Archive of Our Own

It's a beautiful Monday morning. The sunrise paints the sky in red, orange, yellow and blue hues. The air coming through the wide open windows is still a little cold, but it already hints of a hot summer day. After all, it's the end of August. 

Taehyung loves the autumn and winter seasons, but since he plans to go to the beach with his friends today after uni, he doesn't mind the predicted heat. For now, though, it's time to get ready for his first lecture; marketing. He has already wasted too much time watching the sunrise. At least, the air's colors, shapes, and scent inspired him. A new design idea is being formed in the back of his mind, ready to be brought down on paper. 

He wants to become a fashion designer, so he studies hard. Taehyung is what people call a nerd. In his opinion, he just wants to do well and not mess up. To be honest, this should be everyone's goal, especially those who spend a lot of money to be able to attend university. 

Taehyung’s family is wealthy. Still, that doesn't mean he can be carelessly spending the hard earned money. He wants to show his parents that they can trust him. That the money they invested in his dream wasn't for nothing. 

In a good mood, freshly showered, and well prepared for the test today, Taehyung puts the newly made sandwich between his lips and teeth, grabs his bag and rushes out of his dorm room. Ignoring that he's seen as a loser and teacher's ass licker, he's excited to learn new things for his future. 

Taehyung decided to live in the dorms, much to his parents’ disappointment. They wanted to rent him an apartment close to uni, but he refused politely. It's better to lay low, and not draw any unnecessary attention towards him. People would know he's well off, if he lived in one of these overly expensive apartments. And Taehyung loves his little dorm, which he doesn't have to share with anyone. It's decorated lovingly. Minimalistic, but with a love for details. 

Choosing an average university was Taehyung’s wish. He could have gone to SNU, but this small university is the best in South Korea for fashion design. 

Arriving way before the lecture even begins, Taehyung sits at his usual table and pulls out everything needed. He leans back in his chair, which isn't very comfortable, and closes his eyes to relax some more. It's nice not having to hurry so early in the morning. He starts the day peacefully, with a clear mind. 

That is, until Taehyung hears some commotion in front of the door. He inwardly rolls his eyes, but keeps them closed. If he wants the day to stay peaceful, he ignores them. Them being the bullies. 

As if they weren't already old enough to know better, these three guys made it their mission to annoy the shit out of other students. To make matters worse, they even think they're seen as cool and are feared by everyone. If they only knew that no one is afraid of them, just annoyed by their behavior. Students laugh behind their backs, calling them failures and brainless. Taehyung can only agree with them because, truth be told, they're not the brightest lights out there. 

Nevertheless, Taehyung wants to stay off their radar. Dealing with them would be a pain in the ass, and a waste of his precious time. At least, all they do is bully people with words or pranks, but the group never gets violent. 

Then, it suddenly becomes silent, and a deep voice scolds the bullies. As if it would have an impact on their behavior. Taehyung snorted at the situation. 

More and more students enter the room right before the teacher does. This course is booked to the last spot. It's no wonder, since everyone who wants to work in the design field applies to this university. 

Taehyung's focused on everything the man in the front says. He smiles as the test sheets reach him, and as soon as the signal to start comes, he immediately fills the empty spaces with what he knows are the correct answers. To him, it's way too easy, but he doesn't complain. 

After his test, Taehyung spends some more hours studying and volunteering to help the teachers out by running errands. He then finds himself in his dorm room again. 

Seojoon, his best friend, has messaged him to get ready. They'll be fetching him in around twenty minutes. 

Taehyung collects everything he's going to need for the beach, and wears his swimming trunks beneath knee-length shorts. He's so ready to finally meet up with his friends, after not seeing them for over a week. 

He runs down the multiple stairs, out of the building, and from the gate he recognizes Seojoon’s van. Stopping in his tracks, he lets some students pass him. They're all omegas. The sweet scent reaching his nostrils makes him frown. Distraction. One in particular makes his stomach tingle. Taehyung looks to the ground, not wanting to make any eye contact with them. His fake glasses slide down his nose, almost slipping from his face. He pushes them back into place. 

“Hey, Tae! Hurry up!”

Hearing Seojoon's loud voice, Taehyung flinches. He can feel a few pairs of eyes on him, but there's no way he gives them any attention. They'll forget about him within seconds, like always. Being a nobody is a blessing sometimes. Correction, it's a blessing most of the time. When the omegas are out of sight, he can relax again. Taehyung brings his hand up to his head and treats his fingers through his brown curls. 

Looking left and right, he crosses the street when no car is visible. 

“Hey, thank you for fetching me.” He smiles at the two older men. “Let's go?”

They greet him with a fist bump, and then enter the car. Taehyung sits in the back. He listens to their chatter and joins in whenever he can contribute to the topic. These moments are the best. When nothing can get his mood down. When he can be himself, he does not have to be afraid of people only wanting to be with him for his money. Seojoon and Hyungsik live comfortably. They're not rich, but they're not poor either. Even though Taehyung could buy them meals every day, they regularly treat him to dinner or lunch. Perks of being the youngest. 

Seojoon, an alpha, is like a brother to him. Taehyung doesn't know a time when the elder wasn't in his life. They grew up together. 

Hyungsik, the only omega Taehyung is close to -besides his father and sister- joined them in elementary school. 

They've been inseparable since. 

“Hyung, I'm starving.” Taehyung taps Hyungsik's shoulder, pouting cutely when the elder turns his head to look at him. 

“Oh my, stop being so fucking cute. Seo Hyung prepared a lot of delicious sandwiches for us.” Hyungsik still smiles widely at the sight. He wouldn't ever admit it, but he loves it when his younger friend is all soft and adorable. He's their baby. 

Taehyung thanks him by placing his palms on each side of his chin, resembling a flower. “Thank you. You're the best!” It's the ultimate cuteness overload. 

Hyungsik groans. It sounds anything but annoyed. 

Since he accomplished his goal, Taehyung leans back in his seat and looks out of the window with a satisfied grin. He loves his Hyungs so much. 

It's not even ten minutes later that they arrive at the beach. Busan is the perfect place to live. It's beautiful here. 

They unload the car, each of them carrying two bags to where they always lie down. It's so hot that Taehyung can't wait to get out of his clothes and into the water. So after he devoured two of Seokjoon's sandwiches, there's nothing holding him back. 

While Hyungsik wants to enjoy the sun by staying on his towel, Seojoon and Taehyung run like little kids to the ocean, accompanied by loud squealing. 

Taehyung shrieks as the elder suddenly lifts him up mid-running. 

“Get ready, Tae. You're so light. I wanna know how far I can throw you.” Seojoon smirks. 

“Aaah! No, Hyung, please!” Taehyung laughs, not at all against it. He loosens his arms, which are around Seokjoon's neck. His wide boxy smile of joy gives away that he can't wait to be thrown. 

A few seconds later, Taehyung is surrounded by the fresh, salty water. He stays under the surface for a little, until he needs to come up for air. Shaking his head, he tries to get his hair out of his face. 

“It looks nice over there. Let's swim to the island.” Taehyung points to a large and colorful swimming water playground. The nearby beach shop bought it two months ago, and he wanted to play on it the first time he saw it from afar. Until now, he was too focused on studying that a trip to the beach wasn't on his mind. Today, however, there's no way they won't try it out. 

“You're such a kid, Tae.” Seojoon sighs dramatically. “Fine. Only because it's you.”

Taehyung knows he's dying to try it out as well. “Don’t act like you're forced to come with me! I saw you staring at it in awe when we arrived.” He scoffs, but a gasp leaves him when the elder pulls his arm and begins dragging him to the deeper sea. 

In times like these, Taehyung thanks his grandparents for teaching him how to swim. His parents were too busy with their company. Of course, he isn't mad at them, and understands that it was a hard time back then. They apologized countless times, and made sure he had a great life. 

The rest of the day is spent with laughter, playful fights on the playground, and watching a beautiful sunset. Taehyung couldn't be happier. Fortunately, the assignments for tomorrow are completed on his desk, and ready to be submitted. 

He's proud of one in particular. A research paper Taehyung had worked on for weeks. It's about a not very well known designer, who creates clothes using torn ones. He literally recycles them. The results are amazing. Taehyung himself owns two pieces of his latest collection. They're unique, and difficult to get. He was lucky. An insider, Park Jimin, gave him a hint. 

Jimin is a model whom Taehyung met six months ago. He was allowed backstage for his research, and they immediately clicked. After exchanging numbers, the omega contacts him with news whenever he has some. 

Taehyung is sure that Jimin and he could be friends, if he wouldn't be so awkward around omegas. It took him a year to warm up to Hyungsik, and they saw each other almost every day. So, since their contact is exclusively through messaging, except for once, he's cool about it. Still, there was something about this omega which pulled him in. 

Speaking of the devil, as soon as Taehyung entered his dorm, the phone in his pocket pants vibrated. A look at the display reveals that it's Jimin. 

With a wide smile, Taehyung puts the bags he's holding down and throws himself onto the couch. Opening the message, he reads it out loud, “Good evening, my dear future famous designer. How are you doing? Did you have a great day? If I remember correctly, then your research is due the day after tomorrow. Are you excited?” He nods at the last question, as if Jimin is able to see it. Then, he continues, “I'll be in Busan next week. Would you be up for a coffee date? My boyfriend is going to join me the day after, so I'll be all yours.”

That Jimin has a boyfriend is new to him. He's happy for the model, and needs to know more, so he agrees to the meeting. Pushing send, he sees that it is immediately read, and he doesn't have to wait long for a reply. 

“He wants to know where?” Taehyung thinks for a moment. There are a few coffee shops close to his dorm, but the one twenty minutes away has the most delicious cakes. He searches online for the address and tells him the information. They wish each other a good night, and only then Taehyung realizes how tired he is. Swimming and play-fighting is truly exhausting. 

Taking a shower and doing his usual night routine, Taehyung can't wait to wrap himself into a light blanket and fall asleep. It's perfect for the summer weather. Without anything touching his body, he can't get the needed sleep. It's always been like that.

Taehyung wakes up early in the morning to his alarm clock. After getting ready and eating breakfast, he grabbed his things and camera. He was about to leave his dorm when he suddenly remembered the research papers. Sprinting back to his desk, he opens the drawer and grabs the papers.

When leaving his room, Taehyung realizes he needs to make a copy of his paper and therefore has to use the university's printer. 

As he makes his way there, he uses his camera to capture today's beautiful sunrise, which is even more beautiful than the previous day. The view is mesmerizing, and the pics will definitely be used for his next creation.

If he had known that three annoying people were already waiting for him, he'd have taken a different route. 

“Look who we have here.” Daejung, the meanest of them, smirks as he gets in Taehyung’s way. 

“If this isn't our famous nerd. What's his name again? Kim Byuntae?” Joonwoo, a not very smart guy, tries to joke, making some people close to them groan in annoyance. Byuntae means pervert, and calling Taehyung this is like calling IU a bad singer. It just doesn't add up. 

A little awkward now because of the stupid joke, the third bully, Beomseok, clears his throat and gives Daejung a sign. 

Before Taehyung knows what's going on, his research papers are ripped out of his hands, and are now wandering from Daejung to Beomseok. 

“These seem important.” Beomseok waves them in front of Taehyung's face and withdraws his hand as Taehyung tries to get the papers back. “Not so fast, nerd. How about a game?”

This is bad. Taehyung doesn't have time for stupid games. He needs to submit his work tomorrow after lunch. Unfortunately, he knows that they won't give in, no matter what. To keep this idiotic game short, he will to do whatever they come up with. How bad could it be? “Whatever. What do you want?” His voice stays deep and calm. Anything that would trigger these guys could worsen the outcome. 

“Let's see.” Daejung rubs his chin, pretending to think it over. Then, he whispers something to his friends and they nod giggling. “We dare you to…”

Taehyung waits. What do they want him to do? This fucking pause is killing him, and he wants to get out of this situation as fast as possible. Opening his mouth to ask him to finish the sentence, he doesn't get to it because Beomseok is faster. 

“...dye your hair blond.” 

The three of them high-five each other and laugh. 

“He'll look like a fool.”

“Bet it'll ruin his hair, and he will go bald.”

“That would be so funny!”

Taehyung only rolls his eyes. Even though he has never dyed his hair before, this dare seems easy. There's a tiny ping of fear in him that maybe other students will laugh when they see him tomorrow, but his research papers are more important to him. It's useless to negotiate with these bullies anyway. 

“Fine, I'll do it. Under one condition.” Taehyung looks at them one after another with a stern gaze. “I want my papers back in one piece, undamaged and before the second lecture.”

Daejung nods. “Deal.” 

If there's one good thing about them, it is they don't break a deal once they make one. So Taehyung can be assured that they won't destroy his hard work. 

Taehyung can't focus on his classes for the rest of the day. It's not really a problem when he's far beyond the learning material, but when his favorite teacher asks him if he is alright because he didn't hear his name called twice, it's embarrassing.

When he's finally home, Taehyung immediately face times Seojoon and Hyungsik at the same time. He tells them what happened and that he now needs to dye his hair. 

“What the hell is wrong with them? You could be allergic to the dye!” Hyungsik is furious. How dare they bully his alpha baby. 

“He's right. Are you? Allergic, I mean.” Seojoon stares at Taehyung. “I honestly wanna see you with blond hair as well. I bet you'll look fucking hot.”

“Seo! Oh my god.” Facepalming himself, Hyungsik groans at the older's words. “He already is. Remember that one omega when we went to the club last year?”

“Shit, yeah. That was wild. Tae was so focused on avoiding everyone's eyes that he didn't even see him. The scent was so heavy, tho. Fuck. Such a horny little asshole, going against the rules to get our pure Tae's attention. He was so outrageous.” Seojoon shakes his head in disbelief at the memory. 

Omegas and alphas aren't allowed to release heavy scents to seduce someone in a public place, which a club definitely is. 

Taehyung can't believe what he hears. Someone found him hot? He hates that he sees himself blushing. The little picture in the corner of his phone display shows it clearly. He's never been called hot or sexy, not even by his best friends. Being used to being a nobody, it's difficult to believe. 

Looking down on himself, he wonders if there's anything that could be seen as sexy. Maybe his fingers? He knows they're pretty, but they're buried in his pants pockets most of the time, or he covers them with his sweater paws. 

“Tae, stop thinking that you're boring. You're so handsome, even though we often get jealous of your looks. Am I right, Sik?” Seojoon's playful voice has turned serious. 

“Oh yes. I wish I had your eyes and nose and lips. Fuck it, I wanna have your whole face.” Dreamingly looking at Taehyung, Hyungsik sighs. “If I was gay, I'd ask you out.”

At this, Taehyung can't help but chuckle. His friends are marvelous. They can get him from a bad mood into a good one within seconds. They're the reason why he's so confident -except for a few weak moments of self doubt, like what had just happened. 

“Thank you, Hyungs. I really love you both so much.” Taehyung smiles shyly. 

They aww, but then begin to plan the hair dying. Sadly, it turns out that none of them has time today. They're not even in Busan right now. 

“It's okay, don't worry. How difficult can it be to get some cream on my hair, right? I'll just watch some tutorials on YouTube.” Taehyung waves it off, but deep inside he's afraid of messing up. He doesn't show it, to not make them worry. Or worse, make them drive hours just to help him out. 

“That's the spirit, but if you need help, don't hesitate to ask. I can be there in two hours, top.” Hyungsik makes it sound like it's not a big deal. 

Taehyung believes him. Still, he doesn't want him to leave his family, which he doesn't see often. 

They end the call after Taehyung makes them believe that he has it under control, and that they don't have to worry about it. 

Now, standing in front of the many different hair dyes in the shop a little down the street, Taehyung has no idea which one to buy. There are so many types of blonds that he's overwhelmed. 

Luckily, a saleswoman sees him struggling and approaches him. Well, even a blind person would have probably noticed it. 

“Good evening, may I help you? I dye my hair pretty often, so I know a thing or two about it.” She says softly.

“Uh, if it's not too much of a bother, I need your help. I want to dye my hair blond, but I have never dyed my hair before. Which brand do you recommend?" Taehyung replies honestly. He doesn't want to ruin his scalp and hair because of those stupid guys.

“Blond will suit you so much!” The saleswoman smiles warmly. "I hope you'll come back so I can see the results.” Then, she looks through the aisle without waiting for an answer. “Ah, here it is!” Grabbing a black package with a picture of a blond man, she gives it to Taehyung. "This one should be enough for your length. This is also the best price because it comes with the bleach. The results will be the best using bleach.

That sounded like something permanent to Taehyung, who hoped for a product gone after showering a few times. “Do you have something that's not permanent?”

She shakes her head, apologetically. "The only way to get your dark hair blonde is to lighten it with bleach. I'm sorry.”

“It's not your fault. I'll take this one then.” Taehyung has made up his mind. He can just dye it back to dark brown after a few weeks, right? He says, "Thank you." with a light bow as he leaves the shop and heads back to his dorm. 

It's already late, and Taehyung won't have much time to finish dying his hair, so he begins right away. Opening the YouTube video he has found earlier, he begins to apply it accordingly. 

The whole process of dying his hair, and rinsing it, takes almost two hours. His scalp is itching, but he has to endure it to get his research papers back. Taehyung places a towel on his pillow and lays his head down. He doesn't want to ruin it. Falling asleep is easy, despite how nervous he's feeling. Are they going to laugh at me tomorrow? He didn't have the heart to look at the result, too scared of it having turned out to be the biggest mistake he could have made. 

Waking up groggy, Taehyung forgot for a moment what he had done the previous night. So when he looks at his mirror image, he startles. “Fuck. What have I done?” Thinking of hiding his hair beneath a cap is out of the question because the university forbids wearing caps during class. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “There's nothing I can do now. I'll just endure the teasing.”

It's the first time Taehyung isn't in a good mood when walking the short distance from his dorm to the university. His mind is full of worry, of things that could happen. He has his hood over his head to, at least, hide his blond hair until he can't anymore. 

The moment comes faster than anticipated. The bullies are already waiting for him in front of the entrance. Of course, it had to be there, where everyone has to pass to get to their lecture. Taehyung curses under his breath, “Fucking hell.”

“Look at this. Did our dear nerd just curse in public?” Joonwoo smirks. He points at the hood. “What are you waiting for? Or do you not want your research papers back?”

Beomseok waves them in front of Taehyung’s face, who's glad they kept their promise of not damaging it. 

Taehyung reaches up to his head, looking nervously to his left and right. Too many students lingering, seemingly waiting for him to embarrass himself. So many pairs of eyes are burning holes into his skin. He hates it. He wants to grab the papers and make a run for it. 

As if Beomseok could read his mind, he hides them behind his back. “Come on, we don't have the whole day. I'm hungry.”

Daejung hums in agreement and adds, “I guess the nerd has changed his mind. Let's rip the papers.”

“No!” Taehyung takes a step towards Beomseok with a raised hand. “Don't, please. I'll do it.” He brings his hand up again, and this time, without hesitation, he pulls the hood back to reveal blond locks. Shaking his head to make them fall over his eyes, he hopes that no one will recognize him. 

What he expected was laughing, humiliating words, maybe even something getting thrown at him, but what he gets are gasps. 

Taehyung finally pulls his hair away from his eyes and looks up carefully. It feels like every single student present is staring at him. It's too much attention to him. He doesn't like it, at all. 

Pulling the research papers out of Beomseok’s grip, he grits his teeth, “We're done here. A deal is a deal.” Then, Taehyung turns around and quickly enters the university to get out of their sight. 

Deciding to go straight to the copy room, he locks the door behind him and leans against the wood to take a breather. 

“Shit. I'm so fucked.” Taehyung groans in frustration, readjusting his glasses. He needs his friends now. 

Unlocking the phone to FaceTime them, they answer within seconds. 

“Oh my god!” 

“Fuck, that's… Fuck!”

Seojoon and Hyungsik's reaction doesn't make Taehyung feel better. He slides down the door into a sitting position. Close to tears, he asks with a pout, “That bad?”

“Bad? Are you kidding me? You look so hot, oh my god. Who would have thought that blond suits you so much?” Seojoon grins. “You'll be the new heartthrob in your uni. Bet?”

Hyungsik smirks, “I knew it would! Nothing can make our Taehyungie less handsome. You won't be able to hide yourself like that anymore. People will finally notice you.”

“That's the exact opposite of what I want,” Taehyung mumbles. “It's only gonna distract me from studying.”

Seojoon snorts “How? If you don't give them any attention, it shouldn't distract you in any way.”

“And who knows, maybe you'll finally find an omega, now that you're unable to make yourself invisible. I mean, this hair color stands out. You're like the sun, shining brightly.” Hyungsik looks proud as he tries to get Taehyung in a better mood. 

It works. Even if Taehyung is still not very pleased with the sudden attention he's going to get, at least his friends think it's looking good. That is all that matters to him. Maybe, it'll turn out differently than he assumes, and no one will even care about his hair. He's hoping for that. 

“Thank you, guys. I really needed this. I'd love to hear more nice things, but I have to go.” Taehyung waves at them and then ends the call. 

After making a copy of his research paper, it's time to face the truth. 

Fortunately, the hallways are clear, and all the students are already in their lectures. Taehyung is running a little late, but it's okay since he is ahead of the lessons. The only negative part is he will make an entrance, and all eyes will be on him. They'll lose interest fast since it's just him, boring Kim Taehyung, a wallflower.

As he's about to open the door, he smells the stomach tingling scent again. There's an omega close to him, who smells so amazingly good. Taehyung can hear the steps getting louder, which means that the omega will be here soon. 

Without thinking twice, he opens the door and rushes into the lecture room. He greets the teacher with a short apology, and receives a smile in return that says ‘It's alright’. 

There's murmuring going through the rows of students, but Taehyung tries his best to ignore it. He likes to think it's about him being late, which has never happened before. Secretly, he knows. Knows that it's just a small part of what they gossip about. 

“Mister Lim, why isn't the new student introducing himself?” A girl somewhere behind Taehyung asks in an indignant voice. It's Choi Minah, the university's beauty. She's dating a jock, who's even more famous. 

Taehyung doesn't turn around, even lowers his head a bit. He just hopes that their teacher will handle this situation. 

“Are we in elementary school? Students come and go. We have never done an introduction before.” Mister Lim replies sassily, making Taehyung smile. 

The lesson begins without any further distraction, and even though the murmurs have stopped, Taehyung can't concentrate. There's still this amazing scent lingering in his nose. He doesn't know the owner of it, and it's better that way. 

Fortunately, the next two courses go by without much hassle. Taehyung successfully entered each room first and immediately went to the last row directly next to the window. 

Lunchtime, however, is a different story. Getting in line for food, he hears them gushing about someone. 

“I've never seen him before. He must be new.”

“Aaah, finally some handsome guy. I hope he's single.”

“You still need a date for prom, right? This could be your chance.”

They only whisper, but Taehyung can hear each word clearly. The last girl mentioning prom makes him flinch. He totally forgot about it. There's no way he'll get a date for it. 

“I'll ask him. Watch and learn.”

Curiosity is urging Taehyung to turn around and see who they were talking about. It takes a lot to withstand the urge. 

There's a clearing of a throat right behind him. Then, someone is patting his shoulder. Closing his eyes for a second to take a deep breath, preparing for whatever might come, Taehyung slowly turns his head. 

The others squeal as soon as they get a glimpse of his face, but the girl who approached him stays collected. 

“Hi, uhm. My name is Soohe, and I was wondering if you already have a date for prom.” Soohe is acting cute, biting her bottom lip, looking up from beneath her bangs. 

Taehyung looked around to see if there was someone behind him she was talking to, but she patted his shoulder, so it was not likely the case. What does one reply to this? He knows he doesn't want to go with her because he doesn't know her, and well, he's gay. Never before did he have to turn down anyone. This is new territory, and it scares him a little. 

“Uh, did you hear me? What's your name?” Soohe stays consistent. 

If he tells her his name, they'll know who he is. That's actually not a bad idea. Getting back his confidence, Taehyung stands up straighter than before and tilts his head. “Kim Taehyung, I don't have a date yet, I'm not interested, and I'm gay."

Some people gasp, and some whine at the lost opportunity to get him as their date. The girl sighs, defeated. “Why are all the handsome guys gay? It's not fair. At least you're honest, Kim Taehyung.”

“Good luck with finding a good guy, Soohe. Fighting.” That's the most Taehyung has ever talked to another student without it being about studying or chores. Well, except for the bullies, of course.

She gives him a half smile and then goes back to her friends. 

What's a closed door for one is a newly opened one for others. The rumor of Taehyung being gay spreads like wildfire. Strangely, this is not the reason people keep talking about him. They behave like he's a whole new person because of his new hair color and quickly forget how they used to think he was a nerd and a teacher's pet. 

People are so weird.

Over the next three days, a few guys come up to him, asking to be their prom date. Taehyung declines them all politely. He knows all of them, and they weren't the nicest ones to him. They were not bullies, but the gazes he received said it all. 

Maybe it's better to not attend prom. It's a shame, but Taehyung would rather spend the night with friends than with people he didn't really get along with. 

Then, there's this scent again. Almond and milk. 

Taehyung is in line to buy something to eat for lunch when the smell is strongest, which can only mean that the omega is very close. He's afraid to turn around and search for them. What he knows is that the person is a boy, based on the kind of scent. Female omegas have more of a floral scent, whereas male omegas smell like fruits or sweets. 

Taehyung loves the mix of almonds and milk. It's warm, delicious, and goes well with his own; freshly roasted coffee and caramel. Having never seen the owner of the scent, he is already interested in him. Well, his wolf is, but being slightly addicted to it doesn't make it less interesting to his human part. 

“Excuse me.” A soft voice behind him tries to get someone's attention. 

Taehyung has a feeling that they mean him, so he finally turns his head to look over his shoulder. Who knows, maybe he can also get a glimpse of the omega. 

An incredibly handsome boy is smiling at Taehyung, and it becomes obvious that he's the owner of the heavenly scent. It doesn't take seconds to envelope him completely. Mesmerized by the beautiful face and rich smell, he's dumbfounded. 

“Oh, wow.” The omega smiles. A blush slowly forming on his cheeks. “Hi, my name is Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk. A pretty name for an above average attractive boy. Taehyung has never seen him before, but that's most likely because of this pretty boy's second gender, which he avoided like plague. 

Finally finding his voice again, he clears his throat. “Uh, hi. Nice to meet you. My name's Taehyung. What do you need?” 

Shit.

That sounded rude. Taehyung didn't mean for it to come out like that. He just isn't used to talking to an omega, other than the ones he knows for years or all his life. Even with Jimin it was awkward at first, but he never sounded rude. 

“I'm sorry.” Taehyung apologizes with a sigh. “What I meant to ask was if I can be of any help?” 

Jeongguk grins, not at all offended. “Actually, I was wondering if you would like to go to prom with me.” He raises his hand to stop Taehyung from talking before he continues. “I have to warn you. It was a bet between my friends and me. But just so you know, they only dared me because I couldn't stop staring at you.”

Oh. 

Taehyung should be disappointed. He should reject him and move on, but there's something about Jeongguk that piques his interest, other than his scent. He seems genuine. His expression isn't full of mischief, which would show he's perhaps doing this to prank him. He knows he should think it over before answering him, but the alpha in him is faster, and he doesn't stop it. “Thank you for being honest with me. My answer is yes.” 

Jeongguk lets out a breath of relief. “Oh my god. Thank you, Taehyung-ssi. I was worried that you'd reject me since I'm an omega. Most alphas can't stand not being the one doing the asking. You seem to be a very open minded alpha. I like that about you.” He pulls his phone out and holds it in front of Taehyung. “Can I have your number, please?”

A little taken aback by the fact that he hasn't even thought about ranks, and that his alpha was rather wagging his tail than being too prideful to accept the date, Taehyung stares at Jeongguk for a few moments too long. 

“I mean, you don't have to. It's alright.” The omega pulls his hand back. 

“No! Sorry, I was just… nevermind. Please give me your phone.” Taehyung takes the offered device and types his number in, saving himself as ‘Alpha Kim Taehyung’. It's a common thing to add the rank to the name. 

“Thank you, Taehyung-ssi. I'll message you later so that you'll have mine as well.” Jeongguk checks the contact with a smile. 

Seeing that the omega isn't with his friends, an idea comes up in his mind. “Do you wanna eat together?” Suddenly, the almond and milk scent gets stronger, and his alpha awakens. His wolf reacts the same way, and soon they're surrounded by their mixed scents. 

Students around them begin to gossip. Taehyung can hear them talking about Jeongguk and him. He seems to be popular. They're jealous, and can't believe what's happening right before their eyes. 

It makes Taehyung a little weary. He still isn't used to the attention. 

“Sure, I'd love to.” Jeongguk replies softly. “My treat.” He takes two steps forward to be on Taehyung’s right side. 

This omega is very confident and independent, which is rare. Most love to be pampered, worshiped, or treated like a damsel in distress. Taehyung likes that he is none of these things. He wouldn't know what to do with a dependent omega. That's why he doesn't argue with him about who's paying. Next time it's maybe his treat. If there's a next time, that is. 

They fill their plates with various foods, Jeongguk pays for both of them, and then they search for an empty table. It's pretty crowded today, so it takes them a while. 

Sitting in a corner of the cafeteria gives them a little bit of privacy, and Taehyung appreciates it. 

Jeongguk looks cute when eating. He furrows his brows and something akin to a low growl -sounding more like a purr, if you ask Taehyung- accompanies his munching. 

Taehyung almost forgets to eat while watching the omega with fondness in his eyes. He has never seen anything like that, and it's endearing. 

The chatter around them becomes white noise after some time. They enjoy their lunch in silence for a while, until Jeongguk puts his chopsticks down and swallows the food. “Taehyung-ssi, may I know your age? I was born in 97.”

“Then, you're younger than me. I'm a 95-liner. You can call me Hyung, if you want. I don't mind.” Taehyung has never been called that by anyone, since his friends are older than him. 

“Okay, Hyung.” Jeongguk picks his chopsticks up again with a happy smile. “You can call me Jaykay or Jeongguk, whichever is more comfortable for you.” He continues eating ‘angrily’. 

Taehyung decides that he loves being called Hyung by him. Warmth blooms in his chest. He could listen to Jeongguk talking for hours, without the need to say anything in return. It's a new and foreign feeling. For now, he doesn't think further about it. For now, he focuses on his new friend. 

When he comes home later that day, Taehyung pulls his shoes off and goes straight to his bedroom to lie down. He stares at the ceiling, his mind full of the events of the day. 

A bright smile slowly forms and he's grinning so widely that his cheeks begin to hurt. “Fuck, I have a date for prom! Oh my god.” He covers his face with a pillow and squeals into it while rolling left and right on the bed. Happiness wouldn't nearly describe what he's feeling right now. Taehyung is euphoric, excited, and can't wait to smell that amazing scent again. It still lingers in his nose, but that's not the same as having it surrounding him in the presence of the person omitting it. The intimacy of it gives him goosebumps. 

It would be a lie if Taehyung said that he isn't aware of the fact that Jeongguk only noticed him because of his new hair color. But he also knows that he tried everything to stay under the radar of any omega, so he's not disappointed or sad. The younger wasn't supposed to notice him. 

The blond hair weirdly gives Taehyung a push of confidence. Still, his grades will always come first. It just means that a new challenge has started, and he's ready to face it. Something tells him that Jeongguk will be hard to ignore. He's going to be the biggest distraction he has ever faced in his life. 

Taehyung doesn't see Jeongguk until Monday, and he hates that his mind was on the omega more often than not. Maybe he's his own enemy when it comes to being distracted. Jeongguk wasn't even there, and Taehyung still couldn't concentrate on his courses. 

“Hyung!”

Someone shouts. Taehyung doesn't react because every guy here in the cafeteria could be the ‘Hyung’ this person was looking for. What are the chances of it being him? 

He shakes his head, amused. Only one person would call him that, and he knows for sure that the omega is still in class. Taehyung's course was canceled since the teacher called in sick, and they couldn't find a substitute so he went to a nearby coffee shop. 

Enjoying his tea, Taehyung scrolls through his phone to kill time. Hyungsik downloaded Instagram for him a few weeks ago, but other than following a few designers and models, he hasn't used the app for more, yet. Seojoon always tags him in his pictures, through which he receives the notifications, and they remind him that this app still exists on his phone. 

Right now, he rolls his eyes at an especially funny picture of him and Seojoon on the water playground. Hyungsik must have taken it when Taehyung slipped and fell into the water. It's so blurry that recognizing him would be pretty difficult if it weren't for his orange swimming trunks. He suddenly misses his friends. They were supposed to visit him over the weekend, but something came up. 

“Hello? Are you Taehyung-ssi?” 

Taehyung instantly closes the app, looking up to the unfamiliar man. “Uh, who's asking?” 

“Oh, sorry. My name is Jung Hoseok, and I'm Jeongguk’s best friend. Can I join you?” Hoseok points to the empty seat across from Taehyung. 

“I won't stay for long, but sure.” Waiting until the boy has sat down, Taehyung adds, “How do you know me?”

Even if he's Jeongguk's best friend it doesn't mean they will automatically get along. He has never seen him before. 

“Jaykay has told me about you. And just the description of how you look was enough to recognize you. You're younger than me. If you're Jeongguk's new friend, you must be a good person, so you can call me Hyung if you want.” Hoseok tilts his head a little to observe Taehyung. 

Taehyung clears his throat, sliding back and forth on his chair. The attention is overwhelming, and even though it doesn't make him feel uncomfortable, it still makes him nervous. “I'm Tae for friends. Can I ask what he said about me? I hope I didn't bore him.” 

Hoseok laughs softly. “Don't worry, Tae. He described you as nice and very handsome, funny, and a little shy.” Then, he smiles. “The blond hair makes you stand out among all the dark haired people. Not many would dare to try this color, but you definitely own it. How did you manage to not make it appear orange or yellow?” He leans back in his seat, taking a sip of the coffee he had in his hand when approaching the table. 

“I'm glad he had fun. And about the hair, let's just say that it was pure luck. I had no idea what I was doing, but the saleswoman was very helpful. She knew what she was talking about, and it probably saved my ass.” Taehyung chuckles. Hoseok radiates comfort and trust. It's easy to talk to him. Since the older has approached him, he has tried to figure out if he is an alpha, beta or omega. There's no scent on him, which is confusing. He hopes that his staring at his wrists isn't too obvious. 

As if sensing his confusion, Hoseok pulls on his shirt collar to expose his neck. “I'm wearing a scent blocker patch. My rut ended two days ago, and Jeongguk is very sensitive to strong scents. He'd have cursed me out, if I'd have shown up uncovered.”

Taehyung didn't know that. He makes a mental note to be careful around him. His own rut isn't going to happen before January, and September has just started. “I see. That's good to know. You're very thoughtful of his well-being.”

Hoseok hums in agreement, and then they enjoy their drinks in comfortable silence. 

Hoseok takes the last sip of his coffee and stands up. “It was nice meeting you, Tae. I'm sure we'll see each other more often now. Thank you for your time, but I have to get back to work now.” He bows slightly to show respect and to say goodbye. “See you soon.”

Taehyung bows his head in return. “See you, Hyung.” He couldn't say more because Hoseok seemed to be in a hurry and was out of sight shortly after. “That was… interesting.” 

Jeongguk is talking about me? Taehyung still can't believe he has told Hoseok about him. It makes sense. Judging by their kindness, they must be close. Taehyung is sure they're not taking the piss out of him, and that's a relief. Not that he didn't believe Jeongguk, but it could have been a possibility. 

It’s after the last lecture that Taehyung sees him. Jeongguk is walking with a few unfamiliar omegas toward him. His heart begins to beat a little faster. Handling one is alright, but three?

“Tae Hyung!” Jeongguk calls for him and waves cutely. The other omegas follow his gaze and falter in their steps.

Taehyung doesn't know why they reacted that way, but he couldn't ponder about it more because Jeongguk is now standing right in front of him, in his comfort zone. Weirdly, he’s okay with that.

“Hi Jeongguk. How have you been?” Taehyung tries to ignore the presence of the rest. His eyes stay solely on his new friend.

“I had to visit my parents, so I couldn't attend uni for a few days. They’re fine, though, a-and so am I. What about you? Are you free right now? We could… we could go out for a beer.” Jeongguk seems a little nervous, which is a new side of him. He’s talking fast, stuttering here and there.

Taehyung thinks his stuttering is adorable, but he won’t tell him that. Maybe Jeongguk wouldn't want to be called out on it.

The offer sounds amazing, but when he makes the mistake of looking at the guys standing slightly behind Jeongguk, he changes his mind. “I’m so–”

“It’s gonna be only the two of us.” Jeongguk interrupts quickly, as if sensing what his answer would be.

“I’m so glad I don't have any exams to prepare for. I’d love to have a bottle of beer with you.” Taehyung is a fast thinker, so turning his sentence into a positive one is easy for him.

Instead of rejecting the invitation, he now has a friendly date with the good-smelling omega, who will also be his prom partner.

Jeongguk grins widely, and says goodbye to his friends, who look a little dumbfounded.

They walk side by side out of the building, and soon after leave the university grounds. Both are old enough to drink alcohol, so it’s not a crime or against the dorm rules. They just can’t bring it back with them or get utterly drunk. That’s for the weekends.

“I’m sorry.” Jeongguk suddenly says.

Taehyung is confused, and tells him as much, “Why would you be sorry? You haven't done anything wrong.”

“I didn't message you. My parents kept me busy, so I didn't even think about anything other than them, and the animals.” Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Jeongguk dials a number.

Soon after, the alpha’s phone rings. Realizing that Jeongguk is doing it so that he has his number as well, Taehyung immediately saves it under ‘Omega Jeon Jeongguk'. 

“Thank you. You didn't have to apologize for this, though. Family is more important than a phone number.” He winks, surprising himself by being flirty. 

Jeongguk takes it as such, if gently taking Taehyung’s hand in his own is anything to go by with.

This omega isn't wasting time, and Taehyung feels a little overwhelmed. Still, his alpha can’t stop purring inside him, and if he’s honest, it feels good to hold hands with the younger. 

“There we are.” Jeongguk uses his free hand to point at a small Irish pub. “My cousin introduced me to this gem and taught me how to drink. It was my first time getting drunk, but Yoongi Hyung said that it was on purpose.”

“Why?” Taehyung asks, curiously.

“Because it’s best to get drunk with someone you trust. To get to know your limits, and know when to stop. Yoongi's father did the same with him, but since my father despises alcohol, he asked my cousin to try it with me.” Jeongguk sounds proud when talking about his Yoongi Hyung. They must be very close.

Taehyung is impressed by this. “That’s actually quite smart. I'm sure my best friends did the same to me, now that I think about it.”

Seojoon and Hyungsik kidnapped him at zero o'clock on his eighteenth birthday, and they went to a disco to celebrate. All Taehyung remembered the next day was waking up half naked with the two of them cuddling him from both sides. If he could believe them, he had thrown up all over their clothes on their way home. Not a night he was very proud of, but it was the only time he got wasted like that. He definitely learned his lesson.

Jeongguk looks at him, gently squeezing his hand. “You have good friends. Mine would leave me behind and get drunk themselves. Well, I don't consider them close friends, so I don't go out with them often. Especially to drink.”

Taehyung hums understandingly. As an omega it's even worse. He shamefully has to admit that a lot of fellow alphas are waiting for such a moment. It's disgusting, and he'd never do that to anyone. Asking for consent is the be-all and end-all. 

“You don't have friends you can trust?” Taehyung can't believe it, and immediately, Hoseok comes to his mind. “I met Hoseok earlier, and he seems to be really nice.”

“Hobi? Where did you meet him? He's indeed the best friend one can have, but he's a lightweight. I'm the one looking after him when we go clubbing.” A cute chuckle leaves Jeongguk’s mouth as he reminisces. 

“He introduced himself when I was waiting in the coffee shop near campus for the next lecture. Told me that he's your friend and could recognize me just from your description. I was surprised to hear that you're talking about me. After all, I'm just a nerd.” Taehyung looks to the ground, a little insecure. 

It doesn't last long because Jeongguk lifts his head with a finger softly pushing his chin up. “Just a nerd. I don't like the sound of it. You may be smart and like to study, but I know that there's more to you, and I'm going to find out who Kim Taehyung really is.” He lets go of Taehyung’s chin and leads them to the pub. “Let's order, then we can get to know each other more.”

Liking this idea, Taehyung nods. On their way in, they each order a bottle of beer at the bar and sit in an unoccupied booth. They look through the small menu to order a snack. The bartender told them that a waiter would be there soon to take their order, if they're hungry that is. 

“Is there anything you can't eat or don't like?” Jeongguk interrupts the silence. 

Taehyung eats a lot of different types of food, but there's something he's not good with. “I can't eat too spicy food.” 

“Then, I'll eat it for you. I love it, but I'll remember that when I'm going to cook for you.” Jeongguk says confidently, already planning on inviting him. He's so straightforward and strong minded. It's something to love about him. 

Taehyung doesn't know if this is normal for people who just became friends. Nevertheless, he's looking forward to seeing how the omega lives, and how good of a cook he is. His alpha takes it as courting, and isn't holding back showing him that he's excited about it. He and his wolf are on the same page. His stomach feels weird, though. Light and full of bubbles. 

Getting a little bold now, Taehyung tilts his head and raises an eyebrow, “When can I expect an invitation? I'm mostly free on Sundays.”

It doesn't shock nor surprise Jeongguk. He grins widely and puts the menu down. “Then let's do it on Sunday, but you need to answer a lot of questions first.”

“Deal. Can't wait for Sunday to come!” Taehyung reaches for Jeongguk’s hand, as if it's already an automatic mechanism. In the back of his mind he remembers Jimin. 

He is bound to meet up with the model tomorrow. Jimin had texted him earlier this morning, and Taehyung agreed. It's funny how his life has changed lately. It's rare for him to go on friendly dates. He's grateful that all the exams are over. With Jimin and Jeongguk now in the picture, he's going to be more busy. It's a nice feeling, a very nice feeling. But it will be a challenge for Taehyung because he doesn't plan to ignore the omegas as soon as he's busy studying again. They will be distractions, but he's going to face it like a good friend would. 

The pair talks about anything and everything. 

Jeongguk learns about Taehyung’s favorite food, that he has a cute Pomeranian, and that he has a skin condition where he can't handle sweat well, or his skin will become itchy. 

Taehyung learns that Jeongguk loves food, and after he wonders out loud how he can still look so buff, the Omega tells him about his workout routine. 

They're at the fourth beer when the topic becomes more intimate. 

“Have you ever had a boyfriend?” Jeongguk wants to know. He's playing with his lip rings while waiting for the answer. 

Taehyung shakes his head. “I was too busy with studies, and let's be honest, no one really sees me. After I dyed my hair, everyone acted like I was a new student.” It hurts him a little. He can't blame them, though. It's not like Taehyung ever tried to make friends, or was looking for a boyfriend. 

“Guilty. I'm one of them. I hope you believe me when I say you're the first alpha who caught my attention. I have dated two, but it never went past a few dates. We kissed, but that's it.” Jeongguk admits. He's blushing adorably. 

“I was kissing a beta guy when I was eighteen. It was at a birthday party and we played seven minutes in heaven. It was horrible. I was so awkward and bit his lip.” Taehyung laughs softly at the memory. Back then, he was so embarrassed. Now, he sees it as an experience that he doesn't want to repeat. 

Jeongguk smiles. He looks relieved. “We're both pretty much new to all of this. To be frank, my intention of making you my boyfriend should be obvious by now. I have a feeling that you're very special, Taehyung. You're not like the other alphas. The more I learn about you, the more you prove it.”

It's Taehyung’s turn to blush. He's not used to such confessions. Jeongguk wasn't playing the whole time. So, he's really courting him? The bubbles in his stomach turn into butterflies. He's not gonna talk him out of it. He's even thrilled to be the one on the receiving side. The omega is something else, that's for sure. 

“I accept. Your courting, I mean. You're also very different from what I know about omegas. Speaking of, I'm meeting one tomorrow. Just letting you know in advance, since it could be that his scent will be on me. He already has a boyfriend, and we're just friends.” Taehyung takes his phone and opens Jimin's and his chat. “See?” 

Jeongguk chuckles and takes a quick look. “He's handsome, but I trust you. It's okay to have omega friends. I'm not one of those who forbid you from having them. I'd be a hypocrite. Hoseok is an alpha and we are very close. He's sometimes helping me through heat by cooking food every day and makes sure there's always a full bottle of water in front of my door.” 

For a second, Taehyung's stomach dropped after hearing that Hoseok was helping him through his heat. Fortunately, Jeongguk immediately explained it right away. “I'm glad you have such a good friend. His scent is probably helping a lot too. I've never helped someone, but I'd love to do it one day. It must be an amazing experience.” He doesn't want to go as far as to say that he wants to help Jeongguk. They're not together, yet. It would be inappropriate. 

“It's hard. When Hoseok goes through his rut, he has someone else helping him. But when he leaves the apartment the day after it is over, I have to leave the room when I smell his scent. It's not arousing. It's more like my omega can't stand the strong scent.” Jeongguk scrunched his nose to make his words more expressive. 

Taehyung knows exactly what the younger is talking about. Hyungsik smells way too sweet, and his alpha doesn't want to come near him for a while. However, he wonders if Jeongguk’s omega will like his alpha's scent. What if they're not compatible? What if their wolves reject each other? 

Jeongguk seems to be able to read his mind because all of his worries are answered with the next statement, “Cloud already loves your alpha. He's begging me to ask for your rut schedule.” And then he has the audacity to giggle, while Taehyung is choking on his beer. 

“W-What?” Taehyung coughs. “I… What?” That he's flustered would be a complete understatement. First of all, Jeongguk revealed his Wolf's name; Cloud. It's beautiful, but such an intimate information. His own is bugging him to do the same. 

“I'm sorry. Our heat is around the corner. At the end of September, to be specific. He's desperate.” Jeongguk is looking at him cryptically, as if he wants to ask him something but can't voice it. 

“Please don't say that in front of Storm. He's already planning it in our mind.” Taehyung whines, trying to suppress the rumble coming from his chest at the implementation of being heat and rut partners. 

It's undeniably going too fast, and could end up in a mistake, where they'll be awkward with each other afterwards. Taehyung doesn't want that. Jeongguk is someone he can imagine a future with, if approached carefully. Diving straight into sex could destroy it all. 

“Storm and Cloud. If this isn't fate, then what is?” Jeongguk is clearly joking, although there's a hint of seriousness underlying it. 

Taehyung has a lot to think about at home. For now, he doesn't want to end this. It has gotten quite intimate, talking about things you wouldn't tell a stranger or fairly new friend. Maybe, it's the unexplainable connection between them. One they both can't pinpoint for now. Taehyung is usually a secluded, private person. With Jeongguk, new sides of him are discovered. 

“You’re a dork. Has anyone ever told you that?” Playing it off as the joke it’s supposed to be, Taehyung chuckles. Secretly, though, it's something he'll worry about later. 

It's not often that Taehyung stays out until midnight on a weekday. Not even Seojoon and Hyungsik could convince him to do so. Jeongguk didn't even have to persuade him or even ask him to. Both of them had such a good time that they simply lost track of time.

Jeongguk looks at his phone and gasps. “Shit, we have to go back. Can you drink the half-full bottle in one gulp?” He places the head of the bottle against his lips and lifts it up so that the contents can run down his throat more quickly.

Taehyung watches him admiringly. He can't do that. The entire way home would be accompanied by burping noises. He doesn't want to go that far. It would be too embarrassing for him.

"Wow. I think I would have bur-”

As soon as Taehyung started saying the word, Jeongguk burped. The younger himself is surprised by this, when you look at his suddenly large eyes and his hands held over his mouth in bewilderment. 

Taehyung can't hold back anymore. A loud laugh breaks the brief tension, and Jeongguk finally begins to relax and laughs with him.

Luckily, the two of them had paid for each bottle as soon as they received it, so they just got up and made their way out as quickly as possible. After all, Jeongguk’s burp attracted quite a bit of attention.

Finally outside, Taehyung calms down from his giggling fit. He bumps lightly into Jeongguk, and wraps an arm around his shoulder. “This was so funny! You should have seen your face.”

“I was shocked at how loud it was. But it's good to know that you had fun with my embarrassment.” Jeongguk places his hand on Taehyung’s hip. And that's how they walk toward the university. 

Neither of them is drunk, maybe a bit tipsy. They won't get in trouble, if they make it to their dorms within ten minutes. Good thing that it's only a five minute walk, and five more if they take the stairs. There's no time to exchange more words than a ‘goodnight, see you tomorrow’. 

But Taehyung would have never expected the quick peck on his right cheek from the omega. He swears his heart stopped for a long second, before it sped up to an abnormal pace. There was still a tingling sensation at the place where Jeongguk kissed him, and the last thing he saw, before the omega left, was the proud grin on the younger's face. He's sure he resembled a shy tomato. This little vixen is gonna be the death of him one day. He's going to die of a heart attack, but at least with a smile on his face. 

A little out of breath from what had happened, Taehyung reaches his dorm with his heart still beating out of his chest. The day was a success, and all he needs right now is a hot shower and a clear mind. 

As he lies snuggled up in his bed, freshly showered, the memories of everything Jeongguk said during the evening come back.

Fated. Is there even such a thing as fated mates? Of course, he knows all the bedtime stories his mother read to him when he was a child. Most were based on their second gender. However, his parents had never talked about it outside of these stories, so he always assumed it was just fairy tales.

Maybe it's time to get to the bottom of the matter. If he remembers correctly, his grandma wrote a few books about it. Taehyung makes a mental note to ask his mother about it.

Something else makes him smile shyly. Jeongguk has openly admitted that he wants Taehyung as a boyfriend.

He squeals, pushing the blanket halfway over his head and giggles. The omega is a dream come true. There's no denying that. If what he shows about himself is true, then he really won the lottery.

Admittedly, Taehyung blatantly took a closer look at his face. Jeongguk's lips looked so soft and rosy. How will it feel to kiss him? First of all, there's the cute birthmark right under his bottom lip. Then, there is his nose. His adorable, beautiful nose. 

Jeongguk mentioned that he didn't like this part of him very much. Taehyung has now made it his mission to talk him out of it. It's so adorable, and fits the rest of his face perfectly.

Now that Taehyung is already on the topic of kissing, he naturally has to think about the goodnight kiss. It was exactly this moment that made him realize that he had a crush on Jeongguk. Maybe even more, but it's too early to say for sure. What he knows is that he wouldn't mind it one bit. If he's really falling in love with the younger, he will accept it with an open mind, welcoming him warmly in his heart. 

With a loud yawn, Taehyung turns on his side. Sleep overcomes him, and in less than five minutes he is sound asleep. And if he dreams of the sweet omega, then no one has to know.

Taehyung wakes up in the early morning hours pretty weak and still very tired. He's not used to being out for so long. If he goes to bed at eleven, that's usually late. He can remember that it must have been around two in the morning when he closed his eyes.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Taehyung walks to the bathroom. Even though he showered less than five hours ago, he feels like hopping into the shower once again.

The temperature is initially comfortable. Yet, the longer the water is on his skin, the more he starts to feel hot. Taehyung blames it on the beer he had yesterday. Alcohol has never been his friend.

He gets dressed quickly, and then makes a hearty breakfast. He still feels hungry, so a sugar-free strawberry banana smoothie is added to the table.

While eating, Taehyung briefly checks his messages. Jeongguk wishes him a wonderful good morning, and he replies with a gentle smile that he wishes him the same, and he hopes they run into each other today. 

On Thursdays, they always seem to be in different buildings, but maybe they could have lunch together.

Jimin also wrote to him, asking if it's still at the same place and time.

Taehyung thinks for a moment, then confirms everything. He can go home straight after university, change his clothes and then set off leisurely. The coffee shop is about the same distance as the Irish pub, just in the opposite direction.

What is Jeongguk planning to do today? He wonders, and Taehyung catches himself that the omega is in his head again. He blames his alpha a little for that. Storm just can't stop daydreaming about Cloud.

“If we don’t see him today, we still have Friday. Otherwise, we’ll be able to spend enough time with him when he cooks for us on Sunday. Now, back off and let me concentrate on college stuff.”

Taehyung reprimands his alpha, even though he knows that his wolf is only acting on instinct. If it were up to him, Jeongguk would already be his mate and they would be planning a family. But it's not that easy, and Storm has to learn to be more patient.

After making himself a little snack for later, Taehyung heads out. Luckily, there's nothing big coming up, so he doesn't have to be there early. He doesn't care what seat he gets, as long as they leave him alone.

“You must be the new guy everyone is talking about.”

Someone behind Taehyung says this in a friendly tone. He turns in his chair to sit sideways to be able to see the person. He's tall, has handsome features and is very charismatic. If he remembers correctly, this must be Kim Seokjin, an omega. 

“I've been here for a few years. This is my penultimate semester. You must have confused me with someone else. My name is Kim Taehyung, nice to meet you.” Taehyung slightly bows his head. He knows Seokjin is older than him by a few years. He is doing an internship here to become a teacher. 

“Wait a second, you’re Taehyung? Jeongguk’s Taehyung?” Seokjin shakes his head, amused. “Now I realize a lot of things.”

Of all the things Seokjin could have said, this makes the least sense to Taehyung. What does he realize? He doesn't even question his connection with Jeongguk, but he wants to know more about this. "What do you mean by that?"

Seokjin grins. “Oh, forget what this old man says. What's important now is that we definitely have to meet up after uni. As far as I can remember, you’ve already met my boyfriend.”

Did he? Taehyung doesn't know who he could mean by that. Maybe Jimin? At least he's meeting him this afternoon. “A little over five foot, slim, handsome face?”

“Ah, that can only be my Hoseok.” Seokjin laughs. “He told me you were a nice guy. Jeongguk deserves someone like you.” He looks at the clock on the wall. “Shit, I have to move on. It was nice to meet you. Hope we can deepen the conversation soon?”

Taehyung can only nod as Seokjin walks backwards away from him. After he must have liked his silent answer, the soon-to-be teacher turns around and rushes out of the room.

"What the fudge was that?" Taehyung tries to sort out all the information he learned in this short conversation. “Hoseok, Jeongguk’s friend, is Kim Seokjin’s boyfriend? The world surely is small.”

However, he can't get something else out of his mind. Jeongguk talked to Seokjin about him. He wonders about what exactly. Maybe he will get the chance to ask him when they meet again. 

For now, he's focusing on the lecture. Taehyung loves how it gets his mind away from everything happening. It has become a little much for him, but not in a bad way. Just, it's overwhelming sometimes. 

Still, when he doesn't get to see Jeongguk at lunch, Taehyung carries a constant frown with him. He ignores the people who have a sudden interest in him. Their interest is most likely a mistake, and knowing how this all works will make him more interesting if he keeps playing at being mysterious. 

All Taehyung wants is peace, and Jeongguk. Well, and food, of course. That's why he buys a meal as quickly as possible and then leaves the cantina to go to the rooftop. 

Searching for a place in the shadow, he sits down with criss crossed legs, and places the tray on his lap. 

Seeing that his next lecture is something he can skip, Taehyung enjoys another forty-five minutes outside in the warmth. It's beautiful here. The fresh air, and the silence are a welcome change in his usually hectic schedule. 

“Hi, Hyung.” 

Jeongguk’s voice makes him look up. His smile comes automatically. “Hi Jeongguk. What brings you up here?”

“I wasn't feeling like going to my English course, so I thought taking a break on the rooftop would be a good idea. And it was. Can I join you?” Jeongguk asks before walking closer. 

“Of course.” Taehyung makes some space, even if there's already enough. “Did you eat?” He has some leftovers and would love to share them. 

“Yes, thank you. We went to the food stall and ordered fishcake and lamb skewers. I'm so full.” Jeongguk sits down and rubs his belly. “I wanted to call you, but I wasn't sure if you were free. It would have been embarrassing for you if your phone would go off in the middle of the lecture.” He chuckles cutely. 

“It would be, yes.” Taehyung joins in, giggling together with the omega. “But I also skipped one to relax here a little. I'm way ahead of the stuff they teach anyway.”

“Same here. I'm doing it only for attendance. One or two times not showing up won't get us in trouble.” Leaning back and supporting himself with his arms, Jeongguk looks up to the sky. “You're meeting your friend today?”

Taehyung nods, “Yeah. It's been a while since we saw each other. He's a model, and one of three omegas I feel comfortable around. Before you ask, you're one of them as well.” He looks at the younger with a grin. 

“You got me there. Who's the third? If I may ask.” 

“My best friend, Hyungsik. We have known each other for a long time. The first omega I had to get used to. Remember the drinking story? He was one of them.” Taehyung wants his best friends to meet Jeongguk as soon as possible. It's important to him that they get along. 

“Oh, an omega was sleeping cuddled up with you in your bed? You're a strong alpha, Kim Taehyung.” 

Jeongguk sounds a little jealous, which surprises Taehyung. He can't let him believe that something is happening between them. 

“Well, he's like a brother to me. Even if he's in preheat, it doesn't bother me that much anymore. My alpha thinks he smells too sweet in an uncomfortable way, and wants to be as far away as possible.” Telling him this, Taehyung hopes that it'll take all the worries away from the younger. Even if it felt good for a moment, the jealousy, he doesn't want to make him feel like there's someone he has to be careful of. 

“I see. Thank you for clearing up. My wolf became a bit unsettled.” Jeongguk laughs. “Maybe I was, too. I don't know. I've never been in such a situation, where my interest was so big that I had to be afraid of competitors.”

“You really don't have to be afraid of that with me, either. I'm not interested in anyone else, except you.” Taehyung bites down on his tongue, wincing at the sting. It's still new to him to admit it. He becomes shy. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk reaches out to hold Taehyung’s hand. “We can explore it together. But, I have to admit it's cute when you get shy all of a sudden.” 

Taehyung's mind is busy processing what was said as he feels a warm body pressing to his side. Jeongguk has used the opportunity to snuggle up to him, linking their arms and placing one of his legs over Taehyung's. 

It's cozy, if he's honest. Taehyung could get used to it. Maybe Jeongguk felt the need to cuddle after being reminded of the drunk story. His alpha coos, while he has to bite back a small smile. 

For the rest of the time, they skip their classes, and neither speaks. Both enjoy the sun, the togetherness, and the soft caresses they give each other's hands. 

Jeongguk is warm and feels new, but at the same time, it is so familiar. Taehyung wants to have him by his side forever like that. It's a thought that gives him butterflies, and comfort. It's funny how not even two weeks ago he had no idea the omega existed. Now, he's about to become his boyfriend and fall in love with him. 

“Hey, Jeongguk. Did you fall asleep?” Taehyung nudges the omega gently. He can hear him breathe evenly, and has been quiet for a while now. The younger's head is resting on his shoulder, while he's clinging onto his arm. It's adorable. 

Taehyung carefully turns his body enough to reach for his hair. He softly plays with the dark locks, and takes a whiff of his scent. Storm, his wolf, comes to life. 

‘Not now!’ Telling him to stay silent in his thoughts, Taehyung's hand wanders lower. He caresses Jeongguk’s left cheek, feeling the scar underneath his fingertips. He always wondered where he got it from. 

He first noticed it when they had gone to the pub. Taehyung was memorizing each pore of Jeongguk’s face. There, the scar caught his attention, and never left his mind since. Maybe there's a funny story behind it, or a sad one. No matter what, he would love to hear how it happened, if the omega feels comfortable talking about it. 

Taehyung feels movement on his shoulder and beneath his fingers. Jeongguk is waking up. “Hi there. Hope you slept well.”

Smacking his lips, Jeongguk sits up straight to stretch his back. His eyes are still half closed, and he looks so tired. 

How much Taehyung wishes he could cup his cheeks and pull him in for a kiss. 

What if… 

“Jeongguk?”

The omega hums and looks at him. 

It's now or never. 

Taehyung cups his face and leans in slowly, watching how Jeongguk closes his eyes instinctively. He smiles, while his alpha goes feral inside him. As the younger stops breathing, he can't delay it further. Taehyung closes the little gap left between them, and kisses the tip of Jeongguk’s nose. He lingers for one second, two seconds. 

Jeongguk isn't moving, but his scent becomes sweeter. A clear indication that he likes it. 

Taehyung couldn't be happier. Not really wanting to, he leans back. After all, the omega is still holding his breath, and he doesn't want to make him faint. 

“Hyung…” Jeongguk whispers with his eyes still closed.

“I couldn't help myself. Your nose is just too cute and needs to be appreciated.” Pecking the tip once more, Taehyung makes it his mission to do that regularly, starting today. He can't let him think that his nose is not lovable. 

Jeongguk scrunches his nose and finally opens his eyes. He squints down at it. “Cute? There are many words coming to my mind for this monstrosity, but cute isn't one of them.” Then, he blinks to get his vision back to normal and looks at Taehyung. “But I won't stop you from kissing it. Feel free to do it whenever you feel like it.” 

Taehyung opens his mouth to reply with something sassy, but the intense gaze from Jeongguk is holding him back. They just stare at each other for a long moment, as if the world around them has stopped working. It's magical, familiar, and so so calm. Even his alpha has stopped urging him to go for another kiss. 

Seconds feel like minutes. They don't know how long they're getting lost in each other, before Taehyung's phone starts to ring. 

Shaking his head a little to get out of the trance-like state, Taehyung answers the call. It's Jimin. He puts him on speaker for some reason he doesn't know. 

“Hi.” Taehyung says softly while placing Jeongguk's hand on his thigh. 

“Hey Tae. I'll be a little late. Maybe ten minutes or so.” Jimin half screams into the speaker. There's loud background noise, and it's difficult to understand him. 

Taehyung glances at the omega next to him. Jeongguk seems to like the idea of having ten more minutes together. “That's no problem at all. I have a question, though. Would it be okay if I bring someone else?”

Jeongguk squeezes Taehyung’s hand and points at himself with the other, mouthing a 'me?', whereupon Taehyung only nods. It makes the younger smile happily, which at the same time confirms that he wouldn't be against the idea. 

“Is it your boyfriend?” 

Jimin's tone is teasing. Taehyung bites down on his bottom lip for a second before answering honestly. “Soon-to-be, hopefully.”

“For real? Oh my god, Tae. I need to meet him. What's his name, his second gender, age, favorite model?” Jimin gasps for air after talking without taking a break. 

Taehyung laughs at his antics, and Jeongguk uses the opportunity to answer all of his questions. “My name is Jeongguk. I'm an omega and born in ‘97. Favorite model? Someone named Park Jimin. I don't know if you know him.” He winks at Taehyung, well aware of what he just did. 

And it works. Jimin immediately approves of him. “You have taste, Jeongguk-ssi. I can't wait to meet you. Taehyung, he's a good man. Go for it!” 

“On it, Hyung. But if I don't get ready now, I'll be the one coming late. Let's talk more later. Stay safe, Jimin-ah.” Taehyung listens to the last few words of  goodbye before he ends the call and gives his full attention to Jeongguk again. 

“I'm sorry for not giving you a heads up before asking him. The idea just popped up in my head.” Taehyung pouts. It always works when he does something wrong. 

“Don't worry about it. I didn't have plans for tonight, so I'm happy it changed. Do I have time to change? When will we be leaving?” Jeongguk pulls his hand back to get up. He cleans his palms on his jeans before stretching his arm out to offer his hands for Taehyung to take and get up as well. 

Taehyung holds them gently, pulling himself up. When he stands next to the slightly smaller omega, he realizes how tall Jeongguk actually is. Until now, he had always thought that omegas were naturally much smaller. They usually are Jimin's height. Then again, there's Seokjin… Okay, he realizes his theory is not making any sense and immediately forgets about it. 

“We have around an hour. Still, I might need a shower after sitting in the sun for so long.” Taehyung tries to subtly sniff his armpits. He sighs in relief when there's no weird smell coming from him. 

“You smell amazing, Hyung. Don't worry.” Jeongguk leans forward to take a whiff of his scent. “Very amazing, if I may say.” He doesn't stop, until he's basically pushing his nose to Taehyung's scent gland. 

The alpha in Taehyung begs him to tilt his head, to give the omega better access. But Taehyung knows that Jeongguk might have lost control over his actions, so he carefully stops him by tapping his shoulder. “Hey, Jeongguk?”

The younger hums, raising his hand to place on Taehyung's nape. 

“Omega!” This time, Taehyung's voice is firmer, deeper and more commanding. He's not using his alpha voice, though. It would be too overwhelming for Jeongguk. 

“Hyung, oh shit. I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me.” Jeongguk immediately pulled back, and put a lot of distance between them, shocked. His eyes have that typical blue omega glimmer. 

Taehyung doesn't like how appalled he looks. It's not like he or his alpha were offended, or didn't like it. But doing it without consent is usually frowned upon. Scenting is something extremely intimate. Both parties have to want it. He does want it, but it should be done properly. 

Sensing that Jeongguk isn't calming down, Taehyung speaks softly, “Pup? Are you with me?”

Jeongguk nods, not looking up. 

“Baby, please. Look at me. You didn't do anything wrong. I just want to do it right, okay?”

Nodding once again, Jeongguk finally meets Taehyung's eyes. “Okay.”

“I'd love to be scented by you. Can't wait to smell as sweet as my future boyfriend.” Brushing the younger’s bangs out of his face, Taehyung can't help but admire his handsome features up close for the nth time. It's surreal how beautiful he is. 

“Hyung, you're staring.” Jeongguk chuckles. He's back to his confident self. “I know I'm handsome.”

Taehyung is glad he knows why he's mesmerized by him. “That you are, pup.” He looks at his phone to check the time. “Shit, we need to hurry. Do you wanna come over to mine after you've changed? This way, Jimin will see us arrive together.” 

It's still weird to say, but at the same time, it feels so amazing. Taehyung would have never thought it possible to like someone after such a short time. But he can't repeat it often enough, and how he's experiencing these feelings is still a mystery. 

Jeongguk is definitely unreal. He's so incredibly special to him and his wolf. Why? He can't tell. It's a gut feeling. He needs to read the book about fated mates soon. 

The mention of letting Jimin know they belong to each other gets an immediate reaction from Jeongguk. “Who needs to change? Not me.” He shrugs. “I'll come with you right now. If that's okay, of course.” 

Taehyung has to think hard about whether his dorm is presentable. There are a few dirty clothes on a chair. Did he do the dishes this morning? Most likely not, but he's sure he put some of them in the dishwasher. It's safe to say that there's nothing embarrassing lying around. 

“Sure, if you don't mind a little bit of chaos? I have Netflix, just in case you get bored while I shower.” Taehyung doesn't really have gaming consoles or other interesting things. Until now, studying was his main priority. He pays for Netflix because of his best friends. Movie nights with them are sacred. 

“I'm an omega. When I'm building my nest, you won't be able to see the floor for a few days. I'm very picky, and according to Hobi, unbearable. So no, I don't mind chaos.” 

Upon hearing this, Taehyung's alpha wants to be with the omega when he builds his nest. He wants him to use their clothes, mix their scents, and comfort him. But the wolf gets silenced once again for making Taehyung imagine these things as well. He needs a clear mind. 

Being alone with a desirable omega within his own four walls is a challenge. Taehyung doesn't want to mess this up. He doesn't want to ruin his chance of whatever could bloom between them. 

Storm seems to understand and stops putting images into Taehyung’s mind. He can wait. Patience is a virtue. 

“That's great. Let's go?” Taehyung says enthusiastically. 

Jeongguk smiles. Their hands find each other easily, and that's how they walk down the stairs. The whole university is already empty. Only the cleaning person can be heard scrubbing something from a wall. 

At this time of the day, the students are either in their dorms studying, or out for a drink. Some bars have a happy hour for students on Thursdays. 

Taehyung makes sure that no one is in the hallway, then he pulls Jeongguk with him to his door. “This is me.” He chuckles, and puts a code into the keypad. 

Jeongguk is in awe when he steps in. His eyes grow big, and his mouth falls open. 

“What? You act like I live in a penthouse.” Taehyung laughs. He could be living in one, but decided against it. There's no regret, not even now. 

“Hyung.” Jeongguk looks around. “Your sense of color is amazing. It's so harmonious. My omega feels at home after not even five minutes.” He turns around to face Taehyung. “You need to do the interior of mine as well. I beg you!” There's a pout forming, and his big eyes sparkle. 

If Taehyung had to compare him to someone, it would be ‘Puss in Boots’, where the cat is holding its big hat in its hands and looks up adorably. He had sent that meme to Hyungsik and Seojin countless times. Whenever he wanted something and knew they wouldn't agree immediately.

Now he knows how they feel. Looking at Jeongguk, he'd grant him any wish, no matter what. “Tell me when, and I'll be there.” Yes, just like that. 

“For real?” Jeongguk's smile is so wide, that it challenges the sun. 

Taehyung can't stop staring at him. How had he never noticed his friggin 'cute front teeth? This is bad. This is really bad. He's bewitched, a goner, a fool in lo–. 

“Hyung? Are you alright? Your face is so red.” Jeongguk is now frowning. 

The crease between his eyes is deep, and Taehyung doesn't like the sight. “I'm perfect. It's just so hot in here. I probably forgot to turn off the heater.” He quickly walks to the only heater in this dorm, but it's not even turned on. 

“It's midsummer. Are you sure you're alright?” Jeongguk sounds worried. 

Taehyung sees him coming closer and puts his palm on his forehead to check his temperature. 

“You're hot.” 

“Thank you. So are you.” Taehyung grins. He tries to joke to play it down. He feels good, just a little warm. 

Jeongguk playfully rolls his eyes. “You're a dork.”

“That makes us both one.” Remembering that he had also called him a dork not long ago, Taehyung can't help but tease him. 

“Touché.” 

They smile at each other for a long moment before the old clock on the wall announces a full hour with its beautiful, but short melody. 

“Shit, I should go take a shower now or we'll really be late.” Taehyung breaks eye contact first. “Make yourself feel at home. You can look around, or watch something on the TV. I'll be back soon.” He doesn't wait for a reply and goes straight to the bathroom. 

Taehyung turns the water on to get it warm, then he undresses. 

“Storm, do you think his omega really likes it here?”

His wolf is certain they both do, Jeongguk and Cloud. He tells him not to worry. They wouldn't lie about it. 

Agreeing, Taehyung finally steps into the shower. The hot water doesn't feel hot. It's pleasant on his skin. It should have been the first sign, but he unknowingly ignored it. His mind is too focused on a certain omega, who's waiting for him in his living room. 

Taehyung hurriedly washed himself. He doesn't want to let Jimin or his omega wait. Noticing that the sweet scent of almond and milk also fades from his neck, he and Storm mourn the loss. Their scents smelled so amazing together, like freshly made milk coffee with almond syrup. He's going to try this variant soon, even though he dislikes the bitter taste of coffee. Maybe it needed the almond to change his mind. 

Dressed in clean clothes, Taehyung returns to the living room, only to stop in his tracks from the sight presented in front of him. 

Jeongguk is sitting on the couch, with his favorite wool blanket draped around his shoulders, nose buried in the endings. 

Taehyung is afraid to breathe. He doesn't want to interrupt this moment. It's so peaceful. Jeongguk looks so calm and beautiful. 

Storm is surprisingly silent, but Taehyung can feel how proud and happy he is. 

“Tae.”

Jeongguk's soft voice brings him and his wolf back to their senses. 

“You're back.” The younger states and plays with his lip rings, shyly. He doesn't seem to regret doing it, which is good. 

“Yeah, I am. Are you ready to go?” Taehyung then remembers. “Wait, are you still up to meet with Jimin?” 

Seeing Jeongguk gulping nervously, he wants to take his words back. But the next words spoken sound amazingly deep and sexy, and he immediately changes his mind. 

“I'd still be up, but would it be too much to ask if we could scent each other?” 

Fuck . 

It went straight to Taehyung’s groin. He eagerly nods.

Jeongguk stands up from the couch and slowly walks over to him. It's Taehyung’s turn to swallow nervously. The omega is the predator, and he's his prey. 

“Hyung,” Jeongguk closes the gap. He leans in and hot air warms Taehyung's neck. “Can I do it first? Cloud won't be calm, unless our scent is on you. He'll see another omega as a threat.”

“Y-Yes.” There's no need to think about it. Taehyung tilts his head, giving easy access to his scent gland. He's going crazy at this point. Jeongguk and his wolf want to tell the world that they belong to each other. He had no idea that being someone's other half would feel this good, this satisfying. He's going to combust at this point. His heart is so full of something so powerful that he can't even describe it. “God, please do.”

There's a rumble coming from Jeongguk’s chest. Obviously, he loves it when Taehyung is like that. There's no toxic alpha behavior fight for dominance. They're equal. 

Jeongguk doesn’t need to be told twice. He closes the distance and goes straight for his neck. He is wild, feral. He presses his nose against Taehyung's gland, takes a deep breath and lets out an extremely content sigh.

Taehyung's whole body feels electrified. It runs through every vein, every cell of his being. It's magical.

By wrapping his arms around Jeongguk’s torso, Taehyung ensures that he holds the omega even closer. However, it is not enough. If he could, he would stay like that forever and never let go.

Storm howled inside him. His wolf is euphoric. This is what he had wanted all his life, even as he wasn't aware of their existence; Cloud.

When Jeongguk starts to gently lick Taehyung's gland, Taehyung can't help but moan. He has lost control of his actions anyway. Everything happens now instinctively.

His fingernails dig into Jeongguk's back. He just can't get enough of him. “More!” Taehyung groans. "It's not enough. I need more of your scent.” He demands. 

Jeongguk immediately understands what he has to do. The gentle licking turns into sucking, wild kissing, accompanied by animalistic noises. He hands over leadership to Cloud.

The effect on Taehyung is clearly noticeable. He Is hard. The smell of his arousal thick in the air.

Taehyung still wants more, so much more. It's Storm who keeps his cool and ends it by making Taehyung let out a low growl.

Cloud reacts immediately and retreats. Jeongguk's expression shows that he isn't disappointed by the sudden interruption. On the contrary, he looks extremely happy and satisfied. He breathes heavily and quickly, his eyes fixed on Taehyung's mouth.

Taehyung licks his lips under the greedy gaze.

“Hyung, it’s your turn. Hurry, before I lose myself and kiss you.” Jeongguk says breathlessly.

Equally out of breath, Taehyung nods. He wastes no time and buries his nose into Jeongguk's neck for the first time ever.

For a moment, Storm becomes rigid inside him. It's like something inside him got activated. They both feel it. Taehyung feels a deep connection forming between him and Jeongguk. He tastes the sweet scent of milk and almonds on his tongue. It's something he's never felt before.

Taehyung is enchanted. Everything he does happens automatically. Storm directs him. He starts licking the gland. The small bulge makes it impossible for him not to suck on it. He hears Jeongguk moan and he presses him against his body.

The fact that they are both extremely aroused doesn't bother either of them. They are too busy enjoying the scenting.

Jeongguk's scent is like a drug that Taehyung can't can't let go of on his own. His gland is already swollen from his sucking. But the omega lets him know with a hand on the back of his head that he shouldn't even think about stopping.

Taehyung grants his wish, much to his wolf's delight. He licks, sucks, and kisses the swollen gland with devotion. At the same time, his hips become independent. He rubs his lap against Jeongguk's, who returns it with the same fever.

Without noticing, they slowly move towards the couch, which is only a few steps away. Jeongguk hits it with his legs and loses his balance. He falls onto it unceremoniously, but immediately makes himself comfortable and pulls Taehyung down to him.

Taehyung can barely catch himself with his hands, and is now lying between Jeongguk's legs, bent over him.

“Fuck. You smell so good. I could devour you.” Taehyung says in a raspy tone. The combination of their scents is making him feel things. It's heavenly. They fit so unbelievably well, that he doesn't know how he lived for so long without him. 

"Alpha." Jeongguk groans. “Alpha, take me. Make me yours completely.”

Taehyung growls. He begins to lean down to kiss Jeongguk, but it's Storm again who holds him back. He shakes his head to return to his senses. His wolf is right. He must not lose himself in his desires. Jeongguk is precious. He wants to do it right. 

“Pup, we can’t.” With a heavy heart, Taehyung declines his request. 

Jeongguk whines. He brings his hands to Taehyung's ass and pushes him down to get some friction. “Can you feel this? We both want it!”

It's so damn hard to resist the temptation, but Taehyung knows he has to. “You're right, but it would just be a quick fuck. I want it to be more than that. Let's calm down. Jimin is definitely already waiting for us.”

It takes a moment of staring at Taehyung in disbelief before Jeongguk adverts his eyes with a sigh. “Shit, okay.” It's evident that he'd rather spend the night alone with Taehyung. His hands stay where they are, and it doesn't seem like he will let them get up on their own.

“Pup,” Taehyung chuckles. He sees the beautiful blue glow in Jeongguk's eyes when he says the pet name, and wonders if that will happen every time he says it. 

“I know,” Jeongguk sighs. “Let's make ourselves presentable and go.” 

The warmth leaves Taehyung as Jeongguk lets his hand fall. 

They make sure they don't look like they just had been all over each other. Taehyung helps with Jeongguk’s hair and vice versa. 

What remains is the mixture of their scents on their bodies. Both probably think the same, if the smirks are anything to go by. ‘They all will know we belong to one another.’

Checking the time, Taehyung groans. “We're already three minutes late.” The walk there will be another five. 

“He'll understand, don't worry.” Jeongguk gently takes Taehyung’s hand in his, and together they leave the dorm. 

Some students ruffle their noses as they pass by them. Others begin to gossip with those they are hanging out with. It's rare to scent someone at University. Most fool around, but would never think of going as far as getting into a serious relationship. Few do and don't scent the omega. 

In the case of Taehyung, the alphas gasped in shock and confusion that he let Jeongguk scent him. This is definitely against their belief. 

Jeongguk, on the other side, enjoys envious stares from his fellow omegas. He walks with his head held high, gland on display for everyone to see. It's still swollen and red from all the sucking and licking. 

Taehyung snorts as soon as they're out of sight. “You strutted like a peacock.” 

“And I'd do it again. They should be jealous because they'll never get themselves an alpha like you.” Jeongguk shrugs. He begins to walk a little faster down the street, pulling Taehyung with him. 

Could it be that he's a tiny bit embarrassed? 

Taehyung smiles. He'll never stop loving his behavior. Jeongguk is just so adorable. 

They arrive at the coffeehouse in less than five minutes. Jimin is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he got held back as well. After all, the elder is a model and has gotten pretty popular over the last few months. 

“Where do you wanna sit? Window, or in a corner?” Taehyung points at the two empty tables, then looks Jeongguk in the eyes. A mistake. Getting lost in his beautiful, big eyes is something he needs to learn to control. Every time it happens, he forgets about everything around him. 

Jeongguk definitely knows how to use Taehung's situation to his advantage by being a tease. He had to bite down on his lower lip seductively, then lick it. 

Taehyung’s chest is rumbling with want. It's not too loud, but loud enough for Jeongguk to hear and grin in victory. 

“I see you both can't even hold yourself back in public.”

Jimin's voice pulls Taehyung out of his staring. He shakes his head and glares at Jeongguk in a way that is too cute, for it to be a scolding. The younger winks at him. 

“Wow, that's interesting.” Jimin says, looking back and forth between Taehyung and Jeongguk. “I'm not sure if this coffeehouse smells deliciously like almond and milk, or if it's coming from the both of you.” He leans in far enough to get a whiff of Taehyung’s scent. He does the same with Jeongguk. “The latter.” Jimin hums in thought. 

“And you must be Park Jimin, the model.” Jeongguk bows as a greeting. “I'm Taehyung’s omega, Jeongguk.”

Taehyung feels himself blush. It sounds too good. He isn't used to it yet, especially in front of others. His chest swells, and he can't help but raise his head to appear taller. 

‘Our omega’ , Storm sniggers full of joy. 

Jeongguk is nudging Taehyung to get his attention. “Hyung, We should follow him.”

By him, he means Jimin. Taehyung was so out of it, having a blast with his alpha, that he missed a small conversation, and them choosing a table. 

“Oh, sure. Yes, we should do that.” 

Jeongguk chuckles. “You like it that much when I say I'm yours?” 

Seriously, Taehyung is sure Jeongguk can hear his thoughts. It's a little scary, but then again, he has nothing to hide. “I can't help it. Your alpha and I are smitten.” He gives him a taste of his own medicine. 

It works because Jeongguk gulps visibly, the tip of his ears turning beautifully red. “Alright, got it. It's nice.”

“Only nice?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. 

Jeongguk groans, “You know that it's more than that. I just don't want to say it here for everyone to hear.”

“I wanna hea–”

“You coming?” Jimin, who's already seated, calls for them. 

Maybe Taehyung can hear it later. He doesn't want to miss out on how it makes Jeongguk feel. It's part of learning about each other, after all. 

They quickly join the model at the table, and sit beside to each other. Taehyung regrets it as soon as he realizes that he must always turn his head to look into Jeongguk's eyes. He wonders if it would be weird to change seats now. 

“Tae, how have you been? Jeongguk already told me you guys have been hanging out together, but how did your art submission go?” Jimin is eager to know everything. 

Only now does Taehyung see his hair color. The model has dyed it pink, which looks so good on him. 

“Well, it went really well. I got the best grade and they want to showcase my work at the festival.” Taehyung says proudly. It's an honor because many important people will be there. Although, this is going to be nerve wrecking, too. What if they don't like it? 

Jeongguk clears his throat. “Did he tell you that his art was the reason he's blond now?”

Jimin shakes his head, eyes wide. “No, he didn't. How?”

And so, Taehyung explains to him what happened, and that it was also how Jeongguk and he met. Of course, Jimin was a little taken aback by it, but Jeongguk assured him that he has also come to love his character. 

This is news for Taehyung as well. He knew they had something, but is it already love from his side? Maybe he didn't mean it that way. 

Fortunately, Jimin is more vocal about it than he is, and asks directly. “You're in love with Tae?”

Jeongguk smiles at Taehyung, taking his hand and gently brushes over his knuckles. “I don't think it's love yet, but very close. You probably know that, the initial euphoria. Everything is new and great. So far, there's nothing I don't like about him. Isn't it normal that you can only really get to know the other person during the course of a relationship? The bad and the good?”

Taehyung thinks about what he said. Jeongguk is right. It's not often that people try to get to know each other for months and then start dating. It's either they already know one another for a longer time and then fall in love. Or they meet, it sparkles, and they try dating. They definitely belong in the second category. 

“You're right. It was the same with Joon and I. Love at first sight, if you wanna call it. His dimples are just so…” Jimin sighs dreamily. “I asked him out and we went on three dates, before I asked him to be my boyfriend.” 

“See?” Jeongguk smirks. “It always sounds rushed when you hear it from other people, but it doesn't feel the same for oneself. Tae and I plan to go to the prom together. I asked him, and he agreed.” 

Taehyung knows that Jeongguk is still so proud of how it happened. He, as the omega, asked the alpha. Jimin is an omega as well, he's going to understand the meaning. 

“You're so lucky, Jeongguk-ah. With Taehyung you've gotten yourself a fine man. Other alphas can learn from him, but they're too full of themselves.” Jimin rolls his eyes. “That's why I prefer betas. Namjoon is gentle, loving, and he has the softest heart. But he can become a beast if needed. He'd defend me in a second, protect me from any harm. My baby is the perfect man for me.”

“He sounds like a dream. I'm really happy for you, Hyung. We both found the perfect match for us.” Jeongguk brings Taehyung’s hand to his mouth and kisses it. 

The omegas talk more about what they want in a partner. It is interesting for Taehyung, so he makes some mental notes. Jimin tells him about date ideas, and Jeongguk takes actual notes on his phone. They get along very well, and it could be a great friendship in the making. 

Taehyung, however, has a problem. He suddenly feels so hot and needy. Jeongguk’s voice causes him goosebumps, and the worst of all is how hard he is. His cock is throbbing. Each touch from Jeongguk sends shivers down his body, and it ends in his crotch. 

He'd be lying if he says he doesn't know what's wrong. Storm is restless inside him. He whines, whimpers, and begs him to go home. 

Too distracted by controlling his body, Taehyung doesn't realize that the omegas stopped talking. They're both looking at him with worry evident in their faces. 

“Baby, you're in rut. We should go.” Jeongguk whispers as calmly as he can manage. He's most likely panicking a little bit on the inside. 

Jimin sends the waiter, who is ready to take their orders, away. “Let's get you home, Tae. Come on.”

Taehyung feels something wet running down the side of his face. He's sweating. Taking a look around, it's obvious that everyone can smell him. He's lucky to be scented by Jeongguk, or else they would run their mouths about him taking home two omegas. 

“Tae, please lean on both of us. Jeongguk can't take all your weight.” Jimin places one of Taehyung’s arms around his shoulder and they leave the coffeehouse. 

“Hyung, I'll stay with you. Well, don't mind me going through your cabinets in search of food and other things.” Jeongguk grins. He wants to lighten the mood. 

Taehyung is grateful for this. He feels really bad for cutting their date short. How could he miss this? There were a few signs, but he involuntarily ignored them. 

Jimin clears his throat. “I don't think that's a good idea, Kook. Have you ever helped an alpha through their rut?”

Jeongguk shakes his head. “No, but I trust him. Our wolves would never hurt each other. Call it a gut feeling.”

Taehyung hisses in pain. He wants to say something as well, but he's breathless. Still, he tries to get the words out. “I-I can c-control myself. Plea-please, I need him.” 

Jimin doesn't look too convinced. “Are you sure? Should I stay as well?”

Both immediately shout out a “No!” 

“Oh, wow. That was clear.” Jimin laughs. “Alright, but just in case, here's my number.” He shoves his business card into Jeongguk’s back pocket. 

“Thank you, Hyung. We're here. Help me get him to his floor, then you can go. Don't worry. I will call you if I need you.” Jeongguk's hold on Taehyung tightens. He's getting possessive for no reason. 

Taehyung likes it, though. Storm is howling. They both have learned from a young age how to control themselves in rut. It's safe to say that Jeongguk could present himself in front of them, and they still would be able to hold back. 

It's the only reason why he's not sending Jeongguk away right now. Taehyung prides himself in being raised well. Seojoon has learned it as well. Only the parents who still live in the past teach their children the old ways. Unfortunately, they are the majority. 

Jimin left right after they entered the dorm and sat Taehyung down on his bed. Not without giving them a worried glance. 

Jeongguk looks at Taehyung in wonder. “You remind me of Hyung. Yoongi is always so calm when in rut. One time, when I was sleeping over at his, he suddenly went into a rut, but I didn't realize until I smelled him. I stayed to keep him hydrated and fed. Not once did his alpha act up. At first, I thought it was because we're related. He later told me that his mother taught him how to control himself.” 

After helping Taehyung lie down, he continues, “Tell me, do I need to be careful around you?”

Taehyung shakes his head. Even though he would love to kiss Jeongguk, there's no feral feeling of needing to take him. “You're safe, but I'd love to try something you cooked. I'm starving.”

Jeongguk laughs. He looks endeared. “I guess our dinner date is happening a day earlier than expected. I don't mind, though. Give me some time, and I'll prepare something delicious for you. Any wishes?” 

“Surprise me, omega. If it's not too spicy, I'll be happy with anything, as long as you prepare it yourself.” Taehyung says sweetly, but right after he groans. His lower stomach cramps, and there's only one thing he can do to make it go away. “If you don't mind?” He bites down on his lip. 

“Oh! Sure.” Jeongguk walks backward to the door. “You smell so damn good, baby. I'm worried that I'll be the one who can't hold back seducing you.”

They're still scented, but Taehyung’s coffee scent is getting very strong, and will soon erase Jeongguk's. He'll want another scenting session shortly. 

“My needy omega. You'd better go cook now so you can think about something else besides seducing me. We are not ready for that yet. We're not even in a relationship.” Taehyung winks for no reason. Maybe he just wants to make sure that Jeongguk doesn't take it the wrong way. He's content with the pace they're going on about it. There's no rush. 

The pout forming on Jeongguk’s face is adorable. He fake cries. “You don't want me, and here I thought we had something special.”

Taehyung throws one of his many pillows at him. “Go! You little menace.”

They both giggle like kids. This feels nice. 

Jeongguk has caught the pillow. He places it on a chair by the door. “It'll take a bit to get done. Maybe I even have to go grocery shopping. If you need anything, please message me. I won't come in until you tell me to.”

“Thank you. There's money in the cookie jar on the counter in the kitchen. Take as much as you need.” Taehyung rests his head on the big pillow as Jeongguk leaves after snorting and saying he has money, too. 

Ruts are a pain in the ass. Taehyung could live without it. He knows it's a part of his wolf, so he accepts it. Still, in this day and age, one would think evolution has gotten rid of this urge. This is unfortunately not the case, and he has to go through it, if he wants to or not. 

Hyungsik has told him stories about his heat. Thanks to his parents, he has it easier than other omegas. His mother owns a pharmacy, and has easy access to pain reducing medicine. They're usually difficult to get, but with her being on the source, they never had a problem. 

Right now, Taehyung needs to do something about his urges. He shouldn't think of other omegas. To avoid wasting time, he opens his nightstand drawer and pulls out some items. Especially one, which he'll be using most of the time. His fleshlight with artificial slick as lube. He wished it would be a certain someone's instead.

At this thought, he's leaking more than before. Precum wets his pants, and it's time to get rid of them. Taehyung quickly pulls his pants, including underwear, down. Then, he throws them mindlessly away, and doesn't care about anything, other than the feeling of his cock being finally free. 

He wraps his fingers around his length, giving it a few slow strokes. A moan slips past his parted lips. Taehyung imagines Jeongguk's hands on him, so he moves faster with more pressure. 

Unsurprisingly, it doesn't take more to cum for the first time. His wolf immediately demanded a second round. 

That's how Taehyung jerks off with the omega on his mind. Each orgasm is stronger than the last one. When he begins using the fleshlight, his loud groans fill the room. Jeongguk’s name is chanted like a mantra. At this moment, he doesn't care if he hears him. All he wants is to satisfy his needs. 

It's about two hours later that he finally takes a needed break. Taehyung’s mouth is dry from all the moaning. When there's a knock on the door, he startles. 

“Hyung? Can I come in? Your dinner is ready,  and I bought water.” 

Jeongguk's soft voice makes goosebumps erupt on his sweaty skin. He covers himself with the blanket, even though Storm protests. His wolf wants him to see him naked. Taehyung scolds Storm, and reminds him to be patient. 

“Yes, pup, you can. I could devour a cow right now.” Taehyung jokes. He's focused on the door, waiting for it to open and reveal the younger. His heart is beating out of his chest. It is as if he hadn't seen him in weeks. 

When he sees Jeongguk walking in with his hands full, struggling to close the door behind him, Taehyung curses under his breath. He should have helped him. Should have gotten dressed and taken the things from him to make it easier. Frowning, he lets out a frustrated growl. 

“What's wrong, alpha? Don't like seeing me struggle?” Jeongguk teases him, obviously well aware of what's going on in his mind. “Awe, you're so cute. But don't worry, I can manage. I'm a big boy.” He grins, and then places the tray on the nightstand. 

Taehyung can see him glancing at the toys. His gaze stops at the fleshlight. “Oh shit!” His eyes grow big. “That's, that's…”

“I use a huge dildo to fuck myself with it. No need to explain. Everyone has their preferences. Do you want me to clean it?” Jeongguk points at the toy, not at all disgusted. 

Shaking his head vehemently, Taehyung gasps for air. “I'd never ask you to do this!” 

Getting a little shy, Jeongguk adds, “I could replace the fake slick with something more… real .” He nibbles on his bottom lip, then clears his throat. “Forget it. It was a stupid idea.”

Taehyung sits up as if stung by a bee. “What? No! You'd do that? For me?” 

“Only for you, Hyung. I would do so much more if you'd let me, but I understand why it's not a good idea. Maybe soon?” Jeongguk sits down on the end of the bed, massaging Taehyung’s legs through the blanket. “Anyway, get dressed. I've prepared something for you. Now that I think of it, bringing the food to you was a stupid idea. We should eat in the living room.” 

Jeongguk gets up to collect the clothes from the floor, and places them on the chair where Taehyung can easily get them. “Hurry, or it's gonna be cold when we start eating. While you put these on, I'll be in the bathroom to clean your toy. Call me when it's safe for me to come out.” 

Before Taehyung can even react, Jeongguk has taken the fleshlight, and quickly went to the bathroom. Dumbfounded, he grabs one piece of clothing after another, pulls them on, and waits a minute until he assumes Jeongguk is done cleaning the item. He's a little embarrassed, to say the least. He was cumming so much, that it must have been filthy on the outside as well. 

With a whine, he shakes these thoughts off. It would only ruin his mood. After all, Jeongguk said he had prepared something for him, and he's a curious cat. Well, wolf. Not to mention that it was his idea to clean the toy. Taehyung would have never asked him to even touch the toy. 

Taking a deep breath, he calls for the younger to come out. “Baby, I'm all set.”

Jeongguk enters the bedroom as if he was already waiting for the okay. In his hand is the object Taehyung doesn't want to look at, neatly wrapped into a tiny towel. “Let's go, big wolf. I need to get you strong for the next wave.” 

Taehyung smiles at Jeongguk with so much love, his cheeks begin to hurt. It does not stop him, though. Collecting the water bottle, and placing it on the tray, he carries it out of the room, following the younger closely. 

Stepping into the living room, he stops in his tracks. 

“Surprise!” Jeongguk announces loudly, startling Taehyung a little. “I went to my dorm and fetched some of my worn clothes. Would you like to lie down?”

Taehyung abstinencely nods. He can't stop staring at the beautiful nest Jeongguk created. For him. No, for them! It's the first time he's seen one for real, and he's even allowed to use it. “Fuck, pup. I… wow. I can't believe you did this. Can I really? I mean, it looks so perfect. The scent, and then-” he gasps. “Is this the shirt you wore when we've been on the rooftop earlier?” 

Jeongguk shrugs. “Yeah, it had the strongest smell. I thought you'd like it. Now, what are you waiting for? I have a feeling that I'm more excited than you.” He pouts. 

Of course, he can't let him think that he's not thrilled. Taehyung puts the tray on the table and takes in the sight once more. It's beyond perfect. He doesn't want to ruin the nest, but at the same time, he wants to curl himself up in there with Jeongguk wrapped in his arms. He falls just a little more for the omega, if not a lot. It's still surreal. 

“Will you join me? I want you to lie down with me, pup. Please, let's share this nest. It wouldn't be complete without you.” With pleading eyes, Taehyung hopes that his answer would be yes. 

“I was actually hoping you would ask me.” Jeongguk admits with a chuckle. “I want you to understand that this is special. I've never done this before for anyone, except myself. This is me showing you how much you mean to me.” He carefully kneels on the couch so as not to mess it up. Then, he lifts a wool blanket and motions for Taehyung to join him. 

Swallowing nervously, Taehyung carefully climbs onto his colorful couch. Jeongguk’s words make butterflies appear in his stomach. He never did that for anyone, only him. He's special. Storm is dreaming again, planning their mating. This time, Taehyung doesn't stop him because he's sure the omega is the one they're gonna be with forever. Liking him isn't the correct description anymore. That much is clear. He has ultimately fallen in love with him.

Love is a strong word, which Taehyung never knew how strong it is. Maybe it's still puppy love, but he just knows that it'll keep growing over time. With Jeongguk, it's impossible not to. 

“Wow, this must be heaven. It smells so incredibly delicious.” Taehyung buries his nose into Jeongguk’s neck to get it directly from the source. 

The younger wraps his arms around him when he is close enough. They're now cuddled up with no space left. Taehyung’s leg rests between Jeongguk's, and he can feel a bulge on his stomach. The omega is as aroused as him. The smell of slick lies heavy in the air, in a very, very good way. 

Taehyung should probably eat and drink something, but he's already full just from Jeongguk's scent and his presence. 

When Jeongguk begins playing with his hair, while softly singing a beautiful song, it's over for Taehyung. His eyes fall close, losing the battle. He falls asleep without wanting to. However, his body badly needs it. The last thing he felt was something being pressed to his forehead, gentle and soft. 

Waking up because it feels like something is missing, Taehyung initially panics as he can't see Jeongguk. The omega's scent is still strong, but he isn't wrapped up in his strong arms anymore. 

“Jeongguk? Pup?”

Right then, the omega appears from around the corner, having been in the kitchen. “You're awake, Hyung!” He's carrying a familiar tray. “I warmed up our food. You really need to eat now.”

Pushing his nose into the wool blanket, Taehyung inhales deeply. “Every time I smell you, I don't feel hungry anymore.” With grabby hands, he asks for Jeongguk to hurry and come closer. 

Jeongguk shakes his head, amused. “You're not gonna skip this meal, again. I'll feed you, if it means that you'll eat.” 

That said, the younger sits down. Taehyung makes some space. True to his words, Jeongguk begins feeding him his homemade makguksu. 

“Oh my god, that's so good!” Taehyung exclaims, immediately demanding more, earning an endeared smile. 

“It makes me happy to see you enjoy it.” Jeongguk says. He pinches Taehyung’s left cheek. “Look at these bread cheeks.”

With a pout, mouth full of makguksu, Taehyung chews slower. He doesn't want his rut to end, ever because he wants to have the omega by his side every second of his life. 

“What's the matter, Hyung? You look deep in thought.” Jeongguk furrows his eyebrows. “Is there anything bothering you?”

“Yes” Taehyung says, and immediately explains after seeing the frown deepening. “I wish we could freeze time. Having you here is what makes me happy.”

“Oh, Hyung. There's no need to freeze time. I'll be here for you whenever you need me. Will you do the same?” Jeongguk questions almost inaudibly, as if worried that Taehyung wouldn't do the same. 

“Is that even a question, pup? Of course, I'll be by your side. It's weird to feel so strong after such a short time, but at the same time, it just feels right.” Taehyung eats some more of the offered makguksu before he continues. “My grandmother has written a book about soulmates. If you want, we can read it together.”

“Sure, why not. And please call me pup more often. You have no idea what it does to me. I used to hate when alphas called me that for no reason, but when you do it, I wanna combust. It makes me all mushy on the inside.” Jeongguk blushes at the confession. 

“Shit. Okay, I'll remember that. Fuck, you should hear Storm right now. He's going feral.” Taehyung pats his chest, taking a deep breath. 

Suddenly the urge to hump something comes back. It's high time to go back to his bedroom. Taehyung empties a whole bottle of water in one go, then sighs, “Next wave is coming up. I should…” He points to the closed door, which leads to his bedroom. 

“Oh, yes. You should. Uhm, “Jeongguk averts his gaze, “I left you something on your nightstand. I hope you'll enjoy it.” His face and ears turn even redder than before. 

Taehyung has a hunch about what the omega is talking about. If he's right, then this is going to be a ride. “Fuck, for real? Thank you, pup. I can't wait to find out if it is what I think it is.” Standing up quickly, he rushes to his room without looking back, or else, he'd have kissed Jeongguk. 

There, on the nightstand, stands his fleshlight. The scent coming from it fills the entire room. It's a wet dream come true. It's not as good as if it would be coming directly from Jeongguk, but it's a close call. 

Taehyung wonders when Jeongguk filled it with his slick. He carefully grabs the toy so as not to spill any of the sacred liquid, and takes a nose full of the alluring scent. “Damn. This is so fucking good.” He inhales deeply again, holds it in, and then shakily exhales. The growl leaving him comes from deep within his chest. It's loud and possessive. It's a claim. 

Setting the fleshlight down with utter care, Taehyung gets rid of all of his clothes as fast as he can. The slick still felt warm. He doesn't want it to cool down before he starts using it. 

Getting his cock hard is not necessary. His length stands proudly, waiting to be pushed into something, preferably Jeongguk’s tight omega hole, but this fleshlight will have to for now. 

Taehyung would call himself shameless, especially right now. He is fully aware that Jeongguk can hear him moaning his name. Can listen to him describe everything he wants to do with him. 

But… 

It's nothing compared to how shameless Jeongguk is. The omega seems to please himself very close to the bedroom door. The scent of his slick is reaching Taehyung’s nose, and it feels like his needy ass is right there to be eaten out and then fucked. He can't help but growl as reality kicks in. When the person he wants so badly is too far away. 

Jeongguk definitely knows how to rile him up. After the feral sound echoed through the dorm room, his moans became needier and more demanding. The squelching noises are so loud, that it gives Taehyung's imagination the perfect image of him fucking into the omega, and not the fleshlight. It's the perfect illusion to make him cum so hard that his body shakes violently. 

Taehyung has never experienced such an intense orgasm. He wonders if it's going to be stronger when he gets the real thing. Will he survive the intensity? His heart is already beating so loud and fast that Taehyung is afraid he won't be able to handle sex with Jeongguk. 

“Hyung! Fuck, Hyung! I want you. I want you so fucking bad!” Jeongguk is a moaning mess outside Taehyung’s bedroom. He's close. The smell is unmistakable. 

Taehyung is getting hard again and uses his hand this time. The goal is to finish together with the omega. 

This is going to be the best, but also the most challenging rut Taehyung has ever gone through, and it is only the first day… 

Three days later, in which both skipped university on Friday, Taehyung's rut was finally over. Jeongguk stayed the whole time, not even once giving in to their urge to fuck each other. 

Taehyung is incredibly proud of Storm. His wolf was so controlled and behaved that he now wants to reward him somehow. The question is, how? The only thing that he'd like to have is Cloud, which isn't in his hands to give. 

Jeongguk is currently at his own dorm taking a long shower, and catching up with uni stuff. He took all the clothes from the nest with him, and will be back soon. Taehyung is already counting the minutes, but then his doorbell rings. 

Around two hours ago, he asked his mother to bring the book about fated mates, which his grandmother wrote when she was still in her fifties. Song Minsoo was confused by the request but agreed and now stands in front of Taehyung with a huge, brown, and very old looking book in her arms. 

“Here you go, sweetheart. Your granny was obsessed with this book. I hope you will find the answers you're looking for about soulmates here. She was surely gifted, and knew things not many were even aware existed.” Minsoo lovingly smiles at Taehyung. 

It's been a while since they last saw each other. With his parents out of the country most of the time, Taehyung clings to the rare moments when he can see them in person. The company is doing so well that Minsoo is traveling with her husband around the world for business purposes. 

“Thank you, mom.” He takes the book and steps aside to make room for her to come in. “My ome–,  my friend made something delicious to eat before he left. Please try it.” Taehyung motions for his mother to sit down on the couch, then he fetches the Mandoo, Chap Chae, two bowls of rice, and water bottles. Fortunately, he had already prepared the glasses and chopsticks prior. “Eat well, mom. Jeongguk-ah is a really amazing cook.”

Minsoo is in awe. She's trying a dumpling with a self-made sauce and hums full of enjoyment. “These are so good, and the sauce is heavenly! I need the recipe.” 

Taehyung can't stop smiling. He's watching her eat in such a joyful mood. It's contagious. He begins to eat as well, even though his stomach is already so full. 

“Tell, dear, who is Jeongguk?” Minsoo gulps down a big piece of Mandoo. “I only know of Seojoon and Hyungsik. Is he a new friend you made?” 

Seeing how curious his mother is makes Taehyung immensely happy. She still cares a lot about him; not that he ever doubted it. “Yes, mom. He's an omega who asked me out for prom.”

Minsoo frowns. “What the hell is a prom? Some chic cafe?” 

Right. Taehyung forgot that this American way of a gala at college, especially the one held at the end of the academic year for final year students, isn't well known here in Korea, yet. “It's a dance for the students about to graduate from university. You know that we have a lot of students from America, and they suggested it last year for the first time. Since it was a success, they're doing it again this year.”

“I see. Will there be alcohol, naked people?” Minsoo lifts her eyebrows questioningly. It's not a secret that she's prejudging the US students. It's the influence of the media, which often shows the sexcapades in the news when it's spring break. 

Taehyung hates that he blushes. Why does he have to imagine Jeongguk and himself, hiding somewhere naked and wildly making out? He blames his rut. It's the aftermath. 

“There'll be teachers, and some chaperones. I do think that the punch will be spiked with alcohol, but don't worry, Mom. We won't drink anything people offer us. We're not dumb.” 

He has thought about it a lot. He and Jeongguk still need to talk about so many things regarding prom. What's even the theme? Taehyung tries to remember if he saw anything in the hallways, but nothing comes to mind. For now, he shrugs it off. Maybe Jeongguk will know. Well, they'll be back in university tomorrow anyway. 

Minsoo sighs. She's looking at the book. “I trust you. You're old enough, and very mature.” She wants to say more, but is interrupted by a knock on the door. 

Taehyung is sure that it's Jeongguk. He gets up and lets him in. “Hi, pup.” Force of habit, calling him the pet name. He doesn't correct himself, though. The look on the younger's face is just too priceless. He will never get tired of this. 

“Hi, sweetheart.” Jeongguk smiles sweetly, leaning in. Then, he stops what he is about to do when he realizes they are not alone. He clears his throat and looks past Taehyung. “Oh, you have a visitor?”

“My mom, remember? I told you I'd call her. She brought the book.” Taehyung leads the way back to the couch by taking Jeongguk’s hand. 

They don't let go of each other when they're standing in front of Minsoo. 

“Mom, this is Jeongguk.” Taehyung introduces him before turning his attention to the omega. “This is my mom, Song Minsoo.” 

Jeongguk bows as a greeting. “It's nice to meet you. I can see where Hyung got his looks from.” 

“I already love you.” Minsoo chuckles. “Here, sit down, dear. I'd love to stay longer, but I know that you both want to go through this book. Please let me know if you need anything. I'm staying in a hotel close by.” She gets up and claps once, turning back around to face Jeongguk. “Right! I was trying your food, and it was heavenly. You're an amazing cook.”

“Thank you! Oh my goodness, if I'd have known, I'd have made more. Please let me know what your favorite dish is, and I'll make it for you next time.” Jeongguk's eyes light up. 

Taehyung is beyond happy about what's playing in front of him. The omega he's falling for badly, and his mother are already getting along. It doesn't really surprise him, but witnessing it firsthand warms his heart. 

He keeps watching their exchange with a smile on his face. Minsoo is telling him to be careful at prom, and that they should stay by each other’s sides. Taehyung knows that it's her way to give her blessings to their relationship, which is yet to progress to a serious one. Or is it already? Did they cross the lines, yet? He's not sure. 

Minsoo gives Taehyung a tight hug, and kisses his cheek. Since he grew so tall, she isn't able to reach his forehead anymore. “He's a catch, honey. I want him to become my son-in-law. And don't say that you're just friends because I can see how you both look at each other.” She whispers, which is loud enough for everyone to hear. There was no trying to be subtle in the first place. 

Taehyung playfully rolls his eyes. “Mom, don't worry. We're just waiting for the prom to be over, then I'll ask him out. It's just a little silly thing we have decided to wait until then.” 

“Okay. Please send me a lot of pictures of the prom night. You both will look amazing in suits. I'll disown you if my phone stays silent.” Minsoo laughs at her own joke, but there's something that tells Taehyung he shouldn't forget the comment or he's gonna be punished by her—nothing too dramatic. 

“Don't worry because I'll take a lot of pictures for our photo album. There'll also be a booth.” Jeongguk chimes in, winking at Taehyung. 

It satisfies her enough to finally leave after giving Jeongguk a motherly hug without a kiss. That would be too early. They just met for the first time. 

Taehyung and Jeongguk fetch some non-alcoholic drinks and snacks from the small kitchen, and get comfortable on the couch.

While Taehyung opens the book with utter care, so as not to damage any page, Jeongguk munches on a sandwich. “Your mom is so nice.” He mumbles, mouth half full of food. 

“Thank you. She really likes you as well, but you know that already.” 

Jeongguk hums. Taehyung eyes him and sees a wide smile. He wonders if there'll be a time when he doesn't think everything this omega does is adorable. He hopes there won't. 

“Hyung? You're staring at me instead of the book.” 

“That's because you're so cute.”

Silence follows and they just look at each other. Jeongguk has stopped chewing, and Taehyung swears that the swarm of butterflies in his stomach has increased tenfold. This is a magical moment. 

“ Magic ,” Taehyung whispers, getting back to his senses. “Right, the book.” He shakes his head, a little dazed. It feels like they're under a spell right now. It's weird, but also fascinating. 

Jeongguk leans forward to get a better look. He's on his second sandwich. “It says that as soon as fated mates talk to each other for the first time, they'll feel drawn to each other, even though they know nothing about one another.”

“Check.” Taehyung says, “I mean, that's the case for me.”

“Yea, for me, too. Even more so now, that I do know more about you.” Jeongguk agrees, reading further, “Hmm, interesting.”

Taehyung is frowning. It's as if the book was writing down their story until now. Not exactly the events themselves, but more like their behavior. His rut, which came unscheduled, also early. Here it says that the omega triggers it with their scent. It will be the same shortly after for the omega. Then, he gasps. 

Jeongguk gulps the piece of the chewed sandwich down. “Wow. If we didn't have sex while you were in rut, it's going to be impossible for us to stay away from each other when I'm in heat.” He clears his throat, and asks shyly “Does that mean we're going to… you know?”

“Have sex? Yeah.” Taehyung ends the sentence for him, equally sheepishly. “I promise I won't do anything you don't want me to. I'll ask my friends to lock me in the basement of Seojoon's house. Don't worry, okay?”

“Hyung. I'd search for his house and demand the key to the basement. If you don't want to help me through my heat, then I understand, but if you do, then please do your fucking best to satisfy my wolf… and me. It was so hard to hold myself back these last few days. You smelled so delicious, and I think I gained a Taehyung voice kink.” Jeongguk rambles. 

“Pup, take a breath or you'll faint.” Taehyung laughs, but is flustered at the same time. “Of course, I want it. I just thought that you'd want to wait a little more.” He nibbles on his bottom lip. His wolf is seething inside him, in a horny way. All the talk about heat and sex right after they went through a rut is too much for him. “Uh, we should change the topic for now, Storm is getting a little out of control. 

“Tell me about it. Cloud is complaining that we still haven't kissed yet.” Jeongguk makes a funny face to probably hide that he's also questioning why they haven't. 

Taehyung wonders if it's because of him. Did he miss any signs? Does Jeongguk want to get more intimate before prom? He was sure they were on the same wavelength. 

“What else does the book say?” Jeongguk turns the page. 

The change of topic is very much welcomed. Maybe it's better to talk about this later. There could be an explanation somewhere in there, which gives answers to everything they're questioning now. 

Unfortunately, there aren't. His grandmother primarily focused on the things after fated mates mate. However, there's one thing they were surprised about; shifting. 

Nowadays, no one shifts anymore after presenting at the age of seven. But it is possible that mates living in small villages, with a forest right behind their house, still do it. It's just an assumption. What's reality is that city people definitely don't do it. 

Taehyung can't even remember what it feels like. How would it be to give control completely to Storm and just let loose? Will he even be able to shift? It's a mind thing, and the book says that it could be difficult in the beginning. Now that he thinks of it, his grandmother lived in a small village, and he knows for sure that she never mentioned running through the woods in her wolf form. 

“Hyung, how about we try to shift after prom? We could go to the Dream Forest. There's a large lotus pond with a waterfall. It must be so beautiful at night. What do you say?” Jeongguk leans on Taehyung’s shoulder, nosing at his gland, and inhales deeply. “We could be so close to our wolves. The closest we can get. I'm sure they'd love it, too.” He says dreamily, still scenting Taehyung with such care that both let out a soft sigh. 

“Sounds amazing, angel. Let's do that.” Taehyung closes his eyes. He enjoys the cuddles. When Jeongguk puts one of his legs over his own, he places a hand on the meaty thighs, gently squeezing it. The new pet name fits the omega perfectly. He's his angel and came at the perfect moment in his life. 

Taehyung doesn't want to think about what would have happened if he didn't dye his hair blond. Would they still have met? Graduation is near. There wouldn't have been much time left for it to happen. Given his awkwardness with omegas, he doubts that. This has to be fate. Everything. The dare, time, and that he was already so intrigued by his scent shortly before. The moon goddess is incredible. 

Jeongguk falls asleep on him as his soft puffs tickle Taehyung's neck. He leans his head back to rest on the couch. This is exactly where he should be. Together with the one he has learned to love. This tells him that he made the right choices in life. 

Closing his eyes, Taehyung slips into a beautiful dream about wolves, which run side by side through a forest. The wind brushing their fur, the moon watching over them. They're carefree, playful, and sometimes stop to take a rest, cuddled up tightly. 

An alarm startles them both awake. Taehyung looks at his phone and his eyes widen. 

“Fuck! It's Monday! We slept through the night." 

Jeongguk groans, stretching his limbs with a yawn. “Let's skip. There aren't any important things to do anyway. Exams are over.” 

He rolls on top of Taehyung, who holds him by his waist. 

“Are you sure?”

“Yea. Let's discuss the prom, and then go shopping. I want us to take the breath away from everyone who sees us together.” Jeongguk goes back to sleeping soundly with his head on Taehyung's chest. 

Looking down, Taehyung wants to nom Jeongguk's bready cheeks. They're so squishy and rosy. The urge is big, but he just smiles. Maybe another time. 

This feels domestic. He carefully grabs his phone from the table and opens the camera. Taehyung snaps a few photos of Jeongguk, and when he finally gets one that shows his cuteness best, he sets it as his phone's background picture. Sleep overcomes him again, and he hopes to join Jeongguk in his dreams. 

After a very late breakfast, which can be seen as lunch, they return to bed. Taehyung turns on his laptop, which is standing where usually his pillows are. 

“I checked the uni's homepage. The theme of the prom is Starry Sky.” Jeongguk rolls into his stomach, to show what he has found. He takes the laptop and types something into Google searches, and a page with suits pops up. “Look at these, Hyung!”

Taehyung slides closer to him, their sides touching. Jeongguk is pointing at two dark blue two-piece suits. They sparkle beautifully. He's immediately enchanted. “They're amazing, angel. Is it a shop in Seoul?”

Jeongguk nods, proudly. “Yes, I made sure to only look at shops where we can try them on. I don't like to shop for suits online, and then it won't fit.”

“That would be annoying. I already love them. Do you want to look for others, or?” Taehyung saves the tab for later, just in case. 

“No, I was actually hoping that you would like them as much as I do.” Jeongguk leans in, pecking Taehyung's jaw. “What's next.” He whispers against his skin. 

Taehyung has many ideas about what they could do next, but none of them includes a laptop or anything other than the omega. But he has already planned on when to kiss him for the first time. He knows that Jeongguk is letting him be the one who's going to initiate it. It's a silent agreement, sort of. 

He wants to ask him to be his boyfriend, and then seal it with a kiss. Taehyung isn't worried about the answer. It's just a formality by now. Truth be told, the wait, the tension, and the time spent together have made him so excited to finally ask Jeongguk. 

Taehyung has never spent so much time with anyone before. Jeongguk has been at his dorm since his rut began three days ago, and the fourth day is now starting.

Thinking of what to answer him, Taehyung goes through the two movies he has watched that included a prom. There are the clothes, what else? Flowers? These are small ones that girls wear around their wrists. Or a limousine to the Hall. 

Storm comes up with an idea, but Taehyung immediately shuts him down. Why would they need to make a plan about bringing condoms? Stupid wolf. He will just put some in his pocket to be prepared. There's no need to mention that, though. 

Taehyung rolls his eyes. 

“Hyung. Are you having a conversation with Storm?” Jeongguk laughs. “It looks so funny. What is he telling you?” 

Should he be honest, even if it'll make him look like a horny teenager? 

“Come on, nothing can shock me.” Jeongguk nudges Taehyung a few times. Every time, it's a little harder. “Hyuuuung, I wanna know.” Then he pouts. 

How can he say no now? Jeongguk is not playing fair. So Taehyung sighs exaggeratedly. “Fineee, but it was his idea, not mine. Keep that in mind.”

After Jeongguk gives him a thumbs up, Taehyung hides his face in the younger's side and mumbles, “Storm wants me to bring condoms…” he whines from embarrassment. 

Jeongguk laughs again until some tears appear. He wipes them away. “Why are our wolves so horny?” He shakes his head, amused. 

“Our?” Taehyung is confused. Does that mean…

“Yes, Cloud requested the same. He even threatened me that if he can't have Storm soon, he's gonna go feral.” Jeongguk plays with his lip rings. “I told him that I want you as much. I can't wait for prom to come.”

Taehyung loves his bluntness so fucking much. They already agreed to go further, so it's happening for sure. The thing is, he'd love to do it without condoms. They already made an online appointment to get tested on the second day of his rut. It's better to be safe than sorry. 

“Wow, how did we get from suits to sex? Are we really that needy?” Taehyung groans. He fails to suppress a smile. Jeongguk just shrugs with a big grin. 

Now that that's out of the way, they can pick up where they last left off. Taehyung wants them to wear these pretty flower wristbands, and Jeongguk knows someone from whom they can rent a limousine, including a driver, without having to pay. His uncle owns a car shop, and manages the limo service on the side. 

The rest of Monday is spent with cuddles, scenting, a movie marathon, and more cuddles. Taehyung could do this every day for the rest of his life. He can't imagine being without him anymore. He doesn't want to think about how lonely he actually was all these years, now experiencing what it feels like to have someone like him by his side.

In Seojoon and Hyungsik, he has great friends, but they're busy most of the time since they graduated. Adult life does that to you. Taehyung never minded because he was also busy with studying. 

Now, however, he can't wait to graduate, but first, prom night will come and officially make Jeongguk his boyfriend. Taehyung wants the days to go by faster. One week. One week is still so fucking long in his eyes. 

The days feel as if they have a lot more than twenty-four hours. After Jeongguk had to go back to his dorm on Monday night, they talked on the phone for hours to make up for being unable to physically sleep next to each other.

Taehyung and Jeongguk can finally find time to meet again on Thursday. The suit shopping goes surprisingly well. The jackets fit almost perfectly on each of them, but their pants need to be tailored at the waist for both of them. The tailor will do the alterations by Friday afternoon for pickup. 

After that wasn't on their bucket list anymore, the pair could relax more. Looking for the wrist flowers will only take maybe an hour, if even, and they'll do it the day before prom. 

Yoongi already confirmed the limousine booking. He also appointed their best driver for them. According to him, they can also use it afterward for the Dream Forest trip. The driver will most likely take a nap, but will be reachable anytime through his phone. 

The last night before prom is nerve wrecking for Taehyung. They received their health check results, and they were clean and healthy. Now, he can't stop painting pictures of him taking Jeongguk raw. Storm eagerly supported his thoughts. The wolf also can't wait to shift. 

Taehyung wanted Jeongguk to sleep over, but the omega said he wanted to meet up with his best friend. Probably a good choice, given his horny thoughts. 

It's the last day for them as singles, which is why Taehyung could understand Jeongguk’s desire to meet Hoseok. Funnily enough, Seojoon and Hyungsik had called him right after he hung up with Jeongguk. They asked him if they could come over for their movie night. It had been a while since they last did it. 

Taehyung enjoys the night with his best friends a lot. He tells them about everything that has happened with Jeongguk so far. He describes his strong feelings and his plans to mate him one day.

Mating isn't really a concept they do nowadays, or well, for a very long time now. It has to be done in wolf form. Not even his grandparents or their parents were mated. His friends were shocked, but after showing them his grandmother's book, they supported his decision. 

Taehyung is honestly so nervous. In less than 24 hours, he'll be in a relationship, will kiss the love of his life for the very first time, and is going to say goodbye to his virginity. 

It's past midnight, so Seojoon and Hyungsik have left by now. Taehyung is lying in his bed with wide open eyes, and a fast beating heart. He can't fall asleep. 

Eyeing his phone, he wonders if Jeongguk is still awake as well. 

Unfortunately, he doesn't reply to his message, but Taehyung is glad that the omega is already sleeping. Listening to one of the longer voice notes Jeongguk had sent him a while ago, he finally drifts off, but smiling. 

Waking up to the annoying sound of his alarm clock, Taehyung groans. He turns around in his bed and presses his face into the soft pillow. It still smells like Jeongguk. He doesn't want to get up. 

Then, he remembers what day it is today. He takes one last deep breath to make the scent linger and gets up in a way better mood. 

Taehyung hums a happy melody while taking a shower, brushing his teeth, and then getting dressed casually for now. 

The suits they picked up on Friday fit now perfectly. He eyes his’ when walking past the wardrobe, where it's neatly hung up on a hanger. They decided on white and light blue colored flowers for the wristbands. It looks amazing with the dark blue, glittery suits. Taehyung is ready for tonight. 

As he leaves his dorm and walks to Jeongguk’s, many students outside to gossip and tease each other. The whole atmosphere is great. He has a grin plastered on his face when a few of the omegas check him out from head to toe, whispering how jealous they are of Jeongguk. 

Recently, Taehyung realized how desired the younger is within the alphas. They still tried to ask him out for prom, even though they knew very well that he was going with Taehyung. They're so shameless. Jeongguk turned them down nicely. He's such a heartthrob. 

Taehyung didn't notice that the omegas on campus didn't approach or give him the same attention Jeongguk was getting. He learned later that it was because Jeongguk made sure of it. The younger confessed to maybe threatening an omega or two to back off. He may or may not find that a little hot. 

Knocking on Jeongguk’s door, Taehyung waited with sweaty hands for him to open it. He doesn't like going to the omega dorms. The mix of heavy scents makes him want to cover his nose until all he smells is his omega only. 

“Hyung! Come in. I'm not ready yet. I'm so sorry.” Jeongguk says and rushes back to the bathroom.

Taehyung chuckles. “I'm too early, no need to apologize.” He sits down on the black couch and looks around. He loves how it's decorated. Jeongguk is a really talented photographer. As a future designer, he wants him to capture his work one day. He'd love to work together with him. 

There's a picture of them hanging on the wall between bedroom and bathroom. It's decorated with fresh, purple flowers. Jeongguk took it when they were on the rooftop. He used the sun perfectly. They look ethereal together. 

“Do you like it?” Jeongguk asks. 

Taehyung noticed him coming out of the bathroom, but he was too mesmerized by the picture and how it was presented. He shakes himself back to reality, and gives the younger a smiling nod. “It's breathtaking. Your talent is really amazing, angel.” 

The praise makes Jeongguk a little dumbfounded, which is cute. He captures his bottom lip between his teeth. 

Taehyung stares at the beautiful mole right under his lower lip. He wants to kiss it. Storm reminds him that it's only a few more hours. 

Jeongguk clears his throat while scratching the back of his head. His hair is still damp from the shower. “It was luck. The sun was just at the right position.”

“Don't play your talent down. It was both luck and talent. I would not be able to capture us like that with the same surroundings.” Taehyung gets up from the couch and slowly walks over to Jeongguk. “Say it.” He whispers as soon as he's close. “Say that you're talented.”

“Hyung, that's stupid.” Jeongguk whines. His eyes are focused on Taehyung’s mouth. 

“It's the truth, though. My baby is the most talented photographer out there, and he's going to get the Oscar for best photography one day.” 

“Do you perhaps mean the Pulitzer Prize for Photography?” Jeongguk laughs. “That's most unlikely. The type of photos I wanna take won't get me such a prize. But thank you for believing in me. It means a lot.” He pecks Taehyung's cheeks and goes to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. 

With a little gasp, Taehyung starts breathing again. He's so fucked. If this tiny kiss is already taking his breath away, how bad will it be if he kisses him for real? Should he be worried about getting a heart attack? 

“Let's go, I'm so hungry.” Jeongguk is once again back, and he's wearing a stylish hoodie with tight black jeans. 

Looking down on himself, Taehyung knew he shouldn't have worn these jogging pants… 

They go to their favorite coffee shop, and order a couple breakfasts, including herbal tea for Taehyung and black coffee for Jeongguk. 

Both talk about the meeting with their friends. Taehyung loves how happy Jeongguk is while recalling the night with Hoseok. He listens to each word, with his head resting between his palms, heart-eyes on display. 

When the waiter brings their food and drinks, they feed each other. Taehyung always looks deep into Jeongguk's big, beautiful, brown eyes, and hums around the fork. 

Jeongguk's face shows a permanent smile. He is so happy. They both are. Taehyung wants to kiss the crumbs off the corner of his lips, but decides to use his thumb instead. Careful, with a gentle touch, he brushes over the soft skin. Jeongguk closes his eyes, seemingly enjoying it. 

They were lost in each other, and time flew by. They need to go back to their dorm to sleep a little. The night is going to be long and exhausting. 

At Jeongguk's dorm door, Taehyung leans in to peck the Omega's cheek. “Sleep well, angel. I can't wait to see you later.”

“Dream of me, baby.” Jeongguk grins. Then, he unlocks the door with his key card and steps into his dorm. Their fingers at the tips are still connected. 

Taehyung, being dramatic, whines as they slip away from each other. “I'm gonna miss you.”

“You're such a sap. It's only five hours.” Jeongguk hurriedly closes the gap between them once more, pinching Taehyung’s cheeks. “I wanna bite them.” He growls a little to empathize the urge to do so. 

This time, Jeongguk really enters his dorm, and closes the door with a small, cute wave of his fingers. 

Taehyung blows him a kiss. He sighs, “I really already miss you.”

“I can still hear you, Hyung!” Comes from the inside, followed by giggles. 

Shaking his head endeared, Taehyung leaves after saying loud enough for Jeongguk to hear, “My adorable dork.”

Back at his own dorm, he immediately grabs a shirt he discovered. It smells like Jeongguk. He takes a deep breath, pushing his nose against the fabric. The omega dorm always overwhelms him when he can't smell the younger anymore. He and his wolf don't like other scents anymore. Surprisingly, Hyungsik's scent didn't bother him at all, probably because he sees him as a brother. 

Taehyung takes a long nap, if it can even be called one. He dreams for what feels like hours of their wolves playing together in a forest, drinking from a pond, and cuddling close to rest. He feels at peace. 

Fortunately, he set his alarm to wake him up at eight in the evening. One hour until the driver is going to fetch them. Taehyung looks in the mirror and frowns at his bed hair. He runs a hand through his blond locks, loving how it suits him. 

There's just one problem. Taehyung wants to wear makeup, but he has only things for dark hair in his drawer. Will it look good? Maybe he's lucky. 

He fetches the jacket of his suit and puts it over his shoulders. First, he applies a decent red on his eyelids, only enough to be seen if you're close. Then, with a steady hand, Taehyung draws a perfect line of eyeliner on each eyelid, and next is black mascara. His eyelashes appear even longer than before.

He nods at the result. It's not bad. After all, it fits the whole look. He fucking loves it! Will Jeongguk, too? 

Taehyung shakes the thought off, and is eyeing the lip glosses. Should he use a decent color? He goes with a pretty, light red, matching his eyelids. 

Seeing the result of his work, he thinks this is the best he ever did, and that on the first try. 

Taehyung grabs the perfume bottle, but remembers that Jeongguk has a sensitive nose. And there's also Cloud, who would hate him if he'd put some artificial scent on him. He would crave the pure, unadulterated alpha scent when he buries his snout into Storm's fur. 

Taehyung can relate, honestly. He appreciates that Jeongguk never uses any deodorant, aftershave, or something like that. 

Finally, he puts on his beautiful suit, even though there's still too much time left for his mind to drift off. Taehyung sits down on the couch, staring at the flowers he's going to give Jeongguk. His heart begins to beat faster as the minutes pass. His palms become a little sweaty. It's as if he's about to marry the love of his life today, but they're not even boyfriends, yet. 

Calming himself down by walking through the room instead, Taehyung checks the clock on the wall every two minutes. Would it look too desperate if he'd just go over to him right now? 

No, Taehyung is sure Jeongguk must be as impatient as him. 

He collects a few things that he might need tonight; student ID, money, key card, and some gum. Then he goes, with a skip in his step, to the younger. 

When he knocks at the door, it immediately opens to the breathtaking sigh of Jeongguk, all ready and smelling so fucking good of almonds and milk. His own scent spikes, and it mixes so deliciously. 

“Hey,” Taehyung says breathily. “You look stunning, angel.” He just knows that they're going to steal the attention of everyone tonight. 

“Hey.” Jeongguk's smile is blinding. He has put on some light makeup as well. They coincidentally have chosen the same color for their eyelids, but his pretty lips are painted in a little darker red and are more shiny. 

Damn, Taehyung wants to taste him so bad. It should be illegal to look this hot. He wants to say so much, but words won't leave his mouth. Dumbfounded, he just stares at him. 

“Cat got your tongue, Hyung? What is it? You look like you want to devour me.” Jeongguk is a tease, what's new. He wiggles his eyebrows, and bites down on the not pierced side of his bottom lip. 

“You got that right, pup. If we wouldn't have planned the night already, I'd say fuck this prom, and let me show you how much I wanna devour you.” Taehyung looks him up and down, then gazes at the mirror behind Jeongguk, where he can see his well formed, muscular butt. These pants are definitely worth their money. 

Jeongguk blushes when he realizes where Taehyung’s eyes are. Still, he doesn't turn around to hide. On the contrary, he pushes his ass out a little more. “Like what you see?” And asks the typical question. 

Taehyung should feel caught because that's exactly what he is, however, he smirks instead. “You have no idea how much. I bet these round cheeks would feel incredible under my palms.” Letting out a needy sound, he lifts his arms to mimic how he's holding and squeezing them. 

The omegas around them watch their exchange with interest. Some openly say that they wish they had an alpha like Taehyung, others are looking at them with jealousy without saying anything. 

Jeongguk laughs, slapping Taehyung’s arm playfully. “You're so funny!” But then, he whispers for only Taehyung to hear, “I can't wait. Soon, Hyung. Soon, you can touch me as much as you want, and where you want.” 

The wink and implication being thrown at Taehyung makes him weak in the knees. “Pup, you have no idea what you're doing to me.” He grits his teeth, holding himself back to not capture his lips. It's getting harder and harder. 

“Oh, I know very well.” Is what Jeongguk says before he steps out of the threshold and closes the door behind himself. 

Taehyung doesn't step back. Their chests almost touch after Jeongguk has turned back around to face him. He can breathe in his warm, minty breath. He can't hold himself back anymore. That's just not possible. The omega is basically begging to be kissed. 

Taehyung lifts his arm, cups Jeongguk's left cheek, and leans in. He feels him holding his breath and sees him closing his eyes. His mouth slightly parts, expectantly. They're so close. If the universe isn't stopping them now, they're going to ruin the plan and kiss. 

It seems as if the universe wants them to go according to the plan because Jeongguk's phone begins to ring. Taehyung exhales, but is it from disappointment or relief? He's not sure. 

Jeongguk takes the call without moving away. They lock eyes while he talks to the person on the other side of the line, “Hello? Yes, we're ready. Of course, thank you. We'll be there in five minutes.”

“The driver?” A rhetorical question. Taehyung already knows it's him. 

Jeongguk checks his pockets to make sure he didn't forget anything. “Mhm, let's go.”

They walk while holding hands. Everyone should see that they're together, even if it's not yet official, but that's only for them to know. The way isn't long, maybe three minutes, so they take their time. 

Taehyung is softly brushing his thumb over the side of Jeongguk's hand, up to his knuckles. They leave the university grounds and immediately can see the white limousine. Yoongi made sure to send the best and prettiest they own. The driver greets them with a friendly bow, his hands together on his front. He's wearing a black suit and a typical chauffeur hat. The man must be around thirty or forty, and has a sympathetic face. There's only a very faint scent coming from him, which means that he's a beta. 

“Good evening, Mister Go. Thank you for waiting.” Jeongguk bows back, with Taehyung doing the same. 

Mister Go, or Baekhan, smiles at them. “It's my pleasure. I'll be at your service until you don't need me anymore. Please take a seat.” He opens the door, making space for them to get into the limousine. After making sure they're comfortable, he closes the door and rounds the car to get into the driver's seat. 

Taehyung notices that an opaque wall has been raised between the driver's and passenger compartments. They are going to have enough privacy. After all, the drive to the Hall is around twenty minutes. 

Their university always rents an empty factory building for this event. It's in the middle of nowhere, where the noise won't disturb any neighborhood. Most of the students are sharing a limousine or a driver service, as availability is limited. 

They're just lucky that the owner of the limousine service and Jeongguk are related, so they didn't have to worry about anything. Taehyung can't stress enough how glad he is not to share the backseat with anyone other than his lovely omega. 

The limousine begins to move. Taehyung is sitting so Jeongguk is facing him. The seats are pretty long, and there's a bar where the trunk should be. 

“Are you thirsty?” Jeongguk grins. He points toward the bar with his chin and a nod of his head. 

Taehyung is thirsty, but for more than one thing. Jeongguk looks so sinfully good, that he doesn't want to share him with others. He'll for sure get a little jealous seeing the alphas undress him with their eyes. Storm will be tested tonight, and he's sorry for this. Still, he trusts the younger blindly. He's certain Jeongguk won't ever give them the attention they ask for. 

A drink suddenly sounds amazing. “Yea, but something non-alcoholic, please.” 

Jeongguk hums, sliding down the long seat elegantly, and opens the door of the fridge. There are different beverages in it. He grabs two bottles of Coke and slides back to where he was before. “Here you go, honey.”

After quenching their thirst, they make some small talk. At some point, Taehyung puts the beautiful flowers on Jeongguk’s wrist, and vice versa. 

It isn't easy not to touch Jeongguk's muscular thighs. Taehyung knows he's obvious by staring at them from time to time. But the younger has his palms placed on them, and it's just so tempting to hold them, while at the same time feeling him up. It'd be inappropriate, though. 

“Hey, we've arrived. Let's go, Hyung.” 

Jeongguk brings him back to his senses, which was a perfect timing. He was all ready to reach out. 

Taehyung leaves first, and helps Jeongguk gentleman-like out of the vehicle. There are already so many people here that it becomes a little overwhelming for a moment. Pretty girls in dresses, handsome boys in suits. In between are two or three pairs who have switched roles. Some prom dates of the same gender wear rainbow wristbands instead of flowers. 

Taehyung frowns, why didn't he think of this? The feeling doesn't last long, and it turns into a shy smile as Jeongguk intertwines their fingers and pulls him to the entrance. 

There's loud music. Students and the chaperones are dancing and having fun. A couple, obviously already drunk, almost stumbles into them. 

“Okay, we should avoid the punch.” Jeongguk giggles. Both agreed to stay completely sober. They can celebrate tomorrow. 

As expected, many alphas had their eyes on Jeongguk. Taehyung becomes a little possessive, pulling him closer to him by his hips. He makes sure to whisper into his ear at any given opportunity, to make him laugh and lean more toward him. The message was delivered. 

Jeongguk must have realized why he was doing it because he pulled Taehyung to a silent corner. “Baby, I love when you're jealous.”

“Of course, you do.” 

“Well, it's not like I don't wanna scratch these horny omegas’ eyes out because I don't like how they're looking at you, too.”

Taehyung is confused. He hasn't noticed any eyes on him, but doesn't mention it. Hearing him again admit to not liking the attention apparently makes him giddy. They both might be a little possessive of each other. 

“Don't worry pup, I have mine only on you.” Taehyung winks, licking between his lips, and watches something in Jeongguk’s gaze change. For some reason, he feels like his prey right now, but in a very, very sexy way. 

“May I have this dance?” Jeongguk bows lightly, one hand behind him on his back, the other outstretched for Taehyung to take, if he accepts. 

He'd be an idiot to decline it. “With the greatest pleasure, my Lord.” Taehyung almost chuckles. He can fortunately bite it back to look more serious. 

Jeongguk leads Taehyung to the middle of the dancefloor, right underneath the glittery, spinning disco ball. He looks at the omega in awe. The light is reflecting on him, and he sparkles so beautifully, as if he had escaped from a fairy tale to see reality.

Taehyung can't imagine anyone else he wants to spend the rest of his life with. He can't explain it. A special kind of gut feeling would probably be the best way to describe it.

Jeongguk is leading the dance, which doesn't bother Taehyung at all. The rhythm of the song is fast, so every now and then the younger spins him in circles, only to catch him in his strong arms.

Never has Taehyung laughed so heartily and honestly in his life as he does right now. Tears flow freely down his cheeks. Jeongguk makes the funniest moves one can imagine, like a robot or a tube man filled with air. He doubles over laughing, and Jeongguk can't help but follow suit.

It infects the others around them. Some of them imitate the omega, and soon a group has formed that mirrors his funny moves.

This situation only dissolves when the DJ suddenly starts playing slow, romantic music. It was a total contrast to what they were just dancing to.

Taehyung and Jeongguk slowly come down from the silly mode and become soft. They close the distance. 

Jeongguk wraps his arms around Taehyung’s neck, and a small smile spreads across his face.

Taehyung's hands find space on Jeongguk's waist, and both of them sway their bodies in rhythm to the song. They're slow dancing and happy. 

If Storm hadn't given him the idea to finally kiss Jeongguk, he would most likely have missed this perfect moment.

Under the glittering ball, with the romantic music in the background, for Taehyung this really represents the perfect moment of the evening so far.

He leans back a little so they can look at each other. Jeongguk has a slightly confused frown on his face, but when Taehyung mouths, “May I kiss you?” the frown disappears and bright, approving eyes appear, followed by an almost invisible nod.

That’s enough of an answer for Taehyung. But he suddenly becomes quite nervous. He doesn't want to make a mistake like biting his lip or having too much saliva.

His worries are interrupted when Jeongguk brings him close with a gentle pull. “Hyung, I’m dying over here. I hope you haven’t changed your mind.”

How could he? He hasn't been able to think about anything else for days. He would be an idiot if he backed out now.

Taehyung’s eyes easily find Jeongguk’s birthmark right under his bottom lip. He almost gets lost in it. His heart begins to beat faster. His breathing hitches. He sees Jeongguk’s lips form into a smile, making him look up.

Jeongguk seems to be the one who can't stand waiting anymore. He presses his lips gently against Taehyung's and sighs.

Taehyung's grip on Jeongguk's hips tightens as the warmth of their mouths sends his entire body into a kind of frenzy. Every movement and every sound is noticeable on his skin or in his system.

It's incredibly magical.

Then, just like that, the kiss is over. Jeongguk literally jumped away from him as if burned. “Fuck, Hyung. Let's skip. I need more, so much more. You don’t understand.”

“Not yet, angel.” Taehyung pouts. He still wants to ask him to be his boyfriend. 

As if Jeongguk knew exactly what he meant by that, he shakes his head. “Ask me in the park. I've got to get out of here. Please.” 

Something is very wrong. Taehyung trusts Jeongguk, so he follows him straight away. Still, he is worried. And when they reached the limousine and Mister Go closed the door behind them, Taehyung just had to ask. “Baby, what happened?”

Jeongguk stares at him. His pupils are dilated, making his eyes appear almost black. 

Taehyung smells it. His scent is suddenly so strong that it awakens Storm. “Heat?”

“Shit, yeah. But it's not too strong yet. Perfect timing since we wanted to have sex anyway.” Jeongguk chuckles, but it sounds deep and very aroused.

"Are you sure?" Careful, and with a gentle voice, Taehyung wants to make sure everything is okay. He doesn't want him to think he's not up for it anymore. Well, the message didn't get through, as it seems. 

Jeongguk growls, “Have you changed your mind? We knew this could happen. Cloud knows what to do, and I'll hand over the leadership to him when we arrive. He says that the shifting has to come from the wolf. Please, babe. You can't back out now.” His eyes become glossy. 

Taehyung feels so bad. “Hey, pup, look at me!” He searches for his eyes until they lock. “Good, now listen carefully.” Caressing his cheek, he slowly leans in to peck his mouth. “I'll stay by your side for the rest of our lives. I want this, and I want you. Jeongguk, be my boyfriend? I'll love and cherish you until the end. I love you so much.” 

“Don't make me cry, idiot.” Jeongguk sobs and weakly slaps Taehyung’s chest. “Of course, I wanna be your boyfriend. This sounded more like a wedding proposal, though.” He just had to add a little joke. 

Nevertheless, it didn't stop Taehyung from straddling Jeongguk's lap to go for another kiss. This time, there's no softness to it. It's wild, hungry, and maybe a little bruising. They don't care. The want for each other is stronger than anything else. 

Storm wants to take control, and Taehyung lets him. But the wolf doesn't take over completely just yet, not in the limousine. They need to be in nature, free of any restriction. There's not enough space in here. 

“Fuck, Hyung. I want… no, I need you so badly.” Jeongguk moans shamelessly, thrusting upwards to get some friction. 

Taehyung is going to hate himself for what he's about to say because truth to be told, he'd love to take him right here and there. Knot him, pump him full of his cum until it's too much to stay inside his needy, and used hole. He growls at the thought, but his wolf is also getting quite impatient. He wants to shift since they agreed to it. It's been days. 

“You have no idea how much I wanna give you what you want, but we need to—” Taehyung is interrupted by the car stopping a little roughly. He gets off Jeongguk’s lap and back to his seat. 

The door opens to an apologetic looking Baekhan. “I'm sorry for the shaking. We've arrived at the park and I think I have to change a tire.” He smiles sheepishly. 

Jeongguk and Taehyung get out of the limousine, seeing what he's talking about. The right front tire is flat. 

“Can we help you?” Taehyung asks, worried. The limo is heavy, and the ground looks a bit muddy and unstable. 

Baekhan waves the idea off, “No need, Sir. I already called a friend to come over. He's going to help me. You both, have fun!”

The message is clear. Their driver basically shooshes them away. Taehyung clears his throat and mentions Jeongguk to follow him. They walk for a little while, looking at their surroundings. It's so beautiful here. Dream Forest may have gotten its name from an amusement park, but it definitely fits the vibes. There's so much to explore, but right now, the couple wants only one thing, and that's to shift — well, and to have sex, but it has to be postponed a little bit. 

They go into one of the woods, deep enough not to be seen by anyone randomly walking through the park at night. It's almost midnight. 

It becomes unnaturally quiet around them. Only the rustling of the leaves in the wind can be heard. The owl, which was hooting a few minutes ago, has now fallen silent.

Jeongguk and Taehyung know that the animals can sense it. Their wolves have already taken over some of the control, and will soon do so completely, but their scent by now is strong and a warning. 

They disappear behind different tree trunks to get rid of their clothes.

Taehyung is naked and freezing; he waits for Storm to step forward and take over his body. He himself will notice every detail that happens, but he won't be able to intervene until his wolf gives back control. He trusts the alpha completely.

“Storm, it’s time.” Taehyung mentally prepares himself. In his thoughts, he repeats a word repeatedly ‘shift, shift, shift’. He imagines his existence changing. With the wolf's will and his approval, he hopes it won't take too long. The book has clearly stated that there should be no doubt.

Doubt is the last thing Taehyung has anyway. He is excited, nervous and can hardly wait. Maybe that was exactly what started the process.

Storm howls. His wolf is getting stronger. He fights for the upper hand.

Taehyung notices something changing. His body starts to hurt. When he looks at his hand, he can see his fingers curling. The pain gets worse. He groans, falls to the ground and lets out a scream.

Jeongguk doesn't seem to be doing any better. Taehyung can hear him clearly. He wants to help him, and reduce his pain. Unfortunately, this is not possible.

With the last of his strength he calls out his name, “Jeongguk, baby. Hang in there. It'll be over soon!” At least he hopes so. It feels like a lot of time has passed, but it's probably only two or three minutes.

Storm is doing good at gaining more and more control. Taehyung feels every bone deforming, but the pain lessens. He tries to remember the words in the book. His grandmother had described how the process works. His sense of what is happening diminishes once his wolf has taken over more than half of his body. It's kind of a protection mechanism. The alpha has a much higher pain tolerance.

Taehyung tries to relax and lets go. He doesn't fight it.

“H-hyung!”

He hears Jeongguk groan. It's difficult for him to answer now. Nothing comes out of him except a growl, but it's important to him that his boyfriend knows that he's with him, even if only in thought.

Then, everything proceeds very quickly, and Taehyung slips. He is fully conscious, but has now lost all control of his body.

He feels himself moving. His vision improves. Taehyung relaxes more and more. Storm takes a few steps, stretches his limbs and shakes himself. The feeling is incredible for Taehyung. He feels free, almost weightless.

Storm steps out from behind the tree and Taehyung can see everything he sees. His fur is jet black and shiny. His wolf has a white spot on the tip of his right front paw.

«Storm, you are so beautiful!» Taehyung praises him. «My God, so so beautiful.» He feels the alpha fill with pride.

«Thanks. I hope Cloud shares your opinion.» Storm snickers in their mind.

It doesn't take long for Taehyung to see Jeongguk's wolf and it blows his breath away. «Wow. We are so lucky. Look at him! I have never seen such a breathtakingly gorgeous wolf in my life. No offense.»

«None taken, I agree with you!» Storm is shaking a little. “Shit, I’m so nervous. Cloud is a dream come true.”

The omega has shiny white fur, and his eyes are a bright blue. Taehyung is sure Storm's eyes must be red. Their gazes meet and the world suddenly stands still.

Taehyung's entire existence begins to waver. He feels a pull that he can't describe. It's so strong that he urges the alpha to go over to them, to touch and do whatever it takes to show that they want them, need them. 

He doesn't have to say this twice. Storm is moving forward. Slowly and carefully. Every step is precisely calculated. His attention is completely focused on Cloud's reaction.

But nothing can hold the alpha back when the omega tilts his head to the side and presents himself. He starts to run faster and only stops when their muzzles are almost touching.

Taehyung loves this. He can feel what his wolf feels. He is full of desire, but also awe and respect. It's a lot that comes over him at once. Taehyung is overwhelmed in a positive way by the pull towards each other. He wants to slide his fingers through the soft fur, caress and cuddle him.

Maybe another time. Maybe one day it's possible that Storm can hold back for a few minutes so that only Jeongguk shifts and he can do all these things. 

He doesn't expect an answer to that at this moment. His wolf is too busy rubbing his nose against Cloud's. They sniff each other for a while.

Storm slowly moves toward his back and stops at the omega’s behind. Cloud raises his tail and Taehyung holds his breath as the alpha starts to sniff it. If he were human right now he would probably be blushing.

To his wolf, the omega smells amazing. He's healthy and pliant. Storm howls, making Cloud turn around immediately. A little playful dance around each other begins, and Taehyung is full of joy. 

They chase each other like that catch-me-if-you-can game that Taehyung always sees in K-dramas.

Cloud is being hunted, and Storm obviously keeps letting him slip away. That is until he suddenly leaps and captures the omega beneath him. Taehyung hears him grin as he says, «got you baby. Now you are mine.»

Of course, Cloud can't hear him, but that doesn't change the fact that he seems to know exactly what Storm is thinking. A loud snort at least suggests so. 

What happens next shocks him, though. The omega, still underneath them, Cloud presents his neck eagerly, whining needily. Is that what he thinks it is? Does Cloud want to be mated to them? Everything points to it.

Taehyung remembers what was written in the book. Their human side won't decide if they will mate. Their wolves will decide it. Their natural instinct is stronger than anything else. They know what to do, and when to do it. It's in their genes. Storm and Cloud are meant to be together, and it was never as clear as now. 

Storm confirms his suspicions. «Mate. Cloud accepts us. Our mate.»

Then it happens. Storm is opening his jaw, leaning down. The sharp teeth penetrate through the thick fur and skin. Taehyung can taste the blood on his tongue, even though it's not really possible. An electrifying tornado, starting at his toes, and ending at the back of his head, flows through him. He almost passes out at the breathtaking feeling, but before he can, Storm pulls his teeth out and howls so loudly that it echoes through the entire forest and further. Birds fly away in fear, bunnies and deers run to hide. Then, it's dead silent again, only the heavy breathing of both wolves can be heard. 

Cloud gives himself to Storm, creating thunder that sparks through their bodies.

«Fuck! What was that?»

Taehyung is snapped out of his euphoria. That voice in his head isn't Storm's. It sounds like Jeongguk, albeit a little deeper.

Why can he hear him? Was it just an imagination? If not, it should definitely work the other way around, too.

«Pup, are you there?» Taehyung waits, hoping to hear his mate's voice, which to him is the most beautiful sound on earth. 

«Hyung?»

«Hey baby. Oh my. Is that true? How can that be?»

«I have no idea, but I fucking love it. I always wanted to hear your thoughts, know what you think.»

The book did not mention this situation. Taehyung clearly remembers that there was no mind link written in the book. His grandma must have been unaware, and he's upset he can't tell her about this incredible discovery. She would have been amazed. He's going to make sure to add it later. 

«It’s only possible if you both shift.»

«Cloud?» Taehyung can't believe he can even hear Jeongguk's wolf as well. He sounds so soft, angelic even. 

«Hi Taehyung.» Cloud answers him happily.

Now that Storm has his eyes open again, Taehyung can see a red spot in the omega's fur. The mating mark must be right under there. It sends a shiver through his body, which his alpha surely noticed. He feels a primal urge grow inside him, and he isn’t sure if it is him or Storm.

Taehyung then notices the spike in sweet scent and is reminded of Jeongguk's heat. 

His wolf gets off the omega, but not before licking over the red fur one last time with a possessive growl. 

Cloud whimpers. 

Storm's voice is teasing when he says the next words, very well aware that not only Taehyung can hear him. «Give our pup a good time, don't mess this up.»

Before Taehyung can answer, the shifting begins. It starts painlessly, but the more his alpha gives the lead back, the more pain he feels. It's endurable. Still, he could gladly do without it. 

Would he do it again? That's a hundred percent yes! 

Feeling so close to his wolf is incredibly astonishing. Being able to hear Cloud and Jeongguk in his mind; fucking priceless. 

He's already back to being a human, but Jeongguk is still in the middle of shifting. He can't take his eyes away from the sight of the omega slowly becoming the captivating human he loves. His own nudity is not important. 

It's unbelievable how the change from wolf to human looks like. The fur slowly disappears, and all the limbs grow and form into what they should normally look like. Taehyung notices that Jeongguk isn't in much pain, or he doesn't show it. There are a few whimpers and groans, but that's it. His mate is so strong. 

“Baby, you're doing so well! Come on, just a little more.” Taehyung gets closer, until he's standing right in front of the kneeling boy. Jeongguk has his head hanging low, breathing fast. The process is exhausting, he knows, since he went through it, too. 

The ears and tail disappear last. The transformation is complete. Taehyung kneels down and pulls him into his arms, carefully to not hurt him. “Fuck, you're so…” He kisses the crown of his head. “I love you so much, Jeongguk.” So many words were sitting on the tip of his tongue, enough to write a manuscript, but he could only speak the simplest form of his feelings. 

The younger finally looks up. His eyes are a little glassy. “H-Hyung. You…” He closes the tiny gap and kisses Taehyung. 

Taehyung can feel the love he puts into the kiss, and reciprocates it with much intensity. 

They can't get enough of each other. Both naked and tightly embraced, it becomes heated, more urgent. Jeongguk is grinding on him, while moans slip past his lips, and into Taehyung’s mouth. He swallows them down eagerly. 

Two pairs of hands explore each other's bodies. They want to feel every inch of their skin under their fingertips. They don't stop anywhere to rest. 

But then Taehyung groans as he's holding Jeongguk’s perky asscheeks in his palms, squeezing them roughly. They're covered in slick, making it a little slippery. He can't help raise his hand and bring it down with a loud slapping noise, as skin meets skin. 

“Fuck, pup. I want you so badly. I want to make you beg for my knot, and fill you with my cum. Does my baby want it, too? Does my adorable omega want to be bred?” Taehyung whispers to him with a deep voice, full of arousal. He slaps his butt once more, earning a pleasured moan. 

“Yes, Hyung! Please fuck me, breed me, fill me up. Hurry, or I'll combust.” Despite his words, Jeongguk pushes Taehyung to the dirty ground and takes the lead. He groans at the sight of his omega’s gorgeous body on top of him and lets Jeongguk explore him first. 

Jeongguk kisses his way down his body, and only stops when he has the tip of Taehyung's cock caged between his lips. 

When the electrifying pulses of pleasure course through him, Taehyung moans, “Oh shit. Don't stop!” He lifts his head to watch Jeongguk going down on him. He can take him whole without any difficulty, which is shocking, considering he's quite large when hard.

The younger doesn't have a gag reflex, so he swallows around his length to squeeze him deliciously. “Fuck, baby. Fuck! You're so good at this.” He brings his hand to Jeongguk’s hair and grabs some of it to push him down as he jerks upwards. His hot breath hitting his groin makes goosebumps erupt on his skin. Taehyung enjoys every second of this blow job, especially when Jeongguk looks up at him with a teary and needy gaze. 

Taehyung doesn't hold back his groans of pleasure to show his mate how good he's making him feel. His angel can be so filthy, but he surely is talented. 

When he feels himself nearing his orgasm, he tugs on the younger’s hair. “Enough, pup. I don't wanna cum yet. Up.” With a commanding tone, which doesn't match his actions of gently pulling Jeongguk on top of him, Taehyung decides that he should be the one pleasuring him . After all, he's in heat and needs to come as soon as possible. 

“Alpha, you taste so good. Why'd you stop me? I haven't gotten my reward.” Jeongguk whines with a pout. He's so goddamn cute in Taehyung's eyes. How lucky is he to have such an adorable baby boy as his mate to cherish?

“Don't worry, pup. You'll get it soon enough, I promise. Now let me have a taste of you, hmm? Sit on my face. Would you do that for me?”

Barely said, Jeongguk eagerly does as asked. He sits up, turns around and pushes his ass right into Taehyung's face. He spreads his cheeks for better access. 

“Such an obedient pup, aren't you? So desperate for me to devour your pretty little hole.” Taehyung can hear him moan softly from his words, but when he finally pulls him down by the hips, and begins to lick up all the slick that has gathered, the moan turns into a loud, open-mouthed groan. It's music to his ears. He doesn't want him to stop making these beautiful noises. 

Taehyung swallows everything, getting slightly addicted to how Jeongguk tastes. It's so sweet. There's a hint of milk and almonds in it. Even the newly produced liquid gets immediately sucked off directly from where it flows out. 

Then, Taehyung starts to prepare his mate. He pushes his tongue past the soft ring of muscles. There's not too much resistance, which tells him that Jeongguk must have played with himself before he fetched him. The image of him on his hands and knees, pushing his fingers inside his tight hole makes him growl, and move his tongue faster. 

“Alpha, ‘s so good! Oh fuck, more, please!” Jeongguk gasps out. He's moving his hips back and forth, riding Taehyung's face. “Ah! That's it, baby. So good. Yeah, just like that!” 

Jeongguk’s movements become faster, harder. He's bouncing on Taehyung's tongue energetically. If Taehyung wouldn't have a good grip on his hips, he'd be crushed by the thick ass. He wouldn’t mind if that happened, but it would make eating him out impossible.

When he deems it enough that he can't loosen him up more with his mouth, Taehyung uses the fingers of his right hand instead of his tongue. Three fit in without any problem. 

Jeongguk even begs for more. “Not enough. Need more. Come on, alpha. Don't hold back. I can take it easily.” 

Taehyung growls at his insatiable mate and how his filthy words made him feel feral. He adds a fourth, and yes. Jeongguk can take it with ease. The slick is doing an incredible job at softening the walls and his rim. He can stretch it so much that there's no doubt that he can take his knot without much pain. He wouldn't want to hurt his love, ever. 

Seeing everything up close, Taehyung has to admit that the sight of his wide open, inviting ass gets him close to losing his mind. The omega's scent is driving him crazy with want. Fortunately, he will be in there soon. His cock is going to be squeezed by these hot, velvety walls. Milked until the last drop of cum has filled him up to the brim. 

He needs that. Now. 

Without much of a warning, Taehyung lifts him up and turns them around until Jeongguk is lying underneath him, manhandling him as if he weighs nothing, and earning a shriek, which is followed by a moan. 

The younger looks at him with an expectant and lewd expression, biting down on his lower lip. He places his calves over Taehyung’s shoulders, lining his ass up to his crotch. 

“No kiss, sweetheart? Straight to fucking?” Taehyung laughs, but he doesn't complain. It's what he wants, too. They can kiss later. For now, he needs to connect with his mate on a more animalistic level. The urge to reproduce, because of his heat, makes them not care about anything else than to fuck. It doesn't matter that the omega can't get pregnant. 

Jeongguk smirks, as if he could read him, again. 

It feels like Jeongguk is challenging him. It sparks competitiveness in Taehyung. He's going to show him the best time. 

Taehyung looks down between them, connecting the tip of his cock with Jeongguk’s slick covered entrance. He pushes in, throwing his head back with the sudden pleasure flowing through his groin. A loud, feral sound leaves his open mouth. 

Jeongguk's moan echoes through the forest. He clenched around Taehyung's length with need. “Move, don't wait! I want it all. Come on, alpha. Fuck me!” Another moan is ripped out of him when his wish is granted. 

Taehyung doesn't go soft on him. He has a feeling that Jeongguk wouldn't appreciate it, and if he's honest, he also wants to fuck him hard and fast. Mold his hole to the shape of his cock. Mark his body with his cum. Claim him. Give him the best first time one could dream of. 

There's a lot of instinct involved. Taehyung reacts to every little hint that Jeongguk gives, consciously or unconsciously. He focuses on ensuring that his mate receives the most incredible climax possible. Pull him up to the highest peak of the mountain of pleasure. At the same time, this is exactly what brings him closer to his own orgasm as well.

Jeongguk's breathing is rapid and he's a moaning mess, when Taehyung gathers all his strength for the final part. “I'm knotting you now, pup. Fuck, I'm going to breed you so well, you’ll feel me for days.”

“P-puh please.” Jeongguk whines. 

Their bodies are drenched in sweat, the dirt of the ground sticking to Jeongguk's back and Taehyung’s legs. 

The knot begins to form, and it becomes more difficult to move in and out. Taehyung gives one last hard thrust forward and stays put. His eyes closed, but hearing Jeongguk gasping for air made him open them instantly. 

What he sees makes him cum harder than he ever did in his life. Jeongguk looks so fucked out, so on edge, and so wrecked as he is chasing his climax.

Jeongguk followed suit not long after. Only now does Taehyung realize that the omega hasn't been touching himself the whole time. He's cumming completely untouched. Storm is howling inside him with pride. They did that. They gave their mate enough pleasure for him to fall apart so effortlessly. 

“So full, my alpha. ‘M so happy.” Jeongguk slurs out. He's out of breath, chest heaving heavily up and down. His cock is still spilling a few drops onto his tensed abdomen. 

Taehyung isn't done filling him up yet, though. He's sure if  it would be possible to get Jeongguk pregnant, he'd be after that. His cock is twitching inside the hot, pulsating hole, which is milking him dry. They're going to be locked together for a while. 

Without giving it a second thought, Taehyung lets his index finger glide through the sticky liquid on Jeongguk’s stomach, bringing it up to his mouth for a taste. He sucks with pleasure on his digit, humming in satisfaction.

Jeongguk is clenching around Taehyung, obviously turned on by it. “You promised I could have my reward,” he pouts, eyes still following each movement of Taehyung's finger and tongue. 

“And I keep my promises, angel. It's too dirty here. Can you wait until we're home?” He softly says as he collects Jeongguk's cum once again, to enjoy it on his tongue. The taste is already secured in his memory. At least, until they reach the younger’s dorm. Then he'd need a reminder. 

“Fine, but now kiss me, alpha.” Jeongguk grins. He puckers his lips and waits.

Taehyung doesn't want to make him wait because he is also desperate to have those lips meet his. Especially when his baby looks like a cute little vixen with the afterglow. He leans down, causing his knot to pull on the rim. They moan from the sensation. “Shit, I'm still so sensitive.”

“Tell me about it. Do you think it's possible to fuck me with the knot? I mean, when I'm loose enough. Maybe after the third round?” Jeongguk wiggles his eyebrows, but it's clear that he's not at all joking. There's passion, laced with desire shown in his gaze. 

Taehyung felt his dick twitch at the thought of Jungkook’s loose hole taking his knot repeatedly. “We can always try, angel.” He finally leans down to capture Jeongguk’s lips in a gentle kiss. 

The kiss is like a flower of affection; the slow dancing of two petals, delicious like its nectar. Taehyung is pecking Jeongguk's lips as if they'd break if he'd put any more pressure on them. When he hears him whine, wanting more, he begins nibbling and sucking on them, drawing the sweetest sounds out of him. However, it isn't enough because each movement also makes his cock shift inside his mate. Jeongguk’s length again hardened between them as he ground his hips around the thick shaft to make it push against his walls. 

Now, their tongues are dancing with each other in a desperate attempt to get as intimate as possible. It's still not enough for either of them. If they could, they'd slip into one another entirely to become one. Fuse into one body.

It's impossible to describe the feeling they're experiencing. Even though they're deeply connected in every sense, it's as if both are not close enough yet. The longing for more is still there. Their emotions are all over the place. Maybe it's the aftermath of the mating bite.

“Alpha.” Jeongguk whimpers after having to break the intense kiss so he's able to speak. “Alpha,” he repeats to get his undivided attention, which was never gone in the first place. “I want… I need… Fuck, just,” he looks at Taehyung so lost, not finding the word that could nearly describe his urge.

“I got you, angel. Let Hyung take care of you.” Taehyung pecks his nose, then his eyelids. He feels what his mate feels. The emotional connection is overwhelmingly strong, and they're not used to this, find it even hard to cope. All Taehyung knows is that he wants to keep kissing him, and hopes his knot will never go down so they can stay flushed against each other like that forever. 

The sky suddenly opens up above them, but Taehyung doesn't care. Jeongguk seems to be as unfaced by it as he is. The rain is warm, and washes all the sweat and other evidence of their hot encounter. The dirt becomes mud, and somehow it stirs something in him. 

When Taehyung goes back to capturing Jeongguk’s lips, they start to roll back and forth, playfully fighting for dominance, even if they know the younger will eventually give up and let him reign over his mouth. 

Their bodies get covered with the dark, sticky, wet dirt, but Taehyung couldn't care less. In fact, the filthy sight makes him feel even more heated. 

Taehyung lifts his hand to swipe some off of Jeongguk's face. “You still look gorgeous, even if mud hides parts of your face.” He remembers the scar. “Can I ask where you got this from?” 

Taehyung is trying to distract both of them from the breathtakingly maddening feeling that has overcome them, before they lose their minds. 

It seems to work. Jeongguk's breathing gets slower. “I was a wild child.” He chuckles. “My best friend got a skateboard and I had to try it out. Well, not one of my proudest moments. There were stairs leading down to a park, and a low ramp. I mean, that's what I thought.” He shakes his head, getting reminded of his own stupidity back then. “I fell and landed on the edge of one of those stairs with my cheek. The doctor said that I had an excellent guardian angel.”

Taehyung's heart aches. He doesn't even want to think of what could have happened instead. Just the thought of never meeting this amazing person brings tears to his eyes. 

“Hyung, oh my god. Please don't cry, I'm fine, as you can see. I've learned my lesson.” Jeongguk pulls him down for a hug. 

Taehyung sighs, “I just imagined my life without you, and…” he doesn't finish the sentence. He doesn't need to because it's not real. To make matters worse, his knot begins to swell down. 

Jeongguk notices it too, if the sudden frown is anything to go by with. 

“Angel, I'm going to pull out. My cum will stay inside you, so don't worry, you won't feel too empty.” Taehyung cups his face, caressing his cheeks lovingly. He receives a small nod, but the frown doesn't disappear. It's not like he isn't disappointed, but he needs to hide it. At least, they'll continue later, which makes him feel a little better. 

Taehyung carefully pulls his cock out of Jeongguk's warm hole, wincing as he does so. The cold air hits his hot skin, and the rain washes the slick and leftover cum away from his length. He helps Jeongguk stand up and they let mother nature wash the dirt off their bodies. 

Since they undressed behind different trees, each of them goes to the one their clothes are hidden. Taehyung is glad that he put them between two stones, not on the ground. The tree prevented the rain from drenching everything. He dresses quickly, not wanting to be away from his mate for too long. 

As he steps forward from behind the tree, he sees Jeongguk already walking towards him with his phone pressed to his ear. 

“Thank you, Baekhan. We'll be there in five minutes.” Then, Jeongguk hangs up. 

“How long did he wait? What's the time?” Taehyung looks at the phone's display. “Oh. We're here for two hours? It didn't feel like more than one.”

Jeongguk agrees. They really got lost in what had happened. It was a lot. The shifting, the mating, and then, of course, the sex. 

They walk back while holding hands. The rain isn't as bad anymore, but both arrive at the limousine with wet hair and damp suits. Their chauffeur opens the door for them and they get into the vehicle, not once letting go of each other. 

As soon as they're alone and the limo moves, Jeongguk uses the opportunity to get Taehyung hard by palming him over his trousers. 

“What are you planning? Car sex?” Taehyung asks, amused. Well, as amused as one can while getting their cock palmed. 

“Close, but no. I wanna sit on your cock until we reach the dorms. I can't stand being empty. It sucks.” Jeongguk opens Taehyung’s zipper and pulls the pants and boxers down with his help. He does the same with his own, except he's not wearing any underwear. 

“Going commando? That's hot. Now, sit down, pup. Don't let Hyung wait.” Taehyung knows his eyes are hooded. He's biting down on his lower lip, impatiently watching how Jeongguk turns around, presenting his behind to him. His gaping hole is on full display when he spreads his cheeks with his hands and lowers himself onto his cock. 

They both moan in relief and pleasure. 

A male omega’s anatomy is truly fascinating because they can't get pregnant, but their body still has a closure flap, which keeps all the cum inside them.

It's a shame that Taehyung was too horny to even look at Jeongguk’s naked body properly. He needs to correct this later. 

When he wraps his arms around his mate's middle, to make him lean back to rest on his chest, Taehyung can feel the bump. His stomach is filled with his cum. It makes his cock twitch. 

“What got you so excited?” Jeongguk asks with his eyes closed. They're cheek to cheek. 

“I did well in breeding you.” Taehyung caresses the bump gently. 

Jeongguk hums. He has a smile on his face. “You did. I wished it was possible. Do you want kids?” 

“I do,” breathing his answer out shakily, Taehyung softly pressed his cheek against the omega's. “How about you?”

“At least two. It would be nice to have a boy and a girl. The girl should be older than the boy, though.”

“Why is that?”

“Because older brothers are always protective of their little sisters, and I want my girl to date freely without him telling her that her partner has to go through his check-up first.” 

Taehyung can't help but laugh. The movement made Jeongguk moan softly. He kisses his temple. “And you think younger brothers won't do the same?” He raises a brow, unseen. 

“Don't ruin my imagination, Hyung.” Jeongguk slaps the side of Taehyung's thigh. “It sounded logical in my head.” 

God, Taehyung falls more and more in love with him. He doesn't know how it's even possible because he's already so gone for him that it hurts. 

Fortunately, they're graduating in two weeks. A sudden idea comes up. “It does, angel. I was just teasing you. I have a question, though. You don't have to answer it yet, but it would make me happy if you'd think about it.”

“What is it? You're making me nervous.” Jeongguk turns his head to look at him. 

Taehyung steals a kiss. “I love your lips.” He steals another and one more before finally asking him, “After we're done with uni, do you want to move together? It's okay if you don't want to. I know we just mated, and only knew each other for not even a month. You know what? Forget it. I'm being stupid. Maybe it's the bond speak—hmpf.”

Jeongguk interrupts his ranting by kissing him passionately. He also begins rotating his hips. “I'd love to, baby.”

That's the answer he was hoping for. Happy, Taehyung supports him by pushing his own hips upwards. The rotation soon turns into little bounces. They don't go fast or hard. The goal isn't to reach their high, but to make them feel good while driving home. 

When they enter Jeongguk's dorm some time later, after almost getting caught in the act, nothing can hold them back anymore. 

Jeongguk gets his reward after they share a quick shower, saving themselves from doing any funny business. 

That is, until Taehyung can finally get a good look at Jeongguk's naked body, without having his mind occupied by horny thoughts. 

Jeongguk is the most beautiful person he has ever laid eyes on. The younger is buff at the right places. Taehyung wouldn't mind getting his body crushed by his sexy thighs, while he's eating him out. No matter from which perspective he's looking at him, this omega is sex on legs. 

Needless to say, when Jeongguk begins to blush under his intense gaze, Taehyung lets out a feral noise and chases him through the room. It reminds him of the catch-me-if-you-can game their wolves had played earlier. But their game was of a more sexual nature.

Of course, Taehyung catches him. Jeongguk made it easy for him. The younger jumped onto the bed, slowly moving on all fours, presenting his hole. Which, by now, isn't gaping anymore, much to Taehyung's joy. It means he can eat him out again. Not that he wouldn't have been able to do so if Jeongguk was still wide open for him. That's just an excuse not to seem too obsessed with his ass. He's an ass person, sue him. But also a thighs, chest, and crotch person. Only when it all belongs to one Jeon Jeongguk, though. 

Speaking of the younger's chest. Taehyung figured that Jeongguk's nipples are quite sensitive, and that he becomes a whining mess if he gets sucked and pinched on. With this knowledge, Taehyung has already won. Now, and in the future. 

On the other hand, Taehyung learns a lot about himself as well. Being edged is amazing. Jeongguk didn't let him cum when he was riding his cock. As soon as he was allowed, it was literally bursting out of him. He could also swear that his knot was larger than the times before. Jeongguk used this to his advantage; no surprise. The omega admitted that he loves it when his hole is stretched so wide that a huge fist would fit in with ease. 

Taehyung has helped him through all three days of his heats, and each round ended with him knotting and breeding Jeongguk. During their breaks, both ordered a lot of food. Taehyung paid every time, even if Jeongguk complained. If he's gonna take care of his mate, he will do it properly. There's no way he's letting him pay for anything. 

Jeongguk's heat ends on a Wednesday, but they skip the rest of the week as well. 

It is now the week before the big graduation ceremony, which is on Monday. Taehyung went home to change clothes and then returned to Jeongguk's dorm to spend the night there.

Attending classes that last week is to receive some last-minute assignments results they missed out on in the days they skipped.

Jeongguk proudly shows off his mating mark. The other students can't believe their eyes because they have never seen something like this before. They're the talk of the university, but the couple doesn't really care. 

During lunch break, they meet up at the rooftop for some alone time.

Taehyung feels a little bit down, and Jeongguk notices immediately. 

“Hey, what's wrong? Did something happen?”

“No.” Taehyung sighs. “It's just… Why didn't Cloud bite Storm, too? Shouldn't it be done both ways?” He looks at the beautiful mark on Jeongguk's neck. “It really looks like an increasing Moon. I'm just jealous, that's all. I just wanna show everyone that I'm yours as well. Don't mind me.”

Jeongguk turns his whole body toward him and takes Taehyung's hands into his. “Cloud told me he wasn't sure if you wanted it, since it's enough if the alpha puts his mark on the omega. He still can do it. It would make us really happy if you'd also wear our mating bite.” He smiles, squeezing his hand. 

Taehyung smiles back, his mood immediately getting better. “Can we do it before the graduation ceremony? I want to have it when they take our pictures.”

Storm doesn't take long to agree with Jeongguk and Cloud. The alpha takes the blame because he was too euphoric about having mated his omega, that he totally forgot about everything else. Fortunately, it can still be corrected, since it won't change anything in their bond. 

“Speaking of pictures. I need your mom's number. I promised her I would send our prom photos. I'm so glad I took some before my heat kicked in.” Jeongguk chuckles, cheeks turning a little bit rosy at the memory. 

They look through Jeongguk's phone to choose the ones they like best. Some are blurry, but fortunately there are six pictures they can show her. 

After sending them to Minsoo, she immediately replies with dozens of heart emojis. She also confirms to be at their graduation ceremony. 

The couple can't wait to leave university and go out into the world to earn money. 

On the way to Taehyung's dorm, Jeongguk whines, “I can't believe we got a job at the same company. It could have been perfect, but no. They must be assholes and assign me to someone else for my first shoot.”

“Baby, I don't even have a collection, yet. Don't worry, they promised us that as soon as I'm done, you'll be the one taking the photos. I'm honestly so nervous. What if it fails?” Taehyung believes in his skills. Still, just because he likes what he creates doesn't mean a lot of people will, too.

He showed Jimin and Jeongguk the finished designs and they were amazed by how good they looked. However, they're close to him. He's worried that they're only saying it to make him feel better, even though his mate made clear that that's absolutely not the case. He trusts him, but the bad feeling will most likely only disappear when people buy his creations. 

“Hyung, please. Jimin told all the models he knows about your line, and they are lining up to work with you and walk in the fashion shows. I hate to say that, but he's your biggest fan. I mean, I am, obviously, but I don't have such connections yet.” Jeongguk mumbles a little disappointed. 

Taehyung knows that Jeongguk wants to be the one promoting it. His mate is the cutest and most supportive boyfriend one can wish for. He hopes he can be the same for him after he gets recognized for his work and not only through Jimin's words - which he's very grateful for. 

They enter Taehyung's dorm and don't waste time falling into the bed to cuddle. It's their favorite thing to do since they got mated. Tomorrow, he will also carry the love of his life’s mark on his neck. He can't wait to shift again. 

Storm has asked if he could spend some hours with Cloud. His wolf just loves to run freely with the omega, and scent him, being scented by him. 

Taehyung, of course, is happy to grant him the wish. He has talked to Jeongguk about it and they came up with a plan to shift at least once a week from now on. They're a part of them, after all. 

The bite isn't very painful. It stings, but the euphoria Taehyung feels immediately takes the pain away. He is a little sad that they can only do it once. There's something about receiving and doing the mark that makes him feel the most connected to his mate than anything else. It's so intimate that he thinks he is Jeongguk and Taehyung at the same time. It's indescribable. 

They only go home late at night, when Storm and Cloud were getting tired from playing around. There are still a few things to do until the ceremony, and Taehyung hopes they won't forget anything. 

Jeongguk comes over to him every day. According to him, Taehyung's dorm is so much more cozy. In reality, he just loves to be surrounded by the alpha's scent. 

“Hyung, my parents will be there, too. They asked me to FaceTime them in an hour. Is that okay?” Jeongguk asks while preparing some food. 

Taehyung stops placing the glass he's holding on the table midway. He looks at the younger with wide eyes. “Fuck! Do they know? We didn't even tell them about us.”

Jeongguk turns around to grin at him. “Funny that you think I wasn't reporting everything to them. They always ask me for updates. Especially my mom can't wait to finally meet you.”

“Oh my god. This makes me even more nervous.” Taehyung pouts. He wants to meet them as well, but what if Jeongguk has talked highly about him and he can't meet their expectations? 

“Hyung, you worry too much. They're really nice.” Jeongguk walks to him, wrapping his arms around Taehyung's neck. “You don't have to do anything, except be yourself, and they'll love you more than they already do.” He pecks his lips. “I love you, baby. You're everything to me.”

“Angel, don't make me cry.” Taehyung puckers his lips more, asking for another kiss. 

They may or may not forget about dinner, and continue to the bedroom because they just can't get enough of the other. 

It's the day of the graduation ceremony. Taehyung has bought new clothes to wear for when they eat at the restaurant. For the ceremony itself, everyone is wearing the blue university uniform, with the beautiful coat of arms adorning the chest. 

Taehyung always thought that a prettier coat of arms didn't exist anywhere other than theirs. It is obvious that this university is all about art. 

Jeongguk isn't with him when he goes to the big Hall. Taehyung is accompanied by his parents, and so is his mate. When his mate’s parents FaceTimed them, they talked about how to go about this. Surprisingly, Taehyung was nervous for a hot minute, but Jeongguk’s mother and father were so sweet that melted after they called him handsome, and a perfect match for his son. Maybe he blushed a little under their loving gazes. 

Now he's sitting in his mother's car, with his father, Hyung-joon in the back. The older omega doesn't like driving, so his wife always has to sit behind the steering wheel. She doesn't mind it at all. 

“Honey, did you bring the camera?” Minsoo asks her husband. 

Hyung-joon frowns while going through the big shoulder bag, which is placed on his lap. His expression changes as he pulls out a camera. “I did, see?” He holds it up to make sure it can be seen in the rearview mirror. 

A satisfied nod comes from the female alpha. 

Taehyung only grins. He thinks it's funny how his father is so much like Jeongguk. He loves taking pictures, loves cooking, and most importantly, loves his wife. Minsoo is a little like Taehyung himself. For an alpha, she's soft and sees her husband as an equal person. There's no rank difference in their household. Maybe that's why he never really had this usual alpha behavior others are so adamant about. They must like acting superior, which Taehyung will never understand. 

Being like his mother made Jeongguk choose him. And maybe his blond hair. After all, that's how he gained his attention. Speaking of his hair, his mother insisted on dying the roots. It's why he's scratching his head sometimes. The skin is irritated, but it's bearable. 

The itching is forgotten as soon as he steps out of the car and sees his mate. Nothing can hold him back. He quickly makes his way over to him, and before greeting anyone else, Taehyung hugs Jeongguk and picks him up to spin around in a circle. He can hear giggles, and get reminded of the lovely parents he has yet to meet in person. 

When he turns around, he sets Jeongguk down to the ground, but not before giving him a lingering kiss. He can't believe his eyes. His own parents have already started a conversation with Jeongguk's parents. They're gushing about them, making plans to meet up soon - without the mates - to exchange pictures and what not. 

“They do realize that we are here as well, right?” Jeongguk asks in disbelief after hearing them say something about missing their children. 

Taehyung shrugs. “I have no idea. How about we ditch them and search for Seokjin and the others. Jimin messaged me that he was already backstage with his boyfriend. For some reason he mentioned Hosek and Yoongi.”

“Ah, yes. I told Hobi to look out for Jimin. Yoongi arrived pretty early because he's in charge of the technical aspects for the ceremony.” Jeongguk explains, opening the chat he had with his best friend and shows it to Taehyung. 

“I can't wait to meet Jimin's boyfriend and your cousin. I still have to thank Yoongi for the limo.” Taehyung looks at the direction they need to go. “Shall we, angel?” He holds his bent arm out for the younger to take. 

“We shall.” Jeongguk giggles, and places his hand on Taehyung's biceps. “Love your muscles.” He squeezes him gently. 

Before he met Jeongguk, he sometimes went to the gym to let off some steam. Maybe he should do this again. 

Taehyung looks at their parents, but only his father meets his eyes. He points to the stage and receives a nod from him.

They leave the big area, where many chairs are placed in rows for the guests and students, to go backstage. The first person they meet is Seokjin, who's holding hands with Hoseok. 

Taehyung thinks that they make a great couple. Both look deeply in love when they talk to each other. 

Seokjin sees them first. “Hey, Tae, Kook. Nice to see you're early.” He nudges Taehyung. “Seems like we never got to meet after uni, but at least we can now.”

Taehyung totally forgot about this. He was too busy with his boyfriend and the prom. His mind was filled with a certain omega. “I'm so sorry, Hyung.”

Seokjin waves it off. “Don't worry about it. I can see that you have more important things to do. Speaking of, you need to tell me everything about mating.”

Remembering the book, Taehyung smiles. “I happen to own a book where you can read how everything works.” He has added their experience and wrote down how it felt and about the mind link. 

Someone suddenly covers Taehyung's eyes. These small hands can only belong to one person. “Jimin!”

“That's not fair. How did you know?” The model frowns when their eyes meet. “Who snitched?”

“No one. Your hands gave you away.” Taehyung says truthfully with a soft laugh. 

Jeongguk takes Jimin's hand and presses his palm to the older's. The size difference is hilarious. 

“Alright, that's not fair. You guys are tall. Only Hoseok and Yoongi are allowed to compare their hands to mine.” Jimin clears his throat and changes the topic. “I don't think you both know my boyfriend, Namjoon. He's going to be a very famous designer soon.”

Taehyung spots a very tall man next to Seokjin. Namjoon is smiling, making dimples appear. The smile grows when Jimin goes to him, and Namjoon puts an arm around the model's hip to pull him close. They look cute together, not only because of the huge size difference. 

They all fall into a comfortable conversation about future plans, Taehyung and Jeongguk’s mating marks, and how they wanna stay in touch with everyone. 

Yoongi joined them in the middle of exchanging numbers. Jeongguk's cousin is a calm person, but he likes to joke around, and embarrass Jeongguk with stories of his childhood. He doesn't mind. 

Their little group has to part when the head professor steps onto the stage to start his long speech.

The whole ceremony is pretty boring. Some students try to say something when receiving their diplomas. Because he is a top student, Taehyung could fortunately avoid saying anything. Some were more eager to do it instead of him.

Finally, it's time to receive their diploma. When Taehyung went to his seat earlier, he saw Seojoon and Hyungsik sitting next to his and Jeongguk's parents. But they were busy talking to them and didn't see him waving. 

His row is next. Jeongguk is sitting two rows behind him as one of the last to receive the document. 

Taehyung is surprised that he's not as nervous. A reason could be his mate, who looks at him so sweetly that he wants to melt under his gaze. He takes all the nervousness away from him. The world disappears around them for a moment. 

When his name is called, he steps forward to receive the diploma. Looking at the crowd, bowing, he hears his best friends cheering and clapping. They're so loud. It causes Taehyung to laugh and blush. Before leaving the stage, he blows his mate a kiss, who catches it proudly with his hand, while acting like he's dying from happiness. Such a dork. His dork, though. 

As soon as Jeongguk is standing up there, Taehyung can't take his eyes away from him. He hears his family and friends cheering, but Taehyung gives him a message he will surely understand. Pressing a finger to his mating mark, he notices that Jeongguk immediately reacts by placing his palm over his neck. Their gazes find each other easily. They're mouthing an ‘I love you’ at the same time. Warmth fills Taehyung's body, and he still can't believe how lucky he is to have him. 

The moment gets cut short as Jeongguk has to leave the stage. There's only one more row to go through until he can have him in his arms again. It's torture because it feels like hours.

One and a half hours later, both families and all their friends who came are sitting in a nice restaurant to celebrate their graduation. The atmosphere is light and relaxed. 

Taehyung catches up with Seojoon and Hyungsik and is finally able to introduce Jeongguk to them. They're immediately in love with him, which is no wonder because the omega is lovely. Unfortunately, they too tell him embarrassing stories about the past. Taehyung only rolls his eyes, but enjoys it nevertheless. He has no secrets to hide from his boyfriend. 

Their parents bid goodbye shortly before midnight. Taehyung and Jeongguk hug all of them one after another, and wish them a good ride home. The rest of the night is spent with the now big group of friends. 

Namjoon and Taehyung have a lot in common, given they're both designers. Jimin and Jeongguk make plans for a photoshoot, to which they invite their boyfriends so they can watch. 

When Taehyung is washing his hands in the restroom some time later, he looks back at the time without Jeongguk in his life. So much has changed since. He can say without a doubt that he's now the happiest he has ever been. With all the new friends, his mate, and a supportive family, he just knows that there won't be a day in the future when he will feel lonely. 

Taehyung is not naive. He will face struggles and probably some arguments with Jeongguk, but he's content that together they can work it out, and get through every hurdle put in their way. He'll lean on him, and also be the one opening his arms for Jeongguk to receive security. 

They're not alone anymore. They have each other, for the rest of their lives. And he would change anything about it. 

Dying his hair blond was the best thing ever to happen to him. If he thinks about it, he should be thanking the ‘bullies’. Without them, he wouldn't have met his Jeongguk. But… Taehyung is sure they would have met eventually, one way or another. After all, they're fated. 

 ༻ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑑 ༺