Chapter Text
Martin was used to handling things. As the leader of Cortis, he had the height, the sharp jawline, and the lean muscle that practically screamed "textbook Alpha." His parents were entirely certain of it, the company was counting on it, and honestly, the members joked about it constantly.
Cortis was well on its way to making history as HYBE’s first all-Alpha boy group. The other four members—James, Seonghyeon, Juhoon, and Keonho—had already presented as Alphas, leaving just Martin to officialize the pack.
The universe, however, had wildly different plans for Martin's twenty-first birthday.
It was a chaotic Thursday night backstage at a music show, right before they were scheduled to perform their track Red, Red for the final time in Korea. Martin was trapped in the makeup chair, trying to keep still, when a sudden wave of heat slammed into his chest. The brown leather stage jacket he wore felt less like a cool fashion statement and more like a personal sauna.
“Are you running a fever?” the makeup Noona asked, pausing with her brush. She placed a gentle hand against his forehead, flinching at the radiant heat. “Director! Martin is unwell!”
Within seconds, the manager was kneeling by the chair, peering at Martin’s suddenly foggy eyes. “Yeah, there’s no way he’s going on stage like this. Director, we need to pull him.”
Now, pulling a leader from a performance is always a headache, but pulling Martin was a logistical nightmare purely because of how intensely the other four Alphas coddled him.
Even before any subgender drama, the pack absolutely adored their leader. Martin fancied himself a tough, protective older brother type who walked behind them in crowded airports to keep an eye on everyone, but the reality was that the members rarely let him out of their sight. If Martin wasn't flanked by James or Seonghyeon, Keonho was usually glued to his arm.
Backstage, the manager pulled the curtain back and nervously gestured for the remaining four to step into the quiet hallway.
“Listen, Martin is sick—” the manager started, but he was instantly cut off.
“What do you mean he’s sick?” Keonho scoffed, his protective Alpha instincts instantly flaring as he leveled a look at the staff. “He was literally bouncing off the walls twenty minutes ago. Why are we just hearing about this now?”
Juhoon jumped in, crossing his arms. “Is he okay? Where is he? We need to go check on him.”
“We think it’s just a sudden fever, but I need you guys to keep a clear head tonight,” the manager pleaded, shifting nervously on his feet. “The absence will be noticeable, so just do your best. Martin sends his love.”
James, stepping in as the oldest and the secondary leader, gave a reassuring nod despite his own gut screaming at him to run back to the dressing room. “Thank you, Hyung. We’ll take care of it.” He turned to the younger boys, rallying them. “Let’s put on a perfect show for Martin, okay? Let's go win him that trophy.”
Despite missing their leader’s explosive energy, Cortis crushed the performance as a four-member group, snagging the first-place trophy. But the moment the cameras turned off, the celebratory mood evaporated, replaced by a desperate urge to get back to the dorm.
Meanwhile, back at the dorms, Martin was having a minor identity crisis. He had stripped out of his suffocating stage clothes and let the warm shower water briefly clear his brain fog.
He had paid enough attention in health class to recognize the fluttering ache in his lower stomach and the weird, heavy warmth spreading through his veins.
What if I’m not an Alpha?
The thought made his heart race. He stared at his phone, hovering over his parents' contact info before dropping it. They were so traditional; they expected a dominant Alpha Son. And what about the guys? They were a powerhouse unit of Alphas. The industry stereotypes about Omegas being fragile were dying out, but an Omega leader was still incredibly rare.
But beneath the panic, a very secret, very hidden part of Martin’s brain was getting completely derailed by the sudden surge of presentation hormones.
His new biology was reacting to the memory of his members’ strong, comforting Alpha scents, and it was making his nether regions ache in a way he had never experienced before. He whined softly, clutching his stomach as a wave of heat rolled through him. He was terrifyingly horny for his own groupmates, and the realization made his face burn hotter than the fever.
Seeking comfort, he slid into his favorite, top-secret lounge set: baby pink pajama bottoms and a matching lace-trimmed tank. He only ever wore this when the dorm was completely empty, but right now, the soft fabric against his sensitized skin was the only thing keeping him sane.
When are they coming home? he thought, burying his face in his pillows.
As if on cue, the front door beeped open. A second later, heavy, frantic footsteps thundered down the hall.
“MARTINNN!” Keonho yelled, practically beating a rhythmic melody against the bedroom door.
Martin chuckled weakly, wrapping a plush silk robe over his pink pajamas to hide the lace before swinging the door open. The four Alphas practically tumbled into the room, surrounding his bed, all talking over one another with frantic questions.
“Are you okay? Did you take medicine?” Juhoon asked, immediately checking his temperature with a palm to his neck.
Seongyeon sat on the edge of the mattress, his eyes tracking Martin's flushed face. The robe shifted slightly, revealing a glimpse of the pink lace tank underneath. Seongyeon’s eyes widened, a slow, completely delighted smirk spreading across his face.
Martin caught him looking, blushed furiously, and pulled the robe tightly around his chest. “Stop staring. And to answer your question from earlier... no, I don't think I'm going to be an Alpha.”
The air in the room shifted, but not with disappointment. Instead, the four Alphas shared a quick, silent look. The sudden realization that their beloved, tough-acting leader might actually be an Omega sent a jolt of protective possessiveness straight through their chests.
“Don't stress about it right now, baby,” Juhoon said gently, placing a heavy, grounding hand on Martin’s shoulder. “Just try to rest before the presentation peak hits. Have you eaten anything?”
Martin shook his head, looking tired and thoroughly flustered by all the deep Alpha voices suddenly filling his small room. James immediately moved to scold him for skipping meals, but Juhoon caught the older boy’s sleeve and dragged him into the hallway.
“Hyung, order the food now. Get the extra dumplings he likes,” Juhoon murmured. James nodded, already pulling out his phone to order a massive comfort meal.
By the time the food arrived and they managed to coax Martin into eating a few bites, a knock sounded at the front door. The company had sent over a senior staff member—an older Omega woman—knowing better than to send an Alpha into a dorm that was about to experience a presentation heat.
“Can everyone please step out for a few minutes?” she requested kindly, looking at the four towering Alphas crowded around the bed.
“I need to brief Martin on what to expect over the next few hours.” The boys reluctantly shuffled out, closing the door behind them.
The staff member turned to Martin, giving him a sympathetic, knowing smile. “Martin, I know this is overwhelming, but you're doing wonderfully. Your scent is starting to bloom—and it’s going to get very potent very quickly. You need to be prepared.”
Martin swallowed hard, the brain fog rolling back in. “So... I’m really an Omega?”
“Yes, you are,” she said softly, opening her bag and placing several items on his nightstand. “These are medical-grade suppressants to safely manage the fever after this initial presentation wave. And, of course, we need to go over the standard safe-presentation protocol.”
She cleared her throat, trying to keep her tone professional. “Your body is going to produce a natural lubricant called slick. It’s entirely normal, but because you live with four un-mated Alphas, you need to be cautious. I’ve brought contraceptives, an assortment of protection, and some pleasurable toys to help you manage the physical ache safely if you choose to ride it out alone. Oh, and some high-protein yogurt since you won't want to move later.”
Martin stared at the colorful boxes of condoms and sleek silicone toys on his nightstand, his brain short-circuiting entirely. The Alphas... condoms... slick... His inner Omega whimpered loudly at the mental images, his body reacting instantly to the sheer thought of his members finding out what he needed.
When the staff member finally stepped back into the living room, the four Alphas instantly surrounded her like a wall.
“Is he okay? Is he an Omega?” Keonho demanded, his hands stuffed into his pockets, though his fingers were twitching.
“Yes, Martin is presenting as an Omega,” she confirmed. The room went totally quiet, the gravity of the change sinking in. She smiled gently at their intense expressions. “He’s going to need to nest very soon. It’s an instinctual comfort mechanism. Go gather your shirts, blankets, hoodies—anything that carries your individual Alpha scents—and leave them right outside his door as a peace offering. His strongest heat wave is going to hit shortly, so be prepared for his scent to intensify.”
She paused, offering a practical, blunt warning. “And just so we are all aligned... I’ve left full protection and contraceptives in his room, just in case he decides he wants pack comfort. Keep your heads clear, boys.”
The moment the door clicked shut behind her, the four Alphas stood in a blushing, stunned huddle. They had an Omega. Their beautiful, lean, fiercely loved leader was their Omega. And the fact that he was already theirs to protect and cherish made their inner Alphas roar with absolute satisfaction.
Suddenly, a soft, breathless whimper echoed from behind Martin's closed door, followed by a low, frustrated moan that sounded entirely too sweet.
The four boys flinched in unison, their instincts locking in instantly.
“Hoodies. Now,” James ordered, his voice dropping into his authoritative Alpha tone.
They scattered like a hurricane. James ran to his room and grabbed his thickest, most comfortable oversized zip-up. Seongyeon snatched a massive plush weighted blanket and his favorite soft pillow. Keonho went completely overboard, raiding his closet to dump three different hoodies and a fleece blanket into the pile.
Juhoon didn't even bother going to his room; he pulled the heavy black hoodie he was currently wearing straight over his head, deliberately rubbing it against the scent glands on his neck to completely drench it in his cedarwood scent before laying it carefully on top of the pile.
James gave the door a soft, rhythmic knock. “Baby? We left some things for you outside.”
The door cracked open a few inches, and the collective breath of the four Alphas hitched in their throats. Martin looked completely undone. His cheeks were a deep rose, his lips were bitten red and swollen, and his robe had slipped completely off one shoulder, showing the delicate lace of his tank top. The scent of sweet vanilla and spicy cinnamon flooded the hallway, practically dizzying them.
“Thank you, Alphas,” Martin whispered, his voice incredibly soft and needy as he gathered the massive pile of clothes into his arms.
Through the open door, the boys watched in absolute awe as Martin dropped the clothes onto the center of his mattress, carefully arranging them into a circular, protective wall. He crawled into the center, buried his face straight into Juhoon’s freshly scented hoodie, and let out a blissful, shaky sigh.
But then he paused, looking back up at the doorway with glassy, heavy-lidded eyes. He pouted, his lower lip trembling slightly through the presentation haze.
“More,” Martin whined, stretching a hand out toward them. “Want more of your scents. Please.”
The pure, unadulterated adoration the members felt for him exploded in their chests.
Even if Martin had presented as the most dominant Alpha on the planet, they would have worshipped the ground he walked on—but seeing him like this, completely soft and demanding their comfort, made them want to give him the world.
“On it, sweetheart,” James murmured, a huge, fond smile breaking across his face.
The boys immediately scrambled back to their rooms, completely emptying their dressers.
Juhoon practically ripped his closet doors off the hinges to find the flannel shirt he had worn the day before, while Keonho grabbed his favorite soft tees, entirely delighted by how safe and happy their leader looked buried under their clothes.
Martin wrapped himself securely in the massive, warm nest of pack-scented fabric.
Snuggling deep into the pile, the sheer comfort of their combined Alpha scents finally eased the physical ache enough for his eyes to flutter shut, drifting off into a deep, peaceful sleep before the heavy part of his heat arrived.
Meanwhile, back in the living room, the four Alphas were pacing around the coffee table, entirely restless, completely whipped, and absolutely bursting with love for their new Omega leader.