Chapter Text
“This rule is bullshit,” Hyunjin said with a sneer before drinking a sip of energy drink; he was lazily slouching on the terrasse chair of a restaurant they particularly liked. His long dark hair was loose and moving with the wind. He kept tucking it behind his ear and it kept flying off with the gentle breeze.
The pub was a small establishment located three corners away from their flat; it was very clean, had good music and the drinks were cheap enough to be affordable which made it convenient for the four of them.
Sitting across from him, Seungmin pressed his lips and glared at Hyunjin, “it’s scientifically proven! There’s thousands of incidences where the phenomena was observed; it’s not bullshit if it’s statistically relevant with a standard deviation of – ”
“The what?” Jisung asked as he held his mojitos in his hand. He was frowning a listening to the conversation while holding his glass. It was dripping with condensation and had a lime floating above a thick layer of ice.
Seungmin sighed annoyingly, “the standard deviation; it’s the measure of the variation compared to the mean. Anyway,” he went on quickly, “my point is you can have opinions, Hyunjin, but you can’t ignore facts. This is a fact. A nest of three omegas,” he pointed at Jisung, Felix and Hyunjin, “and a beta,” he pointed at himself, “means our other mates – plural – will likely be alphas and statistically,” he emphasized the word, “it’ll be one per omega. Therefore, the rest of our pack will most probably be comprised of three alphas.”
“What about you?” Felix asked with a pout, “don’t you count in this?” He was sitting across from Jisung and his blond hair was tied in a small pony tail.
“With betas, the data’s not as irrefutable. There’s too much variation to draw the same conclusion,” Seungmin explained and Felix drank a sip of his whiskey while studying him.
Hyunjin tsked in displeasure and mumbled, “three alphas…” with a grimace of disdain.
He huffed then drank another sip emptying his can before crushing it loudly and leaving it on the table.
“They’re not all knuckleheads,” Jisung said tentatively and Hyunjin gave him a flat stare.
“Have you been living under a rock, sweetie?” the omega replied softly with unmistakable sarcasm.
Jisung grunted, “you know very well I get harassed too. Maybe not as much as you, but I get my share of shit from idiots. However, I think our mates will be different,” he declared optimistically and Hyunjin looked down at his destroyed can but said nothing.
“They’ll have to be,” Felix replied sternly as he set his emptied glass on the table, “we’re not forming a pack with a bunch of disrespectful losers. I don’t need a dead weight to drag me down in life. Being an omega’s already a burden I have to bear. Like hell I’ll put up with three or four more. I’d rather be happy with the three of you than drowning for a bunch of alphas unworthy of us.”
Hyunjin was satisfied by those words; he nodded decisively and Seungmin hummed approvingly. Jisung had a small smile on his face, as though still convinced his mates couldn’t be as bad as Hyunjin and Felix imagined them to be.
They ended up paying for their order and slowly walking home as the sun was setting. The sidewalks were packed with people in this sunny and warm evening. Hyunjin knew both Seungmin and Jisung hated crowded streets but faced them because they enjoyed going out as a nest.
Felix, for his part, was perfectly at home in a bustling street and tonight was no exception. Seungmin held the blond omega’s hand as he led him toward their building because Felix had the tendency of getting lost when he got distracted by the many shops’ displays or the city’s numerous entertainments. They’d had to turn around and look for Lixie too many times to let him roam free in town on a crowded night.
Once home, they warm up kimchi stew leftovers and ate it in the living room. They did that often; this was a typical Friday evening for their group. A small drink in a terrasse and dinner at home to spare their budget.
Other Fridays, they forewent the drink and had a cheap dinner at the food market instead. With Hyunjin making a small living of his art, Felix working as a part-time teacher and tutor until a permanent position opened up, Seungmin still at school to become a lawyer and Jisung working as a music composer, budget was tight but they made it work.
With some sacrifices; like the one-bedroom apartment they were sharing.
That night, Hyunjin sipped on a steaming hot cup of herbal tea as he doodled in one of his sketch book while Jisung and Felix gamed together. Seungmin was sitting in the living room with them, but had headphones on and was reading a book about some legal topic none of them understood but the beta.
When Hyunjin got up to brush his teeth and go to bed, Seungmin followed and so did both Felix and Jisung.
They all knew what going to bed meant.
Hyunjin undressed and crawled on king-sized bed; it was the only indulgence they’d allowed themselves considering they shared one bedroom. Seungmin did the same and both Felix and Jisung hurriedly tagged along.
Being naked together in their nest was a habit they all loved. It soothed their instincts to smell of one another until their scent was that of a proper nest, blended together in one unique combination. It was more than just cuddling, sharing time together and enjoyed each other’s company. This ritual was about strengthening their bonds as nest mates.
Felix slowly crawled on top of Hyunjin, spread his legs and settled in between. He started kissing him with tongue as he slipped a hand in Hyunjin’s hair and tugged gently. Felix smelled cleaned and tasted of mint like Hyunjin likely was. His lips were full and his tongue soft against his own.
Hyunjin relaxed completely under his lover. Felix was always soft, but also had an assertive edge during their lovemaking. He liked having his way and, apparently, tonight he wanted Hyunjin pliant and obedient.
Next to them, Jisung was straddling Seungmin and the beta was sitting on the bed, holding Jisung’s butt firmly as the omega slowly grinded their cocks together. Seungmin’s face was in Jisung’s neck and the man was kissing and sucking on the omega’s skin.
Hyunjin let out a small mewl when Felix let go of his hair to brace himself on the bed and start stroking his hardening length.
“I love having sex before bedtime,” Jisung let out beatifically and Seungmin grabbed him harder and increased the grinding. “Me too, it’s the favorite part of my day. I love it when we do it in the morning too,” he let out with his voice muffled by Jisung’s throat.
Hyunjin smiled and Felix let out a chuckle before lowering himself and taking his cock in his mouth. Hyunjin’s breathing shook and he grabbed the sheets for something to hold, his lover’s tongue was circling the tip of his cock and heat was pooling in his belly.
He panted and lowered his hands to touch Felix’s shoulder-length blond hair. His Lixie looked so pretty with his lips around his cock. He started feeling wetness between his ass cheeks and knew his lovers could smell his slick just like he could smell Jisung’s.
He felt the pair next to him shift and he opened his eyes to Jisung kneeling on the bed, presenting himself alluringly to the beta with his ass up and chest lowered to the mattress.
Hyunjin’s cock twitched at the sight and the knowledge Jisung loved being exposed like this. It was likely the reason why Seungmin had moved them in that position in the first place. Jisung loved being handled, opened up and taken by his lovers.
He and Hyunjin had that in common; they were the pillow princesses of the nest. Both liked it when their lovers took the lead which was perfect since Seungmin and Felix loved being in charge.
Felix slipped a finger down and started rubbing little circles on his rim. The feeling was nice, Hyunjin spread his legs invitingly hoping his lover would take the hint.
He did. Felix knew him like the back of his hand and he knew Felix just the same. In fact, they all knew each other perfectly which made the intimacy between them incredible. Hyunjin loved the trust this knowledge implied and was always aroused by the strong connection he shared with his lovers. The safety he felt with them allowed him to freely abandon himself knowing no one would judge him.
Felix slipped a finger inside of him and started gently thrusting. Hyunjin’s slick made the use of lube unnecessary, at least during the prep. He was always so wet when his lovers sucked on his cock.
Felix slipped another finger in and Hyunjin spread his legs wider. His fingers combing through Felix’s hair tugged a bit to let his lover know he was enjoying it.
Jisung’s aroused scent increased and Hyunjin saw Seungmin was holding his ass up strongly and was tongue-fucking the omega.
Hyunjin felt heat pulse in his belly at the sight; he knew how being tongue-fucked like that by Seungmin felt and he could relate to Jisung’s moans and whimpers. Seungmin didn’t just have a sharp tongue, he was damn good with it on other ways.
A third finger entered him and Hyunjin started rocking his hips gently in a subtle attempt to fuck himself on them. He was moaning too and knew Felix’s hand was likely dripping with slick at this point.
“Lixie…” he let out breathily and said nothing more. Felix gave his cock a last, long lick and rose up. Covered in saliva and exposed, his cock felt cool and he shivered at the loss of warmth.
Felix looked up and they made eye contact; his lover’s lips were red and puffed up after blowing him and Hyunjin thought he looked insanely attractive like that. He looked debauched and dominant this way. This look never failed to turn him on.
His cock twitched and Felix’s fingers rubbed against his inner walls in a delicious way; he moved his hips again in pure hedonistic urge.
“Look at you,” Felix whispered in his deep voice, “you look so pretty like that; so aroused you can barely think.”
Hyunjin let out a small whimper and Jisung moaned next to him. They were both mindless with pleasure.
Felix’s fingers kept on rubbing his insides and Hyunjin panted and licked his lips. He was trembling with bliss and couldn’t take his gaze away from Felix’s.
“Want me to take you, love?” he asked and Hyunjin nodded eagerly.
Felix kept on finger-fucking him, “but you’re enjoying this, right?” he inquired casually and the look on his face told Hyunjin he knew perfectly well he was.
Before Hyunjin could reply, Felix changed motion and started rubbing circles instead of thrusting. He threw his head back in bliss as his lover rubbed his prostate repeatedly. Small detonations exploded within and Hyunjin forgot to answer his lover’s question.
He huffed in offense when Felix’s fingers slipped out of him while his climax had been building so consistently.
Felix leaned to his right and grabbed the lube conveniently left on the drawer. He poured some on his hand and covered his cock with it. Condoms were past history between them. They were a nest; loyal and exclusive.
Seungmin snapped his fingers and both omegas looked at him. With his tongue deep inside a moaning Jisung, he was gesturing for Felix to pour lube in his hand too.
Felix moved the bottle above his hand and poured him some. Simultaneously lubing his cock and tongue-fucking an omega was a feat Seungmin executed flawlessly on a daily basis. Hyunjin would have been impressed were it not from Felix’s cool cock sinking into him.
The coolness of the lube rapidly warmed up when Felix started thrusting inside of him. He only paused to set Hyunjin’s right foot on his shoulder before resuming his deep and slow motion. The smoothness was maddening and the heat inside continued to increase.
Next to them, Seungmin wiped his face with his forearm, firmly grabbed Jisung’s hips and aligned his cock to his rim with his right hand. Jisung moaned obscenely when his lover entered him with one swift motion.
Where Felix and Hyunjin’s rhythm was slow and deep, Seungmin’s lovemaking was always a little more physical. His thrusts were faster, rougher and Jisung was letting out small oh’s and ah’s with each thrust. Hyunjin could see his cock drip on the bed pad underneath and wondered if Jisung would come untouched again.
Pleasure exploded and blurred his thoughts when Felix wrapped his hand around his cock and started stroking him. He was so aroused, he knew he would come like this or in any other position, so long as he had Felix’s cock fucking him and his hand stroking him.
Sex with his mates wasn’t complicated. He enjoyed it no matter the position or the rhythm.
Gradually, his breathing got louder and deeper and he started to feel floaty as the waves of pleasure overflowed.
His ascent to climax was interrupted by Felix changing their position. The omega pulled out and laid behind Hyunjin to spoon him. From there, he rose Hyunjin’s left leg up with his own, entered him again, wrapped his arm around him and resumed stroking his cock.
“I wanna watch them too,” he whispered and Hyunjin understood he wanted to watch Jisung get fucked by an energetic Seungmin.
They resumed their lovemaking with Hyunjin thrusting back to meet his lover’s hips. In this position, Felix’s cock was in a perfect angle and Hyunjin’s pleasure gradually rose to overwhelming heights.
As his climax started to combust him from within, he focused on Jisung’s cock, bobbing and dripping with every thrust. He glanced at Seungmin and loved how the beta’s shoulders looked ripped when he fucked a lover with such fierceness. It was a side of him few got to see. Gone was the aloof and analytical Seungmin. This Seungmin was more commanding and incredibly self-confident. Hyunjin loved that side of him and knew Jisung and Lixie loved it too.
Hyunjin came at the same time as Jisung who came untouched again. His orgasm exploded within and burned everything in its wake. He felt light and elated as heat coursed through him in the rhythm of Felix’s cock inside of him.
Lying pliantly on his side with Felix spooning him meant he could afterglow comfortably with his lover fucking him to his own climax.
Jisung, for his part, was still ass up; Seungmin was holding him with a solid grip and Hyunjin knew the omega would likely have a set of bruises on his hips just like Hyunjin had presently on his own from last night’s sex.
Jisung was moaning tiredly with his softened cock moving with the beta’s thrusts. Drops of come covered the bed pad and the musician looked like he would collapse on it the moment Seungmin let go of his hips.
Felix’s arm around his waist tightened and the omega shoved his face in Hyunjin’s neck. His thrusts were increasing in speed and Hyunjin knew what it meant; Felix was nearing his orgasm and needed that little bit extra to come.
Hyunjin slipped his arm down between his legs and lowered his front a bit to reach Felix’s balls. He gently started massaging them and Felix’s breathing turned into loud pants as he came inside of him.
Seungmin was the last to come and when he did, he let out a loud moan and held Jisung’s ass up to tightly, the omega’s knees were barely touching the bed.
Felix had often mentioned how he thought Seungmin was more of an alpha than a beta. Hyunjin concurred their beloved beta definitely had some alpha streaks in him, especially in the throes.
He was still careful enough to bundle the bed pad under Jisung before releasing him completely. The omega let out a small, satisfied whimper before laying on his belly and tiredly rubbing his face on his pillow.
They all lay on the bed in a mess of come, slick and sweat and afterglowed quietly for a few minutes.
Seungmin was the first to rise and took Jisung with him by wrapping his arms around his waist and lifting him up the bed. The omega’s light brown hair was disheveled and he looked properly fucked.
Soon after, Hyunjin and Felix got up too and shoved the bed pad in the hamper then they joined their two mates in the bathroom. Jisung was in the shower with Seungmin and the beta was in full after-care mode. He was kissing Jisung’s shoulders and murmuring reassuringly to him. They were kissing each other lovingly and Hyunjin liked seeing how much his mates loved each other.
Felix gently touched his butt cheek and Hyunjin turned around to face him. A simple kiss on the lips was enough to get him into a needy and cuddly mood and Felix embraced him as he kissed him with tongue.
“I love you, baby,” he whispered against Hyunjin’s lips.
“I love you too, Lixie,” he replied affectionately.
Not for the first time, Hyunjin found himself thinking they didn’t need alpha mates. Not when they had each other.
***
Picnics at the local park might be a cheesy activity, but it was one of Hyunjin’s favorite during the summer. It reminded him of the afternoon picnics he had with his family as a kid. To him, having picnics with someone meant they were family.
Seungmin and Hyunjin had prepared the lunch; nothing fancy, just ham and chicken sandwiches for all of them.
Meanwhile Jisung and Felix had taken care of the dessert. Brownies; Felix’s most beloved baked goods.
They packed everything in their backpacks along with some juiceboxes and a blanket to lie on. Seungmin was carrying a soccer ball and together, they headed outside in the direction of the park.
The five-block walk was enjoyable on this warm and sunny day. They walked slowly as they weren’t in a hurry to get to their destination.
The park wasn’t a crowded place. It was fully of huge, old trees with some occasional flower beds made by the city’s urbanism department. There were rose bushes, hydrangeas, lilies and lavender bushes growing all around.
Typically, people went there to read, drink coffee or sleep in the grass for a bit. Few went to spend the afternoon like their group was.
Once there, Felix set the blanket on the grass under the shadow of an oak tree, their usual spot. They all sat down on it and Hyunjin pulled out a sketch pad and pencil to draw a bit. Today, he wished to draw Seungmin and the beta gave him the perfect opportunity as he laid back with his head on his bag and opened his book to read.
Felix and Jisung ran further away with the ball and started playing together like the grown-up children they were.
It felt nice to be outside with his mates on a gorgeous summer day. Seungmin’s profile was sharp and his features graceful; Hyunjin enjoyed drawing him as he distractedly listened to Felix and Jisung’s playful banter.
Days like this one were so rare throughout the year. The combination of a sunny weekend day, everyone being home and in the mood for a picnic was scarce. Hyunjin cherished their time together.
When Jisung rejoined them with Felix, they were both out of breath and clearly hungry as they both went for the sandwiches.
Felix took one and bit into it. He chewed slowly and Seungmin put his book down to look at them.
“We’re good, right?” the beta said suddenly. “If we never find out mates, would you be happy all the same?”
Jisung’s eyes widened at the question and Felix tilted his head thoughtfully. Hyunjin put his sketch pad down and saw Seungmin’s eyes glance at the portrait briefly.
“I’d be okay without the rest of our mates. Us four, I think we’re solid and get along perfectly. The thought of finding them makes me more nervous than not meeting them at all,” Hyunjin confessed, although he knew his mates had likely already figured his stance on the matter.
Felix nodded at his words, “I’m…curious of them. But also wary,” he admitted. “The thing is, once you know, you know and that scares me. I wish I could find them without them knowing about it so I could make up my mind if I want them or not.”
“You can still do that though,” Jisung provided, “even if the rest of our pack is aware of us, we can still decide if we wish to merge or not. We can decide everything,” the omega spoke softly with the crust of his sandwich in his hand.
“I know that, but it’s trickier when they’re aware. We all know how alphas get when they find their omega mates; they’re hard to get rid of if you don’t want them,” Felix argued calmly.
“With the Right to Mate law in place; any individual can request time with their mates. Refusing can become a legal battle,” Seungmin provided in a low voice.
They all knew how this law had, once upon a time, been helpful to omegas whose alpha mates refused to spend time with them. This was a way for omegas to ensure their own protection and to have an alpha by their side.
However, decades later, omegas had just as much rights and opportunities as alphas and the Right to Mate law had become a hindrance for those out there wishing to live without an alpha. Nowadays, alphas were starting to use the law to spend time with omega mates who had rejected them.
The pendulum had swung and now, their nest had to manage the risk of ending up obligated to spend time with alphas they couldn’t care less about.
“I would like to get to know them,” Jisung spoke hesitantly. “I know you guys aren’t too keen on having alphas join our group and mess up our dynamic. However, deep down, I’m convinced our mates will be amazing alphas.”
“I’ve dreamed about it my whole life,” he added shyly with a blush on his cheeks. “I know it’s silly, but I feel like we’re missing pieces of us and our puzzle can only be completed with them as a part of it.”
Seungmin and Hyunjin studied Jisung. Felix bit into his sandwich and chewed.
“Maybe you’re right,” the blond omega conceded, “maybe we’re vilifying them because of our own experiences.”
Hyunjin wasn’t sure he agreed with that statement, he tucked a long strand of black hair behind his ear. He wasn’t vilifying alphas; he was basing his opinion of them on his daily interactions and the portrait was not flattering. In fact, it was downright alarming.
He said nothing though, choosing to let Jisung have his own opinion on the matter.
“It scares me sometimes to think of meeting them, forming a pack with them and then losing our essence to them,” Seungmin admitted softly. “I like caring for you all and being there for you; I’m worried you won’t want that from me if you have alphas to provide for you.”
Hyunjin studied his beta friend sadly.
Unfortunately, Seungmin’s fear was a very reasonable one to have since betas were often left out in packs consisting of alphas and omegas. Both genders tended to have extremely intense reactions to each other leaving betas with milder scents and instincts feeling like outcasts.
Such stories were well-known and Hyunjin had a few beta friends outside his nest who’d gone through rejection for that exact reason.
He crawled on all fours until he was behind Seungmin and spooned him, “you’ll never lose your place among us. Never,” he stated assertively.
“Hyunjin’s right,” Jisung added and Felix was nodding along, “you’re a part of our nest, nobody’s more important than nestmates.”
Then, he continued in a hushed tone, “besides, you drive me insane when you fuck me with your tongue like you did yesterday, there’s no way I’m giving that up.”
Seungmin huffed and laughed while shaking his head in disbelief. Felix chuckled and nearly choked on his sip of juice while Hyunjin giggled with his face in the beta’s soft nape.
“It’s true though,” Hyunjin whispered in Seungmin’s ear. He knew his two omega mates heard the soft words as well.
“So, what do we do if we ever meet any of them?” Felix inquired as though looking for a consensus on a well-worn topic.
“We don’t engage and stalk them in secret,” Hyunjin replied sounding like a maniac and Jisung snorted.
“That’s assuming they don’t find us first,” he said as though convinced the alphas would track them down before they would. “For all we know, they’re actively looking for us,” he added and the statement made sense.
“We’re unlikely to find them since we’re not searching for them; but if they’re looking…” Felix hypothesized, “then, Jisung might be right. They’ll find us first.”
It was a well-known fact alphas had the most sensitive sense of smell of the three subgenders. Historically, it allowed them to guard their territory and keep their pack safe. Nowadays, it allowed them to track their mates like bloodhounds.
“That’s why we keep our circle small and don’t go out much,” Hyunjin replied and it was a half-truth. They didn’t go out much because they were broke. However, not going out also allowed them to keep a low profile and avoid unwanted attention.
Felix’s shoulders slumped and he sighed, “hiding sucks though,” he said plaintively and Hyunjin kind of agreed. Felix was an outgoing creature who loved exploring the city. Of the nest, he was the one suffering the most from their low-profile life.
“It’s like a cat and mouse game that only ends once one caught the other,” Jisung supplied and Seungmin hummed.
“I still don’t understand how this whole mate thing works sometimes,” Hyunjin mumbled in confusion.
“Just us being here and poof, we have mates somewhere in the city,” he summarized with creased eyebrows.
“It’s more than that,” Seungmin replied, “as a nest of three omegas and a beta, our pheromones are incredibly complex and mingled together. Technically, we don’t smell like ourselves individually but as our nest. Any alpha we meet whose scent doesn’t balance ours will not be perceived as mate and won’t see us as such either. The pheromones must balance each other.”
“In other words,” Felix added, “only alphas with pheromones complementary to ours – and that means with many individuals in a pack – could balance ours and that’s when the recognition occurs.”
“I guess our advantage is our number,” Seungmin said thoughtfully, “big alpha packs are rare, it’s likely there aren’t any nearby which lowers our odds of meeting anyone that’s a match.”
Hyunjin relaxed upon hearing those words. He liked small odds of ever meeting an alpha pack that would complete their nest.
Jisung was silently pulling on grass stands and Hyunjin knew those odds didn’t make him feel glad the way they did for him.
Jisung wanted to be found and was the only one of their nest with that wish.
“This being said,” Seungmin went on, “it also means if our scent is matched with that of a pack, it’ll be strongly enough to cause a reaction on both sides. The higher the number of individuals, the more intense the complementarity will be.”
Hyunjin clenched his jaw, hoping the low odds would spare them all from such a turn of events.
They ended up dropping the topic and eating their sandwich and brownies together. Hyunjin took a nap cuddled next to Seungmin and Jisung slept too with his head on Felix’s lap.
Sunday was rainy and stormy therefore nobody left the house. Jisung slept nearly all day snuggled to Felix. Seungmin and Hyunjin spent the afternoon in the living room studying and drawing. Nothing productive was done and that was okay. Sunday was a good day for rest.
Monday came and Hyunjin was the last one to get up as he normally did on week days. He got ready in his empty apartment and left the house with his messenger bag that contained his lunch and some snacks.
The walk to his painting studio was a twenty minute one and he listened to music the whole time. Arriving there, he spotted Erica, Rin and Preston. The two beta girls, he was happy to see. Preston, however, always brought a frown to his features.
Right after university, they were several students looking for an art studio where they could create art without cluttering their small homes. Painting took space and a lot of material, therefore Hyunjin, Rin and Erica had started searching for a place suitable for them. They had rapidly been disenchanted by the rental prices. The costs were astronomical and none of them could afford it individually. They came up with the plan of pooling their resources and rent a place together.
When the word had spread they were on to lookout for a studio, Preston had approached them and expressed his wish to be part of the rental.
They’d quickly found a studio big enough to split between the four of them and had finally been able to settle in their new workplace. The big room was divided in four corners where each could work on their respective projects.
Hyunjin got along great with Erica and Rin. Then, there was Preston.
The omega’s current project was a commission requested by a client who’d purchased from him previously. He was painting flowers with dark shades and shadowing; the piece was dark and aesthetic and Hyunjin loved the mix of colors and darkness.
He was immersed in his art and studying the overall result when arms wrapped around his waist and slipped under his shirt. Preston laid his chin on Hyunjin’s shoulder and said, “stunning.”
Preston’s scent was that of an unmated alpha and frankly, his smell reminded Hyunjin of BO. He held back from crinkling his nose and slipped out of the alpha’s embrace while turning to face him. He didn’t like feeling the man’s face so close to his neck. His instincts were adamant about this, no unwanted alpha was to touch his neck like that.
He swallowed and wondered how to diffuse the situation this time around.
“Thanks, I like it too,” he replied coldly.
“I wasn’t talking about the painting, you know. Although it is nice,” Preston admitted with a hint of surprise as though he’d never seen Hyunjin’s work before.
“Preston, leave Hyunnie alone,” Erica scolded with both hands full of clay as she was pottery making a whole collection of vases and cups. “I can’t believe you broke him out of his focus to flirt, you know he’s not interested,” she drawled tiredly and Hyunjin wished Preston would listen to her for once. Or to him.
“We both know if he didn’t have his nest or if I had a big pack, he’d be all over me,” Preston replied while eying Hyunjin suggestively and the omega almost grimaced at the thought of being all over Preston. How humiliating.
“No, I wouldn’t, Pres,” Hyunjin retorted, “come on, get back to your thing and let me do mine,” he urged, hoping to shift the man’s attention from him to whatever sculpture he was working on.
“Come on a date with me,” Preston insisted as he stepped into Hyunjin’s space and touched his hip.
Based on his behavior, Hyunjin could tell Preston’s rut was approaching. The alpha systematically got like this with him every time his rut was close. Unfortunately, Preston’s ruts were frequent and he only seemed to have eyes for Hyunjin whenever he was in the mood.
A loud sigh was heard from across the room, “PRESTON, leave him alone for fuck’s sake!” Rin shouted. Her drawing board was covered of dark comic pages as she worked on her books relentlessly. Her bright red hair, multiple piercings and tattoos gave her a badass look, but Hyunjin knew Rin was gentle and kind underneath her daring exterior.
She was, however, a strong advocate of consent having been assaulted by a teenage boy while in high school. She was repulsed by Preston’s behavior toward Hyunjin and was strongly advocating to kick him out.
The only reason they hadn’t yet was money. Preston was the son of a rich man and was paying more than his share of the studio. Should they kick him out, the three of them would burn all their income just to keep the place.
Their plan was to replace him with someone else and then kick him out. Unfortunately, finding someone new wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Therefore, Preston remained and so did the tension and harassment.
The alpha gave Rin an annoyed glare but walked away.
To Hyunjin’s great relief, Preston was the first to leave the studio and the conversations started the moment the man walked out of the door.
“Fuck, what a moron,” Rin exploded in rage, “I’m actually creating a character after him,” she said devilishly, “he’s being bled dry by my main character right now.” She looked smug as she eyed her page.
Erica laughed and Hyunjin looked up curiously.
“Let me see,” he said enthusiastically as he walked to Rin’s work station.
He cackled upon seeing her work; black, white and red pages filled with sinister drawings of an evil vampire killing his prey by drinking blood straight from his neck, “it does look like him a bit. I like the bloodshot eyes and panic on his face.”
“Thanks, I like it too, it’s like I’m venting you know,” she provided and Hyunjin could relate.
“What about this Simon guy, was he interested in moving in?” Rin asked Erica across the room. The blond woman’s long hair was tied in a tight bun as she operated her pottery wheel with clay up to her elbows. The muscles of her arms were visible after several hours of pottery making. Hyunjin was oddly attracted to her shoulders as they reminded him of a man’s.
Erica sighed, “the cost is too high,” she stated, “should I lower it to give us a chance? I know it’ll cut back our income, but I really want him gone!”
Rin and Hyunjin exchanged a glance, they both nodded, “yeah, we could. How much lower were you thinking?” he asked.
“Six hundred?” she said looking up to both of them. She knew it was a lot by the frown of her face.
“Two hundred less per month from our pockets…” Rin said somberly, “I’m already broke as it is; I might need another job to pay for my job,” she said dispirited.
“Or you need to sell more,” Erica said helpfully, “which you will, I saw your posts online, you’re starting to have quite the fanbase,” she told her girlfriend.
Both betas were inseparable and a couple. In fact, Erica was one of the betas Hyunjin knew who’d been rejected by her nest mates after they found their alphas.
“I live to see the day where we both sell so much we can afford this place just the three of us,” Rin supplied softly, “no more jackass Preston and his stench.”
Hyunjin sighed, “his rut is close, he’s always like that before it hits…”
He wasn’t excusing him, just telling them what they already knew.
“I’m always worried about you whenever he gets like that,” Rin told him and Hyunjin understood her concern.
“Your nest should find four strong alphas to protect you,” Rin suggested jokingly and Erica tsked at her lover’s silliness.
“If they’re anything like Preston, no thanks,” Hyunjin replied bitterly.
“They wouldn’t be; alphas like Preston are the lowest of the low,” Rin declared and Hyunjin concurred. The man had no pride, no shame, no talent and an ego that barely fit the room.
That night he walked home hoping Simon would agree to the lower rental price and the day would come they would tell Preston to fuck off and never come back.