Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The house was full of life. There were more than 20 people moving in and out of the estate. The spacious hallway was filled to the brim with bouquets and gifts, forgotten and ignored, from suitors from every family. The house was beginning to smell more and more like a flower garden, emphasizing the notable sticky-sweet floral scent natural to the Lee family. There was an air of excitement and anxiousness as everyone prepared for the most anticipated event, the end of the season ball. It was special, mostly because it wasn’t open for just anyone to search for a suitable marriage like they typically were; this was a private ball hosted primarily for one Omega to find their true mate among the Alphas in nobility.

The last of the Lee line of Omegas, the only unmated Omega nobility in their generation, Lee Minho. 

Producing an Omega was rare these days. There were more Betas now than ever. People once believed that Betas sullied the aristocracy and many of them were disowned and removed from family lines until it became clear that Betas could no longer be ignored, since they made up most of the population. Alphas and Omegas were still treated as special. Alphas were typically heads of state, families and businesses. It was a hierarchy that nearly everyone respected until the booming industries gave way for more Betas to hold positions of power. In spite of society’s supposed respect for Alphas, those that are born in the lower class, though rare, are almost Beta-passing as many of them are forced to take suppressants at a young age. Only Alphas in nobility are now recognized. Omegas, because of their rarity, were seen as prized jewels. They’re kept hidden by most families, trained hard in etiquette and music, kept away from anyone that wasn’t family or an Alpha. 

Lee Minho has never once stepped foot outside of his home before this season. Like any high class Omega, he’s been home-schooled, trained in multiple disciplines of dance and music and language, drilled in etiquette fit for an aristocrat. This season, he was finally allowed to make his debut. All season long, his family had him attend multiple balls, soirées and private events, not to find a mate but simply to introduce himself into high society. Building relations until the end of the season ball that would be for him, to ensure that every suitable Alpha would attend. 

Minho snorted, as if they weren’t already aware of his existence the moment he was born. He knew it went without saying the day he presented was one of the most talked about days in the ton , his mother even had an article written about him. It was terribly embarrassing but it upped his own status, despite being the second born son. His older brother, Lee Minhyuk, was an Alpha and so to have not only an Alpha but also an Omega meant that their genes were special, which made him all the more attractive to Alphas. 

Truthfully, he could care less if he was married to an Alpha or a Beta. Most of the people in his home were Betas, his own best friend was a Beta as well. From what he could tell, he was better off with a Beta, dull of senses but bright of wit, than some blundering oaf of an Alpha whose only concern was whether or not he could bear children and smelled nice. 

The door opened and shut pointedly, making Minho bury his head under the heap of blankets on his bed until only a tuft of hair could be seen. His senses picked up on a distinct set of footsteps and he began counting down mentally. 

3… 2… 1-

“Rise and shine, sleeping beauty! Get up! I know you’re awake. Your mother will have my head if she sees you still in bed. Get up, come on!” Minho groaned when the blankets were ripped off him, leaving him shivering. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, greeted by the sight of an already dressed Hyunjin sitting at the edge of the bed. 

“It’s so early.”

“It’s nearly 10 so that means we’re almost late. I still have to help you get ready. The maids already warmed your bath. Now, come on.” Minho was tempted to lay back down until Hyunjin would drag him off the bed and to the bathroom but as much as he hated to admit it, Hyunjin was right. His mother would be livid if he wasn’t up and dressed by now. He groaned, swinging his legs to the side before stumbling off into the bathroom. 

The maids helped him strip and began scrubbing him with warm water mixed with essences and oils. Most of them were non-scented to help keep his natural scent present. Minho let his eyes flutter shut, if this was his only chance at reprieve then he’ll enjoy it. 

Hyunjin had been with him for as long as he could remember. His family, the Hwangs, were long time friends of the Lees; they were basically brothers. When Minho presented, they could barely let him around Minhyuk who was still a young Alpha learning to control his urges. When they shipped him off to boarding school, Minho was all alone. They waited for Hyunjin to present as their family hadn’t seen an Alpha nor an Omega in their family tree for generations. When it was clear that as beautiful as Hyunjin was, he wasn’t going to be the Omega they had hoped for, he was taken in by the Lees to be with Minho. Minho isn’t sure what he would do without him. If it were possible, he’d gladly swap places with Hyunjin and he used to tell him that all the time when they were younger. Minho has the sense now to know how privileged that sort of thinking was, he still thinks there could be some sort of resentment there but Hyunjin is loyal. He was Minho’s right-hand and took care of him, was there through everything, so Minho strives to ensure they’ll both be taken care of by whoever his future spouse will be. 

His mother had been eyeing some of the families already, those with strong genes that come from a long line of Alphas. Minho knows what he’s worth, knows what he has been trained and bred for. But even if he was ‘just’ an Omega, his status and rarity offered him more leeway in picking a mate. Most people thought Minho would find a suitable mate at the start of the season but time and time again, every suitor had been turned down or ignored. He could get away with it, his mother may be cross with him but she was just as picky. It was far-fetched, but Minho wonders if he could survive the season without having to be paired off. Maybe his Alpha, his true mate, would suddenly show up next season. A silly romantic notion such as ‘true mates’ has been long since forgotten, though, dismissed as a childhood fairytale. 

In all honesty, Minho knew he was simply delaying the inevitable. Every suitor he’s met was exactly the same, a thick wall of aggression, dominance and hormones that assaulted his nose every time they got too close. Despite his complaints, he’s aware he’ll be married off anyway. His father suggests that maybe he’s just not used to an Alpha’s scent while his mother praised his apparent sensibilities. She was a contradiction to him. She told him to trust his nose when it came to these things and yet, she bases her decisions solely on status. Minho is sure if some duke or prince asked for his hand, it wouldn’t matter to his mother if he had to spend the rest of his life in a gas mask. 

Minho was broken out of his thoughts when someone knocked. The maids were rinsing him off and patting him dry. He stepped out of the tub, securing a robe around himself before exiting the bathroom. Hyunjin quickly ushered him out, giving him his undergarments before steering him into the adjoining room. 

There were panels of mirrors set up around a platform and chests full of fabrics spilling everywhere. The tables were littered with jewels and accessories. Since Minho wasn’t permitted to leave the home, everything had to be brought to him. They had a whole seamstress shop set up in the gigantic room. Hyunjin managed to usher him to the platform and he was descended upon by three different seamstresses. They all worked silently, the subtle scent of the dye they used to stain the fabric clinging to their Beta skin. Minho was staring unseeing at the mirror until Hyunjin’s reflection met his eye. Hyunjin walked around the women working furiously on his outfit until he was in front of him. 

“Are you alright? You seem… out of it.” Hyunjin’s voice was tinged with concern. Even if he was a Beta, he could sense Minho’s change in mood without the help of his scent. Minho’s lips curled slightly. 

“Yes, I’m fine.” They both knew that Minho was lying but that didn’t matter. He couldn’t not be alright today. There was too much to do and too little time to do it. 

“Minho…”

Minho rolled his eyes at Hyunjin’s tone. He was getting too good at reading him. 

“Yes?” 

Before Hyunjin could answer, the doors swung open and Minhyuk marched in. He was already fully dressed, a light sweat on his brow and Minho could tell from his scent he’d just come back from riding, if the smell of horse and grass was anything to go by. 

“Brother, what brings you here on this fine morning?”

“Well, Mother insisted I be present for the ball. Something something support, something something intimidation.” Minhyuk waved his hand dismissively, pausing to check the table with the necklaces. Minho snorted when Hyunjin seemed to forget about him and he snapped his fingers to break him out of his stare. Hyunjin blushed, swatting at Minho until they were silently scolded by the seamstress. 

“What she thinks your presence will do to help is beyond me.”

“Perhaps she believes I happen to be a better conversationalist than you.” 

“Perhaps she believes you happen to be more of an ass-kisser than me.”

Minhyuk growled low, a playful rumble that made Minho stick his tongue out in response. Minhyuk didn’t mind Minho’s crude language, if only it was just them in the room. Mother would have a stroke if she knew Minho said any of those words. Minhyuk returned Minho’s gesture in kind before rolling his eyes and approaching the platform. The seamstresses all quickly dispersed. 

Even if they were Betas, Minhyuk’s Alpha presence went beyond his scent. He naturally exuded the charisma and charm that every Alpha was taught to have. He was assertive and naturally dominant, although he had admitted that Minho was just as assertive as he was to their mother’s distaste. Minhyuk was every bit the Alpha his family hoped he would be, and an equally caring older brother to Minho. He was protective but since he’d mated, he’d been less possessive of their family’s Omega. Minho sometimes wishes he could get away with just living with his brother and his mate, free to do what he wanted, but alas, he could not. 

Minhyuk eyed him from head to toe. He glanced at Hyunjin who was standing to the side, smiling kindly. Minho held back a snort when Hyunjin’s face flushed at the attention. He always had a heartbreakingly obvious crush on Minho’s older brother. Minho could see Minhyuk’s nostrils flaring, sensing the undeniable subtle sourness in his scent. 

“It’ll be okay, Minho. I won’t let Mother force a mating on you. I promise.” Minhyuk looked deep into Minho’s eyes, brows furrowed with concern. Minhyuk shared the same distaste for the Alphas in the ton as Minho, mostly because he knew them all personally from a special Alphas only club. Minho smiled, but tiredness lined his eyes as Minhyuk cupped his cheek. His scent offered Minho comfort, it wasn’t as offensive to his nose as other Alphas. Minho let his eyes flutter shut as Minhyuk brought his head down to his neck, letting Minho scent him. Luckily, Minhyuk’s mate wasn’t overly possessive and  they both shared equal care and concern for Minho. 

Minho took one deep steadying breath before straightening up. Both of them knew that even if Minhyuk promised to help him, nothing would persuade their mother if she decided on a suitor. Minho knew from day one it wasn’t his choice to make, wasn’t his burden to bear. His marriage meant security and status, a good marriage would ensure that he kept the lifestyle he was used to. Minho shudders inwardly when he recalls the savagery of the old mating rituals. Mating runs, where omegas were forced to run naked in the forest to wait for an Alpha to find and claim them. Back then, they had no luxury of choosing and Minho is grateful for the opportunity he has now. Still, he wished that some day, in the future, his life would be his own. 

The seamstresses worked all morning. After shooing away his brother, with the assurance that he would return to come pick them up for the ball, everyone worked furiously to prepare him. Hyunjin knew Minho’s tastes better than anyone and guided what colors and fabrics were to be used. Minho smiled gratefully and kept his mouth shut. Every Beta in the room knew that they were to limit their interactions with Minho, save for Hyunjin. They had him fitted for his evening dress and once they were done, they were ushered out. 

Minho barely had time to breathe as Hyunjin quickly helped dress him. He was given only a small sandwich from the kitchens and was munching on cookies that Hyunjin managed to smuggle. Hyunjin helped him into his under shirt, the soft billowy fabric more closely resembled a chemise. He was fitted with a stay, cinching his waist just enough to accentuate his figure. Minho braced himself over the table, gripping the edge as Hyunjin pulled hard. Once the ordeal was over, he was given a gorgeous silk shirt. It was a deep royal purple that looked great on his skin. Tight fighting trousers hugged his figure and to top it all off, a modified tail coat. 

To signify his status, Omegas like Minho were given long, sweeping trains that mimicked a gown. His tailcoat was velvet, and the train trailing behind him was heavy, almost a cape. Minho hated how it weighed him down, like it was the metaphorical burden he had to carry made real. 

Hyunjin gave him one last piece to complete his outfit: a pair of elbow length silk gloves. One of the most important lessons that was drilled into Minho from a young age was that he was not allowed to have skin on skin contact with an Alpha, lest they accidentally imprint on him. Minho had been fitted with gloves since he was a small child and grew accustomed to them. The ones he wore now were simple, expensive but nothing flashy. 

Hyunjin was most talented at painting his face. It was subtle. Unlike the other Omegas who chose to paint their faces with bright pops of rouge to catch an Alpha’s attention, Hyunjin paid more attention to his eyes. He drew a smokey outline with charcoal, dusting it with some glitter to make his eyes sparkle. He powdered on a light blush on his cheeks for color and outlined his perfectly shaped cupid’s bow with something close to nude, finishing off with a gloss. Minho side eyed Hyunjin, watching him silently until Hyunjin met his eye. He smiled, eyes turning to crescents before he moved from Minho’s line of sight. He didn’t need to do much with Minho’s hair as it was short. Parting it and sweeping back to show one side of his forehead was enough, according to Hyunjin, to frame his face. 

Omegas were thought to be naturally beautiful to the eye, it was why most people believed Hyunjin was an Omega until they noticed the lack of a scent. Minho is aware now that Omegas have always taken  great lengths to maintain an image of beauty and perfection.

By the time they were finished, it was already late afternoon. Hyunjin helped Minho up, running off to his bedroom to grab his perfume. Hyunjin needed to get dressed quickly as he was also Minho’s chaperone. Minho rarely went to a ball without him, even if Hyunjin wasn’t allowed in the main part of the hall.

Minho could see the carriages begin to roll in, stopping in front of the houses. 

The carriages were marvels to him. They were made of pure metal and woodwork that emitted white plumes of smoke that would drift off into the sky. The driver sat  in a plush seat that extended  in the front of the main body. Minho knew from his books that they were powered by steam engines. This carriage, in particular, was outfitted with the bust of a horse. The eyes glowed like embers and the nostrils emitted steam. Minho was amazed at how they looked as if they had life in them, that they could breathe and neigh like a real horse. It was probably what excited Minho the most of the season. Being able to go outside and see the world, ride in a carriage with no horse present, to see the flying ships he spied through his window curtains.

The bell rang, and the two of them quickly made their way downstairs. 

As it was a private ball for Minho, Minho’s mother was given the privilege of renting out the Duke’s estate. As the Duke had retired to the countryside, the whole estate was used instead to hold huge banquets and balls for the ton . It was a grand old building. Both Minho and Hyunjin stared in awe from the window of their carriage when they rode up to it. It looked like a castle, it was massive.

They had spared no expense; the whole place had been nearly remodeled to his mother’s liking. There were dozens of flower arrangements, a special mix that would help enhance Minho’s scent. The decorations were ceiling to floor, hung on every wall. Even the garden outside was littered with whatever his mother could think of. 

Hyunjin helped Minho out of the carriage, gathering his train as the two made their way up the steps. True to his word, Minhyuk had arrived with only a few minutes delay. which to their mother meant that he was beyond late. His mate, Seo Eunkwang, was not with him as he needed to stay in bed due to the birth of their child. Minho wished Eunkwang could see this, but he imagines that both he and Minhyuk have had their fair share of balls. 

Their steps echoed in the halls, looming archways almost like a cathedral that were wrapped in blooming flowers. Everyone seemed to be utterly focused on finishing their work; they had managed to amass an army of Betas working non-stop. Minho even managed to sniff out the kitchens, cooking up delicious food that he would barely get to taste later. There were paintings depicting glorious scenes of war and battle, portraits of the family, and gorgeous landscapes. They stopped in front of the double doors leading into the gallery, open wide as the servants moved in and out to carry chairs and tables. In the center of it all was Minho and Minhyuk’s mother, Lee Minji, barking orders. 

Despite being a Beta, their mother was every bit the domineering Omega as she should have been. Minho thinks he gets it from her, his assertiveness despite the supposed natural meekness of an Omega. Their father was an Alpha who scandalously fell in love and married their mother, a Beta. Her family’s wealthy status didn’t matter to the rest of the ton, who spent most of their time gossiping about her until the day Minhyuk presented as an Alpha. Her children were both her pride and joy.

Minji turned to the door and beckoned them over. 

“Ah, Minho, you look lovely.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Minji smiled, cupping his jaw, and turned his face slightly from side to side as if to appraise him. She gave him a light kiss on the nose before turning to Minhyuk. Minhyuk smiled before she slapped him on the chest. 

“And you, nearly making your brother late because you were off gallivanting with your poor excuse for company.” Minho bit his lip, holding back the laughter that threatened to escape him. It was rude to simply burst out laughing or snort in public. Minhyuk rubbed his neck in embarrassment. 

“Mother, you know, that wasn’t what I— Eunkwang is on bed rest. I was simply having a drink—” Minhyuk was cut short as Lee Minji held her hand up to stop him.

“I do not wish to know any details. Besides, you are here now and so is Minho. That is all that matters.”

Minho smiled wryly. Behind him, he could feel Hyunjin curl in on himself. He wasn't comfortable with Minho’s mother simply because she thought the two were much too close, but his father sided with Minho in keeping Hyunjin with them, so his mother could not object too much. 

The group made their way deeper into the hall, the staff stopping them occasionally  to ask for approval. Lee Minji had a vision for Minho’s ball and she was determined to bring it to life. Minho sometimes thought that his mother was living out the fantasy life of the Omega she wished she was through him. He didn’t mind too much, he loved his mother and if it helped fulfill a part of herself that felt neglected, Minho was more than happy to grin and bear it for his mother’s happiness. 

The sun set sooner than Minho expected, and the estate looked even more breathtaking at night. The chandeliers were lit, and they even had one fashioned for the pavilion outside. There were candles everywhere, looking like fireflies lining the hallways. The fountain out front was turned on, flower petals and lights floating on the water’s surface. It looked unreal, almost like a dream,  but this was Minho’s reality. This was his life, lavish parties and expensive gowns and enough food to feed a whole country. Minho mused that his mother was probably expecting even foreign dignitaries to visit; why else would she risk burning through all of their father’s money for one ball?

The rest of the carriages soon arrived, all of different shapes and sizes. Some were similar to the one Minho rode, one driver with a metal horse bust in the front attached to the engine, while others were more whimsical. One looked like a normal carriage except the body was taller than the usual kind because it had two levels. The lower level held the parents, and there were benches on top for the children to sit under the night sky.. The chimney was slim, sending plumes of smoke above. There was another carriage that didn’t even touch the ground, tethered to an actual horse. The driver sat astride the horse while above him was a giant balloon, similar to a miniature blimp that carried the body of the carriage off the ground. Some carriages looked sleek and slim, more suited for speed than grandiosity, while others looked like a gazebo on wheels; there was even a steam palanquin on six legs. 

Minho watched wistfully from an upstairs window as he wasn’t yet allowed to mingle with the rest. His scent permeated the bedroom he was in. Though he wasn’t anywhere near his preheat, the amount of Alpha pheromones in the estate was making him react subconsciously. He sighed, getting up from where he was sitting and dusting off his coat. He put his gloves back on, always had to make sure they were on. Hyunjin knocked gently at the door before entering. 

“Hey, it’s almost time.”

Minho stared at himself in the mirror. Hyunjin brought out a handkerchief, dabbing carefully around Minho’s hairline. 

“I can tell that you’re nervous.” 

“No, I’m not.”

Hyunjin scoffed, tucking the cloth away before straightening Minho’s clothes out. 

“Please, I don’t need to smell your scent to know that much.” 

“I just… everything changes tonight, you know that, right?”

It was the dreaded truth of the matter. This season had to end with Minho finding a suitable mate. He was in his prime, and many of these Alphas would get snatched up in the end, leaving him with only the stragglers if he chose to deny them all. His mother made sure that this private ball, as grand as it was, was exclusively for him. Only the most pedigreed families and eligible  Alphas were present, no other Omegas. Somewhere inside this building, in the ballroom teeming with people, was his future partner and mate. An Alpha that his parents found suitable and trustworthy, capable of providing Minho with the life they believed he deserved. One with status and wealth; one that Minho may not even love. 

It was silly. Love was never in the equation for most high society  marriages. Minho had asked once when he was a child if his mother loved his father. She had taken him in her arms, rubbing his neck and petting his hair. She told him that love came later, that it would come with time and he and his future mate would learn to love each other , like his parents had learned.

Minhyuk was an exception, of course. He had grown up with Eunkwang, childhood friends that were promised to be married once Eunkwang presented as an Omega. Minho was happy for him, and fiercely jealous. He wanted that; in spite of the apparent cynicism he’d inherited  from his mother, he still wanted that. Every Omega dreamed of finding their true mate, their Alpha. But true mates were only ever found in stories. Minho doubts there ever was such a couple. 

He was also worried about Hyunjin. Hyunjin was his right hand, his Beta. It was entirely possible that his future Alpha would deny Hyunjin staying with them. If Hyunjin would not be permitted to stay with him, Minho feared his mother would cast him out.

Minho gripped Hyunjin’s hands, holding them tight. Hyunjin looked up, surprised at the action. The two of them stared into each other’s eyes, breathing in each other’s presence. Minho touched Hyunjin’s cheek, leaning his forehead against Hyunjin’s. He couldn’t even promise safety or security to Hyunjin, that’s how unknown his future was in spite of all the planning his mother had done. Hyunjin took a shuddering breath before pulling away, smiling at him through teary eyes. 

“Well, shall we?” Hyunjin offered his arm and Minho wordlessly took it, letting him guide them out of the room. 

Minho knew his scent would sour if his nerves got the best of him, so he straightened his back, steeled his resolve, and took a deep breath. Below him, he could hear the tinkling of glasses and the idle chatter. The lights did wonders for the atmosphere, making it feel like he had stepped out of a dream. He could hear the string quartet begin to play, and the rest of the ensemble could be heard outside. He spotted his mother by the foot of the grand staircase on the arm of his father. They both looked just as opulent as the venue. They caught his eye and Minho nodded. His mother smiled before rousing the quartet into their next song, an introduction for Minho. 

The crowd quieted down as the strings swelled. Hyunjin squeezed Minho’s hand, giving him a determined look. Minho smiled and took a deep breath before letting go. Everyone turned their attention to the stairs as Minho stopped for a moment at the top. His mother always told him first impressions mattered, and this entrance would be the grandest first impression he would ever make. 

The party went on exactly as Minho had predicted it would. He took his mother’s arm lightly as he reached the bottom of the stairs and  she began to parade him around the room. He was mindful to exude just enough of his own pheromones to allow the Alphas a whiff of his scent but not too much, a tease that would leave them wanting more. His mother taught him that little trick, though how she knew how it worked, he would never know. 

Afterwards, he danced with his brother, and then they were joined by the others in attendance. The only Omegas that were present were already mated, and the rest were Betas who couldn’t even hope to steal any of the Alphas’ attention, even if they did dance with them. Minhyuk held onto Minho’s hand for as long as he could, but their mother was giving them a death glare. He sent Minho an apologetic smile , bowing before letting Minho move on to the next Alpha who wanted a dance. 

Minho gritted his teeth, swept his train back and allowed the Alpha to take him in his arms. He could already sense the line of other Alphas waiting for their turn. Minho kept his lips sealed as his dance partner  prattled on about the houses or businesses or estates he would inherit if they married. Minho couldn’t be bothered to care, he simply let the music take him and move his limbs as he spun like a ballerina on a music box. 

“You have a wonderful scent.”

Turn. 

“Your hair looks lovely tonight.”

One step, two. 

“Your skin is so soft, so well taken care of.”

Turn, one step.

“You smell like my mother’s garden.”

One, two step.

“Your hips seem so w-”

Turn and dip-

“What?” Minho dug his heels and dragged the current Alpha to a stop. The man seemed shocked at the suddenness of his actions and the sharpness of his voice. 

“I- I meant-”

“What? What did you mean?” Minho’s eyes narrowed into slits and his scent suddenly turned bitter. The Alpha was quick to retract the hand he had placed on Minho, the hand that seemed wide enough to span his whole waist. Minhyuk spotted the two and realized the others around them were getting antsy at Minho’s irritated scent, and quickly stepped in to diffuse the situation. 

“Minho, there you are. Mother is looking for you. She wanted to introduce you to someone.” Minhyuk shoulder checked the Alpha to move him out of the way. Though the man was bigger than Minhyuk, he was stunned, and didn’t react as Minho was whisked away. 

“You’re lucky Mother didn’t actually see the stunt you just pulled.” 

“Not my fault. He was trying to tell me my hips are wide. As if I’d ever give birth to his children.” Minho rolled his eyes, turning his nose up. He detested that part of his identity, hated how an Omega’s worth was still measured by how fertile they were, like this was still the prehistoric period. Every Alpha he’d ever met was just some neanderthal in a nice suit. Minhyuk tsked at his childish behavior, pinching his nose. 

“Still, Mother told you not to lash out, remember? You’re meant to be on your best behavior, or this whole ball will be pointless.”

“It already is…”

“You know what I mean.” 

Minho remained quiet as the two made their way towards the tables stacked with food. He could feel his stomach rumble, and his mouth began to pool with saliva, as he realized he had barely eaten all day. The treats were all shapes and sizes, some stacked on towers while others were on the smallest plates he had ever seen. Minho leaned over and took a deep breath, trying to sate his hunger as much as he could with just the scent of the food. 

“Why don’t you just take one?”

Minho nearly jumped in shock at being addressed directly, but his manners had been so ingrained that he knew how to school his emotions properly. He straightened back up, turning his back  to the man who had spoken to him. Minhyuk had a member of the staff whispering in his ear, and he looked increasingly worried. Minho cocked his head in question. 

“It’s Eunkwang, isn’t it?”

Minhyuk looked up at him, already apologetic at leaving him alone to fend for himself. Minho may not have been mated, but he understood the need to go to his mate. Minho shooed the staff off, placing a firm hand on Minhyuk’s arm.

“Go, I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m an adult now. I’ll be alright.” Minho smiled, nudging Minhyuk. He still seemed reluctant to go, but he acquiesced and stopped at  their parents’ table before exiting the hall. 

Minho took a deep breath. He was on his own now.

 Suddenly he remembered there was someone else who was by the tables with them. Minho turned to address the man who had spoken to him, but he was gone, leaving only a faint whisper of a scent behind. Minho wasn’t sure why he felt some type of disappointment, but he shook it off. He needed to focus. Taking one last look at the sweet tarts that were calling out to be eaten, he turned to head back into the crowd, but he nearly slammed into someone. Minho was rarely flustered, prepared with an apology on the tip of his tongue, but then a scent hit his nose. 

The smell of burnt rubber and tobacco made him nauseous, and what was worse was how it seemed to envelope all of his senses. It was so strong that he was terrified he might go blind. Taking a breath through his mouth, Minho straightened up and smiled at the man he’d had the misfortune of running into. 

“Lord Park, how lovely it is to-”Before Minho could finish, the pungent man in front of him grabbed his hand. His muscles tensed, partly resisting the unwelcome touch, until he spotted his mother looking over at them. He grimaced before forcibly relaxing, allowing the much older man to kiss his gloved hand. 

“You are much lovelier, I assure you.”

If it was possible, the smell from Lord Park’s mouth was even worse than his scent. Minho desperately wanted to leave, but he knew that if he was rude to the man, he’d risk the wrath of his mother. 

Lord Park was one of the oldest unmated Alphas. His wife, Lady Park, had passed away a few seasons ago, which made him an (unfortunately) eligible bachelor. Barring his age and all around unpleasantness, Lord Park was an extremely good prospect for a husband. He owned a good number of merchant ships, floating in the skies and the waters. He was exceedingly wealthy, and had yet to sire an heir to his fortune. His wife had unfortunately died in childbirth, and the baby had not survived; the gossip mill said that Lord Park was neither present nor cared much about what had happened.

For all intents and purposes, Lord Park’s apparent interest in Minho was good. It meant that he was an attractive enough prospect to be eyed by such a successful Alpha. Despite the implications, Minho felt a ball of lead drop into his stomach at the thought of even being close to the older Alpha. 

Minhyuk usually warded off unwanted attention from Alphas for Minho, as they tended to respect fellow Alphas more than an Omega’s protests, but Minhyuk wasn’t there. Minho couldn’t rely on him anymore; he had a family to take care of. Minho was alone.

He wanted to slap the Alpha’s hand away, but he schooled his features, trying to reign in any bitterness in his scent before the older man’s dulled senses took notice.  Suddenly, a waiter stumbled into one of Lord Park’s servants who then bumped into Lord Park himself, knocking into his cane and making him lose his balance. In Minho’s shock, he didn’t notice that the Alpha had gripped his hand more tightly and grabbed onto his glove, dragging it with him and leaving Minho’s hand bare. Some of the waiters began to move towards them hurriedly, and concerned chatter began to fill the air. Minho was still frozen, unsure of what to do, when he felt a hand roughly grab his wrist. His eyes widened at the contact, and he whipped his head around to see who had grabbed him. 

“Come with me.” 

Without waiting for a reply, the man quickly dragged Minho off into another room, escaping from the concerned crowd. No one noticed the two slip away. The room they ended up  in was empty save for the massive paintings hung on the walls. Minho was still in shock, watching as the man quickly shut the door behind them. 

“Okay, I don’t think anyone saw us. Are you-” 

Slap!

Before he could finish speaking, Minho slapped him clear across the face. Minhyuk had told him before that he had quite the heavy hand, and the man was stunned, cupping his cheek as it bloomed red. He looked at Minho in shock, betrayed.

“Ow! What was that for?” The man pouted, rubbing his rather chubby cheek. Minho’s eyes blazed, tightening his fist to hold back from punching the man outright. This Alpha could still overpower him if he wanted to. 

“You-! You fiend! You dragged me here, trapping me in this room with you- you, what are you going to do with me?!” Minho raised his voice, hoping someone outside would hear them. The Alpha looked confused. 

“Wha-? Huh? But I just saved you from that Alpha-”

“You fiend! You… you… grabbed me…” 

Minho’s eyes bulged, staring at his arm as it dawned on him; his glove was gone. This strange Alpha had touched his bare skin . His eyes snapped to the Alpha’s hands, noticing he was wearing fingerless gloves that looked like they were  made from some type of thick leather material. They were  a far cry from the usual fine leather gloves he would typically see on an Alpha of status. Minho realized belatedly that he hadn’t really looked at the man in front of him. 

The Alpha was around the same height as Minho. He was broad shouldered, but the lines of his suit tapered down to his waist, making it look slimmer than that of most Alphas his age. His hair was ash blonde, swept back to one side while the other fell over his face. Another noticeable feature was the fact that he was wearing an eye patch. His visible eye was beautiful, though, from what Minho could see. Minho knew he was an Alpha, but even his Omega nose  had difficulty in identifying his scent. There was something chemical mixed into it, like it was tainted with something that made Minho’s primal brain mad. The Alpha’s natural scent was spicy, though, tickling his nose with its sharpness. He could taste a hint of cinnamon, and it made his mouth water. Alphas didn’t usually smell that appealing to Minho. 

Minho’s lashes fluttered, his nostrils flaring. He’d never been alone with an Alpha in such a secluded area before. Absent of any other people and scents, Minho could focus on the strange man in front of him. And that... that was dangerous. Minho quickly snapped back to his senses, still clutching his bare arm close to his chest. This was bad, the Alpha had barely touched him, but he was already so affected.

The Alpha looked less distressed and more confused at Minho’s silence. He got up slowly, putting his hands up in a placating manner. 

“Are you… alright? I-” The Alpha’s eyes dropped to where Minho was clutching his hand, and he saw the look of recognition in his eye. “Oh, I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to grab you. I must have scared you. Did I… hurt you? Does it hurt?”

His voice was soft, washing over Minho in a way that didn’t grate on his senses. Minho kept his distance, and the Alpha seemed to pick up on the fact that he was uncomfortable. Minho’s scent spiked, turning bitter as he backed away until he hit the wall. 

This was bad. Not only had the Alpha shut them both in a room alone, he had also touched Minho’s bare skin. That meant that he might as well have imprinted on him. His mother would kill him if she smelled a whiff of an Alpha on him. Imprinting was a prelude to mating, and this Alpha hadn’t even made a proposal for his hand. This would stain Minho’s reputation, it would bring shame to him and his family.

Except this Alpha was the least aggressive Alpha Minho had  ever come across. He looked genuinely worried, and his scent was glaringly obvious. He kept his distance and looked almost as panicked as Minho was.

Minho steeled his nerves; this was fine. He would get through this. Besides, it was like the Alpha said: he did save him from the atrocity that was Lord Park. 

“I’m… alright.” 

The Alpha froze, staring at him. He looked so young and boyish, and Minho wondered if he was even of age. Perhaps he was a sibling or a cousin, but why would a family bring an ineligible Alpha to this ball? To increase their chances? Doubtful. He didn’t look nearly as mature as the others, he didn’t even look familiar though that was normal for Minho, as he was rarely allowed to socialize prior to this season. 

“Thank you, for earlier.” Minho smiled, forcing himself to drop his arms. He needed to adopt a sense of calm. It would do him no good to show so much weakness when he already looked so improper in front of this Alpha; he needed to save face. The Alpha, on the other hand, was still staring at him which was not out of place at all. Minho was used to the staring and the attention, but it was a little disappointing. He had hoped this Alpha would look beyond his alluring scent and see Minho as himself. But then again, he was an Alpha. 

“I apologize for hitting you. I was… I panicked. Are you hurt?” Minho took a step forward, reaching his gloved hand out, but the Alpha jumped backward.  “I- oh…”

Minho was confused at the strange behavior. Alphas weren’t typically the jumpy sort. The Alpha’s scent was still muddled for him, the unfamiliar chemical smell blanketing  the enticing scent. The Alpha’s nostrils flared, and he kept backing away slowly as Minho continued to walk towards him. 

“Are you feeling alright? Do you need a doctor?” Perhaps the Alpha was sick, Minho wasn’t entirely sure. He’d never encountered this smell before. It was dulling and left an awful taste in his mouth. He wanted nothing more than to strip it away and have the pure scent of this Alpha instead. Minho cocked his head to the side, feeling the way his train dragged behind him as he drew closer to the Alpha. It was a strange exchange of positions that Minho had never experienced before. 

“I-I’m fine.” The Alpha cleared his throat, smiling. His scent spiked, even beneath the fog that covered it. Minho realized that the Alpha was nervous. How terribly juvenile that Minho’s mere presence has caused an Alpha of his status to lose his footing like this. Minho almost wanted to puff his chest out at how much sway he had over this young Alpha. 

“Are you sure?”

“Y-yes, of course. Ah- um, I…”

“Do I make you nervous?” Minho’s voice curled with his lips. He didn’t feel at all nervous like he had before; he was at ease with this strange Alpha.

The Alpha licked his lips, his eyes darting towards the door. 

“Of course not.” 

“Really? I’m not quite sure I believe you,” Minho teased. He actually teased! He’d never allowed himself to be this playful before, and he found that he rather enjoyed being a minx, as his mother would call them, for once. 

“You… can tell?” The Alpha looked more and more nervous, like he had just realized the gravity of the situation he had put the two in. Minho was an unmated Omega and this was an Alpha whose scent was spicy and full-bodied. Minho was well aware that a scent reflected one’s personality. One could easily read a person if they just knew how, and Minho was trained early on in how to do just that. 

“Of course I can. It’s just us here. I can smell you from all the way over here.” Minho gestured vaguely towards the empty room. It was quite pleasing to tease someone; Minho found this so much more enjoyable than having to sit around and wait modestly for an Alpha to notice him, or having his mother pawn him off to some rich man. He wasn’t  usually like this, but something was spurring him on, making him act this way. 

“But you don’t smell like…” The Alpha’s voice trailed off as his nostrils flared.

Minho felt it before he smelled it. It was like a slap in the face, a wall of pheromones hitting him almost physically. The Alpha’s scent came at him in full force, no chemical trace of any sort, just pure spice tickling his nose. It smelled like cinnamon and nutmeg, something nutty and spicy mixed together. Minho froze, unsure of what to do. His body subconsciously pumped out more pheromones than he intended to before he noticed and tried to stop before embarrassing himself any further. His vanilla scent wafted in the air, the floral undertones of chamomile more potent now. Minho had never smelled his scent like this before; this was new. It was never this potent, and never in response to an Alpha.

The Alpha was now unabashedly scenting the air, his one visible eye darkened as his gaze focused on Minho. 

“I-” Minho’s head was spinning. This was a mistake. He shouldn’t have played with fire. Flirting with an Alpha as an unmated Omega was dangerous, and Minho knew that, yet here he was toying with this stranger. The Alpha began to step forward, his stance changed somewhat. He looked much more imposing now, completely absent of any of the previous traces of immaturity. Minho felt his heart race, a blush staining the tips of his ears. His scent hadn’t soured, though; in fact, it turned sweeter, which Minho knew couldn’t be better. 

“You’re…” 

The Alpha strode up to him, and before Minho knew it, was an arm’s length away. Minho held his breath. His legs locked, and he was stuck. His knees nearly buckled under the weight of the Alpha’s aura, but Minho held firm. He had heard before that Omegas would swoon under the weight of an Alpha’s pheromones if they were aggressive enough, and he refused to let this stranger witness such ridiculousness. He  took short breaths through his mouth, trying to look unaffected when the Alpha stopped in front of him.

He was much closer than Minho had ever allowed anyone to be, outside of dancing. Even Alphas knew what an appropriate distance was, and this was definitely not it. Somehow, in Minho’s head, he felt attracted to how assertive this Alpha was being. He was breaking  the rules of propriety simply because he couldn’t help himself. As much as Minho despised aggressive Alphas, none of them had ever lost their head from Minho’s scent like this before. It made him feel powerful . 

“No wonder, of course, you’re… God, that’s why I…” The Alpha didn’t even seem to be talking to him, it was more like he was talking to himself as if he was only now making sense of everything.

Minho giggled softly, ducking his head. This silly little Alpha had completely lost his head over him, he could barely speak in full sentences. Minho fluttered his lashes, looking up at him as the Alpha’s gaze continued to rove over his form. 

“…you?” There was something about this Alpha that made Minho hang on to his every word. He wanted to know exactly what was going on in his head. He wanted to reach into his mind and pull the words out, hear it for himself. Minho had never wanted for things before, never to this extent. The Alpha was much, much closer now; they were nearly toe to toe. Like this, Minho could almost feel the heat from his body, the way his chest rose and brushed Minho’s. His heart was battering against his chest, so loud that he could hear it in his ears. The Alpha’s scent was all around Minho now, and it was the only thing that registered in his brain. 

“Your eyes look so beautiful. Like they have stars in them…” 

It felt like all the air in the room had been sucked out, dragged from Minho’s lungs unt his chest burned. His cheeks flushed, blush pink turning into a deep red as the Alpha lifted his hand and carefully swept Minho’s hair back. His fingers barely brushed the skin of Minho’s brow, and he seemed to almost be in a trance, staring at Minho unseeing. No Alpha had ever been so audacious as to touch the unmated Omega like this, to brush his hair back in such an intimate way as if he simply could not stand to stop himself. Minho let out a gasp, so soft that it would not have been  heard unless they were as close as together they were. The Alpha’s gaze snapped to his parted lips, his hand lingering as he tucked Minho’s hair behind his ear. Minho had to suppress the full body shiver that came from him touching the tip of his ear, from the searing point of contact between them. His hands twitched, and he didn’t know what to do with himself. 

This strange Alpha had complimented him, as Alpha were wont to do, except he hadn’t made a comment on Minho’s scent or any such superficial nonsense. He had looked deep into his eyes, as if everything that drew him to Minho existed in the swirling, dark pools. As if the reason he was enthralled was not because of the Omega’s biology, but because of Minho’s eyes. 

Minho had never had anyone look at him like this before. Even the Alphas that had danced with him hadn’t looked at him like this. Like they were helplessly drawn to him, like they needed him, like they hungered for him. 

“God, you… fuck.”  

The Alpha suddenly moved, nearly making both of them stumble on Minho’s train. He backed Minho up against the wall until he was  trapped there. Minho set a hand on his chest to keep their distance. This was moving too fast; it made Minho’s head spin, but it was clear that this Alpha was starting to lose his sense of self, and as much Minho was drawn to him, they couldn’t go much further. Outside these walls were a hundred people, some of whom were Alphas that would smell him from a mile away. They would know what happened here, and Minho’s stomach fluttered at the thought of something so scandalous.

The Alpha, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care all too much. He looked down at the hand Minho pressed against his chest. The touch wasn’t that strong. If this Alpha really wanted to, he could easily hold Minho down and do whatever he wanted.

But he didn’t; he kept his distance. Minho’s breathing was less ragged than the Alpha’s, but his heart was beating twice as fast. His fingers flexed against the Alpha’s shirt, and he could feel the power in his muscles. He felt a low rumble reverberate through the Alpha’s chest under his palm. He’d heard Alphas growl before, he had grown up with one after all,  but he’d never heard one like this. One that made his knees buckle and his legs shake. Minho was afraid this Alpha would soon lose all sense of propriety and ravage him right there. 

Wasn’t that a thought? To be taken so crudely by this strange Alpha he’d never met before.

His mother would have a conniption; she would be hysterical. Minho couldn’t find it in himself to care. He watched as his fingers curled, manicured nails digging into the Alpha’s chest as he gripped his shirt. The Alpha growled low, his forehead pressed against the wall next to Minho’s ear. His arms both supported his weight, but they were so close that Minho felt nearly drunk on his scent. He felt his stomach drop, biting his lip against the whimper that bubbled in his throat. He could feel his gut stir, tightening in a way that made him squeeze his thighs together. 

This was so inappropriate. This was absolute madness. Minho was acting like some promiscuous Omega that was absolutely fine with being ravaged in such a public setting. If anyone were to chance upon them, Minho’s reputation would be ruined. He would be finished, casting shame on him and his family name. Minho shut his eyes tightly; this was too much and it has gone too far. He needed to stop this now before they went past the point of no return. 

“W-wait-’ Minho turned away, flattening his palm and pushing with enough force to jar the Alpha. 

“Huh?” The Alpha slurred, like he was waking up from a dream. Perhaps he was; it felt like a dream to Minho, too. 

“Stop, please, I-” 

“Oh my god- I, shit!”

The Alpha suddenly flew backward with so much force that he lost balance and fell on his ass. He was flushed and disheveled; Minho only hoped he didn’t look the same. He ignored the way his stomach dropped and his chest tightened painfully as he slowly stepped further away. The Alpha remained frozen, staring at the ground, and Minho made his way to the door unimpeded. He gripped the knob, pausing only for a moment. He resisted the urge to turn and look at the Alpha, knowing if he so much as glanced at him, he would lose his resolve. He pushed open the door and escaped, leaving the strange Alpha and the dizzying encounter behind. 

Minho stumbled out into the garden, almost pushing his way through the crowd. He nearly gasped, lungs burning as he took in the fresh air to clear his head. He wanted to scream. What was he thinking? He had come dangerously close to an Alpha scenting him, imprinting on him. Who knows what might have happened if he stayed longer. It was so irresponsible of him to succumb to his primal urges. Minho was trained for years to be above such things, and in a moment of weakness, all his lessons had faded away.

He shook his head; it was in the heat of the moment. That was all. It was the first time Minho was alone with an Alpha, of course his body reacted that way. He was still an Omega, of course. Next time, he would be better prepared. Minho pushed down whatever instinct was making him yearn to run back into the arms of that Alpha and swim in his scent. He needed to focus. He was above such base instincts. He was better than that. 

Luckily, no one seemed to notice that something was amiss. Minho’s absence had gone thankfully unnoticed by those in attendance. He quickly downed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray and made idle chatter with those outside, the fresh air helping him clear his head. He was talking to a young couple when Hyunjin spotted him, catching his attention. 

“Hey! So, what do you think?” Hyunjin’s presence was a welcome intrusion. His plain, crisp Beta scent was refreshing to Minho’s overwhelmed senses. Hyunjin looped his arm around Minho’s and guided him away from the crowd. He was good at sensing when Minho was getting tired from sensory overload. He was still so accustomed to being around so many people at once. Minho was immensely grateful that Hyunjin was here, he would have lost his mind by now if he was alone. 

“Of what?”

“Of your suitors, of course. Has anyone caught your eye?” Hyunjin wiggled his brows, smirking. 

Hyunjin was always the more amorous of the two. He had felt attraction for Minhyuk when they were children. Minho had never understood,  because he knew Hyunjin wasn’t an Omega and didn’t understand how he could feel any sort of attraction towards an Alpha. Hyunjin simply said that he thought Minhyuk was cute, which Minho felt disgusted by. Such things didn’t matter to him, but Hyunjin explained that attraction didn’t just rely on scents.

As they grew older, they would hear rumors of unconventional mates, and as time went by, Minho had learned that love and attraction was unrelated to marriage. He didn’t need to be in love to marry, and he doubted  he would be in the future. He found it amusing hearing about the latest objects of Hyunjin’s affection, though, as Hyunjin had a freedom to like whoever he wanted to,  unlike Minho, who was bound by his duty and status  to be married to an Alpha. 

Minho had never felt attraction in the way Hyunjin would describe it until that night. The strange Alpha had given him butterflies, the very same kind Hyunjin would tell him about. He averted his gaze, but he was too late, and Hyunjin quickly caught his eye. 

“Oh my god, someone has. Well, who are they? Did you get their name?” Hyujin leaned forward, eyes bright and curious. They were sitting on a stone bench in the garden, away from the party. Minho’s chest felt heavy. In the mess of the encounter, he had forgotten to ask for the Alpha’s name. 

“No…”

Hyunjin’s smile dropped, looking equally as disappointed. 

“Oh, well… I’m sure they’ll be in the directory? Everyone here was personally invited by your mother, I’m sure we’ll find him.”

“Perhaps.”

Hyunjin patted his hand reassuringly. He was right, though - if he was a guest at  the party, then his name would have to be on the list. They could just go through all of the names until they found him. Except there were so many people at the party, they were bound to miss a few. It felt almost impossible, and Minho deflated further. Sensing this, Hyunjin pouted. 

“What was he like?” Hyunjin asked tentatively, but Minho was still lost in his thoughts. 

“Who?”

“The Alpha, silly.” Hyunjin shook his head, smiling at Minho’s absentmindedness. 

“He was… “ enthralling, hypnotizing. His scent was so tantalizing - Minho blushed. What was he thinking? He couldn’t just say such preposterous things out loud, even to Hyunjin. It was ridiculous. It was simply instincts that made him feel that way, nothing more. There was nothing special or note-worthy at all about the Alpha. Minho cleared his throat, looking away. “…alright, I suppose.”

“Oh… my… god. You like him. You like him, don’t you!” Hyunjin squealed, clapping happily. Minho’s eyes flashed, and he slapped Hyunjin’s knee. He was like an excitable child. 

“I do not! And keep your voice down, people are staring.” 

“Oops, sorry. No, but really,” Hyunjin snorted, covering his mouth as he peered around. True enough, a few guests looked over at the two but dismissed them just as quickly. Minho had to be careful, though. There was always an ear around to listen in on anyone who had anything worthy of the gossip mill. 

“I do not like him. Stop being so childish. We only just met.” Minho’s tone brooked no further argument. He crossed his arms, turning up his nose. Hyunjin rolled his eyes, clearly not believing him. 

“And yet you’re blushing like your mother’s roses in spring time.” 

“I- I am not!” Minho could feel his ears grow hotter. He hated how his body betrayed him like this. Hyunjin laughed, throwing his head back as he pointed. 

“You are! Oh please, please tell me about him. He must be handsome, if you’re so taken by him.” Hyunjin grabbed both his hands, his tone beseeching.

Of course Hyunjin was curious. Minho rarely showed any interest in any Alpha, or anyone at all for that matter. Minho clicked his tongue. He didn’t want to be reminded of the man nor of the fact that he was likely never going to see him again. Minho wouldn't be paired off with someone he actually liked, he knew he wasn’t that lucky. Still, some part of him wanted to tell Hyunjin, if only to speak him into existence, as if to prove that he was real and not some fantasy Minho had conjured up. 

“He… he is.” Minho blushed. The Alpha was handsome in a rugged sort of way. He wasn’t as clean and polished as the other Alphas that Minho had met. Hyunjin squealed, biting his lip hard to keep his voice down. 

“And was he strong?”

He was, probably. Minho hadn’t seen him flex his strength but he could feel from the muscles beneath his palm when he’d touched him that there was a hidden strength there. 

“…yes.” 

“What did he smell like?” Hyunjin’s eyes were so bright. Minho looked away, trying to recall the scent. It was so potent that it was still clear in his brain, seared into his mind. 

“Like… like freshly baked gingerbread. Cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg, It was so strong, you could almost taste the spice.” 

“Oh, wow.” Hyunjin seemed just as dazed as Minho was. Minho could relate, he’d never felt so taken by an Alpha’s scent before. The spice lingered on his skin and his clothes, and Minho almost wanted to sniff his hand to see if it smelled like him. 

“Spice? He must be a hot-blooded Alpha then.”

Minho’s gaze snapped up, his face blushing hotly. 

“Hyunjin!”

“I’m only teasing, calm down.” Hyunjin laughed, winking at him. Minho was still flushed, embarrassed at the thought of that Alpha and what his scent meant. Hyunjin wasn’t that far off from the truth; the Alpha was definitely assertive and hot-blooded. He seemed so full of passion and heat that even Minho was put in a spin. His clothes were starting to feel hot,a light sweat beading on his brow. Minho moved to fan himself, and Hyunjin gasped. 

“Your-! Your glove!”

Minho quickly drew his hand back. He had forgotten his hand was bare, having kept it in his pocket. Hyunjin hurriedly reached into his coat and brought out a dark pair of gloves, Minho’s usual pair. He helped him put them on, tucking the lone formal glove into his pocket. 

“I must have forgotten.”

“Did you… did that Alpha…?”

Minho blushed hotly at the tone of Hyunjin’s voice, implying that he had done something with the Alpha that would cause him to lose his glove. He slapped his arm, turning away. 

“Of course not! Don’t be silly! There was just an incident earlier, with Lord Park. He accidentally grabbed my hand as he fell and he… my glove came off.” Minho sniffed. He left out the part where the strange Alpha was actually the reason he was saved from having to deal with the dreadful old man. Hyunjin nodded, chastised, when suddenly Lee Minji appeared. 

“There you are! I have been looking everywhere for you! It's almost time for the main dance. Come inside. Oh my- look at your coat! It’s all dirty!”

Minho sighed, getting up and brushing himself off. He rolled his eyes at his mother’s hysterics. Hyunjin followed behind him quietly, avoiding Lee Minji’s attention. 

“Mother, it’s fine.”

“It most certainly is not! What were you even doing outside? You’re supposed to be getting to know your suitors. I saw Lord Park speaking to you, what happened?”

Minho bit his tongue. He had to resist the urge to express disdain for the older Alpha, clearly seeing his mother’s favor towards him. 

“There was an accident, he was… he fell.”

Hyunjin snorted behind him but quickly became quiet once more as Minho’s mother’s gaze snapped towards him. Minho smirked before schooling his features into something more neutral. He nudged his mother’s attention to the main floor and away from Hyunjin. 

The quartet began playing softly as the crowd parted. In the middle of the dance floor was a huge space. There were Alphas lined up waiting for  Minho, all of the suitors hoping for a chance to dance with him.

Minho squared his shoulders. This was important, he needed to focus. It was the main dance; he was going to get to meet each and every one of his suitors. This was the time to be discerning and smart. He needed to use his time with the Alphas wisely. They moved into a circle formation and Minho stood with the other Betas and mated Omegas who were to dance with the other Alphas. His mother signaled the quartet and they began the dance. 

Minho allowed the Alphas to speak as they danced, essentially selling themselves to him. Distantly, he hoped the strange Alpha from earlier was in the circle, but upon second inspection, he was not. Still, he hoped he would find an Alpha that was worthy enough to go up against Lord Park. His mother clearly favored the old man and Minho was desperate to find someone he liked better. The Alphas all spoke to him and Minho made a mental checklist, crossing out anyone who even had an inkling of something unsavory about them. 

There were quite a few Alphas, but there were some that didn’t bother to try dancing with him again, initially rejected by him early on. Minho smiled politely throughout the dance, listening to  a voice in his head that sounded somehow like Minhyuk, telling him that this Alpha was a gambler, this Alpha was a philanderer. He stayed polite, nodding and curtseying before being passed off to the next suitor.

It felt like the minutes dragged on and on as Alpha after Alpha attempted to woo him, but they were all the same to him. After such a heated and magnetizing encounter earlier, what hope could they have to impress Minho if they were all the same? 

Minho sighed internally, bowing once more. He was passed to another Alpha and mechanically moved into first position as the song flowed into something new. 

“You look bored.”

Minho snapped out his reverie. He hadn’t noticed he had completely zoned out. Straightening up, he blinked owlishly at the man in front of him. 

He was on the shorter side, close to  Minho’s height but definitely broader. His shoulders were wide, his sleeves tight across his arms. His eyes were warm, contrasting the typical frightening dominance in most Alphas. His soft, dark hair matched his warm eyes. He was smiling at Minho, like he was amused and not at all offended at his lack of interest. He even had two dimples, making him look even less threatening. 

“S-sorry, I was just-”

“Bored?”

The Alpha teased him lightly, chuckling. His voice was soothing, his gaze warm. His scent, though, was faint, Minho’s nose only smelling a whiff of something close to cocoa. Minho blushed faintly at being called out and  averted his gaze, refusing to answer. 

“It’s alright. Although, I would think you would be a bit happier. After all, this is your party, correct?” He turned Minho smoothly, his actions sure and confident.

Minho rolled his eyes before he could stop himself. He wasn’t usually so candid but this Alpha didn’t seem that aggressive of a suitor, nor was he as stuffy as the others, so Minho wasn’t yet put off by him. 

“Sure, my party.”

“Well, as far as I’m aware of. It was your name on the invitation.”

 Is he teasing me? Minho quirked his brow. Alphas weren’t typically this playful with him unless they were annoyingly arrogant, yet this one seemed to only want to lighten his mood. 

“Please, if this was truly my party, there would be much less fanfare and much more alcohol. This is more like a party for me, for my… future endeavors.” Minho’s tone was dismissive. The Alpha on the other hand frowned, furrowing his brow. 

“Future endeavors? Is that what you call them?”

“Of course. I’m not foolish enough to believe that any of this is more than a ploy to ensure a successful future.” It was the truth each and every Omega carried as soon as they debuted in their first season. It was a ruthless world Minho was born into, and he needed to make sure he and his legacy survived. 

“Well, that sounds bleak.” The Alpha scoffed. Minho was shocked, he sounded almost disappointed. They continued in a wide arc, stepping confidently in time to the change of song. 

“Excuse me?”

“You make it sound like a business rather than a marriage.” The Alpha was either tricking him or he was genuinely naive enough to think that everything they were doing was anything but a business deal. Minho’s eyes flashed, anger burning in his mind. Was this Alpha looking down on him? How dare he!

“Isn’t that what all marriages are?” Minho rolled his eyes and was just about ready to let go and move to the next suitor when the Alpha gripped his hand tight, drawing him close and putting  his arm around Minho’s waist as they turned. Minho gasped, now chest to chest with the Alpha. 

“Do you not believe in love?” 

Minho blinked. This close, the Alpha’s scent was much stronger. There was a hint of nuttiness, like hazelnut, mixed in with the rich, almost decadent scent of dark chocolate coming from him. The Alpha looked so earnest and almost sad that Minho had suggested such a thing. His eyes spoke with so much emotion that Minho needed to look away, but he couldn’t. The Alpha’s scent almost completely overpowered Minho’s own; he was overwhelmed. 

He never factored love into any of his decisions. His mother taught him that nothing good was ever decided by someone’s heart, only their mind. Smart decisions were not born from emotions; they were made with cold, hard facts.

Yet here was this Alpha, looking at him like he hoped against hope that Minho was nothing like that, as if he was heartbroken from the mere thought that Minho no longer believed in love. It was insane to think that there were still people who did, let alone an Alpha. An Alpha dressed in a sharp suit and covered in a tempting decadent scent, of a high enough status to be invited to the party. He wasn’t rude or repulsive; in fact, he was rather handsome, and seemed sweet. From his scent alone, Minho could tell that he was kind and warm. Minho’s lashes fluttered as he took a deep breath, perhaps he might actually have a chance at…

Minho shook his head, ridding himself of foolish thoughts, childish and naive thoughts that he did not have the time for. He exerted a bit of force, making some distance between them even though couldn’t find it in himself to let go of the Alpha just yet. 

“I have neither the time nor luxury for love. Everything is about capability.” And wealth . Status and reputation was everything to everyone he knew. Minho had to make sure he was more than perfect to ensure he stayed exactly where he was in society. He dreaded to think where on the streets he could end up if he chose incorrectly. 

“Hmm, I would think an Omega of your status would have the luxury to marry for love.”

“No one marries for love these days. Mating isn’t even about that. It’s all instinct.”

“Hmm, perhaps.” The Alpha nodded, looking deep in thought. Throughout their conversation, Minho’s irritation had fizzled out, replaced with melancholy. It was a dreadful topic that Minho didn’t typically like discussing. It brought a sour taste to his mouth, acknowledging his place and worth in this world. 

No one actually knew how mating worked, if anything beyond physical attraction was even part of it. Most couples claimed that love came after they mated, while other, more romantic thinkers suggested that people’s instincts knew who their true mate was, and if one followed their instincts, they would be led to them. Unfortunately, they didn’t live in that type of world anymore. Minho lived in a society with unwritten rules that bound him to his duty, and so did this eccentric Alpha. The song was coming to a close and the Alpha looked back at Minho, smiling apologetically. 

“Looks like our time is up.” He smiled wryly as if he were truly sorry that their time together had been cut short. Minho also felt himself deflate slightly at the thought of moving on to a new suitor. Something in him told him that he wouldn’t find another Alpha that was quite as comforting or calming as this one. A part of him didn’t want to let go, but they had danced for two songs already and if Minho showed too much favor, the others would get discouraged and his mother would have his head for giving them the wrong idea. 

“It seems so…” Minho couldn’t even keep the disappointment from his voice. His scent had turned heavy and sour and the Alpha seemed to pick up on this as his slightly large (yet attractive) nose twitched. 

He chuckled under his breath and in an unexpected move, he turned the two until they moved in a wide arc towards the center of the dancefloor. Minho let his body lead, leaning his head back as they moved. The turn made his tail coat fan out, and the Alpha led him in big, sweeping motions. Minho smiled, as the Alpha seemed to be more knowledgeable at dancing than most. He had never enjoyed a dance at a ball before; this was a first. The Alpha smiled brightly, deep twin dimples blooming as he lifted Minho up suddenly. Minho quickly recovered from the shock, pushing up before landing lightly on his feet. Their feet moved almost without thinking, perfectly in sync as the Alpha stretched his arm out. The two opened up and Minho spun out to the side, reaching a long elegant arm out towards the crowd. His eyes had fallen shut, a soft smile on his face as the music crescendoed and the Alpha pulled him back in. Minho was light on his feet as the arm around him wrapped around his torso, and he felt the Alpha dip him. Minho’s arms had moved automatically around his broad shoulders. His lashes fluttered as he opened his eyes and looked up to see the Alpha’s face close to his; his eyes were just as wide as he stared deep into Minho’s. 

Minho felt like he had been holding his breath this whole time, his heart racing. The Alpha’s eyes dipped down to his lips, and for one terrifying, exhilarating moment, he wondered if he would kiss him. It would be frighteningly easy to close the distance between them - just a drop of courage and Minho could lean forward and capture the Alpha’s lips. He would know what kissing felt like, if he tasted the same as he smelled, if his lips were just as sweet as the chocolate in his scent. The Alpha’s eyes were already half lidded, both of them almost compelled to lean into each other. The distance between them was disappearing, their breaths warming each other’s faces. Minho’s eyes fluttered shut, tilting his head to the side to slot their lips together when the music stopped.

Just like that the dream was shattered. 

Minho’s eyes flew open as the Alpha quickly straightened up, pulling Minho with him. Both of their faces were blooming hot, blushing from embarrassment. They were dangerously close to doing something as foolish as kissing, and yet Minho could only find disappointment in his mind as the Alpha took a step back and bowed, taking with him his comforting presence and warm scent. 

“I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

“I… hope so, too.” 

The Alpha bowed one more time before disappearing into the crowd. Minho was left on the dance floor alone, faintly touching his lips. His heart was still pounding in his ears. He turned and nearly pushed his way through the crowd to leave when his mother’s hand grabbed his wrist. She sternly pulled him to the side until they were off the main floor. 

“Minho! What is wrong with you?”

Minho ripped his arm away from his mother’s grasp. He could barely focus on her rage, too confused and still dazed from being in the prolonged presence of an Alpha that his Omega seemed to like. Lee Minji looked outraged, but maintained her composure as she hissed under her breath. 

“Lee Minho! You compose yourself right this instance! I heard what happened with Lord Park. You will go over there and apologize.” The name snapped Minho out of his daze. 

“Apologize? He’s the one who should be apologizing to me. Why should I? It isn’t my fault he fell over.” Minho tried to pull his arm out of his mother’s grasp but she was strong. 

“You will stop acting like a brat and apologize before it’s too late.”

“Too late for what, mother? For him to propose? I’m sure he doesn’t need to worry about that.”

“Minho-.”

“Oh, don’t act like you weren’t already discussing my dowry. I know this party is a sham. You already have your pick.” 

Minho ripped his arm away and stormed off, no longer caring if he was acting rude. He had felt so betrayed when he overheard his mother talking to his father about this very thing. It was late at night and Minho had gotten thirsty. He didn’t want to wake Hyunjin, so he went downstairs himself. As he passed his father’s study, he overheard their discussion. Surprisingly, his father was taking his side on the matter. He was an Alpha, and he understood the intricacies of mating and instincts. It was a bit scandalous after all, to be mated to someone who had been mated previously. It wasn’t as simple as marrying a divorced man, but his mother didn’t seem to care. She was a Beta; she’d never had to worry about factoring instincts and scents into her decisions. His father loved his mother of course, but that was both instinct and feeling. He knew how hard it would be if Minho was forced into a marriage to someone  he may not grow to love. His mother had argued that everyone else did it anyway, he would learn to live with it the same way they had. Minho had run back upstairs afterwards, and didn’t emerge from his room until midday. 

It was a terrible thing, to have all the wealth in the world and still not have the freedom people believed you had. The sweet, strange  Alpha that he had danced with was painfully spot on in how he’d interpreted Minho’s situation. It was bleak, and it was sad, but Minho refused to be made into some tragedy. He would strive to do his best to live. Perhaps once he was married, he would be able to study abroad, see the world... as long as that disgusting old man didn’t expect Minho to give him an heir in their first year of marriage. He touched his stomach briefly, almost like an afterthought, when he heard a piercing scream. 

“Help! Thief!” 

The party suddenly devolved into chaos as guards poured into the main hall. They seemed to be chasing someone, but Minho couldn’t see over the crowd. There were shouts and curses and Minho’s instincts kicked in. He needed to get to safety but the crowd moved against him, dragging him with them. He swore, worried for Hyunjin and his parents. Minho needed to get out of the hall.

When he was younger, his mother would tell him how precious he was and how there were people in this world who wanted him, bad people. When he got older, he learned more about how Omegas used to be sold off as slaves, how villages and towns were ransacked and pillaged for them, until they were almost wiped out, as many people chose to kill them instead. Minho knew exactly what an Omega like him was worth on the black market, and if there were thieves at the ball, they were here to steal the ultimate prize: him. 

The guards were pushing people aside as more and more of them poured into the room. The guests all scrambled in a panic, rushing out of the hall and into the garden. Minho joined the crowd as they left the hall, trying to blend in as much as possible. The flowers outside would be able to mask his scent, and the amount of people around would hopefully hide him. He removed his coat, throwing the heavy thing off and dropping it into the bushes. Minho craned his neck when he spotted Hyunjin by the door. He was about to shout his name when a loud bang rang out, leaving his ears ringing. Guests screamed, and there was a new wave of panic as they ran away from the fight. Minho felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on his head. 

Someone had brought a gun!  

Minho scrambled, suddenly terrified. There were people with guns at a private ball, and they were most likely here for him. He was terrified not only for his life, but his family’s too. Minho didn’t think twice as he began to push his way through the guests, moving against the crowd. He thought he spotted Hyunjin again and tried to go in his direction when someone shoved him hard, making him hit the wall. The air got knocked out of chest, leaving him gasping. Minho doubled over as he coughed, stumbling into a corridor. There was a crash somewhere, and Minho guessed from the sound that they had shot at one of the chandeliers. There were more screams, and Minho stumbled into an empty hallway, grateful to have found the deserted area. He leaned against the wall and tried to catch his breath. Minho wasn’t exactly sure where he was, but he guessed it was where the guards had initially come from. 

The hallway was completely empty as the guests had been ushered to the other side for the exit. Minho walked along the corridor until he spotted a staircase. He could probably exit from here; it must have led to the servant’s exit where the carriages all were. Minho could find his carriage and wait there. If the thieves couldn’t find him, maybe they’d give up and leave. Minho only hoped they wouldn’t take his family instead.

He was nearing the staircase when a familiar scent hit his nose. Without even thinking, Minho breathed deeply, his lashes fluttering as he inhaled the spicy scent. In a flash, his mouth watered as he tasted the cinnamon in the air. Minho’s heart began to sing, his pulse racing as he realized who it was. He hated how his Omega already seemed so attached to the Alpha, considering that they had just met. Nonetheless, Minho felt relieved.  He wasn't sure why, but he trusted the strange Alpha, and decided to follow his nose and look for him. 

Minho descended the stairs, quick steps echoing as he followed the scent that seemed to be fading. He picked up his pace, turning a corner when he smelled a sudden sharp twinge in the Alpha’s scent. It had soured so fast that it made Minho’s head spin. The Alpha was either scared or panicking as well, making Minho’s emotions a mess. He broke out into a sprint, distressed that the Alpha had gotten hurt in the commotion. His instincts were in overdrive as he turned corners, blindly following the scent. He was nearly sick with worry, terrified he would be too late to help the Alpha when he slammed into someone. 

They both fell to the ground, groaning in unison. Minho shook his head, trying to clear the spots from his vision. He turned and realized it was the Alpha he had been looking for! His heart soared as he took in the man, who was rubbing his head in pain. 

“Fuck! That hurt! You ass-… oh my god, it’s you.” The Alpha looked just as shocked as Minho felt before quickly moving to help him up. He seemed worried, looking Minho over for any injuries. “Are you alright? Did I hurt you?”

Minho nodded numbly, still a bit shaken. The Alpha was still holding his arms, seeming distracted by his worry. Minho’s Omega, on the other hand, preened at his attention and concern. The Alpha’s scent changed into something less sour, and Minho was amazed at how fickle his scent could be. It filled his chest with warmth, and he couldn’t help himself as his own scent responded in turn. The Alpha looked at his face, brows still furrowed with worry as he lightly touched Minho’s skin. 

“Oh my… your cheek…” he murmured, his thumb swiping just below Minho’s cheekbone. There was a dull throb of pain; Minho guessed there was a bruise forming, but it all seemed to disappear as his heart raced, blood rushing in his ears. The Alpha was still wearing fingerless gloves, which meant that his bare fingertips were brushing against Minho’s skin. Minho felt hot, flushing furiously as his arms burst into gooseflesh. He’d never been touched so intimately by an Alpha before, or by anyone, really. The Alpha seemed to only realize what he was doing, his eyes moving to meet Minho’s dark gaze. 

“Does it hurt… when I…” The Alpha carefully cupped his cheek so lightly, as if he were afraid Minho would break, like he wasn’t already bursting at the seams from an innocent touch. Minho’s lashes fluttered as his fingers twitched. 

“No, I’m… alright.” Minho didn’t even think as he lifted his hand to loosely hold the Alpha’s wrist. He’d never allowed an Alpha to get this close before. It was intimate, overwhelmingly so, and so much like their first encounter. This Alpha seemed to have a way with Minho, so easily he was pulled into the man’s orbit, almost helplessly.. 

“Good… that’s good. I’m glad…” The Alpha murmured. 

“You are?” Minho blinked, surprised. 

“Of course, I was so worried when the whole commotion started. I… was afraid you were hurt.”

“You… were….?” Minho was at a loss, he didn’t even think anyone was thinking about him at that point other than his family. None of his suitors came to the rescue or tried to look for him, despite them claiming they’d protect ‘ a weak Omega like him .’

“I’d never want you to get hurt, petal.”

Minho blushed at the term of endearment. The Alpha himself didn’t even seem to notice that he had said it, his thumb brushing lightly over Minho’s cheek. His eyes looked foggy, focused on  where he was touching Minho. 

Hell, even Minho seemed out of sorts. He’d never acted like this before, preening under the attention of an Alpha. He would feel ashamed at how much he wanted the Alpha to keep holding him, to protect him, except he couldn’t think of anything but wanting to be wrapped up in the Alpha’s scent. 

“What’s your name?” Minho wanted, needed to know. It didn’t matter to him that his mother had decided on Lord Park. Perhaps this Alpha’s family could make a good enough argument for him; Minho certainly would. He’d introduce him to his parents and maybe his father would be on his side.

The Alpha hesitated, blinking quickly as if just returning to himself. He stared into Minho’s pleading eyes, biting his lip.

Did he not want to be Minho’s Alpha? Why was he acting this way? Surely he could feel the same pull. Unless… maybe it was just Minho. Minho could feel himself being ripped out of his fantasy and dropped back into the cold reality of his world. He began to move away suddenly, needing to clear his mind, when the Alpha stopped him. 

“Jisung. M-my name… is Jisung.” The Alpha looked worried, like he was afraid Minho would leave. Jisung . Minho tossed the name around in his head. It was a good name, although very common; he wasn’t aware of any Jisung his age. The Alpha did look younger, so perhaps he was someone else’s sibling. Not that it mattered.Minho smiled softly. “Jisung…”

The smile that bloomed on the Alpha’s face tugged at Minho’s chest. His eyes turned into crescents, as if he was overjoyed from the simple gift of having Minho say his name. Minho was just about to ask to go back into the main hall together when another person came running down the corridor. 

“Jisung! Let’s go! We need to-“ 

Both Minho and Jisung froze as they stared at the newcomer. Minho squinted at the figure, the dim light obscuring his features. He sniffed, trying to identify his scent, when he recognized the sweet smell of chocolate.

“It’s you…” Minho realized it was the Alpha who’d danced with him. But what was he doing here? And how did he know Jisung? Minho looked over at Jisung, who paled significantly. Minho blushed, realizing the position the other Alpha had found them in. He quickly dropped his arms, pushing Jisung lightly to do the same. The other Alpha seemed to recover quickly, and he strode forward. 

“Jisung! What is he doing here?” the Alpha snapped, and the comfort Minho had felt earlier disappeared as his scent boiled in anger. On instinct, Minho cowered slightly to Jisung’s side. Jisung’s eyes moved from the other Alpha to Minho, still looking a bit overwhelmed. 

“I-I don’t know. We just- he ran into me!” Jisung tucked Minho to his side, moving in front of him. The other Alpha looked angry, but Minho could tell he was also worried every time their eyes met. His gaze seemed to move quickly, and he turned  to look over his shoulder. 

“I’m sorry, do you know each other?” Minho was ignored, and  the other Alpha fixed his jacket and walked to the end of the hall. Distantly, Minho could hear the faint thundering footsteps of a platoon of guards, and they seemed to be headed this way. 

“We don’t have time for this! Let’s go!” The Alpha pried open the nearest window, and Minho was suddenly confused. What on earth was he trying to do? They were a few stories up, and out that window was nothing but a straight drop. Strong winds blew into the hall, whipping the Alpha’s hair around. Jisung looked torn, moving forward but hesitating. The other Alpha was staring expectantly at him. 

“Come on! Let’s go!”

“C-can’t we bring him?” Jisung turned to look at Minho, and suddenly Minho realized that they were arguing about him. The other Alpha growled in frustration and marched towards them. 

“Jisung, no. He’s not what we came for. You need to leave him. Now, let’s go.”

“But-”Minho was utterly confused at the events unfolding. Jisung turned towards him and sighed, looking apologetic. He cupped Minho’s cheek before casting his gaze at the floor. Minho held his hand, searching his face. His hair fluttered in the wind as the sounds of the guards got louder. 

“I’m sorry, I have to go.”

Minho’s eyes widened as Jisung turned away, his hands slipping out of Minho’s  hold. His instincts screamed in his head, a loud, resounding No! Minho may not have known what was happening, but he understood one thing: the guards and the sudden appearance of these two strange Alphas were somehow related. Whoever they were, Minho knew now that they were never meant to be at the ball, which meant that if he didn’t stop Jisung now, he would disappear from Minho’s life, along with the only other Alpha that Minho had ever seemed to tolerate. Whoever these men were, this would be the last time Minho would see them, he was sure of it.

The other Alpha looked almost as sad as Jisung as he walked over to them, laying a hand on Jisung’s shoulder. The Alpha’s chocolate scent turned bitter as he pulled Jisung away; he couldn’t even look at Minho, as if he was too ashamed at having to take Jisung away. 

Minho’s mind was racing. He needed to make a choice before the guards arrived and made the choice for him. He looked at the open window and to the two Alphas in front of him. Whatever happened tonight, Minho knew he would live the rest of his life unhappy and regretful if he didn’t choose correctly.

He could stay, go back to his life of wealth and comfort, be married off to Lord Park and live the rest of his days shackled to a man he would never love. Or he could throw it all away for a chance to stay with Jisung and this Alpha. He’d always wanted to make his own choices and live his life, right? Why couldn’t he start now?

Minho grabbed Jisung’s hand before he turned fully away. Jisung looked surprised at the sudden movement, and even the other Alpha was on alert. They both looked confused at Minho’s sudden boldness. Minho steeled his nerves, lacing his fingers with Jisung’s. Here goes nothing . 

“Take me with you.”