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Red string of fate
noun

[Chinese mythology]

• An invisible red thread which connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break. Usually related to soulmates

When Yixing came of age, a red thread appeared on his middle finger and never left him.

Legend has it that all alphas and omegas born in the 28th century who were purebloods — who did not relate to any race other than their own — would be graced by the red string of fate, which would predestine couples to the next generation, encouraging the continuation of the lineage without the interference of humans.

Currently, Yixing is 26 years old and had not found his mate yet, but, unlike expected, he doesn’t care too much about it. Not when that thread follows him everywhere, being the reassurance that he is destined to find a person who would make him feel all that they said was true love. 

Yixing was born alpha, the offspring of a completely in love alpha and omega couple who always taught him to behave like a gentle, sweet and completely alpha, who should be devoted to his future omega.

From the moment he turned 20, Yixing couldn't stop imagining what his mate would be like. Would he have brown hair? Or was it black? What’s the color of his eyes? What would his voice sound like?

There were lots and lots of questions in Yixing's head, but regardless of the answer to them, he knew he would love his omega unconditionally. After all, he would be his mate. His omega. Probably the only one who would have the essence that would make him dizzy and the face that would be able to fill his thoughts.

He couldn't wait to meet him…

"Heya, Yixing-ah," Minseok called him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked around and only then realized they were the only ones left in the meeting room. “What's up? Daydreaming again?”

Minseok ruffled Yixing's black hair and the alpha laughed in response. Yixing always found himself thinking about his omega in meetings like those, in which the subject was precisely the creation of a new drug, filled with hormones to help suppress omegas during their heats..

The company Yixing worked for was a pharmaceutical company, which aimed to produce more and more good inhibitors for omegas that had a very strong smell or runaway heats. It was common knowledge that omegas suffered a lot in the real world when they had not yet found their mates, both because they were treated as 'bitches in heat' and because they found themselves in a vulnerable period when they could do nothing without fear of being attacked or being stung.

At meetings like this, therefore, he couldn't think of anyone other than his future mate. After all, if there was one thing that inspired him while helping to develop those medicines, it was to think that his omega, wherever he was, was being helped by Yixing even though he hadn't met him yet.

Imagining it makes Yixing smile.

"And how couldn't I, Seok-ge?" He asked his coworker, getting up from the table and straightening things up. “Just imagine: Somewhere, the person who's meant for me is being helped by the Medpharma that I work for even without knowing me yet. It's like I'm taking care of him even years apart. Isn't it romantic?”

Minseok frowned at him and held back his laughter, shaking his head.

“Of course, prince charming. Extremely romantic. ”

Yixing rolled his eyes and stood up, walking to the door with Minseok.

“C'mon Seok, don’t give me that look! You only talk like this because you're jealous I can see my red string.” Yixing argued, a pout indicating some displeasure.

"You sure?" He continued to look straight ahead as he walked alongside Yixing, dodging the obstacles ahead. “I don't have this string but I found Luhan and we are perfectly fine. Finer than you, if you allow me… Ouch!”  The alpha slightly punched him, causing him to laugh. 

"Stop!"

“You started it.” Minseok straightened his glasses and chuckled softly, patting Yixing on the back when he saw him looking somewhat crestfallen at what was said earlier. “I'm just kidding, silly. You will find your mate soon, ok? Be patient.”

Even though Yixing wasn't inpatient to find his omega, it was hard to look at his friends being all lovey dovey around him, with their red strings shining  as much as their eyes. They were all in love, and Yixing was dying to get to know how love feels like.

He sighed and smoothed his hair back. He still got a lifetime to spend with his omega, right? Yeah, Minseok was right. There was no need to rush.

"By the way, there is a guy who is going to work with us for a while," Minseok said as he walked to the pantry, grabbing a cup of coffee before continuing the talk: “He is from one of the company's smaller branches. They said he is very helpful and that's why they sent him here, to the head office.”

“Right. And who is going to welcome him?” Yixing said, watching his friend drink some of his coffee and then point at himself. “What? Me?" Minseok nodded.

“Yes, you. After all, he is going to work in your sector.” He argued, finishing his coffee and exhaling hot air through his mouth. "Wah, too bitter!"

 Yixing thought for a moment and then shrugged. It's not like it's a big challenge to deal with transferred employees. Minseok did it all the time, anyways.

“Alright. Hope we can work well together.” he sighed, and the other smiled in response.

"I’m sure of it."

β

When the following week arrived, Yixing had already forgotten that he would be the transfered’s guy  tutor.

That's why, at that moment, he was hurriedly running through the corridors of Medpharma looking for a boy with black hair, round frame and a few inches shorter than Yixing — according to Minseok descriptions of him.

"Yixing!" Minseok said as soon as he saw his friend's sweaty figure stop before him, panting. “Where were you? Didn't we agree that you would come sooner to introduce the sector to Mr. Kim?”

Yixing wasn't used to being late, and honestly, that day, he wasn't exactly late . Or rather, he wouldn't be, if he hadn't arranged to arrive 30 minutes earlier than usual.

“Yes, I'm sorry. I forgot.” He said, still trying to catch his breath, his hand on his chest and with a strange sensation invading his body. At that moment, Yixing supposed it was some effect of the race he just rane, but something told him that it was something else.

In the next second, that sensation materialized in an absurdly good smell. It wasn't sweet or heady like an omega, but it wasn't characteristic of an alpha either. It was something different, captivating but at the same time, weak, almost imperceptible. It wasn't addictive but it was unique, unlike anything I'd ever felt. It was...

What was it?

"Yeah, I guessed you forgot." Minseok said, but Yixing didn't pay much attention to him. The faint scent in the air had caught all his attention, so he didn't even notice the red string tugging at his pinky as the scent got sweeter. "Lucky you I arrived earlier today and was able to guide him, but for the next few days it's up to you... You're even hearing?"

Then, Yixing looked around, as if looking for something. That smell, that feeling… It couldn't be… Would he finally find the person who…

"Hey, did you hear me?" Minseok snapped his fingers in front of him, snapping him out of the stunned state he had been in before. He looked in Minseok's direction and, confused, muttered an apology, receiving a sigh from his friend in response. 

Then, he noticed that there was a figure behind Minseok.

Curious, Yixing tilted his head a little more to the side and caught sight of the most beautiful human being who could have ever set foot on earth. That man, behind Minseok, with the glasses and perfectly shaped black hair, was the most astonishing thing Yixing had ever seen. He ran his eyes over his collar, his lips and finally his eyes, which perhaps met his own, making Yixing's heart pound wildly as he watched the boy wrinkle his nose — as if something was suddenly smelling different — finding it cute..

At that moment Yixing realized that set of sensations, along with the man's reaction to his scent (the alpha was certainly giving off some odor due to the euphoric feeling he felt as his eyes fell on the boy behind Minseok) he knew:

It was him.

Yixing ran his eyes down to his finger and then, seeing them connected by the red thing, confirmed his theory, which made him smile as he had never done in his life. His mate was in front of him and the feeling of finding him, for God's sake, was even better than what was written down in his books.

As if that wasn't enough, he was beautiful. Yixing could spend days and days talking about how beautiful he was and how he could see the universe in his bright eyes. The strands, too, looked so soft… Yixing would love to spend hours and hours messing with them.

"Hey!" Minseok slapped the back of his head and finally snapped him out of his reverie, making him finally take his eyes off Junmyeon and back to Kim. He appeared to have a crooked nose, as if something had smelled weird or too strong. “What's wrong with you? I've been calling you for a minute now.”

"Minseok, who is he?" he asked pointing to the man behind him, but before the beta could respond, the guy answered for himself:

“Junmyeon. Kim Junmyeon.” He said,then making a small bow and then smiling, lighting up the entire room — in Yixing's perspective. "Please take care of me."

The alpha, in response, smiled as he had never done in his life. Junmyeon. What a beautiful name…

“So… is there any place that Minseok hasn't introduced you yet?” He questioned, ignoring Minseok's existence as he approached the boy, knocking him aside.

"Your sector and your office, of course." Minseok voiced, scowling for suddenly not existing between the two. "I don't have the keys, anyway."

"Sure, so... should I show you around?" Yixing gently asked Junmyeon, who hesitated to nod, looking a bit confused as wrinkled his nose. He took one last look at Minseok, as if he was looking for approval — even though he'd been ignoring him until the last second.

Minseok just nodded and struggled.

"Sure." Junmyeon replied, finding it strange when Yixing smiled widely with such a common answer and suddenly took the things from his hand so that they walked to the management room, however, without being able to dispute the other boy's act. Not when that strong smell coming from somewhere took his attention. He wouldn't say it was bad, no, actually no. But it sure was a little disconcerting.

Junmyeon had never felt that. It was weird.

They walked side by side for a few minutes there, an awkward silence present between them as Yixing seemed to be overjoyed carrying Kim's stuff. From the manager's apparently strong arms and aura, he was pretty sure he was an alpha. A… very attractive alpha, and he wasn't saying that because of the pheromones.

After all, they didn't work very well in Junmyeon. 

"We arrived." Yixing said with a smile as they arrived in a locked room, which Yixing unlocked with the keys he had. He entered there and then indicated Junmyeon to enter, which the other did without objecting.

But when Junmyeon heard the noise of the door closing, he turned to Yixing's direction right away, confused — because he was sure that Yixing would introduce him to the room and then head to the other corners of the company. Not to mention that Minseok never closed the door when he was introducing him to the company. So... why was that guy doing this? Has Junmyeon already done something wrong in the last 70 seconds he spent at your side?

"Eh… Excuse me, did I do something wrong?" He questioned innocently, aware of his coworker’s movements. The guy, in turn, left Junmyeon's material on the table and approached him, the smell clearly becoming too strong for Junmyeon's senses  and his body suddenly too close to his. Junmyeon took a few steps back but when he had his back hit the table, he knew he was cornered. 

“What? Of course not, baby.” Yixing said in a sweet, gentle voice as he ran his hand over Junmyeon's cheekbone, touch so delicate as if he was a rare gem. He had a foolish smile on his face, almost like he was in love with Junmyeon — what was slightly weird since they just met. Despite finding that sudden behavior strange, the way his hand touched his face made Junmyeon's heart race. “I'm just… admiring my mate . ”

Mate? What does he mean by mate? Junmyeon wondered. After all, he thought it only existed for omegas and alphas, and in this case, Junmyeon was a beta.He saw no sign that he and Yixing were connected by the so-called string of fate.

He couldn't deny that he felt something strong for this young man, who took his breath away with every whisper close to his ear. His touch was so gentle and his voice so sweet that Junmyeon could feel his sanity slip away, not due to some hormone effect or smell but due the fact that Yixing gave him a feeling like he was in heaven.

Even if Junmyeon was astonished at Yixing's beauty and sweet way of speaking,  he still wasn't sure if he was really Yixing's mate. He needed to research a little more about that.

"You are so beautiful..." Yixing whispered next to him, and Junmyeon felt a flame ignite inside of him as those brown eyes stared at him like that, so devotedly. For a moment, he almost lost his mind at the sweet way Yixing treated him. Suddenly, all his reasoning about Yixing's strange behavior wasn’t a big deal anymore. “I've been waiting for you for a long time, omega… ”

Wait, omega?

 The instant Yixing called him an omega, the sanity Junmyeon nearly lost came crashing back, making him realize he was about to be kissed by a guy who was mistaking him for his omega — what, deep inside him, hurt a little. No way Junmyeon would let himself be kissed by a guy who was mistaking him with somebody else, furthermore, he didn’t know   what  kind of mate he meant for sure. What if Yixing's real omega would feel pain when he  kissed him? What if the fact that Yixing was hitting on the wrong person interfered with that string of fate thing? 

Then, just as Yixing leaned down to kiss him, he quickly put his hand between them and stopped those lips from touching his, almost as if he snapped out of a daze. Junmyeon was not an omega. He wasn't his omega.

"I think you misunderstood some things here." he responded with a bit of disappointment in his voice, swallowing hard as Yixing stared at him with a confused look . “Ew, I'm not your omega.”

Yixing stared at him for a small fraction of a second and gave him a little smile, therefore, confused with the statement made.

"What do you mean? Of course you are! Can't you see the red string of fate?” The alpha raised his pinky toward Junmyeon, but Junmyeon didn't see any thread there. He swallowed hard and simply shook his head in denial, feeling his heart break at the expression of disappointment on Yixing's face.

He knew he didn’t do anything wrong. Even so , that’s the truth.

But why did he feel like something was wrong there?

"What…?" Yixing's voice seemed to come out in a raspy breath, his face expressing clear confusion.

"I'm sorry, I... can't see any string." Junmyeon responded, slowly pushing him away until he could straighten up and take a deep breath.

He needed more oxygen going through his brain after almost being seduced by that slender alpha, who had taken him from earth to heaven  in two seconds. It was something quite impactful for a beta who had never in his life thought about actually going out with anyone. Something about Yixing was really intriguing but…

But he wasn't his . And even if he was, he probably wouldn’t want it. After all, Junmyeon was not his omega, nor was he an omega.

"I can't understand..." Yixing looked at his hand in disbelief, he watched the beta hurry towards the door, wanting to leave, feeling that strange pain in his chest. “I thought we were… I thought you were…”

“I'm sorry Mr. Zhang.” Junmyeon arranged the books in his arms and bowed, thinking that this was the best opportunity to get out of there. He was a little embarrassed and sad, if he  could put it that way. It was like being taken from the skies then falling down to earth  in a second. “I think you misunderstood me. Now, excuse me…”

And Yixing watched, helplessly, as the shorter left the room.

β

Over the next few days, strangely, Junmyeon did not seek Yixing for help.

At first, however, Yixing didn't have time to think about the weirdness of that situation. Not when his head was full of questions about why his omega ran away from him like that, as if he, the alpha, was the only one who felt that roller coaster of feelings when he first saw Junmyeon. Suddenly, nothing made sense. The thread was supposed to connect with his mate and Junmyeon was his mate, wasn't he?

Everything he was told about this soulmate thing seemed not to befit their situation. Junmyeon didn't seem to feel the same as Yixing and, even though he could feel it later, there was no explanation to the fact that he seemed to be unable to see the red string connecting them. Yixing, on the other hand, felt everything he expected when Junmyeon was around: butterflies in his stomach; eyes devoted to his figure as he passed; and the sudden distraction whenever he saw him in the company's corridors.

And all that made Yixing extremely frustrated.

Junmyeon has only been in the company for a week but every time he passed by Zhang's room, it was inevitable for Yixing to turn his face in his direction and spend minutes admiring his beauty,  as he was talked with some other employee in his sector.

Yixing only had a few more days to decide what he would do. After all, Junmyeon would be back at headquarters in two weeks and Yixing didn't even know his phone number. Should he check with an expert about his string? Was all that red string thing “bullshit as Minseok used to say?

“Hmmph…” he sighed to himself Sitting at his desk, he looked at the documents on the table as he thought about what to do. He waited his entire life to find his mate and now that he thought he had finally found him, it had a chance of being fake. That was frustrating.

"Hey," He heard Minseok’s voice. The beta had his body leaned against the door and his arms crossed over his chest, watching him. “I brought you lunch, your favorite. And no, I won't take no for an answer.”

Yixing nodded, chuckling guiltily, and then told him to enter the room.

"Thank you." He accepted the lunch box and politely smiled at Minseok. His friend smiled back.

“You're welcome. Luhan knows you like it so he did it for the two of us.”

Yixing nodded, without paying the slightest attention to what Minseok said, and then looked at the lunch box Luhan had prepared for him, suddenly — and for the first time — seeing himself jealous of Minseok for having a not-soulmate partner.

"The prototypes for that new formula that controls pheromones finally arrived, as we had agreed with the pharmaceutical industry last week." Minseok informed, sitting in the chair across from him, as he left some documents on his table, right beside the lunchbox he had brought. Yixing didn't even look at his coworker while he talked to him. “I don't think they actually tested all the formulas but… Are you even listening?”

For a long time, he thought he was really lucky to be destined for someone, so Yixing always snubbed his best friend about how lucky he was to be connected to someone while Minseok, in turn, had only met the guy he was with and married by chance. But now that he was no longer sure if he was tied to the right person, he was envious of those who couldn't see that line. Maybe it would be easier to stay with Junmyeon if he didn't think about that thread all the time. He was (totally) his type but…knowing that Junmyeon didn't see the string that connected them made him neurotic.

What if he wasn't actually his mate and that string thing was fake? No, it was almost impossible… The red string never missed and Junmyeon was tied to it. Why did he rejected him then?

"Hey, I'm talking to you." Minseok kicked Yixing's chair, causing him to lose his balance and nearly fall off the wheel chair. “What's up?”

Yixing blinked, looking confused.

"Excuse me?"

“Don't try to fool me, something is clearly troubling you. C'mon, tell me. What's on your mind?”

The alpha stared at Minseok for a second and then sighed. It was clear that he couldn't fool Minseok for long, but he didn't think he would notice it any time soon — even though he had been like that for a while.

“I think I found my mate, but he doesn't feel the same as me. When I saw him, I felt everything they said I would feel, but when I approached him... He told me I must have made a mistake and that he saw no string of fate between us. Then he said sorry and ran away." He said in a rather sad voice, staring at the ground.

His friend, in turn, seemed to think, recalling memories from the beginning of the week.

“You are saying that your mate did not react the way you expected?”

“Yes. When I leaned to hold him he told me he is not my omega and then I…”

“Is this person Junmyeon, by any chance?” Minseok interrupted him and Yixing, finally, looked up at Minseok in alarm. Not knowing what to say, he just nodded.

"Yixing, Junmyeon is a beta." He said, holding back a laugh, but only out of respect for Yixing, who was looking at him confused. "Betas don't react to pheromones like omegas and alphas. Obviously he wouldn’t fall for you at first sight."

Okay, Yixing really wasn't expecting that. It took him a few minutes to process the information and decide whether he should be happy with it or not. Although he never thought of a beta as a partner, he didn't think that it was a big deal. No, what he felt for Junmyeon really surpassed that but none of that explained why the thread that bound them together was one-sided.

"And... What about the red string?"

"What?"

“Can betas connect souls with alphas, omegas or other betas? They can't, right?”

Minseok took a moment to think and then frowned before verbalizing his thoughts.

“Well, the red string thing is something that connects your souls and destiny, isn't it? Independent if you are an omega, or a beta, or an alpha. Omegas can connect to omegas and alphas can connect to betas too. Being a beta is not an obstacle.”

"But he said there was no red string between us." He stared at his crestfallen little finger, noting the illusory red line that encircled his finger. “Does it mean he doesn't love me back? Is it one-sided?”

He had his brow furrowed and sounded genuinely worried about that possibility, but for Minseok, it was inevitable to let out a chuckle, a chuckle that he covered up with a clearing of his throat. How was it possible for Yixing not to know anything about betas when one of his best friends was one? 

"Yixing, show me your finger."

He stared at his friend and showed him his pinky, frowning as Minseok held back his laugh once more.

“I can't understand. What's so funny?”

"Tell me." He ignored Yixing's speech, holding his pinky up. "What do you always brag about when we talk about this string of fate?"

“That you don't have one...?” Yixing guessed, being slapped on the back of the head right away. 

“No, idiot. That I can't see mine. Yixing, betas can't see the red string, but it doesn't mean it's not there.”

And at that moment, all the doubts in Yixing's head disappeared along with the pain of the slap, he opened a wide smile because that meant that Junmyeon was really his mate. Junmyeon was his mate  and their red thread was not one-sided! Just thinking about it, he felt  that mixture of sensations,  the same one he usually feels whenever he would see the beta in the hallways.

“For God's sake, take my deodorant.” Minseok said, wrinkling his nose as he handed Yixing a deodorant. “I know you are excited and stuff but control yourself.”

“I'm sorry…” he apologized, still smiling. “I'm just happy. I finally found him, Minseok-ge!”

"Yeah, but he rejected you, remember?" He answered, causing the smile on the alpha's face to fade instantly, and immediately regretted. “I mean, he is a beta… He won't just follow his instincts, like an omega would. Just because you are mates, that doesn’t mean he’ll immediately fall head over heels for you… He needs to know you like him and see that you care about him, so he can give you a chance and…”

“How to make a beta fall for me, Minseok-ge?!” the alpha asked desperately, his eyes glittering in a way Minseok had never seen. He was literally about to cry only a couple of seconds ago..

“Eh… The way people usually conquer their pair?” Minseok replied, noticing that Yixing didn't quite understand how it worked. Of course, how could he if he was always teached that his omega would fall for him deeply as soon as he found Yixing?

“So… how?” The clueless alpha asked, looking at his direction. Minseok, honestly, couldn't think of a good ‘method’. His mother always said that when it's meant to be, it will be, so he didn't really have advice to make it work as if love was a game or something.

"Just be yourself." He said what his mother told him years ago, before meeting Luhan. The advice had worked with him, so it should work with Yixing. “Try to win it your way. If you are destined, destiny must help you out, mustn't it?”

Yixing listened to Minseok and, with a nod of his head, smiled, thinking about what he could do to get Junmyeon next week.

He had 14 days to make a beta fall for him.

β

Despite being, theoretically, Junmyeon's mate, Yixing could not read his thoughts, as he believed he would be able to when he found his mate.

During the first two days of that week, he tried to guess what Junmyeon liked, what music he listened to, or what he liked to eat for lunch. Unfortunately, it wasn't easy to do a spy’s job, especially when almost everyone in the company knew him.  Everyone would greet him "Good morning Yixing!" while he was covering himself with a sheet of paper or a ton of documents. He was almost certain that Junmyeon was aware of his stalking — and now, probably thought that he was crazy..

At some point, he came to the conclusion that he would try to win Junmyeon’s heart in every way he could think of as wooing a mate — because, even though he had passed his life thinking that his omega would fall for him at first sight, thankfully he thought about the possibility of receiving a ‘no’.

In his dreams, he always presented the one he loved with red roses — something cliché but romantic, he had to admit — and that's why his first act that week was to buy a bouquet of red roses and deliver it to Junmyeon's table.

Now he was at Zitao's desk, pretending to have some conversation with him while his eyes peeked in the corner at what was happening at Junmyeon's desk. As planned, he had been given a red bouquet in the name of a secret admirer, and the reaction from all over the hall was one of murmurs and a few passionate sighs. Yixing had done well, right ?

Wrong.

Wrong because, of course, he didn't expect that at the instant Junmyeon saw the roses, he would start sneezing wildly and get a significantly severe allergic reaction, so much that his roses had to be handed over to some other wooed employee there.

The scene was disappointing for Yixing, who was at that moment cursing himself with some Mandarin words while banging his head on Zitao's desk.

"Sir… Is everything alright?" he muttered worriedly, causing the alpha to finally turn his attention to him. He brought his hand to his head and sighed. Now his head hurt too.

"Yes, it is." He finally said, more to himself than Huang, "I just need another quick plan and it'll be alright."

The omega looked at the confused manager and only then did Yixing realize that he wasn't talking to himself. He thought too loud sometimes.

"Can I help you with something?" Huang questioned, and when he was about to say a no, thanks, Yixing faced the telemarketing secretary, as if looking for something interesting in his eyes.

Maybe with the help of someone, it would be easier to get Junmyeon.

"I would be glad if you could help me…”

β

When Zitao offered help to Yixing, he certainly didn't expect that situation.

“Mr. Zhang, do I really need to do it?” he questioned, staring at Sehun who, from across the room, glared at him. Both maintained a somewhat secret relationship and for that reason, Zitao felt his shirt burn with the look of disapproval that Sehun gave to him at the sight of Yixing, a young and single alpha, being way too close to his omega.

"You offered to help me, didn't you?" He questioned, fixing Zitao's hair as if he were the very model for Medpharma’s next ad, "You'll be helping me pretending to be completely in love with me next to that guy.” he pointed to Junmyeon, who was genuinely talking to another coworker at her desk.

Zitao gulped.

“C'mon, it's not that hard. You don’t even like me that way and you are also single, aren't you?”

Huang gulped once again and looked over the alpha's shoulder as Sehun tore up the newspaper he was pretending to read, while Yixing was moving his hair. If Zitao wasn’t the one who was going to reveal their relationship, Sehun probably would (and In a not-too-polished way, if he was allowed to say.)

“Y-yes…” he answered, trying to push Yixing away. He was too close to Sehun's parameters (and also to his own). “But I still think you are too close, menager.”

“Oh, I'm sorry.” he subtly pulled away from Zitao and then watched him. He was handsome! He did look like a model and the plan would surely make Junmyeon rethink about Yixing.

In Yixing's head, the plan was perfect: Zitao, a tall, handsome omega, would speak highly of his manager to Junmyeon as if he had an interest in the alpha, so the beta would start looking at him with other eyes as well. After all, who wouldn't be convinced by a handsome omega like Zitao talking about him like that?

Honestly, Yixing didn't know why the omega insisted on working in telemarketing when his face was ideal for a model. However, at that moment, he was more grateful than ever for Zitao's lack of awareness of that vocation, because if it wasn't for it, he wouldn't be there, helping him with Junmyeon.

He watched the beta approach his table, sit on it, and then place the documents on the table, indicating that he would get to work and not be leaving there anytime soon. At that moment, he gave Zitao a little push and whispered a ‘go, go,’ making him trip over those expensive shoes while walking towards the beta.

"H-hey, Newbie?" He swallowed hard, trying to ignore the scent of his alpha, obviously unhappy with the situation as he approached the rookie whose name he didn't even know. The other, however, greeted him with a big smile.

“Hey. Zitao, right?” He held out his hand and Huang greeted him, grinning back.

“Yes, yes, that’s right.” He tossed his shiny hair back, almost like a star. The shine on his lips reflecting the light from the room and the bright eyes evidently attractive in Junmyeon’s eyes. A scene that would be extremely attractive to Sehun if he wasn't busy boiling with anger right beside Junmyeon. ““So…you know… Mr. Zhang helped me today. I was almost being attacked by some alphas and he saved me! Isn't he awesome? ”

The voice was clearly strained and it sounded quite loud, loud enough for Sehun, who was at the next table, to hear. Maybe it was Zitao's attempt to show Sehun that it was all a big misunderstanding, but from Oh's expression, he didn't seem to get the message very well. To be honest, he seemed even more unhappy to hear him talk about another alpha like that.

"Oh, did he?" Junmyeon asked curiously, a sweet smile on his lips as Zitao smoothed his hair back. He was sweating with nervousness. For God’s sake, that was the first and last time he offered to help his manager with something not related to work.

“Yes, he did. He is such a gentleman and…” He was about to continue the series of rehearsed compliments when a loud thud interrupted the dialogue between the omega and the beta. The noise came from the end of the hall, where Yixing was pressed against the wall by the other alpha.

"What is up with you? Didn't you see that Zitao is marked, huh? Do you want to die?” Sehun grunted at Yixing, who looked at him surprised as he looked at Zitao, clearly confused with the ‘I’m single’ that he thought he heard from him minutes ago. The omega, in turn, ran to them immediately. “Why are you looking at him? I'm talking to you!”

“Sehun! It's not what it seems!” Zitao put a hand on the alpha's shoulder, who almost pushed him back, but couldn't when he smelled his omega scent. His scent indicated fear, and Sehun would never want to cause fear in Zitao.

He kept his hand on Yixing's collar and took a deep breath, calmly turning to ZItao once he managed to calm down to 20%.

"What is it, then?" He asked seriously, his voice steady and his hands tightening even more on the fabrics of Yixing's shirt, who wondered what kind of soap opera was happening in front of his eyes at that moment.

“Yixing asked me to help him with that guy. He is not interested in me.” He muttered in a soft, sweet voice, which apparently had a great effect on Sehun, as he released Yixing immediately, turning to Huang with a completely different expression. A completely In love expression.

“And why didn't you tell me before, my love? I thought I was going to lose you…” He muttered next to the omega with a little pout, placing a small kiss on his forehead while the other soothed him with his beautiful smile and almond eyes.

“Never, my love. I told you I was yours.” he muttered to his alpha, only then calming him properly and turning his attention to Yixing, still caressing Sehun's hair to calm him down. “I'm sorry, we didn’t want to reveal ourselves…”

And in response, Yixing could only murmur a ‘don’t worry’ and smile, almost under threat from the alpha who still glared at him. He held that expression until the two finally left the room, leaving everyone there looking at him, including Luhan and Minseok, who seemed to be doing their best to hold back their laughter.

Ok, the plan didn’t work at all.

Yixing only had one more chance to sweep Junmyeon off their feet, and it would be his last week there.

β

After two obvious failures trying to impress Junmyeon, Yixing decided to try to win him with something that couldn’t fail: food.

In several romantic films, Yixing always saw that the act of making a meal for one's partner was something totally well-regarded and he also believed that it was a pleasant and undeniable gesture, if he could put it that way. There was no way Junmyeon could be allergic to his favorite food and there was also no way anyone could screw up Yixing's plans and throw the kimbaps he made for Junmyeon because they thought he was hitting on their boyfriend, right?

Yixing had planned everything to work out that day. He'd spent the entire night making kimbaps and left it in the fridge with Junmyeon's last name, so he could see that Yixing had been thinking about him and maybe give him a chance.

Yes, it wouldn't just be with a large amount of kimbap that Junmyeon would accept to date him, but, as Minseok had said: he would have to conquer him little by little. Empathizing with him after giving a gift, therefore, was the first step, and Yixing was ready to give it.

At lunchtime, he watched Junmyeon from his desk, who worked until the moment he went to the fridge to get lunch. Expecting seeing Junmyeon come back with the lunch he spent the whole night preparing, he frowned in surprise when he saw the beta coming back without any of the little boxes of food that Yixing had made for himself, but a small pot of rice with some cheap seafood.

Strangely, he decided to go to the fridge and check if he had left everything right there, but when he got there he had a big surprise: there was nothing there.

"Hey Chanyeol." Yixing called the guy who was passing by, leaving the pantry, where he had just had lunch. “Did you see a… kimbap pack, here? With notes and stuff.”

"Oh yes." Park nodded, pointing in the direction of a group of people enjoying their lunch. “They said it was their, because of the 'Kim' written below, I guess? But they don't know who bought them such a neat lunchbox...”

And Yixing felt all his hopes vanish after hearing that, watching the group of employees eat there while the person next to him as he held his breath not to scream in the middle of the hall.

The universe, or whoever administered that so-called fate, was clearly playing a prank on him.. It seemed like everything in that damn place conspired against his favor and honestly? Yixing was tired of being fooled by that stupid mate and destiny thing. It was clear that they weren’t meant to be so why the hell was he still trying? Abruptly, he pushed the desk aside and stormed out of there, going to his office and tossing at least half a dozen papers on the floor in frustration.

“You know what? Fuck that mate shit, I don't care anymore!” He muttered to himself, totally frustrated by the whole thing. Why did it have to be so hard? Couldn't Junmyeon just like him back and end it in the way that it was supposed to ? Why the fuck did he have to be tied up with a beta who wouldn't even look at his face?

Yixing was tired, frustrated, and several things at once. Right now, he just wanted to scream, explode or at least stay quiet until he felt he could get back to being with people peacefully.

But as fate loved to play with Yixing, it wasn't long before Minseok showed up at his door at the worst possible moment.

"Yixing-ah, I need you to look at some documents for... What just happened here?"

“What just happened? I will tell you what just happened.” he reached up and tried to grip the red thread with his fingers, which he couldn’t actually touch. However, Minseok understood what it was the moment he saw him raise his hand. “ This happened.”

“But Yixing, you were so happy with your red string back then…” Minseok started to say before being sharply cut off.

“Exactly. I was. ” He replied, snorting as he tried to control himself.

“Yixing…”

“I spent my past two weeks thinking about him, trying to get him next to me without a weird tension between us and nothing. I said, NOTHING worked." He blurted out loud and clear, knocking the table at the end. “What does love and mate even mean? Making me a fool?” he asked, sitting down on the armchair at last.

The beta, in front of his friend's outburst, was silent, watching him with a certain pain in his eyes. He didn't like seeing Yixing like this, but he also didn't know what to do to help. He was terrible with relationships — no wonder Luhan had been the one to go after him every time.

“So… are you giving up?” Minseok asked, wary of his words. He watched his friend with his hands covering his face and wanted to pat him on the back and say it was okay, but he didn't know if it was safe, so he just stayed put.

"Honestly, I don't think I have another option." He muttered in response, staring at the thread that remained in his finger one last time before grabbing a glove from the drawer and covering his hand.

Maybe not all the things he was told when he was a kid were true.

β

For the next few days of the week, Yixing planned to avoid Junmyeon, his beautiful face and his charming voice.

It was difficult, he confessed — after all, it wasn’t easy to ignore the one he felt all kinds of things described in fairy tales with — but it was certainly less exhausting than wasting time and energy on something that would in the end go wrong. At that moment, he no longer believed in the theory of that red string that followed him back and forth.

He only missed Junmyeon (missing something he never really had) when he saw him smiling down the halls and felt his heart beat for him, even though it shouldn't. That's why he avoided it as much as possible.

It was Junmyeon's last days working there with them, and because he was quite independent, Yixing didn't see the need to check on him in his office. So, as usual, he just headed straight to his everyday desk, prepared for another normal day's work.

However, he didn't expect to find a rose on top of his desk, which left him confused.

"What is it..?" he muttered to himself, picking up the rose and looking around for someone. “Minseok? Is it yours?” He muttered into the vacuum, but no one answered him.

Whose was that?

He looked for some identification or sender to find out who that rose really was for and was surprised to see its name written in simple Mandarin in the space ‘ recipient .’ Intrigued, he turned the card over and searched for the sender, finding instead just a small message:

Thank you for everything ₍ᐢ. ̮ . ᐢ₎

“Who sent this…?” He asked himself, trying to think of which people in the company had that handwriting and drew that little bunny. No one.

He turned the note over and looked for some sign, something that would indicate the sender of that rose, but the only thing he found was another erased message that he could recognize.

7o Sehun.

Right. That was a little weird. After all, why would the alpha who nearly killed him the other day send him anything? And a red rose? No, that was weird.

But after turning the note over three times, folding and unfolding it, looking anywhere else for any sign other than that, he found himself with no choice but to go to Sehun and see what it meant.

The other’s office wasn't that far from Yixing’s, so it wasn't difficult for Yixing to reach there in less than a minute. The problem, however, was working up the courage to knock on the door. In fact, he, an alpha, shouldn't feel that way, but it was inevitable when he practically ‘hit on’ the other’s mate. Yixing would react the same way Sehun did if someone hit on Junmyeon right in the front of his salad, so he chose to set aside his pride and leave that grudge for another day.

He'd been standing in front of the door for 5 minutes until the alpha opened it, startling Yixing, who jumped back in fright at the sight of the tall and suddenly angry figure in front of him.

"What do you want?" he asked harshly, and Yixing gulped in response.

Okay, Sehun was not the author of that note at all.

Not knowing how to proceed, he stared at him for 10 seconds and assumed that he, at least, knew something about it, considering that the note had his name written on it (albeit half-erased). He straightened his posture and then handed the note to Sehun, who read it and quickly softened his expression — though he still didn't look 'happy' with Yixing presence.

“Ah, you took too long to get here. I left it at the scullery.”

Yixing frowned and continued looking at Sehun with that confused expression in response. What had he left in the scullery? Was it something Yixing should know?

He looked into Oh's face for answers but instead he only got a growl.

“I won't pick it up for you. Go there and get it yourself.” He muttered, now very annoyed and closed the door at Yixing's face. With no other choice left,he headed  to the pantry, even though he didn't know exactly what he should pick up there.

The alpha walked down the hall once more as he studied the handwriting on the card and wondered if this was all a joke. Was someone playing with him? What was the point of it all, anyway?

Yixing was drowned in his thoughts when he went through the pantry’s door and found Zitao, was there. Lucky him. He was Sehun’s mate, after all, he should know what Sehun left there. 

"Zitao!" the alpha exclaimed, and the omega took a few steps back, probably remembering the event earlier last week. "Wait, I'm here because sehun told me to be here."

“Oh. Did he?” he asked less hesitantly this time, giving up on the idea of leaving.

“Yes. He told me I was supposed to pick something here… I just don't know what.”

“Maybe he is talking about the thing the newbie left for you earlier?” When he heard the newbie coming out of Zitao's mouth, Yixing's heart stopped for a second. Junmyeon left something for him that morning? Oh lord, why would he? Was it because it was his last day at the Medpharma’s head office? Was he already gone? "I heard him asking Sehun to give you instead but you know, Sehun is kind of… inpatient. So he left it there." Zitao pointed to the center of the table, where there was the lunch box in a bunny format and a note, in the same handwriting as the one he had in hands:

I hope you like it. I'm not the best cook but I tried my best ᕱ⑅ᕱ

Yixing's eyes sparkled with the gesture and, his heart pounded in his chest. He opened the lunch box and found a series of Nikuman's with an extremely good smell. He was speechless.

It was his favorite sweet. And it was handmade… by Junmyeon .

The beta baked him his favorite cupcake and… left him a beautiful rose.

In that moment, he imagined the worst-case scenario, like the possibility that Junmyeon had overheard him yesterday, while he was venting to Minseok about his frustrations. Or worse: that he had heard what he had said about him and done it out of pity.

Was Junmyeon feeling bad for Yixing after hearing his words? Was he already gone and that was his way of saying goodbye? Had he left thinking that Yixing hated him?

Worried that he had screwed up, like his heart was about to fall out of his chest , he dropped the two notes behind him and hurried to Minseok's office, because he always knew what to do.

The alpha walked down the halls downstairs, skipped a few Good Morning's and when he finally got close to his friend's office, he felt his body bump into another person passing by. This resulted in the coffee — that was in the other's hand — staining Yixing's shirt and the both of them falling butt-first into the ground.

“Ah…! I'm sorry!" he heard that familiar voice say. The guy hurried to look for a handkerchief in his pocket, immediately using it against the wet surface on Yixing’s chest and failing in drying the coffee from his shirt. “I didn't see you coming, I was just walking and…”

Suddenly, the voice trailed off and, when I least expected it, he was once again exchanging glances with the beta of the angelic face and the perfect shiny hair. God, every time he looked at Junmyeon a different wave of feelings spread through his entire body and it would consume him completely. Like he had everything he wanted but him.

Junmyeon, in turn, felt a pain spread in his chest when he noticed the one he bumped into was the alpha, who was now looking at him like he was something exotic, unique. Those beautiful and intense eyes were upon him, accompanied by a totally different and intoxicating fragrance, exhaling mesmerizingly towards the beta.

“Junmyeon…” Yixing ignored the warm liquid smearing all over his shirt and smiled at the beta, who automatically felt his cheeks heat up. “You are here… oh God, I'm so glad you are here…”

He ran his hand over Junmyeon's face and, at that moment, the beta felt a strange chill going up his arms. To be honest, he'd felt it since the first day he saw Yixing, but since he had been mistaken for an omega, he hadn't been able to feel that gentle touch again. Feeling it now was…strange, but in a good way. In a very good way.

"Yes, I am… I will be leaving tomorrow." He said, starting to face the floor the next moment, not knowing what to say but the obvious. Something about Yixing’s presence suddenly made him nervous.

"Junmyeon I..." he started to say, and immediately the beta turned his attention towards him, smiling sympathetically, eyes shining bright like the sunset. That stare caught Yixing by surprise, disrupting him. “I…”

“Look, I hate to interrupt, but I suggest you to not get in the way.” Minseok, who had several documents in his hand, muttered as he passed by them, dodging the two on the ground.

“Oh, I'm sorry!” Junmyeon said first, getting up quickly, Yixing only scooched away to not let the beta step on his feet. He still had his clothes stained with coffee. The beta noticed the stain and then looked around, looking for the staff bathroom, which he pointed to as soon as he found it. “Eh, I have an extra shirt in my bag. Since we seem to use the same size, you can use mine and give me yours, so I can wash it and hand you back tomorrow...”

Yixing looked at the direction Junmyeon was pointing and, after coming out of his trance, nodded. He got up and, just as he glanced at the bag the beta was carrying, noticed a post-it with a bunny design and something misspelled (in Mandarin) fall — which made his heart race once more. He was adorable.

Then, both of them quickly walked to the bathroom, Junmyeon's steps were little shorter than his as they dodged the other employees passing by. From behind, he noticed the beta's shoulders were a little tense and the corners of his ears had a red tint to them from the previous flustering. He looked adorable. Oh Lord, he was so adorable.

His heart was racing like crazy. He could barely tell if it was excitement, happiness or because of the fact that Junmyeon was, unconsciously, holding his hand. The red thread that connected them scraped over his palm as they walked to the bathroom and, for a second, he'd even forgotten about the rejection of weeks ago.

Everything felt so right… Oh, dammit, Junmyeon felt so right…. 

"Here is my shirt." Junmyeon said, as they stopped in front of the door, and started pulling the white cloth from his bag. The nearest bathroom was for single use, despite being spacious, and Junmyeon didn't seem to have any intention of going in there with Yixing. “It may look a little thigh or short in you but…”

“We should... get in it... together.” Yixing suggested, making Junmyeon's face turn slightly pink. Was he flushed? “I mean, where are you going to wash my shirt if not in this bathroom… right?”

Junmyeon studied him for, what felt like, a full minute and then, after concluding that Yixing was probably right, he just nodded, deciding to go into the cubicle with him. As soon as they got in, he closed the door behind them and, almost instantly, saw the other take off the shirt he was wearing without any warning, a bit of coffee dripping onto the floor and his exposed chest slightly red from the warm drink he'd soaked.

Oh.

Junmyeon's heart seemed to want to explode.

He took Yixing's T-shirt and, looking away from the alpha's bare chest, as he tried to hide his face, he handed his own to him. And then focused on getting the coffee stain off of the white fabric as soon as he received the T-shirt. He placed the fabric under the tap water and began scrubbing the fabric as hetried to think about anything other than the guy standing behind him, most likely shirtless and impressively…

Attractive?

Junmyeon was so focused on thinking about something other than Yixing, that he didn't even notice when he started trying to use the green toothpaste from the sink to remove the stain. He only noticed it when Yixing gently grabbed his arm from behind, getting his attention and making him turn around immediately.

"Hey, are you ok?" The other turned off the tap and tried to look at the beta, who froze the instant he felt Yixing's hand on his. He turned his face in the opposite direction and avoided the alpha’s pretty eyes.

But it was hard to avoid someone as beautiful as Yixing.

“Junmyeon…” the voice, beautiful as any classic song, sounded close to the beta's ear, making him flinch instantly. “Can we… talk?” He rested his forehead on his shoulder, the body behind him almost flush with Junmyeon’s, sending a surge of electricity through his entire body.

The beta took a deep breath and nodded slightly, taking up the courage to say what he wanted to say from the very moment he saw Yixing frustrated, earlier that week.

“Look, I…” Junmyeon steeled himself and took a deep breath, staring at the floor as his hand tightened around the dirty shirt. He was nervous and tense, unlike Yixing, who was... wary of what the beta was going to say. “I really appreciated everything you did for me these last days So, please, don't feel like you made it for nothing. I liked the roses, even though I'm allergic and I liked the kimbap, even though I didn't get the chance to eat them.”

“Wait, you...? You knew? All this time?” Yixing looked surprised, something inside him tingling while Junmyeon avoided his gaze.

“N-not exactly! But I suspected when Zitao came after me, saying those random things. So, when I heard you were frustrated another day, I figured out you were angry and upset because of me. So I... tried returning what you did for me… except for the flirting with Zitao thing”

Junmyeon had to hold back a laugh, to keep from sounding funny in a quite serious moment like that.

“So… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for…” He thought about what he was apologizing for and it suddenly made him sad. He was apologizing for not being exactly the mate Yixing wanted, just like he had said on that first day, and seeing how beautiful he was up close, how good he was for Junmyeon when he stood next to him like that…

Fuck, it hurts so bad.

And Yixing, on the other hand, felt gnawing with frustration about it. On one hand, his heart skipped the beat just to be around Junmyeon, and, on the other hand, he was dying of anguish knowing that Junmyeon's apology was because he probably felt like doing it before rejecting Yixing.

It was a very bittersweet feeling.

Even if respected Junmyeon’s decision, his  heart still ached. Like it wasn’t ready to accept that junmyeon was going to dump them. So Zhang felt like he needed Kim's eyes looking deep into his soul, when he’d tell him that he wasn't willing to spend another second with him. That he should move on and find another alpha or beta, who would make his heartbeat the same way because he, Junmyeon, felt nothing for him.

Thus, he brought his right hand to Kim's chin and turned his face toward his, but at the moment he turned his face in his direction, his brightwatery eyes surprised him.

Was Junmyeon sad?

Yixing's mind suddenly panicked once more. Had he done something while thinking about it? Could it be that, without noticing, he forced his anger and sadness through his pheromones and hurt him?

“W-why are you sad? Did I say something wrong? Did I get too close?” he asked desperately, making the beta desperately shake his head in denial..

"No! It's not that.” Kim responded with a sniff. Yixing's heart stopped in that instant. “I… I don't know. I suddenly feel sad because it doesn't feel… right. I mean, something makes me feel like we should be together but I know we can't.” He sniffed again, wiping his face on his sleeve, as the alpha looked at him completely confused, not knowing what to say.

What was Junmyeon talking about? Why shouldn’t they be together?

"I didn't want to be such an annoyance for you... I made you feel angry and frustrated for not being the omega you expected and I know you must think betas and alphas shouldn’t be together but some... "

"Wait, what?" Yixing cut him off the moment he heard the last sentence come out of Junmyeon's mouth, finally coming back to himself. The reason Yixing went after him was precisely to not let him think that.

Yixing would never think that of Junmyeon. 

"H-hum?"

“What do you mean by omega? What do you mean by we shouldn’t be together because you are a beta? I never said I wouldn't love you if you weren't an omega.”

Junmyeon sniffed and then watched him confused, not understanding his words.

"S-so, why were you frustrated with our… mate thing ?" Junmyeon said, though unsure what that meant. Despite never having heard of this red thread thing — since it wasn't something betas usually worry about — he had done a little research after the fateful day but still wasn't quite sure how it worked.

“Because I thought I lost all my chances with you when I misunderstood you with an omega and started running after you like a… fool. I mean, you didn't seem to like me.”

“But I do like you…” Junmyeon's voice came out softly, and Yixing felt his heartbeat quicken just hearing that, though only more and more doubts rose in his mind. “It was strange at first because I never felt like this before but I like you…”

“So… why did you run away that day? I thought you were bumping me…”

“I ran away because I was confused, and I thought you misunderstood your mate with me because I'm a beta, not an omega…” Junmyeon explained, his heart also racing as Yixing leaned forward. “Also, I didn't come after you after that because… I don't know, alphas usually like omegas better, don't they? I don't think I can satisfy you and…”

“Of course you can!” Yixing interrupted him, leaning his forehead on his as he said every word with the greatest assurance in the world. He brought Junmyeon's hand to his chest and let the beta feel his heartbeat, the skin touching the other's hand in a completely intimate way. It was warm. “Junmyeon, I can only feel my heart beat this fast with you! I don't care if you are a beta or an omega, I just want you… You are the most right thing I’ve ever felt…” he muttered in a whisper, his warm breath now so close to Junmyeon that the beta felt he might pass out anytime.

“Y-yixing…” His voice gradually lowered as he tried to mutter the alpha's name, being silenced the moment his lips were taken by the Yixing's. 

The moment that lips touched his, Junmyeon felt something explode inside of him, as if a million butterflies were released in his stomach and they flapped their wings more and more with each small movement Yixing's mouth made over his. Their lips slid, fit and sighed against each other in a way so unique that, for a moment, Junmyeon like he died and had passed on.

Was he in heaven?

Honestly, he had never heard much about mates and didn't even imagine what would like to have one. Junmyeon couldn't see that red line or get drunk with smells the way omegas did when they met their alpha but... that kiss... dear Lord, for a moment he suspected he was some kind of omega. It got him feeling surrendered. Yixing’s lips made him helpless and he liked it.

It felt so… right .

“Junmyeon-ah…” Yixing muttered, subtly pulling away from the kiss, his warm breath still wrapped around Junmyeon’s, as their mouths almost pressed together like two magnets. He opened his eyes subtly and then it was simply inevitable to smile. That was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Junmyeon was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. “Oh lord, you are so beautiful… I could kiss you forever…”

“Hmm… you can…” Junmyeon's voice came out without him being able to control it, causing a smile on Yixing's face. He concluded to himself that no explanation about mates could define what it was really like to have the beta next to him.

“Hmm… can I?” Yixing gave Junmyeon another peck on the lips, making that delicious laugh sound close to his face, those sensations rising once more. “Can I also ask you for bunny drawings in memos sending me kisses and good morning messages?”

Junmyeon smiled and nodded and, at that moment, Yixing put on a slightly more serious expression — ‘slightly’ only because it was impossible to be 100% serious with a guy like that smiling at him in such a passionate way — and then he whispered what he had been wanting ask from the moment he found him:

"I know it may be weird for you, because the pheromones thing probably doesn't make you feel dizzy, drunk and things you can't control such as being claimed at first sight..." He said that in a rather shy way, staring at Junmyeon's little hand, which he now held. Their fingers intertwined as well as the thread that connected them. “But please, give me a chance to be your alpha…I want to go on dates with you, to cook for you and do anything you think it's possible to make you fall in love with me day by day.”

TakingJunmyeon's hand, he brought it to his lips and placed a kiss over the region that, for an instant, was shown to be wrapped in their red thread, connected to Yixing's hand. The appearance of his end, in turn, didn't last more than two seconds, but that was enough for Junmyeon to know that Yixing was the right person.

There was no one who felt more right than he.

"Please, be my mate. Be my beta." He said, bright eyes staring at Junmyeon as his heart raced for an answer, because, he believed, Junmyeon might as well still say no.

He didn't want to do anything before Junmyeon gave him 100% certainty that he wanted it too, so he'd wait for his answer before telling everyone he'd found his mate — something he'd been wanting to do since he'd found Kim.

“I'm all yours, alpha.” he answered with a smile and, this time being, he was the one who leaned forward, taking Yixing's lips. They tasted unique, special, astonishing and any other adjective you could think of

In that instant, Yixing knew that, from that moment on, no one could separate them anymore. They were tied together forever, anyway.

By the Red String of Fate.