Chapter Text
Having more than one alpha in a pack isn’t too novel an idea. In fact, it’s encouraged in larger packs to maintain a balance and healthy competition of sorts. At least, that’s the general outlook society has towards this. It mostly sounds like a bunch of toxic alpha bullshit to Yeonjun.
“Wait, so you’re not the pack alpha?”
Having someone younger be the pack alpha however, is too novel a notion for people to handle.
Yeonjun smiles somewhat forcefully, “Yup.” And then, more easily, “Soobin-ah’s an amazing pack leader.”
“But still, doesn’t it bother you?”
If he could, Yeonjun would just turn away and leave for better company (Taehyun and Kai are chattering by the buffet a few feet away) but he’s at his omega’s work event, the last thing he wants to do is cause a scene, especially because of Beomgyu’s nosy boss.
“You’d think wouldn’t you,” Yeonjun smiles charmingly , lightly flirting has always been his go-to in avoiding sticky situations, “But he’s just so dedicated and empathetic. There’s no need for jealousy when Soobin takes everyone’s feelings into account. He makes a much better pack alpha than I would have been able to.”
It’s not even a lie, Yeonjun means every word he says. Sure, it hurt at some point but he got over it, especially when the alpha realised he’d never really craved to be pack leader and has felt a sense of relief. It doesn’t make him inferior.
It’s almost nearing a year since they officially became a pack and he’s never felt more at ease.
“He does make a good pack leader from what Beomgyu-ssi has told me,” the alpha across him smiles brightly, “Of course, I could never handle Sunnie-ah having that kind of authority over me,” she gestures towards an older man wearing a red suit.
Yeonjun nods, struggling to ensure that his scent doesn’t sour at the woman’s ignorant words. It’s not about authority, he wants to bite back at her because Soobin doesn’t impose himself on any of them.
It’s yet another reason he makes a much better pack alpha than Yeonjun ever would. His wolf is a possessive gremlin that the alpha struggles to keep in check at the worst of times.
“Well, to each their own,” he musters out as politely as he can, “If you’ll excuse me, I think my betas need me,” he smiles briefly before making his way towards Taehyun and Kai.
“Hey Junie hyung,” Kai greets brightly, he’s holding a plate stacked with hors d’oeuvres in his hands. The juxtaposition with his handsome suit-clad stature and puffed-up cheeks is adorable, “You have to try the little duck quiche they’ve made, you’ll love it!”
Taehyun proves to be a bit more observant, softly sending off comfort hormones through his clean sea breeze scent, it mixes in with Kai’s soft water lily smell wonderfully and Yeonjun feels the tightness in his gut release slightly.
“I’d love to Kai-ah,” the alpha smiles, plucking one out the comically high stack on the youngest beta’s plate and biting into it.
“Hey! I never said my plate!” Kai protests, although it’s said half-jokingly.
“Don’t you mean mine ,” Taehyun chides, although he looks much to fond, “I was enjoying this by myself before you swooped and claimed it as both of ours.”
Yeonjun chuckles. “Is that what you guys have been doing since we split up, arguing near the buffet?”
“I was with Soobin hyung and Beomgyu hyung a while,” Kai huffs out, “Honestly, I couldn’t handle the corporate talk anymore.”
Yeonjun puts an arm around the younger’s waist, indulging his irritation lightly, “It’s hard for us creatives isn’t it?”
“I’m sure there’s a lot of bureaucracy and boring discussions that come with owning a studio hyung,” Taehyun says, a glint in his eyes, “Also don’t feel too bad for him, he’s been having the time of his life explaining the whole plot of Oshi no Ko to me.”
Yeonjun gives his mate a two fingered salute. “You’ve truly made a huge sacrifice,” he says solemnly.
“You guys are the worst,” Kai pouts for show, “Why do I have such mean mates?”
“Because we’re hot,” Yeonjun says at the same time Taehyun states, “Because you have a thing for it.”
There’s a beat of silence before Kai opens his mouth and states, very calmly, “I thought we agreed not to engage in bedroom talk in public.”
“Oh you’ll know when it’s bedroom talk.”
“Okay, both of you. Stop saying the word ‘bedroom’, there’s people here,” Yeonjun hisses.
Taehyun and Kai grin and giggle like the menaces they are.
“Oh hyung,” Kai stops suddenly, a conspiring glint in his eyes, “How long is it till midnight?”
Ignoring the fact that the youngest beta has clear access to his phone, Yeonjun glances at his wristwatch, “I think…about 10 minutes?”
“Hyung!” Taehyun gasps, “You have to get the other two! They’re my new year’s kiss!”
“Wouldn’t it be easier for you to go to them?”
“No,” Kai states firmly, “We all have to be there and you better bring them back in time as well cause you’re my midnight kiss.”
They’re most definitely ordering him around like the brats they are but he’s much too soft.
So, Yeonjun nods back at them, smiling warmly as the memory of them drawing lots for who kisses who crosses over his mind. Beomgyu and Soobin had to give Kai a kiss on his cheeks.
(He tries not to think about how relieved he was when he didn’t draw Soobin’s name)
He wanders around aimlessly for a while, almost empty flute of champagne in hand as he traces the pack alpha and omega’s scent. They both have strong, almost opposing scents; Beomgyu’s a rich cinnamon and honeyed scent and Soobin has a strong herbal and tangerine scent. Together, it reminds Yeonjun of winter and comfort.
The alpha stalls for a bit longer before finally approaching the remaining of his pack mates because it is less than 5 minutes to midnight. He finds them talking in a group of coworkers, their backs facing him. Soobin has an arm around Beomgyu’s waist, his cheek slightly pressed against the omega’s head. They look perfect, like what a pack alpha and pack omega ought to look like.
Yeonjun pauses for a moment just to take the picture in before moving forward.
Soobin smells him first, his head turning slightly and dimples popping out and already looking a bit flushed from the champagne, “Hyung.”
Yeonjun can’t help but smile back inspite of the churning in his gut. He slides next to Beomgyu as naturally as he can, smile tuning a bit more practised as he addresses the omega’s coworkers, “Hello, sorry to interrupt, I was just put incharge of retrieving these two back to the pack.”
“Oh it’s alright,” a beta woman laughs. “We were just discussing workplace gossip.”
Beomgyu tugs Yeonjun’s hand into his almost absentmindedly. “Don’t worry, I fill him in enough that he may as well be working here,” he says brightly before bidding them farewell and tugging the two alphas with him.
“Thank fuck you got us away from that snooze fest,” Beomgyu groans, “I couldn’t go through hearing about the yogurt scandal again.”
“Hey!” Soobin protests, “I thought it was funny!”
“It’s less funny and more of a torture device when you have to hear it more than three times.”
It’s so easy to forget all of his insecurities when he’s with them. Yeonjun’s just an alpha in love and it’s wonderful.
Soobin’s an affectionate and clingy drunk and while he’s far from it, he’s definitely past the point of tipsy when he drapes himself around Yeonjun and Beomgyu, effectively slowing down their journey towards Kai and Taehyun considerably.
Fortunately, the betas are also heading towards them as the countdown for midnight begins.
10
“Hyung, you took so long,” Kai complains and Yeonjun’s not sure which one of them he’s referring to.
9
“Kai-ah! Taehyun-ah!” Soobin grins happily, “Come here, you guys smell so nice.”
8
Everyone’s gathering into their packs or pairs now, excitedly chanting and the final two join their makeshift hug. Yeonjun closes his eyes, leaning into his pack’s intermingling scents to ground himself.
7
“You two better not have drunk too much, your tolerance is shit,” Taehyun clicks his tongue at both Beomgyu and Soobin, although his smile is still very much present, “You better not slobber on my cheek.”
6
“Hey! I am great at handling my alcohol,” Beomgyu snarks back, “Don’t lump me with this guy.”
Kai slides his arms around Yeonjun’s shoulders as the rest of his pack mates begin to tease each other, “Taehyunnie is such a troublemaker.”
5
Silently, Yeonjun agrees as he wraps his arms around the beta’s waist, pulling him closer.
“Let them be, arguing is basically foreplay for Beomgyu.”
4
“Wow, look at you, bringing bedroom talk into the public space. What hypocrisy,” Kai teases.
3
Yeonjun shrugs, their noses are almost touching now and out of the corner of his eyes he can see Taehyun happily squished in the middle of Soobin and Beomgyu.
2
“I never claimed to be anything but babe,” he teases back, squeezing Kai’s waist slightly.
1
They kiss, Kai’s lips are soft and it’s perfect, straight out of a fairytale.
Happy New Year!!!
Happily Ever Afters aren’t really a thing though.
**********************
“I love you so much hyung,” Soobin slurs out, his arms wrapped around Yeonjun’s waist and forehead resting on his shoulder.
They’ve just entered the apartment and Yeonjun’s directing the pack alpha to the kitchen to drink a cup of water because Yeonjun’s unofficially been put on drunk alpha duty.
“Alright, alright,” Yeonjun says as he fills a glass of water, motioning for the alpha to take a seat. From behind him the rest of the three giggle, tipsy and unsteady on their feet and he can tell that today’s going to be one of those nights when they all clamber in the pack bed.
“Drink this before you make any more grand claims of love,” he says as he turns around and places the cup in the younger alpha’s hands.
Soobin takes it with a pout in place and he stares at the cup blankly, his herbal scent a touch too bitter and Yeonjun presses a palm at the back of his nape worriedly. “Are you alright?” His skin is warm but not overtly so, “Do you want me to hold the cup for you?”
The pack alpha shakes his head before looking up at him, all wide eyed and soft, “You didn’t say it back.”
Oh. Oh.
“Of course I love you too Soobin-ah,” Yeonjun says, fingers reaching out to push the strands of hair from the alpha’s forehead, he looks more intense with the hair off his face. If Yeonjun was a lesser man it would have made him weak in the knees.
“Kiss me then,” he demands, head tilting further upwards, “I’ll drink the water if you do.”
He’s so stubborn but in an adorable way that is only directed towards him when he’s drunk.
Yeonjun cups his alpha’s jaw softly before leaning down to press his lips against his. It tastes like the bubbling champagne and a hint of tangerines and his wolf growls at the offending foreign taste. Almost hungrily, he deepens the kiss, tongue swiping Soobin’s so that he can ignore the bitter alcohol and get to the alpha’s natural scent.
He startles out of his crazy horned up haze when Soobin’s arms wrap around his waist, squeezing there. He pulls back because one of them is clearly still very drunk and it’s way too late to be doing this right now.
“There,” Yeonjun pats the other alpha’s shoulders awkwardly, “Now you have to sober up,” he picks up the glass that has been discarded on the table and holds it to the other man’s spit slick lips.
The alpha drinks it without any fanfare this time, his hands coming up to hold the glass over his and when he’s done he clings onto him further, head buried into the silk of Yeonjun’s shirt.
“Come on baby Alpha,” Yeonjun coos, petting his Pack Alpha’s head, “Let’s get you to bed.”
Soobin’s always more affectionate when he’s drunk but it’s the most evident with him.
Yeonjun kisses him on the forehead softly, he has to stretch up to his toes in order to do so and Soobin has to bend a bit but it’s worth it.
“Hyung!” Kai calls out, specifically to Yeonjun, “I’ll help Soobin hyung get changed, you can dress into comfortable clothes too.”
He nods, somewhat relieved as he passes on the alpha (now considerably more sleepy) to Kai. Soobin clings onto him too like the gums they are, nuzzling his nose into the beta’s scenting gland.
“Thank you Kai-ah,” Yeonjun says, finally getting the chance to discard his blazer, “I’ll just go to the bathroom.”
Honestly, Yeonjun thinks as he moves past the two of them, it’s not completely due to the fact that Soobin’s more affectionate when he’s drunk as much as it is the fact that Yeonjun only lets himself indulge the alpha (and himself) when either of them are drunk.
It shouldn’t be so hard should it; to say I love you to your lover when both of you are sober?
It’s because you know he doesn’t really mean it.
Shut up. Yeonjun shoves those thoughts at the back of his head before continuing his nighttime routine and when he slips into the covers with the rest of his pack, an arm slung around Beomgyu’s waist at the end of the bed, he’s almost forgotten about it completely.
**********************
“Stop it, anymore and my lungs are going to collapse,” Wooyoung wheezes before lying down on the ground, spread eagle like and mouth agape.
Yeonjun sits besides him with a tad more grace, although he feels tired to the bone and cranky at the fact that there’s so many uncertainties in the choreography. He stares at his reflection in the mirror absentmindedly, noting the sweat seeping through the front of his shirt and plastering his hair in an unflattering manner.
“How long has it been since we started?” He looks back at his friend, hand reaching out to take the bottled water kept at the corner of the studio room.
“I think…four maybe 5ish hours? Fuck,” Wooyoung winces as he props himself up on his elbows, making grabby hands at the bottled water Yeonjun’s unscrewing.
The alpha maintains eye contact and proceeds to guzzle half the thing.
“Man,” Wooyoung groans, “You could have just passed me one!”
“Get your own,” Yeonjun snorts before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Still, he hands his friend a new water bottle. “Man, we’re getting old.”
“28 is not old,” Wooyoung protests.
“It kinda is,” Yeonjun shrugs, “We used to be able to do this all day.”
It’s true, their late teens and early twenties were spent learning dance and jumping from agency to agency as freelance artists. Yeonjun met Beomgyu in that time when the omega has started off as a junior producer. Of course, they hadn’t really hit it off immediately. They were still young and Beomgyu had just started dating Taehyun and Yeonjun was…he doesn’t want to think about it right now.
“Well,” Wooyoung points out, “We don’t need to slog our asses off like that now, thank fuck for that. Also, I need something to eat like right now so let’s get our asses up and get lunch. Your treat.”
“Why is it always my treat?”
“Because you’re the one whose pack mates own the cafe with the best fucking soft baked cookies in the area. Now, get up.”
Yeonjun gets up slowly, deciding to just give in. Wooyoung’s always craving sweets like a sugar deprived monster before his ruts and visiting Kai and Soobin’s cafe will be a lovely change of pace to his otherwise tiring day.
“Fine but next time you have to pay,” he warns before going to the locker rooms to get out of his disgusting shirt.
“Right,” Wooyoung laughs obnoxiously and Yeonjun would have swatted his head if he had the energy to.
They take quick haphazard showers and changed just as quickly. By the time the two of them leave the dance studio, Yeonjun’s stomach is already rumbling and he’s also begun to crave the Monday special pasta that Blue Hour sells.
“So…my rut is coming up.”
Yeonjun scrunches his nose, he’s not sure where this is headed, trust Wooyoung to start a conversation in the weirdest way possible.
“I know. You reek,” he says with a straight face and his friend immediately smacks his shoulder in reply.
“Shut up, I’m wearing scent inhibitors- whatever that’s not the point, San wants kids.”
Yeonjun almost trips over his feet at the drastic leap in conversation, “Wait- what? Are you sure? Did he say so?”
Wooyoung nods rapidly, “I mean he’s been hinting at it for a while now but this morning he asked me if we should not use birth control for our upcoming cycle and I just— panicked.”
“What did you do?” Yeonjun asks, a sense of apprehension creeping up on him.
“I said I’ll think about it…bro and then I gave him finger guns before leaving for work.”
“Okay…” Yeonjun resists the urge to laugh, “That’s not too bad. You can clear it up later, do you want kids?”
“I..don’t know. I do want them someday, just not now,” Wooyoung says quietly.
“Well, be a big boy and tell that to your mate later,” Yeonjun says.
“It’s not that simple! I mean- what would you do if one of your mate’s wanted to have kids?”
He’d probably panic as much as Wooyoung is right now, maybe a bit more but—
“I don’t know,” Yeonjun shrugs, “But I’m pretty sure one of the others would make us all sit down and have a long discussion about it.”
It would probably be Taehyun or Soobin depending on who had more restrictions about it. Although, Yeonjun’s pretty sure the majority of the decision making would lie in Beomgyu’s hands considering he’s the only one who can get pregnant. It feels silly to worry about such a thing , he doesn’t think anyone in his pack wants kids.
“Geez, look at you, you’re all smiley and shit.”
“That’s what open communication is like,” Yeonjun smirks before stopping in front of Blue Hour, it’s already a bit crowded inspite of the odd hour they’ve come during and he feels his chest fill with pride at his mates’ success.
“Fine, I get your point.” Wooyoung whines before bumping his shoulder with Yeonjun’s, “Can’t believe that we would reach the day where I’d be asking Choi Yeonjun for relationship advice.”
“Well,” Yeonjun smiles like the little shit he’s going to be (Beomgyu’s really rubbed off on him), “ I can’t believe we’d reach the day when you’d have a relationship to give advice for.”
His friend immediately retaliates by trying to bring Yeonjun into a chokehold and he may be taller but Wooyoung has muscle on him which means he ends up succeeding. It’s extremely embarrassing that they’re behaving like freshly presented teenagers in front of his mates’ cafe. Even more so considering that he’s losing.
“Oh my Moon, stop,” Yeonjun laughs out as he finally breaks away, “Any more of this and I’m not paying for your meal!”
A cough resounds from behind and they both sheepishly break away as a customer makes her way out of the cafe, bowing in apology as she leaves.
“Fuck, that was kind of embarrassing.”
“You think,” Yeonjun groans, entering the cafe with his eyes on the floor. He hopes that no one saw them tussle around like a bunch of undignified pups.
“Hey hyung,” Kai chirps from the counter, elbows propped up and chin resting cutely on his right palm. The other hand holding a phone that is suspiciously turned towards his direction, “Quite a show you put out there. I hope you don’t mind that I recorded a bit.”
Wooyoung laughs from besides him, apparently having no conscious of him own. “You have to send that to me.”
“Kai-ah, Baby” Yeonjun pleads, leaning forward on the counter and giving his best rendition of puppy eyes, “How about we keep this between you and me?”
The beta hums thoughtfully, tilting his head and for a small moment Yeonjun has hope—
—Kai turns his head towards Wooyoung, “I’ll send it if you’re okay with me putting it on the group chat.”
His asshole of a friend says yes immediately and his less asshole of a mate grins back.
Great, that is going to be Yeonjun fodder for dinner. He groans, letting his head fall on the counter.
“Hey Kai, where’s Soobin?” Wooyoung asks, “I swear every time I see him he gets taller.”
“You make hyung sound like a growing child,” Kai laughs, “He’s been holed up at his workshop, working on a new menu item,” he follows that with a wink in Yeonjun’s direction, “You should say hi hyung, it would be a nice surprise, get hyung .”
Yeonjun’s not sure that it would be that nice a surprise but he nods nevertheless, “Sure, we’ll just place our orders first.”
“I already know your order,” Kai waves his hand dismissively, “Now shoo.”
Yeonjun does so, but not before taking that very hand and pressing a kiss against his younger beta’s knuckles long enough that Kai’s cheek flush and Wooyoung groans loudly.
“Alright, alright. I’ll be back,” he says before heading through the door labelled staff only.
He greets the kitchen staff amicably enough. They know enough about him considering the amount of times he’s been inside since they officially became a pack and before he can think much of it he enters the small workshop that has been Soobin’s to tinker around in since…he and Kai started the business from what Yeonjun’s heard.
He knocks against the wooden door once as a warning before entering Soobin’s space. The alpha is hunched over what a tray of cookies, piping bag in hand and a baby blue apron tied around his waist. He looks adorable, if not a bit frustrated given the furrowed brows and nose scrunch.
“Oh, Hyung,” Soobin’s face smooths over when he looks up, blinking owlishly, “ You’re…here?”
He smells frustrated too, tangerines overripe and the herbal notes holding a tang of bitterness.
Yeonjun shifts his feet slightly, “Yeah, me and Woo decided to have our lunch here,” he says before approaching the bench slowly and looking down at Soobin’s work. They’re cookies, round in shape with an orange frosting with intricate designs. “ What are you working on?”
“Just..” He closes his eyes briefly, “ A personal project. I’m not even sure if the flavour profiles work together.”
He’s not sure what to say. Yeonjun’s never really witnessed any of Soobin’s work slumps. Sure, there’s been times when he brings his creations home and asks everyone’s opinions but that’s different; he’s never looked so frustrated.
Yeonjun gets it. He’s felt that way several times, the repetition of a dance step that he just can’t seem to get right or creating a choreography that fits the mood and the group. Everyone has different ways of dealing with it, he’s just not sure what Soobin’s is.
“You can’t go wrong with mint,” he jokes as he joins the alpha behind the baking station, eyes still trained on the intricate design on the cookies. When Soobin doesn’t reply, he continues, “Kai told me you’ve been holed up here since the morning. Did you even eat lunch? If not—“
“—Hyung,” Soobin’s voice is much closer than he expected, and Yeonjun turns his head sharply to see his alpha’s nose scrunched up even further, “ Why do you smell like pre-rut?”
Yeonjun lifts his wrist slightly to sniff it, and its true, there’s a hint of Wooyoung’s caramel scent, easily overpowered by Yeonjun’s own and the pack’s. He’s surprised that Soobin could smell it, considering Kai couldn’t, although pack leaders’ noses are usually more sensitive.
“Aah, that must be Wooyoung scent,” he explains, “He’s in pre rut and we were practising in the smaller dance room.”
Soobin’s brows furrow further and... is he sulking?
“Hyung... can we scent each other?”
Yeonjun’s read about it before, Pack Alpha’s being more territorial around their own ruts and Soobin is due for pre rut soon. It usually applies to betas and omegas but he supposes that added in with stress and everything else, it must be affecting him more than usual.
“Sure baby ,” the words leave his mouth before Yeonjun can fully grasp the weight of his decisions.
Soobin immediately smiles, dimples flashing before he leads Yeonjun towards the single seater couch that’s at the corner of the room.
“Wait, will we fit-“ Yeonjun asks when he’s made to sit on the surprisingly comfortable cushion, arms placed on the arm rests.
The alpha in front of him flushes, looking away briefly, “Oh I thought I could…”
It takes him a moment to understand what Soobin means and once again Yeonjun’s mouth acts faster than his filter does, “You can,” he insists and then like the fool he is awkwardly pats his thighs.
He’s stressed. Yeonjun’s more rational side reasons. And smelling pack must be comforting without any outside scents, especially other alpha’s pre rut. Kai’s too busy and you have the time..
The wolf-ish more animalistic part of his brain is screaming PACK ALPHA’S GOINT TO SCENT US. HE’S GOING TO SIT ON OUR LAP!!!!!
He tugs the alpha gently onto him, Soobin’s all long limbs and its not the most comfortable fit especially considering how sore he is from dancing but Yeonjun all but forgets about it when he feels the alpha’s nose rub against his neck. His own cheek rubs against the underside of Soobin’s jaw, the skin warm and tangerine scent considerably less bitter.
Lips tentatively press against the scent glands of his neck and Yeonjun lets out a half growl half purr, arms tightening around the alpha’s waist and letting his head tilt back.
Soobin growls back, sucking the skin there as if he’s trying to taste his scent.
It reminds Yeonjun, inevitably, of when they all became a pack. It wasn’t sudden, the decision. Instead, it was something they had stewed over for a while, as a platonic pack that is. The decision to become a romantic one developed later after the bond had already been formed. Still, nothing had felt as right as that moment, the warmth and comfort of being surrounded by his chosen family and pack mates. He’d already been madly in love, so when he’d felt teeth press into his skin and in return sunk his own he had deluded himself into thinking of it as a mating bond created out of romance as well as platonic love.
He lets himself fall like that again, bringing a hand at the back of Soobin’s head and bringing him close enough that he can smell the others as well. The lips have given way to teeth and his wolf wags its tail at the marks that are sure to litter his skin.
Yeonjun’s always been greedy, then and now.
He noses the faint mating scar at the ride side of Soobin’s neck, the one specifically left by Kai, Yeonjun’s bite is on the wrist, still significant but not as intimate. With a sigh he presses a kiss below it, reaching out to bring that very arm up and bring his alpha’s pale wrist to his lips.
Soobin’s panting now, the sound hot against his ear and in the haze of it all, Yeonjun barely notices the faint arousal in the air and the tightening in his pants.
He bites down at the white scar on Soobin’s lightly, not enough to break skin but enough to leave a mark. A reminder of a reminder almost. He pulls away when it feels like he’ll drown in the tangerine and herbal scent, thumb rubbing against the faint marks his fangs have left behind reverently
“Hyung,” the pack alpha gasps out as he pulls away before the spell breaks. He’s hard, mortifyingly so with hips practically grinding against the alpha above him.
Soobin squirms, ever so slightly, and the motion goes straight to his dick, eyes trying not to stray too hard on the pack alpha’s flushed cheeks and the red tinge in his eyes.
“Sorry,” Yeonjun immediately stops, hands sliding away from the alpha’s waist onto his thighs before he realises how many more implications that carries and scrambles to loosely clutch the shirt below his alpha’s ruffled up apron. “I got…carried away.”
“That’s fine.” Soobin says, continuing to just sit on his dick as if that’s going to will Yeonjun’s boner away.
(It does not, in fact, will the boner away. Although, the awkwardness helps a bit.)
“Soobin…” Yeonjun asks after a few too many seconds of looking at his alpha’s dazed face, “When was the last time you ate?”
“I…what?” The alpha’s eyes flicker from red to his black for a moment. He’s coming back into himself it seems, “Umm…what’s the time?”
“I-I’m not sure, ten past four?” Yeonjun says, still distracted.
The alpha scrunches his nose, “…Nine hours maybe?”
Right, that’s not good.
“How about you come out and eat something with me and Wooyoung?” Yeonjun asks as sweetly as he can. Soobin doesn’t look tired but he does look frazzled, although how much that has to do with the scenting is unclear.
“I’d... like that.” Soobin blinks, his eyes completely black now, “I’ll see if Kai needs help first.”
“Sure,” he agrees easily, knowing that Kai will probably force feed Soobin himself if he has to, “You ah, need to get off me first.”
Almost lethargically, the alpha does so and Yeonjun waits a few moments, adjusting his pants slightly as his dick softens before getting up.
“You sure you don’t want help with that?” Soobin offers, sounding more teasing than genuine as a smug smirk stretches across his face.
The fact that there are no signs of arousal on him makes it even more embarrassing.
“No,” Yeonjun coughs, “It’s fine. Let’s get you something to eat first.”
Fortunately, he doesn’t get teased any further, by Soobin that is. The moment they leave the kitchen, Kai immediately directs a smug, knowing look at Yeonjun’s face.
“Man, you reek,” Wooyoung says, wagging his eyebrows instead of a greeting when he finally approaches him. His pack mates are behind, discussing something related to the cafe that completely alludes him. The food is already on the table, and Yeonjun takes a seat before acknowledging his friend’s words.
“You’re one to talk,” he says before picking up a spoon and stuffing his face.
“Just saying, dude. Are you sure Soobin-ssi is not in rut cause he basically scent-marked you?”
“We scented each other; it’s not a big deal,” Yeonjun groans. “ Pack mates do it all the time. Also stop talking about him so formally; it’s weird.”
Wooyoung gives him a look that’s all too knowing. “You know, only because of one bad—“
He stops from a spiel that Yeonjun has heard one too many times. The smell of water lilies mixed with a herbal tang wafts in.
“Are you guys enjoying the food?” Kai asks from behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. It’s warm and comforting, and Yeonjun loosens the shoulders he didn’t know had wound up.
“It’s great, Kai-ah,” Yeonjun says warmly, prompting Wooyoung to repeat the sentiment. He waits a beat before asking,” What about Soobin? Is he eating?”
“He is now,” Kai says just as the scent of herbal tea becomes stronger and the alpha stands in front of them awkwardly, holding a plate of sandwiches like a peace offering. “You guys sit here and talk about alpha shit or whatever,” he says ever so eloquently before going back to the counter.
“So...” Wooyoung starts a few moments later, “ What are your thoughts on parenthood Soobin-ssi?”
It suffices to say that the conversation is thoroughly steered away from Yeonjun’s problems.
*
Saturday morning, Yeonjun receives a call from his omega mother. He doesn’t think much of it when he picks it up, she calls him now and then to catch up. Heck, there are occasions when he calls her as well to ask her how everyone is.
He’s the only one in the pack room currently, lying on the bed and soaking in the scents of his mates when he picks up the phone.
“Hello Ma,” he starts, pushing off the covers and sitting up as he does so because just maybe he has slept in enough. “How are you?”
There’s silence from the other end, stretching long enough for him to repeat his hellos and wonder if there’s something wrong with the service.
“Yeonjun?” a deeper voice sounds out finally, and for a moment, he is dumbfounded, grip loosening on his phone before it falls onto his lap.
“Eomeonim?” He utters, familiarity taking over him for a second before anger surges into him. It’s not the overwhelming kind, more of a resigned heavy thing that he’s gotten used to. He picks up the phone again, this time gripping it tightly enough that his hand shakes slightly.
“What do you want?” He says coldly.
“I…heard that you got yourself a pack,” she says after a pause.
Somehow, after all these years, he’d imagined that Eomeonim would have grown older, weaker, more fragile. She looks older from the images Ma sent him but her voice is still sharp, carrying an authority that makes him straighten his back and wish to fix his hair.
It’s an authority that only a pack alpha can carry.
“That’s none of your business.” He spits out, and it feels so satisfying to say, like this could be a complete end to their chapter, he could just hang up the phone and that would be that. He doesn’t know how Eomeonim came across Ma’s phone and decided to contact him. Maybe she did it behind her back, or maybe his beta father convinced the two of them, they’ve always been weak under his mediation.
Perhaps it’s none of those things but Yeonjun can’t care enough to think right now. The only person he kept in touch with was his omega mother, she’s the only one who bothered to try after the shit show that took place all those years ago.
“I...” she sounds resigned, and there’s talking from the back that makes him wonder if the other three are listening in right now.
“I…know that it is not,” she says finally, sounding like she’s pushing through the words, “I’ve done and said some things while I felt were necessary, were harsh nonetheless, “But I want to make up for them.”
It’s too little and too much at the same time. He isn’t prepared for this, maybe if it was five years ago or even two years ago.
He cuts the call.
*
There is probably some sort of protocol to visiting your mate’s family but it’s nothing that Yeonjun himself is too familiar with, at least, not with Taehyun. The Huenings like him but they like all of them. Beomgyu’s pack also likes him, although his mother clearly thinks of Soobin as the better alpha mate. Soobin’s pack is much the same, save for the fact that they are a bit more traditional and tend to baby the alpha due to him being the youngest child by quite a few years.
He’s probably met Taehyun’s family the least, only having seen them during their mating celebration and for the beta’s 26th birthday. Neither of those events were intimate by any means and he was not completely in the limelight.
Safe to say, Yeonjun is worried.
“You would look lovely in this,” Beomgyu says, holding up a tank top that reads ‘Your Daddy’s Here’ in a sparkly font. He beams, looking particularly proud of himself and Yeonjun supposes it is kind of impressive, especially considering they are in the formal alpha section of the store.
“You have a problem,” Yeonjun hisses as he shoves the omega’s hands downwards, ears flushed as he looks around to make sure that no one saw them.
“I have a talent,” Beomgyu’s grin turns a tad bit snarky, eyelashes fluttering prettily, “I just want to dress my beloved alpha to look all pretty.”
He should have known this would happen. Choi Beomgyu’s loving, sweet and thoughtful but there’s no denying that he’s a little piece of shit when he wants to be. Yeonjun supposes he must be an easy target, because he swears the omega derives the most joy out of teasing him.
“I thought we were here to help me find something suitable,” Yeonjun says, “You’re supposed to help me decide, not derail this any further.”
“I did help you,” the omega says, “It’s been two hours hyung, we’ve bought three different outfits to impress Tyun’s parents. I’ve had to see you try on a million more—” the omega pauses, giving him a very thorough once over “—And trust me, I love the view but we’ve both spent enough time over this.”
It’s true, they have spent enough time over this. The reason Yeonjun asked Beomgyu for help was because he knew the Kangs the best out of the pack (save for Taehyun but he doesn’t count because he obviously doesn’t need help getting his parents to love him). Beomgyu’s also the most competent with fashion and his choices are a lot less ‘out there’ compared to Yeonjun’s style.
“I know,” he admits finally and something akin to hope seems to shine in Beomgyu’s eyes, “But, I just need this to be perfect.” The omega scowls instantly in reply and Yeonjun holds Beomgyu’s hands in his own, squeezing them slightly, “Just this one store and then we leave.”
“Alright,” Beomgyu grunts out, “But you’re going to have to fuck me in this shirt for all the trouble you’re causing me,” he emphasises the statement by shaking the ‘You’re Daddy’s Here’ shirt still clutched in his hand.
That seems fair enough, besides, the top does look comfortable.
They shop around a bit more and in the end, the only thing they end up buying is the top Beomgyu suggested for him. It’s only four, so they head to the foodcourt afterwards, where the omega buys a deluxe ice cream bowl that Yeonjun’s probably going to have to help him finish.
“So, why are you so tense about this?” Beomgyu asks when they’ve taken their seats across each other. He takes a bit of the strawberry part of the sundae and hums in delight at the taste.
“It’s the first time I’m meeting them properly,” Yeonjun replies finally, “I don’t want them to suddenly think that their son married someone incompetent.”
Beomgyu’s voice sounds a tad bit knowing when he says, “Is this because they’re rich?”
“No!” He says before pausing and mulling over it a bit, “Yes, that’s a part of it?”
The omega squints at him, hand arched in a manner that points an ice cream-laden spoon directly at him. “You’re way too worried about meeting the parents after the mating has happened. Even if they don’t like you, it’s not going to change the way Taehyun feels about you.”
Yeonjun’s not so sure about that.
It must show because Beomgyu sighs out, keeping his spoon down to reach out for him, his grip is comforting and scent sweet and comforting. It makes him forget, just for a moment, about the things he’s worried about, the other smells and chatter and revel in his mate’s scent.
“You’re lovely the way you are hyung,” Beomgyu says, fingers stroking the tender skin of Yeonjun’s wrist. It’s not the place where the omega bit him, but it is the place where Taehyun did and the alpha knows that they are a pack, but everyone has their favourites. Beomgyu has always liked Taehyun’s scent the most.
“I’m not saying that there’s a guarantee they’ll like you,” he continues, “They barely tolerated me when Taehyun introduced me to them in college, but they love their son, so they will try at least.”
“They didn’t like you?” Yeonjun asks because, in his mind, it just doesn’t make sense. Beomgyu may have his moments when he’s unbearable and loud, but he’s always been easy to love, kind, smart and fun to be around.
He’d been the first person Yeonjun properly knew before they became a pack. An omega who he didn’t even know if he was allowed to fall in love with.
“They didn’t like the fact that Taehyun was with an omega,” Beomgyu says in a way that isn’t accusing or bitter but rather like it’s just a fact, like the sky is blue and grass is green. “They thought I would break his heart because an omega could never think a beta was enough.”
“That’s bullshi—“
“—It is,” Beomgyu interrupts, looking tired all of a sudden, “But that is the way they are. You know it’s funny but they think the pack was my idea and…” he lips quirk up slightly, “ Just between me and you,” he leans in slightly,” I think Kai is their favourite.”
*
There’s a big difference between lessons and ghosts, and Yeonjun doesn’t truly realise just how haunted he is until Beomgyu mentions his name.
“It’s more like a character study now,” the omega muses as he pushes his dinner around, more interested in talking than eating. “It’s nice to work with an artist who has more freedom now.”
Yeonjun feels twitchy; he grips his chopsticks tighter and tries to focus on the food in front of him. Taehyun spent a lot of time on dinner, and he would much rather put his attention on that.
But of course, it would be foolish to think that everyone would just drop the conversation, especially when it involves such a well-known idol.
“Hyung, didn’t you work in JJK’s crew when you were younger?” Taehyun starts, sweet and wide-eyed as he fixes his gaze on Yeonjun. Out of all of them, he’s the most vocal when it comes to his interest in Kpop. It’s cute when Yeonjun looks back and realises that when Beomgyu and Taehyung got together, the beta was a starstruck fan of the omega’s work in college.
It’s not so cute now when Yeonjun feels like he’s standing in front of an empty dug-out grave. “Yeah,” he says, trying to keep his tone and scent as neutral as possible because honestly, it should be. It’s been 4 years and some more time, ancient history at this point.
“I wasn’t that close to him,” Yeonjun continues, lying through his teeth when he looks up from his food to find four pairs of eyes looking back at him. “ But idols’ lives are hard. He had a lot more restrictions when it came to outings and creative freedom...” he gives himself a moment by taking another bite and chewing slowly. “I’m glad he’s getting a chance to do what he wants,” he says after swallowing.
That seems to be the end of it, as neither he nor Beomgyu -who is still picking at his food- are interested in speaking further. The conversation naturally shifts into something else as Taehyung takes the initiative to feed their omega with his spoon. It settles something in Yeonjun’s wolf, and when he catches eyes with Soobin again, the alpha gives him a knowing look he can’t make sense of.
Whatever, he doesn’t feel like eating anymore.
Yeonjun doesn’t say that, instead, he smiles and continues to eat, and when everyone’s plates are cleared up, he volunteers to wash them instead of Kai because the thought of interacting with anyone feels unbearable.
“Thank you so much, hyung!” Kai says sweetly after Yeonjun says he’d like to three times in a row. The beta really dislikes washing the dishes, so he doesn’t question it too much, but the others are still a bit suspicious.
It’s too late in the night for that to matter too much, and the alpha quickly sets to work. Washing dishes isn’t the most therapeutic thing, but it’s mindless and methodical, less strenuous and demanding than dancing, which is Yeonjun’s preferred manner of categorising his feelings.
His palms are rubbed raw and pink when he’s finally done, and he almost drops the plate he’s drying when he hears a voice behind him say, “You didn’t wear gloves.”
Taehyun leans against the small patch of wall beside the fridge when Yeonjun turns, eyes wide and a blank look on his face.
“I didn’t feel like it,” the alpha shrugs, internally reeling at the fact that he didn’t smell or hear the beta enter. It should have been obvious, considering how well he can smell the sea salt of Taehyun’s scent.
“Are you alright hyung?” The beta asks as he comes closer. The question in itself is innocent enough, but there’s something knowing in his eyes that Yeonjun does not appreciate.
It’s always like this: too exposed, too vulnerable when he shouldn’t be. When he has no good reason to be.
“I’m fine,” Yeonjun snaps out before he can control himself and the relief he feels is temporary when he sees Taehyun’s face fall.
“You’re clearly not,” the beta says firmly, voice still soft somehow as he reaches out to rest his hands on Yeonjun’s waist, drawing him closer into an almost hug.
“I’m just—“ the alpha sighs, taking a moment to breathe. He’s not sure what to bring up; the call? His worry about the family visit? His stupid ex? Nothing feels like the right answer or the easy one so he settles on bringing his mate closer, arms fisting over the back of the beta’s shirt and burying his face into his head.
“I’m sorry for yelling at you,” Yeonjun finally says, “I’m just…stressed and on edge.”
“That’s alright,” Taehyun says, burying himself further into his chest, his voice comes out muffled when he continues, “You shouldn’t keep this to yourself hyung, let it out or talk to someone when you’re ready. It’s not good for you.”
Sometimes, Taehyung truly feels like the mediator of the pack, with his keen observations and responses. It’s wonderful and worrying at the same time because with all the attention he puts on others, Yeonjun wonders if the beta gives enough time to himself,
“Thank you Taehyun-ah,” the alpha, pressing a kiss on Taehyun’s forehead, “Don’t worry too much about hyung, I’m just feeling a little tense.” He smiles, almost convinced himself.
“Of course I’m going to worry. It’s my right to,” Taehyun replies, not missing a beat. He reaches up to stroke Yeonjun’s cheek lightly, eyes wide and starry as he ask, “Hyung, is it fine if I sleep with you in your room?”
Look at you, you can’t even keep your beta happy. Useless alpha.
“Of course,” Yeonjun replies and to prove his point further, he leans in to press a kiss against Taehyun’s soft pink mouth “You don’t have to ask, you know that right?”
“I know,” Taehyun smiles and it’s a confident but tender thing.
*
Yeonjun’s always been greedy.
He’s greedy about dance, he’s greedy about the spotlight, he’s greedy about the spicy ramen noodles that the convenience store sells out of lightning fast.
But most of all, Choi Yeonjun is greedy about love.
Wooyoung’s the first one he breaks the news to.
“Are you insane?” Is the reply his friend gives him.
He should have expected this, but Yeonjun is twenty six, weary but still much too bold and arrogant for his own good.
“No, I’m not,” he glowers at his friend, “In fact I’m being completely rational right now.”
“I’m just saying man,” Wooyoung says, grimacing slightly as he continues, “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“What?” He snaps back, “Should I just not move on and wallow in my own self pity?”
“I never said that!” His friend exclaims, holding his hands up defensively, “It’s just that, you never bothered with anyone after Jung—that asshole,” Wooyoung hastily corrects when Yeonjun’s scent becomes bitter at the hint of his name. “I just…think that you’re jumping into this too fast. I mean, dating four dudes at once? That’s a lot on your plate, especially with the business.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Yeonjun jumps at the first thing he can make sense of, “The studio is my first priority.”
“Yeonjun, babe,” Wooyoung puts an arm on his shoulder and shakes it lightly, “ That is not what I’m worried about. I mean, I am a little bit but my biggest concern is that you’re jumping into this too fast.”
In that moment, it’s takes Yeonjun all of his strength to remind himself that this is Wooyoung, his best friend of eight years who is concerned and not someone who is doubting his ability to love and be in a serious relationship.
“I like Beomgyu a lot,” Yeonjun says finally, the omega was a workplace colleague of theirs from back in their backup dancer days and the same man who asked him out a month ago after they rekindled their friendship. “And I adore Taehyun too. I don’t know Soobin and Kai that well but—“ he pauses to take a breath “—I could find myself loving them, hell, I’m in love with the idea of what we could be.”
Wooyoung looks at him for a long moment, head tilted and strawberry scent giving nothing away.
It makes Yeonjun wonder, what does he even want his friend to say? That this is a terrible idea? That wanted something doesn’t really mean you’re ready for it?
Or maybe he just wants someone to say that he should go for it. That everything will be just perfect.
“You should do what you think is good for you,” Wooyoung finally says and it’s not the answer he wanted but Yeonjun will take whatever he can get.
“Thank you,” the alpha smiles, “I think it will be.”