Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Actually, this piece was painted by an omega artist. Though for years, the credit went to her alpha patron. Back then, it was frowned upon for omegas to have any job, especially ones that may bring them fame or anything else that may take them away from their pack. 

Nicholas’s voice was steady, even though his pulse thudded faster than usual. The group of middle school students clustered in front of him, eyes darting between the painting and the tall curator leading their tour. Normally this was Harua’s job - the younger omega had a natural flair for guiding crowds, for filling the galleries with his bright voice and easy charm. But Harua was home on heat leave, and the museum director had turned to Nicholas with a casual, “You can handle the tours for a few days, right?”

So here he was.

He gestured to the faint initials hidden in the lower corner of the canvas. “If you look closely, you’ll see she signed it herself. For a long time, historians ignored those letters. But if you study the brushwork, you can see her style in every detail.”

A hush fell over the group as the kids leaned closer. Their curiosity was almost palpable, and Nicholas felt a surprising spark of pride rise up in his chest. He’d always preferred the quiet work behind the scenes by hunching over restoration tables with gloves on until his back ached, or painstakingly lifting centuries of dust from forgotten canvases. That was where he belonged.

But watching young faces light up as he told them the truth that omegas had always created, always mattered, even when history tried to erase them, stirred something in him he hadn’t expected.

When the tour ended and the children filed out in a scatter of voices and footsteps, the museum settled back into its usual hush. Nicholas lingered in the gallery, gaze fixed on the painting they’d just left behind. A forgotten omega, rediscovered. A voice nearly lost, restored.

He let out a quiet breath, smiling faintly to himself. Maybe he wasn’t as terrible at this part as he thought. Still, he was glad to slip back into the room tucked deep in the museum’s back hall. 

The restoration lab was quiet, tucked away from the echo of footsteps and chatter of the galleries. Nicholas slipped his gloves on with practiced ease, the cotton snug against his fingers, and pulled his stool closer to the long worktable. Late afternoon light slanted through the tall windows, catching motes of dust that glittered in the air like suspended stars.

Today’s project was spread out before him: a centuries-old quilt, its edges frayed, colors faded to near-gray. It had been stored in poor conditions before the museum acquired it with the fabric brittle in places, the once-vibrant embroidery nearly worn to nothing. But Nicholas could still see the story stitched into it, even beneath the damage. 

The quilt had been made by a group of omega seamstresses, passed down through generations of packs before it disappeared into a collector’s attic. He bent forward, hands steady as he examined the fragile stitching. Each careful movement felt like breathing life back into someone’s memory.

When his eyes grew tired, he shifted to the other side of the lab, where a clay sculpture awaited him. Its arm had broken clean off, the severed piece waiting on a padded tray. Nicholas set about mixing the bonding agent, tongue caught between his teeth in concentration as he fitted the limb back into place. Once it was secure, he smoothed the line until the break was nearly invisible.

It was tedious work, demanding both precision and patience but Nicholas found it grounding. Every brushstroke of pigment, every thread replaced, every crack repaired felt like proof that damage wasn’t the end. Things could be mended. 

The clock on the wall ticked softly, marking the hours. Nicholas leaned back, stretching his shoulders, and set his tools down with care. The quilt looked a little brighter, the sculpture a little more whole. There was still work to do, but he’d be back tomorrow to continue. 

Nicholas packed his tools away - brushes cleaned, cotton gloves thrown onto his desk, notes shoved into the project binder. The quilt was covered with its protective sheet, the sculpture secured in its foam cradle, the lab once again orderly and quiet. The sky outside the tall windows was already turning gold, the sun sinking low. It had been a long day, but the kind of long that left him satisfied rather than drained.

He slipped his sketchbook into his bag, shrugged it over his shoulder and pushed through the heavy glass doors of the museum. The air outside was cool, carrying the faint hum of the city beyond the gates. Nicholas tugged his headphones around his neck, thumb hovering over his phone to start his playlist but then a familiar scent cut through everything else: sharp bergamot, and fresh juniper. The very scent that was permanently woven into his own. 

Nicholas’s head snapped up, eyes scanning the plaza until they landed on a figure seated casually on one of the benches near the entrance. There he was - his mate - shoulders relaxed, one ankle crossed over the other, scrolling absently on his phone.

Nicholas’s heart stuttered as his mouth curved into a smile he only ever wore for one person.

“Euijoo,” he breathed.

The alpha looked up at the sound, and a familiar grin spread across his face - the one that always made Nicholas’s chest ache. He tucked his phone into his pocket and rose from the bench in one smooth motion.

“I thought I’d walk you home,” Euijoo said simply, as though his scent alone hadn’t already undone Nicholas, as though Nicholas’s whole body hadn’t just shouted mate, mate, mate the moment he smelled him.

The omega shook his head with a laugh, moving quickly down the steps toward him. “You didn’t have to,” he said, even as his steps sped up, even as his pulse leapt in delight.

“I wanted to,” Euijoo replied, reaching for his hand without hesitation.

Their fingers laced together easily, palms warm despite the cool air. Nicholas’s body moved before his brain did - his head tipping back, throat angled just enough to bare the faded crescent of his mating mark. Euijoo didn’t waste the invitation.

He leaned down, brushing the tip of his nose against the mark, breathing Nicholas in. The soft contact sent a shiver through the omega’s chest, a heat that was more comfort than desire. His eyes fluttered shut for a second, steadying himself against the weight of being seen so completely.

And just like that, the long day melted away, replaced by the steady warmth of the only person Nicholas had ever truly wanted to come home to.

“I know you and Harua usually walk home together,” the alpha said lightly, thumb brushing across Nicholas’s knuckles after he pulled back. “Since he’s… well, out of commission for a few days, I thought I’d come fill in.”

Nicholas huffed a laugh, cheeks warming. “Fill in, huh? Like I needed a babysitter.”

“Not a babysitter,” Euijoo corrected, tone warm, teasing. “A replacement. Temporary. Until your usual walking buddy’s back on his feet.”

Nicholas rolled his eyes, though the corners of his lips betrayed him. The truth was, he’d grown used to Harua’s company on the walk home - their chatter, the way the younger omega could pull him out of his own head without even trying. But looking at Euijoo, his profile painted gold by the setting sun, jaw softened by light, dark eyes catching hints of amber as they flicked down toward him, the omega’s heart thumped a bit harder. 

“I guess,” Nicholas murmured, “if someone had to replace Harua for a bit… you’re a good second choice.”

Euijoo’s fingers squeezed his. “Good.”

And with that, they set off together, footsteps carrying them in quiet sync toward home.

The walk to the subway station was unhurried, their joined hands swinging lightly between them. The city was settling into its evening rhythm: shop signs flickering to life, the smell of meat wafting from a vendor on the corner, the steady hum of traffic building like a lullaby in the distance. 

They descended into the cool air of the station, the tile floors echoing with footsteps and the faint metallic screech of trains arriving and departing. Nicholas let Euijoo tug him through the turnstile first, their hands never breaking apart.

The train arrived with a gust of air and the rattle of doors sliding open. They slipped into the car and found a spot near the back where there was enough room to stand together. The fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly, the air carrying that familiar mix of steel, stale air, and too many people packed into one space.

Nicholas shifted closer without thinking, pressing into the solid warmth of Euijoo’s chest. His mate’s arm came around his shoulders in one easy, natural motion, and the omega inhaled deeply, the familiar blend grounding him even here in the chaos of the city.

The train jolted into motion, and they swayed with it. Nicholas let his eyes slip shut, cheek pressed to the soft cotton of Euijoo’s shirt. The alpha's heartbeat thrummed steady beneath his ear, a quiet metronome that soothed him more than any playlist ever could.

It wasn’t often they got to commute like this. Euijoo’s youth center was eight blocks away in the opposite direction, so their days rarely aligned enough to come home together. Once in a while, they managed to meet for lunch, stealing an hour in some café or on a park bench before going back to work. But this - the ride home side by side with no rush - was rare. Nicholas let himself savor it.

He breathed in, slow and deep, letting Euijoo’s scent fill his lungs until the rest of the world felt far away. Every sway of the train rocked them closer together, their bodies in sync with the motion. Nicholas’s hand tightened in his mate’s, and Euijoo gave a small squeeze back, wordless but sure.

So,” The alpha murmured, lips brushing the crown of the omega’s hair, “how’d the tour go today?”

Nicholas gave a noncommittal hum. “Fine,” he said at last, eyes still closed. “Kids asked questions, no one got bored, nothing caught on fire.” 

Euijoo chuckled, a sound Nicholas felt in his bones more than heard. His hand slid along Nicholas’s arm, thumb rubbing absent circles just above his elbow. “Good. And hey - it’s only one more day until the weekend. Then you can actually relax.”

That made Nicholas’s eyes flutter open. He tilted his head back just enough to peer up at Euijoo, one brow raised. “Relax?” His voice held a note of mock disbelief. “You mean after the baby shower? That doesn’t sound like relaxing to me.”

Euijoo grinned down at him, clearly unbothered by the correction. “Ah, right. The baby shower.”

“Exactly, the baby shower.” He sighed, letting his head fall back against Euijoo’s chest. 

The train screeched to a stop, and the automated voice announced their station. Euijoo gave Nicholas’s hand a gentle squeeze, a wordless come on, before tugging him upright. They slipped out with the crowd, the rush of cool air meeting them as they climbed the stairs back into the open evening.

The city was quieter out here. Still alive with buses groaning along the street, a corner shop owner sweeping the last of the day’s dust off the sidewalk, a group of teenagers laughing too loudly as they darted past but it lacked the constant press of bodies and noise that filled the heart of downtown.

They walked side by side, fingers laced, shoes scuffing softly against the pavement. The sun had dipped low, painting the horizon in streaks of rose and amber. Euijoo carried himself with that easy, unhurried confidence, shoulders loose, gaze flicking now and then to Nicholas as if to make sure he was keeping pace. Nicholas let himself lean just slightly closer, enough that their arms brushed with every step.

It wasn’t a long walk - fifteen minutes, maybe twenty if they dawdled, but Nicholas always liked this part of the commute. The air felt cleaner, touched by faint notes of grass and soil instead of car exhaust. The buildings spaced farther apart, shops giving way to low fences and narrow strips of garden. Here and there, the glow of porch lights flickered on, casting warm halos over stoops and hedges.

They had a car, two of them, but the truth was, most of the pack preferred the train. Kei and Fuma worked in the city core; Jo, Taki, and Yuma weren’t far from the museum where Nicholas worked; and even Maki had shifts that made transit simpler. The cars were mostly for grocery runs, late-night emergencies, or when someone just needed space. But for their daily lives, this suited them fine.

By the time they turned onto their street, the houses had grown larger, set back from the road with wide lawns. The pack’s home came into view at the end of the block, its big porch light glowing warmly against the darkening sky. 

The house at the end of the block wasn’t much to look at compared to the sleek apartments closer to the city center. The paint on the shutters had faded to a pale, weathered blue, and the porch boards creaked underfoot if you stepped in the wrong place. The roof sagged just slightly at the corner where a storm had peeled away shingles last winter but every house on the street bore the same kind of tired charm - old bones, old stories, a little worn but standing tall anyway.

Nicholas’s chest tightened with something that was part anticipation, part disbelief. Even after two years, coming home to the knowledge that this house was his, theirs - still felt like a miracle.

The pack had pooled their savings with a stubborn determination and signed the lease. Nine pack members under one roof. It was space to breathe, space to stretch, space to belong.

The front door swung shut behind them with a low thud, and the house’s warmth wrapped around Nicholas instantly - the scent of roasted garlic and seared meat from the kitchen, and the comforting tangle of pack pheromones layered into the walls. Laughter spilled down the hallway, Yuma’s voice unmistakably high and bright, followed by Jo groaning about something, and Fuma's deeper tone cutting in like calm waves against their noise. Euijoo dropped a kiss against Nicholas’s temple before slipping his hand free. 

“I’ll be in the shower?” he offered, waiting for Nicholas to nod before disappearing upstairs. He knew there was something the omega had to do first. 

Another scent threaded through the air, one sweeter, softer, humming low and warm a field of lavender on a warm, summer day. 

Harua.

Nicholas padded softly down the hall, past his other packmates. He stopped outside Harua and Maki’s room, lifted his hand, and rapped lightly on the doorframe.

“It’s me,” he called, keeping his voice quiet but warm.

For a beat, there was only the rustle of movement inside. Then a muffled voice answered, rough and small at the same time. “Come in.”

Nicholas eased the door open and slipped inside, careful to shut it softly behind him. The room was dim, curtains drawn against the last of the sunset, shadows pooling across the floor. The air was thick with heat and the heavy, sweet pull of omega pheromones, laced with Maki’s steadier alpha scent that lingered like smoke.

Harua was curled up in his nest on the bed, cheeks flushed. His hair stuck to his temples, the ends curling slightly with sweat. Maki was stretched out beside him, propped up on one elbow, calm as ever, his hand tracing lazy circles over Harua’s hip as if to keep him anchored.

“Can I come sit?” Nicholas asked, waiting to take a step forward. 

“Of course,” Harua smiled, patting the side of the bed. 

The older omega sat carefully at the edge of the mattress, trying not to disturb the delicate pile of blankets and pillows. Harua’s eyes were half-lidded, pupils blown wide and glossy. He looked so young like this, curled in on himself with Maki’s steady hand rubbing circles at his hip, as if the alpha could smooth the ache out of his heat with touch alone.

Nicholas reached out, brushing a damp strand of hair from Harua’s forehead. The younger omega’s nose twitched, then wrinkled faintly - Nicholas had only just come off the subway, after all, and the faint metallic tang of it clung to his jacket and hair. “Sorry, I know I probably stink.”

“It’s okay, how was the tour?”

Nicholas smiled, brushing his hand through Harua’s damp hair one last time before letting it fall back to his side. “Oh, it went so well they’re probably going to replace you with me.” 

Harua burst into laughter as he dropped his head back against Maki’s shoulder. “Yeah, right.”

“Don’t worry I like my backroom too much to leave. Your job’s safe, plus the kids like someone with more energy” Nicholas joked.

Harua huffed again, this one half amusement, half exhaustion, and let his eyes slip shut as Maki’s fingers resumed their lazy circles at his hip. Nicholas lingered there a moment longer, watching the younger omega’s breathing even out, the faintest ghost of his laughter still hanging between them like the warm air of the room.

“Lemme know if you need anything, yeah?” Nicholas said softly, pausing with one hand on the doorknob.

Harua’s eyes fluttered open just enough to meet his, and gave a small, sleepy nod. Nicholas’s chest gave a familiar, protective tug as he pulled the door behind him. Just before it closed, though, he caught one last glimpse: Maki tugging Harua closer with a firm hand, the younger alpha curling around him in a protective cocoon as Harua melted against his chest with a sigh. 

Once upon a time, Nicholas hated his heat. He’d take little white pills that dulled the pull of his body before it tore him apart. He used to think that it was his only option after his ex made him fear sharing those hopeless, intimate moments with another. But the pills took something else from him too. They dulled him down until he felt like a shadow of himself, his body aching as it broke out into rashes. 

It wasn’t until Euijoo - patient, steady, maddeningly gentle Euijoo - that he’d let anyone close enough to touch him when he was like that. The first time, Nicholas was scared but the alpha just stayed there, offering himself with that quiet certainty that had always been his way, until the omega's resistance cracked.

Now, a couple years into their mating, Nicholas couldn’t imagine surviving a heat without him. The bond hummed under his skin, an anchor in a storm that used to drown him.

That was another thing about living with eight other pack members: no one’s cycles were ever just their own anymore. Heats and ruts weren’t private storms to weather in silence; they became a kind of group effort. Not the fucking part - that was always between mates, sacred in its own way. But everything else, those moments were shared.

It was the pack dropping extra blankets outside nest rooms, or letting their scent soak into a hoodie so someone who was shaking from cramps had something safe to bury their face in. It was making late-night tea, running quiet errands, or just leaning against a doorframe to check in. Nicholas had once never known a home where people looked out for him like that. Now he couldn’t imagine living without it.

The sound of running water filtered from upstairs, steam already curling faintly down the hall. Nicholas padded up the last flight and toward their room, heart lifting with every step. He slipped inside his bedroom, dropped his bag by the dresser, and began tugging at the buttons of his shirt. Once undressed, he pushed the door to the bathroom open, already greeted by a rush of heat and the rich scent of bergamot and juniper, made sweeter by the rising steam.

The bathroom was thick with steam, mirrors fogged over, the sound of water thrumming steady against tile. Nicholas pushed the door open, warm mist curling over his bare arms, and was immediately wrapped in the scent that had pulled him home all day.

Through the haze, he saw his mate under the spray - dark hair plastered to his forehead, rivulets of water chasing down the lean lines of his chest and over his stomach. Euijoo’s shoulders tipped back against the stream, eyes shut, lips parted just slightly as the water washed the city from his skin. Nicholas’s breath caught, even now, years into being mated, the sight of him made the his pulse stumble.

Euijoo cracked an eye open at the sound of the door and smiled when he saw him. “You coming in, or just gonna keep staring?”

Nicholas snorted softly, and slipped behind the curtain, where Euijoo reached instantly to tug him close. The water was hot, the tile slick beneath his feet, but Nicholas barely noticed. All he felt was Euijoo’s hands sliding around his waist, anchoring him in place, steady and familiar.

Euijoo’s lips brushed the crown of his damp hair. “How’s Harua?” 

Nicholas nodded. “Yeah, just tired. Maki’s got him.” 

“Such a good omega, looking after the younger members like that - oof.” A rush of air left Euijoo’s mouth as Nicholas placed his fist into his stomach. 

“Shut up,” the omega muttered but the flush on his cheeks wasn’t from the warm water. 

Euijoo just grinned and tipped Nicholas’s chin up then, brushing their mouths together in a kiss that was as much promise as it was comfort.

Saturday arrived in a blink, and Nicholas found himself standing in front of the open closet like it was some impossible riddle. He’d restored 18th-century garments with more certainty than he felt now, staring at row after row of shirts, jackets, and sweaters. His brows furrowed as he pulled out a plain t-shirt, then tossed it onto the bed, only to grab another and immediately second-guess himself.

“What the hell do you even wear to a baby shower?” he muttered under his breath, glaring at the closet like it might offer an answer.

“Obviously,” Yuma said from where he’d sprawled across Nicholas’s bed, kicking his feet lazily in the air as he scrolled through his phone. “if you think the pup’s gonna be a boy, you wear blue. If it’s a girl, you wear pink. Easy.”

Nicholas turned slowly, leveling him with a flat stare. “That’s for a gender reveal, dumbass. We already know it’s a boy”

The younger omega gasped dramatically, clutching his chest like Nicholas had just stabbed him. “Well excuuuuse me! Just wear blue then.”

“You are no help” Nicholas deadpanned, yanking a hanger off the rack.

“Don’t pick all black like I know you want to. Imagine showing up in black. You’ll look like you’re headed to a funeral.”

Nicholas groaned. “Black is safe.”

“Safe is boring,” Yuma countered immediately. He hopped off the bed and dove into the closet without asking, rifling through hangers until he yanked out a pale blue button-up. “Here. This one. Says: I’m a supportive friend, but I’m also hot.”

The older omega blinked at him, unimpressed. “Hot? At a baby shower?”

“Exactly!” Yuma shoved the shirt into his arms. “You’ll be the cool friend. Everyone will be jealous that the expecting parents even know you.”

By the time the older omega finally gave in to the younger's relentless nagging, the room looked like a hurricane had ripped through it. Shirts lay draped over the back of the chair, a sweater was half-slid off the bed, and Yuma was smugly buttoning up his own outfit like he hadn’t just spent the last thirty minutes heckling Nicholas into submission.

“You look good,” Yuma said, smoothing the front of his shirt in the mirror before grinning at Nicholas. “Admit it. Blue was the right choice.”

Nicholas tugged at his cuffs with a muttered, “I’m not admitting anything,” but the faint heat in his ears gave him away. He bent to double-check the gift bag sitting by the door, tissue paper folded neatly over the little stack of baby clothes he’d picked out earlier in the week, plus a gift from Harua. Yuma's own gift sat next to it, a ridiculous tower of pastel wrapping paper and ribbons.

“Okay, let’s go before we’re late,” Nicholas sighed, grabbing the bags.

They stepped out into the crisp afternoon, the city humming with weekend energy. Couples strolled past with shopping bags, kids tugged at their parents’ hands on the way to parks, and somewhere down the block, someone was blasting music from an open window as Nicholas flagged down a cab.

He adjusted the gift bag in his hands, glancing at Yuma as they walked up to their friend’s house. The front door was decorated with pastel balloons, soft blues and yellows, with a banner that read “Welcome, Baby!” in playful, glittering letters. He swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the handles of the bag.

"You okay?" Yuma asked, sensing the shift in Nicholas’s scent, something just a little too sharp.

Nicholas forced a small smile. "Yeah, just… baby showers aren’t really my thing."

Yuma hummed in understanding but didn’t push. "Well, at least we don’t have to deal with the alphas today," he said lightly, nudging Nicholas with his elbow. "Just us omegas, gossip, and way too many sweets."

Nicholas huffed a small laugh and knocked on the door. It was barely a second before it was thrown open, revealing Wonbin in a loose, soft cream sweater that did little to hide the large growing swell of his stomach. His eyes lit up when he saw them.

“You made it!” Wonbin exclaimed. He ushered them inside quickly, hugging Yuma first, then Nicholas.

Nicholas handed over the gift bag, mumbling, “Congratulations.” 

Wonbin smiled, squeezing his hand. “Thank you. It means a lot that you're here.”

The living room was filled with other omegas from university and their mutual circles, voices overlapping as they cooed over the decorations, the gifts, and, most of all, Wonbin’s pregnancy. The living room had been transformed into a sea of pastel with paper cut-outs of bottles and pacifiers dangled from strings, and balloons drifted lazily along the floor. Nicholas, by contrast, felt like he was vibrating out of his skin. Thankfully he had remembered to mask his scent as gently as he could without hiding entirely. 

Nicholas had barely taken his shoes off before he was pulled into another hug - this time by Sunoo, another friend from university.

"It’s been so long!" He gushed. "I swear, it’s impossible to get the whole pack together these days!"

"That’s what happens when everyone gets real jobs," Nicholas laughed. 

The two of them followed the rest of the attendees to where Wonbin was now sitting on the couch, being fussed over. Some of the other omega’s had him propped up with soft pillows, rubbing gentle circles on his back and shoulders, all while he swatted them away, laughing.

"You guys are acting like I’m fragile," Wonbin complained, though he didn’t actually make an effort to stop them. "I’m just a couple months pregnant, not dying."

"But you’re glowing," one of the omegas insisted, eyes bright with admiration.

"You two must be so excited," another said, eyes shining as they looked at Wonbin.

 "We are," Wonbin admitted, rubbing a hand over the curve of his stomach. "I’m lucky to have such an amazing mate. Every time I so much as sigh, he’s asking if I need anything, if I’m hungry, if I want a foot massage. It’s adorable, but also so much sometimes."

Someone else from university turned her attention to Nicholas with a teasing smirk. "What about you?" he asked. "You and Euijoo have been mated for a while now. Any plans for pups?"

Nicholas felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. He knew the question would come eventually, it always did at events like this, but knowing didn’t make it any easier to answer. His mouth opened, but nothing came out at first. The truth felt too raw, too heavy to say out loud. He wasn’t even sure how to explain it - how to say yes, I want kids but I’m terrified without it sounding like an excuse. Luckily, Yuma stepped in smoothly.

"Nicholas already has his hands full with all of us," he joked, nudging Nicholas’s shoulder. "Besides, I think Euijoo would lose his mind if Nicholas was out of commission for too long. You know how that alpha gets."

The group laughed, nodding knowingly - Euijoo was incredibly doting, after all. Nicholas managed to force a chuckle, but the weight on his chest didn’t ease. Thankfully someone called for games to start and the attention shifted back off him.

In the first game everyone had a clothespin on their shirt and had to avoid saying the word baby - if you slipped, someone could take your pin. People laughed, shouted, teased each other. Then they passed around cards for guessing the birth date, the weight, the name. Nicholas filled his out with careful, tight handwriting, then folded it twice before placing it in the basket.

The second game had them tasting jars of baby food with the labels peeled off. Nicholas wrinkled his nose at the spoonful of something vaguely carrot-flavored and muttered, “This is cruel,” while Yuma howled with laughter and claimed he could definitely taste sweet potato. By the third game Nicholas was laughing too, caught up in the noise and silliness of it all.

They made it through the gifts, through the jokes and belly rubs and cries of “so tiny!” as Wonbin unwrapped diapers and bottle warmers and bibs that said “Pack Favorite.” Nicholas sat back, watching as his friend unwrapped yet another gift, his expression bouncing between delighted and exasperated as the pile of presents beside him continued to grow.

"Oh my god, you guys went insane with the gifts," Wonbin groaned, though he was clearly pleased. "This is too much."

"Blame that alpha of yours," one of the omegas teased. "He told everyone to spoil you. Said you deserved it for carrying his pup."

Wonbin rolled his eyes but smiled fondly, pressing a hand against the small swell of his belly. "That sounds like him," he admitted. "If he had his way, I wouldn’t be allowed to lift a single finger until the baby’s born."

Yuma laughed, biting into a sugar cookie as he leaned into his packmate. "Our mates would be exactly the same."

Nicholas huffed a quiet laugh but didn’t argue. Euijoo would be like that - probably worse. The second Nicholas so much as winced, the alpha would practically carry him everywhere.

He imagined it for half a second - Euijoo pressing warm kisses to his stomach, hands resting protectively over his belly, whispering sweet things to their unborn pup. He shoved the thought away before it could consume him.

"Next gift, next gift!" Sohee cheered, clapping excitedly as Wonbin reached for another box.

Nicholas let himself sink into the moment, focusing on the way Wonbin’s eyes lit up as he unwrapped each gift. Soft baby blankets, tiny shoes, plush toys, an adorable onesie that said “Little Trouble Maker.”

"That one’s from me," Yuma said proudly as Wonbin held up the onesie.

Wonbin snorted, grinning. "Oh, I love it. This kid is absolutely going to be trouble."

"You sure about that?" someone teased. "Maybe they’ll take after you and be a complete angel."

Wonbin grinned mischievously, rubbing his stomach. "Oh no, I hope they’re trouble. I need them to keep us on our toes."

The whole room laughed, and Nicholas found himself silently admiring Wonbin. The other omega spoke about pregnancy like it was an adventure, not a death sentence. Like it was something joyful, something to be cherished.

Nicholas wished he could feel the same way.

After the last gift had been unwrapped and Wonbin rushed off to go to the bathroom, a few familiar faces wandered over to talk to Nicholas. They’d gone off in different directions after graduation, but they remembered him, and the laughter that sparked between them was easy, unforced. They asked about his job, about the pack, about Euijoo, and Nicholas found himself talking more than he usually did at gatherings. For once, he didn’t feel like the odd one out.

Later, he found his friend settled into an armchair, a plate balanced on his rounded belly. Nicholas slid into the seat beside him, lowering his voice so their words were just for each other.

“You look good,” Nicholas said honestly, nodding at him. “Glowing, actually. How are you really feeling?”

Wonbin smiled. “Honestly? Lucky. I’ve had a good pregnancy so far. No scary complications, nothing more than the usual exhaustion and food cravings. I keep waiting for something to go wrong, but…” He trailed off with a shrug, hand smoothing over the swell of his stomach. “So far, everything’s been kind to me.”

Nicholas’s throat tightened. He looked down at the rounded curve, then back at his friend’s calm face. There was no fear there, no pain - just anticipation.

“That’s good,” Nicholas said, and he meant it. “You deserve it. You always did.”

His friend reached over and squeezed his hand, eyes shining. Nicholas hesitated before speaking again, rolling his empty cup between his palms. 

“Were you ever scared?” He asked finally, his voice low, almost cautious, like the words themselves might break something open. His eyes flicked toward the round swell of his friend’s belly and then quickly away. “I mean… with everything that can go wrong for male omegas.”

For a moment, he thought he’d overstepped. But then Wonbin let out a small laugh, not unkind, just gentle. He shifted in the armchair, hand rubbing over his stomach in a slow, familiar circle.

“Not really,” he said. “I’ve got a great pack, an even better mate, and a doctor who actually listens to me. That’s more than most people get.” He paused, gaze softening as it landed on Nicholas. “And if something does happen… then it’s out of my hands. I did everything I could. That’s all anyone can do.”

Nicholas’s throat tightened, his tongue heavy with unspoken memories. He couldn’t imagine facing it without fear gnawing at his bones but his friend’s voice carried no tremor, no hesitation. Just calm acceptance, steadied by love and trust.

Nicholas swallowed hard, staring down at his hands. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It isn’t,” his friend admitted. “But it’s worth it. You stop thinking about what could go wrong and start focusing on what you already have. And I have everything I need.”

By the time the last of the cake had been cut and the streamers started to sag in the warm air, Nicholas and Yuma slipped their shoes back on. They each gave their friend one more hug and murmured their congratulations again, promises to visit soon, to bring the whole pack next time, before the two of them finally stepped out into the cool evening air.

The street felt hushed compared to the townhouse they’d just left, laughter and music muffled to a faint hum behind closed windows. A cab pulled up a minute later, headlights washing the sidewalk in pale gold. They slid inside, their hands now empty, both sinking back against the worn leather seats.

Neither of them spoke as the city began to blur past. The steady hum of the engine filled the silence, broken only by the occasional turn signal’s soft click. Streetlights flickered in rhythm, casting shadows across their faces - bright, then dark, then bright again. Yuma’s head tipped back against the seat, his eyelids heavy, a faint smile still lingering on his lips as if the buzz of the party hadn’t fully worn off.

"That wasn’t so bad, huh?" Yuma said, sending Nicholas a small smile.

Nicholas let out a quiet breath. "Yeah. It was nice."

Yuma gave him a searching look, like he could tell there was more behind that answer. But instead of pressing, he simply nodded, grabbing the older omega’s hand and lacing them together.

Nicholas rested his temple against the cool glass of the window, watching buildings drift into rowhouses, rowhouses into the longer stretches of road that led toward the quieter outskirts. His body was tired, pleasantly so, but his mind hummed with the echo of his friend’s words. Not scared. A good mate, a good pack, a good doctor. If something happens, it’s out of my hands.

The cab dropped them off at the curb, headlights sweeping across the familiar porch before rolling away. Nicholas and Yuma climbed the steps, shoulders brushing as they both stifled yawns. The door creaked open, and immediately the house’s warmth enveloped them - the familiar tangle of pack scents, the low murmur of voices, the steady hum of the TV filling the living room.

Most of the pack was gathered there, sprawled across couches and chairs, eyes glued to whatever movie or show was playing. Kei sat with his long legs stretched out, one arm draped comfortably over Fuma’s shoulders, while Harua leaned against Maki on the floor, tucked safely against his mate’s side even in his heat-hazed state.

Yuma perked up instantly, energy sparking back into him like the party hadn’t drained him at all. He darted across the room toward Jo and Taki, practically throwing himself into their laps. “Guess who won two of the games?” he crowed, already puffing up as the betas groaned and rolled their eyes, though their smiles betrayed them.

Nicholas let him go, too tired to keep up with his chatter. His steps carried him automatically to where Euijoo sat tucked into the corner of the couch, legs drawn up, dark eyes flicking up the moment Nicholas crossed the threshold. He didn’t say a word, just opened his arms.

Nicholas collapsed into them with a sigh that came from somewhere deep in his chest, the last of the day’s tension bleeding out of him as his mate’s scent wrapped around him like a blanket. He tucked his face into Euijoo’s neck, inhaling the steadiness of home, and let his body go slack against him.

Euijoo’s arms came around him without hesitation, one hand sliding up to cup the back of his head, the other firm and grounding at his waist. He didn’t ask how the shower had gone, didn’t prod or push. He knew Nicholas would talk if he wanted to.

Babies weren’t a forbidden topic between them. Not really. But the word itself carried a weight, one Nicholas never could quite hold without his hands shaking. He’d known for a long time that Euijoo wanted kids. But he had never once pushed. Never once tried to turn those quiet glances into ultimatums. Every time the subject came close, his answer was always the same: Nicholas, your health comes first. Always. Your body, your mind. That’s what matters to me most.

The house had long since quieted by the time Nicholas and Euijoo slipped away to their room. Somewhere down the hall, Yuma’s laughter still carried faintly through the walls, but even that was starting to fade. The air smelled of dinner long finished and the layered warmth of the pack.

In their room, Nicholas sat on the edge of the bed, watching as his mate undressed. The lamp on the nightstand threw soft light across the alpha’s skin, catching on the faint glisten of damp hair from his shower earlier. For a while, Nicholas stayed quiet, the soft rustle of clothing the only sound between them. 

“The baby shower was nice,” he said at last, his voice quiet in the dim room. “Fun, even. I got to see some old friends from school, and…” He paused, rolling the cuff of his sock between his fingers before pulling it off. “Wonbin’s doing really well. He looked good. Happy.”

Euijoo glanced at him, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’m glad.”

Nicholas leaned back against the pillows, exhaling. “The food was good, too. Yuma nearly made himself sick on cupcakes.” He gave a small huff of a laugh, the memory tugging his lips upward.

“That sounds like Yuma.” Euijoo chuckled softly as he shifted closer, pressing a hand lightly against Nicholas’s stomach in a grounding touch.

Nicholas let the warmth of it settle through him, the comfort of routine, of trust. Talking about it didn’t feel heavy the way he thought it might. Just natural. A piece of his day shared with the one person who always wanted to listen.

The lamp clicked off with a soft snap, leaving the room in a muted glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains. The sheets were cool against Nicholas’s skin as he slid under them, and the mattress dipped with the familiar weight of the alpha settling beside him. For a few breaths, there was only the sound of fabric shifting and the even rhythm of Euijoo’s breathing, steady as always.

Nicholas cleared his throat. It came out louder in the quiet than he expected, and Euijoo’s head turned instantly toward him, though he didn’t speak. Just waited. 

"Wonbin isn’t scared at all." Nicholas’s voice was quiet, almost hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to say it out loud. "He’s so excited. He talks about the baby like it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him."

The sheets rustled as Euijoo shifted closer, his arm sliding easily around Nicholas’s waist, pulling him into the solid warmth of his chest.

The omega let out a shaky breath, pressing his forehead to Euijoo’s collarbone. He hadn’t meant to sound so raw, hadn’t meant for his friend’s words to cling to him like this. But somehow, here in the dark, with his mate’s steady heart beneath his ear, it felt safe to let it spill.

He knew Euijoo wanted to be a dad. He knew it. The alpha would never say it outright - never put pressure on him, never bring it up unless Nicholas did first. But Nicholas had learned the language of his mate’s restraint. He’d memorized every flicker of longing behind those warm eyes, every time a niece or nephew climbed into Euijoo’s lap and he smiled so wide his dimple showed. He saw it. The topic of pups wasn’t a locked door, just one they hadn’t opened yet.

Nicholas wanted it, too. That was the worst part. He wanted it. That warm, messy, sleepless love. The clumsy bedtime songs. The pack growing bigger, louder. A baby - their baby - cradled between them in the nest. He wanted to hear Euijoo’s voice saying “come to appa”. He wanted to see their pup fall asleep against Euijoo’s chest, safe in the arms of someone who would never, ever let them go. He wanted to be the one to give him that. But what if he couldn’t?

What if the want wasn’t enough?

What if he carried their pup and didn’t survive it?

His mother had died giving birth and it had torn his family apart. Left a crater where something beautiful was supposed to bloom. He remembered holding his mother’s old cardigan in a too-quiet house, waiting for a door that would never open again. Nicholas shuddered, barely, and Euijoo’s arms pulled him closer instinctively.

He wanted to ask Do you still want it? Even if I don’t know when I’ll be ready? Even if I never am?

But the question stuck in his throat like so many others had. He didn’t need to ask. He knew. Euijoo would love him no matter what. He’d said so a hundred times. But that didn’t make the wanting go away.

"I want that," Nicholas admitted, the words heavy on his tongue. "I want to be excited like that. I want to look forward to it, instead of…"

Instead of waiting for it to kill me.

Chapter Text

On Nicholas's commute into the city, the billboards seemed to change overnight. One was for a new line of prenatal vitamins, another for a stroller company boasting “modern comfort, omega-approved.” A third showed a young family posed under soft lighting, the kind of glossy ad that made Nicholas stare too long before jerking his gaze away. He readjusted his headphones, as if music could drown out the thrum of thoughts.

Even at the museum, where his days were normally nothing but quiet restoration and the hum of history, the signs crept in. Mothers came in groups carrying infants in slings, colleagues slipped baby announcements into conversation like it was the most natural thing in the world. At lunch, Harua was even laughing about how near the end of his heat Maki was insatiable, joking about he was going to test the effectiveness of the omega's birth control. And then one afternoon, Nicholas opened a crate of preserved textiles to find a christening gown - centuries old, yellowed with age but delicate and intact. His fingers hesitated over the fabric longer than they should have, tracing tiny stitches meant for a life just beginning.

It was everywhere.

Nicholas caught himself staring at strangers’ strollers on sidewalks, watching little pups toddle after their parents in the park near the museum, ears pricked with every squeal of laughter. He’d never noticed before, or maybe he’d trained himself not to but now it all seemed highlighted in bold.

If Nicholas was being honest with himself, part of what made the thought of pups linger so stubbornly was Euijoo.

He’d seen it before, more times than he could count - the way Euijoo’s entire face lit up whenever they visited his family. How easily he scooped his sisters’ toddlers into his arms, balancing them on his hip like they weighed nothing. How his voice softened instinctively when a baby fussed, low and calm in a way that seemed to work better than lullabies.

Nicholas remembered one holiday when their niece had worked herself into a full meltdown, tears streaking her little cheeks. Everyone else had tried and failed to soothe her, but Euijoo had taken her gently, pressing his cheek to her tiny head, rocking side to side with that quiet patience that was so uniquely his. Within minutes, the cries had dissolved into hiccups and then soft, steady breaths as she clung to his shirt and fell asleep.

And then there were the times with the kids when Euijoo would crouch down to their level, rolling toy cars across the floor or letting himself be climbed on like a jungle gym. He never tired, never brushed them off. He gave them his full attention, laughing when they laughed, encouraging their every attempt at play. 

And every time Nicholas saw it, the thought crept back in. He’d be an amazing father. 

As Nicholas climbed the front steps and let himself in, greeted instantly by warmth, overlapping scents, and the low hum of conversation. He could hear Jo’s laughter from the den, followed by the high-pitched sound of Taki scolding Yuma for something that was probably deserved.

“Welcome back,” came Kei’s voice from the kitchen. “We’re making food. You hungry?”

“I’m okay,” Nicholas murmured, slipping off his shoes. “Just tired.”

He drifted toward the kitchen just as Fuma turned from the stove, apron tied neatly around his waist, a teasing smile on his lips. “You sure you’re not hungry? I made it extra spicy, just how you like it.”

Nicholas gave him a grateful smile but shook his head. “Maybe later.”

The house had six bedrooms - eight if you counted the small studio and the converted sunroom upstairs. Kei had found the listing, Fuma negotiated, and the rest of them slowly turned it into a home. It had a yard, a finished basement, and more space than they really needed. At the time, the idea was growth. Possibility. Now, the unspoken weight of that space pressed in around Nicholas like walls with ears.

Everyone in the pack was mated. Everyone was settled. And somehow, all eyes - gentle, hopeful, unspoken - had landed on him and Euijoo.

Because Kei and Fuma, as alphas, weren’t biologically equipped to carry. 

Because Jo, Yuma and Taki had both insisted, very practically, that they were just settling into their careers still. 

Because Harua had definitely hinted he was open to getting pregnant but Maki was firm in his “not yet, we’re too young” stance. 

Because Nicholas and Euijoo loved each other with a softness that everyone in the house could feel.

Because Nicholas was an omega.

Because, because, because.

He headed upstairs before anyone else could ask how his day was. The hallway was dim as he made his way to his bedroom where his alpha was already lounging on the bed, his nose between the pages of a book.

Euijoo looked up instantly, eyes softening. “Hey, you’re home.”

Nicholas stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He toed off his socks, walked across the room, and flopped down onto the bed. 

“Bad day?” The alpha asked, fingers gently combing through Nicholas’s hair.

Nicholas buried his face in Euijoo’s chest and breathed him in. “The world’s full of babies,” he muttered. “Did you know that?”

Euijoo’s chest rumbled with a chuckle. “Yeah?”

The backyard buzzed with the easy rhythm of summer, sunlight spilling golden over the grass and the hum of voices carried on the breeze. Someone had dragged the big speaker outside, and music drifted through the air - upbeat, not loud enough to drown out the sound of conversation or the shrieks of children darting back and forth across the lawn.

The grill sizzled at the far end of the yard where Fuma and Maki had stationed themselves like soldiers. The older alpha wielded the tongs with an authority that made Kei roll his eyes every few minutes, while the younger alpha moved briskly beside him, flipping burgers with precise timing as though this were some kind of competition.

The rest of the pack was scattered across the yard and porch, drinks in hand, mingling with the mix of friends and family that had come to celebrate. Nicholas and Jo’s birthdays technically fell a day apart, but they’d always celebrated together - one big gathering instead of two smaller ones. 

Kids were everywhere, their energy untamed. Fuma’s sister’s children - a boy and girl, five and seven - chased each other around the table, the boy brandishing a foam sword like a knight while his sister shrieked in terror. Euijoo’s nieces, the four-year-old twins, were squatting in the grass nearby, earnestly examining bugs they’d discovered and shrieking with delight every time one crawled onto a stick. Kei’s brother lounged on a deck chair, sipping a beer while his two-year-old toddled dangerously close to the cooler, rescued at the last second by Harua, who scooped him up with a laugh.

Even some of Nicholas’s half-siblings were there, clustered on the porch steps, catching up with him in bursts between chasing after the little ones. Seeing them here - folded so casually into the pack’s life, welcomed without hesitation - made Nicholas’s chest tighten.

The omega nursed the last of his drink, the condensation dripping lazily down the side of the plastic cup, and half-listened to the story someone at the table was telling. Something about a disastrous camping trip - people around him were laughing, leaning in to add their own pieces. He smiled when it felt appropriate, nodding here and there, but his attention kept slipping. Out in the yard, Euijoo was the one who had him caught.

The alpha was in the middle of the makeshift soccer game, his shirt clinging to his back in patches where sweat had darkened the fabric. The ball darted between small legs, the kids shrieking with every kick, but Euijoo kept the game flowing like he’d been born for it. He bent low, letting them swarm him, pretending to stagger dramatically as three sets of tiny hands tried to steal the ball away.

Nicholas bit back a laugh when Euijoo finally let them succeed, only to swoop the ball away again at the last second and send it rolling neatly toward Taki. The beta caught it with his foot and sent it sailing back, earning a chorus of cheers.

The sun caught in Euijoo’s hair, glinting off the damp strands plastered to his forehead. His laugh carried across the yard - the kind of sound that never failed to sink into Nicholas’s bones and make something inside him loosen.

Then one of the nephews ran up and tugged at Euijoo’s shirt, demanding to be carried. Without missing a beat, Euijoo scooped him up onto his back, the child’s legs wrapping around his shoulders as he still tried to defend his goal. The sight of him stumbling a little, laughing so hard he nearly fell, while the boy squealed with delight, sent a flush of warmth through Nicholas’s chest that had nothing to do with the alcohol.

God, he looked good.

Nicholas tipped his head back against the chair and exhaled slowly, the edges of his buzz settling over him like a haze. For the hundredth time that week, the thought nudged at him, soft but insistent: He’d be such a good dad.

Pups.

The word used to hang heavy over Nicholas like a storm cloud he could never quite escape. It meant danger, loss, his mother’s absence. It meant his father’s bitterness, and the way people looked at him as though he were fragile glass, already cracked. For years he’d carried it like a curse, a sharp reminder of everything he’d sworn he didn’t want.

The omega's gaze followed Euijoo across the yard, the laughter, the easy way his alpha bent to let the kids swarm him, the bright grin when he lifted Fuma’s boy higher onto his shoulders. For a fleeting second, he let himself picture it differently.

Not someone else’s nephew. Not someone else’s giggling child. But theirs. A pup with wide eyes and soft hair, clinging to Euijoo’s shirt with tiny fists. A pup squealing with laughter while their father ran across the grass, pretending to trip, pretending to lose, only to scoop them close again when they grew tired. The image was so vivid it stole Nicholas’s breath.

Euijoo would be the kind of father who made everyone feel safe. The kind who remembered every snack preference. The kind who never missed a school event, who sat on the floor and played with blocks, who lifted them high and called them brave, who kissed skinned knees and whispered bedtime stories with his head bowed close.

Nicholas blinked hard, heart thudding unevenly when a sharp nudge at his arm jolted him. He blinked and turned, finding Harua leaning against the arm of his chair, brows raised. 

“Earth to Nicholas,” the younger omega teased, eyes flicking toward the rest of the group at the table. “They asked you a question.”

Nicholas blinked again, heat rising to his cheeks as the laughter and chatter around him sharpened back into focus. One of Jo’s friends was looking at him expectantly, clearly waiting for an answer.

“Uh - sorry,” Nicholas muttered, rubbing at the back of his neck. He forced his brain to rewind, catching just enough of the conversation to stumble through a reply. His words sounded stiffer than he wanted, but the group laughed anyway, filling in the gaps for him, the conversation rolling on without pause.

The sun had sunk fully by the time everyone crowded back inside, the backyard strung with fairy lights that glowed like trapped fireflies. Dinner was a noisy affair - Fuma and Maki parading in platters from the grill, Kei fussing over portion sizes while Yuma teased him, Jo dramatically announcing that he should be given the “biggest burger” because it was his birthday too, damn it.

Nicholas didn’t even mind the chaos. He’d spent enough years dreading celebrations, enough years avoiding his own birthdays, that sharing this one felt surreal. The long dining table was crammed with mismatched chairs dragged from every room in the house, children squeezed between adults, everyone's scents thick and comforting. 

When the cake was finally brought out, the chatter switched into a chorus of happy birthday. The lights flickered down again, leaving the glow of candles to paint their faces gold. Jo stood beside him, shoulder pressed against his, grinning wide. Nicholas stared at the row of flames dancing on the frosting, their warmth kissing his face.

“Ready?” Jo whispered, and Nicholas nodded.

He drew in a breath, closing his eyes as the song ended. He and Jo leaned forward together, blowing out the candles in one warm breath. And then he made his wish. When he opened his eyes, Euijoo was across the table watching him. The room erupted in cheers, and Nicholas let it wash over him. His wish still glowed quietly in his chest, fragile and bright.

By the time the last of the frosting was scraped from plates, the dining table was littered with paper cups, half-eaten skewers, and a confetti of pastel napkins. Nicholas sat surrounded by a growing pile of cards - neat envelopes from old university friends, and crumpled, glitter-smeared creations from tiny hands.

One of Euijoo’s nieces had scrawled his name in crooked letters across the front of a folded piece of construction paper, the inside covered in marker flowers and shaky stick figures with wolf ears. Nicholas couldn’t help laughing, the sound soft and a little disbelieving. “You made this for me?” he asked, crouching down to their level.

The little girl nodded, her pigtails bouncing. “That one’s me, and that’s you. You’re the tall one.”

Nicholas swallowed a lump in his throat and pulled her into a hug, pressing noisy kisses against her cheek until she squealed and squirmed, giggling. Soon, the other kids piled onto him too, demanding equal attention, and he let himself get buried under sticky hands and high-pitched laughter. For a few breathless minutes, he was caught in a puppy pile of squealing children who thought he hung the moon.

Eventually, though, the night began to wind down. One by one, the families gathered their things, corralled their pups into shoes and jackets, and said their goodbyes at the door. Fuma’s sister hugged him tightly, her son already half-asleep on her shoulder, while Euijoo’s sister thanked them for hosting. Kei’s brother carried out the dozing toddler, nodding his farewell.

The last of the laughter trailed off as the front door clicked shut. The house had slipped into that post-gathering quiet - a gentle hum of voices, the creak of floorboards as packmates drifted to their rooms. Nicholas felt a hand brush against his, then settle firmly around it. Without a word, Euijoo gave his hand a little squeeze and steered him toward the stairs. They climbed together, the wood groaning under their steps. The hall lights were dim, throwing long shadows across the walls. Inside their bedroom, Euijoo let go of his hand just long enough to pull the door shut behind them. 

“So,” the alpha said gently. “did you have a good birthday?”

Nicholas nodded without hesitation. “Yeah. It was really good. Better than I thought it would be.” He sat on the edge of the bed, running his hand over the pile of cards in his lap. Crayon drawings, neatly penned notes, his brother’s careful handwriting wishing him happiness, always.

Nicholas turned the card over in his hands again, running his thumb across the waxy press of a crayon flower. His chest felt too tight, his thoughts too loud. He hated when they got like this - circling and circling until the words threatened to spill out of him whether he wanted them to or not. So he broke the silence before he could lose his nerve.

“Do you… do you still want pups?” His voice was quieter than he meant, barely louder than the rustle of sheets.

Beside him, Euijoo stilled. When he finally spoke, his voice was slow, careful, and threaded with thought.

“You know what I’ve always said, Nico,” he murmured. “What I want doesn’t matter as much. You’d be the one carrying. You’d be the one whose body goes through everything. What’s important is that you’re safe and happy. That’s what matters.”

Nicholas groaned and flopped onto his back, throwing an arm over his eyes in exasperation. “Ugh, shut up.”

Euijoo blinked, surprised, before a soft laugh rumbled out of him. “Shut up?” he echoed.

“Yes, shut up,” Nicholas said, rolling his eyes even though he was smiling now. He turned his head toward him, cheeks already warming under the weight of his own boldness. “That wasn’t the question. I asked if you still want pups. Answer that.”

Euijoo studied him in the low light, and though his expression stayed calm, Nicholas could feel the subtle shift in his mate’s scent, the juniper and bergamot warming. He reached out, brushed the back of his hand along Nicholas’s jaw.

“I’ve wanted that since I was old enough to even think about having a family,” Euijoo said softly. “And yeah… I still do.”

Nicholas’s heart gave a nervous flutter, and his stomach turned with equal parts fear and something that might’ve been excitement. The alpha's thumb lingered at his jaw, tracing the line of bone like he was smoothing away the tension there. His smile softened, but his brow furrowed just slightly, a shadow of thought tugging at the corners of his expression.

“I know what you’re really asking,” Euijoo said quietly. “And… I know how you’ve felt about it. I know it’s complicated. So no, it’s not something I lose sleep over. Not having pups doesn’t keep me up at night.”

Nicholas’s eyes flicked up to meet Euijoo’s steady gaze in the low lamplight. The alpha brushed damp hair back from his forehead and went on, calm, almost conversational.

“I love having our nieces and nephews here. I know Harua has been secretly hoarding a stash of baby clothes in the back of his closest anytime you two go thrifting, and I know Jo and Taki and Yuma - ” He huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. “Let’s be real, this house is bound to end up full of pups someday. This pack isn’t ever going to be quiet.”

His arm tightened around Nicholas’s waist, drawing him closer until the omega’s head rested against his chest. “So even if we don’t have pups of our own,  we’ll still have little ones running around. We’ll still have family. I don’t need more than that. Not if it means pushing you past what you can handle.”

Nicholas pressed his lips together, throat thick with a tangle of feelings he couldn’t quite sort. Fear, yes - always, but threaded through it was something else, something warmer, sparking like the first flickers of a fire in the dark. He shifted, fingers curling tighter into Euijoo’s shirt. 

“I’ve been…” His voice faltered. He tried again, softer. “I’ve been thinking about it. About… pups. About all of it.”

Euijoo’s hand stilled for just a moment on his back, then resumed its steady motion, circling low and soothing. “Yeah?” he asked, gentle as always. 

“I know what I’ve said before. That I didn’t want them. That I couldn’t. And I still - ” His voice cracked, and he huffed out a shaky laugh. “I still get scared, okay? But lately… I don’t know. It’s like everywhere I go, I see pups. At at the museum, on the street. And at the shower last week - he was so happy, Juju. He wasn’t scared. He just kept talking about how good it’s been, how much he has to look forward to.”

Nicholas swallowed, staring at the ceiling. “And I kept thinking… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe… maybe I was wrong. To say I’d never want it.”

For a heartbeat, the omega thought maybe he’d said too much. But Euijoo only looked at him, eyes soft in the dim light, thumb brushing gently over the curve of his cheek like he was fragile porcelain as he nodded. The alpha’s hand slid from Nicholas’s cheek to cradle the back of his head, thumb stroking his hair in soothing arcs.

“It’s okay that your thoughts are changing. ” he said quietly. “It means your omega feels safe enough to think about what could come next, instead of what you lost.”

Nicholas blinked hard, throat tightening, his chest a little too full. He hated how easily Euijoo could read him - hated it and needed it both.

“God,” he muttered, pressing his face briefly into the pillow, voice muffled. “There it is. The psychology major coming out again.”

Euijoo’s laugh was soft and low, rumbling against Nicholas’s side. “You asked for my honest answer,” he teased, leaning down to brush his lips against Nicholas’s hairline. “Can’t blame me if it sounds like a counseling session.”

Nicholas huffed and rolled his eyes, but his lips were twitching upward despite himself. “Next thing I know, you’re gonna be taking notes.”

“I mean…” Euijoo tilted his head, pretending to consider. “I could. Patient: Nicholas Byun. Symptoms: Cute. All the time. Even when he’s grumpy after being woken up too early”

Nicholas’s laugh broke loose as he pushed himself upright, tugging the blanket with him so it bunched around his waist. The bedroom was dim, washed in the soft amber glow of the bedside lamp. The windows were cracked just enough to let in the faint breeze from the yard, fluttering the corner of the curtain. It smelled like cedarwood and night air.

“I mean… maybe our pup would be like you. Patient. Always calm. Someone who just… knows what to say, like you do. Someone who doesn’t lose their head, no matter what’s happening. They’d probably be frustratingly level-headed about everything.” the omega huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head at himself. “They’d drive me crazy the same way you do.”

Euijoo chuckled, the sound low and warm. He reached out, catching his mate’s hand and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “Or maybe they’d be like you. Beautiful and stubborn. The kind of omega who loves so fiercely it leaves everyone around them better for it. Our pup would be someone with so much life and love to give, they wouldn’t know where to put it all.”

“You really think so?” Nicholas asked, the words almost a whisper. His throat ached with the weight of emotions he wasn’t sure how to hold.

“Any pup would be lucky to have you as their mom.”

Nicholas’s chest stuttered. He sat there, blanket bunched in his lap, staring at Euijoo like he’d just spoken a foreign language. Heat crept up his neck, and his first instinct was to deny it, to push back the way he always did. 

“…Or maybe they’d be like both of us. A little stubborn, a little patient. Level-headed and a total pain in the ass at the same time.” He tried for a smile, small and shy. “That wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

Euijoo’s expression softened into something almost unbearably warm. He leaned back against the headboard, tugging Nicholas into his lap the way he so often did when he wanted him close. Nicholas went without protest, tucking against his chest, his hand still clasped in Euijoo’s.

“Not the worst thing,” Euijoo agreed, his voice low against the omega’s temple. “Actually, I think that sounds… kind of perfect. A little version of us. Someone who knows what it feels like to be loved this much, right from the start.”

Nicholas’s lips parted, and his breath caught. He hadn’t let himself think of it in exactly those words, but hearing them spoken aloud made something inside him ache with a yearning so sharp it almost felt sweet.

“We should… actually talk about it,” he said, voice low but firmer this time. “Not just… skirt around it.” He picked at the seam of the blanket, gathering courage as the words came. “Having a pup isn’t just - ” He broke off, shook his head, tried again. “It’s not a daydream. It’s a commitment. A lifetime. That’s our time, our money, our energy, until the day we die. It’s - It’s huge. And if I even start thinking about it, I need to know we’re being realistic.”

“Okay, let’s talk about it. The pros and the cons.”

“The pros and the cons?” Nicholas snorted and Euijoo lightly pinched his hand. 

“Humour me.”

Nicholas sighed. "Kids are expensive. A lifelong commitment. It’s not just something we can back out of once we start. A baby would change everything. Our schedules, our sleep, our space. The house would never be this quiet again.”

Euijoo smiled faintly. “Is that a con?”

“A maybe,” Nicholas admitted, smiling despite himself. “I like our quiet.”

“I do too.”

"We both love kids."

"Yeah," Euijoo agreed immediately.

"We have a strong, stable pack. The pup wouldn’t just have us, they’d have a whole family around them." Nicholas let out a laugh. “They’d be spoiled rotten by the pack. Oh god, I can already imagine how much stuff the others are going to buy. Yuma would probably show up with, like, ten different baby strollers just because he couldn’t decide.”

Euijoo’s lips curved into a grin, his thumb brushing slow, steady circles over Nicholas’s side. “Mm. And Kei would research the ‘optimal’ crib for six weeks straight, then order three different brands just in case.”

Nicholas giggled again, the sound bubbling up before he could stop it. “Harua would probably crotchet something cute.”

“Don’t forget Taki,” Euijoo added. “He’d be the worst babysitter. You’d walk in and find him teaching our pup how to scale the kitchen counters.”

That made Nicholas laugh outright, his whole body shaking where it rested against Euijoo’s. They’d be so loved here, he thinks.

They’d never go hungry. Never be forgotten. Never fall without someone catching them. His pack - this loud, beautiful, messy pack - would spoil a pup rotten. Would protect them with every tooth and nail. Would carry them through tantrums and growth spurts and night terrors. Would teach them how to build, how to be soft and strong all at once.

“The cons…” Nicholas’s voice faltered. There’s so many of them. Too many. He swallowed hard. “The baby could be born sick. The pregnancy could wreck me. What if it killed them? What if it killed me?” He shook his head, laughing without humor. “My mom - ” The words cut off sharp, like glass in his throat.

Suddenly Nicholas was five again, small legs dangling from the stiff plastic chair in the sterile, too-white waiting room. The chairs were hard and too big for him, lined up in rows that didn’t make sense, all facing a blank TV mounted in the corner that nobody was watching. The only sound was the quiet beep of machines behind closed doors, and the crinkle of a magazine page being turned by an old woman across from him.

Nicholas kicked his heels against the chair leg, as his father sat beside him, elbows on knees, hands clenched together so tightly his knuckles had gone white. He hadn’t said anything in a while. Just stared at the floor like it might offer answers if he waited long enough.

Nicholas didn’t understand much about hospitals. He knew his mama had come here to have the baby. His little brother. They’d packed a small bag. Nicholas had drawn a picture to bring to the baby - three stick figures holding a smaller stick between them, all smiling. He’d drawn a yellow sun in the corner, and the grass was green. The crayon had broken while he was coloring, but he didn’t mind.

“Do you think he’ll like the drawing?” Nicholas had asked when they’d gotten in the car.

His father had smiled, just a little. “I think he’ll love it.”

But that had been hours ago. Now his father didn’t smile. 

A nurse walked past them quickly, her voice hushed as she spoke to another. Nicholas couldn’t hear every word, but he caught fragments. “hemorrhaged too fast… never seen so much… baby’s still in NICU… no saving her…”

Nicholas didn’t understand all the words, but he knew the tone. The way people spoke when something bad had happened. The kind of whisper adults used when they didn’t want little ears to catch the truth. His stomach hurt.

His father stood up suddenly. The movement startled Nicholas so badly he jumped.

“Stay here,” his father said, his voice rough. “Don’t move.”

Nicholas nodded, small and obedient. He clutched the folded paper with the drawing in it tighter to his chest. His father didn’t come back for a long time.

Nicholas watched the hallway where he’d disappeared, swinging his legs again to keep the ache in his chest from growing too big. He looked at the nurses’ station where they tried not to meet his eyes. He looked at the folded paper in his hands and wondered if it was still useful. If the baby would even be able to hold it. If his mama would read it to him.

Nicholas curled forward over his legs and tried to breathe, tried to pull in something solid, but it felt like the air wouldn’t come. Euijoo reached out, pulling the omega into his arms.

“I’m here,” he murmured. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

Nicholas just buried his face against Euijoo’s chest and shook with the force of his ragged breathing, fists curled into the fabric of his shirt.

“Shhh,” Euijoo whispered, cradling the back of his head, scenting low and slow against his skin. “It’s okay, baby. You’re safe. It’s just me. You’re home.”

The room swam with Euijoo’s scent - pine and that citrus undertone that always anchored Nicholas when the world got too loud. The alpha pressed his face into Nicholas’s hair and kept scenting, again and again, murmuring in a voice just barely louder than a breath.

“You’re here. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

It took too many long, aching minutes but his breathing finally began to slow. Nicholas clung to him the whole time like a drowning man, breathing in Euijoo’s scent like it was the only air left in the world. 

“Male omega pregnancies are… hard. They just are. No matter what precautions you take, there’s always a bigger chance something goes wrong.” the omega murmured, his throat raw.  “I’m terrified, Euijoo. I’m terrified that if I ever… if I ever said yes, I’d die the same way he did. I’d be gone, and you’d be left with nothing but a memory of me and a pup you might end up resenting. Just like my father resented me.”

Nicholas’s voice cracked and then dissolved, the words hanging between them like shards of glass. His chest hurt, his throat tight, tears spilling hot and unchecked across his cheeks. He hated how young he sounded, how raw the fear was now that he’d spoken it aloud but he couldn’t pull it back.

And for the first time since Nicholas had spoken, Euijoo’s composure wavered. His usually calm, steady eyes went glossy, the faint shine catching the moonlight. He looked like the thought of losing Nicholas had split him wide open.

Before his mate could retreat further into himself, Euijoo shook his head. Nicholas found himself pulled tight against the alpha’s chest, Euijoo’s heartbeat thrumming beneath his ear like a drum. Strong arms locked around his waist, holding him as though he were something priceless that might slip away if he didn’t hold on.

“Don’t say that,” Euijoo whispered, his voice low but urgent. “Don’t talk about leaving me like that. I can’t - ” He stopped, breathed through his nose, steadying himself before continuing. “I need you to hear me, Nico. You’re always going to be my top priority. You. Not some dream of the future. Not a pup. Not even the pack. You’re my omega. My mate. My love.”

Gently, Euijoo kissed the damp trail of tears on the omega’s cheek, then his temple, his voice barely more than breath. 

“You’ll always come first for me. Always. But if anything did happen… I’m not your father. I would never forget you, Nico. I’d carry you with me, always. I’d never resent our pup, I’d love them because they’d be ours.

Nicholas’s heart stuttered at the certainty in his tone. For so long, he had lived with the memory of a father who had seen his mother’s death as weakness, who had buried her name like a shameful secret. To hear Euijoo swear the opposite - to feel it in the strength of his embrace - made Nicholas’s chest ache in a different way.

“Once upon a time,” Euijoo murmured, his voice a low rumble, “a few years ago now, when you told me you wanted to mate… Do you remember what I said to you?”

Nicholas blinked, trying to think back. The memory was blurred around the edges, colored with cherry blossom blooms and want so deep it thrummed through his body. He hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip but Euijoo’s smile curved, soft and aching at the same time. His thumb brushed gently along Nicholas’s jaw.

“I said ‘If we have a dozen pups or none, I’ll hold your hand through it all. Always.’ That hasn’t changed, Nico. It never will. I don’t care what we do or don’t have,” Euijoo continued, his forehead pressing lightly against Nicholas’s. “If it’s just you and me, that’s enough. If it’s us and the pack, it’s enough. If one day… we decide on more, it’ll still be you first. Always you.”

Nicholas let out a shaky laugh, ducking his head until his lips brushed the curve of Euijoo’s collarbone. “You make it sound so easy,” he whispered.

Euijoo tilted his head, brushing a kiss into Nicholas’s hair. “It’s not easy,” he said softly. “You’re worth it. You’ve always been strong, Nico. Stronger than you ever give yourself credit for. You’ve been through hell, and you never stopped fighting. Even when you were at your lowest, you didn’t quit. You’re still here.”

Nicholas blinked, heart squeezing. He opened his mouth to argue - to say that was different, that was survival, not strength - but Euijoo tipped his chin up gently, not letting him retreat.

“And if we ever go through this,” the alpha continued, his eyes searching Nicholas’s, voice steady with quiet conviction, “that won’t change. You’ll still be you. You’ll still be strong. Even if it’s hard. Even if it scares you.”

Nicholas’s breath hitched. The knot in his chest pulled tighter, then loosened just enough for him to whisper, “You don’t know that.”

“I do,” Euijoo said. “Because I’ve watched you. Every time you thought you couldn’t take more, you kept going. Every time you thought you’d break, you found a way through. That’s not weakness, love. That’s strength. And if you can survive everything you already have, then I know you’d survive this too. And I’d be with you every step.”

Nicholas closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the mix of fear and warmth flooding his chest. He wanted to argue again, but Euijoo’s scent was steady and grounding, wrapping around him like the promise it always was. His hand curled into the fabric of Euijoo’s shirt, clinging without even realizing it.

Maybe Euijoo really believed it. Maybe he believed enough for both of them.

Nicholas felt the mattress dip again as Euijoo shifted closer, pulling him in until Nicholas’s back was pressed snug against his chest. The warmth of his alpha’s body seeped through the thin cotton of his sleep shirt, and he could feel the steady weight of Euijoo’s heartbeat against his spine.

“But what if I do want it? What if I want it so bad, I start to resent myself for being too scared to try?” Nicholas swallowed hard, blinking fast when his vision blurred again. He wanted to believe that - wanted it so badly he almost ached with it.

“I need you to hear me, Nico,” Euijoo murmured, his breath brushing warm against the shell of Nicholas’s ear. “I’m going to be right here. Every step of the way. Every mood swing, every craving, every cramp or ache. I’ll be there. You won’t go through a second of it by yourself.”

“And if we do try and it gets too scary, we stop. There is no part of this - none - that’s more important than you staying with me.” Euijoo promised. “And it won’t just be me. You know that. This pack? They adore you. They’d adore our pup. We’d never have to do it alone. You’d never have to feel the way you did back then.”

Nicholas let out a sound that was halfway between a laugh and a sob, muffling it into the alpha’s chest. His throat felt raw, but the pressure in his chest had eased into something gentler. He tipped his head back just enough that Euijoo could brush his nose along the mark on his neck, the soft, instinctive gesture sending a shiver down his spine.

“You really believe that,” Nicholas whispered.

“I don’t just believe it,” Euijoo said, firm but tender. “I promise it. You’re my mate. My omega. My whole damn world. A pup would never change that - it would only mean more love to share. And we’ve got eight others here who’d fall over themselves to help us.”

“And we don’t sit here trying to guess,” Euijoo said, his voice calm but firm with the kind of quiet authority. “We’ll go to the doctor. We’ll ask questions. You can tell them everything - your fears, what happened with your mom, what your heats are like. And they’ll give us the truth, Nico. Not rumors. Not stories whispered in a waiting room. The truth. And then… we’ll decide together.”

Nicholas’s lips parted, but no words came. His eyes burned, tears slipping free despite his effort to hold them back. He pressed his forehead into Euijoo’s shoulder, breath shuddering out of him in a half-laugh, half-sob.

“…You make it sound like you’ve got every answer,” he whispered.

Euijoo huffed softly, amused despite the dampness gathering at the corners of his eyes. “Maybe I do,” he teased, brushing another kiss across Nicholas’s hair. “Or maybe I just know you better than you think.”

The omega let out a trembling laugh and clung tighter, the thought that had been haunting him all week pressing forward again, brighter now, less jagged. Maybe it was time to stop holding it back.

Nicholas felt the steady rise and fall of Euijoo’s chest beneath his cheek, each breath wrapping around him like a lullaby. The silence had grown thick, but not uncomfortable - it was the kind of quiet that let his thoughts breathe, even when they ached too much to voice. 

“I love you,” he murmured, pressing a kiss just beneath the edge of Nicholas’s jaw.

Nicholas’s heart gave a sudden, painful thump. He shifted so he could see his mate’s face, so close now, eyes shining with something that looked as steady as stone and as soft as moonlight. 

“I love you more,” Nicholas whispered, his voice catching. 

Euijoo shook his head slowly, like he couldn’t believe the words had even been said. “That’s impossible.”

Nicholas let out a small, breathless laugh, the kind that came out of him when the emotions were too much and he didn’t know what else to do. He reached out, pressing his forehead against Euijoo’s again, and whispered, “You always say that.”

“And I’ll keep saying it,” Euijoo replied, brushing his thumb across Nicholas’s cheekbone, wiping away the last trace of tears. “Until the end of time”

Chapter Text

A week later, Nicholas found himself sitting in the waiting room of a medical clinic, his fingers tightly intertwined in his lap. Their doctor’s office was familiar - a pale green on the walls, framed diagrams of anatomy, those same stiff chairs that had creaked under Nicholas’s weight during checkups for the past five years. The room smelled like antiseptic and air freshener, the quiet hum of relaxing music playing in the background. 

Nicholas had filled out the intake form twenty minutes ago, but his heart was still pounding in his chest, his nerves making his scent stronger than usual. His knee bounced, even with the weight of his mate’s hand on it. 

He liked Dr. Han. She was smart but kind, and never patronizing. Still, Nicholas’s palms were damp.

“You okay?” Euijoo murmured beside him.

“Fine,” Nicholas lied. Then sighed. “Nervous.”

Euijoo reached for his hand, his fingers brushing the inside of Nicholas’s wrist just enough to calm him.

The door opened a few minutes later, and a nurse called them in. Nicholas took a slow breath, standing up and held his mate’s hand a little tighter as they followed her into the consultation room. Dr. Han was reviewing his chart when they stepped into the room. She was an older omega who glanced up and smiled, setting the tablet aside.

“Nicholas. Euijoo. Good to see you both.”

Nicholas nodded. “You too.”

She gestured to the chairs and waited until they were seated before continuing. “So, what brings you in today?”

“We were thinking of having a baby.” Nicholas spoke.

Her eyes softened just slightly. “Okay.”

“But we wanted to talk about my health first,” he added quickly. “Before anything else. I want to know… what the risks are. What kind of shape my body is in. If it’s even safe to try.”

“That’s exactly the right place to start.” Dr. Han gave a small, reassuring nod as she leaned forward, hands clasped loosely. “You’re healthy, Nicholas. You have no major pre-existing conditions, which is good and your heat cycles have been consistent. From a general standpoint, you’re in good condition. But we’ll still run a full pre-conception panel today. Just some bloodwork, mostly.”

“We’d also like to talk about the risks. Especially with Nicholas being a male omega.” Euijoo added, squeezing his mate’s hand. 

Dr. Han nodded. “Of course. Male omegas are still under-studied, but we’re learning more every year. Pregnancy is possible and can be healthy, but it does come with higher risks - especially for hemorrhaging, early labor, and complications in third trimester growth. Some of that can be mitigated with early monitoring and the right medical plan.”

Nicholas stared down at his hands. “What about during labor?”

“C-section delivery is common in male omega pregnancies,” she said. “It’s not always required, but in your case - based on your body structure and family history - I’d almost certainly recommend it.”

Nicholas nodded again, slower this time.

“I know your mother died in childbirth,” she added gently. “And I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to repeat it.”

“And we’ll do everything in our power to make sure you don’t. The goal is not to put you at risk. We’ll monitor every step.” Dr. Han’s voice remained soft. 

But as the doctor finished listing out the safety measures available, the words slipped out before Nicholas could stop them.

"What if I change my mind?"

"Could you clarify what you mean?"

Nicholas swallowed, feeling the tightness in his chest again. "If I… if I go through with this, if I get pregnant, but the fear is too much - if I realize I can’t do it…" He exhaled shakily. "Is there an option to terminate early on?"

The words felt heavy in his mouth, but he had to ask. Because as much as he wanted to believe he could go through with it, there was always that lingering doubt, that what-if clawing at the back of his mind. What if he woke up one day and the fear was unbearable? What if he couldn’t do it, no matter how much he loved Euijoo?

Dr. Han remained calm, her expression understanding, not judgmental.

"That’s a fair question," she said, folding his hands together. "And yes - early termination is possible. The majority of abortions happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The process is similar to medical procedures used for female omegas, and it’s done with both safety and your long-term health in mind."

Euijoo’s hand found his knee and squeezed.

“I also want to refer you to a colleague of mine. Dr. Lee, an OBGYN who specializes in high-risk and male omega pregnancies. He’s experienced and one of the most up-to-date specialists in the city.”

The doctor handed Nicholas a small stack of printed papers. He glanced down at the name and the address. 

“Okay. Yeah. That sounds good.”

“He’ll be able to talk you through more specifics when we have the results of your panel but we’ll get your labs started today.” She turned toward Euijoo. “And we’ll want to take your blood as well.”

Euijoo blinked. “Mine?”

“Just a quick panel,” she explained. “Medical family history, genetic markers, hormone levels, scent profile, and a few standard risk flags. We don’t need a full fertility panel on you unless we run into issues later, but it’s important to know the alpha’s health baseline. It helps us plan for potential scent rejection, bond fluctuations, and stress tolerance in the later trimesters. If everything comes back clear, then great. But if there are any concerns, we can discuss them before conception happens.”

Nicholas blinked at that. “Wait… scent rejection?”

Dr. Han smiled. “Rare, but possible. Some omegas experience temporary scent aversion during pregnancy - even to bonded mates. It doesn’t affect the bond, just the sensory input. It’s usually mild and short-term, but we like to prepare for it just in case.”

Nicholas looked sideways at Euijoo. “So if I start gagging every time you get in bed, that’s normal.”

“Romance really is alive.” Euijoo deadpanned.

Dr. Han laughed softly, then stood. “The nurse will be in shortly to draw your blood. If you have any other questions, you can call anytime. We’ll contact you within a few days once your results are in.”

She paused at the door.

“And Nicholas?”

He looked up.

“You’re doing this exactly right.”

The door closed behind her.

The nurse was efficient and gentle, making quiet conversation as she tied the band around Nicholas’s arm, found the vein, and started filling the vials. Four tubes, all marked with his name and a special red sticker that designated omega reproductive assessment.

Euijoo’s turn came next - a smaller panel, just two tubes, but Nicholas still watched with careful eyes, his body tense until it was over.

As they left the clinic fifteen minutes later, band-aids on both their inner elbows, Nicholas kept glancing down at his.

“It’s weird,” he murmured. “That just… my blood might hold the answer to everything.”

“You are my answer to everything” Euijoo said, looking down at his mate. Nicholas just stared back at him. 

“If you don’t say anything incredibly cheesy every 10 minutes, will you like, wither up and die or something?”

“Is it a crime to compliment my beautiful and amazing mate?” Euijoo gasped, bringing a hand to his chest. 

“Yeah, sometimes.” Nicholas tried to keep a straight face, biting his lip when his alpha started to pout. He let go of the taller’s hand and began walking back to the car himself. 

“Wow, rejection from the mother of my future children already.” the alpha exclaimed a bit too loudly for Nicholas’s liking. He glanced around the parking lot to make sure nobody was looking at them. 

“Would you shut up?” the omega hissed. 

“Nope” 

Euijoo suddenly lunged forward and wrapped his arms around the omega’s waist, throwing him over his shoulder causing an embarrassingly loud shriek left Nicholas’s mouth.

The following Sunday, Nicholas sat cross-legged on the floor of Yuma's room, surrounded by snacks, warm tea, and the comfortable smell of all the omegas scents mixed together. It was their day off, a rare chance to unwind without any alphas hovering, and they were making full use of it - face masks, candy, gossip, and endless soft blankets.

Harua was lounging against a pile of pillows, sipping on honey tea, while Yuma lay sprawled across Nicholas’s lap, scrolling lazily through his phone. It was easy and familiar. And for a while, the older omega let himself just exist wrapped in the scent of his packmates, soaking in the warmth of the nest they had instinctively built together.

But as the conversation shifted from casual topics to their mates, Nicholas found himself hesitating - his thoughts still lingering on his doctor’s appointment days before. 

"Do you guys still think about having pups one day?"

Yuma stilled in his lap, and Harua glanced up sharply, both of them momentarily caught off guard. And then, the youngest omega snorted softly, setting down his tea. "That’s a loaded question," he mused.

Yuma tilted his head back against Nicholas’s thigh, grinning. "Why? You thinking about it?"

Nicholas huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Just… wondering."

Harua leaned back, expression thoughtful. "I think about it," he admitted. "Maki and I would love to have pups one day. I know we’re still a bit young but at the same time… I like the idea of a big family.”

That made sense. Harua had never had that growing up - his childhood had been lonely and complicated. It made sense that he would want to build something different for himself, something stable and full of love.

Nicholas understood that feeling all too well.

Yuma, meanwhile, let out a soft sigh, closing his eyes. "I’ve thought about it, too. But I don’t think Jo and Taki have, not seriously. They’re still - " He waved a hand lazily. "You know. Them."

Nicholas smirked. "They’d be fun parents, though."

Yuma snorted. "Yeah, one of us would actually have to be responsible, though, and I don’t know if I have the energy for that."

It’s a big decision," Harua set his tea aside, shifting to sit closer. "You don’t have to tell us... but are you and Euijoo talking about it?"

Nicholas hesitated, which was enough of an answer in itself. Harua and Yuma erupted into excited gasps.

"Wait, wait, wait," Yuma said, pushing himself up so fast that he nearly smacked Nicholas in the face. "Really?"

“We had a doctor’s appointment earlier this week just to ask some questions…” the older omega shrugged, trying to be nonchalant about the whole thing. But the two others knew him a bit too well, knew how his scent sweetened with hidden nerves. 

Harua’s eyes lit up instantly, his entire scent turning sweet and affectionate. "Nicholas," he gushed, grabbing onto his arm. "You’d be such a good mother!"

Nicholas flushed immediately, heat creeping up his neck. "I didn’t say I’d be good at it," he muttered, looking down at his hands.

"Are you kidding?" Yuma whacked his arm lightly, as if offended. "Nicholas, you’re practically our mom.”

“Oh be quiet,” Nicholas rolled his eyes, trying to shove the younger omega away from him. "You’re being dramatic"

Harua shook his head fervently, eyes sparkling. "No, it’s not. You’ve always taken care of us. You make sure we eat, make sure we’re feeling okay, make sure we get rest. That’s exactly what a good parent does."

Yuma nodded enthusiastically. "Plus, all the pups already adore you! Jiho and Jisoo were glued to you the whole time they stayed over. They basically follow you around like ducklings."

Nicholas huffed a laugh, because… okay, they weren’t wrong. He had always been the nurturing one, even when he hadn’t meant to be. Even when he had fought against it. And when he really thought about it… he liked it. He liked taking care of people. He liked feeling needed, loved, trusted.

Harua gave him a knowing smile, leaning in closer. "I think you’d be an amazing mother," he said softly. "And not just because you’re good with kids. But because you care. Because you love so hard it’s impossible not to feel it."

Nicholas’s chest tightened at that, something warm and overwhelming curling deep in his bones because he did love deeply. And the thought of being able to give that kind of love to a pup - to his and Euijoo’s pup - was terrifying, but also beautiful. A nest with three heartbeats instead of two.

The older omega let out a slow breath, rubbing at the back of his neck. "You two are embarrassing," he muttered.

“Nah, wanna know what’s embarrassing?” Yuma grinned. “The first Christmas you spent with us and Harua got so drunk he said he wanted you to be his mom.”

If looks could kill, Yuma would be buried in a grave so deep not even the worms would be able to get to him. Harua glared at the older omega, grabbing the pillow that was beside him and launching it at his new mortal enemy. 

“Hey! You can’t be mad at me for telling a true story.” Yuma laughed, sticking his tongue out.

“I see how it is. I seem to remember the Christmas before that you got so drunk at dinner you puked on the floor, which Taki then slipped in making him puke everywhere too. And then poor Fuma had to hose you down in the shower.”

“I thought we were taking that to the grave.” Yuma gritted his teeth but Harua just stuck his tongue out back at him. 

“Everything’s fair game now.”

“Fine what about after you and Maki fucked for first time and poor Euijoo-hyung had to go buy you Plan B after.”

“YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BUY IT”

“I DIDN’T HAVE MY WALLET ON ME”

Nicholas just leaned back and watched his packmates argue with a smile on his face. A pup would definitely do well in the chaos here. 

A week and half later, it was time for his OBGYN appointment. Nicholas sat on the padded exam table, wearing a loose, paper-thin gown that gaped too much around the back. Euijoo sat beside him in a chair, hands clasped between his knees, calm and quiet. He’d let Nicholas check in alone but followed close behind when his name was called.

The OBGYN had come in ten minutes ago, introduced himself with a warm smile and a firm handshake, and immediately pulled up the results from their family doctor on his tablet. Now he was tapping through the report, stylus gliding smoothly across the glass.

“Alright, I’ve reviewed your labs and physical profile. Overall, your health is excellent so let’s start with the good news.” he said, glancing up at Nicholas with a smile. “Your overall health looks stable, Nicholas. No signs of anemia, no concerning vitamin deficiencies. Your hormone levels are within a range that’s considered normal for omegas. That’s all encouraging.”

Nicholas exhaled shakily, glancing sideways at Euijoo, who gave his hand another squeeze.

Dr. Lee swiped to the next screen. “Now, your results do show one thing we need to watch: your uterine wall lining is slightly thinner than average. It’s not abnormal for male omegas, but it does increase the risk of placental detachment or early labor. If you do conceive, we’ll want to monitor that closely and possibly add hormone support by the second trimester.”

Nicholas swallowed. “And… complications?”

“There’s always a chance,” Dr. Lee said gently. “Bleeding, infection, preterm labor. And given your personal and family history, I’d strongly recommend scheduling a C-section in advance rather than attempting natural labor. It’s safer for you, and we’d have full control over timing and emergency response.”

“As for you, Euijoo,” Dr. Lee continued, flipping through the pages, “your results are excellent. Strong immune health, no markers that suggest genetic complications, and your reproductive hormone profile is balanced. That means, if conception were to happen, there’s no red flags in your contribution either.”

Euijoo gave a small, tight smile. “That’s good to hear.”

Nicholas sat stiff in the chair, he could feel his mate's hand warm around his own, but his mind kept circling back, stuck on the jagged memory of a hospital waiting room. Finally, the question clawed its way out of his throat. 

“What are the odds,” he said, his voice thin and frayed, “that I’d survive it?”

Dr. Lee set the clipboard down on his desk, folding his hands on top of it. His eyes softened, and when he spoke, his voice was careful. “That’s an important question, Nicholas. And the honest answer is that there are risks we cannot erase. Male omega pregnancies do carry higher rates of complication.”

Nicholas’s stomach clenched. His fingers tightened in Euijoo’s without him realizing it.

“But,” Dr. Lee continued, leaning forward slightly, “medicine has advanced a great deal in the last two decades. Every day, there are new treatments, better monitoring, better interventions. Complications that used to be fatal are now managed. Lives are saved every single day because of it.”

Nicholas blinked rapidly, trying to chase back the sting in his eyes.

“Obviously, not everything can be prevented. No doctor should ever promise you perfection. But with your health history, with close monitoring, with a strong support system, which I know you have, the odds are in your favor.” Dr. Lee’s tone gentled further. “I think the most important thing right now is not to get lost in what-ifs ten steps down the road. We take things one step at a time. And the very first step if you decide to move forward, would be conception.”

Nicholas blinked, heart skipping. Euijoo gave his hand a gentle squeeze, the warmth of his palm grounding him.

Dr. Lee folded his hands on the desk. “You’ve been on birth control suppressants, correct?”

Nicholas nodded stiffly. “Yeah. For years.”

“That’s okay,” Dr. Lee reassured. “But it does mean we’ll need to give your body time to reset. Once you stop, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for your cycle to regulate again. Some omegas see changes right away, others need longer. It depends on the individual.”

Nicholas’s lips pressed tight. He could already feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him.

Dr. Lee’s tone stayed even. “During that time, we’d schedule check-ins. Bloodwork, hormone levels, ovulation tracking. Nothing invasive yet, just monitoring your body’s natural rhythm. That would give us a clearer picture of what your baseline looks like off the suppressants.”

Nicholas nodded slowly, though his chest was tight. One step at a time, he repeated silently, like he could will himself into believing it.

“And if, after a few months, your body shows regular ovulation, conception would be possible,” Dr. Lee continued. “Some couples conceive quickly, within the first few cycles. Others take longer. That’s normal too. It’s a process. But we won’t rush you. Everything would be on your terms.”

Nicholas let out a shaky laugh, rubbing his sweaty palms against his thighs. “It all sounds… bigger when you put it in words.”

“There are a few routes you could take. The most natural method, of course, is unprotected intercourse during heat. Given your hormone levels, Nicholas, ovulation should still be consistent enough to allow that path.”

Nicholas’s cheeks heated instantly.

Dr. Lee went on. “Another option would be assisted insemination. That can happen at home or in a clinic, with timed tracking of ovulation. It can sometimes reduce strain if intercourse during heat is physically overwhelming for you.” He paused, giving Nicholas a moment to breathe. “There’s also in vitro fertilization, though that’s more invasive and costly. Typically, we only recommend it if the other methods don’t succeed after multiple attempts.”

Nicholas swallowed, words caught somewhere between his chest and his mouth. “So… there are options.”

“Yes,” Dr. Lee said, meeting his gaze over the rim of his glasses. “There are always options. And nothing has to be decided today. My job is to give you information. Your job is to decide what feels right for you, with your mate and your pack behind you.”

Nicholas took a long, slow breath. “Can we take some time to think?”

“Of course,” he said, smiling. “That’s what this appointment was for. When you’re ready, we’ll talk about the next step.”

When he left the room, Nicholas dropped his head into his hands.

Euijoo rubbed slow circles into his back. “Still with me?”

Nicholas nodded into his palms. “Yeah. Just… overwhelmed.”

“You were incredible.”

Nicholas looked up. “Really?”

Euijoo leaned forward and kissed his temple. “Really.”

The late afternoon sun was still hanging low in the sky when they stepped out of the clinic. The glass doors shut behind them with a soft thunk, sealing away the smell of antiseptic and the sterile hush of hallways. Outside, the air felt fresher, warmer like the city had been waiting for them.

Nicholas drew in a long breath and let it out slowly, his lungs filling easier than they had all day. His shoulders slumped, loosening from the tight line they’d held since that first blood draw. For the first time in weeks, maybe months, the weight on his chest felt… lighter.

Beside him, Euijoo was quiet, letting him set the pace as they walked down the steps to the sidewalk. His hand brushed against Nicholas’s until their fingers found each other, twining together without thought. That simple touch made Nicholas’s throat tighten again, but this time, it wasn’t with fear.

“I feel…” Nicholas started, then stopped, searching for the right words. He glanced at Euijoo, who tilted his head, waiting. “…I feel better. Not fixed, not unafraid but lighter. Like I can breathe again.”

Euijoo’s lips curved into a small smile, and he gave his mate's hand a firm squeeze. “That’s all I wanted,” he murmured. “For you to see it doesn’t have to be a shadow. There are steps. Options. A future that’s not just the worst-case.”

Nicholas nodded as he leaned into Euijoo’s side as they walked, pressing close enough that their shoulders brushed with every step.

“You really believe we can do this,” Nicholas said quietly.

“I really believe you can do this,” Euijoo corrected, his tone gentle but firm. “And I believe that no matter what happens, we’ll face it together.”

Nicholas swallowed hard, the sting in his eyes threatening again. But he didn’t shy away from it this time. He let the warmth of Euijoo’s voice sink in, let the afternoon sun wash over his skin, let the simple rhythm of walking hand-in-hand remind him he wasn’t alone.

The house was quiet when they got home. Kei was in the backyard watering the garden, someone’s music played faintly through the wall - probably Taki. The rest of the pack must’ve been out or upstairs, which suited Nicholas just fine.

He kicked his shoes off at the door, still half in a daze, and followed Euijoo up to their bedroom. His limbs felt heavy - with nerves, relief, possibility. There had been so many words at the clinic - tests, risks, options, dates - and now that the door was closed behind them, all that noise was replaced by the quiet thud of his heartbeat in his ears. Nicholas sat on the bed and leaned back on his hands. 

“That was a lot.”

Euijoo gave a low hum in agreement as he knelt on the edge of the mattress, one hand braced beside Nicholas’s hip. “You did really well.”

Nicholas looked up at him, unconvinced. “I nearly passed out when he said ‘C-section.’”

“You still did well,” Euijoo said firmly, then leaned in and pressed a kiss to his mate’s cheek. “You asked questions, you didn’t shut down. You were brave.”

Another kiss. This one at the edge of his mouth.

“You’re doing everything right, my beautiful omega.”

Nicholas exhaled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. He turned his head and caught Euijoo’s mouth with his own, a grateful kiss that deepened quickly with a quiet hum that vibrated in Euijoo’s throat.

They kissed like that for a while, Nicholas’s hands finding the front of Euijoo’s shirt, tugging him closer until he was between his legs, knees pressed to the mattress on either side of the omega's thighs. When Euijoo kissed down his jaw and across the curve of his throat, the older let out a quiet sound. 

“You know,” Euijoo said, his voice carrying that low, teasing lilt Nicholas knew too well, “we have all the time in the world to start practicing.”

Nicholas made a face, biting back a laugh. “Practice?”

“I mean, we should be in shape for the real thing, right?” the alpha nuzzled into his neck again. “It’s like training.”

“That’s the worst excuse for getting laid I’ve ever heard,” Nicholas said, but he was grinning now, cheeks pink, hands sliding up Euijoo’s chest all the same.

His mate kissed him again.

“I just want to remind you how much I love you,” he whispered. “And how much I’m looking forward to this.”

The alpha’s free hand slid to the back of Nicholas’s neck, thumb pressing gently into the curve there, and the omega felt his stomach flip as heat crept up the back of his neck.

Nicholas made a soft noise when Euijoo pressed closer, and the sound had the alpha tightening his grip, pulling him in until there was no space left between them. The omega could feel the steady thrum of Euijoo’s heartbeat under his hands, could feel the heat of his body, the tension rolling off him in waves.

When the alpha finally broke the kiss, his mouth trailed lower, pressing warm lips over the slope of Nicholas’s throat and biting the pale skin as if it would release more of the omega’s scent. 

“You smell so good,” he groaned against his mate's skin.

Nicholas tilted his head back without hesitation, offering more. His pulse fluttered under Euijoo’s mouth, his own hands tugging weakly at the alpha’s shirt. 

“Off.”

Euijoo obeyed, stripping his shirt off and throwing it somewhere onto the floor behind him, his pants following. His fingers then curled around the hem of Nicholas’s shirt, tugging it upward inch by inch. The omega lifted his arms without protest, eyes never leaving his mate’s face as the fabric slipped over his head and landed somewhere on the floor.

The alpha took a moment just to look at the long lines of pale skin, the faint rise and fall of his chest, the way goosebumps followed in the wake of his touch. But it was Nicholas’s stomach that drew his gaze the longest. Still flat and smooth.

Euijoo bent down, pressing a kiss just above his navel. Then another, lower. His palms slid along Nicholas’s sides as if framing what wasn’t there yet, thumbs stroking absent circles over soft skin. Nicholas swallowed, his heart racing at the intensity in Euijoo’s eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he whispered, voice shaky.

“You’re beautiful, Nichol.” Euijoo said, his lips brushing over the line of his stomach again. “I still can’t believe you’re my mate.”

Nicholas whined, his fingers sliding into Euijoo’s hair as he arched slightly into the touch.

The alpha kept kissing down, unhurried as he pulled away the last of Nicholas’s clothes until the omega was bare beneath him, flushed and trembling. Every touch, every brush of his mouth lingered over Nicholas’s belly, as if Euijoo couldn’t stop himself from worshipping the place that might one day hold their child.

When he finally looked up, his eyes were dark, burning with both hunger and devotion. “I’m going to make it real, Nichol. I’m going to fill you until it happens.”

Nicholas’s lips parted, a shiver running through him as he whispered, “Then stop teasing and do it.”

“Patience,” Euijoo murmured, sliding lower until he was settled between his mate’s thighs. He pressed them apart with firm hands until the omega was laid open for him, his lips brushing along the inside of Nicholas’s thigh. 

“Euijoo…” Nicholas’s voice broke, needy. “Please…”

That was all it took for Euijoo to dip down and finally taste him. His tongue parted Nicholas’s folds, licking a long stripe through slick heat before sealing his mouth over him. The omega gasped, his back arching as pleasure shot through him.

Euijoo hummed, savoring the way Nicholas clenched and shivered. His tongue worked deliberately - circling his clit, plunging inside, stroking every sensitive place he’d learned over years of loving him. His hands held Nicholas steady, thumbs spreading him open, one palm pressed firmly against the flat plane of his stomach as if he couldn’t stop himself from touching the place he wanted to fill.

Nicholas fisted the sheets, his thighs trembling, giving up trying to be quiet. “Oh god, Juju -”

Euijoo groaned in response, eyes dark as he watched his mate fall apart for him. When Nicholas’s hips jerked and his thighs clamped weakly around his head, the alpha only pressed harder, tongue sucking at his clit until the omega shattered with a cry. 

Nicholas grinded down, hands holding his alpha's head close as he rode out his orgasm, eyes squeezed shut and legs trembling. He was still shaking when Euijoo pulled himself up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he climbed over his mate’s trembling body. His hand wrapped around his cock, guiding it to Nicholas’s entrance, brushing through the wet folds.

 “Juju - ” Nicholas whimpered, his body already shuddering with oversensitivity.

“Shh, I’ve got you. Ready?” 

Nicholas nodded, lips parting as he felt the blunt head stretch him slowly as Euijoo pushed in.

Both of them moaned. Euijoo’s forehead fell to Nicholas’s shoulder, his cock sliding deeper until he was fully seated inside. The omega’s body fluttered around him, squeezing tight, drawing him in.

“God. You feel too good” Euijoo groaned, his hips giving a shallow roll that made Nicholas whimper and cling tighter.

The alpha’s thrusts were slow but relentless, each one pressing deep enough to make Nicholas’s toes curl. One of his large hands gripped the omega’s waist, thumb stroking lazy circles against his already sweat-slick skin. 

The omega’s head fell back against the cushions, lips parted on a string of soft moans, the kind that always drove his mate wild. He glanced down between their bodies, catching the sight of his alpha’s hand wrapped firm around his narrow waist and a sly thought slipped through the haze.

“One day my stomach’s gonna be so round with pups… you won’t even be able to fit your hand here like this.” Nicholas teased, his voice shaky with pleasure. 

Euijoo’s cock throbbed as he groaned, slamming his hips forward enough with enough force to make the bed jolt. 

“Fuck,” he rasped, his forehead pressing hard to Nicholas’s jaw as he fucked him faster, rougher. “Don’t - don’t say things like that unless you want me to lose every bit of control.”

Nicholas smirked through the haze of heat, body trembling from the force of each thrust. “Maybe I do want you to lose it.”

That snapped the last thread of Euijoo’s restraint. The alpha’s mouth found his omega’s throat, biting down just hard enough to make him sob with pleasure. Nicholas clung to him, arms wrapping around his neck, thighs hooked tight around his waist as if to anchor himself against the relentless drive of his alpha’s cock. His whole body jolted with every thrust, pleasure sparking sharp and unbearable through his oversensitive nerves.

“God, Nichol,” Euijoo groaned hotly against Nicholas’s ear. His other hand spread over the omega’s belly, holding it down with every deep thrust. “All I want is to see you swollen with me.”

Nicholas’s breath hitched, his whole body arching at the words, his chest flushed pink, sweat dripping down his temples. Every thrust hit him deeper, pushing him higher. His pussy clutched at his alpha’s cock like it was desperate to keep him inside, every pulse making Euijoo grunt through clenched teeth.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” the alpha rutted harder, his voice torn apart by need. “My perfect omega, belly stretched tight, dripping every time I fuck you full again and again because all my cum has nowhere to go.”

Nicholas moaned helplessly, his head tipping back as his body trembled, his orgasm already building fast under the weight of Euijoo’s words and the brutal pace pounding him into the bed.

And Euijoo - for all the filth spilling out of his mouth - still kissed him through it, still cradled his face, still worshipping every inch of him even as his hunger took over.

Nicholas’s vision blurred as his second orgasm crashed into him, his pussy milking Euijoo’s cock so tightly it dragged the alpha right over the edge with him. With a loud groan, Euijoo buried himself as deep as he could go and spilled hot inside him, pulse after pulse of cum flooding his mate’s cunt.

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was their ragged breathing, the faint creak of the bed as Euijoo shifted just enough to keep Nicholas snug against him. Then he pressed a kiss to the damp skin of his mate’s shoulder, completely at odds with how brutally he’d just fucked him. Both of them were trembling, slick and cum dripping down their thighs, the sheets already ruined beneath them.

“I’m a mess.” Nicholas groaned, slick and cum dripping from between his soft, pale thighs. 

“My perfect mess.” Euijoo murmured, his voice still hoarse, though a smile tugged at his lips. His hand slid over the omega's stomach again, smoothing gentle circles there, reverent even now. 

Nicholas let out a weak laugh that broke into a moan as Euijoo moved slightly inside him. He was wrung out, his body trembling, but he tilted his head back to catch Euijoo’s mouth in a sloppy, slow kiss.

“I can’t move,” he whispered, his voice wrecked and small.

“You don’t have to.” the alpha’s hand rubbed soothingly up and down his mate’s sticky thigh, his breath warm in Nicholas’s hair. “I’ll take care of everything. Just stay right here and keep me in you.”

Nicholas melted into him, his cheek pressed against Euijoo’s chest. The alpha could feel his heartbeat still racing, fluttering like a bird. He let his omega drift, content to stay buried inside him all night if it meant holding him close.

And if his hand lingered over Nicholas’s flat stomach long after the older man had fallen asleep, tracing circles as he dreamed of it swelling with their pup - well, that was something only Euijoo had to know.

Two days later, Nicholas sat on the cool porcelain edge of the tub, the small blister pack of pills resting in his palm. The plastic crackled in his grip, each tiny circle of foil glinting under the light like it was mocking him.

It was nothing special, just an ordinary container, half of the tabs pressed open, the remaining pills small and white. For years, it had been part of his nightly routine - something he took without thinking. Just one more step between brushing his teeth and crawling into bed. He exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the package.

This was it. The first real, tangible step toward something he never thought he’d be ready for. No more contraceptive. No more automatic safeguard.

By the time his heat hit in two weeks, the effects would be long out of his system. His body would be open and ready. Vulnerable. He ran a hand down his stomach, bare and soft under the hem of his sleep shirt. 

Nicholas inhaled deeply, held it until his lungs ached, then let it out slow. His hand trembled as he lifted the pack, stared at it one last time. Then he tossed it into the trash. The sound was soft, barely a whisper against the quiet room, but it felt deafening in his ears. He stood, flicked the bathroom light off, and stepped into the dim hallway. 

One step at a time.

Chapter Text

The subway jolted forward, its metal wheels screeching faintly on the tracks. Nicholas stood with one hand curled around the overhead strap, the other clutching his messenger bag against his hip. Beside him, Harua was chattering on, animated as always, his hands flying with every word.

“…and they’re moving the lacquered screens into the west gallery next week, can you believe it? I swear, if I have to babysit one more donor tour before it’s finished, I’m going to start asking for a raise.”

Nicholas nodded, humming in the right places, letting Harua’s voice wash over him. His younger packmate was good at filling the air, good at distracting him from the bodies pressed too close. Normally, Nicholas appreciated it. Today, it was like hearing through water.

Because everything around him was perfectly ordinary - the screech of brakes at the next stop, the stale air of the tunnel, Harua’s complaint about exhibit schedules. And yet Nicholas’s chest felt tight with the knowledge that nothing was ordinary anymore. He had thrown out his pills. Gone, in the bottom of the bathroom trash.

His life hadn’t shifted outwardly. He was still Nicholas, art restorer, mate, pack omega. His commute was still the same crowded train. His lunch would still be the same bento he packed last night with Jo as they spilt the food they prepped together. He’d still spend his day bent over canvases, carefully brushing away decades of dust.

But inside, his whole world had tilted on its axis with that single choice, but the city hadn’t noticed. The museum hadn’t noticed. Harua certainly hadn’t noticed. 

Still, as he stepped off the train and followed Harua into the museum’s tall glass lobby, Nicholas couldn’t shake the feeling that he was walking into a different life than the one he’d left behind. That somewhere, invisible, a clock had started ticking. And no one else in the world could hear it but him.

The museum smelled faintly of varnish and dust, the same blend Nicholas had grown used to years ago. He slipped into the conservation studio, the hum of the dehumidifiers filling the air, and set his bag down by his workstation. A half-finished canvas waited for him, spread out beneath soft lighting, its edges taped, tiny jars of pigment lined neatly at the side.

It was all so normal. Comfortingly normal.

Nicholas rolled up his sleeves, slipped on his gloves, and leaned over the piece. A portrait with its delicate surface mottled with the fine cracks of age. He dipped his brush, the tip barely damp, and began coaxing away a layer of grime no thicker than a whisper.

The rest of the day blurred together: cataloguing fragments of embroidered cloth, brushing residue from a carved wooden mask, checking humidity levels. When the clock finally struck closing, Nicholas packed up his tools, slipping the gloves off with a snap. 

By the time he finally unlocked the front door and stepped into the house, his nerves were wound so tight he felt like he might split open at the seams. Euijoo had texted earlier that he’d be working late at the youth center, so Nicholas didn’t even have his mate waiting at the door to ground him.

He dropped his bag by the entryway and padded upstairs. The hot shower should have eased the tension from his shoulders, but instead, it only seemed to stir the restless energy under his skin. It wasn’t even like he had some grand secret. All he had done was close a door he’d been standing in for years.

After his shower, Nicholas tugged on a loose t-shirt and a pair of soft sweatpants before padding barefoot down the stairs. His hair was still damp, clinging to his temples, and the house smelled faintly of popcorn and Fuma’s cologne.

He slowed at the bottom of the staircase, looking into the living room. The only ones home were Kei and Fuma, curled together on the couch like always, their attention fixed entirely on the soccer game flashing across the TV. Fuma had his legs stretched out over his mate’s lap, while Kei leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, muttering under his breath whenever the ref blew the whistle.

Nicholas hovered there a moment too long when Kei finally glanced over. His sharp eyes softened immediately.

“Hey, Nichol,” he called, voice warm. “You hungry? There’s leftover stir-fry in the fridge.”

Nicholas shook his head quickly, realizing he must’ve looked awkward just standing there. “No, I’m good.” His voice came out quieter than he meant, but Fuma looked up too, offering a lazy grin.

“Come sit then,” the older alpha said, patting the cushion beside him without taking his eyes off the screen. “You’re making me nervous standing there like a ghost.”

Nicholas let out a tiny laugh, and shuffled forward. He perched on the edge of the couch, hands twisting in the fabric of his sweatpants. He tried to pay attention. He really did. He leaned back against the couch, fixed his eyes on the blur of green and white across the TV screen, even let the sound of the announcer’s voice roll over him. But his knee wouldn’t stop bouncing, jittering against the cushion, and his teeth worried at the edge of his thumbnail until the skin ached.

Kei shifted slightly to lay a steadying hand on Nicholas’s knee. That was usually enough to settle him but tonight, it wasn’t enough. Nicholas startled at the contact like he’d been caught out, and before Kei could even speak, he was already pushing to his feet, wringing his hands together in front of him.

Fuma finally dragged his gaze away from the match, brow furrowing. “What’s with you?”

Nicholas opened his mouth, then closed it again. Nicholas glanced between them - Fuma with his easy dependability, Kei with his everlasting patience - and wrung his hands harder, caught in the weight of his own choice. The words tumbled out of him before he even knew they were coming.

“If I ever - ” Nicholas’s voice cracked, and then the words came rushing out before he could stop them. “If I ever had pups, you wouldn’t… you wouldn’t kick me out, right? Because when I was a teenager, my dad used to say that all the time. That if I ever got knocked up, he’d throw me out on the street. He’d say it when he was angry, when he didn’t want to deal with me. And I know - I know I’m not a teenager anymore, I know I’m a fully mated adult, but…”

His hands twisted together, fingers digging into his palms as his voice picked up speed, like once the words started spilling out they couldn’t stop.

“But this is still your pack. This is still your house. And I don’t ever want to do anything to upset you, or make you regret letting me in. I just keep thinking about it, that if something happened, if I - if I ended up pregnant - what if you got mad? What if you thought I was being irresponsible? What if you decided it was too much, that I was too much?”

Nicholas’s breath came faster, his chest tight, nails biting crescents into his skin. He was rambling, he knew he was rambling, but the words had been trapped for so long they spilled out unchecked. “I can’t stop hearing it in my head, like it’s still true even though I know it’s not. Like no matter how old I get, or how safe I’m supposed to be now, it’ll happen all over again. That someone will look at me and decide I’m not worth keeping around.”

His throat closed on the last word, the fear raw and heavy as it finally landed in the air between them.

Kei and Fuma exchanged a look and before Nicholas could take another frantic step backward, a big hand closed firmly around his wrist. Fuma tugged, not harsh but with enough force that Nicholas stumbled forward and landed right where Fuma wanted him: wedged between the two older alphas on the couch.

“Hey,” Fuma said roughly, already letting his scent of spiced vanilla and leather unfurl heavily in the air. Kei’s amber and cedarwood followed almost immediately, the two scents weaving together until Nicholas felt cocooned in them.

Fuma’s arm came around his shoulders, heavy and unyielding, pulling him in tight against his side. “Listen to me, Nichol. We would never, ever, kick you out. Not you, not anyone in this pack. That’s not how this works. You hear me?”

Kei leaned in on his other side, his hands grabbing the omegas so he wouldn’t pick at his skin further “This pack is permanent. You don’t lose it for anything. You’re ours. That doesn’t change.”

Nicholas swallowed hard, the weight of their scents sinking deeper into his chest. His throat burned, eyes stinging, but the trembling in his hands began to ease, caught between Fuma’s arm and Kei’s palm.

The younger alpha bent close, pressing his nose briefly into Nicholas’s hair, another wave of scent rolling over him. 

“Don’t ever think you have to earn your place here,” he muttered. “You’ve had it from the start and you’ll have it until the end.”

“Did something happen?” Kei asked quietly. “Did someone say something to make you think like this?”

Nicholas shook his head quickly, eyes darting down. “No. Not really. Not - ” He faltered, then drew in a deep breath, forcing the words out before he could swallow them back down. Both alphas waited as Nicholas closed his eyes, sucking in another shaky breath, then finally said it:

“Me and Euijoo…” His voice cracked, and he had to start again, softer. “Me and Euijoo are gonna start trying. For a pup. During my next heat.”

The words landed between them like stones dropped in still water, ripples echoing out in every direction. Nicholas’s heart hammered against his ribs. He pushed on, because he had to.

“I know I don’t need anyone’s permission,” he rushed, staring at his knotted hands. “I know that. But this is still the pack house. It’s under your name. And I don’t want to do anything that upsets you, or makes you feel like I’m crossing some kind of line. I just - ” His throat burned, his words tumbling out faster now. “I wanted to tell you, before it happens. Because this is your pack too. And I don’t want to mess that up.”

Kei let out a soft sound, something closer to a coo than anything else, and pulled Nicholas in without hesitation. His arms wrapped tight around the younger omega, his chin resting briefly against Nicholas’s hair.

“Oh, Nichol,” Kei murmured, voice low and full of warmth. “You really think we’d be upset about that? We’d love it if you and Euijoo brought a pup into the house.” He squeezed him tighter, rocking them slightly, like Nicholas was still much younger and needed cradling. “That’s exactly why we bought this place. For room to grow and for the chance that one day, if any of our omegas wanted pups, we’d be ready for them.”

“Kei’s right. We chose this house because it had a yard and extra rooms not just for us, but for all of you. We wanted a place where no one would ever feel cramped, or unwelcome, or like they didn’t belong.” Fuma leaned forward, resting a heavy hand on the back of Nicholas’s neck, grounding him further. “If you and Euijoo want a pup, then you’ll have a pup. And this pack will raise them right alongside you.”

Nicholas’s eyes burned hot. His whole body sagged, trembling as the words soaked in, as their scents pressed heavier around him, soothing and warm. The old fear still clawed faintly at the back of his throat, but for the first time, it didn’t feel like it was winning.

Kei pressed a kiss to his temple, voice firmer now. “This house is yours, Nicholas. Always. And if you bring another life into it, we’ll only love it more.”

Nicholas let out a shaky laugh, clutching at Kei’s shirt with both hands as the tightness in his chest finally cracked wide open. The older alpha gave the omega one more squeeze before leaning back a little, his lips quirking in a teasing smile.

“You know,” he said, glancing over Nicholas’s head at Fuma, “once upon a time, this one almost didn’t want to mate me. Said it wasn’t fair because we couldn’t have kids together.”

Fuma let out a sharp huff, sitting up straighter. “That’s not what I said,” he protested, his voice carrying that familiar edge of grumble, though his hand stayed steady on Nicholas’s neck. “What I said was I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t regret mating me, because we’d never biologically produce pups together. Big difference.”

Kei chuckled softly, rolling his eyes with obvious fondness. “Mm. Technicalities.” Then he turned his gaze back to Nicholas, his expression softening. “The truth is, I never really had the urge to be a father. Not in that way. I always preferred the uncle role - spoiling them, teaching them the bad habits their parents wouldn’t.”

Nicholas let out a wet laugh, his chest easing just a little at the teasing tone.

“And when Fuma and I opened our pack up,” Kei went on, brushing Nicholas’s hair back from his damp forehead, “we knew. If any omegas ever joined us, and one day they wanted pups, then we’d be more than happy to help raise them. Not because we needed it, but because we wanted to share the love we have. A family doesn’t have to come one way.”

“The fact that you feel safe enough here to even think about raising pups in this house, in this pack - it says something. To us.” Kei glanced at his mate, both their eyes softening into something Nicholas rarely saw. “It means we did something right. That we built a pack worth keeping. That we gave you enough to feel like this could be home.”

“Feels like an honor, honestly,” Fuma admitted, the words a little awkward but entirely sincere. “We didn’t always know what the hell we were doing at first, taking this place, pulling all of you in. But seeing you sit here, talking about pups with Euijoo? That tells me we did at least a decent job.”

Nicholas’s chest tightened, but it wasn’t with panic this time. His throat went hot, thick with the kind of emotion that stole his voice. What could he even say to that?

Kei leaned in, pressing his forehead briefly to Nicholas’s temple. “You’re not just welcome here, Nichol. You belong here. And if you and Euijoo bring new life into this house, we’ll be proud to help raise them. That’s what a pack is for.”

Nicholas pressed his face into Kei’s shoulder as Fuma’s scent continued to roll over them both. For the first time all day, the buzzing under his skin began to fade, replaced with something heavier but softer, like the warmth of a blanket pulled close.

The waiting room was quiet when Nicholas checked in, the usual shuffle of papers and hum of soft music filling the air. Without Euijoo beside him, the silence felt louder. Still, he straightened his shoulders, told himself he didn’t need a hand to hold every time. Dr. Lee greeted him with the same warm professionalism as before, flipping through the chart as Nicholas settled onto the exam table. 

“How have you been feeling since you stopped the birth control?” he asked, glancing up over the rims of his glasses.

Nicholas shifted, the paper crinkling beneath him. “Fine, mostly. A little restless some days, but nothing dramatic.”

“That’s to be expected,” Dr. Lee said with a nod. “Your body is recalibrating. Hormone levels shift once the suppressants leave your system. You may notice changes in mood, appetite, even your scent. Some omegas describe it as feeling more ‘present’ in their own skin.”

Nicholas hummed softly, unsure if “present” was the right word for the buzzing under his ribs lately, but he let it pass.

Dr. Lee continued, “As for physical changes, you may see your heats come on more strongly now. They might last a bit longer, or start sooner than your usual cycle. Cramping could be heavier, and scent fluctuations more noticeable to those around you.” He gave Nicholas a reassuring look. “None of this is abnormal. It’s simply your body finding its natural rhythm again.”

Nicholas nodded, his hands twisting slightly in his lap. “So… my next heat?”

“Most likely stronger than you’ve had in years. You’ll want to be prepared. Hydration, nutrition, and support from your mate will be key.” Dr. Lee confirmed. “Since you’ve stopped birth control, Nicholas, and you’ve expressed intent to try during your next heat, I want to go over a few practical points. First, timing is critical. Ovulation tends to peak within the first twenty-four to thirty-six hours of a heat cycle. Ideally, that’s when your alpha should be finishing inside you most frequently. Regular ejaculation during that window maximizes your chances.”

Nicholas could feel the heat creeping up his neck, pooling in his ears. He wanted to melt into the paper lining beneath him and disappear.

Dr. Lee went on, unfazed. “As for positions, anything that allows deep penetration is preferable. Many couples find rear entry the most effective, but lying on your back with your hips slightly elevated can also help retain semen for longer periods. Some omegas use pillows to angle their pelvis, which is perfectly reasonable.”

Nicholas made a small strangled noise and immediately coughed to cover it. His face was burning so hot it had to be visible.

Dr. Lee flipped another page, still speaking in that calm, matter-of-fact cadence. “You may also notice your body becoming more sensitive off suppressants. Stronger orgasms can actually aid in conception as uterine contractions help pull semen deeper into the cervix. Don’t be alarmed if your responses feel more intense than before.”

By now, Nicholas was convinced his entire body was flushed. From the tips of his ears down to his toes, every inch of him buzzed with embarrassment. He could barely manage a nod, his eyes fixed firmly on a spot on the floor so he wouldn’t have to meet Dr. Lee’s gaze.

“And lastly,” Dr. Lee finished gently, “remember that intimacy isn’t just about mechanics. You’ll be more emotionally vulnerable during this transition. Lean on your mate. Communication will make all the difference.”

Nicholas swallowed hard, his voice a whisper when it finally emerged. “Right. Got it. Communication. Uh… positions.”

Dr. Lee chuckled softly, not unkindly, and set the clipboard aside. “You’ll do just fine.”

By the time Nicholas got home, he felt wrung out. He dropped his bag by the door, shuffled upstairs without even bothering with dinner, and fell face-first into their bed. The mattress dipped a few minutes later when Euijoo sat beside him. A warm hand rubbed slow circles between his shoulder blades. 

“How’d the appointment go?”

Nicholas buried his face deeper into the pillow and groaned. “Fine.”

Euijoo hummed, unconvinced. “Fine?”

“Yes.”

“Fine-fine? Or fine-I’m-avoiding-the-question?”

Nicholas rolled onto his back with another groan, throwing an arm across his eyes. “Dr. Lee gave me… the sex talk.”

A laugh slipped out before the alpha could stop it.

Nicholas sat up and swatted at his chest, cheeks blazing. “Don’t laugh! It was awful. He was so calm about it too, like telling me - ” His voice pitched higher as he mimicked Dr. Lee, “ - ‘rear entry is best for deep penetration, but pillows under the hips can help retain semen.’”

Euijoo outright laughed then, doubling over slightly, his shoulders shaking. Nicholas smacked him again with a pillow, mortified. 

“Stop!”

“I’m sorry - ” the alpha wheezed, catching the pillow before it landed again, eyes bright with amusement. “I’m sorry baby, I just - of course he’d tell you that. But - ” He tried to stifle his grin, leaning closer. “Don’t you think it might be vital information for me to know too?”

Nicholas groaned and shoved the pillow into his face. “You’re the worst.”

“Come on,” Euijoo coaxed through the muffled fabric, his voice warm and teasing. “Tell me. Educate your poor alpha. I don’t want to miss any important angles.”

The omega peeked out from behind the pillow, his face hot enough to scorch. But the way Euijoo was smiling at him made it impossible not to crack. With a long-suffering sigh, he tossed the pillow aside and sat cross-legged on the bed, arms folded tight over his chest, glaring at Euijoo like this was some kind of punishment. 

“Fine, but you don’t get to laugh again.”

“I would never,” Euijoo said solemnly, though the corners of his mouth twitched.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes but pressed on. “Dr. Lee said… timing matters most. That, uh, the first twenty-four to thirty-six hours of my heat are the best window.” His voice dipped into a mortified mumble. “So that’s when you… need to finish in me. A lot.”

Euijoo nodded gravely, like a professor receiving important notes. “Finish in you frequently. Understood.”

Nicholas groaned and covered his face with both hands. “You’re not even trying to hide it.”

“I am,” Euijoo protested, biting down on a grin. He gently tugged Nicholas’s hands down, eyes sparkling with amusement but still pretending to be intent. “Go on. This is vital stuff babe.”

“He said positions matter too. Doggy is best. Or… um… lying on my back with my hips propped up on pillows so…” His voice trailed into mortification again. “…so the semen doesn’t leak out right away.”

Euijoo pressed his lips together, his shoulders trembling faintly, but he nodded like he was being briefed on state secrets. “Pillows. Noted. Continue.”

“And apparently stronger orgasms help with conception. Something about contractions drawing - ugh, basically the doctor told me I need to cum a lot.”

Euijoo’s composure cracked into a low laugh and Nicholas buried his face in the pillow with a groan, his whole body buzzing with secondhand embarrassment.

But then Euijoo leaned over, pressing a kiss to the back of his head, laughter still coloring his voice. “You know, Nichol, I’m taking this very seriously. I’ll make sure to put all of Dr. Lee’s advice into practice.”

Nicholas peeked up at him, cheeks pink and eyes narrowed. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

Nicholas flipped his phone screen around and sighed. He’d been staring at the fertility tracking app for ten minutes now, watching the little pink dots march steadily toward his next projected heat. He scrolled back through the past few months. The air had turned crisp overnight, the kind of coolness that slipped under collars and hinted at the first frost of the year. Nicholas could smell it when he cracked his window that morning - autumn in the air, wet and earthy. He loved this season: the gold of the leaves, the warmth of sweaters, the smell of cinnamon creeping into cafés.

It also meant his heat was coming. His second last one of the year. His heats had been fairly regular, almost always 100 days apart, and if that stayed consistent, then the coming weekend was the big window. He found Harua and Yuma sprawled across the couch that afternoon, Yuma half-lounging on top of Harua’s legs while the younger omega painted a darker colour onto his nails . 

“Do you two want to help me set up my nest?” Nicholas asked. 

Harua’s head snapped up, eyes going wide. “Do we?” he repeated, already sitting up straighter.

Yuma let out an excited gasp, practically bouncing off the cushions. “Of course we want to! When? Right now? Do you already have blankets picked out?!”

Nicholas huffed out a laugh despite himself, his stomach unclenching just a little. “Yeah, right now. And yes, I already picked some things.”

That was all the invitation they needed. In his room, they spread out his blankets and pillows, layering soft textures and warm colors. It didn’t take long before the two younger omegas disappeared down the hall declaring that Nicholas’s nest needed “more love.” Nicholas barely had time to protest before they were raiding the rest of the pack’s closets. They came back with armfuls of shirts, hoodies, and even a couple of blankets. Yuma tossed them onto the growing pile with dramatic flair.

“Trust me, this is how you make it perfect,” He insisted, flopping onto the mattress to help tuck items into the corners. “Just a little bit of everyone.”

Nicholas swallowed, his chest tight, but he nodded. He let them work, let them chatter and laugh, but kept one eye on the growing nest. At the center of it, tucked deepest into the pile, were his and Euijoo’s things. Nicholas’s favorite hoodie, washed soft from years of wear. The t-shirt Euijoo always wore to bed. Their pillowcases, their blankets, layered until their scents wrapped around each other, strong and inseparable. That was the core. 

By the time Harua and Yuma stepped back, the nest was warm and inviting, layered in color and fabric and scent. Nicholas stood staring at it, his throat tight with something he couldn’t name.

“There,” Harua said with satisfaction. “Functional and cozy. I’d let someone breed me in this nest.”

Yuma nodded seriously. “Ten out of ten. You better get pregnant on the first try or this effort will have been for nothing.”

Nicholas groaned again, falling backward into the soft pile and covering his face with a pillow. “Why are you both like this?”

“Because we love you and we’re excited for you,” Yuma said.

“Building a nest is hard work,” Nicholas muttered, though his voice carried the faintest laugh as he choose to ignore the two others. But when he cracked one eye open, Harua and Yuma were standing just outside the edges of the nest, hovering like kids. Their eyes were wide, expectant, their shoulders almost vibrating with barely-contained excitement.

Nicholas rolled his eyes fondly and flicked his hand in a lazy wave. “Oh, fine. Get in here.”

Both omegas dove in at once, the mattress bouncing as Harua burrowed down on Nicholas’s left and Yuma threw himself onto the right. Nicholas laughed, caught between them, as they wriggled and tugged until they’d found the perfect places pressed up against him.

Harua tucked his head against Nicholas’s shoulder, while Yuma sprawled halfway across his chest like a cat, grinning as he sighed happily. The nest filled instantly with warmth, the three omegas’ scents mingling in lazy, comforting waves. Nicholas let his eyes flutter shut, surrounded and held, his body finally relaxing against the weight of them. The quiet, tender moment lasted all of three breaths before the youngest omega, never one to leave silence untouched, piped up with a mischievous grin.

“You know,” he said, propping his chin on Nicholas’s shoulder, "I heard after you’ve gotta keep your legs elevated. Helps it stick.”

Nicholas groaned, grabbing a pillow and thumping it against Harua’s side. “Shut up.”

Harua only laughed, muffled against the blanket, his shoulders shaking with delight. And then, because Yuma could never resist joining in, he lifted his head from Nicholas’s neck.

“Oh! And did you know there’s a saying that certain positions make certain genders? Like, if Euijoo takes you from behind, it’s supposed to be a boy, but if it’s missionary, it’s a girl.”

“That is not true,” Harua scoffed. “Don’t listen to him Nico, he doesn’t know anything.”

“And you do?” Yuma taunted back. 

Nicholas buried his face in his hands with a long, muffled groan. His ears burned so hot they had to be glowing. “I cannot believe I’m having this conversation in my own nest.”

Harua and Yuma just cackled, kicking their feet against the pile of blankets like mischievous pups.

“You asked for help,” Yuma reminded him between laughs.

Nicholas peeked at them through his fingers, torn between embarrassment and reluctant affection. “Helpful would’ve been just fluffing the pillows.”

But when Yuma tucked himself closer against his chest and Harua draped an arm over his stomach, Nicholas sighed and let them stay, even if his cheeks stayed red the whole time.

His pre-heat came two days earlier than expected. Dr. Lee had warned them that stopping the pills might throw Nicholas’s body off rhythm, but Nicholas still thought he had at least another week. Instead, by mid-October, the symptoms crept in like a storm rolling low over the horizon. It wasn’t subtle, either.

His nerves felt raw, every smell sharper than it had any right to be - Kei’s cologne lingering in the hall made his stomach twist, Harua’s sweet scent made his mouth water and gag at the same time, and even Euijoo’s bergamot-and-juniper that normally soothed him now made his chest ache with need.

The irritability came right alongside it. Nicholas snapped at Yuma over nothing, growled at Jo for leaving shoes in the hall, and then promptly locked himself in his room to cool down, guilt gnawing at him. His packmates were endlessly patient, but Nicholas could feel his own skin crawling, too tight to stay still.

And then there were the cramps. Painkillers didn’t even make a dent. He curled in on himself some nights, face pressed into Euijoo’s chest, muscles twisting so sharply it stole his breath. Euijoo would rub his back, whispering soft reassurances, but it didn’t change the ache thrumming through his body.

By the third day, Nicholas was pale and restless, pacing the house barefoot one moment and then flopping down in his nest the next, clawing at the blankets for comfort. Every sound, every scent, every flicker of movement seemed to grate on him. His body knew what was coming, and it was winding him tighter and tighter like a spring.

By the time Euijoo got home, Nicholas was done.

The cramping, the irritability, the restless pacing - it had all built up into a knot of frustration that no amount of nest-building or scenting could untangle. Now, with the full force of his heat blazing through his body, it was like every nerve was lit up at once. He was aching, needy, and so damn fed up.

The front door clicked shut and Nicholas was already there, grabbing Euijoo by the wrist before the alpha could even take his shoes off.

“Upstairs. Now.” His voice was sharp, almost trembling with urgency.

Euijoo blinked, startled but letting himself be pulled, his free hand clutching his work bag awkwardly until Nicholas snapped, “Drop it.” The bag hit the floor with a dull thud, forgotten.

They climbed the stairs in a blur, Nicholas dragging him with single-minded determination. His skin was flushed, his pupils blown wide, his scent thick and demanding in the air. When they reached their room, Nicholas shoved Euijoo backward onto the bed, the mattress creaking under the sudden weight.

Nicholas stood at the edge, breathing hard, his hands trembling as he tugged at his own shirt. His eyes were dark, wild, locked on Euijoo like a predator cornering its prey. 

“If you don’t fuck me right now,” he growled, voice breaking on the edges of desperation, “I swear to god, I’m going to scream.”

Euijoo’s lips parted, a breath caught in his chest as his mate glared down at him, every inch of him radiating heat and need. And then, slowly, a small, knowing smile tugged at the alpha’s mouth.

“Okay,” he said softly, as he held his hands out. “Come here, baby.”

Nicholas practically launched himself onto the bed, climbing over Euijoo and already tugging at the alpha’s clothes with frantic hands.

The omega's hands were everywhere at once, tugging at Euijoo’s shirt, fumbling with the button of his own pants, pressing frantic kisses against his throat like he couldn’t get close enough. But instead of rushing, Euijoo only grinned, stretching out on the mattress with infuriating ease. He shifted lower, settling comfortably against the pillows, broad shoulders relaxed like he had all the time in the world.

Euijoo gestured toward his face, his grin widening. “That’s it, baby. Get up here, baby. Let me taste you.”

Nicholas climbed onto the bed, his whole body trembling, and swung a leg over his mate’s chest. The alpha’s steady hands guided him higher, positioning him perfectly over his mouth.

“Good boy,” Euijoo praised, his voice rough with want. “Now sit.”

Nicholas was barely hovering above him, when Euijoo’s hands clamped around his thighs. With no hesitation, the alpha yanked him down, forcing Nicholas’s swollen cunt flush against his mouth. The omega cried out, his head snapping back, both hands flying to the headboard for support.

“J-Joo - !” His voice broke on a moan as his legs trembled, every nerve sparking at once.

Euijoo groaned against him, the sound vibrating straight through Nicholas’s body. His tongue dragged through his folds, before plunging deep to taste every drop of slick his mate’s heat had produced. Nicholas’s thighs twitched, trying to close around Euijoo’s head, but the alpha only tightened his grip and held him open.

Pinned and overwhelmed, Nicholas could do nothing but take it - the desperate suck on his clit, the wet glide of that tongue lapping greedily at his pussy, the filth of knowing Euijoo wanted him messy, wanted him soaked. His moans grew louder, rising in pitch, until he was practically sobbing against the headboard.

“Fuck Euijoo, I can’t...”

But the alpha only hummed in answer, refusing to let him lift off, dragging him down harder against his face like he wanted to drown in him.

Euijoo loved this. He lived for it. Any chance he got, he had his mouth between Nicholas’s thighs, licking him open, devouring him until there was nothing left to taste. The alpha had a hunger for him that seemed endless, like he’d never be satisfied until he’d drained every last drop of slick.

Nicholas thought, not for the first time, that he was truly lucky. Lucky to have a mate who wanted him this much. Lucky to be loved by someone who could spend hours with his face buried between his legs, licking and sucking until Nicholas was trembling and hoarse, until his body physically couldn’t drip another drop of slick.

Even now, as his body jolted with pleasure, Euijoo groaned like he was the one in bliss - drunk on the taste of him, greedy for more.

Nicholas couldn’t stop himself as his body moved on instinct, grinding down harder against Euijoo’s mouth. The slick sound of it filled the room, as he rolled his hips to chase the heat curling low in his belly. Euijoo groaned in delight, the vibration sending sparks straight through him. His tongue pushed deep again, licking long and slow before dragging up to Nicholas’s clit, just as his nose bumped against the swollen nub with every movement.

That tiny bit of pressure made Nicholas’s vision blur. His hands slipped against the headboard, nails digging grooves into the wood as his body shook.

“Oh my god Juju, don’t stop, don’t...” His voice cracked, every word dissolving into a moan. The pressure built fast, sharper and sharper, until Nicholas was sobbing, hips stuttering against his alpha’s mouth.

His orgasm ripped through him quick and brutal, tearing a loud, broken cry from his throat. His body convulsed, slick gushing hot and messy over Euijoo’s tongue as he shook. Euijoo swallowed everything he could get, tongue lapping furiously as if he’d drag Nicholas straight into a second without pause. And Nicholas, chest heaving, voice raw, realized he might not survive his mate’s mouth if he didn’t beg him to stop.

Before he could recover, the alpha hauled him off his face and flipped him like he weighed nothing, settling him on his hands and knees in the middle of the bed. Nicholas gasped, arms trembling to hold himself up as Euijoo shoved his own pants down behind in record time, groaning as his cock sprang free, already leaking.

“Look at you,” Euijoo rasped, his voice wrecked with hunger. His hands smoothed over Nicholas’s hips, squeezing the soft flesh before sliding down to spread him wider.

Nicholas’s moan cracked into a sob when he felt the blunt head of Euijoo’s cock drag through his soaked folds, smearing slick everywhere. The alpha teased him mercilessly, sliding up and down, bumping against his clit just enough to make him twitch.

“Euijoo please,” Nicholas panted, pushing his hips back, desperate. His body was burning, slick dripping freely, his heat demanding more. “Stop teasing me, fuck me already.”

And finally, blessedly, Euijoo pushed forward, his cock sinking slow and heavy into his omega’s drenched cunt.

By the time the alpha bottomed out, hips flush against his ass, Nicholas was shaking. His arms nearly buckled, his hands clawing at the sheets for purchase. The sheer fullness of it, the pressure pressing everywhere inside him, made his vision blur.

“F–fuck, Joo,” he moaned, the sound high and broken. His head tipped back, his throat bared, sweat dripping down his flushed skin. His body fluttered around the alpha’s cock like it was already trying to milk him, desperate for every drop.

Euijoo groaned behind him, his hands clamping hard on Nicholas’s hips as he stilled, savoring the squeeze. “God, baby… you’re so fucking tight.”

Nicholas whimpered, his entire body trembling. He was so close already, his orgasm hovering just from the stretch, just from the overwhelming feel of his alpha fully seated inside him.

He moaned louder, pressing his forehead to the sheets, voice cracking. “I’m - oh my god - I’m gonna cum already.”

Euijoo groaned as Nicholas fluttered tight around him, the heat of his omega nearly undoing him right then. He bent forward, chest pressing to Nicholas’s back, one arm banded around his waist to hold him steady. With his free hand, he slid down between them, fingers finding the swollen nub at the apex of Nicholas’s soaked folds. He rubbed tight, fast circles, the slick making it easy.

Nicholas choked on a scream. His arms gave out, his chest collapsing against the bed as his nails tore at the sheets.  His voice broke into a sob as the orgasm ripped through him suddenly. His whole body shook violently, thighs trembling as slick gushed hot down his mate’s cock and fingers.

The omega was still shuddering from the aftershocks of his climax, when Euijoo finally pulled back his hips. The drag of his cock against Nicholas’s slick, swollen walls made them both groan, the omega’s cunt clinging tight like it never wanted to let him go. Then Euijoo slammed back in, hard enough to rock Nicholas forward on the mattress.

The alpha groaned, fingers digging bruises into his mate’s hips as he drove into him over and over, faster, rougher. The wet slap of their bodies echoed in the room, slick spraying with every thrust, Nicholas’s cries growing higher and sharper. He reached down, his palm smoothing over the omega’s trembling stomach, pressing firmly as he fucked him harder.

“Feel that?” he rasped. “Feel how deep I am? You’re mine, Nicholas - my sweet, perfect omega. Gonna keep you dripping until you can’t take another drop.”

Nicholas clenched violently around him at the words, his moans turning desperate and cracked. His heat demanded more, his body begging to be bred, and Euijoo answered with every brutal thrust, worshipping him even as he ruined him.

Euijoo’s grip shifted suddenly, his palm flattening between Nicholas’s shoulder blades as he shoved his mate’s upper body down into the mattress. Nicholas gasped, his chest pressed flat against the sheets, ass high and spread wide as the alpha loomed over him.

The new angle drove Euijoo’s cock even deeper, his thrusts sharper, brutal in their precision. Each stroke made Nicholas cry out, his voice muffled against the bedding, his slick gushing in messy spurts down his thighs. The bed rocked beneath them, sheets tangling around Nicholas’s fists as he clawed for something, anything, to hold onto.

Euijoo’s hips snapped forward with punishing force, his cock pounding into the omega’s swollen cunt, stretching him wider with every thrust. Nicholas’s body milked him desperately, clenching and fluttering as if begging to be filled. And then the omega felt the thick base of Euijoo’s cock beginning to swell. The knot, already pressing harder against his entrance with every thrust, straining to catch, to lock them together.

Euijoo’s groans grew deeper, more guttural, his pace frantic now, rutting hard like he couldn’t stop himself. Sweat dripped down his temples, his grip bruising on Nicholas’s hips as he fucked harder, chasing the inevitable lock. 

The alpha’s grip slid from his hips to his stomach, broad palms smoothing over skin flushed and damp with sweat. He pressed down gently, just enough to feel the outline of himself sliding in and out. Nicholas whimpered at the pressure, his body tightening instinctively around the thick length buried inside him.

“Fuck,” Euijoo groaned, voice low and guttural. His thumbs stroked slow circles across Nicholas’s still-flat belly, like he was memorizing the shape of it. “I can’t wait to see this swell for me.”

Nicholas’s head jerked up, a strangled moan spilling out of him. The words hit harder than the thrusts, his chest burning hot, his entire body fluttering around his alpha’s cock.

Euijoo bent lower, his chest pressing to Nicholas’s back, his hands still spread wide across his stomach as he drove into him. Every snap of his hips shoved Nicholas deeper into the mattress, the press of his palms grounding him in place.

“You’ll look so fucking beautiful,” Euijoo rasped against his neck, his lips dragging over sweat-damp skin. “Round and full with my pups. Belly so big I can’t get my arms around you.” His pace faltered only to grind in deeper, moaning openly at the thought.

The swollen base of Euijoo’s cock finally pushed past, stretching the omega wide until the knot popped inside with a wet sound. Nicholas’s body couldn’t take it. The moment the knot locked inside, his orgasm ripped through him, his voice breaking on a high, sobbing cry. 

Euijoo groaned, his forehead pressed hard to Nicholas’s damp back as he ground his hips in tight circles, savoring every squeeze. The feeling of Nicholas fluttering and clenching around him, so impossibly tight around the knot, pushed him over the edge. He came with a moan, spilling into his mate in heavy waves. Cum poured into Nicholas’s locked body, pumping and pumping until the omega felt full to the brim, every squeeze dragging more from the alpha.

All Euijoo could think, lost in the haze, was breed him. Breed his beautiful mate. Keep him filled, stuffed with every drop until his body took it. Until Nicholas swelled with his pups, just like he dreamed.

When it finally slowed, Euijoo draped himself over his omega, kissing the sweat-slick nape of his neck, still locked tight inside. He kissed along the slope of his back, slow and reverent, letting his mouth linger on each drop of sweat. Up over his shoulder blades, down the curve of his neck, until his teeth grazed the raised mark at the juncture of his neck and shoulder. Nicholas shivered at the touch, a whimper escaping him, and Euijoo soothed it with another kiss before mouthing across the mark again.

His hands stroked down Nicholas’s sides, steady and warm, rubbing soft circles over sore muscles. He whispered wordless praise against his skin, his chest pressed to Nicholas’s back, their breaths slowly syncing as the rush of their mating eased into something quiet and tender.

After a few moments, Euijoo shifted carefully, keeping one arm wrapped snug around Nicholas’s waist. With a little maneuvering, he tugged his omega with him until they were both on their sides, tangled together. His knot stayed snug inside, keeping them locked, keeping them close.

Nicholas let out a shaky sigh, his body relaxing against his mate’s chest, his fingers reaching to lace with Euijoo’s where it splayed protectively across his belly. Euijoo’s hand slid from Nicholas’s waist up to his chest, then higher, fingers curling gently under his chin. With a careful tug, he tilted the omega's head back against his shoulder, just enough to see the flushed line of his cheek, the damp strands of hair clinging to his temple.

“You did so good,” Euijoo murmured, voice husky but warm, full of reverence. His thumb brushed Nicholas’s jaw as he bent down and finally kissed him. Nicholas melted into it with a soft hum, his lips parting easily, his body relaxing back into his mate’s chest.

When the kiss broke, Euijoo pressed another to his temple, lingering there as his other hand stroked down Nicholas’s side in long, soothing passes. Over the curve of his ribs, down his trembling waist, across his hip. A steady rhythm, grounding him.

His praise was endless: “My perfect omega. My mate. You make me the happiest alpha alive.”

Nicholas’s breaths evened out little by little, his muscles softening beneath the constant touch. His fingers tightened briefly over Euijoo’s arm draped around his middle, then went lax again, content to be held.

With the knot still keeping them snug and connected, neither of them had anywhere to go. And that was perfect - locked together, tangled in each other, slowly letting their bodies calm as the heat ebbed and the afterglow settled warm around them.

Euijoo kissed his mate’s damp hair once more, stroking down his side until he felt Nicholas’s breathing finally steady. Only then did he let himself relax too, wrapped around the omega he adored.

By the second night, Nicholas had lost count of how many times Euijoo had spilled inside him. His body was sticky and sore, trembling from overstimulation, but his heat kept dragging him back for more and Euijoo never once hesitated to give it.

This time felt different, though. Every time Euijoo sank into him, every time that thick knot swelled and locked them together, Nicholas could feel the shift in his alpha’s hunger. The way his hands smoothed over his belly as if he could feel it already changing, made Nicholas’s toes curl. Euijoo was desperate, rutting harder than usual, grinding his knot in deep and moaning like the thought of knocking him up was enough to break him apart.

Euijoo couldn’t stop himself - every time the knot softened, he pulled out just long enough to push back in, swelling thick all over again. Each lock was another wave of cum, another grind of his hips, another growled promise whispered against Nicholas’s damp skin.

“Can’t stop… gods, baby, I’m gonna fuck you so full this time. Gonna make sure it takes.”

And Nicholas, despite the exhaustion, melted into it - letting himself be knotted over and over, every swell another reminder of how badly his alpha wanted to fill him, breed him, and make him his in every way possible.

The rest of Nicholas’s heat went about the same as any other. In truth, nothing had really changed. They hadn’t used protection in years, so the feel of Euijoo spilling inside him again and again was nothing new. Nicholas’s body, slick and open and endlessly needy, had long since learned to take everything his alpha could give.

The only difference this time was the way they followed the advice their OBGYN had given them: a pillow propped under Nicholas’s hips after, his thighs trembling as Euijoo held him close; the half-laugh, half-groan when they actually managed to peak together, their bodies locking down tight, knot swelling as both of them came hard at once.

“Gotta make sure it takes this time, baby. Can’t waste a drop.”

He fucked him in every position imaginable. On his back with his legs pressed up high. On his stomach with his ass in the air. On his side, on his lap, on his knees, riding his alpha until his thighs gave out and Euijoo flipped him without hesitation, still buried deep inside.

Nicholas lay on his back this time, flushed and wrecked, his thighs hooked over Euijoo’s shoulders as the alpha ground into him, cock buried deep. Sweat slicked their skin, the sheets tangled beneath them, the air thick with heat and the sound of their bodies meeting again and again.

Euijoo’s hands roamed greedily, never satisfied with just holding Nicholas’s hips. One palm pressed firm to his belly, thumb stroking circles as if he could coax the swell into being right then and there. The other slid higher, spreading over Nicholas’s chest.

Nicholas gasped when calloused fingers pinched at his nipple, his back arching off the bed. His pecs were flushed pink, sensitive from Euijoo’s attention, and the alpha groaned at the way they pebbled under his touch.

“Fuck,” Euijoo rasped, his voice wrecked. “I can’t wait to see these fill, too.” His fingers rolled Nicholas’s nipple between them, tugging lightly until the omega moaned. “Full of milk, heavy for me… baby, you’ll be perfect.”

Euijoo bent down, rutting deeper, his mouth closing over Nicholas’s other nipple. He sucked hard, groaning against the flesh, teeth scraping just enough to make his mate cry out. His hand stayed pressed to Nicholas’s stomach, feeling every twitch, every flutter of his cunt as he clenched around him.

Nicholas was gasping now, lost in the sensations, his body arching into every touch.

Between licks and kisses across his chest, Euijoo moaned, “Can you imagine it? Belly round, chest leaking, body made for me - made to feed our pups. Gods, you’ll look so fucking good.”

Nicholas’s orgasm crashed into him before he could even brace for it, his body clenching hard around the knot swelling at the base of Euijoo’s cock. His cry was sharp, broken, as slick gushed between them, coating their stomachs and thighs.

Euijoo groaned at the squeeze, grinding in harder, his cock jerking as he spilled inside, still mouthing hungrily at Nicholas’s chest like he couldn’t get enough.

Nicholas had thought he might get tired of it. The endless knotting, the constant fullness, the way Euijoo barely gave him time to breathe before pushing back inside, swelling thick and locking them together again. His body ached, his voice was hoarse, his thighs quivered whenever he tried to move.

But the truth was… he loved it.

He loved this side of Euijoo - the next level of obsession that came with the promise of finally making him pregnant. Every groan in his ear, every filthy word about swelling his belly and filling his chest, made Nicholas burn hotter. The way Euijoo couldn’t keep his hands off him - always touching his stomach, squeezing his chest, grinding his knot deep and moaning about how perfect he’d look carrying - it made Nicholas feel wanted in a way nothing else ever had.

He loved the desperation in Euijoo’s voice, the way his alpha praised him between curses, the sheer devotion in every rough kiss pressed to his shoulders and neck.

By the end of his heat, sore and spent and still locked with Euijoo inside him, Nicholas thought hazily that if this was what trying for a baby meant, he never wanted it to end.

The heat had finally broken sometime early in the morning of the last day.

Nicholas was buried under at least three blankets, his head on Euijoo’s chest, one leg thrown lazily across his alpha’s stomach. The nest smelled intense - thick with pheromones, sex, sweat, and knot after knot of slick and cum. But Nicholas felt calm. Spent and sore yes but wrapped in a warm, drowsy fog of satisfaction.

He shifted slightly, stretching out his back with a soft whimper. Every muscle in his body ached in the best way. He didn’t dare look down at the sheets.

But Euijoo was already awake, practically glowing as he trailed lazy fingertips across Nicholas’s belly.

“You’re staring,” Nicholas mumbled, voice hoarse and wrecked, eyes still half-shut.

“You’re round,” Euijoo said, utterly reverent.

Nicholas cracked one eye open and gave him a tired, fond glare. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. That’s just three days of nonstop knotting.”

Euijoo only grinned, brushing his palm gently over the slight swell just beneath Nicholas’s navel. It wasn’t much just a soft curve, like his body hadn’t quite recovered from being filled to the brim. But it made something primal and possessive burn in Euijoo’s gaze.

“Still,” he said. “You look good like this.”

Nicholas rolled his eyes. “I look wrecked.”

“You look wrecked and gorgeous,” Euijoo corrected. “And full of my cum. Which is kind of the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“God,” Nicholas groaned, burying his face in Euijoo’s chest. “You’re so obsessed.”

“I am obsessed,” Euijoo said without hesitation, pressing a kiss to the crown of Nicholas’s head. “You’re my mate. I just spent three days fucking you stupid. Let me admire my work.”

Eventually, they had to leave the nest. The scent was starting to turn stale, the sheets were beyond saving, and Nicholas felt like a sticky, aching mess in the worst way. 

Their room looked like a battlefield with how blankets were half off the bed, pillows kicked across the floor. The windows were cracked slightly open to help air out the pheromones, Euijoo didn’t seem to mind if anything, he looked a little smug about it - but Nicholas grimaced and shoved him toward the hamper.

“Start the laundry,” he croaked, voice still rough from days of moaning and begging. “I’ll strip the bed.”

Together, they moved slowly through the space, working around each other. Euijoo carried the sweat-soaked sheets and towels down the hall, while Nicholas peeled the layers of nesting fabric from their mattress and sprayed it with freshener, propping open the door for better airflow.

The shower after was heavenly.

They didn’t try to be sexy - they didn’t have the energy for that - but the intimacy lingered anyway. Euijoo washed Nicholas’s back with slow, gentle hands, careful of the bruises and bite marks he himself had left. Nicholas leaned against the tile, head tipped forward under the warm stream, and let his alpha tend to him in silence.

By the time they stepped out, toweling off and getting into fresh, loose clothes, Nicholas felt almost human again. And then his stomach growled loud enough for Euijoo to raise an eyebrow.

Afterward, they ate like they hadn’t seen food in weeks - a spread of leftovers Euijoo reheated, plates balanced on the bed, Nicholas devouring everything in sight while Euijoo only laughed and kept piling more onto his plate. 

And then there was nothing left to do but wait.

The doctor had warned them it could take a few days before a test could even show positive.  So Nicholas pretended to be normal.

He went back to work, caught the subway with Harua, made idle comments about the changing weather. He stopped at the bakery on his lunch break and bought Euijoo his favorite red bean buns, dropped into Yuma’s room to look at whatever bracelets he’d been making that week, even joined Jo and Taki in watching a late-night drama he didn’t actually care about.

On the surface, nothing had changed.

But underneath, Nicholas was buzzing. Every cramp, every flutter in his stomach, every wave of nausea - whether real or imagined - made his heart jump. He’d stare at his reflection in the bathroom mirror longer than usual, searching for signs he knew wouldn’t show up yet. At night, when Euijoo fell asleep with his arm slung across Nicholas’s waist, Nicholas would stare at the ceiling, wondering if something had already sparked to life inside him.

He didn’t say a word to anyone. Not yet. He couldn’t - not until he knew for sure.

So he kept smiling, kept laughing at his packmates’ antics, kept pretending everything was exactly the same.

And waited.

By the tenth day, Nicholas couldn’t take the suspense anymore.

The museum felt endless, every clock tick louder than the last. By the time he packed up his tools and left for the evening, his palms were damp, his chest tight. 

The corner pharmacy sat across from the subway station, its fluorescent lights buzzing faintly as he pushed open the glass door. The scent of antiseptic and paper masks hit him all at once. Nicholas ducked his head and made a beeline for the back aisle.

The shelves were lined with every variety imaginable: digital tests, strips, early detectors, multipacks. His hands hovered uncertainly before he grabbed a plain box - one that came with three tests inside. He clutched it to his chest like contraband as he walked to the register.

The cashier didn’t so much as blink, but Nicholas’s ears burned anyway as he fumbled with his wallet. By the time the box was bagged, he was practically bolting out the door, the plastic rustling in his hand as though it might shout his secret to the whole street.

He shoved the bag deep into his work tote and hurried toward the subway, his heart pounding. 

By the time he stepped off at his stop and started the walk toward the pack house, the crisp autumn air barely cooled his flushed cheeks. His fingers itched to reach into the bag, to pull the box out and look at it again, but he kept walking, head down, chest tight with nerves.

Dinner had been loud in the way it always was with nine people crammed into one house and Nicholas waited until the dishes were cleared before he reached under the table and brushed his fingers against Euijoo’s hand. The alpha glanced over, eyebrows raised, and Nicholas stood silently, tugging him along by the wrist.

They climbed the stairs in silence, Nicholas’s pulse thundering in his ears. When they reached the bathroom, he shut the door behind them with a quiet click. For a moment, his nerves had him frozen in place, his throat tight.

Then, with trembling fingers, Nicholas reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out the box. He didn’t say a word as he set it on the counter.

Euijoo’s eyes dropped to it and instantly, they lit up. Recognition spread across his face, soft and bright, like sunlight breaking through clouds. His lips parted, but for once, words didn’t come right away.

Nicholas shifted on his feet, wringing his hands together. “I thought… maybe we should find out. Together.”

Euijoo reached for the door handle almost instinctively. “I’ll give you a minute,” he said gently.

But Nicholas’s hand shot out, catching his wrist. “Stay.”

 Euijoo nodded once, and let go of the door. He leaned back against the counter instead, folding his arms loosely across his chest, his gaze soft on his mate. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

Nicholas swallowed hard, turning his focus to the box on the counter. He fumbled it open, hands clumsy with nerves, and pulled out one of the tests. His face burned as he tore the wrapper, but he kept moving, the weight of Euijoo’s presence steadying him in a way that silence never could.

The sound of running water filled the small room, followed by the sharp little click of plastic as Nicholas did what he had to do. 

When it was done, Nicholas set the stick carefully on the counter and exhaled shakily, his hands trembling.

“Now we wait,” he murmured, as though saying it out loud made the air in the room feel heavier.

Euijoo reached out, his warm hand brushing Nicholas’s, grounding him. 

They stood together in the small bathroom  shoulder to shoulder, hands laced tight, their eyes fixed on the little piece of plastic sitting on the counter between them. 

The shrill tone of Euijoo’s phone alarm broke the silence, making Nicholas flinch. Three minutes already?

Nicholas froze, his eyes fixed on the counter where the slim plastic test sat face down. His stomach twisted. He chewed at his thumbnail, gnawing until the skin stung, every nerve in his body screaming at him to just look.

But he couldn’t.

“Euijoo,” he whispered, voice tight. He nudged at the alpha’s arm with his elbow, refusing to lift his gaze from the tile floor. “You do it. I… I can’t.”

Euijoo hesitated only a moment before stepping forward. His hand hovered over the test, fingers brushing it lightly before he flipped it over. Nicholas’s breath caught in his chest.

Euijoo exhaled softly, the sound almost too quiet to hear. “…Negative.”

The word hit harder than Nicholas expected. His chest deflated, a hollow ache blooming where the buzzing anticipation had been. He blinked quickly, swallowing down the lump in his throat but the disappointment came creeping in like a shadow under the door. He wasn’t surprised. Not really. First tries almost never worked. 

Euijoo came back to his side and crouched in front of him, slipping both arms around his waist.

“We knew this might happen,” he said quietly. “It doesn’t mean anything’s wrong. It just means it’s not this time.”

Nicholas nodded, but his eyes were already wet. He hated crying over something so small. 

“I just…” He bit his lip. “I really thought maybe.”

“I know,” Euijoo said. “Me too.”

“I should pee on the other sticks too, right? Just in case it was wrong?” Nicholas’s words tumbled out fast, sharp. He bit at his thumb again until the skin tore, the metallic tang of blood hitting his tongue before he even noticed.

Euijoo’s frown deepened, his eyes flicking to the raw patch of skin. He reached out as though to still Nicholas’s hand. “Sure, but - ”

He didn’t get the chance to finish. Nicholas was already fumbling with the box, tearing it open and yanking the last two tests free like he could force the answer to change if he just tried hard enough. His hands shook as he ripped the wrappers, his breath shallow and quick.

“Nicholas,” Euijoo said gently, stepping forward, his voice low but firm. “Love, slow down.”

But Nicholas was already heading for the toilet again, the plastic sticks clutched white-knuckled in his grip.

Euijoo leaned against the counter, silent now, giving his omega space while still anchoring the room with his presence. His chest ached watching Nicholas unravel like this, but he didn’t stop him. Not yet.

Minutes later, the second and third tests sat lined up neatly on the counter beside the first. 

And then the alarm went off again.

When the timer went off again, Nicholas couldn’t move. His eyes stayed glued to the floor tiles, nails digging crescent moons into his palms.

Euijoo reached over silently, turning both tests face up with one sweep. The little windows stared back at him. Negative.

Nicholas forced himself to look. His stomach dropped, but he straightened his spine, dragging in a breath like he could fill the hollow inside him with air alone. Then he curved his mouth into something that was supposed to be a smile. It came out thin, shaky, but it was there.

“Well. That settles it.” His voice cracked in the middle, but he pushed on. “Guess not this time.”

Euijoo’s chest squeezed at the sight of that brittle smile. He reached out, cupping Nicholas’s jaw with gentle fingers, tilting his mate’s face up until their eyes met.

“The doctor told us this might take time,” he reminded softly, voice steady in the quiet. “It could be a couple months."

Nicholas blinked, the words catching on the tightness in his throat. He nodded once, sharp, and leaned into Euijoo’s palm for just a second longer than he meant to.

“A couple months,” Nicholas repeated quietly, almost like he was testing the weight of the words. He drew in a long breath, then let it out slowly, pressing his palms against his thighs to still the tremor in his hands.

He could wait that long. Of course he could. He’d gone years swearing up and down he never wanted a pup, never wanted to risk what his mother had. What was a few more months compared to that?

“Right,” he said finally, forcing the corners of his mouth upward. “I can wait that long. No problem.”

When they emerge from the bathroom, Nicholas just wants to go lay down. One of the younger omega’s gives him a hopeful look but Nicholas just shakes his head as he passes by.

Euijoo followed closely, a hand on the small of his mate’s back. They reached the bedroom and Nicholas collapsed onto the bed without undressing.

He curled into a ball, face turned toward the window where the sun was just beginning to set. The sky outside was soft with orange and pale purple, and it made his chest ache with how unfairly beautiful everything could be on a day like this.

Euijoo sat beside him and laid a hand on his back, rubbing gentle circles.

“It’s not the end,” he murmured, voice quiet against the growing dark.

“I know,” Nicholas whispered. “Just feels like it right now.”