Chapter Text
The first thing Felix noticed when he woke up was the pounding in his head and that the room wasn’t his.
He blinked at the unfamiliar white ceiling, sunlight spilling through tall windows he definitely did not own.
'Did I go home with someone last night?'
It wouldn’t be surprising. Felix was no stranger to one-night stands. Being the gorgeous omega that he was, getting laid had never exactly been difficult for him.
“This is probably a hotel” he muttered to himself, voice hoarse. “And he probably left already.”
That would be normal really
He pushed himself up slowly, peeling the blanket off his bare body— and immediately collapsed back down with a groan as a dull ache rippled through him through his entire body
“Was it that rough?” he muttered attempting to sit up again, slower this time.
But something just felt off with his
Not the soreness, he wasn’t unfamiliar with being sore after a rough night
This was different.
There was a strange sensation under his skin not just pain. Something deeper, a restless, aching pull almost like a craving he gets during his heats
His breath hitched at the thought
'Did I go into heat?'
Just the mere idea of that happening shot panic straight through his spine.
The scent surrounding him was strong and unmistakably of an alpha. It was definitely not a beta.
Going into heat with an unknown alpha?
His entire body went cold.
His hand flew to the back of his neck immediately dread settling over him instantly.
His scents glands were swollen and sore and right over the glands there was the curve of teeth pressed into the flesh
His fingers came away trembling.
“No… no no no. This can’t be happening”
Someone had bitten him.
He had let someone bite him.
No matter how drunk he’d ever been no matter how good an alpha smelled- he had never allowed that. Never.
So how the hell did it happen now?
His heart felt like it might jump straight out of his chest. He sat frozen on the bed, blanket clutched around him, hand pressed to his neck as a thousand possibilities crashed through his head.
The bite. Bond. Claim. Mate. roamed through his head
“Oh. You’re awake?”
A voice from the doorway snapped him out of the spiral.
Felix’s head whipped up.
Right at the door stood an alpha
Tall broadshouldered and infuriatingly handsome.
He only wore a pair of trousers hanging low on his hips, his chest bare
Under any other circumstance, Felix would have absolutely swooned over that body but right now?
This was the most despicable human being he had ever seen.
The scent that flooded the room confirmed it immediately that this is the same alpha from last night.
The one who had bitten him.
Veins popped on Felix’s temples.
“YOU!” he shrieked, grabbing the nearest pillow and launching it straight at him
“YOU ABSOLUTE SCUM!”
The pillow smacked the alpha square in the face.
“HOW DARE YOU BITE ME?!” Felix screamed, scrambling further back on the mattress
“HOW DARE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME WHEN I WAS DRUNK?! I WILL SUE YOU TO THE END OF THE EARTH! I WILL MAKE SURE YOU NEVER SEE DAYLIGHT AGAIN! YOU DESERVE TO ROT IN HELL, YOU- YOU ABSOLUTE PIECE OF SHIT-”
He grabbed anything within reach and hurled it. Another pillow, a hoodie, his jeans from last night that were neatly folded and a box of unopened condoms that hit the alpha’s shoulder and fell uselessly to the floor
The alpha didn’t dodge. He didn’t snap even raise his eyes
He just stood there and took every hit until Felix’s fury burned itself out.
Eventually, Felix collapsed back against the headboard, chest heaving, blanket clutched tightly to preserve what little dignity he had left.
His vision blurred with unshed tears that finally broke free
Damn it he didn't want to sob and make himself look weak right now
The alpha moved. Slowly. Carefully.
He approached the bed and, instead of towering over the crying omega, he lowered himself to the floor in front of Felix, sitting back on his heels.
“I know saying sorry isn’t enough” he began quietly.
His hands lifted slightly like he wanted to wipe Felix’s tears— but he stopped himself, letting them fall instead
“I was drunk too” he continued, voice steady but tight
“And I’m not saying that to defend myself. I just I- didn’t intend to hurt you.”
“It doesn’t matter what you intended” Felix shot back, voice shaking despite his effort to keep it sharp.
The alpha swallowed.
“I know”
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
“I will take responsibility” he said finally. “Whatever that means. Whatever you need. I’ll be there.”
Felix’s head snapped up
“Damn right you will!” he exclaimed, anger flaring all over again
“This is your fault in the first place!”
The alpha didn’t argue.
“Yeah” he said softly “It is”
And somehow that made it worse.
Felix wanted a fight. He wanted denial. He wanted arrogance so he could tear it apart.
Instead, he got this.
This calm acceptance.
This steady presence that made the frantic pounding in his chest ease just a fraction.
Damn the bite.
The silence that followed wasn’t sharp anymore. It was heavy. Aware.
The alpha stood slowly. “You should clean up,” he said gently. “Your neck— it needs to be disinfected.”
Felix stiffened, but he didn’t protest.
The alpha disappeared into what Felix assumed was the bathroom and returned with a small first aid kit and a stack of folded clothes.
Grey sweatpants and black hoodie both of which were clearly too big
“I don’t have anything smaller” he murmured.
Felix snatched them without a word.
"Look away" Felix said as he slipped out of the blanket to dress, the alpha turned around immediately, facing the window.
The sweatpants slid low on his hips, he had to pull out all the string to tie it on his waist. The hoodie swallowed him whole, sleeves hiding his hands
The fabric was soft and warm and saturated with alpha scent that almost made him purr.
He stopped himself before it could happen, he would rather die than purr in this situation
“Turn around” he muttered.
The alpha did.
He stepped closer, but not too close first aid kit in hand “May I?”
Felix hesitated before nodding stiffly and turning his back.
The air against his exposed neck made the soreness flare. When careful fingers brushed near the mark, he inhaled sharply.
The touch wasn’t possessive. It was careful.
The antiseptic stung as it touched the wound. Felix hissed slightly, and the alpha’s hand paused instinctively, thumb hovering as if resisting the urge to soothe.
He taped the gauze carefully over the wound, fingers brushing the warm skin slightly before retreating
"Try to keep it dry until it heals"
Felix just nods, still recovering from the touch
“I made breakfast” the alpha said after a moment. He offered to bring the food to him but Felix followed him into the kitchen because the apartment felt colder when he wasn’t nearby.
They sat across from each other.
The food looked annoyingly good but Felix would rather die than admit that.
They ate quiet, the tension so thick it can be cut with a knife
“You” Felix started said, setting his fork down
“What’s your name?”
The alpha looked up “Hyunjin”
Felix nodded once “I’m Felix”
“I- I know. I remembered from last night”
That irritated him for some reason
Felix inhaled slowly calming himself just a little
“So... You bit me.”
“I am sorry”
What kind of alpha just apologise this easily?
“I sould sue you. I really want to” Felix continued flatly “But we were both drunk. So technically I share some fault too”
His eyes narrowed “Dont misunderstand the fault is mostly yours, it's your teeth that bit me”
Hyunjin’s ears flushed faintly red
“That’s- true”
Felix leaned back in his chair and continued
“I don't know how deep the bond is, if it's temporary or you actually knot me-”
Hyunjin choked looking away face burning red
“Give me your number.”
Hyunjin blinked “What?”
“If the mark fades in a few days, congratulations. You’re free” Felix crossed his arms “If it doesn’t… if this is permanent…”
His voice faltered for just half a second before hardening again
“Be prepared. Because I am going to make your life very difficult”
A quiet beat passed
Hyunjin nodded
“That’s fair”
And the worst part?
For the first time since he woke up, Felix didn’t feel like he was about to shatter.
He felt steadier.
And that scared him more than the bite ever could.
_________
Felix didn’t remember getting home.
He remembered the elevator ride down.
He remembered refusing Hyunjin’s offer to drive him.
He remembered slamming his own apartment door shut.
After that?
Blur.
Now he was pacing his living room barefoot, hoodie swallowing his frame, phone pressed to his ear.
“Say that again” Jisung’s voice came through, painfully calm
“I GOT MATED”
There was a beat of silence.
“…are you serious?”
Felix spun in a circle, dragging a hand through his hair.
“I woke up in some alpha’s luxury penthouse with my neck bitten glands swollen and raw. Smelled like him. The whole biological disaster package.”
Silence again
“Did you die?” Jisung asked.
“THAT’S your question?”
“I’m assessing the scale of catastrophe.”
Felix let out a strangled noise and flopped onto his couch.
“It was supposed to be a rebound hook up,” he groaned
“I just wanted to get drunk, have fun and maybe get laid too. This was not supposed to happen! He does look nice and smells good and then!"
“And then?”
“And then apparently my body decided to sign a lifelong contract”
Jisung inhaled sharply
“Okay. Deep breath. Do you remember him knotting you?”
Felix’s entire face went red even though Jisung couldn’t see him
“That’s not the point.”
“It is absolutely the point.”
“I don’t remember!” Felix snapped. “Everything after making out against some wall is fuzzy”
“Oh my god you were that drunk?”
“Yes, thank you for the judgment”
“I’m not judging. I’m horrified.”
Felix buried his face in a cushion and screamed into it.
Jisung waited it out.
“…Is he a creep?” Jisung asked carefully.
Felix paused. The alpha had made him coffee bandaged his neck and fed him breakfast
“I don’t know” Felix muttered
“That doesn’t inspire confidence”
“He said he don't remember either but he didn’t argue. He just said he’d take responsibility”
Jisung went quiet at that.
“…And how did he say it?”
Felix hesitated.
He said it Annoyingly steady. Calm. Like he meant it.
“He said it like it wasn’t a burden” Felix muttered, hating the softness creeping into his voice. “Like it was obvious.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t ‘oh’ me”
“I’m just saying. That’s not typical alpha trash behavior”
Felix sat up abruptly
“Don’t romanticize this! He BIT me, Jisung”
“Yeah, but did you hate it?”
Felix froze.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m asking biologically. When you woke up. Were you nauseous? Rejected? Or did you feel…”
Felix swallowed.
There it was again.
That low hum under his ribs.
“…It feels stable” he admitted quietly “Too stable.”
Jisung made a thoughtful noise
“So either the bond is temporary and still settling…”
“Or?”
“Or it’s complete”
Felix shot up from the couch.
“Don’t say that like it’s casual!”
“You’re the one who said you feel it.”
Felix pressed his palm to the back of his neck again.
The mark throbbed faintly.
“I told him if it fades, he’s lucky,” Felix muttered.
“And if it doesn’t?”
Felix stared at nothing.
“…Then we manage it.”
Jisung snorted.
“You and your corporate crisis plans.”
“I am not spiraling.”
“You are pacing.”
Felix looked down
Yeah he was pacing again.
“…I am not emotionally attached” Felix added defensively
“I didn’t say you were.”
“I’m not.”
“Okay.”
Felix scowled at the tone.
“I just—” He stopped. Frustration bubbling. “He looked way too calm.”
“So?”
“So why isn’t he panicking?!”
Jisung burst out laughing.
“Oh my god.”
“What?”
“You’re offended he’s stable.”
“I am NOT-”
“You wanted him to cry or something?”
“I wanted him to look guilty!”
“He did didn't he?”
“No, he looked… steady.”
Another pause.
Jisung’s voice softened slightly.
“…Did he hurt you?”
Felix’s chest tightened unexpectedly.
“No” he said honestly “He didn’t”
“And you feel safe?”
Felix didn’t answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
Jisung exhaled slowly.
“Okay,” he said “Then here’s what we do.”
Felix narrowed his eyes.
“We monitor symptoms. If the bond intensifies, you don’t isolate yourself. If it weakens, we celebrate with alcohol and you’re not allowed to overconsume”
Felix let out a weak huff of laughter
“And if it’s permanent?”
Jisung was quiet for a second
“Then you make sure it’s your choice emotionally,” he said gently. “Not just your biology”
Felix stared at the wall
Choice.
His body already felt like it had chosen.
“…I hate this,” Felix muttered.
“I know,” Jisung replied “But you’re not alone. I am here. So is Innie and Chan hyung. Have you told them”
“Not yet”
“Do you want to?”
“I am not sure... I don't want to worry them too much ”
“You don't have to say anything but they will understand something is wrong and worry eitherway ”
Felix swallowed, staring at the ceiling for too long
“…He smelled really good” he admitted under his breath.
Jisung gasped dramatically.
“Oh my god you’re doomed”
Felix groaned and threw another cushion across the room.
But the truth sat quietly beneath the panic
________
It’s been two months and the mark didn’t fade.
At first, Felix told himself it was nothing. A mistake. Something his body would fix on its own if he just gave it time. Marks like that weren’t supposed to last not without… more.
So he waited.
Days passed. Then weeks.
He checked it in the mirror more often than he’d like to admit fingers brushing over the faint, unmistakable shape on his neck, expecting it to blur, to lighten, to disappear, anything
It didn’t.
If anything, it stayed exactly the same.
Like it belonged there.
So Felix ignore it, like it didn’t exist, like the night never happened.
He kept his wardrobe carefully curated with turtlenecks, scarves, high collars even in the humid afternoons earning strange looks from coworkers who weren’t used to seeing him anything less than effortlessly put together
He ignored those too
What he couldn’t ignore was his body
Jisung and Chan were worried. Not about the mark Felix had always been emotionally resilient, stubbornly so- but about everything else.
Because Felix was getting worse.
Each passing week carved something out of him. He slept, but never felt rested. Some days he couldn’t fall asleep at all, lying awake with a strange, hollow ache in his chest. Other days he could barely stay awake, his body shutting down mid task. His temper shortened. His patience thinned.
And then came the fainting.
More than once
“You should go see a doctor,” Chan said one afternoon in the office cafeteria, his tone calm but firm
Felix barely looked up from his drink
“I’m fine. This project is just so important I can’t mess it up.”
He has been friends with the alpha for as long as he can remember. From going to school to moving continents together.
Now was one of the top luxury event planners in Chan’s company.
People liked to whisper that he got the job through connections- childhood friends, favors, privilege.
They stopped whispering once they saw him work.
Everything he touched turned meticulously seamlessly, perfect.
Even now, when he is barely holding himself together his work hadn’t slipped once.
“Everything is already perfect” Chan continued, leaning forward slightly
“Take some rest. Hydrate. Don’t overwork”
Felix waved him off.
Chan hesitated, then added more carefully, “Besides… are you sure it’s from work and not from— ”
He stopped. Careful not to actually say what he is thinking
“Impossible” Felix cut in immediately.
Chan’s eyes didn’t soften “How would you know? Did you see a doctor?”
“No”
“I would say these are the correct symptoms. You should really see a doctor before this gets worse. The hospital is literally next to the office”
“I— ”
Felix didn’t get to finish.
The world tilted.
The cafeteria blurred.
And then—
Nothing.
He woke up on a hospital bed, the lights were too bright. The faint antiseptic smell lingering in the air.
Chan was there along with Jeongin, a beta and Felix's trusted junior. They were both quiet, tense, standing close by, worry written plainly across their face.
Felix blinked slowly, trying to sit up.
“Easy” Chan said, already moving to steady him.
The door opened
A nurse walked in, expression neutral
“Mr. Lee” she began, her voice even, almost detached “Your pheromones are unstable”
Felix stilled.
“I don’t know your situation with your mate” she continued, glancing briefly at the chart, “but you need your mate present beside you as soon as possible. Otherwise, your life will be in danger”
The words didn’t register all at once.
They landed slowly.
Too slowly.
“The bond doesn’t look old” she added
“It appears the separation between you and your mate was immediate. Newly bonded mates are supposed to stay in close proximity for at least six months. Since you didn’t, it has disrupted your pheromone flow”
Felix’s fingers tightened against the bedsheet.
“Your levels are fluctuating. It’s affecting your brain and your entire body. There is no medication for this unfortunately. 'Close proximity between bonded mates and regular scenting' is the only solution.”
Felix felt like the ground has disappeared from beneath. He felt like falling
“I gave you some nutrients rest up for now and try to reach out to your mate as soon as possible. They r probably having similar symptoms as well”
The nurse gave a small nod, then turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Felix didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Didn’t breathe properly.
All he could think was the words ‘Permanent. The mark wasn’t temporary’
It wasn’t a mistake.
It wasn’t something that would fade with time and distance and willpower.
He was bonded to an alpha he didn’t even know.
His eyes burned. Tears stinging his eyes making red
Jeongin stepped closer, resting a careful hand on his shoulder, rubbing gently, a little awkward and unsure, but trying.
Chan didn’t move.
He sat in front of Felix, elbows on his knees, watching him.
Not with panic or confusion.
But with something heavier.
Felix swallowed.
His voice, when it came, was barely there.
“…I don’t even know him”