The Claimed Omega

Wonho gasps, opening his eyes quickly to scan his surroundings. He is at home, asleep on the couch. Bringing his hand to his chest, pained by his harsh breathing, the omega sits up and leans against the back rest.

He had the nightmare again. 

The one that stopped haunting him for a while now. That was, until the trial.

Slowly breathing in and out, Wonho waits for his heart rate to slow down, enough that he can walk without shaking or falling. He takes note of the time, there is an hour left before he has to go to his lecture. One last sigh and he gets up, heading towards the bedroom. 

To take Minwoo's shirt. And wear it. 

So he can feel like his alpha is near.

Wonho needs it, not because he misses Minwoo in his absence, but because it gives him the confidence to walk among the alphas and live his daily life without constantly being on the verge of breaking down. Despite how hard he tried to not let what Heiran said affect him, his body just does not cooperate. After the trial, he returned to his situation right after the attack on the night of his present - automatic flight reaction in the presence of unknown alphas. 

He just cannot function normally. Not without Minwoo nearby.

But his mate is a busy medic student too, they cannot be together 24/7. 

Which is why they came up with this solution. Well, Mengyao did when he updated his friends about the situation. Being a beta, not fully grasping the concept of pheromones, his junior managed to associate their scents with body odour hence the suggestion. As bad as it sounds, Minwoo's scent sticks to his shirts, just like it sticks to his pillow. And discovering that, Wonho makes sure to wear his shirt when is left alone to attend to his own stuff.

It is a great idea. This can be their long-term solution as well.

He can live with this. 

#####

'Wono-yah!' Haneul calls, surprised to see his junior at the shelter by himself. The sight of him did the same to the other too, Wonho's usually small eyes becomes slightly bigger before he waves. Making his way to the man who is walking somewhere with a book in hand, the older male catches up to him, 'What're you doing here?'

Wonho shows him the book which Haneul recognizes immediately. 'Therapy?'

The younger nods his head, the exhaustion evident on his face. Sighing, the older omega pulls Wonho close for a light hug. He knows the feeling, having made a huge progress only to slip and fall back down, then left thinking that there is no hope. He went through it for years himself, and even now, find himself feeling that way sometimes. 

'Wanna grab a coffee?'

'Outside?'

'Yup. Come on,' He takes Wonho's reluctant hand into his, 'it'll be fine. If someone tries to do something, I'll protect you.' 

That put a smile on the other's face. 'What? Cheol never told you about the time I stabbed that old man? I can fight.'

'What?'

'Coffee? Outside?' Haneul persuades. Wonho looks around, thinking hard before agreeing, 'Your treat.'

#####

The older omega smiles, being reminded of the first time Wonho came to the university after the attack. Just like right now, he keeps checking around him, fully wary of other people especially the alphas. It is sad though, because just a few months ago, they were all going out to restaurants and parks for fun, even Wonho. Now the guy seems like he cannot wait to get home for safety.

'Don't you think they'd already react if they recognize you?' Haneul's voice surprised Wonho who flinches a bit in his seat. Laughing awkwardly, ashamed, the latter looks down at his hands. Just wondering if he should say something about his situation.

He told his therapist, obviously, and his friends are aware of what happened from Minwoo's outburst that one time. But Wonho had been pretending he is not that affected by everything, because his alpha gets agitated as well. And unlike him, Minwoo is determined to do something about it. 

Wonho heard Minwoo talking to his butler one night, asking him to find something about Heiran. And that worries him. Because he knows the Kims are not like any other family. He doesn't want this incident to turn into something so big there is not turning back. He does not want Minwoo to do something he will regret.

Hence why he finds it hard to talk about this and instead, pretends that he is recovering well. When he isn't.

'How do you do it?' Wonho finally asks, already tired of pretending in front of his loved ones. If he should tell anyone, he knows it should be to Haneul. Because of their similar situation.

Before the incident with Heiran, he never find Haneul's situation so relatable. It had always been just a story in a book, one that is forgotten once he move on to the next. Because Haneul had always focus on his 'stepdad' in his writing, Wonho forgot about the other alphas that did the same thing to him as well.

Like his attackers, Haneul's are still at large too. But unlike him, Haneul recognizes them.

'How do you live your life, knowing that they are free?' Haneul smiles, taking a sip of his latte. 'I hurt myself.'

Wonho frowns, not feeling good at learning about it as it means, there is nothing he can do to make himself feel better. 'I tried everything to numb the feeling. I thought it worked, but I only ended up in this black hole. You know.'

'So it doesn't get better.' Wonho states, just because. Depressed.

'Nope. It doesn't.' Haneul answers as honestly as he can, 'But, I accepted that. That things sucks and there is nothing I can do about it. Then I just get used to it.'

Wonho takes a long breath, feeling sick. He doesn't want to get used to it. He wants it to be over. He wants to return to normal, to his ignorant state. 

'Hey, the best thing you can do is not let them hold you back. Show them that you can live your life even after what they did to you.' Haneul leans towards him, rubbing his hand gently.

'Like you shamelessly flaunting your money in their faces?' Wonho states, smirking as Haneul laughs. 'I sold their story, and they got nothing. And if they hurt me, people will know who they truly are. They can't win.'

Wonho leans his head against the window beside them, thinking it through.

Haneul is right, they cannot hurt him if he doesn't allow them.

He will live his own life, and be someone they cannot hurt.

He will make sure of it.