Chapter Text
The fluorescent lighting buzzed quietly above, casting a sterile glow over the white walled clinic room. Seungmin sat rigid on the exam table, hands pressed tight to his sides, gripping the metal edge that dug into his thighs. The room smelled too clean- of antiseptic and bleach- nothing like the warmth, comforting scents of his pack mates he’d started noticing in the dorms, clinging to the others like subtle signatures. He hadn’t known what they meant then. Now, he was starting to understand.
Across from him, the company appointed doctor, Dr. Hongsoo, clicked his pen and sighed like he’d somewhere else more important to be. “You understand what this means, Seungmin,” he started flatly, eyes flicking over the chart he held. “You’re starting to present as an omega. But, per the companies wishes, that’s not going to happen. Not for your role. Somehow Hyungwoo noticed the omega traits you were displaying – I’ve no idea how he managed that, but he has and I’m to help put that to a stop.”
Seungmin swallowed hard, “But—”
The doctor raised a hand to cut him off, “This isn’t about you, Seungmin. This is about the group, their public image. You simply don’t fit the profile of an omega; no softness, no fragility and definitely no submission. The fans see you as level-headed, reliable. That’s beta energy. Let’s keep it that way.” He passed two small, non-descriptive bottles towards Seungmin, one grey the other white, who took it with trembling hands, suddenly all too aware of what this means.
“Take one of each, in the mornings, right as you wake up, meaning before breakfast and after dinner. It should be easy enough to take them secretly. One will dull your scent.” He pointed to the grey bottle, “but not too much to, otherwise that’ll create questions no one has the time to answer. The other controls your overall heat symptoms; we cannot, by all means, we cannot afford you making a stupid mistake and missing a dose. So I don’t care how tired you are, you are not to miss taking them – set an alarm if you need to.”
Seungmin nodded gravely, his mouth dry. “And what about the others? Will they know?”
The doctor offered a humourless smile. “They’ll believe what they see. They don’t need to know.”
The silence in the room felt like a chokehold. Seungmin picked up the bottles with slow fingers and flipped open the caps. Stark white capsules and pale blues stared up at him- so small and so unassuming, yet holding all the power over his life. His chest ached, like something inside him had curled into itself and gone still.
He pocketed them into his hoodie, muttered a quiet ‘thank you,’ and left. He made his way to the company car, where his manager, Hyungwoo, sat inside waiting.
“You got the pills?”
A nod.
“Good. I’m assuming Hongsoo already told you what to do, but if you need a refill you let me know straight away.”
Seungmin kept quiet, the days events taking a toll on him.
Hyungwoo sighed. “Look Seungmin… I know this sucks. But this is what’s best. For the group. For you. You just don’t fit in the omega mold, alright? You being a beta- its cleaner. Simpler. It keeps everything running smooth. I can’t have you jeopardising that. And I can trust you to keep this quiet, yeah Seungmin?”
Seungmin nodded, he didn’t fit the omega role, it was like the doctor said; he was quiet and calm not emotional and clingy like some omegas were. Not like Hyunjin, who wore his heart on his sleeve, nor like Jisung, who struggled with anxiety and stress and constantly nested to ground himself. Seungmin wasn’t like them and now he’d never be.