The Claimed Omega

Finally able to take a break, Minwoo brings out his phone. His heart skips a bit seeing the two missed calls from Wonho. He hasn't been home for almost three weeks now, because he is too busy. And getting home to face his problems while he is too stressed out from his rotations will do no good for both of them.

He still needs time alone; he still hasn't sort out his feeling on the situation, and is still mad at Wonho for not thinking about him when deciding to try for jobs outside Korea. 

Clicking on the notification, Minwoo somehow feels a bit disappointed looking at the big gap in between calls. And the number of calls of course. Wonho isn't desperate enough to call him more. Which means that he is set on his decision to take the offer. Irked by his own thought, Minwoo is about to put the phone back inside his coat before it starts to vibrate again.

Missing the smiling man displayed on his screen, the young alpha gives up and answers.

#####

Minwoo curses as he clicks the up button repeatedly, hoping it will come faster. He almost used the stairs had the elevator not open right before he turns for the staircase. Biting his lips, he rushes straight to their apartment door, taking note of the intense pheromones leaking outside at the hallway, inviting him to breed. Minwoo pushes open the door and runs straight to the bedroom.

'Wonie,' he embraces the man crying at the corner, hugging the pillows tightly as he pulls on his hair. 'I'm here.'

'I can't do this,' Wonho pulls him close, desperate for his touch. 'Minwoo, I don't want to go anymore!'

'It's fine. It's all good.' Minwoo strengthens his pheromones to calm his mate, but it is no use. Wonho has been holding it in for two days. Since he and Minwoo were not talking, Wonho didn't want to call his mate. But at the same time, he wanted his mate so badly he refused to break his heat alone. That caused his condition to take turn for the worse until he finally collapsed. As soon as he regained consciousness, he called Minwoo without avail.

He is desperate.

'I don't wanna leave you!' Wonho wails, pulling Minwoo's shirt, crumpling it. 'I can't do this alone!!' 

'Shh.. it'll be alright. Let's take care of you now.' Wonho feels a kiss on his forehead and nods.

#####

Writing a mail to his superior about his emergency leave, Minwoo sighs at the now sleeping omega. Red patches are on his neck, his stomach and a few other places - the result of his capillaries bursting from the neglected heat. Thankfully nothing serious happened but the fact that it could, worries him.

He should be relieved when Wonho told him he didn't want to go to France anymore but somehow he felt disappointed. After all they went through because of it, Wonho broke because he couldn't take care of his needs.

It was the Minwoo's fault after all, he never lets his mate do it on his own nor did he ever thought about teaching Wonho either, despite knowing it is important. They threw all the toys he bought when Wonho refused to use it. He thought he will always be around to take care of his omega. Now that it came to this, he realized he should have been sterner on educating his omega about their kinds despite Wonho constant reluctance.

Grabbing a cup of coffee, Minwoo sits on the couch, leaning against it as he takes a deep breath. It has been a while since he is at home. And with nothing to do. 

Wonho's last heat was four months ago, he was too stressed at finding a job it messed his cycle. They were both caught off guard and the omega missed one of his interviews because of it. Which was why he didn't expect it to happen now, completely forgotten about it because the tracker was no longer accurate. If only Wonho told him the first day, this could have been avoided. But then again, the same can be said of him; Minwoo would know had he bothered to call his mate instead of sulking and playing mind games. 

The mess on the coffee table catches his attention and Minwoo takes a closer look - Wonho's journal is opened, there are lots of circles marked on the calendar. Also left opened are some architectural magazines and English textbooks, as well as other reference documents filled with scribbles. Then there is his drawing for his final project.

Again, Minwoo sighs. In his outrage, he somehow forgot the fact that the omega is graduating in a month and has so much work to catch up due to his absences while looking for a job. Now that he thought about it, Wonho had it really rough.

He knows what the omega had been through, but it never clicked to him how hard it was because Wonho was always hopeful. He is good at controlling his emotion. Sure, Wonho would cry sometimes but he always gets back up the next day. And Minwoo mistook it as a sign that things are not as bad as he thought. That Wonho only overreacted because he was tired.

Now, looking at the mess in front of him, Minwoo finally understands how bad the situation is. How much Wonho had sacrificed for his dreams, only to be rejected because of his gender. And yet, as his mate, instead of supporting his one and only opportunity, Minwoo only added to Wonho's burden by acting out.

What a great mate he is. 

Opening his laptop back, Minwoo searches for the company Wonho will be working for. Even without his presence, he should at least make sure his man can adapt to his new life smoothly.

#####

'If we're gonna do this, we're doing it right.' Wonho nods, holding on to Minwoo's arm, hiding his face on the crook of his neck. He misses Minwoo, and he is only barely done with his heat. He still has the clingy part left in him.

'I won't accept half-ass attempts.'

Another nod.

'Wonie,' Minwoo pulls Wonho in front of him, so they can face each other. 'We're breaking the bond.'

After a long, hard thinking by himself, he came to a realization that they need this. In order for both of them to move on from the paranoia and anxiety that is still haunting them - the bond, they have to break it. They are only in this situation because of it in the first place. If not for this, Wonho would have already accepted the offer, and Minwoo wouldn't have to force himself to come home and instead, focus on his study and taking care of his own health. Though he loves them and their current situation, he couldn't deny that it did, come from a bad place. And it is, affecting their lives even now.

'I won't go then.' Wonho inches closer, 'I'll stay here and do whatever I can. I don't, I don't wanna leave you. I can't.'

'And you'll hate me for holding you here. We need to do this. We will break it. You will try to date other people. I won't wait for you. Wonie, it's over.'

'I'm sorry!! I don't wanna go anymore!!' Minwoo pulls his mate closer, comforting the hysteric male. He didn't mean to sound angry. He is not punishing Wonho, he is not trying to discipline him or any of that sort. He is not that kind of alpha. He just wants to make it clear how important this decision is for both of them. 

'Hey, we need to give it a try. If we don't like it, we start over from zero. We need this.'

Wonho shakes his head over and over again, refusing to accept it. He knows he is being too emotional and that it is because of the remaining heat but he still feels as if Minwoo is finally throwing him away. That Minwoo decided he is not worth his time after all. Only after a few minutes of comforting words from his alpha did Wonho force himself a nod. 'I can still come back for my heats…'

'That'll make you suffer more. It's also risky.' What if he gets his heat on the way back? The flight from France to Korea is not short. And on Minwoo's side, he will be busy with residency to be able to take a few weeks leave, 'I can't go there either. We have to.'

Wonho looks down, trying to wrap his head around the suggestion. He understands the logic, he agrees with it. But he still cannot help but feel sad over it. 'I'm sor-'

'No, I don't wanna hear it.' Minwoo interrupts his apology. Wonho starts to feel small again but the look Minwoo gives him, the small smile, relaxes him.

'Right now I'm not gonna lie and say I'm happy for you. I'm not. I'm disappointed.' He inhales deeply. 'But it's your life. And I made a promise.'

'I'm still your mate. I'll take care of you until we're broken.' Minwoo places a deep kiss on Wonho's forehead. 'I'll get over it.'