Chapter Text
JJ hated all of this. He hated what was happening to him, and he hated the fact that his body had to go through these changes at all.
Still, he knew it was one of those twists of fate you couldn't fight against. At the very least, he was grateful his presentation had happened over the weekend in the privacy of his own home. He couldn't imagine going through what one of his classmates—Ohm—had experienced right in the middle of a lesson.
He still remembered the room instantly erupting into chaos, the news that Ohm had just presented as an Omega spreading like wildfire through the school. It was ironic, really, considering the school had far more Alphas than Omegas or Betas. Naturally, every unbonded Alpha instantly went on high alert the moment a new Omega presented.
Presenting as an Omega wasn't something to be ashamed of, but to JJ, his secondary gender wasn't something that belonged in the spotlight— especially when he had spent his whole life preferring to live in the shadows. He was just a quiet kid who liked to go straight home after school to lose himself in his books.
Unfortunately, living in a small town with a mother who worked as a doctor didn't do much to help his mission of living a peaceful, invisible life. Nearly every neighbor and student at school knew who he was.
JJ let out yet another long sigh. He had just replied to a text from his mother reminding him to take his medicine. Even though he had anticipated it, the post-presentation fever had left him completely drained. Still, staying cooped up in his bedroom all day was driving him stir-crazy. Wrapping himself in a blanket like a cocoon, JJ decided to spend the evening sitting on the porch bench outside with a book.
One of the few perks of living in a small town was the lack of traffic and passersby. JJ could just enjoy the cool evening breeze while letting his mind wander. There was another thought weighing heavily on his mind besides his new Omega status—
Finding his soulmate.
According to what his mother had told him when he was younger, the proof of finding your soulmate was when your birthmark began to flare with a warm, golden light. Your soulmate’s scent would also become distinct, standing out far above anyone else's.
The thought that there was someone out there meant to be his other half—someone who would have to accept him exactly as he was—made JJ's stomach churn with strange butterflies. It was a bizarre mix of anticipation and dread. Without thinking, his hand reached up to touch the birthmark on his collarbone— a delicate Verbena blossom.
His train of thought was abruptly broken by the sound of a front door slamming open from the house across the street. A woman’s faint scolding echoed from inside, only to be muffled as the figure stepping outside laughed it off and shut the door.
JJ recognized the boy walking toward the front gate all too well.
There wasn't a single person at school who didn't know Net Siraphop— the school's prized Alpha and a star athlete with a glowing reputation. Net was a year older than him, and they had been neighbors for as long as JJ could remember. Yet despite knowing each other, they had never really interacted— just the occasional polite nod or small smile across the driveway.
To JJ, Net lived in an entirely different world. He was surrounded by people who constantly chanted his name, adored by everyone, and sought after by many. JJ was fairly certain that nearly every unbonded Omega at school secretly pined for him.
JJ himself had never bothered thinking about it. Whoever Net ended up with was none of his business anyway. He even had a running theory that Net’s soulmate would be someone just as famous and commonly liked as he was.
JJ pulled his blanket tighter around his shoulders as a sudden, sharp gust of wind swept through the street, causing Net—who was already at his gate—to stop in his tracks and look up.
Their eyes met by accident.
In that exact instant, JJ's birthmark burned so suddenly that he winced. His hand snapped up to cover it. The evening breeze carried a brand-new scent that hadn't been there a second ago— a rich, warm cedar.
It felt like walking into a sunlit library filled with old oak desks and polished floorboards, or holding a warm ceramic mug of spiced chai on a chilly morning. Instinctively, JJ took a deep breath, inhaling the comforting aroma. The scent was undeniably strong, yet not at all overbearing.
A second later, it felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head. His hand froze over his collarbone. His eyes widened in sheer shock as he stared at the figure who had also frozen on the other side of the street. His throat suddenly felt tight, and his lips felt dry.
His body moved before his brain could catch up.
JJ stood up instantly and bolted toward his front door. He scrambled inside and slammed the door shut— the frame shaking almost as hard as his racing heart.
“Oh, God.”
JJ sank against the door, letting his back slide down until he was sitting on the floor.
"Oh my God.”
His birthmark was still pulsing with warmth beneath his fingers. The scent of warm cedar lingered vividly under his nose. He didn't need to be a genius to figure out what had just happened.
JJ had just found his soulmate. And that person was Net.
Net didn't even know where his feet were carrying him.
His body was moving on autopilot, but his mind was miles away. He couldn't wrap his head around how a single, fleeting moment had completely shattered his focus. He was supposed to be heading to a sudden football practice that afternoon— his coach and teammates were relying heavily on him with the big match coming up.
None of that mattered anymore.
A powerful urge was screaming at him to turn around, walk over to the house across the street, and confirm that what he had just felt wasn't a hallucination. That the heat searing his inner wrist—where his birthmark sat—wasn't just his imagination. That the intoxicating scent of vanilla he had caught wasn't just a trick of the wind.
It was all because of JJ.
A boy he had known for years, living just a stone's throw away. A sudden realization dawned on him— JJ must have just presented as an Omega, which explained why Net had never picked up a single scent from his junior before today.
Net’s mind was torn between striding over to confront JJ immediately or giving him space. Seeing how fast JJ had fled inside gave Net the distinct feeling that the smaller boy was overwhelmed and unready.
Even so, his Alpha instincts refused to be silenced. A low voice in his head urged him to go to JJ right now, wrap him in his arms, and let the entire world know he had finally found his soulmate.
Net stopped in his tracks, taking a long, deep breath. He raised a hand to his chest, feeling his heart hammer wildly against his ribs. His adrenaline was pumping just as hard as if he were mid-game on the field.
The words soulmate and JJ haunted him all the way to the school gates.
“Are you sure you want to go to school?” his mother asked for the second time as they sat at the breakfast table.
JJ merely nodded, chewing his toast slowly. His mouth felt numb, but he forced himself to look fine. After what had happened yesterday evening, he hadn't worked up the courage to tell his mother a thing.
His mother leaned over and brushed a gentle hand against his forehead. “Hmm, the fever's completely gone, at least.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” he replied, flashing a forced smile. “I brought my medicine just in case.”
His mother studied his face for a few long seconds before letting out a soft sigh and smiling back. “Alright. If anything feels off, tell a teacher or call me right away, okay?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“I’m heading out first. I have an important meeting this morning. Don't forget to lock the door, okay? Bye!” She kissed the top of his head before rushing out.
JJ smiled and nodded. Once the sound of her car faded down the driveway, he let the silence swallow the house. He gave up on his breakfast— he couldn't force down another bite. His stomach was far too knotted over what was going to happen once he stepped onto school grounds.
He had two options: Option one, find Net and talk this out properly. Option two, avoid the guy at all costs.
Option two was infinitely more tempting, considering JJ wasn't ready to forfeit the quiet peace of his life just yet. The moment word got out, he could kiss his tranquility goodbye. He was pretty sure people would gossip, compare, and find every reason to judge him.
JJ sighed, setting his toast back on the plate. He forced his body to get moving rather than spiral over an uncertain future.
For now, he would let his instincts take the lead.
Net hadn't fully processed the shift yesterday, but the moment he walked into school this morning, the sensory overload hit him like a physical wall.
The school hallways felt endless and towering around him, the casual chatter booming like he was standing in an empty arena, and surrounding scents hit his lungs with a hundred times their usual intensity. He’d been too consumed by the sheer shock of yesterday’s revelation to notice his senses mutating in real time.
Net had heard that an Alpha's senses sharpened exponentially after meeting their soulmate, but experiencing it firsthand was dizzying.
Net shook his head, trying to clear the throbbing ache behind his eyes— that was until one particular scent stood out from the noise. Without a second thought, he knew exactly where it was coming from. Or rather, who it belonged to.
Net ignored the greetings and casual pats on the shoulder from friends passing by. His entire focus snapped onto that sweet aroma— intense, like fresh-baked butter cookies straight out of the oven. JJ’s scent was overwhelmingly good, but it wasn't quite whole yet. It hadn't mixed with his own— not yet.
He’d heard of this happening before. It was straight out of those cheesy omega-centric movies— Alphas going completely overboard with absurd gestures and possessiveness. He'd always thought it was ridiculous.
Yet the moment the scene played out before his eyes, Net instantly understood what those Alphas in the movies felt.
Because JJ wasn't alone. Another Alpha—he could smell the scent from a mile away—was standing right beside him. Net’s brow furrowed tightly as he took in their proximity. He hated it.
The two of them, seemingly mid-conversation, stopped dead the moment they sensed his presence. JJ, who had been leaning casually against the locker, instantly straightened up. His eyes widened, blinking rapidly as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Net had to summon every ounce of self-control not to march over, grab JJ, and pull him against his chest. He didn't want to frighten him, especially when they hadn't even talked yet. He didn't want JJ to see him as an overbearing, domineering Alpha. He wanted JJ to feel safe with him.
But staying composed was nearly impossible when he was standing this close. He knew the smaller boy was far from plain— even their neighbors, including his own mother, often praised how adorable JJ was. With soft black hair falling over his forehead, porcelain skin, and naturally pink lips, anyone would be captivated.
Net must have been completely blind all these years.
The instinctual urge to claim JJ as his own flared hot in his chest.
It felt like every pair of eyes in the corridor had locked onto them. Net ignored the lingering stares as he unzipped his varsity jacket. Without a word, he held the open jacket out toward a visibly startled JJ. A faint blush crept up JJ’s soft, slightly round cheeks, and Net had to suppress a low growl in his throat to keep from making things even more tense.
For a terrible second, he thought JJ would reject the gesture.
Instead, the Alpha inside Net preened with fierce satisfaction as JJ took a hesitant step forward. JJ was clearly flustered, darting nervous glances at the crowd gathering around them. Net couldn't care less. He took his time draping the heavy jacket around JJ's body, carefully pulling it snug until his Omega was surrounded by his scent. Swallowed up by Net's broader frame, JJ looked utterly submerged in the oversized clothing, and the sight filled Net with possessive pride.
Net cast a brief, sharp glance at the Alpha standing behind JJ—who looked completely stunned—before turning on his heel and walking away without saying a single word.