The Claimed Omega

Minwoo stares at the two rows of the same pills from different brands, contemplating which one to buy. There are various products ranging from weak to strong ones. He really cannot comprehend the need for the weak ones. Are they for people who cannot make up their mind?

He looks to his right and left, feeling awkward as the only alpha in the aisle. Everyone else are either omegas or beta females. Ignoring the strong urge to leave, he takes all three strength and reads the labels, studying them.

Wonho is in heat so weak is out. He is an alpha so medium it is.

Nodding, satisfied with his new-found knowledge, he eyes almost jumped out of the socket. One whole box for a tablet? Just put it in a smaller case or something! Sighing, he takes three boxes - for emergency, before walking towards the cashier.

Wait, then again, he is a noble and considering their fertility rate, there is no need for him to go up to medium. Not to mention, Wonho is also a new omega on his first heat. Taking a stronger dose may have some affect on his own fertility.

…but he is in heat?

Minwoo clicked his tongue in confusion. Why is buying contraceptive pills so complicated? Deciding not to crack his brain on something trivial, he sticks to his initial conclusion and heads towards the cashier. He can just ask the pharmacist for her opinion. 

It is not as busy so his turn comes sooner than he anticipated. Looking around, suddenly embarrassed by what he is about to ask, he learns and whispers to the pharmacist, 'Does this pill have any effect on new omegas? I mean, can they take this during their first heat?' 

He looks back at the pharmacist, only to notice her swift shocked and disgusted face.

Ah, shit. He just realized the implication of his question, and how serious it is. 

Thankfully for him, she quickly changes it back to her professional ones, saving him from the embarrassment that was yet to come. Minwoo forces himself to laugh awkwardly. 'It's for my sister. Hormonal teenagers.' He lies and catches the relief on the middle-aged woman. 

'I suggest you lower the strength.' Minwoo wants to argue about the 'heat' part, he really doesn't want to be a young father. However, as the advice literally came from a professional, he decides against it. After all, he came to the same initial conclusion as well. Also, it is only Wonho's second day so…

Guess he can only pray that Wonho is not the fertile type.

#####

Wonho sits on the floor, leaning against the sofa staring outside while charging his phone. This is his third attempt to call Jinyoung but to no avail. That should be expected though considering they only broke up less than a month ago and Jinyoung was really emotional about it. He knows the man needs space. 

It's just, Wonho really wants to apologize to the other omega. Now that he felt what being an omega in heat is like, he feels really guilty of his actions when they were together. Feeling a bit down, he decides to call one of his friends to cheer him up and distract him from his current situation. 

Not Junjie. The man has gone into his stalker mode and has been calling Wonho more than 50 times. The tanned monkey is probably the reason why his battery is so low. Wonho decides to torture him a few more minutes as a revenge. He should call Chansol first. 

'Hyung! You okay? You wanna go home? I'll come get you!'

'Hi Chansol.' Wonho laughs at the panicked alpha. Guess he is really worried. Chansol doesn't seem that worried though based on his texts. Briefly updating the younger man on his situation to free him from his worries, Wonho decides to tease him a bit. 'Yah. How are you gonna come here anyway?'

'Taxi.'

'I might as well go home by myself.' 

'Owh…' Wonho can only laugh at that answer. Forget the fact that he didn't think that far, Chansol also seems to forget that he is an alpha and Wonho, an omega in heat. Whether it is from his forgetfulness or his ignorance which the omega sometimes finds annoying, Wonho finds that that particular personality is what he needed to get through his rough time.

He knows everyone around him is trying to act normal by not mentioning his change in front of him, but he always feels as if he is being a burden. He knows they don't think of it that way though. But Chansol, the boy just completely ignores his change like just now. As if he doesn't really mind it. As if nothing changed between them. As if the night that dent their relationship never happened. And that is what Wonho needs the most right now.

Chansol is the one that makes him feel normal which is why he loves the boy so much.

Smiling to himself as he hang up, Wonho looks at the time. He should probably call the crazy stalker now. 'Wono! Where have you been? Chansol said you're sick!! I called you hundred times.'

'I know. Can't even sleep with all that buzzing.' He lies as the other laughs and apologizes. 'You can't sleep? I knew it! let's be honest, you miss me.'

Well, Junjie. He doesn't even try to make Wonho feel normal, he makes the whole omega thing a joke, which makes the whole thing seems less serious than it is. He sometimes tries to take advantage by using Wonho to get into the omega dorms and stuffs. It does get annoying, but when is the guy never annoying? Even before his change, there has always been something Junjie will choose about him to make fun of. Because he knows Wonho will try to prove him wrong.

Despite all that, Wonho always feels better when Junjie mentions how they cannot no longer do any of the things they usually do together because Wonho has to live separately, which is what he thought himself, only, he didn't voice it out.

He feels better because he knows that he is not the only one that feels things to be unfair. Sure, he knows he needs to accept his new reality, but that doesn't mean he needs to accept the subtle and obvious discrimination as well. Having someone express his thoughts makes his messed-up mind somehow less complicated.

'You need anything? Food? Medicine? Blanket? Me?'

'Stop panicking you ugly monkey! I just need to sleep.' Junjie pretends to be mad but cannot hold it and laughs again followed by a sigh of relief. This guy, always the one who gets overly concerned on things regarding Wonho. He wonders how Junjie's going to get married in the future. His partner will probably feel like the third wheel in their relationship.

Enjoying their talk, completely forgetting his initial guilt and worry, he realizes how lucky he is to have them in his life. His friends are the best.