The Claimed Omega

'Everyone mated?'

'I don't know all of them.' Minwoo rolls his eyes. They do have a family tree to record all the family members, but nobody really cares to read and remember everyone, not to mention keeping up-to-date with all of them. Slurping his coffee loudly to express his annoyance, Minwoo keeps his eyes on Sangcheol. He still has his puzzled face on which Minwoo is not fond of. 

What is there to think? Everything is as it is. If the man just asked him what he needs to know instead of all these weird questions about his family, he might actually be happy to help. But this, this he doesn't like. It feels like an interrogation, as if his private life is violated.

'Anyone else living around here?'

The fuck now? 'Look, you asking me all these questions about my family is not appropriate. I dunno if that's how you Koreans do stuff here, but that's private information and I don't feel like telling you.'

Minwoo locks his eyes with the older alpha, slightly threatening him. He thought the man wanted to talk about him and Wonho but it doesn't seem that way, so he doesn't find the need to show respect towards him. 

'Hurhh…' Sangcheol exhales slowly, closing his eyes and turns his face upwards, thinking of what to say or how to say it. 

He thought it is Minwoo. He couldn't be completely sure because he was only exposed to Minwoo's scent briefly last time, and Wonho also started to hide his scent again since he was notified about the bond. Sangcheol's memory was a bit blurry, but he was almost hundred percent sure it was Minwoo's scent on his junior.

But the thing is, after seeing him face-to-face, Sangcheol realizes Wonho's scent is not on the younger alpha, which means he was wrong. The next logical explanation is another family member who has a similar scent but of course, Minwoo just said that he doesn't know about it and couldn't be of any help.

'I'm sorry. Your scent is just rare.' He licks his lips and lets out another sigh. 'Something happened to a friend so I had to ask.'

'What's that got to do with my family's scent? That's just ridiculous.' The taller of the two sneers in annoyance. Is Sangcheol accusing him or his family for something? For something involving scents? What can that be? 

'I guess I was wrong. That was rude of me.'

'Yeah. Guess you were wrong.' Minwoo sips the last of his coffee and was about to leave before the older alpha calls him back. Turning around, he feels a hand on his shoulder. 

'Don't come near Wonho again.'

Minwoo mouth twitches at the warning. Who the hell does he think he is telling people to stay away from each other? Does he even know that they made up? What is with Sangcheol asking him out to ask about his family, and randomly skipping straight to warning him to stay away without even mentioning Wonho even once in their conversation? 'Why is that?'

'He can't handle anymore stress right now.'

'Did he say I'm stressing him? Or are you just assuming things?'

'No. Your scent might. So just do us all a favour and stay away.'

'Or what?'

'Or I'll break your fucking bones.' Sangcheol keeps his gaze on the younger alpha and feels the other intimidating him with his pheromones in response. He only felt it once, back when Minwoo argued with Wonho a few weeks ago, but his pheromones are heavy. How befitting their titles. Nobles. 

'Customers… may we please ask you to stop fighting here?' A beta waitress asks them gently which breaks their silent duel. Looking around, Sangcheol notices the omega staffs clumping together behind the counter in fear, just like other omega customers are holding onto their alpha halves in search for protection. Bowing slightly as an apology, he grabs his bag and heads out, Minwoo already gone from sight.

#####

Wonho, you're busy? - Minwoo

 Your precious senior just told me to stay away. Sorry to say this bout your friend but fuck him. - Minwoo

 Did you say you wanted me to stay away? - Minwoo

 Wonho, just reply this once and you can keep ignoring me. Come on, it's really bothering me. - Minwoo

 Are you gonna act like this? Don't tell me you didn't look at your phone at all yesterday. Seriously? - Minwoo

 7 missed calls from Minwoo.

Wonho stares at his phone, hesitant to touch the screen in fear that he might accidentally answer when Minwoo calls. He didn't even dare to unlock his phone because he might touch the message and the other would get the notification that he read it. Since yesterday, he only read the incoming mail through the notifications without replying. 

It is not Minwoo. He wants to believe that. He didn't see Minwoo that night. He didn't remember smelling him at all, and Minwoo's scent is hard to miss. His tall figure is hard to miss. His handsome face would be hard to forget.

No, Minwoo was not there. He is sure of it. But Sangcheol said it is his scent, Chansol said the same thing. This frustrates him so much because he has no way to confirm it by himself. The fact that they cannot smell their mate's scents on themselves is really infuriating him. He had no idea about his bond being back to normal because of that. And now, he can only hold on to other people's words on who his mate is because he cannot even smell him. And it sucks because he wants to believe in Minwoo, in himself, in his memories but with other people telling him otherwise, he finds himself caught in a dilemma.

He really doesn't want to believe it is Minwoo.

But he just came back from a class for the new omegas right now, and the teacher said it is impossible to sleep with other alphas if an omega is still in a bond. It should have been impossible for him to sleep with Minwoo because it is obvious now that he is still bonded.

Still, he doesn't want to believe it.

It could be that he is able to do it because Minwoo is a noble. Maybe the alpha's pheromone is too strong it caused his body to react even when bonded. Maybe he is attracted to Minwoo because his scent is similar to his mate's?

Yes. That makes sense. Of course. That is the only explanation. Nobles are strong enough to do that to omegas. Right. Because Minwoo didn't forced him even once during his heat. Not even once.

No. Minwoo didn't attack him that night.

No. Minwoo didn't. Minwoo didn't claim him. He wasn't even there.

No…

No. No! NO! NO!! IT'S NOT HIM!!! IT'S NOT MINWOO!!!

Gripping his chest tightly, Wonho tries to take deep breaths. His chest hurt so badly he is starting to see white, his mouth dry and his brain is going in circles. Closing his eyes, still trying to focus in his breathing, Wonho finally allows the tears to flow while biting his lower lips as tightly as possible to stop himself from making any sound to alert other people.

It is not Minwoo. It can't be Minwoo. Because that would mean he is the reason why his bond is back to normal. He was the one who insisted on sleeping with Minwoo when the man kept on rejecting him. He was the one who wanted to stay. It was his fault. 

No. It can't be Minwoo. 

No…