Chapter Text
The hierarchical Alpha, Beta, Omega system is still something of a mystery, even generations after it first appeared as the second gender characteristic of men and women everywhere in the great wide world.
Everyone was born biologically as a man or a woman, but on top of their gender from birth, they would eventually present as a second, far more complex, gender type.
Alpha, Beta, or Omega.
Far more complicated than just being a man or a woman. The sub-gender system of Alpha, Beta or Omega changes nothing on the outside, but instead internally.
Alpha's stand at the top of the dynamic chain, their traits predominantly stronger and dominating in the aspects of their day-to-day life. They naturally stand at the top of the hierarchy, dominance so instinctual it's hard not to be.
They do as they want with seeming ease, used to instinctively take as they wanted before society developed, and are almost always the light of any party and the star on any stage.
Omegas, the natural born nurturers of the dynamic chain, but unfortunately the bottom as well in many ways of it.
Omegas are the most submissive of the three sub-genders, most of the time an Omega can't stand against even a domineering Beta, let alone an Alpha. But what the Omega holds above both is their nurturing nature, typically far more fertile and highly sought after by Alpha's all around. Their sweet nature a prize that few can resist having.
Betas can be easiest described as the in between of Alpha's and Omega's.
Beta's can present traits found in either Alpha's or Omegas, easily able to switch between submitting or dominating. They're typically the mellow middle ground, definitely the most level-headed most of the time. Aside from Alpha's at the top, Beta's are next most commonly seen leading the way in modern society.
But as time has passed, along with generations of new Alpha/Beta/Omega's, so too have some of the once normalized ways of the second gender.
For instance, now it's not as hard to find an alpha who's shy, or a Beta leading over alphas. Even the occasional Omega working beside their mate isn't too hard to believe.
The traits have intermingled through selective mating, but along with it the once balanced population of each gender has swayed as well.
Omegas, there's so few of them to be found these days that if you don't meet or have an arrangement by the time you graduate, you're likely to end up with a Beta or softer Alpha. They're more valuable than any currency in the world. Much to the chagrin of many Alphas.
Namjoon swilled around his tea in his mug idly as he looked down at his phone propped against his thigh.
Not another night of this...
As the leader of Bangtan, as well as leader of the pack that they've become, he's always watching all the others.
He couldn't stand the itch under his skin though at seeing one of the youngest is yet again off at a club late at night in search of some fun.
He knew what it'll lead to. He knew what it could look like for the rest of them, how it could make them all come across as some spoiled, horny Alpha's abusing their fame to pull girls in.
That's not who they are, they're more than that!
Jungkook and Jimin make it hard to prove though, when they keep going to the same club every week. Thursdays at ten on the dot.
His nose scrunched up in preparation of the scents they carry home each week on them, so many people on their clothes and on their skin it's like they've done a concert.
Namjoon rolled his shoulders, the phantom ache of loneliness in his chest barely at bay at how they hadn't been able to hold concerts in so long, but the two exploring alphas' still go out to party now that clubs are reopening.
"Not again." Namjoon looked up as Jin's voice broke his negative thoughts hold on him, meeting the oldest alpha's eyes as he looked down at the pictures on his phone. "Thursday already?"
"At least tonight it's just Jungkook." See some light in it, take what you can get right now...
"Jimin too tired from practice?"
"I think he was in bed as soon as he finished his shower."
It's rare the dorms are so quiet, but he'll take it while it lasts.
Jin joined him on the couch, propping one leg on the other as he looked down at Namjoon's phone that still showed his messages with Jungkook and all the pictures he's sent tonight.
"Taehyung went out too." Namjoon snapped his eyes to Jin at the news, more than surprised since usually Tae didn't go along to the bars with Kookie or Jiminie.
That club is popular for idols, sure. But Taehyung typically preferred to finish the day out on a more relaxed scene than partying with people swooning over him because of BTS.
"How did Jungkook convince him into that one?" There had to be something in it for Tae Tae if he's agreeing to go clubbing with their Golden Maknae. Namjoon wouldn't agree to it either way, even if he wishes they could see Army.
It's not worth the possible bad publicity.
"He actually asked to go." Huh, that's even stranger. "Says he was lonely."
Oh, that again. Poor Taehyung's been on like once a year about finding someone, he doesn't do hook ups like Jungkook or Jimin. Hell, Namjoon's had a couple or more himself, though he's long since stopped when they started getting more popular.
It's too risky, he doesn't want a girl to get too attached to him only to run to the media when he doesn't come back. He's not as carefree as Jungkook, Jimin or even Hoseok on the rare occasion. He's content with the occasional company-assigned rut mate if he wants the company.
But Taehyung has always had this fantasy since they all first met. Apparently even before that time. For being an Alpha, he's got a real soft spot in his heart. Mostly over the idea of finding a nice Omega to fall in love with, mate with and settle down. Get married early and have a couple kids. Grow old with her.
It's hard to have those things though, especially when they can't date nor have the time to even get close to anyone outside of the company or their pack. Plus finding an omega that's not already been married off by their adult years is a whole miracle of its own.
If it were different, of course all seven of them would probably have their own Omega's by now... Army's opinion be damned on it...
"I doubt he's going to find a hook up though; he always chickens out in the end." True, Namjoon can count the few times on one hand that a girl came back to their hotel, only to leave almost immediately 'cause Tae changed his mind or just couldn't go through with it.
If the kid won't even take a rut mate like the rest of them, of course he's not going to do a casual hook up for fun and relaxation.
"His rut is soon, isn't it?"
"Yeah, month and a half away."
Namjoon opened his mouth just to say maybe it's time to offer a rut mate to him again, see if he might change his mind now that he's a little older, but the front door banged open behind them.
Turning around, he's greeted with the not exactly sober, enormous smiles of the two youngest alphas of the pack.
"You're home early." Jin is the first to speak as Taehyung and Jungkook leisurely kick the door close behind them before shakily making their way over to the couch.
"Tae had too much to drink." Jungkook giggled as they all but fell onto the couch beside Namjoon, barely missing knocking into the coffee table and spilling his tea.
"You look like you might have too." Namjoon hummed as he takes note of the high, red flush to Kookie's face and the clumsiness that's quite unlike him.
"Someone smelled so good there." Taehyung's slur makes Namjoon push up off the couch to go grab both of his packmates a bottle of water.
"The shots tasted so good too."
Well, the two youngest just drinking and coming home alone is better than being seen leaving with a lady for the night.
How JK has avoided being recognized so far is a wonder, but Namjoon's not gonna complain and jinx their so far generous luck.
"Can we go back tomorrow?"
"No."
"Joon-hyung!"
Taehyung shut up the moment Namjoon leveled him with a hard stare, teeth audibly clicking shut as he realized just who he was talking to.
They're all Alpha's here, but Namjoon's pack Alpha. Which means he gets the final say overall, including about unnecessary amounts of drinking and clubbing. They respect him in every decision he makes for all of them because they acknowledge he's leader, and that he's only looking out for each of them.
Namjoon chose to ignore the light pout adorning Tae's lips, giving him a pass since he's been drinking and likely riled up by all the different scents from the club.
He prepared, taking one of his scent blockers earlier so he wouldn't feel overwhelmed like the poor drunk kid on the couch must feel. Scent blockers definitely help, so their sense of smell isn't overwhelmed and overpowered by all the different fans releasing their pheromones at concerts or out on the streets.
Part of the second gender world includes each person having scent glands that give off a smell unique to themselves. Their unique scents help with marking territory, pack or mates. But they're also used to try to attract others towards themself, find a potential mate. But now with modern technology, masking your scent or even blocking your own senses from picking up the scents of others is now possible. It's both a blessing and a curse, because scents can also help pick up on the emotional stability of a person if you know their natural scent well.
Namjoon stopped blocking his sense of smell a long while ago, outside of concerts and fan meets, because he missed too many times when one of his pack was spiraling out from all the emotions that come with being BTS and always being under a spotlight. He doesn't want to ever miss the chance to calm or help his pack again, they're family. It's for that same reason he doesn't block his own scent, so that he can calm his family and even the fans if it helps.
Only when he's absolutely certain his pack is mentally alright or they're having the rare day off does he block his scent or senses outside of their BTS duties. It's safer this way, in his own opinion.
Jungkook takes them every time before he goes to the club, he must have forgotten to warn Tae ahead of leaving, judging by the completely gone look on his face.
"Water?"
Namjoon passes him a bottle of water before setting about his usual routine of caring for his younger pack mates. He's alpha of them all, he needs to make sure everyone's taken care of.
"Thank you, Joonie." Pack is family, he just wishes they could feel a little less lonely in their gilded cage that they've been placed in recently...
*
Taehyung's better by morning, so Namjoon suggested going out for coffee and cocoa for the younger Alpha, since he doesn't like coffee like the rest of them do.
"I'm coming too if you're going for coffee." Namjoon just shrugged at Yoongi before they were off, not minding the extra company. Besides, coffee is life blood for Yoongi after all the years of horrendous sleep schedules and jet-lagged nights.
"How was the club last night?" More importantly, the ulterior question is what got him so blissed out last night.
"Too tired." Namjoon chuckles, he's sure he'll get him to speak once he's got a cup of hot chocolate in hand.
"Hung over?" Yoongi smirks at the idea, he's always the quickest to enjoy the pains the youngest go through with their lifestyles.
Not that they're much better, as the oldest. Namjoon knows Yoongi and himself need to sleep more, but the studio calls for both of them.
Namjoon just keeps his leisurely stride even when Taehyung speeds up his own to get away, sure he'll be fine.
"We need to be back before ten." Namjoon just calls after him instead, barely earning a nod as Taehyung ducked his head.
"Sounds like they had fun last night." Yoongi muses as they walk together with the youngest of them at the moment speeding ahead.
"I think he just got overwhelmed by it. Sounded like he forgot blockers."
"Forgot or chose not to use them." Huh, Namjoon should've thought of that...
It's entirely possible Tae just didn't use them, since he is close to his rut and all. Usually when they're all a month or so out like this, they don't go out without blocking their sense of smell so they don't get tempted by anyone they might meet.
But the six of them haven't been longing for a mate for years, like Tae Tae has...They've all been focusing on their careers, on the music they're making and the changes they're helping push along now that they're becoming more known across the world. They know they each want one, but they've all accepted it's going to have to wait until they've got a little bit more time for it.
Right now, their time is focused on their music careers and their pack, not their love lives.
Yoongi's always been more observant than Namjoon though, so maybe he's right. Maybe Taehyung chose not to use his blocker, in hopes of meeting a girl at the club. It could also be his rut approaching urging him to find someone, honestly.
Well, that's something he's going to have to discuss now with not just Tae, but management if it's true...
Namjoon pinches the bridge of his nose as the too familiar feeling of a headache rolling in started just behind his eyes.
*
A moan of delight rolls past Taehyung's lips as the sweet warmth of his hot chocolate rolled over his tongue, the pain of waking up to a dull ache all over his body momentarily forgotten.
Standing outside the little coffee shop while he waited on his hyung's to get their own orders, his nose lost the smell of the cocoa before him for a moment and instead caught something even sweeter.
Almost familiar, too. But he would remember vividly if he smelled something like that, that makes him forget about his drink and want whatever that is instead. Makes his mouth start to water in a way cocoa never could.
"Hey, we're—"
Namjoon's used to at least being heard out before his younger pack mates walk off, so Tae striding away from him before he can even announce they're good to go home pauses his step.
"Where's he going?" Suga's question broke his surprise enough for Namjoon to go collect his disrespectful pack mate. "What's happening?"
"Let's grab Taehyung and then we can go home." Namjoon replies curtly to his hyung that he's more than happy now is the least problematic of his pack.
He's never had to worry about Yoongi running off or having ulterior motives, all he gets from him is sarcasm and sass. Which he doesn't mind compared to the alternatives that JK and now Taehyung gives him.
Taehyung disappears around a corner, so Namjoon and Suga hurry their stride to catch up.
Taehyung finally tracks down the smell that wafted delectably on the air, surprised to find himself stood in front of a little bookstore.
Though, it fell away to delight when he sees it wasn't food he's been tracking down all this way.
Well...she smells good enough to eat, if in a different way than his usual appetite.
"Taehyung!" Namjoon's shout would usually intimidate Tae, since he knows from past experience not to anger his leader, but instead he's glued to the spot when the sweet-scented girl started to turn around towards him after a less interesting girl in front of her hands her a little bag.
Taehyung's breath catching in his throat, he's met by a startled gaze peering at him over the top of a cute multi-colored face mask. For the first time ever, he's left speechless and frozen in thought and body by a person he doesn't even know.
"What're you doing?" A hand smacks down onto the back of his neck and grips down, breaking him out of the hold the sweet-smelling girl took over him.
"Hyung—"
"We're sorry if he's bothered you, Miss." Suga steps in before Taehyung could beg for Namjoon to let him go, let him speak to the girl that's literally stolen his breath away just by her scent alone.
Not to mention those cute eyes, soft-looking hair and adorable clothes she has on.
"Home, now." Taehyung can't resist the growling demand of his pack Alpha though, no matter how desperately he wants to. Not when he uses that voice, that leader Alpha voice. "Sorry again if he's bothered you."
"He was...no bother at all?" Everything in Taehyung's body and soul was screaming at him for not being strong enough to resist his leader's demand when a honey-sweet voice laced with mild confusion calls after them as they're already walking away.
"What's wrong with you today?"
Taehyung ignores Suga's question and instead took a long swig of his cooling hot chocolate, before pouting at the cup in hand as its sweetness felt lacking compared to the girl he just encountered.
Though, one word kept echoing in his mind that made his chest flutter and head swim in a warm, enticing fog. Omega.
Omega, she's an omega. She has to be an omega.
He wants to see her again. He wants to see that Omega again. He needs to.
*
"Neither of you smelled what he did?"
"No, I took my blockers before we left."
"I was too focused on V's scent to notice anything else. Plus, these face masks make it hard to smell anything anymore."
The usual mid-morning meeting Namjoon's been having with Big Hit and all of the executives, as well as BTS's managers, is followed by an impromptu meeting to discuss V's sudden unusual behaviorisms.
Usually, Namjoon just sends the rest of the boy's home or lets them go do what they want in between open gaps in their schedules.
Suga stayed though, to discuss the chase after V from earlier as well since they were both there. V will probably talk with management at a later point, after Namjoon's had a chance to sit down and talk to him about what's going on in that head of his.
"So, he's not taking his blockers then?" Noo-ri asked, BTS's favorite manager since he treats them better than all the rest. He doesn't treat them like coworkers, or like spoiled brats when things are getting rough. He doesn't put on a fake personality to interact with them like way too many people have done over the years. Doesn't look at them as objects to show off to the world.
In fact, Noo-ri's always treated them like family, and Namjoon won't admit it since he feels like he's disrespecting the older man's true pack to say it, but he feels like pack as well with how well he's treated them over the years.
Like how he always makes sure there's food or drink waiting for each of them before or after practices. How he makes sure no one enters their dorms within two months of any of their ruts, because he knows how they like their privacy when they start feeling antsy. Even makes sure their hotel rooms on tour are de-scented and perfect for their arrival. Namjoon even remembers a time when he used to send groceries to their families during training days, made sure they had nothing to worry about even way back then.
"He wasn't tracking an Omega, was he?" Noo-ri asked after Suga admitted how they thought V might not be taking his blockers on purpose.
"Come to think of it." Namjoon leaned back in his chair, remembering the girl Tae had stopped behind. How he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her, until he clamped down on his neck and started dragging him away because he was being rude staring like that.
Not to mention how he kept huffing even after they'd left, like he was still tracking the smell he claimed led him there.
Since the pandemic and the new daily normality of wearing face masks when out and about, it's become harder to smell anything other than the inside of the damned things. Some companies have started selling masks with blockers in their lining, just for added comfort to those who don't want to smell claimed Omega's in heat or sick and distressed people nearby.
All Namjoon could smell this morning was Tae and his coffee that was still on his breath inside the mask.
"I know he's due for his rut in a month or so, but we're going to have to take added measures if he's going to start chasing Omega's out in the streets. That could really jeopardize his image." Noo-ri laments while lifting his wire-framed glasses to his forehead to rub a hand over his eyes.
"The rest of us are fine without an Omega." Yoongi's not wrong, they've all accepted it would wait for later. "Why's he doing this now?"
"Have you discussed with him the possibility of finally taking a rut mate, Namjoon-ah?"
"I was planning to, if I'm right that he went to the club with JK looking for an Omega."
"I doubt he'd agree to it." Yoongi's probably right though, what with how hardheaded Tae can be. Once he wants something, it's near impossible to convince him he doesn't need it, or he can't have it.
He's right up there at the top with Jungkook on stubbornness.
"He goes through this neediness almost every other rut of his." Yoongi's not wrong, but it's never gone to the point where he's actually gone out looking for a girl. "He just needs to accept a rut mate so he can relax a little bit."
Namjoon leans back into his chair, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the honest truth Yoongi's saying. It could help him, since it'll definitely take the edge off a lot if he could knot something finally.
But at the same time, Namjoon hates the idea because it just feels so wrong to pay someone to spend a week just taking your dick when you need them to. It's essentially prostitution, it almost feels as bad as the Omega trade. That alone just makes him sick to his stomach to think about, since those are regular people who are being subjected to essentially slavery just because of their second gender. Just because they're an Omega, a person truly no different from Alpha's like himself or Beta's like Noo-ri.
Namjoon wants the best for Tae and would do anything in his power to help him, but he couldn't tell the kid that he has to take a rut mate if he really didn't want one. Besides that, Tae's stubbornness would probably stop him from letting the girl even near him.
"I have an alternate solution to the matter at hand." Namjoon's eyes that had been locked on a patch of ceiling above his head dropped down to Noo-ri sat across the table from him.
The black-haired man just stared back at him as if waiting for him to acknowledge him before he continues. "And?" Yoongi spoke up instead, looking annoyed that they had to even give acknowledgement first.
"I would like to first advise that, in offering this, I cannot in good conscience propose this contract unless it also assumes the other six of you into it as well." Well, that's ominous and discomforting that he describes it that way. "I know how you all, besides young Taehyung, have expressed your disinterest in an Omega-"
"No." Namjoon can practically feel the collective breaths of Noo-ri and Yoongi stop when he immediately stopped him from where he knew he was going. "No, you're not going to buy an Omega for Taehyung."
"Namjoon-"
"No, they're people and they don't deserve to be passed around like slaves. Frankly, I'm insulted not just for the poor girl, but us as well that you'd think we'd agree to subjecting a girl to that kind of horror." Noo-ri doesn't bend under Namjoon's obvious displeasure, instead he just rubs away at his face again like he's the one irritated at the offer.
"I wasn't going to suggest purchasing a poor Omega from the illegal trade, Namjoon-ah." Noo-ri corrects Namjoon, but it didn't do anything to quell the irritation in his chest at the idea. Over forcing some poor girl to be Omega to Tae, to him and Yoongi, to all of them.
"Look, the rest of us are fine without an Omega." Yoongi jumps into the conversation before Namjoon can further vent his discomfort over the topic. "We want to focus on our music, our careers are more important."
"And you may do so. I'm not suggesting forcing any poor girl into this, what I'm suggesting is contractual, and the rest of you are by no means obligated to partake if it makes you uncomfortable." Good, because Namjoon doesn't want to be a part of it. "But your names would be on the contract right along with Taehyung, since I cannot know the opinions on this suggestion just based on your two opinions."
"Hobi sleeps with who he wants whenever he feels like it, Jin will only touch someone during his rut, Jungkook and Jimin—" Yoongi shut his mouth the moment Namjoon held up a hand to stop him from going on with the observations of each of their friends.
"We'll bring this up with the whole pack then." Namjoon offers instead of trying to argue anymore. "Get everyone's opinion first, then we can go from there." He has to be the reasonable leader he usually is, despite his genuine discomfort with this idea as a whole.
"Okay, then we'll have a sit down with the rest of the team for dinner tonight and discuss the suggested idea of hiring you a pack Omega." Noo-ri announced with a clap of his hands together before he rose from his chair. "I'll see you both there."
Why is it Namjoon feels like this could lead to far more complications than just once a week worrying about his younger pack mates clubbing?