Chapter Text
They filmed their music video for their B-Side, Fever, in an old bath house. It was pretty, but, since it was the middle of February, it was also very cold.
Doing a sexy concept for the first time had been exciting for all the members. Until they had learned there was no working water heater in the building.
The dance scenes had gone by easily enough. But then it was time for solo shots, cold showers, and group poses in frigid pools.
They had to act hot, literally, while trying not to shiver.
Jake was starting to feel like he didn’t need to act for the fever concept anymore. He didn’t feel great getting up for the second day of filming, but he didn’t feel truly sick either.
Just a bit lethargic.
He debated saying something about it to Jungwon, but the choice was taken from him when a concerned Jay pressed a hand against his forehead before they boarded the van that would take them to the bath house.
“You don’t smell right… Are you sick?” Jay asked. He turned Jake’s head to the side to sniff at his scent glands.
“I’m fine, I think. Maybe I’m just not getting enough sleep,” Jake let Jay finish his examination. Heeseung had come to stand behind him; the two presented members were always a united front on anything that could affect the pups’ health or wellbeing.
“Sunghoon’s not keeping you up too late, is he?” Heeseung teased. Jake sighed, and Sunghoon, who was already in the van, glared at the back of Heeseung’s head.
“We never should have told you guys,” Jake lamented, and submitted to another temperature and scent check from Heeseung.
After Jay and Heeseung had shared their status as boyfriends with the rest of the group, Jake and Sunghoon also began to dance around their relationship. They stayed up talking the night their debut album was released–just the two of them. Then, on Sunghoon’s birthday, they stayed up again, with Sunoo. Sunoo–seemingly aware of the growing tension–went to bed early, and they ended up confessing to each other that night.
Jake and Sunghoon told the others that they were now dating within the week. Sunoo had a smug grin when they shared the news because he already knew (the brat hadn’t gone to bed, and stayed hidden behind the door frame, eavesdropping). The others were supportive, although Jungwon did make them promise not to let their relationship affect group activities.
Despite what Heeseung was implying, the two of them hadn’t escalated their relationship past hand holding and the occasional make out session.
And Heeseung was certainly one to talk, since a couple of times now since Jay’s first rut, the other members had come back from individual schedules or free time to a sock on the bedroom door and Jay’s alpha musk lingering in the air, despite all the open windows in the middle of winter.
“Well, I don’t think you have a fever,” Heeseung admitted, pulling Jake’s thoughts back to the present. “But please tell me or Jungwon if you start feeling worse, ok?”
Jake nodded, and Heeseung finally moved enough for him to board the van. He made a beeline for the open seat next to Sunghoon. Sunghoon was still glaring at Heeseung but snapped out of it when Jake leaned against his shoulder. Sunghoon lifted the armrest between them and let Jake cuddle up close. Jake closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than to nap before their shoot.
They tried not to be too obvious in front of staff, but Heeseung and Sunoo were pressed close, both looking at a phone, and Jungwon was falling asleep on Jay's shoulder. Jake felt safe enough to let his guard down like this in the van without worrying about any of the staff discovering his and Sunghoon’s relationship.
As relaxed as he was, Jake wasn’t quite able to fall asleep on the drive to the set. There was an anxious need to move thrumming through his body. He kept fidgeting in his seat, and soon he noticed a pain in his jaw. He was grinding his teeth, and it took effort for him to force himself to stop.
Sunghoon tried to calm him down by holding him tight to his side, but the extra pressure made the itch to move stronger. Jake could tell that Sunghoon was becoming agitated. Sunghoon was always quiet, but he had a way of furrowing his brows when he was incapable of doing something—or helping someone.
Sunghoon pressed a hand against Jake’s forehead, checking to see if Jake really was getting a fever. Almost as soon as Sunghoon made contact with his face, a vivid image of Jake sinking his teeth into Sunghoon’s hand flashed through his mind. It was so violent and unexpected that Jake jerked back, away from Sunghoon.
“What’s wrong?” Sunghoon finally asked, voice a whisper.
Jake wasn’t going to share his intrusive thoughts, not here, so he settled on: “My teeth hurt.”
“Your teeth?”
“My jaw,” Jake massaged lightly at the hinge of his jaw.
Sunghoon pressed his own hands along Jake’s jaw, brushing light pressure along his jawbone and chin, feeling for anything out of place. He started massaging against the hinge of his jaw.
“Maybe you were grinding your teeth last night.”
Jake nodded, and his mouth parted under Sunghoon’s touch. Sunghoon worked his thumb around the back of his jaw, down to the front, his fingers rubbing dangerously close to Jake’s open mouth. Jake felt himself salivate at the thought of moving just enough to let Sunghoon’s fingers slip into his mouth, the feeling of the textured skin dragging against his tongue before Jake would close his mouth and suck.
Jake shook his head, dislodging Sunghoon’s fingers and clearing his mind of the dangerous thoughts. He swallowed back his saliva before he could drool over Sunghoon’s hands, and Sunghoon pulled his hands back with a sigh. Jake reached over and held them in Sunghoon’s lap, giving him an apologetic smile as he did. After all, it wasn’t Sunghoon’s fault that Jake was having inappropriate thoughts.
They stayed holding hands until the van parked outside the bath house. Various staff were waiting for them to arrive. Filming had begun earlier that day, and Ni-ki was already inside, having arrived separately for his first solo scene.
Jake let go of Sunghoon’s hand as they were all pulled to hair and makeup and the director outlined their shooting schedule. Ni-ki would get his makeup touched up before shooting his paired scenes with Sunghoon. Meanwhile, Jake and Sunoo would film a scene in the shower stalls. Heeseung, Jungwon, and Jay had solo shoots to do before they would all meet back up at the pool to get their group shots done last.
Jake didn’t even manage to say “hi” to Ni-ki before he and Sunoo were whisked away to film.
The concept of Sunoo and Jake’s shared scene was to look desperate while they lip synched their call and response lyrics in separate shower stalls, divided by a wall and unable to communicate with each other.
“You're really good at this,” Jake said, monitoring their work back. Sunoo’s expressive eyes and pouty lips were suited to a sexy concept.
“You have good bedroom eyes, hyung,” Sunoo shot back. “Very handsome.”
“I just look tired.”
Jake still hadn’t developed a fever by the time he was getting his makeup done, so Heeseung gave him the stamp of approval to work. Jake felt exhausted, and there was no way he wasn’t coming down with something.
“You look like you want to eat up the camera,” Sunoo said and bumped his hips into Jake’s playfully, hoping to get a smile in return.
Jake was easy to please, so he smiled back, turning to look at Sunoo. He was met with a teasing smirk, plump lips parted just so, and Sunoo’s warm fox eyes looking up at him. Jake suddenly wanted to be closer to him, so he impulsively reached a hand out to wrap around Sunoo’s waist and pulled the pup into his side. Sunoo smelled sweet, but that was just the fruity perfume he had put on that morning. Underneath he smelled clean, gentle. Jake took a deep breath and felt a little energized.
“Jake-hyung…”
Sunoo’s eyes were wide, and a blush had darkened his features. He was incredibly cute, Jake thought.
“Hyung, the director wants to film again,” Sunoo said, pulling away from his grip. He held onto Jake’s hand instead.
“Oh.” Now it was Jake’s turn to blush, realizing how all the staff just saw Jake cuddle his dongsaeng. “Sorry.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” Sunoo brushed against Jake’s arm as he went to get back in position, and Jake tried not to shiver at how cold he felt without Sunoo’s body heat next to him.
The director seemed to like the shots they were getting, and soon enough the two of them were headed off for lunch. Ni-ki and Sunghoon still weren’t done yet, but after they finished eating, Jay and Heeseung joined them. They were both dressed in simple cotton shirts and pants. Heeseung’s hair and makeup was done to make him look sweaty.
“Look at what Heeseung was shooting,” Jay shared as soon as they sat down with their plates. He passed his phone to Sunoo’s eager hands. Jake looked over to the tiny screen and almost swallowed his tongue.
Jay had filmed the camera monitor on his phone, so the quality wasn’t the greatest. However, it was still easy to see the outline of Heeseung’s adam's apple bob as he swallowed, stretched out over a bed. His arm dragged down his chest and his breathing was labored as he looked up at the camera, desperate.
Sunghoon and Jake’s relationship wasn’t that old, and it still felt like young, puppy love at times. Even still, exploring their sexualities opened up a wealth of possibilities, and one night he had innocently asked Sunghoon if he had ever found a man attractive before him.
“Why do you want to know,” Sunghoon had asked, incredulous.
“I’m just curious.” Jake had been lying with his head in Sunghoon’s lap, his feet hanging off the edge of their dorm couch, swinging lightly. “Other idols? Other members? I won’t be jealous, I just want a frame of reference.”
“Uh-huh,” Sunghoon furrowed his brow. “You tell me first, and then I’ll share.”
“Like, everyone in I-Land,” Jake answered, no shame. He had already spent too much time ashamed before he and Sunghoon started dating. “And like, all of our members are so hot. Well, the younger ones are more cute than hot right now, but sometimes Sunoo gets this look, you know?”
“Yeah,” Sunghoon agreed, a little absentmindedly. He stared off into the distance, and Jake was about to tell him not to worry about it before he spoke up again. “Jay’s scent is really hot. Like, when he first wakes up and he’s still sleepwalking and his scent is so warm…”
“That look when Heeseung goes from being funny to serious. That’s pretty hot, right?” Jake asked.
Sunghoon nodded, lost in thought again.
“What do you think it’s like–you know–with an alpha?” Sunghoon asked. Jake stopped swinging his feet and tried to think. Alpha porn he may or may not have watched in the past always showed huge muscled and tattooed alpha bad boys forcing themselves onto helpless and begging omegas (or betas, depending on the video). But Jake had never watched gay alpha porn.
Either way, Jay was nothing like the alphas in porn. He was about Sunghoon’s height, maybe shorter, and not any stronger. He nagged on them to clean up after themselves, but Jake had never actually heard Jay growl at them. It was hard to imagine Jay being domineering. Jay would be attentive, like how he scents their dorm to make them feel safe, a habit he picked up after the Airport Incident™. Jake took a deep breath and smelled Jay’s warm scent on the couch, present and stronger than Sunghoon’s pup scent, even though Jake was currently on his lap.
“I don’t know,” Jake said while getting off Sunghoon’s lap. He only now realized Sunghoon hadn’t asked about Jay, he’d asked about any alpha. It was Jake who was being weird by trying to think of what Jay was like in his rut.
And now Jake’s traitorous mind was creating images of Jay, warm and rumpled from sleep–like Sunghoon had described–and Heeseung–playful but serious at the same time–pressed close like he and Sunghoon were.
Jake tried to be subtle when he placed a pillow over his lap, but it wasn’t a subtle conversation.
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about our members…” Jake trailed off, guilty for having brought it up in the first place. Sunghoon still looked a thousand miles away as he nodded, but his eyes slowly focused in on Jake and his blush and his pillow.
“I have you anyway,” Sunghoon leaned over and towered over Jake. “We don’t need to talk about them.”
And then Sunghoon had kissed him, and the makeout session had led to Jake humping the Jay-scented pillow pressed between them while they both pretended they weren’t thinking about Jay and Heeseung.
The two of them hadn’t talked about any members since, but now, as Jay shoved video footage of a panting Heeseung under his nose, it all came crashing back.
“Jay, please,” Heeseung whined. The steam from his ramen made his blush look darker, and Jake was drawn to his lips as he slurped noodles.
“Heeseungie-hyung looks so mature,” Sunoo said in shock.
Jay looked smug as he took his phone back. Jake watched the way his eyes sparkled when he looked at Heeseung and the way Heeseung’s doe eyes looked back.
“He’s embarrassed, but it suits him,” Jay explained as he started eating.
Sunoo said something in response, most likely a real industry-level praise of Heeseung’s shoot today, but all Jake could focus on was the way Jay and Heeseung’s shoulders brushed as they ate.
The video played on repeat in his head, and Jake was haunted by the images of Heeseung’s bedroom eyes. Did he look at Jay like that? Did Heeseung stretch out like that when Jay touched him?
“Jake?”
“Huh?”
It was Heeseung who had called his name. His ramen was gone.
“Are you sure you're OK?”
Jay was seated closer, so he reached over and brushed a hand against Jake’s forehead.
“You feel warmer…”
“Sorry, I'm fine,” Jake said as he pulled away from Jay's hand. Jay touching him while Heeseung watched was a little much for his horny brain right now. “I was just thinking about my shoot, if it was as good as yours.”
“Jake did so well,” Sunoo was quick to add. Jay frowned at the subject change, but he pulled his hand away without saying anything else. Sunoo’s eyes brightened as he watched. “Jay-hyung, are you not wearing scent blockers today?”
“I’m wearing a lotion today,” Jay explained and he held his arm out for Sunoo to touch. Jake tried (and failed) not to notice the size difference between Jay’s alpha hand in Sunoo’s dainty fingers. Sunoo sniffed at Jay’s scent gland.
“I can’t smell anything at all!” he said, shocked. “With the patches, I can smell a little if I get close enough.”
“The outfits for this music video wouldn’t be able to cover the patches,” Jay explained, “And we’ll be getting in a pool later, and the patches aren’t waterproof.”
“If the lotion works so much better, why don’t you wear it all the time?”
“Because overuse can hurt my scent glands. Don’t make that face, it’s perfectly safe as long as I follow the instructions," Jay took his arm back from Sunoo. “And the lotion doesn’t last as long. When I tested it yesterday it lasted about six hours? But since I have two scenes in water it’ll probably wear off earlier than that today.”
“Is that ok?”
“The director said it’s actually super common for shoots to last longer than scent blockers do,” Heeseung answered. “Apparently, most people in the industry don’t actually care about it unless someone starts throwing their scent around.”
“That’s good,” Sunoo said, and Jake died a little. He was already fantasizing about Jay and Heeseung, and now he’d have to smell both of them by the end of the day?
Jungwon came back from his solo shoot and Jake gave up his seat for him. He scurried away, claiming he was going to try and take a nap before the group shoot since he must be getting sick. He ignored the concerned looks that followed him back to the dressing room, where there was a couch brought in for them to rest on.
Jake wasn’t really sure what was wrong with him anymore, but something had to be. Before he had felt like he was sick, then he had been clingy with Sunoo, and now he’s incredibly horny. He was actually happy that the pool they’d be filming in was going to be cold. Maybe it would calm him down.
Jake buried his face in a pillow and did his best to clear his mind, to mixed success. He napped on and off for a bit, before Heeseung gently knocked on the door and let himself in.
“Are you feeling any better?”
Jake nodded. He had fallen asleep on his stomach, and he had a slight erection now that he was very happy to be able to hide.
Heeseung offered him a pill packet from his pocket. It was some over the counter fever reducers and a water bottle. Jake took a long, calming breath before he pulled himself up to take the pills.
“You know how Ni-ki has a stronger sense of smell than the rest of us?”
Jake nodded as he popped the pills. Ni-ki could smell their manager before he even reached their dormitory door, and he was still a pup. It was extraordinary.
“Well, Ni-ki had his paired scenes with Sunghoon, and he thinks he can smell a shift in Sunghoon’s scent.”
Jake sat up a little straighter at that.
“He’s presenting?”
“It’s too early to tell, but we think so.”
“But he’s younger than me!”
“Well, everyone presents in their own time,” Heeseung looked thoughtful. “But I have a theory.”
Jake looked at him curiously.
“I can smell you a bit now, now that you have a fever, it seems. I think you’re presenting, Jake, and that your presentation might have jump-started Sunghoon’s.”
Jake thought nervously about his symptoms. He supposed he could be presenting, but his symptoms certainly seemed odd for a beta presentation.
“Do presentations even work like that?”
“They can,” Heeseung rubbed a comforting hand on Jake’s knee, and Jake did his best to think unsexy thoughts. “They’re getting ready for our group shots now. We can have Ni-ki scent you, and then we’ll know for sure.”
Jake followed Heeseung out to the main pool room. He was stopped by a makeup artist on the way who tutted after a pillowmark on his cheek and pulled him back to touch it up again. By the time he and Heeseung were finally able to join the others, the director was ready to film. They got in position for the dry shots first. Jake tried to make eye contact with Sunghoon. His boyfriend did look a bit flushed.
Maybe he was presenting.
He dialed in when the director called for quiet on set and tried to stay perfectly still until he was finished. Almost as soon as the director yelled for a cut, Ni-ki, Jay, and Heeseung surrounded him.
“You do smell different now,” Jay said, pressing his nose against Jake’s neck. He felt strangely lightheaded with Jay’s nose and lips so close to his skin.
“He’s presenting,” Ni-ki said, no need to get any closer than where he was standing.
“I’ll tell Manager-nim that both Jake and Sunghoon will need tomorrow off,” Jungwon said before darting off. Jay kept sniffing, trying to pinpoint the new scent.
“Jay-hyung,” Ni-ki tugged on Jay’s shirt to get his attention. “Jake-hyung smells like…”
“I know, I’m trying to figure it out too,” Jay answered. Ni-ki clicked his teeth.
“No he smells like an–” Ni-ki lowered his voice to a whisper, “An alpha.”
Jake jumped away from Jay’s grip, shocked. That was impossible. Neither of his parents were alphas. His grandparents were betas, too.
Jay frowned.
“It’s too early to tell now,” he looked to Jake, “Have you felt territorial? Or protective?”
Jake quickly shook his head.
“I was a little touchy with Sunoo earlier, but nothing like that.”
Jay nodded. Jake wondered if now was a good time to mention his newfound biting fixation or his horny lunchtime thoughts.
Before he could say anything Sunghoon silently pushed himself between Jay and Jake. He was so close that his broad chest filled Jake’s entire field of vision. Sunghoon tilted his head up so he could see Jake better. He didn’t say anything, but somehow Jake knew what he was asking.
“I’m fine,” Jake said, lifting Sunghoon’s hands off of him. They really shouldn’t be touching in front of all these staff.
Ni-ki gestured towards the two of them, his brow raised as if to say “See?” Jay frowned.
“Now what?” Jake asked.
“Ni-ki thinks Sunghoon is presenting as an alpha, too,” Jay sighed. “But I think it’s more likely Ni-ki is just smelling me faintly through my scent blocker.”
“Hyung, I know what you smell like,” Ni-ki whined. “And I can’t smell you through the blocker, it hasn’t worn off yet.”
Jake fidgeted. Both him and Sunghoon, as alphas? There was no way.
“What’s the chance?” Jake laughed nervously. “The chance of all of us presenting as alphas in less than six months of each other.”
Jungwon came back, addressing just Jake and Sunghoon.
“After this shot is done, you two can change and head back early. Jay still has one more scene to shoot, so the rest of us will leave with him,” Jungwon was a smart leader, and he noticed the tension immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Heeseung pushed Jungwon away from the group, towards the pool. “We just need to get Jake and Sunghoon back quickly, so we should hurry up and film this pool scene.”
Cameras were hurriedly repositioned around the shallow pool. None of them could stop their shrieks and groans once they entered the freezing water. It helped to bring Jake’s head away from his presentation since every muscle in his body was seized and shivering now.
The shock wore off quickly, at least, as they kneeled to sit in the shallow pool. Jake sat in the middle, cold water lapping against his hips and thighs as the other members all took positions around him. Jake usually started the dance formation bent back over Sunoo, with every member touching him in some way. This shot was meant to mimic that, and soon every member was leaning against him.
Jay and Heeseung had one hand on each of his thighs. The camera was directly above them, so they were forced to throw their heads back and lay on Jake’s stomach to make eye contact with the camera. Jungwon settled behind Jake and had him lean against his knees. He rested a hand against Jake’s bare shoulder and jolted at the touch.
“Hyung, you’re burning up.”
“It's the last shot,” Jake mumbled in response. He was starting to feel floaty. The cold water splashed against his legs and groin. His members said he was warm, but their hands felt like lava where they touched his skin and clothes. Ni-ki rested his head against Jake’s other shoulder at the same time Sunghoon snuck a hand under the water to grip Jake’s hip.
Jake felt drunk as the director called action. Jungwon moved his hand to drape over Jake’s eyes, cloaking his vision in darkness. He could feel his members shift as they gradually unraveled, and Jungwon lifted his hand off of Jake’s eyes. Jake marveled at the different sensations mingling around him while he looked blankly at the camera.
The director must’ve liked what he saw because he called it in one. Jake couldn’t help the jolt of surprise when Jay patted his thigh, telling him to get up. His pack pulled away from him, leaving him shaking in the cold water and missing their warmth. Sunghoon stayed, his hand still pressed against Jake’s hip. Jake eventually forced himself up, the water making his loose white pants cling to his legs. Sunghoon followed close behind, his hand staying pressed against his side, moving up to wrap around his waist. In his mind, Jake knew that there was a reason Sunghoon wasn’t supposed to be touching him right now, but, try as he might, he couldn’t remember it.
There was the sound of splashing and hurried whispers saying Ni-ki was right. Jake tuned it out and leaned back into Sunghoon’s body. He was warm against Jake’s chilled skin. Jake sighed and his eyes slipped shut, content.
“Jake-ah. Let’s get you dry, ok?”
Somebody was in front of him. He breathed in and identified Heeseung’s herbal scent. It smelled strong and complex. There was a hint of sharpness, but there was a more prominent sweetness over it. Jake opened his eyes to see Heeseung’s concerned face. Jake took a deep breath to focus on the calming scent, and almost gagged when he caught the mixed scents of many people all at once.
Jake’s eyes went wide, and he pressed his hands against his nose and mouth. He could smell.
He could smell.
Ni-ki was right–of course, he was right. He was presenting, and he had a sinking feeling it wasn’t as a beta.
Sunghoon tightened his grip, and Heeseung pushed his scent out until it was all Jake could smell.
“It’s ok. You’re almost done. We’re going to get you dry and changed, and then we can go home.”
Home. That sounded nice. He could take some painkillers and hide in his bunk and he’d wake up as a beta and this whole day would be some strange hormonal hiccup.
Remember when Jake and Sunghoon both presented on our Fever set? Wasn’t that so ironic?
Jake nodded and pulled his hands away from his nose. He took a shaky step forward. He was shivering, from fear or cold it was hard to tell. Heeseung gripped his hand and helped guide him out of the pool. Sunghoon remained silent behind him, and he helped keep him balanced with a hand on his waist.
Staff were hovering around the pool, all staring at the three of them. Jay headed toward them, but Heeseung shook his head.
“Hurry up and finish shooting, and then we can all go home.”
Jay growled, short and quiet. It was obvious he wanted to be with his pack and was upset at being forced away. Jake could smell Jay’s deep alpha scent fighting through his blocker–it must have started to wash away in the water. He helplessly felt himself drawn towards the older alpha. Jay was safe, and he had always protected him before.
Sunghoon and Heeseung both tightened their grip on Jake, who had unconsciously started moving towards Jay.
“Jay, go,” Heeseung ordered.
Jay still looked conflicted, but he nodded and forced himself to leave the room. The director called for everyone to move and set up for the next scene.
The staff who were staring started to look away, finally, reminded that they were there to do a job. Jake took a shaky breath, feeling very lost.
“Let’s get you to the dressing room,” Heeseung whispered, guiding him away from the crowd. Jake did his best to follow, but his legs felt weak, and now Jay was gone. He didn’t know why he had wanted Jay so bad.
“I–I don’t know…” Jake tried to speak up. He was a little shocked to realize he was crying. “What’s happening?”
“You’re ok,” Heeseung released more pheromones. Jake was almost ashamed at how quickly his hyung’s scent calmed him down. “You’re presenting. We just need to get you somewhere safe, and then you’ll feel better.”
The other members weren’t in the dressing room when the three of them arrived. Jake vaguely wondered where Heeseung had sent them, but he figured he had larger problems to worry about. The only things keeping Jake even remotely sane right now were Sunghoon’s hands and Heeseung’s scent; without them, he would surely be a spiraling mess.
“Let’s get out of these wet clothes,” Heeseung said as soon as Jake had been deposited onto a bench in the dressing room. Heeseung made short work of getting out of his own wet outfit and pulling on his spare gym clothes. Jake made no move to strip, but Sunghoon didn’t hesitate to push his own hands under Jake’s clothes, pulling his white tank top off himself.
Heeseung found Jake’s bag amongst their belongings. He had packed a set of matching gray sweats, which Heeseung retrieved, as well as a towel. When he turned around, he was a little shocked to see Sunghoon hadn’t stopped once he had pulled off Jake’s top. His hands lingered around Jake’s naked waist, and his mouth was attached to Jake’s collarbone, kissing and sucking on Jake’s inflamed scent glands.
Heeseung cursed. Jake had taken a turn in his presentation so fast that he was all that Heeseung had focused on. But Ni-ki had said that both Jake and Sunghoon smelled like alphas. Heeseung opened his mouth to scent the air. Jake’s new alpha scent was the strongest in the room–most likely because of Sunghoon’s attentive tongue. It was warm and spicy–very spicy since Jake was in rut. But there was another scent in the air.
It was cool and sharp, like peppermint. And it was getting stronger as Jake began to moan and paw at Sunghoon.
“Let’s not do that,” Heeseung tried to pull Jake away from Sunghoon, but the younger alpha growled, gripping Jake tighter, and when he looked at Heeseung, his eyes were vacant, as if he didn’t even recognize him.
“I said stop,” Heeseung commanded, sharpening his own scent. He prayed it would work–Jay folded like a cheap suit in the face of his beta commands, but general consensus stated that alphas never normally submitted to betas.
Heeseung was relieved when Sunghoon jolted and pulled away from Jake. His eyes refocused and he was taking quick, gasping breaths.
Jake forcefully fell back into his body, feeling as if he had just been doused with cold water. He could smell Sunghoon’s new alpha scent, and his dick was now hard and pressed against his wet pants.
“You guys have to wait till we get home, can you do that?” Heeseung asked, but he didn’t let them answer. Instead, he dropped a towel over Jake’s shoulders and started rubbing him dry.
“Sunghoon, get changed,” Heeseung ordered, dropping to his knees and tugging on Jake’s pants.
Jake felt more awake now after Heeseung snapped at them than he had in the pool. He pushed Heeseung’s hands away from his very prominent bulge.
“I can do it myself,” he whispered, embarrassed.
Heeseung nodded and placed his sweats on the end of the bench before turning around to give them privacy. Jake waited until he heard Sunghoon get up and start rummaging for clothes to stand up and pull off his wet pants. He wanted to be quick, but he was very damp and very cold, so he quickly dried off his legs. It brought him face to face with his now seemingly permanent erect cock, and new swollen knot glands. Jake tried to ignore it-and the implications of it-but once he was in his warm sweats, which also did nothing to hide his erection, it was all he could think about.
Sunghoon was in a pair of joggers now, and it seemed he was in the same predicament as Jake.
Unbelievable.
They really were both presenting as alphas.
“Hyung,” Jake approached Heeseung, who was still turned away and on his phone.
“We can leave as soon as you two are ready,” Heeseung said, before pulling Jake into a loose hug. He pushed Jake’s nose against his scent gland and Jake melted. Heeseung’s scent was lighter than usual and smelled clean, almost like soap.
“What about Jay?” Jake asked, a little dazed as Heeseung was scenting him.
“It’ll be better the sooner you two get home,” Heeseung explained. Jake whined. He wanted to see Jay again.
“Both you and Jay will be ok,” Heeseung patted Jake’s head. Then he gestured for Sunghoon to join them.
“I read online that my beta scent might be able to temporarily pause your rut,” he explained.
Jake switched places with Sunghoon, and Heeseung pressed Sunghoon against his neck. Sunghoon breathed deeply, but he didn’t seem to relax quite like Jake did. Heeseung frowned and rubbed his hand soothingly down Sunghoon’s spine.
“How are you feeling?”
“It doesn’t feel real,” Sunghoon mumbled.
“The presentation or…”
“Any of it.”
“It’ll work out,” Heeseung said. “Everything will work itself out, I promise.”
It had worked out for Jay, Jake supposed. But there was a difference between having one alpha alone and two present together.
God, three alphas in one boy group? Would Enhypen be ok?
Jake whined weakly, and Heeseung’s head shot up at the sound. Sunghoon unlatched from Heeseung to wrap around Jake.
Jake buried his face in Sunghoon’s chest and did his best not to cry. Heeseung’s beta scent was doing little to calm him now, but at least he wasn’t lost to his rut.
“How can it work out?” Jake asked. His scent was absolutely miserable, and it was causing Sunghoon and Heeseung to be anxious in turn, both trying to soothe the hurt alpha.
“Please don’t think about that now,” Heeseung placed a protective hand against Jake’s neck. Sunghoon followed him with his eyes, but let it happen.
Jake took a breath to respond, but he was cut off by knocking on the door. All eyes turned to the closed door, and Heeseung pulled away to crack the door open.
Even without seeing him, Jake could smell that it was Jay. His lotion must have fully worn off. Jake found his woodsy scent comforting, even through the barrier of the door.
“Are you already done? Jesus, you're soaked,” Heeseung spoke through the crack.
“I tried to be fast. I came straight here,” Jay answered. “Can I see them?”
“Jay-yah,” Jake called out, voice still watery and scent not much better. Sunghoon tightened his grip on Jake and glared at the door.
Heeseung sighed and opened the door before turning to grab a towel. Jay followed behind. He was soaked, from head to toe. His all-white outfit was completely see-through, but a haphazard blanket over his shoulders preserved some of his modesty.
Jay’s scent had started to feel like home to Jake the more the seven of them lived together. Ever since the airport incident, it helped make Jake feel safe—not that he ever said that out loud. It was warm and protective now, as Jay looked at his two presenting pups clinging to each other.
Jake made grabby hands at Jay. Heeseung had scented him, and now Jake wanted Jay to scent him too.
Jay chuckled at the aegyo and made his way towards him. As soon as he took a step in Jake’s direction, Sunghoon growled. Jake, startled, tried to pull away, but Sunghoon held fast and eyed Jay warily. Sharp peppermint filled the dressing room as Sunghoon stared at Jay, his eyes full of challenge.
Jay stayed frozen a few meters from the two of them. Heeseung quietly approached Jay from behind with a towel, watching the three alphas.
“Sunghoon,” Jake whispered. “It’s just Jay.”
“Maybe he doesn’t like another alpha being near him,” Heeseung draped the towel over Jay’s head so he could free his phone and start searching.
“He’s fine with Jake,” Jay frowned. “The only pack I had around was you, and I was fine with your scent.”
“He and Jake are dating,” Heeseung said. “Is that the problem? Is it too many alphas, or does he see you as a threat?”
“Jay’s not a threat, though,” Jake tried to make eye contact with Sunghoon, who was still staring at Jay. “Jay’s pack, he’s our friend.”
“Not that kind of threat,” Jay said, at the same time Heeseung clarified, “A reproductive threat.”
Jay made his scent as sweet and gentle as he could, before slowly approaching Sunghoon. He offered his wrist out to Sunghoon once he was within reach.
Sunghoon tracked his movements, but his grip on Jake was weakening, and he released Jake in favor of Jay’s arm. He sniffed deeply at Jay’s scent glands, relaxing.
Sungoon cursed weakly as he pulled away.
“Sorry, I couldn’t… I couldn’t tell it was you for a second.”
“You're just sensitive right now, that’s all,” Jay said.
Jake didn’t hesitate to bury himself against Jay’s chest, even if it was making him wet again. Jay let him press against his neck and responded by drenching him in his protective scent. It comforted Jake instantly. Sunghoon watched with a distant, sad look.
Heeseung gently pulled the two of them apart.
“We really need to get these two home, right, Jay? Go get changed.”
Jay hurried to dry his hair and change, while Heeseung made calls to the other members and their manager.
“Manager-nim sent the pups to a nearby hotel. They’ll stay there the night. He’s waiting with a car to take us back to the dorms,” Heeseung explained when he was done.
“I’m sorry to be such a bother,” Jake mumbled. Jay, now dressed in dry clothes and carrying their bags, shouldered him as he passed.
“I don’t want to hear any of that kind of talk from you or Sunghoon. If I wasn’t allowed to apologize for presenting then you two aren’t either.”
Jake smiled weakly. He took Sunghoon’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly as Heeseung and Jay led them out of their dressing room and out to their manager’s car, idling outside. Heeseung and Jay seemed to have some sort of silent conversation between them before Jay took the front seat, and Heeseung sat between Jake and Sunghoon in the back.
Their manager repeated the information Heeseung had already told them about the rest of the pup’s whereabouts before eyeing them in the rearview mirror.
“I can’t believe I’m asking you guys this, but are you sure you can handle this on your own?” he asked.
Jake wasn’t sure if he was asking him and Sunghoon, Jay and Heeseung, or just all of them in general.
“We can handle it,” Heeseung answered. He had one hand each on Jake and Sunghoon’s knees, and his scent was warm. “We did before.”
“We’ll call if something goes wrong,” Jay said. His scent was neutral, but Jake thought it smelled a little too neutral to be real.
Their manager nodded and didn’t say anything else about it when he dropped them off at their dorm. He and Heeseung talked a bit more alone, but Jay pushed Jake away before he could hear what they were talking about.
“So like, what now?” Jake asked once he had taken his shoes off.
“We build you a nest,” Jay said.