Work Text:
Prime Omegas are a rarity. Though they aren't too dissimilar from regular omegas — they had certain qualities. From his scent to his appearance — his aura always an innocent baby blue gleam — Jongho's birth had been a blessing to his nation. His parents, the king and queen of the kingdom, made sure that their son was to be one of the most sought after omegas amongst the higher echelons of the empire. Since he could walk, he had been taught the proper ways of a high-class omega — how to behave in the company of other omegas, of betas and alphas. Of those above and below him.
His reputation as the perfect omega precedes him, with alphas from all over the world wanting to court him. Of course all the proposals were futile, for he has been betrothed to Alpha Prince Lee Jaeyun of the neighbouring kingdom since his birth. The marriage has been a long time coming, promised to Jongho since he could talk. The kingdoms have a good relationship and the union of both would strengthen them considerably, and Jongho was proud that he could continue his kingdom’s legacy.
However, due to Jongho's omega status, there are certain restrictions put on him, and certain expectations he has to meet. No fraternising without a chaperone, no relationships unapproved by his parents, and absolutely no sexual relations before marriage. His heats are monitored by the family doctor and he has regular fertility tests. Even his appearance is policed; hair never shorter than the tops of his ears, never longer than his shoulders. Always his natural black.
Now, as he turns twenty-one, and his parents become older, Jongho has more responsibilities. He helps his father manage militia, often joining in the military training, and he helps his mother keep up appearances when meeting with aristocrats. Smiling kindly, making lighthearted jokes — anything to keep up the pleasantries. To make his parents and the people happy.
Despite Jongho happily living his life by his parents' wishes, something that he was hesitant to abide by was the ancient law that oversees an omega ruler. Omegas were never seen as weak, in fact they were highly regarded in society — yet in the case of taking the throne, a ruling omega has to be mated to a ruling alpha. The law was put in place during a time where kingdoms were often at war, and producing offspring was at utmost priority to protect the lineage. Despite the kingdoms having much more of a rapport, the law had never been overruled — meaning Jongho has to get married and produce offspring in order to rule his kingdom.
He looks down at the contract in front of him, the one stating that he must get pregnant upon consummation lest the marriage be void. He looks around at the people waiting for his response. His mother, ever so pretty, looking at him hopefully with round eyes matching his own. His father, face stern, though his eyes hold softness that he was accustomed to seeing. The faces of his in-laws-to-be, concerned, and he can tell what they’re thinking: what’s taking so long?
The face of his alpha. Uninterested. Unbothered.
The sounds of his omega chirping — warning, uncomfortable, scared. The clawing ache in his chest that says wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
"You can sign at the bottom, assuming everything looks good to you," his alpha says leadingly, bordering on annoyed.
Jongho looks to his mother. She has to know. She has to see the apprehension written on his face like a poem. The way his hands have stilled, the pen shaking. His sweet honeysuckle scent wilting slightly at the edges, the smell of dirt and soil becoming more prominent. Still, she just smiles and strokes his hair.
"Come on, Jongho," she coaxes, "all you have to do is sign, baby."
Jongho looks up at his mother once more, finally finding his voice.
"Can I take some time to think about it?" he asks quietly. His voice is meek, speaking to no one in particular, frustrating his alpha.
"What is there to think about?" he sneers. The alpha's woody scent burns. The room smells like a forest fire, and his eyes are demanding as he stares at Jongho. Jongho's omega cowers at the sight of the angry alpha, chirping nervously in his subconsciousness. His aggressive tone causes his parents to jump forward and hold him by the shoulders.
"Of course you can think about it," the alpha's mother says placatingly. She looks to her husband, who nods to her before she continues speaking. "Let us know your answer by the week's end."
Jongho's mother looks unimpressed. The corners of her lips are downturned as she removes her hand from its place on Jongho's head. He misses the contact immediately.
"Thank you," she says to the alpha's family.
"I'll be sure to get back to you with good news," Jongho doesn't miss the way her eyes meet his, the silent demand spoken through her expression.
Jongho and his parents lead the Lee family out of the palace doors with pleasant goodbyes and an apology from Jongho's parents for the inconvenience. Jaeyun doesn't look at Jongho, not that the omega had hoped he would. Once he and his family leave, Jongho attempts to make his way to his room. He needs to bathe. To get the rotten dirt smell combined with the furious burn of the alpha's scent off his skin, his clothes, his hair. He needs his nest, needs the comfort it brings him and his omega. The way his mind can empty while surrounded by the scents of those he loves and the feeling of the soft fabrics against his skin.
Leaving is not so easy.
"Jongho," his father's voice reaches his ears as he turns towards the spiraling staircase. He doesn't sound angry, which brings some kind of comfort to Jongho, though he can't say he's relieved.
"Yes, father?" he replies politely.
"What was that about? You know you're to be wed, why ask for more time?" he finally meets his father's gaze as he turns around. Disappointment paints his face, making Jongho pale.
He swallows before speaking, struggling to speak his feelings.
"I don't know. I just need some time to think. Please father," his lips are quivering and his hands are shaking, and he must look pathetic because his father's face softens.
"Okay," the man answers so softly, it resembles a whisper.
Jongho gives him a wobbly smile and nod before finally walking up the stairs to his room.
The warm smell of honey and milk enter his nostrils as he walks into his room. Yeosang is stood primly by his bed, towels folded neatly in his arms.
"Master," he bows as he speaks, "We have drawn a bath, and have your sleepings ready for you."
Jongho closes the door and walks toward his chambermaid. He sees Yeosang's posture relax as he takes the towels from his outstretched arms.
"How was the contract signing?" Yeosang asks, dropping the professional guise now that they're alone. He follows Jongho into the bathroom where the clawfoot tub is filled perfectly, bubbles sat on the top as the water steams.
"It was… odd," Jongho says, stripping out of his clothes. He doesn't notice the way Yeosang's face screws up at the smell of his clothes piled on the floor as he pulls his shirt over his head.
"Odd, how?" the other man questions as he sits on the stool beside the tub.
Jongho hesitates before speaking again. Yeosang may be employed by his parents, but over the years, he has come to be someone Jongho considers to be a close friend. He and Seonghwa are probably the closest things Jongho has to best friends, though he still struggles to articulate his feelings to them. He doesn't even understand them himself.
"I asked for time to think," he says, finally relaxing into the water.
"Oh? I though you were ready for the marriage?" Yeosang begins to lather his hair in shampoo.
The touch is nice. Yeosang's fingers are long and nimble, able to massage his head just right. His warm floral scent permeates the room as he releases his relaxing pheromones. Jongho sighs as his shoulders relax and his eyes close at the mix of sensations.
"I thought I was too," he speaks after a moment, "It's just… I think seeing it all written out made me… hesitant?" he hopes Yeosang understands what he's saying, because he's not sure he's making much sense.
"Hm," the man responds, "do you think, maybe seeing it all made it feel real?"
"Yeah… too real," Jongho's brows furrow at the thought.
He's been ready. Since he was a teenager, since Jaeyun was first given permission to visit the palace, since he'd been courted. How much more real could it be? Jaeyun was the first alpha he was allowed to see once he'd turned of age, but something feels wrong. His omega bristles at the sight of the alpha, Jongho can feel the unsteadiness of his subconscious mind when they're in his company. His omega has never once been at peace around the alpha, and Jongho doesn't understand why.
Yeosang is quiet for a moment as he rinses the suds out of Jongho's hair, moving on to scrub his feet. Jongho giggles at the sensation. Yeosang smiles as he meets his eyes.
"Is it the thought of mating that's making you nervous, or everything that comes with it?" the older omega asks, and Jongho has to think.
"I think… maybe both?" he admits quietly.
Saying it out loud makes him feel like a bad person. Like a bad prince, a bad son, a bad omega. There are people who would kill to be in his position, so why is he being so ungrateful? He should be jumping with joy at the prospect of mating a respectable alpha prince, at being able to rule over the kingdom he's been raised to love.
His feelings must show through his face, because Yeosang stops his scrubbing. He looks at Jongho with a serious expression.
"Jongho, you know you don't have to go through with it, no one is going to force you," he says softly.
Jongho suppresses a scoff at the sentiment. Although they won't force him, they would definitely persuade him — he knows what royals are like. Although the pressure they'd put on him would be nothing compared to his own guilt. How could he betray his family, his throne, all because his omega doesn't accept Jaeyun as a mate? What Jongho wants doesn't matter, it has never mattered, and what his omega wants certainly matters the least.
He just can't stop the feeling.
"I know," he settles on saying.
Yeosang looks at him skeptically.
He finishes bathing, wrapped in a soft fluffy gown as Yeosang drains the tub. Seonghwa enters with his sleepings and a bottle of oil to moisturise.
"Hyung!" Jongho greets his butler with relaxed enthusiasm.
"Hi, pup, you ready to get into your nest?" the omega asks.
Jongho nods as he allows Seonghwa to moisturise and dress him. He walks out of the bathroom and heads straight for his nest despite his wet hair. Yeosang and Seonghwa look at him endearingly, before they're both being pulled into the nest too.
Jongho purrs, finding sleep easily that night. Surrounded by Yeosang's floral and Seonghwa's strawberry, he dreams of a field where he's free of responsibility; where he doesn't have to be the perfect prince, the perfect son, the perfect omega — he just gets to be Jongho.
Sleep was an idealised escape. A way for Jongho to forget the whole day for a few hours. Unfortunately, that meant that waking up would put him back exactly where he was before the slumber. Now, however, Jongho has a plan. He spent the whole morning thinking about his conversation with Yeosang, about his private complication.
He has found a solution.
"Hyung," he calls for Seonghwa once he finished his lunch.
"What's wrong, pup?" the older omega asks. It's just the two of them in the dining room, the doors are closed, so Jongho doesn't have to worry about anyone hearing what he's about to ask. His parents are away on business, though they'll be back later, so he needs to act fast.
"Could you get my cloak ready? And a carriage, please?" he queries innocently. He hopes the puppy eyes he's giving Seonghwa will be enough to escape questioning.
It's wishful thinking.
"I can," he replies suspiciously, "depends on what you need them for."
Jongho's smile falters.
"Um, I think I forgot something in my room," he deflects, "come with me?"
Seonghwa takes the hint and follows Jongho up to his room where Yeosang is currently cleaning. He shuts the door behind them both after making sure no one followed them up. Yeosang looks at the two of them quizzically as he changes Jongho's bedsheets.
"Why are you two being weird?" he asks while fluffing a pillow.
"Our baby prince wants a cloak and a carriage but won't tell me why," Seonghwa says as he takes a seat on the freshly made bed, making Yeosang whine in protest.
Jongho stands in front of the two older omegas, wringing his hands nervously as he shifts on his feet.
"Promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you," is the first thing he says.
Yeosang and Seonghwa look at each other, raising an eyebrow, before nodding at Jongho.
"We promise," they say in unison.
Jongho releases a breath as he begins speaking again.
"Yeosang-hyung do you- do you remember what we spoke about yesterday? About the wedding, about… not being ready?" Yeosang just nods as Jongho continues his nervous ramble.
"Well, I realised that it's my omega being weird, and I thought over the contract and- and I did research, I promise, I just- the family doctor can't know, and I trust you guys, so-"
"Breathe, pup. What are you talking about?" Seonghwa eases him as he gets Jongho to take a seat beside him.
Jongho takes a deep breath as Yeosang takes his shaking hands. A calming floral scent permeates the air.
"There's a witch, not far from here. They only come around the palace once a month, but they supposedly have a serum. One that could stop me from… getting pregnant," he says while looking at his hands.
He can't make eye contact with them, not now. Not when he thinks they might convince him out of his plan.
"Jongho," Yeosang breathes.
"I just- just thought that if I don't end up pregnant after the consummation… then the marriage will end, right? If he thinks- thinks I'm infertile, or something?"
Jongho can tell Yeosang and Seonghwa are having a silent conversation above his head.
The silence continues for a few more minutes before Seonghwa speaks again.
"Where- where is this witch?"
Jongho is surprised. They're really letting him do this?
"In the North Forest. They have a hut hidden from view, but I know how to get there," he replies hopefully.
His gaze moves between Seonghwa and Yeosang who both look apprehensive. Yeosang is biting his lip with such ferocity that Jongho fears he'll start bleeding.
"And you've done your research?" Seonghwa asks slowly. Jongho nods enthusiastically.
"Yes. I can show you my notes, I spent all morning in the library," he offers.
Yeosang chuckles.
"I was wondering where you ran off to so early. Show us your notes then, pup."
Jongho pulls out his workpad. It's filled with pages on pages of information on the serum. What ingredients it uses, how long the effects last, what the side effects may be. The findings on the witch are more elusive. All that was found on them was that they have been making potions and serums and conducting rituals for centuries. Jongho hopes it's enough for his hyungs to let him go.
"Pup… we can't let you go alone, you have to understand," Yeosang says.
He's kneeling in front of Jongho, still holding his hands as he looks into his eyes. Jongho frowns at the statement. Surely, he'll get caught if they both go with him? Of course, he'd love for his hyungs to be with him — he'd feel safer, and having the reassurance couldn't hurt either. But he needs to be discreet. If his parents caught wind of what he was doing, he'd never be able to leave the palace again.
"Yeosang and I will come with you, pup. Don't worry about your parents, their trip got extended — they'll be back tomorrow," Seonghwa says, placing his hand on top of Yeosang's.
"Are you sure about this, Jongho?" Yeosang asks.
Jongho's answer is immediate.
"Yes. Yes, hyung, I'm sure."
Seonghwa rubs his thumb over Yeosang's hand before getting up and heading for Jongho's closet. He pulls out a pair of black trousers and a brown blouse — simple and convenient. He then retrieves Jongho's cloak and some boots before grabbing a bag, and makes his way back to Jongho. Jongho takes his hand and begins dressing while Yeosang slips out of the room, returning with cloaks for both himself and Seonghwa. Once the three omegas are dressed and ready, Yeosang and Jongho make their way out of the palace through a hidden exit only used in emergencies. Seonghwa waits for them outside, as the coachman of the carriage.
Yeosang and Jongho sit in the concealed carriage, and Jongho can feel his pulse race a mile a minute the longer the journey goes. Yeosang places an arm around him, holding him close to his scent gland to ease his nerves and calm his racing pulse.
"I didn't know Seonghwa-hyung could drive a carriage," Jongho mumbles.
Yeosang chuckles.
"Me either."
The journey continues, bumpy cobblestones turning into winding dirt roads, and eventually, they make it to the opening of the forest. Jongho leads both Yeosang and Seonghwa in the direction of the hut, the poorly drawn map he'd made clutched in his grip. They make it out of the bustle of trees and into a clearing, where a tiny shed sits in the middle. The three omegas look at each other in confusion, all thinking the same thing: there's no way this is it. Still, Jongho walks towards the shed and taps rhythmically against the wood, just as the books had told him to.
He waits a beat.
No answer.
He tries again, though his hope is dwindling.
Then, the door creaks open.
He looks back at Yeosang and Seonghwa who give him encouraging nods and gestures. Entering the shed, there seems to be no sign of whoever opened the door. He closes the door behind him and looks at the space around him. The room is dark, only lit by the few candles scattered around. There's a heavy smell of incense around him, almost suffocatingly thick in the air. The space is bigger than it seems on the outside, with a counter at the far end holding various vials containing different coloured liquids. There's a tattered rug on the floor, the green colour fading and the tassels fraying at the ends.
"Hello?" Jongho calls out into the empty space.
There's a moment of silence in the hut. Jongho feels a chill up his spine as he awaits an answer, but his omega seems… oddly quiet. He takes a step further into the hut, one step closer to the counter — when suddenly, a figure appears in front of him.
The.. thing is tall, is the first thing that Jongho notices. At least a head taller than himself. Despite being hidden under black garments, a deep green cloak sat over its frame, Jongho can tell that the figure is built like a wall. Its face is obscured by the hood of the cloak, bringing a shadowy overtone to the figure's being.
Jongho clears his throat before speaking again.
"Hello," he bows, "my name is Choi Jongho. Um, I'm here for- I was just wondering if- if you have a birth control serum? Maybe?" he stutters out.
The figure is intimidating. Not only by appearance, but aura. Jongho had never felt such intense energy from another being, not even from the most powerful alphas. His omega bristles.
The figure says nothing, just points at the vial glowing a pearlescent blue on the shelf. Jongho follows the finger towards the vial, picking it up and weighing it in his hands.
"This one?" he asks.
The figure nods. Just once. It then holds up three fingers and lays its palm out for Jongho.
"Oh!" Jongho scrambles through his money purse for the three coins, placing them gently into the figure's large hand.
"Thank you," he bows politely before making his leave.
The first change Jongho notices is his slick. As a young, fertile omega, Jongho is accustomed to waking up slicked up more often than not. So, when he wakes from his slumber with an unfamiliar dryness in his panties, he's confused, but not too concerned. The research he'd done had mentioned that there may be changes to the consistency of an omega's slick once they'd taken the serum. Something to do with the body readjusting. Nothing to be perturbed by.
The next change is first noticed by Yeosang. Upon dressing the omega prince, Yeosang curiously takes a sniff at his scent gland.
"You smell… different," the older omega says.
"Different?" Jongho asks, slightly more worried.
Jongho likes his scent. Despite his more structured build and the soft roundness he holds in his face, his scent is what defines him as an omega. Sweet, enticing, pleasant. It attaches him to the most primal part of being a werewolf, attaches him to his omega. His instincts, his emotions — everything he feels affects his scent. So, when Yeosang points out that his scent has changed — that he smells different — Jongho would be insane if he wasn't even a little concerned.
"It's probably nothing, maybe the serum just needs to settle," he says, though he's not sure who exactly it is he's trying to convince.
He doesn't have time to ponder, anyway. His parents had planned a banquet, hosted in their palace. A social affair inviting those from different kingdoms to Jongho's home with the intention of strengthening political ties under the guise of a party. Jongho would not be too anxious, as he has attended dozens of banquets as a royal, but this would be his first time encountering Jaeyun and his family since the failed contract signing.
Dressed in flowy garments, shades of whites and blues, Jongho enters the ballroom with the elegance and grace expected of a Prime Omega. He greets guests, makes conversation, and laughs politely at jokes. He tries not to notice the questioning gazes, the twitching noses that the guests display. However, he can't ignore the behaviours of the alphas in his proximity.
Jongho is accustomed to the lingering gazes, the longing stares he gets from alphas when he enters a room. The way they fight for the attention of a such an omega, offering him drinks, making conversation in hopes of leaving a good impression, Now, however, Jongho has not been approached. Not once by an alpha. He doesn't feel the eyes on him, the hopeful observations. He doesn't let it bother him, exiting the conversation he was having with an omega princess with a polite bow, he makes his way to where Seonghwa is stood by the refreshments table.
He doesn't make it far before a hand is grabbing his own and he's being pulled away.
"What-" he begins angrily, stopping once he looks at the offender. Jaeyun.
"What's wrong with you?" the alpha asks.
Jongho takes a glance at the guests on the main floor. Jaeyun has dragged him into a private corner, though he can see Seonghwa's protective eyes on him. He lets out a breath of relief before turning back to the alpha. His omega writhes in his chest, aching, begging — to turn away, to leave the presence of the alpha.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean," he says blandly.
Jaeyun looks furious now. His eyebrows are furrowed and his lips are pursed as if trying to contain himself.
"You reek. You know that, right? It's difficult even being around you right now. I don't know why our parents want us to get married so badly, there's clearly something wrong with you," he smirks, "or maybe that's why they're so eager to get rid of you."
What?
"No- it's for the kingdom. The ancient law- we have to get married so I can take the throne," Jongho insists.
The alpha grins. A smile that reaches his eyes, his eyebrows raised — glee written all over his face. His woody scent blooms. Blooms in a way that Jongho had never smelled before. Never on their dates, on the scented courting gifts. It's unnerving.
"You? Oh, omega, our marriage will result in the union of our kingdoms, yes, but you won't be doing any ruling," he gloats condescendingly.
Jongho's omega gripes at his nerves, his heart beat picking up the closer the taller alpha gets to his face.
"You'll pop out our pups, look pretty on the throne. Well, I had assumed you'd look pretty on the throne… but you're really not very pretty at all, are you?" he asks rhetorically, inspecting Jongho's frame with scrutiny.
Jongho steps back, unwilling to hear anymore of what the alpha has to say. Little does the alpha know of Jongho's own plan for the marriage, though he's not so stupid to let the alpha know. He turns away without another word, composing himself so he can keep up appearances with the awaiting guests, holding in tears with an iron grip.
The banquet ends eventually, with a bow to the guests and a reluctant kiss to Jaeyun's cheek, Jongho turns back to his room. Yeosang bathes him and Seonghwa dresses him, and neither of them say a thing when he climbs into bed rather than his nest.
The next day is worse. Jongho wakes up dry again, though this time it aches. His omega cries for relief, unsettled in Jongho's subconsciousness — making its unhappiness clear through the pain in his head and abdomen. His scent has soured more; the sweet floral honeysuckle now more akin to a musky petrichor that is so foreign, it takes Yeosang and Seonghwa a second to adjust to.
"Pup?" Seonghwa asks as he rakes his fingers through Jongho's hair.
"Hm?" he responds, head buried in his pillow as he grips his stomach.
"Do you wanna get into your nest? It might make you feel better?" the older omega suggests.
Nest? The thought of the fabrics and scents surrounding him — suffocating him — makes his head hurt more, his omega now screaming.
"No. No nest, please, no nest," he begs.
Yeosang enters the room, sitting beside Jongho as he speaks to Seonghwa. Jongho doesn't even try to make out what they're saying, his head feeling like it's being beat with a hammer.
"We can't take him to a doctor, Sangie," Seonghwa sighs.
"What about the witch? We know where they are," Yeosang suggests.
Seonghwa is silent for a while. Jongho assumes they're having another one of their silent conversations again, but he's too out of it to care. He needs everything to stop. He needs his omega to stop screaming, needs his body to stop aching, needs his skin to stop itching. The previously calming sensation of Seonghwa's fingers against his scalp now resembles a fork scraping against his face, dragging, prickling, painful.
"Get out," he mumbles into the pillow.
"What was that, pup?" Yeosang asks.
"Get out! Get out, get out, get out!" he shouts, finally lifting his head. The motion brings a blinding pain, and he grips his head once more. His chest grumbles, a foreign vibration encompassing his body, the unfamiliar energy exiting through him.
Seonghwa and Yeosang are clearly shocked at his outburst, jumping up off the bed with urgency. They leave him be with a final rub against his back and a squeeze to his arm.
"We'll figure this out, baby, don't worry," Seonghwa promises as he leads Yeosang out of the room.
The day passes as Jongho remains in his bed, still miserable. He hasn't been disturbed by anyone; not servants, butlers, his parents, and he largely assumes his hyungs have something to do with it. His hyungs. They probably hate him now. After everything they'd done for him: helping him get the serum, helping him through the side effects — he still yelled at them. Shouted at them to leave as though they weren't his dearest friends, his family. And then… he growled. Jongho doesn't know where it came from — the all consuming need to attack — he's never felt anything like it before. He's terrified. Of the changes he's going through, of becoming someone even he doesn't recognise. Seonghwa and Yeosang definitely won't be helping him anymore, and he'll have to face the consequences of his actions alone.
That's what it is.
The price he has to pay for not fulfilling his duties as a Prime Omega. He's going through hell for disobeying his parents, his kingdom — he should've just accepted his fate as a good omega prince would. Why does he have to be so difficult?
Warm ribbons flow down his face as he wallows in the sadness only caused by his own actions. Turning his head, he faces the ceiling, allowing the stream to flow down the sides of his head as he ponders what his life is going to be like now that he's broken. Judging by the pain in his head and stomach persisting, he assumes his omega is still alive, though he can't hear it anymore.
Can't feel it anymore.
He's never felt such a disconnect between them, usually trusting each other's instincts and feeling when something's off. Perhaps his omega was tired of being ignored, of being misunderstood.
Jongho understands now.
His omega was trying to protect him. From Jaeyun. From his family. From the future Jongho had been promised.
It's too late. His omega is going to die, and it's all his fault.
Lost in his thoughts, he misses the sounds of the door opening.
"Jongho? Pup?" Seonghwa whispers to him.
Seonghwa? They came back?
Jongho sits up, the speed of his movements making him wince, but he doesn't care. They came back.
"Hyung! I'm so sorry, I never should've yelled at you. I don't know what- what's happening and- and I'm so scared. I don't know what to do- please — please… don't leave me," the stream of tears returns as he pleads, desperately apologising to his hyung.
He cries into his hands as sobs wrack his body, shoulders shaking from the intensity.
Seonghwa approaches him slowly, tears brimming his own eyes as he takes Jongho into his arms. The younger omega melts into his hold immediately, crying freely onto his shoulder as Seonghwa rubs his hands over his back.
"It's okay, pup, we can help," he shushes.
Sweet strawberries surround them, calming Jongho down.
"How-how can you help?" Jongho hiccups through ragged breaths.
Seonghwa places him against his headboard, a pillow behind his head as he sits up. Getting up, Seonghwa heads for the door. Is he leaving? Jongho begins to protest, but Seonghwa shushes him once more as he opens it, allowing Yeosang in. Jongho lights up at the sight of the other omega, though Yeosang struggles to meet his gaze.
"Hyung…" Jongho whispers with a lump in his throat.
"He's okay, pup," Seonghwa reassures, "just give him some time."
Jongho nods, the ache in his head persisting as he does so, and he finally notices the person following Yeosang into the room. Jongho feels the energy radiating from him as he enters — an energy he recognises.
"The witch," Jongho breathes.
He's still adorned in his cloak, though his hood no longer obscures his face. He looks bored. His face holds an indifferent gaze, as though he isn't Jongho's only hope. Seonghwa rushes forward as Jongho climbs out of bed, holding him by the waist to steady him. Jongho bows as deeply as the ache in his stomach allows him to, rising back up slowly to meet the witch's eyes.
"Hello," he begins, "we've met before, so I won't bore you with introductions, but I believe you can help me?"
"Why would I do that?" the witch responds.
Jongho startles. Can the witch not see how desperate he is? He can barely breathe without feeling immense pain, and his scent encompasses the room like an angry cloud. He's sure his appearance shows as much, too — his honey skin now sickly pale and round eyes red-rimmed.
What shocks Jongho more is the way Yeosang blazes at the witch, getting close to his face despite the height difference.
"What?" Yeosang spits.
He's never seen the usually calm omega so fired-up, so enraged. He looks to Seonghwa for help diffusing the situation, but the older omega just gazes at Yeosang like he hung the stars in the sky.
Interesting.
"You said you could help him," Yeosang continues.
"Yeah," the witch replies nonchalantly, "I said I could. Not that I would," he finishes with a smug smirk.
"Why would you come here if you just wanted to waste our time?" Seonghwa asks.
The witch just shrugs and gestures vaguely at the two omegas.
"You guys ambushed me at my hut — and honestly, the little one's eyes freak me out a bit."
Yeosang's burning gaze shifts into a proud smile at the statement, making Jongho and Seonghwa huff out a laugh.
"Anyway, I'll be taking my leave now, if you don't mind," the witch turns to leave, only to be met with Seonghwa's frame blocking the exit.
"No," he says.
The witch scoffs.
"No? You can't keep me here," he rolls his eyes.
"What do you want?" Jongho asks quietly.
Three heads turn to him as he speaks. The pain has let up slightly, though he's not sure if that's a good thing.
"Money? I'll give you everything if I have to," he barters.
The witch rolls his eyes again. Jongho decides he doesn't like him very much.
"Try again," he responds.
"Power? I can get you a job as the kingdom's apothecary — you'll be untouchable,"
"This is getting pathetic," the witch jibes, "I've been alive for centuries, lived enough lives to have everything I've ever wanted — there is nothing you could offer to make me agree to help you."
"What about mortality?" Seonghwa asks.
The witch remains silent for a few minutes. His unmoved demeanour changes — broad shoulders stiffened, sharp jaw tightened. Jongho knows they've got him.
"You can't promise that. Don't make deals you're not willing to follow through on," he sneers.
"I'm a Prime Omega," Jongho states.
The witch's eyes widen, before squinting in scrutiny.
"You sure?" he smirks.
"You don't look like one, certainly don't smell like one," he taunts.
"Watch it," Seonghwa lets out a protective hiss.
Jongho fights back the tears, the choking sobs that threaten to escape him at the reminder of his changed form. Is he even an omega anymore?
"I am," he defends weakly, "I can prove it."
Mustering all of his remaining energy, he closes his eyes and digs deep into his subconscious, locating his omega. I can fix this. His omega is weak, barely chirping, but it's there. Jongho coaxes it forward, letting the bond between the two connect before inhaling and allowing it to come to the forefront of his consciousness. Feeling the familiar warmth encompassing his body, he opens eyes which he's sure are glowing a bright gold, judging from the shock on witch's face and the pride worn by his hyungs.
Something's wrong.
His omega screams once again, a high-pitched shriek that intensifies Jongho's head pain as his eyes flicker from gold to brown. He grips his head, now writhing in pain as his omega chirps relentlessly in his conscious mind — begging for help. Whining, he attempts to soothe his omega with broken purrs that feel unpracticed — unfamiliar. His blood feels like it's boiling, his skin on fire. Off. He tears at his top, his body moving by its own volition, the crying in his head worsening. Vaguely, he feels movement around him, though he can't focus on anything but the pain and the heat and his omega's distress. There's a hand on his head. Cold. Large. Foreign.
There's nothing.
Hushed whispers surround him. It's dark. His eyes are closed, he thinks. The whispers persist as he tries to open his eyes. Why won't they open? He whimpers, low in his throat, quiet.
"Pup?"
Yeosang.
Jongho hums in response, eyes still closed. A damp cloth dabbing against his forehead. Comforting. Strawberries and flowers. Home.
He blink blearily as his eyes finally open, adjusting to the dim light of his room. His head doesn't hurt as much, though the pain in his abdomen persists. His mouth is dry and he realises belatedly that he's naked under his covers.
"Mmh," he hums, "water."
Yeosang helps him sit up as Seonghwa feeds him sips of water from a glass.
"You wanna try eating something?" Yeosang asks as he produces a bowl of porridge seemingly out of nowhere.
Jongho can't find the energy to speak, opening his mouth in response.Yeosang laughs endearingly and begins to spoon-feed him slowly. Jongho leans his head back against the headboard when he's full; Yeosang taking the hint and moving the bowl away.
"How long?" Jongho cringes at the roughness of his voice, heavy with sleep.
"Two days," Seonghwa frowns, "we were so scared, pup."
" 'M sorry, hyung. Don't know what's happening," Jongho responds with a comforting hand on top of Seonghwa's.
"Don't be silly, baby, you have nothing to apologise for," Yeosang consoles.
Jongho supposes he's right, but he still feels bad. The fate he was so ready to face alone is now affecting the people he loves, the people who love him. He's not worth the pain or effort that comes with fixing him.
"I got us into this mess, hyung. I should've just signed the contract," he says, ashamed.
That godforsaken contract. He has two days to give his parents and Jaeyun an answer. He knows what they want. To marry and unite their kingdoms, for Jongho to be the perfect omega. But he's not an omega anymore, not really, and he doesn't even know if he will ever be one again. But what else could he do? Say no and disappoint his parents? Disappoint his kingdom?
"Hyung," he whimpers, "Do my parents know?"
"They think you're sick and in quarantine. Seonghwa hyung and I are the only ones allowed in your room," Yeosang says.
"What do I do? What's happening to me?" he asks, genuinely seeking an answer. He's at a loss about everything.
Tears well up in his eyes, his heart heavy in his chest. Seonghwa and Yeosang hold him as he cries, scenting him heavily. He wishes they wouldn't — his scent is too harsh, too aggressive for their gentleness — it'll taint them.
"We're going to bring the witch back," Yeosang says softly.
Jongho screws his eyes shut as he responds, afraid of their reactions.
"Hyung… I can't feel my- my omega," he whispers.
"What if I'm not the same as I was before? I won't be able to bite the witch — to give him what he wants."
They're both quiet again. For the first time, Jongho wishes he could understand their silent conversations. Understand what they're thinking.
"Pup… you really can't feel it?" Yeosang asks gently.
Jongho bites his lip as he shakes his head, tears continuing their never-ending stream.
"It's just… pain. Hurts so much, I want it to stop, please," he sniffles.
Seonghwa rests his chin on Jongho's head, holding him close.
"We'll figure it out. Yeosang and I will go and get the witch, okay? He will help, I promise you, pup."
Jongho just nods, not sure if he believes him.
Yeosang and Seonghwa get up, dressing in their cloaks before leaving Jongho alone. He tries not to think, so tired of thinking, but it's difficult when he's left to his own devices. He attempts to get out of bed, his legs like jelly as he pushes himself off the mattress. He walks round his bed, gazing at the nest on the floor in front of it. He takes a step towards it, a nauseous feeling building in his stomach. He reaches for it, resting his hands on the border he'd spent so much time perfecting.The fabric prickles against his skin, feeling like sandpaper instead of the soft cotton he was familiar with. Retracting his hand, he steps a naked foot into the nest, the nausea escalating. He swallows the feeling down as he steps fully into the nest. Wrong.
He feels disgusting, the feeling in his stomach fighting against his actions, and he jumps out of nest to the bathroom. He vomits up all of the porridge Yeosang had fed him, shaking with cold sweats as he rests his head on the floor of the bathroom. His muscles feel like lead and his headache returns with vigor. He's not sure how long he lays there for.
"Pup? Jongho?" he can hear Seonghwa calling for him.
"Oh, puppy," Yeosang gasps, lifting Jongho so he's leaning against him.
"Put him in the tub," a deep voice instructs.
Jongho sits on the cold porcelain of the tub as it fills with warm water, the sensation soothing against his sweaty back. The witch's bag clinks as he places it on the floor, walking towards Jongho. He opens a vial containing a purple substance, pouring the contents into the bath. His mind feels clearer and he watches as Seonghwa and Yeosang exit the room, leaving him alone with the witch.
"You're really a Prime?" the witch asks.
"Yeah," Jongho whispers, "though I'm not sure I will be for much longer," he attempts to joke.
The witch sighs, stirring the bath water with his hand as he sits beside Jongho on the stool.
"We need to get the serum out of your system. I've never seen it affect an omega like this before," he says.
"What's happening to me?" Jongho asks again, this time to the one person he trusts to answer him properly.
"My theory is that the serum reacted to your Prime instincts," the witch murmurs, "you're naturally more fertile, more childbearing, so the serum's attempting to prevent pregnancy both medically and sexually — by making you more… alpha. That way, alphas would be less attracted to you, less likely to want to… breed you," he finishes with a furrow between his brows, as if trying to make sense of it himself.
Jongho appreciates the witch's candor. No sugar-coating, no minimising the seriousness of the situation. Still, he can't deny the panic he feels.
"Do- do you think you can stop it? Make me how I was before?" he asks.
The witch shrugs.
"I'm not a doctor — I can try a few things, but I can't promise anything for sure."
"Oh. Okay. Thank you," Jongho whispers back.
"Mingi," the witch grumbles.
"What?"
"My name. Figured you should know the name of the guy you're gonna be biting," Mingi says, rolling his eyes.
Jongho smiles. A real smile. Mingi.
"Thank you, Mingi-ssi. You have a pretty name," he compliments.
"Shut up."
Jongho doesn't miss the way Mingi's face reddens at the cheeks.
They don't say much else as Jongho soaks in the tub. Whatever the purple substance was cleared Jongho's head from the incessant cloudiness, finally being able to speak more than a sentence at a time without feeling exhausted. Yeosang helps him out of the bath, Seonghwa dressing him, though he doesn't get moisturised by Mingi's instruction. He's dressed for the first time all day, in his sleepings as he gets back into his bed. The sheets have been changed and the scent of strawberries and flowers comforts him as he gets under the covers.
His body no longer burns, no longer sweats uncontrollably. Seonghwa and Yeosang scent him aggressively before leaving for their own rooms, wishing him good night as they walk out the door. Strangely, Mingi stays sat by Jongho's side on a chair by the bed.
"You're not going home?" Jongho asks.
"No," Mingi replies looking down at a book in his blanket-covered lap as he speaks, "It'll be a hassle going and coming back — plus this way I can observe your condition," he finishes, pushing his black-framed glasses up his sharp nose.
The fact makes Jongho feel safer, more at ease.
"That's… yeah. Thank you, Mingi-ssi," he says sincerely.
"Whatever. The sooner you get better, the sooner I get what I want," he replies flippantly.
"I apologise if it's rude of me to ask… but why do you want to be mortal so badly?" Jongho asks.
Mingi releases a breath, clearly reluctant to answer. Closing his book, he looks at where Jongho is sat up against the headboard. Jongho can see the emotions written on the grumpy witch's face. Hesitancy, curiosity. He bites the inside of his cheek before speaking again.
"Have you heard of the Witches Curse?" he asks in place of answering Jongho's question directly.
Jongho shakes his head, rubbing against the headboard as he does so.
"Millennia ago, a witch made a deal with an Alpha King. The King wanted access to all of the witch's power. He wanted her to work for him in the palace, and in return he promised her power over the people. It was a blood pact, a deal sealed by the Devil. She got what she wanted; the people were terrified of her and the King had no care for them. He had a puppet wreaking all the havoc he couldn't make himself," he pauses as he watches Jongho shift into a more comfortable position — head on his pillow, wrapped in the blanket — completely engrossed in the story.
"Why did you stop?" Jongho pouts.
"Carry on!" he insists from his cocoon.
Mingi huffs out a laugh before continuing.
"Despite all of her power, she was never satisfied. People were dying, enslaved, tortured — she wanted more. The King eventually realised it was going too far, that he could be next, so he tried to stop her. His efforts were futile. She killed him, breaking the pact-"
He's cut off by Jongho's dramatic gasp.
"That's insane," he says, wide-eyed, "what happened next?"
"I was getting to that!" Mingi laughs. A melodic sound.
"As I was saying… the witch was desperate, greedy for power, to be everything. She tried to make a deal with the Devil — that she would serve him for eternity in return for her life. He accepted, but cursed all witches to come as punishment. Our souls are immortal, but we don't live forever. We reincarnate, but we're cursed with remembering every life, bringing every memory to the next — every love, every loss, every life — there's no escape, no matter what form we take," he lets out a heavy breath as he finishes the story.
Jongho wiggles out of his cocoon, placing a hand on top of Mingi's.
"I'll get better," he promises.
"I'll get better, and I'll bite you. You'll be free of the wretched curse. I can't even imagine what a burden it must be on you."
Mingi gives him a half-smile before removing his hand from under Jongho's.
"Goodnight, Jongho," he says, turning off the bedside lamp, engulfing them in darkness.
"So what's your deal?" Mingi asks.
Kneeling on the floor of Jongho's room, Mingi rubs a salve into Jongho's skin that is supposed to promote scent revival. Jongho's not too sure it's working though, the only smells apparent in the room being the grassy basil of the paste and his newfound musk.
"What do you mean?" he asks for clarification.
He thought 'his deal' was obvious. An Omega Prince who made a selfish choice and is now dealing with the aftermath.
"Why did you come looking for a birth control serum in the first place? Aren't you, like, supposed to have pups?" the witch asks, focusing his attention on rubbing the salve into Jongho's neck.
Jongho shifts in his seat on his bed at the wording of the question. Yes, of course he's supposed to have pups, but why is that all that's expected of him?
"Yeah, I- I don't know. I have to get married and have pups to be able to rule my kingdom… I think maybe I just got cold feet," he lies.
Better than having to admit what he is. A traitor to the kingdom, his parents… his alpha. A self-obsessed Omega Prince who neglects his kingdom's needs.
The witch pulls away from his neck, gathering more paste on his fingers to rub on his shoulders
"You don't have to lie to me, Jongho," he frowns, "I'm not gonna judge you for making a decision over your own body."
Jongho searches Mingi's face for any sign of deceit. His sharp eyes trained on Jongho's shoulders, plush lips parted. His artificially blonde hair frames his face as he works, and Jongho thinks the man is quite stunning.
"You're really beautiful, Mingi-ssi," he says, thoughts of the previous conversation leaving his mind.
The man flusters, pausing his ministrations on Jongho's shoulders as he sits back on his heels. He looks at Jongho with scrutiny, eyes looking into Jongho's as though he's searching for something.
"Aren't you engaged to some alpha? Surely you shouldn't be flirting with a commoner — a witch no less," he smirks.
This time, Jongho flusters.
"We're not… I don't want to marry him," he blushes, "that's why I took the serum. If I can't bear pups, then the marriage is void. And I wasn't flirting! You're pretty! It's an observation," he huffs.
"Hm," Mingi hums in response, "well, thank you. Does this alpha know you don't want to marry him?" he questions curiously.
Jongho sighs.
"No. I'm supposed to tell his family and him that I want to, though. Tomorrow."
"You can't say no?" Mingi looks up at him from his place by his feet, rubbing the salve into his calves. The repetitive motions are relaxing, the ache in Jongho's bones easing with the sensation.
"…There are expectations of me. From my parents, his parents… the kingdom," Jongho's brows furrow as he continues speaking, "our marriage was promised since we were kids, and now I'm of age, so it only makes sense for us to go through with it, right?"
Mingi hums to show he's still listening. Jongho continues.
"And… I don't know. My omega does- didn't like him. But who cares about that? He wants me to give him pups and keep me on the throne for appearance — I would lose my kingdom. By nullifying the marriage, I would have time to find a suitor that my omega likes. Though, I guess that doesn't matter much now," he huffs out a laugh of self-deprecation.
"You can't do that anyway? Look for a suitor, I mean. Why does it have to be him specifically?" Mingi asks, wiping his hands of the excess paste.
"No, that-that's not how it works. My parents chose him for me," Jongho explains.
"So?" the taller man questions, sat cross-legged in front of Jongho, leaning back on his hands.
The position gives Jongho a full view of his chest, covered by a plain white t-shirt, broad and defined under the fabric. His waist is small, painfully so, tapering down into thick, strong thighs covered by black trousers.
Stunning.
Mingi catches his wondrous gaze, smirking as he sits up straight.
"My eyes are up here," he says suavely.
"Huh?" Jongho replies dumbly.
"Oh! Oh, right, sorry," he clears his throat.
Mingi's smug as he smiles, biting his lip to suppress a giggle.
"So? Why can't you look for a new suitor?"
"My parents accept him. They respect him. What I want doesn't matter, it's all political. Going against that would be… selfish," he looks down in shame.
Mingi's gaze softens as he speaks,
"Jongho… it's not selfish to look out for yourself. What you want does matter. You can't live for other people's expectations."
Jongho smiles sadly,
"That's the only way I know how to live, Mingi-ssi. I made one stupidly selfish choice and look at where that got me. My omega's practically dead, I'm in constant pain, and I'm relying on a strange witch to help me through it."
Mingi chuckles at the last statement,
"I'm not strange. I'm… eccentric. And what you did was brave. You took a chance for your own happiness, it's admirable," he says honestly.
"Was that a compliment?" Jongho teases.
Mingi rolls his eyes with a smile.
"Don't get used to it."
Mingi looks at the clock on the wall, getting up on his feet. Jongho takes the outstretched hand in front of him, the other man pulling him with ease. He lets himself be led to the bathroom, purple water sitting ready for him as he strips off his clothes.
"Oh!" the older man yelps, turning around with haste as Jongho takes off his panties.
Jongho tilts his head in confusion. It's not the first time Mingi's seen him naked, and he knows about an omega's anatomy, so it's nothing he's never seen before. He shrugs, taking off his shirt before stepping into the tub.
"Um. You can turn around," Jongho informs with a giggle.
Mingi's face holds a pink tinge as he approaches Jongho.
"How are you feeling?" he mumbles.
Jongho lets himself sink in deeper, tinted water surrounding him protectively, only his head visible over the top.
"I'm okay. My head still hurts, but the screaming has stopped. My stomach doesn't hurt anymore," he frowns.
"That's good, right?" Mingi asks, confused by Jongho's expression.
"I don't know… the pain was my omega letting me know it was distressed — but that meant it was alive. What if the absence of pain means my omega is… dead?" he asks worriedly.
Mingi looks at him consolingly.
"The purple stuff is for pain relief, it's possible it's just masking the stomach pain. Or maybe your omega isn't feeling so distressed anymore?"
Jongho closes his eyes,
"Maybe."
He stays that way until the water's no longer warm and his finger and toes are pruned. Mingi helps him out of the bath, blushing furiously — though Jongho would never tell him that. Yeosang and Seonghwa help him get dressed, making conversation as they do so.
Yeosang takes a sniff at Jongho's scent gland, and then another… and another.
"Pup!" he exclaims, "You smell… better!"
Seonghwa perks up at that, shuffling closer to get a sniff.
"Oh my, Sangie's right, Jjongie. You're sweeter already," he gasps.
Mingi glances over at them curiously, wondering what the commotion is about. Jongho sniffs at his arm, only smelling the residue of the paste and bath water.
"They're right, you know," Mingi says.
"I noticed it while you were dressing, but I don't know what your scent was like before so I didn't wanna assume. You're getting better."
Jongho can't help himself when he runs to Mingi and pulls him into a hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, hyung," he repeats as he hugs the taller man.
Mingi's surprised, unsure of what to do with his hands making Yeosang and Seonghwa giggle. The change in honorific catches him off-guard too, though he isn't upset at it. He places his hands against Jongho's back, pushing him closer into the hug.
"It's no problem. You'll be better before you know it," he says, not bothering the fight the smile threatening to take over his face.
"He rejected me!" Mingi watches as Jongho bounces into the room gleefully.
Seonghwa and Yeosang look at each other before matching smiles adorn their faces.
"That's wonderful news pup! Did he say why?" Seonghwa asks as he pats the bed, motioning for Jongho to sit down.
Jongho's smile falters slightly as he begins to speak.
"Y-yeah. Um, he said he isn't attracted to me, and that my scent is uh... disgusting. But it's okay! The serum did its job in the end. I'll be fixed soon, right, Mingi-hyung?" he says hopefully.
"Of course, Jongho. We're already making a lot of progress."
Mingi had been observing Jongho through the night — taking note of any little change, any anomaly that could be linked back to the serum. Last night had been significantly better than the first, as Jongho hadn't writhed around much, even being able to get up on his own. His mood had improved too, not getting aggravated by small things, making more conversation.
Mingi had taken a liking to the little omega. Despite only having known each other for two days, they've spent a lot of time together. Mingi had seen him naked, for heaven's sake.
The memory makes him blush.
How any alpha could even think that Jongho is unattractive is inconceivable to Mingi. The softness of his stomach and chest, the plushness of his hips and thighs — the strength he holds in his frame. His face — round and oh so gentle in his features. Doe-like eyes and a button nose, lips full and pouty — burned into his mind. Mingi's afraid to sleep because he knows who'll be featuring in every single dream.
"I wanna try something different today," Mingi says, stopping his spiral before it leads somewhere… unsavoury.
"Oh? What is it?" Jongho asks.
"I want to see if we can bring your omega back," he says, hesitantly.
Jongho's round eyes widen in excitement, Yeosang and Seonghwa wearing matching expressions.
"Really? You think you can do that? Really?" Jongho asks, unable to contain his excitement.
"I've been researching rituals and medicines… and I think I can do it-"
"Yes! Whatever it takes, I don't care!" Jongho interrupts him.
Seonghwa pats his head to calm him down, telling him to let Mingi speak.
"Right. Sorry, Mingi-hyung. Continue," he apologises bashfully.
Mingi fights a smile — something he's been doing less and less recently — returning to his professional demeanour.
"The ritual will take some time, a few hours at least, and it'll work best if it's just you and I," he begins, looking at Seonghwa and Yeosang for permission.
"That's… fine… I guess," Yeosang responds sadly, brushing a hand over Jongho's cheek.
Mingi clears his throat before speaking again, this time more apprehensive.
"The ritual… it'll hurt. Like… a lot. I can't give you any pain relief because it might hinder the connection between your omega and you," he says apologetically, "so… I was wondering if I could take you to my hut? That way we'll have more privacy, less chance of people hearing."
Jongho bites his lip in contemplation.
"Hyungs really can't be there?" he asks, voice so small.
"I'm sorry, Jongho. We can't risk any interference," Mingi sympathises.
"We'll take you to the hut, pup. We'll be there for you until we can't be, I promise you," Seonghwa takes his hands as he speaks, rubbing his thumb over the top.
"Can we scent him?" Yeosang asks.
"Oh of course! Your scents will give his omega a sense of familiarity, might bring it out faster. Scent him all you want," Mingi permits.
Jongho yelps as he's tackled down onto the bed, Seonghwa and Yeosang each rubbing his scent glands with their own. His giggles fill the air and Mingi takes in the sounds like a drug addict dying for a fix. It's beautiful the way his voice melodically encompasses the room, panting breaths of joy reaching Mingi's ears.
He watches as Jongho rises from the bed with a dopey look on his face, hair ruffled and clothes wrinkled.
Breathtaking.
"Mingi?" Seonghwa voice breaks him out of his trance.
"We were wondering if-"
"Can we scent you too?" Yeosang interrupts.
Mingi's taken aback by the question, unable to keep the shock out of his features. He's a witch, not a wolf. He doesn't have scent glands or a discernible scent. He's never been scented before. Why do they want to scent him?
"We know you don't have scent glands, but it'll make our omegas feel better knowing Jongho's with someone we trust. There's no better way to show trust than scenting," Seonghwa explains.
"Y-yeah. You can scent me," he responds awkwardly.
They don't scent him as aggressively as they did Jongho, only pushing their wrists against his own and his neck.
"Aren't you gonna scent me too?" he asks Jongho slyly.
The omega blushes, pushing his wrist fleetingly against Mingi's neck — though Mingi grabs his wrist before he can pull it away and pushes it in harder, longer.
Jongho gasps as he does so — Mingi will never get tired of how easy the omega is to fluster.
He allows Jongho to pull his wrist back once he genuinely looks like he's about to combust, cheeks red and lips parted.
"Shall we get going?" Mingi asks cheerily.
Jongho nods silently, Mingi's smirk growing.
Jongho and Mingi sit in the carriage as Seonghwa and Yeosang sit up front. Yeosang insisted on sitting with Seonghwa so he could keep an eye out for anyone following. Mingi suspects he had an ulterior motive.
"So, who do you think will confess first?" he asks Jongho.
The prince tilts his head in confusion at the question.
"What are you talking about?"
"Yeosang and Seonghwa," Mingi clarifies, bewildered at the fact that Jongho hasn't noticed anything going on between the two older omegas.
"They don't-do they like each other?" he gasps.
"I'd hope so," Mingi leans in as he whispers conspiratorially, "I caught them making out."
Jongho gasps loud, gripping Mingi's arm for support.
"No way. This is amazing, I'm so happy for them!"
Mingi laughs at Jongho's reaction endearingly. The more time he spends with the man, the more he finds himself enjoying himself. Of course, the circumstances aren't ideal, with Jongho's condition, and him being a Prime Omega Prince, Mingi has tried to tread carefully. Professionalism has always come easy to him — in his line of work, professionalism was often the only way to ensure he wouldn't end up hexed or poisoned. Maintaining that around the omega was becoming increasingly difficult. Mingi hadn't anticipated how weak he would get from Jongho's… everything. His looks, his personality, his laugh. The lethal combination was seemingly Mingi's kryptonite; breaking down his resolve, cutting through his chest one cute giggle at a time.
They arrive at the hut, Seonghwa and Yeosang leaving with teary goodbyes as Mingi leads Jongho inside.
"What happens now?" Jongho asks as he stands in the dark of the room.
"I need to set everything up, feel free to look around," Mingi responds as he moves the rug off the floor.
He begins by lighting wax candles, placing them methodically around the room. Then, he draws the ritual runes on the wood of the floor with chalk — allowing his witch instincts to lead as he draws intricate lines and curves creating a pattern against the dark spruce. He moves to his work station, grinding herbs and minerals down, blending them until they're a drinkable consistency.
Soft footsteps pad towards him as he works.
"You made all of these?" Jongho asks, looking up at the shelves of serums.
"Yep," Mingi pops the 'P'.
"Hm," Jongho hums, "what does this one do?" he asks, holding a bottle containing a thick iridescent pink liquid.
"Love potion," Mingi states.
"Whoa…what about this one?" he holds a bottle containing a light blue watery liquid.
"Truth serum," he replies.
"We can start the ritual now," he says, looking at Jongho.
"You, um, you need to get undressed," he blushes.
Jongho nods, unbuttoning his cloak and removing his garments. Mingi tries to give him privacy, but at the end of the day… he's just a man. He watches as Jongho lifts his arms over his head, shedding his top. Mingi is entranced by the exposure of his supple skin. The sickly pale hue has let up with recovery, bringing back the golden caramel tone. His brown nipples peak with the chill of the air around them, goosebumps rising on his arms. He unties his trousers, letting them fall to the floor. His legs are strong — thick thighs and defined calves that Mingi wants to mark up. Jongho reaches for the lace-trimmed band of his white cotton panties.
"These too?" he asks innocently.
Mingi swallows the build up of saliva in his mouth before responding.
"No-no you can keep those on. Follow me," he stutters out pathetically.
He leads Jongho to the area covered by runes, handing him the potion he had made earlier.
"This is to flush out the serum and locate your omega. Drink it all, then lay in the middle of the patterns," he instructs.
Jongho does as told, laying down gently. Mingi can sense his nerves, the way his eyes move around the room, the shake of his hands.
"I've got you, Jongho," he whispers, "trust me."
Jongho nods, letting out a breath as Mingi draws on his naked body with a black chalk. He whispers spells in an ancient language as he does so, chanting phrases over and over until the candles blaze wildly. The flames grow, lighting up the room with a fiery glow, getting bigger as Mingi's voice raises. He speaks louder with each sentence, his instincts taking over. Eventually, his voice tapers down and the flames die out, engulfing the two men in darkness.
Jongho feels an ache building in his limbs, groaning out. The runes on the floor begin to glow a bright white.
Mingi comes back to himself, letting out a breath at the sight in front of him.
Jongho's groans get louder, more ragged, more guttural.
"Oh my god," he whimpers, gripping his stomach.
He arches his back, crying out as he throws his head against the ground, lifting his hips as his body convulses. He's shaking, vibrating against the glowing runes, crying out in pain. Mingi has to hold back his tears watching such a dreadful sight, unable to help.
"Please!" Jongho begs, "Please, no, no, no," he sobs out.
Tears stream down his face, his body on fire. Jongho thinks he might die. His limbs feel like they're being torn from his body, bones breaking and being put back together, just to shatter once more. There's a blaze in his stomach, burning, coursing through his veins, setting his nerves alight. Every breath feels like he's swallowing broken glass, tears feeling like razors against his skin. His head feels like he's under water — low on oxygen, suffocating in an inferno. He writhes, moaning in agony, wishing for it to end.
"Mingi!" he cries out, his only hope.
Mingi can't stop the tears streaming down his face at the desperate call.
"I'm so-so sorry, baby," Mingi sniffles, wiping tears from his jaw.
"Can-can't do it — hurts — ah!" he bawls, throat raw.
Then, the runes change. From the white glow, they dim to a dull pulse. The white glow runs through the runes at a fast pace, then faster, faster, faster. A glow — gold, shimmery, beautiful — emanates from the runes on Jongho's body. He screams, eyes rolling back into his head as he arches back up once more, falling to the ground with a thud.
Then — nothing.
They're engulfed in darkness once more, and Mingi rushes forward to cradle Jongho's sobbing form.
He holds the distraught omega close to his chest, his own tears falling as he comforts him. They rock back and forth, Mingi whispering sweet comfort into Jongho's ears.
"You did so well, Jongho, so proud of you," he whispers against his temple, rubbing a soothing hand over his sweaty head.
Jongho hiccups through his sobs, soaking Mingi's t-shirt as he has him in a death grip.
"Don-don't leave me, please," Jongho chokes out, looking up at Mingi.
Golden.
Mingi holds him tighter, placing his chin on top of Jongho's head.
"Never," he promises.
They stay in his hut that night. Seonghwa and Yeosang check up on him, scenting him as he sleeps before leaving. Mingi watches from the chair beside the bed as his chest rises and falls, dressed in Mingi's clothes. In Mingi's bed. In Mingi's home.
Mingi tries not to think about how right it feels.
Jongho blinks as he wakes, eyes unfocused and red, looking up at Mingi.
"Mmh. Min, did-did it work?" he asks, still half-asleep.
He shifts before Mingi can answer, sitting up straight — awake.
"I can feel it! I can hear it — it worked," he breathes in awe. He sniffs at his wrist, shoving it close to Mingi's face,
"I smell normal," he grins a gummy smile.
Mingi inhales deeply, taking in the sweet honeysuckle scent.
"You smell so sweet," he smiles softly.
Jongho jumps up, engulfing Mingi in a hug, pulling his bigger body onto the bed. Mingi wraps an arm around Jongho, the other holding himself up so he doesn't crush the smaller man. He holds him tight at the waist, pulling him close to his neck as they embrace. He can feel the fluter of eyelashes against his skin, Jongho's warm breath evening out in his hold. He pulls back, looking down at the omega who looks pretty in his clothes and the blush painting his cheeks.
"You need to eat," Mingi says, pulling away from the hypnotic sight.
He grabs a bowl and spoon, thankful to Seonghwa and Yeosang for bringing them food. They eat together, Mingi feeding Jongho and taking bites of food while the other man chews. Jongho's gaze never leaves Mingi's face, as though committing him to memory — making Mingi nervous.
"Enjoying the view?" he teases.
Jongho blushes, shyly averting his gaze.
"So what if I am?" he responds.
Mingi huffs out a laugh at the display of confidence.
"Well, my view's not so bad, either," he makes a point of eyeing Jongho up and down before smirking.
Jongho rolls his eyes at his brazen behaviour.
"I'm sweaty and gross right now," he says, accepting another bite of food.
"Still as pretty as ever," Mingi shrugs.
His face shifts to concern.
"How are you feeling?" he asks.
"Sore. My whole body feels like I got hit by a truck… but it's worth it. I can feel my omega. It's talking to me, chirping," his gummy smile takes over his face as he speaks.
"Yeah?" Mingi asks, "What's it saying?"
Jongho flushes a pretty pink, biting his lip.
"It… quite likes you," he says, turning his head away as he speaks.
Cute.
"Mingi-hyung… what happens now?" he asks vulnerably.
Mingi places the bowl down and takes Jongho's hands into his own.
"You'll go back to the palace. You'll do your princely duties, and I'll go back to traveling through kingdoms," he says.
Jongho furrows his brows.
"No. No, I need to bite you. We made a deal," he insists.
"Jongho… it doesn't feel right, getting you to bite me. You're still recovering," Mingi says gently.
"But the curse! It's not fair — I promised I'd get better for you, hyung, to bite you — I can bite you," Jongho stresses.
Mingi doesn't want to address why he doesn't want the bite. If he gets the mortality he's yearned for all his lives, then he risks losing Jongho forever. Staying immortal, he gets to keep the memory of the Omega Prince through time. If this becomes his last life, he'll have to live it knowing he almost had everything he ever wanted. He'll spend his final life in regret.
"Jongho… I'll be okay," he strokes his hand over Jongho's.
"What- I thought you-" he pulls his hands away from Mingi's, placing them in his lap.
"You said you'd never leave me. Do you really not feel it?" his voice is watery as he speaks.
"What-"
"I like you, Mingi. Like I've never liked anyone before. My omega likes you, too — do you really feel nothing?" he cuts Mingi off with a sniffle.
"Jongho — I'm… how can you like me?"
"I like you because you're Mingi. You-you called me brave for doing what I wanted, for taking control. Well, this is me being brave again. I don't care if you're not royal, or even a wolf. I don't know what I'd do if I had to go the rest of my life without seeing you again," he wipes the tear from his cheeks as he speaks.
He really is the most astounding person Mingi's ever met. And he's met a lot of people. Being able to speak his feelings while Mingi was happy with taking the coward's way out — being vulnerable while Mingi was scared to even think of his feelings.
"I-I like you, too," Mingi replies, "I think, if this becomes my last life, I'd be happy just having known you," he says unguarded.
"You can have more than just knowing me, hyung," Jongho says softly.
Mingi meets his eyes, and Jongho turns to face him, sitting on his knees on the bed in front of him. He reaches a hand up, cupping Jongho's face, rubbing his thumb under his eye.
"Beautiful," he breathes, licking his lips before leaning in to capture Jongho's own.
The kiss is soft — Jongho's chapped lips against Mingi's wet ones. It's slow, matching each other's pace, the desperation building. Mingi pulls away, angling his face so he can lick into Jongho's mouth, resulting in the prettiest whines Mingi could listen to forever. The feeling of Jongho's tongue against his own is sinful, every stroke getting him closer to losing his mind.
He pulls away, resulting in a string of spit between their lips, before hauling Jongho into his lap. Jongho giggles prettily as he straddles him, only wearing Mingi's too-big t-shirt and his panties, before leaning back in. Their kiss turns hungry, Mingi practically devouring Jongho with clash of tongues and teeth, holding him closer with a palm against his back.
Jongho moves his hips, whimpering into Mingi's mouth as he does so, and he takes the hint. Positioning his legs wider, he places Jongho directly above his crotch, allowing the younger to get the friction he craves. Jongho moves his hips in earnest, and Mingi feels himself beginning to harden in his joggers. He pulls his face away from Jongho's and begins stamping wet kisses along the line of his neck, licking at his scent gland. Jongho moans at the sensation, holding Mingi's head while he grinds. He lets up eventually, and Mingi kisses down to where his collarbone is exposed. He sucks gently along his skin, careful not to leave marks as Jongho mewls prettily, his grinding becoming sluggish as he pants.
"Did my pretty omega get tired?" Mingi whispers huskily in his ear, sucking on the lobe as he awaits Jongho's answer.
"Ye-yes, hyungie, wanna feel good," he pouts.
Mingi chuckles deeply as he grips Jongho's hips and grinds against him. He can feel the slick wetness of Jongho's panties staining his joggers, his cock leaking and joining the mess of fluids. He moves Jongho's hips with precision — the clothed tip of his cock meeting Jongho's clit repeatedly, resulting in breathy moans and keens from the omega.
"Play with your nipples, baby," he instructs.
Jongho does as he's told, reaching beneath the shirt to rub at his perked nipples. There's too much friction — too dry to enjoy. He whines, putting his fingers in his mouth as Mingi continues guiding his hips. Mingi's eyes visibly darken as he looks down at Jongho, biting his plush bottom lip between his teeth. Jongho plays with his nipples again, more pleasurable now that it's wetter. His lets his head fall to the side as he moans, the mix of sensations driving him to orgasm.
"Ah- 'm close," Jongho sobs.
"Yeah?" Mingi huffs, also getting close, "You're gonna come for me, princess?"
Jongho whines at the nickname, his moans getting louder the closer he gets.
"Mingi!" Jongho shouts as he reaches his peak, releasing over Mingis lap, creating a wet mess. He breathes heavily as he comes down from his high, resting his head on Mingi's shoulder. Wrapping his arms around Mingi's neck, he pulls him back in for a kiss, making out lazily.
He reaches down, his small hand palming Mingi's hard cock, making him release a moan.
"You're so big," he giggles, "you didn't come. Let me help?" he asks, eyes wide with an innocence Mingi knows is a facade. He nods anyway.
Jongho palms at his crotch again, gripping his dick through his joggers, before pushing the waistband down. Mingi's cock springs out from its confines, the tip an angry red and leaking copious amounts of precum against his t-shirt.
"I've never done this before," Jongho bites his lip, "talk me through it?"
Mingi looks up, groaning — convinced he died for good in his last life, Jongho being the incubus of his dreams.
He pushes the waistband of his joggers under his balls — thankful he decided to forgo underwear — and places Jongho's hand at the base. His fingers struggle to meet around the girth, the sight obscene.
"Use your other hand to stroke up and down. Slowly… yeah… that's good, baby," he moans.
Jongho looks into his eyes as he jerks him off, his round eyes hooded and sultry, lips swollen, cheeks pink. He looks every bit a wet dream Mingi had thought he'd be. The omega sticks his tongue out, letting spit roll down his tongue, landing on the tip of Mingi's dick.
He's insane.
He leaks more precum at the sight, Jongho rubbing at the tip to collect it, making Mingi hiss out a groan.
"Do that again, baby, gentle… that's it. You're doing so good for me, making me feel so good," Mingi babbles.
Jongho speeds his hand up at the praise, playing with Mingi's balls as he does so.
"Feels good hyung? Gonna cum for me? For your omega?" Jongho whispers close to his ear.
"Yeah, yes, yeah, gonna cum for my pretty omega… mine," the knot in his stomach tightens and he lets out a prolonged moan as he cums, dripping over Jongho's hands.
"Sorry, baby," he says, reaching for a tissue, "let me wipe your hands," he reaches for Jongho, though the omega lifts his hands to his face and takes a curious lick. And another, and another, 'til his hands are clean of cum.
"You're gonna kill me," Mingi states, wide-eyed.
Jongho giggles.
After a much needed shower and some more food, Jongho and Mingi bask in the afterglow of their confessions and their orgasms. Jongho's head rests against Mingi chest as they lay in his bed that is definitely not built for two people, playing with Mingi's large hands as they reside in a comfortable silence. Jongho breaks it with a question.
"Mingi hyung?" he asks, gaining Mingi's attention.
"Do you really not want me to bite you?"
Mingi thinks for a moment.
"I want to be with you. I think… I want to be mortal. I want to know you — who you are, what makes you happy — to stay with you. I want to die and I want your face to be the last memory I ever have," he says softly.
Jongho looks up at Mingi with a smile.
"Let's do that, then. Tomorrow, though. I don't think I can handle much more today," he says sleepily.
"Go to sleep, baby, I'll still be here when you wake up," Mingi whispers.