Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Seungcheol, Jeonghan and Chan had been secretly married for five years, estranged for just as long. 

On Chan's birthday, brimming with hope, he rushed to his husbands and son —Minho, expecting a joyous family reunion in Seoul. 

Instead, he found an empty house. 

Seungcheol’s phone was off, same with Jeonghan's. 

Seungcheol’s secretary informed him they'd gone to pick up Minho. 

Chan obediently waited at home for them then, deciding also to prepare extra dishes. 

This time Chan came to Seoul, besides desperately wanting to see his son and his husbands, it was in the hope that their family of four could properly share a meal together on this special day. 

That was his birthday wish this year.

Yet, minute by minute passed, neither Seungcheol, Jeonghan nor his son returned. 

Anxiety gnawed at him. His husbands’ phones remained stubbornly switched off. 

Just as he grabbed his coat, preparing to go out to look for them at their office, his best friend, Changbin, sent him a video. 

Another message from him “Those fucking assholes, did they really forget it was also their husband’s birthday?!”

Chan clicked the video. A chic restaurant, candlelight flickering. Seungcheol, impeccably dressed in a black suit. Jeonghan with his magnificent dark grey suit, sat next to Minho. 

Across from them was Jihoon, their beloved, their omega Chan knew all too well. Of course, it was his so-called-half brother. It was a scene of manufactured happiness. Seungcheol, an alpha. Jeonghan, the beta. Jihoon, an absolute flawless omega and a very innocent child they've been dreaming of since day one, Minho. 

A perfect ideal family, because it was clearly filled with love and devotion. 

This was their vision since day one, Chan knew that. But it was all shattered though when they found out Jihoon was infertile, plus he was hesitant to get married at that time, in the peak of his career. 

Their grandparents, though, we're very displeased at the news. 

“We need an heir as soon as possible, Choi Seungcheol.” Seungcheol’s grandfather said firmly when they asked their family to postpone the wedding due to Jihoon’s condition. They hope to at least wait until Jihoon can be treated if possible. 

It was discussed during Joshua's birthday, who's Jeonghan’s brother.

Everyone was present that time. Joshua's childhood bestfriends (and now became everyone's friends too)—Minghao and Jun. Dokyeom —Jeonghan and Joshua's brother. Wonwoo and Vernon—Seungcheol’s brothers. Mingyu, Seungkwan, and Soonyoung — Vernon’s husbands. And of course, Jihoon —Jeonghan and Seungcheol’s boyfriend. Chan was there merely because he was forced by Jihoon's grandfather, he had no choice at all. 

Jeonghan's grandfather cleared his throat, obviously reluctant. When he spoke, it was low and uncertain. 

“Or… you can marry Chan, he could bear your child, you know.” 

It made everyone still, including Chan who had just stood up from his seat, and was about to pass all of them to go out, minding his own business. 

Jihoon’s grandfather’s face brightened instantly at the idea. 

“Yes, it's not like he was a stranger. We all know that he even had a crush on Seungcheol, right? Would you mind, Jihoon-ah?” His grandfather said.

Chan blushed and saw exactly how Jihoon’s eyes went cold when their gaze locked. Chan's eyes widened but before he could say anything, Jihoon immediately spoke that surprised everyone. 

“No, I don't mind, harabeoji.” He said coolly. 

Chan noticed Seungcheol’s jaw tightened. He was about to protest when Jihoon averted his eyes from Chan to Jeonghan and Seungcheol before smiling — reassuring. 

There were several gasps from their friends, some widened eyes from the unexpected response from him. 

Their relationship was exclusive. Their circle was one of the elite in the city, so almost everyone was aware of their relationship. They were also aware that Chan and Jihoon were half brothers, Jihoon’s parents died from an accident years ago, and it was caused by Chan's mother, a mistress of Jihoon’s father. She was pregnant with Chan at that time, when the Lee Family found out about him, their grandfather didn't hesitate and accepted him completely despite what his mother did, saying it wasn't Chan's fault. That was what everyone know. 

But Chan knew it wasn't true at all. Chan wasn't sure at first if Jihoon wasn't really aware of that, but seeing Jihoon’s cold treatment towards him, he assumed Jihoon also believed all the information. He couldn't blame him though, since the lie itself came exactly from his grandfather’s mouth. He made Jihoon believe Chan was his brother. 

But Jihoon didn't blame him straight forwardly, he wasn't aggressive to Chan in any way, but he never once talked to him. Almost never glanced at him. Only giving him cold shoulders like a total stranger. Chan was sad initially, when he was still young, desperately seeking validation from a family member, especially from a brother like him, who obviously loved his friends unconditionally, but soon accepted it after several failed attempts before he even learned about the truth. 

His boyfriends and friends were the same. No insults, no grudges, just civil. 

But after the wedding, everything and everyone became more civil. Heavy and harsh with silent treatments towards him.

“In one condition though,—” Jihoon continued. 

“Jihoon-ah… “ Both Seungcheol and Jeonghan called him firmly yet softly. Coaxing him silently to think about everything first. But Jihoon didn't listen, he just gave them another reassuring smile. 

The air was thick with silence. Jihoon looked at Chan blankly, then he looked straight into his grandfather's eyes. 

“I want their marriage to be a secret. They can marry on paper, but I will be the one to bond with them, I don't care if everyone wants to believe that the child doesn't come from me. As long as I'm their mate biologically, I'm good.”

Their grandfather’s brows raised in amusement, a silent agreement to his condition. Chan felt his blood ran cold at the cruelty. 

“What are you talking—” Chan was about to protest, but when he locked eyes with Jihoon’s grandfather, he fell silent, instantly, like a dog. 

And the reality hit him, he doesn't really have the power to protest. He never has. He was more like a puppet, and never a family. He was always used as a tool, feelings disregarded for their gains —power, security, ego. And control his actions, which erodes his self-worth. He accepted that a long time ago. Being treated like that while having a shelter is better than having nothing at all. 

He stared at the video playing on his phone. 

Minho, beaming, presented a handmade birthday gift to Jihoon, cheerfully wishing him a happy birthday. 

Ironically, Chan and Jihoon have the same birthday, just four years apart. 

Seungcheol laughed while serving all of them, gaze constantly lingering on Jihoon. Jeonghan was looking at Seungcheol lovingly as he caressed his arm before his gaze lingered on Jihoon and Minho. 

In the video, Minho asked Jihoon innocently, “Uncle Hoonie, can you also be my daddy?”

Jihoon laughed softly, “Ofcourse, you can call me daddy from now on.”

Minho’s eyes lit up, snuggled into Jihoon’s arms, clinging. 

The rest of their words were lost to Chan. 

Acute sorrow choked him; his knuckles turned white gripping the phone. Before he became a full time neurosurgeon, Minho had been raised single-handedly by him when Seungcheol and Jeonghan went to different countries for business, with Jihoon. 

But in the past two years, since his husbands and son spent more time together, Minho had grown closer to them instead.

Last year, when Seungcheol and Jeonghan came to Seoul to expand their market, Minho insisted on going with them. 

Chan had hated to let him go, but he couldn't bear to see him upset, so he agreed.

To maintain the family ties, Chan tirelessly traveled back and forth between the two cities, even though he barely saw Seungcheol and Jeonghan, seeing Minho was enough for him. 

This time, canceling work to come here was also to spend more time with his son, and with his husbands, hopefully. But it turns out that no one needed him here. No one even remembered it was also his birthday. 

Him coming here was utterly laughable. 

Chan stared at the untouched dinner laid out on the table, now completely cold. At that moment, he suddenly saw things clearly. 

The unloving husbands, the gradually estranged son... he didn't want this situation anymore. 

Suddenly, he was emotionally drained. The endless hope that he has been holding on, vanished completely just because of a single video. Like an awakening. 

He didn't know how long he had been standing like a soulless figure in the dining area. But eventually, he snapped into reality, then silently repacked the gifts he'd brought for Minho, even though he should be the one to receive one. 

When he was about to drive away, he looked at the huge building one last time, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips. A tinge of bitterness touched his heart. Indeed, he hadn't held onto anger for more than a few hours in years. 

But this time, it wasn't anger driving him. It was a firm resolution. 

When he got home, he packed his things. He had married Seungcheol and Jeonghan to bring them good luck. The heir they've been dying to have. 

When he got pregnant, both of them appeared to embrace him a little, and they shared a time of somewhat deep connection and affection, leading him to believe he had warmed their hearts. They would always ask him if he's comfortable, or if he needed something. He felt a pinch of hope that time, that maybe, maybe their marriage was going to work out little by little. He was wrong. Turns out, it was only their biological instinct. They took care of him because he was carrying Minho. Because it was their pup, not because he was their husband. 

Throughout their years of marriage after he gave birth to Minho, they had always treated him that way–cold, distant, though still patient —like the usual. 

When Minho turned two, they offered him a divorce. It wasn't dramatic. At that time, Seungcheol spoke to him about it like he was only talking about the weather while Jeonghan was peacefully eating across the table like he wasn't involved at all. All while his heart was breaking into pieces.

“You knew from the beginning nothing's going to work out, Chan. You're still young—”

“Hyung wait, can you— please I just, I need time. Can you give me time, please?” He pleaded, pathetically. 

Because he was still hoping. And, probably, he was drowned by his own fears. He broke himself down by his own selfishness. 

He shouldn't have. 

Now, the last bit of hope shattered, leaving him feeling utterly drained. 

He ended up more hurt — to both Seungcheol and Jeonghan, to Jihoon, and to himself. 

That's why he couldn't blame them or anyone at this point but himself. Jihoon and his husbands were clear from the very beginning, they were clear about their intentions. Everything was completely transactional, he was just too blind to hope anything more than that. Just like him, they were forced into this situation too. The only difference is that he was the only one who had invested real feelings, which wasn't their fault either. 

He walked towards the drawer across the room and pulled out the files he had been preparing six months ago, a divorce paper. He thought he would eventually throw it out, but instead, he actually ended up using it. He then placed the divorce agreement on the dining table. He lingered there for hours. He waited for something, a call, or text, maybe a sudden presence. Maybe deep down, he was still hoping for them to at least remember his birthday. Late is always better than never, right? 

But sadly, it didn't happen. 

He sighed softly as he looked at the time. At ten o'clock in the evening, he opened his phone and messaged Seungcheol and Jeonghan. 

“Let's get a divorce, hyungs. I'm sorry you've waited for too long.”

Then, he pulled his suitcase and left. 

***

Chan drowned his time and attention on work. He handled multiple surgeries more than he usually does. It's been four days since he left home. But neither Seungcheol nor Jeonghan called him. Not even Minho.

When he finished his last surgery for the day. He headed to his new apartment immediately with a slight headache.

After parking his car, he was about to approach the elevator when he noticed a figure leaning on the wall near the elevator. 

Lee Jihoon. Chan froze, how the hell did Jihoon find out about his new address? Was it a coincidence? 

Jihoon was already looking at him with a usual calm demeanor. His pale skin glowing, a contrast to his burgundy leather jacket and a black shirt beneath it. 

When he was little, before he finally realized the real dynamic of their relationship, seeing Jihoon would have always thrilled Chan. Even though he couldn't hug him, he'd greet this cold man excitedly with his eyes shining. But now, he merely glanced at his angelic and gorgeous face, Chan lowered his eyes, his usual reaction ever since his excitement towards him was gone.

Jihoon moved out from the mansion right after his college graduation, two days before Chan’s presentation when he was only sixteen. Everyone, including Jihoon, was surprised when Chan didn't react when he found out Jihoon unexpectedly moved out from the mansion. 

But unbeknownst to everyone, Chan finally knew better at that time. A week before his presentation, he overheard his grandfather’s conversation with someone, talking about him and Jihoon. 

He was surprised at that time that he gasped louder than he realized and that's how his grandfather caught him. Turns out, his mother was best friends with Jihoon’s mother but they fed everyone's assumptions instead of clearing things out, they made them believe that his mother was a mistress, and he and Jihoon were stepbrothers. He was so mad and even threatened the old man to spill it to Jihoon but then… 

“Let's negotiate, Chan. You will continue to live this opulent lifestyle and never discuss what you just heard with anyone. I hate to tell you this, but you have to remember, kid, you owe me your life.” His voice was calm and low yet cold and intimidating. 

Chan never dared to defy him in any way after that moment. Their grandfather perse, or Jihoon’s grandfather was a ruthless and predatory tycoon. Not only in business, but in any aspect, he even witnessed him ordering and paying people to kill for him. Jihoon wasn't aware of that, though, because when he was with him, everything would suddenly switch. He would suddenly transform into this very loving and affectionate guardian. At first, Chan thought he was more affectionate to Jihoon because Jihoon was the legitimate family and he was the illegitimate one, but he was wrong. Turns out, he wasn't part of the family at all. He was one of the scapegoats.

When he realized that Jihoon’s grandfather was really a slash-and-burn type of person, he could only nod at every instructions, like a well-trained dog. 

He was about to walk past him when Jihoon spoke. 

“Harabeoji told me to call you, he said he couldn't contact you, neither did I so I came here. There's a small gathering tomorrow, the usual, you have to be there.”

“Do I really have to?” He asked calmly when he lifted his gaze at him, he ignored the fact that Jihoon knew his new address. 

Jihoon paused as they stared at each other, then suddenly, the omega’s gaze flickered down to Chan's lips. He looked away immediately before Chan could notice it, then he exhaled a frustrated breath. 

“Look, I don't care if you don't want to go. But you need to explain to harabeoji about it. You know him.” He said with his usual cold voice, then walked away from him towards his black car. 

No, you don't know him at all, hyung. He thought. 

When Jihoon said “you know him.”, it was just indicated as “You know how much he gets annoyed when you don't show up because he cares about you.” But Chan knew better. Yes, they both know the soft demeanor, but Jihoon wasn't aware of the dark side. He wasn't aware that his grandfather was a complete bastard old man disguised as a strict, tough loving guardian. He wasn't even aware that his old man wasn't Chan's grandfather at all. 

Nevertheless, he couldn't do anything but sighed defeatedly to himself. He knew he had to show up even if he didn't want to. 

Chan has always been a busy man, being a neurosurgeon isn't a joke. It was a full time commitment. Most of the time it wasn't a problem. His husbands never cared anyway. He was only bothered about taking care of Minho, but fortunately, they were understanding regarding his hectic schedule and they got Minho a nanny since there are times when three of them were inevitably busy. 

Working in the medical field has its share of the good and the bad side. Most of the time would be spent in the hospital and only a few weekends will be spent enjoying with his son. 

Though Seungcheol and Joenghan weren't as busy as him, they also have a tight schedule — Seungcheol is a business owner slash CEO of a big company, while Jeonghan has always been an old money rich ever since the existence of his ancestors but managed to build his own vintage boutiques and clothing company that earned a lot of franchises — but they could still somehow find another way to spend time with Minho, which made sense of their inseparable relationship now, unlike Chan who could only be free on weekends, one of the cons of being the most competent surgeon. 

Before Minho became close with Jihoon, any of his husbands would bring him to visit Chan, sometimes separately and sometimes together, bringing food and blankets fully wrapped with their scents — though it was only an obligation and transactional, Chan still appreciated it. But now, Minho would always refuse even when his fathers tried to convince him to visit Chan. 

On weekends, Seungcheol and Jeonghan were never at home. It felt like they weren't married at all, it felt more like a co-parenting. But despite that, he would ignore the painful throb on his heart. A complete contrast of pleasure of the bond running through Seungcheol, Jeonghan and Jihoon blood, especially during sex, overloading their senses of a fulfilled bond — care, love, and their devotion to each other. 

Yes, as per Jihoon's request, they didn't claim Chan. No bites. No mark. They were bonded with Jihoon instead, which is why he never complained when they're absent on weekends. He understood. Or he forced himself to understand. It was a werewolf instinct. Biological. He agreed to this, so he couldn't even call it a betrayal. He knew what he signed up for. He was only the husband on paper, on law. But Jihoon was the real mate, the real lover. 

As their mate, their real omega, Jihoon didn't complain either when they spent their weekdays at home, not even once. So why would he? 

Clearly, they trust each other, because truth enough, after that one transactional sex for a convenient pregnancy, they never touched Chan again. They shared a bedroom, a bed even, but that's it. No intimate touching at all. Every time Seungcheol was in a rut, him and Jeonghan would disappear for a week, and Chan knew exactly where they were. That's how loyal they were to each other.

Initially, the mixed signal from the three confused him. Gave him hope for a moment then shattered him in an instant. Because sometimes, they would treat him indifferently. The next moment they would do something gentle like it was only natural for them. And then, the usual cold shoulder would appear again. 

But honestly? he'd grown accustomed to it. 

He's been hoping a little, until he got tired of it.

***

The next morning, when Chan woke up, the room was eerily quiet. 

Then he realized—

Oh. 

I'm in my new apartment now. 

The apartment was small, but with him living alone there, it still felt spacious with its high ceilings and tall windows that flooded the living room with morning sun. A faint scent of his old books and his cinnamon vanilla scent hung in the air, mingling with the quiet hum of the city below. Books overflowed shelves, spilling onto the floor next to a plush, brand new velvet sofa, clearly a well-loved spot for reading and dreaming. 

Today is the weekend and was supposed to be the family friends gathering in the mansion Jihoon informed him. His heart moved into a familiar clench like how it's always been every time he thinks about it. He never liked any gathering with them, ever. 

Among his husbands, Jihoon and their circle of friends. Only Dokyeom and Seungkwan who would always talk to him often. But of course, it was always Jihoon–before–Chan when it comes to prioritization, which of course, he understands. 

Before the marriage happened, he had been hoping to be close to all of them. But sadly, everyone else only interacted with him formally — calm but distant. 

He thought Seungkwan would eventually end up to be his best friend, but it seemed like the other person was restraining himself, for some reason. A well built friendship should be a two way street, he didn't want it to be one-sided, so when he felt that he didn't belong to their circle, he just decided to let the idea go.

Now, he's completely fine with it. 

He didn't mind them forgetting to invite him once to a scheduled friends dinner. It was disappointing, but he only smiled genuinely to Seungkwan and Dokyeom, and even Joshua when they apologised to him. I'm not part of this circle in the first place anyway. He wanted to say that time but he was too scared to cause drama. So he just gave them reassurance smoothly. 

He didn't mind when they forgot about him during a party for Seungkwan’s collaboration with another big artist last month. It was an afterparty with their friends. Chan was invited by Seungkwan himself. Even his husbands reminded him two days prior. Chan was busy, as usual, but he did tell them he will be out at 7pm to join the party to support Seungkwan. But when he called them because apparently they forgot to tell him the address, no one answered, not even their friends which only means they started the party without him and were busy enjoying it. It was understandable, he thought, he wasn't the main event of that party anyway and so he decided to not voice out his feelings when they apologized again, especially when Seungkwan almost cried when he couldn't contact him later that night.

He went back to the hospital at that time and ended up shouldering another two emergency surgeries to divert his attention. 

“Doc, Seungkwan-ssi and your husband are waiting in your office.” Nurse Yeji informed him when she saw him walking out of the operating room. 

“Who?”

“Jeonghan-ssi”

Chan looked at the wall clock in the semi restricted area, it was already past midnight. The operations were successful, meaning he can go out on his scrubsuit right away. But he was still upset, no, he was angry. He didn't have the energy to unreasonably impute blame to anyone due to exhaustion from his duty. 

He sighed deeply before washing his hands. He looked at Yeji who was still waiting patiently for his response. 

“Tell them the surgery is still ongoing and they can go home, thank you.” He said calmly as he smiled slightly at her. 

The nurse was about to say something, clearly surprised with his lack of enthusiasm, but she decided not to speak and just gave him a simple nod. 

When he came back after 42 hours after Seungkwan and Jeonghan's visit, with his dead phone due to a bunch of missed calls and messages from his husbands and their friends — the house somehow reeked of anxious scents, he then saw Jeonghan pacing back and forth looking at his phone like it could somehow solve his problems, while Seungcheol was typing intensely on his laptop, his back facing the door. They didn't notice the omega walking towards them. So they were startled violently when he called them. Chan, who was feeling more physically and mentally drained, completely forgot his own anger. 

“Hyung, is everything okay?”

Hearing his voice, they both snapped their heads towards him. Then, he noticed Jeonghan’s eyes instantly turned blank. Emotionless, like the usual gaze he offered to him. 

“Nothing.” Jeonghan replied quickly. The alpha didn't say anything and just got back to his work instead. Though Chan noticed the scent around them gradually calmed down, he didn't say anything either.

Chan only nodded once and turned to walk towards the stairs.

“You smell like you need to be scented, Chan-ah.” Jeonghan suddenly muttered, it was barely audible, like he was so hesitant to say it but he couldn't help himself nonetheless.

Chan froze. The sound of keyboard Seungcheol was constantly clicking stopped too. Then slowly, Chan turned his head to spare a glance at the beta, the silence lingered between them. It wasn't because of what he said. In fact, they would always scent him when he was pregnant, but that was it. When suddenly, they would only give him a scented blanket instead of burying their nose to his scent gland like they used to. He purposely excluded himself from any scenting gesture after he realized it was all out of obligation, his husbands didn't say anything regarding that. And that was the time when Minho was starting to put distance between them and starting to build a good relationship with his uncle Jihoon instead. That time, Chan was also starting to get drained from trying to fit himself so bad, even to his own son's life. 

Now, this was the first time Jeonghan mentioned scenting, after a long time.

Chan sighed softly then shook his head as he plastered a reassuring smile. 

“It's okay hyung, we're not biologically bonded so it won't affect both of you… don't worry, —" He took a deep breath as he paused, " —You know you don't have to do that obligation anymore, hyung. I can just ask anyone to scent me, It's okay, It's not a big deal.” He said softly.

Jeonghan and Seungcheol didn't react at first, the beta just looked at him, then his eyes darkened, showed a flicker of something deep— then vanished immediately before Chan could even dissect it. He slowly averted his eyes from the omega and nodded. Seungcheol, who was silent the entire time, abruptly stood up, then quietly walked upstairs towards his office.

****

After showering, Chan put on the robe and rubbed his hair with the towel then dried it with the hairdryer. Then he walked to the closet to put on the blouse and the faded jeans pairing them with the white sneakers. He combed his mullet blond hair letting it free and applied the lip balm on his lips matching it with a silver watch Seungcheol gave to him during his 23rd birthday. With a once-over look at the mirror, he picked up his phone from the side table shoving it into his jeans pocket and walked out of the apartment. 

When he arrived, he heard voices coming from the back garden of the mansion when he got out of his car and his stomach churned, making him take a reluctant stride. 

When he was about to cross the living room from the main door to the door outside the garden. And as he stepped into the spot near the dining area, he froze.

There, in the dining area, Seungcheol, Jeonghan, and Jihoon were kissing each other, which was a very normal scene in their years of marriage if you ask him — 

He shouldn't have stayed, but for some reason, the gravity is pulling his legs still. 

The soft light from the kitchen was on. Standing by the fridge was Seungcheol, Jihoon’s back was leaning on him while Jeonghan was in front of the omega. 

For a few seconds, Chan remained motionless, quietly observing them. Jeonghan's hair was tousled, his suit jacket discarded, leaving only a white polo with sleeves rolled up. Seungcheol still looked frustratingly beautiful even though he looked a little worn out, drained—his usual sharp intensity softened into something heavier, more vulnerable.

As he looked at them, he couldn’t deny the pain of nerves twisting in his chest. It wasn’t just a little unease—his heart was pounding with a mix of different emotions he no longer wanted to entertain. 

A lavender and vanilla honey lingered in the air. Jihoon was in preheat, he concluded. 

Jeonghan and Seungcheol stood on either side of Jihoon now, each of them grabbing his chin to pull him in for a kiss, alternately.

His gaze followed their attached lips, suddenly reminiscing their kisses that one night. 

Jeonghan was the possessive one, his kisses were full of tongue and passion, pushing right his mouth and playing with his own tongue. Always with a trail of saliva leaving their mouths connected.

Seungcheol was a bit lighter in his kisses, surprisingly. An unexpected gesture from someone so huge and have an intimidating aura. Not with any less passion, but far less force on his mouth. More affection and less intense. A thumb rubbing over his chin to calm him down from the heavy kisses from Jeonghan has put him through. But when his craziness strikes, his kisses turn into hunger.

He looked at Jihoon after, he had never seen him this overwhelmed… or glowing. He's so beautiful between the two. Even Chan himself was so mesmerized by the omega's beauty.

“You're so beautiful, love.” Jeonghan said affectionately to Jihoon as his hand absentmindedly caressed Seungcheol's right ear. 

“Hm, I love you both.” Jihoon replied with the same affection in his voice. 

He had never experienced those tender affections from the alpha and beta, yet today he, like the other days, saw it again bestowed upon the same person he couldn't even dared to hate. 

They caressed each other’s faces, continued kissing for a while, still not noticing the presence of the youngest. Seungcheol leaned down to kiss Jeonghan's neck, but his eyes caught Chan's figure, who was looking at them but his gaze was somehow far away, his eyes — blank and unreadable. 

Chan startled when he realized he was caught, then, he saw the alpha’s eyes widened in surprise and stood straight. He realized once more that although he always accidentally caught the three in that same scenario, they never caught him watching them, not even once. This was the first time. Jeonghan and Jihoon noticed the alpha went still, then followed where he was looking. Chan noticed Jeonghan took a step backward once. 

For a moment, silence enveloped them, broken only by the sound of their uneven breaths from kisses mingling in the stillness like a fragile thread ready to snap.

Chan’s cheeks were flushed from the sudden embarrassment, his chest rising and falling as he fought to steady himself. He panicked. 

“I'm sorry, I didn't –I didn't mean to—”

Seungcheol instinctively stepped towards him in two strides, which startled Chan again. He stopped in front of him, enough distance between them, his eyes searching, assessing.

“Do you need anything?” The alpha asked reluctantly, his usual cold voice was uncharacteristically gentle. Too gentle. 

They stared at each other, then out of nowhere, he carefully picked a fallen lashes on Chan's cheek. The omega flinched slightly, he couldn't dissect the actions properly because he wanted to bury himself alive more for looking like a stupid deer caught in the headlights. 

He blinked aggressively, he looked too hazy. Jihoon's scent hit his nose violently, it was too dominant and too sweet. He wanted to bury his nose to the source of the scent. Then suddenly, he snapped at his own thoughts. What the hell, Lee Chan?! He internally reprimanded himself. He blinked again, twice, he tried to stay compose. Seungcheol noticed a slight change in his scent, then it disappeared in an instant. 

“Hey.” Jeonghan, who also noticed it, walked towards them with Jihoon, he still holding the omega on his waist. 

When they were in front of the youngest, who was now looking lost than earlier, Jeonghan was about to cup his cheeks to catch his attention, but Chan stepped backwards quietly. 

“Oh, ah well, I just got here. I'll go check the people outside then.” He stammered as he glanced at the garden, shaking a little. 

Jihoon remained silent the entire time. His face was neutral as usual. 

Chan forced a smile, maintaining to suppress his own scent. Then without looking at them anymore, he bowed his head too low, which he never did! Then walked towards the garden. 

Mingyu and Minghao noticed him right away. 

“Chan.” Mingyu acknowledged his presence calmly, Minghao nodded once before they both continued talking again. 

Chan still felt a clogging sensation in his throat, he approached the table and poured a glass of water. After a few minutes, he didn't notice that someone approached him. 

“A divorce huh?” 

Chan startled and almost choked on the water when he heard a voice behind him. When he turned his head, Wonwoo was leaning slightly on the dessert section table. He was holding a wine glass while swirling it in a circular motion. Chan hates how every time Wonwoo’s gaze felt like he was interrogating him. Chan burrowed his eyebrows, did Jimin tell him about the divorce paper he requested? 

“How did you know—” He stopped abruptly. 

Oh 

Oh, shit. He forgot that Jimin was actually working at Wonwoo’s law firm. The older's lips curled upward to a smirk as he watched Chan gasped at the realization. Chan wanted to face-palm so much but he restrained himself. He tilted his head to show Wonwoo that he wasn't bothered at all. 

“It's none of your business, Wonwoo-ssi.” He said in a sassy way. 

He averted his eyes from him when Wonwoo was still smirking as he continued to stare at him, as if amused. He was starting to feel frustrated so he rolled his eyes sharply then he left him there. He heard him chuckled but Chan chose to ignore him. 

Dokyeom and Seungkwan with Vernon lingering, playing with the omega’s hand, approached him. 

“Chan-ah!” Dokyeom's voice was enthusiastic. 

Chan smiled slightly while searching the place. When he locked eyes with Joshua who was now with Wonwoo, he responded to Joshua with a smile when he smiled at him, completely ignoring the other alpha’s eyes. 

“Oh Chan, you're finally here.” Soonyoung caught his attention, cheering loudly, and he's obviously drunk. Jun was laughing at Soonyoung beside him as he walked to snuggled his nose to Joshua's neck. Chan eventually fell into a conversation with them about work for more than fifteen minutes. 

They all got distracted then when the door opened, they all looked towards it as Jeonghan, Jihoon, and Seungcheol with Minho on his arms emerged from it. 

A silence around them gradually settled then. He knew that everyone, even after years, was still feeling awkward at their situation. This was the main reason why he doesn't like going at this stupid intimate gathering. A bitter taste filled his mouth. This was used to be his home, yet he felt like an outsider.

He wanted to talk to them about the divorce, but that could wait until tomorrow. He didn't want to make this night about him, he just wanted to leave as soon as possible. 

Minho noticed him, “Daddy!” He called him enthusiastically like how Soonyoung called him, which earned genuine chuckles from others. He raised his both arms towards Chan, like he was expecting him to get him from Seungcheol’s embrace, but Chan pretended he didn't hear him call his name. 

“Where's harabeoji?” He asked Seungkwan instead. 

“Oh, they were in the office. They said they're going to have an important conversation, you know, business.” Seungkwan said as he leaned on Vernon slightly, carefully reading the room. 

Chan gave a noncommittal smile, offering a brief nod before heading inside the mansion, he walked past the three but,

“Daddy?” Minho's small voice called him again, clearly taken aback from his sudden lack of attention. 

Chan paused before looking at his son again, he didn't even try to approach them, which he usually does everytime they got separated for awhile, like a possessive father he was. This was the first time they saw each other since Minho came back from Seoul with his fathers. So naturally, everyone would expect him to react excitedly but Chan just smiled softly and shook his head. 

“I have to go, Minho-ya.” He said calmly, his eyes lack of the usual warmth, then he averted his eyes to Jihoon, avoiding the pairs of eyes beside him, 

“Hyung, please inform harabeoji that I passed by, thank you.” 

He could feel the heavy silence, the stares from everyone. The gasps from Seungkwan. The shared glances. Then without waiting for a response from any of them, he turned around and walked out calmly. 

His words struck all of them like a heavy stone against their ears—solid, weighty, impossible to ignore. Because Chan would always talk to Minho in a third person narrative like — Daddy needs to go, sweetheart. Or daddy this, daddy that. Not casually, never casually like what he just did minutes ago. 

He also never called Jihoon hyung, not this openly, but then now… 

Everyone was clearly taken aback, even Jihoon himself. And to be honest, he didn’t like the suffocating feeling it brought, yet he couldn’t understand why Chan's voice carried such quiet resignation, he knew everyone else there noticed that too, felt that, as if Chan had already accepted how fleeting these moments were.

***

The next three days, after an eight-hour surgery, Chan returned to his office exhausted. As he was walking, he was also thinking how he would spend his weekends now that he decided to limit himself from spending time with his son. When he opened the door, he found Seungcheol, Jeonghan and Wonwoo on the couch, having a quiet conversation and then stopped when he entered. 

He froze. 

Due to exhaustion, he completely forgot that nurse Yeji literally informed him about them being here two hours before he finished the surgery. 

Wonwoo straightened his position, while both Seungcheol and Jeonghan remained silent, Chan averted his eyes before clearing his throat. 

“I'm sorry for making you wait, we suddenly encountered an unexpected complication during surgery.” He explained to them, he was trying to be professional here. 

"Hmm, it's okay." Seungcheol reassured, but the guilt still hit Chan when the alpha glanced at his watch and leaned on the back of the couch. 

“Shall we start then?” Seungcheol said again as he looked at Wonwoo. 

“Yeah, sure.” Wonwoo said. He gestured to Chan to take a seat. Chan followed silently. 

Wonwoo took something out of his black suitcase, a document. Chan knew exactly what that was. His gaze flickered to his husbands, they looked so calm and composed. He expected those reactions, what he wasn't expecting was his own reaction to their reactions, he felt so utterly pathetic. A cold feeling enveloped his chest. 

They have been married for five years, secretly. Only their circle of friends, Jimin (his lawyer) Changbin, Yeonjun, and Yeji were aware of their situation. Chan's friends and Yeji tried to convince him to divorce them. He didn't listen though, even after the wedding, when Seungcheol and Jeonghan remained tangled up with their first love, he still didn't listen. And thinking about that now, it was actually a big mistake, he shouldn't have expected something to shift. But he did anyway, and now he's pathetically paying the price of his own stupidity. 

Jeonghan's voice snapped his train of thoughts. 

“We’ll agree to the divorce and leave you all the assets, Chan-ah. We just want custody of Minho.”

Chan stared at him, his face neutral. Not assessing, not studying or anything. Wonwoo was surprised once again, this was far from the Lee Chan he know, but he didn't say anything. He silently put the divorce paper, other files and a pen for him to use for signature. Jeonghan was expecting any violent reaction from him either, but instead, Chan gave a slight nod and didn’t even glance at the files piled before him. His face was blank, distant, as if his mind was miles away. Jeonghan furrowed his brows, confusion flickering across his features. In all the time he had lived with Chan, he had never seen the omega look so composed when it comes to Minho.

He glanced at Seungcheol, who was looking at the files intensely. Anyone would assume he was calm, but Jeonghan knew better. He clearly wasn't expecting Chan's calm demeanor either. They talked about this with Jihoon last night. Minho may be closer to them and Jihoon now, but Chan was still his father. They knew Minho would be so devastated if his parents will go through a divorce. They were firmly convinced that by doing this, Chan would give up on the divorce, because he couldn't bear to be separated from his biological son. 

But they were wrong. 

Chan, taking their wedding ring on his finger, leaned towards the table then put it in front of them calmly. Jeonghan’s fist tightened as he looked at the ring, he didn't expect that a certain action from the omega would put him on edge in an instant. 

“Chan...” He called him firmly before he could even stop himself. 

“You're the one who bought it, hyung. I just thought I need to give it back. It's not a big deal. You can just sell it or throw it out or something, I don't mind.” Chan said too calmly without looking at any of them, he was focused now on the papers. 

He set aside the files where the agreement regarding the assets were stated. 

“The transferring of the titles will take too much time so I won't take any of the assets—” He said, he was met with silence so he spoke again to clear everything. 

"—Don't worry. If you want full custody of Minho, he's all yours." 

Chan's voice was flat, devoid of emotion. Then, without hesitation, he signed the divorce papers, ignoring the fact the Seungcheol and Jeonghan's signatures wasn't still on the papers. 

After that, he looked at his husbands back and forth, quietly memorizing every piece of their faces. He wasn't just going to lose them, he was literally giving up on his son. 

Minho’s face really looked like Seungcheol, his humor was almost topnotch as his and his cleverness? Everyone would always say he took it from Jeonghan. Ofcourse. But when you get to know Minho more, you can see how he resembled both of Seungcheol and Jeonghan in every aspect, as if Chan wasn't the one who carried him for nine months. They resembled each other so much, they even love the same omega. 

For years, Chan had been in pain, wondering why he couldn't be like Jihoon. Now he thought, if they didn't love him, then that's okay. He finally learned now that sometimes, letting go was the easiest way to not lose yourself in the process. Just let go. 

Five years had passed. It was time to move on. Without Seungcheol, without Jeonghan, and without his son. 

The office was eerily silent so he spoke again to Wonwoo this time, ignoring the tension between them. 

“Jimin-ssi mentioned the waiting period for 30 days, what does that even mean? can't it be processed as soon as possible?” He asked. Wonwoo blinked at the blunt question. 

“The 30-day waiting period before a divorce, often referred to as a "cooling-off" period, Chan. It is a legal mechanism designed to prevent impulsive or spur of the moment decisions to end a marriage. It allows couples time to reconsider their decision to divorce.” Wonwoo explained. 

Chan wanted to laugh so bad, because everyone, even Wonwoo himself knew that this marriage should've ended a long time ago, or the day after he gave birth to Minho. 

“Hmm” He simply replied instead as he stood up and was about to walk to his table. 

“Did you eat?” Seungcheol suddenly asked. Chan heard him but he didn't realize that the question was directed to him, so ignored it. 

“Chan.” Seungcheol called his name this time, and it finally caught his attention. He looked at the alpha innocently, as if there's a question mark floating just above his head.

The other three stared at the omega, really stared. He looked so exhausted, and he looked like he lost a lot of weight. An eight-hour surgery is not a joke. What more a time more than that. It would really take a toll on your energy, and Chan seemed like it was physically hitting him hard. He was obviously so, so tired. Due to exhaustion, Chan didn't noticed how Seungcheol's jaw tightened, or Jeonghan's eyes softened as his gaze lingered on his weak figure, or Wonwoo’s grip on his clipboard unconsciously tightened as he reluctantly looked away from the omega. 

“Did you eat?” Seungcheol asked again, his voice was too gentle now. 

Before, Chan would definitely faint from happiness just hearing those kinds of tones from them, but now, he couldn't even feel anything after hearing it.

“Oh, yeah, I did.” He lied. But he have no idea about the fact that both of his husbands could read him like an open book after years of living with him. They knew instantly when he was lying, unbeknownst to him. 

The alpha sighed nonetheless at that before nodding. “We have to go, then.” He said. Chan hummed without looking at them, he pretended doing something on his computer until the door finally closed. 

He sighed deeply as a heavy silence hung in the air around him. Then, without thinking so hard, he opened his low drawer and pulled a bottle of wine. He took a shot, then again and again and again until he was too drunk to continue. 

He didn't realise he dozed off until a knock jolted him awake. He was about to get pissed off when it was pushed open without even waiting for his permission, but the harsh words from his throat died instantly the moment he saw his son with Jeonghan. 

“Daddy!” Minho ran to him and hugged him, he didn't have time to react, he reluctantly carried him and put him on his lap. 

For almost two weeks, Chan didn't go home. Minho has been calling him again and again through his nanny's phone, which was rare. But he purposely didn't answer any of it. 

"Dad, I missed you, when are you coming home?” Minho asked him innocently. 

Chan glanced at Jeonghan briefly, who was observing him. He then caught the beta eyeing the bottle on his table. Chan discreetly got it and put it below the table before he directed his attention to Minho. 

“Hmm, did you eat already? Did you bring food for me?” Chan smoothly changed the topic. 

Thankfully, Minho got distracted when he mentioned food. 

“Yes! We brought you your favorites dad.” Minho enthusiastically informed him as he walked towards Jeonghan. 

Chan walked towards them, his knees buckled slightly from dizziness but Jeonghan didn't say anything, he just quietly arranged the foods, and indeed, it was all his favorites but he didn't say anything either. After that, they ate quietly, with Minho who was oblivious to the situation, filling the silence. 

Minho ate happily, asking, "Daddy, I have a practice tomorrow, can you come and pick me up after?” 

“I'm busy Minho-ya, you can ask your Papa to pick you up instead.” He said softly, ignoring Minho's smile faltered. 

Minho was too smart for his age, so Chan knew he was starting to notice his distant behavior. Chan decided he needed to detach himself not just physically, he needed to emotionally do that too. It was the easiest defense mechanism to avoid drama, to save himself from the severe pain. He wasn't even trying to be discreet because he thought Minho wouldn't care at all, but now seeing his son’s face falter hearing his rejection, he had to look away as he was fighting to stay calm. But as soon as he averted his gaze, he locked eyes with Jeonghan's. The beta was obviously reading him, he looked like he wasn't understanding the cues either, at all. 

A knock on the door broke the tension, much to Chan's relief. 

“Come in.” He said. 

Nurse Yeji entered and paused instantly when he noticed Jeonghan and Minho. He greeted Jeonghan and Jeonghan nodded back quietly. 

“I'll just come back after you finish, Doc—” 

“No, it's okay, what is it?” He said reassuringly. 

Yeji suddenly smiled brightly as he handed him an envelope. 

“Doc Kim told me to give this to you. He also told me to inform you that Director Min approved his request to cover a week off for you, Doc, he said it was a gratitude for handling his father’s health for the entire three weeks while he was away.” 

Chan furrowed his brows. “It's my duty to do that, he didn't have to—” 

A small voice cut him off. 

“Daddy you have a week off? It means you can finally go home with us then?” Minho was looking at him expectantly. 

He sighed deeply as he shook his head, “Look, Minho-ya…I really can't—”

“Ofcourse baby, daddy will go home with us tonight.” Jeonghan suddenly chimed in, it was his first time speaking that Chan almost forgot he was actually there. 

Chan looked at him, his brows furrowing further. 

“...Hyung” He warned him softly yet resolutely, but Jeonghan just looked at him, his eyes flickered with something that Chan couldn't name. 

“I need to talk to you about something anyway.” Jeonghan explained gently. 

“You can just call me—”

“Daddy please… “ Minho pleaded, Chan was bewildered at his sudden behaviour. Before, Minho seemed relaxed every time he wasn't at home. 

He stared at him, then glanced at Jeonghan briefly before looking at Yeji. He smiled at her. 

“Thank you, Yeji. You can go now.” The younger then smiled and nodded back before going out. 

“So? Daddy?” Minho spoke again, Chan stared at his son's puppy eyes, he clearly couldn't escape this one. 

Chan sighed softly as he ruffled his son’s hair, “Okay, finish your foods now”

Minho was so delighted and he nodded eagerly as he continued to devour his food. 

They were eating peacefully when Jeonghan's phone rang. It was Seungcheol. 

“Hey love.” Jeonghan started quietly as he looked at his owned watch, then he looked at Chan. 

“Hm, wait, Chan-ah, what time can we go home? Do you still have something to do after this?” He asked, they both knew he wasn't busy anymore, so the younger couldn't lie even if he wanted to. 

Chan shook his head. Jeonghan nodded. 

“We’ll be there in 20, yes, okay, bye, love you.” 

“Let's go?” He said as soon as he hung up the call. 

Chan reluctantly nodded, “Go ahead, I just need to do something quickly.”

Jeonghan, thinking he was going to clean his office briefly, nodded before he gestured to Minho to go outside. 

Chan indeed cleaned up the office, it wasn't really a lot. But for some reason, he's feeling uncharacteristically nervous so when he was about to go out when noticed the bottle of wine, he didn't hesitate a bit and chugged the remaining alcohol quickly. 

He was surprised when Jeonghan was still outside his office when he finally got out. The hospital floor was surprisingly quiet, no medical staff roaming around. Jeonghan started walking when he noticed him, Chan didn't say anything and just followed them silently towards the elevator while Jeonghan and Minho were having a conversation about his fencing competition next month. Seungcheol and Chan were the busiest among them, so apparently, Jeonghan and Jihoon were the ones who stayed by Minho’s side when he started training. Seungcheol was aware about that but Chan? no, he only found out about it over dinner one time from Minho, accidentally, and worse? it was during his preheat. And then, they had a huge fight that night after Minho fell asleep, at least for him, because it was the first time he got so mad at them openly, he had a mental breakdown, almost fell into subdrop, his scent reeked smoke and burned cinnamon and vanilla, he even shouted at them while crying furiously, something like, “Just because I wasn't bonded to both of you, it doesn't mean you have the right to fucking disregard me when it comes to my son!” After he said that, he actually got scared instantly, vulnerable and emotionally fragile, he really thought he made both of them mad, but surprisingly neither Seungcheol nor Jeonghan said anything to interject his accusations, instead, they apologized, sincerely. They took care of him, calmed him down gently to avoid falling to his subdrop. He didn't know what happened after that, he was too embarrassed to ask, and fortunately, none of them mentioned it either. 

When the elevator opened, he ignored the two and quietly walked towards his own car. But before he could walk further, a hand abruptly stopped him. He looked at Jeonghan then glanced at Minho, who was now waiting patiently in front of Jeonghan's car. 

“Just come with us, I'll drive.” Jeonghan said. 

“No, I'll just drive separately, hyung.” He refused, pulling his hand from Jeonghan but the beta only tightened his hold. 

“You're obviously drunk, Chan.” He said firmly. 

Chan stilled, they locked eyes as he paused, trying to feel his body’s condition, he thought he wasn't that drunk. He was about to reason out again when he was suddenly being pulled closer to Jeonghan's body, then he felt the beta’s hand on his waist as he whispered in his right ear. 

“Behave, baby… or do you want me to carry you instead?” He whispered. 

Chan gasped violently, then he looked at the beta like he was so offended, ignoring how Jeonghan's voice sent a shiver down to his spine, and worst, the beta seem to noticed that, he could feel his blood rushing to his neck and face when Jeonghan smirked as he looked at the goosebumps on the omega's skin. Chan got pissed off so he firmly tried to step away from him again, but Jeonghan held him more firmly on his waist as he guided him towards his car where Minho was standing innocently. Chan wanted to curse so bad, but he held himself back for Minho's sake. He glanced back at his car again, too tired to fight back now. 

“But my car—” He said reluctantly. 

“Hmm, don't worry, I'll handle it.” Jeonghan replied softly this time. 

Chan was so convince he wasn't really that drunk, even though the alcohol was clearly starting to affect him. He regretted now that he drank that remaining wine. He knew that Jeonghan knew he wasn't fully sober when he relent to him so easily, because he's the most stubborn when he's sober or too drunk. 

When they got back home, the alcohol was completely altering his cognition now, he didn't even notice Seungcheol sitting quietly on the single couch in the living room when he cross the room towards the staircase. He's so tired from work and got more and more dizzy from the long drive. He just carried on like it was still his home, neither Seungcheol nor Jeonghan called him out when he entered the masters bedroom.

Clearly, he wasn't in his right mind at that moment— finally completely drunk, because he didn't notice when Seungcheol went inside, found him lying on the floor, and carrying him gently towards the bed. He didn't notice when Jeonghan entered twenty minutes after taking care of Minho or them conversing while he was being wiped clean with a soft wet towel, he didn't notice someone changing his work clothes into a pair of pajamas, he didn't notice hugging a figure as he murmured random medical abbreviations and the soft chuckles after that. 

The entire time, he was just totally blacked out. 

Chapter Text

When Chan woke up the next day, it took him a while to realize he was in the master's bedroom he was too familiar with. Thankfully, when he woke up, no one was there aside from him. He didn't dwell too much about what exactly happened last night. Instead, he decided to wash up.

He was about to go out when he noticed something—the interior design of the room didn't change entirely, but his vanity mirror, including his remaining clothes on the closet wasn't there anymore. He smiled bitterly before going out. He didn't ask anyone where his things were, instead, he walked towards the guest room across Minho’s room, and just as he expected, all of his things were there, neatly arranged. 

When he padded downstairs, Seungcheol and Jeonghan were already in the dining area, eating with Minho. He entered without acknowledging any of his husbands. 

“Good Morning, Daddy!” Minho greeted him. 

Chan smiled. He's gonna lie if he would say that he didn't miss that enthusiasm from his son. 

“Good Morning, sweetheart.” He greeted him back. He noticed in his peripheral vision how Jeonghan’s gaze lingered on him longer, but he ignored it. Seungcheol, on the other hand, was eating silently. Chan sat beside Minho, across Jeonghan. 

They were eating peacefully when Seungcheol’s phone rang, Chan accidentally saw the caller ID. 

Love ❤️

Chan's grip on his glass tightened, he thought he no longer cared, but indeed, years of love couldn't be just erased so easily. 

The nickname made his stomach churned, so he looked away immediately while still trying to remain his face looked calm. He knew Jeonghan was observing him. 

Seungcheol noticed the gradual tension but answered the call without hesitation, his voice gentle. 

“Hey, goodmorning.”

Minho also noticed that it was Jihoon, because Seungcheol always spoke this gently to the omega. Forgetting Chan was there, he asked excitedly, 

"Appa, is that uncle Hoonie?!” 

Seungcheol calmly nodded at him as he continued talking with Jihoon on the other line. 

Minho almost asked to join the call but then remembered Chan disliked Jihoon. He never saw them talking even once, so he thought they hated each other. Jeonghan and Chan noticed the child's good mood visibly soured. He really wished his daddy and his uncle Hoonie could get along someday. 

“Eat your food, sweetie.” Jeonghan said to him, he obediently nodded. Chan didn't say anything. 

Jihoon said something from the other line, making Seungcheol frowned. The beta noticed it, he looked at Jeonghan, and just like that, they both kissed Minho on the forehead, and left without finishing their breakfast. Chan ignored the hesitant glances from them and continued eating. 

“Daddy, I'm full, let's go.” Minho suddenly said. 

Chan understood that he wanted to know what happened to Jihoon, but he said nothing regarding that.

"You haven't eaten much, Minho-ya. Take some for the rides.”

“No, I'm full, dad” 

Chan didn't insist. In the car, Minho immediately called Jihoon using his nanny’s phone. Chan used to reprimand him for using too much phone, but when he saw him using it now, he didn't say anything. Even the nanny was surprised but she stayed silent. Jihoon seemed to reply that he had a cold but was fine. With how quiet the car was, Chan could hear Jihoon’s voice from the phone. His voice was hoarse; Minho looked like he was still worried and said that he would visit him after practice. 

Chan glanced at him, Minho looked guilty, probably because he had planned to have dinner with Chan later. The child secretly glanced at him when he finally hung up the call. 

“Daddy, can I visit uncle Hoonie later?” He asked reluctantly. 

“Hmm” He said in an instant, meanwhile Minho was clearly surprised. 

“Really?! You're going to bring me to him?” He asked him bewilderedly, but his voice was now laced with excitement. 

“No, I can't pick you up, Minho-ya. Your Appa will bring you there, I have work today.” He explained calmly. Nonetheless, Minho’s happiness was still palpable. 

At the training center, Minho hugged Chan. 

“Bye, daddy!” 

Chan nodded, then Minho skipped inside, oblivious to his father's coldness. 

Back at the hospital, Chan learned from Changbin that Seungcheol had an emergency and the morning meeting was postponed to the afternoon. 

“Stop updating me about them, Seo Changbin.” He said softly, but his friend noticed the coldness beneath his voice. 

Chanbin stammered, “Hey, I'm sorry, did something happen?” He asked carefully. 

Chan then sighed deeply, then shook his head. 

“No, just… stop wasting your time spying on them.” He said. 

“I'm sorry, I was just— hey, don't get mad… ” Chanbin replied, visibly guilty. Chan chuckled. 

“It doesn't matter, we're divorcing.” 

Changbin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?! You're what?!”

The door was slightly ajar, so the commotion drew the attention of everyone outside, Chan rolled his eyes as he walked towards the door and locked it. Changbin was still looking at him in disbelief. 

“Wait! Since when?!”

Chan grimaced.

“Last week, but we are still waiting for the 30-day waiting period, Can you stop yelling?” Chan hissed at him. 

“Oh my god! I have been so preoccupied with my own life, why didn't you tell me?!” He put his hand on his mouth when Chan glared at him. He calmed himself down. 

“Okay… okay, how? Who filed it?” He asked again, more calmly and seriously now. 

“I did, I was actually preparing for it since like six months ago.” He said calmly. 

“How about the custody of Minho—”

“I gave it up to them.” He said, his voice cracked a little. But he was still smiling as he looked at his friend. 

Changbin froze. He didn't say anything at first, he just stared at him. He was utterly speechless. Changbin thought Minho was everything to Chan. He really thought he would die just to be with his son all the time, but...

“Babe, are you okay?” He asked genuinely, his voice quite now, Chan almost melted at the concern, but he smiled at him reassuringly. 

“For countless nights, I had clung to the hope that Minho would eventually engage with me again...you know that. I had silently whispered my prayers to the moon goddess, and yearning for the moment when my husbands might look my way, truly see me. I was so devastated when I realized that even Minho was starting to avoid me. I was hoping to fix everything. But those dreams had been dashed now, Binnie-ya, their eyes were always being clouded by an overwhelming affection for Jihoon-hyung, blinding them to everything else, including me. And you know what? That's okay. They clearly love each other, and we don't have the right to take that away from them. It would be unfair to Jihoon-hyung.”

Silence fell for a moment. Then suddenly, Changbin hugged him. He chuckled slightly at his reaction, but when he felt him shake, his polo shirt felt wet, he froze. He tried to take a look at his friend, but the beta hugged him tightly. 

“Hey, what the hell babe? Are you crying?!” He asked, ofcourse he knew his friend was crying, but he tried to break the tension by teasing him. 

“I'm sorry you had to go through this… ” Changbin’s voice trembled, his voice was muffled now. Chan cleared his throat, he stayed composed as he tried to calm him down. 

“It's okay, babe. We're okay.” He said again, reassuring. 

Changbin abruptly pulled away, he locked eyes with him.

“Shut up, please. Can't you at least cry with me? Stop pretending to be strong, babe, not with me.” Changbin whispered and hissed at him weakly, which made him chuckle yet it broke his heart in the most gentle way. 

Silence fell around them again, but when Changbin cupped his right cheek, they stared at each other, and then—a single tear traced a path down his cheek. He smiled genuinely as he leaned into his friend's palm, letting his tear falling silently, no sounds, he's not even sobbing, he just let another tears followed. Changbin didn't say anything again, he just stayed and let him process his emotions. 

When they both finally calmed down, they remained like that for a few minutes, letting the silence sit comfortably between them, until Chan's hospital telephone rang—indicating a new admitted patient. Changbin looked at him hesitantly, visibly concerned, but he nodded reassuringly. 

“Call me when you need anything please, okay? anything.” The beta said firmly then finally left when Chan really had to go to the operating room. 

***

After his week off —which he only spent at home resting—for another two weeks, Chan drowned himself to work for days. Night was creeping into day, dragging its darkness into it, again and again. Chan couldn't say if the sun had already risen; heavy clouds were crowding the sky, drawing a charcoal curtain over the hospital glass. All he knew was that it had been raining for days now; he couldn't help but imagine himself and everything being soaked through, on the mountain, alone, his blankets, his shoes, his hair, and of course, the firewood and its crackling sound seeping through his empty and peaceful mind.

Before his last surgery, a cancer patient he has been monitoring for months now, passed away. As someone who worked for years in the medical field, the situation wasn't new, so it shouldn't be a big deal to him. But for some reason, his heart was heavy the whole day after while still fulfilling his other responsibilities. 

The sky had greyed up when he finally finished his last surgery on Sunday. Weekend. It should've been his usual day off, but that was before. 

When he was on his way out, his phone rang. It was Minho, he's been calling him a lot lately and he has been ignoring all of them too. But now that he wasn't busy anymore, he reluctantly answered it. 

He heard a gasp from Minho on the other line.

“Daddy, are you free?” 

Chan walked briskly when he noticed a rain started to fall again, when he entered his car, he asked his son, “Why, are you okay?”

“I want kimchi jjigae, daddy. Can you make it for me please?”

Chan paused. They weren't officially divorced, and Seungcheol and Jeonghan hadn't asked him to officially move out. He believed they wouldn't mind if he went home to cook. But he was so tired and he had plans tonight. Minho was still his responsibility, but he had been detaching himself from him, he thought it was a necessity. 

“I'm busy today, maybe next time.”

In the past, Chan would never say no to his husbands and especially Minho, but now he had refused him constantly. Minho knew he was busy, but it seemed like he didn't care today. Chan could sense his son's stubbornness from the other line. 

"Why are you always busy? I want kimchi jjigae, dad!” 

"Minho-ya..." Chan felt a headache coming in. 

“You don't love me anymore! I hate you, daddy!”

Minho hung up angrily without waiting for his response. Chan shut his eyes, when he opened them again, he stared blankly at the pouring rain in front of him. Then, all of a sudden, the tears he had fought to keep at bay now spilled over, despite his best efforts to remain composed. His shoulders trembled, his heart hurt so much, not from fear, but from the venom slowly spreading in his relationship with his son. Each call, each text, each conversation dripped with gradual hatred from Minho, sweet yet toxic like honey. It hit him then, he literally gave up Minho’s custody. And thinking about that, he sobbed harder. 

“I'm sorry, baby...” He whispered, his voice trembling.

He cried in his car for a while before driving away. When he got back to his apartment, he had some noodles and opened his laptop, trying to review the cases for his next surgery. 

After a few minutes, his phone rang. His brows furrowed when he saw Seungcheol’s name. Without energy, he declined the call. But then, it rang again. He reluctantly answered this time. 

“Where are you?” Seungcheol’s cold voice rang. 

“Home, why?” He responded calmly. 

It's funny how he moved out from their house so smoothly, except for Minho who was so oblivious of the situation, neither Seungcheol nor Jeonghan bothered to mention about him moving out to a new apartment. 

“Minho has a fever, he's been wanting to see you. Are you busy?” 

Chan fell silent for a while, his heartbeat racing from the news. He looked outside his window, the rain was still pouring. He then sighed deeply. 

“Okay, on my way.” He finally said.

“No, stay there, I'll pick you up.” Seungcheol said quickly before ending the call. 

Chan, ever the stubborn, didn't listen and decided to go by himself after sending the alpha a quick message.

To Seungcheol-hyung: 

You don't have to come, hyung. I'm driving right now, really. 

And then, he drove away. 

After a few minutes of driving, he noticed a commotion in the middle of the road. When he saw someone lying unconsciously in the center of the crowd, he immediately got out of his car, trying to fit himself to take a good look at the person. 

“What happened?” He asked loudly, the rain was pouring too hard for them to hear each other. 

Chan averted his eyes at the surroundings. Clearly, it wasn't an accident, no damaged vehicle was seen. When he learned it was an epileptic episode, he immediately did his best to help until the ambulance arrived. It took them longer to wait and stabilize the patient. After that, he continued driving to Seungcheol and Jeonghan’s house, completely soaked from the rain. 

When Chan finally arrived, the rain and storm somehow calmed down too. But he was surprised to find a lot of people in the living room —Aside from Seungcheol and Jeonghan— Wonwoo, Joshua, Jun, Deokyeom, Seungkwan, Mingyu and Jihoon were also there. Chan noticed Jihoon’s concerned face first, but it disappeared instantly the moment the omega noticed him. He saw Seungcheol at the living room, standing, brows furrowed, he was on a phone call, but stopped the call abruptly when he noticed him. 

“Where have you been?” Seungcheol asked calmly, but his voice was still laced with usual coldness. 

Chan, oblivious to the situation, asked quietly as he looked at everyone back and forth. “Uh, what happened?”

The room was heavily silent. Chan's anxiety somehow spiked when he remembered Minho, he was about to ask about him when a sudden warm body hugged him. He gasped at the sudden impact, he tried to look at the person, but then the tangerine scent hit his nose. Seungkwan. 

Chan was embarrassed at the sudden attention so he tried to separate himself from the hug, but it only made the older omega tighten the embrace further. Chan's left hand clutched at his shirt. 

“Uh, hyung. Are you ok—” 

Before he could finish his question, Seungkwan then cupped his cheeks the moment they separated from the hug. He looked at him, inspecting any harm. 

“Where the hell were you Chan-ah? We couldn't contact you for hours, did something happen on your way here?” He asked genuinely. 

Chan, ignoring everyone's eyes, nodded slightly as he spoke. “There was an emergency in the middle of the road in the south area, I had to do something to help.” 

He could hear several sighs of relief around him, but he didn't look at any of them. But he couldn't help but be curious, he's genuinely concerned. When everyone was starting to converse with each other quietly, he innocently asked Seungkwan, he leaned slightly to his right ear, whispering. 

“But hyung, did something happen? Why is everyone here?”

The omega stared at him after that, his eyes flickered with something Chan couldn't name. 

“You're so oblivious, I can't believe you're actually one of the smartest surgeons in this country.” He teased gently. 

Chan blinked, confused, so he ignored the words as he looked away from him, and then suddenly, he sneezed. “Shit, sorry.”

He noticed Jeonghan’s head turned towards him, but he didn't say anything. 

“Where's Minho?” Chan asked Seungkwan. 

Just then, Seungcheol suddenly grabbed his hands without warning, not too hard but not too gentle either, he pulled him towards the room upstairs. Chan was too stunned to react, he glanced back at the living room to understand the situation, but everyone was still busy talking to each other—unbothered. But he noticed Jihoon looking directly at them, then looked away as he was walking towards Jeonghan and Joshua.

Chan, oblivious to the tension from earlier, only then realized the alpha’s cold demeanor when they finally entered the room, Seungcheol made him sit down on the vanity chair, then quietly walked towards the closet room, then after a few seconds, he emerged from it with a black hoodie and a pair of pajamas, then handed it to him. Chan ignored it. 

“Where's Minho, hyung?” He asked instead. 

“Take a warm bath and change first, then I'll bring you to him.” He gestured his hand towards the bathroom. Chan reluctantly accepted the fabrics and obeyed. 

He sneezed several times while taking a warm shower. His headache was now palpable. When he got out of the bathroom, Jeonghan and Seungcheol were talking quietly at the edge of the bed. They both looked at him when he sneezed again. 

“Are you done?” Jeonghan asked softly, he nodded as he sneezed again, he sighed frustratingly. 

Jeonghan stood up. “Minho’s fever was still high, you can go see him, but not too close. You're about to get sick too Chan-ah, you need to stay away from him for a while.”

Chan was too aware when it comes to health problems, so he didn't question anything, he understood it completely. He nodded and walked towards the door as he wiped his nose. 

He had likely caught a chill, though less severely than Minho. 

“Probably, I'll just go back when his fever completely cools down. Just inform me, hyung, I have to go.” 

When he padded outside, the living room was now empty. He heard footsteps behind him, the lemon green tea scent filled his nose, it was Jeonghan. He asked him as he noticed the rain starting to pour heavy again. 

“Did they leave already? Like all of them?” 

He turned his head, Jeonghan was staring at him, his gaze unreadable. He was about to walk downstairs when another voice reached his ear behind them. 

“Stay the night, Chan. The water on the road is getting high, it's not safe to go out around this time.” Seungcheol said calmly. 

“Hmm.” Chan knew he was right, so he just nodded. He continued to walk downstairs though, then abruptly paused after a few steps. 

“Can I borrow a laptop?” He asked as he turned his head towards them again. 

Without saying anything, Seungcheol walked towards his office, then seconds later, he returned with a laptop and its charger. He walked past Chan towards downstairs and silently set everything up. 

“Thank you…” Chan said when the alpha finished. 

Seungcheol nodded once and walked upstairs quietly again as Jeonghan followed him behind. Chan sneezed again, he concluded then he really had a cold. Just then, Minho’s nanny emerged from the kitchen, bringing a ginger tea with her. Chan smiled at her when she handed him the tea. 

“Thank you.” He said, she smiled back and bowed slightly before walking away. 

Chan then started working, reading through a bunch of diagnosis and laboratory results. Scanning every possible mistake from almost every case he has handled. After an hour, he felt even worse. He leaned on the table and unconsciously fell asleep. 

When he woke up again, rain was still pouring. He noticed Minho looking at him upstairs. 

“Appa said I can't go near you daddy, or else you'll get sick.” Minho said innocently, pouting. 

“How are you feeling? And why are you still up? Are you okay now?” He asked softly. 

Minho shook his head, “I just want to make sure Appa wasn't lying when he said you're here daddy.”

Chan looked at him, the last call with him ran through his mind. He sighed and held back his tears. Then, he looked Minho in the eyes while gripping the laptop tightly with both of his hands, and giving his son a feeble yet genuine smile he could muster. 

He physically felt a little better now. He knew Minho wanted him to play with him, but seeing him still fragile, he smiled at him reassuringly once again. 

“Hm, you need to rest more, Minho-ya. I'd still be here when you wake up.” 

Minho, despite the weakness corrupting his body, visibly lit, “Really?”

“Hmm, rest now.”

Minho nodded eagerly before walking towards his room. 

Chan returned to work on the laptop silently, half an hour later, Minho woke up again and realized that Chan was so focused he didn't even register him going out again or what he was saying. Unbeknownst to Chan, his son got a little bummed out because of that. 

Just then, Jeonghan emerged from the room. Minho hugged his leg and couldn't help but sigh, "Papa, Daddy is so busy.” He whispered with disappointment. 

Jeonghan hummed in response, then carried Minho in his arms towards his room, minutes later, he returned and went downstairs alone. He sat down while Chan was sitting on the floor.

Chan hadn't even noticed him approaching. After a while, when the omega heard another movement, he startled. His eyes widened as he glanced over, when he saw it was the beta, he didn't say anything and just went back to his work. 

Jeonghan didn't say anything either. He just watched him working. Chan was too busy to get bothered from the stare, so he ignored him. The beta actually had his own things to do, but he watched him with interest for a bit. When it was almost time, he gave one last, unreadable look before turning and leaving to his own office. 

Chan had read tons of cases that night. The next day, even though he wanted to go to the hospital, it was still raining heavily, and he felt like he couldn't afford breaking his promise to Minho this time, so he waited for him to fully recover. He was still working late into the evening. Even during dinner, he was still having a phone call. He excused himself and went outside just near the dining area door. 

“—Can you send me his health history? Yes— Really? What's his vital signs now? Check his GCS score, tell me when it's below thirteen—” 

The calls kept going, then another phone call, then another, until Seungcheol seemed to finally lost his patience. He grabbed the omega’s hand gently yet firmly, he guided him towards the chair, Chan was startled at first but followed him anyway as he was still talking with someone on the phone. He managed to eat his dinner with Jeonghan and Seungcheol constantly refilling his plate, though he was the last one to finish. 

After dinner, Chan headed to the living room to keep reading the laboratory results. Neither Seungcheol nor Jeonghan bothered him again, opting upstairs and finishing their own works. 

Around nine at night, Minho finished his bath and was ready for bed. He saw Chan still working, the keyboard clacking a bit loud, and suddenly remembered something. 

"Daddy, why don't you go back to your room and Appa and Papa’s room to work?" He asked innocently. He suddenly recalled that in the past, even when his daddy had work at home, he'd always done it in his and Seungcheol and Jeonghan’s room, never in the living room. 

Chan's fingers paused on the keyboard. After a couple of seconds, he finally said, "Working here is fine too, sweetheart.”

Then he added, ”Sorry sweetheart, Is daddy being too loud? Can you hear me working from your room?” 

"No, you're not bothering me, daddy." Minho yawned. "I'm gonna go to sleep now. You should get some rest soon too, daddy. Goodnight.”

Chan wanted to ask him for a goodnight kiss, like the usual, but he held himself back.

“Hm, goodnight, sweetheart.” He said instead as he watched Minho walking upstairs towards his room.

After a few minutes, Chan decided to go to Minho’s room. When he found him sleeping peacefully, he turned off the main light in his room, then walked downstairs, turned off the light in the living room as well. The only source of light now was from Seungcheol’s laptop. 

It was past two in the morning when Chan decided to rest. Fall had definitely arrived. It had been raining the past couple of days, and the temperature had dropped quite a bit. Maybe he'd sat in front of the laptop too long and caught a chill from the draft. The moment he closed the laptop and got up to shower in the guest room, a sudden shiver ran through him, followed by a flurry of sneezes. 

After his shower, he came out with a runny nose and a dry, burning sensation in his throat. He wanted to continue working, but he was too tired now. So he decided to take a nap, planning to wake up at five. But then he awoke with his head throbbing violently. 

Realizing he might be catching a cold, and knowing it was too late for the house’s staff, Chan headed downstairs himself to make some honey ginger tea to ward off the chill. He also took medicine for possible fever. 

Just as he finished his tea and got back upstairs, he heard Seungcheol’s voice. “You're awake already?”

Chan turned his head, the alpha was leaning on the doorway, and surprisingly, Jeonghan was also there, looking at him silently. Chan shook his head once.

"Almost in bed.” He said, the alpha nodded. 

He was exhausted and didn't have the energy to talk much. With that, he turned to head back to the guest room and was out cold pretty fast. 

He wasn't sure how long he'd slept, but through the daze, Chan thought he heard Minho’s voice. 

“Daddy, your skin is super hot!”

Soon after, another footsteps filled the room. Chan tried to open his eyes, but his head felt so heavy and foggy he just drifted back to sleep. When he finally woke up again, all he felt was a worsening throbbing headache, weakness, and his throat was on fire. 

He wanted to get up and grab some water, but as soon as he moved, someone was there in an instant, steadying him.

"Want some water first?” Someone said, Chan blinked, then finally opened his eyes. 

Standing right there in front of him wasn't Seungcheol nor Jeonghan, but Jihoon. Chan was too stunned and too weak to talk, Jihoon had already turned to pour him some water. In no time, he was handing him a glass. Chan took it instinctively, about to thank him, when he realized his throat was so sore it hurt to even speak. 

Chan watched him reading the medicine labels. He couldn't remember Jihoon interacting with him longer than ten minutes, let alone taking care of him this way. He was completely baffled. It would naturally make more sense to him if he woke up to the omega kissing Seungcheol and Jeonghan. But witnessing him taking care of him instead, his brain couldn't process it. 

He barely had two sips of water when Jihoon turned and picked up his phone.

"Hyung, you can bring the porridge now.” He said calmly. 

After the last two sips, his mind finally cleared a bit. Chan went to put the glass on the nightstand next to the bed, but then he froze again. 

It hit him then: he wasn't in the guestroom right now. He was in the master's bedroom. He wanted to say something, but held himself back. He noticed the sky outside the window was no longer dark and gloomy. 

Thinking about it, he suddenly remembered he had a scheduled operation for today.

"What time is it?" He couldn't help but ask. 

“Almost ten.” Jihoon replied calmly. 

Hearing that, without hesitation, he removed the IV that was hooked on him, slowly. He got up from the bed so suddenly that Jihoon couldn't help but hold him when his knees buckled from dizziness. 

“Where do you think you're going?” Jihoon asked. Just then, Jeonghan entered with a porridge in his hand. Chan removed Jihoon’s hand on his elbow and forced himself to get up. 

Jeonghan watched him also, “Where are you going?”

“I need to go, I have a scheduled surgery today.”

The beta sighed heavily but Jihoon didn't say anything.

“But you still have a fever, Chan.” Jeonghan said firmly.

Chan paused, since when did you care? He wanted to talk back, but since he didn’t want any unnecessary drama, he did not say anything else. Instead, he got out of bed, found some casual clothes in the closet, which he didn't care at the moment whose clothes it was, then changed. A moment later, he grabbed his phone on the nightstand, and was about to leave the room. 

He then caught Minho taking a peek at the door, he looked concerned, "Daddy, you're still sick?” 

“No, I have to go now, Minho-ya.” 

He saw a medicine for fever on the bedside table, so without asking, he took it and walked past his son then went outside. He woke up last night feeling much better than today. Now all he felt was nausea but he still continued to walk through the hallway, he noticed Seungcheol’s office was open. A bedside lamp was on. He saw him reading on a laptop, but he looked away when the alpha glanced his way. 

“Going somewhere?” Seungcheol asked as he stood up, Chan nodded. His throat was sore, and he didn't want to talk.

He put on a coat and just then, Jeonghan went out with Jihoon and Minho from the room. 

“Chan, the flood is dangerous right now, you can't just leave by using a car.” Jeonghan offered. 

“Really? How did Jihoon-hyung come here then?” He asked calmly, but Jeonghan paused at his question. Jihoon looked at him with his usual stoic face, not saying anything, Chan was starting to get annoyed how unbothered the omega was. 

Chan didn't notice Seungcheol walking towards them. Then unexpectedly, the alpha touched his forehead, he instinctively moved away but Seungcheol held him on his waist to prevent him from moving. No one said anything, then he withdrew his hand, saying,

"The doctor is waiting downstairs. Go back inside, I'll ask him to check you first." He left without waiting for his response.

Chan was about to protest when he noticed the helicopter outside, just at the center of the wide pasture backyard. 

Jeonghan, seeing Chan's confused look, said calmly, "Even though the rain has slowed and the floodwaters have receded, the roads aren't cleared yet, so cars can't get through. But you had such a high fever, your grandfather was so worried, so Jihoon brought Dr. Hwang with him to be brought over by helicopter to check on you.”

Worried? Your beloved’s old man would still be at his own office, drinking sensibly, even when someone kill me right in front of him. Chan thought. 

“You said you have to go to the hospital to work, you can't go there by car, you know. Do you want to ride a helicopter instead?” The beta added coolly, obviously teasing now. 

Chan glared at him. He knew that Jeonghan knew about his fear of heights. 

Asshole. 

He remembered years ago during his internship in a trauma unit in Iceland, he fainted inside the medical helicopter after saving a patient hiking in the middle of Nordic Island. He literally had a panic attack the moment he looked down from the helicopter. Now he didn't know how the beta knows that incident, but he was too egoistic to ask. 

When he remained silent, he didn't notice Jeonghan smiling, the beta went back to the room then returned with a bowl, he asked him. “Are you hungry? This one's cold already. You need to eat something warm.”

Chan, as stubborn as he was, shook his head. But Jeonghan ignored him and went downstairs anyway. Chan looked at Jihoon, who was watching them silently. 

“I'm sorry, hyung. You really didn't have to do all of this.” Chan said, he didn't know what was happening, and he didn't want to know to be honest. But he felt like he had to apologize for wasting the older omega’s time. 

But as usual, Jihoon didn't say anything, he only stared at him. Chan realized the omega and Seungcheol shared the same personality, too stoic and silent. Chan felt a little uncomfortable from his gaze so he averted his eyes. 

Fortunately, minutes later, the doctor walked along with Seungcheol. Without saying anything, they went back inside except Jihoon and Jeonghan. The doctor said he was much better but should continue taking medicine. He said that due to over fatigue, he became very susceptible to illness, and he recommended some vitamins before he left. Seungcheol went outside too. Chan assumed they were saying goodbye to Jihoon when they stayed outside for too long. 

He opened his phone silently to inform someone in the hospital about his condition as he heard the roaring of the helicopter outside. He was surprised when Nurse Yeji said there's someone—a neurosurgeon from another country—who was covering for his surgery until tomorrow. He didn't ask her how but he knew Seungcheol or Jeonghan had something to do with it. 

When the beta and alpha returned with the food, Chan remained silent, he looked at the porridge intensely, his appetite was completely gone. Seungcheol leaned back on the headboard of the bed, watching him.

"After all these years, you're still so stubborn huh?” He suddenly said, his voice wasn't mocking or mad, it even sounded too soft. And Chan felt frustrated just by hearing it. 

He rolled his eyes sharply despite the gnawing pain on his head, then he looked away. 

The alpha chuckled softly before he sighed.

“Okay, I won't talk anymore. Just eat.”

***

Chan spent another two nights there before he finally, stubbornly, went his own way the moment he found out that the road was finally out of danger even though his own body was still fighting for its life. In those two nights, they didn't ask anything much except about his condition. They only monitored him quietly and alternately while one of them needed to work in their own office. 

When he was about to leave, Minho only just realized he was leaving and looked so disappointed.

"Daddy, you're going back to work already?”  

Chan crouched down and ruffled his hair. "Hm-hm, Take good care of yourself, okay?” He said gently. 

"Got it!" Minho hugged him, almost refusing to let go."School starts in a few days. Will you take me on the first day, Daddy?” 

Chan paused then and when he noticed Minho’s smile falter at his silence, he looked at both Seungcheol and Jeonghan. They weren't officially divorced yet but he felt like he needed to start asking for permission. 

Jeonghan, noticing it, crouched down next to them before cupping Minho’s cheeks.

“Daddy will go with you baby, don't worry. But first, can you go inside and wait there? we have something to talk about, just real quick.”

Minho glanced at Chan reluctantly, but when he nodded once while giving him a reassuring smile, Minho’s mood visibly changed and he giggled excitedly while nodding to Jeonghan to obey his instruction. When his door finally closed, they both stood up. 

“You know you don't have to ask permission when it comes to him, right?” Jeonghan started. 

“But the custody—”

“We didn't say we're going to restrict you from seeing him Chan, we wanted him to stay with us, but that's it. You can still spend time with him for as long as you want.” He said firmly. 

Seungcheol remained silent beside him, watching them. Chan didn't say anything either. Because no, he couldn't tell them that after the finality of their divorce, he was planning to leave the city or country. Though he didn't know yet, he hasn't decided yet where to go, but he was sure he's going to leave everything here and start a new life somewhere. He nodded when he felt their gazes were still lingering on him. After saying goodbye to Minho once more, he finally left the house. 

But when he got back to the parking lot of his apartment building, he was surprised to see Jihoon on the same spot he saw him here the first time. Chan paused. Jihoon was leaning calmly as he watched Chan start walking towards him. 

“Hyung, what are you doing here?” Chan asked calmly even though he was still so curious how the omega knew his address. God he really have no privacy, did he? 

“Are you really going to give up Minho’s custody?” Jihoon didn't even beat around the bush and just bluntly asked him.

Chan almost laughed. His sleep–deprived brain took a moment to catch up. Jihoon was never the type to meddle, even when he's the real mate of his husbands, he never once confronted him about his relationship with Seungcheol and Jeonghan. 

But now that Minho was involved…he's suddenly bothered. And why now? Why didn't the omega ask him when they were at Seungcheol and Jeonghan’s house? 

Suppressing his irritation, he kept his tone civil.

“Did you come here just to ask me that?”

“Minho is your child, Chan. So why?” Jihoon pressed. 

Chan processed the sudden interrogation. Watching Jihoon’s earnest expression, he couldn’t help but find it ridiculous. What is happening to this man? No matter how humble his words sounded, there was still that hint of superiority in his voice. 

Do you still really believe that I'm your biological brother, hyung? Do you still think that I'm nothing but an illegitimate child? And suddenly, you thought you could dictate my life now? He thought. 

“I just thought he's better off with fathers” He said instead, his voice sounded so bored. 

He didn’t wait for Jihoon to keep talking. He turned to leave. But he'd barely taken a step when the omega grabbed him by his arm to face him again. 

“You are his father too, Lee Jung Chan.”  Jihoon said firmly. 

He pulled his arm free from Jihoon’s hand. His patience was finally gone so he hissed at him openly before he could even stop himself. 

“Why are you so bothered about this? Shouldn't you be happy that I'm actually trying to leave without a fight? I'm sick of living this pathetic life, hyung. Can't you just take care of them instead? they're all yours in the first place anyway.” 

Jihoon went silent. Their eyes locked once more, Jihoon just went through a heat cycle, so it's just natural that he looked worn and weathered, his cheeks hollowed slightly and his cheek covered in light pretty freckles. Yet, with his soft mesmerizing features, even this disheveled appearance made him stand out more, glowing still. 

Obviously, it was that face that had drawn his husbands in, made them lose all sense of reason, and willingly stayed by his side despite him being unable to get pregnant, if Chan would be in their place, with that alluring demeanor, he surely would do the same. 

He caught himself just in time and paused, realizing he was thinking ridiculous things, he looked away from Jihoon’s gaze and swallowed the rest of his sentence. Then without saying anything, he turned to leave and fortunately the omega didn't stop him this time. 

When he got back to his apartment, he didn't spend time resting any longer, he went back to work immediately. 

A whole week passed smoothly, he was getting better. Yeonjun visited him once to personally invite him to his engagement party. But when he found out that he was getting a divorce, he almost forgot his real reason for coming to Chan, and Chan was about to tease him by not showing up for too long if only he didn't know what was happening in his friend's life right now. He’s literally preparing for his wedding, and his fiance—Choi Soobin— happened to be Seungcheol, Wonwoo and Vernon’s cousin. If he wasn't Yeonjun’s best friend, there's no way he would go there. Their marriage was still a secret so they had to be careful. But of course, Yeonjun didn't care about that, and Chan will never miss his best friend’s special day either. So naturally, everyone will be there for sure, including him. Just like with Changbin, of-fucking-course, they spent another session of crying again. But fortunately, Chan wasn't as vulnerable as he was with Changbin. It hurts, sure, but he finally accepted the reality of their situation. He didn't even have the energy to hold any grudges to anyone. 

It was around lunch time when he took a break after surgery and decided to go back to his office, but just as he was about to take a nap, his phone rang. 

The caller ID made his breath hitch, Jihoon’s grandfather was the one calling him. He rarely call him, but every time he did, it's either he would request him to personally treat a friend or… he fucked something up again. But despite his gnawing anxiety, he answered the call. 

“At the mansion, ten pm sharp.” The old man said with his commanding voice, then without waiting for his response, he hung up. 

Chan opened his mouth then closed it again, his grip on his phone tightened until his knuckles almost turned white. From the tone of that voice, he didn't feel good, something was wrong. 

He couldn't stop thinking about it the whole day, a patient almost died on the table during his surgery around three pm, after that, he really tried his best to focus. Everyone around him noticed it, because it was the first time seeing him distracted at work, but no one said anything. He knew his sour and anxious burning scent was leaking throughout the operating room. So before the next surgery, he took three pills of suppressants and applied several patches to block his scent. 

At exactly 9:30 in the evening, he walked out of the hospital and decided to go to the mansion. When he arrived, Jihoon’s grandfather’s butler was already waiting. That's when he realized —he really fucked something up. This butler, he was the one who always served any punishment for two years now after temporarily replacing the old butler. He tried to stay composed when they walked to the study, but the moment they entered, Chan froze, he locked eyes with the old man in an instant, who's sitting on the center of the U sofa, his expression a mix of amusement and something darker. 

Before Chan could even step closer, he felt fingers encircling his neck with a grip that was so nauseating and threatening. The old man glared down at him, irritation etched into every line of his face.

“You're such an ungrateful bastard, aren't you?” He hissed, his voice low and dangerous. 

Instantly, his eyes brimmed with tears, he's so confused, he wanted to ask what happened but his throat constricted as the old man's hand tightened around his windpipe, the air being stolen from his lungs. And then, the pressure on his neck disappeared, he gasped violently as he was catching air. 

He looked back at the old man bewilderedly, he was now back on the sofa, leaning calmly. From where Chan stood, his gaze was a storm of mocking and frustration. But his scent—he seemed totally pissed off. His alpha scent dominated the room. Though Chan has been practicing to get used to the alpha’s intimidating scent but biologically, it still did something cruel to his damn omega nature. 

His gaze was a deep-rooted cruelty that seeped into Chan's bones, chilling him to the core.

“What–what did I do?” He rasped, the words barely escaping his lips, but the old man remained silent, his lack of response echoing Chan's fears. “But I don't think I did anything—” 

Suddenly, he was forced to fall down to his knees. Then— he heard it. His eyes widened. A rope. A fucking rope. He froze once again, sweat clinging desperately on his forehead, he remembered when those people who received this kind of punishment from Jihoon’s grandfather—those were the ones who fucked up,—they were stripped naked and dragged back and forth across a hard-fibered rope, the friction of which would saw into their flesh, causing severe injury. He trembled, he didn't even have the time to beg for mercy when an extreme and agonizing pain registered in his brain. 

He whimpered from the pain. 

Lash after lash. 

Whip after whip. 

He felt like he was going to die— he couldn't even describe the pain it was giving to his body.

The whip lasted about twenty or more. Until he dropped his whole body to the ground. Then it finally stopped, he knew the repeated impact of the rope caused severe tearing and bruising on his skin. His brain barely registered the old man's words, the next thing he knew, he was being guided to sit up again, he was too weak, his vision dimmed, but he noticed the old man walking towards him, and then he crouched before gripping his jaw. 

“First, you didn't tell me about your divorce. And then, you've been paying several people to help you move out of the city?” He said coldly, huffing, mocking. 

With tears blurring his vision, he blinked furiously and, in a moment of desperation, he shook his head weakly to deny the accusation. But a hand just grasped his neck again, he gasped, a choked sound escaping him, and then it released him so abruptly that he stumbled backward, colliding painfully with the butler’s leg behind him, causing a painful friction on his back. 

Chan wanted to scream that he doesn't have the right to dictate his life now but he knew he couldn't. Not just due to weakness, but that would end his life hundred percent sure. It's just basically a suicide. He couldn't even utter a single word even if he wanted to.

Their eyes locked. 

“Fine, do whatever you want, I'll let you go. But don't you dare snitch on me and tell Jihoon everything you know. I won't hesitate to kill you, child.” He paused, 

“... There's an engagement party at Choi’s residence tomorrow, his father asked me to take you there. Be presentable.” He said calmly. 

“Drive him back to his new address.” Chan heard him say. The next moment, he was in his car while the butler was the one driving. Chan couldn't still fully dissect what just happened, he turned his body sideways to avoid any friction from the chair on his back. The butler didn't say anything, as usual. Chan knew they were paid to shut their mouth and to just follow a command like a well trained-dog they are, just like him. 

He didn't know how the butler managed to open his apartment, but he didn't dwell on that. On the floor in his living room, he was lying on his stomach, he blinked, struggling to clear his foggy vision, but everything remained a blur. He was too weak, too drained from blood loss, and his heart ached—not just from the physical pain, but from the betrayal he was doing to himself. From the hurt. From the pain. From everything.

He passed out with that position. 

The next day, mornings at his apartment were usually calm except the turmoil inside him. But without thinking much, he tried his best to treat the wound by himself, he couldn't risk anyone finding out about what happened, and then he carried on with his usual morning routine. 

Just as he was about to go out of his room, his eyes caught the colorful hanging calender near his vanity mirror, he then realized that his heat cycle was just around the corner. Without hesitation, he opened the drawer next to his skincare container, he pulled a three cm syringe and the small vial suppressant. It was his monthly suppressant. 

After giving birth to Minho, he never went through heat cycles again, not because there's something wrong with him. But because he purposely stopped going through it, initially he's only been using pills, but then after two years, it wasn't as effective as before, he would only use that at work for emergency. So he proceeded to use the injection version, it was more expensive, but more potent and effective. It actually blocked almost everything— his scent, his wolf instinct, his ability to shift and most importantly his heat cycle. The doctor warned him to used with caution and only twice a year though, but a week off from work didn't sit right with him so he used it monthly instead. 

When he arrived at the hospital, he didn't even have the time to get a morning coffee. A bunch of patients suddenly arrived from a rear-end collision accident. It was an emergency, he and all medical staff were busy accommodating all the patients, so the encounter from last night evaded his mind completely. 

Time passed quickly, and when around three pm, which was the time he was planning to log off, another patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident that required emergency imaging, and he was the first surgeon to finish the surgery, everyone was still in the OR, so naturally, he had to take care of it, another surgical intervention for broken skull, and subsequent ICU care before moving another patient into a scheduled rehabilitation.

At around six pm, he didn't hesitate and finally left the hospital after making sure everything was already stable. He took a bath immediately without thinking much, his mind was only thinking about the time, he needed to go there on time, but just as the water touched his skin on the back, he flinched. A gasp left his mouth and his eyes stung from tears falling involuntary, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. 

“It's okay, you just need to go through this day. Just a little bit more, it's okay…” He whispered to himself, then proceeded to do the things accordingly. 

He wore a black retro-style blazer coat, and paired with black slacks, it was the most loose coat that he owned, he needed to avoid any friction to prevent further damage on his wound. After getting ready for a couple of hours, he picked up Changbin before going there. They arrived at the venue, dressed to the nines and right on time. 

Both families were a tycoon, they'd invited tons of guests for this big engagement party. They'd only been there a little while when guests started showing up. When Chan entered the venue, his eyes immediately caught his husbands and their friends, they were already looking at them, and just the usual, they would only nod to acknowledge each other’s presence. But of course, as usual, when in a crowded place like this, Seungcheol and Jeonghan would act like they don't know him at all. 

He averted his eyes when someone from the crowd approached him and Changbin, from one to another. It wasn't a surprise, Changbin’s a known engineer, he owned a company that develops electronics and does a bunch of cloud computings. On the other hand, Chan knew he was in demand in their field, his specialty wasn't common, he's aware of that. But he was never convinced when his friends told him that he was the most famous surgeon in the medical world in the country, they would always tell him that he's a known neurosurgeon not just in the city, but in the whole country. 

"A lot of people were so intrigued about your mysterious life just because you don't have any social fucking media." Yeunjun said to him once over dinner. 

When they finished greeting several people, they chose a more discreet space. Chan and Changbin were planning to keep a low profile tonight, they just have to make sure Yeonjun will see them, and then they'll go home, he can just use his work to escape the party. But just as he was about to pick a table, a voice erupted around the room. 

“Binnie!! Channie!!” Yeonjun, with Soobin beside him, walked towards them. 

“Oh I should've put an electric tape on his mouth.” Changbin murmured. 

Both of them weren't introverts, but they both hate being the center of attention. And now, with everyone looking in their direction, all they could do was to smile widely at the approaching couple instead of cursing their best friend casually. 

Soobin laughed softly when he noticed their demeanor, fortunately, Soobin knew their weird circle already because he became close to them years before his engagement with Yeonjun. They both hugged them. 

“I'm so glad you're here, he's been talking about you guys for hours.” Soobin said with too much fondness in his voice. 

“I'm so sorry you have to marry him, just so you know, he's so annoying!” Changbin teased. 

“Yah! Keep your mouth shut or I'll kill you while you are sleeping tonight.” He hissed at him. 

The four of them laughed for a while, talked and continued to tease each other until some elders arrived, so the couples had no choice but to go back and leave them. He and Changbin stayed on the table in the left corner, away from the spotlight, across from his husbands’ table on the other side. Seungkwan and Dokyeom weren't present, so no one from his husbands nor their friends bothered to talk to him, it wasn't the first time. That was their set up since day one anyway. 

He was taking a sip of wine when Changbin suddenly rubbed his back, he choked on his drink. He instinctively leaned forward, away from the beta’s hand. Changbin stopped abruptly. 

“Hey, what–are you okay?” Changbin asked him as he leaned forward, studying his face, his voice laced with concern and panic. 

Chan had to take a minute to steady his breath before he nodded at the beta. He looked away then. 

“Hm, I just saw something ridiculous.” He said, trying to stifle a laugh, though he failed, he didn't talk again. 

“Are you sure?” Changbin asked again, Chan looked at him this time straight to the eyes, then plastered a genuine smile. 

Changbin’s gaze lingered a little longer before letting it go, he knew the beta smelled something wrong but he was still thankful that he didn't push further, he's also aware how Chan gets mad when he's being pushed to his limits, so he remained silent. 

Chan averted his eyes to avoid inviting more suspicions but just then, he locked eyes with Seungcheol...then his eyes flickered to the figure meter away behind the alpha, Jihoon's gaze was intense, his eyes narrowed as if he was reading him desperately—then he noticed the omega's gaze glanced on his shoulder (or his back). He straightened his posture and looked away immediately and focused on his bestfriend and fiancé in front, but he couldn't help but to realize that Jihoon was actually getting bold on his personal business lately. He ignored the thoughts.  

After an hour in the middle of the event, Changbin saw his engineer mentor, he knew the beta wanted to greet that person so badly, he was just reluctant to leave Chan alone but the omega pushed him to do it.

“It's okay, I'll just go to the balcony at the back to take in some fresh air.” He reassured him. And true to his words, the moment Changbin left his side, he removed himself from the crowd. His eyes caught Wonwoo staring at his direction, he chose to ignore it and continue walking away. 

When he stepped through the door towards the balcony, a night breeze of air slapped his skin softly yet harshly. The view outside was immaculate, no people, just the wide pasture — a land covered with grass and other low plants that was more suitable for grazing animals, especially cattle or sheep. It has a soft light being set up and lined up on it just enough to support the moonlight to reveal the beauty of the entire place at night. 

When he averted his eyes to the sky above, a slight smile plastered his face from how beautiful it was. But for some reason, he wondered what kind of emotion his eyes were currently displaying, he wished he could ask the sky while he locked his eyes with it without any uneasiness in his chest. He exhaled slowly, the weight of peace and loneliness settling over him at the same time. 

Waves of dizziness came and went, forcing him to pause and rub his temples. At this point he didn't know anymore when it was from long hours of work or from the harshness of that single rope whipped at him last night. Either way, he refused to look away from the sky. He imagined himself driving for hours to escape the pollution, the noise, the light, and the life he's living right now, him speeding past the strip malls, industrial buildings, and finally turning onto a narrow road with edges bound together by the stitching of telephone poles and punctuated by infrequent gas stations and the odd trailer. 

“Just a little more, Chan.” He murmured to himself, a weary smile tugging at his lips once again. It wasn't a false accusation when Jihoon’s grandfather mentioned him paying several people. It was true—over the past few weeks, he had been quietly preparing himself, deciding what to keep and what to leave behind. He ran several errands alone in between his breaks at the hospital. He already paid someone owning a certain real estate to sell his apartment discreetly and quietly after he moved out. He paid someone in the government to hide his identity in case someone will come and forcefully ask about him. He even made an arrangement with the CEO of a certain travel agency to erase his footprints while he roamed around the world trying to find somewhere to settle down. It wasn't easy just by using money, but surprisingly, his profession and the name he built for himself was a big impact to go through all those arrangements smoothly.

Since the old man knows now about it, it was actually a big help despite receiving that life-death punishment. It was worth it after all. He didn't care if he was going to be an ungrateful bastard in Jihoon’s friends and family’s eyes, he shamelessly clinged to things that had never truly belonged to him. It was more unbearable than any of their opinions. 

“How's the divorce?” 

A voice behind him startled him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He froze then, he knew that voice too well. He swallowed hard, his nerves tightening as if a knot had formed in his stomach but he remained composed to make his face appear calm, like he was unbothered about what he did to him last night. He turned his head to take a quick glance at Jihoon’s grandfather. 

Chan focused on his question, and thinking about it now, he realized something. 

Their divorce agreement stipulated he wanted nothing—no asset division, no custody battle. He expected the divorce certificate to arrive swiftly. 

However, forty three days had passed since he signed the agreement, and there was still no news from Wonwoo or Jimin, not even from Seungcheol or Jeonghan. He has to ask them tomorrow then. He looked away from the old man. 

“We've been waiting for the 30-days waiting period, but it should be done by this time. I'm planning to ask my lawyer tomorrow.” He explained calmly. 

The old man didn't say anything. Silence fell around them, it wasn't heavy as he expected, Chan was so numb at this point. He glanced at the old man once again. 

“...Can I ask you a favor?” He asked quietly. 

He swallowed hard when the older huffed, it seemed like a mocking sound but he took it as a permission to speak again. 

“...Can you deliver the news about my death after I leave the city?” He asked. 

Jihoon’s grandfather looked at him, tilted his head in confusion. Chan understood the reaction so he spoke again to clear something. 

“Fake death, I need you to fake my death. Everyone was aware that I'm your grandson, so if I vanish completely, the people will come at you. But if the news about my death will come from you, no one will dare to question anything.” 

Chan thought he heard a rustling sound and footsteps inside, in the hallway, so he turned his head to take a look at the source of the sound through the glass door slide, but he couldn't find anyone there. He flickered his gaze to the old man to check if he heard the same thing, but the older seemed unbothered by his surroundings. Chan let it go when he concluded it was just the butler or the old man's other minions. 

The old man chuckled after a moment of silence. 

“You're too obedient and too smart to die anyways, so I'll let you have your way for the last time.” He said. 

Chan nodded as he felt relief spread through his chest. Then, his eyes squeezed shut tightly as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him again. The pounding pressure behind his eyes came on for a while now, relentless and unforgiving. He shook his head slowly, trying to clear the fog clouding his mind.

When he glanced back behind him, the old man wasn't there anymore. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he glanced toward his phone. It was almost nine. Ignoring the missed calls from Seungkwan, Seungcheol, Jeonghan and Minho, he decided to return as he typed a message to his group chat with Changbin and Yeonjun. 

“Binnie, I'll go ahead first, emergency surgery. Take care, babe, update here when you get home.” 

Then he added, 

“Congratulations, @Yeonjun babe! Enjoy the party.”

His hand froze when he noticed Jimin's name among the names lining up on the notification. The message was about an hour ago. He opened it. 

“Everything’s settled, Mr. Lee. Come with me to the court tomorrow morning, then I'll congratulate you after that.”

Chan chuckled at the message. Jimin may be ahead of him for years, but he was a good senior to Chan during high school. Chan learned from him to never be afraid to stand up for himself, he also learned to be more independent because of him. Years ago, Jimin also went through a divorce, it was worse actually, because he was literally excluded from his own pack. At least, Chan won't have to go through physical pain just because of the breaking bond. He and Jimin are both omega, and apparently they also hate people who love to disregard a male omega like them, so they somewhat share something similar. 

He didn't check his friend’s responses, he forced himself to walk discreetly. Contrasting to the main hall outside, the hallway was empty and shrouded in silence, bathed in the soft, muted glow of night lights casting gentle shadows on the walls. 

He moved quickly, the place was familiar to him a little, Yeunjun used to bring him and Changbin here during college days, he walked towards the safe and small elevator, which brought him directly to the parking lot in the corner area. And then, he drove away from the place without sparing another glance.  

Chapter Text

Chan woke up to an email from the Director, “Dr Lee, You have an emergency medical mission at Busan, 3 days starting today. Good luck and take care.” 

He didn't hesitate even for a second, he sent a message to Jimin right away if the older omega could take care of everything for him. He may be desperate to be free from his miserable life, but treating people to the best of his knowledge will always be his top priority.

Before he smoothly boarded the plane with his luggage, Jimin replied to his message.

“I'm sorry Chan but you must be there to sign some important papers, I'll ask them to reschedule the date, update me when you're back.” 

Chan sighed in defeat. His medical mission will last for three days. Not bad. 

Once he was seated—facing the window because he was too scared to cause friction on his back—he reviewed past case studies, eager to hit the ground running at his destination. 

An hour into the flight, an announcement came over the PA system. "We have an urgent situation in business class. If there are any doctors or nurses on board, please come to assist.”

Chan took a glance on the other side, instantly, murmurs and panic filled the cabin. Unlike the rest of the plane, the business passengers had an air of seriousness about them. They all seem unbothered. 

Many passengers in the economy class, unfamiliar with such situations, feared there was a problem with the plane. 

The flight attendant rushed to soothe them. Chan unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up but because of the abrupt action, his vision suddenly dimmed. 

He blinked twice, before shaking his head to steady his focus.

"I'm a surgeon. I can help.”

The attendant's eyes lit up the moment she saw him. 

“Dr. Lee!” She acknowledged him, Chan barely reacted to her strange reaction when she quickly led him to the patient. 

Once inside the business class cabin, he saw a man in black beside the child, his back was facing on them, so Chan couldn't see his face. He was about to ask when he saw the child’s face, he was shocked and rushed over before the attendant could explain. He didn't have the time to look at anyone’s face and quickly went to the child who was clutching his neck, face red, and struggling to breathe. 

“You're okay.” He instinctively whispered to the little figure, his voice soft.

He took the child and gently laid him on the ground, he noticed the man beside him stilled, but he was too focused to bother and check. 

He sprayed something on the child's face, picked him up, and pressed his hand to his stomach. He did everything he could until the child was stabilized. 

After that, Chan turned his head and looked over. 

He froze the moment he locked eyes with the person. 

Minghao. 

The alpha was already staring at him, but unlike in every gathering—his usual cold and indifference demeanor was nowhere to be found— now he looked more…eloquent. His eyes— it looked like it was desperately trying to convey several emotions, and one of them was fear. 

He has never seen him this vulnerable, it seemed like the kid was too precious to him. 

Chan asked tentatively, "Are you the father of this kid?” 

Just then, he realized once again that his husbands’ friends were never his friends. He knew nothing about all of them other than how they associate with each other. 

Minghao was hesitant at first before he shook his head. 

“He's my brother.” 

The kid's condition had already stabilized, and with proper care, he could recover. Chan felt that it was necessary for him to give the kid's family some doctor's advice. Raising his eyes, he explained,

"It's acute pharyngitis. I suspected there might be a concurrent viral infection, so I suggest going to the hospital for a more detailed examination as soon as possible. The kid is fine now. But my advice is that he should rest more. Also, it's best not to let him cry, as it may worsen his condition.”

Right after his voice fell, he looked at the kid, the kid opened his eyes and sat up silently. After glancing at Minghao, he turned his head and looked at Chan with starry eyes, the omega’s heart instantly softened. 

Meanwhile, seeing that his brother had indeed woken up, the alpha sighed in relief and nodded slowly. 

"Thank you, thank you so much for saving him.” His voice trembled slightly. 

Despite everything, though he's wary of the alpha’s presence, Chan couldn't blame him for emotionally distancing himself from him— If Yeonjun or Changbin was in Jihoon’s shoes, he would do the same like what Minghao was doing for Jihoon. Watching the alpha at the moment, Chan assumed he seemed like the type to value so much the people in his life. 

Chan nodded calmly, "I'm a doctor. Saving lives and helping the injured is part of my duty.”

Minghao didn't say anything, but the omega was still baffled at how his eyes seemed so expressive, yet aside from fear—he couldn't name even a single one of emotion in them.  

Reluctantly, he looked away, Chan had always been responsible for his patients— only to his patients. So he didn't give his attention to Minghao anymore and went to check the kid's condition. After making sure that the kid recovered well he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He then walked to the door. 

He could still feel the alpha looking in his direction but he just chose to ignore it, the flight attendant greeted him with gratitude. He smiled genuinely and nodded before going back to his seat. 

The environment was now quiet. Looking at the thick clouds outside the plane, Chan suddenly felt very fulfilled. Perhaps at the time of boarding the plane, he had some unresolved crisis. But after saving the kid, he suddenly realized his own importance and also realized the importance of his profession. 

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound coming from behind. It was like the sound made by the little hamster that Minho once wanted to keep. Chan's body froze for a moment. 

And then the sound stopped. But after a short while, the rustling sounded again. When Chan turned his head, the sound disappeared again. It seemed like something was constantly testing him. 

He frowned. When he wanted to turn back again, a small hand gently grabbed his clothes. He instinctively lowered his head. Then, he locked eyes with the little boy he helped earlier— Minghao’s brother. 

The little boy immediately put on a pleasing smile. But obviously, he wasn't very good at doing that. Chan looked at him properly. He had fair skin, long curled eyelashes, and watery eyes that would shimmer with a blink. He’s so cute. His adorable appearance could melt people's hearts.

Maybe he sensed Chan's liking towards him, so he immediately rubbed his face against his hand. Chan noticed a bodyguard near them, clearly monitoring the kid. 

“What is your name?” Chan asked while raising his hand to ruffle the little boy's hair gently. 

The little boy tilted his head, smiled cutely and grabbed his hand for a handshake. Then, he answered with a soft voice, “Seo Yoojoon.”

Chan smiled at the mannerism and shook hands with him. 

"Hello, my name is Lee Chan. Currently, I'm in charge of treating you and taking care of you. You can call me Dr. Lee or just Chan.”

"Chan” Yoojoon called out eagerly. Chan chuckled and nodded once. 

Seeing this, Yoojoon immediately smiled. There were two cute dimples on his cheeks, which made him even more adorable. 

After that, while observing Yoojoon’s condition, Chan also played with toys with him. As Chan had the experience of taking care of Minho, it was almost effortless for him to take care of Yoojoon, who was relatively well-behaved. 

Not long after, Yoojoon’s face was already full of admiration for Chan. 

"Channie-hyung, you're so amazing! You're even cooler than Minghao-hyung.”

Hearing his nickname, Chan smiled genuinely, "So, you lost. Should you take some oral medication now?” 

Yoojoon seemed like a kid who kept his word, so he promptly took the medicine. 

As the plane slowly descended, Yoojoon was already asleep on his lap. After a moment, Minghao came to take Yoojoon away. He was about to leave when he looked at Chan again, the omega noticed that and looked up. He could tell the alpha wanted to say something, he was visibly reluctant though, but before he could say anything, Chan decided to address the tension between them first, indirectly. 

“My work has nothing to do with my personal life, and so is yours, hyung.” He said, his voice now laced with coldness. The alpha paused, processing his direct and honest words. 

Chan turned to check his belongings before walking past the alpha and the sleeping kid in his arms. 

***

Chan started with the massive cases immediately on his first day, all of the patients were from submarine warfare from different countries in Asia, they were brought here to be hidden more discreetly when their medics were understaffed, the government tried to help since they were known as a neutral country. 

A complaint was at the tip of his tongue already. He’s tired and exhausted, he had managed several surgeries for the whole day, and a familiar headache kept coming back.

On the third day of his medical mission, when he had just finished everything and returned to the hotel, he saw a familiar figure standing downstairs, seemingly waiting for him. When he looked at the face clearly, it was Minghao. 

At that moment, his heart skipped a bit. 

He frowned slightly at him and didn't beat around the bush. "Wait a minute. I saved your brother, but you are actually going to give me a hard time?” 

However, the man in front of him blinked in surprise. Then he plastered a smile slightly. 

Chan tilted his head, baffled once again. 

“I just want to say thank you—” 

Chan cut his words off. Maybe it was due to his exhaustion, but the alpha’s words sent a rush of annoyance through him, he clenched his fists at his sides, grappling with the reality that Minghao’s presence was actually real.

“I told you it's my duty to help the injured.” 

“ —and I also want to say sorry” The alpha continued. His voice was low, but his eyes were laced with sincerity. 

“Sorry for what?” He hissed, but the alpha remained silent. 

Chan sighed deeply. 

“Listen, just because I saved your brother, that doesn't mean you're suddenly obligated to apologize. You didn't even do anything, stop that, stop making me feel like I have to forgive you for nothing.” 

The alpha looked at him still — his face remained neutral, but something in his eyes Chan still couldn't name. 

Suddenly, he handed him a white knitted winter scarf cashmere with an otter design on its edge, then he pulled out his phone and after a few seconds, Yoojoon’s voice recording started playing. 

“Hi Channie-hyung, I hope you liked my gift. Thank you for saving me, see you when I see you!” 

Chan gasped, his heart melted in an instant. 

“Yoojoon asked me to give this to you, I wanted to say sorry for disturbing you during your busy day, he's always been like this to everyone he met, I hope you don't find him annoying.” Minghao explained. 

Oh

Chan didn't know why he's been moody lately. One moment he's mad, then the next he was feeling the urge of excitement. And now, he was on the verge of tears after hearing Yoojoon's soft voice, he suddenly remembered his son. 

But, he let out a small laugh instead. 

“Don't be ridiculous, this is honestly the cutest thing I've ever received. Tsk, Yoojoon is so adorable.”

He noticed Minghao’s brows raised at his sudden change of behaviour, but he didn't care about that at the moment. He just smiled as he looked at the knitted scarf and accepted it without hesitation. 

“Can I also record my voice on your phone for him?” He asked, the alpha nodded before opening his phone.

Chan started speaking enthusiastically, “Hello, Yoojoonie! This is Channie-hyung, I received your gift and I loved it so much already. Thank you for this. You take care of yourself, okay? hope to see you again.” 

After speaking, he glanced at the alpha, who was staring at him for that long. Chan's smile faltered and felt a sudden embarrassment at the realization. 

“Uh, I gotta go now, thank you for delivering this.” He said, stammering. 

Minghao opened his mouth but then he closed it again. Chan waited for him to say something but a few seconds later, he only nodded once without saying anything before he returned to leave the omega. 

Chan looked at the gift on his hands and couldn't stop smiling then, he felt so happy the entire night. 

***

The next day, after the plane landed, Chan went home just to shower and change quickly before going to the hospital to report. As usual, the hospital director was quite pleased with his work report because it was heavily focused on research. Chan was instantly enlightened, and several ideas popped up in his head. There are barely new research methods on emergencies for years, that's why he was heavily studying how to improve it, he thought the emergency unit was the most vital in saving lives. 

However, just as he was about to discuss the data further, he received a phone call from Wonwoo, and thinking it was about the divorce, he answered immediately as he excused himself from the meeting. 

“Hello?”

“I'm at the lobby, can we talk?” Wonwoo said. He didn't even bother to say his usual pleasantries. 

Chan’s brows furrowed in confusion when he heard the alpha’s voice —thick, calculated, and a hint of urgency. 

He sighed, “Hm, you can proceed to my office.”

Meanwhile, Wonwoo felt like his journey to Chan's office was interminably long, each step weighed down by the remnants of the storm raging within him. His chest throbbed, a dull ache that he fought to conceal. Vulnerability was a luxury he could not afford, especially not in front of someone he fought so hard to ignore. 

Someone he's secretly been pining for. 

Yes—he liked his brother's omega husband. As disgusting as it was, that's also something he couldn't control. He tried to dismiss it. He tried to be the man who has morals and principles. But turns out, he's far from that.

All he could afford was to ignore the omega—out of respect for their marriage? He didn't know. He didn't really care about that honestly. He could only control how to act in front of him, to always appear cold and bored just so he wouldn't fall further than he already was. Yet, as he pushed open the heavy door, his heart quickened at the sight of the omega.

Chan was faced by the floor-to-ceiling glass window, a vision framed in the soft, waning light of the morning. The gentle breeze played with his blond mullet hair, sending loose strands dancing around his face. At the sound of the door creaking open, he turned, and his expression shifted instantly—his brows knitted together in concern the moment their eyes locked.

“You look pale, are you okay?” Chan remarked, his voice a soft whisper that seemed to cut through the silence. 

Wonwoo stared. 

This man, even after all the cold treatment I and everyone else showed to him. He would still radiate the room with his warmth without any effort.

In that fleeting moment, the wolf within the alpha stirred—not the feral creature of rage, but something more tender, something that tightened his chest at the realization that the omega had noticed his anxiety, he knew that its natural for him to care since it was part of his profession, but to actually showing care directly at him.... 

Wonwoo straightened up, forcing his mask of indifference back into place.

“Someone has sent me some questionable stuff.” He said to him, he couldn't help but observe and calculate the omega’s move. 

Chan seemed physically okay, but the time on that video, the alpha was sure that a wound something so deep like that won't just heal too easily. Chan looked at him confused, but walked towards him anyway. 

They both sat on the couch as he opened his laptop, he connected the USB to it with trembling hands. Chan, who was sitting across from him, noticed it but didn't say anything. When he found the exact file, he moved the laptop to face Chan. 

He watched him, closely. Wonwoo squeezed his eyes shut before he focused his eyes on him again, pressing his palms hard against his knees as if he could contain the wolf within through sheer willpower alone. But it was futile. When it comes to Chan, it was always futile.

The moment the video started playing, he saw exactly how the omega went rigid, his eyes widened in surprise—he looked so scared—then his lips parted, with a fear Wonwoo had never witnessed before in him, he breathed. 

“Who sent you this?” He whispered, his voice trembled as it was barely a sound. 

Wonwoo fought the urge to do something he certainly would regret, he was rooted in place as he kept assessing Chan. 

“Anonymous. It was written here at the box—”

He's constantly being tortured by his own grandfather, he needs help.

The silence was pressing heavily. Chan's head snapped back toward him, something painful flickering across his features before they hardened into a mask of calmness. At last, his eyes narrowed slightly, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. His voice, when it finally broke the stillness, was unnervingly calm.

“It's not a big deal, it's just a small personal matter between our family. Please just discard the video for me.”

The finality in his tone struck Wonwoo like a gavel, an order wrapped in a warning.

The air shifted again, heavy and oppressive. Wonwoo’s wolf stirred restlessly beneath his skin. He raised his voice before he could stop himself —he was always known as calm and grounded, and this was far from those. His eyes pierced deep through the younger’s eyes, but Chan didn't even flinch. 

“Not a big deal? He literally beat you up with a fucking rope, Chan! He almost killed you with his bare hands. And you still think that it's not a big deal?!” 

The omega swallowed hard, lowering his gaze for a fleeting moment before forcing himself to meet his eyes again. “Hm” His lips curled into the faintest semblance of a smile, brittle yet present. “Hyung, stop minding someone else's business, it's not good for your health.” He teased him, but laced with warning beneath. 

Wonwoo cursed under his breath from too many happenings at once. First thing—Chan wasn't showing any anger when he raised his voice. Usually, the omega easily gets mad at him even in their shortest interaction. Secondly, it was the first time the omega called him hyung, before, he literally refused when the alpha teased him once that he wanted him to call him hyung too. And lastly, the calmness, Wonwoo’s blood ran cold at how calm the omega was—way too calm. 

“Chan,” The alpha hissed, his voice thick with urgency. “Seriously, what the hell is going on?”

Chan stood up abruptly, “I'm busy, hyung, you can leave now.” He said firmly as he went towards the door, he twisted the doorknob unlock but before he could yank it open, without warning, the alpha’s hand shot out, seizing his wrist with a grip that was both firm and gentle, yanking him toward him so abruptly that he gasped in surprise.

Chan immediately stepped backwards, but Wonwoo advanced his steps further, leaving no distance between them until Chan's back was almost pinned against the wall just near the door, but before he could hit the wall, the alpha held him on his waist to avoid his back from getting any friction. 

“Yah, what–what are you doing?” Chan asked frantically, he looked at the alpha as his eyes widened. 

“Shh, I won't hurt you… I could never hurt you.” Wonwoo whispered quickly to calm him down, afraid to cause panic on the omega, and yet, he didn't make any distance between them either. Their faces are only a few inches apart, he took a discreet sniff, but surprisingly, he couldn't smell the omega—not even a faint smell. He looked him directly in the eyes.

“You can tell me everything Chan, please, I'll help you, I know your plans, you don't get to lie to me now.” He said again. 

Chan looked at him with suspicion in his eyes. “You—”

Then, he visibly froze at the realization.

Wonwoo’s answer was already forming on the tip of his tongue.

Chan… what exactly are you planning?

“Did you—how much have you heard?” Chan asked, whispering. 

“Enough?” He confessed. 

He remembered so vividly what he heard that night. He purposely followed the omega thinking Chan was on the verge of collapsing because he noticed how pale he was. 

But the moment he entered the hallway, his body went rigid when Chan's words reached his ears. A shiver raced down his spine, a warning bell ringing in his mind. 

“Can you deliver the news about my death after I leave the city?” 

He was too preoccupied to notice that the omega was actually talking to his grandfather, Wonwoo hid in a more secure space where he won't be seen easily as he slipped through the door. 

Since that night, he never slept peacefully again, hundreds of questions running through his mind, puzzles he couldn't solve because they simply lack the important pieces. He was too restless for whole night. He tried to visit him the next day, but he learned that Chan has a medical mission in Busan, he held himself back from following him there because that would be too creepy, so he drowned himself to work until it slowly evaded his mind. 

But then this morning, just as he started collecting emails from the mailbox, he happened to notice the small box just outside his gate. 

And before he could process everything, he flew all the way here in an instant. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him every time he recalled the footage, threatening to pull him under. A thought hit him as he looked at the omega in the eyes. He's scared he might be willing to commit crimes for him—and as a criminal lawyer, that realization sent a fresh wave of terror coursing through him. 

Chan's voice snapped him out of his trance. His gaze hardened —cold, bravely challenging the alpha. 

“I dare you to do something about it. I'm telling you, hyung, you wouldn't like what I'd actually do if you try to stick your nose where it doesn't belong.” Chan said, his voice sharp and edged with irritation. He wanted his words to cut through the haze that enveloped them, to jolt him back to reality that he didn't care if the alpha decided to tell everyone, it's not like they care anyway, but he wanted Wonwoo to leave him alone more than anything, or else he would fucked up his meticulous plan. 

He sighed softly. 

“I will tell you everything after the divorce, just…please don't let them know what you already know.” He tried to sound desperate. 

He noticed him swallowed hard, visibly affected. 

And then he saw it—the look in Wonwoo’s eyes. The usual gaze he's been wearing every time they locked eyes. An eagerness to please. And a dark, molten desire swirled within them, flooding his irises with a hunger that was more than mere lust; it was a fierce devotion and possession, an insatiable craving.

What game are you playing, Wonwoo hyung? 

Chan wasn't sure about the alpha’s real intention towards him, aside from the teasing remarks and his constant intense lingering gaze—which he assumed was the alpha’s normal stare— he never actually crossed the omega’s boundaries, that's why Chan didn't pay his mind to it. But now he just made a huge move that left a thousand questions in Chan's mind. 

At the moment though, Chan chose not to dwell on it more, as long as he makes the alpha believe that he's his actual alliance, everything else shouldn't matter. 

And then —

“What are you doing here?” A low, guttural voice rumbled from the door. 

Both of them snapped their heads towards the door, and there, Seungcheol was standing—the tension radiating from him was palpable, a living entity that coiled through the air, seeping into Chan's very bones. But he wasn't looking at the omega. His bloodshot eyes—he couldn't name it but they're locked onto Wonwoo’s. When Chan looked back at the alpha in front of him as he pushed his chest, silently commanding him to step back, he caught him staring at Seungcheol as well but with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes as he was taking a step back, giving the omega space. 

Wonwoo can clearly see how Seungcheol was holding himself back from launching at him.

He suddenly remembered the first time the older alpha confronted him privately during Jeonghan's birthday party when he caught him looking at the omega longer than necessary. Because apparently he's only controlling himself in front of Chan, but under everyone else’s watchful eyes? He didn't even try to be discreet, not even on his brother's watch. 

“I'm warning you, Wonwoo-yah, stay away from him. Don’t fucking involve him with your stupid game.” Seungcheol’s voice was low, controlled in a terrifying way. 

If it was about other things, Wonwoo would probably fold and relent. But instead, he stared—trying to challenge the boundaries of their relationship as brothers, because it wasn't just about anything, it was about Chan. 

“It's not like you guys are actually mated.” He argued. 

He watched how Seungcheol’s jaw tightened at that. His eyes were almost bloodshot (just like right now)—Wonwoo knew he was forcing himself to tolerate his game— except, Wonwoo wasn't playing. 

“He's still my husband. On paper, by the law, we are still married.” 

“Well, I can manipulate the law, hyung. Just like how Jihoon manipulated the public.” He interjected. 

And in that moment, the older alpha grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him toward him. 

The funny thing was, they never fought with each other their whole life, until Chan happened. 

Back at the office, Chan noticed the tension between the two brothers. 

The omega was about to open his mouth to explain when all of a sudden—one moment he was in front of Wonwoo, and the next, his face collided firmly with Seungcheol’s chest. The alpha’s hand was around his waist in an instant, his grip unyielding and possessive.

“Get the fuck out of here, Wonwoo.” Seungcheol warned, his voice low and steady.

Chan froze, he couldn't see both of their faces with the way Seungcheol was holding him, but he heard Wonwoo chuckled, as if he was enjoying all of this. He seemed unfazed to the older alpha’s warning, a minute later, Chan heard footsteps towards the door. But before leaving, Wonwoo spoke for the last time. 

“I apologize if I ever made you uncomfortable, Chan-ah.” 

Chan glanced at the door, but he stopped when a hand gently touched his chin, then he locked eyes with Seungcheol. 

Then, a sharp pain radiating from the back of his head, while his vision suddenly dimmed, almost driving him down against the cold marble floor. But Seungcheol held him tightly. 

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you? He didn't touch you inappropriately, did he?” He asked question after question, his voice ragged, laced with both concern and anger. 

When Chan regained his focus, he shifted uncomfortably, he tried to wiggle his body to move away from him but the alpha’s hold tightened, he was still looking at him with intense gaze — searching, assessing. 

Chan swallowed hard as he looked away, “I'm okay, hyung. He didn't do anything wrong.” 

When the alpha was still staring at him—must've been trying to detect any lies, he internally panicked, so he spoke again while carefully moving away from the alpha’s hold. Fortunately, he let him go at last. 

“Uh, do you need something, hyung? What brings you here?” He added, trying to change the topic because it was so awkward, Chan ridiculously prayed for the hospital telephone to ring so he could escape from the situation. 

Seungcheol stared at him a little longer before clearing his throat. He raised his right hand with three plastic containers. Chan looked at it confused, then looked at him. 

“I brought you breakfast.” Seungcheol explained. 

Chan blinked. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with these people? 

“Oh, okay. Thank you.” He said instead, baffled. 

Chan watched the alpha starting to pull out the containers from the transparent bag one by one, then arrange it on the coffee table neatly. 

Chan’s stomach did a slow, traitorous flip. This was exactly the man who took care of him while he was pregnant with Minho — warm, patient, and likely attentive.

“You're thinking too loud,” Seungcheol remarked, his voice still deep, still chilling.

Chan snapped back to reality, yanking his gaze up to meet his eyes. “I wasn't.” He defended. 

Seungcheol chuckled, “Hm, let's eat.” 

Chan nodded before sitting down across the alpha. Minutes had passed and they ate together without saying anything, then Chan's phone vibrated, so he picked it up to check. 

“Oh, hyung by the way, we need to go to the court tomorrow morning to finalize the divorce.” He said so casually, but deep down it finally hit him like a thunderbolt. 

And worst, he felt like the earth came shattering down on him as he watched Seungcheol nodding calmly. Chan plastered a genuine smile he could muster before looking down to his food again—as if they were just talking about their favorite local food. 

But then suddenly, Seungcheol put something in front of him, a small velvet box. He averted his eyes from it to look at the alpha, who seemed like observing his reaction. 

“Jeonghan and I—we brought it when we were in Seoul… for your birthday.” Seungcheol said. Chan noticed how all of a sudden, he was careful with his words. 

Instead of warmth, the sharp tug on his chest ignited a fire of pain, and in that moment, he was transported back to that night — that deep-rooted pathetic loneliness. His fingers twitched, the urge to grip the utensils in his hands, but he held himself back knowing the alpha was closely monitoring his reaction. 

“It's okay, hyung, you don't have to do that. I don't really wear bracelets.” He said calmly. 

“It's a necklace, Chan-ah.” Seungcheol said. 

The omega paused as he looked at him. Of course, they must've known how he loved necklaces so much. He should've just kept his mouth shut. He suddenly realized that even the necklace he was wearing at the moment — was a gift from Seungcheol himself. 

“No, I can't take it—” 

“I'm sorry.” Seungcheol said quietly. 

Chan froze, when he stared at Seungcheol blankly, he saw a flicker of regret fill his eyes, but he refused to believe it. He no longer have the energy to believe anything. 

“We didn't know that you actually went to Seoul. We didn't forget your birthday, Chan-ah, It's just that Jihoon was there in Seoul and—”

Chan cut his words, because the more he talked about that night, the more it made the omega feel like a pathetic loser. 

“He’s your mate. You needed to prioritize him to avoid the bond from being confused and eventually cause physical pain. I get it, hyung. You don't have to explain. But still, I can't take it, we're divorcing, there's no reason for me to take it.”

Seungcheol was about to say something again when a hospital telephone rang. It honestly became more of his savior instead of a responsibility. Chan stood up right away towards it and talked to other medical staff about a certain surgery schedule. When he hung up the phone, he quickly glanced at the alpha before averting his eyes from him again. 

“I have to go, hyung. Don't forget about tomorrow, bring Jeonghan-hyung with you.” He paused, “... and thank you for the breakfast.”

And without waiting for Seungcheol’s response, he turned to leave, but his body felt weak, his legs unsteady beneath him. He stumbled slightly, wishing the alpha didn't notice as he was steadying himself against the wall, and slowly made his way outside.

The guilty eyes he left still playing in his mind like a haunting nightmare. He left the office and proceeded to the operating department. 

Chapter Text

After three hours of surgery, when Chan went back to his office, Seungcheol wasn't there anymore. His office was surprisingly more neat and tidy as compared to when he left earlier. 

His gaze flickered to the box on his table. He took it and put it on his bag while mentally noting to bring it to the court the next day. 

As he was reviewing his papers, someone knocked on his door. 

“Doc, you have a visitor.” Nurse Yeji informed him as he was still arranging the papers. 

“Who is it?”

“Dr. Joo Yeo-jeong.” 

Chan paused, then he nodded to Yeji, giving her permission to let the doctor enter. 

The morning hours before Yoenjun’s engagement party, he went to his omega specialist, Dr. Joo, before work. He went through some laboratory tests, mainly on his blood. He refused to undergo body xrays, he only allowed a brain CT-scan. As a doctor himself, even though he tried so hard to disregard the thought that something was wrong with his body, he still couldn't help it, especially since it wasn't helping him with his work anymore so he decided to visit his specialist. 

Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, the door creaked open, and Dr. Joo—a beta, stepped inside.

He stood up right away and smiled, “Good afternoon Dr. Joo, please have a seat.”

“Good afternoon, Dr. Lee.” He greeted back, he sat on the sofa while he watched Chan walking towards him before sitting across from him. 

They stared at each other. 

“Is this about my condition?” Chan asked directly. 

Dr. Joo sighed, then he nodded slowly. 

“Dr. Lee, You said you've been experiencing dizziness and headaches these past few weeks.” 

Chan nodded. 

“Then...can I ask you to be more honest with me?”

Chan stilled. A wave of panic washed over him, tightening around his chest like an iron grip, making it difficult to draw in a breath. But he still nodded anyway.

At this point, Dr. Joo was just staring at him as if he had lost his mind or something, but there was no actual judgement in his eyes. 

“Dr. Lee, I warned you about the suppressants.” Dr. Joo said as he looked him directly in his eyes, then without waiting for his response, he explained further, “—Those hormone suppressant medications, it blocks and lowers your hormone levels so much, too low Dr. Lee. It completely blocks your heat cycles and other conditions simultaneously. They are particularly fueled by potent chemicals, that's why I advised you to use it with caution and only twice a year, but did you know what I found out? your hormones are fluctuating, some are too high and some are too low because of the high amount of suppressants on your body.” 

Dr. Joo’s face was neutral. Yet, the scent lingered in the air with his own, was a testament to his anxiety and concern.

He looked hesitant somehow as he handed him the papers. 

Then—

“Dr. Lee...you are diagnosed with intracranial meningioma.” 

An oppressive silence settled in the room, thick and suffocating, pressing down on them like a heavy fog. 

Dr. Joo paused, as if even he himself was still struggling to process the information. He knitted his brows in concentration as he lingered his gaze on the omega as if he was trying to solve the complex puzzle. 

“... You knew it.” It wasn't a question, not just an accusation, but an undeniable fact. 

Chan's silence spoke volumes — loud and clear. 

A minute later, when he noticed the omega wasn't trying to speak after him, he carried on, without judgement or anything. 

“Those suppressants, they are commonly associated with a significantly increased risk of developing meningioma if it's used frequently, it wasn't cancerous, generally a benign, often non-cancerous brain tumor, but as a Doctor, you knew exactly how the tumor causes intracranial pressure, and it was usually the major cause of death. And a study showed that an omega who used this injection for at least thrice a year had a 5.6-fold increased risk of developing an intracranial meningioma. A subsequent 2025 study identified that a male omega has 2.43 times higher risk than female omega users. And you've been using them monthly...for years, right?”

Chan nodded once this time. Dr. Joo paused again, his lips formed into a thin line. "Dr. Lee, you're well aware about all of this, yet you still chose to risk it.” 

But why? He wanted to add. 

Everyone knew that Lee Chan was a single male omega, not married, didn't even have a rumored mate or girlfriend or boyfriend—which makes sense why he was using suppressants. But an omega in heat could still go through it naturally by being with someone close to them, even just a family’s presence could help them regulate their heats. Did the omega hate having heat that much? He couldn't quite grasp everything, he wanted to know what was running through his mind. He wanted to ask him about it so bad, out of concern, but he was too afraid to come off as nosy and disrespectful even though it was part of his professional specialty but knowing also how private Chan's life was, it was too obvious he didn't want to share that part of his life, so he dared to not cross that boundary.

Chan was known as the most competent neurosurgeon in the country and a stepbrother of a famous artist Lee Jihoon, but that's it. 

Other than that, nothing about him was publicly reported. 

“You've been blocking your heat cycles for years, and now your body is starting to warn you that it is slowly shutting down, and it will shut down completely if you continue to feed it with chemicals instead of natural remedies.”

Meanwhile, though Chan remained motionless, a wave of something—sadness and emptiness—washed over him. 

But he just shrugged and the corners of his mouth curled up softly. 

“Hm, you're right. But Dr. Joo, If I didn't use those suppressants, I would've spent a week off just for my heat cycle and missed my work and ended up being more miserable. My work made me feel like I'm living, so even if it would eventually kill me, at least I lived the way I wanted at some point, don't you think so?”

Dr. Joo blinked, momentarily taken aback. 

Then, Dr. Joo pulled something out of his envelope, hoping. 

“But based on your CT scan result, look, as you can see here, it's only starting to develop. We can still remove it.”

Chan stared blankly at the image of his own skull. 

“Hm, I'll think about it.” 

The beta sighed heavily, “But you know that it's better to treat it as early as possible. Dr. Lee, your enemy here is time, the longer you let it stay, the larger the possible damage it could develop...you could lose your vision.. and worst case scenario, your memory.”

Chan was silent for a moment, Dr. Joo assumed he was contemplating and was expecting him to consider and proceed with the treatment. 

Chan’s brows indeed raised in contemplation, a storm of emotions swirling within him. But after a moment of silence, he finally responded, his tone a mix of resignation and determination.

Yet—he was still smiling softly. 

“Maybe it would be more fun if I actually lose all my memories.”

He didn't wait for the beta to say something anymore, so he quickly stood up and extended his hand as he smiled widely. 

“Thank you so much for your time, Dr. Joo, I'll contact you once I finally decide what to do further regarding my condition.”

And Dr. Joo couldn't do anything but to relent helplessly. After all, they both knew that all healthcare professionals are prohibited to force treatments upon patients that conflict with their values.

***

Before Chan went home, he received an email from the hospital. 

Dear Dr. Lee Jung Chan,

We acknowledge receipt of your resignation dated March 27, 2025 and confirm its acceptance, effective immediately. We're sad to see you go but we respect your decision. Thank you for your hard work and valuable contributions as a Neurosurgeon.

Please ensure that you return all company property, including your laptop, ID badge, and any other equipment or documents, to the HR department by the end of the of the week. Thank you so much for your service. 

A flicker of relief crossed his features, a bittersweet smile that hinted at the freedom he craved. One thing that made it hard to leave the hospital, was that the hospital director himself has been having a talk with him to hopefully change his mind. But after weeks and finally sensing his determination, he finally relent. 

The next day, as Chan stirred from his sleep, the soft light filtering through the curtains revealed the familiar yet foreign surroundings of his apartment. The air was still, and for a moment, he lay there, contemplating, trying to grasp the reality of his situation. 

This is it, Chan. 

With great effort, he propped himself up to get ready. He received a reminder of scheduled time from Jimin. 

The sky greeted him with cold as he stepped outside, its breeze wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. He couldn't believe that his first destination for today was actually the court, a place he had never thought to step in.

When he arrived at the court, Seungcheol and Jeonghan were already there.

Instead of fast pulsation, he felt more like his heartbeat was fading, each pulse weaker than the last, his breath becoming shallow. He took a deep breath to steady himself. His eyes then caught Wonwoo beside Jimin, they were both discussing something before they noticed him. 

“Good Morning Mr. Lee.” Jimin greeted him. Chan greeted back, he even greeted the other three, who also casually greeted back. 

“Okay, let's finalize the divorce paper then.” Jimin started, everything went muffled as the older omega was reading everything on the paper, Chan didn't care about any of that. Only when Jimin handed them the final paper to sign when he snapped back to reality, he smiled at the omega as he accepted the pen before signing the paper without hesitation. 

He took a glance at Seungcheol and Jeonghan. He felt dazed for a moment as he watched them signing the paper so calmly. 

Jimin took the paper and signed on it as well before giving it to Wonwoo, who signed it right away. He only noticed then that the alpha never once spared a glance at him since his arrival. Well, that's fortunate. 

After a few minutes of reviewing, Jimin finally stood and gestured a handshake—thank you for your cooperation, towards Seungcheol then Jeonghan.

And when he finally faced Chan, he smiled knowingly yet there's a hint of sadness and empathy in his eyes. His lips moved discreetly and reluctantly, congratulations. Chan, despite the inner turmoil, couldn't help but chuckle at that. 

He looked at his ex-husbands then, but not directly at their eyes. He didn't dare linger his gaze longer than he wanted to. 

“Thank you for your time, hyungs.” He said, bowing slightly just to avoid their gazes. 

He pretended to check his phone, “I have to go, I still have a surgery today.” 

He was about to turn and leave when Jeonghan spoke, “Chan-ah, when are you free again? we have to plan for Minho’s birthday.”

Chan's step halted, “...Minho’s birthday? When is—” He cut his words abruptly.

Seungcheol, Jimin and Wonwoo stared at the omega with their neutral faces, yet somehow assessing. Meanwhile as Jeonghan looked at his confusing reaction, his brows knitted together. All of them are aware of how Chan meticulously plans their son's birthday party, always. So seeing him looked confuse, also confused them. 

They watched him blink three times, until his eyes widened slightly, as if snapping back to reality. 

“Oh… oh yeah sure, just– anytime, hyung, just call me anytime.” Chan stammered. 

But as soon as he turned, his knees almost gave out, he steadied himself instantly by pressing a hand against the wall next to him. His vision flickered between darkness and clarity. His body wasn't ready for such a fast action change, yet the determination to leave rushed into him like a wave. 

He straightened up immediately, but then his legs were about to buckle under him again as a solid arm encircled his waist.

“Hey, careful. Are you okay?” Seungcheol’s voice reached his ears. 

Chan's head snapped up to glance at him. The alpha was staring down at him, concern etched across his face. His hand remained steady around Chan's waist, supporting him effortlessly, the omega let out a sigh of relief when his back wasn't hit even the slightest, it was still sensitive to any friction. 

“No, just tired…” He murmured as he pulled away slowly, embarrassed. 

Then, taking only his own divorce certificate, Chan left the room. He walked out without a second glance, he could feel the sudden tears threatening to roll down his face.

Just as he stepped outside the gates, noticing the snow started falling slowly, Chan felt his phone vibrate once on his hand, he saw Wonwoo’s name. 

Wonwoo-hyung: Can we talk? 

He let out a sigh, the alpha still believed he was really going to tell him everything. He wouldn't. Never. He still responded on autopilot. 

To Wonwoo-hyung: I'll update you when I'm not busy. You can help me through everything then. 

He felt a little guilty for lying, but he couldn't risk anything right now. After that confrontation with the alpha, he considered him now as one of the ticking bombs that should be avoided, one wrong move around him could ruin the plan in a blink of an eye. 

He looked at the document in his hand, brushing off the snow flakes that had settled on it. 

The cold and gloomy weather seemed like an enemy and comfort at the same time right now. Dry air forces his eyes to produce excess tears to combat dryness, but not the profound loneliness. While the isolating and quiet atmosphere created by falling snow, it seemed like it was trying to give him a soft, gentle pat on his back— you're going to be okay. 

Now he was no longer a husband nor Minho’s father— did he ever consider me as one? Was it a joke when he said he wanted Jihoon to be his father? He's just a kid, he didn't mean any of it. 

But you gave up custody, Chan, and that's it, do not look back. 

It wasn't even an hour had passed and he was already starting to feel the crisis of his own decision—if he did the right thing or not. 

But the reality was, it was already done, and he was just himself now. 

He was finally free to leave. 

And yet—

He clenched his jaw, fighting against the instinct to scream, forcing his own wolf—who has been silent inside him for years—to endure the agony. He was so emotionally frazzled. 

“Fuck, not here please.” He whispered as he wiped his tears instantly, he walked faster towards his car. 

And as soon as he locked the car, he involuntarily let out a whimper, which did not help his already shattering heart. He started the engine as he sobbed harder. 

He bit his lips hard, heavy with the weight of sadness and loneliness, as the silence stretched in the middle of the morning road like an unbridgeable chasm.

***

Later that night, Incheon's elite club was blasting with music. Everyone in their circle was there, even some of their acquaintances were also there. It was a private club mostly run by people with higher status, but somehow tonight, the place seemed like it was overcrowded. 

Dokyeom was laughing with their other friends —Shownu, Wonho, Wooyoung, Mingi— along with Vernon and Soonyoung and Mingyu while drinking nonstop. Seungkwan was dancing on the dance floor with Jun and their other friends. Minghao, beside Vernon, was just silently watching the chaos since he was still feeling the touch of jet lag from the flight. Wonwoo was sipping on his beer, his eyes lingering on Jeonghan across him. The beta was constantly checking his phone while biting his lip, as if he was anxiously waiting for a message or call, while also talking with Seonghwa. Seungcheol, who was throwing glances to the beta from time to time, were talking about business in the corner with Joshua and Hyungwon. Sitting between Seungcheol and Jeonghan was Jihoon, and like Minghao, he was also watching the chaos unfold, laughing from time to time, except — he was constantly drinking, and obviously drunk. 

“Oh, Jihoon-ah, where's your brother by the way?” Wooyoung asked out of nowhere.

Only Minghao who noticed Jihoon’s smile faltered when he heard the question. 

Seungcheol glanced at them but went to conversing again. Jeonghan’s talk with Seonghwa paused. Wonwoo looked at Wooyoung with slightly raised eyebrow. Wooyoung, noticing that, let out a laugh and shrugged aggressively. 

“What? I was just wondering where he is, I've been dying to meet your brother, you know. He seemed like a sensible person, we could be friends...right?” Wooyoung defended.

Wonwoo shifted. 

“I don't know, he's probably working.” Jihoon managed to reply calmly. 

“You know what Jihoon-ah, Wooyoung is right, you should bring him with you sometime, is he like...seeing someone? It would be nice if not.” Shownu chided, his eyes had a hint of excitement. 

“And what do you mean by that?” Wonwoo suddenly hissed, his voice came out more aggressive than he intended. 

Now all of the gazes averted to him, conversations abruptly stopped, and he could see the confusion in their eyes, as if they were trying to solve a complex puzzle that was him. 

Shownu let out a chuckle, as if amused. 

“Stop talking nonsense, Shownu.” Seungcheol warned this time. 

Shownu laughed to ease the sudden shift of air, it wasn't mocking, just pure laugh. More like amusement from the sudden reaction, their circle never mentioned Chan even once, so he never thought that atleast two of them would actually react this much. 

“Hey, why are you overreacting? It's not like I said something bad about Chan." He sighed as he paused, suddenly his face turned serious, "Okay, let me explain, what I'm trying to say is that I'm kinda interested in Jihoon's brother, respectfully, because, isn't he amazing? He's always out there, all over the news almost every two months doing something amazing. I just thought it's admirable. So I'm wondering if I could court him and make him my mate eventually. I should ask him when—” 

Before he could finish his sentence, a fist flew out, punching him hard across the face. The sound reverberated through the room, sharp and electric. Shownu, unprepared and taken aback, ended up leaning on the back of the sofa in an awkward position. 

Jihoon’s fist stung from the contact, and for a fleeting moment, the room stood still. Even the music stopped. Now silence was pressing heavy in an instant. 

“Keep his name out of your fucking mouth,” He spat aggressively, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his hand trembling slightly from the force of his blows.

Shownu’s mouth opened and closed, but not a single sound escaped his lips. He tried to open it again, but Seungcheol walked deliberately towards them, which was enough reason to make him close his mouth. 

Seungcheol held Jihoon on the wrist before looking at Shownu coldly, then he locked eyes with the security guards who were already on alert. And in an instant, the guards gestured to the rest politely to go out, and fortunately everyone listened, including Shownu. They went out one by one, only their close circle stayed. 

“Hyung, what was that?” Seungkwan, who didn't witness the whole thing, asked. 

“Jihoon-ah, you're drunk, do you want to go home? We can go—” Jeonghan said carefully. 

“Go home?! Hyung! Aren't you even bothered by how that bastard talks about your husband?!” Jihoon hissed. 

Jeonghan swallowed hard. To be honest, none of them heard any disrespectful words from Shownu about Chan, in-fact, he was only complimenting the omega. And now all they could do was look at Jihoon, bewildered. 

Jihoon noticed it so he let out a huff out of frustration, thinking everyone was finding him ridiculous. He was about to walk away when someone spoke. 

“You're jealous.” Minghao’s calm voice rang. 

Jihoon’s step halted. 

A confused silence enveloped the conversation, the gravity of his sudden declaration hanging heavily in the air. Everyone exchanged incredulous glances, their disbelief evident even with silence. After a moment, some of them managed to stammer out a few awkward chuckles, as if trying to dismiss the absurdity of Minghao’s words.

“Hyung, what are you talking about?” Seungkwan bewilderedly asked. 

But Minghao ignored him and continued talking to Jihoon, “You're jealous that someone wants to hit on Chan, you're jealous of them because you want him for yourself.”

“Yah, are you drunk? Chan is his brother, stop making stupid assumptions.” Mingyu hissed at him. 

Minghao’s gaze was still on Jihoon’s back, as if he had a tunnel vision on him tonight, then he continued to press. 

“But did hyung ever act like one to Chan? No? Shownu-hyung didn't say anything wrong, he didn't even know Chan is married, but Jihoon-hyung is acting like a jealo—”

“Minghao, watch your mouth.” Seungcheol warned as he walked towards him, seizing his arm firmly, not enough to hurt but enough to dominate the younger alpha. 

Minghao looked at him with raised brow, “What? Am I wrong though?” He glanced at the omega again who slowly went rigid. “Tell me I'm just spitting bullshits, Jihoon-hyung.” 

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Minghao thought—everyone didn’t actually need the omega to spell it out for them; it was absolutely clear that he did in-fact have a thing for Chan—but everyone seemed to stupid to notice it just because they're brothers. 

“Jihoon-ah…Minghao is obviously drunk, we'll talk when you two are sober enough, let's go home for now hm?” Jeonghan coaxed the omega. 

He noticed the omega clenched his hands tighter, he seemed like he was willing them to remain steady against the intensity of their gaze.

“You're talking nonsense.” Jihoon finally said after a moment of silence—his voice sounds stiff, as if his own tongue was fighting the urge to move. 

“Then say it, say that you don't like your brother.” Minghao challenged him. 

Vernon, on the other hand, felt like Minghao was being an asshole for nothing again. “Minghao-hyung, stop it, he's drunk and so is you, don't provoke him with this kind of stupid joke.”

Jeonghan looked at Minghao with warning, his eyes laced with darkness. The younger alpha smirked but didn't say anything. The beta ignored it and tried to coaxed the omega again, “Jihoon-ah, let's go home, you're drunk—”

“SHUT UP!” Jihoon snapped. 

Everyone went silent. 

Then finally, Jihoon's gaze settled on Minghao, but the alpha did not even flinch, as if he was anticipating him to explode.

Meanwhile, the omega didn't know why Minghao was doing this stunt all of a sudden, targeting him by using Chan. 

A smile—if it could be called that—curved Jihoon’s lips, a chilling expression that sent a shiver down their spine. His eyes burned with unshed tears, his lips quivered, but he refused to let them fall while he was still smiling sarcastically, his eyes locked onto Minghao.

“I don't like him, there. I said it. Are you happy now that you did something so satisfying just to fill your voided life?—”

Minghao remained silent. 

“—and even if I like him, It's none of your fucking business. But no, I don't like him.”

He stared continuously at Minghao, hoping for him to say something funny, he might let it slide. Yet, amidst the conversation, Jihoon caught a glimmer of something else in the alpha's eyes, something he never thought would make his gut churned from bitterness —relief, encouragement,yet with an intense determination. 

Jihoon almost laughed at the realization, but he didn't say anything. With a grimace, he pressed his lips together, sealing away the sudden nameless anger that threatened to spill forth.

“What a fucking hypocrite.” He murmured which only he and Minghao could hear. 

Then—a wave of strange possessiveness washed over him. He hated that feeling, he hated that he didn't even know to discard it other than keeping his mouth shut to keep it from becoming a reality. 

He turned to leave but Seungcheol caught his arms faster, and much to his disappointment, he was too drunk to escape, he could only groan in protest. 

“Guys, can you leave us alone for now please?” He heard the older alpha asking everyone politely. 

Wonwoo stormed outside before Seungcheol could even finish his sentence. Some were still baffled from the confrontation, too stunned to move. Mingyu and Jun instantly obeyed, forcing Minghao to go out with them. Some were reluctant. Joshua stayed longer than others before he left Seungcheol, Jeonghan and Jihoon. 

“Jihoon-ah.” Seungcheol called. 

“Hey—”

Jihoon didn't respond. Seungcheol pulled him towards him, and with that, he finally broke down in his arms—he didn't even know why he's crying. 

“You've been on edge for weeks now love, you can tell us everything.” Jeonghan said calmly. 

Jihoon shook his head as he sobbed. 

“I hate this, I fucking hate this!”

No one spoke— nor asked what exactly he was talking about. They both know that the omega wouldn't say anything at the moment, considering he's too drunk now. 

But without Jihoon knowing, Seungcheol and Jeonghan shared glances. Their silence speaks volumes, acknowledging the harsh truth everyone else, even Jihoon himself, dreads to accept.

They both held him tightly while he poured everything, burying his head into one of their shoulders, releasing another soft whimper that resonated with a deep sense of longing for something (or someone) until he unconsciously drifted into sleep with their warmth against him. 

***

Meanwhile, Chan was finally done returning and getting his things from the hospital— carefully and discreetly. 

Only the nurse manager, hospital directors and the rest of the HR department were aware about this. He asked the nurse manager to give Yeji a day off and keep the information about his resignation from her.

It's cruel, he knew that, but he also thought that it's the safest route to leave. Nurse Yeji was one of the people who's close to his heart. If she knew about this, Chan knew she would tell it to his brother, Changbin’s boyfriend —Hyunjin. And Changbin would definitely barge to his place with Yeonjun right away to stop him. 

He loved them so much, but he couldn't let this all go to waste. He still wanted to live, and if he stayed here, he wouldn't die merely from heartbreak, because Jihoon's grandfather will definitely kill him, eventually. 

Last month, two days before his birthday, he found out that the old man had been using his name and money to pay for his massive and unending debts without even his consent. If the news will blow up publicly, the blame would fall under Chan's name, his name would easily end up being labeled illegal and constitutes identity theft and fraud.

Maybe that was one of the factors that pushed him to file the divorce — it seemed like the universe was warning him gently. Everything was slipping through his grip one by one, against his will, and if he didn't let go first, it wouldn't just destroy only him. The media will definitely dig deeper, and eventually, it would also destroy everyone associated with him— his husbands, Jihoon, his friends and his son. 

Yet, it didn't feel like sacrificing, it felt more natural to give in. It felt like letting fate take its course. 

Maybe the universe would let them all see each other again in the future, or never. 

No matter what, we would still lay under the same stars.

He asked the hospital to keep the information about his resignation from the public. Much to his relief, the hospital respected it. 

“Don't worry, we'll keep it confidential as much as we can. But we can't control it if the press will dig deeper into it, Dr. Lee.” Director Min said. 

He nodded, “I understand, sir. Not giving any statement for a while regarding this is already a big help, I just need to settle as soon as possible before they start to notice anything—” He paused as he swallowed hard, “—Please keep it from Nurse Yeji for the meantime, can you do that for me?” He almost pleaded.

Director Min smiled slightly and nodded. 

“Thank you so much.” He smiled back. 

He was aware how the public was eager to know anything about his life, so he had to play cautiously. 

When Chan was in the middle of a traffic on the way home, lost in his own thoughts, the shrill ring of his phone shattered the silence, pulling him back to reality with an abruptness that felt jarring. 

When he looked at the caller ID, the familiar chills spread down his spine. Jihoon’s grandfather was calling again. 

“What the fuck have you done this time, Lee Jung Chan?” He murmured to himself. 

He paused for a few seconds to steady his breathing. 

He took a deep breath before answering, his heart racing with anticipation, then the familiar voice spoke from the other line.

“Come to the mansion now, I need you to check on something.” The old man’s voice was calm. 

Somehow, Chan felt a little relieved hearing his neutral tone. He assumed right away that the old man would probably ask him to treat someone again. 

But deep down, he was scared of what might inevitably happen knowing that mansion was full of curses and satanic energy. 

He swallowed hard, battling the instinct to shrink back in fear. No, he wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing him cower this time. After everything that had happened, he had resolved that fear would no longer be an option for him. 

Fear would only paint him as weak—a mere prey. What more could the old man do to him other than kill him? If death was his fate, then he would face it with courage, not cowardice.

“Okay, I'm on my way.” He said quickly before the call ended. 

Thirty minutes later, Chan stood at the door to the old man’s study in the mansion, the white medical kit cradled carefully in his hands. He knocked softly, the sound barely breaking the silence.

“Come in,” The old man’s voice called from within, laced with an impatience that made his stomach twist.

With a gentle push, he opened the door, stepping into the dimly lit room. A young, petite red-haired woman lounged against the back of the U sofa, her demeanor relaxed, while the old man perched at the edge of it, meticulously playing with his cigarette. 

“Oh, the great neurosurgeon!!!” The woman squeaked in the most mocking way possible. 

Chan’s brows furrowed in confusion when the woman lifted her bare legs to the table. 

“Can you massage me, Doc?” She said in a high-pitched voice. Her face filled with smugness, challenging his own omega wolf to submit like a slave.

Due to the heat suppressant, Chan couldn't catch even a faint smell of her scent— but he assumed she's probably an omega. He stared at her blankly before huffing, he felt more bored than annoyed, he didn't even care about the old man’s presence at the moment. 

“I hope you know what a neurosurgeon really means, go find a physical therapist or someone else.” He said calmly. 

“What?!” The woman clutched at her chest dramatically as she looked at the old man, tears welling in her eyes. “He's so rude, I'm downright offended.”

And there, of course, Chan saw exactly how the old man’s expression darkened, a storm brewing behind his eyes. Chan knew he was just using the woman to provoke him and find a reason to punish him. He knew him too well. He knew the pettiness of Jihoon’s grandfather, he must've heard about the finality of the divorce and him not accepting any assets from Seungcheol and Jeonghan. Chan knew that if he ever did, the old man would just end up using it for his gambling that Jihoon didn't even know about. And now he was acting up, projecting his anger directly to Chan. 

The old man looked at the butler. Chan quickly noticed the bruises painted on the butler's face and an unfamiliar man beside him with the same build as the butler. They were both standing near the door. 

And then without warning, the other man kicked him hard on the stomach, the force of it sending him staggering back until he collided with the wall. Pain shot through him, blurring his vision. “Are you trying to get yourself killed, child?” he heard the old man hissed, his voice a low growl.

“Now that you're finally divorced, you suddenly no longer respect me and my guests?”

Chan's heart raced, panic gripping him. “It wasn’t like that—I just—” He protested, desperation creeping into his voice.

“Shut up!” The old man snapped, his eyes icy and filled with fury. “Still trying to argue huh?”

Without hesitation, he nodded to the man beside the butler, he walked out and a few seconds later, two imposing men appeared at the door almost instantaneously, their presence looming like shadows.

“Hold him, I want to see him break while standing like the proud bitch he is.” He ordered, his tone devoid of any warmth.

And the next moment, Chan was being held at his both sides while he received the harsh strike of the rope on his already wounded back. Every blow on his back, he gasped for air. His face filled with wet tears he didn't even know when it began to fall. His teeth were tightening uncontrollably as the pain seeped into his skin and bones. His vision blurred, he felt numb, somewhere in the haze, he could hear the woman's voice, filled with amusement and laughter —

Until he finally passed out. 

When he regained consciousness, the sharp, sterile smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils, grounding him in the reality of the hospital room.

He opened his eyes, the room was familiar, and that's when it hit him— he wasn't really in the hospital, this was the family's private clinic in the mansion's basement. Of course, they couldn't let anyone find out he was being brutally abused. 

Nearby, the family doctor’s stern voice cut through the silence. “Mr. Lee, Dr. Lee Chan's condition is extremely serious, especially since he previously—”

“Doctor,” Chan interjected, his voice hoarse and weak. “I know my own body.”

The room fell into an uneasy silence. The old man stood by the window, framed by the light, his face filled with impatience and irritation.

“As long as he doesn’t die, that’s all I care about,” he stated flatly, his words devoid of emotion. “Don’t bother telling me the rest. I’m not interested.”

He then looked Chan in the eyes, “Before you leave and play dead, I want you to do something, come back here first thing in the morning tomorrow.”

With that, he left the room with the Doctor without a single backward glance, leaving Chan feeling more relieved than ever.

Alone, Chan struggled to reach for his things with trembling fingers. He stood up slowly and padded out the room, limping. He assumed that the suppressant shot he took last week helped him to somehow endure the pain. 

The frigid air of the night breeze clouded his thoughts the moment he stepped out of the mansion, and he felt his mind begin to drift, taking him back home to a time when everything was different—

He shook his head as he checked his phone, 2:32 AM. 

It looked like he had no choice but to change the whole plan. A bitter smile plastered on his lips. 

“Unfortunately, you really have to run like a fucking scaredy-rat.” He murmured to himself. His voice was calm as if his ribcage didn't feel like it was about to collapse from a fast heartbeat. 

One thing he was grateful for —despite the violence and tracking bestowed upon him, the old man actually seemed to overestimate his obedience. Chan knew he would just expect him to do everything he told him like he always did since day one. And now, while he was still letting his guard down, Chan thought this was the right opportunity to disobey him, once and for all. 

As he drove on the way home, his hands were trembling already. His mind was alert. It morphs into an escape plan. He mentally catalogued everything he needed—cash stashed away in a fake bank account from years of escape fantasies, a fake ID and passport he illegally requested from someone in the government just two weeks ago (thanks to his so-so-famous name) and the go-bag he had kept packed since after the night he was being whipped by the rope because he knew this day was gonna happen at some point. 

He was so grateful to himself for preparing an emergency escape plan. Years of training in emergency made him mentally alert, it seemed like it was worth it after all. 

He even brought a different car from a sketchy seller. He didn't care if the car was stolen but at least it didn't have a registered plate number. However, like a meticulous man that he was, he couldn't help but pay someone to check if there's a tracker attached to it, but fortunately, it seemed like just a worthless thing to someone yet ironically —the only thing that could save him at this moment. 

His mind raced through logistics while his hands trembled on the steering wheel: where to go, how to disappear, how to survive alone and sick without a pack or any support.

He took a deep breath. 

The apartment was shrouded in darkness when he slipped through his door. He opened the light as he moved quickly. He has no idea where the rest of the people are right now — his friends, his ex-husbands and his son. He tried to discard the thought while he shoved extra clothes and documents into a backpack. He looked at the three big luggages standing near his bed, ready and packed. He couldn't believe he would just end up using a single backpack instead of luggages. A single brittle hope. And a single completely fucked situation that has somehow become his reality.

Jihoon’s grandfather’s threat echoed in his mind as he walked out of the apartment : “I won't hesitate to kill you if I have to, kid.”

Maybe in your next life, harabeoji.

Instead of travelling through airlines, he used the sketchy car to travel on land. He was planning to start travelling through airlines only from a different city aside from Incheon to prevent him from being traced. 

The forest envelops him, ancient trees that have marked pack territory for generations silently witnessing a packless omega fleeing by himself—scared and resolute. Behind him, the city lights continued to roar and shine, blissfully unaware that a famous neurosurgeon had started to vanish.

They won’t realize he is gone until sometime for sure. By then, he'll be a ghost, a mere memory—once a scapegoat. A history they’ll eventually forget to mention. 

His son's face suddenly flashed into his mind, a gnawing pain and longing starting to crawl up into his chest. 

His hand gripping on the steering wheel tightened as he plunged deeper into the darkness. A single tear traced a path down his face as his mind ran through his heartwarming moments with his son like a highlight of years. 

This was hardest above all, because the cruelest kind of goodbye was when love doesn’t end — it just lingers inside you, unshakable.

It was like breaking your own soul apart with your own hands when you leave someone you can never unlove. Chan felt like he was standing there but unable to stop himself from bleeding.

It wasn't the kind of heartbreak he can cry over and get over in a few days or weeks.

It was a kind of pain that stays, forever —like a scar that never fades, and Chan, he had no choice but to embrace that. 

Minho-ya, I hope, when you miss me, you close your eyes and remember somehow, that I may be far but I will never be gone. Please forgive me. 

He sobbed and sobbed as he let his tears continously fell, and with a heavy heart, he pressed down on the accelerator, the engine continuously roaring in response, as he raced toward the deeper part of the forest. 

“Goodbye, My sweetheart…”

Chapter Text

Three years had slipped by like grains of sand through an hourglass, and now, within the sleek confines of the Yoon Group Clothing headquarters, Jeonghan found himself standing by the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows of his office. His hands were tucked casually into his pockets, but his mind was anything but relaxed. He stared down at the bustling city streets below, where cars darted like silver fish in a stream, unaware of the weighty decisions being made high above them.

“Mr. Yoon, I bring good news regarding the Boutique Construction in Europe and Australia,” Jeonghan's secretary announced, entering the room with a purposeful knock, a file clutched tightly in his hand. “It’s essentially confirmed. We can kick off construction as early as tomorrow in Europe, and in two weeks in Australia, and the whole endeavor should take approximately eight months to complete.”

Jeonghan walked to his table, then pivoted in his chair, his interest piqued as he accepted the file from his secretary. “That's good, can we schedule the flight around Dokyeom’s concert in Berlin?” he inquired, his tone hinting at the urgency of the matter.

Last year, Seungkwan and Jihoon decided to collaborate with a new project along with Dokyeom, who was pretty new to the industry. For the past two months, three of them have been busy with their concert tour, and Jeonghan, Seungcheol and the others weren't able to go to any of them due to their individual tight schedules. Their last event was in Europe, and apparently, all of them promised the three omega that they will attend together. 

“Understood, Mr. Yoon,” The secretary replied, a note of calm in his tone.

Later that night, uapon arriving home, Jeonghan barely took a moment to breathe before diving headfirst into his office. He needed to finish his work that was supposed to be done in two months just so he could spend his time with his mates and their friends without worrying about his work at home. 

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. “Come in,” He called, his voice steady.

Minho, who looked like being forcefully woken up, entered the office. “Papa, Appa said it's time for dinner.”

“Okay, Sweetheart. Go ahead, I'll be there shortly,” Jeonghan replied, his mind already racing ahead with different ideas as he went through his email.

Just then, his phone buzzed. He stared at it, then paused. He blinked. Just like the other days for three years, his heart skipped a beat. A familiar feeling crept up — hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. But he wasn't prepared at all. He will never be prepared. He tried his best to not acknowledge his feelings about the process of losing it while still clinging to it.

He bit his lower lip as he answered the call swiftly after he looked at the caller ID. 

“How was it?”

A silence greeted him for a few seconds before he heard a deep sigh on the other line. 

“Hyung,” A beat. “We still can't find anything.” Mingyu’s voice on the other end relayed.

Jeonghan's heart sank, but his response was immediate and resolute. “Tell them we'll double the payment Mingyu-ya. I’ll talk to Seungcheol.” He paused, “I don't care how much it costs, just make sure to do everything...please.” His last words were barely a sound, hopelessness washing over him, again. But he couldn't just give up, not ever. 

Mingyu was silent for a while, obviously reluctant to say what he was about to say. 

“Hyung, really, this has nothing to do with money, you know that. I'm always willing to do anything for you...but, It's been three years, hyung. I could trace anyone easily for two weeks maximum. But this? we're practically searching for nothing. I tried to track his name in so many countries for years. We even hired the best hacker in the world but I still couldn't find anything, not even a tiny hint. Hyung, don't you think it's time to–”

“Don't. Don't you dare say that Mingyu-ya.” He spat, cutting off the younger’s words. His voice was now firm and on edge. 

Mingyu exhaled harshly, clearly impatient as well. He knew the younger one hated being helpless, not because he was tired of helping, but because he was also gradually being consumed by guilt, and how he wanted to conclude that they were probably doing a nonexistent search — hoping for nothing, continuously feeding their delusions just to ease their guilt. 

“Gi-ho harabeonim declared him dead, hyung.” 

Mingyu’s words were like a blunt knife, mercilessly torturing his heart. A cruel reminder. He remained silent. Not because Mingyu was absolutely right, but because the distance between their theory and reality was close. The words echoed in his ears again and again like a plaque. 

I know. 

The day Seungcheol found out about Chan’s disappearance, was also the day Gi-ho suddenly announced his death— without anyone's knowledge prior the conference. 

Jeonghan remembered vividly how his heart stopped the moment he heard those words. He thought Gi-ho was pulling a ridiculous joke, but he said that during a press conference, which they rarely do and when there was a very serious situation going on. 

“Lee Chan, my youngest grandson, got into an accident.”

“The car exploded.”

“We couldn't recover his body, the fire consumed him completely.”

Betas typically do not fall into subdrops, where omega do experience, unfortunately, often emotional or physical "crash" that occurs after a massive breakdown. But Jeonghan—a beta—fainted that day, and the doctor told him if he didn't know he was a beta, he would conclude it right away as subdrop, because the symptoms were definitely the same as omega’s subdrops. 

“Something triggered your already fragile beta nerves, and a sudden, huge emotional impact was certainly the cause of its temporary collapse.”

He was hospitalized for two weeks. He didn't know what was happening. He didn't even care about it. The only thing that was running through his mind was the last news he saw on television. Jihoon and Seungcheol were with him the whole time, the doctor advised them to stick together to regulate his hormones properly. It helped, of course, they were bonded to each other. They were mates, and for some reason, that was what made it all worse. 

His mates tried to act normal, they were obviously doing it for him, but they knew even their friends could feel how intense the atmosphere was inside his hospital room every time they visited. 

“Hyung, the doctor said you will be discharged sooner if all of the laboratory results are normal within 48 hours.” Jihoon said to him, smiling, obviously a forced one. 

Jeonghan lowered his head as Seungcheol entered the room, with two coffees in his hands. The omega gracefully draped the blanket over his lap.

“Chan…” He said instead, his voice low. 

Jihoon's smile faltered, and Seungcheol’s steps hesitated at the threshold of the room.

A heavy silence followed, but he yearned for them to tell the truth even if part of him didn't want to hear anything. What was it that the old man said in that conference?

When Jihoon remained silent, avoiding both of their his eyes, he turned to look at the alpha instead. “Cheol…”

Seungcheol looked at him, but he didn't say anything right away. He could tell the alpha was trying to maintain his composure.

“I–I don't know,” Seungcheol stammered, casting a quick glance at the omega. Jeonghan stared at him. For the first time, he sounded so uncertain. For an alpha who was always sure about everything and knew instantly what to do, for the first time, he looked so powerless. 

“Was it some sort of joke?” He asked, hopeful, as he gazed at both of them, his voice wavered. 

Seungcheol sighed deeply, “I don't know what exactly happened, Han,” 

Jeonghan watched his adam's apple move up and down. 

“–but he disappeared…completely.”

Jeonghan felt his heart plummet, a heavy stone sinking in his chest. His fists tightened into hard balls as his gaze fixed on the papers strewn across the table. He felt…. scared. 

“He's– you mean he really is dead?” He managed to blurt the most terrifying idea in his mind at the moment, suddenly recalling the last moment with the omega—at the court. “That's not true, right?” Please… 

He noticed Jihoon recoiled, subtly clutching the edge of the blanket, but his eyes were red-rimmed, they knew that's the reason why he remained looking down. But no one said anything about that. 

Seungcheol was now beside him, on his left while the omega on the other side, the alpha silently removed the hair on the beta’s face, gently tucking them behind his ear. 

“I don't know, but we will find him.” He said calmly. 

“Gi-ho harabeonim said he's dead, how can you be so sure that he's alive?” He asked, his voice thin. Seungcheol never said Chan was alive, but Jeonghan wanted reassurance, he wanted him to make him believe that Chan was alive. But Seungcheol remained silent. 

“Cheol.“ He called, his voice barely a whisper. 

Both Jihoon and Seungcheol noticed his voice in panic, so the alpha sighed deeply before cupping his face. 

“I went to the hospital he's been working,” They stared at each other, the alpha was clearly monitoring his reaction. 

“—and they told me…he resigned, days before he disappeared. And… ” Seungcheol was hesitant as he glanced at Jihoon. 

The omega noticed it, his lips formed into a thin line and brows were knitted. “Do you need privacy, hyung?” He asked softly. 

Seungcheol shook his head quickly, he put his hand on Jihoon's nape and squeezed it, soothing him. 

“Wonwoo…knows something.” 

Jihoon’s head snapped, confused. Jeonghan’s hands twitched at the mention of Wonwoo. He loved Wonwoo so much but he couldn't help the simmering rage within him at the thought of the alpha wanting Chan, it was like a pot on the verge of boiling over. He knew Seungcheol felt the same, they both know how Wonwoo has been keeping an eye for Chan for years. But at the same time, shame washed over him like a cold reminder: you don't get to feel that after neglecting him for years. 

“What is it about?” He asked. 

What does he know? Why did Chan resign from work? Where was he supposed to go? What was his plan after their divorce? How did GI-ho find out about the accident? Did he tell him everything before everything happened? And.. and where is he now?

His thoughts were a tangled mess, each thread pulling him in different directions. And Seungcheol noticed that the way his monitor heart rate increased in numbers. 

Jihoon intervened immediately, “We will talk about this when you're fully recovered, hyung. Focus on your recovery first.” He said calmly, but his trembling hands didn't go unnoticed by the two. 

“But—”

“Love.” The alpha called him, his voice now firm yet still gentle. “I got you, we got you. I'll tell you about it, and we'll find out everything else together, okay? But for now, you have to rest and recover.”

Jeonghan hesitated but obeyed anyway, for the remaining days, he focused on his recovery, regulating his hormones back to normal. Even though the guilt clung to him like a second skin, leaving him feeling exposed, as if he were standing naked before everyone who witnessed the dynamic of their relationship with Chan. He focused on his health throughout the week. 

And yet, three years after his hospitalization, here they were — still lost. 

Too aware of the doom from the choices they made, but too uncertain how to address it. They became desperate to find Chan's whereabouts, the thing they never did while he was in front of their eyes. 

When a wave of despair came crashing down, Jeonghan wasn't even sure if he was allowed to grieve, to miss, to regret. It felt so expensive to even think about it. 

“Hyung?” Jeonghan snapped back to reality when he heard Mingyu’s voice from the phone. 

After a long while, he finally let out a low, bitter laugh. He felt like he was going insane one of these days. 

“Just because he said that, that doesn't mean it's true. He didn't have any evidence, Mingyu-ya. Not even a DNA result from the accident. Chan vanished and... from what I'm seeing so far, he seemed like he was prepared for it. I knew he was out there, somewhere, anywhere but I know he's not dead.” 

He caught his own reflection on the mirror in front of him. His eyes were bloodshot, and the mix of anger and desperation burning in his chest threatened to consume him. 

“Hyung…he was prepared, but he didn't bring everything he literally packed.“ 

Stop! 

“Please… just, let's try again.” He said instead, he paused, his throat constricted. He took a deep breath, preparing himself to utter the one of most heartbreaking words in three years, “For the last time, Mingyu-ya, send another one as capable as you to investigate his whereabouts, or anything. Just do anything, for the last time.“ His voice barely made a sound, trembling. He swallowed hard. 

After a few seconds, Mingyu sighed on the other line. Defeated. He knew he couldn't stop him either way. 

“Okay, I'll update you both anytime this week.” He said calmly. 

“...Thank you.” Jeonghan whispered as the call ended. He should be relieved, but he wasn't. He took a deep breath, suppressing the lump in his throat, and spoke in a hoarse voice: “Where are you, Chan–ah?” 

He stayed in his office for a while to calm his nerves before going down to the kitchen. By then, it was already late at night, and the house felt empty and deserted even though Seungcheol was sitting on the sofa. Jeonghan sank into it beside Seungcheol. The alpha was about to light another cigarette. The remnant of a previous cigarette hung in the air, it hit his nose, the strong nicotine instantly numbed his nerves. 

“Cheol, I told you to stop smoking.” He said, partly reprimanding him just because it was risky, not just to him but for everyone in this house, especially Minho. But part of him couldn't blame the alpha for using it, he knew it was a mechanism for him to stay grounded— to keep himself from totally crashing out. 

Seungcheol didn't say anything but still obeyed anyway. He removed the unused cigarette from his lips before he stood up and walked to the nearest trashcan and threw it away. Then he went back to the sofa. 

Jeonghan stared at the documents on the table for a long time where Seungcheol was staring recently. He noticed the alpha’s head turning upstairs, looking at Minho’s closed door quickly. Then, turning to him again, he stared into his eyes, but the words of something never left his lips. Though Jeonghan didn't press, he still instinctively waited, patiently. 

“We need to tell him the truth.”

Jeonghan was not surprised by what he said, but his fingers twitched uncontrollably. 

“I told you I don't want to tell Minho anything until we're certain–”

“Not Minho, Han.” Seungcheol said quickly. 

His brows furrowed in confusion, the alpha exhaled. 

“Jihoon, we need to tell him about him and Chan.” 

Oh. 

Silence fell. 

Jeonghan lowered his head, he gazed intently at his fisted hand. He knew exactly what the alpha was talking about. 

Three months ago, they found out about something that they weren't sure if it could give relief to Jihoon because he wouldn't have to bother anymore since they weren't blood related and they weren't that close anyway, or if it could shatter him more because Seungcheol and Jeonghan were both aware —which he didn't know— that he liked Chan, no, loved in fact, and now he would be consumed by guilt because he obviously tried his best for years to treat Chan coldly for nothing. All those efforts for nothing.

After a moment, he finally voiced the words he had been holding back. 

“I think… Gi-ho harabeonim is hiding more than we already know.”

Seungcheol looked at him, a chill seeping up bit by bit in his eyes, as if his thoughts were being spilled out by someone else. Jeonghan was confused for a second before it clicked.

“You're thinking the same thing.” 

When both of them started investigating along with Wonwoo and Mingyu, the youngest alpha concluded that Gi-ho might have moved impulsively. He even failed to hide the evidence: Chan's car, his luggages and other things. And that's when Wonwoo spilled about what he heard between Chan and Gi-ho’s conversation. But something bothered them so much, it made them more anxious and lost. 

Seungcheol nodded once, “Wonwoo was sure about what he heard, but…why did Chan leave everything behind that he already packed? Even his own car. We couldn't trace anything because he didn't–” Seungcheol swallowed hard, “–or maybe he couldn't bring anything with him. 

He leaned forward and he rubbed his face, his elbow resting on his knee. “We need to investigate more, that's why I want to tell Jihoon about everything, we can't hurt him, Han. I don't want to hurt him, we have to make sure he's okay with everything before we dig deeper about Gi-ho.” 

Jeonghan could see through him even though he was still talking calmly, obviously, he has been conflicted on this one. The beta’s face softened before he nodded in agreement. Then, a random thought suddenly came up after a moment of silence. 

“Cheol, did you…ever love him?” 

Seungcheol visibly stilled. 

He inhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling steady as he lifted his chin to meet Jeonghan’s gaze.

The specific event from three years ago replaying in his mind: 

Standing before the imposing structure of the apartment building, Seungcheol felt a surge of anticipation mixed with anxiety. The colossal stone and concrete edifice towered over him, its sheer size igniting a bile of acid in his stomach. 

The nervous energy that had been simmering since the break of dawn clawed its way back up his throat, and he couldn’t quite grasp the reason for his unease. It's not even just his wolf spiraling. It wasn't a biological instinct. But at the same time it was. But even before his wolf felt restless, he was already spiraling.

In three days, it was going to be Minho’s birthday party.

Usually, the three of them would take a week to prepare for it, especially Chan. But the youngest never contacted them ever since their final divorce. Jeonghan told him to give the omega the space that he might want even though he didn't even ask for it. 

But two weeks—

It's been two weeks since the last time he heard anything from him. And for some reason, it made his stomach churned and his wolf restless. 

And now here he was, standing in front of Chan's apartment building. 

He sidestepped as groups of hurried individuals brushed past him, their urgency palpable. Taking a moment to center himself, he inhaled deeply, drawing in the crisp air as he ascended with the grand elevator leading to the top floor — to Chan's floor unit. The reinforced metal door slid open with a gentle whoosh, welcoming him into the heart of the building that represented reality and the fact that they are finally divorced—this is Chan's new home.

As he stepped into the main hall on the top floor, he noticed the curious glances directed at him from the staff. Inside it, grandeur and busyness continued to unfold. The vaulted ceilings soared above him, adorned with intricate designs on the skylights that allowed natural light to spill onto the polished stone floors below. A cozy seating area beckoned, while a series of security doors loomed behind a row of receptionist desks, their presence a reminder of the importance of this place — because almost everyone that lives here was always high status. 

He walked through the hallway smoothly, no one questioned his presence here because he just recently became the co-owner of this building, which Chan didn't know about. He bought, maybe impulsively, half of the shares of the company merely because he believed the omega mindlessly bought an apartment unit without any background check or anything about the company that could sabotage his name. Seungcheol thought it was cute how oblivious Chan was about how well known he was, even though people almost know nothing about his personal life. He was known not because of his family background, but because of his talent as a neurosurgeon. Though Seungcheol was aware that what he did was more bold than Chan's, he thought he had to do that, otherwise he would've dragged the omega back to their house forcefully, and it would absolutely add more fuel to the younger’s anger. So he had no choice but to negotiate with the owner quietly —for safety, and maybe for his peace of mind. 

He approached the door of Chan's unit before he pushed the doorbell switch and paused, waiting for it to open. No answer. 

His brows furrowed. He pushed it again. 

It remained stubbornly shut.

Then again. 

Then again, but still, no one responded. 

He pressed his lips together. Is he mad? Maybe he's at the hospital? Working? Was this a misstep? Did the receptionist mistakenly give him the apartment unit number? Or what if he's sick? A chill crept down his spine.

He was considering asking for a spare key to the receptionist but…that would condemn him as disrespectful. Chan's boundaries weren't easy to cross,at least for him. And… they just got divorced, meaning the audacity that he used to have was now completely gone. 

In an instant, countless familiar fragments of memory surfaced in his mind. He took a deep breath, suppressing the lump in his throat. 

“I guess I'm not the only one panicking here.” A voice chimed from behind, startling him, but his face remained stoic when he snapped his head towards the source. 

Wonwoo. 

A sudden irritation rushed to him as he turned to glance back at the long hallway waiting behind them.

“What are you doing here?” He still asked calmly. 

His fists clenched at his sides, but he held his tongue to say something more. This was his ‘baby brother’ who he doted so much. Yet, the fire igniting within him was hard to suppress as the memory of the younger pressing closed to Chan. 

He expected him to challenge him again, like the usual, but what surprised him was that Wonwoo looked vulnerable. Like he was also being consumed by his own anxiety. 

“I couldn't contact him for weeks, hyung.” Wonwoo said directly, his voice low and steady. But as Seungcheol looked at his eyes, there was something about them that felt distinctly similar.

An icy dread trickled down his spine, he pushed the doorbell again without looking: Chan's fine. He should be here. He should be. 

Still nothing. 

His heart raced as he fully faced the door again, caught between the memory of their previous encounter with the omega and the weight of what was at stake.

What felt like an eternity passed before the door creaked open, he let out a sigh of relief that was shattered in an instant when his eyes met an unfamiliar person. And there someone stood, a stranger, as if he had forcefully woken up by the constant sound of the doorbell. Seungcheol’s brows furrowed in confusion. 

“Who are you?”

The man blinked slowly. He looked young, around Chan's age. And he looked comfortable, as if he really owned the place. Could he be… 

“Oh, uhm I am the new owner of this apartment. Uh, can I help you?” The man said awkwardly, obliviously creating thick tension between them. 

Seungcheol frowned, tilting his head slightly. He turned to look at Wonwoo, who mirrored his reaction. 

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, forcing himself to calm the beast that roared within. He turned back to the man in front of them. “Where's the previous owner then? Do you even know him?” He inquired, he knew his voice was nothing but commanding, and the man noticed that. 

“Ah… W-well, sir, I wasn't allowed to say anything.” The man stammered, his gaze fixed on the floor, avoiding his eyes. “I’ve been instructed to, uh, never say anything to anyone.”

A wave of anger washed over him. It felt as though they were chasing phantoms. He had no time to beat around the bush.

“So the previous owner doesn't want anyone to know about this, tell me the name of the one who arranged this then,” He summarized, preparing to exit the pointless conversation. He needed to know where Chan moved to. He realized once again, he didn't care enough about the company, he failed to even check the daily transfer of titles of every apartment unit. He should've known better. 

Desperation— a sudden feeling emerged. His gaze sharpened, narrowing on the man. 

“I'm not threatening you, but just so you know I can drag you out of here if you ever tell me even just a single lie about this.” He added. 

Such a blatant approach, Seungcheol. He didn't mean to instill fear but the desperation in him was gradually consuming him. 

The young man was taken aback for a moment, a flash of fear in his eyes. Then without saying anything, he entered the unit without closing the door. Despite the urge, neither Seungcheol nor Wonwoo followed him inside. A few minutes later, the man came back and handed him a calling card without saying anything. Seungcheol stared at it.

He nodded, “Thank you. I apologize for disturbing you.” He said politely now. The man was still wary of their presence but bowed slightly anyway. 

They both left the building, Wonwoo didn't say anything. As if he wasn't even there. Seungcheol didn't call him out either when he hopped in his car with him. 

The next moment, they were in front of the hospital where Chan was working instead of the place where the address in the calling card was indicated. Outside, heavy snow was falling, crunching under their feet

This place was a far cry from the glamorous building nestled at the whole interior of their own company, this is where they toiled away, hidden from prying eyes. This place didn't care about their status. Where safety was more important than money. The structured, sterile environment designed to contain chaos and sickness — It is where people go to find help at their most vulnerable moments.

But Seungcheol was here with a different kind of vulnerability. It wasn't a desperation to be put back together differently after being physically broken down. It was a desperation to reach for a familiar, sudden vanished hand. 

As they stepped out of the elevator, they were met with Chan's friends— Yeonjun and Chanbin. They both froze when they saw them. Yeonjun hesitated, anger flickering in his eyes, but eventually nodded at them. On the other hand, Changbin offered a genuine smile. 

“Seungcheol-hyung, Wonwoo-hyung, what are you doing here?” Impressively, Yeonjun still asked respectfully. 

He casually placed his hands in his pockets and leaned back against the wall of Chan's office. His gaze drifted to the person behind Seungcheol, Wonwoo, who was surprisingly on edge. 

“Did you know where Chan is? He moved out of his apartment.” Seungcheol said. 

“HE WHAT?!” Both friends asked loudly and bewilderedly. They shared quick glances. Yeonjun cursed under his breath. 

Seungcheol was observing them. 

“He's here, right?” He asked, his voice now was stiff. They ignored him. Now he felt the bile on his throat when they noticed them gradually panicking. 

“I can't believe this.” Changbin said frantically, tapping aggressively on his phone. 

“Where is he, Yeonjun?” Seungcheol asked again, less patient now. 

“How would I know?! He literally resigned from his work without even telling us!” The younger alpha snapped, his voice sharp yet trembling. 

Seungcheol and Wonwoo froze. 

Seungcheol, refusing to believe them, strode instantly towards Chan's office. Hoping to find the omega. But the moment the office door opened, he was met with an empty, cold room. No trace of Chan inside. 

Everything froze. 

And in the next moment, Wonwoo, behind him, almost lost control as he walked towards Yeonjun, his aura was commanding, his scent dominating the hallway Fortunately there was no other people around, his voice trembling with either anxiety or anger: “You're not hiding him, are you?”

Yeonjun looked at him furiously instantly, then to Seungcheol. His eyes burned with the same anger and intensity. “Are you crazy, hyung?! Why would we hide him from you? Tell me, why would we hide him from the people who never give a single fuck about him, huh?!”

Wonwoo’s pupils contracted sharply, his face instantly turning pale. His lips trembled, but not a single word came out. Seungcheol suppressed his scent, he looked at Wonwoo, and noticed his eyes dimming bit by bit. There was confusion at first, then bewilderment and despair. He looked utterly devastated, as if he had lost all strength. He was barely able to stand steadily. 

The air remained quiet for a long time. Wonwoo felt his legs grow numb from standing. Then, he let go of Yeonjun and finally moved.

“Where are you going?” Seungcheol asked as he stopped him. 

“Gi-ho harabeonim” He said with a hint of urgency, his voice unsteady. Seungcheol’s eyebrows are knitted in confusion. “Wonwoo-ya.” 

Wonwoo locked eyes with him. He saw his eyes were terribly red — not because of tears, but anger. Seungcheol knew then something was wrong. He paused and waited, impatiently. 

“Wonwoo.” He warned this time, his voice was dangerously low. The younger alpha blinked. Even Yeonjun and Changbin stopped mid-step, taken aback.

The anger in Wonwoo’s eyes gradually faded, slowly replaced by apprehension. “He might know where Chan is, hyung.”

Seungcheol's breath hitched. 

Without saying anything, they both turned and were about to step into the elevator when Yeonjun, behind them, stopped the oldest by his arm. He looked at him, the younger fell silent for a few seconds before speaking again in a low voice, a hint of desperation in his tone, his recent anger completely dissolved, “Hyung… please update us as soon as you heard anything about his whereabouts.” 

Seungcheol finally turned his whole body around to look at them. 

The hallway light fell on their faces, reflecting a flicker of panic that passed through their eyes. They're Chan's friends. And now they are panicking, a simple yet comprehensible evidence of their friendship. They were the only ones who stood by Chan where he and Jeonghan were supposed to be the one to fulfill that. His throat tightened and he couldn’t utter a single word.

After a moment of silence, he nodded to them.

He snapped out of his train of thought when he felt Jeonghan caressing his arm. 

Did they ever love him? 

It was such a rhetorical question. From what the beta witnessed on Seungcheol’s treatment to Chan every time he lost control. He definitely has an answer. But for some reason, he wanted to hear it. His question did not carry a tone of accusation, implying that he doubts their relationship. But it has a tone of desperation —hoping the alpha felt the same way as him. 

He never thought they would end up like this. He never wanted this from the beginning, so did Seungcheol. But their grandfathers were impatient. And Jihoon agreed, and surprisingly, Chan too. They all knew about him having a crush on Seungcheol. The omega never said that, but he was too easy to read. He was so transparent yet oblivious to his own actions. But no one said anything about it, until that day. He stopped looking at them when his grandfather blurted it out openly. 

Because of the possibility of the whole situation ruining their relationship, Jeonghan felt uneasy the whole month before their marriage. And when Jihoon said they would be biologically bonded, he expected himself to calm down. But surprisingly after that, even though they didn't claim Chan and was mated with Jihoon instead, something in him gradually shifted throughout the years living with Chan— in the most unexpected way that he refused to acknowledge for years. 

Jihoon's condition was clear from the beginning. And Jeonghan’s sole purpose was to follow that, he was even willing to fight his own desire. For him, everything was transactional, until it wasn't. But still, he held back, too afraid to be the one to betray the bond — with his beloved small pack. 

But he wasn't expecting this to happen. He didn't expect Chan to suddenly disappear out of their sight (unsure if he was still out there, breathing). And he didn't expect to grieve this much. To long this much — that melancholic feeling of longing for someone he didn't even try to cherish before it completely slipped out of his hands. Hell, they even initiated the divorce first and tried to abandon the omega. 

How fucking cruel. 

Seungcheol exhaled sharply, his face still calm. His lips twitched quickly, but not a single word came out. His scent? Jeonghan thought it was the saddest scent he ever smelled from him. 

The alpha looked at him, his eyes dull and pale. There was desperation and regret. He looked so lost, as if he had been killed by just a single question. He was barely able to breathe properly for a few seconds. 

The air remained quiet for a long time. Jeonghan didn't realize his palm grew numb from how his nails absentmindedly buried his skin. Then, Seungcheol finally spoke as he lowered his head. 

“I don't think I have the right to even answer that”

Jeonghan's lips formed into a thin line, “So you loved him.” It wasn't a question this time.

Ironically, they didn't talk about this ever. Not even during those years of marriage. When they talked about divorce, they never mentioned anything else outside that. Not even Chan's feelings towards the whole situation. 

But contrary to their goal, when they hover around Chan without him knowing, they never call each other out, not even Jihoon. The three of them were subtly avoiding to acknowledge something so obvious. Jeonghan thought Jihoon was trying to understand the situation, until he realized something deeper. 

He didn't know about Seungcheol. But Jeonghan restrained himself from being attached to Chan because he was afraid to hurt Jihoon. And as a beta, he wanted to protect his omega mate, even as a means of ignoring Chan, and his own gradually growing desire. Saying it killed him inside every time he acted cold around Chan was hypocritical. But as a matter of fact, he didn't realize that he's been treating him like a shit until the omega initiated the divorce. He didn't realize that he was already attached before he even started to distance himself. He didn't even want to remember the sight he saw in that dining area when they came back from dinner during Jihoon's birthday, and Chan's, apparently. And instead of apologizing, he stepped back further. He was the beta, but he was no better than Seungcheol. At least the alpha came to Chan to apologize, while he's been acting like a dick, trying to justify: Jihoon is his mate, everything about their relationship with Chan was transactional, that almost all of it was instinct driven. 

He wanted to laugh how utterly stupid he was. 

And now—

Now… 

Learning about the real relationship between Jihoon and Chan was one thing, but realizing —too late— that Jihoon loved the younger omega this whole time? That was the most mindblowing yet the most devastating thing Jeonghan had ever discovered. He wished it wasn't true. He truly wished Jihoon hated Chan instead. It could be possible, but Jihoon has always been bad at hiding his feelings. He's always been bad at realizing things. Jeonghan has always been the one to notice everything first before it clicked to the other two. And now, the alpha seemed to realize it too. 

Seungcheol turned to look at him again, the guilt in his eyes was now visible, it's suffocating to watch. 

“You loved him.” Jeonghan repeated. As if forcing the truth onto him. 

Seungcheol had dark circles under his eyes, his hair was a mess, and he looked much more mature but he still looked so gorgeous as ever. 

After a moment of silence—

“I still do, Han.” Seungcheol whispered, as if he wasn't allowed to say it out loud. Shame flickering his eyes. 

They both instinctively turned to the glass window. Outside, heavy snow was falling. Suddenly, memories surged up uncontrollably. 

“I should've listened to my instinct to follow him before he left the court that day. He was– he wasn't physically okay, Han.” Seungcheol continued. Jeonghan's head snapped back to him, momentarily stunned. Because his wolf did the same too, but he restrained himself from doing it, he was so preoccupied on steadying his inner beast that he didn't realize Seungcheol was also…

He noticed his eyes—

The alpha turned his head away again, wanting to avoid his gaze, but he gently cupped his face. “All these years, did you even allow yourself to cry atleast?” 

Their eyes locked, his heart skipping a beat as he stared at the eyes full of emotions, he didn't know if he was lucky that he could read them. All of them. 

Seungcheol’s voice was choked. “I don't think I have the right—”

“You do. I know you’re hurt, Cheol. Your guilt is killing you too. Cry it out. Don’t bottle it up. You don't get to hide everything, not from me.” 

Seungcheol bit his lips so hard. Jeonghan knew then that the alpha couldn’t hold back any longer. He threw himself into his arms, his shoulders shaking violently. The quiet sobs he seemed suppressing for so long finally spilled out in broken tiny gasps. Jeonghan felt his chest squeezed in pain.

He huddled in his arms and cried after a long, long time. Jeonghan tightened his hold. To finally break like this, he knew it was too much to hold. Seungcheol has been so reserved, calm and intimidating. Outside, people saw his dominance, his leadership. Only Jeonghan and Jihoon saw this side of him, but the last time he cried this much was years ago, when his parents came back out of nowhere, after abandoning him and his two brothers. And that was mostly out of anger, but this? This was a blend of shame, guilt, and sadness. 

Jeonghan knew after this, the alpha would act like nothing happened again. So he didn't say anything, and just patted his back gently. 

He stared at the snow outside again, Chan's image outside the court— wiping his tears as he walked briskly towards his car, —filled his mind. Playing repeatedly like a barbarous reminder: It was impossible to fix what they had, but he hoped, desperately, for Chan to come back safely atleast. 

That was enough. 

That should be enough. 

***

A week after, on Suhyeok’s— Seungcheol, Wonwoo and Vernon’s grandfather's 79th birthday. There was an intimate celebration in their old mansion. They were one of the elite families in the city but they rarely socialized with other people. It was always like this: their grandfather, Jeonghan's grandfather, Jihoon's grandfather and their own families. The three old men have always been good friends since childhood. And they didn't seem like they wanted to fit into society’s social standards, fortunately. 

Taking a moment to steady his breath, Wonwoo crossed the threshold into the family dining room. The atmosphere was warm, filled with the soft glow of candlelight and the gentle hum of laughter. His grandfather and his brother, Vernon were seated close together, Gi-ho and Hanbin—the other two old men were sitting across them, sharing a quiet joke that seemed to wrap around them like a cozy blanket. Wonwoo stared at Gi-ho longer, then averted his gaze. Jeonghan was talking with Mingyu on the sofa in the living room. The only ones that weren't there were the three omega in their circle—Jihoon, Dokyeom and Seungkwan. The rest were eating and laughing at the long table. In stark contrast, Seungcheol lingered by the window, a wine glass cradled in his hand, his gaze lost in the distance. He seemed almost like a statue, too rigid, too serious for the lively scene unfolding before him.

As soon as his grandfather spotted him, he rose with an elegance that had been honed over the years. His arms opened wide, inviting him into his embrace.

“My child, come here,” he exclaimed, his voice bright and welcoming.

Seungcheol turned his head, a fleeting frown vanishing as if it had never been there. Though his cold demeanor remained. Everyone wore smiles that belied the truth of the previous years, — how it had been the only one they chose to ignore, including him. Wonwoo’s heart clenched, he's one of them. It was as if they were living in a bubble, blissfully unaware of the reality that surrounded them. 

He stepped into his grandfather’s embrace, allowing his familiar manly scent to envelop him, a blend of musk notes and something uniquely his. He was adorned in a silk black suit that sparkled with class, a stark contrast to Wonwoo’s own simpler attire. He literally came here from his law firm. Wonwoo locked eyes with Seungcheol, obviously passing a silent conversation, and their grandfather noticed that. The subtle disapproval in his gaze spoke volumes, but he didn’t feel the need to explain himself. Their grandfather knew about their unclear and unacknowledged rivalry. 

After all, no one had ever offered him an explanation for the unspoken rules of their lives. 

His fingers fidgeted in his lap as his older brother approached him, but he maintained the smile plastered on his face, to reassure their grandfather they wouldn't use fists, yet. A mask he had grown accustomed to wearing.

“We need to talk.” Seungcheol interjected, his eyes flickering between him and Vernon, who was now approaching them. “Cheol-hyung.” The beta called, warning him. 

Wonwoo glanced at Jeonghan, who also started approaching them. Wonwoo’s lips formed into a thin line as he remembered what happened when Jeonghan was hospitalized. 

He remembered how palpable the tension was that time, the road to Lee's residence with Seungcheol stretched before them like an unending binding of despair. Each engine roaring felt heavier than the last, and Wonwoo noticed the oldest slowing down frequently to catch his breath, his vision swimming with shadows that threatened to pull him under. What should have been a short three-kilometer drive morphed into a grueling five-hour trek. 

“What do you know?” Seungcheol suddenly asked. 

Wonwoo glanced at him. He remained silent for a while, then sighed deeply. He was hesitant at first, afraid to break his promise to Chan not to tell, but…

“I heard him talking with Gi-ho harabeonim about– about faking his death…after leaving here.”

Seungcheol visibly went rigid. “What do you mean?” He asked firmly. 

Wonwoo massaged the bridge of his nose. “I don't know, hyung. That's all I heard. The day you…saw me in his office, that's when I confronted him about it, but he told me he would tell me everything after the divorce… as long as I won't tell anyone. And then, he disappeared.” 

Seungcheol didn't say anything, stunned, Wonwoo could sense the older’s mind was buzzing with a deafening ring, with the way he visibly winced as he turned slightly to the side. That was a warning. A sign his wolf was gradually spiralling. 

Just then, Seungcheol’s phone suddenly rang. Jihoon's caller ID was displayed on his car screen monitor. 

The omega’s voice crackled through the receiver, “Hyung, Jeonghan-hyung fainted…” 

Seungcheol stepped on the break. Wonwoo hissed when his head almost hit the dashboard but the older alpha pulled him back abruptly by the back collar of his suit and prevented it from happening. 

“Where are you?” His usual calm voice echoed through the phone, but beneath his composure, a tempest of fear churned within him, an indescribable dread that clawed at his insides.

“I'm on my way to the hospital. Minghao is with him right now. I'll text you the address.” Jihoon replied. He hummed and told the omega to take care before ending the call. 

He pressed down on the accelerator, the engine roaring in response, as he raced toward the hospital, indifferent to the glaring red lights flashing in his peripheral vision.

Wonwoo didn't protest. He just stayed silent because he was also concerned about Jeonghan, but despite that, his mind would flicker back to Chan from time to time. 

Seungcheol's foot pressed harder against the gas pedal, wishing with every fiber of his being that he could teleport to Jeonghan’s side in an instant.

Then—

Suddenly, he felt a pang of painful twist in his heart as he thought about Chan. He bit his lip, knowing they had just been on the brink of something urgent. 

And now, here they were, racing against time for Jeonghan. The beta’s his mate. And Chan used to be his husband. And even at times like this, he couldn't still prioritize the latter. The voice in his mind chanting against his skull: Hypocrite. Hypocrite. Hypocrite. 

After what felt like an eternity, he finally screeched to a halt outside the hospital, his heart pounding in his chest, fueled by fear and desperation.

Just then, Jihoon stood at the entrance, his face ashen, eyes wide with panic as he stared at the lobby. He looked so lost. 

As they approached, the omega’s shoulders slumped the moment he noticed them, and he called in a voice barely above a whisper, trembling with trepidation. “Hyung…”

The alpha didn't say anything first, he immediately wrapped his arm around Jihoon. His movements were gentle. As his fingertips brushed a strand of hair from the omega’s temple, he looked down and murmured, “It's okay, he'll be fine. We should go to him now.”

After acquiring Jeonghan's hospital room, they proceeded there along with Wonwoo, who was still silent the entire time. 

When they opened the door to Jeonghan's room, his scent along with Minghao’s anxious and…somehow angry scent hit their noses. The beta was lying on the hospital bed, unconscious. His face pale under the fluorescent light. A cardiac monitor attached to him while IV lines were hooked to his left arms. 

Meanwhile, Minghao’s jaw twitched, but he kept his head down. Emotions that he usually kept buried rushed his beast surged. 

Fists still clenched, he stood up silently and walked past them and continued outside, but a quiet footsteps followed behind him. 

“Minghao, what happened?” Seungcheol started. His voice was laced with impatience. Confused about his strange demeanor. 

Minghao turned his head. Seungcheol and Wonwoo stood side by side. He lowered his head again, a frown on his face. When he looked at both of them, no, specifically on Seungcheol, he said with his hoarse voice but still quiet, “Did you ever care about Chan, hyung?” 

Seungcheol froze. Wonwoo, on the other hand, shifted uncomfortably in his place. Minghao chuckled, but none of the two replied to him, his face now devoid of any emotion. He sighed deeply. “Jeonghan-hyung fainted while we were discussing the proje–” He paused, “You didn't see the news, did you?” 

“What news are you talking about?” Seungcheol asked with his firm voice, commanding. 

Minghao suddenly huffed. “It's confirmed then, none of yo– none of us cared.” He replied. 

“Minghao.” Wonwoo warned him this time. 

Minghao chuckled but it was devoid of humor, as if something had taken the life out of him. “Now that he's gone, I can't believe we all had the audacity to care.” He murmured to himself, but both Seungcheol and Wonwoo heard him clearly. 

“Minghao.” Seungcheol called him firmly. 

The youngest alpha snapped out of his trance. They were waiting impatiently, somehow looking worse than they usually had every time they're stressed. Seungcheol’s eyes were bloodshot, and his clothes wrinkled like he’d slept in them. 

Wonwoo hesitated, still looking at him, before he nodded. Then he pulled his phone out of his pocket jeans, tapped on it several times, scrolled down, then clicked a certain video. Seungcheol approached him instinctively while Minghao stayed rooted in his position, watching them. Without them knowing, his mind continuously raced to the fear that had kept him restless and devastated since he heard the news, and his stomach knotted. 

Suddenly, the air in the hallway stilled. 

After a long, suffocating silence, Wonwoo’s expression darkened, his eyes clouded with unreadable emotions. Slowly, he released his grip on the phone before putting it back in his pocket. His heart was pounding in his chest. Seungcheol stood there, frozen in disbelief, as a torrent of emotions surged within him—confusion mingled with an overwhelming wave of pain and despair.

Just then, the door behind them swung open. Jihoon emerged with a phone in his hand and came closer, his scent mingling with the thick air in the hallway, —anxious, desperate. His voice softened, though it carried an edge of urgency. “Hyung, what does– what does harabeoji mean he's– Chan's dead?”

His lips trembled. For a moment, he searched their eyes one by one, weighing their demeanor, gauging the truth in them.

Wonwoo instinctively looked at Minghao. Minghao’s scent was laced with rage built with every word and actions, including his. His hands tightened into fists, his jaw hard as stone. To treat Chan like a ghost was one thing, but to crush him in the process was beyond redemption the more he thought about it. 

His voice, when he spoke, was low and deadly. “Stop acting like you care, hyung. None of us have the right to act like that right now.”

Jihoon visibly froze. Minghao stood, his body taut with controlled fury—mainly to Seungcheol and Jeonghan, and maybe Jihoon. No, even to himself. 

He glanced at Seungcheol, then locked eyes with Wonwoo. His eyes lingered on them one last time, protective, yet screaming regret: Who was I trying to protect? Who am I kidding? Who am I trying to impress? 

You're such a fucking coward, Minghao. You're just the same as them. Wonwoo watched him chuckled bitterly before he turned and strode from the hallway to the elevator. 

Wonwoo snapped back to reality when he heard Seungcheol’s voice. 

“It's okay, I just want to talk.” Seungcheol replied, perhaps too hastily yet calmly.

They all knew what happened last year during Joshua's birthday. They almost, almost hurt each other severely. 

“It's okay,” He reassured Vernon as he dismissed another protest from someone, probably Mingyu, waving his hand as if the matter were trivial. Then he turned his gaze back to Seungcheol, nodding. The older alpha turned to walk towards the mansion garden in the backyard.

“What is it, hyung?” He asked calmly once they were outside, away from anyone’s ears. 

Seungcheol looked at him, longer than necessary. Wonwoo didn't mind about that, but he was curious what was going on in his mind at the moment. Is he going to lose control again? 

“I'm sorry.” Seungcheol suddenly said. 

Wonwoo froze. An unexpected twist of sadness coiled around his heart at his brother's words.

“I know we've been basically in bad blood for a long time, but I don't want to stay like that forever, Wonwoo–ya.”

For the first time in what felt like ages, Seungcheol appeared warm and vulnerable since their last confrontation, his eyes devoid of the usual coldness that often clouded them. Could he truly have sensed something?

He felt weary.

“You're not angry with me anymore?” Wonwoo reluctantly asked, taking a sip of wine to mask his nervousness, funny how he still appeared more like a little brother after everything. He was surprised that his hand remained steady.

Seungcheol chuckled, though it didn't reach his eyes. He frowned at that. Then the older’s expression softened. “We have to end this, Chan would feel bad if we keep this up because of him.” 

His body stiffened almost imperceptibly at the name, but he tried his best to mask his reaction and scent. A surge of indescribable emotion welled up in his heart, mostly — guilt. 

Seungcheol’s voice rang in his head. 

“We could've saved him if you just told me about this!”

We could've saved him. Those words were replaying like a plaque. 

He accidentally blurted out about the footage, ten months since they started looking for Chan. The reaction was instant. The next thing he knew, he was being pinned against the wall by Seungcheol, blaming him aggressively for keeping quiet. 

Seungcheol wasn't wrong. He should've told someone about the footage. He should've done something. He did, but it was too late. Gi-ho’s currently sick now, and worst, Jihoon was constantly worried. They were still thinking how to give him the punishment he deserves. But there were things that were delaying them… 

First, the old man's power in society. Then Jihoon. 

“I'm sorry, hyung…” He said, his voice cracked a little. 

Seungcheol’s eyes were also laced with guilt, probably because he blamed him when he found out that he knew about the footage. Though he apologized last year, it ended up to a more heated conversation, and almost hurt each other physically, “Wonwo–ya, I told you I was wrong, I shouldn't have blamed you. I just don't have anyone to blame, and you were the easiest target when I was about to lose control. But look at me now, I'm the one hiding it this time from Jihoon.” 

Wonwoo did not feel any relief at his words, he gave a bitter smile. “But it's different, hyung. You're still planning to tell him. I wasn't. You found out because I slipped. You may be divorced now, but he was still Minho’s father. If I just acted on it sooner, he could still be here right now, with us, and even if he's not, atleast we would've know where exactly he is.” 

Seungcheol opened his mouth, but couldn’t say a word. He knew he didn’t want to lie to him, giving false reassurance. Because yes, he could've really done something. But they couldn't keep imputing blame to each other. 

No one knows the main reasons why they fought at Joshua's birthday party, only Jeonghan and Mingyu were aware. They agreed to keep it from the rest for now, especially from Jihoon. 

“I'm going to tell him everything after their concert.”

Wonwoo looked at him. They all know how Jihoon hated violence. He hated people who physically hurt other people. But Gi-ho was his grandfather, one of his favorite people on earth. They didn't know how he would take the whole truth, but he still deserves to know everything. 

“Are we… giving up on searching for—”

“No.” Seungcheol cut him off abruptly. His voice was firm and certain. 

“As long as there's no solid evidence of his death, we won't stop searching for him.” 

***

Three years ago. 

Jimin stared at the two boxes of ready-made foods in front of him. He sighed deeply as he rolled his eyes. He glanced at the delivery man quickly, the same man who's been delivering all these stupid stunts from an anonymous person for months. 

But Jimin thought he knew who it was. He definitely knew. 

“Sir, you can bring it with you. I don't need any of these.” He said calmly. 

The man was stunned for a second. He's been throwing out everything he had delivered, but this was the first time he received food, and it didn't feel right to just throw it away. 

“It's okay, just get it, it's all yours.” He said again. 

The man stared at him for a few seconds, as if judging if he was serious. Then eventually nodded and bowed in gratitude, then left with the box cradled in his arms. 

Jimin sighed and went out of his unit. He entered the elevator quietly but his mind was anything but quiet. After a few minutes, he entered the parking lot. As he was about to approach his car, a white car stopped in front of him. His steps halt as his brows knitted in annoyance. Then— he watched the door open and revealed the people he's been avoiding for years. His breath hitched. He felt the air around him stilled for a moment. 

Then, as if physically slapped by something, he shook his head. He took a deep breath trying to make himself appear calm. He exhaled in frustration, he was so done with all of them. As you should, Park Jimin. 

Yoongi, an alpha, got out of the car first from the driver’s seat. Then, a second later, Namjoon, another alpha, followed from the other side while Jungkook, an omega, at the back. 

“Jimin–ah” Namjoon called reluctantly. 

Jimin’s face instantly darkened, his brows furrowing tightly. “This is ridiculous.” He murmured to himself. 

He noticed Jungkook instantly recoiled when their eyes locked. He was probably genuinely afraid to spook him. This was his former pack, the one he broke the bond with, except Jungkook, who was never his mate in the first place. Jimin was supposedly going to join their pack, he was married to all of them for seven months before deciding to mate with them, but after his mating bond with the two members of their pack, Jungkook suddenly told them he wasn't ready yet. So for his sake, Jimin didn't mind and decided to wait again. He understood the younger omega. He was the only omega before Jimin joined them, so feeling territorial for a while was normal even though they were already married, the reaction was instinctual and valid. Then after a month, he finally told them he was ready. Everything was smooth after that, everyone, especially Jimin, was so delighted the entire time. But as soon as he finished mating with Taehyung— the pack's beta, Jungkook suddenly went spiral. All of a sudden, he didn't want another omega in the pack. All of a sudden, he was scared of Jimin. It was so intense. He even fell into several episodes of subdrops. So for Jungkook’s safety (according to them) the pack decided to not only break the bond with Jimin, but also divorce him. And the rest was history. 

He tried so hard to heal himself from the trauma. He moved out of Seoul and went back home, away from them just to forget. And yet, after years, here they were….

“We need to talk, I– you're close with Lee Chan, right? The surgeon.” Namjoon asked. 

Jimin froze once again at the mention of Chan's name. His brows knitted in confusion. 

“What is it about him?” He asked, his voice suddenly changed. Chan was one of his juniors in high school, the only male omega who looked up to him so obviously. And now he was one of his clients. They weren't that close, but Jimin admired him—his patience and dedication. An omega like Chan, who's being treated unfairly, especially in marriage, was one of the reasons why he pursued law. Maybe he just wanted to help, or maybe he wanted to use that to heal his younger self.

Maybe. 

“We need to talk somewhere private though.” 

“No one else is here.” He said calmly but obviously on edge. 

“You don't know that.” Yoongi chimed in. Jimin sharply flickered his gaze on him. He held himself back from twisting his lips into an extremely faint, mocking face. 

Don't give them any damn reaction. 

After a long silence, he silently pulled his phone from his pocket, his fingers rapidly tapping on the screen, his tone impatient yet carrying a hint of compromise. “Fine. Send the location then.” Then without warning, he left them and walked towards his car. 

On the way to the restaurant, Jimin couldn’t quite describe how he felt. Not hurt, not angry, and not even surprised. He was just… done. And also, he was so curious and concerned about what they know about Chan, knowing the omega was so private about his life.

***

Jimin wandered his gaze around the small room. The ambience was vintage and modern at the same time. There were a bunch of flowers on every corner of the room, making it less intimidating. Jungkook and Namjoon were sitting across from him while Yoongi was at the center. 

In that awkward silence, the private room of a restaurant Jin owns, apparently, according to Namjoon, the door swung open, breaking the stilled moment. Jin, clad in a polo shirt with an apron on top of it, stepped inside, his presence was calm yet commanding immediate attention. Then, a restaurant staff stepped inside after him, carrying four coffees and several types of bread. But a specific bread caught his eyes. It was a bread made by Jin himself because Jimin loved it when he first came up with random recipes. Now it's one of the most famous bread in Korea —bungeoppang, a fish-shaped pastry filled with red bean and custard. 

When he went back home after their divorce, he stayed away from social media and decided to focus on his career instead. Taehyung and Jungkook were both famous in the model industry. But because of being out of the loop, he never heard anything about them again (purposely). He didn't know when the whole pack came here, and he certainly didn't want to know, but it seemed like they've been living here for a while now, the way this restaurant looked clean yet didn't look new at all.

“Jim– Mr. Park, I apologize for the interruption, but can I ask for Namjoon for a moment?” Jin said, his voice was professional but his eyes were calculating. 

Jimin wanted to shrug, he couldn't care less. But he had a long day ahead, he glanced at his wristwatch. “Make it quick please, I have a lot of errands to do.” He said politely. 

Jin smiled widely and nodded. Call him bitter, because maybe he was, but he purposely didn't return the smile. Just because he didn't care anymore, it didn't mean he needed to allow access in any form or aspect, not even a fake courtesy. Never again. He looked away nonchalantly. Namjoon shifted in his place before standing up. 

After that, Jimin busied himself on his phone while waiting, he didn't want to start a meaningless conversation with any of the two remaining people with him, he ignored them the whole time even though he could sense Jungkook was being restless.

Why was he even here? 

When the door opened again, Jimin instinctively put down his phone. 

“What do you know about Chan?” He said right away the moment Namjoon settled. 

The alpha’s expression was calculating, his eyes flushed with something he couldn't name. Without saying anything, he pulled his iPad from the bag, worked something on it for a minute, before facing it towards the omega. 

Jimin stared at the screen, initially confused, but then gradually realizing who was in there. His eyes widened.

Chan— being beaten up by the butler of Lee Gi-ho, his grandfather. He froze when the old man strangled the omega with his bare hands. 

What the fuck? 

“Where did you get this? When did this happen?” He asked, almost frantically. He played it again. Then again. He didn't realize his scent turned into something unpleasant until Yoongi gently grasped the ipad from his hands. 

Yoongi, after a long time, replied to him, “This footage was a month ago.”

Jimin’s breathing wavered, he took a breath to calm his nerves. For some reason, something in him got triggered by the sight. “Where did you get this?” 

Jungkook was about to stand up, but the alpha beside him held him firmly. He noticed Yoongi’s hand hovered, but didn't touch, as if ready to steady him. Only when they noticed his breathing came back to normal did one of them reply. 

“I stole it from Lee's residence.” Yoongi said calmly. 

Jimin’s brows knitted in confusion. “But how?”

The alpha’s gaze settled on him, a flicker of something dangerous glinting in his eyes. 

“I'm a secret agent, Jimin-ah.” He said. 

Jimin paused, not expecting the words after looking at him like that. He didn't know how to react, because a memory of Yoongi talking about his dream freely to be a secret agent or something heroic crossed his mind. The alpha was already a criminal psychologist when they were still married, but he knew he was aiming for more, including being a secret agent. And Jimin literally swore that time he would support him with everything, until he couldn't. He fought himself to say anything, he didn't think he had the right to congratulate someone he never witnessed to climb towards their dreams in the first place. 

“That doesn't answer my question.” He said instead. The alpha’s expression froze momentarily, a flicker of pain or perhaps embarrassment crossing his features, then disappeared instantly. 

“I was assigned to take part in the investigation regarding Lee Gi-ho. I had to pretend to be his butler as a temporary replacement of his longterm butler, he didn't know we held that man hostage. I gathered everything that was happening in that mansion for two years, including this one.” He pointed to the iPad, “I only found out that you were Lee Chan's divorce lawyer when we investigated his case that might have a connection to Lee Gi-ho. I wanted to know everything you know about him, anything.”

Jimin stared at him in bewilderment, the revelation felt surreal. Is this a joke? 

After a moment of processing, he finally spoke, still laced with professionalism. 

“That's not my story to tell. And what case are you talking about?”

The alpha stared at him, “Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about that.” 

He scoffed, “And you're expecting me to snitch on him and tell you everything I know about him? Aren't you a hypocrite?”

“This is for his safety, Jimin-ah.”

“Why didn't you just report this footage to the authorities then?” He asked, his tone accusing. 

“We are part of the authority.” 

Jimin paused. 

Right. 

“—And you have no idea how powerful Gi-ho is, we need more outlets against him, we have to move silently because if he knew about this, he could easily manipulate the government. I sent this footage to the most powerful lawyer in this city, and you know him. Choi Wonwoo. But not even him dared to make a single move. He didn't seem to care about people. I even almost got caught because of that, so we had to do another alternative approach than to wait for someone to do something for it.”

Jimin’s mind raced as he processed this new information. Wonwoo knew all of this? What the fuck is happening? Yoongi has been working here for two years? Did Seungcheol and Jeonghan also know about Chan's situation? Jihoon wasn't involved, was he? He was aware about their relationship with Chan, he knew they didn't care that much, but he was still their son's father. And if they knew about this…. 

What if they knew…

His vision dimmed all of a sudden. 

Fuck. The pack's presence and scents probably triggered his hormones, and now he was on his preheat, for sure. This same thing happened two months after their divorce when Jungkook, Hoseok and Jin appeared in front of his apartment out of nowhere. The doctor warned him to stay away from his former pack while he was still recovering. Unfortunately, he found out that his wolf was still yearning for them after years, but he would never acknowledge that. Ever. And that was what finally pushed him to go back home. 

“Hyung, are you okay?” Jungkook suddenly asked, his voice was small and reluctant but laced with concern. 

Jimin’s cheeks flushed slightly. The three other’s faces faltered when he stood up abruptly. “I–I need to go.” 

He was about to walk when Yoongi grabbed his wrist gently, his winced when his wolf stirred, he turned to look at him. The alpha was already studying him, “Are you feeling sick?” He asked gently. 

Jimin felt a wave of anger at Yoongi’s familiar yet unfamiliar concern, he didn't need any of that.

“Let me go.”

He felt overwhelmed. He didn't know if they could feel something, the doctor said they might, especially when he ever got triggered. He remained calm though, it was as if the past had been erased from his memory, and now he was willing to pretend nothing had ever happened between him and this pack. 

Just then, a ringing phone snapped him back to reality, it wasn't his main phone. He reached for his other phone from his coat pocket, he paused as he stared at the caller ID. His brows furrowed. 

Why is he calling me? 

The number Chan gave him three weeks ago. 

“Just save it, hyung. Just in case they unexpectedly contact you on your not-so-famous business.” Chan said to him softly and teasingly, when they were drinking at the bar, not as a lawyer and a client, but outside their professions —as friends. 

He shook his head after waiting for the incoming call to stop, then he turned the do-not-disturb mode as he glanced at them, “I really need to go, I'll let you know when I'm free next time.” He won't. It's better to talk to Chan about this. 

For a moment, they remained silent— obviously assessing him. He tried his best to stay composed and steady. Then, Namjoon on the other hand, grasped his other wrist and put a calling card on his palm. “Call us on this number, Jimin-ah, we will wait.” then let his arm go. Eventually, Yoongi let him go also. He nodded once but before going out of the room, he turned his head to the younger omega. 

“By the way, please stop sending me those things, Jungkook–ssi, It makes me uncomfortable.” He said bluntly.

Both alpha looked at him confused, then to the youngest— they probably had no idea what was their omega doing behind their back. Jungkook’s eyes widened, his eyes instantly filled with tears as he locked eyes with him. 

“I–hyung, I just–” Jungkook started. 

Oh, none of that. 

Jimin didn't wait for him to finish his sentence, he walked out without hesitation. On the way, he noticed Jin was about to approach him but he walked faster to avoid the alpha, he opened his phone to call Chan but his phone was off. 

The moment he stepped out of the restaurant’s main entrance, he let out a long, deep sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Though his mind was constantly screaming at him: Run! Stay away from them!