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Ni-ki would always be the precious little baby of the pack. This was truer than almost anything else. It was nearly impossible not to smile gently at him; he had that mischievous little sibling look that made you want to reach out and hold his hand. Sweet on the outside, fiery on the inside; like a hidden power behind the calm of a storm.
But the young alpha had another side as well.
Ni-ki always noticed it. Maybe he wasn’t obsessed with physical closeness, maybe he wasn’t the one most attuned to scent, or the biggest fan of kisses; but he was there for his pack. Always, silently, yet in a way that made his presence felt. Just like now, sitting quietly between his two omegas; as if even time itself slowed down.
It was clear that Heeseung and Sunoo had had a rough day. Ni-ki noticed; it was in his nature. Quiet but heartfelt… the kind of presence that suddenly appears beside you in your silence and makes you feel seen.
Jay said it was a kind of sibling instinct. When everyone was scattered, your little sibling would rush into the room and do something silly to make you laugh. Ni-ki had his own version of that.
He saw. And he showed. He made sure they knew they were heard, that they weren’t alone. Without a single word, he was simply there. That was more than enough, because sometimes silence could be more meaningful than words.
Jake avoided putting a name to it.
He was only used to asking for kisses; but those nights in the dorm when he quietly cried on Ni-ki’s shoulder, were a secret between them. Ni-ki would hold his beta as if he were the most precious thing in the world, inhaling his scent while drawing gentle circles along his back. Every movement was both soothing and protective.
Sunghoon called it being an alpha.
A simple and logical answer. But the pack knew it wasn’t about labels. Alpha, beta, omega… Ni-ki only cared. Silently.
As gentle as walking in the snow. As comforting as a summer night breeze. With just a look, with just his presence, he gave his pack a sense of security. Ni-ki loved them, and in the gentlest way possible…
Sunoo didn’t hesitate to rest his head on Niki's shoulder. Because he knew if he fell, Ni-ki would be there. That feeling of security went beyond words; even their silence spoke volumes.
Just as he thought this, Ni-ki shifted slightly on the bench and moved a little closer.
Sunoo’s inner omega recognized his alpha and shivered with relief. All he wanted now was to sleep. Idol duties could wait. For now, Ni-ki’s shoulder was the softest pillow in the world.
As Sunoo leaned in, Ni-ki’s inner alpha stirred proudly.
His second omega, Heeseung, was content. Half-asleep, Heeseung wavered between dream and wakefulness, moving slightly, as if gauging his surroundings. Even in his dazed state, his beauty made Ni-ki smile; a warm, loving smile that carried both exhaustion and peace.
Carrying the weight of the world between his two omegas, Ni-ki had never felt happier. Every deep breath, every quiet glance, was a silent reflection of his love for his pack. This moment made all the chaos, all the hard days, meaningful.
The pack leader, Jungwon, watched what was happening. With a soft and proud smile, careful not to disturb the sleeping omegas, he gently ruffled Ni-ki’s hair. The gesture said it all:
“Well done, Ni-ki. You’re an amazing alpha for your pack.”
And Ni-ki felt it in that quiet approval, living in the eyes and breaths of his pack. Being an alpha wasn’t just about a title; Ni-ki knew that. Being an alpha sometimes meant being there silently. In truth, being an alpha—or not—meant loving and caring, and Ni-ki did that with every inch of his heart. And in the same way, he would always be there, in the heart of his pack.