Making a Home

by ZhongSiHua519

Summary:

Wu Suowei and Jiang Xiaoshuai knew each other from a terrible time in their lives. They survived, escaped, and made a home together. It isn't easy, but they get by. Then one evening, two Alphas come crashing into their lives, completely changing everything.

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I am going to be so real with you, I wrote this instead of doing work because this show won't leave my head. I hope you all enjoy. Please don't take it too seriously, and read the tags; this isn't a story for everyone.

Chapter 1: Finding Happiness

Summary:

A huge thank you to xiaoshuais on Tumblr for the plot bunnies you've been posting. I hope you all enjoy, and please read the tags! Also, there is a small Chinese-language thing later in the chapter, which I will explain here: 打包 (take-out left over food) and大寶 (Cutesy nickname from Chi Cheng in the show) are homonym puns. Not particularly clever, but let me have this cuz in this scenario, Suowei isn’t giving Dabao moisturizer :3

It was by accident that Xiaoshuai and Suowei found one another at the end of high school, but once they did, two male omegas in a world that despised them, sticking together only seemed logical. It was not like they weren’t going to be anything more than someone else's dirty secret. Male omegas were for a good time, not a long time. So slowly as the years went by and they protected one another, Xiaoshuai became Dr. Jiang, the kindly neighborhood beta in the 181s Clinic. And the sweet but reclusive Souwei, a soft beta with an eye for keeping house and the clinic’s accounts, everyone cooed over the two friends – practically brothers, some of the elderly folks joked. But when the lights got turned off in the front of the house and the doors locked – checked and rechecked – did the pheromone patches come off and the house smell like their den. It was a comfortable routine, one that Xiaoshuai and Suowei could do half-dead and heat-drunk.

One summer evening, Xiaoshuai was by himself getting ready to close the door for the evening, Suowei riding out his heat in their den when an alpha appeared holding another. Xiaoshuai nearly slammed the door. Their pheromones were so strong from the adrenaline pumping through them all, and then his training kicked in.

“Bring him in, quickly!” Dr. Jiang snapped, pointing towards the freshly laundered bed. “You,” He said, pointing at the other alpha, “what happened?”

“There was a fight, the coward pulled a knife before Chi Ge could react and…” The Alpha explained as he laid his friend down. Xiaoshuai hip-checked him out of the way, the Alpha sputtering, before stepping aside. Xiaoshuai began to work immediately. It was the adrenaline drop that had knocked this alpha unconscious. The wound wasn’t too deep, nor in a dangerous place. The Omega began to work quickly to disinfect and start an IV. He worked for a solid hour straight, occasionally ordering the Alpha to bring him something, which he did unquestioningly. Xiaoshuai nodded to himself, happy with the bandage and vitals, before getting a proper look at the man who’d burst into his clinic.

“Are you a punk or something?” Xiaoshuai said before he could think better of it.

“Or something.” The Alpha responded, “Guo Chengyu.” Before Xiaoshuai could respond with his name, the man was suddenly in his space, tugging at his name badge.

“Jiang. Xiao. Shuai.” Chengyu read slowly as if tasting each syllable on his tongue. “Thank you, doctor, for helping Chi Cheng.” Xiaoshuai nodded, mesmerized for a moment by the handsome face so close to his, before remembering he was due for a patch change, quickly stepping away, hoping that his scent wasn’t too noticeable in the room’s smell of chemical cleaning supplies he’d been using.

“Go get yourself cleaned up in the back room. I’ll stay with the patient." Chengyu hesitated for a moment before following the signs to the clinic’s public shower and restroom. Xiaoshuai counted to ten before diving at his desk and switching out his patch. He took a couple of breaths before pulling out his phone.

“Shifu,” Suowei said through the phone, “are you coming home soon? I need…”

“There was an incident, Da Wei. I’m going to have to stay at the clinic.” Xiaoshuai said softly, “The emergency medication is in–”

“Please, can’t you tell them to come back?” Suowei whined, “I need you, I need..I need.” Xiaoshuai hushed his den mate, speaking in familiar, gentle whispers of care between the firm orders to retrieve the heat inhibitor from the drawer. Nearly ten minutes passed as Xiaoshuai heard Suowei finally settle down with the drug running through his veins, quelling the fire.

“I’m sorry, I’ll be home soon,” Xiaoshuai said into the phone before hanging up. He sighed and turned, running face-first into a broad chest. “Ai!” he shouted, grabbing his nose. For a moment, before realizing he’d run into Chengyu. The man’s face wore an unreadable expression.

“How does a little beta like you land a needy omega like that?” Chengyu asked, tilting Xiaoshuai's head up to look at him. They locked eyes for a moment before Chengyu’s eyes drifted down to his gland. Xiaoshuai stayed impossibly still, as he felt a finger graze the new patch he’d carelessly put on above his collar line. The omega saw the moment the Alpha made the connection. “You–”

“It’s none of your business.” Xiaoshuai snapped, slapping Chengyu’s hand away. The alpha grinned like one would at a particularly cute kitten doing something foolish.

“Two little den mates, one in heat. Tell me, little beta,” Chengyu leaned forward, letting his scent get into Xiaoshuai’s nose. “Did you think it was safe to let us in here?”

“I helped your friend,” Xiaoshuai snarled, his little fangs descending at the perceived threat, enjoying the way Chengyu instinctively retreated. “Now, call a car and get out. I won’t let you or any alpha hurt Suowei again.” Chengyu seemed to recover, his posture shifting to something softer.

“Ah, sorry little beta, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then what did you mean?” Xiaoshuai said, raising an eyebrow as he brushed past the alpha and walked back to his patient. The alpha was beginning to show signs of stirring. The Alpha’s eyes flew open, landing on the doctor before taking in his surroundings.

“Chengyu?” Chi Cheng called, and the other alpha stepped into his field of view. “Where are we?”

“My clinic,” Xiaoshuai said quickly, “I’m Dr. Jiang Xiaoshuai. You were stabbed. I gave you some light pain medication. How are you feeling?” Chi Cheng grunted, motioning that he wanted to sit up. Chengyu and Xiaoshuai helped him, and then the doctor set out to examine his patient, which the Alpha quietly complied with. So focused on his work and intake, Xiaoshuai missed the silent conversation happening between the two alphas. Chengyu, with little effort, pointed out the patch on Xiaoshuai’s neck and held up two fingers. Chi Cheng raised an eyebrow at Chengyu’s excitement.

“Normally, I would say, Mr. Chi, that you need to stay for observation, but I get the sense you are not one to do so,” Xiaoshuai said tiredly, already ducking behind the counter to grab some more wound cleaning supplies. “Keep the wound dry, go see your doctor in the morning, and change the bandage every day. In a week, have the stitches removed.”

“Understood.” Chi Cheng said as Chengyu took the medical supplies, “How much?” Xiaoshuai blinked. It was Suowei’s job to keep track of expenses.

“Da Wei does the accounting,” Xiaoshuai said more to himself than the men standing in front of him, “just add the clinic on WeChat and we’ll send a bill. It won’t be more than five hundred.” He tapped the QR code, and both alphas scanned it diligently. Chi Cheng turned, already heading out of the clinic.

“See you soon, little beta,” Chengyu said before following him. Xiaoshuai ignored him and followed them out, locking the door. Xiaoshuai waited a few breaths before he finished his rounds and hurried home. He was greeted by a miserable-looking Suowei on the couch, staring blankly at nonsense late-night TV. Xiaoshuai sat on the couch, lifting Suowei’s head into his lap.

“You smell like alphas,” Suowei said, the question implied in his statement.

“Two idiots out street fighting somewhere, they probably saw the lights on and stopped at the first clinic that was still open,” Xiaoshuai said, gently smoothing out Suowei's sweat-damp hair. “Nothing happened, probably won’t see them again.” Suowei hummed and snuggled deeper, the inhibitor kept the worst of the heat at bay.
As it turned out, Xiaoshuai would eat his words. It seemed over the next few days, whenever he wasn’t in the clinic, he’d catch a glimpse of Chengyu. Always in the corner of his eyes, always out of reach from yelling at him. It made Xiaoshuai nervous. He thought about telling Suowei a few times but refrained—no need to ruin the sense of safety in their den for an unknown variable.

Suowei bustled around the clinic, the light on the top turned off, but he probably wouldn’t be leaving until well after midnight. His heat had put him behind in the bookkeeping and inventory, and he needed to catch up on the billing. 181s Clinic was one of the most popular clinics in the area, but they were always just scraping by. Taking IOUs and food rather than cash to help serve the poorer community that surrounded them. Xiaoshuai had almost no head for business, but he did have a bleeding heart. The sound of the door opening made Suowei look up, and he froze. An alpha dressed in designer black clothing stood, a serious expression on his face. Instantly, Suowei’s nose was invaded by the scent of omega perfume and sex.

“What are you doing?” Suowei snapped, “We’re closed for the day.” The alpha blinked at his rude tone, before a smirk spread across his face.

“I came to pay for my treatment.” Suowei sighed.

“Name?”

“Chi Cheng.” Suowei froze, realizing this was one of the Alphas that had given Xiaoshuai such a hard time during his heat. Suowei spared a glare for the smug Alpha before adding up the cost on his calculator.

“285,” Suowei said, turning the calculator around. Chi Cheng pulled out three one-hundred-yuan bills, laying them on the counter, ignoring the QR pay sign. When Suowei went to reach for it, the Alpha suddenly trapped his hand with his much larger one. Suowei hissed and snarled as the Alpha invaded his space. “You stink like a cheap bottle of pheromones."

“It’s my girlfriend’s.” Chi Cheng said without a care, yanking Suowei closer. “But I wonder what you smell without that O-patch.” Suowei summoned all his strength and shoved, catching the Alpha off guard and forcing him back. The omega glared as he put the money in the safe in his desk drawer and counted out the change.

“That perfume must have your senses turned around.” Suowei said, “Go find someone else to mess with, I’m tired and want to go home.”

“Have a drink with me.” Chi Cheng said, Suowei rolled his eyes.

“You have a girlfriend. Go drink with her and leave me alone.” Chi Cheng paused for a moment in shock at how quickly he’d been turned down. Before he could speak, the change had been shoved into his hand, and he’d been pushed out, the door locking behind him.

“Go away!” Suowei swore at him, before shutting the curtain to the clinic. Chi Cheng stood in the warm spring evening, and what had been an earnest mission to repay the clinic had morphed into something far more interesting – a chase.

It was the time of year when Suowei had to take jobs outside the clinic to keep the lights on. Everyone was always struggling financially in the early summer. As Xiaoshuai collected promises of a future payment, Suowei collected extra jobs. The delivery job he’d done the past few summers was reliable. It allowed him to pick and choose his schedule and take time off without needing an excuse. Except suddenly he was running into Chi Cheng, everywhere. Most of the time, it was an annoyance, with one time being particularly intense when he’d been pinned against the truck door while the little Master’s thugs had searched his cargo. Suowei found himself lingering on the memory of the Alpha's scent, how it sent shivers deep into his belly.

Then the alpha started turning up when Suowei was on a run or at the local basketball courts. The alpha always found a reason to talk to him, forcing him to play with him. Suowei wasn’t sure when he’d started carrying some of Xiaoshuai’s snacks to sneak into Chi Cheng’s pockets. He’d been sneaking food into the doctor’s pocket for years, trying to get the man to keep up his health. But somehow, Chi Cheng had become such a staple in Suowei’s life that he’d started doing almost unconsciously.
“Don’t get the wrong idea,” Suowei said when he was caught sticking a lollipop into Chi Cheng’s pocket. Petulantly, he unwrapped the treat and stuck it in his mouth. He rolled the candy on his tongue, ignoring the Alpha who was glaring at him.

“Let me treat you to lunch.” Chi Cheng said. Suowei turned, still playing with the candy, and shrugged. Then, without warning, Chi Cheng scooped Suowei up and carried him out of the gym over his shoulder like some conquering king with his spoils of war.

“Put me down!” Suowei said, trying to wriggle out of his grasp; however, the alpha was stronger than him. The Alpha only set him down when they approached the restaurant, a place that Suowei frequented for the spicy, sour broth and generous meat portions. Before Suowei could call out his order, Chi Cheng did it, and also ordered himself something in one breath. The omega went to sit, ignoring the Alpha who was just staring at him. The food arrived, and Suowei threw himself into eating, not one to waste a meal.

Chi Cheng watched the in-hiding Omega eat like a starving man. Both he and his den mate needed to eat and sleep more. They were so focused on keeping the clinic open that they neglected their well-being in the process. Chengyu had already had food delivered there for both of them, only for it to go untouched as Suowei ran off to some secondary job while the little doctor gave all his attention to his patients. It rubbed Chi Cheng the wrong way that no one seemed to notice how haggard the two den mates really were.

“What are you staring at me for? If you don’t want your food, I’ll take it out.”

“I’m going to call you Da Bao from now on.” Chi Cheng said, and Suowei rolled his eyes.

“Why? Just call me Wu like a normal person.” Chi Cheng ignored that but began eating, delight racing through him that the food was actually tasty. Suowei suddenly choked, stood up, and made a nonsensical excuse, trying to leave again. If the rotating fan hadn’t blown at just the right moment, the Alpha would have missed the mild scent of arousal from the omega. Chi Cheng growled and, quite without a plan, dragged the Omega back to his car by the nape of his neck. Chi Cheng shoved him up against the car and stole a kiss, pushing the smaller man up against the door, enjoying the way his body seemed to slot in perfectly with his.

The kiss knocked Suowei stupid for a moment, as the scent of an interested Alpha invaded all his senses. He kissed back, enjoying the feeling of being held against something, before the sensory memories of a horrible moment overrode any feelings of excitement, and Suowei shoved hard. Chi Cheng stumbled away, but before Suowei could speak more than a “no–stop,” Chi Cheng had opened the door, throwing Suowei inside, as the summer monsoon rain began to pour around the car. In the confined space, Chi Cheng loomed over Suowei before diving for his pants, forcing his lips on him once more. This time, Suowei fought hard and yelled.

“You have a girlfriend, and I am not some plaything you can use. Get away from me.” Suowei‘s fangs descended, and he bit the forearm holding him down, the sudden pain snapping Chi Cheng out of whatever frenzy he was in. The Alpha stared in shock at the refusal. “I won’t give my body to anyone but my boyfriend.” Suowei then shoved his foot hard, forcing Chi Cheng to the other side of the car, and got out, instantly drenched in the downpour. He was grateful that Chi Cheng seemed to get the message and didn’t follow.

Xiaoshuai looked up as a soaking wet Suowei wandered into the clinic. The air conditioner hit the young man’s skin, and Xiaoshuai saw the shiver run up Suowei’s body.

“Idiot, go change before you catch a cold!” Xiaoshuai ordered, throwing a blanket at his den mate. Suowei nodded demurely, heading to the back to change. As he passed, he shoved a bento box into the doctor's hand. Xiaoshuai smiled and opened it, enjoying the smell for a moment before grabbing his chopsticks. That was when Chengyu and his sidekick Li Wang wandered into the clinic. Xiaoshuai grew more irritated as the Alpha kept teasing him, dropping little hints about his true differentiation. One went too far, and on instinct, Xiaoshuai slapped him.

“I can treat shamelessness.” The suppressed omega said indigent fury in every word, “Now if you are healed, then leave.” Chengyu took the scolding in stride, somehow still laughing as he left the clinic. Suowei reappeared crowing about his wonderful Shifu to teach him his ways, which Xiaoshuai took for what it was, a playful distraction. The doctor tried to forget about the obnoxious alpha and focus on his work and his den mate.

Three days later, Suowei was in the backroom bed with a fever, cough, and chills he couldn’t quite shake. Xiaoshuai had been monitoring alongside lecturing him for getting caught out in the rain. Suowei felt exhausted and weird at the same time. Every time he coughed, it was like his nerves caught fire.

Xiaoshuai winced as Suowei had yet another coughing fit. His den mate was particularly susceptible to illness due to the recent use of an inhibitor that killed the immune system. The doctor cursed Chi Cheng, and then, like the devil, he appeared.

“Where’s Wu Suowei?” Chi Cheng demanded, his voice and posture brooking no room for argument.

“Resting, away from you.” Xiaoshuai said, “He came back soaking wet, with a 40-degree fever and nasty cough. I’m going to transfer him to the hospital if it doesn’t start getting better–” Chi Cheng pushed past Xiaoshuai and stepped into the hallway that led to where Suowei was resting. The scent of ill and distressed omega nearly bowled him over. In the small bunk bed, Suowei lay curled up, asleep, sweating and shivering under the covers.

“Oh, Da Bao, why are you such a handful?” Chi Cheng said as he knelt down and pressed his hand against the smaller man’s forehead. Suowei jerked away from the touch.

“No, stop, please, I don’t want it.” Suowei pleaded in a pitiful voice, “No more, it hurts.” Chi Cheng felt all his possessive feelings give way to a deep sense of protectiveness over Suowei and, by extension, Xiaoshuai. Both he and Chengyu had seen the way the two little Omegas closed ranks and flinched at loud sounds and raised voices. They were in a permanent state of neglect, and neither Alpha had ever thought to look into their pasts, to see what skeletons were hiding in the closet.

Chi Cheng stayed the rest of the day, alternating between tending to Suowei and bullying his way around the clinic, standing guard. When Xiaoshuai took his lunch break, the alpha scared off any staff members who dared try to disturb him with a single look. Chengyu had stopped by to bring food and, for once, didn’t try anything other than to make small talk and encourage the exhausted doctor to eat, placing food directly in his mouth whenever the other got distracted by work. Xiaoshuai, for his part, took the Alphas’ invasion of his clinic in stride. He didn’t hesitate to send them to a corner when they were getting in the way. Despite the help, it was well past sundown before the last patient was sent on their way. Xiaoshuai groaned as he sat at his desk, all the paperwork of the day neglected with Suowei out of commission.

“Little beta,” Chengyu’s teasing voice startled Xiaoshuai, who hadn't realized how close the man had gotten, “you are dead on your feet.” Xiaoshuai turned his head and glared.

“Blame Chi Cheng, he’s the one who made Da Wei sick.” He turned away from Chengyu and groaned. He was going to be here until one or two in the morning. “Everything was fine until a few days ago. Do you know what happened?” Chengyu shrugged.

“Chi Cheng didn’t mention anything, but he must be in love the way he’s fussing.” Chengyu frowned, remembering the last time Chi Cheng had become interested in an Omega. The relationship had broken down once the den mate bond between Chi and him had formed. Wang Shou hadn’t been interested in sharing, only pitting them against one another. Chi Cheng had been devastated. Chengyu glanced at the omega who was staring at the hallway Chi Cheng had disappeared down, and a thought rose unbidden in his mind at how the two omegas were practically gift wrapped for him and his brother-in-arms.

“How did you two meet?” Chengyu said, settling on an innocent question. Xiaoshuai flinched and looked away.

“We…we saved each other a long time ago.” He said after a moment of silence. “The world isn’t too kind to people like me and him. Too masculine to be cute and too omega to be relied on.” Chengyu’s anger for the two young men pooled in his stomach for their past, but he and Chi Cheng were here now.

“Who says you aren’t cute?” Chengyu teased, flicking the small nose that wrinkled immediately in annoyance.

“For eye issues, go to the ophthalmologist.” Xiaoshuai deadpanned.

“Don’t be so cold!” Chengyu whined, but the smile that had permanently glued itself to his face in the presence of Xiaoshuai. He was ignored for paperwork.

“Da Bao needs to go home.” Chi Cheng announced, appearing back at the entrance of the backroom hallway, holding Suowei swaddled in blankets. “He keeps having nightmares.” Chengyu jumped to his feet and pulled Xiaoshuai with him.

“Let’s go, no need to burn the midnight oil!” He said, and before the omega could protest, the Alpha herded him into the car, Chi Cheng following closely behind. Xiaoshuai attempted some kind of protest, but as soon as they were in a confined space, the smell of soothing pheromones, calm alpha, and sleeping den mate caused the doctor’s eyes to flutter closed quickly.

“Did you find anything?” Chengyu asked as he cradled the too-thin omega against him. Chi Cheng nodded, handing over his phone. He took it and began to read. It wasn’t the worst story out there, but it wasn’t good. Both had been sent to the only Omega school in the province to finish up their studies. Both had been caught in some kind of scandal, including licentious photos and damning rumors. Some sort of settlement had been reached, and Chengyu raised an eye at the teacher who’d been put on leave for a year but had been brought back. He committed the name to memory – Meng Tao.

“Da Bao cried in his sleep.” Chi Cheng said, in a low growl, “Someone was hurting him.” Chengyu spared a glance at Xiaoshuai. He’d seen the younger man flinch multiple times when Chengyu went to tease him with his curious fingers.

“We have them now, brother,” Chengyu said. Chi Cheng nodded, his hands tightening around Suowei. “Now we just have to convince them to stay.” Chi Cheng actually looked a little pained at that admission. Normally, it was easy for them to find Omegas that wanted one of them, for the status and money, but neither Chi nor Guo was under the illusion that they would be able to win the two in their arms so easily. Merging dens was a delicate process easy to mess up and wonderful if it worked.

It was easy to get the two exhausted omegas into a guest room and carefully get them comfortable in bed. Chengyu reached up and carefully pulled the O-patch off, clicking his tongue at the irritated skin underneath. Once both were on the bed, they curled into one another like puppies. The room quickly filled with contented, safe omega scents, and neither Chi Cheng nor Chengyu could bear to leave. Instead, they settled into the couch and kept watch while the other two slept peacefully.

Xiaoshuai barely woke up and reached out for his usual sleeping companion, Suowei hummed and snuggled down into the offered arm. He sighed before he heard a light coo that sent a cold jolt of panic through him.

“Wait, why are they so cute?” Chengyu said, only to get a shout and snarl as Xiaoshuai threw himself over Suowei. Growling, his fangs descended fully, and both alphas at the edge of the bed backed up immediately. Suowei shot up, dazed at the sudden change in atmosphere. He locked eyes with Chi Cheng.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing, Da Bao. Dr. Jiang was just startled. You both fell asleep before we could get directions out of you. So we took you back to our home.” Chi Cheng said in a softer voice than Suowei had ever heard him use. “Your fever broke, but you need to keep resting.” As if on cue, a cough rattled Suowei's chest, and he whined, which in turn caused Xiaoshuai’s attention to turn back towards his den mate. Doctoring-mode on, Xiaoshuai began to check his companion, but didn’t find anything immediately alarming. The tension in the room receded as Xiaoshuai stroked Suowei’s hair for a moment, a calming action for both of them.

“Fuck, Xiaoshuai is scary,” Chengyu muttered. Chi Cheng smirked

“Perfect for you, maybe you finally found an omega who’ll want to fuc–” Chengyu slapped a hand over Chi Cheng’s mouth, glaring. Xiaoshuai’s face burst into flames, sputtering before Suowei’s stomach let out a call that the doctor’s echoed moments later.

“Shifu and I are hungry,” Suowei whined pitifully, rolling over on top of his stomach, still trapped mostly under Xiaoshuai’s body, the two omegas looking up from the bed with sleep-messed hair and rumpled clothes, looking to the world quite helpless. Really, neither Chi Cheng nor Guo Chengyu stood a chance. Both Alphas sprang into action, making their way into a kitchen. A thick chicken congee was delivered to the two omegas’ waiting hands, who had both wandered into the kitchen, pulling themselves up to the counter. It was a peaceful morning of cooking a veritable feast, save for the death rattling coughs that caused everyone to pause. Xiaoshuai gave up any pretense of modesty and made Suowei pull off his shirt so the doctor could listen without his stethoscope. Unbeknownst to either omega, Chi Cheng snapped a picture and quickly sent it to Chengyu.

“I know you don’t want to go,” Xiaoshuai counseled his den mate, “but I think it’s time we made sure you aren’t getting post-inhibitor pneumonia with an X-ray at the hospital." Suowei shook his head.

“It’s fine, you worry like an auntie.” Suowei dismissed. However, Chi Cheng inserted himself into the conversation.

“I’m free, I can take you.” Suowei shook his head even more vigorously.

"I don’t go to hospitals.”

“You’re fine at the clinic.” Chi Cheng said, and Suowei pointed at Xiaoshuai.

“He wouldn’t let anything happen to me.” Chi Cheng pulled an annoyed face, moving and suddenly getting in Suowei’s space.

“And you think I would, Da Bao?” He asked, tension in every word. Suowei stumbled over his words trying to explain the matter, only to descend into a coughing fit. Chi Cheng pulled the younger man to his chest and held him, softly stroking his hair. “I won’t leave you, I’ll keep watch the whole time. No one can hurt you when I’m around.” Suowei struggled halfheartedly before giving in to the embrace. Chi Cheng immediately began scolding the omega for his cold hands, pulling them between his own. Xiaoshuai watched from a distance, hating that rather than the protective instincts that typically rose, the primal part of his brain wanted to lounge like a big cat and purr.

“Your natural scent matches your looks,” Chengyu said in Xiaoshuai’s ear, causing the other to startle, which Chengyu took advantage of and pulled the other into an embrace. “Sweet with a hint of something, spicier.” Xiaoshuai jumped at the hot breath on his ear, and stiffened as a memory of another’s breathy words on his ear surfaced.

“Don’t!” Xiaoshuai said, pushing more earnestly, but Chengyu held on, pulling the omega all his confused distress closer.

“You’re safe here. Whoever touched you can’t get to you anymore.” Chengyu rumbled low in his chest, watching the distress leave behind a nearly boneless omega in his arms. “I’ll erase any memory of him from your body.”

“Not possible,” Xiaoshuai said, almost as a confession. It was then that Chengyu’s wandering hands felt the scars along the young doctor’s wrists. Marred into his skin was the result of his past. Chengyu, without thinking, pulled the scarred wrists to his lips and kissed them. Even under the twisted and changed skin, a burst of pure scent rose from the secondary glands, and Chengyu locked eyes with the omega who looked torn between anger, fear, and something more primal. Chengyu herded Xiaoshuai to the couch, pulling the smaller man down on top of him. They stayed that way into the afternoon, Xiaoshuai taking phone appointments and then well wishes as he’d closed the clinic. Chi Cheng and Suowei went and returned from the hospital, with a bag of medications and a follow-up appointment scheduled. The four lounged for the rest of the day, the family room becoming saturated in a mixture of scents. It was a quiet reprieve from the world outside and the past.

Suowei sighed as he ran through the paperwork for the clinic. He was finally starting to catch up again after his brush with bronchitis and an obnoxious, recurring low-grade fever. He’d apparently developed an allergy to the emergency inhibitor medication, which was wreaking havoc on his body. He glanced over at Xiaoshuai, who was also still deep in work, writing up reports and creating reminders for his patients. The night was threatening to turn into morning, and Suowei knew he still had hours of work left. The workflow had started to pull him back in, only for his chair to be yanked away from the desk and his vision taken over by Chi Cheng’s face, leaning down.

“Time to go, Da Bao. Xiao Cubao misses you.” The alpha declared. Suowei glanced over his shoulder and saw that Chengyu was similarly conjoling the doctor away from his workstation.

“Fine, I will go see my brother,” Suowei said, shutting his computer down. Both Xiaoshuai and Suowei had learned not to resist when the alphas came into the clinic in the evenings over the past month. Otherwise, their removal was far less dignified, with one particularly memorable moment being when Chi Cheng had thrown Suowei over his shoulder and Xiaoshuai scooped up onto Chengyu’s hip like an errant child, and both had been carried out into the car like toddlers throwing a tantrum. As they locked up, flanked closely by the alpha den mates, Suowei nudged Xiaoshuai.

“Shifu, I’m going to need to pick up a few jobs, we’re behind by almost 50,000 and–”

“Da Wei,” Xiaoshuai interrupted. “You can't, you are still recovering. If you exhaust yourself, you’ll be back where you started.”

“It’s not like you can pick up extra jobs. You have to take care of the patients.” Suowei pointed out, as his phone dinged, he checked and then almost dropped it. He whipped around to look at Chi Cheng. “Why did you send me 200,000?”

“Did I?” Chi Cheng asked, looking up from his phone, clearly still open in WeChat. Suowei smacked the alpha’s arm and glared.

“You can’t be this bad at managing money!” Chi Cheng paused for a moment before reaching into his wallet and handing Suowei several credit cards.

“Then you do it.”

“Those two should just get a certificate,” Chengyu grumbled at Xiaoshuai, who rolled his eyes at the two idiots dancing around in front of him. Chi Cheng yelped as Suowei bit his forearm in annoyance.

“Take me anywhere but here,” Xiaoshuai said to no one in particular, but without hesitation, Chengyu grabbed his hand, tugging the smaller man along. Despite perfunctory protests, Xiaoshuai was grateful for the quiet meal away from Wu Suowei and Chi Cheng’s never-ending game. Guo Chengyu was a good conversation partner, always teasing but never mean, his Alpha scent wrapping around Xiaoshuai like a hug. Xiaoshuai felt his eyes starting to droop as the day of work and being on his feet caught up with him. He absently pulled off his O-Patch, the skin feeling itchy as the air hit his neck.

“Hey little beta, I’m going to pop into the restroom, then I’ll take you home,” Chengyu said before heading towards the back. Xiaoshuai glanced around the bar area, where a group of men were talking, getting louder when one caught his eye. Xiaoshuai looked away immediately, but it was too late. The man, clearly an Alpha, swanned over to his table as though a glance was an invitation.

“Let me treat you.” The man said, pulling out his card. Xiaoshuai pulled a disgusted face.

“I’d rather choke on a fishbone.” The man laughed like he’d said something particularly funny.

“Don’t be like that, come on, come meet my friends.” The man, clearly an alpha, grabbed Xiaoshuai’s arm. “Don’t male omegas like extra attention?” Xiaoshuai froze at one of the phrases that haunted his memory. He paused just long enough to get hauled up from the table, banging his knee along the way, causing him to shout in pain. The strange hand was suddenly gone, causing Xiaoshuai to look up in surprise. Chengyu, who hadn’t said a word, simply threw the Alpha to the ground and kicked the man so hard he skidded away from them. The alpha’s face was more serious than Xiaoshuai had ever seen it. No one moved. Chengyu didn’t say anything, but he turned to Xiaoshuai and picked him up like he weighed nothing.

The ride home was silent, too. Xiaoshuai was not sure if he should apologize or say something that would make the Alpha relax. He was unceremoniously carried into the house, and the second the door was closed, Chengyu pushed him up against the door and buried his face in his neck. Xiaoshuai didn’t say anything, wrapping his legs tighter around Chengyu, enjoying the feeling of being held. He began to pet Chengyu’s hair as the Alpha trembled out his anger in low rumbles, snarls, and light nips at Xiaoshuai’s neck. The omega wasn’t sure how long they stayed there, but he felt himself beginning to drift between awareness and sleep. He was somewhat aware that he had been changed and put to bed. Two big arms wrapped around him like a security blanket, and Xiaoshuai surrendered to sleep.

It was six in the morning when Suowei crept out into the kitchen. He nearly yelped when he ran into Guo Chengyu. The two stared at each other for a moment before Chengyu nodded to Suowei’s usual stool, as the alpha pulled some of the baozi they’d gotten from the market yesterday out of the freezer to steam.

“Da Ge, what do you want with Shifu?” Suowei said, causing Chengyu to pause in his preparations.

“I could ask you the same thing about Chi Cheng, Xiao Wei.” Chengyu fired back, and Suowei’s face turned red in response. Chengyu laughed quietly, earning him a swat on his arm, which he accepted gracefully. “I don’t want anything with him, not like that. You two just seem so sad all the time when we aren’t around. Barely keep the lights on in the clinic and barely remember to eat.” Suowei looked away, ashamed.

“We are doing our best, it’s not easy.” Chengyu returned to preparing food, giving the illusion he wasn’t watching Suowei’s every move. He was less interested in a physical relationship with the Omega, but if they were all going to be den mates, it would be good for them to get along. “We’ve gotten pretty far considering where we started.”

“And where was that?”

“Running away, beaten half to death in a drugged heat,” Suowei said softly, and Chengyu froze, suddenly glad he was facing the stove and not Suowei. He’d learned that anything could spook Xiaoshuai and Suowei, and he was sure his visage was frightening as his mind pulled up horror images. “We went for help, and instead they slandered us for being immoral. It was hard, almost impossible, I wanted to die, and Shifu wanted to die, but we didn’t want the other to have to bury one of us. Shifu got close one time, when I went home to try to talk to my mom. He thought she would accept me back. He forgot about how the village would feel.” Suowei’s breaths were shaky, the rattle from the lingering wheeze making the sounds ten times worse.

“He got a call, though. Someone needed medical help, and he saved them instead of dying.” Chnegyu released the breath he didn’t know he was holding. “I worked a lot while he studied for his medical exams. I had to support us, but I was happy because all Shifu ever wanted was to take care of people. Like he did for me back in that teacher’s basement.” Chengyu turned around and walked over to the island. He carefully kept the counter between himself and Suowei and began to speak.

“What I want is for little beta to gain some weight and smile at me. I want to be the first thing he sees in the morning and the last thing at night.” Chengyu glanced up at Suowei. “It’s not just that you two are omegas and we are alphas. It’s as if everything came together to form the perfect fit. You two saved each other from an impossible situation, and you did so with your dignity intact.” Chengyu said, reaching out with an open palm towards Suowei in a sublimating gesture, one often used by pups in apology to older members of their family. Suowei laid his small hand in Chengyu’s, and the Alpha smiled, closing his hand around it and giving a gentle squeeze. He then caught sight of Chi Cheng tucked away at the entrance of the kitchen, listening but giving space for Suowei to talk. “What about you, Xiao Wei? What do you want with Chi Ge?”

“I…” Suowei paused as if organizing his thoughts, “I want him so bad, but every time I get scared, or startled, and ruin it. I can’t ask him to wait forever, but the idea of him with someone else is unbearable.” Chengyu bit his lip, trying not to laugh as Chi Cheng began gesticulating wildly behind Suowei. Chengyu knew what he wanted, but it was funny to see such a serious man fall to pieces.

“I think he understands, Xiao Wei. He isn’t a monster, no matter how much he pretends. I’m pretty sure you could get married tomorrow if you asked.” Suowei blinked.

“Do you think so?” And Chi Cheng took the moment to swoop in and pull Suowei onto his lap. He started nibbling along the side of Suowei’s neck, talking about blushing brides and jewelry, causing Suowei to start scolding him. Chengyu laughed, plating half the baozi for his den mates and walking back to the bedroom, which in his absence smelled like a contented Xiaoshuai. Chengyu set the food on the side table before spooning the omega. He breathed in deeply, and something seemed almost spicier about his scent. Chengyu smiled and began the slow process of waking the doctor for another day at the clinic.

As it turned out for all of them, the change in Xiaoshuai’s scent was an early warning that none of them caught. Over the course of the next week, Xiaoshuai’s energy drained, his appetite all but disappeared, and rather than scolding and giving the cold shoulder to Chengyu’s usual antics, he became inexplicably clingier, more sensitive to any comment Chengyu said. The alpha at first was simply confused, only for his mind to make the association, thinking about his own mother.

“Little beta is going to go into heat soon,” Chengyu told Chi Cheng.

“You’ll have to stop calling him that if he does.” Chi Cheng said straight-faced. When Chengyu ignored the obvious call for banter, Chi Cheng leaned back on the couch and puffed his cigarette. “I figured, I can’t wait for Da Bao’s turn.” He stroked Xiao Cubao on his wrist.

“What if they want to ride it out together and not with us?” Chengyu asked. Chi Cheng paused, and Chengyu rolled his eyes. The other Alpha hadn’t even considered what the two omegas had been doing about their heats before them.

“We could watch.” Chi Cheng said, grinning like a fool, “Just like when I’m in rut and you–”

“This is about Xiaoshuai and Suowei’s past, dumbass,” Chengyu said, pleading for Chi Chen to take the topic seriously. The other Alpha took a long pull of his cigarette, resting his head on the back of the couch, blowing the smoke into the air.

“You have to let your little love get twisted up sometimes, so you can help them untangle it.” Chi Cheng said after a moment, hand reaching up and playing with the smoke, “Just treat him like you would any omega of yours. If it bothers him, he’ll say something, or you’ll know, cuz neither of them is subtle.”

Chenyu stared at Chi Cheng, then asked, “And you just let Xiao Wei get in his head ‘til he cries?”

“Yeah,” Chicheng said like it was the most obvious thing in the world, “he’s been strong his whole life. He and your little doctor are made to be cared for, but no one’s done it right. They have to cry sometimes, if only for themselves. Da Bao says the sweetest things when he does. And he holds onto me with all his strength and makes me promise I’ll never leave.”

That evening, when they went to retrieve their overworked Omegas, Chengyu greeted Xiaoshuai not with his usual teasing words but by pulling the younger man to him into an embrace and scented him. Xiaoshuai melted against him, even as he grumbled about being yanked around.

The following day, Suowei and Xiaoshuai were in the back, ostensibly restocking supplies, but really it was Suowei trying to talk some sense into his den mate.

“Shifu, I know you hate it, but you need to decide who you want around for your heat.” Suowei said, never one to beat around the bush, “I’ll always be there, but I can only do so much. Have you thought about asking Guo Chengyu to help?” Xiaoshuai shook his head, even though everything in him wanted Chengyu there.

“I’m already too needy. What’s he going to think when he sees me like that?” Suowei frowned, biting his lip.

“I…I don’t think they’ll mind. Chi Cheng is always complaining I don’t ask for more things.” Xiaoshuai rolled his eyes. “I’m serious, Shifu, if you pass by something in the shop and so much as glance at it for more than a second, Da Ge falls all over himself to buy it.”

“Flirting is one thing, Da Wei, but this is another matter entirely. Despite how he acts, Chengyu has a lot of responsibility at work. He can’t just take off multiple days to–”

“You’re so stubborn!” Suowei interrupted, “Here you are teaching me how to entice Chi Cheng, but don’t you think that someone like Guo Chengyu wouldn’t drop everything to come help?” Then to prove his point, Suowei whipped out his phone and recorded a voice message.

“Xiaoshuai needs to go home. His heat is tomorrow, and he doesn’t like being outside the nest. Come get him.” Xiaoshuai stared at him, stunned, before launching himself and Suowei, as they played a game of keep away, the doctor scolding his den mate. Suowei’s phone dinged, and both froze.

“I’m coming,” was all the message said.

Suowei grinned, and Xiaoshuai blushed ear to ear. “Let him take care of you. I’ll make sure that the clinic is closed up properly. Then we can just focus on you, okay?” Xiaoshuai went to his desk, making little notes for himself to follow up on when Chengyu burst into the quiet clinic. He locked eyes with Xiaoshuai and strode over to his desk.

“Come‘on” He said, holding out his hand for Xiaoshuai to take. The doctor hesitated before returning the gesture, and he was whisked out of the clinic. Chengyu crowded him as he got into the car, under the guise of buckling the Omega’s seatbelt, Chengyu pulled off the O-patch with practiced ease, shoving his nose into the crook of Xiaoshuai’s neck.

“Can…Can I use your room for my heat?” Xiaoshuai mumbled into Chengyu’s hair, and the alpha pulled back instantly.

“Do you sleep anywhere else in the house?” Xiaoshuai didn’t respond to the tease but said in an even quieter voice.

“Can you be there?” Chengyu froze then laughed, placing a kiss squarely on Xiaoshuai’s lips.

“If you say things like that in public, we are going to get arrested for indecent exposure.” Xiaoshuai smacked Chengyu’s chest. The alpha trapped the omega’s hand and brought it up to offer a soft kiss like a servant to a king.

“Don’t get weird,” Xiaoshuai said as he blushed but preened inwardly at the attention. Chengyu managed to separate himself from Xiaoshuai long enough to get in the driver’s seat and start the car.

Suowei worked well past closing, sending out messages and getting ready to close up for the week. It was easy to say Xiaoshuai had a family emergency. The clinic chat flooded with well-wishes for the doctor. Suowei smiled as he saw that the news had prompted several people to finally settle their outstanding bills. He was wrapping up with the accounts when Chi Cheng walked into the clinic.

“If you’re by yourself, lock the door.” Chi Cheng scolded as he locked the door firmly behind him. “Anyone could walk in.” Suowei rolled his eyes.

“I’m not helpless, and besides, it used to be a good neighborhood until two thugs started coming around.” It was true that Li Wang and Gang Zhi were often sent to do drive-bys along with other employees to keep an eye on the clinic while the alphas were busy. It had certainly brought some excitement and sparked gossip. Chicheng wandered over to his omega, sitting on his desk, towering over him.

“Strong words for someone who leaves his sides exposed.” Chi Cheng said, and he attacked the smaller man’s side with his fingers. Suowei squealed immediately, dashing off. Chi Cheng pursued, easily catching Suowei, hauling him up on the treatment bed. For a brief moment, they both paused, and Suowei reached up, pulling Chi Cheng down for a kiss.

The alpha growled, hands roaming the omega, finding the offensive o-patch and pulling it off. The scent that Chi Cheng always craved started slowly trickling into the room. Without a second thought, Chi Cheng dove down, nipping and biting his way down Suowei’s torso. The omega made little noises, reacting to each touch as if an electric pulse were running through him. Chi Cheng grinned, tugging at Suowei’s waistband. The pants slid off easily, but the cool air on his lower half seemed to bring Suowei out of his fervor for a moment.

“Ah Ah, wait wait, not here.”

“Yes, here, Baobei.” Chi Cheng said, “Let me take care of you, you’ve worked hard all day.” And with that, he leaned forward to lick the warm center of Suowei’s body. His well-practiced tongue drew breathy noises and quiet pleas from the omega, and Suowei’s hand found its way to his hair. Chi Cheng alternated between playing with the little cock and slit, his fingers moving in and out of Suowei’s body, making indecent noises, but the way Suowei arched and chased the pleasure that Chi Cheng gave him, it made the Alpha desperately hard.

“Baob’er, I’m–I…”

“Go ahead, Weiwei, let go, I’ll catch you.” Chi Cheng said before fucking his fingers up into the spot he’d found a few weeks earlier, making Suowei writhe as he crested over his peak, the Omega went stiff as a near scream left his mouth. Chi Cheng pulled back his fingers, lazily thrusting into Suowei’s dripping cunt, enjoying the view of his omega blissed out from nothing but his hands and fingers. Chi Cheng’s cock twitched in his pants, desperate to be pulled out and sunk into the warm heat of Suowei’s body. Chi Cheng took a moment to enjoy the view before Suowei’s eyes popped open, sitting up to press a searing kiss into Chi Cheng’s lips.

Without another word, Suowei’s hand wandered down to Chi Cheng’s pants, tugging at the garment. Chi Cheng didn’t dare say anything. He just let the omega maneuver him however he wanted, until his hard cock was encased in the smaller hands, the points of contact causing his whole body to shiver. Without a word, Suowei shifted until he was staring at the cock, and without so much as a warning, took it in his mouth. Chi Cheng swore loudly, slick, soaked fingers finding purchase on Suowei’s hair. The omega bobbed his head, hollowing his cheeks as his tongue played with the sensitive underside of Chi Cheng’s dick. With such a determined and unexpected performance, Chi Cheng found his body responding quicker than it would normally. He tried to warn Suowei, but the omega kept sucking, now picking up the pace even more. Chi Cheng came in Suowei’s mouth, the sensation of the other man swallowing around him sending his spirit to another realm for a moment. The two stayed perfectly still, bathing in the sound of their breath and the scents of a coupling between alpha and omega. It was intoxicating.

Chi Cheng pulled Suowei to him, kissing the younger man with all his affection concentrated in the kiss. Suowei whined as the kiss turned to possessive little nips. Chi Cheng slowly turned Suowei's body, pressing the omega down on his stomach as his cock lined up with the omega’s dripping hole. The head of his cock pressed against Suowei’s, and for a moment, everything stilled again. In the movement was a quiet question, one last reassurance that it was okay, and Suowei tilted his head and nodded. Without another thought, Chi Cheng pushed forward, the sensation beyond anything he imagined. It was heaven. He began to move his mouth, finding purchase on different parts of Suowei’s body, enjoying the moans and stumbling words tumbling out of his omega’s mouth. Every instinct in his body told Chi Cheng to claim the person below him, but he resisted as they both clamored toward orgasm, knowing that Suowei wouldn’t forgive him if he were claimed in the clinic rather than in their den. Suowei cunt tensed around him, and Chi Cheng came, his knot locking them both in place. Moments later, Suowei followed him, his inside shuddering around Chi Cheng.

After a few moments of recovery, Suowei turned to glare at Chi Cheng. “I can’t believe my first time having sex is at the place I work. You horny beast.” Chi Cheng paused at the admission, suddenly remembering the past of the person he was with. However, rather than let guilt show, the Alpha rumbled, carefully shifting so he could lie down with Suowei nestled in his arms.

“Weiwei, forgive me.” Chi Cheng whispered, and Suowei pouted, ignoring the way the stubble on Chi Cheng’s chin against his cheek made him want to laugh. Chi Cheng kept poking and prodding at Suowei until he relented, offering Chi Cheng a kiss.

“Fine, fine, but next time let’s be at home,” Suowei said. “You always want to strip me in the most public of places.”

“I can’t help it, you are too perfect.”

“You’re blaming me??” Suowei said, moving to look at Chi Cheng, whose knot had gone down enough that it slipped out, causing them both to hiss at the sensation. Chi Cheng smacked Suowei’s ass. The yelp that followed sent blood right back to Chi Cheng’s groin.

“I blame this.” Chi Cheng grabbed the muscle, enjoying the way Suowei tried to both get closer and move away. “I blame the fact that you and you little den mate hide your scent all day then flood the car, I bla–”

“Stop, I’ll die of embarrassment,” Suowei said as he slapped a hand over Chi Cheng’s mouth. Chi Cheng lay there, just staring at Suowei. “What?”

“You’ve got cum in your hair,” Suowei swore and took off for the back room. Chi Cheng waited until he could hear the water running before stepping over to the counter and grabbing some bandages to wrap the frustrated bite mark on his inner arm. He paused for a moment, not even with Wang Shuo had he needed to bite his own arm. He wondered how he and Guo Chengyu would fare, especially with an omega in the throes of heat and his den mate helping. Chi Cheng resolved to talk to Suowei before things got too far.

Chengyu resisted the urge to carry Xiaoshuai all the way to their room. But instead, he settled for herding the man around the house, which Xiaoshuai took with good humor. He let Chengyu prepare lunch, making eye contact every time Chengyu offered him something to try. It was a quiet dance between the two. Xiaoshuai barely used his chopsticks as Chengyu insisted on feeding him once all the dishes had been set down. With his belly full, Xiaoshuai announced he was going to shower then sleep, hoping to get through the starting parts of his heat unawares. The idea of a shower, however, morphed into a cool bath with scent-neutral bubbles and Xiaoshuai luxuriating in the tub. The cool water did wonders for the fever simmering under his skin, then the Alpha appeared at the door, eyes averted.

“I cut up some fruit, watermelon,” Chengyu said. Xiaoshuai shifted so he was more upright before standing and grabbing a towel.

“Dry my hair?” He asked, wrapped a bathrobe around himself in a gesture of modesty. Chengyu followed behind like a puppy, grabbing the machine. The omega ate little bites of the fruit in his lap as the air dryer whirred around him.

“I could get used to this,” Xiaoshuai told Chengyu as the other man towel off his hair, setting the plate of half-eaten fruit off to the side.

“You should be used to it.” Chenyu grumbled, “It’s the bare minimum.”

“Maybe for the people you dated, but people like Da Wei and me it…always seemed out of reach.” Chengyu moved suddenly, kneeling down in front of Xiaoshuai, grabbing his hand and cupping his face.

“The past is the past, and now is now. You should expect it now, be bratty about it sometimes, make demands.” Chengyu said fiercely, “I want it.” Xiaoshuai’s heart beat faster as his words came from his heart rather than his brain.

“Kiss me.” Chengyu surged forward, capturing Xiaoshuai’s lips. The alpha lifted himself up, placing his legs on either side of the smaller man. Xiaoshuai’s hand grabbed the back of Chengyu’s hair and tugged, forcing the man to look up, enjoying the gasp it elicited. “Take me to the bed.”

Chengyu wasted no time carrying the Omega to his room, and once deposited on the bed, Xiaoshuai grabbed him and threw him on his back. Chengyu watched with hungry eyes as the little omega got rid of the bathrobe, exposing himself fully. Then the omega made short work of Chengyu’s clothes, leaving burning kisses at every inch of exposed skin. Chengyu felt all the thoughts leave his head when Xiaoshuai’s breath ghosted along his exposed cock.

“So this is mine to demand, too?” Xiaoshuai asked his head to lie on Chengyu’s thigh. Chnegyu didn’t say anything, too stunned to speak, and got bitten as a punishment. The alpha yelped and then moaned, the sting of two sharp canines running straight through the pleasure centers of his brain, his cock jumping in response. He settled into the buzz of arousal and pain like a familiar friend.

“You said,” Xiaoshuai started again. “I could make demands, so I demand this.”

“Whatever you want.” Chengyu managed to say, nearly sobbing in relief when Xiaoshuai licked along the underside of his cock, then suckng on the head. Chengyu wasn’t sure how long Xiaoshuai played with him, the tides of arousal cresting closer and closer to the peak only to fade away, leaving the sensation of a thousand shocks dancing across his skin. Xiaoshuai pulled back before moving up the Alpha’s body and engaging in a desperate, filthy kiss. Then the omega shuffled back and guided Chengyu to his entrance. After a brief glance and nod, Xiaoshuai sank down, the air punching out of his lungs, and Chengyu’s hands reached up to grip his hips. Then it was a frenzy of movements, Chengyu thrusted up into the warm body above his as Xiaoshuai’s fingers found purchase on his torso as he moved to meet each thrust. It was messy, both chasing after some sort of release. Xiaoshuai came first, his moans suddenly turning into a cry and clenching all around Chengyu so he could barely move. Not half a minute later, Chengyu followed, his knot sealing them together. In the room, there was nothing but the sounds of their heavy breathing, until Chenyu looked up to see Xiaoshuai’s eyes filled with tears.

“What’s wrong? Don’t cry.” Chenyu said awkwardly, trying to get his limbs to work so he could pull the smaller man into his body in a tight hug. “What’s wrong?”

Xiaoshuai sobbed into his neck. “I felt good.” Chengyu frowned, confused, then Xiaoshuai broke his heart again. “It never felt good. I didn’t think it could feel good with an Alpha.”

“Baobei,” Chengyu whispered, suddenly more angry than he had ever been in life. He wanted to jump out of bed and find the monster who’d done all those horrible things to Xiaoshuai and kill him. But instead, he comforted himself by kissing away the tears of his beloved. “There is only good fortune for you from here on out. I swear it.” Xiaoshuai laughed a bit, breaking through the feedback loop of sobs.

“Another demand I can make?” Chengyu shook his head.

“That isn’t a demand, it’s the law of the universe.” Xiaoshuai hiccuped, tucking his nose into Chengyu’s neck as they lay there, taking comfort in each other. After he calmed down more, Xiaoshuai had a thought: they hadn’t used any protection. He went to say something, but the small movement of his spine twisting to look at Chengyu caused them to separate. The sensation of movement was suddenly replaced by the feeling of being inexplicably empty. Chengyu seemed to notice the change in scent, because a different look rose in his eye.

“I need... I–” Xiaoshuai tried to explain, but the words dissolved into whines and moans. Chengyu laid the omega on his back and let his fingers find the wet, warm opening. A few thrusts of three of his fingers had the omega writhing, gripping at the sheets.

“I’ll give you everything you need,” Chengyu whispered like a prayer, then he began to worship the little god in front of him.

Suowei was delighted to learn that with two alphas helping, a single omega’s heat was significantly more manageable. He’d always done his best to help, just as Xiaoshuai had, but having even just an interested alpha’s scent in the room, let alone two in the nest, made everything go much smoother. Rather than running himself to exhaustion, Suowei shared the responsibility of taking care of his den mate. Chengyu was clearly very attentive, but every once in a while, the two omegas got caught up in each other, which led to all four of them giving up any pretense of modesty. It was a tangle of limbs, sweet whispers, and seeking pleasure in another. Suowei would have thought the two alphas would have been more territorial, but instead they seemed delighted in sharing. It settled something in Suowei he didn’t know was disturbed, a sense of belonging that included not just his den mate and lover, but Chengyu as well. As Suowei lay awake, spooned up against Xiaoshuai with Chi Cheng at his back, he realized that this was the happiness they’d both been seeking.

“What are you thinking about?” Chi Cheng whispered in Suowei’s ear, running his nose and lips along the exposed skin of his face and neck.

“Nothing,” Suowei replied, tilting his head so Chi Cheng could attack the spot that had the faintest hint of bite marks. Chi Cheng hummed, sucking a mark into his skin. Yes, Suowei thought, this was happiness.

Chapter 2: Our Home

Summary:

All four of them together! This ended up being a separate chapter, so if you aren't into all four together, then head on out, and thank you for reading the first chapter!

Chengyu stepped outside his office building and stretched, habitually pulling out a cigarette and lighting it as he walked to the parking entrance. It was his lunch hour, and he wanted to surprise Xiaoshuai, having barely seen hide or hair of him in the last two months, besides the two of them falling into bed at the wee hours of the morning, exhausted. He and Chi Cheng had been investigating Meng Tao and the abusive school practices at the provincial Omega school, which had turned into a damned corruption investigation implicating nationally appointed individuals. Chengyu was making final preparations to enact his personal plan of revenge on behalf of the two omegas he’d come to care about. All the while, Chi Cheng focused on the bigger picture and the authorities, since his family was far more established in the Party. And to top it all off, Chi Cheng had started up some sort of art business with Suowei that had them out late into the evening entertaining clients.

Chengyu’s phone rang, pulling him from his fugue state of driving and thinking. He frowned. Chi Cheng rarely called him. He answered, and before he could say hello, Chi Cheng began talking.

“Go check on Weiwei, he’s not answering his phone, and I am a few hours away. I’m about to lose signal.” Chengyu rolled his eyes. Chi Cheng had always been the dramatic one of them.

“Isn’t it possible he’s just busy? If I get scolded because of you, I demand payback with interest.” Even as he spoke, he was already mapping the route to grab Xiaoshuai and then head to Suoewi. If everything was fine, he’d just play it off as treating the omegas in his life to a good lunch. Chi Cheng grunted before hanging up. Chengyu pulled up outside the clinic and texted his little love. Xiaoshuai appeared a minute later, looking more tired than Chengyu had seen in a while.

“What happened?”

“A patient, she…isn’t in a safe relationship, but she won’t leave.” Xiaoshuai sighed, flopping into the seat as Chengyu began to drive. “She comes in to be treated for the injuries, but won’t go to the police. And I hate that I understand why.” Chengyu reached over the center console and offered his hand, which the omega took, squeezing tightly for a moment.

“Where are we going?”

“Da Ge has it in his head that something’s wrong with Xiao Wei. So we are off to get scolded for disturbing him, then I thought we could go to lunch.” Chenyu explained, enjoying the laugh he pulled from his perfect little partner.

“You’ll get scolded. Da Wei is always happy to see me.” The rest of the ride was filled with more pleasant conversation. As the two stepped into the familiar building, an employee saw them and rushed over.

“Oh, thank goodness! Mr. Wu’s gone into heat, and none of us can reach Mr. Chi.” She said with a desperate lilt in her voice. Neither Chengyu nor Xioashuai hesitated, sprinting up the stairs rather than waiting for the elevator. By the time they were up half a flight of stairs, they could smell it. Chengyu felt a growl rise in his chest, this place wasn’t the den it wasn’t safe.

“Chengyu,” Xiaoshuai said, his voice measured and calm. “Text Chi Cheng, then I need you to make sure we have a straight shot to the car. We need to go home, you need to drive us there, Alpha.” Chengyu nodded, not trusting himself to speak more than a threatening rumble. His Alpha instincts were urging him to secure his den mate and omega, but a look from Xiaoshuai had him taking out his phone and ordering employees out for the day.

Xiaoshuai stepped into the head office, and called for Suowei, He received a half cry, half moan in response and he followed the sound to find his den mate curled up under the desk fat tears streaming down his face as he held his abdomen. The doctor immediately began checking vitals, cursing under his breath as he confirmed what his instincts told him. Suowei needed help now. They didn’t have time to wait for Chi Cheng to come back. He caught the other’s attention and spoke.

“Da Wei, Chengyu, and I are going to take you home. I…We are going to help you until your Alpha can come home.” Suowei nodded, desperately reaching to Xiaoshuai. He crawled under the desk and made quick work of Suowei’s trousers and pants. The doctor reached forward and began to stroke along the most sensitive parts of Suowei’s body before he slipped two fingers easily into him.

“More!” Suowei begged, arching to meet each thrust, Xiaoshuai hummed, leaning forward to capture the teeth-marked lips into a sloppy kiss as he added the rest of his fingers. Suowei’s body jolted, his hands coming up to cling to the doctor’s shoulder. “Please, please!”

“Shh, I’ve got you,” Xiaoshuai whispered, nipping along Suowei’s ear, ignoring the way arousal rolled through his own body. There would be plenty of time for that once he got Suowei calm enough to leave. Suowei’s peak came like a tidal wave, his whole body locked up and squeezed around Xiaoshuai’s fingers, and with little effort, Xiaoshuai let his hand curl into a fist, watching as a wave of orgasm rolled through his fellow omega. They curled around one another, a familiar posture but one they hadn’t been in in a long time. Xiaoshuai counted Suowei’s breaths as the muscles holding his hand began to loosen.

“Come’on Da Wei, let’s go home.” He said, carefully redressing his den mate and helping him stand. As they made it out from under the desk, Xiaoshuai locked eyes with Chengyu, who had been standing inside the office at the door.

“How long were you there?” Xiaoshuai asked as Chengyu scooped up Suowei, and they made their way to the car.

“Long enough that this drive is going to be a very special kind of torture.” Xiaoshuai rolled his eyes, but kept his hand on the crook of Chengyu’s arm.

The drive was relatively quiet, Xiaoshuai sat in the back with Suowei, stroked his hair as the other omega asked repeatedly after Chi Cheng. Chengyu turned his phone to full volume, hoping that the alpha would call, to give the suffering omega some kind of relief. When they arrived back at the house, it was a production convincing Suowei to leave the car, which had lingering traces of Chi Cheng’s scent. Eventually, Chengyu pushed into Chi Cheng’s and Suowei’s room, feeling the omega in his arms sob with relief as the strong Alpha pheromones signaled to him he was safe. Chengyu placed the omega on the bed, Xiaoshuai immediately following, stripping the other omega from the sweat-damp cloths.

Chengyu’s phone rang, a video call from Chi Cheng. Chengyu answered, neither alpha said anything as Chengyu changed the camera so the other alpha could see his omega.

“Weiwei, I’ll be home soon. Just play with your den mates until I can get there.” Chi Cheng’s voice drifted into the room, causing the omega to sit up. Chengyu walked closer, propping the phone up, then crawling onto the bed. “Touch him.” Chi Cheng ordered, and for a moment Chengyu paused, glancing at Xiaoshuai, who nodded, before dipping down to kiss Suowei. Chengyu crawled forward, his large hand cupping Suowei’s hard cock, before his fingers wandered to the slicked-up entrance.

“Before you fuck him, eat him out, ‘til he’s begging for it.” Chi Cheng commanded, “Weiwei, be loud so I can hear you.” Chengyu smirked, before lowering himself down to the source of the citrusy scent permeating the room. He gave a tentative swipe of his tongue and felt the way the omega’s body responded, and dove in, mercilessly stabbing his tongue into the body beneath him. Suowei, for his part, did as Chi Cheng ordered and let out a string of cries and pleas. Chengyu came up for air and saw his own omega had stripped down and was playing with himself as he watched, his eyes half lidded and full of promises.

“Don’t cum yet.” Chi Cheng growled at Suowei, “Gege is going to give you his cock, and you can come on that.” Chengyu needed no more invitation, stripping down, offering a smirk for the camera, then lining himself up and pushing in, groaning at the sensation. He nearly jumped when a hand found its way to the swell of his ass. He paused, looking at Xiaoshuai, who held up a bottle of lube in question. Chengyu nodded, then started to thrust into Suowei. The omega gave a shout, scrambling for purchase as his body got what he craved. All the while, Chi Cheng was speaking to him, whispering sweet nothings.

Chengyu felt Xiaoshuai’s lubed fingers breech him and he nearly came undone, but rather than pause his doctor was unrelenting, finding the bundle of nerves in him and repeatedly adding pressure. Chengyu let out a snarl as he came into Suowei, his knot swelling and locking them in place. Xiaoshuai didn’t stop, stretching Chenyu’s hole and then even as Chengyu came again, the omega lined up with his denmates' bodies and pushed into his Alpha. The motion of thrusting caused him to push into Suowei who moaned, his inner muscles tightening even tighter around Chengyu‘s knot. It was a mess of bodies, fluids, and sounds, and Chengyu loved it. Xiaoshuai didn’t last long, the omega cumming with a shudder and biting at Chngyu’s shoulder, close to the gland but not quite. Even Chi Cheng quieted down as the three sat there catching their breath.

“Five minutes.” The alpha said through the phone before hanging up. Chengyu heard the door open not a few minutes later as his knot and cock slipped out of Suowei. He gathered the two omegas on either side of him, their noses pushing into his scent glands, basking in their scent and trust. Chi Cheng entered the room, taking in the erotic scene. Chengyu offered a self-satisfied smirk, and Chi Cheng tilted his head. The alpha stripped and then cuddled up to Suowei. Without moving the omega, Chi Cheng slipped behind, guiding his hard cock into the waiting hole. Suowei gasped as the cock breeched him, his hands finding Chengyu’s side and Xiaoshuai’s hand. As Chi Cheng fucked his omega, their two den mates watched with reverence as both came in a shuddering gasp a few minutes later. Chengyu smirked at Xiaoshuai. This was going to be a fun few days.

The morning was nearly over, four days after the near disaster at the office, when Chengyu and Chi Cheng emerged from the bedroom. Chengyu had forced the other alpha up to help him with food preparation. Chengyu padded around the kitchen while Chi Cheng dutifully chopped the aromatics and vegetables.

“Your doctor is pregnant.” Chi Cheng said without warning, causing Chengyu to nearly drop the pan he was pulling out. “You can’t be that surprised.”

“Don’t just say that, and how do you know?” Chengyu asked, Chi Cheng shrugged.

“Weiwei mentioned that his scent was changing. Omegas are sensitive to that sort of thing.” Chengyu smiled, warmth spreading through him as he pictured his mate heavy with child. Then he paused.

“Are they going to be pregnant at the same time?” Chengyu asked, Chi Cheng shrugged.

“It’s normal for dens, is’t it? The pups are raised together.” Chengyu nodded slowly, glancing around the apartment.

“We’re going to need a bigger place.”

“What do you think I was doing? I found a contractor who specializes in houses for dens. I went to see him so we could begin construction and have it done before the pups arrive.” Chengyu nodded, before he could speak, he heard the bedroom door open as two pairs of feet echoed through the hallway.

“It smells good!” Xiaoshuai said as he led a blanket-wrapped Suowei to his stool. The other omega was dressed only in Chengyu’s boxers. Chengyu’s eyes drifted to his omega’s abdomen, the smallest of swells starting to form.

“It’s almost done, eat the fruit Chi Cheng cut.” The two omegas munch away happily at the food, and Chi Cheng stood enjoying the rightness of the scene in front of him. This was their home.