╰─➤they warned her, don't go there
             there's creatures who are hiding in the dark

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donghyuck's legs filled the jeans he'd been given out better than the gifter assumed he would. it was pretty easy to forget at the best of times that omegas had naturally curvier hips, fuller thighs and bigger asses. not hugely so, just a little bit. mark bit his thumbnail as he wandered around the twenty-year-old slowly and quizzically. "you're going to need to be measured. definitely."

"what was wrong with the tracksuit jisung gave me?" the younger enquired with furrowed brows, looking at himself in the floor length mirror of a spare guest room. "it fitted fine."

"it won't match the vibe for tonight, love. sure, you can wear our clothes if you want to; give and take and all that. but today, choosing the right clothes helps us work out your style, and also fixes the problem of looking too 'meh' later on. do you even have a sexy bone in your body?"

"um...no? maybe...i don't know." the omega got all flustered and worried now that he was forced to think about it. these were a beta's jeans...but they already looked better on mark than on him, and he was supposed to he the appealing one of the two. "what do i do?"

"relax. so they're a little bit tight, right? that's a good thing. makes this look better," he winked before running his hand over the smaller's ass. "you're lucky i have pretty big legs as well and am of a similar height. you'd be doomed borrowing from renjun."

"oh...what's wrong with his shape?"

"small ass, not gonna lie. really good hips though."

why am i even asking? donghyuck wondered before sighing deeply and placing his hands on his waist, swaying it a little to test the comfort of the pants. did all the members of the harem have to go through this? clothes testing, physical comparison and measurement? he wondered if they even needed to...

they were all perfect.

"okay, take that top off. jeno is like, two sizes bigger than you from arms and chest width alone," the older suddenly ushered him out of his thoughts. hyuck elicited a small, inaudible gasp and blinked to snap out of it. his mind was whirring all the time, and constantly flooded with new memories; of jeno and his handling of him; of renjun's strange behaviour and mood swings; of even the weird night they'd all shared as a group in general.

without even thinking too hard about it, he started to peel his shirt off and deposit it on the floor. his upper half was pretty tanned and beautifully clear — a lovely aspect of his body. mark stepped behind him and watched his reflection in the mirror as well, slowly pulling the new layer over the younger's head and helping him slide it down his arms and over his flat stomach. their silent pause was a bit intense and filled with something somewhat foreign.

"it suits you," the older hummed from over the other's shoulders, chin rested against donghyuck's frame and hands sliding over his hips to play with the hem and fix it. "this style looks good." it was simplistic for the most part, yet the shoulder he was rested against was exposed since the item of clothing fell off it teasingly. "like it?"

"mhm..." the blonde hummed airily, almost too focused on the man's close proximity than what the actual situation at hand was. "wh-who's is it?"

"nana's, i believe. i wear it from time to time if jeno feels like sleeping with me though. that wardrobe is full of random clothes that often get forgotten about."

a bedroom of forgotten, expensive belongings, hyuck thought with a faint tinge of jealousy. he'd never been given such luxuries before in his life...but perhaps that was what this point in his existence was for; to show him those wonderful things. i want what i could never have too...

"i wish i could detect your scent," mark whispered softly against his ear, his own nerves tingling a little with the sensation of the new boy under his fingertips, "i bet it's really nice..."

"ngh," the younger whimpered, subconsciously tilting his head to the side and half inviting the boy to explore him. his hormones were all over the place, and the war raging inside was painful when encouraged. his body wanted the attention so bad...but his brain was fizzling with overcrowded thoughts. "mark...wait..."

he didn't listen though, instead placing one tentative kiss to the tanned boy's lower neck and checking for the reaction. it was nice, to say the least. donghyuck shivered sensually and brought his hand up to run along the older's cheek, sliding back up again just to lace through his hair. mark smirked deviously and latched onto the point connecting the neck to the shoulder and sucked long, sloppy kisses into it. his tongue dug into the weak spot, causing the omega to cry out and throw his head back.

he was getting visibly harder in those jeans that were too tight to begin with, and his eyes were fluttering from opened to closed as he watched the sexy sight of the beta holding onto his body in the mirror. the older's fingers were digging into his hips and loosening up to massage them in an alternating pattern. it felt so good when down there was so hot, begging for the attention. "hah...please," he groaned, pushing his backside up against the taller's front and attempting to ignite a fire. his omega wanted to mate, and it was fucking hard to fight it.

mark cooed softly and flipped the male around, shoving him up against the piece of furniture and attacking his lips needily to prevent the words he knew he needed to hear to lose self control. he knew that consent from donghyuck to absolutely ruin him would ensure that he'd do it...so he had to avoid hearing it. at least until jeno was finished teaching him tonight.

their tongues fought playfully — not particularly for dominance, but more so in a dance battle way. the ravenette was able to push his quite far down the other's throat, gaining all sorts of desperate whines and moans from him. "mhm..." hyuck cried out when mark started to grind against his hips. "fuck, please!"

"can't," the taller responded and moved to attack his jaw while working up his lower half with his own. "i'll get in trouble, and you're already in enough, don't you think?"

"my heat~" the boy sobbed and brought one leg up to fold and wrap around the male's hip, "i-it's gonna start~"

mark trailed his kisses downwards until he was kneeling before the younger, lifting the shirt up and licking along donghyuck's tummy and getting cute giggles to fall from his lips. he teased the point where the jeans met his skin, sometimes diving his tongue below the fastened area, but coming back up to play with his bellybutton.

"i won't tell anyone," the omega pleaded, a strange colour now clouding his eyes in the form of an intense gold. this wasn't the same kid from half an hour ago...it was a primal representative. he was pushing his clothed member up against the beta's face, interlacing his fingers through the older's hair and trying to force him. "we won't get in trouble. just fuck me."

he's gone, mark realised, eyes wide as of now and lips parted with a fascination and curiosity for this sort of thing. renjun hated showing himself during his heats, so they rarely ever saw it...but it was the most spectacular and beautiful thing, really. jeno, the toughest alpha they knew, also went weak during his rut cycle and his lovely dark eyes always shadowed an auburn hue — near red.

"so pretty," he praised and stood up again, pulling the younger off him and carefully bringing him to the bed to calm down. his heat hadn't technically started yet...there was still time. "did you know your eyes go gold, baby?"

"huh?" donghyuck, in his state of lustful madness, frowned. "what are you taking about? why did you stop?" he brought mark's hands to his chest and tried to get him to break...to give into him. unfortunately and fortunately, betas weren't affected by these pheromones at all, so there was no point in trying to play the game hyuck was.

"i'll have to warn jeno," the adult sighed to himself and looked over the other's body sitting on the bed to the window, noticing the state of the weather. not too bad. he can't have sex with donghyuck like this. he'll get pregnant...

"mark~" he whined painfully. "please, please, please!"

next issue; figuring out how to get him to the harem bedroom.

"you, my good sir, look like you could do with some help," a sudden voice piped up from the door they'd neglected. the beta spun around in a blind panic and spotted jaemin standing, as beautiful as ever, against the frame. "what happened?"

"he sort of...i think i'm triggering his heat."

"did you touch him?"

"a bit."

the younger scoffed and rolled his eyes in amusement. "let's get him some suppressants anyway. he'll need his own stack eventually."

"how strong do you need your suppressants, hm?" mark leaned down again to cup the boy's cheek and inspect his face.

"no! don't want them!"

"answer the question," jaemin insisted, "we can't play with you if you don't take the injections."

"no!"

"get renjun. he knows how to handle him..." the oldest sighed. "so complicated."

>>>>>

"jeno, i just overheard the news," renjun hissed while squeezing past various mafia members cluttering the planning room. he shuffled to stand right beside him, whispering into his ear, "please tell me you don't have to leave tomorrow morning for this ammunition source debate."

"it is what it is, love," the younger sighed while giving a dismissive wave to the people surrounding the table he was standing before. they all did as they were told, obviously, and gave the pair a bit of privacy to speak freely. "i need the stock to be clean and easily navigated in order to commence the next step to the plan."

"they're just making it awkward 'cause you spend time out here in the countryside. ugh," the omega groaned and pulled at the man's arm. "are you catching onto what i'm complaining about here?"

"i'll be one day, maximum," the leader promised. "what's the issue?"

"donghyuck, for god's sake. or have you forgotten that tonight's the night we take his virginity? you can't just disappear tomorrow and leave him like that."

fuck, i did forget, the bluette sighed, rubbing his face exasperatedly before leaning against the rounded and expansive table in front of him. his tight, black t-shirt creased with his muscles that flexed whilst he thought. "what to do..."

"either move the meeting to another day — preferably after hyuck's heat — or hold off on the initiation for now until this mess is cleaned up."

the taller stood straight again and turned to face his smaller companion. renjun was so stunning and clever, and he managed to fall in love with the chinese adult over and over somehow. even now, dressed in a baggy pair of jeans about three sizes too big, and a hoodie to flop over the whole thing...he was perfect. "i'll try to move the meeting. i doubt any of you are capable of holding back from tasting our newest member for that long, hm? he's so pretty."

"wise choice," the older smiled softly and leaned up to receive delicate rubs to his cheek from his master. "i hate when you choose the gang over us. it's degrading more than anything."

"sometimes life throws nasty scenarios at you, and you have to take the best course of action," jeno explained to his ill-advised lover. "i hate putting this mafia over you as well...but occasionally, following my heart won't work, and choosing garnet will benefit you in the long run."

doesn't make it any easier, renjun thought with a small purse to his lips. his hand brushed that of the younger's which rested over his cheek, and he pulled it away to kiss it. "do you..." he whispered softly, "do you think he'll like it? life here, i mean."

"hyuck?"

"of course. he doesn't seem happy at all, but i'm not the right person to help with that."

jeno leaned in and pressed a little kiss to the boy's nose and nuzzled against it affectionately before stepping back and holding renjun's hips. "he'll be fine. none of you really liked it here to begin with, but you got over it eventually. and in my opinion, there is no better person suited to comforting that boy at this time. he needs a level-headed thinker, a friend, someone who knows what to do, and above all else — an omega. you're perfect."

"i'm bad at talking..."

"and no one said you had to be good at it. just," the bluette paused, thinking about it for a moment while crinkling his nose in a cute manner, "try to relate to him and remember that he's completely uninformed. don't snap."

"psh, snapping's my specialty, but i'll see what i can do—"

"renjunnie!" someone yelled, vocals blaring through the twisting hallways until jaemin burst in with his breathing wild and white hair a dishevelled mess. "ugh, it took a lifetime to find you."

"nana? what're you so panicked for?" the omega frowned, placing all his attention upon him before a rush of cold enveloped his form. "fuck, is something wrong with donghyuck? i left you guys to look after him!"

"he's fine, damn it! just...just rejecting suppressants. what do you do to not..." he twirled his hand around renjun's general direction and shrugged, "i don't know, take the injections?"

"there are tablets as well, dumbass. the injections are the seriously strong type. where is he?"

jeno beckoned the beta over as he spoke and wore a distant yet focused expression. "he's with mark in the bedroom," jaemin continued nevertheless, wandering into his boyfriend's arms and letting the man prod at his piercings.

"fine, i'll be down in a minute. you know what this means, right?" the smallest then tapped the alpha's shoulder. "he's susceptible to pregnancy right now. you'll have to use as much contraception as possible."

"i'd have done so anyway," jeno gushed and grumbled under his breath when he examined the looks of an infection with jaemin's helix piercing. "kitten, why haven't you treated this? and where are the gold earrings i bought you? you know silver and rose gold don't react well with your skin."

"it's not a big deal. i was going to get chenle to take a look later anyway," the blonde insisted. "but i have to go now. hyuck and mark—"

"no, i'll deal with it instantly because i know how negligent you are with medicine and whatnot. renjun, go and help with the suppressants. make sure he's ready for tonight as well, and don't allow the others to wind him up any further. i have a few last-minute things to deal with before we can play."

"yes master," the ravenette nodded gently, wandering off and leaving the two to deal with the problem. his face was shadowed with bitterness and envy though, because jeno always had all the time in the world for jaemin. it was like he'd hop on a plane for thirteen hours and cross the world just because the younger needed a bedtime story.

it wasn't like he didn't get that love...but it wasn't the same. he wasn't na jaemin, and he'd never be. that was the issue, renjun supposed, and he knew the other dolls agreed.

it mattered so little right now though, and he used his sharp omega senses to sniff out that summer fruit and citrus scent again that was so much stronger now than it had been before. it led him straight down the hallways and towards the bedroom they all shared. people passed him and tried not to make eye contact, as well as others who simply didn't care about the 'no look, no touch' rule. their eyes roamed his interesting figure with intrigue.

"in here," mark could be heard from down the corridor connecting the one special room with the rest of the mansion. he jogged along the light hallway and stopped right outside the bedroom door, taking a deep breath and almost collapsing on weak knees with how strong the other omega's pheromones were at the moment. this'll be a hassle...

"i don't know what to do," the oldest complained as his fellow harem member waltzed inside, "where do you keep the suppressants?"

"here, let me do it," renjun grumbled. the sight of the sexually frustrated boy on the bed touching himself was a tempting one. but he knew the pain he was in and the desire hyuck was fighting, so that weighed on his mind much heavier. in order to have the male ready tonight so that he could no longer be left out like an extra, he needed to make sure he worked around this heat to the best of his abilities.

kneeling down in front of an old cabinet by the wall-length wardrobe, the chinese adult extracted the typical container of pills he used to use quite a while ago, and hesitated when glancing at the injections. those were emergency cases or for seriously, unnaturally strong heats...surely the younger wouldn't need one of them.

"okay, stand aside," he instructed mark, and the ravenette did as he was told and slid off the bed and away from the blonde.

"why do you never lose control? he's not even in heat yet, is he?"

"i'd say it'll start tomorrow morning. it's like the cramps before a girl's period, y'know? just a bother. look, he isn't producing a lot of slick yet."

"so he's fine."

"yeah, just not used to it." renjun sat beside donghyuck, yet faced him and carefully placed a hand on the male's forearm. "i can already tell you never use medicine, so suck it up and deal with it."

"what if they do something to me?" the younger whimpered, rubbing his eyes and radiating a negative and anxious aura. "s-sometimes they react badly."

"that's a one in one thousand chance, alright? these were mine, and my heats are weak. if anything, they may not be enough. trust me."

the blonde slowly pulled his hands away from his face and looked at the boy curiously. he was scared more than anything...and upset. everything he knew and stood by was about to disappear, and this new life was basically being forced upon him now. accepting the change was all he could do, it seemed. "will it hurt?"

"no, these are pills. i don't rely on the liquid form."

i hope this doesn't fuck me up, donghyuck inwardly grimaced, but he sat up nevertheless and rested back against the headboard. where were the others? could they not sense his distress? were they avoiding his drama?

the older was gentle for once when using his voice, and even mark who was sitting in the window's alcove, wasn't so used to seeing such care. the black-haired omega passed the other two tablets and waited patiently for him to swallow them. "do you want water?"

"no, i can dry-swallow."

there was a small silence that settled as the atmosphere relaxed, and that raging hormonal mess that was once almost suffocating now dispersed and left behind a more level-headed boy. his sienna irises returned after the strange gold streak in them, and he sucked in a quick inhale only to release it. "tonight..." he whispered, folding his legs in to cross them, "am i supposed to have sex?"

"mhm. you'd be left out for the majority of our activities and training if you don't, you see. we can't play with you unless you've...i suppose, been marked?"

"he's going to claim me?!" the younger shrieked. "no, no, no—"

"oh relax, he isn't claiming you. he's probably just scenting you and making your first experience as pleasant as possible so you won't be scared off. try to see the better in us...it'd do you some good."

the taller couldn't relax though. he was permanently in a state of despair and fear, and the worst part of it all was the fact that he fell for a lot of it himself. mark had only just turned him on majorly with simple kisses and a bit of grinding. hyuck was weak to it, and could barely fight back due to his nature. "i think i need to go outside..."

"what?"

"please. i want some air."

the oldest to the side released a beautiful, dazed chuckle and leaned his temple against the small wall of the alcove. "you can't go out until you have some piercings to identify you."

"i can't breathe in here. please," the blonde begged. his fingers laced and unwound over his lap and his agitated fidgeting didn't go unnoticed. "it's been over a week since i've seen the sun. can't one of you come with me?"

"no. that would be disobeying jeno's rule."

they don't understand me at all, the youngest pouted bitterly and curled in on himself. i feel like some sort of songbird locked away in a cage. his thoughts weren't far off, really...this was a form of imprisonment.

mark and renjun simultaneously brought their attention to each from across the room, sharing this look of both uncertainty and guilt. of course they'd have agreed to escort him through the gardens if they had that permission...but they didn't. they were entitled to just about anything, and sat in five of the most highest ranks of the entire gang, yet under jeno's direct orders as their boyfriend and their master, they had nothing to say.

"when it was a rainy day, and there was no way to leave the apartment," the oldest uttered quietly while standing up and trailing over to perch down on the bed and pull the blonde into his side, "what was your favourite way to pass the time?"

"i liked to read," donghyuck mumbled halfheartedly, raising his head to rest on his own knees. "i didn't have enough money for a proper phone..."

"did you go to school?"

"no. i dropped out of high school when i was sixteen and got a job in a shop. I was working there ever since."

renjun swallowed shallowly and shifted as well to crawl over and lay against the omega's side as a form of comfort. "where were your parents?"

"don't know them. i was fostered for a while, but they sort of gave me up once i was old enough...no one wants an omega, y'know?"

"yeah, i know."

they remained in this position for a little while, half muttering away in low tones to keep the quiet at bay, and half enjoying the perfectly innocent cuddling. it had actually been a while, the older two felt, since they'd done this without having had some sort of heated activity before hand. the chinese boy recalled something donghyuck had said and reached over to the side of the bed to pull a book off the nightstand.

"you like to read, yes?"

"mhm, particularly romance and fiction."

"well, i never went to school. i'm street smart and naturally logical and cunning...but jeno has been teaching me to read. i really like it."

mark smiled fondly and took the novel from his grasp to take a look at the cover. "how's that going, actually? you're always absorbed in these things."

"pretty well. i tend to skip a lot of words that are too long. not only that, but korean is hard on top of translating chinese, and then there's english..."

"weirdo."

"i'm not—"

"that's amazing," hyuck breathed airily, eyes drifting a little when he tried to read the front page over mark's shoulder. the drugs were starting to set in and left a drowsiness there to calm him. his lust was almost all gone, which was huge relief. "i only read a lot because i can. learning languages is really cool..."

"mhm," renjun agreed, tilting his head up to peer at how he was doing. his need to sleep was actually very cute, and so he started to rub soothing, comforting shapes into the omega's thigh to help him fall into that slumber.

"m'tired..." the male yawned, leaning back and resting against mark's shoulder. for him, the whole world went black...and an easiness he hadn't experienced in a while enveloped him.

"i hope everything works out for him tonight," the oldest whispered. "i sense a lot of potential and skill from him."

"of course," renjun gushed, but really had other things on his mind. his eyes never left the perfect facial features of the young, tanned adult, and he really wanted to reach out and touch them. he refrained, however, to let him sleep. he definitely has what we need.

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...to be continued