Archive of Our Own

Every alpha deals with rutting differently.

Jeonghan demands to be pampered, his every whim catered to. Vernon’s nerves spike, walking fidgety circles around the dorm, then smooth out like a river running over rocks. Minghao clamps down on his instincts, refusing to succumb to them, while Seungcheol easily gives into them and clings to everyone else in the pack. Seungkwan becomes even quicker to rile to anger.

But perhaps that isn’t so much about his rutting hormones than it is about the fact that his only option for relief in the pack is Hoshi. It’s… less than optimal in Seungkwan’s estimation, but none of the other betas are keen on fucking an alpha in rut, and their only omega has made it clear from day one that he won’t.

Even when he’s in heat, Wonwoo has no interest in alphas. Some omegas get randy during heat. Wonwoo gets aggressive; the only member of the pack he’ll let into his nest is Dino, who hasn’t yet presented.

As frustrating as it is to smell Wonwoo in heat—that sweet citrusy scent tantalizingly close but always out of reach—it’s endearing to see him include Dino in his nesting habit. It sends a sense of proud fondness rippling through all the alphas. “Aw,” coos Jeonghan. “Our omega with our pup.”

It’s adorable.

Wonwoo’s nest is cozy and snug, lush with the scents of everyone in the pack. But the scent that Dino is predominantly interested in is Wonwoo himself. Everything about him is intensified by his heat, and Dino loves it. Craves it.

He snuggles deeper into Wonwoo’s embrace, nosing against the swollen scent-glands on his neck until Wonwoo whines in the back of his throat. “Dino.” Halfway between a plea and a warning.

“Hyung.” Dino presses closer. He knows what heat means—that Wonwoo feels vulnerable and needy and aroused, though he never acts on it.

Dino wishes he would. He wishes Wonwoo would pin him down in his nest and use his body to satisfy the pangs of his heat. He’s not sure what that says about him, that he wants to feel small, soft, and desirable under the only omega in their pack.

But he’s desperate for it.

And he thinks Wonwoo might be too.

Wonwoo’s scent speaks to him. It tells him that Wonwoo wants him but won’t let himself. He’s drawn a line that he won’t cross, even if he lets Dino push it.

“Hyung,” repeats Dino. He licks Wonwoo’s throat and feels Wonwoo shudder beneath him.

The smell of citrus flares, cloyingly sweet in Dino’s nose. Wonwoo is dripping slick. Dino knows because it’s all he can smell: Wonwoo’s body preparing itself to be bred. And Dino would—

Except—

Except Wonwoo doesn’t like alphas. Everyone knows this. Dino knows this. The day that Wonwoo presented is seared into Dino’s memory, because it tore the dorm upside down. The alphas had swarmed, drawn in helplessly by their instincts to the scent of their omega’s first heat, and Wonwoo had lashed out like a feral creature cornered. Thirteen members in their pack, and the most violent one by far was the sole omega.

Unless Dino presents as an omega too. He hopes he will, because he’s afraid that if he turns out to be an alpha, Wonwoo won’t let him into his nest anymore. The prospect is a gray storm cloud in Dino’s mind. He doesn’t want to lose this special relationship they have.

Wonwoo’s fingers curl around the back of Dino’s neck, holding him close. Their breathes mingle as Wonwoo pants. “Dino-yah. Dino.” His voice is stained with barely concealed desire. His legs shift, press together, and he tosses his head back, baring his neck to Dino in an undeniably submissive display.

Dino wants to bite, wants to be bitten back. He kisses Wonwoo’s sensitive scent-gland, and Wonwoo moans.

“Let me take care of you, hyung,” Dino murmurs. Pleads. He nudges a knee between Wonwoo’s thighs. “Let me help.”

Wonwoo grips Dino tighter, and before Dino knows it, Wonwoo has flipped them over and is pressing him into the mattress. Wonwoo’s teeth graze the lobe of Dino’s ear. “You shouldn’t,” he growls. His breath is hot and wet against Dino’s skin. “We’re not– ”

We are, Dino wants to snap back, because even if it’s true that on paper, it’s purely platonic—sure, Wonwoo is touchier with Dino than anyone else, but they’re still just friends—the unspoken reality is that their relationship has been tinged with a romantic-sexual undertone ever since the first time Wonwoo pulled Dino into his nest while in heat.

“I could help,” he says instead, voice small and stubborn.

“You’re still a pup,” argues Wonwoo. He leans his forehead against Dino’s cheek. He’s burning up. “It wouldn’t be right to…” He trails off, unwilling or unable to put it into words.

Dino’s hand find Wonwoo’s, squeezes tight. “I want to take care of you,” he whispers. “Hyung, please, I– ah!”

Wonwoo has bitten his shoulder.

Painful pleasure shoots down Dino’s spine. “Hyung,” he gasps, but Wonwoo is rolling off of him and curling in on himself.

His scent spikes. Through its haze, Dino can see Wonwoo’s muted movements, can hear his muffled moans, and knows immediately that Wonwoo is touching himself. Giving into the needs of his heat.

Dino plasters himself to Wonwoo’s back, offering what comfort he can, and says nothing.

Even if they don’t adhere to a traditional dynamic, they are still a pack. And like any pack, the alphas still give Wonwoo gifts for his nest, like a mild courting habit but without any pressure to reciprocate. They know Wonwoo won’t—though he does accept the gifts. He takes comfort in their scents, because they’re his. They don’t need to be sexually involved to belong to each other. All of them. They’re a pack.

Vernon is the youngest of the alphas. He takes the duty of spoiling their omega very seriously, which means he’s currently sprawled across Joshua’s bed with his phone out, scrolling to find the perfect gift for Wonwoo’s nest.

“Would a blanket be overplayed?” he asks, anxious because he’s determined to get it right.

“He likes blankets,” says Joshua noncommittally. He’s on his phone too, only half paying attention to Vernon’s quandary.

Wonwoo might like blankets, but Vernon likes colors, so he selects a blanket with lots of bright colors that he hopes will make Wonwoo think of him when he snuggles up with it. Pleased with himself, he asks Joshua, “What do you think?”

Joshua barely glances up from his phone. “Looks good, Vernonie.”

The praise warms Vernon’s chest. Wonwoo will love his blanket.

Wonwoo does not love his blanket.

His face pinches as he regards the motley monstrosity. “It’s… Thank you, Vernon,” he says, trying hard not to sound so obviously disgusted by it but already making a mental plan to stick the blanket in a box under his bed and forget about it.

And Vernon can tell. His face falls at Wonwoo’s clear distaste for his gift. But he is determined to be strong in front of the omega, so he waits until later to find Dokyeom and cry on his shoulder about it.

“He hates it!” he wails. “He hates me!”

“That’s– ” Dokyeom sighs and pats Vernon comfortingly on the back. “– not true. You know Wonwoo-hyung loves you. Regardless of how he feels about the blanket you gave him.”

“You don’t understand,” sniffles Vernon. “You’re not an alpha, so you don’t get it.”

Dokyeom nuzzles into Vernon’s neck. “Okay,” he agrees. “I don’t get it.” He noses against Vernon’s scent-gland until lavender blooms—a sign of Vernon beginning to relax.

“I just want his approval so bad, hyung,” Vernon whines softly. “Feeling like I don’t have it is physically upsetting.”

Vernon is right that Dokyeom doesn’t get it because he isn’t an alpha. He doesn’t experience the same biological drive to pamper Wonwoo, but he does feel frazzled when there’s dissonance in the pack. He wants to soothe every ruffled feather.

Which means continuing to stimulate the scent-glands on Vernon’s neck until he’s fully drenched in that sweet floral smell, and as he feels the last bit of tension flow out of Vernon’s body, he promises to help him pick another present for Wonwoo’s nest ahead of his next heat.

Dino invites himself to Jun and Minghao’s monthly movie night. He makes Joshua come too, because they’ve been studying Mandarin together for a while now and Dino is pretty sure that they might be able to get by without subtitles. Maybe.

Curled up on the couch between Joshua and Minghao, Dino does his best to follow the plotline. It only takes him about ten minutes to regret forgoing subtitles, but he refuses to admit defeat, so he keeps an eye on Minghao and tries to match his reactions to what’s happening on screen.

As the night goes on, the movie gets more and more confusing. Dino’s brain gets fuzzier. Something aches inside of him. Sweat sticks the back of his shirt to his skin.

And Minghao is no longer watching the movie, but watching Dino instead.

The attention weighs complicated on the frayed edges of Dino’s mind, makes him want to preen and hide away all at once. “Hyung?” he tries to ask. His voice comes out cracked and dry, barely there at all.

Minghao touches his thigh. “It’s okay,” he murmurs and moves closer. His spicy anise scent floods Dino’s nose. His lips brush the side of Dino’s neck. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Dino’s head spins. He melts into Minghao’s embrace, a soft whimper escaping his throat.

“Holy fuck, Dino, is that smell you?” Joshua’s voice breaks through the haze, loud and surprised, and Minghao’s comforting warmth suddenly disappears.

Instinctively, Dino reaches again for him, prying his heavy eyes open to see that Jun has pulled Minghao away from him. “Hyung,” he whines, then scrambles back when Minghao growls at Jun.

He’s never heard Minghao growl before. It’s an intensely alpha noise—aggression and possessiveness that sends a spike of anxiety rushing down Dino’s spine. Minghao’s teeth snap next to Jun’s ear, and Dino feels panic flush his system because he’s never seen Minghao give into his alpha instincts like this before, not even when he’s rutting.

He clambers into Joshua’s lap and tucks his face into his shoulder. “Hyung, what’s happening?”

Joshua’s hands slide up his back, hold him steady. “You’re going into heat.” He kisses the shell of Dino’s ear. “You’re presenting.”

Presenting.

Heat.

Omega.

Dino’s mind flashes to Wonwoo, and suddenly he’s crying. “I need– ” he sobs, unable to put it into words. “Hyung, please. I can’t. Please!”

“I can help,” Minghao promises in a frantic voice. “Let me help.” He growls again when Jun doesn’t let him go.

Dino shrinks further, but his scent flares. Even he can smell it—saccharine sweet like honey—and it draws more people into the room, the pack stumbling over itself to get to their newest omega.

He tries to pick out Wonwoo’s citrusy scent from the mess, but all he can smell is Minghao-Seungkwan-Seungcheol-Jeonghan-Vernon—alphas and their concentrated interest in him.

Everyone wants to touch him, and it only serves to heighten the overwhelming anxiety flooding his body. He shoves off of Joshua’s lap with a panicked yelp and barrels through the rest of the pack, vision blurry with tears. He doesn’t stop running until he’s in his room and slams the door shut behind himself.

“Dino,” Jeonghan calls to him. “Baby, it’s okay. We can help you.”

Fear and shame rise in Dino’s chest. He’s not ready. He doesn’t have a nest. He needs a nest. He needs Wonwoo. Something wet trickles down his inner thigh. Slick. His body preparing itself to be bred.

He snaps his legs shut. There are five alphas outside of his room who all want him. He can smell their arousal, so thick and heady he’s choking on it.

Drowning in it.

He sinks to the floor.

The night air bites at Wonwoo’s nose. He and Mingyu have been taking late-night walks together for years now—a guaranteed moment of calm in their hectic lives. The calm is broken when Wonwoo’s phone chirrups with a notification. And then a second one in rapid succession.

“Come home,” reads Joshua’s message. “Dino just went into heat.”

Wonwoo can feel the blood rush in his ears. Dino’s an omega. Dino’s in heat. Dino needs him. There’s no doubt in his mind.

He doesn’t even explain it to Mingyu, just takes off running back to the dorm, leaving a confused and exasperated Mingyu to chase after him, feet pounding the pavement. Dino’s an omega. Dino’s in heat. There’s no way Wonwoo is going to let him suffer through that alone.

The dorm reeks of riled up alphas when Wonwoo makes it back. The scent clogs his nose and stokes a burst of possessiveness burning through his chest. Exploding as he shoulders his way through the alphas crowded outside of Dino’s room.

Seungcheol stands directly before Dino’s door, blocking Wonwoo’s path, and Wonwoo sees red. He’s single-minded. He can smell Seungcheol’s arousal, his desperate desire for Dino. Snarling, he catches Seungcheol with his elbow. “Get the fuck out of my way!”

“Hyung, Jesus Christ!” Seungkwan’s voice sounds distant as Wonwoo shoves Seungcheol aside.

He can smell Dino on the other side of the door.

“Dino,” he calls softly. “Sweetness, it’s me.”

The door pulls open, Wonwoo is yanked inside, then slams shut again.

“Hyung.” Dino is sobbing. He’s sobbing and shaking and pressing himself to Wonwoo’s side. “Help me.”

“I’m here,” promises Wonwoo. His hands slide around Dino’s back, cradling him close. “I’ve got you, sweetness.” The petname has never felt more apt—Dino’s honeyed heat scent is beyond sweet, potent and intoxicating. Wonwoo nuzzles into Dino’s neck, licks across his tender scent-gland.

“I don’t have a nest,” hiccups Dino. “I wasn’t ready.”

First heat is different—unique because there are no warning signs, no period of pre-heat leading up to it, no time to prepare yourself a nest. “That’s okay,” Wonwoo assures Dino. “We can make one together.”

Still distraught, Dino clings to Wonwoo as he pulls together a mess of blankets and pillows and clothing, building a nest on the bed then laying Dino down in the center of its coziness.

“Need you.” Dino tugs on the sleeve of Wonwoo’s hoodie. “Closer. More.”

His whininess makes Wonwoo smile, because he knows all too well what hormones are ravaging Dino’s body and mind. “I’m here,” he tells Dino again. “Anything you need from me.”

He’d been holding himself back from Dino before, because Dino was still a pup, because he felt guilty for allowing himself to become so entangled with Dino without knowing whether or not he would lose interest were Dino to present as an alpha. His deepest shame.

But Dino isn’t an alpha. Dino is just like him, as it turns out, so there’s no reason for Wonwoo to keep holding himself back. He lowers himself onto Dino, lets their scents mingle together, and feels Dino’s body go lax beneath him.

“I wanted you immediately,” whispers Dino. His fingers curl around the back of Wonwoo’s neck. “Always. I’m yours.”

“Mine,” Wonwoo agrees in a ragged voice. He feels drunk off Dino’s scent and the savage delight of knowing that he’s allowed to have this. He kisses Dino’s throat, the line of his jaw, and finally—finally!—his mouth.

Dino opens up easily for him, lips parting to let Wonwoo fuck into his mouth with his tongue, sighing as his legs shift apart beneath Wonwoo’s weight. “M’so wet,” he slurs out. “Just like you get, hyung. Is this what it feels like every time?”

“Yeah, but– but it gets easier,” says Wonwoo, because it does. You get used to it, and pre-heat gives you the chance to prepare yourself, physically and mentally. He sucks Dino’s lower lip between his teeth. “I’ll help you.”

“Please.” Dino arches up into Wonwoo’s touch. He’s so hot, burning up. Sweat beads on his skin, and Wonwoo licks it up.

Worships every inch of his body.

“I’ll take care of you.”

Always.

Having a second omega in the pack only makes Seungkwan’s pre-rut irritation worse, because neither of them will give him a chance.

He’s still fucking stuck with Hoshi.

He’s still stuck fucking Hoshi.

The beginnings of an itch creep up the back of Seungkwan’s spine, telltale little signs that his rut is coming, and he goes begging around the betas. “Please,” he asks Mingyu. “I’m a considerate partner,” he assures Woozi. “Don’t you want to take care of your precious dongsaeng?” he cajoles Joshua. “I’d owe you million favors,” he tries to bargain with Jun. “You know how Hoshi-hyung always tries his best to piss me off,” he wails to Dokyeom.

“Yeah, but– ” Dokyeom looks like he’s fighting hard not to laugh. “Don’t you like that?”

Seungkwan has never been so offended in his life. “How dare you suggest that I– that I like– ” he sputters, outraged. “I’m not a masochist, hyung! I respect myself!”

And yet, when his rut hits him for real and he finds Hoshi waiting for him on his bed with a knowing smirk on his face, Seungkwan is on him in an instant. He slides his hands around Hoshi’s thighs, flipping him over onto his back and climbing on top.

Hoshi makes a mewling sound as Seungkwan scents him. His body is pliant under Seungkwan’s eager hands. He’s always enjoyed his role as the pack’s omega stand-in. It makes him special.

And Hoshi loves being special.

“I fucking hate you,” Seungkwan growls, even as he rocks his hips down.

“I know.” Hoshi is already breathless, already sporting an erection—hardness and heat pressed against Seungkwan’s. He raises his chin, revealing the expanse of his neck to Seungkwan. It’s a gesture of submission, ostensibly, but somehow it makes Seungkwan feel like he’s losing their unspoken competition.

He bites.

Hoshi moans, full-throated and resonant. His throat is red, blotchy and flushed, where Seungkwan bit him. So pretty. Seungkwan feels him shiver through his entire body. Arousal pools in the base of his own belly. He wants to cover Hoshi in his marks. An unmistakable sign of—

Seungkwan was here.

This man is mine.

He yanks at Hoshi’s clothing, tugging until his pants are down around his ankles. Spreading Hoshi’s legs—and they spread so wide, damned dancer flexibility—he puts his mouth to the soft skin of his inner thigh and bites again.

“Ah– alpha,” Hoshi gasps out. His muscles tense beneath Seungkwan’s lips.

Seungkwan flips him again. His fingers dig into the flesh of Hoshi’s ass, pull his cheeks apart. He reaches for the lube. “If you were an omega,” he murmurs, “you’d be dripping slick right now.” He can imagine it so easily, how much more responsive and elastic Hoshi would be if his body were actually made to take alpha knot.

“You get me plenty wet anyway,” says Hoshi obnoxiously. “Alpha.” The way he says it this time makes it sound like an insult.

Seungkwan pinches the back of Hoshi’s thigh as hard as he can, taking savage delight in the way Hoshi yelps and squirms. “I hate you,” he says and presses a slicked-up finger inside of Hoshi.

“Yeah,” sighs Hoshi. “You hate me so fucking bad.”

“So goddamn mouthy. Always need to have the last word, don’t you?” Seungkwan fucks him open quickly with his fingers. He’s learned, over the years, that Hoshi likes it a little rough. That suits Seungkwan just fine. He does too.

“Just can’t stand to let you forget,” purrs Hoshi, “that it’s me you’re fucking. That I’m the one who you come to every time. I’m the one who always takes care of you when you’re rutting.”

As if Seungkwan could ever forget. He curls his fingers inside of Hoshi and watches the way it ripples up the length of his spine. “Yeah right, I’m the one who takes care of you,” he scoffs, brags, declares.

“Of course.” Even the way Hoshi agrees with him feels like a mockery, fans the flames of Seungkwan’s scorching indignation. “You’re my big, strong, sexy alpha.” His back arches, pushes his ass further up in the air.

Seungkwan bristles. Annoyance and arousal twist inside of his guts in equal measure. His cock aches, knot already beginning to swell. A hot rush of blood. The hormones churning in his body.

Itching for relief.

To take.

Claim.

He nudges Hoshi’s legs apart with his knee, forcing him down onto the mattress, and slides his fingers from him to grip his hips—bruising hard—and line himself up. Hoshi moans when he pushes in, hot and wet and moulding around him. “So tight,” grunts Seungkwan. He leans over Hoshi, pins him down with his hips. “Just like a pretty little omega.”

Hoshi writhes beneath him. “Yeah,” he gasps. “M’your pretty little omega.”

Seungkwan’s instincts preen over the possessive, scream at him to breed Hoshi—despite how impossible his brain knows it to be. That doesn’t mean his body won’t try its best. He fucks Hoshi fast and filthy, hands sliding around Hoshi’s throat—not quite choking, just holding him in place.

And Hoshi lets him. He’s so malleable, goes exactly where Seungkwan maneuvers him. He’s only ever like this in bed. When Seungkwan is rutting. He never listens to him otherwise. Barely listens to him here.

It’s infuriating, the way Hoshi knows exactly how to push all his buttons. Seungkwan burns with it—all the time. Flames lick up the side of his vision as he grinds his knot right up against that tight ring of muscle, pressing, pushing, and then finally popping inside.

“Yeah, yeah,” moans Hoshi. “Give it to me. Gimme.”

Seungkwan sinks his teeth into the back of Hoshi’s shoulder and his best to ignore the way Hoshi’s answering cry makes a frenzied sort of pleasure zip up his spine.

Getting Dino alone is surprisingly hard. He’s been practically glued to Wonwoo’s side since he presented, but Seungcheol is determined to have this conversation one-on-one. As the group leader, and the oldest member, and the oldest alpha, he’s the de facto head of their pack. He takes the responsibility very seriously.

So when he finally catches Dino alone, he doesn’t waste the opportunity.

“Hey, I– ” Seungcheol takes a deep breath. He’s thought a lot about the right way to say this, and he wants to stick to his script. “Dino-yah, congratulations on presenting.”

Dino’s face melts into a soft smile, eyes scrunching up happily. Approval from the head alpha always feels good. “Thanks, hyung.”

“You seem to have adapted to it well.”

“Ah, well.” Dino’s scent sweetens. “I have Wonwoo-hyung to help me with everything.”

“I’m glad,” says Seungcheol, and he is, except— “Wonwoo isn’t exactly a typical omega,” he continues carefully.

Dino looks amused. “No,” he agrees.

“And you have the rest of the pack too. Not just Wonwoo.” Seungcheol hopes it goes without saying. “We all love you and want the best for you.”

Dino nudges his shoulder against Seungcheol. “I know. I couldn’t ask for better hyungs.” There’s something so dear about the way he says it, and it makes Seungcheol lean into Dino’s shoulder, pressing back against his touch.

Instinctively, Seungcheol’s hand finds its way to the back of Dino’s head. He ruffles his hair affectionately. “We want to take care of you. You’re our baby,” he teases, and Dino’s face goes faintly pink.

“M’not a baby,” he protests, even as he turns to cuddle into Seungcheol’s arm. “Not a pup anymore.”

“Omega,” says Seungcheol by way of acknowledgment.

Dino’s breath shudders.

Seungcheol ruffles his hair again, fingers soft against his scalp. “Wonwoo isn’t… ” he begins, then hesitates. He knows how close Wonwoo and Dino have always been and worries that Wonwoo’s atypical habits as an omega may have rubbed off on Dino. “Just because Wonwoo doesn’t sleep with alphas doesn’t mean that you also have to not sleep with alphas.”

“I don’t– ” Dino’s voice is soft. Muted.

“It’s okay,” says Seungcheol immediately, recognizing Dino’s silent plea for comfort. Soothing him is natural. “You’re good.”

And then, suddenly, Dino is shoving himself away from Seungcheol. “Don’t use your alpha voice on me!”

Horrified confusion unfolds inside of Seungcheol’s chest. Was he? He was just acting on instinct. “I didn’t mean to!”

“Well, you were!” Dino’s scent has gone sour and panicked.

Seungcheol rears back. The last thing he wants is to pressure Dino, burden him with the weight of expectations. “I just wanted to point out that– ”

“I don’t want to sleep with alphas,” says Dino firmly. “I know I’m only freshly presented still, but I’m not an idiot. I know that Wonwoo-hyung isn’t exactly the norm, and that I don’t have to be like him, but I want to.”

His conviction is steel. Seungcheol believes him. “O-of course, I’m sorry,” he stammers out. Shame burns in his chest for playing, however unintentionally, into the power dynamic of an alpha with seniority trying to persuade a younger omega. Fuck, he should know better. He’s the leader. He has to be better than that. “I’m sorry,” he repeats, calmer this time. “I shouldn’t have… I handled that wrong.”

Dino’s posture relaxes by a minuscule amount, but he still looks on alert. “I get it,” he says warily. “You wanted to make sure I was informed, but you don’t– you don’t have to worry about that, hyung. About any of that.” His gaze is bright, eyes shimmering with something soft and certain. “Because, well, I’m Wonwoo-hyung’s. He’s mine. We’re…”

He doesn’t have to finish the sentence for the understanding to click into place in Seungcheol’s brain.

“Oh.” Oh. Probably, Seungcheol should not be surprised. Probably, he should’ve seen this coming. Yeah, their omega and their pup—isn’t it adorable, his ass. When did it become a sex thing? Maybe it was always a sex thing. “Well.” His mouth twitches into a wry grin. “I guess that explains a lot.”

Dino smiles. “Yeah, I guess it does.”

Wonwoo’s nest rapidly becomes their nest—two omegas’ nesting habits combined resulting in a cozily cluttered spread of pillows and blankets and clothing that smells like the pack. And one of those blankets, to Wonwoo’s great consternation, is the garish gift from Vernon.

Dino pulls it out from under the bed where Wonwoo had kicked it and tucks it right into the middle of the nest with the crisp efficiency of Well, of course, this blanket should be here.

Wonwoo makes a quiet sound of distress. “Dino, why?”

Dino beams. “I like it! It was Vernon’s offering,” he explains, “and doesn’t it seem just like him?” He fluffs the blanket, then burrows into it with a happy sigh. “Still smells like him too.”

“But,” protests Wonwoo. “But it’s ugly!”

Cocking his head to one side, Dino asks, “So?” and grins so winningly that Wonwoo is forced to swallow his pride and snuggle up next to him, ugly blanket and all.

“You’re lucky I love you,” he grumbles, and Dino turns to kiss him, mouth curling into a smile against Wonwoo’s lips.

“I’m so lucky.”

“You know,” says Hoshi conversationally, voice falling somewhere between grand and sly, “when you think about, I’m, like, kind of the only omega in the pack.”

Woozi scoffs, Jun groans, and Wonwoo and Dino make identical disgusted noises at him.

Hoshi is thrilled by the reaction. “All I’m saying is that, well, not everyone can pull off being the pack hole.”

Dino frowns. “Is… is that how you see omegas?” he asks timidly.

“What? No, oh my god, of course not! I’m just– ” flounders Hoshi. Embarrassment flushes his face. He’s just what? A little too proud of the fact that he’s the only one in the pack who’s been with any of the alphas while they’re rutting? “It was just a joke,” he finishes with quiet shame.

“Mm, hilarious,” deadpans Wonwoo.

Hoshi cringes. “Okay, I– yeah, that was… I’m sorry.” He turns to Dino and does his best to look pitiful. “Obviously, I don’t think of omegas as, um, as holes. You know that, right?”

Dino bumps his hip against Hoshi’s. “Yeah, hyung, I know.” He seems faintly amused. “I know that you’re, uh– ” His nose wrinkles. “– the pack hole or whatever, but you better be careful about trying to claim you’re the only omega in the pack. I might get jealous,” he teases.

Putting him in the loosest of headlocks, lest Wonwoo get territorial, Hoshi ruffles Dino’s hair and teases back, “Yeah, yeah, well, I’m the only omega in the pack who likes alphas, so.”

Dino makes a soft noise in the back of his throat. “Sure, hyung,” he says after a short pause.

“None of you—none of you—have it what it takes,” Hoshi addresses the room at large, “to be the pack hole. Just me.”

Woozi scoffs, Jun groans, and Wonwoo and Dino make identical disgusted noises at him. “Sure, hyung.”

Joshua’s never been so full in his life.

“You’re doing so good, baby,” Jeonghan coos. He peppers the back of Joshua’s nape with light kisses. “So pretty. So good for us.”

Groaning, Joshua basks in the praise and, leaning his forehead against Seungcheol’s, does his best to relax his body, let himself sink even further down onto to the combined girth of Jeonghan and Seungcheol inside of him.

Seungcheol’s hands ground Joshua’s hips. “That’s it. There you go.” His breath mingles with Joshua’s as he speaks.

“Full,” says Joshua hazily, because it’s all he can focus on—how stretched he feels. They’ve been fucking around with each other for years now, but it’s the first time they’ve tried this, and they’re really testing the limits of his body with this one.

Jeonghan pets his hair. “I wish you could see yourself,” he murmurs, “the way you look, stuffed full of us.”

Joshua whines wordlessly. His alphas are so gentle with him; they took the time to carefully stretch him out, Jeonghan kissing and caressing him and keeping him distracted from just how many fingers Seungcheol was pressing up inside of him.

Pleasure coils low in his belly. He can feel their cocks sliding against each other, against him, and he moans into Seungcheol’s open mouth. “S’good.”

“Good,” Seungcheol echoes. His tongue flicks over Joshua’s lower lip. “You’re so good.”

“Taking us so well,” adds Jeonghan breathlessly. “Fuck, Joshuji, I bet if we prepped you enough, you could take a knot.”

Joshua shivers, imagining it. He’s not– Alphas only knot when they’re in rut, and despite this little adventure, he isn’t sure if he’s interested or ready to keep a rutting alpha company—especially Seungcheol and Jeonghan, who he knows both get extra aggressive at the heights of their cycles. And his body really isn’t built to accommodate for that, no matter what Hoshi brags about.

But god, it’s hot to imagine, isn’t it?

Seungcheol rocks his hips up and Joshua jolts, grinding his erection forward against Seungcheol’s tummy. “Oh god,” he gasps. Everything is so much. Every nerve in his body on fire.

“Cheolie fucks you good, doesn’t he?” Jeonghan curls his hand around Joshua’s jaw, slips two fingers into Joshua’s mouth to press down on his tongue. His other hand finds Joshua’s dick, thumbing against his wet slit. “I can feel it. Him fucking you. Every thrust.”

Joshua bucks up into his fist. He’s close, so close.

Jeonghan leans over his shoulder to kiss Seungcheol. The sound is wet next to Joshua’s ear, interspersed with throaty moans, and it zips deliciously down his spine. He comes choking on Jeonghan’s fingers, and Seungcheol and Jeonghan keep fucking him through it. Licking into each other’s mouths.

“Fill me,” he begs around Jeonghan’s fingers. “Wanna feel it.”

“Yeah,” groans Seungcheol, “whatever you want, baby.”

Joshua can feel it when Seungcheol comes—hot and sticky inside of him—and then Seungcheol goes boneless, collapsing down onto the bed and taking Joshua and Jeonghan with him. Joshua lays, breathless, on Seungcheol’s chest and lets Jeonghan reposition himself, a hand on either side of him to snap his hips in and down, sliding slick against Seungcheol’s softening cock until his orgasm finally catches him.

“Fuck,” says Joshua afterwards, as a compliment.

“Fuck,” agrees Seungcheol. He kisses Joshua’s throat, right on top of his scent-gland.

Above them, Jeonghan preens. “I know, I have the best ideas.”

Wonwoo loves being in love. Now that he’s finally letting himself indulge in the full extent of his feelings for Dino, he’s bursting with happiness. Pride. The desire to shower Dino with love and show him off.

To be soft with him. Curled up together in their nest, he cards his fingers through Dino’s hair and breathes in his honeyed scent. “Mine,” he murmurs against the line of Dino’s jaw.

Dino melts into him. “Yours.”

Wonwoo presses kisses down his chest, sinking lower and lower to settle between Dino’s legs. “Wanna make you feel good.” He kisses the crest of Dino’s hipbone.

“Please.” Dino locks his feet behind Wonwoo’s head, heels digging in between his shoulder blades.

Sliding his arms around his thighs, Wonwoo kisses his lower tummy—teasing until Dino starts to get hard. Then he takes him slowly in his mouth, dragging out it, tantalizing.

Dino’s fingers find Wonwoo’s hair. “H-hyung,” he groans, breathy. “Always make me feel so good.”

Wonwoo pulls off with a wet pop. “Good.” It comes out hot and possessive. “No one else– ” He kisses the tip of Dino’s dick. “– could ever fuck you like I could. None of the alphas– They could only dream of having the way I do.”

“I…” Dino’s grip tightens in Wonwoo’s hair. “Hyung, I don’t want any of them, but I– I do… I’m not exactly like you, hyung. I like alphas. I just– I like you more.”

Surprised, Wonwoo blinks. “You like alphas?” He cannot fathom the appeal.

Dino blushes. “Yeah, I do,” he says, a little hesitantly. “I mean, surely you’ve noticed that I enjoy being… manhandled. And they’re– I dunno, I do like it. But I’m not interested, because I have you. You’re the only one that I want. I choose you.”

Wonwoo’s mouth twitches into a satisfied smile. “Yeah.” He smooths his thumb over Dino’s thigh. It doesn’t matter, does it, that Dino likes alphas. “I choose you too, sweetness.”

“Mine,” Dino asserts, and Wonwoo nods.

“Yours.” He could only ever belong to Dino. Warmth spreading through his body, he takes Dino into his mouth again. His tongue maps Dino’s length. He hollows his cheeks, pleased when he hears Dino moan quietly.

His. It doesn’t matter that Dino likes alphas, because at the end of the day, Dino is his. His to have and hold, and to touch and taste, and to love in a way that no one else can. No one else. Just him.

Dino’s hips kick, fucking himself deeper into Wonwoo’s mouth. “Hah-ah, hyung,” he gasps. “Gonna– ”

Wonwoo takes him. He rolls his tongue along the underside of Dino’s cock and gags a little, eyes closing, as his mouth fills with cum. He doesn’t swallow. Overflowing, it spills down his chin.

When he opens his eyes again, he sees Dino gazing fondly down at him.

“Pretty hyung,” Dino coos and swipes his thumb through the cum dripping down Wonwoo’s chin. “So pretty and messy for me.”

Wonwoo kisses his fingers. “Always for you,” he murmurs, and Dino bends down to kiss him, cradling his face and licking across the cum on his lips.

“And I for you,” he breathes into Wonwoo’s mouth, filling him with the heat of a thousand suns.

The scent of citrus and honey blooms in the air around them.

Sweet.