Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Choi Yeonjun was an over anxious idiot.

He had been from the moment he closed that motel door, leaving a still sleeping Choi Soobin behind, paranoid that the Wolf would wake up and chase him down.

He was anxious when he got home and Beomgyu immediately laid into him about where the hell he’d been, his own anxiety palpable. Yeonjun had been anxious that his best friend-slash-roommate would know he’d fucked a Wolf–especially when his response to the sneakily taken photo of Soobin that he’d sent to the other Omega had been ‘he looks familiar??’–but it was never brought up. Beomgyu was more relieved that Yeonjun hadn’t been murdered overnight than worrying over any details regarding his hook-up.

Then he was anxious over work, a would-be Bridezilla that was beyond difficult to please as he and his co-workers put together her engagement party, constantly demanding, screaming, throwing fits. His Omega had been on edge the entire time, to the point where he was losing sleep and barely eating.

It was why, when he’d missed his period two weeks after that ill-fated hook-up, he didn’t think anything about it. It was just stress fucking with his cycle, that was all. It had happened back when he was about to turn eighteen, too, and considering his line of work, it was liable to happen again. No biggie.

Until the other symptoms started, of course.

The increased need to pee he chalked up to the increase in caffeine he was consuming. The nausea chalked up to his barely eating. The tenderness in his chest nothing new.

But when That Dream happened, one featuring a small wolf cub that shifted into a little boy with Yoenjun’s fox-like eyes and pouty lips, surrounded by unforgettable dimples and a strong nose, he just knew…

The sight of a pink plus sign on a hastily taken pregnancy test confirmed it.

As did the five others he’d taken, still anxious and in utter denial that the first test had been accurate.

Which brought him to that moment, sitting in the waiting room of the Omega Care Center, first thing on a Friday morning. He’d like to say it was the first appointment he could book, nearly a week after he’d taken all those at-home tests, but in all honesty, it was his denial once more causing him to put off calling to arrange a visit. Which was dumb, he knew. Pretending he wasn’t pregnant wasn’t gonna make it go away, wasn’t gonna make his womb any more empty. Eventually, his stomach was gonna start protruding and he was gonna have even more obvious symptoms that he couldn’t explain away, and then after roughly eight or nine months, he was gonna give birth to a whole new life.

Would be pretty much impossible to deny at that point.

So he figured he should get it over and done with, just go to the doc’s and get a real confirmation and figure out what the hell he was supposed to do next.

Not that he didn't already mostly have an idea there. But he also wasn’t letting himself fully think about it, too afraid of the reality that his life was about to shift drastically. Definitely wasn’t in the game plan.

Oh well. Was his own fault really.

Okay, not entirely his own fault. Takes two to tango and all that. But from the moment he’d left the motel room, he’d been on his own and now he was gonna face the consequences of his own dumb decisions that night all alone.

Stupid fucking handsome Wolf.

It was the dimples. They made Yeonjun lose his mind.

God help him if his dream had been prophetic and this pup had dimples, too.

He resisted the urge to wrap his arm around his stomach, not wanting to draw attention to it. The Omega Care Clinic wasn’t just for pregnancy, but for all aspects of an Omega’s health and he was hoping to appear as though he was just there for a regular check-up or exam, not there because he was dumb enough to get knocked up by a stranger during a one-night stand.

And a fucking Wolf of all Species.

Glancing around, he took stock of the others in the waiting room. A female Omega not much younger than himself, scrolling through her phone. A pregnant female who was much further along than he, hand smoothing over her large belly and smiling down at it. To the left was the reception desk, two nurses chatting amongst themselves in a low murmur that his Fox ears were still able to pick up, quickly tuning out when it was nothing more than trivial bullshit over the weather and getting their kids off to school that morning.

He let out a sigh as he stared straight ahead at the wooden door, a slender window giving a glimpse of a wall running perpendicularly beyond it. Still no one had come to fetch any patients, Yeonjun forcing himself to relax and not get too worked up over that. He’d been waiting a long time, sure, but he’d also showed up early, before the doors to the clinic had even opened. He told himself it was just because he didn’t wanna be any later to work than he already would be–despite having permission from his boss to take the morning off anyway–yet he knew it was truthfully because he was hoping that he’d soon be told that through some miracle or another, all those tests had been wrong.

Dumb, he knew, but it was all he had.

Tearing his eyes away, Yeonjun focused on the giant flat screen TV hanging from the corner of the room. It was a slideshow of information, of services offered by the clinic, of phone numbers to call for questions or health emergencies. He’d watched it cycle through so many times he’d lost count, rolling his eyes once more as he was reminded again about the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

He wasn’t fucking six. He knew that already.

Granted he didn’t eat any of that…

Shit, he was probably gonna have to soon, right? There was a whole list of foods he heard pregnant people couldn’t eat. He was gonna have to get a hold of that sometime soon. Maybe the doc would give it to him.

The door to the back hallway opened and Yeonjun’s head flew over so fast his baseball cap nearly flew off, his eyes wide and heart pounding away. He glanced around, paranoid once more that he was drawing attention to himself, forcing himself to shrink down, calm down, tug the brim of his cap down. Not that anyone knew who he was. Wasn’t like he was an idol or celeb or anything. Just some random Omega at the Omega Care Clinic getting a check-up, that was all.

Fucking idiot.

A male nurse stood in the open doorway, knob in one hand, file folder in the other. His hair was a bright bubblegum pink, face small with delicate features, slender body hidden under sky blue scrubs. “Choi Yeonjun-ssi?” he called out in a lyrical voice and Yeonjun wondered if he was a bird Shifter of some sort before realizing it was his name that had been spoken.

“Right here,” he announced as he stood up, smoothing his hands over his black jeans before making his way closer.

The nurse smiled wide, eyes crinkling so much they nearly disappeared, and he moved so he was holding the heavy door open with his body, out the way to allow Yeonjun to pass. “First door on the right there.”

Yeonjun nodded, taking in the peach walls of a labyrinthian hallway as he turned right as instructed. Sure enough, there was an open doorway there and he stepped inside, feeling his heart rate speed up and his skin buzzing with nerves. A bench was to the right with a blood pressure machine next to it, a scale straight ahead by a window with closed blinds, counter to the right with a sink, gloves, jars of tongue depressors and cotton balls. Typical exam room, he figured, turning to watch the nurse enter and close the door behind himself.

“My name’s Park Jimin. How are we today?” the nurse smiled, friendly, scent carrying a sweet note that spoke to his being another Omega, a fact that put Yeonjun more at ease. Hopefully another Omega would understand, wouldn’t judge, and he figured that was why Jimin-ssi worked there in the first place, to put skittish Omegas like him at ease.

“Nervous,” Yeonjun admitted with a forced laugh, rubbing his hands over his thighs again, ignoring the itch inside that told him to cover his stomach, to protect his midsection. Dumb Omega instincts, ones he easily ignored.

Jimin-ssi gave him another warm smile as he set the file folder aside, open, with a pen atop it. “No worries. We get a lot of nervous Omegas in here. Let’s see if we can help ease the anxiety, yeah?”

Yeonjun nodded, letting out a deep breath, his chest still feeling too tight and his heart pounding so hard he could practically feel it through his skin. Now that he was in the exam room, everything was becoming too real, and he realized he was getting closer and closer to that final answer, that final confirmation…

“Take off your shoes and step over here so we can get your height and weight.”

Easy enough, Yeonjun quickly complying, toeing off his sneakers before stepping up on the scale. He’d lost a few pounds he noted, his stress induced lack of appetite a leading contributor, his height the same as always. Jimin-ssi quickly noted it as Yeonjun put his shoes back on then sat on the bench as instructed, taking his jacket off and pulling his arm out the sleeve of his hoodie. The blood pressure cuff was wrapped around his left bicep, the machine automatically expanding to squeeze it, and Yeonjun forced himself to breathe evenly, to relax his hand, despite the tingles in his fingertips as it got too tight.

When it finally released, Jimin-ssi frowned at the number on the screen, something that had Yeonjun’s heart kicking up once more as he put his arm back inside his hoodie. Sensing the nerves, Jimin-ssi turned and gave him a reassuring smile.

“It’s fine,” he stated, his own heart stuttering with the line. “It’s a little high, but that could be due to your nervousness or if you’re under a lot of stress.”

Yeonjun snorted and rolled his eyes before scrubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, I’m definitely under a lotta stress.”

“See? Not a problem then.” Jimin-ssi reached over and rubbed his shoulder. “We’ll try again in a few minutes when you’re more relaxed.”

More nodding from Yeonjun as Jimin-ssi made his way over to the counter and the file still atop, making notes before he began the routine questions. Was he taking any medications? When was his last menstrual cycle? Any health issues or problems he wished to discuss? Yeonjun answered them all honestly, listing his birth control and suppressant and the multi-vitamin he took daily, telling him his last cycle was back in September, and that…

Yeah, he was pretty sure he was pregnant. He just wanted it to be a thousand-percent undeniably confirmed.

Jimin-ssi nodded, not commenting either way, clearly aware of the solemn tone in Yeonjun’s voice as he shared that last bit of info. Yeonjun was grateful, not sure how he’d feel if he was offered a congrats at that time.

“We can definitely check for that,” Jimin-ssi stated as he finished up his last note. “Have you taken an at-home test?”

“Six.”

Eyebrows went up, disappearing under bright pink fringe, before the nurse schooled his features into an amused grin, shrugging easily. “Doesn’t hurt to be extra certain,” he said easily, that same reassuring tone in his voice that had Yeonjun relaxing. “We can take some blood and check it here in our on-site lab and have the results in no time. Then we can talk things over with Dr Kim. Sound good?”

Even more nodding, Yeonjun not entirely sure if he had much of a choice there. It was why he was at the clinic in the first place really. So he rolled his sleeve up and let him take the blood needed, wincing at the prick in the bend of his elbow. When he was bandaged up and the vial had been labeled appropriately, Jimin-ssi gathered his file and Yeonjun gathered his jacket and the nurse led the way out to another exam room.

The new room was a warm white, peachy wood furniture cabinets and counter on the right wall with a chair beside it. To the left was a gray padded exam table, the stirrups hidden away, rolling stool just to the side. A tray table was in the corner, still wrapped sterile instruments ready for a pelvic exam, and he shuddered at the memory of being poked and scraped, hoping like hell he wasn’t about to be subjected to that. The stab of a syringe was bad enough.

“Take a seat and Dr Kim will be with you soon,” Jimin-ssi instructed with another friendly smile, tucking the file folder into a slot on the front of the door before he closed it over.

Leaving Yeonjun alone with his thoughts.

The worst possible place.

A shaky exhale left him as he set his jacket on the chair, kicking his feet on the hard ground as he slowly meandered over to the exam table. He hadn’t been told exactly where to sit, but he figured it was the most likely place. It was where he usually sat and waited when in there, so stood to reason. Right?

His feet dangled off when he sat on the tall table, butt crinkling the paper underneath, hands gripping the edge. His toes started tapping in the air as he puffed his cheeks and slowly blew the air out. His heart was still loud in his ears, but it helped drown out conversations outside the room, ones he wanted to ignore. He was anxious enough, he didn’t need to try and discern words, to listen as Jimin-ssi told a lab tech that he needed a rush on testing the blood for HCG. He also didn’t wanna accidentally hear the results.

He wasn’t ready.

He wasn’t sure he’d ever be ready, really.

So he distracted himself, glancing around the room at the soap dispenser on the wall, at the standing info-ad about IUDs, at the poster on the wall about birth control and contraceptive methods and their effectiveness.

He snorted and rolled his eyes at the pill being ninety-nine percent effective. Just his luck he was the one percent.

With yet another sigh, he turned away, taking his cap off to scratch at his scalp. The blue in his hair was mostly faded away, a barely there tint to black locks that was barely even noticeable as he caught sight of his reflection in a mirror across the room. His chest grew tight at that, uncertain if he was glad for it or if he mourned the fact that he didn’t have time in recent weeks for a touch-up.

His mind was inundated with memories of laying side by side with a particular Wolf, knot locked snug inside. Long, thick fingers carded through his hair, awed eyes staring at the blue locks, dimples surrounding a soft smile.

“Your blue hair is so cool.”

Fuck, nearly a month and a half to the day and Yeonjun could still perfectly remember the deep rumble of Soobin’s voice, could still be affected by just the memory of it, feeling a shiver race down his spine.

He swept his bangs back and stuck his cap back on his head. It was good that the color was going. He didn’t need any reminders of that night.

His hand went to his stomach without thought. Yeah. He was about to get a damn big reminder, especially if That Dream really did turn out to be prophetic somehow and he gave birth to a pup with Soobin’s nose and dimples.

Warmth flooded him, the Omega part of him chiming in with its own opinion over that, clearly approving. Yeonjun shut it down and shoved it aside, just as he had been doing the entire week or so, since he’d first had That Dream and even halfway contemplated the possibility of being pregnant. It was just only the Omega part of him that was excited over impending motherhood, that was all. The majority of him was still in disbelief, not to mention not all that thrilled over the fact that he was carrying the pup of a fucking Wolf.

Still, he reasoned, pursing his lips in a pout as he swung his feet, out of all the Wolves in the world, at least it was one as handsome as Soobin. At least he’d be passing on good genes.

His hand pressed further against his stomach over the thought that it was Soobin’s pup in there, not just a Wolf, but Soobin specifically, and he felt that warmth flood him again, felt his skin buzz pleasantly, felt his heart begin to pound in his chest. He wondered what Soobin would think of Yeonjun carrying his pup, how he would react. Sure, he’d said some… well, breeding type things when they’d been together, but that was pure Alpha instincts and kinky shit in the heat of the moment. It didn’t mean he actually wanted to knock Yeonjun up and have a pup with him.

Right?

Yeah, probably. A one-night stand doesn’t mean having a kid together. It meant you found the other person hot and wanted to fuck them. And fucking didn’t necessarily mean you wanted to breed. It was something that separated them from their animal ancestors: having sex for pure pleasure and not solely for creating progeny.

Besides, it wasn’t like Soobin was gonna find out anyway. Yeonjun had burned that bridge the second he snuck out the motel room when the man was still fast asleep. And since then, he’d spent his weekends at home, not going out trolling for hook-ups, not wanting to accidentally or coincidentally run into Soobin again. No, that Alpha was out of his life and for good.

His chest felt tight at that, hollow, like something was missing. He shoved that feeling aside, too. He’d been ignoring it far longer than he had been ignoring the warmth over his pregnancy.

Still though, he felt a little guilty that Soobin wasn’t gonna know he was a father, that this pup wouldn’t know who his Alpha parent was. Not guilty enough to track the guy down and tell him, of course. He was far too selfish to do that. Besides, wasn’t like he knew anything about his own Alpha parent and he turned out just fine.

He scoffed to himself, head rocking with the action. Right. Just fine. Single with no prospects and now a pup on the way while living with his best friend. Yeah, totally fine.

A knock at the door cut into his thoughts, his head jerking up, and he pulled his hand away from his stomach as though he’d been caught doing something inappropriate. He let out a shaky “c’min”, clearing his throat as the door opened, revealing the person who’d knocked.

A tall Alpha stepped in, warm smile on his face that squished his cheeks, a single dimple visible in the crease of his grin. He was objectively good looking, dressed in a pink button down and black slacks, a lanyard with ID clipped to the pocket of his white lab coat. He switched Yeonjun’s file from his right hand to his left in order to offer it in greeting and Yeonjun took note of Jimin-ssi entering the room right behind the doc, closing the door over once more.

“Hi, Choi Yeonjun-ssi, I’m Dr Kim Seokin. You can call me Doc Jin.”

Yeonjun shook the man’s hand, long, slightly knobbed fingers wrapping around his slender ones in a grip that was firm yet gentle. Out the corner of his eye, Jimin-ssi was rolling his eyes at the doctor, leading Yeonjun to believe the moniker and the smirk were commonplace to the point of annoyance.

“Nice to meet you.”

One shake, then Doc Jin was letting go, stepping over to grab the stool and rolling it over. Jimin-ssi got comfortable against the wall by the door, hands folded neatly in front of himself, and Doc Jin gestured to him with a thumb over his shoulder.

“You mind if Nurse Park joins? Standard procedure for an Alpha doc with an Omega patient,” the doctor explained, an air of ease about him. “If you prefer, we could get you a Beta doctor, but it may take a while. He’s busy with another patient.”

Yeonjun swallowed, really not wanting to fucking wait. So he shrugged and shook his head, playing it all off. “It’s fine,” he answered honestly. Wouldn’t be the first time he had an Alpha doctor examine him.

“Great!” Doc Jin clapped his hands together once, the sound loud in the small room, and Jimin-ssi pinched the bridge of his nose. The action went ignored as the doc opened the file folder and scanned the pages. “Alright, all your numbers look good. Blood pressure a little high, but not alarming. Jimin-ah says you were feeling stressed so we’ll try again in a little while. I’m sure you’re anxious to get the news.”

A tight band wrapped itself around his chest, squeezing, making it hard for his lungs to work. But Yeonjun still managed to nod, gripping the edge of the exam bed. “Is it good news or bad news?” He tried for lighthearted, breathing out a laugh, forcing a smile on his face that didn’t stay longer than a second, eyes darting to Jimin-ssi for clues.

Nothing. His face was impassive, awaiting judgment.

Shit.

“Depends,” Doc Jin began, seesawing his head. “How do you feel about being a mother?”

Double shit.

The band around his chest got tighter, causing black dots to swim in his vision as his airway felt like it had been cut off. Jimin-ssi immediately pushed away from the wall and stepped over, putting a hand on Yeonjun’s back and gently urging him to bend over, to put his head between his knees, to take deep breaths. A wave of calming Alpha pheromones touched at him almost tentatively, as though the doctor was trying to help but wasn’t sure if it was welcome, and Yeonjun shuddered unpleasantly at it. They immediately went away and Yeonjun breathed in deep gulps of air.

“Good job,” Doc Jin praised, voice low and calming. “In, out, in out. You’re doing great, Yeonjun-ssi.”

It took a minute or two, but Yeonjun finally began to breathe normally, finally felt like he wasn’t about to burst out of his own skin. He slowly sat up, Jimin-ssi’s hand slipping away, and he locked eyes with the concerned Alpha still on his stool.

“I’m pregnant,” he stated, not questioned, getting a nod in response. A dubious laugh left him, almost hysterical, and he pressed a hand to his forehead, knocking his cap up. “How did this happen?”

Doc Jin’s brow furrowed into a confused frown. “You want me to tell you where babies come from?”

Jimin-ssi smacked the doctor’s shoulder on his way by, letting him know the quip wasn’t appreciated, although Yeonjun liked to believe that his own scowl gave that away.

“I know where babies come from,” Yeonjun grumbled, adjusting his ballcap before continuing. “I just wanna know how it’s possible when I was on birth control and not in Heat.”

Doc Jin closed the file and crossed his legs, leaning back until he started tipping too far, forgetting there was nothing behind him, and he had to flail his arms in circles to right himself once more. Yeonjun wanted to laugh but the gravity of his situation was far too heavy for that kind of levity and he simply waited until the doc was sitting back upright again. “Well, birth control is never one-hundred percent effective. And sometimes, if compatibility is high, the body can release an egg even outside of Heat. Not to mention, some Species are stronger procreators than others. What Species is the father?”

Yeonjun squirmed in his seat, straightened his back, ground his jaw. “A Wolf.”

“A Wo–” Doc Jin’s eyes went wide and he gaped almost comedically. “A Wolf? Really?”

Yeonjun just clenched his jaw and nodded.

“Wow. Huh. Sorry, I just thought you guys didn’t get along, but I suppose there’s exceptions. Heart wants what it wants and all that.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to argue that it had nothing to do with the heart, that it was purely the libido and the fact that Soobin happened to be the hottest man Yeonjun had ever laid eyes on–as well as an exact replica of a fantasy Yeonjun had conjured up years ago and used as masturbatory material. The fact that they were sexually compatible was just a bonus.

Doc Jin cleared his throat, shifting on the stool to regain some semblance of professionalism. “But yes, that explains it. Wolves are strong breeders, for lack of better terms, and with a compatible partner or even a Fated Mate, then it’s no surprise that you’re pregnant. I’m assuming you didn’t use any other kind of contraceptive.”

Yeonjun’s cheeks immediately heated up and he started wishing he was literally anywhere but there, having that conversation, having his sex life dissected. Which, okay, sure it was the doctor’s job and it was to explain how and why Yeonjun found himself bred up like that, but still. He didn’t know the man and he was sharing intimate details with him.

Then again, he didn’t know Soobin either and Yeonjun had zero issues with sharing intimate details with him either. Albeit that was an entirely different situation and had gotten him in his current predicament…

“No,” he admitted, voice thick with embarrassment. “No, we didn’t.”

“And did he knot you?”

Oh goddammit.

Yeonjun nodded and Doc Jin gestured to him with an open palm.

“Then there ya go! Given the circumstances, it would be more surprising if you didn’t become pregnant from that.”

Once again, Yeonjun wanted to argue, but found he couldn’t. He didn’t have a damn leg to stand on. Because with all of his previous hook-ups, he’d left them before the Alpha could finish, meaning there was obviously no risk of him getting pregnant, regardless of where in his cycle he might’ve been.

“Alright, well,” Doc Jin went on, his voice more solemn, more serious, and Yeonjun found himself swallowing at the grave tone, heart pumping nervously. “We have some things to discuss, but first of all, considering your reaction to being pregnant, I just want to make sure that you’re aware that you have multiple options, alright? We don’t judge here and if you need any recommendations for a good clinic, we can get those for you.”

It took Yeonjun a moment to figure out what the doctor was hinting at, but the second it sank in, his hand flew to his abdomen once more.

To his baby.

Shit. His baby. HIs baby. His. It was real. It was in there. He… he was definitely, one-hundred percent, conclusively pregnant.

And while he’d always been pro-choice and didn’t judge anyone for any decision they made for their own body… he couldn’t do it. Maybe in different circumstances, but… not then in that moment. Not when there was that voice in the back of his head reminding him of who the other half of his baby’s DNA came from.

The image of that tiny pup from That Dream came to him, his eyes and lips, Soobin’s nose and dimples, and he just knew there was no way he couldn’t bring that child into the world.

Adoption was never an option. He didn’t bother sparing it a nanosecond of consideration.

“I’m keeping it,” he said quietly, head ducked to stare at the hand holding his stomach as though there was anything there other than muscles squished from his slouched sitting.

“Okay,” Doc Jin replied, just as quietly, judgment free, just as he’d said. “First, we can figure out how far along you are, get a rough estimate of your due date, discuss all the things that you’ll have to do and the changes you should expect. I can also give you a list of suggested reading material and websites if you wanna do your own research as well as some informational pamphlets, since I’m sure your head is spinning and it’s gonna be a lot to take in. Then, we can do a scan and see how the little one is doing. That sound good?”

Yeonjun nodded, head still hanging, eyes on where his thumb was rubbing his abdomen. His head was most definitely spinning and he knew there was a lot he had to learn and do and change. But for the moment, he let that warmth wash over him, let himself soak in the joy that inside of him was growing life, life he’d helped create.

It helped to combat the coldness he felt over the fact that he was alone, that he would be alone, that a certain Alpha Wolf wasn’t beside him not only in this room, but also on this journey.

Yet another consequence of his own actions.

Choi Soobin had lost track of the number of times he’d had this dream.

Well, not so much “lost track” but rather, he never kept count in the first place and now he wished he had. It had to be well over half a dozen by that point. All during the past six weeks.

Since that fateful night with Yeonjun, the Fox who’d sent him mentally reeling and acting out of character, out of control for the first time ever… only to disappear the next morning.

And now, the Omega was haunting Soobin’s dreams, literally.

Not that Soobin was complaining. Despite exhaustive searches, he still could find no trace of Yeonjun, so it seemed as though this was the only way to see him. And Soobin was so goddamn greedy for him, he’d take any meager scrap the universe saw fit to give him.

The dream started the same way as always, Soobin in some sort of forest, an unfamiliar place he’d never been before. The grass was soft beneath his bare feet, long and wild. The sun cut through half-bare branches, leaves beginning to unfurl, flowers starting to bloom. He was vaguely aware that he was shirtless, probably some sort of metaphor over how Yeonjun had stolen his from the motel room, dressed only in his slacks as he made his way between the trees, no discernible trail to be found.

Not that he needed one. Instincts were guiding him forward, chasing the scent of salted caramel with a hint of dark chocolate, his own scent strong on the skin of another, and he knew exactly who he would find when he reached his destination.

In the clearing sat Yeonjun, just as topless as Soobin, his back bare and turned to the Alpha. The sun radiated off electric blue hair, painted his skin a golden hue not unlike the color of his scent, warm caramel that Soobin longed to put his lips to once more. The Alpha paused just inside the clearing, his heart pounding loudly in his chest as he simply admired the Omega. He was so slender, so lithe, shoulders tapering down to a trim waist that Soobin’s large hands so easily wrapped around. The last time he’d seen this sight in reality, he’d had Yeonjun on all fours, practically crying as he drove inside of him, the position letting him perfectly angle his cock to rub against the most sensitive part of his walls. And when they both came and he was knotted inside of him once more, Soobin had covered as much of that back with kisses and bites as he could.

Marking his territory, the Wolf part of him pointed out.

And maybe a little revenge for how much Yeonjun had clawed up his own back, the human part of him chimed in.

His eyes took their fill and Soobin had to cling to the nearest branch, feeling dizzy, drunk on just the sight of Yeonjun. He’d fallen hard and fast at first sight, he knew he had, had nearly throttled that Alpha when he saw him pinning Yeonjun to the wall and groping him in the club. The Omega brought out something territorial and possessive–and admittedly obsessive–in Soobin and Soobin… he was letting himself drown in it, especially here in this fantasy dream world where there were no consequences, just the two of them.

Trailing his eyes over exposed skin, he took in the moles on his back, longing to sink his teeth in and bite around them much as he had that first night, soothing the sting with his tongue as Yeonjun squirmed beneath him, sensitive and whiny.

Shit, his cock was stiffening in his pants, especially when Yeonjun’s head turned, giving him a perfect view of his profile. That long nose with its slightly upturned tip, full pouty lips, slender fox-like eyes, the mole near the right one. His slender neck was stretched out this way and Soobin began imagining what his Bite would look like there, marring otherwise perfect flesh as he staked his Claim on this Omega. He’d never give it a chance to scar over; he’d keep refreshing it every night as he drove into his Mate, as he kept him round with his come and his pups.

At that, Yeonjun turned his head more, finding Soobin standing there, gaping like an idiot. A wide smile spread across his face, eyes squinting from it, skin glowing in the sun and with the happiness that he was radiating from within. Soobin felt his heart stop at the sight, at this beauty before him, and he fought to keep himself in place to just admire, fought against every urge telling him to go kiss him, bite him, tug on that bright blue hair to expose his neck and Claim…

He couldn’t.

The dream always ended soon after and he was determined to prolong it as much as possible this time.

Yeonjun’s head ducked, focusing on something in his lap, mouth moving as he spoke. He was entirely inaudible, nothing but the sound of birdsong and the gentle lapping water of a nearby stream. Soobin worried it meant he couldn’t remember Yeonjun’s voice, but the sounds of his moans and whines still rang in his head, the way he breathed out Soobin’s name, the way he begged so prettily. He figured it was just the limits of this dream, that his senses were so tuned into the sight of Yeonjun that the other details slipped away.

He could still perfectly read his lips though, could still perfectly make out what was said that way.

'Look. It’s Papa.'

“Papa?” Soobin questioned, voice audible to himself, shaky with confusion. His heart started pounding against his chest, speeding up when he spotted movement on Yeonjun’s side and Soobin’s eyes dropped to…

To see a tiny wolf pup’s head peeking around. Black fur covered him, just like the rest of his family, except for the two white dots, one on either cheek, that were unique just to Soobin.

Oh shit. This was his pup. He and Yeonjun had made a pup. He really was a papa.

He started breathing shallowly, rapidly, shakily, legs trembling as he stumbled forward a couple steps. His hand fell from the branch unnoticed, his eyes focused solely on the tiny wolf pup staring up at him with wide eyes. With a Fox’s eyes, Yeonjun’s genes shining through. The pup was beautiful and Soobin felt his vision blur as tears started welling in his own eyes. Their pup, their beautiful, beautiful pup that he longed to hold and kiss and cradle in one arm, his other wrapped around his beautiful, beautiful Yeonjun.

He sank to his knees just beside them, the wolf pup with its hind legs in the cradle of Yeonjun’s crossed ones, forelegs on his mother’s knee. His eyes were staring up at his papa, wide and sparkling, tongue lolling out his mouth as his tail wagged excitedly. Yeonjun wore a soft smile as he gazed adoringly down at their tiny creation, his own eyes sparkling, and Soobin felt his chest get tight with how overwhelming it all was. It felt like a confirmation of all he’d felt that night, of the belief that had settled in his chest the moment he first sank inside Yeonjun.

This was his Mate.

Soobin stared at him in awe, feeling the first tear fall down his cheek. “I love you.”

Yeonjun melted as he stared right back, that soft, adoring smile now aimed at Soobin, and he parted his lips to say–

“HYUNG!”

The not-Yeonjun’s voice jarred him awake, away from the best dream he’d ever had in his twenty-six years of existence, and his claws shot out to swipe at whoever was stupid enough to ruin it all.

Unfortunately for Soobin–but fortunately for that person–they moved away out of his range just in time, leaving him unsatisfied and even more cranky. He forced his eyes open to glare at whatever idiot it was, finding them standing a meter or so away from the bed, dressed in a nice suit. Wide eyes stared down at him, matching the hint of fear and nerves in his scent, and Soobin let out a long sigh as he rub roughly over his own face, claws now retracted.

HueningKai. Of. Fucking. Course.

“You couldn’t have given me five more minutes?” he grumbled as he sat up, moving his hand to scrub through his hair this time. He had a feeling the blond locks were sticking up wildly so scratching at his scalp wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Kai snorted, rolling his eyes, and it was clear the guy wasn’t on the clock yet–at least not mentally. He wouldn’t dare do either of those things to his boss. His best friend and pseudo-older brother on the other hand…

“I already did,” he stated, stepping forward to hand Soobin the coffee he’d picked up on his way there. Soobin grunted a thanks before cracking open the mouth hole and drinking. “You slept through both your alarm and the snooze alarm. This wasn’t my first attempt at waking you up.”

Well, shit.

Soobin peeked at him out the corner of his eye as he blew through the mouth hole to cool off his coffee, watching as Kai switched his attention to his iPad, tapping and swiping.

“Must’ve been a good dream.” Kai smirked over the top of the tablet, finger still tapping and swiping without his even needing to look.

And now Soobin was sipping his coffee, regardless of any hot temps, using it as an excuse to avoid answering the question. Not that it was an all that subtle move, not with the other Wolf knowing him too damn well, not to mention the way Soobin was sure his scent spiked at that moment.

Definitely had, given the way Kai began to cackle maniacally, more Hyena than Wolf, and Soobin glared at him over the top of his paper cup.

“Aren’t you a little old to have wet dreams, hyung?”

The comment had Soobin swallowing wrong and he barely managed to avoid spilling hot coffee on his bare chest and white sheets as he started coughing wildly. His free hand reached out to claw at Kai once again, and once again, the little shit proved too wiley, sliding back out of reach and cackling more.

“Fuck you,” Soobin rasped, coughing a few more times before he managed to recover. “It wasn’t that kind of dream.”

“You seem a little defensive.”

“And you seem a little enthusiastic about joining the unemployment line.”

Kai rolled his eyes at that, both of them knowing there was no way in hell Soobin was gonna fire him any time soon–or ever. Despite his teasing remarks, Kai was a highly adept assistant, and probably the only one on the planet who could put up with Soobin’s mood swings, not to mention the only one at the company who wasn’t intimidated by Soobin in the first place. Third gen CEO, Dominant Alpha, a Wolf, not to mention tall and broadly built and with resting grump face–as Kai had put it. No, he was stuck with the little shit as his assistant, for better or worse.

“So what was your dream about then?” Kai shifted the conversation back, his eyes on his iPad once more, smirk pulling up one side of his lips. “Not that I need to ask really. This place reeks. Honestly, you’re the only person I know who releases pheromones in their sleep, so it’s quite obvious that you were dreaming about that Omega again.” He waggled his eyebrows in Soobin’s direction, joined by a salacious chuckle under his breath.

Soobin felt his ears grow hot and he distracted himself, pretended not to be affected, by pushing back his sheets and rising to his feet. His pajama pants had rucked up his calves during the night and he let gravity tug them back down, sipping at his coffee once more. “No clue what you mean.”

It was clearly a lie, they both knew it was, Kai having figured out that Soobin had spent the night with someone the second the Alpha had walked through his front door the morning after. He had no doubt he absolutely reeked of sex and Omega pheromones and considering the scandalous gasp Kai had let out, it was obvious that he also smelled of another Shifter type.

Yeah, Soobin had never once figured he’d fuck a Fox, much less become so all-consumed by one, but something about Yeonjun had absolutely taken him apart, rearranging his head, his heart, his everything. And damn him if he didn’t want it to happen again, every day, for the rest of his life.

If he could ever find the guy…

He was proving to be just as wily as the stereotypes said.

“Uh huh,” Kai replied flatly, clearly being sarcastic once more. “So we’re also just gonna pretend you weren’t sleeping while holding on to those panties you stole from him?”

Soobin’s head jerked around to find… yep, black lacy panties laying in the middle of his sheet. He quickly shoved them under his pillow where they usually stayed, feeling the heat on his ears intensify and spread to his cheeks.

“Shut the fuck up,” he warned with a slight growl, finger pointed at Kai in warning.

Kai wisely held his hands up in supplication, the screen of his iPad turned to Soobin and letting him get a glimpse of his schedule for the day. “I am saying nothing, especially not a repeat of previously stated surprise at the audacity you had to swipe a guy’s underwear while he was passed out.”

Soobin flicked his assistant’s forehead before snatching the iPad from his grip, brow furrowing as he took in a newly added item to his agenda. “What’s this about lunch with Dad?”

Rubbing at his forehead, Kai let out a confused sound before catching on. “Oh! Yeah, HoiJang-nim called and said to schedule lunch with you today.”

Shit. Not good.

Not that Soobin really felt he had anything to worry about. His father was mostly retired, allowing Soobin to mostly take over as acting CEO of the family’s corporation, while the old man acted as Chairman of the Board. He only ever really got involved when asked or when problems arose and since Soobin hadn’t requested this meeting himself…

No. Everything was fine. The company was running smoothly, they were about to land another huge land deal, and as far as Soobin knew, the Board was perfectly fine with how he was handling things.

For the most part.

Not all of them were pleased with his young age and UnMated status, but he was proving himself to be a capable CEO, regardless of any antiquated bullshit they felt made him less than.

“Any clue what it’s about?”

“Nope,” Kai popped the ‘p’, taking the iPad back from a loose grip.

Shit, that was worse, Soobin’s heart pounding inside of a too tight chest. He scrubbed his hand over his jaw, feeling the stubble from overnight rasp against his fingertips. His mind was racing with possibilities over what it could be, stomach churning as only one possibility came to mind.

“You think he knows?”

Kai snorted and rolled his eyes, enough of an answer really. “Please. With the gossiping old biddies in our Pack, if he hadn’t found out about your little rendezvous by now, he’s never going to. Not until you tell him anyway.”

A hysterical laugh bubbled up from Soobin’s chest, echoing off the white walls of that spacious bedroom. It wasn’t that he thought his parents were Specists or would have a problem with his having hooked up with a Fox, but he wasn’t gonna take the chance. Being okay with other Shifters with business matters was one thing. Who knew how they’d feel regarding their only son having sex and wanting to Mate one?

“Yeah, no, not happening,” he responded, drinking deeply from his coffee and wincing as it burned the back of his throat.

Locking the iPad, Kai flipped the cover closed then held it in front of himself with clasped hands. “Guess you’ll find out at noon then. For now, shave and get dressed. We’re running late because someone couldn’t wake up in time.”

Soobin rolled his eyes but headed to the bathroom nonetheless, bare feet padding on the carpet the warmed marble floors. He could hear Kai in the walk-in closet he’d passed through, picking out his suit for the day, muttering to himself about how it was fine if Soobin was late, but he’d be the one to get it in the neck that he couldn’t even wake his boss in time because the stubborn Alpha was having too good a dream.

Which…

Turning the faucet on and letting the water heat up, Soobin stared at himself in the mirror. The physical marks Yeonjun had left on him were long since gone, but the mental reminders were still there. That electric blue hair, the Fox-like eyes, his tiny Omega fangs, his lithe body as it rolled and shuddered under Soobin’s much larger frame, the tightness of his pussy as it locked around Soobin’s knot. He’d filled the Omega so full of come that his stomach had distended from it, making him look bred up, and…

And then he’d had that dream…

With a Wolf pup that had Fox eyes…

His brow furrowed, lost in thought once more, absently draining the rest of his coffee. Yeonjun hadn’t smelled like he was in Heat, although there’d been a slight shift in his scent as the night wore on. Soobin had just figured it was because he was slowly being covered and filled by his own, dark chocolate swirling with salted caramel, the spice of arousal all around. But maybe…

“Hey, Ningie!”

Kai’s head popped through the open doorway, brows raised. “Yes, hyung?”

“What does it mean when you dream of a pup?”

Kai fully entered the room then, hand scratching through dark curly locks. “Well, it could just mean that you’re really interested in that person and wanna have a pup with them,” he reasoned, dropping his hand as he shrugged his shoulders. “Or it could be a conception dream. Ya know, that old superstition?”

The frown remained as he stared at his reflection some more, lips pursing and making his dimples pop out. Dimples that were transferred to his fur in the form of white spots on his cheeks, the same unique marking that had been on the pup in his dream.

“Do the fathers have those dreams, too?”

Kai shrugged again. “I think so? I dunno. It’s all superstition anyway, hyung, there’s no proof either way that it’s real. Why are you–?” He cut himself off as his eyes went wide and his jaw dropped and his scent exploded in shock. “Did you really?! Do you actually think?!”

A heavy sigh left Soobin and he finally reached for his washcloth, soaking it in the stream of hot water. “Maybe,” he mumbled, knowing it would be heard anyway. “If anything, I feel like my desperation to find him just increased tenfold.” He looked up and met Kai’s eyes in the mirror. “I need to find out if Choi Yeonjun is really my Mate and if he’s really carrying my pup.”

Jack in the Box Event Planning was located downtown, taking up an entire floor of a high rise made of all glass. The floors were covered by carpeting made of black and white checkered squares reminiscent of a chessboard, the walls painted either bright magenta or cool teal–when they weren’t made of glass–the hall featuring framed photos of some of their past events. Yeonjun sometimes liked to stop and find himself in them, like a fun puzzle, smiling at the memories of jobs well done.

Now, he ignored all of it, head ducked down and hand wringing the back of his neck, hoping to go unnoticed despite his all black outfit and the baseball cap that was more than likely making him stand out even more. His satchel felt heavier than usual as it hung off his shoulder and he felt as though it was made of clear plastic rather than brown leather, felt as though everyone could see inside, like they somehow knew it was full of pamphlets regarding pregnancy, information on dos and don’ts, a list of supplements he needed to pick up and recommended books to read.

And an ultrasound photo.

His… his… his baby was currently the size of a piece of chiclet gum, had tiny little nubs that were gonna become its arms and legs, and had a heartbeat that was too weak to see just yet. But it was there. Doc Jin had helped Yeonjun hear it with a mic and Yeonjun's Fox ears, a tiny fluttering thing that made it all the more real.

Yeonjun’s hand flattened against his stomach, once again awed by the fact that there really was an entirely new life in there and not just the convenience store triangle gimbap he’d forced himself to eat before leaving for his appointment. A pup. An actual pup. He’d somehow managed to create an entirely new being.

God, and he’d just been hoping for a decent lay and maybe an orgasm that he didn’t have to fantasize his way into having.

Seemed as though Soobin was determined to deliver in a lot more ways than just making the Omega come.

Guilt had his stomach churning unpleasantly and he dropped his hand, the other one tightening its grip on the strap of his satchel. He knew he shouldn’t feel bad about keeping Soobin in the dark, about bailing on the guy. After all, they’d only really agreed to just letting Soobin prove that Alpha Foxes were selfish assholes that sucked in bed and that Wolves did it so much better–which he actually did prove, over and over and over again. There was no agreement of meeting up again, of doing anything beyond just fucking. For all Yeonjun knew, that was all Soobin was after, too. For all he knew, Soobin had no interest in pups, or he wanted to do the whole get Mated and start a family thing, go about it in a more traditional way.

An accidental pregnancy wasn’t in his plans, just as it hadn’t been in Yeonjun’s.

Still, part of him felt as though he should at least let the Alpha know that he had a pup on the way, give him the option of being in the pup’s life or not. It didn’t necessarily mean that he and Yeonjun had to be anything more than just co-parents, simply sharing custody and raising the pup separately yet together. And pup support payments would always be nice to have…

But all of that would mean having to face reality, that he’d fucked a Wolf and gotten bred up by one. Not that he hadn’t already been forced to acknowledge that with Doc Jin’s prying questions. And surely when the pup was born, it was gonna show signs of its heritage. After all, Wolf DNA was some of the strongest out there, so there was a very strong chance it would take after its Alpha parent rather than its Fox mother.

Shit.

Yeonjun let out a sigh as he pushed open his glass office door, flicking on the lights to illuminate the teal walls on three sides. The back wall contained black cabinets full of binders of information, venders and samples all neatly organized. The bureau below it featured a lot of the same, as well as Yeonjun’s personal stash of snacks, the top of it covered in stacks of papers for his current project, as was his desk. His impersonal desk, with only one framed photo of himself, Beomgyu, and Taehyun all together.

Whatever.

With a sigh, he dropped his satchel onto his chair then headed back out and down the hall. At the end, through another glass wall, he found his boss behind his own desk, eyes flicking back and forth between a folder in his hand and the flat desktop screen to the left. Yeonjun almost felt bad for interrupting but figured he needed to, knocking on the glass just below the etching of his boss’ name: Jung Hoseok, CEO

Hoseok–or Hobi, as he preferred–snapped his head up, eyes going wide before squishing into crescents when a broad smile formed on his face. He put the folder down on his desk and patted the air before himself, calling out for Yeonjun to come on in, the Omega doing just that. The room smelled of the familiar acorn scent of his boss and the bowl of pistachios he had sitting out that Yeonjun knew he liked to nibble on when working. Probably the Chipmunk in him.

“Yeonjun-ah!” Hobi greeted warmly, still smiling wide. “Surprised to see you! Thought you’d take the rest of the day off.”

Yeonjun shook his head as he sat on one of the black chairs on the opposite side of the desk. His boss’ office was obviously far bigger, the back wall teal and featuring cabinets like Yeonjun’s, only his had alternating black and white doors. The side walls were both magenta and covered in photos of friends, families, and past events, as well as kitschy art that Hobi loved, big smiley faced flowers and giant clown hands all in black frames.

“No, no need,” Yeonjun explained, removing his ball cap and putting it over his knee. “Just needed a couple hours for the doc.”

His boss’ head tilted as his brow pulled into a hard V, lips twisting in thought. “Are you sure? Is everything okay? If you need time off, you’re more than welcome to it.”

Once again, Yeonjun shook his head, teeth sinking into his bottom lip as he struggled to come clean. After all, it wasn’t easy to tell anyone that you’d gotten bred up by a one-night stand, much less your boss.

Shit. He was gonna hafta tell Beomgyu. That conversation was sure to suck.

“I really am fine,” Yeonjun insisted, forcing a smile on his face that did nothing to remove the frown from Hobi’s. “And I’ve got that big Halloween bash this weekend so I can’t really take the time off anyway.”

Hobi just stared as though trying to figure him out by just looking and Yeonjun had to fight not to squirm in his seat, lest he give it all away. As it was, his heart was pounding in his chest and he knew his scent was probably all over the place and he’d never been so glad his boss was a Beta and therefore didn’t pick up on pheromones as well.

“Are you sure?” Hobi asked one last time, folding his arms on his desk and leaning forward. “I can always get someone else to cover for you and you’ve more than earned vacation time. I don’t think you’ve really taken any in the, what? Near decade you’ve been working here.”

A soft laugh left Yeonjun’s nose and he scratched at the back of his head as he nodded. He’d started out as an assistant at Jack in the Box back when he was eighteen and still in high school, desperate for money and ready to take any job that would take him. He’d been tutored under Hobi himself, learned the ins and outs of event planning from the master, and soon worked his way up to event coordinator. And in all that time, he’d never really had a vacation, had only ever taken time off for his Heats.

He never really needed to.

Until now, really.

“I know,” he said with a flimsy smile, shifting in his seat as the pressure of everything grew to be too much. “I really don’t need to right now, but, uh. I’m gonna need to take some time off starting mid to late June. For, uh. Maternity leave.”

Hobi’s eyes went wide, jaw dropping soon after, followed by his entire body flailing, arms flying in the air. “Maternity leave? You? You’re pregnant?!”

Yeonjun nodded, chewing his bottom lip once more. “Due June twenty-ninth.”

The good thing was that Yeonjun had known his exact conception date, since it was the last time he’d had sex and the date had practically burned itself into his brain. According to Doc Jin, it made it easy to figure out his due date, although even then it wasn’t an exact science and there was always a chance the pup would come sooner or later than that. Despite all the calculations, it was really just a more accurate guesstimation than anything.

A yell erupted from his boss as Hobi burst up from his chair, practically bouncing on his toes as he rushed around his desk to haul Yeonjun up and hug him. The Omega froze, shocked, unsure of how to handle it before he patted his boss’ back, figuring it was as close to the right thing to do as he could surmise.

He hadn’t expected such excitement, although considering the fact that Hobi had insisted on being called “hyung” for the past few years, maybe he should have.

“That’s great!” Hobi remarked, pulling away with yet another wide grin. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone and now here you are, pregnant! That’s amazing!”

A nervous laugh left Yeonjun and he forced a smile on his face. Hobi didn’t know he was seeing anyone because Yeonjun hadn’t been seeing anyone, but there was no way he was gonna admit the truth behind his getting bred. Hyung or not, it was a line Yeonjun wasn't willing to cross.

“Uh, yeah, I just wanted to keep it quiet, keep work and my personal life separate,” he lied easily, relying on Fox instincts to keep his voice steady and even and not give anything away. “Except I’m not really gonna be able to keep it separate in a few months, right?” He forced out a laugh that had Hobi chuckling, too, his eyes dropping to Yeonjun’s still flat stomach and the Omega had to force himself not to cover his midsection, feeling strangely protective of it.

“True, true,” Hobi agreed, stepping back and tapping on his chin in thought. “I’m gonna leave it up to you if you wanna tell people and how you wanna tell them. Obviously, it’s your news to share. As for work–” he began then drifted off, rounding his desk to return to his seat, and Yeonjun had to hold back a relieved sigh at the shift in topic. “Did the doc give you any restrictions with heavy lifting or taking it easy, anything like that?”

“Not as of right now,” Yeonjun answered, sitting when his boss did and snatching his dropped cap off the floor. “I can still handle the same workload as I did before.” Hobi opened his mouth but Yeonjun held up a hand to stop him. “I promise I will let you know if and when it’s too much.”

Hobi smiled and Yeonjun knew that was exactly what he’d been about to insist. “Alright, well for now, we’ll just keep things as they are and adjust if and when needed. And we’ll get together in the new year to discuss your maternity leave and finding someone to fill in for you.” His grin grew, eyes turning back into those crescent slits once more. “Congrats though. Really! I’ll have to treat you to dinner sometime.”

“Maybe in a couple weeks?” Yeonjun requested. “Like I said, big Halloween bash this weekend, then the Cho party after that. Full plate right now.”

“Of course, of course.” Hobi waved him off with both hands. “In fact, I’ll let you get back to it. If you’re gonna insist on working, then I won’t stop ya.” He gave Yeonjun a wink at that and the Omega took his cue, rising to bow to his boss before leaving the office.

It wasn’t until he was back in his own room and seated behind his own desk that he let out a relieved sigh. One person told. More to go.

He just wondered if Soobin would ever be one of them.

The Geumankeum was a restaurant located on the first floor of the Neugdae, a five-star luxury hotel that catered to the most upscale of clients. The restaurant was just as lavish, with a Michelin starred chef overseeing the place and reservations typically being needed for any non-guest to dine.

Unless, of course, the patron in question was a Choi, since they owned the hotel.

A private table was always left empty just in case any of them decided to drop by at the last minute and Soobin wasn’t sure if this was the case this time or if one of his parents had called ahead to book it, but either way, he found the two of them seated in their usual spot. He made his way past rounded tables covered in soft gray tablecloths, centerpieces made of glass vases and evergreen branches surrounding thick candles, ladies lunching, men drinking, and countless pheromones that made Soobin’s nose itch.

Ugh, he hated it, despite the open ambiance of the place, the hunter green walls and matching heavy curtains giving an impression of being back in the woods, a nod to primitive ancestors and their more animalistic halves. In his opinion, it made a few too many of his fellow Wolves a little too comfortable, no longer caring about societal standards of keeping one’s scent to oneself, instead posturing and trying to show off the strength of their pheromones and boast their status.

Pathetic, in Soobin’s opinion.

Then again, considering his own status, anyone was already beneath him, regardless of their behavior.

It was a fact that he was reminded of once again as conversations would drift off in favor of hushed whispers pointing him out, all gossiping as their eyes followed him, necks craning to watch as he walked away. He kept his head up, refusing to back down, resisting the urge to run and hide. He hated the spotlight, hated how the Omegas were chittering and the Alphas were grumbling and the scents grew even stronger as though trying to impress and/or attract him.

Useless really, even before he’d had his mind reworked by a certain Fox.

His parents were seated towards the back, as always, and Soobin knew it was because they enjoyed the stares as they paraded through the restaurant, enjoyed being the center of envious attention. His father had always been one for posturing while his mother had always been one for preening so the gossip never bothered them the way it did their shy son. In fact, they reveled in it, his mother flicking back her dyed honey blonde hair, his father staring down his raised nose, both of them with pleased smirks on their faces as they pretended to peruse the menu they had long since memorized and approved over.

A few meters away and their attention shifted to him, his mother’s face lighting up in pure joy, and Soobin felt himself relax, letting go of the tension that had stiffened his shoulders at his every move being watched.

“Sweetheart!” she greeted him, rising up to pull him into a hug that he gladly returned, bending down so she could easily kiss his cheek. “Oh, don’t you look handsome today.” She pulled back to take in his suit, black with dark gray pinstripes, a tie of the same color offsetting the black buttondown that completed his ensemble, and he bowed his head in thanks.

“You, too, Mom,” he returned affectionately, looking over her green dress that perfectly matched the walls. “Is that new?”

“Mmm, yes.” She smoothed her hands over the skirt, the silky material catching the light perfectly. “Bought just last week in Paris. Oh that reminds me, did you get the suits I sent you?”

Shit. He had no idea.

Glancing over his shoulder, he caught Kai’s eye, who nodded in answer then pointed to Soobin as if…

Ah. The one he was wearing had been picked out by her.

“Of course.” He returned his attention to his mom, grinning, her own smile lighting up her face. “Immaculate taste as always. And perfectly tailored, too.”

“I know what my baby looks best in.” She smirked, squeezing his bicep, before her own attention shifted to the other Wolf behind him. “Kai, you’re joining us, right?”

Kai glanced between all three Chois before bowing his head. “Thank you, I’d appreciate that.”

She scoffed, swatting a hand in his direction. “If you don’t stop that formality bullshit with me, I’ll bop your nose like when you two were pups causing trouble at home.”

Kai’s grin turned mischievous and he bounced over to envelop her in a hug. “Hi, Auntie.”

Soobin took the opportunity to face his father, the man having stood idly by, face stoic as ever. His hair was a dark gray with splashes of white near the sideburns, face featuring wrinkles that made him look more distinguished, and round wire rimmed glasses were perched on his nose. His own suit was dark blue with a lighter blue shirt and red tie and Soobin found his mother’s preferences written all over it. She’d clearly bought this one for him, too.

“Father,” Soobin greeted with a bow at the waist, Kai quickly doing the same.

His father simply sniffed then sat down. “Son.”

That was as much a greeting as to be expected and Soobin took his seat between his parents at the rounded table, Kai helping Soobin's mother before moving to the side opposite him. A waiter came over immediately, filling their glasses with water before taking drink orders. Soobin and Kai opted out. His mother requested a glass of the house red. His father wanted a snifter of brandy.

“So,” his father began, unfolding his napkin and placing it over his lap. “How’s the Busan bid going?”

His mother sighed and rolled her eyes. “You really couldn’t wait until we ordered our food to start talking business?”

“It’s fine,” Soobin placated, reaching over to pat her hand where it sat atop the table as he looked at his father. “And it’s going well. I’ve been in contact with our people down there all morning and we should have our answer by the end of the workday. From what I’ve been told, we have it in the bag. The city knows what a boost in tourism it is to have a Choi Resort there.”

His father hummed, drinks being delivered and food being ordered causing a pause in the conversation. A lull remained even after the waiter left and Soobin knew better than to try and fill it, what with the scent rolling off his father at that moment. He had something to say, that much was obvious from the moment Soobin had seen this lunch on his schedule, and now that he was here…

He was pretty sure it had nothing to do with the Busan project. His father would've just stopped by the office if that were the case.

“Did you know your HR director is about to begin her maternity leave?”

Random.

Really random.

Since when was his father so attuned to office gossip?

Soobin stared across the table, wordlessly asking Kai for direction, and the other Wolf subtly nodded to show that, yes, she was.

“I heard that,” Soobin replied, proud that he’d managed to keep it as a statement rather than a question.

“And I’m sure you’re aware that she’s the one in charge of planning all the company parties, including the Christmas one?”

That part Soobin was pretty sure he’d known already, giving a simple “yes, sir” as he reached for his water. “I assume she’s found someone to take over that duty in her stead?”

“No,” his father began, eyes on where he was swirling his brandy around. “I have.” His eyes rose to his son, eyebrows in a hard line to show just how serious he was in that moment. “You’re to do it.”

Soobin was grateful to whatever eternal being was up there that he had finished drinking before his father had said something so utterly ridiculous, so he didn’t choke or spit water everywhere. Although, the hysterical laugh that bubbled out of him wasn’t any better, just less messy, and he quickly clamped his mouth shut. His father raised an eyebrow at him, wordlessly saying that he failed to see the humor and Soobin shifted in his seat, clearing his throat.

“Sorry, I.” He paused and cleared his throat again. “I didn’t think that was one of my jobs as acting CEO.”

“It’s not,” his father agreed, sniffing his brandy before sipping at it, and Soobin once again knew better than to fill the silence. “However, at the start of the year, you shall be taking over as full CEO and this will be your chance to make a good impression by appealing to your employees.”

“By planning a Christmas party?” he questioned.

Saying it out loud just made it even more unfathomable, ridiculous, insane, and the fact that his father was still so stone faced about it, that his mother was nodding along out the corner of his eye as though the whole thing was a great idea…

Soobin honestly wondered what alternate universe he’d accidentally stumbled into.

“Yes.”

Seriously, what the fuck?

A nervous laugh and shaky smile was his initial response and he shifted in his seat once more. “Dad, I have no idea how to plan a party, especially not one for a company of our size.”

And it was true. Even in college, he’d never thrown a party, had only attended the ragers thrown by others, leaving it up to Kai to purchase any alcohol that needed to be taken in the event of a BYOB. He’d never had the need to plan any sort of get-together so why his father thought he could do it now…

“Of course you won’t be doing it entirely by yourself,” his father scoffed as though Soobin was the ridiculous one and his mother patted his hand sympathetically, as though she thought her son was just being silly. “You’re in charge of hiring the planning company and working with them in order to throw a party that is on par with the Choi name. It’ll be your vision, your ideas. They’ll take care of all the details like hiring vendors, rental companies, caterers, all that stuff.” He waved his hand around as though swatting away all the little details and Soobin…

Soobin knew there was no point in arguing, not when his father had so clearly set his mind to it. He had a feeling that trying to resist, trying to argue his way out of it would just result in having a pissed off dad and an upset mom.

So instead, he let out a sigh, rubbing at his forehead as he turned to Kai. “Make a note to remind me of this come December first,” he ordered, Kai nodding as he pulled his phone out of the inside pocket of his suit coat.

“No, you need to start first thing next week.”

Soobin gaped.

There was no other way to describe it. He just… gaped at his father before an incredulous chuckle left him.

“Next week?”

His father grunted. “A party of that size takes at least two months to plan and given it’s the busiest time of the year for events like that, you need to get an early start on things so you aren’t forced to settle for some shitty little shindig that looks like a pup planned it themselves.”

With wide eyes, Soobin turned to Kai, silently begging for help. And all his friend could do was put on a nervous smile, an even more nervous laugh leaving him as he pulled the stylus out the hidden compartment of his phone.

“I’ll start looking into event planners this weekend and have a list ready first thing Monday morning.”

“Have it ready Sunday afternoon,” his father corrected and Soobin had to bite back the territorial part of him that was pissed off about someone else ordering his assistant around. “Then you call them first thing Monday morning and get them booked ASAP.”

Kai nodded rapidly and vehemently, bowing his head. “Yes, sir.” He quickly scribbled a note on his phone, eyes peering up to give Soobin a sympathetic look. And Soobin…

Soobin signaled to the waiter to bring him a bourbon. He was gonna need it after all.