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15/01/2020

"Oh fuck me"

The curse slipped from Taehyung's lips as he stared at the vibrating phone in his hands.

"What is it?"

Taehyung turned his head to look at the male who stood next to him. Jimin, his best friend watched Taehyung with a worried gaze. The shorter boy with who was dressed in a lose t-shirt and jeans hugging his thighs, had momentarily stopped jumping to the music that thundered around them. Jimin was obviously having the time of his life at the festival.

It was the beginning of the semester at their college. At the beginning of every year, they had a small festival to welcome new students in the campus grounds. Taehyung didn't want to go, really. He wasn't used to going out like this, to places filled with different kinds of people. But Jimin was persistent on taking his with him.

No matter how Taehyung wanted to stay home and not go to the festival, now that he was here, he actually was enjoying it. Music boomed around them and the crowd grew wilder by the minute. Taehyung could feel the beat reverberating through his flesh and bones, automatically making him move his body. Liquid thrill ran through his veins and for once he felt like he was actually enjoying his college life to the fullest. The almost empty cup of beer only added to the ecstasy he felt.

Decorated lights that looked like Halloween lanterns and lights that changed colors were all around them, basking them in bright, vibrant shades. The crowd cheered around them, hyping up the gig that played on the small stage. Everyone was having so much fun. Taehyung too was hyped up just like everyone and was genuinely having a great time.

Or at least he was. Until he decided to fish out his phone and saw ten missed calls from his mother.

Taehyung knew he was screwed instantly.

"It's my mom. What if she knows I lied to her and came to the festival?" Taehyung said, anxiously fumbling with his fingers.

"Dude she won't. They don't have spies to protect your ass. Besides it's not like we went clubbing. It's just a school festival" Jimin said, already getting back to dancing like crazy. Taehyung could tell from the way Jimin moved that he was tipsy.

Taehyung let out a stressed sigh and downed the rest of the beer in his cup.

It might come off as rather ridiculous to someone if they heard that Taehyung's parents don't let him go to any social event or that he doesn't have the freedom to do what a boy his age would do. But that wasn't the case. His parents had reasons. They were protecting him.

Protecting him from what, exactly? Taehyung wasn't precisely sure. However, Taehyung was sure that his parents only wanted the best for him.

You see, Taehyung was an omega. Male omegas were rare in the area he lived in. Not only that, being a male omega meant that he was the lowest rank to exist in the world of alphas betas and omegas. Having a male omega in a family was frowned upon. It was almost considered that a male omega is useless. That they were an abomination.

Taehyung was the only omega in his family. His mother and father were alphas. His older sister was an alpha. To top all of that, Taehyung's father was the pack leader. He is one of the strongest alphas to exist. When his mother had Taehyung, they were almost convinced that Taehyung wasn't their child. That there was some mistake.

But taehyung grew up to be a beautiful omega. The most beautiful omega in their pack. The only male omega in their pack.

Despite male omegas being the lowest rank, with time, they were respected in the society for how rare they were. Everyone would try to claim a male omega. Everyone wants to have one as their mate.

Taehyung had his first heat when he turned thirteen. His parents had treated him no different from his sister until then. But the day his heat started, every alpha of their pack lost control. It had taken every beta and omega, along with his parents to keep the lust-driven alphas from entering Taehyung's room.

A male omega's scent on his heat was able to attract alphas from miles away. That day, not a single alpha other than his parents were able to control themselves. Both young and old. None of them had even cared that they were lusting after their pack leader's son.

After that day, every month, he was given heat suppressants. Now, even at twenty two, he still took suppressants. His parents were always overprotective of him. He was never allowed to go to parties or clubs, like his friends did all the time.

Taehyung thought his parents' protective instinct was reasonable. After all, a couple of times, he was almost raped by some older alpha when he was outside. But it only happened when his heat was close, where his scent gets stronger a few days prior.

That day, at the college festival, his heat was nowhere close and besides, it was a school event. He had to go. His only worry was his parents finding out.

Taehyung was never even allowed to have alpha friends. He only had Jimin, a beta, who was his best friend from diapers. His parents only approved of Jimin. So Taehyung only hung out with Jimin.

And Hoseok.

Hoseok was an alpha and the sweetest being on earth who wouldn't think twice about cheering you up on a bad day. Taehyung had become friends with Hoseok after he started college.

Taehyung hardly ever went against his parent's wishes. But they didn't have to know about Hoseok. They were good friends. Just friends.

However, one year at college, Taehyung was convinced that the world wasn't as bad as his parents had taught him that it was. Surrounded by kids his age, he never felt out of place or in danger, even though he didn't really meet another male omega who did the same major as him. Nor had he heard of another male omega in the whole campus.

He was glad to have Jimin by his side. After all, Jimin tried to sneak Taehyung out of his house every possible moment and give him what he's missing out on. Even today, it was Jimin who told Taehyung's parents that they have some assignments to complete with one more beta friend of theirs and snuck him out of the house and went to the festival with him. Because who could say no to free booze?

Taehyung slid his phone back to his pocket. The song that the gig played was coming to an end and maybe Taehyung needed more booze if needed to get the throbbing worries out of his mind.

"I'm going to get a refill" Taehyung shouted over the loud music. Jimin gave him a thumbs up and kept moving to the beat. Taehyung's lips quirked upwards as he watched his best friend recklessly bounce back and forth, red plastic cup spilling beer all around him.

Taehyung made his way towards the stand where students clambered around to get their own refills. The festival was a tradition and literally everyone went for the free music and booze. Taehyung stood behind the girls and boys who were refilling their own cups. After a few minutes, if was his chance to fill his cup.

Taehyung filled it up to the brim and took a sip as he turned around to get back to Jimin when his phone started vibrating in his pocket. Taehyung's heart hammered in his chest. There's only a few people who could call him at a time like this. And all his friends were in the festival.

Taehyung slid his phone out of his pocket with shaking hands only for his worst nightmare to come true. It was his father. Taehyung gulped in fear as he pondered whether or not to pick up his call.

He could've shaped it off with his mother. But his father would always see through bullshit. He wouldn't think twice about grounding Taehyung if he goes against him.

Taehyung wondered how suspicious it would be for his father if he didn't pick up the phone when he never missed his parents' calls. Like ever. Besides, he should've picked it up anyways, as he had said that he would be doing an assignment with his friends. And it was almost midnight.

After pondering for a few moments, anxiety eating him from the inside, Taehyung decided to pick up the call. Red cup filled with beer in his hand and his phone on the other, he took quick steps into away from the festival, which was in one corner of the ground. Taehyung quickly made his way towards some trees, where the music only sounded faint, before he slid his thumb over the call sign.

"Hello?"

"Taehyung where are you?!" His father's voice bellowed from the other end.

"D-Dad I'm in Jimin's dorm. We were doing an assignment" Taehyung stuttered out, heart hammering against his chest.

"Why didn't you pick up your mother's calls?"

"I had my phone on silent because we were busy"

Taehyung's father hummed, but the voice had a hint of anger. "Are you done with it?"

"A-Almost" It was only rarely that he lied to his parents. "I will stay at Jimin's tonight"

"No! I'll come pick you up" His father shouted again, to which Taehyung winced.

"Dad" Taehyung whined. He silently thanked his acting skills, even though his heart beat wildly and his hands shook violently. "I don't know when our work will be over. I'll come home tomorrow morning. Jimin will give me a ride"

Taehyung's father was silent for a moment. "Fine. Just stay inside. Don't go anywhere else"

Taehyung let out a shaky breath. "Okay dad. Bye!" Before his dad could say another word, Taehyung hung up.

He let out a deep breath, finally feeling himself calm down. But anxiety gnawed inside him. He gulped down a couple of sips from his beer and was about to head back to the crowd and find Jimin when he heard chatter.

A bunch of boys walking in Taehyung's direction caught his eyes.

Alphas

Taehyung could smell their strong dominant pheromones from miles away. And they were drunk, Taehyung could say from the wobbly steps they took.

They talked amongst themselves in loud voices and laughed. It only made Taehyung's hands sweat and his whole body grow cold from the anxiety and fear.

Trying to avoid their gazes, Taehyung quickly started walking towards the festival. With each step he took, their voices became louder and his anxiety grew.

By now, Taehyung was sure he was releasing anxious pheromones. It would only be a problem if the alphas caught onto that. They would immediately know that he's an omega.

Taehyung walked as fast as he could and the moment he passed the crowd, their scents made Taehyung's knees grow weak. Even when they weren't released for him. they were drunk. They weren't in their right minds. They had no control over the pheromones they released.

However the moment he passed them, the chatter immediately died down.

'Omega'

Taehyung could hear their mutters and feel their gazes on his back. Taehyung started running. He ran and ran until he reached the crowded area filled with students who had come for refills and making out.

With his heart pounding in his chest, he combed through the crowd. Heads turned as he pushed past people in search of Jimin. The students must have been able to sense Taehyung's anxiety and fear.

The stares only made Taehyung's anxiety double up. He was only a few minutes away from a panic attack. He could already his chest tightening and it was getting difficult for him to breathe.

But amidst the chaos within himself, he picked up a scent.

A scent that was sweet as honey. Like a mixture of lavender, musk, vanilla and fresh earth. So masculine. So...blissful. So...calming. It filled Taehyung's nostrils and he felt himself relax a little.

He scanned the crowd to see where it's coming from and then a boy who stood a few feet away from him caught his eyes. He wore a cap, a black hoodie and baggy pants.

Was that...Hoseok?

It must be Hoseok. Taehyung saw him earlier that day and he wore a similar outfit. Taehyung couldn't wait till his mind completely analyzes whether the guy was Hoseok or not. His feet carried themselves towards the source of the sweet scent.

The moment he was at hand's reach, he grabbed the other boy and wrapped his arms around him, as if in a daze.

Taehyung felt himself relaxing and he started scenting the other boy, nose nudging against the soft skin of his neck.

Taehyung let out a small moan of satisfaction as he smiled against the boy's neck and kept scenting him. His nerves were calming down and his body started to grow warm. His hands were no longer shaking. His chest was no longer tight and he could finally breathe with ease.

With closed eyes, Taehyung sighed in relief and satisfaction, he couldn't help the smile that crept up his lips.

It was only then Taehyung realized the other boy had started releasing calming pheromones himself to help Taehyung.

Taehyung let out a small giggle, inhaling the scent in the air. Hoseok had always been such a caring friend. Whenever Taehyung felt anxious he would scent Hoseok, him being the only alpha male Taehyung was close friends with. And Taehyung was more than grateful that this time too-

"Hey there"

Taehyung's eyes sprang open.

Because that voice...that wasn't Hoseok. That wasn't his favorite alpha friend's voice at all.

Taehyung jerked away from the man he was embracing. His eyes widened and cheeks flushed a deep red upon seeing a boy he had never seen before.

"Holy shit I'm so sorry I didn't mean to. Oh my god-" Taehyung started.

The other boy smiled sweetly, making Taehyung stop his blabbering.

"It's alright. Are you okay now?" the other boy asked.

"Y-yeah. Thank you" Taehyung said in a small voice. "I'm so sorry-"

"Don't worry about it" He grinned. His eyes crinkled at the edges forming crescent moons as he grinned at Taehyung. He looked like a bunny. But his face was sculptured. As cute as he looked, his jaw was sharp and his lips plump and pink. His neck was thick and the oversized sweater probably hid some toned muscles. He was an alpha after all.

Taehyung felt a small tug at his heart upon seeing the handsome boy in front of him.

"I t-thought you were my friend. Hoseok. I couldn't recognize you" Taehyung said. "I'm so sorry I was just-"

"Stop apologizing. It's all good. I told you"

"Oh" Taehyung said. "I um...I was feeling really anxious and all. I just caught your scent and couldn't resist it"

"Was someone following you?" The boy said, looking around with furrowed eyebrows. "Did someone try to hurt you?"

"No, no I was just...panicking. It's dumb. No one was following me. I just get nervous around people"

"It's not dumb. Are you alright now?

"Much better. Thank you for helping me calm down"

"It's nothing" He said.

Taehyung fumbled with his fingers. The rosy blush only grew with every second that passed because the boy was watching him with sparkly eyes. All Taehyung could do look down, hoping that the handsome boy in front of him wouldn't notice that the reason for the blush was no longer embarrassment. That it was because of the boy.

"You're cute"

Taehyung looked up at that, his cheeks heated up further. He probably looked like a tomato now. The changing shades or red, pink and orange of the lanterns didn't help at all.

"W-what?"

The boy smiled again. And Taehyung swore he felt butterflies in his stomach flutter at the way he smiled at Taehyung.

"I said you're cute" The boy said again.

"Oh" Taehyung said. "T-thanks...um..."

Taehyung stood in front of the boy awkwardly, not knowing what to say. He felt embarrassed up to the point of fleeing from there that moment.

But he was saved from that as he heard someone scream "Tae!"

Taehyung's ears perked up and he looked around the crowd and spotted Jimin looking around in the crowd for him. Taehyung waved at him to get his attention and the moment Jimin caught sight of him, the shorter male started pushing past the crowd towards him.

"Where the fuck did you disappear to? I've been searching for you like five minutes now. Thought I lost you or some shit. If I did, your dad wouldn't let me live for real"

Taehyung grinned. "I'm okay. I just got lost in the crowd"

"You gave me a good scare. Your dad himself told me to take care of you. Damn" Jimin said, not noticing the other boy who was also staring at the shorter male.

Taehyung looked at the handsome boy, who was smiling at them and flashed him a shy smile. It was only then Jimin noticed him. He raised his eyebrow at the new boy and didn't say anything.

"Let's go. Hoseok was looking for you too" Jimin said, already dragging Taehyung away from the other boy.

Taehyung smiled at the other boy and was about to follow Jimin when-

"Hey!"

Taehyung stopped and turned to look at the handsome boy.

"What's your name?"

Taehyung flashed him a shy smile. "Taehyung"

Jimin started dragging Taehyung again. But Taehyung kept his gaze on the other boy who stared at him with tinkling eyes.

"I'm Jeongguk!"

Taehyung's smile widened. Jeongguk.

His name is Jeongguk.

Taehyung kept his gaze on Jeongguk as Jimin continued to drag him away. And Taehyung couldn't help the smile that tugged his lips upwards as he watched the handsome boy disappear as he moved further and further into the crowd.

Jeongguk.

That's where it all began.

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