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Seungkwan didn't even know where he was, nor where he was going, but, on the bright side, the loud noises were subsiding, leaving a soft buzz in his ears, and the lights were becoming more dim too, not as blinding as they were in the hall.
Even the scents were weaker now, less invasive and aggressive to his delicate senses.
All these elements definitely helped with his headache, bringing some relief to him, but the silence and tranquility only made him descent deeper in that state of guilt, shame and self-loathing his mates' actions had involuntarily sent him into.
He couldn't stop thinking about his alpha's harsh words while his feet moved on their own, bringing him in a deeper part of the building, until his blurry sight didn't allow him to go any further.
He found a small, dark corner in a close alley in that maze of hallways and closed doors, where he let himself sink to the floor with his back to the wall.
His eyes had started crying long ago, transforming the shapes around him into indistinct spots and his breathing was becoming more and more ragged, labored with the anxiety that always came with a drop.
Dropping like that was much worse than doing so when he was in their nest, where his mates were ready to make up for their mistakes.
It was scary to be alone, in a dark corner and surrounded by people who passed by him without even noticing him. It was scary to not have someone hugging him, pressing his trembling frame against their chest and engulf him in a familiar scent. It was scary to face such terrible emotions and scenarios without a hand on his tummy or a pair of soft lips pressing against his wet cheeks.
It was so, so scary and the omega didn't know how much he could go on like that.
"Oh? Aren't you from Seventeen?" A warm voice penetrated in the dark wall of fear and anxiety that he had built around himself.
"Seunghan? No- Seungkwan, right? You're Seungkwan-ssi?" The same voice continued.
"Alpha" Seungkwan whispered without even realizing his lips were moving. He slowly raised his eyes to be met with a blurry image of a person crouched in front of him, golden skin and dark, long hair hanging from their shoulders.
"I'm an alpha, yes, but I guess you're looking for yours, right?" The person asked softly.
"Let me go look for them, I'll be right back"
Panic took over Seungkwan as he watched the person getting up and looking around them.
"N-NO PLEASE" he almost screamed, launching forward to cling to the alpha's elegant pants.
"D-don't go, please, please, please alpha stay" he mumbled.
He was on his knees, fists closed tight around the fabric to desperately keep the alpha near him. He needed a protective presence, even if it wasn't part of his pack. He needed a strong scent to wash over him, a promise of safety, warmth and affection.
"Ok, ok darling, I'll stay, don't worry, I won't go anywhere. It's ok pup, it's ok" the alpha surrendered, leaning down again and slowly stroking his hair, a reassuring scent of coffee spreading around Seungkwan.
The alpha sat down next to him, and, though he was taller then them, they let him crawl into their lap and bury his face in their neck.
Even in his hazed state of mind, the omega registered the soft presence of the alpha's breasts against his side, realizing he was being held by a woman.
Before he could try and make out her face to identify her, a new, feminine voice approach them.
"Jin, where are Y- Oh umh...what's going on?" The new girl asked a she took in the scene of her mate sat on the floor, a trembling omega sobbing in her lap.
"I found him here alone, he's an omega from seventeen, but I think he dropped badly, I couldn’t leave him here" the alpha tried to explain, before her and the other girl's attention was claimed by the boy they were talking about.
"Y-you..."
"I'm Hyejin from Mamamoo, but you probably know me as Hwasa. We performed together at last year's Golden Disc awards, remember? And this is our omega Wheein. I'm not your alpha, but I'm going to protect you, ok? At least until I can get you back to your pack"
Seungkwan slowly nodded to show he understood what she was saying, infinitely grateful for their comforting aura.
"Poor thing, what happened to you? Tell noonas" the omega intervened as well, crouching next to them to take care of him too, her maternal instinct activated.
"I...I ran away from m-my pack" the younger softly sniffled as Wheein's hand came up to softly dab his wet cheeks with her sleeve.
"Did you fight with them?"
Seungkwan nodded again, eyes glued to his fidgeting hands while he felt new sorrow crawling up his throat as he thought back to what had happened.
"I...made a bad step a-and fell and...and Nonie growled at me ‘cause I fell o-on him. The others told him to not do that, but...but alphas were mad at me too to make him angry a-and when I-"
"Slowly, darling, slowly. Take some deep breaths if it feels like it's too much" Wheein interrupted his anxious rambling, making him pause and gather his thoughts and emotions.
The boy obeyed and felt immediately better, before he continued, now more calmly.
"...I told them I was afraid to fall and hurt the pups, so I did that, but they were annoyed we had to do everything again. Th-they ain't wrong, they are tense and they have to care about us, but-"
"Wait. You said pups? You're pregnant?!" Hyejin interrupted him, almost incredulous.
"Your alphas had the courage to growl at their pregnant mate for...a mistake? Darling, nothing excuses that. Not tension, not responsibility, not anything. They can't take it out on you, especially if you're carrying"
She seemed angry, definitely upset on how he had been treated even though he wasn't her omega.
"B-but..."
"Hyejin might be a bit impulsive sometimes, but she's right. They were wrong at getting angry with you for something like that and you have every right to be angry too" Wheein offered as well.
"I'm...I'm not angry, I'm just...hurt I guess. I don't want to see them, but I miss them too much and I want to be with them right now"
"Oh trust me sweetie, as soon as you feel better, we're going to them and I'm having a talk to your head alpha, I don't care how scary and big he is"
Fifteen minutes later, and the alpha woman was marching through the hallways of the theatre, passing by the doors of the dressing rooms, props and staffs to reach seventeen's waiting room.
One of her hands was gripping Seungkwan's, who was trying to keep up with her quick pace, while, behind him, came Wheein, ready to intervene if the things got too heated between the two head alphas.
Hwasa knocked on the door, but didn't wait for an answer before barging in, claiming everyone's attention in the room.
The first reaction was, of course confusion, but, as soon as the twelve boys in the room took in their own mate behind her, a suffocating, sour wave of angry pheromones invested her and filled the room, leaving the other omegas scared and helpless.
"Get away from my omega, you-" Seungcheol started, taking a threatening step forward while his lips already curled on his teeth in a snarl, a growl rumbling in his chest. He still had clear in his mind the last time they couldn't find one of their omega at an award show and to see Seungkwan with an alpha made him go crazy with anger, his already stressed and worried mind bringing him to a terrible, but wrong conclusion.
"No, YOU, my dear, are the one in trouble! You and your irresponsible alphas who reduced this boy to a crying mess on the floor of a dark alley"
"I-what?"
"He's your mate, he's carrying your pups and you seriously have the courage to yell at him for such a little thing as a wrong step?! Not to mention the genius who growled at him"
She could barely see him, but at the mention of his act, Hansol shrunk on himself, clearly ashamed for not being able to restrain his impulses.
"He dropped so badly, he was terrified by me, a complete stranger, leaving him alone, so I took care of him. Not that I mind, but I'm just so mad that this sweet omega isn't being treated as he should" the woman finally ended her outburst, waiting for a response from the man before her.
Seungcheol had slowly dropped any aggressive instinct toward her as she explained what actually had happened between her and his mate.
"Is it true, Kwannie?" He asked softly to the omega, who was still holding on tight to the woman's hand and hiding behind her.
He slowly raised his puffy eyes and nodded, afraid his mates could get even more mad at the mention of him being with another alpha, but their reaction surprised him.
"Seungkwannie” Hansol’s voice raised from behind Seungcheol, who was trying to say something else, but closed his mouth when he heard his younger mate speak up
If stares could kill, Vernon would’ve been dead already, because the look Hyejin sent in his direction was able to make mountains shake, but he tried his best to ignore it, focusing on his trembling boyfriend.
“Kwannie, I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean to…god, I didn’t mean to growl at you, I didn’t want to scare you angel, my reaction was out of pain because you hit my injured ankle, but I swear I wasn’t angry”
The boy seemed to be mere seconds away from crying, his voice breaking in some points as he sincerely apologized.
“Y-you’re not angry?” Seungkwan asked, hesitant.
“No baby, none of us was” Seungcheol intervened too, speaking softly.
“We told Sollie to not growl and then we tried to tell you to be more careful, since you’re pregnant. The whole thing scared us because we thought you or the pups were badly injured, but we didn’t count how you were probably even more scared than us. I’m sorry if we came through as aggressive, we didn’t mean to” he finished explaining, still looking toward his pregnant mate.
Seungkwan was now crying even more than before. He, just as the rest of his mates had finally understood what had actually happened: he had started to drop from the very first, unintentional growl, that Hansol had emitted out of pain, more than anger, but the fear from that had sent his mind into a dark spiral that made him feel attacked and blamed when his other mates had tried to tell them both to be more careful, worried and not furious like he thought they were.
“I-I thought you were angry with me for the mistake…I was upset and ran away, I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you more carefully, alpha” he sobbed, letting go of Hyejin’s hand to run into his head alpha’s welcoming arms, the older holding him tightly to his chest and scenting him to both comfort him and cancel the smell of another alpha from his body.
“Shhh, it’s ok baby, don’t cry, I understand why you did that, it’s ok, you and the pups are safe, that’s all that matters right now” Seungcheol whispered to him, his hand stroking and caressing his boyfriend’s hair.
“Go sit down with the others, angel, be good” he murmured after a few seconds, letting go of his trembling mate only for him to snuggle against Hansol’s body, who promptly wrapped his arms around and guided him to one of the couches in the waiting rooms, where their pack was waiting for them to comfort their lover as well.
Mingyu was fast to pull Seungkwan into his lap, nuzzling his face and throat and kissing every inch of visible skin, from his hands, to his wet cheeks, to his forehead, while the familiar, reassuring mix of several scents engulfed him. What was finally able to make him calm down, however, were the gentle, protective hands that laid on his tummy, making him and the pups feel loved and safe, chasing away the bad emotions with kindness and affection.
Seungcheol watched the scene fondly, before his adoring eyes turned more serious as he turned to face the other alpha and her omega, still patiently waiting in the room.
“I own you an apology Hyejin-ssi” he started, politely bowing to her.
“I’m sorry I attacked you as soon as I saw you with Seungkwan, but...the last time we found ourselves in a situation like this, one of our omegas was being assaulted and I guess seeing Kwannie with another alpha made me lose my mind. I’m glad I was mistaking and I have to thank you for protecting my mate and comforting him” he explained himself, ashamed by the initial aggressiveness he had showed toward her.
“It’s ok, I understand the feeling” Hyejin responded, pulling her own omega closer to her to scent her lightly out of instinct.
“I’m glad it was just a misunderstanding, I grew fond of that boy” she chuckled looking in Seungkwan’s direction, who was now sitting in Jun’s lap as Jisoo and Jeonghan insisted that he drank a lot to rehydrate himself after crying, the cute scene warming her heart.
“You take very good care of your mates, I’m sorry I misjudged you. I’m still not completely over the growl, but I guess it was just an accident” she concluded.
“It was, Hansol is our youngest alpha, he sometimes has some trouble to control his instincts. Actually, all of us do now that Kwannie’s pregnant, but we’re educating him to have more control over his behavior and he really was sorry” the head alpha hurried to explain, not justifying Hansol’s actions, but giving a rational explanation to them.
“I see. I’m sure he’ll get better” Hyejin smiled kindly at him, before her omega pulled at her arm.
“Jinnie, Byul is calling” she said, looking down at her phone.
“She’s wondering where we are, tell her we’re coming right away, sweetheart” the younger answered, laying a soft kiss to the omega’s hair.
“We should get going, good luck with your performance” she then addressed Seungcheol again, who bowed politely and reciprocated the wish, watching as the two girls turned to head out of their dressing room.
However, something stopped them.
“Hyejin-ssi! Wheein-ssi!” the soft, but loud voice of Seungkwan resonated through the room before they could get out, the boy untangling himself from his lovers to quickly run up to them, bowing deeply.
“I-I just wanted to thank you, for staying with me while I was afraid a-and taking me back” he hurriedly said, his cheeks slowly growing a cute shade of red.
“I’m sorry I made you worry and I’m sorry I was a burden-“
“Darling you were not a burden. Actually, I’m glad we got to meet you, you were so sweet, your mates are lucky to have you and I’m sure you’ll a great father for your pups” Hyejin interrupted him, the hand that wasn’t holding her mate’s one, coming up to cup and stroke delicately the boy’s cheek, a sweet smile accompanying the gesture.
She earned to see Seungkwan’s face light up and his eyes shining at the mention of his babies, one of his arms instinctively coming up to his stomach.
“T-thank you”
“Seungkwan-ah, let’s keep in touch from now on, ok? I want to see your cute babies when they are born” Wheein chuckled, handing him a little piece of paper with her phone number written on it, the boy taking and bowing again, before they bid goodbye to each other, the couple leaving the dressing room to reach their other two mates.
“You ok, prince?” Seungcheol’s warm arms wrapped around his waist from behind, the boy still standing on the same spot.
“Mhmh. I’m happy I found them” he murmured, turning to face his alpha and press a kiss to his lips, before nuzzling into his chest, tucking his head under the elder’s chin and breathing in his scent, deep and reassuring.
“I’m happy too, they took great care of you…but” the head alpha added, moving his hands under the omega’s thighs and picking him up “now you’re with us and we’re going to shower you in so many kisses and cuddles, you’re going to forget their names” he declared, walking back to the rest of the pack with his baby laughing in his arms.
Instead of letting him down on the sofa, he sat down first, so that Seungkwan would be straddling his thighs, still engulfed in his protective arms.
Beside them, Hansol hurried to take his collar off, growling softly in his chest at the sight of his lover’s mating mark, which he began to nibble and kiss adoringly, his hands coming up to tangle in Seungkwan’s hair as the boy finally relaxed completely.
Mingyu also didn’t waste a second before scenting him and his tummy, making the omega feel safe, like nothing could hurt him anymore.
While they waited for their managers to get them to take them home, everyone managed to cuddle their cute mate, either kissing him, rubbing his tummy or scenting him. The room filled with the comforting, rumbling noise alphas always made to make their mates feel protected, while a restless string of praises and apologies fell from their lips, telling him how brave he had been and how sorry they were for making him upset.
Seungkwan ended up exhausted from all the negative emotions, falling asleep in Wonwoo’s arms on their way home, the alpha settled between his and Minghao’s sleeping frames, both leaning on him for warmth he was more than happy to give.
To not wake them up, Jun picked the omega up when they reached their dorm, while the rapper lifted Minghao like he weighted nothing, the boy cutely snuggling into his chest even in his sleep. They knew they would be late, so, to not leave Eunjoo alone at night, the pup was staying at Soonyoung’s house, his parents more than happy to look after her for a couple of days.
They all ended up in the nest that night, where Chan and Soonyoung insisted on staying as close as possible to Seungkwan, their mates letting them cuddle with him and wrapping them in fluffy blankets, melting when the pregnant omega turned and nuzzled into Chan’s chest, a low purr coming from his throat.
After the long night, that sight was just so reassuring and comforting for all of them, to see their angel feeling safe and warm and small and comfy, all the opposite of how he had came back to their waiting room.
“Are you still worried, Sollie?” Jeonghan asked, stroking the younger’s hair tenderly as he knew how guilty and conflicted the boy was feeling. In his mind, Seungkwan running away, his drop, the misunderstand, it was all his fault, for growling at him.
“I…I was scared hyung. He ran away because of me and I thought s-some alpha-“
“Shh, it wasn’t you fault, you didn’t mean it, we know it and now he knows too. This was a bad experience and we were all worried, but nothing bad happened, mh? It’s ok now, we’re all going to be ok” the older murmured, voice low to not wake up who was already sleeping, while he slowly lowered himself and the boy in his arms to lay down in the soft, scented blankets of the nest.
Vernon clearly needed some comfort in that moment and he and Seokmin were more than happy to give him some, the gentle alpha noticing them and cuddling up to them, wrapping his arms around the younger from behind and growling softly for him.
The boy was finally able to let go of his tension, relaxing against his hyungs’ bodied and basking in their sweet scents.
Slowly, everyone found their place in the nest: next to Chan, Seungkwan and Soonyoung, Wonwoo laid down with Minghao, the younger’s head resting on his chest, while Jun pulled a sleepy Joshua in his arms and Mingyu cuddled up to them, alternating his kisses between the omega’s nape and the Chinese’s mouth, the two chuckling at the way Jisoo fell asleep purring.
Then there were Jeonghan and Seokmin holding Hansol close and, right next to them, Seungcheol spooned Jihoon, the younger resigning to be the little spoon only after the head alpha had pouted at him, making show of the best puppy eyes he had.