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Seonghwa moves over onto the couch, trying desperately to get comfortable, but he can't. Tossing and turning there as well, he finally gives up. It's 3 a.m. He's tired, pregnant, and lonely.
He quietly waddles down the hall to his roommate's bedroom. His roommate is an alpha—not his alpha, just an alpha. A friend who took him in when his relationship inevitably crashed and burned.
He knocks softly on the door. "Joong?" he calls quietly, not wanting to disturb him.
He hears shuffling from the other side of the door before it's pulled open. A shirtless, puffy-eyed Hongjoong stands in front of him, clearly having been asleep.
"Something wrong?" he asks sleepily.
"Nothing's wrong. I just—"
He's cut off by a hand gently grabbing his arm and pulling him into the alpha's bed. In all fairness, this isn't the first time he's asked the alpha to hold him. He's done it many times before, so it's no surprise that Hongjoong knows exactly what the pregnant omega needs.
"Come lay down. It's late."
Hongjoong helps him settle into bed before moving in behind him and wrapping an arm around his bump.
Usually, alphas can't stand the scent of another pregnant omega, but the pair don't mind each other's scents. They find comfort in each other, which is why they get along so well.
Seonghwa scoots back into the alpha's chest, letting himself be held. Hongjoong's thumb traces small, soothing strokes over the omega's belly. It has always comforted him, making him feel protected and cared for. It puts him to sleep every time.
Hongjoong waits until the omega's breathing evens out before letting himself drift back to sleep. He isn't really sure when this started happening—when the omega decided that Hongjoong was his comfort and protection—but he'd never complain. Hongjoong had loved Seonghwa ever since they started their senior year of high school together. He had made it his mission to be the one for Seonghwa, but somewhere along the way, Seonghwa met someone else: Lee Hyunwoo, a man three years older than him.
He never treated the omega right—not like Hongjoong would have if he had been given the same chance as Hyunwoo. The man was neglectful, never paying enough attention to Seonghwa's wants or needs. He was always absorbed in parties and other sexual partners.
It wasn't like their friend group hadn't tried to tell Seonghwa that he needed to leave Hyunwoo. The omega had been blinded by love, and eventually everything came crashing down, leading to Seonghwa calling Hongjoong in the middle of the night, sobbing uncontrollably.
Hongjoong was sure he'd never gotten dressed faster or broken the speed limit quite like he did that night. The omega had called to tell him he was trapped in the bathroom of Hyunwoo's apartment. Hyunwoo had locked him inside so he couldn't leave after Seonghwa had finally decided to end their relationship.
He sped there the entire way, furious and out for blood. Once he arrived, he raced up the stairs of the apartment building so quickly he nearly tripped. Storming down the hallway until he reached Hyunwoo's apartment, he pounded harshly on the door.
"Open the fucking door hyunwoo," he spat angrily.
The door swung open, slamming against the wall.
"What the fuck are you doing here, Hongjoong?" Hyunwoo asked, matching his tone.
"I'm here to get Seonghwa," Hongjoong stated plainly.
"The fuck you are. He's mine. He's carrying my pup." Hyunwoo stepped forward until they were nearly nose to nose.
"I'm not leaving until I have him. I'm not fucking leaving." Hongjoong raised his voice, shouting directly in Hyunwoo's face.
He knew exactly what would happen when their scents spiked. The protective rage of two alphas. The fight was inevitable, but Hongjoong refused to back down.
"Leave, Hongjoong. This doesn't concern you. Stop trying to play hero. You'll only get hurt in the end," Hyunwoo said harshly.
What finally made Hongjoong snap wasn't Hyunwoo screaming in his face or trying to overpower him with his scent. It was hearing the soft cries and desperate whispers of his name coming from the omega locked in the bathroom.
Hongjoong pulled his fist back and slammed it into the other alpha's jaw, sending his head snapping to the side. An angry growl erupted from Hyunwoo as he struck back, splitting Hongjoong's lip.
"He doesn't want you, Hongjoong. You won't be my replacement. He doesn't love you," the alpha spat, blood hitting the floor.
Hongjoong struck again, shoving him before landing another hard punch that knocked him to the ground. His vision went black for a moment as he lost control. When he came to, the man beneath him was bloodied and barely moving. The sight almost frightened him as he quickly scrambled to his feet.
He rushed through the apartment and shoved open the bathroom door.
"Seonghwa," he called softly, finding the omega curled into the corner, tears streaking down his face.
Seonghwa rushed into the alpha's arms, wrapping them tightly around his neck.
"Hongjoong," he cried into the crook of his neck.
Hongjoong gently guided the omega out of the bathroom and through the kitchen, keeping a reassuring hand on his arm as he led him toward the front door. Seonghwa grabbed a small bag from the floor—what Hongjoong assumed held his clothes—and slung it over his shoulder. He could tell the omega was terrified. His scent was thick with distress, smelling of rotten blossoms.
Hongjoong led him into the elevator, deciding there was no need to take the stairs this time.
They stood in silence, Seonghwa pressed tightly against Hongjoong's side. Once the elevator reached the ground floor, Hongjoong led him to his car, opening the passenger door and helping him inside. He carefully pulled the seat belt across Seonghwa before placing the bag in the back seat.
Before getting into the car himself, Hongjoong stood outside for a moment near the back, taking a few deep breaths. He needed to calm himself before his distressed scent made the omega even more anxious. Once he had collected himself, he climbed into the driver's seat and drove carefully.
"Thank you, Joong," Seonghwa's soft voice broke the silence.
"I almost killed him," Hongjoong admitted. "He was still breathing when we left." He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, trying to keep himself composed.
"I'm so sorry you got dragged into this, Hongjoong. I just didn't know who else to call who would've helped me." His voice cracked.
"It's okay, Hwa. You know I'll always be there for you—rain or shine, 2 p.m. or 2 a.m. It doesn't matter to me. I'll always be there whenever you need me," Hongjoong said softly, doing his best to soothe the omega's emotions.
He pulled into his driveway and got out of the car, circling around to Seonghwa's side to help him out. As soon as the omega was on his feet, Hongjoong pulled him into his chest.
"I've got you. It's all okay now. You don't have to worry anymore. I won't let him near you again."
He pressed a gentle kiss to the omega's forehead.
"I'm a mess. You're a mess too—you have blood all over you," Seonghwa pointed out, wiping the tears from his face.
It was true. A line of dried blood ran from Hongjoong's split lip down to his Adam's apple. His hands were stained with blood as well, though none of it belonged to him.
He led the omega inside, closing the front door behind them.
"I have the guest bedroom set up for you," Hongjoong said softly, resting a hand on the small of the omega's back as he guided him upstairs. He turned into the spare bedroom beside his own.
"If there's anything else you need, let me know. I'm going to shower really quick."
He set Seonghwa's bag on the desk in the corner, reluctant to leave him alone.
After pressing another kiss to the omega's forehead, Hongjoong disappeared into his own bathroom to wash the blood and sweat from his skin. Once he finished showering, he stepped into his bedroom and pulled on a T-shirt.
He froze.
There was a lump beneath his blankets.
Seonghwa.
He walked over to the bed and carefully lay down beside him.
"Hwa?" he asked quietly.
"Hmm?" the omega murmured.
"Are you okay?"
Seonghwa didn't answer. Instead, he shifted closer and rested his head against the alpha's chest.
Hongjoong welcomed him without hesitation, wrapping an arm around his waist while gently rubbing slow circles over his belly.
Hongjoong was startled out of his daydream by a movement beneath his palm.
This wasn't the first time he'd felt the little pup kick against his hand. He cherished every movement, and it excited him to know the baby would be born soon. Though he worried he wouldn't be enough for the omega, even after reassuring Seonghwa a thousand times that he was more than grateful to help in any way he could.
He looked down at the sleeping omega beside him, grateful that Seonghwa had called him three months ago. He couldn't imagine sleeping alone anymore—not without the scent of blossoms filling the room or the warmth of a round belly resting beneath his hand.
"What are you staring at me like that for?" Seonghwa's sleepy voice broke the silence. "Is there something wrong with my face?" the omega asked with a pout.
"No, Hwa. You're beautiful—you know that. I was just thinking."
"Thinking about what?" the omega asked, curling even closer to the alpha.
"Thinking about the future... and how grateful I am for you."
"Grateful that I dragged you into my mess, stole your bed, and got my pregnancy scent all over you?" Seonghwa asked. "You'll never find an omega if you smell like me and my pup, Joong."
His words carried a hint of bitterness, as though the thought of Hongjoong finding another omega left a bad taste in his mouth.
"I don't care about any of those things, Seonghwa," Hongjoong admitted. "None of that matters when you're around. You make everything better. You check every box without even trying. I don't think I could ever find another omega, even if I wanted to..." He smiled softly. "And I don't."
Seonghwa smiled, shaking his head.
"You can't just say things like that, Hongjoong. My life's complicated, and I don't want you to feel like all of this is on you. I'm pregnant, I'm almost at my due date, and the baby isn't even yours. You're sacrificing your home for me and my pup, and I don't understand why. I haven't done anything to deserve your kindness, Joong."
"You've been the only omega I've ever loved, for as long as I can remember," the alpha admitted with a soft laugh. "I've always liked you. I've always thought so highly of you. When you got together with Hyunwoo, it crushed me because I never thought I'd get another chance to show you how you were meant to be treated. He was a terrible alpha, and he never deserved your love or your empathy. I told myself that if I ever got the chance to show you what real love looks like, I would. And I intend to do exactly that. I want to give you everything, Seonghwa—not just scraps of my attention or whatever I have left over. You and your pup deserve every good thing this world has to offer, and I want to be the one who gives those things to you."
The alpha let the words settle between them, finally freeing the feelings he'd kept buried for years.
"You don't know what you're saying, Hongjoong," Seonghwa said in disbelief.
"I know exactly what I'm saying, Hwa." The alpha shifted farther up against the pillows.
"No, you don't. Because I'm broken, and you deserve something good, Hongjoong—not someone who's been used and discarded—"
The alpha cut him off.
"Do not speak about yourself that way." His voice was firm but gentle. "You are a sweet, beautiful, and caring omega. You put your heart and soul into everything you touch, Seonghwa. You are so much more than being an omega. You're a person with thoughts, emotions, dreams, and feelings.
"I can't begin to tell you how wrong you are about yourself. My whole world has revolved around you for as long as I can remember. Everything you liked, I wanted to like too. Every time you told me I looked good, I tried to look that way every day.
"I want you as my omega—not some random omega I barely know. I know everything about you. I love taking care of you and your pup. There's nowhere I'd rather be than right here, cuddling you in this bed."
He watched the omega carefully, hoping his words were finally getting through.
"I've always liked you too, you know," Seonghwa admitted quietly. "I just didn't think you felt the same way. I thought I wasn't good enough—that you'd eventually find another omega or beta you liked and leave me behind. That's why I got together with Hyunwoo. I thought it would hurt less.
"I don't even know if I ever loved him. He was just someone I could put between you and myself so I wouldn't have to deal with all these feelings I had for you. I've always wanted you, Joong."
"Be with me," the alpha whispered. "Let me take care of you and the pup. I'll provide for you. I'll do everything in my power to give both of you the life you deserve."
"You'd really do that for me?" Seonghwa asked softly, resting both hands on his belly. "I need you to be sure. You can't change your mind at the last second."
"I would never run away from the chance to be with you, Seonghwa." Hongjoong smiled gently. "You're my moon... my everything."
The omega smiled through watery eyes.
"You mean everything to me too, Hongjoong. Thank you for always loving me... and for always making me feel safe."
"Of course." Hongjoong leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Seonghwa's forehead before kissing the curve of his belly. "I'll spend the rest of my life trying to give you the world, because that's what you deserve. You and your pup deserve every good thing in this world."
"I love you both dearly."
"We love you," Seonghwa replied with a smile.