Chapter Text
Jungwon was going through his heat phase.
Or not yet. He was in pre-heat, and Jay could sense it. During this stage, their leader would always become more sensitive and quieter. But that wasn’t all—Jungwon would also get clingier, seeking closeness with the members, especially the alphas, craving comfort and a sense of protection from them.
Jay wasn’t surprised by Jungwon’s behavior changes during his pre-heat and heat phases. After almost four years of being in the same group, he knew just how much the omega leader needed him. Maybe it was because they were the closest, so Jungwon would usually come to Jay first for comfort.
But this time…
“Jungwon?” Jay blinked in surprise as he walked into his room and found Jungwon there. They didn’t have any schedules today, so Jay had planned to hit the gym with Sunghoon this noon.
The room was dim—the lights were off for some reason—and Jungwon was lying on his bed, buried under a pile of clothes and thick blankets. He was sprawled out on his stomach, a glowing tablet in his hand, and he looked completely at ease, dressed in a black hoodie that was unmistakably one of Jay’s favorite.
“Yang Jungwon, what are you doing in my room?” Jay asked again as he closed the door behind him and approached Jungwon cautiously.
Jungwon didn’t seem the least bit bothered by his presence. He didn’t even glance up, eyes glued on his tablet, a movie was playing on the screen. Jay sighed, taking off his jacket and cap, tossing them onto a chair.
“Jungwon-ah, what’s going on?”
As Jay got closer to his bed, he finally realized what Jungwon had done—his clothes were piled up all over the bed, mixed with his dirty laundry, though Jay had no idea how Jungwon had gotten his hands on them. The blankets were layered too, a mix of both his and Jungwon’s.
Jungwon is nesting.
This wasn’t the first time Jungwon had made a nest, but it was the first time he’d done it using only Jay’s clothes, with none of the other members involved. Jay gaped at the sight. “Oh my God… baby, you’re making a nest?”
At last, Jungwon looked at him. His round eyes were shiny with unshed tears, and his lips formed a cute pout. “Hyung, are you mad that I made a nest here?”
God, look at that face. Jay felt his resolve crumble. He would give anything to Jungwon if he asked. “Oh, baby, how could I be mad at you for that?” His heart softened as he reached out to ruffle Jungwon’s messy hair. “I don’t mind at all, baby.”
Jungwon leaned into his touch, nuzzling against Jay’s palm with a content sigh. “Hyung, do you think my nest is nice?” he asked, his tone hopeful.
Jay chuckled. Jungwon sounded like a child asking for praise, and it was adorable. “Of course. You made a great nest. You did a good job, baby.”
A bright smile bloomed on Jungwon’s pretty face, his eyes sparkling with joy. The tears were gone now. “Hyung, do you want to sleep in my nest?”
Jay’s eyes widened in shock. It was the first time he’d ever been invited to sleep in an omega’s nest. The first time Jungwon had asked him to. Jay knew how personal a nest was to an omega. It was their safe space, something they built instinctively to feel more at ease during their heat.
He swallowed. “Are you sure I’m allowed to sleep in your nest, Jungwon?”
Jungwon gazed at him through sleepy eyes, lifting both arms as if asking to be picked up. Without a word, he invited Jay into his nest. Of course, Jay never said no to Jungwon. He couldn’t.
Jay sat down in the nest, surrounded by his own clothes. The sweet scent of fresh strawberries and honey filled the air, blending with his own cedarwood scent. His alpha side practically purred in satisfaction. His omega smelled like him.
His omega.
Wait, what?
Jay froze at the thought. No. Jungwon wasn’t his omega. He was the omega in their pack, sure, but he wasn’t his. Jay didn’t know why his alpha instincts were suddenly claiming Jungwon as his.
Before he could think about it too much, Jungwon startled him by climbing onto his lap, wrapping his arms around Jay’s neck, and settling comfortably. His pretty face nestled into the crook of Jay’s neck, out of sight.
Oh no.
Jungwon’s scent became even stronger with their bodies pressed together. Jay’s nose instinctively sought out more of that familiar, comforting scent. His heart pounded in his chest, and he didn’t know what was happening to him.
“Jungwon, baby,” Jay murmured, his hands circling around to gently rub Jungwon’s back. “Do you need something?”
He didn’t know exactly how painful pre-heat could be, but Jungwon had told him before about how exhausting it was. His body would feel stiff, his energy easily drained, and his heightened senses would make other people’s scents unbearable.
Jay just wanted to make him feel better. He wanted to help Jungwon get through it, like he always did.
But Jungwon simply shook his head. His nose brushed against Jay’s scent gland, sending a shiver down his spine. It was a sensitive spot for every alpha.
“You smell good, Jay-hyung,” Jungwon mumbled sleepily.
Something swelled in Jay’s chest. Pride, warmth, joy—he wasn’t sure what. His alpha preened at the praise. Jungwon liked his scent. Jungwon felt safe and comforted by him.
He liked Jay’s scent, not Jay himself.
Jay let Jungwon stay curled up in his lap, the omega’s breathing growing slower and more even as he drifted off to sleep. Jay’s hand never stopped moving, rubbing soothing circles on Jungwon’s back to keep him calm.
Jungwon was asleep in his arms. He’d made a nest in Jay’s room. He’d said he liked Jay’s scent.
Jay exhaled softly, his mind swirling with confusion.
Why did his thoughts feel like a mess now?
Pre-heat usually came two weeks before the full heat kicked in, so Jungwon still had some time to train before he’d have to rest completely during his heat phase.
But honestly, Jay thought this wasn’t a good thing—for Jungwon, and for himself.
The room was now filled with the sweet aroma of ripe strawberries and honey, and the scent tickled Jay’s nose so much that he couldn’t focus on their footwork or choreography. Jay wondered if he was the only one distracted by Jungwon’s scent.
“Hyung!” Jungwon called out, walking toward him, and Jay braced himself for the scolding that was sure to follow due to his lack of focus.
“Jungwon, I’m sorry—”
But to his surprise, instead of scolding him, Jungwon wrapped his arms around Jay, sweat-soaked and all. Jay stood there, dumbfounded, and from the corner of his eye, he saw the other members—and even their trainers—staring in shock.
Jungwon was wearing an oversized black hoodie, drenched in sweat, which only amplified the omega’s scent. His arms tightened around Jay’s waist, and he buried his face in Jay’s chest, rubbing against the loose black shirt he was wearing.
Ah, Jay hoped he didn’t smell bad.
“Hey, Jungwon, are you okay?” It wasn’t Jay who asked, but Heeseung, the eldest of their pack, as he walked toward them.
Jay growled instinctively, his arms wrapping protectively around Jungwon’s waist, unwilling to let another alpha get close. He knew Heeseung was their pack leader and would never harm Jungwon, but his alpha instincts flared anyway.
The low growl startled everyone, including Jay himself. When Heeseung shot him a sharp, questioning look, Jay forced himself to calm down.
Heeseung was their friend; he wouldn’t hurt their omega. Jay took a deep breath, suppressing his alpha aura and letting Heeseung approach.
“Hey, Pup, are you okay?” Heeseung asked softly, gently rubbing Jungwon’s back. For some reason, that gesture made Jay tighten his hold on Jungwon.
Jungwon turned slightly, clutching the damp fabric of Jay’s shirt. “Uhm, I’m fine,” he whispered, his voice so quiet that probably only Jay and Heeseung could hear.
“Are you sick?” Sunghoon chimed in, stepping closer. Seeing another alpha approach Jungwon again made Jay’s discomfort spike.
“Jungwon’s fine,” Jay answered quickly, hoping Sunghoon and Heeseung would back off. His irrational side insisted that his omega didn’t like having other alphas near him.
“Jungwon doesn’t look fine, Jay. He’s burning up,” Heeseung replied, his face filled with concern as he studied Jungwon.
Instead of responding, Jungwon buried his face deeper into Jay’s chest. Jay’s hand instinctively moved to Jungwon’s head, gently stroking it to provide comfort.
Heeseung’s scent thickened, likely from seeing Jay challenge their pack leader with his eyes. Sunghoon, sensing the tension, stepped in to de-escalate, pulling Heeseung back a little.
The room’s atmosphere grew heavier, saturated with Jay and Heeseung’s alpha scents—Jay’s alpha was protective, Heeseung alpha’s was commanding. The silent clash was palpable, making everyone else in the room uncomfortable, including Jungwon, who clung to Jay.
“Whoa, I think it’s time for a break,” Jake, the only beta in their pack, said lightly, his voice attempting to cool the heated tension.
Jay exhaled, trying to suppress the growl that still rumbled in his chest. He didn’t know why he was so on edge today, why his alpha instincts felt so possessive.
“Let’s take fifteen minutes. We’re all too worn out,” Heeseung finally relented, his posture relaxing as he sighed. He gave Jay a pointed look. “Take Jungwon outside and get him something to eat. He looks exhausted.”
Jay silently thanked Heeseung for his maturity and willingness to back down. With a nod, he led Jungwon out of the practice room.
Oddly enough, the omega refused to let go of him, and that made Jay’s alpha hum with satisfaction.
“Jungwon’s in his pre-heat. That’s probably why he’s been clinging to you, hyung.”
They were now in the kitchen of Jay’s apartment. After practice, Sunoo had stayed behind to look after Jungwon. As the only other omega in their group, Sunoo was more familiar with what Jungwon might need during pre-heat. Sitting next to him was Ni-Ki, quietly eating his dinner, the young alpha listening attentively to the conversation.
“That’s also why Jungwon-hyung smells sweeter than usual?” Ni-Ki asked, though the answer was already obvious. He kept chewing, his curiosity clear despite his full mouth.
“But why me?” Jay asked, confused. He couldn’t understand why Jungwon had latched onto him specifically. He also couldn’t explain why Jungwon had made a nest in his room, using Jay’s clothes and blankets, or why he had invited Jay to sleep in it with him.
Of course, Jay wasn’t about to tell Sunoo that.
“Hmm, maybe because you’re the closest to him,” Sunoo replied, smiling sweetly. “It’s an omega’s instinct to build a nest with things that smell like someone they trust and feel safe around.”
Hearing that made Jay’s heart swell with happiness. The thought that Jungwon saw him as someone who could protect him, someone who made him feel at ease, filled him with a sense of pride.
But at the same time, he still couldn’t fully grasp if this was normal—or if it meant something more.
“That makes sense. You two are always together, hyung,” Ni-Ki added between bites. “Of course Jungwon-hyung would think you’re special.”
Special?
Jay blinked. In what way?
Sure, he was close to Jungwon. And, though he rarely admitted it out loud, Jungwon was his number one. His favoritism toward the younger boy was well-known—no matter how much he tried to hide it, everyone also noticed.
“Ah, I see.” Jay nodded slowly, even though his mind was still a tangled mess of thoughts.
“Jungwon using your clothes to make his nest means he finds your scent comforting,” Sunoo explained further. “Alpha scents help ease the pain omega feels during pre-heat and heat phases.”
Sunoo chuckled when he saw Jay’s expression—he must have looked utterly lost.
“Ease down, hyung, it’s natural for us, it’s just omega’s instinct. Omegas use their alpha’s belongings to build their nests.”
Their alpha.
Jay’s eyes widened at the phrase, and his mind caught on it immediately.
He wasn’t Jungwon’s alpha.
His lips parted slightly as if the realization hit him all at once.
He wasn’t Jungwon’s alpha. But somehow, Jungwon had used his scent—his things—to build his nest.
Why did that thought stir something deep inside him? Why did it feel… right?
He needed to clear his thoughts.
It was the fifth day, and Jungwon was still in his room—Jay’s room—curled up in the nest he’d built, refusing to sleep anywhere else.
He kept asking Jay to lie down with him, to stay close, and Jay couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
Honestly, he didn’t mind it one bit.
The omega’s presence in his room filled the space with a sweet scent of honey, cinnamon, and strawberries. Jungwon’s scent lingered in the air, soaking into the sheets, the pillows, the walls. It made Jay’s alpha stir with quiet satisfaction, a deep, instinctual desire to keep Jungwon right here.
Close.
Safe.
Jay had always had a soft spot for Jungwon. Ever since their I-Land days, he’d stuck to the younger boy like glue. But now, his clinginess was getting worse. It wasn’t just Jungwon seeking Jay’s proximity—now it was Jay who couldn’t seem to let Jungwon go.
Wherever Jungwon went, Jay followed. Even if it was just to the kitchen to grab water, Jay trailed behind him like a shadow.
He also found himself anticipating Jungwon’s needs before the omega even asked. He’d prepare meals and bring them to the room, offer painkillers to ease cramps, keep a water bottle nearby to make sure Jungwon stayed hydrated, and even warm towels to soothe sore muscles.
“You’re really stepping into the role of Jungwon’s alpha, huh?” Sunghoon teased one evening, catching Jay fussing over the omega.
Jay snorted in response.
He wasn’t Jungwon’s alpha.
And he wasn’t sure Jungwon wanted him to be.
Later that night, after dinner, Jungwon sat on his lap in their shared nest, a laptop perched in front of them. The omega had insisted they watch a movie together before bed.
That wasn’t unusual in itself. What was unusual was how Jungwon was sitting.
Right on his lap.
Jungwon’s back pressed against Jay’s chest, his scent gland just inches from Jay’s nose. His scent—warm and sweet—was stronger at this proximity, flooding Jay’s senses until he felt lightheaded.
This wasn’t the first time Jungwon had sat on his lap. He used to do it all the time back when he was still a pup, before presenting as an omega.
But now?
Now it felt different.
Since Jungwon’s secondary gender had revealed itself, these moments had become rare. And Jay understood why. It was safer that way—for him. After all, he wasn’t sure he could keep himself in check around Jungwon’s intoxicating scent.
Like right now.
Jay’s hands twitched where they rested on Jungwon’s waist. His alpha instincts whispered dangerous thoughts—telling him to bury his face in Jungwon’s neck, to breathe in that sweet scent until he drowned in it.
Jay swallowed hard, forcing those thoughts down.
“Can you move a bit, Jungwon? I can’t see the movie.” His voice came out strained, and he prayed the omega didn’t notice how tense he sounded.
Jungwon turned slightly to glance at him, a pout forming on his lips. “No. Hyung, don’t move. I’m comfortable like this.”
Jay sighed in defeat. Of course, he couldn’t say no to Jungwon.
So he stayed put, letting his legs go numb from having the omega on his lap for the past thirty minutes, didn’t dare to move his body a bit.
“I need to stretch my legs,” Jay murmured after a while. “They’re cramping.”
Jungwon finally relented, standing up just long enough for Jay to adjust. Jay spread his legs wider, creating a space between them, and patted the spot in front of him.
“Here,” Jay said softly.
Jungwon didn’t hesitate. He settled between Jay’s legs, back against his chest, once again pressing close. Jay wrapped his arms around Jungwon’s waist instinctively, his large hands easily spanning the omega’s slim frame.
“Thank you, hyung,” Jungwon whispered, relaxing into him.
And just like that, they returned to watching the movie.
At least, Jungwon did.
Jay, on the other hand, couldn’t focus on the screen at all. His attention was entirely on the boy in his arms.
From this angle, he could see Jungwon’s side profile—the soft curve of his jaw, the delicate line of his nose, and those doe-like eyes, wide with curiosity.
Jungwon had grown into such a beautiful omega.
It wasn’t just his looks, either. There was something about Jungwon’s quiet strength that captivated Jay. Despite his youth, Jungwon led their group with grace and wisdom beyond his years. He wasn’t loud or domineering—he led with kindness, calmness, and an uncanny ability to keep everyone grounded.
Jungwon was like water.
Gentle, steady, flowing.
He put others first, often to his own detriment. Jay’s heart ached every time he saw Jungwon neglecting his own needs to care for someone else.
More than anything, Jay wanted to be the one Jungwon leaned on. The one Jungwon relied on.
Without realizing it, Jay lowered his head, resting his chin on Jungwon’s shoulder. His nose brushed against Jungwon’s scent gland.
The omega didn’t flinch. He didn’t pull away.
Jay inhaled deeply, unable to resist. The scent was so sweet, making his chest tighten and his heartbeat race. He could hear his pulse pounding in his ears, and for a moment, he worried Jungwon could hear it too, but the omega didn’t say anything. He simply leaned further into Jay’s embrace, completely at ease.
Jay hoped Jungwon couldn’t hear how fast his heart was beating.
Because he wasn’t sure he could explain what it meant.
They spent the whole day practicing vocals, preparing for their upcoming comeback, and it has been a tiring day for seven of them.
Jungwon looked much better than he had in the past few days. His heat still hadn’t arrived, but Jay made sure to check on him before they left. The omega simply smiled, reassuring Jay not to worry.
“Jay-hyung!”
Jungwon approached him with a light, playful bounce in his step—so damn adorable. Fuck, Jay couldn’t hold back his smile when he saw him, especially when Jungwon flashed that wide grin, showing off his bunny teeth.
“Hm, what’s up?”
Jungwon didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked straight into Jay’s arms, hugging him tightly. His hand brushed against Jay’s scent gland, rubbing his wrist against Jay’s neck.
Ah, this habit of Jungwon’s—scent-marking him—was something new. It caught Jay off guard the first time Jungwon did it, and to be honest, he didn’t know what to do at first.
Jungwon likes to scent-mark him.
At first, Jay was confused and unsure how to respond. But as time passed, he grew used to it. Now, he just let Jungwon do it. He liked it, in fact. It made him feel as if Jungwon was subtly claiming him.
But Jay wasn’t his alpha.
Still, he found himself completely intoxicated by Jungwon’s scent. God, he loved it so much. The sweet aroma of ripe apples was so enticing Jay could almost taste it on his tongue. Sweet. Addictive. It made him want to take a bite.
“Hyung, I’m done for the day. Sunoo-hyung invited me to have dinner with him, so we’re heading home first,” Jungwon said softly. Jay barely heard him, too distracted by the omega’s hand still lingering on his scent gland. “Let me know when you get home, okay? We can watch another movie later.”
Jay hugged him back, letting their scents mix into one. He didn’t want to let go. “Be careful. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Uhm!” Jungwon nodded and finally pulled away from the hug. “Bye, hyung! See you at home.”
Home.
Yeah, it wasn’t technically their home. It was an apartment they shared with several others. But still, Jay didn’t mind calling it home. Their home. His and Jungwon’s.
Maybe someday they will their own place to call it home.
“Don’t mess up our room,” it was Jay’s room, but he liked to refer it as our—his and Jungwon’s room. Jay added as Jungwon walked away.
“I’m not making any promises!” Jungwon replied with a mischievous laugh before leaving with Sunoo.
Jay stood there for a moment, watching him disappear out the door. He sighed. God, he wanted to follow him home so badly. But he had to stay behind and finish practice.
“Fuck, you smell like Jungwon.”
Jay rolled his eyes the moment he heard that voice. Park Sunghoon strolled over with Jake beside him.
“What the hell do you mean I smell like Jungwon?”
“Jay, I’m a beta. I shouldn’t be able to pick up on your scent so clearly,” Jake said, crossing his arms, though one hand clapped Jay’s shoulder in amusement. “But Jungwon’s scent is all over you. It’s strong.”
“Yeah, it’s like you guys finally fucked or something,” Sunghoon added with a teasing smirk, elbowing Jay in the stomach.
Jay’s eyes widened in shock. “Nothing happened between us! Don’t say shit like that.”
“There’s no way nothing happened. You’re practically drenched in his scent,” Sunghoon countered with a shake of his head. “It’s like you bathed in it.”
“You saw him hug me earlier! Of course, his scent rubbed off on me!” Jay shot back, his voice rising defensively.
“Jay, I hate to break it to you,” Sunghoon snorted, “but that wasn’t just a hug. Jungwon was scent-marking you. There’s no way you didn’t notice.”
Jay pressed his lips together, unable to deny it. Ever since Jungwon started acting clingy, Jay couldn’t resist marking him back. It had become a habit. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I’m just trying to make him feel comfortable.”
Sunghoon stared at him with something resembling pity. “Are you seriously this dense, or are you pretending to be clueless? Do you even know what it means when an omega scent-marks someone?”
Jay frowned in confusion. He knew that when an alpha scent-marked an omega, it was a way of claiming them—showing that the omega belonged to them. So, naturally, he assumed Jungwon was just marking him as part of his territory.
Sunoo once told him that when an omega leaves their scent on someone, it means that person makes them feel safe and comfortable.
Maybe that’s all it was.
“Because he feels safe with me,” Jay reasoned out loud, nodding to himself.
Both Sunghoon and Jake stared at him like he was the dumbest person in the world. Jay’s patience wore thin.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, irritated.
“Man, I thought you were smarter than this,” Jake sighed in sympathy. “Even I know what that means, and I’m not an alpha.”
Jay groaned in frustration. “What the hell are you guys talking about? Does Jungwon mean something else?”
The two boys exchanged glances, shaking their heads like they were mourning Jay’s stupidity. It only made him more impatient.
“What? Just tell me already!”
Sunghoon took a deep breath, stepping into his self-proclaimed wise advisor role. “Jay, when an omega scent-marks someone, it only means one thing.”
Jay crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. “And what’s that?”
Sunghoon smirked knowingly. “It means they want to spend their heat with the alpha they’ve chosen.”
Jay froze.
His eyes widened in shock, his mouth hanging open as the words sank in. His whole body went cold. “What?” he whispered in disbelief. Jungwon wanted that from him?
Jake shrugged, his tone casual. “Jungwon’s marked you as his alpha. He chose you to stay with him during his heat.”
Jay blinked, dumbfounded.
“So yeah,” Jake continued, smirking. “Do you still want us to believe nothing’s going on between you two?”
Jay couldn’t say a word. He blinked again, trying to process everything. His heart pounded in his chest, and the alpha inside him roared with excitement.
Jungwon. He wasn’t his omega. But Jungwon wanted him to be there when his heat came.
Jay’s heart raced, his mind spinning, desperate for clarity.
One thing was certain; he needed to talk to Jungwon.