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The cafe’s door opens with a chime, and Jeno- not for the first time- looks up with expectant eyes, smile falling for a second when he doesn’t see the one he has been waiting for.
He had hoped that at least today-
The alpha almost jumps out of his skin when someone pats him on his back before pulling him away and dragging him behind the fridge. “Look alive and focus, Jeno!” A familiar voice hisses in his ear, and he turns to find Renjun glaring at him- customer-service smile still in place.
Jeno barely manages to nod at the enraged beta, pushed towards the counter once again as Renjun sees a couple of omegas walking towards it. ‘Get to work!’ his eyes seem to say, and Jeno narrowly suppresses a tired sigh, taking orders with a polite smile.
“Welcome to The Dream Cafe! What can I get you?”
He gets through the day without spacing out again.
“I am so tired~” Jeno whines, slumping down on one of the tables of the now-empty- cafe with only some staff remaining. His body sags even more when Donghyuck squeezes his shoulder in solidarity and groans, “The number of people I had to chase out because they were seconds away from having sex on top of the tables is concerning.”
Jeno shivered at the shorter alpha’s words, suddenly glad that all he had to do for the day was to maintain the counter and not deal with horny couples.
Renjun sighs, already done rearranging the chairs, “Just deal with it for now. Tomorrow’s the last day of this madness anyway.” If Donghyuck notices Jeno getting stiff at the beta’s words, he doesn’t comment on it, humming.
“The mating run?”
“The mating run.”
Jeno buries his face into his folded arms when he feels eyes on him. There’s a hand on his head- petting the alpha to soothe him as his scent flares with sudden distress. “Are you going to take part this year?” He hears Donghyuck ask and whines.
“I have to.”
Jeno says with a whimper, “It’s not like I have a choice.”
He is a 26-year-old unmated alpha this year. According to the government, all unmated alphas and omegas above 25 must participate in annual mating runs until they find mates.
The mating run is a cruel tradition passed down for generations where all the omegas and alphas gather jointly near the sacred forest during the special moon night- when the moon’s the biggest and brightest.
They are divided into different sets, and at the first sound of the blowhorn, the first set of omegas are to run into the forest, followed by the second and the third. And another blow is heard after 30 minutes- indicating that the alphas are free to stalk the woodland.
After that, it’s a game of predator and prey, alphas sniffing the air like wild animals and going after the scent that appeals to them most. Once they find the omega of their choice, the said omega is knotted and mated whether they want it or not.
It’s dehumanizing, reducing omegas to nothing but an object made to be claimed and conquered. And yet, even with the protests from all sides alike, this tradition still prevails. So, to have some semblance of control, the alphas and omegas start looking for and dating suitable counterparts months before the run.
Wishing they’d encounter their preferred mate before someone else does.
Jeno can not just appear- but all the alphas and omegas- older than 25 and unmated, are given a special wristband- like the one around Jeno’s wrist. Not only it tracks the location of the one wearing it, but also doesn’t come off until specific codes are punched in, provided only when someone’s mated.
So, even running away is not an option- he’ll be found- put on trial, and forced to mate with an omega who he’s never met in life.
Jeno had hated mating runs with a passion ever since he was old enough to understand what it meant, and tomorrow, he’d have no choice but to take part in the said run.
“Anyways,” Donghyuck playfully breaks the dreadful silence that settles over them, punching Jeno’s shoulder harder than necessary. “Who were you waiting for today? Don’t think I didn’t notice you glancing at the door with sparkly eyes whenever a customer came in, only for you to pout like someone kicked your cat.”
Jeno has to physically stop himself from bolting out of the cafe, heart racing wildly as fear courses through him- was he really that obvious? “What?” He asks cautiously, grateful that his voice comes out steadier than he feels.
Donghyuck snorts, “Come on, tell Papa Hyuckie who’s the lucky omega?” he pats his chest, clinging onto Jeno’s shoulders and making obnoxious kissy faces before pressing his lips against Jeno’s forehead. Jeno laughs despite himself, leaning into Donghyuck’s warmth.
“Um, yeah.” He says, trying to frame his sentence carefully, “It’s a regular customer.” And hopes Donghyuck won’t ask for more questions. To Jeno’s relief, the younger alpha looks happy with his answers.
(He ignores the way Renjun eyes him- knowing as if he can see right through the alpha’s soul.)
Jeno reaches home at 2 am- drunk and exhausted, diving into his bed head first when he’s finished changing into comfortable pajamas. He rolls around in bed for a while before finally settling on his back, legs spread out and hand thrown over his eyes.
He falls asleep like that, dreaming of big hands, dark eyes, and a brilliant smile.
Strong hands hold Jeno down- his face smushed against the soft sheets as tears of arousal leak down his eyes, steady hips slamming against his ass. He trembles as teeth dig into his delicate skin, biting bruises that will remain for days if not weeks.
“Having fun, hyung?” a sweet voice croons into his ear, followed by a wet kiss on his neck. “Like how my cock’s splitting you open, hm?” Jeno trembles at the words, moaning as pinpricks of pain and pleasure lick down his spine.
It’s good, so good. He tries to speak, but nothing coherent comes out of his mouth.
Suddenly the thrusts slow down, making Jeno whine. The throbbing warmth inside him pulls out completely, and Jeno is flipped on his back before he can complain even more.
His eyes are so hazy that they can only make out the silhouette of the body above him. Breath knocks out of his lungs when arms slide under his knees, pressing forward and bending Jeno in half.
“Are you going to be a good little alpha for me or,” Lips descend onto Jeno’s neck- kissing, nipping, sucking, marking him owned. Warm breath tingles his earlobes, “Are you going to be a good little omega?” And before Jeno could reply, he’s being fucked into again at an animalistic pace.
“Alpha!” He screeches, clawing at the sheets as unfiltered moans are punched out of his throat with every thrust. “Alpha- please- Jaemin!”
Jeno startles awake at 8 am with a gasp, his lower abdomen clenching, and the alpha realizes he’s painfully hard. So hard that a knot has started forming at the base of his dick already. A needy whine escapes him as he paws at the nightstand by his bed for the bottle of lube he keeps there.
His movements are sluggish as he shucks his pajama bottoms along with his boxers down to his knees. Jeno turns on his stomach, circling his hole with a well-lubricated finger, moaning when it slips past the tight ring of muscles.
The alpha rotates his wrist and curls his fingers while thrusting them in and out of his hole, trying to find that spongy little spot that has him seeing stars. One finger becomes two, and two become four when they finally hit his prostate, causing his knees to give out and rut down on the sheets below him.
Jeno whines, hair sticking to his sweaty forehead as he keeps the pace of his finger, remembering the sensitive bundle of nerves inside him. It feels so good. So good- but not nearly enough to scratch the itch under his skin.
He needs more, he needs to be held down- to be forced to take it until he’s coming undone- until he’s crying from overstimulation. It’s not enough, it’s not enough, it’s not enough. The alpha cries in frustration, desperation leaking into his bones.
More. He needs more. He needs- “Jaemin!” Jeno sobs out, a mixture of guilt and arousal settling into his chest at the thought of the younger alpha. He thinks of those beautiful eyes watching him, imagines Jaemin’s fingers are the ones spreading him open, and he can almost hear that sweet voice in his ears.
“Do you want to cum?”
Jeno nods, delirious, “Please, please, please, please-” His wrist is hurting, and his thighs are shaking, but he persists, chasing his high- craving that sweet release.
“Then cum. Cum and be good for me.”
And he does, bursting and spurting sticky, translucent liquid all over his shirt and the bedsheets. A whimper slipped past his lips when his tender and spent cock rubbed against the clothes, fingers still inside his hole as his body twitched with the force of his orgasm.
Jeno lies in that position for a while- catching his breath before straightening up. He groans at the stickiness around him and kicks off his pants and underwear, wincing at the twinging pain in his thighs and his wrist.
He gives up on standing when his legs shake too much. He would clean up later.
Tears don’t stop streaming down his face as he collapses on his side, wiping them away with the back of his clean hand as best as he can.
Jeno can’t believe what he did just now- fucked himself on his fingers while thinking of someone else. He doesn’t know what was worse- whether it was another alpha or the said alpha has been a regular customer at his cafe for four years, and oh- is also his crush, Na Jaemin.
Jaemin has always been an enigma to Jeno, a sharp-minded mysterious alpha whose eyes threatened to drown him every time he looked into them for more than a minute. A smile that was so warm and bright yet seemed too dangerous and sharp around the edges.
Jeno still remembers when he saw Jaemin for the first time, drenched to the bone late at night as he entered the cafe to shield himself from the rain. It was way past closing time then, but Jeno didn’t have the heart to chase away the soaking alpha.
Instead, he had turned on the heater and offered the shivering man hot coffee before talking the night away with him even though the rain had long passed. They had hit it right off the start, with a sense of familiarity and many common interests- Jeno couldn’t help but take a liking to the handsome stranger.
And Jaemin arriving at the cafe again the day after only solidified his place in Jeno’s life.
Soon they started hanging out after Jeno’s every shift- undetected by Donghyuck and Renjun lest they start whining. They did everything together, from walking down the banks of the Han River to driving around the city all night long before crashing at each other’s places more often than not.
Somewhere along the way, Jeno fell in love with the younger alpha. He doesn’t know when, but the realization hit him two weeks ago when they were watching a movie together in Jaemin’s apartment. Jeno had spilled his drink all over his shorts and thighs, and Jaemin being the gentleman he is, started cleaning Jeno up with a wet cloth.
Witnessing Jaemin’s hands wrapped around and patting his bare thighs aroused something deep and primal inside Jeno’s chest, making him hyper-aware of everything related to the younger alpha, especially his scent- soothing sandalwood, tinged with a hint of lavender and how Jeno was thoroughly inundated in it.
They didn’t have a sleepover that night as Jeno practically ran out of Jaemin’s place with his heart thudding in his ears.
Later, in the safety of his apartment, Jeno had cried his heart out, feeling bad for himself.
The younger alpha had tried contacting him after that, but Jeno blocked his number and stopped hanging out with Jaemin.
Jaemin had showed up at the cafe during work hours for a few days, observing Jeno from the corner, but that too only lasted for a week- after which he never came. Maybe he got tired of waiting for Jeno, realizing he wasn’t worthy of the younger’s time.
It was for the best- or at least that’s what Jeno tried to tell himself. And yet his heart ached painfully whenever his eyes surveyed everywhere for the signs of Jaemin and came up with nothing.
Now, curled up on his ruined bed, with dried tear streaks decorating his cheeks, Jeno sighs. He should probably get ready for the day. The alpha stands up again, this time only stumbling for a second before regaining balance, and walks towards the bathroom.
He cleans up under record time, gets dressed, and pours himself a bowl of milk and cereals before bolting out of the door and off to the cafe.
The work’s busy as the day before, if not busier. The diner is filled with different kinds of scents- so overwhelming that Jeno, Renjun, and others- who work outside the kitchen need to wear scent-canceling masks to breathe properly.
The reality of the day doesn’t hit Jeno until the clock strikes 4 pm- Renjun and Donghyuck push him out of the cafe, telling him to freshen up again for the “big day.” And Jeno flashes them a smile, hoping it doesn’t betray the dread clawing at his insides.
The walk to his apartment seems longer than it is. Jeno’s legs get more and more unwilling to carry forward the closer he gets to his apartment. He, against his better judgment, thinks about the comfort of his home and how he could just not leave once he gets there- the consequences of that indulgence, however, would be dire.
Staring at the government-assigned wristband- a chill runs down the alpha’s spine at the thought of being incarcerated and forced to mate. At least in mating runs, he can avoid being in the same areas as other omegas and alphas without arousing suspicion.
The band around his wrist buzzes as if sensing the alpha’s fear and hate, the display screen lightening up with “two hours left” and prompting Jeno to walk faster.
Jeno makes a beeline to his room as soon as he passes the threshold of his apartment, pulling out whatever he can grab first- a random white tee, a baby blue shirt, and black pants before throwing them on.
He unlocks his phone, finger hovering over Jaemin’s contact. Maybe he can unblock the younger alpha now, tell him about his feelings and apologize for his behavior. Perhaps he can, but he doesn’t- doesn’t see the need to. Jaemin wouldn’t want him anyway, and there’s also a run for Jeno to worry about.
The alpha leaves his apartment 45 minutes later- the sooner he gets done with this, the better- and reaches the destination almost 30 minutes before the event starts.
The area buzzes with different kinds of scents and emotions, some excited, some sad, and some with evident disinterest radiating from their being. Jeno swears he can hear some omegas crying- and steers away to a less crowded part- not ready for his suppressed misery to hit him too.
The alpha sees a food stall near him- and if he’s going to spend six hours in that goddamned forest hiding from others, he may as well fill himself up with some good food.
With that in mind, Jeno walks towards the snack counter, determined to taste everything placed on it. He’s on his second serving of chips when it hits him- the scent of sandalwood and lavender- Jaemin’s scent, and he nearly drops the plate in his hand, head whipping to the side to locate the younger alpha.
He can’t be here, Jeno thinks. His heart was pounding wildly inside his chest. He can’t be here. Maybe, I am finally losing my mind.
But before he can continue his investigations, everyone is herded into different rows. The mating run’s about to start.
The blowhorn is loud, and its sound pierces through Jeno’s skull, along with the screams that fill the grounds before all the omegas run inside the woodland. The alphas surrounding him howl in excitement, making him feel sick to the stomach.
It’s going to end soon, he tells himself, stomaching tying into knots. The following 30 minutes pass in a blur- aggressive pheromones filling the air make Jeno dizzy, and he stumbles backward only for a hand- a very familiar hand- to push at his lower back to steady him.
The touch lingers only for a few moments, but the alpha feels it burn through the clothes and into his skin all the same. Jeno aches to turn around, to see if it’s the one he’s been longing for or if his mind is feeding him cruel hallucinations.
Jeno doesn’t get to ponder for long as the band around his wrist beeps and the blowhorn echos, and everyone runs into the forest with no restraints- high on their alpha instincts.
It’s hard not to get caught under the feet of hundreds of alphas, despite his muscular build- but Jeno somehow manages, slipping away from the group when they are somewhat deep between the woods.
The scent of omegas is more potent inside the forest than it was before they entered, almost like they are in heat. And the horrid realization hits Jeno out of nowhere when he passes by an alpha with wide-blown eyes, running on pure predatory intent.
Their drinks were spiked- of the omegas and the alphas- all of their drinks, and maybe even food, contained some type of drugs to trigger their heats and ruts and ensure high mating rates. This was not a match-making event, to begin with, but now the grounds were no less dangerous than a nuclear war zone.
There is also some kind of heat stirring in his nether regions, a roaring inside his chest, and Jeno runs- deeper into the forest until he sees nothing but the plants.
No wonder no one remembers the mating run nights the day after.
The cramping in his stomach worsens the longer he runs, and Jeno has to stop and lean against a tree, panting as he slumps down onto the ground. The alpha can already feel himself chubbing up in the confines of his pants and whines, pressing the heel of his palm on his arousal through the fabric.
He’s so lost in the throes of pain and pleasure- Jeno doesn’t notice the additional presence of another alpha until a voice snaps him out of the rut-induced haze.
“Oh hyung,” The voice coos, and Jeno almost believes he’s imagining things when Jaemin- dressed in a plain white shirt and dark blue jeans- appears in front of him out of nowhere. But then the younger alpha kneels in front of him- between his spread legs- with a smirk and squeezes at his chin to pull him in a kiss.
Jeno goes without any complaints, letting Jaemin- who swallows his moans and whimpers like a man starved- lick into his mouth.
“Do you need help?” Jaemin whispers against Jeno’s swollen lips, hand already dipping down to thumb at his waistband, and Jeno can’t help the whimper that rips out of his throat. He needs it. He needs Jaemin so bad that tears start gathering around his eyelashes from the intensity of his want.
“Please- Jaeminnie, please?” Jeno murmurs, grabbing at the younger alpha’s collar and pulling him into a desperate kiss. He trembles when Jaemin laughs against his lips, easily manhandling Jeno into his lap, hands wrapped possessively around his waist.
The distance between them, or the lack of it thereof- drives the 26-year-old insane, hands grabbing at the younger man’s shoulders and roaming down his body vehemently. “Please,” he begs between every slide of lips, “Jaeminnie, please?” and it seems like those are the only coherent thoughts Jeno can put into words- having lost the ability to form words as he grinds down into Jaemin’s lap.
Jaemin hisses at the friction, moving his palm up and down Jeno’s back as he mouths at the older alpha’s neck. “You are so cute when you beg for me like this,” he says, laughing when Jeno tries to glare at him- dazed and desperate to get off. “But how can I help you if you don’t ask for it properly, hm?”
There’s a challenge in the younger alpha’s eyes as he speaks, eyes shining with delight, and despite being in a rut, Jeno hesitates. He knows what the younger wants, but the rational part of his mind blares in alarm, he can’t. He can’t- and yet, as Jaemin’s hand slips under his tee, Jeno breaks.
“Alpha-” He bites out, keening when Jaemin pinches at his right nipple, “Alpha, please help me- please-” Jeno gasps wetly when the younger man grinds upwards and collapses into his chest, shaking from the stimulation.
“So good.” Jaemin purrs, biting at Jeno’s left earlobe before snaking his hand inside Jeno’s pants to grab his throbbing length “So good for me.” His cock is already wet and slick from pre-come, twitching at the attention, and Jeno becomes aware of his knot when Jaemin slides his hand to squeeze at it.
“Ah,” the delirious alpha gasps out, hiding his face in the crook of Jaemin’s neck, inhaling the soothing scent as Jaemin starts jerking him off slowly. He holds Jeno tight, kissing the top of his head every time the 26-year-old whimpered or flinched, a litany of pleases and ahahaha escaping his bruised mouth, all cresting into white-hot pleasure and Jeno bursts into Jaemin’s hand- creaming his pants.
He blanks out for a second, gasping for breath as he comes down from his high.
It takes a while for Jeno to register what just happened, eyes widening as he pulls back to look at Jaemin- who smiles at him full of innocence as if he didn’t just help the older alpha get off. “Jaemin,” Jeno begins, borderline hysteric, “What- why are you? What is- why?”
The younger, however, just coos at him, cupping Jeno’s cheek with his clean hand. “I am here for my mate, Jeno-hyung.” Something burns inside Jeno’s chest at Jaemin’s words, ugly and spontaneous, full of possessive-obsessive desire, before spilling out- laced with venom, “Then what are you doing here?”
And yet, in the face of daggers, the grin doesn’t fall off Jaemin’s lips- if anything, it widens. “I told you, hyung. I am here for my mate.” He strokes Jeno’s cheek lightly, eyes dark, “ And I have my mate- my omega is in my arms right now.”
“What-” Jeno splutters, trying to climb out of Jaemin’s lap. “I am not an omega, Jaemin.” He hisses when Jaemin’s grip on his face changes, hand moving along his jaw before squeezing both of Jeno’s cheeks painfully.
“You will be.” The younger alpha declares with so much conviction that it sends a shiver down Jeno’s spine. “My pretty omega. You want to be, right?” He brings his cum-covered hand up to Jeno’s lips- forcing his fingers inside Jeno’s mouth before pressing down on his tongue.
Jeno gags around the fingers, panic rising inside him as Jaemin’s scent flares.
“Jaemin-” He gasps out when the younger finally pulls his fingers out of his mouth, “You are in your rut- this isn’t what you want.” Jeno tries to reason, “Your drink! It was spiked- you are not- you are not in your right mind, Jaemin.”
Jaemin hums, both hands moving back to Jeno’s waist as his eyebrows furrow- Jeno hopes that his words made the younger understand the situation and-
“I am in rut, yes.” Jeno almost cheers at those words but, “I never said I had that drink tho, did I, Hyung?” It’s like a bucket of cold water empties on him, hands shaking as he tries to push at Jaemin’s shoulder. “What?” He asks, perplexed, hoping for his suspicions to be wrong, but Jaemin’s razor-sharp grin is a tell-a-tale sign on its own.
“My pretty hyung,” The younger alpha coos, “I came here for you.” Nosing along the column of Jeno’s neck, he inhales the scent of roses and lotus deeply. “To make you mine. You want that too, don’t you?” Jaemin pushes Jeno’s shirt down his shoulders, biting down on the exposed skin and leaving his marks.
“No,” Jeno’s voice comes out unsteady, a moan slipping past his lips, “I don’t- Jaemin, let me go.” The protest sounds weak even to his ears as he grinds down against Jaemin’s crotch, rut clouding his mind once more.
“Liar.” Jaemin’s lips curl into an ugly snarl, and Jeno finds himself pinned against the ground in a flash, Jaemin hovering over him like a predator ready to attack. “You want me, isn’t that why you ran away that day? Terrified with the intensity of your want and feelings?”
The surprise must show on Jeno’s face, for the younger alpha chuckles softly, expression changing from angry to fond in a second. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Oh, hyung. My sweet Jeno-hyung.” Jaemin croons, “You were painfully obvious since the start.”
Jeno whines, flames of shame and arousal licking down his spine, head filled with desire- but he can’t give in. Can’t give in to Jaemin. No-
“Still resisting?” Jaemin’s voice is low, a borderline growl that rumbles inside his chest, “I can change that.” And before Jeno could speak, Jaemin leans down to kiss him. Their teeth clash, tongues fighting for dominance.
Jeno’s mind starts filling with soft cotton as he becomes pliant without noticing, relaxing in Jaemin’s hold, whimpering for more. And when Jaemin pulls away, a loud cry of desperation filters out of Jeno’s throat before he can stop it, making the younger smirk.
“See?”
“Jaemin-” Jeno sobs out, “We cannot- I-” The rest of his words are swallowed in another kiss. He feels dizzy. Out of control.
“You can,” Jaemin speaks against his lips, bunching his tee under his arms before pulling it off completely. Jeno lets him, hands limp by his head. “And you don’t want to be here again, right? To be forced into this again? Just do as I say, be good for me, and everything will be fine.”
Jeno doesn’t speak. He doesn’t try to protest even as Jaemin’s hand moves down to paw at his pants- obediently lifting up his hips so the alpha crouched over him can remove the rest of his garments.
Just do as I say,
Jaemin presses a kiss on his cheek, and Jeno smiles softly. Mind completely turned off as everything around him, except for Jaemin blurs out. The leaves and tiny pebbles dig into his soft skin, but Jeno can’t bring himself to care as Jaemin kisses down his chest.
be good for me,
He’ll be good for Jaemin, Jeno thinks- spreading his legs and letting the alpha mark up his thighs. It feels nice. So nice.
The older alpha writhes as Jaemin licks a stripe up his hole, thighs spasming in his hold. He asks for more fingers when Jaemin starts opening him up. He begs for Jaemin’s cock, impatient when the alpha takes his time stripping.
everything will be fine.
And when Jaemin turns him on all fours, sliding inside as if he belongs there, Jeno tears up. Pleasure seeping through his bones.
He could feel the younger’s smile pressed against his nape, could hear the praises as Jaemin thrusted into him relentlessly, wringing out all kinds of pleasured moans from his mouth.
Jeno doesn’t realize when he cums, didn’t notice that he didn’t have a knot anymore- and when Jaemin seethes himself deep inside Jeno, biting down on his mating gland- filling him with his warm seeds and plugging them up with his knot, Jeno forgets his own existence.
”My pretty omega.”
Oh, he’s Jaemin’s omega. He’s glad to be Jaemin’s omega.