin stumbles, complaining.

 

Kai watches them go, the knot in his chest loosening— just a little. He cleans the grill while the other four move like a well-oiled machine. The kitchen fills with noise as the omegas carry the dirty dishes from outside. 

 

Their voices rise and fall, lively and chaotic, weaving into the comforting dynamic like they’re building a cocoon around him. By the time Kai finishes cleaning the grill and wiping down the table, the Alphas are already arguing at the sink. 

 

“Yah, that’s too much soap!” Beomgyu snaps, flicking water at him. “You’re not using enough, what do you mean?” The Pack Alpha fires back, voice climbing an octave. 

 

Yeonjun walks behind them with a bowl, muttering, “Children. Actual children, both of you,” without any real heat.

 

Kai settles on the couch, letting the noise wash over him. The omegas chat, Taehyun giggling at something Yeonjun murmurs while they wipe the plates and cups. The sink clatters, the Alphas bicker, and the room thrums with life.

 

And for the first time all day, the beta feels his chest ease— relief spreading warm and slow.

 

They’re still perfect.

 

They’re still fine.

 

He’s not disrupting their balance.

 

Kai breathes— deep, steady— and lets himself bask in peace just for that moment.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Want some help with your nest, Tyun?” Yeonjun asks, twirling a lock of the omega’s hair between his fingers while they curl up on the couch. 

 

Kai sits in the middle, squished between Yeonjun and Beomgyu, while Soobin enjoys the most leg room— lying horizontally with one foot hooked lazily over the armrest, his head propped against Beomgyu’s side.

 

They’re watching Barbie: Princess and the Pauper, and Taehyun rolls his eyes exactly when Princess Anneliese and Erika start singing I Am a Girl Like You. “The title is correct,” he mutters. 

 

“The only similarity they have with each other is that they’re both girls.” Soobin bursts out laughing at the sheer bitterness in his tone. “It’s serious business for you, huh?” he teases. The omega nods aggressively. 

 

“They couldn’t be more different. Anneliese gets everything handed to her on a silver platter while Erika can’t even scrounge a meal for herself. And yet somehow they’re the same?” He scoffs, crossing his arms dramatically.

 

“That’s cool and all,” Yeonjun says, poking his cheek, “but do you want me to help you with your nest?”

 

“Oh— right.” Taehyun immediately softens, cheeks warming. “I can have Ning help me with the nest.” Kai nods with polite readiness, already used to being the go-to helper whenever any of the omegas nest. 

 

“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Yeonjun asks, even though he already knows the answer. 

 

“Uh-huh. I’ll call you guys when I’m done.” Taehyun lifts Yeonjun’s hand and presses quick kisses along his knuckles, trailing up his arm and finally pecking his lips— earning a giggle from the Pack omega.

 

“Oh, you flirt,” Yeonjun whispers, lips bitten pink from trying not to grin too hard. Kai, stuck in the middle, sits like a statue. He stares blankly at the television, hands folded neatly on his lap, back straight as a ruler, as if good posture will somehow save him. 

 

The beta doesn’t know where he’s supposed to look or what he’s allowed to hear. Beomgyu notices his distress and simply drops his head onto Kai’s shoulder. The effect is immediate and almost magical— his shoulders loosen, breathing evening out. 

 

Kai leans slightly into the touch, offering his presence instinctively like a natural anchor. The young Alpha laughs, squeezing the beta’s hand. “Such a sweetheart.” Kai closes his eyes and prays to the Moon Goddess for the movie to end, for the couch to swallow him whole— 

 

Or for literally anything to whisk him away so he can go do his duties and escape the affectionate chaos happening on either side of him.

 

Kai holds out for a while… and then promptly falls asleep.

 

When Yeonjun looks back at him ten minutes later, he’s completely knocked out, head tilted slightly to the side— snoring and completely unaware that Taehyun has since migrated onto his lap. 

 

The youngest omega is curled up like a cat, cheek pressed to Kai’s thigh, purring faintly as he naps. The three oldest freeze. Then— identical, evil grins. “Don’t you dare wake them,” Soobin whispers. Yeonjun is already taking out his phone.

 

Beomgyu’s hand flies to cover his mouth to stifle a cackle. All three crouch like criminals casing a museum, snapping pictures quietly, carefully— like they’re capturing rare wildlife footage. 

 

They turn off the movie, tiptoe away like cartoon thieves, and leave the adorable pile in the living room while they go down the hall to prepare their clothes for nesting, whispering excitedly about how Taehyun is absolutely never living this down.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I need more clothes from Beommie and Yeonjun-hyung.” Taehyun purses his lips, scanning the nest like he’s evaluating the feng shui of a sacred temple.

 

The nest takes up the entire queen-sized bed: body pillows forming borders like a fluffy fortress, Kai’s giant bunny plush guarding the foot of the bed, and an uneven mountain of Alpha-scented clothes piled near the headboard— Yeonjun’s on the right, Kai’s on the left. 

 

It's a little chaotic. A little mismatched. But Taehyun’s wolf likes it exactly like this, so Kai has zero complaints.

 

…Well, except the tiny, horrifying prediction that by morning, every pillow and shirt will be on the floor like a battlefield of fluff. But that’s a problem for future Soobin and Co.

 

“I can go pick them up for you. I know you hate leaving and re-entering your nest.” He places the Pack Alpha’s shirt in precisely the right spot, and Taehyun immediately lets out a satisfied purr, leaning in to give Kai a quick kiss on the cheek.

 

“Don’t take too long,” he murmurs, already hugging the beta’s penguin plushie like it’s a life partner he’s sworn vows to. Kai’s face warms. “Yeah, be back in a bit.” He steps out of the nest with surgeon precision, careful not to disturb a single pillow. 

 

Taehyun has been clingier than usual ever since they started building the nest— constant praises, gentle touches everywhere, his fingers drifting into Kai’s hair, stroking his cheek, tracing his collarbone. It’s affectionate, overwhelming, and very, very instinctual.

 

Kai accepts it all graciously. He doesn’t want to upset Taehyun, and— if he’s being honest with himself— because it soothes him. 

 

Even with the confusion messing with his head, even with the pressure of his role pressing down on his shoulders, Taehyun’s touch settles something deep inside him.

 

Every slow drag of the omega’s fingertips, every absentminded carding through his hair, every sleepy nuzzle into his chest… it unwinds him. Quiets him. Makes his heartbeat even out in a way he can’t rationalize.

 

Which only makes it more dangerous.

 

The beta keeps repeating that to himself— dangerous, dangerous, dangerous— but Taehyun’s wolf doesn’t care. The omega keeps seeking him, curling into him, pulling him closer like Kai’s scent is the coziest blanket he owns.

 

Kai does try to subtly distance himself at times— small shifts, inching away gently, redirecting cuddles to pillows, anything to preserve his self-control. But Taehyun catches every movement like a hawk with a vendetta.

 

Earlier, when Kai tried to slide away by half an inch, the omega immediately wrapped both arms around his waist from the front. Taehyun had been lying stomach-down on the bed at the time, and his head ended up far too close to dangerous territory. 

 

The beta froze mid-breath, unsure if he should pray, scream, or go limp like a possum. “Where are you going?” He asked, voice heartbreakingly small, lips wobbling, eyes shimmering with that “about to cry” gloss.

 

So Kai abandoned the idea of distance entirely. Because there is no universe— none— where he chooses psychological peace over Taehyun’s trembling pout. Now, standing outside the nest room, the beta sighs quietly, rubbing his face.

 

He’ll handle boundaries later. When Taehyun isn’t halfway feral, nesting, and ready to cry if Kai moves more than two centimeters away. For now, he just needs to fetch clothes from the two without getting roasted, mauled, or teased into oblivion.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kai walks down the hall, Taehyun’s scent still clinging faintly to his shirt, and knocks on Beomgyu’s door. “Come in,” Soobin calls— his voice casual, like nothing interesting is happening. 

 

Kai expects controllers clicking, Beomgyu yelling about blue shells, and the Pack Alpha swearing he didn’t cheat. Normal. Predictable. Safe. But the moment he steps inside, the air hits him like a brick.

 

Beomgyu and Yeonjun are on the bed— not gaming, not even pretending to be decent. The omega is straddling Beomgyu’s thigh, shirt rumpled, cheeks flushed a deep pink, purring as if he’s been wound up for hours. 

 

The Alpha’s mouth trails down Yeonjun’s neck, tongue flicking languidly over the sensitive skin. One hand slides beneath his shirt, fingers teasing upward, slow and deliberate, coaxing the omega to arch with a shaky moan that vibrates through the room.

 

It’s intimate, their scents spilling into the room— thick sandalwood burning hot from Beomgyu, sweet vanilla syrup bubbling from Yeonjun, mingling into something heady and distracting. And then there’s Soobin, perched on the desk chair, not playing at all. 

 

The Pack Alpha’s monitor holds the game on pause— like he’d stopped the moment things got interesting. Soobin twirls a pen between his fingers, calm, controlled, but his cedarwood scent is sharp, prowling, pupils blown just slightly wider than normal. 

 

Every touch, every breath, builds a tension that feels electric, weaving the space between them into something charged and intimate— too raw for words, yet impossible to look away from. 

 

Soobin watches the pair on the bed with open hunger, like he’s waiting for an invitation or a signal, his eyes flickering with uncertain desire. Kai stops just by the doorway, unsure where to look, caught between wanting to step closer and the weight of restraint holding him back.

 

Ah.

 

So that’s what it was.

 

Soobin had been trying to work— earnestly, even— sitting at the desk with glasses on and his hair pushed back, reviewing the game on his laptop like the responsible employee he is. 

 

But Beomgyu and Yeonjun, for once getting along like they didn’t spend half their life bickering over blankets, playlists, or breathing too loudly, had apparently decided that Soobin working in the young Alpha’s room was unacceptable.

 

So instead of napping or spending their time together in anything resembling a “wholesome” way, they had chosen violence— or, more accurately, they chose to crawl all over each other on Beomgyu’s bed, tangled up in limbs and lips, making out loudly enough to rattle the headboard and Soobin’s self-control.

 

Yeonjun’s breathy moans, Beomgyu’s low rumble, the muffled slap of bodies shifting— it’s all embarrassingly vivid, especially with Soobin sitting at his desk like some director to a porno.

 

And, apparently, the show is open for Kai, too— because the moment he walks in, all three heads snap toward him with zero shame and even less remorse. The bed-creatures blink at him like he just interrupted their nature documentary.

 

Kai shuts the door very, very slowly, palm still hovering over the knob as he exhales one shaky, disbelieving laugh. It’s the sound of a man defeated. A man who realized, far too late, that he lives with clinically insane people.

 

Indeed, he is so royally, spectacularly fucked it’s almost… impressive.

 

“You can come in now, they’re decent!” Soobin calls between laughter, like it’s the funniest thing in the entire universe to play whack-a-mole with Kai’s already fragile sanity. Kai drags his palms down his face, gathers what tiny crumbs of dignity he has left, and opens the door again.

 

They are… somewhat decent. Which is to say: still kissing, still draped over each other, but the energy has shifted from feral mating ritual to soft indie romance film. Progress, he guesses. Maybe.

 

“What’s up?” Beomgyu asks with a grin that absolutely knows what it’s doing. His voice is rough— wrecked— from earlier, while Yeonjun continues pressing kisses down the line of his jaw, lips brushing over sensitive skin like a slow-burn fuse.

 

The moment sharp canines graze Beomgyu’s throat, he inhales sharply and fists a hand in Yeonjun’s hair, tugging just enough to make the omega shiver.

 

“Hyung, focus,” He mutters, trying to look serious while Yeonjun very clearly wants to climb him like a tree. The omega turns to Kai with a bright, sunshine-y wave like nothing about the last ten seconds was inappropriate for workplace viewing.

 

“Oh! Hi, pup! Need something? Is Tyun done with his nest?” Kai clears his throat— big mistake. The room is thick with scent and heat and something darker brewing beneath their skins.  “Um… no. He just needs more clothes?”

 

Instantly, Beomgyu and Yeonjun perk up like he just offered them enrichment toys. “Sure,” Beomgyu replies— and then they both start undressing. Right there. Like it’s the most obvious, straightforward solution.

 

Kai’s soul momentarily vacates his body.

He wants to scrub his retinas with holy water.

He wants to remember every goddamn detail because he’s a weak, sinful man and they’re beautiful.

 

He is absolutely getting fired.

For ogling his bosses.

Or possibly the universe will fire them for public indecency.

 

But who does Kai even report it to?

HR?

He is the HR. And the maid. And the chef. And the one-man emotional-support team.

 

Double fuck. Maybe triple.

 

“Here you go,” Beomgyu chirps, tossing shirts directly onto Soobin’s face. The Pack Alpha grunts, peels the clothes off his glasses, and hands the bundle to Kai like he is tired of every living thing in this room.

 

“There are a few more in that clump,” Soobin grumbles. “They were scenting them earlier, but then these two got distracted because apparently seducing me is more important than letting me finish my work.” He says this like it’s a regular Tuesday.

 

Kai nods like it is. “Cool. Great. Thanks. I’ll, uh… come knock again when the nest is done.” He escapes— closing the door gently behind him. And the moment he’s alone, legs nearly giving out, he leans his head against the wall and breathes out a long, shaky exhale.

 

Moon Goddess, please.

Just smite him.

Or smite them.

Anyone at this point!

Just end his suffering.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kai returns to the nest with the clothes pressed tightly against his chest, like if he lets them loosen even slightly, every compromising secret stuffed inside will tumble out. 

 

Each clothing carries a lingering trace of heat, and Kai feels it pressing against his nerves. Taehyun lifts his head immediately, hair mussed and one cheek pink from nuzzling into the fabrics earlier. 

 

The entire nest radiates that warm, slightly overwhelming pre-heat glow, and his red eyes flick to Kai with both curiosity and something more urgent. He reaches for the clothes— then freezes, nose twitching.

 

“Hueningie,” Taehyun murmurs, voice low and deliberate. “Why are the scents so… strong? This smells like lemon vanilla cake.” Kai swallows thickly, every instinct screaming at him. “I wonder why,” he croaks, forcing a strangled little laugh through his teeth, hollow and guilty. 

 

Because he knows. 

 

I know. I saw why. 

 

Five goddamn minutes of voyeurism, mission entirely compromised. His eyes had witnessed Beomgyu and Yeonjun tangled together on the bed, scent thick in the air, all flesh and passion— and he had reacted. 

 

Now the evidence is all around him, clinging persistently. And worse, worse than everything: his own scent has changed. Darker, sweeter, muddled with tension curling in his gut, with the heat of adrenaline and something else inappropriate for the workplace. 

 

Taehyun inhales again, brow furrowing, eyes narrowing slightly. “Your scent… it’s a little different too,” he observes, sniffing again. "I like it, though." The beta’s jaw tightens, fists clenching at his sides. “It’s nothing, Tyun.” Kai quips, voice tight, teeth gritted.

 

But it’s not nothing. Not even close. Because the alternative— to admit that he walked in on their packmates devouring each other like animals and got affected, that his own professionalism betrayed him— is… unthinkable. 

 

A one-way ticket to imaginary HR firing him for misconduct, public humiliation, a total collapse of his dignity. Kai shifts slightly, pressing the clothes tighter against his chest, fighting the urge to breathe through his mouth, trying not to smell himself. 

 

Taehyun watches him, tilting his head, curiosity lingering in his gaze.

 

“I— uh, I just… I brought the clothes,” he adds, voice quivering slightly, trying to redirect everything to neutral tasks, to nest duties, to anything that won’t make him blue-screen again. “So you can… reorganize the nest… like you want. I’ll, um… help if you need it.”

 

Taehyun moves the pile of shirts closer into the center of the nest, but immediately groans, curling a hand around a blanket as if it personally offended him. 

 

“It… it messes up my whole structure,” he complains, tugging at the edges and re-fluffing the pillows with a frustrated little huff. His nose twitches, the pheromones curling throughout the nest, smelling a lot like aggravation.

 

Kai is at his side in an instant, hands hovering over the blankets and clothes, unsure where to start but determined to help. “It’s okay, Tyun. Really. Do whatever feels right. Fix it however you need,” he murmurs, careful not to trigger his wrath.

 

The beta's heart thuds too fast, each beat echoing against the fluttering of Taehyun’s scent. The omega leans forward, melting entirely into the gesture. 

 

His lips brush gently against Kai’s cheek— an easy, affectionate press— and his body relaxes like a wave breaking against a calm shore. 

 

“Thank you, Kai. For helping me with the nest… I really appreciate it,” he murmurs, his scent washing over Kai in a heavy, intoxicating embrace. The beta’s cheeks flare, heat spreading across his face as he swallows, trying to maintain composure. 

 

Just the nest. Just the nest. Don’t… think about anything else, he tells himself, though the flutters in his chest say otherwise. “Of course,” Kai says, voice quivering slightly despite his attempt at confidence. 

 

“I know how dangerous it is to trigger your heat early, so I understand why you’d avoid Beomgyu-hyung and Soobin-hyung right now. And Yeonjun-hyung’s… well, you get territorial, so that’s out of the question too.” 

 

He swallows thickly. “That leaves me.” He forces a small, polite smile, trying to ground himself in logic. “I’m… neutral. Calm. My scent won’t overexcite you. Makes sense, right?” Taehyun doesn’t respond immediately. 

 

He sits back on his heels, ears pink, and his shoulders slump in a quiet, defeated way. The look in his eyes is… helpless. Quietly aching. It’s the kind of expression that makes Kai feel simultaneously guilty, protective, and completely untethered.

 

It’s like Kai emotionally kicked him— and then apologized politely, trying to make amends. But the apology doesn’t erase the raw weight of need behind Taehyun’s gaze. 

 

He turns away, focusing back on his nest, shifting blankets and pillows with care, clearly trying to regain control. His ears stay flushed, something undeniably flustered simmering in his movements.

 

Kai kneels beside him, adjusting a stray pillow here, handing a shirt there, trying not to let his hands tremble. Each motion is deliberate, careful— part instinct, part desperate effort to not set off anything else. 

 

The nest grows warmer, richer with Taehyun’s pre-heat scent, and yet, for the moment, Kai keeps his focus on the tasks at hand. 

 

Each blanket fluffed, each shirt rearranged, is a lifeline of control, a tether to professionalism he’s trying desperately to maintain— but failing spectacularly in the face of Tyun’s soft, needy presence.

 

It’s only when Taehyun sits back on the bed and stretches— arms reaching luxuriously over his head, shirt creeping up just enough to reveal a sliver of toned, pale stomach, body bendy and fluid like a pampered cat— that Kai’s mind completely short-circuits.

 

“Ning,” Taehyun’s voice drops low, warm and sultry, rolling against the beta’s ears like a tangible vibration. “Can you… help me during my heat?” Kai freezes. His heartbeat hammers in his chest like a drum. His palms sweat against the folds of the nest. 

 

“Yes?” he squeaks, voice rising in pitch despite himself. “What help do you need?” He looks at the wall, the ceiling, anywhere but Taehyun’s expressive red orbs. “You know,” Taehyun murmurs, dragging out the syllables, voice unbearably frail at the edges.

 

Kai thinks he knows. But interpreting it ‘that way’ is dangerous. Assuming is a direct line to his imaginary HR writing him up for every violation he can’t name, every lapse of beta discretion, every overreaction to an Alpha— or in this case, omega’s request.

 

So, in an act of desperate rationalization, Kai opts for the ‘safe’ route. “O-of course, Tyun,” he blurts, voice trembling despite his heroic attempt at composure. “Anything you need restocked from the mating room. Snacks, drinks, cooling packs, towels, candles?”

 

Taehyun stares at him, unimpressed, exhaling like Kai just suggested he sort his own nest with chopsticks. “You don’t get it,” the omega says quietly, frustration and defeat licking his words.

 

Kai’s brain goes into full panic mode. “I… I can rearrange the room?” he offers, voice cracking, as if simply offering to adjust the blankets and pillows will absolve him of all potential missteps. “To your liking?” The reaction is immediate. 

 

Taehyun’s whole body deflates. His scent curls thin, and a faint, heartbroken warble slips from him, echoing through the air of the nest. “It’s nothing,” he whispers, voice blunt and flat. “Forget it.”

 

Before Kai can even process what that means, Taehyun leans forward, pressing a kiss near the corner of his mouth. It’s soft, lingering just enough to make Kai forget how to breathe, to stand upright, and the very concept of his role.

 

Taehyun’s scent thickens with distress, red eyes flickering as his wolf whines quietly, smothering his sorrows against Kai’s shirt. His chest tightens. “I want some time alone with you,” Taehyun’s voice breaks, curling closer, nuzzling into Kai’s stomach. 

 

“Don’t… call the others inside the nest yet.” The beta obeys immediately, hands threading through Taehyun’s hair, trying to anchor both of them. “Can you stay with me… before my heat starts too?” Taehyun adds, like it’s a compromise he’s painfully offering.

 

“Okay,” Kai whispers, voice low, trembling despite the effort to sound confident. “I’ll stay. As long as you need. Just not during, alright?” Tyun shifts, scenting the beta’s neck lightly, just enough to make every rational thought collapse. 

 

Kai goes still, feeling his heartbeat slam against his ribs like a warning drum. He is doomed. He is crumbling. He is lying to himself on every level of professional decorum he’s ever known. 

 

But Kai pulls Taehyun closer anyway, senses the omega’s distress, the quiet resignation in his body language, and lets instinct guide him. “If you want, I can… be with you after your heat, too. Maybe help you calm down for a bit,” he ventures, voice careful, hesitant.

 

“Is that all you think you are? A mood stabilizer?” Taehyun asks, edged sharp yet fragile— the words curling around the edges as if they're stuck in his throat. “Never mind. Don't answer that. Please.” The omega mutters, curling closer into Kai’s lap before he can answer, clearly not wanting to hear his thoughts at all.

 

Kai sits there, hands still threading through Taehyun’s hair, mind racing. 

 

What is my role in this pack? 

What help does he actually need? 

And if it’s really… that… then why me?

 

He swallows, chest tight, eyes flicking to the folds of the nest. Taehyun’s scent— a myriad of warmth, neediness and frustration— wraps around him like a physical presence, pressing down on every rational thought in his brain.

 

…

 

Why, in all of his 183 centimeters, does Kai feel small?

 

Maybe it’s the way Taehyun said mood stabilizer— like it was an insult— a pitiful thing to say. Maybe it’s the way the omega didn’t wait for an answer— his voice breaking, red eyes full of so much hurt Kai feels suffocated by it.

 

Or maybe it’s something else entirely— pressing against his ribs like a question he isn’t ready to ask.

 

There’s a strange ache curling low in his chest, a quiet, unwelcome tug that makes him want to lean into the warmth gathered against him even as instinct tells him to pull back. It’s confusing— humiliating, almost— the way affection makes him tense and flinch at the same time.

 

Like part of him wants to accept it wholly.

And he's terrified.

 

Kai keeps his hand moving in Taehyun’s hair, steady, gentle, pretending nothing inside him has shifted at all.

But it has.

And he doesn’t know what to do with that.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

what did you all think of this chapter?

Chapter 7: 6

Summary:

Huening Kamal Kai is a professional.

Huening Kamal Kai will not be violating the workplace by involving himself in a steamy (and tempting) romance with his bosses!

...

...

Huening Kamal Kai is a hopeless idiot.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kai is not stupid, nor is he blind or made of stone.

 

The warmth and affection the pack has for him is no longer something he can pretend fits neatly within the boundaries of professionalism. Nine months living with them has given Kai front-row access to every disagreement, every tenderness, every instinct they try (and fail) to hide. 

 

And the beta has been watching— quietly, dutifully— as all four of them treat him not like staff, not like a stabilizer, but something dangerously close to pack. 

 

It’s in the way Yeonjun bristles at even the slightest insult toward him, vanilla-maple souring into burnt sugar as his wolf claws against his skin. The Pack Omega is normally unbothered— too elegant, too controlled to be moved by petty comments— 

 

But the second someone sneers at Kai for being a beta, Yeonjun’s eyes flicker amethyst and he snaps like someone trespassed his nest and desecrated it. “How— how dare they. You are not just a beta. You’re much more than that. You’re—”

 

“Hyung, it’s okay! I’m not offended. They’re just being truthful— hyung!” Kai pretends not to notice the tremor in Yeonjun’s hands as he tries to make him stand down, the barely restrained violence humming under his skin. 

 

The beta tells himself it’s normal. That anyone would react that way. That Yeonjun isn’t protecting him, he’s just defending the pack’s image. 

 

“No. I refuse.” Pretending is easier when he doesn’t meet the omega’s eyes— because when he does, Yeonjun looks at him sharply— intently, and it presses under Kai’s skin, making his chest feel tight and his scent sweeten like candy. 

 

There’s a territorial edge there, a claim that isn’t spoken but felt, heavy in the air between them. And if Kai lets himself think about it for too long, pretending stops being protection and starts feeling like cowardice.

 

There’s also the way Yeonjun clings to him when he comes home, nose wrinkling the moment he catches the scent of other omegas lingering on Kai’s uniform. 

 

“You stink.” Disgust twists through his expression and the omega steps in close, crowding Kai against the wall with silent urgency. 

 

Yeonjun doesn’t even wait for the beta to take his shoes off before scenting him like he’s reclaiming what was stolen. He rubs his cheek along Kai’s wrist, along his throat, along the collar of his shirt, painting over everything with vanilla-maple until Kai is drenched in it.

 

“All better. Don’t you think, darling? Matcha and vanilla are such perfect scents when they’re together.” The omega says it with a smirk, his canines showing while Kai nods helplessly, his pupils dilated for being a little scent-drunk.

 

“Yeah, hyung. I think so too.” It’s so excessive and territorial— yet Kai doesn’t push him off. The beta just stands there, heart stumbling, pretending this kind of welcome is normal… pretending he isn’t starting to crave it.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Beomgyu makes Kai question himself.

 

During his post-rut, he becomes clingy in a way that— if the beta were smarter— he should probably run from. 

 

The Alpha clings with a desperation that is both overwhelming and strangely tender, refusing to sleep unless both Taehyun and Kai are tucked against him as if their presence alone can keep his instincts from spiraling. 

 

Beomgyu’s wolf is still frayed from the rut, instincts buzzing beneath his skin, and he forbids his mate or the beta to stay out of his sight for even a breath. 

 

Soobin and Yeonjun have already taken the worst of it— bite marks, welted skin, bruised shoulders, looking like they crawled out of a battlefield instead of their shared bedroom. If Kai didn’t know better, he’d genuinely believe the three had been fighting. 

 

But the way Beomgyu gently herds them toward Soobin’s room, chuffing and nudging them until they go lick each other’s wounds and rest, makes it painfully clear what the Alpha wants next and who he wants near him most.

 

And when Kai tries— just tries— to slip out of the bed, to stretch his legs or get a glass of water, Beomgyu growls. Low. Rough. Voracious in a way, vibrating through the mattress and straight into Kai’s bones, a warning and a plea wrapped in a bow.

 

His green eyes glow like emeralds in the dark, and it untethers him— because of how beautiful and terrifying it is all at once

 

“You can’t leave.” The sound freezes him every time, making him turn around sheepishly, crawling right back into Beomgyu’s arms like a scolded pup returning to its den. The worst part— the very worst part— is how he melts into it. 

 

“Good. Good pup.” How naturally his body fits against Beomgyu’s chest, how easy it is to sink into the Alpha’s comfort and let himself be held like he belongs there. “Just stay here. With me. With us.”

 

How instinctive it feels to relax, to tuck himself under Beomgyu’s chin, to breathe in lemon and sandalwood until his own heartbeat stops fluttering. Kai hates that it feels right. Or maybe he doesn’t.

 

…

 

That’s what scares him most.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Soobin makes it even more confusing.

 

The Pack Alpha— who once buried himself in work until he forgot meals, sleep, and sometimes entire days— now refuses to let Kai so much as carry a mop during his pre-rut. “No. Let Alpha do it.” Soobin says with a purr, pecking his cheek and snatching whatever he has in his hands.

 

He hovers the entire time, warm cedarwood rolling off him in steady waves, guiding Kai’s hands away from chores he normally insists on doing. It’s gentle, but fiercely so, the kind of attentiveness Alphas reserve only for mates or pack— not attendants. 

 

And every time he tugs Kai closer, scents him, shields him, it chips away at the thin wall the beta has been hiding behind. 

 

Soobin drowns him in his pheromones whenever he can, pressing his shirts into Kai’s hands, telling him to wear them when he goes out, muttering about other Alphas and how “they better not come near you.” 

 

The Pack Alpha says it lightly, playfully, but there’s something too real beneath it— domineering, territorial, claiming— a type of ownership that shouldn’t be there for a beta who is supposedly “just” an employee. 

 

And when Soobin gnaws at his scent gland— slow, careful, almost reverent, as though the act soothes his wolf— Kai doesn’t stop him. 

 

The beta tips his head instead, exposing the fragile column of his neck, letting the faint sting and heady feeling blur his senses into something dangerously close to submission. “Such a good pup. Doing his best for Alpha, for the pack. You’re perfect.”

 

Kai’s pulse trips, his breath stutters, and he pretends it’s his job— to stabilize Soobin’s hormones, to provide him a moment of calm. But the truth lingers somewhere deeper, heavier, impossible to name without unraveling him completely.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

And Taehyun… Taehyun is the one who unsettles him the most.

 

The omega gets clingy and soft around him, curling into Kai’s lap when his pre-heat spikes, nuzzling into the curve of his throat like the beta’s scent alone is enough to tug him back into equilibrium. 

 

As if Kai’s neutrality— his lack of heat, rut, or instinct-driven volatility— is not a limitation but exactly what Taehyun’s body seeks out. As if the beta’s presence is a balm he’s biologically wired to crave.

 

Whenever his other mates are busy, Taehyun never hesitates to ask Kai to help “balance him out,” using the phrase so casually it feels intimate in ways Kai doesn’t know how to comprehend. 

 

Whenever he’s overwhelmed— angry, stressed, overstimulated— he storms into Kai’s room without warning, stomping all the way to the bed before collapsing into the beta’s sheets, burying his face in the fabric and inhaling like the scent is the only thing keeping him sane. 

 

“Are you okay, Tyun? Is there something you want to tell me?” Those blood-red eyes always flutter shut the moment Kai touches him, his wolf relaxing under the cool, neutral steadiness he carries like a second skin. “No. Just want to be here, with you.”

 

Kai has seen all of this. He has felt it, lived it, let it seep into the soft and unguarded places inside him. Taehyun’s trust, his weight, his scent, his need— all of it has carved itself into the beta in ways he never meant to let happen.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

And he has accepted it— selfishly. Kai hides behind the pretense of duty, the guise of his job, but he has grown greedy for the way they treat him.

 

He basks in their affection like it’s something he’s allowed to have, curling into Beomgyu’s arms when the Alpha rumbles at him not to leave, scenting Yeonjun when his anger spikes, and smiling secretly when the omega immediately calms.

 

Kai hands over his shirts to Soobin during the Alpha’s pre-rut without being asked, pretending it’s to soothe Soobin’s instincts, but deep down, he likes that he can go out into the world, with a part of the Alpha with him. 

 

The beta bends down without hesitation so Taehyun can kiss his hair, his forehead, the soft edge of his cheekbone— and the corner of his mouth when Taehyun feels bold and needy. 

 

Kai lets them coddle him, dote on him, carve space for him in every room as if his presence is not optional but essential— like the pack breathes easier when he’s within reach. 

 

They don’t grow jealous of each other, only mildly annoyed when one of them hoards too much of the beta’s time, as if living under their roof isn’t enough, as if assisting them with every part of their day still leaves them starving for more. 

 

It’s ridiculous, he thinks, how quickly he became something they orbit around.

 

Yeonjun, especially— always the first to welcome him when he comes home. He’s there before Kai can even set his bag down, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek, fingers already sliding the strap off his shoulder, shrugging him out of his coat without a second thought. 

 

He even bends down for the beta’s shoes, despite his flustered protests, despite Yeonjun being his boss, despite knowing exactly how much it unravels him every time.

 

“Let hyungie do this for you, hm?” The omega murmurs, voice warm and coaxing, hands gentle as they work. “You look tired. You’re tired, aren’t you, honey?” There’s no judgment in it— just concern, just care— like Kai being worn down is something Yeonjun takes personally.

 

“Go take a bath,” the Pack omega continues softly, thumb brushing Kai’s wrist. “I’ll have Tyun call you for dinner.” And the beta, weak, always weak, nods and lets him. 

 

Lets Yeonjun undress him under the guise of helping, lets the omega linger just a second too long, breathing him in, brushing scent along his collar and throat as subtly as he can manage.

 

Yeonjun smiles while he does it— coy, fond, eyes warm with something that makes Kai’s chest ache. It’s affectionate, it’s intimate, it’s devastating. Kai tells himself it’s normal. He tells himself it’s part of the job. And somehow, every time, he still loses his mind anyway.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Soobin keeps him under blankets and in his arms, stubborn as a child refusing to share a favorite toy. 

 

The Pack Alpha curls around him possessively, a wall of warmth and weight that Kai never quite knows how to push against. He refuses to release him until his so-called “Kai gauge” is full— until his instincts finally settle, cedarwood smoothing out— dense and satisfied.

 

Sometimes Kai wakes up pinned beneath long limbs and an Alpha’s heavy, wolfish contentment, his breath warm against Kai’s neck, legs tangled so tightly he can’t tell where one of them ends and the other begins. 

 

It’s only after a moment, when the fog clears, that the beta realizes he never once fought to escape. He never even thought to. “Good morning, pup,” Soobin murmurs with a yawn, voice rough with sleep as he presses a kiss to Kai’s nose. 

 

Then his face buries itself into the beta’s scent gland, breathing him in deeply, reverently, before placing a soft, claiming kiss there— slow enough to make Kai’s toes curl. The beta’s breath stutters, body responding before his mind can catch up.

 

Kai tries to protest, weak and half-asleep. He still has laundry to do. Breakfast to prepare. Responsibilities that should matter more than the way Soobin’s arms tighten around his waist. 

 

But the Pack Alpha only hums, amused, ignoring him completely as if those concerns don’t exist. “The others are already working on it,” Soobin says easily, laughter vibrating against Kai’s skin. 

 

“They know the drill. Whenever you’re sleeping with me, they know not to disturb us.” His hands squeeze at the beta’s waist, grounding, possessive, as if reminding him exactly where he’s meant to stay.

 

“We’re coming out when I want to come out,” he adds, nipping at Kai’s throat and leaving more marks behind— deliberate, unhurried, indulgent. 

 

And just like that, as if he hadn't unraveled Kai the moment he opened his eyes, Soobin settled back down, breath evening out, falling asleep again with Kai trapped beneath him and too tangled— too warm— to move.

 

Kai lies there, heart racing, staring at the ceiling.

 

And tells himself, not for the first time, that this is normal.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Can I stay?” Taehyun asks— already halfway settled in Kai’s lap, curling into him like gravity itself pulled him there. His body fits too easily, knees bracketing the beta’s hips, head tucked beneath his chin like it has memorized the space. 

 

It doesn’t feel like a question so much as a gentle declaration. “You can, Tyun,” Kai says softly, fingers stilling over his notes. “Just— don’t move around too much like last time.” The omega freezes for half a second before flushing pink, realization dawning as he nods shyly. 

 

Taehyun tightens his hold, wrapping his legs around Kai’s waist and hiding his face in the beta’s neck like that alone will erase the embarrassment. “As long as Beom’s not coming over, I won’t,” He murmurs, voice already sleepy. 

 

Kai huffs out a quiet laugh, adjusting his grip on the omega’s back. “I’ll have to make sure he’s out of the way, then.” Taehyun hums in approval, pressing closer as Kai’s light matcha scent seeps into his lungs.

 

“I love how your scent makes me feel,” He whispers, eyes fluttering shut. “Makes me feel normal. Not… animalistic.” The beta’s brows furrow as his hand instinctively comes up to smooth through Taehyun’s hair, slow and grounding. 

 

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” he says gently. “I like you— and your wolf— just the way you both are.” The omega grunts softly, scent mellowing, tension bleeding out of his body as if the words loosened something deep in his chest. 

 

“I know,” he murmurs. “I just want to be connected to you somehow. I hope that’s not offensive.” Kai sets his pen aside, hesitation flickering before he wraps both arms fully around Taehyun, pulling him in.

 

“It wasn’t,” The beta says quietly. “It’s okay, Tyun. We don’t have to be the same to understand each other.” Taehyun purrs at that, lips brushing Kai’s scent gland in a soft, devoted kiss before his matcha floods the space between them, calm and content.

 

He dozes off with his cheek on Kai’s shoulder, drooling slightly onto his shirt. Every so often he jolts awake, only to relax instantly when he realizes Kai is still there— still holding him, still steady. 

 

The beta pretends he doesn’t feel the ache in his chest every time Taehyun melts back against him like this is where he’s always meant to rest.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Beomgyu is worse in his own way— always slipping his fingers into Kai’s like second nature, tugging him along the mall as if the beta is someone that needs to be with him at all times. Kai stumbles a little just to keep up, heart fluttering stupidly in his chest.

 

“Hyung, the others are literally right there,” he murmurs, glancing back, embarrassed. The trio only wave at them, amused, utterly unbothered— like this is expected. “See? They don’t care,” Beomgyu says easily, squeezing Kai’s hand tighter. 

 

“Yeonjun’s buying them clothes, says they’re shit at dressing up. I’m already good at it, and you just wear whatever he tells you to, so we’re fine.” He lets go just long enough to kiss his mates— coming back with mismatched lipstick smears on his lips and cheeks, glowing.

 

“Let’s go?” Kai hesitates for half a second, then follows. The arcade is loud, flashing, overwhelming— and Beomgyu tears through it like it belongs to him. Zombie shooters, fighting games, rhythm machines— all effortless victories, Kai watching with wide eyes and silent awe.

 

Except basketball. The Alpha groans, bent over, hands on his knees, wheezing. “Aw, damn. I didn’t want to show you this side of me that’s lame.” Kai laughs, squeezing his hand without thinking. 

 

“Hyung, it’s because you wouldn’t let go of my hand.” Beomgyu scoffs, lacing their fingers again immediately. “No. I don’t want you running off.” Then— softer, almost absentminded—

 

“You’re so pretty. I can’t leave you for a second. Have you seen the way they look at you? It's like you're the sun— that's how fucking beautiful you are.”

 

The words land heavy and sudden, knocking the air out of Kai’s lungs. He stares at Beomgyu, fingers still laced with his, pulse roaring in his ears as his mind scrambles to catch up. Pretty. Sun. Beautiful. Said so easily, with such certainty, like it’s an obvious truth and not something that twists painfully in his chest.

 

Kai wonders, briefly and painfully, what there is to admire about a beta like him— no rut to boast about, no heat to entice, no instincts sharp enough to impress. Just steadiness. Just absence. He opens his mouth, unsure whether he wants to joke it off.

 

The beta laughs instead, a little breathless, because laughing is easier than asking what that means. “Hyung,” he starts, then stops, the sentence dissolving before it can form. A beta. An attendant. Someone useful. Someone convenient. Surely that’s all he’s meant to be.

 

Surely Beomgyu can’t mean it the way his wolf clearly does— eyes bright emerald and possessive, grip firm like letting go was never an option.

 

Beomgyu doesn’t clarify. He just squeezes Kai’s hand again, thumb brushing over his knuckles, already tugging him toward the claw machines like the moment has passed. But the words don’t fade. They echo louder than the arcade noise, settling somewhere deep and uncomfortable, refusing to be ignored.

 

Pretty— not helpful. Not necessary. Just… beautiful.

 

“What do you want?” he asks, already fishing for coins from his pocket. Kai stares at the wall of plushies, something tight and aching blooming in his chest. “They’re all cute, hyung. I don’t think I could pick.” He murmurs, admiring them with such life in his eyes.

 

“Got it.” The Alpha’s answer is immediate, decisive enough that Kai laughs it off at first, assuming he’s joking. Then Beomgyu squares his shoulders like he’s going into battle, knuckles cracking as coins clink into the slot.

 

The first prize gives in easily. Then the second. Then a third. A fourth. Kai’s laughter falters, his blush deepening every time Beomgyu turns back and drops a plush into his arms. “What else do you want, Ning?” The Alpha asks, grinning like this was to be expected.

 

He gestures to another machine. “That duck. Kinda looks like Yeonjun-hyung, yeah? So adorable.” Kai sputters, clutching the growing pile to his chest, heart racing for reasons he doesn’t fully understand.

 

“Hyung— you don’t have to—” Beomgyu is relentless. Machine after machine surrenders, prizes tumbling out as people begin to gather, cheering loudly. “Sorry!” Beomgyu calls out cheerfully when a kid lingers too close. 

 

“You can’t have it. Kids, you’re no exception.” He points straight at Kai, smiling like he’s won something priceless. “All of this is his.” Staff eventually hover, visibly stressed. “Sir, you can only get a maximum of ten prizes per claw machine—”

 

The Alpha raises a brow slowly. “Didn’t see that on the sign. Or did you just make that shit up to stop me from winning my baby his precious prizes?” Kai bites his lip, mortified and glowing all at once. “Hyung… maybe we should stop.”

 

Only when Kai is buried under plushies— ten exactly— does Beomgyu relent, looping an arm around him and steering him outside. “So?” he asks, smug and hopeful. “Did you think I made up for it?”

 

Kai laughs softly, arms straining as he leans forward to rest his forehead against Beomgyu’s shoulder. “I already think you’re cool, hyung. You’re the best. Thank you. I love them.” Pride rolls off Beomgyu in thick, heady waves.

 

“I just want to make you happy, pup.” He kisses Kai everywhere— quick pecks at first, then slower, lingering, thumb brushing along Kai’s jaw like a claim he isn’t hiding. Like he wants the world to know exactly who gets to make the beta smile like that.

 

And for the rest of the day, every time Beomgyu looks back at him— grinning, proud, triumphant— Kai feels that same ache bloom in his chest, warm and terrifying all at once, wondering why something so simple feels like it’s quietly undoing him.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

There’s always a calm edge of ownership in the way they look at him, touch him, scent him— not loud or aggressive, but patient, assured, like they’ve already decided something Kai hasn’t caught up to yet. 

 

Fingers linger too long at his wrists. Noses brush his throat, his jaw, his hair. Scents curl around him, warm and possessive, hungry in a way that makes his chest feel tight.

 

They share Kai effortlessly, seamlessly, like this arrangement was agreed upon long before he ever stepped into their home. 

 

They praise him openly— for soothing Taehyun’s pre-heat when the Alphas are busy, for calming Yeonjun’s wolf when he bristles outside, for steadying Soobin’s instincts when they threaten to spiral, for letting Beomgyu cling until the last remnants of rut finally loosen their grip.

 

Sometimes, late at night, Kai lies tangled between one of them— or all of them— arms anchoring him in place, heavy, protective, and unyielding. 

 

Their scents layer over him until the air feels thick, until the bed feels less like furniture and more like a nest carefully built around his body. He can feel the weight of their affection pressing against him— soft, insistent, overwhelming all at once.

 

The beta listens to their breathing even out, to soft murmurs and content little sounds, to the subtle rise and fall of chests as they settle closer. 

 

Every touch, every press of skin, every subtle brush of fingers is a silent claim, and Kai feels wanted in a way that defies words— a need so deep and consuming it borders on frightening. 

 

In these moments, the warmth, the closeness, the layered scents of cedarwood, matcha, vanilla-maple, and caramel press into him like gravity, and he knows he is not merely present; he is coveted, cherished, and a part of something so beautiful he's so afraid of it.

 

And Kai wonders, with a slow, sinking dread that curls deep in his stomach—

 

Who, exactly, is taking advantage of whom?

 

Because some nights, wrapped up in their warmth, his hands full and his heart painfully bare—

it feels like the answer isn’t as simple as he wants it to be.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Huening Kamal Kai, after nine months of employment, is about to get fired.

 

He knew it was coming, in one way or another. Still, he hadn’t expected it to lodge itself in his chest like this— heavy, aching, impossible to swallow. Perhaps this is his punishment for getting too greedy, for forgetting his place.

 

“Don’t worry. I got it this time.” Yeonjun smiles timidly at him, already lifting the basket of clothes with both arms and heading toward the laundry room. It’s barely seven in the morning, too early for them to be awake, too early for anyone to be doing chores.

 

Kai usually does the laundry at eight— always eight— but maybe they needed the clothes right away. Maybe someone had an early schedule. Maybe this was normal. “Are you sure? Then I’ll fold the clothes—” Kai offers automatically, already half-stepping forward.

 

Beomgyu trails after Yeonjun, pausing just long enough to nod at Kai. Not smiling. Not ruffling his hair. Not even a lazy good morning. “He’s actually teaching me to fold,” the Alpha says, laughing awkwardly. 

 

“Said it’s time I learn.” Huening Kai, still in his pajamas, hair sticking out everywhere and eyes blinking slowly as his brain struggles to catch up, can only nod. “Oh. Okay,” he murmurs, because that’s what he’s supposed to say. Cooperative. Easy.

 

“What about breakfast?” he adds, voice soft, careful. He can hear a faint sizzle from the kitchen, and smell pancakes in the air. “They’re already working on it,” Beomgyu replies, patting Kai’s head in a way that feels rehearsed, almost gentle.

 

“Just rest for now, Ning. We got this.” Then he turned away, following Yeonjun down the hall without another glance back. The sound of their footsteps fades, leaving the space oddly quiet.

 

Huh.

Well.

This is… new.

 

Kai stands there for a moment longer than necessary, hands curling into the hem of his shirt as if grounding himself. The hallway feels too wide, too empty without someone tugging him along or pressing into his side. 

 

The house is awake— alive with footsteps and murmurs— but none of it seems to orbit him anymore. He drifts toward the kitchen out of habit, only to stop abruptly.

 

Soobin is at the stove, sleeves rolled up, focused in a way Kai hasn’t seen in months— confident, self-sufficient, not once glancing over his shoulder to ask for help. Taehyun sits at the counter, chin propped in his hands, watching with soft fondness, no space left open beside him.

 

No one asks Kai to fetch plates. No one hands him ingredients. No one even notices he’s there. The house keeps moving without him, smooth and functional— and the realization settles in his stomach, cold and unmistakable.

 

So he steps back.

 

It shouldn’t sting. This is what professionalism looks like, isn’t it? The pack functioning without their attendant hovering at their heels, without his hands in every corner of their routine. This is proof that he did his job well.

 

Then why does his chest feel like it’s hollowing out?

 

Kai retreats to his room, movements automatic, mind lagging behind. He sits on the edge of his bed, fingers twisting into the fabric of his shirt, listening to laughter drift down the hall— softer than usual, careful, like something being handled gently.

 

He swallows.

 

Ah.

 

So this is how it starts.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

surprise! kai is not that oblivious, y'all. what did you all think of this chapter?

Chapter 8: 7

Summary:

Huening Kamal Kai is undoubtably an idiot for expecting a place in a pack that never needed him in the first place.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Indeed, Huening Kamal Kai is about to get fired— quietly, politely, without anyone ever having to say the words out loud. 

 

Kicked out from the pack he treated as family, from the house that slowly stopped feeling like a workplace and started feeling like home. Cast aside gently, efficiently, as if he was never essential in the first place.

 

The dread settles in slowly, insidious, crawling beneath his skin and threading itself into his bones. It hums there constantly, a low, anxious thrum that never lets him rest. Every smile feels rehearsed, every kindness provisional. 

 

Every moment feels like borrowed time he’s already overstayed.

 

The days pass in a meaningless blur— mornings bleeding into afternoons, afternoons into nights. Kai stops counting how many have gone by. It doesn’t matter anymore. All he knows is that he has become obsolete.  

 

In a house once bursting with warmth, he is freezing. In a place once overflowing with affection, he is starving, watching love circulate freely around him while never landing in his hands.

 

Such is the life of an attendant.

 

Such is the life of someone small and easily replaceable— someone lonely enough to mistake proximity for belonging. Someone foolish enough to insert himself into a place where he was never meant to stay, then act shocked when the house of cards collapses right on schedule.

 

Acting as if the affection he was given wasn’t conditional. Acting as if the care was a reward, not a transaction. Acting as if the way they touched him, held him, wanted him meant something more than gratitude for a job well done.

 

Acting as if he mattered.

 

Mattered enough to be asked to stay.

Mattered enough to be chosen.

 

Huening Kamal Kai can’t do anything but swallow the bitterness rising in his throat, laugh under his breath, because if he doesn’t laugh, he might cry— and crying would only prove how stupid he’s been all along.

 

Huening Kamal Kai is a royally fucked idiot.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Welcome home, Kai.” Yeonjun wrinkles his nose, the reaction immediate and instinctive— vanilla-maple faltering as he catches the lingering traces of other people on him. 

 

For a split second, Kai braces himself for it: the familiar pull, the adorable cornering, the way the Pack omega usually crowds him until the world smells right again.

 

It doesn’t come.

 

Instead, Yeonjun steps back. He smiles— awkward, careful— and gestures toward the coat rack like a polite host welcoming a guest instead of someone he usually claims the moment he walks through the door.

 

The living room is empty, and the absence is loud.

 

No Soobin sprawled across the couch, ready to cheer Yeonjun on while he fusses and scents the beta until he’s dizzy. No Beomgyu lounging nearby with that pointed, watchful gaze, ready to make a joke and tug Kai closer all at once. 

 

No Taehyun hovering, face scrunched up and tense, clearly displeased by the way Kai smells like other omegas. Just the television humming softly, an old 90’s R&B track playing to no one in particular. The house feels… paused. Like it’s holding its breath.

 

Kai swallows and forces his expression to stay neutral.

 

“What would you like for lunch today?” Yeonjun asks, already moving toward the kitchen as Kai slips out of his shoes. His voice is light, casual— a little too rehearsed. “I thought I was cooking…” Kai says, brows knitting together before he can stop himself.

 

The omega laughs, quick and defensive. “Soobin figured it’d be fun for us to cook for a change. Don’t request anything too difficult, though!” He reaches out to pet Kai’s head, fingers brushing through his hair the way he’s done a hundred times before.

 

The touch lingers— then cuts off abruptly, like Yeonjun remembered something. He pulls his hand back a second too fast, clears his throat.

 

“Kimchi fried rice,” The beta murmurs, his tone duller than he means to. He hangs his coat on the rack, movements precise, automatic. The routine feels unfamiliar without someone hovering just behind him.

 

“Oh— cool.” Yeonjun nods, then adds, “We noticed you ran out of your favorite egg tarts. Soobin went to the bakery earlier to get more.” He reaches out again, fingers brushing Kai’s hair once more— softer this time, then retreats slowly. 

 

The grin he gives afterward doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You should freshen up,” Yeonjun says lightly. “Or focus on coursework. Or take a nap— whatever you prefer, really.” He laughs, a touch too high, a touch too brittle. 

 

“We’ll call you when lunch is ready. Hope you’re not too hungry?” Kai shakes his head, still struggling to keep up with the sudden shift in gravity. “No, not at all, hyung.” He smiles because it’s expected, because it’s easy. 

 

“Thanks for the egg tarts.” The beta walks to his room like he’s following instructions, not instinct. Like a good attendant should. The door clicks shut behind him, and the silence settles in fully. 

 

Kai sits on the edge of his bed, staring at nothing, chest tight in a way he can’t quite name. Three days ago, he was smothered in affection— held, scented, claimed so thoroughly it felt impossible to breathe without them.

 

Now, their devotion hasn’t vanished.

 

It’s just been put somewhere out of reach.

 

Kai laughs under his breath, the sound sharp and hollow, and rubs at his eyes. Funny how something that felt so constant could disappear without anyone ever saying goodbye.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Lunch is ready, pup.” Soobin’s knock is soft, wary— nothing like the familiar rap that used to come with a teasing remark or an impatient tug at the handle. 

 

Kai wakes immediately, not because he’s a light sleeper, but because his body has learned to respond, learned to be ready, learned to be needed.

 

Only now, it feels like the Moon Goddess herself has reached down and tipped the balance, pulling the ground out from under his feet. Stripping away the certainty of his place. Of his usefulness.

 

Kai pushes himself upright, rubbing at his eyes, blinking at his reflection across the vanity table. Hair a mess, shirt wrinkled, face still creased from sleep. He swallows, suddenly hyper-aware of how he might look. 

 

“I’m coming,” he calls, forcing his voice to sound steady as he slips into his penguin slippers and opens the door. Soobin startles when he sees him— and then smiles like he’s scrambling to remember the right expression. 

 

He reaches out, pinching Kai’s cheek gently. “Did you have a good sleep?”

 

“I wouldn’t say it was nice,” The beta replies honestly, stifling a yawn as he rubs his eyes again. “But it was needed.” Concern flickers across Soobin’s face, quick and instinctive. His mouth opens, ready to ask why, ready to probe deeper like he always does—

 

But Beomgyu’s voice cuts in from the dining area before he can. “Come eat, Kai-ya. I heard it’s your hell week.” The young Alpha grins brightly, leaning back in his chair and waving him over. “You’re gonna need fuel.” Relief hits Kai so hard it almost makes his knees buckle. 

 

His shoulders loosen without permission, breath slipping out of him like he’s been holding it too long. Beomgyu sounds normal. Familiar. Like nothing’s wrong.

 

As Kai walks toward the table, he notices the way Taehyun is seated— wedged neatly between Beomgyu and Yeonjun, posture stiff, eyes deliberately trained on his plate. Not a glance. Not even a frown. Just overlooked, as if he wasn't there.

 

Something tightens painfully in the beta’s chest.

 

Kai hesitates, fingers curling into the hem of his shirt as he lingers by the table. The chairs feel unfamiliar somehow, their usual gravity gone, and for a second he can’t tell where he’s supposed to belong anymore. 

 

His eyes flick briefly to Soobin, then to Yeonjun, and finally to Taehyun— who pointedly keeps his gaze fixed on his table, shoulders tight. “Sit beside me?” Beomgyu asks, patting the chair next to him like it’s the most obvious choice in the world.

 

Kai bites the inside of his cheek. “Are you sure?” The question slips out quieter than he intends, weighed down by everything he doesn’t know how to ask. 

 

Unaware of the turmoil inside Kai’s mind— and the tension curling tightly between him and his mate— Beomgyu nods easily, already pulling the chair out so the beta can sit, like Kai’s doubt never even registered.

 

“Yeah. Of course,” he says, grinning. “Okay,” The beta murmurs, lowering himself into the seat. His movements are cautious, deliberate, like he’s afraid one wrong motion might break whatever it is that they have— used to have.

 

Almost immediately, the pack moves around him like a practiced system clicking into place. A plate appears in front of him. Utensils are set neatly at his side. The bowl of kimchi fried rice is nudged closer, meat placed within easy reach. 

 

No one speaks while they do it. No teasing. No familiar hands brushing his wrist or his thigh. Just… efficiency. They watch him instead. Kai swallows, suddenly hyper-aware of every movement as he serves himself, spoon scraping softly against porcelain. 

 

He feels their eyes follow him— alert— waiting until he’s finished before anyone reaches for food themselves. “Here you go, Tyun,” Beomgyu says lightly, serving his mate with practiced ease. Only once everyone has food on their plates does Kai settle on the chair. 

 

Instinctively, he waits. Seconds stretch. “Why aren’t you eating?” Yeonjun asks, concern slipping into his voice before he can stop it. “Oh— um,” Kai hesitates, glancing toward the Pack Alpha. “I was waiting for Soobin-hyung to start eating…”

 

The reaction is immediate. Soobin startles like he’s been struck, scooping up a mouthful of rice without hesitation, barely pausing to consider the heat. It’s just rice, with no meat in it. He chews quickly, nodding toward Kai’s plate with forced cheer.

 

“There. Eat.” Kai stares at him, mouth parting slightly in surprise. “…Oh. Right. Thank you.”

 

He finally looks down at his food— and his brows knit together.

 

Nothing is wrong.

 

And yet everything feels off. 

 

They’re distant, but attentive.

 

Restrained, but still compassionate.

 

Like they’re holding something precious at arm’s length, afraid to touch it the way they used to— afraid that if they do, it’ll shatter, or worse, realize it was never meant to be theirs. Kai feels it in the pauses between words, in the hands that hover before settling, in the way their scents soften instead of reaching for him.

 

His faith falters quietly.

 

He’s never asked for much. Never expected to be chosen the way Alphas and omegas are chosen— written into stories, blessed in bonds, sung about in heat and rut and destiny. Betas exist in the in-between, useful and steady and easily overlooked. Necessary, but rarely cherished.

 

Does the Moon Goddess care about betas too?

 

Does she look down at them with the same warmth, the same careful intent she grants Alphas and omegas? Or are betas meant to be the ones who hold others together, never meant to be held in return?

 

The thought settles heavy in his chest, unanswered.

 

Why does it feel like they’re holding him with open palms— only to show him how easily they could let go?

 

Kai bites his lip, mind reeling with the question he doesn’t dare voice.

 

Must they sway and play with my heart like this, as if it’s theirs to test how much it can take?

 

The beta shoves some food into his mouth, chewing slowly, mechanically. The flavors barely register— heat, sourness, oil— all blurred together beneath the thrum of unease crawling under his skin. 

 

Kai’s thoughts are louder than the table: the careful distance, the way they still orbit him without touching, the way Taehyun won’t so much as glance in his direction. It’s dizzying, being served without being shown he’s wanted.

 

“How is it?” Yeonjun asks, voice too careful, hands clasped tightly in his lap. “I tried cooking kimchi fried rice for the first time. I hope it’s not too sour.” His eyes flick to Kai’s face, searching, bracing.

 

“It’s good,” Kai murmurs, swallowing. It is a little sour. The rice uneven— some grains burnt, others under-seasoned. Normally, he’d gently tease Yeonjun about it, sneak into the kitchen later to fix the leftovers, and praise the omega for his hard work, making him glow.

 

But the way Yeonjun’s shoulders loosen just a fraction at his words— the relief trembling through him— makes Kai’s chest ache worse than the food ever could.

 

“Oh. Good.” The omega exhales, quiet and shaky. They eat in silence after that. No chatter. No playful nudges. No Beomgyu kicking his foot under the table or Soobin absentmindedly refilling Kai’s plate before it’s half-empty. 

 

The tension hangs thick and suffocating, like something waiting to drop— like judgment, or a goodbye. The beta drains the grape juice Beomgyu poured for him and forces himself to eat faster, appetite shriveling beneath the pressure. 

 

He doesn’t want to be here when the silence finally breaks. When chairs scrape back and movement finally stirs, Kai stands, his temple throbbing from the sudden movement. “I’ll do the dishes.” Beomgyu’s head snaps up. “I can—”

 

Kai turns to him with a tight, brittle smile. “Please?” His voice cracks despite himself, eyes shining just enough to betray the plea beneath the politeness. He doesn’t know what he’s asking for anymore— usefulness, familiarity, permission to stay.

 

Beomgyu freezes. “O—okay,” he says after a beat, nodding too fast. “Yeah. You can do the dishes. We’ll… clean the table.” Kai nods, grateful and humiliated all at once, already turning toward the sink. 

 

The sound of water fills the kitchen soon after, loud and steady, drowning out the thoughts that are better unsaid—

 

That being needed felt like love.

That being spared feels like loss.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Huening Kamal Kai has become useless in the household.

 

The realization doesn’t arrive all at once. It creeps in gently, dressed as consideration, as progress, as the pack finally learns to stand on their own. It settles in his bones slowly, heavy and undeniable.

 

As if mocking him— or maybe sparing him— the pack wakes up an hour earlier than they’re supposed to. They do the laundry, clean the house, prepare breakfast, all before Kai even stirs. 

 

If he wakes at eight, they’re already in the laundry room at seven, watching the washing machine spin like it’s some kind of quiet victory. 

 

The folding station appeared as quickly as the complaint came. Installed neatly against the wall, at a comfortable height, with enough space for everyone to use it properly— a direct response to Taehyun’s concern about Kai folding clothes on the floor. 

 

It stands there now, pristine and untouched, staring at him like proof that his hands were never necessary to begin with.

 

Like proof that he imagined his place.

 

“Oh, Ning. Good morning.” Soobin’s eyes crinkle with delight when he sees him hovering at the doorway, basket hugged to his chest. “Are you here to do the laundry too?” He gestures with his free hand, easy and warm. 

 

“Should I do it for you?” Kai shakes his head immediately, the smile stiff on his lips. "You can fold it on your own if you'd like." The Alpha adds.

 

“It’s okay, hyung. I’ll do my share when you guys are done. Thanks.” He leaves the laundry room before anyone can insist, walking down the hallway and setting his basket near the dining area like it belongs there— like he still belongs somewhere.

 

The pattern repeats.

 

If he wakes at seven, they’re already up at six. The house hums with movement, coordinated and efficient, chores divided evenly between them like a well-rehearsed routine. There is no room left for him to slip into, no gap waiting to be filled.

 

They’re sending him a message.

 

Kai wishes— stupidly, desperately— that they’d just say it out loud. That they’d be kind enough to tell him they don’t need him anymore instead of letting him trip over the evidence every morning.

 

He turns toward the kitchen, hoping— foolishly— that there’s still something for him to do. Taehyun is there, slicing fruit carefully, arranging them into a bowl for hwachae. Kai’s footsteps startle him. The omega jerks, knife slipping dangerously close to his fingers.

 

“Shit.” Taehyun mutters, breath tight. He doesn’t look at Kai. “I—it’s okay. I didn’t get hurt.” He swallows. “Uh. Do you… need the kitchen?” Kai shakes his head immediately.

 

The discomfort is unmistakable now— the rigid posture, the tense shoulders, the way Taehyun holds himself like Kai’s presence is something to endure rather than welcome. Like he’s intruding on something he no longer has permission to touch.

 

“No. Sorry.” Kai whispers. “I’ll leave.” He power-walks back to his room before his composure can fracture, closing the door behind him and sliding down until he’s sitting on the floor, chest heaving.

 

If he had a wolf, it would be whining by now. Howling. Scratching at the inside of his ribs, mourning the loss of the pack. But he doesn’t. All he feels is the quiet, crushing weight of goodbye hovering over his head.

 

Kai has outlived his usefulness.

 

Rendered inoperable by the pack.

 

He can’t cook. He can’t clean. He can’t do the laundry. He can’t even service them the way he used to, because they won’t let him. They’re avoiding the touches, the reliance, the moments where his presence once mattered.

 

The beta exhales shakily and pushes himself to his feet, crossing the room to his vanity. The scent of his matcha clings thickly to the air— bitter now, sour with distress. He winces and reaches for a scent patch, slapping it firmly over his gland.

 

They don’t need to smell this.

 

They don’t need him.

 

If the pack wants him out of the way, he’ll stay out of the way.

 

And if the pack wants him to leave—

 

Kai swallows, staring at his reflection.

 

He’ll leave.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Good morning. Um— Kai.” Soobin’s voice catches awkwardly, soft but hesitant, as he sits on the edge of the sofa. 

 

He watches the beta step out of his room, hair neatly fixed, clothes pressed, bag slung over his shoulder like any other ordinary morning. Except nothing about this morning feels ordinary anymore. 

 

“Do you… want me to scent your stuff too?” The question hangs in the air, uncertain and fragile. Kai blinks, caught off guard. This used to be automatic— Soobin already standing, already reaching, already insisting with a laugh and a hand on his waist. 

 

Now the Pack Alpha stays seated, hands clasped together like he’s afraid of moving too much, afraid of crossing a line Kai didn’t know existed until now. 

 

In front of the sofa, Beomgyu stands shirtless, tugging a shirt over Soobin’s head with lazy familiarity, laughing when the older Alpha bats his hands away in protest. He turns mid-motion and catches sight of Kai, eyes lighting up instantly.

 

“Oh— morning!” Beomgyu waves, completely unbothered, grin bright as ever. “I should be mad that you skipped breakfast,” he adds, squinting at Kai like he’s trying to be serious, “but you look way too cute right now.”

 

The beta lets out a small giggle, warmth blooming briefly in his chest. “Just promise me you’ll eat at the cafeteria, yeah?” Beomgyu continues, stepping aside as Soobin finally frees himself from the shirt. 

 

He wears it immediately, relaxing at the scent of his mate. “I’ll know if you skip lunch too. I’m friends with the lunch lady.” The young Alpha narrows his eyes dramatically, pointing at Kai like it’s a threat. “Yes, hyung,” He says, smiling despite himself.

 

For a moment— just a moment— it almost feels normal.

 

Kai moves toward the living room slowly, savoring the brief lightness Beomgyu leaves behind. It doesn’t last long. The space feels emptier than it should. Yeonjun and Taehyun are already gone, and Taehyun hasn’t shown his face once this morning.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The Pack omega, who had suddenly stormed into his room while Kai was getting ready, froze the moment his eyes landed on the scent patch at the base of the beta’s neck. 

 

Whatever strong resolve Yeonjun had came in with visibly crumpled, his shoulders sagging like the air had been knocked out of him. “Oh,” he murmured softly. “Hyung.” His fingers twitched uselessly at his sides. 

 

“What’s up?” The omega bit his lip, teeth worrying the skin until it flushed red, his hands coming up to scratch anxiously at his nail beds. The familiar nervous habit made Kai’s chest tighten before the omega even spoke.

 

“I just—” Yeonjun exhaled, shaky. “I wanted to apologize. For being too possessive of you. I thought maybe… maybe you found it uncomfortable.” His gaze flicked briefly to the mirror, then back to the beta. 

 

“And the over-scenting. Uh— you know you can tell us when you’re not happy with what we’re doing, right?” His voice wavered. “We wouldn’t hold it against you. Ever.” Kai paused mid-motion, fingers still tangled in his hair. 

 

He slowly turned toward Yeonjun, eyes immediately narrowing at the sight of reddened skin around his nails. “First of all, hyung,” he said gently but firmly, “stop doing that.” Kai looked at Yeonjun’s hands until they stilled. 

 

“You know I hate seeing you hurt yourself. We can use other things to pick onto. Taehyun bought you a picky pad, didn’t he? Don’t— use your skin. Okay?” Yeonjun’s hands dropped instantly, obedient, almost relieved. “Okay.” Kai hummed softly, satisfied, before continuing.

 

“And you’re right,” he said, voice calm, steady. “If I was bothered by anything you guys were doing, I would’ve told you. You know that.” He met Yeonjun’s eyes in the mirror. “And I know you wouldn’t hold it against me.”

 

Despite the confusion curling in his stomach, Kai could see it clearly now— the strain behind Yeonjun’s careful distance, the guilt layered under restraint. 

 

Whatever decision the pack had made, it wasn’t easy for them either. In a strange, almost cruel way, it made things easier to swallow. They still cared. He was still… something. “But I’m not uncomfortable,” Kai continued softly. 

 

“And I don’t feel like you’re overstepping.” The words he didn’t say pressed against his throat.

 

The distance you’re putting between us, on the other hand—

 

The beta stopped himself, shaking his head slightly as if to physically dislodge the thought. This wasn’t the moment. He wasn’t ready to face it yet. “Anyway,” Kai said instead, tone lightening with effort, “is that all, hyung? Do you have any other worries I can help you with?”

 

Yeonjun’s lips parted. He hesitated, eyes flickering with something raw and unsaid, before he closed his mouth again and shook his head slowly. “I— no. I don’t think so.” A pause. “No.”

 

Kai nodded, accepting it the way he always did. “Alright, hyung. Get to work safely.” He offered a small smile. 

 

“Good morning, and don’t forget your picky pad. I put it on your nightstand. Won’t miss it. And please have Beomgyu-hyung disinfect your wounds before you put some band-aids on. I wouldn’t want it to scar. I know you don’t either. There are some in your to-go bag. Okay, hyung?” 

 

Yeonjun returned it faintly, there were tears pricking at his eyes, but they both didn't address it, no matter how much the beta wanted to wipe them away. “Yeah. Thanks, pup. Good morning.” The door clicked shut behind him.

 

Kai stared at his reflection for a moment longer than necessary before turning back to the mirror, fingers lifting to resume styling his hair— as if nothing had happened at all.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Soobin grunts, peeling the sweater away from his face with a huff, the fabric already heavy with Beomgyu’s scent. He brings it closer again anyway, fingers curling into the knit as he scents it thoroughly, deliberately, like he’s making a point of it. 

 

“There,” he mutters, voice low and rough with instinct. “Now don’t throw it in my face again, you little shit.” He catches Beomgyu by the wrist before the Alpha can fully pull away, teeth sinking briefly into his scent gland in a nippy, playful bite. 

 

Beomgyu laughs, breathless, grabbing the sweater from him and smelling it briefly. The beta pauses just short of the sofa, hovering in that familiar in-between space— close enough to be included, far enough to feel uncertain. His fingers curl around the strap of his backpack. 

 

“Can I really have you scent my stuff?” He asks softly, the question carrying more weight than it should. Soobin looks at him immediately, expression smoothing into something earnest, almost careful. “Of course, Ning,” he says without hesitation. “What would you like me to scent?”

 

Kai sets his bag down slowly, movements measured, and unhooks the soft bear keychain dangling from the zipper. It’s worn from being handled too often, fabric flattened where his fingers usually fidget with it. “This,” he says, stepping forward and placing it into Soobin’s palm.

 

Before anything else can happen, Beomgyu is already tugging the sweater on properly, rolling his shoulders into it like it belongs there. He tilts Soobin’s chin up and presses a loud, exaggerated kiss to his lips. 

 

“Bye, babe,” he chirps, then turns toward Kai with the same bright grin. “Bye, Kai-ya!” He’s halfway out the door before he skids to a stop. 

 

“Oops. Sorry, I forgot.” He spins back, leans in, and plants a quick peck on Kai’s cheek— warm, familiar, unthinking— before bolting out again for real this time.

 

Kai bites back a grin before it can fully form, watching the door close behind him. He clears his throat and turns back toward Soobin, suddenly very aware of the quiet that settles in Beomgyu’s absence.

 

“So… is this all?” The Pack Alpha asks, handing the keychain back.

 

The scent hits Kai immediately.

 

It’s overwhelming— thick and grounding. Too much for something so small. His knees nearly buckle as he curls his fingers around it, chest tightening painfully as the comfort sinks in alongside something sharper, crueler. 

 

This scent belongs on fabric meant to wrap around him, to be worn and lived in— on shirts, blankets, anything big enough to hold it properly. Confined to a tiny plush keychain, it feels like pressure. Like longing. Like a promise pressed into something that can’t carry it.

 

“Yeah,” Kai manages, voice unsteady despite his efforts. “Thanks, hyung.” He clips the keychain back onto his bag with hands that tremble just slightly. “I’ll be home before midnight, so…”

 

‘Don’t wait up’ stays lodged in his throat. It feels wrong to say now. Too… chummy.

 

“I’ll tell the others,” Soobin says, nodding once, tone neutral but not unkind. Still, there’s darkness flickering in his eyes when he realizes the beta will be away from the house for a long time. 

 

“Take care, Kai.” He bows his head instinctively, a habit he hasn’t broken yet. “Bye, hyung. Good morning.” Soobin watches him for a moment longer than necessary. “Good morning.” The door clicks shut behind Kai, the sound echoing louder than it should.

 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

He hadn’t meant to come home this late. He really hadn’t. But after Taehyun had ignored him at university— cleanly, deliberately, right in front of his friends— Kai knew he wouldn’t survive another dinner spent pretending everything was fine. 

 

So he stayed at Renjun’s longer than planned, sitting on the couch while the omega flirted openly with his mate, all soft laughter and easy affection, each touch landing like a bruise Kai didn’t know he had.

 

It was fun, in its own way. A change of pace. No pack hierarchy, no expectations, no hands tugging him into place or scents pressing him into stillness. He missed that closeness— God, he did— but he hadn’t realized how suffocating it had become until he was outside of it. 

 

He and Renjun hadn’t hung out properly in months, not since Kai had been “employed,” not since his world had shrunk into one house and four people.

 

His friend had noticed immediately, of course. The way Kai’s scent patch had frayed at the edges, curling loose against his skin, his pheromones leaking harshly with disappointment. 

 

Kai had been welcomed into the omega’s house without question, the door opening almost immediately after he knocked. Renjun’s mate waved at him from the couch with an easy smile, already getting up to rummage through the kitchen cabinets for finger foods. 

 

There was no hesitation, no careful politeness— just quiet acceptance, like Kai’s presence was expected rather than accommodated. They put on an animated movie, something bright and loud, but Kai barely registered any of it. 

 

Normally he would’ve remembered every detail, every joke and plot twist. This time, the scenes blurred together, his mind too crowded with thoughts he didn’t want to examine. 

 

Every spare second seemed to fill itself with questions— how long until he was asked to leave, what he was supposed to do next, whether he had imagined the warmth he once belonged to.

 

Renjun noticed before Kai said anything. His scent had grown uneven, spilling into the room in jagged waves, distress clinging to it like static. After a while, Renjun shifted closer and gently took Kai’s wrist, pressing a careful, soothing scent there. 

 

He murmured, “It’s okay, it’s okay,” again and again, voice soft and grounding, until Kai’s shoulders finally loosened. Exhaustion overtook him embarrassingly fast, his head tipping against the cushions as sleep dragged him under. 

 

He hadn’t slept properly in days— his mind had been running nonstop, thinking and thinking about what would happen when he was finally told he wasn’t needed anymore.

 

When Kai woke, he found them sitting beside him. Renjun was watching him with open concern, eyes soft and searching, while Jeno distractedly soothed his mate by nibbling at his ear. The sight was intimate in a way that didn’t feel invasive— just honest, unguarded affection.

 

“Am I intruding?” Kai had asked groggily, blinking sleep from his eyes. “No, no. Of course not,” Renjun replied immediately, smiling gently. “You can stay as long as you like, dongsangie.” It took a moment for the situation to fully sink in. 

 

“Oh shit. I fell asleep. Sorry, oh my God,” Kai blurted out, sitting up too fast and rubbing at his face. Jeno only laughed softly. “Dude, it’s okay. You looked like you really needed it. You were completely knocked out.” He stood and stretched. 

 

“We’re going to prepare dinner. Anything you want?” Kai bit his lip, hesitation creeping in despite the reassurance. “Are you sure I’m not overstaying?” Jeno shook his head without missing a beat. 

 

“You’re my mate’s precious friend. How could I just cast you aside like that?” He paused, then added more gently, “Besides, you didn’t look like you wanted to go home yet. You’re welcome to stay whenever and however you like. Just give us a heads up so we can clean the guest room.”

 

Kai nearly teared up at that. It was ridiculous— he barely knew Jeno, just knew him as his friend’s mate. And yet the softness in his voice, the complete lack of restraint or calculation, hit harder than anything else that week. It was so open. So freely given.

 

“Meat and eggs,” Kai finally said, his voice cracking, emotions bubbling over. “I don’t care how it’s cooked.” Renjun scoffed affectionately and stood, pulling the beta into a hug and pressing a kiss to his head. 

 

“Ugh, you big baby. We’ll be in the kitchen,” he said fondly. “You can chill for now. Or maybe you want to come help us?” Kai nodded slowly. “Maybe I will.” That was how he ended up watching the couple bicker in the kitchen, their dynamic painfully familiar. 

 

Jeno ordered Renjun around with amused authority, clearly confident and skilled, while Renjun complained loudly and obeyed anyway. “You’re just using your Alpha authority to order me around!” He’d said. 

 

“You’re completely useless in the kitchen, honey. Just put down the knife.” It reminded Kai too much of Soobin and Yeonjun— of the way love showed itself through teasing and comfort, through shared space and easy routines.

 

He sighed quietly, missing the pack all over again.

 

Too bad he was getting fired.

 

Maybe… maybe he should take them up on their offer and crash there for a while.

 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

Happy New Year everyone!

Chapter 9: 7.5

Summary:

Huening Kamal Kai prepares to be laid off.

Notes:

this chapter is a little long, a gift from me to you because something good just happened to me recently. enjoy!

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Holy sh—” Kai jolts, heart nearly dropping straight to his feet when he catches the silhouette on the sofa, barely lit by the dim glow spilling in from the hallway. His hand flies to his chest, pulse frantic, before he exhales a shaky laugh. 

 

“How many times has this happened now, hyung?” he asks lightly, though the sound comes out thinner than he intends. It’s 10:30 p.m. Exactly thirty minutes past the pack’s usual bedtime routine. 

 

By now, they’re normally scattered behind closed doors— Soobin and Yeonjun tucked away together, Taehyun either half-asleep or pretending not to be, Beomgyu scrolling aimlessly while waiting for someone to steal his attention. 

 

The house is supposed to be quiet in a familiar, comforting way.

 

Tonight, it feels like he’s trespassing.

 

“Welcome home, Ning. Did you have fun? What about dinner?” Beomgyu doesn’t look upset. His voice is gentle, measured, missing its usual teasing lilt. He stands by the sofa with his arms loosely crossed, eyes following Kai in a way that feels careful instead of eager.

 

“Yes, hyung. I already ate. Stayed at Renjun-hyung’s for a bit.” Kai shrugs his backpack off his shoulder and sets it by the door, suddenly very aware of how loud every movement feels— zipper teeth rasping, fabric brushing the wall, the soft thud of it hitting the floor. 

 

The apartment feels too still, like it’s listening. “Did you? Sorry I wasn’t there to cook, and you didn’t have to wait for me. I don’t know if you did, but—” Beomgyu straightens, then starts listing things like he’s reciting a grocery receipt. 

 

“We ate dinner. Bulgogi, cucumber salad, hotpot. Seafood too— I still hate it, but I tried anyway. Egg tarts for dessert and grape juice. An odd combination, but I get why you like it.” Kai freezes.

 

They’re all his favorites— down to the grape juice, down to the egg tarts heated up just enough that the custard goes silk-soft in the middle. His brain trips over the knowledge, stalling there, as if it doesn’t know where to put it.

 

The beta’s cheeks redden before he can stop it, throat tightening. He feels grateful somehow, and strangely enough, flattered. “Oh,” he says dumbly. “Um. Right. So… I’m here now. You can go to sleep.” Beomgyu shakes his head. 

 

He closes the distance between them instead, steps careful, almost quiet, like approaching a skittish cat. Kai doesn’t realize he’s tensed until Beomgyu’s fingers brush his sleeve, reaching for his coat before he can take it off himself.

 

The Alpha’s movements are unhurried, deliberate. Familiar— and yet not. It’s usually Yeonjun who does these things. Apparently now they’ve switched roles, since the Pack omega is holding himself back in the fear of offending Kai.

 

“No,” he says simply. “I waited up.” He slides the coat from Kai’s shoulders, folds it neatly, then kneels without ceremony to undo his shoes. The beta jolts, heart stuttering. “Hyung—!” The protest dies on his tongue.

 

“I waited because I wanted us to sleep together,” Beomgyu says, not looking up as he eases the shoes off, thumbs brushing against Kai’s ankles. “Nobody told me to. Nobody asked me to. And nobody stopped me when I said I would.”

 

Beomgyu looks up then, eyes steady, open. No teasing. No bravado. Just certainty. “It’s my choice,” he continues. “I wanted to do it.” The beta feels his jaw clench, teeth grinding silently. 

 

He stands there, hands hovering uselessly at his sides, watching an Alpha kneel in front of him like this— gentle, careful, intentional. The phrase echoes in his head, over and over, refusing to leave.

 

Beomgyu wanted to do it. All on his own.

 

“I—I didn’t mean to make you wait,” Kai says quietly, voice betraying him. “You don’t have to do things like this for me.” 

 

Not anymore.

 

Beomgyu rises to his feet, close enough now that the beta can feel the heat of him, smell the faint trace of his scent beneath soap and fabric. “I know I don't,” he says. “I wanted to. Stop overthinking it, pup.” He lifts a hand, then cups Kai’s cheek with his thumb.

 

“You’re important to us, you know that right?” The beta stills at the words, a hollow pit gnawing at his stomach. His mind betrays him immediately— flashes of Taehyun turning away, of empty space where warmth used to be, of hands that hovered but never quite touched. He swallows. 

 

“I’m not sure if the others share the sentiment,” Kai admits quietly, voice thin with doubt. The Alpha doesn’t hesitate. He lifts the beta’s chin and presses a kiss near his scent gland, adoring and worshipful. “They do.” There’s no room for argument in his tone. 

 

Beomgyu rises, hands strong and steady as they cup Kai’s face, thumb brushing beneath his eye as he leans in close, forehead resting against his. “They do, I promise. I’m not lying to you. Why would I ever, pup?” Something inside Kai finally gives. 

 

The beta exhales shakily and buries his face into Beomgyu’s shoulder, gripping the fabric of his shirt like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. He blinks hard, refusing to let the tears fall. “I don’t know, hyung,” he murmurs. “This is nice. I—”

 

I missed this, he doesn’t say, but it sits heavy between them anyway.

 

Beomgyu’s arms tighten around him, slow and sure, rocking them gently. “Do you want me to heat up some egg tarts for you, hm?” he asks softly, fingers carding through Kai’s hair as they sway together, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

 

He huffs out a small laugh, nose pressed into the Alpha’s shoulder. “Silly hyung. It’s too late for snacks.” Beomgyu chuckles, kissing his temple. 

 

“I’ve never heard you say that from the moment you stepped foot in this house. What changed, hm? Did you switch with our precious Hueningie?” The beta laughs a little more this time, arms slipping around Beomgyu’s waist. 

 

“I can eat them tomorrow morning, hyung. I’m just… tired, right now.” The soft anchor Beomgyu offers seeps into him, filling the hollow spaces left by days of distance. It soothes him too easily, makes his limbs heavy, his thoughts slow.

 

“Okay,” Beomgyu says gently. “Take a bath, Ning. I’ll be waiting for you in your room.” Kai pulls back, blinking. “You are?” He hesitates. “Isn’t he going to—” Beomgyu presses a finger to his lips. “We’ll talk about it when we get to your room, alright?”

 

Kai bites his lip, nodding despite himself. “Okay, hyung.” True to his word, the Alpha guides him to his room and makes himself at home immediately, settling into Kai’s bed like he belongs there.

 

The beta slips into the bathroom, only to freeze when he sees everything laid out: fresh towels, clean clothes, his favorite soap already uncapped. He peeks back out, heart aching. “Thank you, hyung. You really didn’t have to.” Beomgyu looks at him and smiles, soft and unwavering. 

 

“I wanted to.”

 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“How are you feeling these days, pup?” They’re lying side by side, staring at the ceiling like it might answer for him. ‘You!’ by LANY hums softly from Beomgyu’s phone on the nightstand, filling the spaces where words hesitate. 

 

Kai exhales and reaches up, fingers splayed toward the pale white ceiling, as if he could press his confusion into it and leave it there. The ceiling doesn’t change, doesn’t answer. It’s dim, like his thoughts, darkening by the second.

 

“I don’t know,” he admits, the word slipping out thin and unfinished. “Lost? Confused?” The silence after feels louder than the music. The mattress shifts— then stills— when Beomgyu freezes beside him. The sudden tension sinks into the bed between them, pulling tight.

 

“I’m sorry.” Kai turns his head just enough to shake it, hair brushing the pillow, skin warm where it meets cotton. “It’s okay, hyung,” he whispers. He says it gently, like if he’s careful enough, it might become true.

 

The lie tastes chalky, drying his throat. He swallows around it, lets it settle where it hurts least. It’s easier than explaining the hollow feeling tucked under his ribs, the one that never quite leaves.

 

“The pack is figuring things out,” Beomgyu says after a moment, voice low and deliberate. There’s weight in the way he says it, like the words have been thought through over and over and over again. 

 

“They don’t really know how all this works.” A pause follows— careful, reasoned. “You’re a different variable,” Beomgyu continues quietly. “A special case.” His tone softens. “One we never imagined would happen.”

 

The bed dips slightly as he shifts closer, heat seeping through the space between them. “It’s a welcome change,” he admits, almost too feeble. “We think we’re ready for it, but—”

 

“We don’t know how to do this right.” The Alpha holds his hand, squeezing it delicately. Kai squeezes back, the tears pricking his eyes. “I guess there’s more to it than just acceptance.” The sentence lands unevenly. 

 

The beta nods anyway, slow and polite, even though the meaning slides past him without settling. “We need a way to figure it out,” Beomgyu goes on, thumb brushing absentmindedly against Kai’s arm. 

 

“One where it won’t hurt any of us.” His voice drops. “Do you understand what I mean?” Kai doesn’t reply. His mouth opens, then closes again. He stares at the ceiling, heart thudding, unable to find the shape of an answer when he doesn’t even understand the question.

 

He thinks about usefulness, about being needed.

About the way his schedule suddenly emptied.

 

But then—

Why would the Alpha be here, lying beside him, shoulder bumping against his own?

The closeness contradicts everything.

 

Is this compensation? Some kind of work enrichment activity?

The thought flickers, sharp and self-deprecating.

It dies the moment it’s born.

 

Still, it lingers.

The pressure building in his sternum is like an unshakeable weight, cutting off his airflow.

 

“The pack doesn’t hate me, right?” The words slip out, barely there, fragile as breath. “I didn’t do anything to upset any of you…” Beomgyu’s hand cradles his waist, firm but careful, grounding and inescapable.

 

He tugs Kai closer until their bodies align—

Chest to chest, knees brushing.

Kai’s breath stutters.

 

“Pup.” Beomgyu’s eyes flash green in the dark, sharp and vivid. It feels like being seen too clearly, stripped bare. Nowhere to hide. “Hate?” he murmurs, disbelief threading through the word.

 

“My darling, hate is such a strong word.” His thumb lifts, tracing paths he knows by heart— slow, and devoted. The mole on Kai’s cheek. The curve of his cupid’s bow. The soft pout of his lips. “How could we ever hate you?” The question lands like it’s a joke.

 

“You’re perfect. You’re kind. Hardworking. Attentive.” Each word presses in, heavy and intimate. They sink too deep, lodging somewhere sore. The beta doesn’t know whether to cling to them— or wait for them to disappear.

 

“If this is about Taehyun, I’m sure he’ll talk to you eventually,” Beomgyu says, tone careful. He presses a kiss to Kai’s wrist, lemon and sandalwood slipping free despite his restraint.

 

The response he expects never comes. The Alpha frowns, eyes narrowing slightly as he waits. The beta’s scent doesn’t rise to meet his at all. There’s nothing— no echo, not a whisper of it, just— clean air.

 

“Oh.” Beomgyu’s gaze lifts, landing on the scent patch at the base of Kai’s neck. Understanding settles, creeping and heavy. “We really need to fix this.” He exhales, frustration threading through his concern as he looks at the barrier between them.

 

“May I?” he asks quietly, hand lifting, finger hovering a breath away from the patch. He doesn’t touch— not yet— waiting for permission, for trust. Kai nods, hesitant. The Alpha traces the edge of the adhesive carefully, cringing when residue clings to his fingertips. 

 

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “If we made you feel like you couldn’t express yourself freely. Your scent is the only thing where we could—” He stops himself, jaw tightening. His eyes flick to Kai’s face, apology clear, raw.

 

“It’s fine,” Kai whispers, already turning away. “I didn’t want to stink up the place.” His shoulders pull inward. “Didn’t want to bother any of you.” Beomgyu’s green orbs linger on him, dark with worry and guilt.

 

It’s overwhelming— being seen this closely only after making himself disappear.

 

“I don’t want to force Tyun to have a conversation when he’s not ready yet. But I promise you, sweetheart— he doesn’t hate you. He’s missing you too. When Tyun found out you wouldn’t be eating dinner with us, he was visibly upset.”

 

Kai shakes his head, the motion small but immediate, like a reflex he can’t stop. His gaze drifts to the wall, to the faint shadow of the curtains shifting with the night air. “I don’t know, hyung,” he murmurs. 

 

“He looked really uncomfortable when he saw me at uni. He pretended like he didn’t see me—” The beta cuts himself off, teeth catching his lower lip hard enough to sting. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me—” 

 

Kai reaches for Beomgyu’s hand, fingers curling around it like it might steady him. He squeezes once, then gently sets it down between them, a deliberate retreat. When he looks back up, his eyes are damp but steady.

 

“I’m sure your mate won’t like it if he finds out we’re talking about him.” He inhales sharply, breath staggering. “I don’t want to drive a rift between the two of you. Well,”—his mouth quirks, humorless—“I’m not relevant enough to do that.”

 

A dry laugh slips out, brittle at the edges.

 

“But let’s— stop talking about this. I’m not mad or upset at him. I’m just—” Kai’s eyes slide shut, lashes pressing together as if that might block out the sight of Beomgyu’s eyes, glowing brighter now. 

 

His wolf is too close— scraping at the surface, scent thickening— adoring and protective, curling around Kai like a comforting embrace. There’s so much of ‘something’ that it seeps into Beomgyu’s gaze, heavy and intent. 

 

The beta almost— almost— misunderstands it for what it is.

 

Concern. That’s it. Nothing else.

 

“I’m just confused,” Kai finishes quietly. “I hope he would’ve told me if he needed some space, instead of leaving me in the dark like this.” His voice thins at the end, like he’s already bracing for disappointment.

 

Beomgyu grumbles, low and frustrated, the sound vibrating through his body and into Kai’s ear. “Pup,” he says gently, the word a careful anchor. “Open your eyes. Please? Look at me.” Kai shakes his head again, lashes pressed tight. “I’m not sure I want to, hyung. I’m—”

 

“I’m not mad at you,” Beomgyu interrupts softly. “He’s not going to be mad at you because we’re talking like this.” His hand tightens, just a little. “I don’t want to see you two hurting anymore.” He exhales, forehead dipping closer. 

 

“I just wanted you to know that whatever it is you’re thinking in your pretty head,” he says quietly, “it’s not what’s going to happen.” Kai’s breath stutters at that. He bites the inside of his cheek, panic curling sharp and familiar. 

 

“I know you’re not mad,” he whispers. “It just makes it scarier.” Scary, because kindness without explanation feels momentary. The Alpha pulls him in without another word, arms wrapping securely around his shoulders and back, closing every gap. 

 

Kai’s face pressed into Beomgyu’s chest, the steady thump of his heart loud, grounding, impossible to ignore. “Then we’ll sleep,” Beomgyu murmurs into his hair. “Okay? We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”

 

He kisses Kai’s temple and releases a careful thread of scent, soothing without claiming, promising safety without demand. “Okay, hyung. Good night.” Kai doesn’t say it, but gratitude floods him anyway, quiet and aching.

 

He melts into Beomgyu’s arms, muscles finally loosening, and lets himself be held— just this once— before morning comes and everything has to make sense again.

 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Choi Beomgyu is a liar.

 

“Good afternoon.” Kai says it to the air, to the walls, to the quiet hum of the house that doesn’t answer back. He comes out half an hour after lunch, steps light, shoulders slightly hunched, listening with the best of his normal hearing for any sign of movement. 

 

Cabinets, footsteps, voices— anything that might warn him he’s intruding.

 

The house sounds calm.

 

Soobin’s already left for work. Yeonjun mentioned a house visit earlier, something about a client two neighborhoods over. Beomgyu’s supposed to be on-site, testing one of the games he programmed. 

 

That leaves Taehyun. Who— Kai swallows— wouldn’t even breathe the same air as him.

 

He edges into the dining area anyway.

 

And startles.

 

Taehyun freezes mid-motion, hands hovering over a bowl as he stretches clingwrap tight across the rim. The scent of sundubu jjigae hangs thick in the air— the spice and fermented tang curling into Kai’s nose before he can stop himself. 

 

The omega looks up, eyes widening just slightly, surprise flashing across his face before he schools it away. Taehyun opens his mouth to speak.

 

“I’ll come out when you’re finished with that,” Kai blurts, the words tumbling out too fast. “Sorry for showing up all of a sudden.” His gaze drops to the floor, already retreating, already apologizing for existing in the shared space.

 

He doesn’t wait for a reply.

 

Kai turns and walks quickly down the hall, pace brisk but controlled, like he’s afraid running would draw attention. He shuts himself into his room and leans back against the door, breathing out slowly as if he’s just escaped danger. 

 

Fifteen minutes, he tells himself. That should be enough.

 

“Shit.” The realization hits him all at once. He drags a hand down his face. He forgot his scent patch. The beta drops his bag onto the bed and rummages through it, fingers brushing over notebooks, chargers, loose coins. 

 

He finds the small box tucked into the side pocket and opens it. Two patches left. Just two. A twitch pulls at his eye, nerves fraying under the strain. Kai sighs tiredly, staring longer than necessary. One pack costs more than he likes to think about.

 

The beta doesn’t usually use them— there’s no real need. It’s not like his scent entices anyone anyway. Flat. Unobtrusive. Easy to overlook. It’s for the pack. For moments when pre-rut or pre-heat spike unexpectedly in public.

 

For when things get overwhelming and someone needs to stay clear-headed. Kai never expected to rely on them like this. Never expected to be the one paying for them himself. He hesitates, fingers hovering, then peels one free and presses it to his skin.

 

The adhesive clings uncomfortably, drawing a sharp wince from him. The dulling agent settles almost at once, muting what little presence he has. It’s more secure that way. Simpler.

 

Kai cracks the window open, letting air rush in despite the heat, not wanting to leave a trace of even that souring scent behind. He sits on the edge of the bed and waits, counting minutes in his head. Thirty passes before he allows himself to stand again.

 

He’s just making sure.

 

It’s still his role to prioritize the pack’s well-being. And that includes Taehyun— Taehyun, who tenses whenever Kai’s around, whose distress spikes in ways Kai pretends not to notice.

 

If distance helps, then distance it is.

 

They’ve probably talked about it by now, he thinks gloomily. All of them together. Choosing words. Timing. Waiting to break the news.

 

Kai steps back into the hall at last, relief loosening the knot in his chest when the house greets him with emptiness again. Quiet. Safe.

 

Temporary.

 

Kai hears the soft click-clack of a keyboard coming from Taehyun’s room and instinctively stills, breath caught halfway in. He waits a beat— two— then pads quietly toward the dining room, steps planned and calculated. 

 

The beta passes the covered bowl of rice and stew on the table, the cling wrap pulled tight and neat, condensation beading underneath. He doesn’t stop. Figures it isn’t for him. He redirects himself to the kitchen instead.

 

Kai takes two eggs from the fridge and closes the door gently, like even the sound of plastic shelves might be too much. He decides on scrambled eggs with instant rice— quick and inoffensive. 

 

He moves around the kitchen gracefully, muscle memory kicking in, hands knowing where everything is without him needing to look. There’s a small, fleeting pep in his step at finally doing something in the house, even if it’s only for himself.

 

Kai cracks the eggs cleanly, whisks them just enough, and cooks them soft. Rice goes into the microwave. He grabs a bowl, tips the eggs in, and waits, leaning against the counter, listening to the low hum of the appliance.

 

His eyes flick toward the living room clock. 2:18 p.m.

 

It won’t be long before some of them come home. The beta doesn’t want to impose, doesn’t want to be in the way, doesn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable by existing too loudly in the pack house. 

 

He presses a few buttons and increases the microwave’s temperature, urging it along. The rice comes out wrong. Soggy. Burnt at the edges.

 

Kai stares at it for half a second, then dumps it into the bowl anyway, mixing everything together with a spoon until it becomes an unrecognizable, unappetizing mush. He blows on it out of habit, steam curling upward and fogging his reading glasses.

 

“God damn it,” he whispers under his breath. “Hueningie?” The sound of his name nearly sends the bowl slipping from his hands. Kai turns toward the voice, heart slamming painfully against his ribs. 

 

“Yeonjun-hyung?” The word comes out strained, and he hates that he can hear it. The omega is standing just near the counter, hair a little messy, jacket still on. He takes one look at the bowl and visibly recoils. 

 

“What is that? What are you eating?” He walks closer, peering down with open disgust. “You’ve always made such elaborate dishes. What’s wrong?” Kai clears his throat, heat crawling up his neck. 

 

“I just didn’t want to bother anyone. I needed something quick and easy, so I was rushing.” He says quietly. Yeonjun whimpers like the statement personally hurt him. “Pup,” he says, voice breaking just a little. 

 

“We saved some food for you, sweetheart. Did Taehyun not tell you?” Kai laughs before he can stop himself. It comes out dry, sharp at the edges. “I don’t think we’ve spoken for more than a week now, hyung.” The second the words leave his mouth, panic floods him. 

 

He clamps a hand over his lips, heat crawling up his neck. Guess he’s getting fired faster than expected. “Sorry, I—” Yeonjun steps closer and cups his cheek before the apology can land, the touch gentle but sure. 

 

“No. I’m sorry,” the omega murmurs instead, like he’s the one who crossed a line. Kai nods, slow and careful, trying to step back, trying to reclaim the space he suddenly feels too aware of. “It’s okay.” Yeonjun doesn’t let him. 

 

When the beta retreats, he follows without hesitation, closing the distance as if it’s instinct. “Has he really not said anything yet, darling?” he asks softly, fingers tracing moles, counting lashes. 

 

The touch lingers— electric, deliberate— and Kai almost, almost lets himself forget why he shouldn’t lean in. 

 

“Those bowls over there were for you. He hoarded the meat and tofu so you can have them. We mostly just ate vegetables and soup.” Yeonjun laughs softly, fondly, and pinches the beta’s cheek like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

 

His face looks lighter now, unguarded in a way Kai hasn’t seen in days— so different from the careful mask he wears when he’s holding himself back from touching. It feels like the Pack omega has already sorted his feelings out, composed and free from the thorn in his side. 

 

Kai, meanwhile, is still standing in the dark, the contrast sharp enough to make his head throb.

 

“I’m confused,” He says instead of thank you. “Tyun promised he’d talk to you about it. I didn't know it'd take this long. Maybe I should knock some sense into him—” Kai shakes his head with a somber look in his face.

 

“Taehyun doesn’t owe me anything, hyung.” The beta's gaze drops to the floor, making himself seem smaller. Yeonjun frowns, eyes flitting with all different emotions at once. “Did you rush over here? You still have your outside shoes on.”

 

“Fuck,” The omega mutters. “Soobin’s gonna scold me for dirtying the carpet.” He meets Kai’s eyes and smiles awkwardly. “I just thought I heard you in the kitchen so I ran here. I missed seeing you.” His brows knit together. 

 

“But you see me every day, hyung.” The laugh that follows is hollow, even to his ears. “Indeed I do, pup.” Yeonjun says wistfully. He takes the bowl from Kai's hands and sets it in the sink without ceremony. 

 

“Go eat in the kitchen, Ning. We left the food there for you. And just put your plate on the sink. It's Beomgyu's turn today.” He holds Kai’s hand again and presses a kiss to the back of it, leaving a sticky pink residue behind. 

 

“I'll be fine on my own, hyung. Thanks.” Yeonjun walks back toward his room, footsteps fading down the hall, leaving the beta standing there with his empty hands and buzzing thoughts, more dumbfounded than before.

 

The covered bowls on the dining table suddenly feel heavier.

 

What does Taehyun want with him, really?

 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Huening-ah? Let’s eat dinner together.” Yeonjun raps on the door, and Kai rouses from his nap. “Coming, hyung.” His fingers instinctively brush the scent patch. Relief loosens his shoulders when it’s still intact. 

 

Hopefully nothing happens tonight— nothing intense enough to make it peel. “We’re having cucumber geotjeori and donkkaseu,” Yeonjun says brightly, bouncing on his heels. “That’s nice, hyung. Um…” 

 

Yeonjun turns, curious, and Kai blurts, “When will I be allowed to cook and clean and do the laundry again?” The omega stills, face going unreadable. “Sorry,” Kai adds quickly, eyes dropping. “Was that question… difficult?”

 

“Never mind,” Kai mutters, already retreating. “Let’s go, hyung.” He hurries to the dining room and freezes. Beomgyu sits between Soobin and Taehyun, who offers him an encouraging look that only knots the beta’s stomach tighter. His appetite vanishes the moment it came. 

 

Where am I supposed to sit now?

 

Yeonjun answers for him, gripping his arm and guiding him into the seat beside Soobin. The Alpha smiles clemently. The tension at the table is still there, but it’s thinner now, stretched instead of suffocating. 

 

Kai catches Taehyun glancing at him— once, twice— until he shifts uncomfortably, unsure what any of it means. “Do you want a lot of meat, Hueningie?” Yeonjun chirps, sliding a plate of donkkaseu in front of him. 

 

Soobin follows, crowding his part of the table with banchan and filling his glass with grape juice, purring as he pets the beta’s hair. In the background, Beomgyu slices clementines after Taehyun peels them, domestic and careful.

 

“What’s happening?” Kai whispers, hurt flickering through his eyes. No one notices— no one smells it, the patch clinging stubbornly to his skin. “We’re having dinner,” Soobin replies gently. 

 

“We need to talk to you after,” Beomgyu adds, smiling too brightly, while Taehyun finally meets Kai’s gaze for the first time in ten days and nods.

 

Oh.

Oh.

 

This is kindness with an expiration date. A farewell party. 

 

They’re being nice because this is the last time they have to see me.

 

So that’s why Yeonjun-hyung can touch Kai now, openly, without flinching. Why Taehyun can finally look him in the eye, steady and resolved. 

 

This is the solution Beomgyu meant— the careful distance, the softened goodbyes, a way to untangle themselves without anyone bleeding. They’ve already decided. They’re just letting the beta catch up.

 

Pressure mounted in his ribcage, heavy like stone. A way where it doesn’t hurt any of us, Beomgyu had said. Kai lowers his head, blinking hard, hands trembling around his chopsticks. It doesn’t hurt them. They’re smiling.

 

It’s just hurting him.

 

He wipes at the tears forming in his eyes, faking a yawn. “We have to be quick, then. Seems like someone is sleepy.” Yeonjun sings, piling rice onto his plate like a benediction. 

 

The food is too much, the smiles heavier than silence, and Kai lifts his lips into a forced grin while something caves in behind his ribs, slow and irreversible.

 

“I just wanted you to know that whatever it is you’re thinking in your pretty head, it’s not what’s going to happen.” Beomgyu’s words echo in his head. The pack beams at him like this is mercy— soft hands, full plates, gentle voices meant to bruise less on the way out.

 

Indeed— Choi Beomgyu is a liar.

 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Shall we?” They all look nervous— but beneath it is unmistakable anticipation. Soft smiles they don’t bother hiding. Their scents thicken, twining together, cheery and buoyant, a harmony that usually soothes him and causes his heart to flutter. 

 

Tonight, it makes Kai’s blood run cold. He’s been bracing for this for days, counting down the moments without meaning to, dreading the inevitability of it. 

 

Maybe Beomgyu’s presence lulled him into a false sense of safety, made him believe— stupidly— that his place here was solid. Right here, right now, he’s about to learn what he actually is to them.

 

And he’s terrified.

 

Terrified that everything he thought he built over ten months— every shared meal, every quiet routine, the quiet solace he’d slowly learned to reach for— will be taken back. Terrified of losing something he never believed he deserved in the first place. 

 

A beta has no reason to belong in a pack of paired mates. He knows that. He’s always known that. “I—I think I’ll take a bath first,” Kai blurts, words tumbling over each other. “I’m a little sweaty from earlier. And it’s hot, so…” 

 

Kai avoids their eyes, because he knows if he looks for even a second longer, he’ll break. He needs time. Time to steel himself. Time to think about what comes after. Time to start packing, leaving everything behind.

 

“Sure,” Soobin says easily, too easily— relaxed, openly affectionate now in a way that nauseates him. “Take your time. We’ll clear the table so we can sit comfortably. Or do you prefer the sofa?”

 

Kai’s gaze flickers between the dining table and the living room, calculating escape routes like instinct. “The sofa, please.” Softer. Closer to the door. Easier to stand up and leave when the words finally land.

 

“Alright.” Yeonjun beams, tender and bright, no hesitation anymore. “By the way— did you enjoy dinner? Beomgyu helped a lot.” Kai glances up despite himself. Taehyun meets his eyes— really meets them— for the first time in days, and offers a small, genuine smile. 

 

It nearly undoes him. 

 

Beomgyu’s gaze lingers on the scent patch at Kai’s neck, his jaw set, determination tightening his expression, like he’s already decided how this will go. “I did,” Kai manages, lips curving faintly.

 

His mouth is numb, unable to taste anything as he bites the inside of his cheek. He can't even remember what the pack was talking about at the table.

 

“The donkkaseu.” He swallows. “You really went ham with the breading, hyung. But it was good. Flavorful.” He lies through his teeth. Beomgyu tips his chin up, pleased. Proud.

 

The beta was zoning out, trying to control his emotions before a spoiled, putrid scent starts to seep through the patch.

 

It stays trapped under adhesive and skin, muted and unheard, just like everything else he’s been swallowing. He stands, bows his head because he can’t trust himself to look at them anymore, and walks back to his room. 

 

The tears come before he can shut the door, blurring the hallway as he goes, heart pounding with the certainty that when he comes back out, whatever this is— whatever they are— will be gone.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“So— how do you think Kai will react when we finally ask him to—” Yeonjun doesn’t get to finish. Soobin bumps their hips together with a soft laugh, a loving warning wrapped in familiarity. 

 

“My love,” he murmurs, fond but firm, “I know you’re excited. But Taehyun needs to sort his feelings out first. He needs to reassure the pup that he wasn’t angry at Kai himself before we even think about the next step.” 

 

At the sink, Beomgyu rinses soap from a plate and nods, expression clearheaded. “It’s gone on for too long,” he says quietly. 

 

“I saw how much turmoil Kai was in— how he started blaming himself for things that were never his fault.” He hands the dish carefully to Yeonjun, who starts wiping. 

 

“I wanted to step in, but… I didn’t want to abuse my authority. This was something that needed to be resolved between the two of them. My interference would’ve only made it worse.” Soobin admits while wiping the counter down.

 

Someone scoffs. “Are you seriously all talking shit about me while I’m right here?” They all turn at once. Taehyun stands by the fridge, arms full of neatly packed containers, brows drawn tight. 

 

The tension breaks immediately— Yeonjun kisses his cheek, Soobin presses one to his temple, Beomgyu leans in for a brief, grounding touch. “We’re not talking shit about you, honey,” The Pack omega says lightly, nuzzling into him while drying plates. 

 

“But ten days is… a bit much, don’t you think?” Taehyun exhales sharply. “Okay, maybe it is, but—” Soobin kisses his forehead before he can spiral. “Baby, you don’t have to explain yourself. You felt what you felt, and we understand why.” His voice softens. 

 

“But Kai deserved an explanation before you distanced yourself like that. That part wasn’t fair to him. We didn’t want to overwhelm you while your wolf was still in distress,” Soobin continued gently. “So we waited. But waiting has its own consequences.”

 

“I know,” Taehyun mutters, shoulders slumping. “I know, hyung. I’ll apologize. I will.”

 

“Make sure Hueningie knows it isn’t his fault,” Yeonjun adds quietly, the teasing gone. “And that you don’t hate him. He says you can’t even look at him anymore, Tyun. That you two haven't talked for so long.” His mouth twists. “I can’t imagine what that’s doing to him.”

 

Beomgyu feels arms slide around his waist. Taehyun hugs him from behind this time, cheek pressed to his back. “Babe,” he whines, “help me. They’re all ganging up on me.” The Alpha laughs softly and turns his head just enough to kiss his mate. 

 

“Silly goose.” Then, says more seriously, “Why don’t you go get Kai from his room so we can talk? Hm?” Taehyun grimaces. “You’re all really dumping this on me.” Soobin snorts. “Less complaining, more fixing things. Go. Shoo.”

 

With a frustrated huff, the young omega stomps down the hall toward Kai’s room, heart pounding, while the three left behind exchange glances— nervous, hopeful, united— quietly praying that when the door opens, Kai will still be willing to listen.

 

“I hope they can resolve it quickly,” Yeonjun says, practically bouncing on his heels, excitement bleeding freely into the room. “I’ve been waiting for this for a while now.” He grins, eyes bright. 

 

“We’re taking it slow, but we’ll ask him again tonight. Just— let’s be patient, okay?” He harrumphs, turning toward Soobin. “It took us three months to get to know each other and finally bond, Soobinnie.” Beomgyu snorts as he washes the utensils. 

 

“Alright, hyung. It’s nice that you’re excited and all, but don’t forget that—”

 

“Kai is a special case. I know, I know,” The Pack omega cuts in easily, waving him off. He squints at the sink. “Are you done with the dishes yet? You’re really slow.”

 

“Stop nagging, oldie,” Beomgyu grunts. Yeonjun hisses and reaches out to pinch his cheek when the world fractures. The utensils slip from the Alpha’s hands and clatters against the sink. He crumples on the floor, a strangled sound tearing from his throat. 

 

Beomgyu clutches at his chest like something inside him is being wrenched apart, vision flashing white. “F—fuck—” he growls, teeth grinding as pain detonates behind his eyes. The bond wails.

 

It’s not a clean break— never is. The invisible threads tying them together pull tight all at once, stretched to the brink, snapping back like a rubber band against raw skin. Sharp. Violent. Aching in a way that feels personal, intentional. 

 

Beomgyu’s wolf slams against his ribs, snarling, desperate to surface. Then Taehyun’s voice crashes into his head, trembling, frayed at the edges.

 

“No. No, no, no. Huening Kai— he’s— he can’t—”

 

“Choi Beomgyu!” Soobin is on the floor instantly, hands framing his face, panic blazing. “Are you okay? Darling— what is—” The rest hits them a heartbeat later. Yeonjun gasps, folding in on himself, clawing at his shirt as if he can tear the feeling out. 

 

He can’t hear Taehyun’s thoughts— not like Beomgyu can— but the distress floods through the bond all the same, thick and suffocating. The air fills with it: burnt, choking caramel, bitter and scorched, clinging to the back of their throats.

 

“Taehyun,” Yeonjun whimpers, eyes glassy. “Taehyun is hurt.” Beomgyu forces the words out through clenched teeth, emerald eyes blown wide, pupils slicing thin. “Okay— okay,” The omega breathes, already shaking. “How do we— let’s get you to the sofa first—”

 

“No.” Beomgyu snarls, voice rumbling low and dangerous. “Go. Taehyun needs you.” Yeonjun shakes his head frantically. “You’re hurt too— Soobin, go. Go to Taehyun and figure out what’s happening, I’ll stay—”

 

“Go!” The command slams through the room, absolute. The Pack omega flinches and bolts upright. “Fuck— okay, okay! I’m going. Soobinnie, now.” Soobin leans down, kisses Beomgyu everywhere he can reach— cheeks, forehead, lips— hands trembling.

 

“Don’t hurt yourself,” he whispers, before sprinting down the hall toward Kai’s room. “We’ll be back, okay, sweetheart?” Beomgyu stays on the floor, chest heaving, bond stretched thin and screaming, one thought hammering through all of them as the scent of burnt sugar refuses to fade.

 

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

 

What the hell just happened?

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 10: 8

Summary:

Kang Taehyun deals with the consequences of his inaction.

Notes:

trigger warning: tears, mucus, saliva, and many more :D

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Hm.” Kai puts his hands on his hips, head tilted as he surveys his room. Ten months of living packed into four walls— ten months of the pack flooding his space without knocking, like they belonged here. Like he belonged.

 

They’d crowded him on purpose: Beomgyu flopping onto his bed with plushies he “accidentally” won at arcades, Soobin tucking blankets around him and turning him into a personal body pillow, Yeonjun lingering at his vanity just to be watched while he’s getting ready, Taehyun reading quietly beside him while Kai typed, their shoulders brushing. 

 

Warmth layered over warmth, until the room forgot it was ever a guest room.

 

Now it’s cluttered with evidence— stuff that isn’t his, comfort he never asked to receive but learned to reach for anyway. Plushies, books, makeup, shared air. A safe haven carved out of something temporary. Kai swallows, chest tightening, because he understands what this means.

 

And now, inevitably— he has to leave.

 

The beta sighs, hushed and wistful, letting his gaze sweep the room one last time before forcing himself to move. He drags out two gym bags— the same worn ones from before he ever stepped foot into this house— and sets them on the bed. 

 

This is it. Proof that this was always meant to be transient. He opens the closet and works mechanically, folding his clothes with care, hands steady even as his chest falters. He hesitates only once, fingers brushing fabric that isn’t his. 

 

One piece from each of them— Yeonjun’s tank top, Soobin’s hoodie, Beomgyu’s sweater, Taehyun’s shirt. They still smell like them. Charged. Lived-in. Kai bites his lip hard as he folds them, tucking them into the corner of the bag like contraband.

 

Surely they won't mind if a few clothes go missing, right?

 

He doesn’t take the rest. The gifts. The clothes they bought for him without asking. Wearing them would hurt too much— seeing reminders stitched into fabric, knowing he was never meant to keep them. 

 

He shouldn’t have expected permanence. He’s a beta. A convenience that overstayed its welcome. Kai zips the bags shut with unstable hands, tears slipping freely now, clouding everything together. 

 

Two gym bags. That’s all ten months amounts to. Ten months of passion he didn’t earn, of happiness he borrowed. 

 

It’s over.

 

Kai puffs, eyes lingering on the plushies crowded across the bed. They don’t even fit anymore, swallowing half the mattress like they’ve multiplied overnight. One by one, he leans down and presses a kiss to each head. 

 

“Bye, Tobinnie,” the beta murmurs, brushing his thumb through the fur of the largest one. It smells overwhelmingly like Soobin, floral and musky, and the scent cracks something open in his chest. He sobs before he can stop himself.

 

The bunny stares back at him, glassy-eyed, absurdly earnest, like it’s begging him to stay. Kai sniffs and shakes his head, swallowing hard. Ridiculous. Heartbreak has finally made him delusional— seeking comfort in stitched smiles and stuffing. 

 

Still, he lingers a moment longer before pulling away. In the end, he chooses Pingu. The small penguin Taehyun had won after spending far more than it was worth at the arcade, stubborn until he finally succeeded. 

 

Its caramel-brown fabric is worn soft from being held, its scent faint but recognizable— sweet, fading, ten days without being refreshed. The beta cradles it carefully and presses a kiss to its cheek. “I’m taking you with me,” he whispers, setting it atop his gym bag.

 

Kai circles around and makes the room look untouched, like the day he arrived. The pack’s things go back to the vanity, neatly arranged, proof of shared space returned to its owners. The plushies remain on the bed, waiting. 

 

He doesn’t know what they’ll do with them once he’s gone— or if they’ll offer to let him take them. He wouldn’t even know where to put them. Kai exhales, mind already racing ahead. Somewhere to sleep, just for a short while. Maybe Yuna’s couch. Maybe Renjun’s spare room. 

 

They’d offered, kindly, anyway. Maybe his friend had a hunch that he’d need it someday. Kai hadn’t believed it would happen so soon. The future looms uncertain and thin, but he tells himself he’ll manage. He always does.

 

Maybe he’ll take a break from working. The thought drifts in uninvited, heavy and strange. Being rendered useless has left him… untethered. With nothing to do but think, the silence turned cruel. It all became too much.

 

Kai’s salary— he clings to the numbers like a lifeline, rolling them over and over in his head until they blur together. Six months of rent, if he’s careful.

 

A small place, nothing fancy. Enough left over for secondhand furniture, a mattress that doesn’t sag too badly, a cheap kettle, maybe a table if he’s lucky.

 

He does the math obsessively, recalculating it from different angles as if the outcome might change if he thinks hard enough. They were generous bosses. Too generous, sometimes.

 

Bonuses slipped into his account without warning, praise given freely, concern tucked into casual questions about whether he’d eaten yet, whether he was getting enough rest. They never made him feel like he had to earn their kindness— just their trust.

 

And they were more than bosses.

 

They were Kai's anchor.

 

The reason he woke up early without resentment. The reason the beta pushed himself to do better, to take initiative instead of waiting to be told what to do.

 

They taught him how to lead quietly, how to be dependable without being asked, how to exist in a space without taking more than he was given.

 

They showed Kai— without ever saying it outright— that he could matter through care, through consistency, through staying. They gave him a place. A home.

 

And now the realization churns acid in his stomach, a sour wave threatening to rise. If the beta leaves, it won’t just be a change in address. It’ll be the loss of routine, of purpose, of being needed in a way that felt gentle instead of transactional.

 

The thought feels undeserved— too ruthless for something he never realized he was relying on so deeply. He presses his lips together, breath hitching. Six months of rent isn’t the terrifying part.

 

It’s the emptiness that comes after.

 

His vision muddies completely, tears spilling over as he bawls, loud and unguarded, like a child who’s finally run out of places to hide. Kai scrubs at his face, sniffling, grabs a towel with shaking hands. The bathroom light is too bright, the mirror unforgiving. 

 

A cold shower, he decides. To numb the swelling, the heat in his eyes. A sensation that could ground him. As the door clicks shut behind him, the truth settles in, quiet and final.

 

Ah. It really is time for him to leave.

 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Taehyun paces the length of the hallway, steps short and restless, eyes flicking back to Kai’s door every few seconds. He gnaws at his nailbeds until the skin stings, teeth scraping in a way that barely calms him. 

 

If the others were here, they’d scold him— tell him to stop— but they aren’t, so he keeps going.

 

What should he say?

How should he say it?

 

Every answer he comes up with feels wrong, insufficient, not enough to erase all the pain he caused. The memory of Kai’s face flashed unbidden— hurt, confused, trying so hard to be understanding while something in him collapsed little by little. 

 

Taehyun’s chest aches at it. He watched the beta whenever he thinks he isn’t being seen, aching to touch him, to pull him close and say it wasn’t your fault. That he never hated him. Not for a second.

 

But his wolf is stubborn. Still curled around the memory of rejection at the peak of pre-heat, still licking its wounds like they’re fresh. The omega was hurt too— but he knows the truth of it. What happened wasn’t right. 

 

Letting the animalistic side of him lead, asking Kai to step in before the pack had talked, before consent was clear. The regret burns hotter than the hurt ever did. Days were spent arguing with his own mind, trying to coax his wolf out of its corner. 

 

He doesn’t hate us, Taehyun had insisted. Just stop and look at him. Kai gazed at the pack like they hung the stars, like they gave him a place in the world. But the wolf only snarled, retreating deeper whenever he drifted too close to the beta.

 

The shame radiates now, ferocious and adamant, mixed with longing. Every time Taehyun thinks of Kai, his heart twinges painfully, like it’s being reminded that it had lost someone so precious.

 

Are you still angry?

The wolf chuffs in response, closer than before. Sulking, yes— but no longer baring its teeth.

Help me, then. Taehyun swallows. Help me say it right.

The wolf whimpers and hides its face behind a paw.

 

“Your fault,” Taehyun mutters under his breath, then exhales sharply. “Think of something. I’m knocking now. And don’t you dare block me out, or I’m suppressing you for a month.” He steels himself and knocks. 

 

“Hueningie?” Nothing. The omega knocks again, louder, heart stuttering. Presses his ear to the door and hears it— water hitting tile, muffled and steady. 

 

Will he mind if I just… go in?

 

Taehyun hesitates, counting seconds, imagining Kai’s face twisted in anger— or worse, politeness. That awkward smile where the left corner of his mouth twitches, eyes unsteady, body folding in on itself as if trying to take up less space. 

 

Goosebumps prickled his arms, chills racing despite the heat. He shakes his head, and his caramel scent dulls in the air, sweetness turning flat at the implication. After three minutes that feel like thirty, he exhales shakily and turns the knob. 

 

The room looks… wrong. Too clean. Too empty.

 

Kai’s scent is gone— no matcha, no sign of him— only the cloying jasmine of the air freshener they use to erase traces. Taehyun’s fingers dig into his skin as guilt floods him, thick and choking.

 

They did this.

 

I did this.

 

His jaw tightens, the resolve hardening through the discomfort.

Now— he’ll fix it.

 

The omega takes a few steps toward the bed, still numb, still trying to steady his breathing— then his toe bumps into something soft. Taehyun barely registers it at first. Then he looks down.

 

There it is.

 

A bag.

No— two of them. Slumped at the foot of the bed with Pingu on top.

 

Taehyun knows immediately. He would recognize it anywhere— the faint trace of matcha clinging to the fabric, muted but unmistakable. His knees give out. The omega hits the floor hard, breath knocking out of his body as if a sharp object punctured him in the lungs.

 

His wolf screams.

 

The sound rips through his head, loud and raw, echoing until his skull throbs. It howls like it lost its mate, the despair and betrayal so violent it makes Taehyun clutch at his temples. “Oh my God,” he wheezes, fingers curling into the carpet as air refuses to fill his lungs.

 

Tears spill freely as his eyes flicker— honey-brown to violent red, then back again— switching so fast his vision stutters and cuts to black. His wolf claws its way up, desperate to surface, to apologize, kneel, bare its throat and beg Kai not to leave, remorse spilling raw and feral. 

 

The omega fights it, teeth clenched, forcing himself to stay ‘him’, even as the strain steals his sight entirely for a heartbeat. "F—fuck." When the world bleeds back in, he still can’t breathe properly. 

 

Taehyun’s heart feels split open, breaths shallow and faltering, pain ripping through him from the inside out— loneliness, fear, and the sickening certainty that this might be a mistake he’ll never be forgiven for.

 

They’re being rejected.

They’re being left behind.

 

“No, no, no, no—” he whispers, gags, the manifestation of Kai’s rejection making him physically sick. The pain is everywhere now— his ribs, his throat, his heart— festering, spreading, unstoppable.

 

And the worst part?

He can’t even pretend this came out of nowhere.

 

Of course Kai is leaving. Of course he is. Being ignored. Not being looked in the eye. Being avoided so deliberately it poisoned the air in the house. 

 

Taehyun had watched the tension coil tighter every day, had felt the pack being forced into stillness, into waiting— unable to mediate a fight that only he could fix.

 

He did this.

 

His wolf howls again, louder this time, the sound ringing until Taehyun squeezes his eyes shut, sobbing like it might silence it. "S—stop. I—ugh. You're not... helping!" It cries like a creature abandoned, betrayed by its own hesitation, by fear masquerading as caution.

 

“No,” Taehyun gasps, fingers shaking as he clutches his chest, voice breaking as a cough wracks his body, bitter and choking. 

 

No— Huening Kai— he’s— he can’t—

 

The words won’t finish. His throat closes around them, grief choking him whole as the bags sit there, silent and damning.

 

Too late.

Taehyun was too late.

Huening Kai hates them and he’s leaving and—

 

“Taehyun, baby. Look at me.” The voice reaches for him through the fog, warped and distant, like it’s underwater. He can hear it, recognize it, but his body refuses to respond. He physically can’t. 

 

Taehyun’s vision flickers uselessly, red threatening to bloom before collapsing into black again, and all that’s left is sensation— raw and unbearable. He’s ugly crying. There’s no dignity left in it. 

 

His breaths come in choking, violent bursts, coughs tearing out of his throat as if his lungs are trying to reject the air altogether. Tears, snot, and saliva soak his face, drip down his chin, smearing into the neckline of his shirt. 

 

The scent he spills into the room is wrong— acrid, burnt sugar and salt, sharp enough to sting the nose, thick enough to taste. Panic. Guilt. Loss. Taehyun clutches Pingu to his chest, holding it so tightly the plush bends and warps under his grip. 

 

His fingers quiver, knuckles white, like if he lets go of anything— anything— he’ll shatter completely. “Sweetheart, please?” Yeonjun’s voice breaks. 

 

“Come back to me. To us.” Delicate hands finally close around him, hesitant at first, then solid, arms wrapping tight as if trying to hold Taehyun together by sheer will. 

 

"Shhh. It's okay, honey." The Pack omega’s hands are shaking too, his scent fraying at the edges as he presses kisses to Taehyun’s damp hair, his temple, his cheek— anywhere he can reach. By the door, Soobin stays frozen. 

 

His wolf is pacing, anxious, whining to step in, to soothe, to fix, but he holds himself back. An Alpha’s presence right now might only agitate Taehyun’s wolf further. So he lets Yeonjun lead, lets him do what he does best— anchor, soften, absorb.

 

“He’s leaving,” Taehyun wails, words tearing out of him in broken pieces. “He’s— I can’t— this— it’s my fault.” The omega hiccups continuously, wiping at his face with the heel of his hand, only smearing everything further. 

 

His chest feels like it’s caving in, ribs splintering inward, every breath scraping raw. Yeonjun pushes his scent out deliberately, a steady hum beneath the chaos. He wills himself to stay calm even as the pain in his heart swells, relentless and excruciating. 

 

His eyes flick to the side— and then he sees it.

 

The mess.

 

Clothes, opened bags. The plushie Taehyun had won him at the arcade.

 

Yeonjun’s throat tightens. A quiet, wounded whimper slips from him before he can stop it, his scent souring by the second. The image lodges itself behind his eyes: Kai alone in this room, crying silently, trying to be small even in his departure.

 

The thought of Kai deserting them hurts. Deeply. Sharply.

It feels like loss already— like grief he hasn’t been given permission to mourn.

 

But not now.

Not more than this.

 

Because Taehyun is breaking in his arms. Soobin feels it too. His anguish bleeds across the bond, heavy and suffocating, curling around his throat until it steals his breath. A low growl vibrates in his chest, helpless frustration gnawing at his instincts. 

 

Soobin wants to move, to take control, to fix it the only way Alphas know how— but he doesn’t. He digs his fingernails into his palms instead, distracting himself in pain until blood slicks his skin. 

 

Anything is better than frightening Taehyun further, better than pushing his omega’s wolf into panic. Yeonjun closes his eyes and forces himself to recalibrate, trying to ignore the smell of blood unfurling. 

 

Later, he tells himself. I'll help Soobin later. Later I will fall apart over Kai. Later I will beg, apologize, explain, do whatever it takes to bring him back. But right now, Taehyun needs him whole. Present. Steady.

 

He exhales slowly, pushing calm through the bond despite how it trembles, and refocuses entirely on the omega in his arms. Yeonjun cradles the back of Taehyun’s head, fingers threading gently through damp hair, pressing their foreheads together like an anchor.

 

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, voice low and sure even as his heart fractures in his chest. “You’re not alone. We’re here. We’ll fix this— but first, breathe with me. Okay?” And for now— just for now— Kai’s scattered clothes remain on the floor, waiting.

 

“Taehyun, baby,” Yeonjun mumbles. “Listen to me. It’s not your fault. Not yours. Not anyone’s.” The omega shakes his head weakly, denial fierce and desperate, shoulders quaking as his wolf howls inside his skull— loud, brokenhearted, thinking that it lost its mate.

 

“We can talk to him,” Yeonjun continues softly. 

 

“We can apologize. Explain everything. We’re not letting him leave without telling him the truth, okay? We won’t. Hm?” He kisses Taehyun’s face again and again, wiping tears from swollen eyes, hands gentle but insistent, grounding him where he is.

 

“So breathe with me,” Yeonjun coaxes him. “Just for now. We’ll fix this— together.”

 

“Hyung— hyung, he can’t— I lo—” The words never make it out. Taehyun doubles over with a violent cough, wheezing so hard his whole body jerks, breath scraping his throat raw. His chest seizes, panic clawing higher, vision blurring again as his wolf surges in grief.

 

“Fuck this.” Soobin moves before anyone can stop him. Two long strides and he’s there, fingers snapping around Taehyun’s wrist, grip tight enough to sting. The air shifts instantly— pressure flooding the room, sharp and metallic, unmistakable in its authority. 

 

His control of the pack rolls outward like a breaking wave, making the walls feel too close, the ceiling too low. “Kang Taehyun.” Soobin’s voice drops. Cold. Absolute. A tone he almost never uses. “Stop,” he commands. Then, quieter— but heavier. “Stop crying. Think rationally.”

 

The Alpha command slams into him like a wall. Taehyun’s body locks up on instinct alone. Muscles seize. Breath catches halfway in, throat closing as submission overrides everything else. The sob cuts off mid-sound, leaving behind only a sharp hitch of air and trembling silence. 

 

His eyes go wide and glassy, unfocused, as if he’s been pulled abruptly out of himself. “I’m not going to blame you for letting your wolf take over back then,” Soobin mutters, jaw tight, eyes burning electric blue. 

 

“You were vulnerable. Your hormones were out of control.” His grip tightens just a fraction. “But not now, Kang Taehyun. This—” He exhales sharply through his nose. “This is what happens when we keep putting that conversation off.”

 

Inside his head, his wolf prowls, restless and impatient, scolding him for making their mate submit while he's in distress.

It had to be done.

It growls low, circling the thought, claws scraping against his skull.

We can’t move forward if we keep hesitating like this.

 

Taehyun bites back a whine, the sound strangled before it can escape. He looks up at the Alpha, eyes shining, helpless and raw beneath that electric gaze. “Hyung—” Soobin shushes him immediately.

 

The command melts away as fast as it came, power retracting like a tide pulling back from shore. His hand loosens, thumb brushing over Taehyun’s wrist as if to erase the sting. 

 

He wipes the tears from the omega’s face with reverent care, presses a soft kiss to his damp cheek, then another. “I’m so sorry,” Soobin murmurs, voice breaking around the edges now. “I’m so sorry for using it, my love.” His forehead rests briefly against Taehyun’s. 

 

“But you understand, right?” Taehyun nods, sniffling, body finally allowed to shake again. “I’m sorry too,” he whispers, voice small. The sudden quiet feels wrong— worse than the crying. “That was inappropriate,” Yeonjun snarls.

 

He’s already there, pulling their mate out of Soobin’s reach and into his arms, hands immediately moving in slow, deliberate circles over his back. His scent blooms outward, grounding, thick with protection as he presses it forward to buffer the lingering shock.

 

Taehyun clings to him weakly, fingers fisting into Yeonjun’s shirt like it’s the only solid thing left in the room. Tears still slip down his cheeks, silent now, unvoiced, his body stunned into compliance.

 

“It was necessary.” The voice cuts through the space. They all turn.

 

Beomgyu stands in the doorway, arms crossed, expression tight, jaw clenched hard enough to ache. His scent is controlled but strained, anxiety threaded through it like a live wire. “We’ve made the pup wait long enough,” He says quietly. 

 

“If we still want to fix this, we have to talk to him. Really talk to him. Tell him everything.” The young Alpha crouches in front of them, bringing himself eye-level with Taehyun. His hands come up, big and steady, cupping Taehyun’s face, thumbs brushing away tears without comment.

 

“Do you want Kai to leave?” The answer is instant. Violent. The omega shakes his head so hard his neck strains, eyes burning, lips trembling. “Then we explain,” Beomgyu says softly. 

 

“We apologize. We ask for forgiveness. Grovel if we have to.” Taehyun nods, shoulders trembling, tears dripping off his chin. “I want to do it on my own,” he whispers hoarsely. 

 

“I want the two of us to be alone first.” Soobin hesitates, Alpha instincts bristling— until Beomgyu smiles faintly, leans in, kisses Taehyun’s nose, then his lips. It’s brief, loving, intimate.

 

“Take all the time you need, my adorable, disgusting baby,” He murmurs fondly. “You have snot all over your pretty face. Gross.” Beomgyu pinches Taehyun’s cheek lightly. “Again. Inappropriate,” Yeonjun mutters. “Oh, shut it,” the young Alpha shoots back, grimacing. 

 

“My heart still hurts, you know? If it ain't obvious yet, my emotions are in tune with his.” He points at his mate, who just smiles apologetically, drained from the fight.

 

Beomgyu straightens, voice turning serious again. “Get cleaned up. Compose yourself. Organize your thoughts. Tell him what you really feel.” His emerald eyes soften. “I love you. We love you. Let’s do this right. Okay?”

 

Taehyun nods. “Okay. I’m sorry—” Soobin shakes his head, gentler now, thumb brushing his knuckles. “Not to us, sweetheart. To him.” The omega bites his lip, nodding again, shame curling deep in his chest.

 

“We’ll— fold his clothes,” Yeonjun offers quietly. He grabs wet wipes, hands them over. “Sit on the bed, my love. We’ll be out before you know it.” Both Yeonjun and Soobin smother Taehyun with kisses before guiding him to sit. 

 

The bed dips beneath his weight, exhaustion settling into his bones like lead.

 

Beomgyu is already folding Kai’s clothes, movements precise, almost robotic. He avoids the bags entirely, placing each folded piece neatly on the bed instead, as if refusing to acknowledge the possibility they represent. His breathing is still quick, shallow.

 

“How are you feeling?” Soobin asks, kneeling beside him, voice low. Beomgyu stares at the floor, hands trembling in his lap. “Like I’m fucking dying.” He exhales shakily. He can feel it— every jagged edge of Taehyun’s pain, every fracture in his heart. 

 

The only reason his mate is upright at all is the Alpha order still pressing him into forced calm.

 

Because underneath it—

 

Taehyun's heart is still splitting in two.

And his scent says so, thick and putrid with despair.

 

"What about you? I can smell the blood, you know?" Soobin shakes his head. "Just a scratch. Nothing to worry about." The young Alpha clicks his tongue, inspecting the wound. "My poor mate. You did your best holding back. Let's get that patched up once we're done." Beomgyu murmurs, kissing the inside of his wrist.

 

The Pack Alpha sighs, nuzzling mate's neck and scraping his teeth over the skin. “Do you want some water?” He asks, voice gruff and raspy. Beomgyu grunts, already half-turned toward the door.

 

“I want some kisses and cuddles,” he whispers dully, words slurring together through exhaustion and agony. His head lolls against the side of the bed. “Water is fine too, I guess. Actually…” His brow furrows. 

 

“I think I’ll have a beer.” Soobin rolls his eyes, exasperation threading through the worry. “We’ll have to be quick, then.” Yeonjun hums, zipping the second gym bag shut. 

 

“Let’s scent this when everything turns out fine.” He glances toward the bed, toward Taehyun, then at the folded clothes laid carefully on the mattress. Hope trembles at the edges of his voice, frail and weakening by the second.

 

“Will everything be alright?” the Pack omega asks anyway— quieter now, softer, like he’s afraid the question itself might fracture whatever fragile peace they’ve managed to hold together.

 

Soobin’s head snaps toward him instantly. “Shh.” His eyes narrow, sharp with warning, not unkind but deadly serious. “Let's not— talk about this right now.”

 

Yeonjun flinches. “Sorry!” he squeaks. He follows Soobin’s gaze back to Taehyun— and both luckily and unluckily, the omega is already gone somewhere far away.

 

His eyes are open but unfocused, irises dull, staring through the ceiling like it isn’t there. His body is still, too still, like he’s braced for impact that never comes. He’s not crying anymore. He’s not shaking.

 

He’s dissociating.

 

The sight makes Soobin’s chest ache. “Are you sure we should leave him alone?” he asks, voice low, bitten through with worry. He chews on the inside of his cheek, his wolf pacing anxiously in his skull. It wants to curl around Taehyun, to shield him, to drag him back into the pack’s warmth.

 

“He’s— he looks wrecked. It feels… wrong.” Beomgyu nods slowly, eyes never leaving Taehyun. “I know,” he murmurs. “But this is what Tyun needs the most right now. We’ve hovered, we’ve tried to help in a way we know how. This part?” His jaw tightens. “This part has to be just them.”

 

Yeonjun leans into him, resting his head against Beomgyu’s shoulder. His scent wavers, sweet but anxious. “He’s right,” he says softly. “Tyunnie is much stronger than we give him credit for. And… he knew the implications of what he did. We have to let him face it. I just—” His voice trembles.

 

“I hope we’re not too late. I really, really want this to work.” Beomgyu presses a gentle kiss to the Pack omega's temple, lingering there a second longer than usual.

 

“We’ll be okay,” he says firmly, not just to Yeonjun but to himself, to the room, to the invisible thread tying all of them together. As if saying it out loud might make it real.

 

But his eyes drift back to Taehyun anyway.

 

The bond hums uneasily, stretched thin, vibrating with distress. Beomgyu closes his eyes and reaches for it, slipping into the mind link.

 

Tyun, he sends gently. Just know that I love you. Whatever happens in there, it doesn’t change what you are to us. You still take priority. You’re our mate.

 

The response comes slow, heavy with guilt.

 

I know, hyung. It just… feels wrong. That Kai had to go through all of that alone. Because of me, he—

 

Enough, Beomgyu cuts in, not harsh but unyielding. No more circling the guilt. No more hiding behind regret. If you want him to know how you feel, say it to him. Our time to apologize will come. Our time to beg, to repent, to make it right— that’s later.

 

There’s a pause. The bond trembles.

 

For now, Beomgyu adds, softer, let the Mood Goddess guide you. Let her guide Kai back to us. He withdraws from the link, blinking as the world snaps back into place. Taehyun is still there, still lost in his own head, but the faintest flicker of awareness stirs behind his eyes.

 

The Alpha exhales slowly.

 

Now it’s up to them.

 

Beomgyu waves a hand toward the room. “Come on. I love Taehyun and all, but it stinks in here.” He coughs exaggeratedly, pinching his nose.

 

Yeonjun snorts. “You really have no ounce of decorum in you.” Before he can retort, The Pack omega scoops him up bridal-style without warning. The Alpha yelps, arms instinctively looping around his neck.

 

“Oh, save me,” Beomgyu sings dramatically, “my omega in shining armor.” Yeonjun grimaces but still presses loud, obnoxious kisses all over his mate’s face as he carries him toward the door. “You’re unbearable,” he mutters fondly.

 

They’re halfway out when Yeonjun pauses. “Kang Taehyun.” Taehyun blinks slowly, dragging himself back into his body, eyes lifting with effort. His throat feels raw, his chest still aching, but he listens.

 

“We love you,” they all say together. The words land heavy and anchoring. “Love you too,” Taehyun replies quietly, voice barely there but sincere, eyes shining again. They nod at him— Soobin lingers a heartbeat longer than the others— before stepping out. 

 

The door closes softly behind them, the click final but not cruel. It doesn’t slam. It doesn’t hesitate. Just a gentle sound that leaves Taehyun alone with his thoughts— and the wreckage of them.

 

The room falls silent.

 

Too silent.

 

The omega exhales shakily and slumps back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling like it might give him answers. His chest still aches, a deep, lingering pain that hasn’t dulled even after the crying. 

 

Taehyun’s wolf curls tight inside him, wounded and whimpering, pressing its weight against his ribs like it’s afraid to be abandoned all over again. Everything still hurts. The bond still throbs, tender and raw, every pulse a reminder of what he almost lost. 

 

Of what he is losing, if he doesn’t move fast enough.

 

But— he can do this.

 

He swallows, fists clenching into the sheets as he forces his breathing to steady. One breath in. One breath out. The world doesn’t end just because it feels like it might. He can fix it. Fix the silence he created. Fix the distance. 

 

Fix the damage done by fear and pride and a wolf that didn’t know how to ask for comfort without demanding it. Fix the way the omega looked away, the days he chose avoidance over honesty, the way Kai must have shrunk into himself believing it was all his fault.

 

Taehyun squeezes his eyes shut.

 

“I’ll fix it,” he whispers into the empty room, the words trembling but sincere. A promise, not just to Kai— but to himself, to his wolf, to the fragile future he still believes in. Bring everything back to where it’s supposed to be.

 

Bring him back.

 

And this time—

he won’t look away.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

thoughts? feelings?

Chapter 11: 8.5

Summary:

huening kai talks it out with the pack.

Notes:

hi! so, the edging is finally done (for this arc, anyway). enjoy :)

[also, i wonder if the ao3 update curse is really true. i'm sick again, hacking up a lung. it's not fun. i cough more than i breathe. please send help (┬┬﹏┬┬)]

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The first thing Kai notices when he steps out of the bathroom is the smell.

 

It hits him hard enough that he freezes mid-stride— bitter, poignant caramel scorched past sweetness, harsh and choking at the back of his throat. 

 

It clings to the air, thick and overwhelming, distress so concentrated it almost feels visible. His heart lurches when he finds Taehyun there in the flesh. The omega is curled on the bed like a child, clutching Pingu to his chest. 

 

The beta’s clothes are bunched beneath Taehyun’s head, twisted into a pitiful excuse for a pillow, darkened by tears and mucus, the fabric clinging to his cheek like it’s the only thing keeping him tethered. 

 

The sight hits the beta somewhere deep and ugly, a hard pull behind his sternum that makes it hard to breathe. Those are his clothes. Clothes that smelled like him. Things Taehyun chose in his panic, clutched without thinking.

 

The omega’s shoulders tremble with every breath he manages to drag in, shallow and uneven, coughs stuttering out of him as he tries— and fails— to stay quiet. 

 

Each one sounds like it hurts, like his body is rebelling against him, crushing under the weight of everything he’s been holding back. Taehyun’s fingers are tight around the fabric, knuckles pale, grip desperate, as if letting go would make the floor drop out from under him.

 

His eyes are unfocused, barely seeing what’s in front of him. The irises flicker erratically from red to honey-brown and back again, so fast it almost looks like a malfunction, like his body can’t decide which part of him is allowed to exist right now. 

 

The wolf surges, then recedes. Over and over. The rapid switching makes Kai’s chest ache just looking at it— each flash of red a plea, each return to brown an attempt at control that’s clearly failing.

 

This is nothing like Taehyun from the past week.

 

Not the omega who couldn’t meet his gaze, who stiffened and looked away like eye contact itself was a mistake. Not the one who avoided him so carefully it felt intentional, surgical— every sidestep carving doubt into Kai’s ribs. 

 

That Taehyun had been distant, closed off and yet, somehow manageable. This one isn’t. This one is falling apart. This is devastation— raw and unfiltered, laid bare in shaking breaths and ruined fabric.

 

The beta doesn’t think. He doesn’t give himself time to remember the bags, the leaving, the fear of being rejected. His body moves before his mind can catch up, instinct overriding dread. 

 

Kai crosses the room in seconds, barefoot, dripping, towel barely secured around his waist as water trails down his spine and pools onto the floor.

 

“Tyun—” His voice trembles. “Why are you— what’s wrong?” Taehyun startles, hazy and blurry eyes snapping to Kai as if he isn’t real. For one awful second, he just stares— then his face crumples completely.

 

“Hueningie.” That’s all it takes.

 

Taehyun collapses, sobs tearing out of him, raw and uncontrolled. He coughs, choking on his own breaths, clinging tighter to the plushie until its seams strain. The beta’s heart stutters painfully as he kneels in front of the bed.

 

It’s not a neat movement— Kai nearly trips over his own foot, palms scraping against the mattress as he steadies himself. His hands are shaking when he finally reaches out, fingers hovering for half a second like he’s afraid he might break Taehyun just by touching him.

 

“Hey— hey,” The beta murmurs softly, urgently, thumbs brushing over Taehyun’s cheeks, wiping away tears faster than they can fall. The omega’s skin is hot and cold at the same time, feverish beneath his touch. “I’m here. I’ve got you.” 

 

Kai lets his scent rise without meaning to, the only comfort he knows how to offer— dull, bitter matcha, heavy with distress. It’s uneven, fraying at the edges, nothing like the steady, enveloping reassurance an Alpha could provide. 

 

“Hueningie.” Seeing Taehyun like this— really seeing him break, unravel in a way Kai hasn’t witnessed before— has worry clamping his ribs, a tight coil squeezing rhythm from his heart. Obviously, it doesn’t help.

 

The omega keeps crying, his whole body trembling like he’s freezing from the inside out, as if winter has lodged itself somewhere beneath his skin and refuses to leave. Taehyun’s breaths come out jagged and uneven, each inhale hitching painfully before breaking into the next. 

 

His claws dig into the bedding, fabric bunching beneath his grip as he fights with his own animal— muscles locking, shoulders jerking, jaw clenched so tight it looks like it hurts. 

 

It’s a losing battle, his wolf snarling and thrashing beneath the surface, demanding release, demanding something Taehyun doesn’t know how to give without making things worse.

 

“Tyun, please,” Kai pleads quietly, the word slipping out cracked despite his best effort to keep it steady. He hates how unsure it sounds. Hates how desperate. But he can’t bring himself to care— not when Taehyun looks like this.

 

He reaches for the omega’s hands and stills when he sees them properly. The skin around Taehyun’s nail beds is torn and angry, red and swollen where he’s chewed himself raw without even noticing. 

 

Kai’s chest tightens painfully. A soft, broken sound leaves him before he can stop it, halfway between a whimper and a breath. “Hey… hey,” he murmurs, cupping Taehyun’s fingers carefully, like fragile glass.

 

He presses a kiss to each fingertip, one by one, lips lingering as if he can soothe the damage away by sheer will alone. Salt and iron touch his tongue. He shushes him softly between kisses, thumb brushing over trembling knuckles, touching wherever he can.

 

“Tell me what’s wrong,” Kai whispers, cheek nuzzling Taehyun’s thigh, his voice gentler now, coaxing. “Please. I can’t help you if I don’t know.” His breath stutters, the next words spilling out before he can catch them, fear overriding sense. “Was it something I did?”

 

The question hangs there, naked and trembling, and Kai hates himself for asking it— but he can’t stop. “If it was, tell me. I’ll fix it. I promise I will.” His voice drops further, stripped bare of pretense, of composure. 

 

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.” The beta’s hands cup Taehyun’s face now, thumbs trembling. “Can you tell me how I’ll make it better? I— I don’t like seeing you like this, Tyun.” He swallows hard. “It’s hurting me.” Taehyun shakes his head violently, hair sticking to his damp cheeks.

 

“No— no—” he gasps, words spilling out between sobs, tangled and frantic. “It’s me. I— I did this. I don’t want you to leave.” His voice breaks completely. “Please— I don’t want you to go. I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Please don’t leave.” 

 

The omega’s hands clutch desperately at Kai’s wrist now, grip bruising in its panic. “I know I did this,” Taehyun wails. “I know I deserve it, but please—” The words hit Kai like a physical blow. 

 

His breath leaves him in a shaky exhale, stomach coiling tight in uncertainty, nausea threading through jumbled worries. “I thought you hated me,” Kai whispers, the words barely audible, like a confession he never meant to make.

 

He tips Taehyun’s chin up, forcing him to look, even as his own vision blurs. 

 

“Tyun,” the beta says softly, desperately. “Have you come to hate me?” Kai’s voice wobbles. The omega lets out a broken sound at that— a whine, raw and wounded, like the words physically tear through him. His head shakes again, denial written into every line of his body.

 

If Kai were an Alpha, he’d know exactly what to do. He’d grab Taehyun by the nape, firm but careful, grounding him in one decisive motion. He’d mouth over his scent gland, flooding the room with reassurance and claim, purring low and steady until the fear eased. 

 

He’d wrap Taehyun in certainty so absolute, his wolf would have no room left for doubt.

 

But Kai is a beta.

 

So he kneels there instead— damp from the shower, shaking from adrenaline and fear— wiping tears he can’t soothe away. He whispers apologies he doesn’t fully understand, promises he doesn’t know if he’s allowed to make. His hands are gentle, clumsy, painfully insufficient.

 

Useless.

 

His heart is open, bleeding quietly in his chest, and it’s useless too. Once again, Kai is reminded of how little power he has in this world. How easily he can be thrown away. How easily he can be forgotten.

 

Even now.

 

“How could I ever hate you, Kai?” Taehyun whimpers, the words breaking apart as soon as they leave his mouth. His scent shifts immediately— burnt caramel dulled down, losing its sharp edge, melting into something bruised and aching. 

 

It hangs heavy in the air, thick with regret. “Even the thought of you feeling that way,” he continues shakily, “hurts me in more ways than you can imagine.” Kai swallows hard. The lump in his throat refuses to go down, no matter how many times he tries. 

 

“I thought you wanted me to leave,” he admits quietly, each word scraped raw on the way out. “I thought that’s what you wanted.” His fingers curl tighter into the towel at his waist, knuckles whitening. 

 

“I thought you didn’t need me anymore.” A pause. Then, smaller— almost ashamed— “That… there’s no place for me here.” The omega’s head shakes fiercely before Kai even finishes speaking, curls bouncing with the motion. 

 

Taehyun leans forward suddenly, pressing his forehead into Kai’s shoulder like he can’t stay upright without anchoring himself there. His tears soak into Kai’s skin, hot and relentless, his grip tightening like a reflex.

 

“Where else do you belong but here?” Taehyun asks vulnerably, arms slipping around Kai’s neck in a clumsy, desperate hug. It’s not graceful. It’s not composed. It’s the kind of embrace born out of fear.

 

Kai’s breath stutters. “I’m not sure,” he whispers. He’s never been sure. Not really. He learned early not to expect permanence, not to assume that warmth was something meant to stay. 

 

Kindness, stability, affection— those were things that could vanish overnight if you relied on them too much. Ten months with them had felt unreal, like something borrowed from another life. Too warm. Too gentle. Too fragile to hold onto without consequence.

 

“I’m sorry,” Kai murmurs again, the apology automatic now, etched into muscle memory. “It’s okay,” he adds quickly. “It was going to end, one way or another.” Taehyun pulls back sharply at that, eyes wide and glassy, disbelief flashing across his face.

 

“No.” His voice firms despite the tremble running through it. “It’s not going to end.” His jaw sets, determination fighting through the exhaustion. “Nothing is.” He draws a shaky breath, calming himself before continuing.

 

“I’m sorry,” Taehyun says again, slower this time. “For avoiding you. For acting like a coward.” He forces himself to meet Kai’s gaze, even though his eyes are red and swimming. “I want to apologize for how I behaved these past few days.”

 

His fingers fidget restlessly in his lap, picking at skin, twisting together, unable to stay still.

 

“I knew it wasn’t right,” Taehyun admits. “I got ahead of myself. I asked something of you that wasn’t appropriate— something we hadn’t talked about as a pack yet.” His lips tremble. “I let my hormones take over. My wolf.”

 

It whimpers faintly in his mind, a pitiful, regret-soaked sound that makes his chest ache. “I knew you were in a position where you could’ve said yes just to make me happy,” Taehyun continues softly. 

 

“And I don’t want that. I never want to force you into anything you don’t want.” He reaches up, fingers brushing through Kai’s damp hair. A fragile laugh slips out, broken at the edges. “That’s not what I want. Not for you. Not for us.”

 

The tight coil in Kai’s chest loosens— just a little. Enough that he can breathe without it hurting so badly. His shoulders sag, relief seeping in, unsteady but real.

 

He isn’t hated. He was never hated. If anything… he was wanted too much.

 

Right. Of course.

 

It makes sense. Omegas were sensitive during pre-heat. Emotions sharpened, instincts roared louder than logic. His rejection must’ve cut Taehyun’s wolf deeply, struck him— raw and primal— feeling like abandonment even when it wasn’t meant to be.

 

But still—

 

Why?

 

Why would his rejection matter that much?

 

Why would he matter that much?

 

The relief doesn’t last long before doubt creeps back in, cold and insidious. Kai’s thoughts spiral, sinking beneath the surface again. How could he affect Taehyun’s wolf so deeply when he’s just… here?

 

An attendant.

A helper.

A beta.

 

Someone without the instincts that mattered.

 

No knot.

No omega pheromones to soothe and ground.

No biological pull strong enough to answer an omega’s needs the way they all could.

 

What else could he possibly contribute?

 

Warmth, maybe— but even that feels borrowed, one that could be easily replaced. Kai imagines himself standing slightly off-center, an extra piece in a structure that already holds itself together. Someone who disrupts the balance between bonded mates rather than completing it. 

 

If anything, he thinks, I’ll just get in the way. And the thought hurts— almost as much as believing they didn’t want him at all.

 

“I didn’t want you to feel like you didn’t belong,” Taehyun says, voice trembling with restraint. “I didn’t want to make you feel like you had to leave. We don’t want you to. We want you to stay. We l—”

 

He cuts himself off, jaw tightening, eyes flickering like he’s stopping himself from saying something too big, too soon.

 

Not yet.

It can wait.

 

Kai swallows hard. “Then… Why did you make me stop working?” he asks quietly. Taehyun doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifts closer and gently pulls the beta up, guiding him to sit on the bed beside him. 

 

The movement is careful. His hand hovers, then trembles as it reaches for Kai’s. The beta offers it without thinking, their fingers lacing together. Taehyun squeezes like he’s calming himself. 

 

“We wanted to show you,” he whispers, meeting Kai’s eyes, “that you’re more than someone who stabilizes our moods. More than someone who manages our hormones or keeps the house running when we’re falling apart.” His thumb brushes over Kai’s knuckles, slow and earnest. 

 

“You’re more important to us than what your role is in the pack. You’re here because we want you to be, not just because of your usefulness.” Kai’s breath stutters. “I’m sorry,” Taehyun continues, the words tumbling out now. 

 

“For making things awkward. For making the whole house feel like it turned against you. For influencing the pack in a way that made you feel hurt and abandoned. For making you think that you didn’t matter.” His eyes shine, red-rimmed and raw. 

 

“I never wanted to inflict that kind of pain on you. Ever.” He inhales shakily. “I hope you can forgive me.” A beat. “I don’t hate you,” Taehyun says softly. “Quite the opposite. I’m—” His voice breaks, lashes fluttering. “I… I’m fond of you.”

 

Kai’s composure crumbles. “You don’t actually want me to leave?” he asks, voice fracturing clean in two. The moment the question leaves him, he starts crying— silent at first, then helplessly. Relief crashes into him like a tide he didn’t know he was holding back from. 

 

His scent spills freely now, no patch to blunt it: shaken and painfully honest. Joy tangled with fear, confusion braided with hope. It’s messy, overwhelming, real. Taehyun tightens his grip on the beta’s hand. “No,” he says immediately, firmly. “We don’t.”

 

Kai lets out a busted laugh through his tears, shoulders shaking. “I thought… I thought you were being nice because you were letting me go.” Taehyun’s face crumples at that. He leans in, kissing the mole on the side of his face. 

 

“I’m sorry we ever made you think that.” Kai exhales, shaky and wet. For the first time in days, his chest doesn’t feel hollow. It hurts— but it’s the kind of hurt that comes from being held too tightly, not pushed away.

 

And maybe— just maybe— he didn’t imagine the warmth after all. They all storm in at once, shoes forgotten, breaths uneven. 

 

“We need you. Please stay.” Soobin’s already lowering himself, knees hitting the floor without hesitation, palms braced against his thighs as he looks up at Kai. 

 

His scent is wide open— raw guilt, hope trembling beneath it. “If we have to get on our knees and beg,” he adds hoarsely, “we will.” Kai laughs again, the sound escaping before he can stop it.

 

It’s shaky, wet around the edges, disbelief threading through it as he leans forward and cups Soobin’s face in both hands. His thumbs stretch the skin, distorting the Alpha’s grim expression. “There’s no need for that, hyung,” he says softly. 

 

“I’m— I’ll stay. If you’ll have me.” Something collapses in the room all at once. Yeonjun is beside him in a blink, clutching at Kai’s arm like he’s afraid letting go will make him disappear. Beomgyu moves instinctively to Taehyun’s side, steadying him before he can slump again.

 

They’re all wrecked— eyes red, postures caving, midnight pressing heavy on their shoulders. “Will you really?” Yeonjun asks, voice strangled, cracking on the last word. Kai nods, tears slipping free as relief crashes into him all at once. 

 

“Yes, hyung.” He sniffs, then adds weakly, trying to breathe around it, “Thanks for helping me unpack, by the way.” His gaze flicks to the folded clothes on the bed. “Stop,” Beomgyu growls immediately, jaw tight. “I don’t ever want to see that fucking bag again.”

 

“He’s right. It’s an eyesore.” Soobin adds, standing abruptly. “Let’s burn it.” Kai laughs harder this time, shoulders shaking, chest aching. It hurts, but it’s good— too much feeling all at once after days of numbness.

 

They don’t hate me.

They don’t want me to leave.

Oh my God. I’m not getting fired.

 

“We’re sorry for not intervening,” Soobin murmurs again, voice low and steady as he keeps his throat bared. “For letting things get so bad that you felt like you had to tiptoe around us. For making you think, even for a second, that you weren’t wanted here.”

 

Kai’s breath catches. The gesture is too intimate, too vulnerable— an Alpha kneeling like this, offering his neck. His first instinct is panic. “Hyung, you don’t have to—”

 

“Please?” Soobin cuts in softly, eyes earnest, almost pleading. “My wolf is still a mess. If you don’t let me do this, he’s going to smother you with apologies for at least a week.” Kai lets out a weak huff of a chuckle, rubbing at his eyes. 

“And that’s pretty fucking annoying, if you ask me.” The Pack Alpha adds.

 

“You’re ridiculous,” he mutters, but he still leans in. The beta’s blunt teeth catch gently at Soobin’s scent gland, not enough to break skin— will never be— just enough to press and respond as earnestly as he can.

 

Kai feels Soobin shiver under the touch, a low purr rolling through his chest and vibrating against his mouth. The sound makes the beta’s breath stutter. He laps his tongue over the warm, sensitive skin, soothing the ache his bite left behind. 

 

It feels strangely intimate, grounding them both in the moment instead of the spiral of guilt and fear that came before. “There,” Kai whispers, pulling back after pressing a lingering kiss on the gland. He pats Soobin’s cheek with a small, crooked grin. “All better.”

 

“Thank you,” The Alpha answers, voice hazy as he sits beside Kai on the bed, still visibly shaken but calmer now, blue eyes soft instead of frantic. Yeonjun shifts closer, wringing his hands. “Me too,” he says quietly. 

 

“I… I want to apologize for pulling away from you so suddenly.” He looks embarrassed, gaze flicking down. “I thought we were being too much. Especially after what happened with Taehyun.” Kai turns toward him, listening.

 

“I didn’t want to make things harder for you,” Yeonjun continues, a bitter little laugh escaping him. “I thought giving you space would help. Turns out it just made everything worse.” He rubs at the back of his neck. “I’m not very good at this pack leader thing, am I?”

 

Kai shakes his head immediately. “Hyung. Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that.” His tone is firm now, no trace of uncertainty. “I understood why you did it. You explained it to me. I saw how hard it was on you too.” The omega opens his mouth, probably to argue.

 

“I said no,” Kai cuts in, poking his cheek lightly. “Where’s my strong, confident hyung, hm?” He pouts exaggeratedly. “You’re way prettier when you actually believe in yourself. You’ve done great. This… mess doesn’t erase that.”

 

Yeonjun shakes his head slowly. “What happened wasn’t just a mess,” he says, voice tight, careful, like he’s afraid of saying the wrong thing again. “We hurt you. All of us.” His purple eyes flicker, bright and glassy, and a muffled whine slips past his lips before he can stop it. 

 

“It got so bad you actually wanted to leave, Ning.” The words hang heavy between them, thick with shame. The Pack omega’s frame shrinks as if he’s bracing for punishment he knows he deserves. 

 

“I don’t ever want to see you pack your things again,” he adds quietly, the thought alone making his scent spike with distress. “If we ever go on a trip, I think I’ll have to be the one to pack for you. Otherwise I’ll—” Yeonjun’s breath stutters. “I’ll lose my mind.”

 

Kai doesn’t laugh. He doesn’t brush it off. Instead, he reaches up and cups the omega’s cheek, thumb warm against damp skin. He coos softly when Yeonjun leans into the touch without thinking, eyes fluttering shut like his body recognizes safety before his mind can catch up.

 

“We already talked about it,” The beta says gently, voice steady despite the ache still lingering in his chest. “We’re still here. All of us.” He lets his thumb trace a small arc beneath Yeonjun’s eye, wiping away a tear. “That has to count for something.”

 

The omega opens his eyes again, biting his lip hard, torn between relief and guilt. “It’s not…” he trails off, swallowing thickly before forcing himself to continue. “It’s not resolved yet.” He looks straight at Kai now, tears spilling freely, unapologetic in their fall. 

 

“I don’t want you to think that just because you stayed, everything’s suddenly fine.” The beta’s smile softens, understanding and patient. “It isn’t. You’re right, hyung.” he says instead. “But you’ll have time. All of you will.” He wipes Yeonjun’s cheeks again, careful, almost reverent. 

 

“You can make it up to me slowly. I don’t mind.” There’s a pause— then the omega nods, fast and earnest, like he’s afraid the moment might slip away if he hesitates. “Yes. Yeah. Of course,” he says, voice thick but determined. “As long as it takes. I promise.”

 

“You’re getting punished for speaking about yourself that way, Junnie. Don’t think we forgot about it.” Beomgyu’s voice cuts in out of nowhere, bright and dangerous all at once, making both he and Kai jump. 

 

“But—” Yeonjun starts, already bracing himself, only for Soobin to shoot him a warning glare sharp enough to draw blood. He squeaks, clapping a hand over his own mouth in surrender. “…Fine. I’m sorry,” he amends meekly.

 

“I told you, didn’t I?” Beomgyu says, hands coming up to grip Kai’s shoulders, firm and warm as he turns him around until they’re face to face. 

 

His emerald eyes are still a little glassy from earlier, still carrying the echo of panic, but there’s that familiar crooked grin on his lips— the one that always means he’s trying to be brave for everyone else. 

 

“I told you I would never lie to you.” Kai’s breath hitches at the intensity in his gaze. “Everything turned out fine, kinda.” Beomgyu continues softly, thumbs brushing over the curve of Kai’s shoulders like he still can’t believe the beta’s still there with them. 

 

“And whatever you thought in that pretty head of yours—”

 

“—is not going to happen,” the beta finishes for him, a small, breathless giggle slipping out. Beomgyu’s grin breaks wide, relief flashing across his face like sunlight after a storm. 

 

“That’s right,” he murmurs, and then he’s leaning in, kissing Kai everywhere he can reach— his cheeks, his temples, the corner of his mouth, his nose— quick, messy pecks that make Kai laugh and try half-heartedly to squirm away.

 

“Hyung— stop—” Kai protests weakly, but he’s smiling too hard for it to be convincing. “You’re not allowed to think you’re unwanted,” Beomgyu says between kisses, half teasing, half deadly serious. “Not in this house. Not with us.”

 

Kai’s laughter wobbles, turning soft around the edges as the weight of those words sinks in.

 

The moment snaps when Taehyun yawns, body finally giving in. He slumps backward onto the bed, dragging a few plushies down with him as they topple onto the floor. “Someone’s tired,” Soobin murmurs fondly. 

 

“Shut up, hyung. Respectfully.” Taehyun slurs, rubbing at his face with the heel of his palm. 

 

“My heart hurts, my eyes hurt from switching too much I’m basically blind, and I look fucking disgusting.” He sniffles hard. “I have every type of bodily fluid on my face right now.” Beomgyu squints at him, lips twitching before he can stop it.

 

“I don’t think you do, babe,” he says thoughtfully. “There’s some of them missing. I could help you with that too if you want.” Yeonjun makes a sound of pure offense and horror, gagging as he slaps the young Alpha hard on the back.

 

“Can you shut your damn mouth for just one second?” he snaps, voice cracking despite himself. “Beomgyu-hyung,” Kai says in between laughs, “you’re disgusting.” And somehow, in the middle of red eyes and sore chests and ruined nerves, the room breathes again. 

 

Kai grins, leaning over to gently pet Taehyun’s hair. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs again, softer this time. “Stop apologizing,” Taehyun mutters. “This is on me.” The beta gnaws on his lip. “Well… I’m not going to confirm nor deny—” Soobin snorts, rubbing his temples.

 

“Alright, everyone. Status update. Tyun’s half-dead, the pup is a towel away from public indecency, my chest still hurts, Beomgyu can’t hear properly, and Yeonjun-hyung is still convinced you’ll leave if he blinks.” He exhales slowly, looking around the room.

 

“We’re all a fucking mess,” he says. “So why don’t we clean up, put things back where they belong, and sleep.” Kai nods, warmth blooming low and fragile in his chest. “We’re sleeping here,” Taehyun slurs, patting the mattress insistently.

 

“I don’t think we’ll fit,” the beta says weakly. “We will,” Beomgyu replies, already hauling Taehyun up and toward the bathroom. “We’ll make it work.” Yeonjun moves quietly, returning clothes to the closet, muttering something about putting a lock in it.

 

Kai leaves their scented things by the bedside, fingers lingering like a promise meant for later. The room smells like exhaustion— but alive. And for the first time all night, Kai lets himself believe that this warmth isn’t temporary.

 

“You okay?” Soobin asks quietly, eyes fixed on him with open concern, the kind that doesn’t pry but waits. Kai nods, though it’s a little delayed. “Yeah. I’m just—” He exhales shakily, pressing his thumb into his palm. 

 

“It’s a lot. Right now.” The Pack Alpha bites his lip, shoulders tense like he’s bracing for impact. “But we’re okay now, right? Not okay okay. I meant— you know…” he asks, voice low, almost fragile. 

 

“You’re not going to leave us.” Kai looks at him, really looks at him, at the fear tucked behind his eyes. He shakes his head slowly. “Not unless you want me to.” Yeonjun growls immediately, sharp and offended, the sound cutting through the room. 

 

The beta startles, cursing under his breath. “Stop that,” Yeonjun snaps, glaring. “No. We’re not going to want that. Ever.” Kai shrugs, small and noncommittal, eyes dropping to the floor. 

 

They don’t know that.

 

“Now,” Soobin says briskly, clapping his hands together like he needs the motion to ground himself, “help me put your plushies on the floor. They’re getting kicked out of the bed whether you like it or not. We’ll put them back when we wake up.”

 

Kai lets out a soft chuckle, wiping at his cheeks with the back of his hand and nodding. “Okay.” They move together, awkward but functional. Plushies are gently relocated like honored guests being asked to step aside. 

 

Soobin grabs the soiled clothes and tosses them toward the laundry basket— and misses entirely. Yeonjun clicks his tongue. “This is not the time to show off your terrible aim.”

 

“I wasn’t trying to miss,” the Pack Alpha argues, scooping them up again.

 

Beomgyu returns from the bathroom with Taehyun in tow, the omega looking calmer, eyes heavy but clear, hair still damp and smelling faintly of soap instead of distress. Everything settles, slowly, like furniture being put back where it belongs.

 

“C’mere,” Soobin says once they’re done. They’re all on the bed now— Taehyun draped over Beomgyu, half-asleep already, Yeonjun squeezed between the two Alphas, limbs tangled in practiced familiarity. Kai hesitates at the edge. “Um…” 

 

Soobin looks at him. “Pup.” The beta takes a step closer— and yelps when Soobin grabs him by the wrist and pulls him in, strong arms maneuvering him easily until he’s pressed flush against Soobin’s chest, positioned just like Taehyun is with Beomgyu.

 

“H—hyung?” Kai stammers. Soobin hushes him immediately, palm warm against his back. “Let’s sleep,” he murmurs. “I’m tired. You’re tired. Okay?” He nods, though uncertainty still flickers in his chest. “Are you sure? What if you wake up and your whole body’s hurting—”

 

“It already hurts,” Soobin cuts in gently. “It’s not going to make it worse.” He exhales, chin resting briefly against Kai’s hair. “Relax. Sleep. You deserve this. We’ll talk tomorrow.” The beta finally gives in, the tension draining from his body as he slumps into Soobin’s hold.

 

The pack didn’t forget him— not for a second. Soobin pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek. Yeonjun mirrored it on the other side. Beomgyu leaned over just enough to kiss his forehead and the bridge of his nose, quick and fond. 

 

Taehyun scented him heavily, deliberately, letting it sink into his clothes, his skin— into Pingu too— like he’s making up for lost time. Kai breathed it in. His heart quieted, no longer spiraling— still a little unstable, but manageable.

 

That makes him happy.

 

The pack is happy.

And so is he.

 

For the first time that week, Kai feels like he belongs. Like this much of their affection is allowed. There are things left unsaid. Questions unanswered. If one day they wake up and decide they’re tired of him, if they want him gone, he’ll leave without a fuss.

 

But for now—

 

For now, he lets himself sink into the heat of shared bodies and steady breathing.

 

For now, he’s home.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

as i'm posting this, i'm already on a vacation with family. i will do my absolute best to reply to all of you so please put comments below (i seek validation just like hueningie lmao).

what are your thoughts and feelings about this chapter? more fluff to come!

Chapter 12: 9

Summary:

huening kai and the pack after a week of the aftermath.

Notes:

this was also a little too long, so i split it into two. don't worry, it won't follow the usual schedule! i will be posting the next part on tuesday, and another chapter on saturday. enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I can’t feel my legs. Who’s next on pup duty?” Kai sighs, both huffy and enamored. He doesn’t actually try to move. He can’t. He’s been rendered immobile— glued to the mattress, passed around like some precious offering the pack refuses to let go of.

 

They’re still in bed, all of them, tangled on his full-sized mattress that is definitely not meant for five grown men. 

 

Kai’s spine is bent in a way future-him will regret, one of his arms has gone numb, and his shirt has ridden up enough that cold air kisses his skin every time someone shifts. Still, he doesn’t complain. Not really.

 

The beta is currently draped on top of Beomgyu, his back pressed flush to the Alpha’s chest, caged in by strong arms that refuse to loosen their grip. Beomgyu’s chin is tucked over his shoulder, breath warm against his neck.

 

“I have to get up anyway, hyung,” Kai says, trying to reason. “It’s already 7:30 in the morning.” The Alpha responds by grunting and tightening his hold, burying his face into Kai’s cheek and jaw and smothering him with affection. “Nooo,” he whines, voice muffled. 

 

“Thirty more minutes.” The beta laughs, the sound bubbling out of him. “You were just complaining about your legs going numb, hyung. It’s okay. I’ll get up.” The pout presses harder into his skin, and Kai laughs even more, shoulders shaking.

 

Beside them, Yeonjun stirs. He stretches as much as the limited space allows, letting out a long, sleepy yawn that scrunches his nose. In the process, his elbow bumps Kai’s side. “Oops.” The beta hums. “Sorry for waking you, hyung.”

 

The omega blinks, eyes glassy with sleep, then suddenly knocks his fist into Beomgyu’s hip while trying to stretch. “Oh— shit,” he slurs. “I can’t stretch.” Beomgyu yelps immediately. “Ow, fuck! What the hell, dude?”

 

Yeonjun squints at him, then leans over to peck his cheek and nose, unapologetic. “Don’t dude me, brat. Hand over the baby,” the young Alpha grumbles his complaints, but the soft grin on his lips doesn't really help with his case.

 

Kai groans as Beomgyu starts maneuvering him, pushing and rolling until the beta feels like a rotisserie chicken. He barely has time to react before he’s nudged straight into Yeonjun’s waiting arms.

 

Taehyun, who’s curled comfortably in Soobin’s embrace, jolts all of a sudden. The Pack Alpha’s brows knit together as he wakes, disoriented. “Huh— what?” He blinks drowsily, then turns his head, immediately lightening up when he sees Kai in Yeonjun’s grasp. 

 

“Good morning, love, Hueningie.” His smile is soft, unguarded. “Kiss?” Yeonjun rolls his eyes but scoots close, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to Soobin’s lips. He tries to cup his cheek, but Kai’s body is very much in the way, forcing him to awkwardly stretch around him. 

 

The Pack Alpha looks at him expectantly, and he bites the inside of his cheek before surrendering, brushing his lips over Soobin's temple. Soobin purrs happily, kissing one of Kai's cheek mole and bumping heads with Yeonjun due to the cramped space. 

"Ow."

 

It’s clumsy, uncoordinated, and perfect.

 

“I’m here too, you know,” Beomgyu interjects from behind them. The older male snorts. “You can get your kisses when I can reach you, Gyu.” He groans, flopping back in exaggerated despair. “This household doesn’t love me.”

 

“I should really get started on breakfast, hyungs,” Kai says, trying again— though he makes no real attempt to escape. They ignore him completely. 

 

Yeonjun rubs his tummy lazily, clearly content, while Soobin reaches over just to pinch Kai’s cheek, the two of them cooing happily. “Let’s order in,” Beomgyu slurs, already halfway back to sleep. “Are you hungry?” The beta pauses, listening to his own body. “Not really.”

 

“How about the others?” Beomgyu mumbles. They all collectively murmur no. “Then it’s settled,” Soobin says decisively, already grabbing his phone. “We’re staying in bed longer, and we’re ordering in. What do you guys want?”

 

“Beef tripe,” Taehyun answers suddenly. He yawns wide, then shifts his weight until he’s practically sprawled on top of Soobin, nose brushing against the Alpha’s jaw. He kisses along Soobin’s growing stubble, giggling softly when it tickles his lips.

 

“I’m starting to feel really left out.” Beomgyu watches, offended. “You’ll get all the kisses you want later, babe,” Taehyun replies sleepily, already settling back down. “Fine,” the Alpha huffs. “But I’m counting. And there’s interest.”

 

Kai listens to the low hum of voices, the quiet rustle of sheets and breathing around him. He exhales slowly and hums— soft, content, and happy— letting the sound melt into the warmth of the pack holding him together.

 

How long has it been since they started sleeping on the beta’s cramped bed?

 

Kai has to think about it for a moment, staring at the ceiling that’s become oddly familiar— counting not days, but aches, limbs, and the steady rhythm of breathing around him.

 

Ah. A week.

 

A whole week of being passed from arm to arm, shoulder to chest, thigh to hip. A week of waking up pressed flush to someone warm, of never quite knowing whose scent he’ll wake up tangled in. 

 

Kai’s been in rotation like some blunt at a frat party.

 

They complain, of course. Loudly. About sore backsides, numb legs, the constant pressure on their chests. About how their arms fall asleep and their necks crick and their spines feel like they’ve been folded wrong.

 

But whenever Kai suggests tentatively— that maybe they should sleep on their own beds, just for comfort’s sake…

 

They stare at him.

 

Like he’s just said the stupidest shit they’ve ever heard.

 

It’s almost impressive how unified their reactions are— four identical looks of disbelief, offense, and mild horror. As if the mere suggestion physically pains them. 

 

The beta also hasn’t seen his own clothes since.

 

Aside from his underwear and socks, everything else has vanished. Kai’s closet is quite literally locked, the key nowhere to be found, and whenever he brings it up, Beomgyu whistles innocently while Yeonjun suddenly finds the floor very interesting.

 

They also burned his gym bags.

 

Actually burned them.

 

Used them for kindling, like some kind of symbolic execution. Beomgyu looked almost proud. Soobin had sighed but didn’t stop him, clearly pleased. Taehyun had muttered something about “preventative measures.”

 

Still— despite the minor… changes— the week has been great.

 

Really great.

 

Kai’s currently wearing Yeonjun’s clothes, the shirt soft and worn-in, far too small for him. It rides up his stomach whenever he shifts even a little, baring skin that’s been kissed by the cold for days straight. 

 

The fabric smells like Yeonjun— sweet and familiar— and it makes him feel treasured. Kept. He shivers suddenly when a draft sneaks through the room, goosebumps blooming across his skin. Taehyun notices instantly.

 

His hand slides over Kai’s exposed tummy, palm pressing down as he rubs absentmindedly. “Where’s the damn blanket?” he mutters irritably, half-awake. “Ugh, babe!” Beomgyu lifts his head just enough to peek over at them, eyes squinting. 

 

He sticks his tongue out dramatically before begrudgingly tugging the blanket over, giving just enough coverage to hide Kai’s skin. “Wow,” Taehyun says flatly, narrowing his eyes. “You are so fucking petty.”

 

“Lalalala,” Beomgyu sings under his breath. “I can’t hear you. I’m deaf until I’ve gotten my morning smooches!” Soobin sighs, a little annoyed and endeared. He scrolls through his phone with one hand, the other absently resting against Taehyun’s back. 

 

“I’m ordering a family-sized meal,” he decides. “And the beef tripe.” Taehyun hums in approval without opening his eyes. “There,” Soobin mutters a moment later. “Scheduled for 10:30. Now sleep.”

 

The four of them nod almost immediately, bodies shifting as they try to get comfortable again— arms tightening, legs tangling, noses tucking into necks and shoulders. “Are you sure I’m not killing you, hyung?” Kai asks softly, glancing at the omega with concern.

 

Yeonjun blows a raspberry against the pillow. “I’ve had Soobin on top of me multiple times,” he replies casually. “You’re fine.” Kai flushes, nodding his head.

 

Well. He definitely doesn’t need that imagery in his brain right now. “Good night, I said.” Soobin says, firm and almost parental. He pinches Yeonjun’s cheek lightly. “And stop being naughty in the morning.”

 

He covers Yeonjun’s eyes with his hand like he’s tucking a child in. The omega doesn’t resist— instead, he starts fake snoring almost immediately, over-the-top and dramatic. Kai laughs, the sound soft and bright, muffled by the bodies around him.

 

Surrounded by breathing, by heat, by the quiet certainty that he belongs here— right here, in this too-small bed, with all of them pressed close, he smiles brightly, nuzzling into Yeonjun’s chest.

 

What a lovely morning.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Next.” Beomgyu sticks his hand out expectantly, palm up, while Yeonjun slowly turns toward him with deeply furrowed brows. “I just gave you Binnie’s shirt for two seconds—” he squints, then recoils. 

 

“What the hell, Gyu?!” The so-called folded pile in Beomgyu’s hands is… tragic. Shirts crumpled into lopsided squares, sleeves twisted around collars like they lost a fight, underwear balled up like discarded socks instead of neatly stacked. 

 

Nothing is aligned. Nothing is smooth. The entire thing looks like it was grabbed, scrunched up violently, and then given up on halfway through. The Alpha, meanwhile, looks immensely proud. 

 

“This laundry shit is so easy,” he says, flashing a smug grin as he drops the pile in front of Kai with zero care. Yeonjun stares at it like it personally offended him. Beside them, the beta quietly fixes everything.

 

Kai plucks one of the sweaters from the chaos, gently shaking it out before folding it properly— edges vertical, fabric smoothed with careful hands. He hums a song under his breath as he works, Taehyun humming along with him. 

 

Each motion is precise, practiced, almost soothing to watch. The beta doesn’t even look up at the bickering, just listens to it with a fond, lovesick smile tugging at his lips.

 

Hearing the pack bicker is fun, but the tiniest shift in the air— the faintest souring of their scents, the smallest hint of sulking— always draws the same response. Kisses. Immediate, instinctive, apologetic. And that’s the part Kai loves most.

 

The way irritation never lingers long enough to become real. The soft shuffle of bodies moving closer, the quiet huffs of laughter pressed into skin, the unmistakable sound of lips meeting in quick apologies or slow, indulgent affection.

 

He hears murmured reassurances, half-whispered “I love yous,” voices warm and unguarded. It settles something deep in his chest every time. The sound of them choosing each other, again and again, is more comforting than anything else in the world.

 

So Kai listens quietly, his heart thrumming to life as both of his favorite people dish it out.

 

“Babe,” Taehyun says gently, standing next to the Pack Alpha as they sorted the clothes according to color, ownership, and foldability, “what if you just… unloaded the dryer with Soobin-hyung?”

 

Beomgyu immediately shakes his head. “No. I like doing this better.” He lifts a tank and twists it in an odd way, holding it up proudly. “Look. It’s a swan.” Soobin peers over, unimpressed. “That looks like a mangled duck.” The young Alpha gasps, affronted, and flips him off. 

 

“I’m making sure to shove your clothes in the closet instead of arranging them properly.” Kai turns at that, eyebrows raised, and reaches out to pinch Beomgyu’s cheek— firm but affectionate.

 

“No, you’re not, hyung,” he says lightly, but with an unmistakable finality. The Alpha pouts, lips jutting out in exaggerated defeat. “Fine,” he mutters. “I won’t.” In the corner of Kai’s eye, he catches Soobin sticking his tongue out at Beomgyu when he thinks no one’s looking.

 

While Kai folds, the two Alphas fall into quiet muttering— low, grumbly complaints traded under their breath. Soobin, very deliberately, tosses a hoodie over Beomgyu’s head instead of handing it to Yeonjun, who stares at the scene with deep, visible disappointment.

 

“Honey,” the Pack omega says flatly. “That was supposed to come here.” Soobin hums noncommittally, already reaching for another piece of clothing. “Was it?” Beomgyu freezes for a second, then slowly lifts the fabric off his face. 

 

The Alpha squints at it, recognizes it instantly, and his eyes light up with mischief. “Oh?” he says, grinning. “Ohhh. Is this yours?” Soobin’s mouth opens to protest— but it’s too late. 

 

Beomgyu lunges forward, dramatically pressing the hoodie to his face and making exaggerated slobbering noises, rubbing it against his cheek like a deranged puppy. 

 

“Mmm. Smells like bossy Alpha energy.” Beomgyu cackles and makes a show of dramatically licking the air near the fabric before Yeonjun finally snaps, grabbing the hoodie and yanking it away.

 

“You are disgusting,” Yeonjun groans, though there’s a smile tugging at his lips. Kai watches the entire exchange with an amused little huff, hands still working automatically as he folds another one of Beomgyu’s trousers. 

 

“Hyung,” the beta says mildly, turning to Beomgyu, “you’re going to make him put you on laundry ban again.” The Alpha gasps like he’s been betrayed. “You wouldn’t,” he says, narrowing his eyes at Yeonjun.

 

Kai just smiles, all-knowing. Taehyun, who’s been quietly sorting clothes beside Soobin, lets out a small laugh. “You say that as if it stops you from being silly.” The Pack Alpha tosses another shirt— this one successfully— toward Yeonjun. 

 

“Here. Before he eats it.” Beomgyu pouts dramatically. “You guys are no fun.” 

 

“Mm,” the Pack omega replies, folding the shirt properly this time. “And yet you’re still here.” 

 

Before the moment can get even remotely sentimental, Beomgyu leans in front of him and starts pulling the ugliest faces known to man— eyes crossed, tongue out, cheeks puffed like a disgruntled hamster. 

 

Yeonjun pauses mid-fold, visibly fighting the urge to laugh. “Stop,” he warns. “I’m trying to be productive.” The Alpha only intensifies his efforts, sticking his tongue out further and wiggling his eyebrows like it’s a performance.

 

That’s when Taehyun kicks him. Not hard— just enough to knock him off balance and onto the laundry pile with an offended yelp. “Hey!” Beomgyu protests, clutching his side. “Violence?!” Soobin looks over calmly. 

 

“Honestly? Necessary. But you should’ve let me do it.” He tilts his head thoughtfully. “I have a stronger foot.” Taehyun freezes, then looks at the Pack Alpha like he just personally hung the stars in the sky.

 

“…Hyung.” And then he’s kissing him. Right there. No warning. Hands fisting into Soobin’s shirt like the world might end if he doesn’t do it now. Yeonjun groans loudly. “Oh my god, seriously? What was so romantic about that?” Then he stops and stares.

 

"Oh, it's pretty romantic when I really think about it." The Pack omega whispers. Beomgyu, the receiver of violence and verbal abuse, whips his head around to gape at his mate.

 

"I'm going to ignore the fact that you think me getting beat up by Soobin is romantic. Instead, I'm focusing on why I still haven't had my kisses. Are you not jealous that our mates are making out and not asking us to join?" He asks, eyes wide and shiny.

 

The omega doesn’t even look up from the towel he’s folding. 

 

“Not until you start folding clothes properly.” The betrayal hits instantly. Beomgyu gasps, then dramatically flops onto the laundry room floor, curling into himself and hugging his knees. “The people in this house don’t love me,” he wails.

 

"I am a neglected member of the Choi Pack." The Alpha adds. His mates look at him with varying degrees of affection, disgust, and annoyance. Kai snorts before he can stop himself, shaking his head as he arranges another one of Beomgyu’s creations. 

 

Silly hyungs.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Ow, fuck!” All four of them whip around at the sound. Beomgyu is standing there, clutching his finger like it personally betrayed him, face twisted in agony. 

 

They’re in the kitchen mid-prep, vegetables scattered across the counter, meat marinating on the side, the faint smell of garlic and soy already in the air. 

 

“What happened?!” Yeonjun is the first to move, already at his side, grabbing his wrist and lifting it to inspect the damage like a medic on duty. “The shine muscats were too slippery,” the young Alpha mutters, sulking. “The knife just— y’know.”

 

Soobin doesn’t even wait. The moment Yeonjun declares it “not catastrophic,” he swoops in and physically drags Beomgyu to the sink. “Okay, okay— wash it. Slowly. Don’t bleed on the food.” He says firmly.

 

Kai is already moving, sliding the vegetables out of the way before they get splashed with blood, nodding once at the Pack Alpha in silent teamwork.

 

“I told you to help just with the meat, babe.” Taehyun says from behind them, voice scolding but scent already shifting— caramel thinning, tinged with sharp metal and worry. 

 

He’d been slicing neatly just moments ago, but now the knife rests abandoned on the cutting board as he hovers close. “I wanted to make cute little fruit animals,” Beomgyu mutters, wincing as the water hits the cut. 

 

“It was going to be a turtle.”

 

“You were butchering a grape,” Yeonjun deadpans.

 

“It had potential!”

 

“It’s a little deep,” Soobin says quietly, brows furrowing. Before anyone can react, Kai is already there, antiseptic bottle and gauze in hand like he’s been summoned. “Hold still.”

 

“That’s going to cover my whole finger, Kai-ya. A little overboard, don’t you think?” Beomgyu tries to joke with him. “Not funny, hyung,” the beta replies immediately, face scrunched up in a grimace. His voice is rigid, not without authority but the tone that always makes them listen. 

 

“You’re bleeding.” They all know this about him. Of everything in the world, Kai hates seeing them hurt. Yeonjun wraps his arms around the beta’s waist from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder. 

 

“It’s okay, Ning. Just a cut. Gyu will survive.” He nudges him gently. “Right?” Beomgyu nods quickly. “I am incredibly resilient.” Taehyun steps in then, carefully taking the antiseptic from Kai’s hands. 

 

“I’ve got it,” he murmurs, sensing how wound tight the beta’s shoulders are. He cleans the cut slowly, deliberately, then wraps the gauze with practiced care. Beomgyu watches him with big eyes and a smirk forming on his lips. 

 

“You’re kind of hot when you’re bossy.”

 

“Say one more word and I’ll wrap your mouth too,” Taehyun threatens flatly.

 

Soobin snorts from behind them.

 

Once it’s done, Beomgyu lifts his hand, inspecting it like it’s a battle wound. “I suffered.”

 

“You cut your finger on fruit,” Yeonjun says.

 

“A fruit that fought back.”

 

Kai finally exhales, tension draining from his shoulders. “All done. Now sit. Don’t touch anything,” Taehyun says firmly, steering Beomgyu out of the kitchen like a misbehaving child. 

 

“Can I at least prepare the hwachae?” The young Alpha asks, already trying to pivot back toward the counter. “I don’t like not doing anything. Makes me feel lazy.” Soobin pauses, considers this for a moment, then nods. 

 

“Alright. I’ll grab you a chair and prep the ingredients. You just… mix. That’s it. No knives. No sharp objects. No cuts.” Beomgyu beams. 

 

“Deal.” The Pack Alpha returns with a chair, sets it down near the dining table, and Beomgyu plops onto it immediately, kissing his cheek in thanks. “Thanks, babe.” Soobin ruffles his hair fondly. 

 

“No worries. We’ll change the gauze later when it starts feeling stuffy, okay?” Beomgyu nods obediently, swinging his legs like he’s been sentenced to timeout. Kai, meanwhile, has finished his prep far too efficiently for his own good and is promptly kicked out of the kitchen as well.

 

“No hovering. No micromanaging to see if we’ve injured ourselves.” Yeonjun says, ushering him out with a gentle nudge. “You’re ruining the vibes.” The beta protests weakly but allows himself to be guided to sit beside Beomgyu near the edge of the kitchen. 

 

Now that the “injured” and the “overly concerned” are safely contained, the kitchen hums back to life. “Does it hurt?” Kai asks, gnawing at his lip. The Alpha lifts his bandaged finger dramatically and holds it out toward his face. 

 

The beta leans closer, inspecting it with knitted brows. “A little,” Beomgyu adds quickly. “Kiss?” Kai flushes but sighs, giving in. He presses a gentle kiss to the gauze, then cups Beomgyu’s hand carefully, whispering, “Pain, pain, go away.”

 

The room collectively melts.

 

Taehyun has to bite back a smile. Soobin looks away, pretending not to see it. Yeonjun, however, immediately pulls out his phone and snaps a picture.

 

Dinner ends up chaotic but perfect— hwachae a little too sweet, meat slightly over-seasoned because Taehyun got distracted, rice perfectly cooked because Soobin triple-checked it. They eat around the table, affection spilling freely between bites.

 

Beomgyu keeps lifting his bandaged hand dramatically whenever someone looks his way. “I almost died today,” he announces solemnly. “You cut your finger on a grape,” Yeonjun replies flatly. “A dangerous grape.”

 

Kai laughs so hard he nearly chokes, and Soobin has to pat his back while Taehyun hands him water, shaking his head fondly. By the time they finish, the kitchen is a mess, the table cluttered, and everyone’s full and warm and a little sleepy.

 

The beta’s eyes linger on their smiling faces, and he feels his heart swell, his scent turning sweet like honey matcha latte. Kai, deep in his heart, hopes that everything will stay the same.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

still recovering from being sick. the vacation ended up being so fun, though we're back to reality after a few days. oh well, at least i get to write again! ♪(^∇^*)

Chapter 13: 9.5

Notes:

part 2!

idk what's happening with ao3 lately but it's been so slow! just updating tags and chapters take so long it's starting to piss me off (╬▔皿▔)╯ hopefully it gets better soon (┬﹏┬)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Alright everyone, gather ‘round. It’s time for a nightly meeting.” Soobin claps his hands together, the sharp sound echoing lightly through the kitchen. 

 

It’s enough to pull everyone’s attention back to him, even Beomgyu, who had been half-heartedly poking at the drying rack as if considering knocking it over for fun.

 

They’d just finished cleaning up from dinner— plates stacked, counters wiped, the faint scent of soap still lingering in the air. 

 

They’ve been doing this for a week.

 

A group meeting. Nothing formal, nothing dramatic. Just a rule Soobin put in place after the first few nights of tension— of unspoken thoughts and bottled-up emotions that lingered too long in the air. 

 

Every night after dinner, they sit down and talk. About their day. Their frustrations. Their thoughts. Sometimes even things that feel too small to mention, but still weigh on them anyway. It works. Surprisingly well.

 

It helps the pack, who aren’t used to hearing Kai speak openly about how he feels, and only relies on his scent and body language to figure out his temperament.

 

It helps the beta too— slowly teaching him that his thoughts are allowed to take up space, that he doesn’t have to shrink himself to fit in. And that they would cherish him no matter what.

 

They move toward the dining area in a loose, familiar line, chairs scraping softly against the floor as they take their usual seats. There’s an unspoken order to it now. The Pack Alpha and omega always sit across from each other, grounding the group like two steady poles.

 

Kai settles into his chair, instinctively keeping close to Taehyun and Yeonjun, their knees brushing under the table. Soobin folds his hands together and looks around the table, eyes gentle but focused.

 

“How was everyone’s day so far?” he asks. “Let’s start with Beomgyu.” Beomgyu immediately crosses his arms and leans back with a dramatic huff, lips pursed like he’s been personally wronged.

 

“I remember being left out from the kisses,” he says solemnly. Taehyun lets out a tired breath, already shaking his head. “I also remember us taking an hour to make up for it. Each of us.” The Pack Alpha shoots him a warning look. “Let him finish.”

 

“Anyway, I was so alone and neglected and unloved.” Soobin hums, nodding like he’s seriously considering this grave injustice his mate is professing on the table. “I see. And has this issue been… resolved?”

 

Beomgyu nods enthusiastically, pointing at his neck where the marks they left are on display. “Very much so.” He shifts in his seat, then adds, almost as an afterthought, “I also did great at folding the laundry. Nobody appreciated that.”

 

The beta presses his lips together, biting back a smile, and tightens his hold on Taehyun’s arm when he feels him about to interject. His other hand curls around Yeonjun’s sleeve, a silent plea for both of them to behave.

 

The young Alpha continues, oblivious. “And I cut myself while preparing dinner. It was horrible.” Kai’s grip tightens involuntarily at the memory. 

 

“But,” Beomgyu adds quickly, waving a hand like he’s brushing off the earlier concern, “getting pampered afterward? That part was great. Highly recommend it.” Soobin listens to every word, his expression softening as he watches the Alpha talk. 

 

He nods slowly, thoughtfully, like he’s committing every little detail to memory. Then he exhales through his nose, the corner of his mouth twitching. “I hate to interrupt, but— I don’t recommend any of you getting hurt just to be pampered." Soobin’s eyes flick toward his mate.

 

“You can just ask, you know? Any of you.” Beomgyu scrunches his nose in dismay. “But asking is sooo lame.” Soobin lets out a chuckle before he can stop himself, shaking his head in fond disbelief. 

 

He reaches out, fingers gently threading into the young Alpha’s hair, giving it a soft ruffle before leaning down to press a kiss to the crown of his head. 

 

“Then I guess I’ll have to figure out when you want it.” Soobin’s lips trail lower, brushing carefully against the gauze wrapped around Beomgyu’s finger, a light kiss placed there with deliberate care. The latter’s shoulders visibly relax at the gesture, grinning shyly.

 

“Anything else?” Beomgyu shrugs. “That’s it.” The Pack Alpha gives a small nod of acknowledgment, then shifts his gaze to the next person. “Alright,” he says calmly. “Yeonjun-hyung, you’re up.”

 

The omega nods, clasping his hands together. “Well, I was next on pup duty after Gyu so that was nice. Doing the laundry together was pretty fun, even if he kept making really ugly faces and I wanted to punch him in the mouth.”

 

Beomgyu gasps loudly at that, slapping a hand over his chest like he’s been gravely wounded. “Excuse you? My faces are art.”

 

“They’re crimes,” Taehyun mutters. “I had a client message me,” Yeonjun continues, completely unfazed, “which I ignored because it’s my day off.” Soobin lets out a pleased little chuff at that, reaching over to squeeze his mate’s hand in silent approval. 

 

Yeonjun squeezes back, lips twitching. “Dinner was chaotic,” he goes on, voice lighter now, “and the food was… less than appetizing.” Beomgyu opens his mouth to protest but stops when the Pack omega raises a finger.

 

“But,” Yeonjun adds, glancing at Kai with a small smile, “it was nice cooking together. Even if it was mostly Hueningie doing the actual work.” The beta ducks his head immediately, ears burning.

 

He just likes being useful. He always has.

 

“Maybe next time,” Yeonjun continues thoughtfully, “we pick something easier. I think we got a little too ambitious with the beef bone broth.” He shrugs, sheepish. “That’s all. I’m done.”

 

“So, I’m next?” Taehyun asks, already knowing the answer. Soobin reaches over and pets his hair affectionately. “Yes. Go on.”

 

“Well,” Taehyun starts, leaning back in his chair, “I had a dream that I was falling from a tall building, so I jolted awake.” He glances at the Alpha. “Sorry about that, hyungie.” Soobin laughs softly. 

 

“No big deal, Tyun. What else?” Taehyun hums, thinking. “The books I ordered arrived earlier. I started one because the synopsis was interesting and the cover was cute.” He shrugs. “It’s good. I’m on chapter six.” Everyone nods like this is very important information.

 

Then the omega turns his head slightly, eyes narrowing just a bit. “Also— sorry for kicking you earlier, babe. You were being embarrassing. I couldn’t take it anymore.” Beomgyu gives a dramatic thumbs-up. “Didn’t hurt. I’m as solid as a brick wall.”

 

“And,” Taehyun adds, shifting in his seat, “Yeonjun-hyung.”

 

Yeonjun blinks. “Me?”

 

“Yes, you.” The omega points at him. “It annoyed me that you took my favorite shirt. I was looking for it forever.” Yeonjun opens his mouth to explain— “Ah-ah,” Taehyun cuts in, smirking. “My turn.” He leans back, smug. “Then, I found you in the living room wearing it.” Beomgyu snorts.

 

“You looked,” Taehyun continues casually, “so fucking sexy. So I took it back later. One way or another.” He winks. Kai immediately looks down at his hands, face heating up as he notices their scents spike with desire. The Pack omega just laughs, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

 

“So I’ve been told.” He shifts in his chair as he does, one leg crossing over the other— and that’s when it happens. The hem of his shorts rides up just enough to reveal it. A dark, unmistakable bite mark, blooming across his thigh.

 

There’s a split second of silence. Beomgyu squints. “Is that—” Yeonjun freezes. Taehyun beams. “Oh,” Soobin says slowly, eyes flicking from the mark to Taehyun’s very pleased expression. “So that’s how you 'got it back.’”

 

The Pack omega groans, dropping his head into his hands. “I hate all of you.”

 

“You didn’t hate it earlier,” Taehyun sing-songs. Beomgyu gasps dramatically. “In the living room?!”

 

“It was my shirt!” Taehyun argues. “I had rights! And don’t think I haven’t caught you and Soobin-hyung fucking on that sofa. I know that suspicious stain was your guys’ doing!” The Pack Alpha chokes on his spit, while Beomgyu gapes, not knowing what to say.

 

Kai, face fully on fire now, makes a tiny noise and covers his mouth, shoulders shaking with barely contained giggles. He's equally mortified for having to hear their sexcapades and relieved that his presence doesn't make them uncomfortable doing pack things.

 

“So,” Soobin says, fighting a grimace, “any other… grievances you’d like to bring up?”

 

Yeonjun peeks through his fingers. “No. Absolutely not. Meeting adjourned.” The Pack Alpha rolls his eyes. “It’s not your position to say, honey.” Taehyun shrugs. “I’m done, and stop whining, hyung. Or I’m leaving another mating bite.” The older omega lets out a squawk. 

 

Soobin nods like he hasn’t heard it. “Understood. Like always, Kai will be the last to speak, so I’m next. Ehem.” Soobin straightens in his seat like he’s about to give a formal presentation, hands folded neatly in front of him. 

 

“I woke up with beautiful people around me, so the day started pretty good.” The words earn him immediate reactions— Beomgyu grins proudly, Yeonjun preens like he’s just been praised for something he absolutely did on purpose, and Taehyun leans back with a satisfied purr. 

 

Even the beta can’t help the small smile that pulls at his lips. “I was really glad we decided to order in,” Soobin continues. “To be honest, Ning, we didn’t feel like helping you with breakfast earlier. We were way too comfortable in bed.” They all nod in unison, completely unashamed.

 

Kai opens his mouth, instinctively ready to say it’s fine, that it’s his job anyway, but the Pack Alpha cuts him off with a gentle raise of his hand.

 

“I know. I know what you’re about to say,” he says softly. “It’s your role. That’s why you wake up early. But we promised we’d help more, remember? And we did slack off today. We’re sorry.” His voice firms with sincerity. “We’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”

 

Kai blinks, a little caught off guard, then grins. 

 

“I had nothing else to do midday,” the Alpha continues, more relaxed now. “So I just… slept. And it was nice. Before, I used to fill my free time with work to feel productive.” He exhales, shoulders loosening. 

 

“But I’m learning that a day where you’re safe and healthy and happy? It’s also a day well spent.” A quiet hum of agreement ripples around the table. “Nothing else to say about dinner,” he adds lightly. 

 

“Gyu, before we sleep, let’s change your gauze, okay?” Beomgyu snaps a lazy salute. “Yes, sir.”

 

“So,” Soobin finishes, turning his attention to the last person at the table, “your turn.” All eyes fall on Kai. He shifts in his seat, fingers fidgeting together in his lap. “Well…” he starts, hesitating. “First, I’d like to ask where the key to my wardrobe is.”

 

Silence.

 

Yeonjun shrugs like he’s never heard of such a thing. Beomgyu whistles innocently, staring at the ceiling. Soobin pretends to pick his nose and sniffles. Taehyun starts smoothing nonexistent wrinkles out of the tablecloth.

 

The beta snorts. “Got it. No one’s telling.” He shakes his head, laughing softly. “Guess I’ll try again tomorrow.” The four of them exchange looks — knowing, amused, entirely unrepentant. 

 

There’s his answer for tomorrow too.

 

But Kai finds that he doesn’t really mind.

 

“And,” he continues, warmth creeping into his voice, “it was nice waking up with all of you. Even if the bed is… really not built for five people.” Kai shifts slightly, embarrassed but honest. “I just thought maybe… we’d all be more comfortable if…”

 

They tense. Every one of them. They expect the beta to tell them to sleep in their respective rooms, leaving him alone. They all knew that they weren’t ready, and they had hoped that wasn’t what Kai was leading up to—

 

“…if we slept in the pack room,” he finishes quickly, cheeks pink. “Only if you’re okay with it. I mean, I’m not— I’m not trying to—” Kai doesn’t get to finish. The room erupts. Beomgyu cheers so loud it echoes. 

 

Yeonjun laughs outright, clapping once. Taehyun’s scent spikes warm and bright, relief flooding the air. Even Soobin lets out a soft, disbelieving laugh as he pushes back his chair. “Yes,” Beomgyu blurts. “Absolutely yes.”

 

“I thought you’d never ask,” the Pack omega adds. “So we agreed? No take backs?” Taehyun grins. “Pack room. Together.” The beta blinks at them, overwhelmed in the best way as their happiness rolls over him in waves.

 

Their scents fill the space, bright and affectionate, wrapping around him like a promise.

 

“Um. Also, I don’t mind it when you all try to help,” Kai says softly, hands folded in his lap. His thumbs rub together in a nervous little motion he doesn’t even realize he’s doing. His voice is steady but careful, as if he’s choosing every word with intention.

 

“But I really do like doing things around the house. It makes me feel… useful. Grounded, I guess.” He glances down at his hands, then back up at them, cheeks faintly warm.

 

“So maybe we can assign a pack member for each day and chore, so it doesn’t get overwhelming or tiring for any of you? Only if that’s okay, of course.” For a moment, there’s silence.

 

Then Soobin nods immediately, the motion firm and sure, like the answer had never been in doubt.

 

“Of course, pup,” he says gently, warmth threading through his voice. “That’s a good idea.” His gaze softens as it moves around the table, taking in every one of them. “I love all of you, but I hate how crowded the house gets when five people try to do the same thing at once.”

 

The others murmur in agreement, shoulders relaxing as if a weight has been lifted.

 

“We can decide responsibilities by drawing lots,” Kai adds quietly, eyes flicking down again. “That way it’s fair. And if someone wants to switch later, that’s fine too. As long as everyone agrees.” He trails off, suddenly shy again, as if worried he’s overstepped.

 

Soobin lets out a soft chuff, the sound thick with affection. His scent deepens, spreading through the room like a comforting blanket. He leans forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table.

 

“Hueningie,” he says, voice low and sincere, “you’re a very capable and important member of this house.” The beta blinks. “You’re amazing at what you do,” he continues, lips tugging into a fond smile.

 

“And honestly? You’re pretty good at this whole leading thing. Don’t sell yourself short.” The words hit harder than Kai expects. His chest tightens, breath catching just a little.

 

“Of course he is,” Yeonjun cuts in immediately, grinning. “He’s always been the best.”

 

“Kai-ya’s just a great person overall,” Beomgyu adds, nodding enthusiastically. “Like— unfairly good. It’s almost suspicious. Are you sure the Moon Goddess didn't send you to reward us and our hard work?”

 

The beta stifles a laugh. Well, now that's just an overreaction.

 

Taehyun sighs dramatically, resting his chin in his hand. “Maybe she did. Hueningie is way better than all the lame Alphas I’ve had to deal with.” He shoots Kai a soft, adoring look. “It’s kind of embarrassing how easy it is to like you.”

 

Kai’s scent spikes so fast it’s almost comical— warm, bright, unmistakably happy. His ears burn, his face heating up as he looks anywhere but at them, a bashful smile tugging at his lips.

 

They all notice, of course.

 

It makes them laugh.

 

And for the first time in a long while, Kai doesn’t feel like he has to earn his place at the table.

 

If the pack says so—

then maybe it really is true.

 

“Um…” Kai clears his throat, suddenly shy again. “I’m also… sorry for dampening the mood in the kitchen earlier.” His fingers twist together. 

 

“I just— I get really worried when you get hurt. I know it’s kind of unrealistic, and maybe selfish, but I don’t like seeing any of you in pain. At all. I just want you to be safe.” The reaction is immediate. Soft sounds, cooing, and silent cheering.

 

Beomgyu reaches over first, ruffling his hair like he always does when he’s feeling affectionate. Yeonjun leans across the table to press a quick kiss to his cheek. 

 

Taehyun nudges him gently with his shoulder, eyes warm, while Soobin watches him with something quiet and tender in his gaze.

 

“I don’t think that’s selfish.” The Pack Alpha interjects. “I want that for all of you too.” Kai laughs, ducking his head. “I think that’s all I have to say.”

 

“Well,” Soobin says, clapping his hands once, satisfied, “that was a very productive group meeting.” He stands and gestures toward the hallway. “Let’s reconvene in the pack room once we're done freshening up.” He pauses, then glances back at Kai with a fond smile. 

 

“And Ning? Your pajamas are already laid out on your bed. Let’s all wash up and meet back there, okay?” The beta hums in response, warmth spreading through him. “Okay.”

 

“Kiss?” Yeonjun asks casually. They don’t even wait for an answer. The four of them huddle. Beomgyu leans in close to the others, just enough that Kai can’t hear, and whispers, “We’re going to have to learn a new routine… since we’re adding a new person.”

 

The others nod almost imperceptibly, sharing small, knowing smirks, their eyes flicking briefly to the beta, who is happily oblivious and humming to himself. Then, as if on cue, the four pack members turn toward each other and initiate their perfected four-way kiss. 

 

Soobin presses a gentle, lasting kiss to Taehyun’s lips. The omega responds by brushing his nose along Beomgyu’s cheek before catching Yeonjun’s in a tender smack. Yeonjun nuzzles Soobin’s jaw, leaving a soft trail of warmth, and Beomgyu peppers quick, teasing smooches across Taehyun and Soobin’s faces.

 

Kai, standing just a step away, hums quietly, watching the choreography with a lovesick grin, feeling butterflies in his tummy. 

 

He’s entirely caught up in the sight of their affection, their laughter, and the warmth that radiates from them, unaware of the whispered plotting just out of earshot.

 

The kiss ends with a few soft giggles and murmurs of love, the four pack members finally turning toward the beta, ready to drown him in his own share of smooches.

 

Kai gets giggly as each of them presses their lips to his cheeks, jaw, and temple, laughter and coos mixing into a symphony of affection. His blush deepens, and his heart feels impossibly full.

 

“Bye!” The pack calls together as they start to file toward their rooms, leaving Kai in the hallway, still grinning like a fool.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

what did you all think about this chapter?

Chapter 14: 10

Summary:

the pack spends a day without kai. chaos ensues.

Notes:

hello, everyone! i have been very busy this week, running around and taking care of requirements for my on-the-job training. not to worry, the fic will be going on until i finish it and i die of overwork.

like usual, it'll be split into two parts, with the next chapter focusing heavily on more serious topics. however, it is not related in any way about the way the pack and kai is right now. they're okay!

it will be posted on tuesday :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I know it’s a little random, but have any of us taken the pup on a proper date?” Yeonjun asks all of a sudden, staring up at the ceiling like the thought just dropped into his head.

 

They’re sprawled across the living room in a lazy pile, the TV murmuring quietly in the background— some documentary none of them are actually paying attention to.

 

It has penguins in it, Taehyun had thought. Ningning would've liked it.

 

Soobin lounges against the armrest, Beomgyu half-draped over him, absently nuzzling into his shoulder while the Alpha’s fingers card through his hair. Taehyun is stretched across Yeonjun’s lap, eyes half-lidded, one hand resting loosely against his thigh.

 

“Don’t all of our outings count as dates?” Beomgyu asks curiously. “We just went to the amusement park yesterday.” 

 

“We did,” Taehyun adds, lips quirking. “And he almost passed out on the drop tower.” Yeonjun scoffs immediately, rolling his eyes. 

 

“He did not almost pass out. Hueningie is just a little scared of heights.” His voice softens without him even realizing it. “The pup did really well for his first time.” Beomgyu chuckles, reminiscing. “You could tell he was trying so hard not to freak out.”

 

“Aish, Junnie-hyung,” Taehyun says, amused. “You don’t have to defend his honor.” He glances at Soobin, smiling. “Though it was sweet that Kai even agreed to ride it. He only did because all of us were going.”

 

The Pack Alpha nods slowly, expression thoughtful. “I got worried halfway up,” he admits. “the pup went quiet all of a sudden. No commentary, no little hums— nothing. That’s usually a bad sign.” Beomgyu snorts, unable to help himself. 

 

“I genuinely thought his soul left his body. Like— just straight up ascended.”

 

“He was fine when we got down,” the young Alpha continued, waving a hand. “Totally normal. Calm. And then—” He grins, entirely too pleased with himself. “—he puked.” Yeonjun groans, dropping his head back against the couch. 

 

“You didn’t have to say it like that. His poor tummy. The pup really liked the churros. I don't think he'll be able to eat them anytime soon.” Taehyun laughs under his breath. “You’re lucky the baby is not here right now, or he’d get sulky again.” The Pack Alpha chuffs, thrilled at the idea of it. “I don’t think I’d mind.”

 

Beomgyu perks up immediately. 

 

“Same. He’s cute when he gets pouty.” The others hum in agreement, smiles spreading almost unconsciously as the image settles between them— Kai with his lips pushed out, arms crossed, pretending not to care while very obviously caring. 

 

The mood softens, and for a moment, they all look a little distracted by how easy it is to miss him even when he’s only gone for a few hours.

 

Soobin, who’s scrolling through his phone with a lovesick expression on his face, suddenly shows them a picture. “This came out so good.” All of them lean in without thinking. 

 

It’s the photo the park ranger took— five of them squeezed together, matching hats crooked on their heads, snacks clutched in their hands. Kai is right in the center, smiling so brightly it almost hurts to look at. 

 

Taehyun is pressed close to his side, gaze dreamy and openly adoring in a way that leaves nothing unsaid. Beomgyu is licking the beta’s cheek, arm wrapped around his waist, eyes slanted in mischief. 

 

Yeonjun’s head is thrown back in laughter, and Soobin is watching them all with electric blue eyes, his wolf crawling out of the surface from so much happiness, seeing the pack happy altogether.

 

It’s beautiful.

 

“We should get this printed,” Beomgyu murmurs. “Put it somewhere we can see it.”

 

“I want one in my room,” Taehyun says immediately. “In your room?” Yeonjun asks, stifling a laugh. “We don’t even have individual pictures in your room. I’m hurt, Tyun.” The young omega rolls his eyes. 

 

“You’ve put your dick in my ass. Stop complaining like some prude.”

 

Yeonjun’s mouth falls open, ready to scold, but his face ignites in a deep crimson blush, ears burning as he exhales sharply through his nose, the air thick with the sharp, musky edge of his arousal-tinged frustration. 

 

“That was uncalled for, Kang Taehyun.” Beomgyu reprimands him. “It’s true!” Taehyun doubles down, his voice distorted as his mate pinches his nose shut, cutting off his air for a teasing second, his body squirming with laughter and mock protest.

 

“You’re coming with me later,” the Pack omega growls, his striking purple eyes narrowing, pupils dilating into predatory slits that promise delicious retribution. “But—”

 

“No. You can’t ask for help.” Yeonjun cuts him off sharply, his voice a firm command laced with dark amusement. “Can we at least take breaks?” the young omega pleads, though his lips curve into a sly pout, the scent of his slick already blooming sweet and heady in the air like ripe fruit begging to be devoured. 

 

The oldest of the four rolls his eyes, but his wicked smile sharpens, eyes darkening with hunger. “Your mouth didn’t have any breaks when you chose to sass me like that.” Taehyun groans dramatically, head tipping back to expose the vulnerable line of his throat. 

 

“I have P.E. tomorrow, hyung— my legs are gonna give out.”

 

“I don’t give a shit,” Yeonjun purrs, voice dripping with honey, leaning in close enough for Taehyun to feel the heat radiating off his skin.

 

Soobin, watching their heated catfight unfold from the sidelines, sighs exasperatedly, rubbing his temple as the room pulses with their chaotic energy, his own Alpha instincts humming beneath the surface.

 

“I can smell your slick, Tyun,” the Pack Alpha mutters, voice steady but edged with arousal. “Keep it down before you flood the whole place. Think about Hueningie coming home to this.” The omega’s eyes flicker at the mention of Kai, red and animalistic.

 

“Well, look at you making it worse.” Yeonjun huffs sarcastically, cupping Taehyun’s face and kissing him, trying to stave off the hunger forming in his gut.

 

Beomgyu bursts into laughter, rich and unrestrained, his hand petting his mate’s tousled hair while the two omegas are making out. “My baby is such a freak. Just let them be, Soobs— this is basically just foreplay for them.”

 

Taehyun pulls away, smirking triumphantly. His eyes gleam like polished rubies. “This is what makes it so exciting and fun.” Yeonjun yanks on his hair sharply, eliciting a sharp gasp that turns into a needy whine. 

 

“Brat. I thought you wanted breaks.” The young omega licks his lips slowly, deliberately, gaze locked on Yeonjun’s with brazen heat. “I changed my mind. You’ll make do with your promise, won’t you hyung? Or maybe I should have the Alphas help—”

 

Beomgyu claps his hands sharply, the sound cutting through the thickening tension like a splash of cool water. 

 

“Okay, stop! We’re getting waaay off topic. You two can tear each other apart when we’re done talking. And also, can we watch? We promise not to touch.” He physically hauls Taehyun away from Yeonjun, earning a playful, rumbling snarl that vibrates through the omega’s chest. 

 

“You, sit with Soobin for a bit. And behave.” The Alpha pinches his flushed cheek one last time before wedging himself snugly between Yeonjun and Soobin, his presence a calming anchor amid the storm.

 

“Alright, so—” Soobin clears his throat, clearly trying to regain composure and control of the situation. He also shoots Beomgyu a grateful smile while rubbing Taehyun's hip. “About the picture. I want one in my wallet too. Maybe a keychain.”

 

“I know a guy with a printing shop,” the young omega says, already reaching for his phone. “He can get it done tomorrow.” Yeonjun hums, thoughtful. Then— “Let’s not tell Hueningie.” All three of them look at him.

 

“Let him find it,” The Pack omega continues, lips curling into a small, knowing smile. “On his own. While he’s cleaning or something.” There’s a beat of silence— then Taehyun giggles, unable to help himself. “That’s evil,” 

 

“He’s going to be so confused.” Beomgyu adds, a grin spreading wide as he pictures it happening. “And so happy.” They all laugh, the sound easy and unrestrained.

 

The desire still lingers— low and simmering, curled deep in their stomachs. But even the mention of the beta has a grounding effect on them, steadying their breathing, mellowing the sharpness of their arousal.

 

Kai is nowhere to be found.

 

He’d left early that morning, slipping out while the house was still quiet, his shoes gone from the entryway and his scent already fading down the hall. Group reportingday, he’d said the night before, apologetic even though none of them had complained. 

 

If anything, it was Kai who felt sorry for himself, having to leave instead of staying with the pack.

 

Still, he made sure everything was taken care of before leaving.

 

Breakfast sat neatly arranged on the table— dishes covered, notes scribbled on sticky pads reminding them to reheat properly. Lunch was packed in labeled containers in the fridge, stacked neatly so no one could miss them. Labeled with names too, knowing that some of the members had grubby hands.

 

Even the alarm had been moved across the room, far enough from the bed that they’d be forced to get up to turn it off. It was a system Kai had implemented almost immediately after joining the pack.

 

He’d noticed, very quickly, that none of them were morning people.

 

The second thing Kai hated most in the world— right after the pack getting hurt— was them skipping meals. He took food seriously, in that gentle but unbudging way of his, always insisting they eat on time unless they were sick, exhausted, or already out of the house. 

 

The beta never raised his voice about it. Never scolded. He just looked at them with earnest eyes and his delicate matcha scent until they complied. And they always did.

 

It was rare for all four of them to be together like this, stretched out in the living room with nowhere to be for a few hours. Their schedules rarely aligned— college, work, responsibilities, life pulling them in different directions. 

 

They still went home to the same house and slept on the same bed, but life felt undeniably different now. Back in college, everything had been smaller— a cramped apartment that always smelled like instant ramen and laundry detergent, textbooks scattered across the floor, and laughter bleeding through thin walls long after midnight.

 

They had time then. Time to argue about takeout, to collapse into each other after classes, to exist without the weight of schedules and expectations pressing down on their shoulders.

 

It had been simpler when the world was divided into pairs— Soobin and Yeonjun tucked into one corner of the couch, always bickering like an old married couple, and Beomgyu and Taehyun stretched out on the other side, quietly sharing earphones and secrets.

 

Then somewhere along the way, lines blurred and hands intertwined differently, until it became this— Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun— a pack formed not by accident, but by years of choosing each other over and over again.

 

They still tried, even now. They scheduled dates between meetings and deadlines, sometimes as couples, sometimes as a whole pack, squeezing joy into the small gaps left by adulthood.

 

But it was rare for all of them to simply sit together without distraction, without phones buzzing or responsibilities tugging at their sleeves, and talk about everything they had survived and built together— about the way four years had reshaped them into something stronger, softer, more certain.

 

Maybe that was why moments like this felt heavier than usual.

Important.

Sacred, almost.

 

With their collective pleased scents swirling in the air, Yeonjun eventually breaks the quiet. “Ah— wait.” He sits up a little, arms crossing as he frowns. “We’re straying from the point.” The others look at him.

 

“Have we ever actually taken him out on a proper date?” he asks. “Like… one-on-one. Not errands. Not tagging along. Not squeezing in time between responsibilities. An actual date where we’re trying to impress him.” There’s a brief pause.

 

“I don’t think so,” Soobin admits slowly. “It’s mostly been… us dragging him along while we’re already out. Or him taking care of us.” He exhales. “A planned date, just him and one of us? No. Not really.”

 

“We should change that,” Taehyun says immediately. The room hums with quiet agreement, the air shifting to something a little more focused and intentional. “Does anyone know what they’re going to do yet?” he asks, glancing between them.

 

They all shake their heads.

 

Silence settles for a beat— thoughtful rather than awkward— before Beomgyu suddenly perks up, shoulders straightening like a switch has been flipped inside him. “I’m not taking the pup to watch a movie,” he declares, nose scrunching in distaste. “That’s boring.”

 

“Hey,” Yeonjun protests immediately, lifting his head. “Movies can be good.”

 

“They’re only good at home,” the young Alpha shoots back without missing a beat. 

 

“You can’t even talk, it’s noisy, and it’s fucking freezing inside. Worst first date ever.” He shifts, sitting up straighter, eyes glittering with mischief. “I’ve got one better.” Yeonjun narrows his eyes suspiciously. “What is it?”

 

“Not telling.” Beomgyu sticks his tongue out, entirely unapologetic.

 

“I’m not going to steal your idea,” the Pack omega scoffs, though his lips twitch like he’s already plotting. Beomgyu reaches out, fingers hooking lightly at the nape of Yeonjun’s neck, pulling him closer just enough to press a slow kiss along his jaw. 

 

“You absolutely would, my love,” he murmurs, teasing warmth laced through his voice. “You’re that much of a menace.”

 

“I might,” Yeonjun admits, giggling softly as he leans into the touch, eyes crinkling. Then his expression softens— more genuine and earnest. “But not this time. It’s Ningie we’re talking about.” His gaze drifts toward the hallway, thoughtful. “I want to take this seriously.”

 

Soobin hums, brows furrowing. “I… have something in mind too. I don’t know if it’ll work, but—”

 

“It’ll work,” Taehyun cuts in, already grinning. “It’s a little cocky to say but he adores us. He’ll love whatever it is that we planned for him.” He swings his legs a little, clearly excited. “I think I’ll just ask Hueningie what he wants. Then I’ll make it the most enjoyable date ever.”

 

Yeonjun snorts. “That’s cheating. You’re basically asking him to do all the work.”

 

“I’m not competitive like you,” Taehyun replies sweetly. “I just want him to be happy. I want to make up for doing that to him.” He references the previous incident, wincing at the memory. 

 

“I think we’ve more than made up for it already. It’s been a while since it happened.” Beomgyu tries to placate him. “Not enough.” The young omega says instead. “If you say so, babe.” His mate just sighs, reaching over to peck his cheeks.

 

“Don’t get too into your head, alright? The pup is already adjusting quite well. If we upset him again…” Beomgyu trails off. “I know, I know. I feel so guilty thinking about it that I just…” Taehyun grunts, wrapping his arms around Soobin’s waist.

 

The Pack Alpha purrs, kissing Taehyun’s head, letting the sweet musk of his scent comfort the omega. “I’m sure Ning would’ve told us if he hadn't been satisfied with our current arrangement, Tyun. Don’t overthink it.” Soobin mutters, pressing his lips against Taehyun’s temple.

 

“I suck at this ‘planning dates’ thing,” Yeonjun complains, flopping back against the couch with a dramatic sigh, one arm thrown over his eyes. “For the whole duration of our relationship, I’ve mostly just been dragged around while looking pretty.”

 

Soobin doesn’t even hesitate. He smiles affectionately, shoulders rising in obvious pride. “You do look pretty,” he says warmly. “Stunning, even.” Yeonjun freezes.

 

Then he peeks through his fingers, ears burning, cheeks flushing a deep, unmistakable red. “—Hey. Don’t just say things like that out of nowhere.” His voice comes out smaller than intended. Beomgyu snickers. Taehyun watches with blatant amusement. 

 

“We’re drifting away from the topic again!” The Pack omega squeaks, sitting upright abruptly and clearing his throat a little too loudly. 

 

“Ehem. Anyway, I plan on searching the internet for some cute date ideas and putting them into a roulette.” He gestures emphatically, as if the roulette already exists. “So tell me what you’re thinking of so there’s no repetition.”

 

“I swear in my life I’m not going to steal them.” He raises his hand solemnly. “Okay, drama queen,” Taehyun mutters fondly. Yeonjun crosses his heart anyway, glaring. “I mean it.” Beomgyu watches him for a second, then exhales and shrugs. 

 

“Fine,” he concedes. “I guess I can do that.”

 

“So,” Soobin says, drawing their attention back, “how do we decide who goes first?” The four of them stare at each other. The young Alpha’s eyes glint dangerously.

 

“Rock, paper, scissors,” he says, already cracking his knuckles. “So serious,” Taehyun groans. “Obviously,” Yeonjun replies, sitting up straighter. “Fine,” Soobin agrees, a smile tugging at his lips. “On three.”

 

They square off, suddenly far too intense for what is essentially a friendly game— shoulders squared, eyes narrowed, pride on the line. Somewhere across town, completely unaware, Kai is probably organizing notes and worrying if they’ve eaten lunch yet.

 

And at home, four very determined werewolves are about to decide who gets to show him just how loved he really is.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Is this more comfortable for everyone?” Soobin asks, glancing around the circle with an assessing eye. They’re settled on the bed in the pack room, legs tucked in, backs curved toward each other in an easy sprawl. 

 

Pillows are stacked haphazardly against the headboard, blankets half-folded and forgotten beneath them. They’ve been rotating meeting spots all week— the dining table, the couch, even the floor once— trying to figure out where everyone feels the most at ease.

 

Yeonjun shifts immediately, rolling his shoulders and letting out a pleased sigh as the mattress dips beneath his weight. “I don’t have anything to lean on,” he says, rocking side to side just to feel the bounce, “but it’s soft. I feel like I could just… melt into the sheets.”

 

“Just use me as a chair,” Beomgyu offers without missing a beat, patting his thighs invitingly. “I’d be happy to oblige.” The Pack omega hums thoughtfully, clearly pretending to consider it, before scooting back and settling neatly between his legs. 

 

“Hm. I guess you would suffice.” The Alpha grins, immediately wrapping an arm around his waist and giving it a gentle squeeze, like he’s testing how well Yeonjun fits there. The omega purrs under his breath, shoulders relaxing as he leans back into the hold.

 

“I like that I can just sleep right after,” Taehyun adds, voice lazy and content. “We’re already washed up, teeth brushed, everything done. No moving around after.” Kai nods quietly at that, fingers smoothing over the edge of the blanket absentmindedly. 

 

The thought clearly appeals to him— the efficiency, the comfort, the closeness all wrapped into one. Soobin watches them for a moment longer, then nods decisively. “Alright. Let’s try it for at least three days,” he says. 

 

“We’ll cycle back to this conversation once everyone’s had time to adjust.” He pauses, then softens, a small smile tugging at his lips as he looks directly at Kai. 

 

“Anyway… for this group meeting, we actually have something important to say. Collectively.” He gestures lightly to the others. “All four of us.” The beta stiffens almost immediately. 

 

Soobin catches it at once— the subtle hitch in his breathing, the faint spike of nerves curling into the air, his matcha scent dulling and souring. The Pack Alpha leans forward just a little, voice dropping, more gentle and caring.

 

“It’s nothing too serious, pup,” he reassures quickly. “You’re not in trouble. Nobody’s angry. And it’s a good thing— a great thing, actually.” The beta exhales, tension easing out of his shoulders. “So,” Soobin continues kindly, “why don’t you start first? Tell us how your reporting went today.”

 

Kai relaxes further, instinctively leaning his head against Taehyun’s shoulder. The omega laughs softly at the contact, pressing a kiss to his cheek before curling an arm around him. “You have nothing to worry about, baby,” He murmurs, voice low and steady. 

 

Taehyun’s thumb brushes slow grounding circles against the beta’s arm, a familiar, practiced touch meant to soothe. “Everything’s fine. That’s what the meetings are for, right? To talk. If it were anything serious, we would’ve told you beforehand.”

 

For a split second, an emotion flickers across the omega’s face. It’s gone almost as soon as it appears— blink and you’d miss it entirely. But the pack doesn’t. They catch it in the slight tightening of his jaw, the way his breath stutters just barely before evening out again.

 

Guilt.

 

Not loud or dramatic. Just heavy. The kind that settles deep in the chest.

 

The guilt of knowing Kai still braces himself sometimes. Knowing that sitting down for a ‘talk’ still carries echoes of uncertainty for him— of not knowing if things will end gently or break apart in his hands.

 

Soobin moves without thinking.

 

He slides closer, arm firm around the omega’s waist, pulling him in until their sides touch. He presses a kiss to Taehyun’s mating bite, slow and deliberate, scent blooming warm and reassuring in the space between them.

 

“It’s no use if you don’t believe it yourself,” The Pack Alpha murmurs against his skin, voice soft but certain. “If you don’t trust that everything will be okay too, don’t you think, darling?” Taehyun shivers under his lips, breath hitching before he exhales shakily. 

 

His fingers curl into the fabric of Soobin’s shirt, grounding himself. “Right, Ning?” The Alpha adds gently. Kai nods, the tension in his shoulders easing. His smile is small but sincere, eyes soft as he looks at Taehyun. 

 

“I’m okay, Tyun,” he says quietly. “I was worried for a second. But you were all quick to tell me it wasn’t anything bad.” the beta pauses, then adds, voice warm and sure, “I believe you.” He pats the space beside him on the bed, an unspoken invitation.

 

The omega hesitates— just a heartbeat— before crawling over, movements careful, almost shy. Taehyun curls into Kai’s side, tucking himself close, nose pressing into the familiar warmth of his chest. 

 

The beta wraps an arm around him without hesitation, holding him there like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

 

The room settles again.

 

Breaths sync. Scents soften. 

 

And for a moment, that’s all they need.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

what kind of dates do you think suit the members? you can comment them below so i can steal them hehe :P

Chapter 15: 10.5

Summary:

huening kai becomes vulnerable with the pack after an unfortunate incident.

Notes:

so, i didn't expect the next part to be this long and serious, but here you go!

tw: degrading language, sexual harrassment, violence, blood and injury, murder threats.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“So, um.” The beta shifts slightly, adjusting himself so Taehyun can lean against him more comfortably. “We practiced a lot. It was a little sloppy and the others weren’t taking it seriously at first, which made me… a little nervous.” His voice softens. 

 

“We weren’t familiar with each other yet. It’s only me, Yuna, and Dongpyo who already knew each other.” The pack listens silently, giving him space to speak at his own pace. “But we pulled through in the end,” Kai continues, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he remembers. 

 

“Yuna wrangled all of them like misbehaving cats. Her being in a bad mood helped somehow. She and her girlfriend got into a fight earlier, so… she was scary. Very scary.” He huffs a small laugh, shoulders relaxing just a little.

 

“We did pretty good, though. I think Mr. Jeon was satisfied. After the report, we went to a restaurant to celebrate.” Yeonjun’s brow lifts without delay. “I didn’t drink,” Kai says quickly, already anticipating the question. 

 

“I would’ve told you if I wanted to drink alcohol. Besides,” he adds, eyes flicking between them, “who’s going to manage the house if I’m drunk off my butt?”

 

Beomgyu opens his mouth, ready to say that they could manage the house just fine if he wants to go out and have fun, but Soobin nudges him sharply with an elbow before he can interrupt. His turn. The Pack Alpha’s eyes had said.

 

“Did you have fun, at least?” Taehyun asks in interest, his fingers combing gently through Kai’s hair. The beta hesitates.

 

“I think I’m more… tired than anything,” he admits. “It was fun hanging out together, but some of my groupmates are people I never want to see again.” Kai’s voice dips lower, almost swallowed by the stillness of the room. 

 

“I don’t think anything remotely interesting happened. That’s all for me.” His lips pursed, eyes dropping to his hands. “You are a bad liar,” Soobin says gently, tilting Kai’s chin upward with careful fingers. 

 

“What happened, pup? Did anyone upset you? Were you hurt? Embarrassed?” His voice is mild, but protective. The beta shakes his head hesitantly, gaze flickering away. Kai doesn’t want to say it. 

 

The memory makes his stomach twist— and more than that, he’s worried about how the pack will react. Soobin’s scent shifts, sharp with concern as questions spill out faster than he can process. 

 

“Do you know what department they’re in? What color was their I.D lace? What did their uniform look like? Do you remember their face?”

 

“I—” Kai exhales shakily, fingers gripping the bedsheet tighter. “It wasn’t that bad. Just…” He mumbles. 

 

“An Alpha hit on me thinking I was an omega. He kept spreading his pheromones everywhere and it made me feel sick. I think… I think he was trying to get me scent-drunk.” The room goes still.

 

Taehyun’s hand pauses on the beta’s hair. Yeonjun’s smile fades completely. Beomgyu’s posture straightens, playful energy vanishing in an instant. 

 

And Soobin— Soobin goes quiet, his thumb still resting gently under Kai’s chin even as a darker expression flickers behind his eyes, restrained only by the nervousness on the beta’s face. He looked uncomfortable, shaken.

 

Although Kai knew in his heart that no one else’s scent but the pack could make him feel anything real, the encounter still left an ugly feeling crawling under his skin. 

 

The idea that someone had tried to take away his bodily autonomy— tried to force him into submission like he was someone lesser— made his stomach twist. Even now, surrounded by familiarity and solace, the memory clung stubbornly to him.

 

The pack gathers around him almost instantly, as if pulled by instinct. Their scents wrap around him from all sides— intimate and safe— pushing against the lingering shadow of the Alpha who had hovered too close earlier. 

 

Kai exhales slowly, shoulders lowering just a fraction, but the tension never fully leaves him. His jaw remains tight, teeth pressed together hard enough that it aches. “He found out I was a beta and, y’know… he got angry,” Kai whispers with a grimace. 

 

The beta keeps it vague on purpose. He doesn’t mention the slurs that had burned hotter than any shove. Doesn’t mention how close the stranger’s fist had come to his face, or the humiliating wet sound of spit hitting his shoes. 

 

Some things feel too heavy to place in their hands.

 

He had scrubbed himself raw the moment he got home, lingering under the water longer than usual. 

 

The mating room had been busy then, the moment allowing him to wash away every trace of that Alpha’s scent— the suffocating harshness, the oppressive pressure that made his skin crawl. Only after he smelled like himself again had he felt safe enough to seek them out.

 

“What’s the color of his I.D lace, Ning? Hm? Can you tell Alpha?” Beomgyu demanded, his words getting more distorted as they come out. His eyes flash an unnatural green, pupils thinning into sharp predatory slits. A growl vibrates faintly in his throat, barely contained. “What about the I.D case?”

 

“It’s okay, hyung!” Kai protests, hands lifting in a placating gesture. He tries to keep his tone light, teasing even, anything to pull Beomgyu back from that edge. “He didn’t do anything to harm me, just… threatened me and stuff—”

 

The beta grimaces when their scents worsen, eyes more animalistic. 

 

Ah, he really sucks at hiding from them.

 

“Just threatened you?” Yeonjun interrupts, already moving closer. “That is not something you talk about lightly, Ning. You could’ve been hurt. Are you hurt?” His hands hover before turning Kai’s arm, eyes scanning every inch of exposed skin like he’s searching for damage. 

 

“Did he do this?” He points at the angry red mark circling Kai’s wrist, fingers stopping just short of touching it. “Hyung—”

 

“Just answer honestly, Ning,” Soobin murmurs, voice low but steady, even though the tension rolling off him says otherwise. “We’re not mad at you. Just angry at the situation you were in. If we were there, we would’ve—”

 

Kai takes a deep breath, chest rising and falling unevenly, and nods. The admission hits the room like a spark to dry grass.

 

The Pack Alpha feels like he’s going insane. A loud snarl escapes him before he can stop it, fingers curling into his palm so tightly that his nails bite into skin. The scent of his agitation thickens the air, heavy and sharp.

 

“Is he a student in your university? A businessman?” Taehyun’s voice cuts through the room, quieter than the others but far more dangerous. Each word carries a subtle vibrato that makes the beta flinch. “Some fucking drunkard who decided to hurt what’s ours?”

 

Kai’s heart stutters at that— ours. The word sends desire rushing up his spine despite everything, but the look on Taehyun’s face scares him more. Dark. Focused. Cold in a way that promises consequences.

 

He’s not afraid of the pack— not even a little. What Kai is afraid of is the moment their expressions will change. Because they will change.

 

Right now, they’re gentle. Careful. Patient in a way that makes his chest ache.

 

But he knows the sharpness hidden under their calm— the way Yeonjun’s smile disappears when someone crosses a line, the way Beomgyu goes frighteningly quiet when he’s angry, the way Taehyun’s gaze turns razor-focused, the way Soobin’s voice drops into something that doesn’t allow refusal.

 

They would burn for him if they knew everything.

 

After living with them for a year now, he understands that much.

 

Kai is important to the pack. Maybe not as important as they are to each other— maybe never in the same way— but important nonetheless. Enough that they scent him before sleep, enough that they memorize his favorites, enough that they watch him like he’s something worth protecting.

 

And that thought alone makes guilt curl in his stomach.

 

Because if he tells them… they won’t just be upset.

 

They’ll hunt.

 

Kai shifts awkwardly, trying to mitigate it. He wasn’t hurt that badly. His wrist tingles when he rotates it, a dull ache pulsing beneath the skin, but nothing’s broken. Nothing permanent. They don’t listen, of course, their blood already running hot, seeing him hurt and anxious.

 

So he decides to let a bit of information slip.

 

“He had our uniform,” Kai whispers finally, voice small. “A green I.D lace and a white I.D case.” The words settle heavily between them. “Dongpyo was able to hold him off,” the beta continued quickly, rushing to whitewash the image forming in their minds. 

 

“It didn’t escalate further, promise. Pyodongie punched him in the face and kicked him to the curb.” A small huff of breath escapes him, a forced laugh. 

 

“We got kicked out after that.” He keeps his voice casual, almost amused, trying to make it sound like nothing more than a messy night out. But the way the pack’s scents turn darker, heavier, tells him they hear everything he isn’t saying.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

It was more than just getting punched in the face. Kai is pretty sure the drunkard won’t be recognizable for a while— not after the way Dongpyo moved. 

 

The Alpha had stepped forward without hesitation, shoulders squared and eyes sharp, placing himself between Kai and the man like an unbreakable wall. “Who the fuck do you think you’re speaking to?” 

 

One shove was all it took to send the drunkard stumbling backward, chair legs screeching harshly against the floor before Dongpyo’s fist connected with his jaw in a clean, brutal arc.

 

Dongpyo has never fit the world’s narrow image of what an Alpha should look like. He’s gentlemanly and suave, fond of plushies and pastel things, the kind of person who apologizes when he bumps into furniture. 

 

His almond-shaped eyes are sunny, his small mouth almost always curved into a shy smile that shows off his cute little teeth. Even his scent reflects it— fresh cinnamon rolls topped with sweet, milky icing, comforting and harmless.

 

But the Dongpyo Kai saw in that moment was unrecognizable. His wolf surged to the surface, raw and undeniable, stripping away every ounce of softness. The gentle slope of his jaw hardened, muscles pulling tight like a rope drawn to its limit. 

 

His lips peeled back enough to show teeth that looked less cute and more feral, his chin trembling with restrained fury. The sweetness of his scent burned away into something sharper— cinnamon bark split open and smoking, hot enough to sting the nose.

 

He dominated the space effortlessly, voice low and lethal as he verbally tore into the drunkard before his fists ever did the rest of the talking. 

 

Dongpyo didn’t stop there either. The sound of impact echoed too loudly in the crowded room— a sickening crunch of knuckles meeting bone that made several people gasp and recoil. 

 

Chairs scraped as bystanders tried to move away, unsure whether to intervene or pretend they hadn’t seen anything at all. 

 

“You crazy bastard—” The drunkard wheezed and staggered, attempting to rise only to be driven back down again, pain twisting his face as he struggled to defend himself from the relentless assault.

 

For a terrifying second, Kai genuinely thought Dongpyo might kill him.

 

The Alpha’s eyes were wild, focused only on protecting, on eliminating the threat that had dared to corner someone under his care. Each movement was precise, yet fueled by a rage Kai had never witnessed before— not from Dongpyo, not from anyone. 

 

Even the air seemed to vibrate around him, thick with the metallic edge of fury and the unmistakable promise that if someone didn’t step in soon, the fight would cross a line none of them could take back.

 

An old, more burly Alpha finally forced his way between them, grabbing Dongpyo by the shoulders and hauling him back— not before landing a solid punch of his own against the drunkard’s face. 

 

The room fell into a stunned hush. It turned out to be the owner himself, who had watched everything unfold through the security cameras. His stern expression mellowed out the moment his eyes landed on Kai, then on the shaken group clustered together.

 

He apologized profusely, bowing again and again, voice low as he asked them to leave the property “angrily” for appearances’ sake. 

 

As he ushered them toward the exit, though, his hand slipped restaurant vouchers quietly into their pockets, murmuring under his breath for them to come back once the issue had died down. They left the place rattled.

 

Yuna was sobbing, hands trembling as she fussed over Kai, checking his face and arms even though he kept insisting he was fine. Her distress only seemed to grow the more she looked at him, and Kai— already overwhelmed— could barely find the words to soothe her. 

 

The others tried to help, offering tissues and awkward reassurances, but she clung stubbornly to Kai’s sleeve like a lifeline. Dongpyo returned from washing up in the restroom with barely a scratch on his face, though his fists were split and bloodied, knuckles raw and swelling. 

 

There was no regret in his expression— only a fierce, blooming pride that lifted his shoulders and thickened his scent into ferality and protectiveness. The moment he spotted Kai, he slid next to him, eyes scanning every inch of his body.

 

“Are you hurt, Ningning? I’m sorry I wasn’t there. Fuck. I’m going to kill that motherfucker—” Kai shushed him gently, hugging the Alpha and whispering apologies, praises, anything to distract Dongpyo from his anger.

 

The beta pressed closer, pushing his own scent out in small pathetic bursts as he rubbed circles into Dongpyo’s back, feeling the tremors still running through his frame. 

 

“Pyodongie, hey,” he murmured softly. “I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me or anything like that. Also… a little help here, please?” He tilted his head toward Yuna, who was still wailing, clutching his sweater sleeve so tightly that the fabric had wrinkled beneath her fingers.

 

Dongpyo blinked, calming himself with a slow breath before turning to her. “Hey, Yuns. Shh, I’m here. He’s okay. You’re okay.” He cupped her cheeks gently, purring under his breath as he released a comforting wave of cinnamon rolls. 

 

“I beat him, see?” he added, baring his fangs in a crooked, prideful grin. “That guy won’t even be able to chew properly anymore.” That earned a watery laugh from Yuna. She hiccupped, punching his chest lightly in mock scolding, her shoulders finally relaxing a little. 

 

“I was so scared.” Kai reached out to ruffle her hair, offering a small smile. “He's not going to hurt us anymore, Yuns. Also… we’re sorry for the display.” He bowed so deeply his head nearly dipped toward the ground, turning to their groupmates.

 

They waved it off with tired smiles. “No, no, it’s okay,” one of them said. “It dampened the mood a bit, but honestly? It was satisfying watching him get beat up. We know that guy— he harassed one of our friends before.” A pause. “But it’s getting late, so we should probably head out.”

 

They parted ways soon after, the three of them wandering through quieter streets until they found a closed ice cream parlor with its metal shutters halfway down. The lights were off, leaving only the glow of the streetlamps spilling across the sidewalk. 

 

They settled onto the cool pavement outside, shoulders brushing, exhaustion finally catching up with them now that the adrenaline had faded.

 

“It looks gross,” Yuna sniffled, her voice wobbling as she tried to wipe the drying blood off Dongpyo’s knuckles with quivering hands. The more she scrubbed, the more the redness smeared across his skin, and her face twisted like she might start crying again at any second.

 

“Well, it hurts,” the Alpha complained immediately, shrinking away when she tipped an entire bottle of water over his hands. He hissed through his teeth, breath quickening as if he were the one getting attacked now. 

 

The sharp scent of iron faded slightly, replaced by the clean, mineral smell of water dripping down onto the pavement. “Don’t be a big baby,” Yuna shot back, though her tone was softer than her words. “You literally almost killed a guy.”

 

He scoffed, puffing his chest out. “I could’ve.” Kai reached over without hesitation and pinched his ear hard enough to make him yelp. “Don’t even joke about that,” he murmured, brows knitting together. 

 

There was no real anger in his voice— just a quiet exhaustion that made Dongpyo glance at him more carefully. The Alpha rolled his eyes but leaned closer anyway, bumping their shoulders together. “But were you scared?” he asked carefully.

 

Kai hesitated, fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve before he nodded. “Yeah. I was.” His voice dropped, almost swallowed by the hum of the streetlights above them. “Some Alphas are really… forceful.” A small pause. “Thanks, Pyodongie.”

 

Dongpyo’s grin returned immediately, bright and boyish as he rested his head against Kai’s shoulder, rubbing it there like an oversized cat seeking praise. “They’re losers,” Yuna huffed, nose still pink as she wrung out the bloodied tissue.

 

“He’s more than a loser. He’s a pathetic twat. I saw Ning’s eyes lose color a little bit. The bastard’s scent almost got to him.” Kai winced, shoulders curling inward. 

 

The beta didn’t want to remember that moment— the way everything had gone dark, his thoughts dissolving into fog for a terrifying second. The only thing that pulled him back was the tiny keychain tucked into his pocket, still faintly smelling like Soobin. 

 

Kai had clutched it so tightly his fingers had gone numb. “Done,” Yuna announced suddenly, standing to throw the bloodied wipes and tissues into the nearby bin. 

 

“Let me just… fix my make-up. She’s going to kill me if she sees and smells me like this.” She plopped back down on the pavement, aggressively patting powder onto her cheeks and blowing her nose between movements.

 

“You have your priorities straight,” Dongpyo teased, earning a sharp elbow to his side that knocked the wind out of him for a second. “Thank you, really,” Kai breathed out, still scared shitless.

Now that everything had settled, the weight of what happened pressed down on him harder, heavier than it had felt in the moment. 

 

Adrenaline had kept him upright earlier— smiling, reassuring, pretending it hadn’t shaken him as much as it did— but now the silence gave his thoughts too much room to breathe. His chest felt tight, lungs struggling to pull in air.

 

Every word the drunkard had spat at him echoed louder than the comfort surrounding him.

 

It was really… terrifying.

 

And being reminded that he’s just a beta hurt more than it should.

 

“Fuck. You’re not an omega?!” The disgust on the Alpha’s face had twisted something deep inside him. 

 

“You deceived me! Defective piece of shit. Can’t even get wet or bear pups.” Kai swallowed hard, jaw tightening as the phantom sound of spit hitting his shoes flashed behind his eyes. 

 

He remembered freezing— body locked, mind scrambling for an exit that didn’t exist when the Alpha shoved him back into the bathroom, broad shoulders blocking the doorway. “But maybe you can make do. At least you won’t get pregnant once I’m done with you—”

 

That’s when Dongpyo had stepped in, smelling his distressed scent from their table. The Alpha pulled the assailant away from him, dragging him out the restaurant before beating the shit out of him. 

 

Kai can still remember the way the air shifted when Dongpyo arrived— heavy, sharp, thick with cinnamon bark instead of the soft sweetness he was used to. One second he had been frozen against the tiled wall, shoulders pressed back, the Alpha’s breath hot against his cheek. 

 

The next, the pressure vanished, replaced by the sound of a chair scraping violently across the floor and Dongpyo’s voice dropping into something low and feral. Hands grabbed the drunkard by the collar, ripping him away so fast Kai nearly stumbled forward. 

 

The bathroom door slammed open, drawing startled gasps from people outside. Dongpyo didn’t even look back at him at first, fully focused on forcing distance between Kai and the man who had cornered him.

 

The first punch landed before anyone could react— a sickening crack that echoed too loudly in Kai’s ears. Someone screamed. Glass clinked somewhere behind them. 

 

The drunkard tried to shove back, snarling, but Dongpyo’s wolf was already at the surface, movements precise and brutal, each hit fueled by a rage Kai had never seen from him before. 

 

Kai pressed his lips together, remembering how his knees had trembled, how his fingers curled around Soobin’s keychain in his pocket so tightly the metal edges dug into his skin. 

 

He hadn’t been able to speak, couldn’t even tell Dongpyo to stop as the Alpha dragged the man farther away, fists slamming down again and again while the crowd froze between fear and fascination.

 

Even now, the sounds blur together— the dull thud of punches, the drunkard’s choked curses, the frantic voices trying to intervene. But what sticks the most is the way Dongpyo’s scent filled the space, overwhelming and furious, like a wall built entirely for him.

 

The words replayed in his mind like a broken recording.

 

Defective.

Worthless.

Can’t even get wet—

 

“Don’t let his words get to you,” Dongpyo said suddenly, voice low but fierce, as if he could hear the thoughts clawing at Kai’s head. “You’re fine just the way you are. You’re not fucking broken or whatever the fuck he said.” His jaw tightened, scent sharpening again. 

 

“I’m getting angry just thinking about it. I should’ve ripped his tongue off.”

 

“It’s somewhat true. I'm nothing. Just a blank slate.” The beta muttered under his breath. “Say that again and I’ll slap you,” she continued, glaring at Kai instead now. 

 

“When has being a beta ever stopped you from being the most charismatic and stunning person that you are? You are much better than all these filthy rats, and even then, they just can’t compare to your kindness and beauty. Don’t fucking agree to that again. Ever. How can a blank slate have so much substance and meaning? Stop selling yourself short. Asshat.” 

 

Yuna’s voice cracked with anger, blush brush tapping harshly against her cheek.  “The way he talked about us omegas is disgusting. Like we’re just live meat and incubators.” She huffed, nostrils flaring. “I hope he gets thrown in jail.”

 

Kai lowered his gaze, fingers twisting together. “I hope Pyongie doesn’t get in trouble,” he whispered instead, worry creeping into his tone. “I won’t,” Dongpyo said easily, leaning back on his palms. “But if I do, you’ll visit me, won’t you?”

 

The beta pinched his ear again, harder this time, making him yelp. 

 

“Stop joking about that,” he scolded, though the faintest smile tugged at his lips— the tension easing just a little as the three of them sat there under the quiet glow of the streetlights, trying to stitch normalcy back together after something that had almost shattered it.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Ning. Are you okay?” Yeonjun asks, snapping him out of his stupor. His voice is hushed, careful, like he’s afraid one wrong word might shatter the beta. “Finally back to us, my love?” Soobin wipes the tears in his cheek and Kai gasps, touching his face. 

 

It’s damp. 

 

“I— what?” He laughs wetly, embarrassed by the tremor in his voice. “Sorry. I didn’t want any of you to see this.” The beta tries to smile, but it’s more of a grimace, lips trembling at the corners. 

 

Kai tries to pull away, instinctively shrinking into himself, but the pack cages him in their warmth before he can retreat, bodies pressing close without suffocating, murmuring sweet nothings and assurances against his hair and temples.

 

“You’re safe, pup. It’s just us here, hm? No stupid Alpha is going to hurt you.” Beomgyu whispers, kissing the back of his hand, thumb brushing soothing circles into his knuckles. 

 

“He’s right, baby. Let’s wipe those tears away, alright?” Yeonjun massages his wrist gently, careful, deliberate, as if afraid even the slightest pressure might bruise him further. 

 

“Shh, we’re here with you.” Taehyun has his arms wrapped around Kai protectively from behind, chin resting near his shoulder, a low growl vibrating faintly in his chest like a warning to ghosts that no longer linger. 

 

Soobin wipes his tears with the hem of his shirt, utterly unbothered by the damp fabric, eyes compassionate and unwavering.

 

“Yeah, yes. I’m okay, hyungs. Sorry.” The beta just lets himself relax, shoulders sagging as he exhales shakily, closing his eyes and letting the tears fall freely this time. No hiding. No pretending.

 

Indeed, here, he is safe. Surrounded by the people most important to him. He takes deep, uneven breaths, counting them slowly the way Soobin taught him, telling himself that it’s going to be fine. That he’s not alone. That the words thrown at him earlier don’t define him.

 

Unbeknownst to him, the four are already planning ahead, both pairs slipping into a mind link, their scents carefully restrained so they don’t overwhelm the beta resting between them.

 

“Engineering Department. Fifth year. Did you get that?” Yeonjun asks, voice edged with fury beneath the calm exterior, eyes flicking toward Soobin briefly before settling back on Kai’s face.

 

“Yes, love. I know Namjoon-hyung. He handles some of their subjects. I’ll ask if any of them are absent tomorrow.” The Pack Alpha replies, tone even, but his jaw tightens ever so slightly.

 

“My friends are close with some engineering students. I can ask who has a fucking bruise on the face. Or maybe I should just go there, beat that motherfucker up and—”

 

“Babe, no.” Beomgyu stops him immediately, voice firm despite the softness of his expression. “We’re in this together, remember? We’re a pack. Don’t do anything reckless. We need a plan.”

 

Taehyun’s wolf growls, displeased, the sound echoing through the bond like distant thunder. “I know, I know,” he mutters, forcing himself to breathe slower. 

 

“But we have to be cautious and discreet. The pup doesn’t have to know, alright?” The Alpha tries to appease him, fingers tightening slightly around Taehyun’s sleeve before relaxing again.

 

The four of them exchange a look— silent agreement passing between them— and then they refocus entirely on the task at hand: keeping the beta calm, safe, and unaware of the storm forming behind their eyes. 

 

In the middle of it all, Kai breathes easier, unaware of the promises being made for him.

 

“How about some egg tarts, pup? Hm? Or grape juice? Jellies?” Yeonjun asks, making him open his eyes. “It’s 1 a.m., hyung. You won’t find any, anywhere.” The Pack omega smirks, nose scrunching. 

 

“Watch me.” He confidently pulls his phone out from his pocket, thumbs moving fast across the screen before he sets it down on the bedside table like he’s just solved world hunger.

 

“It’ll arrive in about fifteen minutes. Let the babies give you a massage. I’ll be back with some juice.” Yeonjun pecks his cheek and shuffles away from the bed, stepping out of the room to leave them be.

 

“Were you scared? Sorry we weren't there to protect you.” Beomgyu asks softly once the door clicks shut. “Yeah. It was really scary. I didn’t like it at all,” Kai admits, voice small, a yawn slipping out halfway through the sentence. "But you're here now, so I'm okay."

 

The pack moves around him instinctively, maneuvering him into a more comfortable position— his back flush against Soobin’s broad chest, Beomgyu tucked at his right side, Taehyun settling on his left, carefully massaging oil into his wrist with languid strokes.

 

“It’s going to ruin the blankets,” the beta slurs, eyes already half-lidded. “No one cares about that, Ning. We’re literally trying our best to not lose our shits right now. At least let us do this for you,” Soobin murmurs, pressing a kiss against his scent gland.

 

Kai melts into it, shoulders loosening as his matcha softens, turning sweeter— creamy, like a latte left to cool on a quiet morning. “I like your scents better,” he whispers, barely audible. 

 

“We know you do, pup,” Beomgyu replies, kissing the inside of his wrist, thumb brushing over his pulse. “I’m back.” Yeonjun swings the door open with a small flourish, a glass in one hand and a satisfied grin on his face.

 

“Still in the mood for egg tarts?” he asks. Kai perks up just enough to nod slowly, eyes blinking open. “You really have some.” He laughs softly. “Of course, I do, baby. Did you fall asleep, hm? Did I take too long?” Yeonjun teases.

 

The beta doesn’t even have the strength to feel embarrassed, so he just giggles breathily. “Sorry. It was just a few minutes, hyungie,” he murmurs. “Say ah.” Kai obeys, opening his mouth and letting the Pack omega feed him small bites.

 

“This is nice,” Kai mutters, words slurring at the edges as sleep pulls at him, head tipping back against Soobin’s shoulder. The last traces of distress fades from his system each time the pack’s warmth wraps tighter around him.

 

“Yeah,” they answer almost at once, voices low so they won’t startle him. “We think so too.” They’ve never been given this kind of closeness before— not like this, not with Kai willingly leaning into them, trusting them to hold him together when he feels fragile. 

 

Usually he’s the one smoothing things over, laughing first, pretending he’s fine even when he isn’t. Now he just… rests. Taehyun adjusts the glass when Kai’s lips slow, letting him drink at his own pace. 

 

Yeonjun wipes a stray crumb from the corner of his mouth with a soft grin, while Beomgyu keeps gentle pressure on Kai’s wrist, massaging it. Every movement is gingerly and calculated, as if they’re afraid he might pull away if they rush.

 

It hurts that something ugly had to happen for them to see this side of him—  vulnerable and trusting enough to be cared for without feeling bashful or apologetic. 

 

But none of them say that out loud. Instead, they pour everything into the way they touch him, the way their scents stay calm and steady, wrapping around the beta like a promise.

 

Loved.

Safe.

Never a burden.

“Hyungs, before I sleep, can you tell me about the important thing you have to say?” Kai murmurs, eyelids heavy. Soobin worries his lip, glancing at the others. “Are you sure, pup?” He nods slowly. 

 

“Don’t worry, hyungs. I’m going to remember. I remember everything about all of you,” the beta drawls, words slurring together. “You’re all so important to me. I won’t forget, I promise.” They all share a smile, peppering kisses all over his face.

 

"Sweet thing." Yeonjun whispers in between smooches. "It tickles, hyungs." Kai giggles, not even trying to escape it this time.

 

He needed this so bad— and here they are, giving it to him.

 

Soobin looks at Beomgyu and nods, signaling him to talk. He exhales, gathering his courage. “We were thinking of asking you out on a date. Just one-on-one. We want to show you how much we lo—” the Alpha catches himself, flushing, “—care for you and appreciate you, so…”

 

The beta's mouth opens slightly in disbelief then laughs, his matcha scent brightening in the air. “Really? Me? You’re asking me out on a date?” They all nod, their gaze all serious and determined. “That sounds nice,” he says shyly, a blush creeping up to his face. 

 

“I can’t wait for the date, hyungies.” Kai leans forward, pressing sleepy kisses to each of their cheeks, lingering just a second longer than usual. “I’m so happy,” he whispers, sniffling. “Oh, no. Don’t cry, darling.” Yeonjun cups his cheek and rubs their noses together.

 

“Sorry, again. I just can’t believe it.” He murmurs. “Nothing to be sorry about. And why can't you believe it, hm? We've been going on dates almost every week. Silly goose." Beomgyu murmurs affectionately, kissing his forehead.

 

"C’mon, let’s brush your teethies and get to sleep,” Taehyun says, already scooping the beta up into his arms. He hums contentedly, arms looping around the omega’s neck. 

 

“I like being carried too, I think,” Kai babbles, half-asleep. The four of them exchange looks. “Looks like you’ll really have to work out now, Gyu,” Soobin teases as they trail behind.

 

“Oh, fuck off. I can carry him if I put my mind to it,” Beomgyu grumbles, puffing his cheeks as they bicker quietly on the way to the bathroom. Kai drifts in and out of sleep to the sound of their voices and the familiar rhythm of home.

 

He doesn’t remember much after that— only gentle hands guiding him back to bed, blankets tucked around him, sweet whispers brushing against his ears. 

 

Their scents wrap around him like a cocoon, each of them pressing soft kisses to his wrists, his neck, his scent gland— replacing the sharp memory of the Alpha’s cruelty with warmth. The room grows quiet.

 

Then, just as they begin to settle, Kai whispers into the darkness. “I’m not… defective. Right, hyungs?” Yeonjun’s head snaps up so fast the mattress shifts beneath them.

 

His eyes flash purple for a fraction of a second— instinctive— before softening the moment he notices how unfocused Kai looks, lashes heavy, lips parted like he’s speaking from somewhere far away.

 

“What? No, of course not. Pup, you’re literally perfect,” Yeonjun insists, the disbelief in his voice sharp, almost offended— as if the idea itself were sacrilegious. His hand comes up to cradle the beta's cheek without thinking, thumb brushing away the dampness gathering there.

 

Kai exhales shakily. The air fills with the faint bitterness of distress— thin and uneven, like matcha steeped too long, its sweetness dulled by lingering heat. It doesn’t spike the way fear usually does. Instead it drifts through the room in fragile waves, clinging to his skin even as sleep tries to pull him under.

 

“But hyung…” His words drag, caught somewhere between waking and dreaming. “He said I can’t even get pregnant or… or get wet, so I’m useless.”

 

Taehyun’s jaw tightens hard enough to tick. Beomgyu goes quiet too, his ears flush faintly, anger simmering beneath the surface. The room falls into a heavy silence broken only by Kai’s uneven breathing and the rustle of blankets.

 

Soobin doesn’t react outwardly at first. He simply brushes Kai’s hair back with slow, deliberate strokes, each pass careful and grounding. His scent unfurls gradually— cedarwood softened by ylang-ylang— warm and steady, wrapping around the beta like a blanket.

 

It presses gently against the sharp edges of the beta's distress until the bitterness in the air begins to mellow, turning softer, sweeter, safer.

 

“I would still try to get you pregnant,” the Pack Alpha says quietly, voice so low it feels like a confession meant only for the person resting against him. There’s no teasing in it— just unwavering devotion.

 

“Me too,” Beomgyu adds immediately, stubborn determination flashing in his eyes as he leans closer.

 

“Can any of you be serious for just one second?” Yeonjun hisses, though the corners of his mouth twitch despite himself, relief flickering through him when Kai lets out a sudden breathy laugh.

 

The sound breaks the tension. The beta bursts into giggles, nose scrunching, shoulders shaking weakly as his anxiousness melts away.

 

“Silly hyungs… That’s not going to happen. It’s impossible.” His eyes drift shut again, lashes resting against flushed cheeks. “Thanks… I look forward to our dates. I really like the hyungies. I hope they like Hueningie too.”

 

Silence follows.

A beat.

Then cute and even snoring.

 

Kai’s scent shifts as sleep pulls him under completely. Matcha and milk. Mellowed out and slightly. His body goes slack against Soobin’s chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as if he’s afraid of drifting away.

 

Yeonjun’s shoulders drop a fraction when he feels the change. “He’s calming down,” he whispers. Beomgyu presses a kiss to the beta’s wrist, right over his pulse. “Still smells like he’s hurting,” he murmurs.

 

Taehyun’s arm tightens protectively around Kai’s waist, thumb drawing slow circles against his side. A low rumble vibrates in his chest— not loud enough to wake him, just enough to soothe. Gradually, the beta's breathing syncs with it.

 

Soobin keeps tracing Kai’s hair, eyes dark despite the softness in his movements. “We really need to kill that motherfucker,” the young omega mutters under his breath, voice rough with restrained anger.

 

“I agree,” Yeonjun replies quietly, though his hand never stops moving against Kai’s tummy— rhythmic and grounding— making sure the beta stays wrapped in safety instead of slipping back into whatever memory chased him into sleep.

 

None of them move for a long time.

 

They just listen to Kai breathe.

 

And let their scents stay soft for him.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

dates will be out on saturday! read all of your suggestions and they were all very cute and appropriate for the members (i actually already mapped out what's going to happen for them). i will however add your suggestions to the mix, so please look forward to it!

like usual, it will be split into multiple parts (i consider "chapters" as different eras of their developing relationship, which is why there are multiple parts for some chapters. i hope that's okay ( *︾▽︾))

what did you think of this chapter? thoughts? feelings?

p.s. if you've noticed, yes, i did say a year. it's been a year since kai joined the pack! so you better believe it's coming!!!

Chapter 16: 11- Choi Beomgyu

Summary:

huening kai goes on a date with choi beomgyu.

Notes:

and here it is! chapter 11 is split into 4 parts, highlighting each of the members' charms and their developing relationship with our beloved beta.

Happy Valentine's Day! Just noticed it'll be posted on Hearts Day. Ain't that neat?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Ah, hyung. I just clipped through the wall again.” Kai bites his lip, suppressing a laugh, as his character phases halfway into a textured brick before snapping back into place, walking around like a dog chasing its tail. 

 

Beside him, Beomgyu groans, fingers flying across the keyboard with renewed urgency.

 

“I thought I fixed that. God damn it. We’ve been working on that for thirty minutes now.” He sounds both exasperated and fond, like he secretly enjoys watching Kai break everything he codes. “I don’t think it’s working quite right, hyung.” The beta snorts.

 

Beomgyu curses under his breath, taking a sip of his white Monster when the younger male tilts the can toward him.

 

“Thanks, pup. Just exit the software— yep. You’re an expert.” The Alpha leans over to peck his cheek absentmindedly without looking away from the monitor. He goes right back to coding, shoulders hunched forward, eyes narrowed with focus.

 

They’re currently in Beomgyu’s office, Kai testing every corner of the game and intentionally trying ridiculous things to break it, while the Alpha fixes whatever chaos he causes— or sometimes leaves it in, laughing to himself and calling it a “feature.”

 

“The players will love it! Besides, it’s not an exploitative bug. Just a funny touch that the community can talk about.” He justifies it with a maniacal grin on his face.

 

Beomgyu’s office smells faintly of lemon, sandalwood, and energy drinks. Wires and controllers are scattered across the desk, a second monitor glowing with lines of code that shift and rearrange like a language Kai will probably never fully understand. 

 

Still, he listens when the older male explains, nodding along even when half the words blur together. “Are you sure you’re okay with just this?” The Alpha asks, tonguing the inside of his cheek as he concentrates, cursor blinking impatiently on the screen.

 

“I just like being with you, hyung.” Kai shrugs, fiddling absentmindedly with the soundboard on the desk, curiosity getting the better of him.

 

A soft click.

 

“Babe, what time will you be home? I miss you. I love you. We ordered some of your favorites. Get home safe.” Taehyun’s voice spills into the room— pouty, warm, unmistakably affectionate. Kai grins, always happy to see this side of the omega.

 

Another button.

 

“Hey, ugly. I’m in bed waiting for you to get here. Come quickly or this thing’s going in the trash.” Yeonjun’s sultry teasing follows, the playful lilt in his tone making the beta hide his smile behind his hand.

 

It’s… endearing. The realization settles in gently— Beomgyu keeps these, probably to ground himself when work stretches too long, little reminders of home tucked between lines of code and unfinished games.

 

Kai reaches for another button before thinking too hard.

 

“Ya, Beomgyu-ssi. If you don’t stop working and get your ass here for lunch, I will personally storm into your office, bend you over, and fu—”

 

Click.

 

The beta slams the button off so fast his fingers nearly slip.

 

“Sorry!” he squeaks, voice climbing an octave, cheeks flushing a violent shade of pink. His scent spikes— sharp and tangy matcha— embarrassment wafting through the office as he avoids Beomgyu’s gaze.

 

The silence that follows lasts barely a second before the Alpha huffs out a laugh.

 

“No biggie,” he says easily, though his smirk is unmistakably mischievous. He leans back in his chair, watching Kai lovingly, his wolf clearly amused by the way the beta looks like he wants to crawl under the desk and disappear.

 

Kai clears his throat, fiddling with the edge of the soundboard like it personally betrayed him. “I didn’t know it was going to… y’know.”

 

“Expose our sex life?” Beomgyu teases. The younger male groans, dropping his forehead briefly against the desk. “Hyung…” The Alpha just chuckles, reaching over to nudge a stray lock of hair behind Kai’s ear. 

 

His scent remains light— lemon and sandalwood mellowing the sharpness of Kai’s mortification, not making a big deal out of it. “It’s just Soobin,” Beomgyu adds casually, as if that explains everything.

 

Kai huffs, still flushed, but the corner of his mouth twitches upward. The older male nudges the takeout container toward him again. “Eat. You’re going to starve if you keep pressing random buttons.”

 

“I think I’ve learned my lesson.” The beta glances at the soundboard one more time, then pushes it a little farther away. 

 

“E—ehem. Anyway, gaming while stuffing my face? This is heaven.” Kai omits the fact that watching Beomgyu work is mesmerizing— the way his brows furrow, the little noises he makes when something clicks, the proud lift of his shoulders when he solves a problem.

 

Sure, Kai loves gaming. But he loves being near them more.

 

The beta leans forward, elbows on his knees, watching Beomgyu explain how a line of code changes the physics of a jump mechanic. His voice turns animated, hands gesturing wildly, eyes shining with pride. 

 

Kai laughs softly, pretending to understand more than he does, because what he really enjoys is seeing him happy. They ordered Chinese take-out from their favorite restaurant, cartons scattered across the desk. 

 

The beta shoves noodles into his mouth, cheeks puffed adorably as he tries to play Tetris one-handed. “Ah, Kai-ya, can I have some—” He doesn’t even wait for the full sentence. 

 

Kai picks up a piece of Kung Pao Chicken with his chopsticks and nudges it toward him with a chuckle. Beomgyu spins the chair around, grin widening, and kisses his cheek before eating the chicken whole, humming happily while he chews.

 

“Do you really have to kiss me every time I feed you, hyung?” The beta asks, eyes flicking back to the screen even though his ears burn. “Yep.” Beomgyu answers without hesitation. 

 

“We’re on a date, Ning. That’s what people typically do.” His tone is matter-of-fact, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

 

Huh.

 

Well… he’s not wrong.

 

Kai wouldn’t know the difference anyway. He’s never gone on a ‘date’ before, and all the kisses he gets are from friends and family— and the pack… they’re family too, so in a way, it makes sense.

 

He ignores the very obvious difference: the way his heart keeps tripping over itself, adrenaline buzzing faintly under his skin whenever Beomgyu leans close. The Alpha smells heavenly, so sweet and confident that it affects his scent without him noticing.

 

“Okay, try jumping again,” Beomgyu says suddenly. Kai opens the game and tries to jump. His character launches perfectly this time, landing on a floating platform without glitching. “Oh!” His eyes widened. “Hyung, you fixed it!”

 

“Of course I did.” Beomgyu leans back in his chair, pride practically radiating off him. “Who do you think you’re dating?” The word slips out so casually that Kai freezes for half a second, controller going slack in his hands.

 

Dating.

 

The beta swallows, cheeks warming, pretending to focus on the screen instead of the way that single word settles somewhere deep in his chest. “Careful,” Beomgyu murmurs, softer now, scooting his chair closer until their knees brush. “You’re spacing out again.”

 

“I’m not,” Kai protests weakly. The Alpha just chuckles, reaching over to wipe a stray bit of sauce from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. The gesture is slow, deliberate— affectionate in a way that feels different from the usual pack chaos.

 

“Messy pup,” he teases, but his gaze lingers a little too long on the beta’s lips. Kai’s breath hitches, fingers tightening around the arm of his chair. Maybe… maybe this really is a date.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“When I first introduced this idea to them, they looked at me like I was stupid.” Beomgyu pouts, shoulders slumping dramatically even as his fingers continue flying across the keyboard. He presses enter a little harder than necessary, as if the memory alone offends him.

 

Kai snorts, pausing the game to glance at him. The Alpha’s lower lip is pushed out, eyes glaring at the screen like it personally wronged him. Even his scent carries a faint, petulant sweetness. “They thought it was too simple,” Beomgyu continues, scoffing under his breath. 

 

“Or boring. Yeonjun asked if it was like ‘bringing your children to work’ day, or something.” He turns in his chair just enough to make eye contact, still scandalized. “That was really offensive. I thought real and hard about this!”

 

He gestures around the office as if presenting evidence— the dual monitors, the cozy couch shoved against the wall, the take-out cartons, the soft ambient lighting he definitely adjusted earlier without admitting it. 

 

There’s a carefulness to everything, small details Kai hadn’t noticed at first: an extra hoodie draped over the chair for him, a controller already synced, snacks he likes placed within reach.

 

“I just thought…” Beomgyu’s voice dips quieter, less defensive now. He spins back to the keyboard, pretending to focus on a line of code while his ears redden. 

 

“Since we both like games, and I wanted you to have a moment where you just sit down and relax… this date would be perfect for the both of us.” The beta laughs softly, not at him, but at how earnest he sounds. 

 

“It is perfect,” he says, nudging Beomgyu’s knee with his own. “You know I don’t need anything big or fancy, right? This… this feels like you, hyung. And I love it.” The Alpha pauses mid-typing. “…Yeah?”

 

“Yeah.” The younger male smiles, eyes crinkling. “You get to do what you love, and I get to watch you talk about it like a total nerd. Win-win.”

 

“Hey,” Beomgyu huffs, though his mouth betrays him with a grin. “I’m a cool nerd.”

 

“Debatable.” The Alpha flicks a napkin at him, intentionally missing. Kai laughs again, leaning back into the couch cushions as the game resumes on screen.

 

For a moment, Beomgyu just watches him— the way Kai’s body loosens, how easily he settles into the space, noodles forgotten in favor of testing another mechanic. Adoration flickers across his face, pride mixing with relief.

 

“…They also said you might get bored,” he admits quietly, almost like a confession. “That you’d expect something… more romantic.” Kai glances up, surprised. 

 

Isn’t this supposed to be a friendly date?

 

“Why would I?”

 

“I don’t know.” Beomgyu shrugs, trying to be nonchalant, though his fingers hover uselessly over the keys now. “You deserve big things. Grand gestures. Not just… sitting in my messy office while I fix bugs you try to exploit.”

 

Kai swivels the older male’s chair so they’re face-to-face, the motion slow enough that the Alpha feels every inch of the distance closing between them. Slender fingers cup his cheek tenderly, and Beomgyu’s breath catches. 

 

Instinct takes over; he leans into the touch immediately, eyes slipping half-closed as he presses into the beta’s palm like he belongs there. “I don’t get bored when I’m with you, hyung,” Kai says, unguarded.

 

Beomgyu feels his heart beat faster.

 

Even after all this time, even after the pack, even after everything they’ve built, he still isn’t used to how openly Kai gives affection. It feels undeserved and intoxicating all at once. 

 

“Even if we just sat here doing nothing, I’d still be happy,” the beta continues, legs swinging lightly beneath the desk, completely unaware of the chaos he’s causing. Beomgyu’s gaze lingers on him— the way his eyes shine, the way his smile stretches wide and honest. 

 

His wolf preens under the attention, a rumble vibrating in his ribcage that he forces himself to swallow down. “I just like doing everything as long as it’s with the pack,” Kai murmurs, leaning closer. 

 

The scent of sweet matcha brushes against the Alpha’s senses, turning his thoughts into mush. “You make me happy. That much is obvious. Right, hyung? Can’t you see how happy I am right now?” For a moment, the room goes quiet in Beomgyu’s head.

 

All he sees is Kai— beautiful and trusting, looking at him like he’s someone worth choosing. He swallows thickly. Heat creeps up his neck.

 

The older male wants to say something bold, teasing, to match the confidence everyone expects from him— but the words knot together, too fragile to survive the weight of what he’s feeling.

 

Instead, Beomgyu’s hand lifts unconsciously, fingers hovering near Kai’s wrist like he’s resisting the urge to pull him closer.

 

God, he’s adorable.

 

And he’s looking at me like that.

 

The Alpha clears his throat, forcing his gaze back to the screen before he does something impulsive and stupid. He presses his palm flat against the mousepad, smoothing an invisible wrinkle just to have something to do with his hands. 

 

His scent turns sweeter, like a lemonade during summertime. “…Good,” Beomgyu mutters, voice quieter, edges softened. “Because you’re stuck here until we finish this level anyway.”

 

It’s the safest thing he can say— a joke, an excuse— anything to keep from admitting how much those words just meant to him.

 

Out of the corner of his eye, he watches Kai laugh, the sound ringing through the office like sunlight. The beta bumps their shoulders together, easy and familiar, and Beomgyu has to bite back a smile as flowers bloom behind his ribs.

 

Kai cracks his knuckles dramatically. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

To the pack, it may seem like a simple outing, but the way Beomgyu picked him up with his Harley, handed him a bouquet of flowers— a striking mix of red roses, tulips, salvia, and white camellias— made Kai’s chest feel impossibly full.

 

It’s bold and loud, just like the Alpha.

 

Kai doesn’t know what any of them mean, and he doesn’t ask. The colors alone are enough— deep reds softened by pale petals, vibrant without being overwhelming— and they feel lovely in his hands, like a confession spoken in a language he hasn’t learned yet.

 

When Beomgyu leads him into the office, though, that’s what truly catches him off guard. It isn’t cold or sterile like he expected from a workspace. It feels… lived in.

 

The pack’s scent lingers in the air— woven into the fabric of the room. Plushies sit casually on a beanbag chair, one of Kai’s old favorites tucked among them like it belongs there. A reading nook rests by the window, stacked with books that scream Taehyun. 

 

Two gaming stations glow quietly side by side, cables organized with surprising neatness. A PlayStation sits near the back wall, controllers charging. 

 

There’s even a small vanity tucked near a mirror— unmistakably Yeonjun— and a soft nesting corner layered with blankets that makes the beta’s shoulders relax on instinct. 

 

And everywhere, underneath it all, is Beomgyu— lemon and sandalwood drifting gently through the space. Kai exhales without realizing he’s been holding his breath. There’s a long table already set, covered in take-out containers that release curls of steam into the air. 

 

His eyes widen as he takes it in: crispy char siu glistening under the lights, kung pao chicken, spicy mapo tofu, dumplings stacked neatly in bamboo baskets, chow mein piled high. It’s excessive. Thoughtful. 

 

And there, sitting among everything like a stubborn little detail, is the beta’s grape juice.

 

“Ah, hyung…” The words leave him in a soft breath, cheeks warming. Happiness buzzes under his skin, restless and ecstatic, like he doesn’t know where to put all of it. “You like it?” Beomgyu asks, voice quieter now, eyes watching him closely as his fingers card through Kai’s hair.

 

“I love it,” Kai murmurs. “It’s the best.”

 

“The date hasn’t even started yet, pup,” the Alpha teases, lips curving. He presses a quick kiss to the back of Kai’s hand before guiding him toward the table, pulling a chair out. “Come on. Eat first before you break my game.”

 

The beta starts to stand after sitting, instinctively reaching for a container, but Beomgyu clicks his tongue. “Nope. Don’t even think about moving.” The Alpha lightly presses a hand to his shoulder, playful but firm. “Let Alpha handle it, hm?”

 

The title sends a small shiver through Kai, blood rushing to his ears, turning it pink. He nods quickly, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling too wide, legs swinging absentmindedly under the chair.

 

Beomgyu moves around the table with surprising care, opening containers, plating small portions instead of piling everything at once. 

 

He slides dumplings closer, nudges the char siu within easy reach, and pours grape juice into a cup without spilling a drop. There’s no rush in his movements— just an easy attentiveness that makes Kai feel… looked after.

 

“Try this first,” Beomgyu says, holding up the dumplings in front of him. Kai hums at the first bite, eyes fluttering shut. “Hyung, this is so good.”

 

“Of course it is,” the Alpha replies, smug, though he watches Kai more than he eats himself. 

 

For a while, they fall into an easy rhythm— the beta sampling different dishes, Beomgyu sneaking bites from his plate, conversation filling the space between the clink of chopsticks. 

 

The office feels warmer with every passing minute, like the walls themselves are settling around them. Kai glances around again, taking in the details he missed earlier. “You guys really… sleep over sometimes, don’t you?”

 

“Yeah,” Beomgyu admits, leaning back in his chair. “When Tyun and Junnie get broody during their pre-heat, they like staying here. And Soobin’s my coworker, so. It’s just fun when we’re all together.” He shrugs, but there’s fondness in his voice. 

 

“It’s easier when we’re all in one place.” The beta nods slowly, fingers tracing the soft petals of his bouquet, neatly placed in the middle with an oriental vase. The flowers smell faintly sweet, mingling with the food and Beomgyu’s scent until everything feels familiar.

 

“Thank you for bringing me here,” Kai says quietly. The Alpha glances at him, brows lifting like the gratitude catches him off guard. “Why are you thanking me? You’re literally the main character today.”

 

The beta laughs under his breath, warmth blooming in his chest again. Maybe to everyone else, this is just a casual date— food, games, a cozy office. 

 

But to Kai, it feels like stepping into a piece of their world that was always there, waiting— shaped to fit him long before he realized it.

 

They eat like that for a while— unhurried, comfortable— Beomgyu talking and Kai listening like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

 

“It’s kind of like Counter-Strike,” Beomgyu explains, gesturing vaguely with his chopsticks before remembering himself and setting them down. 

 

“But instead of defusing bombs or capturing bases, it’s just… pure chaos. You kill each other. Two minutes per round. The team with the most kills wins.” Kai hums, nodding along as if he’s memorizing every word. 

 

He leans forward slightly without realizing it, elbows tucked in, attention fully anchored on the Alpha. “So it’s faster-paced?”

 

“Exactly.” Beomgyu lights up immediately. “Short matches, high adrenaline. No time to hesitate.”

 

Kai smiles at that, watching the way his shoulders straighten, how his hands start moving as he talks— sketching invisible mechanics in the air. There’s something magnetic about seeing the Alpha like this: focused, passionate, alive in his element.

 

The beta doesn’t interrupt. He doesn’t rush him. He lets Beomgyu explain everything at his own pace, even when the technical parts start stacking up, because he knows this matters. And the older male notices.

 

Without breaking his train of thought, Beomgyu reaches for the beta’s plate, cutting the char siu into neat, manageable pieces. He dips a dumpling into sauce with practiced precision, taps the excess off, and brings it right up to Kai’s lips.

 

He pauses mid-thought, then opens his mouth obediently. “Mm,” Kai hums around the bite, cheeks puffing slightly. Beomgyu smirks. “See? Perfect timing.”

 

Kai chuckles and doesn't protest. He doesn’t need to. The Alpha somehow knows exactly when to feed him, when to hand him his grape juice, when to slow down so he can chew properly. It’s seamless— like muscle memory built on instinct.

 

“You also get abilities,” Beomgyu continues, nudging the beta’s knee with his own under the table. “But nothing game-breaking. Stuff like muffled footsteps, short invisibility bursts, minor buffs. Faster reloads. Depends on the character you choose.”

 

Kai nods again, swallowing before asking, “So it’s more skill-based than luck?”

 

“God, yes.” the Alpha grins, delighted by the question. “You can steal abilities too, but only after killing the same person enough times. And you only get to use it once.”

 

“That’s kind of mean,” Kai giggles, already imagining how fun it would be to play with the pack. “That’s the point.” Beomgyu leans closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Soobin made the character models, by the way. You can look at them, but only for a little bit.”

 

The beta raises a brow, amused. “Don’t get too impressed,” Beomgyu adds quickly, eyes narrowing playfully. “Or I will get jealous. I’m your date right now.” He laughs outright this time, foot brushing against the Alpha’s under the table in a small, teasing motion. 

 

“Hyung, I know how to behave on a date.”

 

“Oh?” Beomgyu hums. “That’s new information.”

 

“I’m not that clueless,” Kai says, smiling softly. “You have my full attention today. The others can suck it.” The Alpha guffaws, loud and unrestrained. He reaches over and pinches Kai’s cheek, eyes crinkling. “You’re adorable.” He leans in closer, scent thick with tenderness. 

 

“That’s right. Just you and Alpha today. So give me all your love, yeah?” The beta nods, humming again as another bite is pressed to his lips. 

 

He chews slowly, content, eyes half-lidded, paying attention as Beomgyu launches back into explaining mechanics and balance patches and future ideas.

 

And Kai listens.

 

He asks questions at the right moments. Reacts where it matters. His soft little “ooh”s, “aah”s, and “that’s so cool, hyung!” make the Alpha’s chest swell every single time. 

 

Every flicker of understanding, every spark of interest, feels like a loud confession that what he does— who he is — is worth paying attention to. Beomgyu’s expression grows brighter the longer it goes on, pride curling through his scent, his wolf chuffing low and pleased. 

 

It’s not possessive. Not territorial.

 

It’s reverent.

 

Kai feels it, even if he can’t name it. The way Beomgyu watches him eat, watches him smile, watches him exist so comfortably in this space— his space.

 

Somewhere in the Alpha’s mind, a quiet realization settles in. 

 

He understands now.

 

How Taehyun fell first. How it wasn’t biology or hierarchy or instinct that made it happen.

 

It was this.

 

Kai, attentive and gentle. Kai, choosing to care. Kai, letting himself be held in small, domestic moments without fear.

 

Beomgyu understands— his wolf especially— content to sit there and dote, to feed and fuss and bask in the sight of the beta, happy and full, soaking in the affection like it was always meant for him.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Ready to go home?” Kai nods, the movement small but eager, swallowed by the oversized hoodie draped over him— Beomgyu’s hoodie, sleeves falling past his knuckles. 

 

The bouquet rests carefully in his arms like something fragile, red petals brushing his chin whenever he shifts. They’d stayed until eight, long past when the sky turned dark, long enough for the pack chat to flood their phones with dramatic complaints and threats.

 

“They’re scared that I’ve impressed you so much that their dates would seem lame compared to this,” The Alpha jokes, bumping their hips together. “We could’ve stayed longer and talked.”

 

His tone is playful, but his scent dulls at the edges— a soft dip of lemon and sandalwood that betrays him. It isn’t enough time. It never feels like enough time when Kai looks at him like that, warm and open and glowing.

 

He wants more.

 

Wants to trace the constellations scattered across Kai’s skin with slow, reverent fingers. Wants to count every lash when those honey-brown eyes flutter closed. Wants to press his mouth against his and tell him, plainly and selfishly, how beautiful he is—

 

“Hyung. You okay?” The beta leans closer, brows knitting, voice gentle. Beomgyu laughs under his breath and offers his hand instead of an answer. 

 

Ah, shit. He just zoned out for a second there.

 

Kai takes it immediately, fingers slotting like it’s second nature. “Yeah,” the Alpha admits, squeezing lightly. “Just sad that the date is over.” A flush creeps up Kai’s cheeks, spreading slowly beneath the soft light of the office. 

 

“Oh,” he murmurs, biting his lip— and Beomgyu nearly loses his composure right there.

 

God. I want to kiss him.

 

“Ah, hyung… you know we could do this again next time…” Kai whispers, voice dipping softer as he leans down. The peck to Beomgyu’s cheek is quick, almost shy— but it hits like a spark straight to the Alpha’s chest. His wolf preens, running around his mind and howling.

 

“I really enjoyed this date, hyung,” the beta continued, lifting their intertwined hands and nuzzling his face against them, eyes shining. “I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.” 

 

That does it.

 

“That’s unfair,” Beomgyu growls, voice rougher than he means it to be. He hooks a finger into Kai’s collar and tugs him closer, heart hammering as he presses a kiss at the corner of Kai’s lips.

 

The beta freezes, his heart thrumming loudly in his ears. Beomgyu pulls back with a crooked smirk. “There. Now we really ended the date perfectly. Let’s go home?” Kai nods, dazed, allowing himself to be led out.

 

Oh.

 

Oh, no.

 

The ride back feels different.

 

The city lights blur past in streaks of gold and white, wind tugging at Kai’s hair as he sits behind Beomgyu on the Harley. 

 

One hand clutches the bouquet carefully to his chest, petals pressed against the borrowed hoodie, the other rests around the Alpha’s waist, fingers tightening unconsciously whenever the bike speeds up.

 

The beta doesn’t let go of the flowers. Doesn’t stop tracing the corner of his mouth either, fingertips brushing the spot where Beomgyu kissed him, like he’s checking if it really happened. His chest feels too full. Too… sensitive.

 

Every time Kai closes his eyes, he sees the Alpha leaning in— the expression on his face, the confidence, the way his voice dipped and his scent spiked with excitement.

 

The beta exhales, a soft laugh lost to the wind, and his scent sweetens without him realizing it.

 

Fuck.

 

This is really bad.

 

Because the grin on his face won’t fade, no matter how hard he tries to hide it behind the bouquet. Because Kai’s heartbeat hasn’t slowed since they left the office. 

 

Because when he leans forward just a little closer, resting his cheek briefly against Beomgyu’s back, it feels… right.

 

Dangerously right.

 

And Kai doesn’t know when it started— but something inside him has shifted, quiet and irreversible, settling deep beneath his ribs. He watches the road stretch ahead, eyes soft, lips still curved.

 

This is bad.

 

Not in a way that hurts.

 

But in a way that feels like standing too close to the edge of something beautiful— and realizing, slowly, that he might already be falling.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

did you enjoy this chapter? who do you think is up next?

also, surprise surprise. kai just now realizes he's falling in love. who knew it'd take him this long?
(￣y▽￣)╭ Ohohoho.....

still hasn't realized that the dates are supposed to be romantic, though. oh, dear (。_。)

not sure if i'll follow the saturday-tuesday schedule, or just proceed with the normal upload schedule (saturdays only)

it's fun to write dates, but making it different for each of the member is quite hard. don't worry, i'll pull through (maybe)

notes:
red roses- "i love you"
red tulips- passion. declaration of love.
salvia- "forever mine"
white camellias- "you're adorable"

Chapter 17: 11: Choi Soobin

Summary:

huening kai goes on a date with choi soobin.

Notes:

AAAAAAAAAA. sorry for the late upload guys! i've been very very busy. however, do not fear. i will NOT be dropping this series. i will try my absolute best to follow my usual schedule. a lot just happened this week which pushed back my upload for one day. i hope you guys enjoy this chapter :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I was right. It wouldn’t work. This is a bad date.” Soobin mutters under his breath, shoulders slumping as he sits stiffly in the middle of the dog café— a café that is, unfortunately, very much lacking in dogs. At least around him.

 

The moment they arrived, tails wagged and noses twitched, but one curious sniff was all it took before the puppies backed away. Some hid behind the staff’s legs, others chose safer ground— namely Kai, who now looks like he’s drowning in a sea of fur and tiny paws. 

 

A golden retriever presses firmly into the beta’s side, practically melting against him, while a corgi curls possessively around his knee like it has already claimed the spot. A smaller pup wedges itself between Kai’s ankles, tail thumping happily against the floor.

 

All of them.

 

Completely ignoring the towering Alpha sitting only a few feet away. He stares at the scene with narrowed eyes, arms crossed over his chest in a way that is meant to look unimpressed but mostly makes him look sulky.

 

“You’re being quite rude,” Soobin says flatly, pointing at the golden retriever as if addressing an equal. “Trying to steal my date away from me.” The retriever blinks at him. Then, the Alpha swears on his entire bloodline, it huffs.

 

The corgi shifts closer to Kai in silent solidarity.

 

The beta bites the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing, but it’s useless— the corners of his mouth tremble anyway. His eyes are shining so bright that Soobin briefly forgets about the betrayal happening in front of him.

 

“Hyung,” Kai says carefully, like he’s scolding a very large, very pouty wolf. “Are you seriously going to be like this?” The Alpha lifts a brow. “Like what?”

 

“Competing with dogs.”

 

“I am not competing,” he replies immediately.

 

A beat.

 

“…I’m simply stating facts.” The golden retriever adjusts itself again, leaning even harder into Kai’s ribs. The beta lets out a small “oof” before giggling, wrapping an arm around its neck instinctively.

 

Soobin’s jaw tightens.

 

Unbelievable.

 

“Not sure,” he mutters after a moment, dragging a hand down his face. “If Beomgyu finds out about this, he’ll never let me live it down.” The Pack Alpha can already hear it.

 

Soobin lost to a corgi?

Should we demote you?

I told you, I should’ve been the leader.

Alpha my foot.

 

Soobin exhales slowly through his nose.

 

It seems his scent unsettles them no matter how carefully he tries to soften it. He’s already pushed down the sharper edges, coaxing out the gentler ylang-ylang underneath, but the effect barely lasts. 

 

One brave pup had waddled toward him earlier, tail wagging uncertainly. Soobin had purred, unable to hide his excitement, and the poor thing startled so badly it scrambled away, nails skittering against the floor.

 

“Aw, dang it.” His voice dips into a pout, eyes drifting toward his date.

 

Kai looks… devastatingly adorable.

 

A striped baby-blue sweater hugs his frame beneath jumper pants, the soft colors making his blond hair glow under the warm café lights. A tiny dog-bone clip holds back a few strands, and plush puppy ears sit atop his head, tilting slightly every time he moves.

 

Soobin had never wanted to, in his life, take so many pictures that his phone starts to fill with nothing but the beta. He’s sure that no one from the pack would mind anyway, Huening Kai is also their favorite after all.

 

And he already has— secretly.

 

There are three from when Kai first stepped out of the car, clutching the bouquet with both hands. Two blurry ones from inside the café when a puppy jumped into his lap and startled a squeak out of him. 

 

Five candids of him adjusting the dog ears, brows furrowed in concentration, lips slightly parted.

 

Soobin tells himself it’s just to remember the date.

 

But he knows better.

 

The beta is practically glowing— soft, warm, inviting— everything the dogs seem to want. They crawl over him without hesitation, noses burrowing into the fabric of his sweater, tiny tails wagging furiously as if they’ve found the safest place in the room.

 

Soobin swallows.

 

His wolf shifts restlessly under his skin, not in irritation— but a low, possessive instinct that has nothing to do with the dogs and everything to do with the way Kai laughs when a puppy licks his chin.

 

The Alpha shouldn’t feel jealous of animals.

 

And yet.

 

Soobin watches as Kai carefully cups a small dachshund’s face, cooing softly. The beta’s scent blooms brighter with happiness, matcha sweetening in the air, and the Alpha’s fingers curl against his own knee.

 

He has never in his life wanted anything more than to pull Kai into his lap, wrap both arms around him, and bury his face into that soft sweater— to press kisses along his cheek, his jaw, the corner of his mouth— until those shy smiles turn breathless and dazed.

 

Until Kai looks at him the way the dogs are looking now.

 

The thought burns low and steady in his chest.

 

At least that gives him some consolation.

 

The beta peers up at him from the floor, surrounded by wagging tails, and smiles gently— the kind of smile meant to soothe rather than tease. “Ah, hyung. You couldn’t have known.” His voice is light, careful, like he’s cushioning Soobin from disappointment. 

 

Even as a puppy climbs onto his shoulders, Kai’s focus stays on him, eyes soft and reassuring. The Alpha had rented the entire place— so they could have privacy. No wandering strangers, no curious glances, no interruptions. Just warm lights, soft music, and Kai.

 

If he’s honest with himself, Soobin hadn’t only done it for convenience.

 

He wanted the beta for himself.

 

Wanted uninterrupted time to look at Kai properly, to memorize the way his lashes cast shadows against his cheeks when he smiles. To brush crumbs from his lips without an audience. To guide him by the waist without anyone watching. 

 

Soobin had imagined sitting close, knees touching beneath the table while puppies climbed over both of them, imagining Kai’s cute giggles spilling freely as he leaned in to steal quick kisses between the chaos.

 

He had planned it meticulously.

 

The timing.

The flowers.

The drive.

The playlist.

 

The Alpha had pictured shared laughter, photos taken together, maybe one framed later in their home. Romance threaded softly through the entire day. 

 

Instead, the puppies cling to Kai as if he’s their sun, orbiting him instinctively, and Soobin feels like a looming storm cloud they instinctively skirt around.

 

Still, the beta’s hands remain full— one arm cradling a fluffy pomeranian that’s practically purring against his chest, the other holding the bouquet Soobin had prepared earlier that morning.

 

The sight makes the Alpha’s heart pound in his ribs. Even now, even surrounded, Kai is holding what he gave him. A small dachshund attempts to leap into his already crowded arms.

 

“Oh, no,” the beta whispers gently, laughing under his breath. “Don’t play with this, please? It’s very important to me. I know it's pretty but still.” Soobin’s breath catches in his throat. Carefully, Kai leans over the table and sets the bouquet out of reach from curious paws. 

 

His movements are protective, fingers smoothing over the wrapping once it’s safe. He pauses for a second, just looking at the flowers again.

 

Light purple marjoram flowers take center stage, their delicate petals framed by clouds of baby’s breath. Hibiscus blossoms peek through in soft pinks, and heliotropes accent the arrangement with gentle depth. 

 

The colors are muted— lilac, blush, white— calm and thoughtful, much like the Alpha who chose them. Kai doesn’t ask if they have meaning. Instead, he studies the bouquet with quiet wonder, fingers brushing over the petals as if memorizing their softness. 

 

His scent shifts— matcha deepening, sweetening— and a light blush feathers across his cheeks as if the memory of receiving them replays in his mind. His lips curve faintly, a soft restrained giggle escaping from him.

 

Soobin watches the beta like a man who’s starved.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Do you like it?” Soobin had asked earlier, voice almost shy despite the confidence in everything else he does. “I do. It’s gorgeous, hyung,” the beta whispered back, equally shy, eyes glimmering as he admired the bouquet.

 

He’d traced the edges of the petals carefully, like they might bruise under careless hands. His fingers lingered on the marjoram, brushing over the baby’s breath with quiet fascination. 

 

The colors reflected in his eyes, soft lilac and blush pink swimming in white, and Soobin hears his wolf chuff proudly in his head.

 

“You really like it?” he pressed gently, unable to stop himself. Kai nodded, clutching the bouquet a little closer. “It feels like you.” That had nearly undone him.

 

Soobin looks at the beta again, taking in the quiet grace of him— the gentle way he moves, the careful way he speaks, pretty as porcelain yet stubborn when it comes to what he believes. He wonders, briefly, what Kai would’ve been if he were born like them.

 

An Alpha with sharp edges and certainty? Or a strong-willed omega who commands without raising his voice? The thought makes him laugh softly. It doesn’t matter. It never really did.

 

And that’s when he knows.

 

Soobin didn’t fall for Kai the way he had for Yeonjun— no lightning strike, no wolf snapping to attention with immediate recognition. There was no dizzying pull dragging him forward by instinct alone. This was quieter. Slower. Kai had simply lingered.

 

First in their home under the excuse of a contract he’d arranged with Taehyun. Then in the spaces between routines— in shared breakfasts, in folded laundry left neatly outside doors, in soft goodnights murmured down dim hallways. Eventually, he settled somewhere far less guarded.

 

It wasn’t sudden. It accumulated. Shared meals stretching longer than necessary. The way Kai prioritized them without hesitation, as if their needs naturally came before his own. Until one day, the absence of him felt louder than any presence ever could.

 

Watching him now— eyes sparkling, feet swinging as he admires the flowers like they’re rare treasure— only deepens it. The urge presses low and steady in Soobin’s chest. Not wild. Not consuming. Just constant.

 

To pull Kai close. To tuck him into the space between them permanently. To say that they’re his as he is theirs.

 

The Alpha exhales slowly and shakes his head.

 

Now’s not the time. 

 

They have to be patient. They agreed on that.

 

But still… the thought lingers, curling through him like a promise waiting to be spoken.

 

…

 

Soobin had been attentive from the very beginning— driving smoothly, one hand steady on the wheel while the other rested near Kai’s thigh. Not quite touching at first. Just close enough.

 

A silent offer.

 

After a moment, the Alpha’s fingers brushed lightly against the fabric of Kai’s pants. “Is this okay?” he asked, glancing over, eyes soft but searching, making sure. “Yes, hyung,” Kai squeaked, the sound small and breathy. 

 

The heat from Soobin’s palm seeped through the material, grounding and protective all at once. The Alpha didn’t grip. Didn’t squeeze. He just let his hand stay there, thumb drawing absentminded circles against the fabric.

 

Bon Voyage! by Bon Bon Blanco burst through the speakers then, bright and upbeat, and Kai immediately lit up.

 

“Oh! I love this one!” he’d exclaimed, the bouquet momentarily forgotten as he turned the volume up slightly. The beta sang along enthusiastically, not caring if he missed a lyric, shoulders bouncing in his seat.

 

Soobin had planned that too.

 

He’d built the playlist carefully the night before— anime openings that would make Kai excited and keep the mood light. Every track chosen with intention. Watching him now, cheeks flushed, voice animated, eyes sparkling as he butchered high notes with confidence—

 

It was worth every second of planning.

 

“Here.” Soobin reached into the compartment during a quieter part of the song, pulling out a pack of gummies he’d stashed earlier. He held it just out of reach for a second. Kai immediately made grabby hands.

 

Actual grabby hands.

 

“Hyunggg,” he whined playfully. Soobin had to physically restrain himself from laughing too hard. Or from doing something worse— like leaning over and kissing that pout straight off his lips.

 

He handed the gummies over, watching with fondness as Kai opened them carefully, offering him one before taking all of them for himself. The light turned red shortly after. Soobin reached for the wet wipes again when he noticed sugar dusting the corner of the beta’s mouth. 

 

“Hold still,” he murmured, thumb steadying Kai’s chin while he wiped gently. He blinked at Soobin, completely trusting. Then the light flicked green. And some idiot behind them immediately started honking.

 

Sharp. Aggressive. Unnecessary.

 

Soobin’s jaw tightened on instinct. His wolf stirred, irritated at the disrespect. He could’ve easily rolled down the window. Could’ve glared. Could’ve slowed down just enough to make a point. But the beta was beside him.

 

So he inhaled slowly, exhaled through his nose, and drove forward without reacting, fingers tightening briefly on the wheel before relaxing again. Kai noticed. Of course he did.

 

The beta’s hand slipped over Soobin’s almost immediately, fingers squeezing softly. “It’s okay, hyung,” he muttered, brows furrowing in mild offense on his behalf. “Dumb people exist, and they’re out there.” He didn’t sound intimidating at all.

 

If anything, he sounded like a child sulking about unfairness.

 

Fucking cute.

 

The Alpha glanced at him, the irritation melting almost instantly. “Is that so?” he asked, tone low and amused now. Kai nodded firmly. 

 

“You’re driving well. They’re just impatient.” The absolute sincerity in his voice— the way he defended him without hesitation— did such a dangerous thing to Soobin’s composure. He flipped his hand under Kai’s, lacing their fingers together this time instead of just resting nearby. 

 

His grip was firm and claiming. “Thank you,” he said quietly. The beta beamed. And just like that, whatever pride had flared up from the honk disappeared completely, replaced by something far warmer.

 

If keeping his temper meant Kai kept looking at him like that—

 

Soobin would swallow it every single time.

 

Stories flowed easily after that, the road stretching long and smooth ahead of them while the music softened into background noise. Kai shifted in his seat, turning slightly toward Soobin, curiosity lighting up his expression. 

 

“How did you and Yeonjun-hyung meet?” The Alpha blinked once, caught off guard. “Are you sure you want to talk about this during our date?” Kai nodded enthusiastically, curls bouncing. 

 

“I always ask Yeonjun-hyung about it, but he just smiles at me and tells me to ask you.” He crossed his arms in mild offense. “He refuses to elaborate.”

 

“Ah.” Soobin snorted softly. “Of course he said that.” He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, eyes flicking briefly to Kai before returning to the road. His scent shifted— cedarwood deepening.

 

“It’s nothing special,” he began, though his voice betrayed a hint of fondness. “I just… saw him dancing at a university event one time. He was the troupe leader.” The beta leaned in closer immediately.

 

“So graceful,” he continued quietly, as if replaying it in his mind. “Talented. His eyes sparkled when he performed. It was ridiculous.” A faint smile tugged at the Alpha’s lips. “I— well.” He let out a small, embarrassed laugh.

 

“He kind of triggered my pre-rut when he danced ‘Who’s Your Mama’ by J.Y. Park.” Silence filled the car.

 

Then—

 

Kai cackled.

 

Not a polite giggle. A full, unfiltered laugh that made him clutch the bouquet against his chest. “Are you being serious right now, hyung?” Soobin nodded solemnly, though the tips of his ears had turned pink. “Completely.”

 

The beta wheezed.

 

“I still hate that song to this day,” the Alpha muttered, jaw tightening in remembered humiliation. “But I remember his every move. Even the outfit he wore.” Kai straightened.

 

“Tight glittery long-sleeve top,” Soobin continued, his voice climbing slightly despite himself, scent spiking faintly with nostalgia and lingering desire. “Low rise, very short leather shorts. Stockings.” He exhaled sharply through his nose.

 

“He was a goddess to me. Still is.”

 

There was no teasing in his tone now. Just devotion and utter loyalty. “I panicked when I felt the pre-rut coming on and left immediately,” he admitted. “Beomgyu laughed so hard he caught the attention of the dancers.”

 

Kai covered his mouth, trying to contain another laugh. “Yeonjun-hyung said later he smelled my scent in the crowd and immediately wanted to find me,” the Alpha went on, shaking his head. “But I was already gone by then.”

 

The beta’s laughter turned gentler, more intrigued than amused now. “Uh, anyway.” Soobin cleared his throat, rolling his shoulders as if trying to shake off the intensity of the memory. “I avoided him for a while after that. I just felt really ashamed.”

 

He paused at a red light, glancing over at Kai briefly.

 

“But Beomgyu was part of a band that was performing at another university event, and they collaborated with the dance troupe.” A faint blush crept up his neck as he continued. “I went there to bring him food, not knowing that Yeonjun was there…”

 

Soobin trailed off, lips pressing into a thin line as the memory surfaced more vividly.

 

He coughed softly, eyes returning to the road.

 

“…Yeah.”

 

And the light turned green.

 

♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡

 

“Dude? What the hell? My food.” Beomgyu whined, staring at the plastic bag now abandoned on the floor, toppled over from Soobin’s sudden retreat.

 

“U—uh, I gotta go. Sorry. Also, it’s not ruined yet. I packed it in cling wrap!” The Alpha had blurted, already backing away from backstage like a man who had just witnessed something divine and deeply inconvenient.

 

He’d only meant to drop off lunch. He hadn’t meant to make eye contact. But he did.

 

And that was the problem. Because the second his gaze locked with Yeonjun’s across the dressing area— everything in him froze. “Oh no you don’t.” The voice that followed was whiny, breathless, and unmistakably determined.

 

Soobin didn’t even get three steps before someone grabbed his wrist and spun him around. He found himself cornered between a clothing rack and the wall, staring down at what his brain could only process as a goddess.

 

Yeonjun looked up at him, glaring. “Sorry!” The Alpha had said immediately, eyes squeezing shut on instinct. He didn’t even know what he was apologizing for. Existing, maybe. Breathing. Looking.

 

Because one glance had been enough to short-circuit him entirely.

 

The omega’s hair was half clipped up, stylists still fussing in the background. His makeup was unfinished— one eye sharp and lined, the other still bare. A loose shirt hung off his frame, collarbone exposed and damp with sweat from rehearsal. 

 

Sweat shorts rode low on his hips, revealing toned thighs dusted faintly with glitter from stage lights. Soobin’s mind had simply… stopped.

 

His wolf howled inside his skull, loud and possessive and awestruck all at once. It wasn’t just attraction— it was instinct screaming at him to claim, to court, to kneel if he had to. To make that omega his. To make a family with him—

 

“Sorry!” he shouted, as if Yeonjun could hear every feral thought ricocheting inside his head. There was a beat of silence.

 

Then—

 

“Open your eyes, dumb puppy.” The command was sharp, unimpressed. The Alpha obeyed immediately. One eye cracked open first, cautiously. Yeonjun was still there. Still glaring. Still breathtaking.

 

Up close, the omega smelled like sharp vanilla layered over maple syrup— sweet but edged, intoxicating in a way that made Soobin’s pulse spike. It wrapped around his senses, thick and all-consuming.

 

“If you don’t start courting me the moment our performance ends,” Yeonjun said coolly, stepping even closer so that Soobin could feel the heat radiating off his skin, “I will forcefully take you and make you the father of my pups. Got that?”

 

The words should’ve been threatening.

 

They weren’t.

 

They were an answer to all his prayers. The Alpha’s throat bobbed. His ears burned. His wolf went completely still— stunned into reverence. “Y—yeah,” he managed weakly. “I got it. Um. Sorry again.” 

 

Soobin bowed, then turned and bolted out of the backstage like a man fleeing divine judgment, face flushed scarlet, heart hammering so violently he was certain the entire dance troupe could hear it. Behind him, he swore he heard Yeonjun and Beomgyu laugh.

 

And that laugh followed him for weeks.

 

♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡

 

“I was so thankful I came to that event in jogger pants,” Soobin said wistfully, one hand draped loosely over the steering wheel. The beta blinked once. Then twice. A slow blush crept up his neck as he very quickly understood what that implied.

 

“And?” he prompted, trying (and failing) to sound casual. The Alpha shrugged, though there was nothing casual about the faint curl of pride at the corner of his mouth. “I courted him. He said yes.” His tone softened. 

 

“Timed it close to his heat and, you know…” Kai’s blush deepened. “We didn’t leave the dorm room I shared with Beomgyu for five days,” Soobin continued. “He still uses that as blackmail to get what he wants from me.” He sighed exasperatedly, but the smile on his lips betrayed him.

 

“I would too,” The beta replied, giggling. Soobin glanced at him, eyes crinkling. “Aish. You’re adorable.” Before Kai could recover from that, Soobin leaned over just enough to steal a quick kiss against his cheek.

 

His hand found Kai’s knee again afterward, thumb resting there like it belonged.

 

The drive fell into a comfortable quiet after that, the hum of the engine and distant music filling the space between them. After a moment, Soobin spoke again, voice low and fond. “Pick one of my plushies for the dashboard.”

 

Kai perked up instantly.

 

He leaned forward to inspect the small collection lined near the windshield, considering each one with exaggerated seriousness. His fingers hovered over a bear, a squirrel, then a fox, then finally settled on a small bunny.

 

“This one,” Kai declared, lifting it carefully. His eyes sparkled. “It looks like you.” The Alpha’s heart stuttered. “Like me?” he repeated softly. “Mhm. Tall. Soft. With a very serious resting face.” Soobin had to look away briefly to compose himself.

 

“You should scent it, pup,” he murmured.

 

Kai gaped. “What? A—are you sure?” The Alpha nodded. "I wanted to have a piece of you here with me, too." The beta felt the heat creep up to his cheeks. He took a deep breath, holding the bunny close before rubbing it gently against his scent gland. The faint aroma of matcha— earthy, slightly sweet— clung to the plush almost immediately.

 

Matcha blended with cedarwood. Soobin felt an irrational wave of pride watching that happen. He purred at the sight of the beta marking something in his space. It felt… right.

 

The drive stretched long, but Kai never once looked bored or tired. 

 

He sang when songs came on, leaned comfortably into the seat, occasionally glancing at the Alpha like he was studying him. And Soobin noticed everything.

 

When Kai pulled at his sweater, Soobin made it colder. When the beta blinked slowly after having some snacks, he nudged a water bottle on his cheek, grinning. When crumbs gathered at the corner of Kai’s mouth, Soobin grabbed the wet wipes without a word.

 

“Hold still,” he murmured gently, thumb steady under the beta’s chin as he wiped carefully. Kai watched him with quiet wonder. “You really are an Alpha,” he whispers, voice thick with admiration.

 

Soobin’s ears flushed pink almost instantly. “Is that a compliment?” The beta nodded eagerly before leaning forward and pressing a kiss against his cheek. “Of course it is, hyung. I love how you take such good care of the pack… and me too.”

 

The confession slipped out, whispered into the space between them.

 

Soobin didn’t hesitate.

 

“Of course I would. You’re all important to me.” Soobin turned his head just enough to steal another quick kiss before the light turned green, heart steady but warm— a quiet kind of devotion that didn’t need grand gestures to prove itself.

 

And for the rest of the drive, his hand stayed intertwined with Kai’s, firm and grounding, as if letting go wasn’t even an option.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Now, back in the café, that same warmth flickers stubbornly beneath Soobin’s irritation, dulling the edge of his sigh. “I thought I was a gentle and steady anchor to the people around me,” he grumbles, crouching slightly to offer his hand to a small shiba puppy. 

 

His voice softens instinctively. “They even mistake me for an omega sometimes because of how non-threatening I am.” The puppy sniffs once. Then whimpers. The Alpha freezes mid-reach. “…Unbelievable.”

 

Kai immediately scoots closer, drawing a chorus of betrayed whines from the puppies abandoning his lap. He ignores them entirely, lifting both hands to cup Soobin’s face and turn him gently. “Of course you are, hyung,” he says firmly. The Alpha’s eyes flicker down.

 

“You’re gentle. Probably the kindest Alpha I know,” Kai continues, thumbs brushing along his jaw. “But they’re biologically wired to react to you that way. You’re bigger. Highest in the hierarchy. Your scent is stronger. It’s not personal.” He softens. 

 

“It’s not a bad date. I’m still enjoying it.” His sincerity tightens the air. Without warning, Soobin slides an arm around Kai’s waist and pulls him up— settling him squarely onto his lap.

 

"What the?" He yelps.

 

“Just reclaiming my date,” The Alpha mutters, his voice petulant and stubborn.

 

“Hyung!” Kai squeaks, cheeks blooming red as his hands fly to Soobin’s shoulders for balance. He squirms. “The dogs—” 

 

“Can wait.” The grip isn’t rough, but it is secure, one palm spread wide against Kai’s lower back. “You tried pesto pasta for me,” Soobin says quietly. “And you hated it. I saw that face.” Kai freezes. 

 

“I did not—” 

 

“You did. You hate basil,” The Alpha insists, remembering the forced smile and brave nod. “I wanted to try it because you like it,” Kai mumbles defensively. Soobin pinches his cheek with quiet fondness. 

 

“You don’t have to. I asked you out to impress you. Just enjoy yourself.” The beta bites his lip and nods, still tense.

 

“Um, hyung. Can I get off now?” A low rumble vibrates through Soobin’s chest— subtle, unmistakable. "No." His arm tightens reflexively, pulling Kai closer until he’s fully perched over him, knees bracketing his thighs.

 

The dogs erupt into sharp barking, circling warily at the possessive shift in scent. “You scared them, hyung,” The beta whispers urgently. Soobin glances at the dogs, then back at him. 

 

“…Sorry,” There is absolutely no remorse in his tone. But he does consciously soften his scent, cedarwood easing back into something calmer. His grip loosens just enough to be less territorial and more… affectionate.

 

“It’s okay, hyung. I think you’re way cuter than these dogs anyway. But don’t tell them!” Soobin lifts a brow slowly. “Cute? I’m cute?” Kai bites back a grin. “Yeah, hyung. You’re adorable.” The Alpha’s mouth curves before he leans in and nips lightly at his scent gland.

 

Kai lets out a startled, breathy sound and immediately clamps a hand over his mouth in horror. “Oh my God— sorry! Sorry, hyung. That was— why would you bite me?” He scrambles off Soobin’s chest, flustered and red. 

 

The Alpha lets him go, watching with faintly dazed eyes as his scent sharpens in satisfaction. “You shouldn’t do that in public!” Kai scolds, still breathless, matcha sweetness thickening in the air. “I rented out the ‘public’,” Soobin replies smugly. “That’s not the point!”

 

“C’mon,” the Alpha murmurs, tugging him closer again. “You’ve been playing with those dogs all day. They’re not your date. I am. Come sit on my lap again? Please, baby?” Kai bites his lip. “O–only if you behave!” He shoots back, crossing his arms despite the very obvious redness on his neck and cheeks. 

 

“I will. Promise,” Soobin says immediately, far too pleased with himself. The beta rolls his eyes but sits back down in front of him anyway, letting the Alpha guide him closer until they’re chest to chest.

 

“There. Isn’t this nice?” Soobin beams, completely unashamed. A corgi nearby whines as if protesting the shift in attention. “Sorry, not now.” Kai says lightly, smiling. “My Alpha is being sulky. He needs my attention.”

 

The words hang between them for half a second. My Alpha. Soobin’s expression shifts, a low growl slipping free before he mouths at Kai’s neck again. “A–aish! My neck still counts, hyung! What the heck?” Kai protests, his nails digging onto the Alpha's shoulders. 

 

Soobin presses his teeth just enough to leave the indents behind before pulling back with a satisfied huff. “A sign to remember me by,” he says arrogantly. The beta exhales and rubs the spot gently. “You really are an Alpha.”

 

“Is that another compliment?” The Alpha asks, eyes bright. Kai only shakes his head, lips twitching despite himself. “Figure it out yourself, hyung.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“We got banned,” Kai says, barely holding in his laughter as the disgruntled employees shoo them away from the café entrance. The Alpha doesn’t even glance back. “They got their money. And their pasta wasn’t that good anyway,” he replies coolly, utterly unbothered.

 

The sky bleeds orange into pink, fading slowly into evening blue. Streetlights begin to flicker on, washing Soobin in warm gold. “We should probably go home,” the beta murmurs. 

 

“Hm. But we haven’t ended the date yet.” The older male tilts his head and presents his dimpled cheek expectantly. “Well?” he prompts, clearly teasing. Kai tightens his grip on the bouquet, pulse thudding hard against his ribs. 

 

Soobin looks unfairly handsome under the sunset— black corduroy polo hugging his frame, dark denim neat and effortless. His hair is styled back just enough to reveal his forehead, Yeonjun’s careful handiwork evident. 

 

The Alpha smells like the happiest version of his scent. The way he usually is when he’s with the pack altogether, watching them with honey dripping from his eyes. 

 

God.

 

Kai’s in trouble.

 

He leans forward— and pokes the dimple instead. Soobin’s eyes snap open in surprise, turning toward him just in time for the beta to surge up and press a quick kiss to his nose, then the mole beneath his left eye. 

 

“That was cheating,” Soobin accuses. “No it wasn’t,” Kai shoots back, sticking his tongue out.

 

The Alpha scoops him up without warning, earning a startled yelp. “You’re coming home with me, pretty thing,” he whispers low in his ear, biting the shell of it. Kai giggles helplessly. “Silly hyung. We live in the same house.”

 

The Alpha hums, brushing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Indeed we do,” he murmurs. His gaze sharpens. “And we want it to stay that way, right?” Warmth curls low in Kai’s stomach, spreading softly through him.

 

“Yes,” he answers, breathless. “We do.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

thoughts? feelings? how was the short lore drop? who do you think is up next?

notes:

hibiscus— delicate beauty
heliotrope— eternal love, Devotion
baby’s breath— everlasting love
marjoram — joy, happiness

Chapter 18: 11: Choi Yeonjun

Summary:

huening kai goes on a date with choi yeonjun. chaos ensues

Notes:

this chapter is a bit long. a gift from me to you! also, a clearer breakdown of how yeonjun feels about huening kai and some of the pack members. i hope you enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I should’ve just used my brain instead of spinning a roulette to decide what our date would be. This is the worst day of my life.” 

 

Yeonjun collapses onto the bench dramatically, hands covering his face in theatrical despair while Kai laughs and drops onto the ice in front of him, entirely unbothered by the chill.

 

Around them, people wobble and glide in uneven circles— children pushed in little sleds, beginners clinging desperately to plastic skate helpers the omega had loudly rejected earlier. “Those are for cowards,” Yeonjun had declared with full conviction, chin high and pride intact.

 

Of course, there are also the elegant ones— skaters practicing neat spins and clean footwork, blades carving confident lines across the rink. Yeonjun doesn’t miss a single one, glaring each time they pass too gracefully. 

 

Kai watches with open fondness, lips curved as he shakes his head at the blatant jealousy.

 

For cowards, he says.

 

Now he flaps gracelessly every time he stands, arms windmilling, balance abandoning him without mercy. His dignity was left somewhere near the entrance— possibly under the rental counter. 

 

“Your butt’s going to stick to that,” the beta hums, offering his gloved hand. Yeonjun takes it, squeezing perhaps a little tighter than necessary. 

 

“I’m being a spoiled and sulky bitch, aren’t I? I’m ruining our date.” Kai laughs softly and presses a kiss to Yeonjun’s gloved knuckles, catching the faint pink blooming across his cheeks. 

 

The omega huffs, but he doesn’t pull away.

 

“I’m having tons of fun, hyung. Even seeing you sulk is enjoyable for me.” Yeonjun rolls his eyes. “Brat,” he mutters under his breath. Kai only grins wider. “Kidding aside, I’m with the most beautiful omega in the rink. How could anyone ruin this date for me?”

 

The smile he flashes is unfair— bright, confident, devastatingly sincere. For a split second, the noise of the rink fades. It’s just Kai kneeling slightly in front of him, lips hovering near his hand, eyes lifted with open admiration like he truly means every word.

 

Yeonjun’s heart stutters hard enough to make him dizzy. The tips of his ears burn beneath the cold air, chest thudding fast and loud. He juts his lips out in a pout to hide it. “I’m supposed to be the one showing off my charms, Ning,” he grumbles.

 

“But you already are, hyung,” Kai replies easily. “And guess what? I’m charmed.” He winks, then pushes himself to his feet, brushing ice from his jeans. “C’mon. Hold my hand. Let’s try again, okay?”

 

The omega takes it without further protest. Their fingers lace together, and Kai gives a reassuring squeeze before gliding forward at a steady pace. This time, Yeonjun lets himself be led— and for once, he doesn’t mind at all.

 

Staring at the beta’s back, he feels something unfamiliar coil low in his stomach— not sharp, not overwhelming, but steady. It isn’t the heated spike of lust he’s used to. It’s quieter than that. One that settles instead of consumes. 

 

It isn’t demanding. But it lingers, coursing deeply into his veins.

 

Huening Kamal Kai isn’t an Alpha.

 

Yeonjun had always believed that it mattered. With Alphas, his instincts snapped neatly into place— protection locking around him like armor, possession pressing firm and reassuring along his spine. 

 

Authority bled into their tone, into the way they occupied space, and his wolf responded without hesitation. There was relief in it. A primal satisfaction in being guided, in being claimed by someone stronger and more certain.

 

With Soobin and Beomgyu, that instinct hums loud and clear. Their presence alone brackets him in strength. It feels ancient, almost ritualistic— the natural order aligning itself around him. His wolf stretches out under their shadows, pleased, guarded, sure of where it stands. 

 

Claimed in a way that makes sense.

 

With omegas, it has always been different, but comfortable in its own way. There’s no looming dominance, no surrender either. They hold their ground. They understand the careful balance between pride and softness. 

 

They yield control when they prefer to, not because they’re overpowered, but because they want to. There’s a silent language there— a shared awareness of instinct and vulnerability. Taehyun especially meets him in that space. 

 

There’s chemistry, yes, but it’s sharpened by symmetry. 

 

A glance that lingers. A subtle shift in scent. A wordless agreement in how they navigate each other’s moods. They bend without breaking. They push without overpowering. It isn’t dominance. It isn’t submission. It’s equilibrium.

 

But with Kai… none of those categories apply.

 

The beta isn’t radiating authority. He isn’t asserting control. He isn’t testing boundaries or provoking instinct. And he’s not submissive either— not yielding control, not molding himself around Yeonjun’s temper, not instinctively managing himself the way omegas often do. 

 

He doesn’t calculate. He doesn’t maneuver. He simply exists.

 

Steady. Gentle. Unshaken.

 

Kai skates a little ahead, fingers laced securely with Yeonjun’s, adjusting his pace every time he feels the slightest wobble through their joined hands. It’s automatic for him— slowing when the omega slows, steadying when he falters. 

 

The beta’s thumb brushes absentminded circles over Yeonjun’s glove. He doesn’t even notice that he’s doing it. Kai prioritizes him without fanfare— turning back to check on him, brushing hair away from his eyes, asking if he’s tired in that soft voice that holds no pressure, only care.

 

Kai doesn’t realize he’s matching Yeonjun’s breathing either— the rise and fall syncing as naturally as if they’ve done this their whole lives. And Kai looks at him.

 

Not like prey.

Not like he’s someone fragile, needing protection.

Not like a price to claim, to subdue and show off to the world.

 

Huening Kamal looks at him just as he is. Choi Yeonjun.

 

It unsettles him. Because even without instinct screaming at him to submit, even without dominance pressing heavily against his spine, the omega feels secure. Not conquered. Not claimed in the primal way he’s used to.

 

Chosen.

 

His wolf, usually loud and demanding, doesn’t bristle. It doesn’t claw at his ribs insisting on hierarchy. It doesn’t feel threatened by the absence of an Alpha, nor does it seek the mirrored reassurance of another omega.

 

It watches.

 

It circles leisurely around this new feeling.

 

It feels intrigued.

 

Satisfied. Sated. 

 

Oh.

 

Yeonjun feels it then— not the sharp snap of attraction, not the dizzying pull of instinctual lust. It’s deeper. It spreads through his chest like fire spreading into frozen skin, seeping into places he didn’t know were cold. 

 

The light matcha scent drifting through the air makes him want to follow it endlessly, like a thread tied gently around his heart, tugging him forward without force. The omega wants to lean closer. 

 

He wants to bury his face against Kai’s neck and breathe until the world narrows down to just that scent, just his presence, just him. The beta isn’t even doing anything remotely seductive. He isn’t baring his throat. He isn’t scenting the air on invitation. He isn’t commanding respect.

 

He’s just leading their date. Just prioritizing Yeonjun. Just looking at him like he matters most. 

 

And somehow, that’s enough. 

 

His wolf stirs restlessly. It claws at his thoughts, greedy and possessive in a way that surprises him. It wants to drag Kai down onto the ice and mark him thoroughly— not out of superiority, not out of instinctual hierarchy—

 

But because it wants him. And it wants to be wanted back. 

 

With Alphas, the claiming is expected. With omegas, the understanding is mutual. There are rules. There are rhythms. There’s a structure his wolf understands. A structure that he understands.

 

But this?

 

There’s no script for it. No biological demand telling him to fall in line. Kai is not overpowering him. Not mirroring him. Not managing him. He’s simply choosing him— over and over again— in small, quiet ways.

 

Slowing down.

 

Turning back.

 

Checking in.

 

Looking only at him.

 

And Yeonjun’s wolf, fierce and animalistic and so used to being ruled by its predisposition, feels something entirely new settle beneath its skin. Not an urge to surrender completely. Nor is it a hunger to take and take and take until there’s nothing left. But this.

 

Devotion.

 

It doesn’t want to fight. It doesn’t want to test. It wants to stay. And Yeonjun realizes, breath catching as their fingers tighten instinctively together, that this might be far more dangerous than any Alpha’s claim.

 

Because this isn’t instinct. It's a choice. 

 

And his wolf has already chosen back.

 

“You okay, hyung? You’re a little quiet.” The beta turns so smoothly it almost makes Yeonjun’s heart stutter. “Should we get ice cream? Mint chocolate? It’s our favorite.”

 

Our favorite.

 

The words wrap around him like a cocoon. Kai’s brows knit with genuine concern, fingers brushing over Yeonjun’s forehead as if checking for a fever, studying him like he’s precious, his silence enough to worry the beta.

 

“I’m okay,” Yeonjun whispers, but his voice comes out breathless. He pushes closer until their chests nearly touch, skates knocking gently together. He craves— achingly— to close whatever space remains between them. 

 

To melt into Kai’s warmth, to press himself there and never step back. To become someone permanent, undeniable in his life. “You’re cute, hyung,” the beta says without hesitation, not even stumbling, arms coming around him naturally as they spin slowly across the ice.

 

There’s no teasing edge. No smugness. Just the truth. Yeonjun’s heart pounds so hard it feels like it might crack his chest open.

 

Ah.

 

This is it. It doesn’t matter what Kai is. Alpha. Omega. Beta. The labels blur, dissolve like frost under sunlight. Because his wolf— proud, stubborn, always demanding, feels safe.

 

Safe in the way that makes its claws retract. Safe in the way that makes it lower its head and rest instead of bare its teeth. Safe enough to want. Desire simmers low in his gut, but it’s not frantic. It’s steady. A hunger that can wait to be sated.

 

Kai leads him— embraces him. Prioritizes him in a hundred tiny ways that no instinct dictates— only intention. And Yeonjun realizes, almost helplessly, that he’s already fallen. Not because his wolf told him to. Not because the natural order demanded it.

 

But because Kai chose him.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“If you let go of me, you’re dead.” Kai snorts, tightening his hold automatically as the omega clings to him like a terrified koala. 

 

“Do you want me to cut off the circulation in your arms, hyung?” Yeonjun screeches when his skate slips, nearly face-planting into the ice if the beta hadn’t been holding him so securely. 

 

His legs slide out from under him in a perfect split, so impressive that a few bystanders actually clap. The omega glares at them. “This is embarrassing. We should leave.” Kai only smiles, hauling him upright like they’re not standing on a death trap made of frozen water. 

 

“You’re fine, hyung. There are other people who are much worse than you are.” The beta squeezes Yeonjun’s hand reassuringly. “Let’s go in the corner. I’ll teach you again.” He groans loudly and makes grabby hands at the blond instead.

 

“You want me to carry you?” Kai asks, biting back a grin as he watches his very pouty hyung weaponize cuteness for a free ride. “Yes, please,” the omega whines without shame, wrapping his arms around the beta’s neck and lifting himself onto his tiptoes.

 

Kai laughs— that bright and unrestrained sound that makes Yeonjun’s stomach flip. The beta pinches his cheek. “If I knew I’d see how much more adorable you can be, we should’ve come to the ice rink much sooner.” The omega harrumphs and smacks his shoulder. 

 

Smooth talker.

 

“You should stop hanging out with Beomgyu. He’s turning you into an annoying brat.” Kai just smirks. And then he supports Yeonjun under his thighs and lifts him like it’s nothing. The world tilts. Kai’s hands are firm and large under his thighs.

 

Yeonjun feels the strength in his grip even through layers of fabric, the way Kai adjusts him higher without effort. The omega’s body reacts before his mind can catch up. Their chests press flush together instinctively for balance. 

 

Every glide forward makes them shift closer. Yeonjun can feel the solid line of Kai’s torso, the rhythm of his breathing, the faint flex of muscle every time he changes direction. 

 

“Move your face a little, hyung? I can’t see where we’re going.” His breath brushes against Yeonjun’s cheek when he says it. That’s when it hits. A creeping excitement unfurling in his stomach. 

 

Thick and heavy slick slowly dripped out of him.

 

God damn it.

 

His core tightens involuntarily, the sign of his arousal gathering between his thighs, soaking into fabric in a way that makes his pulse jump. The cold air of the rink only makes him more aware of it— the contrast sharpening every sensation, every glide, every bump of their hips.

 

Kai isn’t grinding against him. Isn’t whispering anything obscene. He’s literally just carrying him because Yeonjun asked.

 

And yet—

 

Every smooth push across the ice makes their hips touch. Every subtle adjustment of the beta’s grip sends a jolt through him. His body grows restless, needy. He feels it. 

 

The slow, undeniable dampness pooling, his body opening— submitting without permission, reacting to the closeness, the security, the way Kai’s hands hold him so easily. His breath hitches against the beta’s neck.

 

Yeonjun’s wolf shifts restlessly, claws scraping along the inside of his mind. It wishes for more. To press closer. To drag Kai somewhere private and tear that calm composure apart just to see what he looks like undone.

 

Choi Yeonjun wants to have him, to see him claimed underneath.

 

Is this what Soobin felt when I danced on stage?

 

The thought makes his face burn hot.

 

This is embarrassing.

 

Yeonjun buries his face into the beta’s shoulder, trying to ground himself in anything else— the scratch of fabric, the distant laughter of children, the sharp screech of blades carving the ice.

 

“You smell nice, hyung. Sweet. I like it.” Kai says absentmindedly. And the omega nearly makes a sound. Another slow pulse between his thighs. More warmth. More slick slipping free, his body responding to the praise like it’s a command. 

 

Sweet. 

 

The word echoes and sinks low, settling somewhere dangerously sensitive. He tightens his arms around Kai’s neck. His thighs squeeze unconsciously around Kai’s waist. “I have to go to the bathroom,” he squeaks, voice betraying him completely.

 

Kai doesn’t question it. “Oh, okay.” He skates them toward the entrance carefully. When they reach solid ground, he sets Yeonjun down, palms lingering at his waist just a second longer to make sure he’s steady.

 

The sensation almost makes his knees buckle. “Here you go, hyung. I’ll be doing some routines while I wait for you. I’ll be here once you’re done, okay?” A soft kiss presses to his cheek. Innocent. Unassuming. Intimate.

 

Kai helps him tug off his gloves, fingers brushing over his wrists briefly. The contact sends another wave of heat through him. “I’ll carry this for you.” Yeonjun can only nod dumbly, brain short-circuiting.

 

He feels like a stupid teenager seeing porn for the first time.

 

“Let’s take this off too.” The beta gestures toward his skates and immediately drops down to his knees.

 

On his knees.

 

Right in front of Yeonjun. Looking up with those wide, expectant eyes— focused, patient, completely unaware of the havoc he’s causing. The omega feels himself die a little inside.

 

Kai’s gloved hands wrap around his ankle carefully. He works the laces loose with gentle concentration, head bowed slightly, lashes brushing his cheeks. The position is devastating— the angle, the proximity, the casual obedience of it.

 

But there’s nothing submissive about it. The beta isn’t actually kneeling for him. He’s just helping. And somehow that makes it worse. “There we go,” Kai murmurs softly when the skate loosens, sliding it off with careful hands. 

 

His fingers trail briefly over Yeonjun’s calf as he steadies him. Cold air kisses the damp warmth still clinging between his thighs, making him painfully aware of every inch of himself. He swallows hard. Kai sets the skate aside neatly. “Let’s put this on the side.”

 

And then— like it’s the most natural thing in the world— he leans forward and presses a quick, affectionate kiss to Yeonjun’s exposed leg.

 

The omega’s breath stutters violently in his chest. The contact is brief, barely a brush of lips against skin, but it sends a sharp spark straight down his spine. His core tightens again, slick pooling heavier, his body reacting helplessly to Kai’s touch.

 

The beta stands, patting him on the back lightly as if he hasn’t just detonated something catastrophic inside him.

 

Oh, Moon Goddess.

Please give me strength.

Because this is unbearable.

 

Yeonjun’s wolf is losing its mind.

 

It doesn’t know what to do with this. There’s no dominance to push against. No hierarchy to slot into place. No scent thick with challenge or submission. His thighs feel weak. His pulse pounds in his ears.

 

The omega wishes to grab Kai by the collar and drag him somewhere private. To press him against a wall and kiss him senseless. To mark him until that steady matcha scent clings to him permanently. Until both their scents become one for the whole day.

 

But instead he just stands there.

 

Flustered.

 

Overheated.

 

So painfully aware of the slick still damp between his thighs.

 

Kai smiles at him like nothing is wrong. Like this is normal. Like helping him with his skates and kissing his leg is just another small, natural thing. And Yeonjun realizes, with dizzying clarity—

 

He is absolutely doomed.

 

The omega shuffles off the rink on shaky legs, heart racing, slick uncomfortably sticky against the chill. Each step reminds him of it— the dampness clinging to him, the sensitivity, the ache settling deeper in his gut.

 

Each step feels incriminating.

 

Obvious.

 

Like everyone can see what his body betrayed him with.

 

Crap.

 

Crap. Crap. Crap.

 

Inside the stall, he presses his back against the door, breathing hard, thighs tense.

 

His wolf is pacing.

 

Not frantic.

 

Not wild.

 

But pleased.

 

And that might be the most embarrassing part of all.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Huening Kai is nowhere to be found after his embarrassing ice rink fiasco. Luckily, Yeonjun has an emergency pouch with extra undies and toiletries, something he never thought he’d need during a date with the beta specifically. 

 

He thanks himself for being prepared, and silently thanks Taehyun too, who had warned him, “Be careful around Kai. Too attractive, it’ll fry your brain.” The Pack omega had laughed, certain it would be Kai who’d blush first, and yet here he is, proven spectacularly wrong.

 

He spots the beta across the rink, laughing with a girl, whispering close, their smiles wide and bright. The beta’s cheeks are flushed pink, and he covers his mouth in that adorable way that always makes Yeonjun’s heart constrict.

 

Kai usually only does it when anyone from the pack flusters him. The omega can almost smell his matcha scent drifting sweetly, almost like melting ice cream on a summer day, and it drags Yeonjun into a panic. 

 

The girl’s hand rests casually on Kai’s arm, and he does nothing to push it away.

 

Something snaps in him. 

 

His wolf stirs, claws scraping the inside of his mind, tongue whispering in hot urgency.

 

Claim him. 

Bite him so everyone knows who he belongs to.

She's too close. Remove her.

 

Yeonjun growls, loud and feral, startling skaters around him. “Give me some shoes now,” he snarls at the teenager behind the counter, voice thick with raw avariciousness. 

 

She squeaks, fumbling to hand him a pair, and he snatches them like a predator seizing its prey, unconcerned that children flinch in fear around him. His vanilla-maple scent is spiced and heavy, invading the rink like a warning.

 

His mind races with violent, impulsive thoughts. Should he skate over and slash her smiling face with the blades? Or just tear that hand right off from Kai’s arm? His wolf hisses, whispering in his skull.

 

She’s near our treasure. 

Make her know who owns him. 

Make Kai remember who he belongs to.

 

Every nerve in Yeonjun’s body thrums with heat and the primal ache of ownership.

 

How dare she make Kai laugh, make him blush, all soft and funny, as if this weren’t their date. And how dare the beta, smiling, charming, glowing like he always does, radiate warmth to a stranger, forgetting the one who should be closest to him. 

 

The omega’s chest tightens, heart thundering, wolf surging with a wild craving he can barely control. Yeonjun shoves his sneakers off and jams his feet into the skates, ignoring the tightness, ignoring the slight ache. 

 

Only Kai exists. Only the girl near him, an obstacle, matters. He skates forward with reckless speed, legs pumping, hands tensing at his sides. Grace, skill, care— all irrelevant. Every ounce of him screams forward, instinct roaring. 

 

He is mine. Claim him. Protect him. Now.

 

The rink blurs beneath Yeonjun. Every turn of the blades is a calculated risk, every push of his leg propels him closer to the beta. His eyes blaze purple, wolf vibrating in his brain, bitterness and ire twining in his chest. 

 

The girl is closer now, her hand still on Kai, and the wolf snarls with a heat that almost sets his blood on fire. 

 

If she touches him again… bite. Bite. Bite.

 

Kai’s laughter rings like a bell in Yeonjun’s head, and it only ignites the storm more. The beta’s eyes, bright and soft, oblivious to the chaos brewing in the omega, make Yeonjun’s stomach coil tighter.

 

His pulse drags him forward, reckless, untamed, desperate to reach Kai before anyone else can even glance in his direction.

 

“Oh, hyung. You’re back. Sorry I wasn’t there by the entrance. Something happened and I just—” Not seeing the hostility in his amethyst eyes, Kai smiles brightly, looking down at his skating shoes. 

 

His brows knit slightly as he notices the tightness in Yeonjun’s jaw, the flare of his nostrils. “You know how to skate! That’s amazing, hyung. I knew you could do it! But those shoes don’t look comfortable. They’re too small. We should change—”

 

Even in the chaos of his own anger, the omega catches the genuine concern in Kai’s tone. The beta’s soft eyes, the slight tilt of his head, the way his fingers hover almost instinctively, make the tight coil of rage in Yeonjun’s chest tremble. 

 

For a heartbeat, the fury quells. But it doesn’t disappear— it loiters, simmering beneath the surface. “Who is this that you’re talking to?” he sneers, fangs peeking from his lips. Also oblivious to the storm raging in his eyes, the beta woman smiles politely. 

 

“I’m Yeji. We had a little accident earlier, but we’re okay now! I just wanted to say that you—” Yeonjun growls again, a low, vibrating warning that makes the children nearby jump and the skaters glance nervously. 

 

Who cares if they were both betas? Who cares if Kai would have had a smoother, simpler life with someone just like her? Who cares if a beta avoids the complications— moods that swing without warning, cycles that disrupt everything, instincts that roared louder than reason? 

 

Who cares if a beta never has to tiptoe around the sharp edges of an omega’s heat or the territorial flare of an Alpha’s pride? 

 

Who cares if a beta avoids the complexities of an Alpha’s mind— the constant need to be appeased, the fragile egos of their wolves that demanded reassurance and submission? 

 

The way Alphas need to claim and mark what was theirs, to feel ownership settle heavy in their bones? The way their tempers could spark like flint, hot and dangerous, when threatened?

 

Who cares that loving an omega like him meant learning the rhythm of their storms, surviving the tides of their hormones, soothing the beast pacing restlessly beneath their skin? That it meant accepting claws along with devotion?

 

Sweet, innocent, selfless Huening Kai might have been better off with someone calmer, simpler. 

 

Someone predictable. Someone whose scent didn’t spike with jealousy at the smallest touch, whose wolf didn’t bare its teeth at imagined rivals, whose love didn’t come sharpened with fangs. Someone who wouldn’t look at him like prey and treasure all at once.

 

Who cares? Who cares? Who cares?

 

The questions echoed louder each time, but the ache in Yeonjun’s chest answers anyway. He cares. He cares so much it made his throat tight, so much it made his wolf howl in protest at the mere thought of stepping aside. 

 

The omega ignores the slight pang of hurt in his chest, the hot tears brimming at the edges of his eyes, and instead focuses on the fire— pure, unyielding fury. His wolf thrums beneath his skin, urging him forward, craving the protection and claim only he feels entitled to give.

 

“I’m not interested in what you have to say, little girl. I’m taking back my date now. I’d appreciate it if you don’t come any closer to him again. Ever. Unless you want me to rip your head off with my fangs. Respectfully. Thanks.” 

 

He says it with venom, gripping Kai’s arm so tightly that the beta winces. Yeonjun doesn’t care about the skaters in his path. He aggressively skates toward the corner of the rink, cutting a path through hesitant onlookers. 

 

His wolf growls, pleased at the obedience, the unspoken acknowledgment of the danger in his presence. “Hyung. What’s wrong? What happened?” Kai’s voice is laced with worry, as he cups Yeonjun’s cheek with the hand still gripped by the omega. 

 

His eyes are soft, earnest. He wasn’t born to read an omega’s instincts, but he tries. He tries so hard, and the effort alone makes the piercing edge of Yeonjun’s wrath quiver.

 

“You. You made me angry,” Yeonjun hisses, the heat in his ears rising. “Who was that? Why was she touching you? Why did you look so happy with her?” Kai blinks, stunned for a moment. His chest rises and falls, aware but not defensive, simply listening.

 

I’m jealous. Yeonjun admits to himself, the words heavy and raw. 

 

The confession makes his chest ache, a mixture of vulnerability and defiance.

 

“Hyung. It’s not what you think. I— she fell, and I just helped her up.” Kai leans in, attempting to press their foreheads together, but Yeonjun jerks back. “No. Don’t come near me. I will bite you.” The beta takes a slow, steady breath and nods, his hands falling to his sides. 

 

“Okay, hyung. I’ll stay right here. I won’t come near you. Nor will I touch you. Let’s just— sit. Okay? Let’s talk?” He sits down on the ice, awkwardly, patiently, eyes still on Yeonjun with hope and trust, shining like a beacon in the storm of the omega’s emotions.

 

Yeonjun rolls his eyes and plops down on the ice aggressively, ignoring the cold pressing through his clothes. His hands dig into his knees, shoulders tense, jaw tight. 

 

“What? What else is there to say? You were talking and laughing with a beta girl during our date. She was touching you, and you were letting her. What else is there to explain to me?” he snarls, voice low and dangerous.

 

Kai hesitates, shifting on the ice as if the words themselves are heavy. “Hyung. That’s not what happened. Yeji just said something that made me smile—”

 

The omega’s brow arches sharply. “Oh? So you know her name too? Are you testing my patience? She made you smile— seriously?”

 

The beta grimaces, his fingers curling slightly into his knees, an almost imperceptible tremor betraying how tense he feels under Yeonjun’s enraged face. “Hyung, let me explain. Please?” The omega closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to calm the outrage inside him. 

 

Yeonjun argues silently with his wolf.

 

We need to let him explain himself. It won’t be productive if we stick to our anger.

 

No. We need to mark him so he won’t slip away again. His wolf hisses in his thoughts, insistently, possessively. 

 

If we don’t like his answer, we’ll bite him. Not enough to draw blood— just enough to put it in his brain that he’s ours.

 

Yeonjun tries to compromise.

 

Fine. Let’s do that. It relents, still agitated, but willing to listen now.

 

“Okay, fine,” Yeonjun says finally, opening his eyes to see the beta’s perturbed expression. His amethyst gaze is wild and animalistic. “Speak. If I don’t like what you have to say, I’m biting you.” Kai nods hesitantly, his lips twitching in a nervous, unsure smile. 

 

“Deal. So, um… this is what happened…” He pauses, gathering his words carefully, aware of the budding rage inside his date. He can’t mess it up. Kai needs to be transparent, clear with his explanation and honest with his feelings.

 

Here goes nothing.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Yeonjun had been taking a long time in the bathroom, and Kai’s brow furrowed with worry. Something felt off, though he tried to deflect. 

 

Did something happen to him? 

 

Did he get his pre-heat earlier than expected? 

 

No. That wasn’t it.

 

The beta shook his head, trying to quiet the anxiety. He had enough experience now to anticipate Yeonjun’s irregular cycles, and nothing signaled an early flare. 

 

Kai’s chest still tightened, though, imagining all the ways someone might approach the omega while he was away. The thought made his stomach churn. He remembered how sweet Yeonjun had smelled earlier. 

 

He doesn’t know what it meant, but what if some Alpha saw it as an invitation? What if they tried to flirt with him, or worse, approached Yeonjun like that night— the night Kai would never forget? He shook his head again, forcing his lips into a tight line. 

 

Surely not. 

 

Yeonjun is mated. Properly mated. By two Alphas, to add to that. Both Beomgyu and Soobin had heavily scented the omega before they’d left for the date, wishing them safety and reminding him to be careful around strangers.

 

Yeonjun-hyung is safe.

 

He repeated it like a litany in his mind while skating across the rink, body moving on instinct while thoughts wandered elsewhere. He let the rhythm of the blades carry him, focusing on the ice, the sound, the crowd, the crisp air brushing his cheeks. And then it happened.

 

A loud thump echoed through the rink, followed by a ripple of gasps. Someone had fallen. The crowd froze, unsure whether to intervene or wait. Kai’s eyes narrowed, concern taking over before hesitation had a chance to settle in. 

 

He skated toward the stranger, moving smoothly despite the chaos. “Hi. I’m Kai. Can I help you?” he asked, hands extended in a careful, neutral way. The woman flinched at the gesture, wincing as she reached for his hands. 

 

The beta pulled gently but firmly, mindful not to touch her waist without consent. He wasn’t used to handling strangers, and he was acutely aware of being on a date. Any misstep could be misinterpreted, and he didn’t want Yeonjun to worry unnecessarily.

 

“That was a nasty fall. Are you okay? Did you sprain yourself? I can lead you toward the clinic. It’s not far from here, and a lot of mishaps happen on the ice,” he added, his voice calm, patient.

 

She shook her head, smiling despite the discomfort. “My butt hurts, but I didn’t sprain anything or break bones. Thanks. I just had a hard time getting up. I’m Yeji, by the way,” she said, still clutching his arm as she regained her balance.

 

Kai’s eyes softened with concern, noting her slight stumble. “Thank you, really. People around me were just staring… some were even taking pictures,” she whispered, wincing again. “Oh, right. Now that that’s out of the way, I have a question.”

 

Kai tilted his head curiously. “Yes?”

 

“You’re a beta, right?” Her voice was quiet but warm, genuine. Kai nodded, bracing for the usual backhanded compliment about being with the pack. 

 

Such a beautiful omega. How can he be with someone like you?

 

“I am too,” Yeji admitted. The beta caught the faint cereal milk scent emanating from her— a light, sweet aroma that made her presence feel neutral and mellow.

 

“I just wanted to say that you and your date looked so good together. It gives me hope that I might have a chance with my love too. She’s an Alpha friend of mine,” she whispered, shy but earnest.

 

Kai felt the heat climb his cheeks. Oh. So that was it. That was why he had caught her attention. He laughed softly, letting the warmth spread from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. Pride coursed through him, though tempered by a careful awareness of boundaries.

 

Did we really look that good together? 

 

He held his chin slightly higher, trying to maintain composure while secretly swelling with a little pride. “I hope your love becomes successful, Yeji. Yeah, he’s my date, but we’re not really together. I wish we were— but…”

 

Kai nearly covers his mouth.

 

He can’t believe it— blurting out his feelings for the pack toward a stranger. 

 

“You’re the same as me then,” Yeji replies, giggling, a note of camaraderie in her tone. “I hope the next time we see each other, we can bring our interests. I’d love to introduce you to her. She’s an amazing person,” she said, eyes bright.

 

Kai nodded, grinning genuinely. “I’m sure she is. Yeonjun-hyung is also amazing. He’s so beautiful, graceful, and honest about what he wants—”

 

And then it happened. The moment froze, and the world tilted violently on its axis as angry, jealous Yeonjun stormed in, purple eyes blazing, wolf claws scraping at his mind. 

 

Every careful conversation, every polite smile Kai had offered vanished in the omega’s wrath. The heat of possessiveness and rage radiated off Yeonjun like fire.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Is that really what happened?” Yeonjun looks like he’s about to cry, mortification written all over his face. The sharpness in him is gone, replaced by abashment. “I was actually smiling because I was happy she said we looked good together. Yeji isn’t like the others who— you know…” 

 

Kai trails off, the memory of past assumptions lingering unspoken between them.

 

“Oh, God.” The omega covers his face with both hands, his shoulders curling inward as heat floods his skin. “Holy fuck. I’m an idiot. I’m a fucking moron. I’m sorry. Fuck. I should apologize to her. She— ugh.” 

 

The scent of his embarrassment hits, thick and tangy, curling around them like smoke.

 

The beta lets him unravel for a moment, watching carefully instead of interrupting. He knows better than to rush Yeonjun when shame takes over like this. The wolf that snarled minutes ago now seems to whimper, pacing restlessly in retreat.

 

When the omega’s breathing slows, Kai scooches closer, calculated, searching his face for permission. “Please come closer,” Yeonjun mutters, voice hoarse. “I—I’m so fucking ashamed right now. I want to apologize to you for ruining this date by letting my instincts take over.”

 

He swallows hard, words spilling out in a frantic rush. “Even if it wasn’t what I thought, maybe you deserve someone better. Someone who doesn’t act like an animal. Someone calmer. Someone… easier.” 

 

The last word cracks on his tongue, betraying the insecurity he tries so hard to bury. The beta doesn’t let him spiral any further. He cups both of Yeonjun’s cheeks, gloves heavy against chilled skin, and presses their foreheads together. “Hyung.”

 

But the omega keeps rambling, eyes squeezed shut. He mutters about being reckless, about how Kai would be better off with another beta— someone without cycles, without instincts that roar too loud, without moods that swing like storms. 

 

“Being with a beta is natural for someone like you,” he insists, as if trying to convince himself more than Kai. “Hyung. Yeonjun-hyung.” Kai’s tone sharpens just enough to cut through the spiral.

 

Yeonjun finally looks at him, tears brimming, lower lip trembling despite his effort to stay composed. The wolf inside him goes quiet now, subdued by the weight of guilt. “Hyung,” Kai says again, softer this time. 

 

“You know I only ever look at you, right? Just you and the pack. No one else.” His voice doesn’t waver, but there’s a vulnerable ache in his expression. “No one else matters to me but you.” He inhales slowly, steadying himself. “I don’t want anyone else. I want to stay with the pack. With you. Don’t fill your head with thoughts like that.” 

 

His thumbs brush lightly over Yeonjun’s cheekbones, catching tears before they can fall. “I belong with you,” Kai continues, eyes shining with quiet certainty. “And I’ll belong with you for as long as you’ll have me, hyung. Do you understand that?”

 

Yeonjun sniffles, the fierce, jealous omega from earlier nowhere to be found. He nods hesitantly, like he’s afraid the promise might disappear if he moves too quickly. And for the first time since the jealousy ignites, his wolf goes still— not in defeat, but in relief.

 

“My mascara is running off,” he says, hiccuping, voice trembling as he tries to blink the tears away. “And you’re still the most beautiful omega in this place, hyung,” the beta murmurs, pressing soft kisses to both his cheeks and wiping beneath his eyes with delicate thumbs.

 

“How could I ever look at anyone else when I have such a goddess in front of me, hm?” The omega’s lower lip wobbles, breath catching when Kai lingers close. “What if I want to have you forever?” he whispers, clutching at the front of the beta’s coat like he’s afraid he’ll disappear.

 

Kai grins boyishly and kisses the inside of his wrist, scenting him just slightly. “Then you’ll have me forever.” Yeonjun sobs harder at that, like the promise hurts more than the doubt ever did. “Is it really that easy? Will you really? Even if I’m like this? We’re like this?”

 

The beta nods without hesitation, eyes steady, hands firm on his waist. “Yes. Even if you’re like that.” Yeonjun pouts, tugging him closer until their foreheads almost knock. “I want more kisses. That tired me out. I need to recharge.” Kai chuckles softly. 

 

“Are you sure you want everyone to see you like this?” He sniffles, lifting his chin stubbornly. “You’re ours. They need to see it and fuck off. Also, I need to apologize to Yeji.” The beta smiles at him, brushing his thumb along the curve of his jaw. 

 

“I think she understood, hyung.” His gaze flickers toward the entrance, where she waves and throws playful finger hearts, completely unfazed. “Kisses, please,” Yeonjun demands again, softer now, needier. 

 

Kai obliges without teasing this time, pressing lingering pecks to his cheeks, his forehead, the corner of his mouth until sniffles turn into breathy giggles. Laughter spills out of the omega, bright and unguarded, easing the tension in the rink.

 

“I want to be carried again,” Yeonjun adds, arms already sneaking around Kai’s neck. “But like a bride this time. We don’t want any more accidents.” The beta arches a brow, smirking slightly. “What accident?” Yeonjun flushes crimson, burying his face against Kai’s shoulder.

 

“Nothing!” he insists, voice muffled, fingers tightening on the fabric. Kai only laughs and lifts him anyway, careful and steady, as if he’s holding something priceless.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Here. Sorry it’s late. The damn delivery guy got lost for some reason. You best believe I gave him no tip,” Yeonjun huffs, popping open the trunk of his car with unnecessary force. He pulls out a bouquet and hands it to the beta with a dramatic flourish. 

 

It’s filled with yellow and white flowers, bright and amiable, petals fresh and dewy under the parking lot lights. “I know giving it to you after the date is useless. Even the color coding is way off,” he adds, gesturing vaguely between the bouquet and their outfits. 

 

He’s in a light purple sweater and light-washed jeans with sneakers, looking deceptively simple despite the way he agonized over it. Kai stands in a pastel purple hoodie, black jean shorts, and Converse, hands tucked shyly into his sleeves.

 

They had fought over Yeonjun’s outfit earlier, the omega insisting he doesn’t look stylish enough for something as important as a date. Kai had placated him by saying his face itself is enough of an accessory, impactful enough to make anyone forget the “boring” clothes. 

 

Even now— with tear tracks drying on his cheeks, lipstick smudged, mascara clumped at the corners— Kai can only think about how unfairly beautiful he is. How lucky he feels that the omega gets jealous when someone approaches him. That he cares that much.

 

“But if you’d like to accept it, that would make me happy,” Yeonjun says shyly now, all the earlier bravado melting away. The beta chuckles, taking the bouquet carefully and hugging it to his chest. He leans in and presses a soft kiss to Yeonjun’s nose. 

 

“Thanks, hyung. I love it. It’s so beautiful.” The omega harrumphs immediately. 

 

“Of course it is. I designed the whole thing.” He points at different blooms, tulips, yarrows, morning glories and gardenias, explaining how the larger flowers anchor the arrangement while the smaller ones soften it, how the mix of textures makes it aesthetically pleasing. 

 

He speaks with such pride that Kai finds himself smiling more at Yeonjun than at the bouquet. “I think hyung is much prettier than these flowers,” the beta says nonchalantly. Yeonjun flushes bright red and punches him lightly in the chest. 

 

“You— ugh! You know those corny pick-up lines work on me! Soobin put you up to it, didn't he?” Kai cackles, shaking his head. “Hyung. I just wanted to impress you and look cool in front. Isn’t that part of being on a date?”

 

Yeonjun crosses his arms, though his lips twitch. “I already think you’re cool. The way you handled me earlier— Beomgyu would just tease me until I got angry at him instead. And Soobin would give me those cute bunny eyes and distract me, then make it up to me in— Ehem.”

 

Kai clears his throat, cheeks warming. “But did you enjoy our date, hyung?” The mood softens instantly. Yeonjun’s posture relaxes, a somber and apologetic expression flickering across his face. “I should be the one asking you that, Ning. Did you?”

 

The beta nods without hesitation. “Even through the ups and downs, I had fun, hyung. We skated, ate mint chocolate ice cream at Baskin Robbins, wore matching outfits, and I got a bouquet by the end of it.” He hugs the flowers a little tighter. 

 

“It’s interesting to see another part of you. And I accept it. I embrace it. Every part of you. Even the parts you think are ugly.” Yeonjun steps closer, wrapping his arms around Kai’s neck and standing on his tiptoes. 

 

Their lips hover dangerously near each other, breaths mingling in the cool night air. “You’re lucky I’m somewhat patient, Hueningie,” he whispers instead, deliberately brushing a kiss against the corner of Kai’s mouth before pulling away.

 

He shuts the trunk and slides into the driver’s seat like nothing happens. “Are you coming in or not?” he calls out casually. Still dazed from having Yeonjun that close, Kai nods dumbly and hurries toward the passenger seat, the bouquet clutched carefully in his arms.

 

Three down.

 

One more to go.

 

Huening Kai can’t wait until next week comes.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

the last of the choi line is done. we have taehyun up next! what did you think of this chapter? thoughts? feelings?

note:

Tulip (yellow)— Sunshine in your smile
Gardenia— Secret love
Morning glory— Affection
Yellow Yarrows- Everlasting love

fun fact: this is the longest chapter i've ever made that i didn't cut into two parts. think of it as a reward for being patient with me. i love you all （づ￣3￣）づ╭❤️～

Chapter 19: 11: Kang Taehyun pt.1

Summary:

huening kai goes on a date with kang taehyun.

Notes:

hello! i'm able to post this on time because i had two days off (yay!) next week won't be the same, though. (damn it.) i will still try my best to post consistently.

i hope you enjoy this chapter. i squeezed out all my romantic juices for this (and more to come! pray for me.)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Are you sure you’re even attempting to paint me, Tyun? I can feel you staring at me.” Kai glides the brush across the canvas, creating a vague blob that he decides could pass for a face if viewed from a generous distance. He hums to himself, pretending to be deeply focused.

 

“I need to do this so I can draw you properly,” Taehyun answers, voice calm and entirely unhelpful, eyes tracing the beta’s features like he’s studying a rare specimen. 

 

“We’ve been here for fifteen minutes. You haven’t even picked up your brush,” He points out, turning sideways to peek at the omega.

 

And there Taehyun is. Completely still. Elbows on the table. Chin resting on his hand. Just staring. There’s warmth in his gaze, golden and syrupy that makes the beta’s ears heat up. 

 

“I’m trying to gauge the true essence of your being so I can accurately portray you on this canvas,” Taehyun replies smoothly. The omega finally lifts his brush and holds it up, squinting one eye as he ‘measures’ Kai’s proportions. 

 

“You’re a very beautiful and complex subject. I need to take this seriously.”

 

“Right,” Kai huffs, forcing his attention back to his painting even though his stomach flips embarrassingly hard.

 

They’re on a date. Compliments are normal. This is normal. His pulse absolutely is not.

 

“Stop bothering me and move your hands, Ning. They’re slacking,” Taehyun scolds playfully, though he still hasn’t made a single stroke. There’s a teasing glint in his eyes that makes the beta feel like he’s being slowly unwrapped. 

 

“And don’t you dare try to draw me like how you would draw Yeonjun-hyung.”

 

There’s a pause.

 

Kai bites his lip, shoulders trembling as he fights the laughter threatening to spill out. With exaggerated drama, he peels the canvas off the easel and slowly rotates it toward the omega like he’s unveiling a masterpiece at a gallery show. 

 

On it sits a massive circle with three uneven dots, confidently occupying the center of the page.

 

“Are you being serious right now?” Taehyun deadpans, unimpressed, though his brows lift just slightly. “It’s my signature style!” The beta protests between giggles. 

 

For a moment, Taehyun simply stares at his scrunched nose and shaking shoulders, swallowing down the dangerously soft smile trying to form. He remembers, very abruptly, that his dignity is on the line. 

 

They are supposed to hang these portraits in the living room. Permanently. Where everyone can see.

 

“Drawing a giant circle and three dots for eyes and a mouth is not a signature style,” the omega argues, leaning over to lightly kick Kai’s shin under the table. His lips twitch despite his effort to look stern.

 

The beta cackles louder, crumpling the paper defensively against his chest like it’s priceless art. “Don’t worry, Tyun. The next one is going to be my magnum opus.” He wiggles his brows, as if that settles everything.

 

“If it just looks like an enhanced version of your ‘signature style,’ I’m putting you in a headlock,” Taehyun warns, though there’s a competitive gleam in his eyes now. He adjusts his posture, finally beginning to sketch actual lines.

 

Kai raises both hands in surrender, grin stretching wide enough to show his gums. “Got it. You don’t have to worry about me. I can be artistic when I want to.” He grabs a fresh canvas and squares his shoulders dramatically.

 

The omega snorts, shaking his head as he makes his first deliberate stroke. “Prove it.” He doesn’t look up, but the corner of his mouth betrays him. “Oh, you’re going to love it,” Kai promises confidently.

 

He dips his brush into far too much paint, tongue poking out in concentration as he leans closer to the canvas. Taehyun tries not to stare again, but he fails within seconds.

 

There is something unfair about how beautiful Kai is when he isn’t even trying. Honey-brown eyes that looked almost golden in the afternoon light, the kind Taehyun could imagine getting lost in for hours without ever wanting to find his way back. 

 

A small bump sat on the bridge of his nose, subtle but perfect, the sort that made Taehyun’s fingers itch with the quiet urge to trace it just to see if it felt as nice as it looked. 

 

The beta’s lips were almost always curved into a smile, soft and easy like kindness came to him as naturally as breathing. And when that smile widened into the gummy grin that showed the full brightness of it, it melted Taehyun every single time. 

 

The sight of it had the same effect on the whole pack— like watching the sun spill through a window after a long stretch of rain. Scattered across Kai’s cheek and neck were the little moles the omega had memorized without meaning to. 

 

Shooting stars, he once thought privately. Tiny constellations scattered across soft, tanned skin. If that was the case, then Taehyun had made a thousand silent wishes on them already, every single one selfish in the same way.

 

Kai’s hair, fluffy and softly curled, fell in pale blond waves that framed his face perfectly. Sometimes it bounced when he laughed, sometimes it fell into his eyes when he leaned forward like this, focused and determined over something as simple as a painting. 

 

The omega wondered if Kai knew how devastatingly charming he looked in moments like this, when he squinted at the canvas like the fate of the world depended on it.

 

So beautiful.

 

The missing piece in their pack.

 

Maybe that thought made him selfish. Taehyun knew that. 

 

Kai was a beta. He could have a simpler life, an easier one, with someone just like him. Someone who wouldn’t bring complicated dynamics and uncertain futures into the equation. Someone who wouldn’t ask him to step into the tangled gravity of a pack like theirs.

 

But Taehyun couldn’t bring himself to step away from the possibility of him. Of them being together. He knew exactly what Kai was. And more importantly, he knew exactly what they were asking for. 

 

The risks. The complications. The way their lives would never look like anyone else’s. Yet the certainty in the omega’s chest refused to quiet down. 

 

If Kai needed proof, if he needed patience, if he needed someone to stand there and fight for him without hesitation— Taehyun would offer himself up willingly, again and again, until Kai believed it.

 

Sometimes he wondered if the beta truly understood how loved he already was. How the pack had rearranged the gravity of their lives around him long before this date had even begun. How Taehyun had fallen first, yes— but how the others had followed so helplessly after.

 

If Kai only knew.

 

The way he squints at his work like it’s life-or-death, the faint smear of blue on his knuckle, the soft hum under his breath— it just baffles Taehyun how easy it is to love him. “If you’re secretly drawing another circle, I’ll be able to sense it,” Taehyun says flatly, though there’s no bite to it.

 

The beta gasps in mock offense. “Have some faith in me, Tyun. I am evolving as an artist before your very eyes.” The omega catches the playful determination on Kai’s face. He exhales through his nose, fondness winning over pride.

 

“You’re unbelievable,” he mutters, but this time, he doesn’t try to hide the smile.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Good morning.” The date started in the quiet of the pack’s bedroom, long before the world outside had properly woken up. 

 

They had been tangled together beneath the blankets like vegetables stacked in a crate, limbs overlapping in a way that would probably confuse anyone else. 

 

The sun was merciless that morning, pouring through the curtains and spilling across the bed in bright, accusing beams. Beomgyu was snoring softly, one arm thrown lazily across Yeonjun’s chest while his back pressed firmly against Kai’s front. 

 

Taehyun lingered by the doorway for a moment, simply taking the sight in.

 

The beta was tucked close behind him, his slow and even breathing fanning over the back of Beomgyu’s neck. On the other side, Soobin was practically glued to Yeonjun as well, long legs tangled with the pack omega’s while drool slowly darkened the pillow beneath his cheek. 

 

Yeonjun himself looked deeply asleep, lips parted slightly, hair messy from a restless night. His arm was draped loosely across Soobin’s shoulder, fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as if anchoring him there. 

 

Every now and then his nose twitched faintly, responding to the thick blend of scents filling the room. Even unconscious, he had been holding the pack together.

 

Taehyun admired them quietly, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe as if afraid stepping closer might disturb the fragile moment. His gaze moved from one face to another, lingering longer than it probably should have. 

 

The omega always liked seeing them like this— unguarded, unaware, real. It was a candid version of the pack he had come to love over the years. His wolf purred deep inside his mind, a low rumble of contentment that vibrated through his chest. 

 

Taehyun’s scent thickened instinctively, sea salt caramel latte pouring out in slow waves that settled gently over the room. It was rare for the omega to let it spread so freely. Usually he kept it tight and restrained.

 

This might have been the only moment where he and his wolf had actually agreed on something. They had always been at odds with each other, constantly pulling in opposite directions whenever emotions ran too strong. 

 

Yet standing there that morning, watching the pack sleep in a tangled pile, the fight quieted. For once, neither of them wanted to pull away. For once, both sides simply wanted to stay.

 

Kai blinked awake first.

 

Even the faintest movement, and slightest change of scent from the pack was enough to stir him, his senses too attuned to the rhythm of their shared space. His eyes adjusted slowly to the brightness of the room, lashes fluttering as he tried to focus through the haze of sleep.

 

“Tyun?” he murmured groggily, voice still thick with drowsiness. The beta reached out instinctively, patting the empty space beside him. His brows knitted together when his fingers had only found rumpled sheets instead of a warm, lithe body.

 

“I’m right in front of you, dummy.” A finger suddenly poked his cheek. Kai squinted harder, rubbing at his eyes with the heel of his palm, trying to blink away the stubborn crust in the corners. 

 

“Ugh,” he muttered quietly to himself, scrubbing at them again with a small grimace. When his vision finally cleared, Taehyun had come into focus. “Oh, Tyun. Hi.” The omega was standing beside the bed, fully dressed and looking suspiciously awake for that hour. 

 

In his hands was a bouquet.

 

It was beautiful— an intricate mix of pink and red camellias intertwined with vibrant poppies, their colors rich and romantic. Small clusters of delicate edelweiss had been scattered throughout the arrangement, soft white petals breaking up the intensity of the reds and pinks.

 

The whole thing had looked carefully chosen.

 

Thoughtfully designed.

 

“Good morning, honey.” Taehyun had said again, a little softer that time. His eyes lingered on Kai’s sleepy face, the faint pillow lines on his cheek, the messy hair sticking out in every direction.

 

“I figured this would be a good way to start our date,” he continued, lifting the bouquet slightly. “Have breakfast with me?” The beta stared at the flowers for a moment, still waking up, before a slow smile had spread across his face. 

 

He nodded eagerly, a small yawn escaping him before he could stop it. The sudden movement stirred Beomgyu. Kai carefully began to shuffle out of the bed, trying not to wake anyone— an effort that immediately failed when the young Alpha groaned loudly in protest.

 

“It’s my turn today, babe,” Taehyun quipped casually, clearly not the least bit guilty about stealing him away. Kai paused halfway off the mattress, his nose twitching slightly as something decadent and sweet drifted into the room. 

 

“It smells good,” Beomgyu finished his thoughts for him. “Did you make pancakes?” Taehyun’s mouth curved into a smug little smirk. “You can have the leftovers.” The young Alpha grunted from the bed, cracking one eye open. 

 

“You’re lucky you’re the love of my life,” he muttered toward his mate before shifting his gaze to Kai. 

 

“Enjoy, Ning.” Before the beta was able to fully stand, Beomgyu had reached out and hooked two fingers into the collar of his shirt, tugging him down just enough to plant a quick, chaste kiss on his cheek.

 

“Me too.” Yeonjun suddenly bolted upright like he’d been launched from a spring, eyes still half-lidded with sleep. He leaned forward immediately and pressed a quick kiss to Kai’s nose before collapsing back against the pillows again.

 

Soobin, not wanting to be left out, groaned dramatically as he forced his long body to sit up. He leaned over and pressed a sleepy kiss to Kai’s neck before promptly flopping back down. “Real professional, hyung,” Taehyun had huffed from the foot of the bed. 

 

“Trying to steal my date from me?”

 

“Sorry,” Soobin replied. He didn’t sound sorry at all.

 

Kai giggled softly at the entire exchange before finally managing to climb fully out of the bed. The cold floor made him shiver slightly as he padded over toward Taehyun. The omega had held the bouquet out to him properly that time.

 

“Thank you,” Kai whispered, accepting the flowers with both hands. He lifted them carefully, hugging them lightly against his chest before leaning forward to press a small kiss against Taehyun’s cheek.

 

His smile afterward was shy, but bright. “Let’s have breakfast.” The omega’s fingers slipped easily into his, intertwining their hands. Together, they walked quietly out of the pack bedroom— The beta clutching the bouquet to his chest while Taehyun led him down the hall.

 

Behind them, the bed creaked softly as three very nosy packmates had slowly begun waking up.

 

Blueberry pancakes stacked high with whipped cream cheese and glossy blueberry syrup greeted them on the table, the sweet scent filling the kitchen with warmth. 

 

A glass pitcher of grape juice sat beside two cups, and a plate of neatly folded omurice waited invitingly in the center. Nearby, a smaller version of the bouquet had been arranged in a vase, bright petals softening the space like a quiet celebration.

 

“Did you wake up early for this?” Kai asked in awe, eyes sweeping across the spread. Every single dish on the table was one of his favorites, from the pancakes to the omurice. The date barely started, and already his chest felt too full.

 

“I felt you leave the bed,” he continued, glancing up at Taehyun. “I thought you were just going to pee. I didn’t notice you didn’t come back.” Taehyun had chuckled softly, reaching over to ruffle the beta’s already messy hair. 

 

“Of course I did,” he said easily. “You said you wanted breakfast together, right?” Kai nodded immediately. They moved toward the table, but before the beta could sit down, he quickly pulled a chair out for Taehyun first. 

 

The omega paused, clearly surprised by the gesture, his brows lifting slightly. “You planned the date,” Kai had said a little shyly, gesturing for him to sit. “But I still want to do this. Is that okay?” The omega looked completely smitten.

 

A bashful smile crept across his lips as he lowered himself into the chair, nodding without hesitation. “It’s more than okay.” Kai finally took the seat beside him, their shoulders naturally brushing together as they settled in. 

 

“Let’s eat?” They started their breakfast slowly, the atmosphere slow and comfortable between them. Kai leaned into Taehyun without even realizing it, nudging his shoulder occasionally while stealing bites from his plate.

 

At some point, the omega fed him a forkful of pancake, rolling his eyes when Kai grinned around the bite like he won something. Between mouthfuls and quiet laughter, Taehyun started explaining the rest of the date.

 

“You said a café would be good,” he said casually, wiping a bit of syrup from Kai’s lip with his thumb. “So I reserved a spot at a hobby café.” Kai’s ears perked immediately. “We can paint each other while having coffee in the early afternoon,” Taehyun had continued. 

 

“If they’re good enough, we can hang them in the living room. What do you think?” The beta hummed, interested. 

 

“There are board games too. Maybe puzzles.” Kai brightened instantly. He was not artistic in the slightest, but the thought of doing something silly together already sounded perfect to him.

 

“We can take a walk in the park afterward, check out some stalls and talk by the bench.” Taehyun added, taking a sip of juice. “Or just sit on the grass and people-watch.” The beta nodded enthusiastically, clearly already sold on the idea.

 

“And then,” Taehyun finished calmly, “we’ll have a candlelight dinner. Steak, wine, music. The whole thing.” Kai nearly choked. “Tyun…” he gasped, staring at him wide-eyed. “You planned all that?”

 

The omega nodded simply, though the pride in his scent was impossible to miss. It smelled sweet and bright— like caramel ice cream with a pinch of salt sprinkled on top. “You said you wanted breakfast, a walk in the park, and dinner,” he said matter-of-factly.

 

Kai grinned, almost sheepish. “My ideas have improved a lot.”

 

“You only deserve the best,” Taehyun replied without hesitation. There was determination in his eyes when he said it, his hand reaching across the table to squeeze Kai’s gently. The words carried more meaning than he had spoken out loud.

 

Kai understood it immediately. So he squeezed back, smiling at him in quiet reassurance. “I have your outfit ready in your room,” the omega added after a moment. “Let’s finish breakfast, and then you can get ready. Take your time, Ning. I’ll clean the kitchen.”

 

The beta immediately opened his mouth to protest. Taehyun beat him to it. “Unlike Yeonjun-hyung,” he said calmly, “I would like to actually lead the date.” There was no arrogance in his tone.

 

Just sincerity.

 

“O—okay,” Kai murmured, cheeks flushing pink as he shoved another spoonful of omurice into his mouth. “Let’s do that.” Taehyun leaned over and kissed his cheek softly. “Let’s.” 

 

He already finished his own plate by then, so he had simply watched Kai eat for a while, chin resting lazily in his palm. They finished breakfast like that— Taehyun coddling him while Kai tried very hard not to combust from embarrassment and joy.

 

Ah.

 

The date had not even reached the outside world yet, and already Kai felt his heart threatening to burst from happiness.

 

He’s in trouble.

 

Again.

 

Fuck.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Let’s show each other our paintings in three.” The suspense hangs thick between them, Kai’s knees jittering anxiously under the table while Taehyun lounges back in his chair like he already knows he’s about to win. 

 

The omega’s brow arches in quiet confidence, posture loose and relaxed in a way that only makes him more nervous. “One, two, three—” They turn their canvases at the same time.

 

Taehyun folds instantly, keeling over the table as laughter bursts out of him so violently the wood rattles beneath his elbows. His shoulders shake, breath disappearing between helpless wheezes while the beta stares at him in absolute betrayal.

 

“What? Why are you laughing?” Kai asks, pouting immediately, eyes darting between the omega’s reaction and the painting like he’s trying to locate the crime scene. “What’s wrong with it?”

 

“I think it looks nice,” he insists defensively, voice climbing higher as Taehyun continues laughing like he’s about to pass out. The omega tries to recover, lifting his head only to look at the canvas again—

 

—and then he collapses like a house of cards.

 

“Why— why do I look like that?” Taehyun finally manages between breaths, pointing weakly at the painting. On the canvas sits something… vaguely humanoid. 

 

An enthusiastic blob with bright red hair, two mismatched eyes, and a pair of silver drop earrings dangling proudly from what might be ears. The only recognizable details are the red hair and earrings, currently gleaming on Taehyun’s own ears like a mocking confirmation.

 

“Look like what?” Kai protests, lips jutting out as he turns the canvas slightly, as if a new angle might suddenly make Taehyun understand the vision. 

 

“I made you very pretty. It looks like you. Undoubtedly you.” The beta points at the painting with determined seriousness, launching into a passionate explanation that sounds like a kindergarten presentation.

 

“I have your fluffy red hair right here,” he says, tapping the wild brushstrokes that explode around the blob’s head. “And it’s shaved on the sides because that’s how you like it. See?” He gestures excitedly toward Taehyun’s actual haircut like he’s unveiling a masterstroke of realism.

 

“And your favorite earrings are here too! You’re literally wearing them right now!” Kai adds triumphantly, pointing at the dangling silver pieces on Taehyun’s ears like undeniable evidence in a courtroom.

 

The omega squints harder at the painting, clearly trying to respect the effort while also processing the visual crime in front of him. “My eyes look uneven,” he says slowly. “And they’re different colors.”

 

Kai perks up instantly. “That’s intentional.” Taehyun blinks. “It’s based on you and your wolf,” The beta explains proudly, tapping each mismatched eye. “Red for your wolf, and brown for you.” The omega stares at him.

 

“I still have the same shaped eyes when my wolf tries to take over,” The beta bites his lip, realizing the defense might be losing ground. “Uh. It’s abstract.” Taehyun slowly leans back in his chair, arms crossing as he studies the canvas again with deep suspicion.

 

“Sure it is.” Kai clears his throat, refusing to surrender. “I tried to make your skin tone,” he continues, voice growing slightly smaller. “But it turned out more orange than expected.” The omega raises an eyebrow.

 

“I wanted to salvage it by adding more beige but…” Kai trails off, gesturing vaguely at the result like the painting itself is responsible for its choices. “Well.” He straightens stubbornly. “Anyway, I think you look very pretty,” he finishes with determined sincerity. 

 

“Doesn’t this look like you?” Taehyun presses his lips together, visibly fighting a losing battle against another wave of laughter. “I mean,” he says carefully, voice trembling, “if you mean that’s what I’d look like after nuclear fallout…”

 

Kai’s eyes narrow immediately. “…then yeah,” Taehyun finishes, nodding slowly. “You hit the nail on the head.” The beta crosses his arms with a loud huff. “You are being very rude towards me right now.” Taehyun bites the inside of his cheek, trying— and failing— to look apologetic. 

 

Instead, he leans forward across the table, reaching out to cup Kai’s puffed cheeks between both hands. His thumbs press gently into soft skin, squishing the pout into something round and adorable as he studies the beta’s offended expression with obvious fondness.

 

“You cute puppy,” Taehyun coos, thumbs still squishing Kai’s cheeks together as he studies the painting again with exaggerated seriousness. “I do like it. I’m sure the others will know it’s me.” Kai immediately sticks his tongue out at him in protest, unimpressed with that review. 

 

“You’re not saying that it’s great,” he mutters stubbornly. “You’re saying it’s recognizable. Those two things are not interchangeable.” A mischievous glint sparks in Taehyun’s eyes as he leans even closer across the tiny table, their noses nearly bumping together.

 

“Don’t make me bite that tongue, darling.” The beta freezes. Very slowly and carefully, he retracts his tongue back into his mouth like a scolded puppy, puffing his cheeks instead as a replacement protest. 

 

The omega chuckles under his breath at the immediate surrender, leaning in to pepper small kisses across Kai’s cheeks, nose, and temple like a reward for behaving. “You are adorable,” Taehyun murmurs, voice soft and full of affection.

 

For a brief second, the color in his eyes flickers deeper— red flashing faintly beneath the surface before settling again. The expression he wears almost reminds Kai of Beomgyu when he gets particularly smitten, all fondness and quiet pride bleeding through his smile.

 

“Now look at mine.” Taehyun finally flips his canvas around. The beta’s reaction is instant. His pout dissolves completely, replaced by a wide, delighted smile that spreads slowly across his face as his eyes take in every detail. 

 

The painting looks unmistakably like him— not in a hyper-realistic sense, but in a soft, cartoonish style that somehow captures his whole vibe perfectly. 

 

He’s drawn wearing the outfit Taehyun picked earlier that morning: a warm saddle-red cardigan layered over a white shirt, the color carefully chosen to mirror the deep red of Taehyun’s eyes. Dark washed denim pants finish the look, the folds drawn in loose strokes that give the whole thing a cozy, lived-in feeling.

 

Kai blinks slowly as he notices something else.

 

They’re matching.

 

In the painting, Taehyun has drawn himself beside him too— wearing his red sweater, the crisp collar of his polo shirt peeking neatly over the top. His wide-legged jeans flare dramatically at the bottom, the silhouette almost skirt-like as it pools around his legs.

 

It’s such a small detail, but Kai notices it immediately.

 

His gaze drifts closer to the canvas.

 

The tiny constellation of moles scattered across his cheeks and neck sparkle faintly when they catch the light. For a moment he thinks it’s just the paint reflecting strangely— until he leans closer and realizes what it actually is.

 

His breath catches.

 

“You added glitter to my moles?” Kai asks softly, eyes widening with something close to awe. Taehyun shrugs one shoulder, suddenly looking a little bashful about it. “I figured it’d be the most accurate representation of what we think about them,” he says simply.

 

The beta’s chest tightens unexpectedly.

 

Even the way his fluffy blond curls frame his face has been captured— soft and slightly messy, bouncing around his ears exactly the way they do in real life. The little bump on his nose is there too, drawn gently instead of smoothed out like most people would have done.

 

It’s all there.

 

Every detail Taehyun must have memorized without Kai even realizing it. His vision blurs a little. “Tyun…” The omega’s head snaps up immediately, eyes widening in alarm when he sees the shine in Kai’s eyes. “What?” he asks quickly, leaning closer. “What’s wrong?”

 

He lets out a wet laugh instead, rubbing quickly at the corner of his eye. “Mine is so ugly,” Kai says helplessly, gesturing back toward his own chaotic canvas. “We can’t hang mine in the living room. It’s going to ruin the vibes. Beomgyu-hyung will laugh about it every day and I'm going to hate him every time it happens.”

 

Taehyun snorts, getting up from his chair before sliding down beside Kai instead, their shoulders bumping together as he settles in close. “What are you saying?” he scoffs playfully. “Isn’t this your magnum opus?”

 

He hooks a finger under Kai’s chin and tilts his face upward, pinching both puffed cheeks with his other hand until the beta’s lips squish together again. “Well, I thought it was,” Kai mumbles through distorted cheeks.

 

“It still is,” the omega replies firmly. He leans forward and presses a gentle kiss right on the small bump of Kai’s nose, lingering there for a moment before pulling back with a faint smile. “C’mon, cutie,” he says, tapping the edge of the canvases. 

 

“Let’s have these finalized by the counter and get them delivered to the house.” Kai eyes his own painting suspiciously. “What frame would you like?” Taehyun asks casually as he gathers the supplies. Kai crosses his arms again with a dramatic huff.

 

“I would like the frame that covers everything.” The omega bursts out laughing, leaning over to kiss Kai’s cheek before he can sulk too deeply about it. “Don’t sulk, baby,” he murmurs, voice warm and teasing. “I only laughed because of how… abstract it looked.”

 

Kai rolls his eyes so hard it’s almost impressive. “Sure you did, Tyun,” he mutters, still half sulking but unable to hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. 

 

“Let’s go before I actually start crying about how ugly my painting is.” He carefully grabs the bouquet he had been clutching earlier, cradling it against his chest, before reluctantly picking up the canvas with his other hand.

 

The beta trudges toward the counter like a man marching toward his own execution, Taehyun trailing behind him with far too much amusement in his eyes. 

 

The staff greets them warmly, already reaching for the paintings so they can dry them properly and apply the glossy top coat before sending them out for delivery. Kai hesitates for a second before handing his over, clearly not emotionally prepared to see it again tomorrow.

 

“So,” the employee asks cheerfully, tapping something into the register. “What frame would you like?” Kai grunts like the question personally offended him. “The dark ruby red one,” he answers after a moment, glancing briefly at the omega. 

 

“To match your eyes. And our living room has a dark academia vibe anyway. It’ll fit right in there.” His tone still carries that begrudging edge, but the words themselves soften the air between them. Taehyun’s expression melts instantly.

 

“You’re right,” he says warmly, stepping closer until their shoulders brush. “It will look perfect in our living room.” The word hangs there for a second— quiet, steady, full of meaning. 

 

Before Kai can get shy about it, Taehyun rises onto his tiptoes and presses a quick kiss to the beta’s cheek, smiling against his skin before handing both paintings over to the staff. “It’ll be finished by tomorrow!” the employee chirps after logging everything. 

 

“Thank you for coming today. Would you like your food packed in takeout bags?” Kai glances back at their abandoned table, suddenly remembering the half-eaten plates and barely touched drinks they left behind. 

 

Between the intense concentration of painting and the constant teasing between them, they had barely managed more than a few bites here and there. Most of the time they’d only paused long enough to sip their coffee before returning to their masterpieces.

 

“Yes, please,” Taehyun replies smoothly. “And could you add a grape soda and a tiramisu croissant to that as well?” He pulls out his card before the employee can even finish nodding. “I’ll pay with my card.” The omega swipes it through the reader the second the total appears.

 

“Aww,” Kai mutters under his breath beside him, shoulders drooping slightly. His usual strategy of dramatically slamming cash on the counter has been completely foiled. He doesn’t even get the chance to argue about it.

 

Taehyun hears him anyway. He turns his head just enough to flash a smug little smile, eyes gleaming with victory. “Not today, baby,” he says, voice low and teasing.

 

“Not today.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

this was part 1 of their date! how was the short mention about taehyun and his wolf being at odds with each other? it will all be explained in the next chapter (or the next next chapter. not sure if i could fit alllll of it in part 2. i'll try, but no promises!)

notes:

Camellia (pink)— longing for you
Camellia (red)— you’re a flame in my heart
Poppy (pink and red)— consolation
Edelweiss (white)— courage, devotion

Chapter 20: 11: Kang Taehyun pt. 2

Summary:

huening kai and kang taehyun go to the park to unwind.

Notes:

part 2 of their date! the last part of their date is coming next week, following the usual schedule. i hope you enjoy :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Are you comfortable?” Taehyun asks, reaching down to pinch the beta’s cheek between two fingers. “Mmhm,” Kai hums, shifting a little closer instead of moving away. 

 

His head rests comfortably across the omega’s thighs, hands playing with Taehyun’s lithe fingers. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” They’re stretched out on a patch of grass beneath a wide tree at the park, sunlight filtering lazily through the leaves above them. 

 

The world hums gently— wind whooshing through branches, children laughing somewhere nearby, vendors calling out brightly to passing customers. It feels alive in a way that’s soothing rather than overwhelming.

 

Taehyun’s wolf thrums restlessly under his skin at the sensory overload, the scents and sounds sparking instinct in small bursts. For once, he doesn’t push it down. 

 

Taehyun lets the wolf roam freely in the quiet space of his mind, lets it stretch its legs and yip with delight at the open air, Kai’s matcha latte, and the peaceful rhythm of the afternoon. It feels strange, letting that part of himself exist without forcing it back into its cage.

 

“Yeah,” the omega murmurs eventually. “Besides, I’m the one who suggested it.” Kai shifts slightly so he can look up at him better, blond curls spilling messily across Taehyun’s thighs. “We can switch later when I get tired,” he adds kindly.

 

The omega grins, his expression more mellow than usual as he studies the familiar landscape of Kai’s face. His fingers drift lazily over the beta’s cheek, connecting the scattered moles one by one like constellations only he knows how to read.

 

The rest of the park fades into the background.

 

For a few moments, it almost feels like the world has built a small bubble around the two of them— breaths mingling, heartbeats settling into an easy rhythm that seems to match without either of them trying.

 

“I just like looking at you. I can see you better like this.” Taehyun admits earnestly.

 

The beta chokes on air, his cheeks heating almost immediately as he turns his face away in a failed attempt to hide the smile stretching across his lips. He covers it with a small cough, pretending to focus very hard on the green grass below them.

 

“That’s really embarrassing to say, Tyun,” he mutters. The omega only hums, unaffected with the attempt at banter. After a moment of silence, Kai speaks again, voice lowering as if he’s sharing a secret. “I’ve noticed something,” he says carefully.

 

“What?” Taehyun glances down at him. “The hyungs really like staring.” The redhead snorts at that, pinching Kai’s nose between his fingers. “Well,” he replies casually, leaning back against the tree trunk, “the view is amazing. Why wouldn’t we?”

 

Kai huffs in protest, though the butterflies in his stomach continue to flutter wildly. Taehyun lets his gaze drift upward for a moment, watching the movement of clouds through the branches before looking out toward the rest of the park. 

 

Families stroll along the paths, couples sit on benches sharing hushed conversations, dogs run freely, barking with joy. “People watching?” he asks, fingers absently carding through the beta’s fluffy hair.

 

Kai bites his lip thoughtfully, then turns his head so he can see the park from where he’s lying. His eyes scan the scenes unfolding around them— tiny moments of ordinary life scattered across the grass and walkways.

 

“People watching,” he agrees quietly. For a while, neither of them says anything. They simply lie there together, watching the world move.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kai wonders, sometimes, what it is about him that makes the pack stare the way they do. He doesn’t notice it all at once, but little moments across the dates slowly pile up in his mind until the pattern becomes impossible to ignore. 

 

None of them ever seem to avert their eyes for long. Their attention follows him constantly, helpless as gravity's whisper. 

 

They watch him laugh, speak, watch him react to things with an intensity that makes Kai’s throat a little dry, his hands a little clammy and his heart going just a little… wild. 

 

They ask how Kai feels about everything, check in with him more than they probably need to, and listen so closely to his answers that it makes his heart flutter. The beta almost feels greedy for accepting without knowing how to give it back properly.

 

It’s not the type of goggling he’s used to either.

 

Not the careful, curious looks betas sometimes get when people are calculating where they might fit into a structure. It’s so much more, almost burdensome in a way he doesn’t fully understand yet. The pack doesn’t seem to be evaluating him. They’re simply… looking.

 

…

 

Choi Beomgyu looks at Huening Kai like how you would a cute puppy.

 

The Alpha is always smiling at him, reaching over without thinking just to pat his head or ruffle his hair. The touches are easy and affectionate, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. 

 

Beomgyu calls him cute every chance he gets, voice pitching higher with obvious fondness as he presses quick kisses against Kai’s cheeks and temple. “Our adorable pup.”

 

Oftentimes he pulls the beta close for no reason at all, leaning in until his lips brush against the beta’s ear. Compliments spill out of him in delighted and loving murmurs, like he genuinely can’t keep them to himself.

 

“So, so pretty. Aren’t you? Sweet thing.” Kai never quite knows what to do in those moments. 

 

His thoughts scatter in every direction, unsure what to focus on first— the warmth of Beomgyu’s breath ghosting against his ear, the low rasp of his voice, or the overwhelming affection wrapped inside the words themselves.

 

All he knows is that it leaves him a little dizzy.

 

Beomgyu’s scent drifts around him too, sweet lemon icicle layered with musky sandalwood, showing just how happy the Alpha is to be with him. 

 

It clings to the space between them, making Kai feel strangely lightheaded, like he might float away if Beomgyu keeps looking at him like that.

 

But sometimes, Beomgyu also looks at him like he’s a trove of hidden wonders.

 

Those moments usually happen when the beta does something unexpected. When he leans his head against the Alpha’s shoulder and lets out a muffled, sleepy purr. When he nudges closer for warmth without thinking. 

 

Or when he acts a little cute on purpose, tilting his head and smiling prettily to get what he wants. “You want ice cream, puppy?” Kai would just bat his eyes, and the Alpha would immediately get on his Harley and come home with a tub of his favorite flavor.

 

Beomgyu often freezes for a second when that happens.

 

His eyes widen first, surprise flickering across his face before the expression melts into adoration. Then his emerald eyes narrow into slits, a hoarse chuckle slipping past his lips as he peers up at Kai like he’s just been bewitched.

 

“Huening-ah,” Beomgyu murmurs fondly, tapping the beta’s nose before leaning closer. “You know it’s unfair when you do that, right?” Kai never quite understood what he meant.

 

But the Alpha kisses his nose anyway, ruffling his fluffy blond hair again while looking at him with that same thrilled ardor in his eyes. And every single time, it makes Kai’s chest feel a little tighter.

 

…

 

Choi Soobin looks at Huening Kai like how you would with puzzle pieces.

 

There was always a certain curiosity in the Alpha’s gaze, thoughtful and wholly captivated. Soobin studies him the way someone studies a structure they want to understand completely— carefully, patiently, noticing every small detail. 

 

His hands are constantly roaming when they’re close, fingers trailing over the softer edges of Kai’s cheeks and thighs, then the sharper lines of his collarbones or jaw, like he’s mapping the shape of him.

 

It never feels invasive.

If anything, it feels… attentive.

 

Like Soobin is trying to learn him piece by piece. The Alpha’s eyes sparkle with veneration whenever Kai shows him something new, like he’s discovering another part of a puzzle he didn’t know existed. 

 

A new version of Kai’s loud, adoring cackle. Another forced smile when he politely eats a dish he secretly hates. A breathless laugh slipping out when Soobin teases him just right, leaving Kai flushed and flustered without even trying.

 

Every time, the Alpha reacts the same way. Enraptured, blue eyes flickering with desire before it’s replaced with amusement, followed by teasing to coax a reaction out of the beta. “Too sensitive? I wanted to have more fun, though.”

 

But sometimes, Soobin also looks at Kai like he wants to conquer him.

 

Those moments feel different. Heavier. The heat in Soobin’s gaze intensifies. It’s darker, pupils dilating as his focus sharpens entirely on the beta. His presence shifts subtly, growing more overwhelming without him even meaning to.

 

The Alpha leans closer, breath hot against Kai’s neck as his teeth graze the pulse of the beta’s scent gland. Not enough to hurt— just enough to make him shiver involuntarily. 

 

Soobin’s hands tighten slightly around the beta’s waist as he presses closer, covering him in his scent with deliberate care, as if claiming the space around him rather than Kai himself. “Mine,” he’d murmur under his breath, voice low and rough.

 

Soobin would drag his tongue lightly along Kai’s neck afterward, more curious than hungry, just to see how the beta responds. Kai’s fingers would instinctively curl into the fabric of his shoulder, nails digging in as another helpless shiver runs through him.

 

“Hyunggg,” the beta would whine weakly, and that only seemed to make things worse.

 

Soobin would growl against his ear, the sound fuller than usual, clearly pleased with himself. The Alpha would press a chaste kiss against Kai’s cheek afterward like a peace offering, muttering an apology that doesn’t sound particularly sincere.

 

His eyes are still predatory when Kai glances back at him. And when Soobin smiles again, the tips of his fangs peek just barely past his lips. Kai isn’t sure if that look should scare him. But strangely enough… it never does.

 

…

 

Choi Yeonjun looks at Huening Kai like how you would with the sun.

 

He gravitates toward the beta naturally, as if his light and the comfort he radiates effortlessly is reason enough to stay close. 

 

Somehow, Yeonjun is unfailingly around— lounging in Kai’s room while getting ready for the day, insisting on helping him with household chores that the beta could finish twice as fast alone, or appearing out of nowhere in the hallway just to wrap his arms around Kai for a quick hug.

 

“Hug?” he’d mumble sleepily, shuffling down the hallway while rubbing his eyes. His hair will be messy, voice thick with drowsiness, the loose sleeves of his shirt slipping over his hands. Most nights he’s clearly on his way to crawl into Beomgyu’s bed, but he always seems to detour first.

 

Straight toward Kai.

 

“Okay,” the beta answers immediately. There’s never hesitation in it. Because Huening Kai, utterly and helplessly enamored with his hyung, will always comply.

 

The omega melts into the embrace the moment Kai’s arms wrap around him, his body relaxing like he had been waiting for it all along. His forehead presses against Kai’s shoulder, arms loosely circling the beta’s waist as he lets out a soft, satisfied sound.

 

Then the purring starts.

 

It vibrates low and steady between them, rumbling through Yeonjun’s chest and into Kai’s own, the sound warm and content in a way that makes the beta’s heart squeeze. 

 

Yeonjun doesn’t rush the moment either. He dawdles, swaying in Kai’s hold like he might fall asleep standing up if the hug lasts long enough. Sometimes Yeonjun tightens his arms briefly before pulling away, eyes half-lidded and lips curved in a lazy smile.

 

“Thanks,” he murmurs.

 

And just like that, he wanders off again— down the hallway, toward Beomgyu’s or Soobin’s room, like the small detour had been the most natural thing in the world. 

 

Leaving Kai standing there for a moment longer than necessary, still feeling the warmth of the hug lingering around him.

 

Sometimes Yeonjun doesn’t even say anything. He just lingers. Like basking in the beta’s presence is enough. During their ice-skating date, Kai noticed it even more. 

 

Yeonjun’s eyes had been luminous the entire time, his smile wide and gleaming as he laughed loudly and threw his head back. 

 

The omega clung to Kai’s body shamelessly, letting the beta guide him across the ice with unwavering trust. Every time Kai tried to let go— even just for a second to fix the loose laces on his skates— Yeonjun would immediately pout.

 

“Hey,” he complained, wobbling slightly. “Where are you going? Why are you letting go?” Kai laughed under his breath, skating backward a step as he watched the omega struggle to balance. 

 

“Try skating on your own for a moment,” he said gently. “You’ll never learn if I keep holding you the whole time.” But Yeonjun only huffed, dramatically offended by the suggestion. 

 

He reached out immediately, fingers catching the sleeve of Kai’s jacket before the beta could glide any farther away.

 

“What if I hurt myself, hm? Would you really like that? I dressed up as prettily as possible for you, and I’m going home, injured, because you let go of me,” Yeonjun muttered, grabbing Kai’s sleeve until the beta relented.

 

“Aish, hyung,” Kai sighed fondly. “You said you wanted to learn.” To placate him, the beta leaned in and pressed a quick kiss against Yeonjun’s cheek, warm even in the cold air of the rink. The omega’s complaining stopped instantly.

 

Kai threaded their fingers together again, squeezing Yeonjun’s hand three times. The omega glanced down at their joined hands, the corners of his lips lifting. “Well,” he said after a moment, sounding entirely pleased with himself, “I would like to learn with you holding me.”

 

His fingers tightened around Kai’s. 

 

“Please.”

 

But sometimes, Yeonjun also looks at Kai like he wants to devour him.

 

Those moments come silently, drifting between playful laughter and soft conversations. His eyes narrow slightly, fox-like and glinting with possessiveness as he studies Kai’s face with a feral, animalistic gaze.

 

One time, Yeonjun reached up and traced the curve of Kai’s lips with the tip of his finger. “They’re really soft,” he whispered. His voice is sultry, almost siren-like in the way it pulled the beta closer without him realizing it. 

 

Kai had felt his breath catch before he could stop it. “I love it when you take the lead,” the omega continued, smiling in a way that made his heart skip. “Love that I can just be myself around you.”

 

Then the omega wrapped his arms loosely around Kai’s neck, leaning in close with a grin that was both mischievous and dangerously sharp. His scent— vanilla maple, thick and sweet— spilled into the air and wrapped around the beta completely.

 

It was comforting, and just a little overwhelming.

 

“Only I can look at you like that.” Yeonjun’s voice had dropped into a low, dangerous snarl the moment the unfamiliar beta approached. The words slipped out under his breath, low enough that only Kai could hear them, but the warning in them was unmistakable.

 

The stranger certainly felt it.

 

The sharp spike of Yeonjun’s scent— wrathful, bitter, and unmistakably territorial— spread through the small boutique like a sudden storm. The beta stiffened immediately, eyes widening before he hurriedly stepped back.

 

“Sorry,” he muttered, raising his hands in apology before retreating toward another aisle. But Yeonjun barely seemed to register the apology.

 

His fingers had already tightened around the back of Kai’s hand, nails pressing lightly into the skin as his sharp gaze followed the stranger’s retreating figure. The grip wasn’t painful, but it was firm— possessive in a way that made the beta blink in surprise.

 

The rest of the pack had been missing then, probably still stuck at the arcade down the front, loudly competing with each other over some game or another. 

 

That left just the two of them wandering the boutique, picking through racks of clothes they absolutely did not need but would inevitably bring home anyway.

 

Kai glanced up at him, puzzled.

 

“I didn’t even notice him, hyung,” he said quickly, the words spilling out before Yeonjun could spiral any further into his irritation. And it was the truth. “You’re all I was looking at,” Kai added honestly, tilting his head slightly as if the answer should be obvious. 

 

“How could I even look away?” Yeonjun’s eyes flicked up to him. The beta continued, completely unaware of the effect his words were having. “You’re so beautiful,” he said simply. “Prettiest omega in the mall.” Yeonjun’s grip faltered.

 

Kai gestured vaguely toward him, as if presenting evidence. “You even did such an elaborate makeup look just for the pack,” he added, studying him with soft admiration. “The brown compliments your purple eyes really well.” The shift in the omega’s expression was immediate.

 

The sharp bite in his amethyst gaze melted away, replaced by distinct satisfaction. His shoulders relaxed slightly as he huffed under his breath, the anger evaporating as quickly as it had appeared.

 

Yeonjun’s grip loosened, though his arm remained draped around Kai’s shoulders, pulling him a little closer. “Yes,” he murmured, voice smoother now, almost smug. “Yes I did.” His chin tilted upward just a fraction.

 

“All for the pack,” he added thoughtfully, clearly savoring the compliment. Then he glanced back up at Kai, eyes glinting with satisfaction. “And I do look pretty, don’t I?” The beta nodded immediately, lashes fluttering slightly as he met Yeonjun’s gaze.

 

“Very.” A pleased little chuff escaped the omega, the sound soft but unmistakably proud. He leaned closer, shoulder brushing against Kai’s as if he had every intention of staying exactly where he was.

 

“That’s how it’s supposed to be,” Yeonjun murmured. His eyes narrowed slightly, though the playful curve of his lips softened the threat. “Don’t you dare look away from me,” he added quietly. “Or else you’re getting punished.”

 

…

 

Kang Taehyun looks at Huening Kai like how you would the galaxy.

 

The omega’s gaze is always full of wonder when it lands on him, like he’s watching the stars unfold their secrets, secrets he can't fathom yet.  Taehyun watches Kai the way someone might stare up at the night sky— in awe, wholly astonished by its depth. 

 

His eyes sparkle whenever they drift toward the beta, blazing and entranced, as if anything Kai does is remarkable and must be shown off to the universe. 

 

Taehyun never seems to run out of words to praise him, saying things with such candor that Kai never knows where to look afterward. “You’re so good at cooking,” Taehyun once said, mouth full as he shoveled another bite of food into it. 

 

“I’m sure your spouse will be so lucky to have you.”

 

He had moaned at the taste, clearly enjoying the meal far too much for someone trying to deliver a serious compliment. Kai immediately dropped his gaze to the table, ears burning pink, completely unprepared for the intensity of the omega’s sweet-talking.

 

“You’re everything a person would want. You’re what people wish for to the Moon Goddess,” Taehyun whispered drowsily, words slurring together as sleep tugged at him. 

 

He was curled comfortably in the beta’s arms on the swivel chair, cheek pressed against Kai’s chest while the faint scratch of pen against paper filled the room.

 

The beta had been studying for his quizzes, notes spread across the low table in front of him, the dim lamp casting a warm pool of light over his books. Kai froze mid-sentence when he heard the omega speak.

 

His pen hovered above the page. For a second, he wondered if he had imagined it. But when he glanced down, Taehyun was still tucked against him, lashes resting against his cheeks, eyes barely open in that hazy space between wakefulness and sleep.

 

Kai’s heart stuttered violently in his chest. The words echoed in his mind, heavier than Taehyun probably intended them to be. 

 

Everything a person would have wanted. 

 

The kind of wish someone would offer up to the Moon Goddess herself.

 

No one had ever said something like that to him before. He tried to focus on his notes again, but the letters on the page blurred together, his thoughts too loud for studying.

 

“I can feel your heart beating faster.” Taehyun’s meek laugh rumbled against his chest, amused, finding Kai’s reaction endearing. The omega shifted slightly, lifting his head just enough to press a lazy kiss against the exposed skin of Kai’s collarbone.

 

The contact sent another wave of warmth rushing through him. “Relax,” Taehyun murmured, voice already fading again as sleep reclaimed him. His nose nudged closer to Kai’s neck afterward, breathing in slowly like the scent itself was comforting.

 

Within moments, his breathing evened out.

 

The beta sat there in stunned silence, pen still suspended above the page as Taehyun drifted fully back to sleep in his arms, completely unaware of the chaos he’d left behind. Carefully, Kai set the pen down.

 

His free hand hovered uncertainly before he finally let it rest against Taehyun’s hair, fingers brushing lightly through the soft strands so he wouldn’t wake him. The room was silent again. But Kai’s heart didn’t slow down for a long time.

 

Taehyun looks at him like he’s the whole galaxy itself.

 

So far away. So breathtaking that you can’t help but reach out toward it, even if you’re not sure you’re meant to touch it at all. One night, Kai woke up to the sound of rustling beside him.

 

“Hueningie,” Taehyun whispered hoarsely. He was sitting upright in bed, chest rising and falling unevenly as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. The omega’s red eyes looked glassy in the dim light of the room.

 

“You won’t leave us, won’t you?” Kai blinked at him in confusion. “Why? What's wrong?” Taehyun shook his head. “A nightmare,” he muttered. “You got fed up with us and left without a word.” The beta didn’t even hesitate.

 

“I won’t. I won’t leave, Tyun.” Kai said softly.

 

He pulled the omega into a tight hug, arms wrapping around him instinctively until Taehyun’s breathing slowed against his shoulder. When the omega peered up again, his gaze lingered on Kai’s face with an intensity that made the beta’s chest ache.

 

Taehyun looked at him like he was everything the omega had ever wanted. Taehyun also looks at him like he’s the reason the world came to be… and the reason for its inevitable ruin.

 

Those moments are quieter.

 

More fragile.

 

Taehyun’s fingers hover near Kai’s face like he’s afraid to touch him, like the smallest mistake might break something precious between them. And yet the pull is always there, drawing him closer despite the hesitation written across his expression.

 

“I love that you’re here with the pack,” the omega said once, vulnerably and honestly. His fingers traced the curve of Kai’s cheek, counting the lashes fanning against his skin like he was memorizing them.

 

“I love that when I wake up, I see your face. I hear your voice. I smell your scent that I’ve come to love.” The words settled heavily between them. Then Taehyun slowly pulled his hand away. For just a moment, uncertainty flickered across his red eyes.

 

“Sometimes I wonder,” he continued, “what it would be like if we never met you…” A faint, painful whine caught in his chest, hastily swallowed before it could escape. “I’m sure we’d feel incomplete,” he finished. “So incredibly lost without you.”

 

Kai never quite knows what to say when Taehyun looks at him like that. The feeling is both comforting and terrifying all at once. Like being wrapped in the softest hug… with a ticking time bomb resting dangerously between them.

 

…

 

The thing is, Huening Kai only caught them looking… because he’s been looking too.

 

He had been watching them just as carefully— memorizing the way Beomgyu’s laughter cracked loudly through the air, his shoulders shaking and his breath stuttering.

 

The way Soobin’s long fingers absentmindedly fiddled with the hem of his sleeves when he was thinking, lip bitten while he’s deep in thought.

 

The way Yeonjun’s eyes gleamed whenever he found something he thought was beautiful, immediately running over to the pack so he could talk about it.

 

The way Taehyun’s whole demeanor changes when he’s with the pack, letting himself become more delicate and ‘omega-like’, when all he wants is to not be a part of the stereotype.

 

Kai had been collecting those little details without noticing. Just like they had been collecting pieces of him. Sometimes it feels strange, how natural it all is. Like they’ve known each other for years.

 

Like they’ve already seen every corner of each other’s lives, every flaw and habit and silly little quirk that might scare someone else away. And instead of feeling exposed, Kai feels… understood.

 

The longer he sits here with Taehyun’s fingers combing through his hair and the sound of the park humming around them, the more he wants.

 

More quiet afternoons like this. More laughter spilling into the kitchen when they cook together. More bickering over small things that somehow never feel serious. More moments where someone pulls him into a hug in the hallway for no reason at all.

 

More.

 

And more.

 

And more.

 

Kai glances down at Taehyun again. The omega is still peering up at him enamored with his beauty, expression soft, like the world has briefly shrunk to the size of the space between them. “Hi.” Taehyun mutters sweetly. The fear creeps in at the edges of the beta’s thoughts then.

 

Ah.

 

So this is it.

 

This is what it feels like.

 

Love.

 

The realization creeps into Huening Kai bit by bit, lodging deep in his chest like it was always meant to stay. It doesn’t strike abruptly or slam into him like some grand epiphany. 

 

Rather, it opens up gently, flowering in the pauses between his inhales until the reality of it demands to be acknowledged.

 

Loving people like this… is terrifying.

 

Because love means risk.

 

It means he could lose them. It means the quiet glow flickering in his chest right now isn’t something that’s meant to last forever.

 

The small, fragile world they’ve started building together— filled with teasing laughter, shared meals, wandering hands and lingering looks— could shatter if something goes wrong.

 

For a moment, the weight of that possibility presses hard against his ribs, squeezing the air from his lungs. The thought should scare him more than it does. It should make him pull away, put distance between himself and the people who suddenly mean far too much.

 

But strangely enough, it doesn’t make him want to run.

 

Instead, a tightness within him eases, as if a coiled knot buried in his chest for months has unraveled. The fear creeps in, whispering at the fringes of his heart, but it no longer chokes the air from his lungs. If anything, it feels like proof.

 

Proof that this matters.

Proof that they matter.

Proof that what he feels isn’t small or temporary.

 

Kai draws in a slow breath, allowing that warmth to seep further into his core. For the first time since this wild, consuming path with the pack started, the idea of loving them doesn’t scare him half as much as it should.

 

If loving them means risking all of that… then maybe it’s worth it.

 

Because this isn’t the uncertain affection he used to imagine for himself, the kind where he wondered if he was useful enough to be kept around. It isn’t the polite fondness people sometimes showed him from a distance either.

 

This is something bigger.

 

Kai loves them.

 

He loves Beomgyu’s loud affection and endless teasing, the way the Alpha treats him like something precious while still dragging him into every ridiculous joke the pack comes up with. With Beomgyu, Kai never feels embarrassed for being silly. 

 

The two of them fall into the same rhythm effortlessly, matching each other’s energy until the others are groaning and laughing at them in equal measure. There’s something comforting about it.

 

The easy laughter, the playful nudges, the way Beomgyu always seems ready to pull another grin out of him whenever Kai forgets how to smile.

 

He loves Soobin’s thoughtful curiosity and the quiet possessiveness threaded through it, the way the Alpha watches him with careful attention like Kai is worth studying, worth understanding piece by piece. 

 

Soobin’s hands are always grounding when they settle on him, steady and warm, like anchors that promise he isn’t drifting anywhere. Even the sudden nips against his scent gland don’t startle him anymore.

 

If anything, they send a thrill through him, a spark of excitement that makes his chest tighten with fondness rather than surprise.

 

He loves Yeonjun’s bright warmth and the sharp edge hidden beneath it, the way the older omega moves through the world with effortless confidence. 

 

Yeonjun gravitates toward him naturally, like a flower reaching for the sun, wrapping Kai in easy affection without hesitation. And when someone dares question Kai’s place beside them, Yeonjun is always the first to bare his teeth.

 

Protective, fierce, and completely unapologetic about it.

 

Then there’s Taehyun.

 

He loves Taehyun’s sharp mind, the way the omega’s thoughts seem to move faster than the world around him. 

 

When Taehyun looks at him, there’s always a kind of quiet wonder in his gaze, like the universe shifted something important just so he would end up standing exactly where he is now. It makes him feel strangely exposed.

 

Not in a frightening way, but in a way that makes him want to open up completely, to tell Taehyun every secret thought he’s ever held close. 

 

Around him, the beta feels understood in ways he never expected, like the omega can see through the walls he didn’t even realize he built.

 

And somehow… he never wants to hide from that.

 

He loves the pack.

 

Kai exhales softly and tilts his head, staring at Taehyun again.

 

The omega is still absentmindedly threading his fingers through Kai’s hair, eyes drifting across the park as people pass by, unaware that he’s being watched now. The beta studies him quietly for a moment before a small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

 

He doesn’t say anything. But the thought echoes clearly inside his chest.

 

He wants to stay.

 

Not because they asked him to. Not because they need him. But because somewhere along the way, without even realizing it, Huening Kai decided this was where he belongs.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“The sky’s gotten dark,” Taehyun notes. He tightens his arms around Kai’s waist and buries his face against the beta’s stomach, pressing his cheek there like it’s the most comfortable pillow in the world. His breath seeps through the thin fabric of Kai’s shirt, making him shiver.

 

“It has,” Kai replies, glancing up at the dimming sky where the last streaks of sunlight are fading into evening. His fingers drift down absentmindedly, brushing through Taehyun’s hair. “Does your neck not hurt while doing that?”

 

The omega shakes his head immediately, the movement muffled against him.

 

“I like it here,” Taehyun murmurs, voice soft and slightly grumpy in the way it always gets when he’s comfortable. He inhales slowly, nose pressing deeper into Kai’s shirt before letting out a small huff. “I like your scent.” The beta’s lips twitch.

 

“We have to leave soon, Tyun,” he reminds him gently. “We have a reservation at seven.” Taehyun only grunts in response, clearly unimpressed by the reminder. “I can drive if you want,” Kai offers after a moment.

 

“No,” Taehyun says without hesitation. “I’ll do it.” Then, after a brief pause, he adds quietly, “Let me just absorb more of your scent for five minutes.” The beta rolls his eyes toward the sky, though there’s no real irritation behind it.

 

“Five minutes,” he agrees. “Nothing more, nothing less.” While Taehyun remains stubbornly glued to his stomach, Kai begins idly playing with the omega’s hair. His fingers separate a few of the fluffier strands, twisting them into small, uneven braids just to keep his hands busy.

 

Taehyun hums softly. “That’s not fancy enough for a candlelight dinner,” he murmurs lazily. “We’re getting dressed at the hotel anyway,” Kai replies, already undoing the tiny braids he just made.

 

His fingers pause when he notices something small in the grass beside them.

 

A dandelion.

 

Kai plucks it carefully, twirling the thin stem between his fingers before leaning down. With a giggle, he tucks the flower behind Taehyun’s ear. The omega stiffens immediately. “…What?” he mutters suspiciously. “Did you just put a worm in my hair?” Kai recoils in exaggerated horror.

 

“Ew. Why would I do that?” The omega shrugs without lifting his head. “Dunno,” he grumbles. “You might be messing with me.” Kai snorts. “Oh, c’mon. I like you too much to do that,” he says easily. “I know how much you hate bugs and wriggly things.”

 

The words slip out before he really thinks about them. For a moment, Kai doesn’t even realize what he’s said. But Taehyun does. The omega goes completely still. 

 

The warm weight against Kai’s stomach doesn’t move, and suddenly the silence between them stretches longer than before. Kai feels his breath catch slightly. “Y’know what,” Taehyun mutters suddenly, voice strangely muffled. “Let’s go get dinner.”

 

Kai blinks. “Already?” Taehyun shoots upright so quickly it startles him. In seconds the omega is gathering their things, stuffing empty food wrappers into the picnic basket with sharp, efficient movements.

 

“Yeah,” Taehyun says quickly. “I’ve decided that I’m really hungry. Get up.” Kai watches him for a moment, amused. The omega’s scent has shifted slightly, sweet like chewy toffee dusted with pink Himalayan salt.

 

The omega grabs the edge of the blanket Kai is still sitting on and yanks it. “Hey—” the beta laughs as the fabric shifts beneath him. “What’s the rush?” Taehyun refuses to look at him. 

 

Instead he focuses intensely on folding the blanket, tugging at it with unnecessary determination. His hair falls forward, partially hiding his face. But not enough to hide the bright red tint creeping up the tips of his ears.

 

“Tyun,” Kai says, biting back a laugh. Taehyun growls at him. He immediately pushes his hair further forward to cover his ears and yanks the blanket again with renewed aggression. “Get off,” he mutters. “Now.”

 

“Alright, alright. I get it.” Kai stands, still grinning, then angles his face just right, pressing a chaste kiss to Taehyun’s cheek before stepping away. The reaction is immediate. The omega lets out an indignant squawk, spinning toward him in shock.

 

“You— that’s. Ugh. I hate you. Shut up.” The beta finally breaks into full laughter.

 

Cute.

 

So cute.

 

He can’t wait for dinner.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes:

currently sick again. getting better, though. how did you like this chapter? more lore coming next week! please look forward to it （づ￣3￣）づ╭❤️～