Chapter Text
The campus library was quieter than usual for a Tuesday afternoon, the steady hum of muted conversations and the rustling of pages filling the air. Nicholas sat slumped in one of the uncomfortably hard wooden chairs, his textbooks spread out on the table before him. Across the table, Yuma was sitting with his legs up on the chair, sipping on his 2nd tea of this study session so far, his attention divided between the book in his hands and Nicholas’s occasional complaints.
The two of them were in their usual spot in the library; a table up on the 3rd level hidden behind the foreign history section that was always empty, probably because of a draft that came in from the window beside the table. The weather was getting colder each day and Nicholas made sure to wear extra layers whenever he and Yuma decided to meet up here.
"I swear," Nicholas muttered, running a hand through his tousled black hair that was starting to get a bit too long, "if I have to read one more word about how sexist the portraitures of each subgender were depicted in historical art, my brain might actually melt."
"You say that every time you study for this class. And yet, here you are, still surviving." Yuma peeked over the edge of his book, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. The light coming in from the window illuminated his blonde hair, making him almost glow. His hair even somehow matched his scent perfectly - a refreshing honey and lemon mix that always made you feel better whenever he got close.
Nicholas shot him a glare. "You’re supposed to be on my side, you know. Omega solidarity and all that."
"Oh, I am, but someone has to remind you that all this complaining won’t actually get your dramatic ass out of the assignment."
Nicholas huffed, leaning back in the chair and letting his head rest against the top rail. For a moment, he stared at the ceiling, the faintly yellowed tiles a soothing monotony against his racing thoughts.
Nicholas first met Yuma during an early morning lecture in their shared art history program. He had taken a seat in the back corner, his default choice to avoid unnecessary attention. Yuma, however, had chosen the seat right next to him. At first, Nicholas hadn’t thought much of it. People came and went, and seats were chosen for convenience, not camaraderie. But when Yuma turned to him during a break, offering a small smile and an introduction, Nicholas was immediately struck by his calm presence.
“It’s Nicholas, right?” Yuma had asked, his voice casual but sincere. “I think we’re both in Professor Choi’s art restoration seminar.”
Nicholas had nodded stiffly, unsure why this omega was bothering to talk to him. Most people avoided him after one look at his scowl and sharp cinnamon scent. But Yuma didn’t seem fazed. If anything, his smile grew warmer, as though he could see straight through Nicholas’s guarded exterior. That was the thing about Yuma - he had this uncanny way of seeing. Not just noticing, but truly understanding people in a way that felt almost intrusive, though Nicholas quickly realized it wasn’t meant to be. Yuma didn’t push, didn’t pry. Instead, he seemed content to sit quietly, listening when Nicholas chose to speak and offering insights that were thoughtful but never overbearing.
Nicholas would never say it out loud, but he found himself liking Yuma almost immediately and two years later, he would say Yuma was a close friend, perhaps even his only real friend. He never felt like he had to be someone else or worry about being misunderstood with the other omega. Yuma just… got it. It was easy with Yuma - comfortable, even.
With a sigh, Nicholas tries to focus back on his notes. One of his hands began to fiddle with his pen while the other came up to scratch his neck. The skin around his scent glands has been irritating the hell out of him lately so he’s been skipping putting on any scent blockers for the past few days to try and give his skin a break. He even spent way too much money on special lotions that people online said were supposed to help, but so far none of them have done shit and he finds himself scratching the area raw more often than not lately.
“Is your neck okay?” Yuma asked after noticing Nicholas check the red patch of skin out with his phone camera.
“Yeah,” Nicholas sighed, putting his phone back down onto the table. “I think I’m allergic to whatever brand of scent blockers I was using”
Yuma frowned, leaning forward to yank the neck of Nicholas’s shirt down, exposing the scratched skin.
“Dude.” Nicholas yanked the fabric out of the other omegas grip.
“Are you sure it’s just allergies? Your scent glands look swollen” Yuma couldn’t tell if it was actually swollen or the skin was just raised from Nicholas’s nails scratching too hard.
Nicholas shrugged. “I’ve been taking allergy medicine but it hasn’t really been helping”
The other omega looked thoughtful, a slight frown on his face but didn’t push it further.
"Have you talked to Harua lately?" Yuma eventually asked, closing his book and setting it aside. "He said something this morning about making sure we drag you to the fall festival this weekend."
Nicholas groaned, his eyes closing. "He’s been relentless about it. I told him the crowd is going to be insane since it’s the opening weekend but you know Harua. The kid doesn’t take no for an answer."
When Nicholas had first met Harua, it was after Yuma had invited him to one of his and Nicholas’s study dates, saying the younger omega really wanted to meet him. Harua was in the year below them at school and in a completely different program.
It took a while for Nicholas to decide if he liked Harua or not. The younger omega was all bright smiles and unrelenting charm, with an aura of effortless cheer that Nicholas found both intriguing and irritating. It was like Harua was the ultimate omega - he could pout his way into getting just about anything he wanted, and it drove Nicholas up the wall. Nicholas was the complete opposite, trying to hide everything that showed he was an omega, meanwhile here was Harua with his big, round eyes that practically sparkled when he was angling for attention, and his playful demeanor seemed impossible to resist.
Yet, despite the annoyance Harua stirred in him, Nicholas couldn’t deny there was something endearing about the younger omega’s confidence. Harua was unapologetically himself, unbothered by the tough exterior Nicholas projected and the older omega couldn’t help but respect that. Plus, the kid really wasn’t that bad once you got used to him.
Yuma snickered, reaching for his tea again. "True. But you might have fun if you go. The festival’s supposed to be huge this year, and it’s not like you have any other plans."
Nicholas opened one eye, giving Yuma a pointed look. "You sound like you’re siding with him."
"Not siding," Yuma said innocently, though his grin betrayed him. "Just encouraging."
"Encouraging me to do something I clearly don’t want to do," Nicholas muttered, though there was no real heat in his voice.
"Maybe you’ll change your mind," Yuma said, leaning back and cradling his tea in both hands. "You never know who you’ll run into."
Nicholas raised an eyebrow at that, but he didn’t press further. Yuma had a way of speaking in half-truths, of planting ideas without fully explaining them. It was a quality that Nicholas both liked and felt frustrated towards at times, but he has learned by now that if he just waits, whatever Yuma is yammering on about comes to fruition sooner rather than later.
The conversation shifted after that, moving to safer topics: upcoming exams, gossip about professors, and how another one of Yuma’s packmates went to the café down the street that had started serving pumpkin spice lattes and got an allergic reaction from trying one. But as Nicholas packed up his things later that afternoon and waved goodbye to Yuma, he kept thinking about the fall fair.
The fair was still three days away so Nicholas was in no rush to decide, choosing to ignore Harua’s multiple texts asking if he was coming or not until he finally replied to him Thursday night.
The day of the fall festival was unsurprisingly cold for the season. The leaves outside Yuma’s apartment swirled in bursts of red and gold, scattered across the cobblestone pathways like an artist’s accidental masterpiece.
Nicholas was dressed for the weather as he leaned against the front steps railing as he waited for Yuma to be done double checking everything in his bag. He had on a dark green hoodie under a slightly oversized black canvas jacket he had found at a thrift shop a few weeks ago, dark brown cargo pants that had a relaxed fit and his favourite pair of classic white sneakers. To make the outfit a bit more interesting, he also added a chain to hang on the right side of his pants.
The two of them shared the same Friday afternoon class, so they agreed to meet the rest of Yuma’s pack at the fair and just walk there together, after a quick pit stop at the pack’s apartment.
“Was it really necessary to bring snacks?” Nicholas asked, his voice tinged with amusement. “It’s a festival. There’s going to be food everywhere.”
“Festival food is overpriced,” Yuma replied without missing a beat, carefully tucking a bunch of granola bars back into his tote. “Besides, Harua hasn’t had dinner and I already know he’s going to just try and eat candy all night. I don’t need him throwing up everywhere again”
Nicholas couldn’t help but laugh. He honestly admired Yuma’s ability to care for his pack.
Pack. That word has always felt strange to Nicholas, like an itch he couldn’t quite reach. His parents were never in a pack when he was growing up so everything he knew about them was what he read about in books or watched in movies. Choosing your new family members? If only it could be that easy.
Yuma and Harua were always very open about their pack, never shying away from telling Nicholas the good and the bad about being in one. But they were also the only two omegas so they got spoiled more than most would, then the other members of their pack consisted of two betas and the rest alphas.
Nicholas’s smile faltered slightly as he thought about the alphas. Alphas were too much for him - too loud, too overbearing, too rude, too... everything.
“How’s your neck doing?” Yuma asked and Nicholas pulled his hand away from the tender area, not even realizing he had begun stretching it again.
“Fine,” he muttered, lying through his teeth.
“You sure? It doesn’t look any better”
“What are you? My doctor?”
“Maybe you should go see a doctor”
“They’re just swollen from stress, it’ll get better soon”
“I didn’t realize stress made scent glands swell” Yuma said mockingly.
“Mind your business” Nicholas readjusted his sweater so it was covering his neck up again, causing the younger omega to hum disapprovingly.
The rumble of laughter and music got louder as they approached the fair grounds entrance.
“Harua’s excited you’re coming, the others too” Yuma said as they walked through the archway, the smell of sugared candy and fried dough already filling their senses.
“I can’t believe you convinced me to come. I don’t even know why I said yes,” Nicholas muttered, sidestepping a pair of pups who darted past with half eaten cotton candy and sticky fingers.
“You said yes because you like me,” Yuma teased, flashing him a cheeky grin. “And because you know deep down, you might actually have fun”
Nicholas rolled his eyes, but couldn’t deny Yuma’s words. The idea of going to a crowded carnival and being attacked by people’s pungent smells and screams all night was unappealing, but staying in his room and wallowing in his solitude for yet another weekend was worse.
The festival was in full swing by the time they arrived, the sun just starting to set. Nicholas crossed his arms tighter around himself as he followed Yuma closely through the crowd, his eyes scanning the kaleidoscope of colours and lights of the vendor stalls, illuminated facades and carnival rides. Ahead of them, the pack had claimed an empty spot near a food truck, laughing and chatting as they waited for them to arrive. Harua was the first to spot them, his face lighting up with a bright smile as he waved them over.
“There you guys are!” He chirped, bouncing slightly on his toes. Harua bounded forward to greet Yuma with a hug and a press of their noses together. Nicholas let Harua pull him into a hug as well, but the younger refrained from scenting him, well nothing more than a swipe of his cheek against the tallers shoulder - his vanilla and lavender scent sticking to Nicholas’s jacket. The constant itch under his glands surprisingly stopped for a moment at the gesture.
That was another thing Nicholas wasn’t used to – the physical affection. Yuma and Harua weren’t mates but they were still constantly all over each other; sitting together even when there are extra seats available elsewhere, always reciting stories about each other and the non-stop scenting. It didn’t matter if it was a press of the wrists together or one of their noses buried in the other's neck, they always made sure they had each other's scents mixed. It was something they did with all their packmates, Yuma had explained to Nicholas once. They may not be all romantically involved together but that didn’t mean they didn’t love each other. Apparently, it was natural to want to be constantly surrounded in your pack scents, and that there was nothing more relaxing and comforting, but to Nicholas it just sounded like the quickest way to get a headache.
The rest of the group turned their attention to the newcomers, and Nicholas felt his usual wariness rise. He recognized Fuma right away. The older had been polite, for an alpha at least, when Nicholas first met him, choosing to bow towards the omega instead of trying to go in for a handshake. Yuma had probably told him all about Nicholas’s past which was fine, he had no desire to interact more with the alpha than absolutely possible and it made things easier if the alpha thought the same way. Fuma was leaning against his mate: an even taller, daunting alpha who has his arm slung around his shoulders. Kei was an alumnus who often picked the younger members up from school and treated Nicholas kindly. Jo was a beta in the creative arts program who Nicholas had met a few times when Harua dragged him along to any study sessions. Then there was Taki, a familiar face who waved in greeting with a corndog still in his hand and of course Maki, another alpha who Nicholas has seen countless photos of thanks to Harua’s constant slideshows on his phone.
But there was someone else new. Nicholas’s eyes looked over the tall, broad-shouldered figure. His face is framed by a soft jawline and auburn hair that was a little messy from the wind, and he had a warm smile on his face as he held a bag of popcorn, teasing Maki about something Nicholas couldn’t hear. He wore a dark grey sweatshirt underneath a checkered flannel jacket. The combination of brown, orange, green and blue tones gave the jacket a vintage vibe that Nicholas was a bit envious of that he didn’t find that jacket first. His dark, baggy jeans and black and white sneakers gave the rest of his outfit more of a casual vibe.
“Euijoo, this is Nicholas,” Yuma introduced the two, nudging the omega forward slightly. “Nicholas, Euijoo. You were both born in 2002 so be friends!”
Nicholas bristled slightly at being pushed towards the stranger but forced a polite nod.
“It’s nice to meet you” Euijoo smiled warmly, extending a hand.
Nicholas hesitated, eyes glancing down at the others hand before looking back up at his face. An omega? He remembered Yuma talking about how Kei’s cousin who grew up in Korea was transferring over to their school a couple months ago but he never recalled what their subgender was.
The wind shifted, sending over the faint scent of bergamot and juniper to Nicholas. The glands on his neck started to itch again. Ah, a beta then. Finally, Nicholas extended his own hand and shook Euijoo’s.
“Hi”
Euijoo’s hand was soft and his grip was firm but not overbearing, letting go the moment Nicholas did.
“Let’s go! There’s no time to waste” Harua exclaimed, grabbing Kei’s arm. “They have new games this year and Kei-hyung promised he would win me a prize at the ring toss”
“Because you couldn’t do it yourself last year?” Maki teased as they all started walking, yanking the short omega to his side.
“I have short arms, okay? And those games are rigged!” Harua pouted, clinging to his mate. “Kei-hyung has orangutan arms, there’s no way he won’t win me something”
Kei just shrugged in agreement as the others laughed at the younger’s words.
Nicholas walked behind the rest of the pack as they maneuvered through the crowd, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets. His cinnamon and apple scent clung to him faintly, more potent than usual without the blockers he’d stopped wearing days ago to help mute it. Every step felt like wading through an invisible fog of scents - too many, too strong, and all clashing. The sticky sweetness of sugary foods, the smoky richness of roasting meat, and the sharp, musky undercurrent of other people’s pheromones. It was dizzying.
Nicholas’s head began to ache, the pressure building at the base of his skull. He resisted the urge to press his hands to his temples and instead focused on his breathing through his mouth, trying to block out the overwhelming mix of scents.
Why did I even agree to this? he thought bitterly, glancing around at the swirling crowd. People brushed past him, their scents trailing behind like invisible ribbons, and every accidental bump made his skin prickle.
He glanced at Yuma and Harua walking ahead, the younger omegas laughing as they pointed out a colorful game booth. They were seemingly completely unaffected from the smells compared to him.
Was his own scent too smelly like everyone else's? Was the spice of his cinnamon hurting other people’s noses? He was convinced his own scent was radiating off him like a beacon, too sharp and too noticeable. Nicholas hands tightened into fists in his pockets, his paranoia creeping in. Without his blockers, he felt exposed. Vulnerable.
As the group wove through the bustling crowd, Nicholas found himself drifting closer to Euijoo’s side without even realizing it. It was faint in the open air but Nicholas could still smell the sharp and refreshing scent coming from the beta, cutting through the overwhelming mixture of smells in the air. It gave Nicholas’s aching head a brief reprieve from the chaos around him.
“You’re not really into this kind of thing, are you?” Euijoo asked, his tone light. They stood to the side of one the booths as the betas threw darts at balloons taped to a wooden wall.
Nicholas looked away from where Taki missed two darts in a row and shot Euijoo a sideways glance, the constant furrow on his face deepening. “What gave it away?”
The beta chuckled. “You’re a little... sombre for carnival vibes. That’s all.”
“I didn’t realize I was being psychoanalyzed,” Nicholas muttered, taking his hands out his pockets just so he could cross his arms against his chest instead.
“It’s not a bad thing, sorry.” Euijoo apologized, scratching the back of his neck. “I’ve just noticed you haven’t tried any of the games we’ve been too, nor have you tried any of the food Yuma or Haura have offered you”
Nicholas rolled his eyes but didn’t argue.
“Crowds aren’t really my thing” He ended up telling the other.
Nicholas wasn’t sure why he felt the need to explain the truth to Euijoo. He didn’t owe him anything and who cares what the other thought of him, but there was this small, deep piece inside of him couldn’t stand the thought of Euijoo having the wrong idea about him.
“That’s understandable. I’m kinda the same way when there’s too many scents all at once. It gets overwhelming sometimes” Nicholas nodded in agreement. It wasn’t often he found someone who understood that particular annoyance. “You’ve got a nice smell though, gives my nose a nice break”
Nicholas paused, his face starting to burn at the other’s words. As he spoke, Euijoo hadn’t glanced away from where he was watching Jo throw the last of his darts but there was no mistaking his tone. To compliment someone’s scent meant you were flirting with them and Nicholas was shocked. Not that someone was flirting with him, but the fact that he actually kinda liked the compliment.
No one had ever complimented his scent before. Usually, he would receive complaints about how the cinnamon would burn their nose too much or how his scent was much too strong for an omega. He subconsciously scratched at his neck.
Harua and Yuma hid behind Kei and Fuma’s hulking figures, their eyes fixed on Nicholas and Euijoo as they started chatting beside the balloon darts game. The two older alphas glanced at the younger omegas curiously, but the mischievous grins tugging at their lips that gave away their true thoughts. Harua nudged Yuma with his elbow, a giggle bubbling from him as he watched Nicholas scowl slightly at something Euijoo said. The alpha didn’t seem fazed, though; he smiled back at Nicholas with an easy charm.
“They’re actually talking,” Harua whispered, his excitement barely contained.
Yuma smirked, his honeyed scent calm and pleased. “Told you it would work,” he murmured back.
Harua tilted his head. “You sure Nicholas won’t just storm off? You know how he is - he’s probably counting down the seconds until he can bolt.”
Yuma shook his head, crossing his arms as he watched the pair. “No way. Euijoo-hyung is too patient. Look at him - he’s handling Nicholas’s attitude like a pro. And Nicholas... he hasn’t walked away yet. That’s a win in my book.”
Their plan to nudge Nicholas and Euijoo together - subtle encouragement here, a little matchmaking there - was finally starting to bear fruit.
“You think they’ll thank us for this later?” Harua teased, leaning closer to Yuma.
“Nicholas? Not a chance. But it doesn’t matter. As long as they’re happy, we’ve done our job.” Yuma snorted, bumping Harua’s shoulder. “Let’s just hope it works out before Nicholas catches on and kills us.”
Their laughter mingled with the sounds of the carnival as they quietly celebrated the first steps of their plan coming to life.
It only took a few tries and Kei reluctantly handing over his last 500 yen to finally win the ring toss game. A large, fluffy, light blue bunny was handed over to Harua who squealed happily in response.
He thanked Kei with a hug and a press of his nose in the elder’s cheek before happily showing the others his new plushie.
“It’s cute but where is it going to go? Your room is already filled with plushies” Maki asked his boyfriend.
“Your bed, obviously” Harua told him, not looking away from the bunny as he stroked its soft ears. Maki just sighed in response, leaning his head against the top of his mates.
Jo insisted on doing the basketball game after so the beta called the rest of the pack over to wait in line with him.
“Nicho, didn’t you play basketball in high school too?” Yuma asked as Jo stepped forward to shoot.
“Yeah, for a bit” Nicholas shrugged indifferently. In truth, he played on his school’s basketball team for a couple of years and even brought the team to win a championship twice but he wasn’t one to brag so he just kept his mouth shut.
“You should try too,” Yuma suggested, trying to push the omega forward.
“Nah, it’s okay. I don’t have any cash”
“I got it,” Euijoo told him, reaching into his back pocket to grab his wallet.
“No, you don’t need to do that. It’s fine” Nicholas quickly protested, shaking his head.
“It’s alright. Just win me something in return” Euijoo winked, handing the money over to the vendor who waved Nicholas forward.
The omega sighed, stepping up beside Jo who smiled at him reassuringly.
“Ready?”
“I guess so”
The buzzer went off and Nicholas grabbed the first ball. It was a bit deflated, probably on purpose but it wasn’t hard to shoot so it went right into the net. And so did the next one. Jo didn’t miss any of his shots either and the two were tied until there was 10 seconds left on the clock. The rest of the pack was cheering them on, Nicholas glancing back towards them as he shot the last ball, a second behind Jo. The buzzer went off and the pack patted Jo on the back as his ball sunk into the net while Nicholas’s last ball bounced off the rim.
“Damn” He spoke a bit too loudly before turning towards the beta. “You’ve got some serious skill. The better man definitely won”
“Thanks” The tips of Jo’s ears turned red at the praise. He let Yuma pick out his prize, a cute grey and white wolf plushie then insisted that the omega kept it. Jo’s ears stayed red as Yuma leaned forward on his tippy toes to kiss his cheek.
Nicholas scanned the first row of prizes before pointing towards an orange fuzzy keychain. The vendor handed it over and Nicholas got a closer look at it.
“What the hell is it?” Harua leaned in to take a better look at it.
“I have no idea” Nicholas shrugged; he only picked it because the colour caught his eye.
“I think it’s a starfish”
“It’s definitely a crab,” Taki shook his head.
“It’s an octopus,” Maki told the two.
“Dude, no way”
“Count its legs, there’s 8 of them”
Nicholas turned away from the squabbling pups and moved towards Euijoo, holding out the keychain.
“Oh, I was just kidding. You didn’t actually need to win me anything” Euijoo told him but Nicholas just shook the keychain at him.
“Just take it”
Euijoo just stared at him and Nicholas was ready to chuck it at his face when the other finally grabbed it from him, their fingers brushing against each other. Nicholas quickly yanked his hand back, shoving it into his pocket.
“Thank you, Nicholas” His tone was a bit too sincere and Nicholas turned away from him before his ears turned the same colour as Jo's, desperately trying to keep his scent under control at the same time.
The next stop was the haunted house but stood at the far end of the fairgrounds, and since the fair was in full swing, they had to navigate the thick crowd to make it to the other side of the lot. The noise of the crowd and the shoulders of strangers knocking into his began to erode the calm Nicholas had been holding onto. He could feel heart rate start to increase and his chest tightened. The throng of people around him suddenly felt too much, too close. He hated feeling like this, like his body was betraying him. He wasn’t weak, he wasn’t scared, but the noise, the movement, the unfamiliarity - everything collided in his mind, making it harder to think.
Without thinking, Nicholas took a slow step toward Euijoo. His shoulders, which had been tense and rigid, loosened just a little. He wasn’t sure why, but the closer he got to Euijoo, the more he felt steady. It was like there was an invisible pull between them. His body wanted to be near him. He hadn’t realized just how much until now. Nicholas could feel the subtle warmth radiating off the other, grounding him, easing the anxiety that had been clawing at his chest.
As they continued walking, his shoulders brushed against Euijoo’s lightly, and even though it wasn’t anything intimate, it felt reassuring. The taller boy beside him gave a small smile, like he could tell exactly why Nicholas was sticking so close to him. By the time they made it to the haunted house, Nicholas thankfully felt almost as fully relaxed as before.
The old, two-story barn was draped in artificial cobwebs that swayed in the chilly breeze, and dim, flickering lights shone through the cracked windows. A faint fog machine hissed near the entrance, spilling white mist onto the path, and eerie sound effects of howling winds, creaking wood, and distant screams played on a loop, setting an ominous tone.
The group gathered near the entrance, huddling together as their breath fogged in the cold night air. Nicholas stood slightly apart, his arms crossed and his usual scowl firmly in place, though his cinnamon-apple scent betrayed a faint nervousness.
Euijoo glanced at Nicholas, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “You look thrilled.”
Nicholas shot him a flat look. “Haunted houses are overrated.” He said and Euijoo grinned, leaning slightly closer.
“Scared?”
“Hardly,” Nicholas muttered, though his stiff posture said otherwise.
Yuma and Jo went first with a literal kick in the ass from Harua who clung to Nicholas’s arm with one hand, the other gripping a half-eaten churro. (He had only been allowed the treat after Yuma shoved a granola bar down his throat first). The bunny had been put in Nicholas' possession so he held onto it tightly with his free hand as he got dragged in through the front doors, with Euijoo and Maki only a few steps behind. Taki took up a spot between Kei and Fuma, holding their hands as they walked in last.
The group stepped into the first room of the haunted house, the door slamming shut behind them as they crossed the threshold. The air was heavy with the scent of dust and something faintly metallic, and the dim glow of flickering candles cast eerie, shifting shadows across the space. It was a Victorian-style parlor with antique furniture that was scattered across the room, covered in white sheets and tangled cobwebs. Harua clung tightly to Nicholas’s arm, his eyes darted nervously toward a large gilded mirror on the far wall, its surface hazy and cracked.
The paintings on the walls were no better. Each one featured a stern-looking figure dressed in Victorian attire, their expressions dour and cold. Nicholas’s gaze flicked to one portrait in particular - a woman with piercing eyes and a pale, almost sickly complexion. As he moved, the eyes seemed to follow him, their intensity sending a chill down his spine.
“Did that... move?” Yuma asked, his voice shaky as he pointed toward the painting.
“It’s just a trick,” Nicholas said, though his voice lacked conviction.
The group moved deeper into the room, their footsteps muffled by the tattered, dust-covered rug beneath them. Nicholas’s attention was drawn to a side table, its surface cluttered with faux-antique trinkets - a tarnished silver candlestick, a cracked porcelain doll, and a clock that ticked too loudly in the oppressive silence. As they approached the large mirror, its cracked surface seemed to shimmer faintly, reflecting their uneasy faces.
“I don’t like this,” Harua whispered, gripping Nicholas’s arm tighter.
Before anyone could respond, the mirror’s reflection shifted. The image of the group standing there flickered once, twice, and then disappeared entirely. For a moment, the glass was dark. And then, with a loud, piercing scream, a ghostly figure lunged toward them from the depths of the mirror - a gaunt, hollow-eyed woman with clawed hands and a mouth stretched too wide in a silent wail. The group screamed, stumbling back as the figure dissolved into a swirl of smoke, leaving the mirror’s surface blank once more.
Taki buried his face against Fuma’s shoulder. “Why did I agree to this?” he mumbled, his words muffled.
The candles flickered again, the shadows in the room seeming to stretch toward them as they hurried to the next room, eager to leave the creepy Victorian parlor behind.
In the next room, a thick, swirling fog enveloped their feet and filled the air with a cool, damp chill. The smoke thickened causing Yuma to cough and wave a hand in front of his face. Nicholas squinted, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Mirrors lined every wall, their polished surfaces reflecting an endless series of fractured images. Each step forward revealed more versions of themselves, distorted and multiplied in the smoky haze.
As they moved deeper into the maze, the reflections played cruel tricks on their eyes. Harua reached for what he thought was a corridor, only to bump into a mirror with a dull thud.
“Ow!” Harua yelped, rubbing his nose.
Jo chuckled nervously, though his own steps were cautious. “This place is designed to mess with us,” he said, running his hand along the edge of a mirror to avoid another collision.
Nicholas reached out, pressing his palm to a mirror in front of him. His reflection stared back, but as he moved, the reflections shifted subtly, some lagging just behind, as if they weren’t quite in sync.
“Did that -” Nicholas started, his voice trailing off as he realized his reflection had turned its head just a fraction too late. Harua yanked him away before he could get a second look.
They continued to navigate the maze, each turn either leading to another dead end or a new corridor that looked identical to the last. The mist thickened in places, curling around their legs and obscuring the ground beneath their feet. At one point, Harua accidentally bumped into a mirror, his shoulder hitting the glass with a dull thud.
“Ow! Again?” he groaned, glaring at his own distorted reflection.
“Careful,” Maki warned from behind them.
Harua glanced over his shoulder to glare at his boyfriend. “Easy for you to say when you’re not in the lead here!”
“Fine, watch me get us out of this place” Maki spoke confidently, marching ahead.
He had barely made it past Yuma and Jo when he crashed into another mirror with a loud thud.
“Ow” He muttered, rubbing his forehead and dejectedly retreating back to his spot beside Euijoo.
Behind them, the alphas were giggling at the younger members' screams, entertained by their other packmates' reactions.
Euijoo’s eyes stuck to the way Harua was now holding hands with Nicholas, pulling the older boy around as he tried to figure out which way was out.
“Maki,” Euijoo said, lowering his voice, “are you… okay with this?”
Maki raised an eyebrow. “With what?”
“With Harua holding onto Nicholas like that,” Euijoo clarified, gesturing toward the pair ahead of them. “I mean, Nicholas is an alpha, right? Isn’t it kinda odd Harua is preferring him over you?”
For a moment, Maki just stared at the other alpha before bursting into laughter. Behind them, even Kei snorted, shaking his head in amusement.
“What?” Euijoo asked, confused.
Maki clapped a hand on Euijoo’s shoulder, still chuckling. “Dude, Nicholas isn’t an alpha.”
Euijoo froze, blinking. “Wait. What?”
“He’s an omega,” Maki said, grinning. “Why would you think he’s an alpha?”
“Uh…” Euijoo trailed off, his mind spinning.
He thought back to Nicholas’s sharp glare, his stoic demeanor, and most of all, the rich spiced scent of cinnamon that seemed to linger around him. It had screamed alpha to Euijoo. Sure, Nicholas didn’t seem like other alphas Euijoo knew. He didn’t have the immediate, imposing confidence or overeagerness to assert dominance that most alphas did. Instead, Nicholas seemed almost wary, always on alert as his eyes would constantly flick around anytime someone shouted a bit too loudly or a balloon popped. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t one, Euijoo didn’t act like that either and yet here he was, an alpha all his life.
“Seriously,” Maki continued, “Nicholas is all bark and no bite, trust me…but don’t tell him I said that”
Kei chuckled. “Yeah, he’d bite you immediately if he heard you say that.”
Euijoo barely heard them, too busy reeling from the revelation. Nicholas… an omega ?
“You’re overthinking it, don’t make it a thing” Maki said from beside him, clearly entertained by the other’s preoccupation. He nudged the older alpha d to keep following the others. “C’mon”
But Euijoo couldn’t shake the thoughts swirling in his head. Nicholas wasn’t an alpha, he was an omega. The realization had startled him, sure, but it didn’t change the interest he felt towards the other. As if he could feel the stares, the omega in question glanced back at him over his shoulder, giving him a slight smile. And for some reason, that made Euijoo’s chest tighten in a way he didn’t quite understand yet.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity of wrong turns and bumping into mirrors, they spotted a faint glow in the distance - a sign of the exit.
“There!” Euijoo said, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence.
They hurried toward the light, their reflections multiplying and shifting around them as if trying to hold them back. When they finally stepped through the exit, the group let out a collective sigh of relief, the maze of mirrors behind them at last.
The air felt heavier as they stepped through the doorway into the next section of the haunted house. Darkness enveloped them entirely, a suffocating, impenetrable blackness that made it impossible to see even a few inches ahead. The group shuffled closer together, the darkness amplifying every sound - the creak of floorboards, the distant whispers of unseen figures, the faint rustle of movement just beyond their vision. The sound of their hesitant footsteps against the floor seemed amplified in the dark hallway, each step echoing like a drumbeat. Suddenly, a cold, skeletal hand brushed against Taki’s sleeve, tugging lightly at his jacket.
“Ah!” Taki yelped, jerking away instinctively. “Hyung! Don’t do that” he scolded Kei who looked at the beta who was still holding onto him.
“What are you talking about?”
“You grabbed me!”
“How can I grab you when you’re already holding onto me?”
Before anyone could respond, another hand darted out of the darkness, brushing against Harua’s ankle and causing him to screech.
Nicholas froze, his heart pounding. “What happened?”
“Something just grabbed my ankle!” The youngest omega screamed.
A yelp came from Jo as something grabbed his arm and even Kei shrieked as a hand latched onto his leg as well. They pressed forward, the hallway feeling longer with every step. Invisible hands continued to reach out, tugging at their clothes, brushing against their ankles, and sending shivers down their spines. Near the end of the hallway, the air seemed to shift, growing colder and heavier. Nicholas squinted into the darkness, his senses on high alert.
“Almost there,” he muttered, though he wasn’t sure if he was trying to reassure himself or the others.
Just as they reached what seemed to be the final stretch, a sudden whoosh of air came from above. Before they could react, something dropped down from the ceiling with a loud, horrifying screech. Half the group screamed in unison, stumbling back as the object - a skeleton with glowing red eyes swung back and forth on an invisible wire. Harua yelped, practically climbing onto Nicholas, while Yuma hid his face in Jo’s arm. The sudden weight of Harua had Nicholas stumbling backwards into Euijoo, the other catching him with ease.
“Sorry” Nicholas muttered, regaining his footing and tucking Harua back under his arm safely, blue bunny still hanging from his other hand.
The final room of the haunted house was freezing cold, and a sickly metallic scent mixed with the faint tang of plastic and smoke filled their nostrils while a single lightbulb overhead kept flickering on and off.
Nicholas’s footsteps slowed as he took in the scene. The walls were lined with clear, plastic tarps, splattered with streaks of fake blood that glistened in the low light. A butcher’s table sat in the middle of the room, its surface covered with cleavers, saws, and knives and pools of dark red liquid gathered beneath the table, the color too vibrant to be anything other than staged gore. Hooks hung from the ceiling, some swaying gently as if disturbed by an invisible breeze. A few of them held what looked like bloodied, severed body parts - arms, legs, even a grotesque approximation of a head.
“Okay, this is... disgusting,” Yuma said as he pressed closer to Jo.
They weaved carefully through the room, ducking beneath low-hanging chains and stepping around puddles of fake blood. Harua let out a startled yelp as a tarp brushed against his arm, the slick material cold and clammy to the touch.
“Let’s just get out of here,” Harua whispered, his voice trembling.
“We’re almost there,” Nicholas said, his eyes locked on the faint outline of the exit door at the far end of the room.
But just as they reached the threshold, the room was plunged into total darkness. The sound came first - a loud, mechanical roar that echoed through the space. The distinct revving of a chainsaw.
“Run!” Yuma screamed, his voice breaking as an actor burst through a hidden door, holding a chainsaw above his head.
The actor’s mask, grotesque and twisted, gleamed under the dim light as he advanced toward them, the chainsaw roaring and shaking in his hands. Nicholas froze for a split second before instinct kicked in.
“Go!” he shouted, pushing Harua, Yuma and Jo towards the exit and leaving the alphas to fend for themselves.
The group bolted, their footsteps slamming against the floor as the actor gave chase, the chainsaw’s revving growing louder behind them. Harua nearly slipped in a puddle of fake blood but was yanked to his feet by Nicholas, who didn’t let go of his arm until they were all safely through the door. They stumbled into the cool night air, hearts racing and breaths coming in gasps. The muffled roar of the chainsaw faded behind them as the door slammed shut.
“That was not okay,” Yuma panted, doubling over to catch his breath.
When they finally emerged into the open air, the group collectively exhaled, their breaths visible in the crisp night. The excitement and adrenaline from the experience were still palpable, but the lingering chill and the exhaustion began to creep in.
“That was amazing!” Harua said, his wide grin betraying how much he’d enjoyed it despite his earlier fear.
“You screamed the whole time,” Nicholas muttered, though there was no real bite to his words.
Yuma chuckled softly, glancing at Jo. “Thanks for staying close. That last part was... intense.”
“For a second there I thought it was a real chainsaw” Taki rushed over to join them.
As the pups continued to chat about the haunted house, Euijoo’s gaze lingered on where Nicholas stood, his posture tense and his scent clearly scared. His alpha’s protective instincts flared and he took a step forward but before he could get close, a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
He looked back to see Fuma shaking his head, his sharp gaze locking on him. “Don’t”
Euijoo frowned but didn’t try to remove his arm from his grip. “What?”
“You’re making Nicholas being an omega, a thing”
“I’m not making anything a thing,” Euijoo protested, shifting awkwardly under the weight of Fuma’s stare.
“You are.” Kei walked forward after Taki rushed to talk about the haunted house with the other pups. “Nicholas hates that. Hates when people treat him differently because he’s an omega.”
Euijoo’s shoulders stiffened slightly, and he glanced back at Nicholas, who was still staring out into the distance, oblivious to their conversation. “I just... I wasn’t trying to treat him differently,” He muttered, his voice defensive but quiet.
“You might not mean to, but it’s easy to slip up. Most people do. They see an omega and assume they’re fragile, or they need someone to protect them. Nicholas has dealt with that his whole life, and trust me, he doesn’t take it well.”
Euijoo sighed, his jaw tightening as he processed their words. He knew they were right, but the urge to comfort Nicholas - to do something to ease the tension in his posture and the storm he could sense beneath his calm exterior - was hard to ignore.
“I get it,” Euijoo said finally, his voice soft but sincere. “I just... want to be there for him, you know?”
Fuma’s expression softened just a fraction. “We’re not saying you can’t care about him. But let him come to you when he’s ready.
Euijoo sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I didn’t mean to make it a big deal.”
“We know,” Kei said. “Just don’t let it become one.”
Euijoo nodded, the weight of their words settling in his chest as his gaze drifted back to Nicholas. And though he didn’t say a word, Nicholas glanced over his shoulder, meeting Euijoo’s eyes briefly, just enough to let Euijoo know he was open to talk.
So, Euijoo walked up beside Nicholas, the older alphas’ advice still ringing in his ears. If Nicholas was going to let him in, it wouldn’t be because Euijoo treated him differently. It would be because he saw him for exactly who he was, and respected every part of it.
“Still think haunted houses are overrated?”
Nicholas shot him a look but didn’t answer. The faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips was enough of an answer for the alpha who smiled back in response.
“If it’s okay with everyone else, I’m ready to go home. I don’t think I can eat another piece of candy” Harua rubbed his stomach, looking slightly queasy.
“We warned you to take it slow” Maki shook his head but the smile on his face contradicted his tone.
“I’m down to leave” Taki nodded in agreement, the rest of the pack agreeing.
As the group headed back through the fairgrounds towards the exits, Nicholas found himself walking closer to Euijoo, his earlier tension easing as the warmth of the pack surrounded him once more.
They walked back towards the pack apartment, Nicholas stuck with them because technically it was on the way back to his own place too. Taki and Yuma led the way, holding hands as they argued over who had handled the haunted house better.
“I didn’t even flinch” Taki stated, puffing out his chest.
“You screamed when the skeleton dropped from the ceiling” Yuma shot back.
“That was a tactical reaction” Taki insisted, earning a laugh from the other pack members.
Nicholas shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. The easy camaraderie of the pack was infectious, and though he would never admit it, he felt a quiet warmth at being part of it.
“Nicholas,” The omega looked to his side where Kei appeared. The alpha reached into his bag and handed him a small white tube. “Twice a day, just a dime sized amount on both sides”
And then the Kei was falling back to hold hands with Fuma again.
Nicholas looked down at the tube. It was an unopened tube of topical cream, specializing in swollen, itchy glands. He glanced back at the alpha but Kei was too busy chatting with Fuma for Nicholas to catch his eye. He knew the older was working as a sports therapist but Yuma must’ve mentioned it to him that he noticed the other omegas glands were all fucked up. He didn’t know whether to be annoyed that Yuma was yapping about his condition to others or relieved that he might finally get some actual relief from the constant discomfort. The omega just slid the tube into his back pocket and tried to focus on whatever story Maki was currently telling.
Once they reached the apartment, Yuma looked back at Nicholas who didn’t bother coming up to the front steps.
“You coming in? Euijoo-hyung is gonna make us his famous hot chocolate”
“Not tonight, I’m just gonna head back to my own place”
“You sure? There’s more than enough for one more” The boy in reference offered, hoping the invite coming from him would change the omega’s mind but Nicholas shook his head, taking a few steps back.
“I’m good, thanks for the offer though” Euijoo nodded his head in understanding, holding the door open for the other pack members to head inside.
“Thanks for coming tonight!”
Yuma and Harua rushed back down the stairs to say their goodbyes to the older omega.
“Maybe you’ll say yes more when we ask you to hang out next time because now you’ve got a taste at how fun it could be,” Harura told him, rubbing his face against Nicholas' jacket.
“Yeah, maybe”
“Let’s go! Euijoo’s arm is gonna fall off from holding the door open” Kei shouted back at the pups who let go of Nicholas to run back inside but Euijoo stayed in the doorway.
“It was really nice to meet you, Nicholas. I hope to see you again soon” Euijoo gave him a warm smile and Nicholas had to look away, bowing his head in response.
“You too” and with that, he left before the other could say anything else to him.
The leaves crunched softly beneath Nicholas’s shoes as he walked alone through the quiet streets. The distant glow of the carnival lights still flickered on the horizon, though the noise and laughter had long faded into the cold night air. The chill nipped at his cheeks, and his breath fogged in front of him as he stuffed his hands deeper into his coat pockets.
His thoughts drifted back to the haunted house. He could still hear the younger boys’ squeals of fright and how Harua clung to him like he was the last line of defense between him and the horror actors. A faint smile tugged at his lips from the memory, it’s been awhile since he was someone others relied on – it wasn’t a role he sought out, but in that moment, he hadn’t minded it. It felt right, as the oldest omega, to help protect the younger pups even if it was from something fake.
Overall, the carnival itself wasn’t too bad either; neither the smells or sounds hadn’t been too overwhelming for him so the night had been a surprising success, which Nicholas wasn’t expecting. He almost always assumes the worst will happen when he goes out in public so it was refreshing to prove himself wrong for once. It had even been tolerable, nice even, to hang out with Yuma and Harua’s pack. The younger members were entertaining and the alphas had been nothing but nice and respectful to him. And then there was Euijoo.
His permanent smile and easy laugh as he talked to Nicholas were disarming, making it hard for the omega to keep up his usual walls. He didn’t like people trying to get too close too quickly, and something about Euijoo’s relaxed confidence put him on edge. Most betas he’d met were either overly cautious or overly eager, like they were trying to make up for being a different subgender than most but Euijoo didn’t seem to fit either category. He was friendly without being pushy, confident without being cocky.
But as the evening went on, Nicholas found his gaze drifting back to Euijoo more than he cared to admit, his curiosity growing with every small interaction. At the end of the night, he wasn’t sure what annoyed him more: Euijoo’s effortless charm or the fact that Nicholas couldn’t stop noticing it.
As he reached his own apartment, his neck was itching at the thought of going inside and being alone again. With a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, the warmth of the building not as comforting as he had hoped. He climbed the stairs, his thoughts finally quieting by the time he was unlocking his front door.
Once inside, Nicholas took the tube out of his pocket and walked into the bathroom. He cleaned his glands with a wet wipe before reading the directions on the back of the ointment - it just repeated exactly what Kei had said plus a ‘ if symptoms continue for over two weeks, please consult a physician ’ yeah yeah, fuck that. Nicholas applied a dime sized amount on both sides of his neck, rubbing the cream in till the white tone disappeared completely. It tingled slightly but it stopped the itching almost immediately.
His phone buzzed as he was getting changed into his pyjamas, it was a notification for the group chat he had with the other omegas.
Yuma :
did you make it home okay?
Harua :
thanks again for coming tonight!
it was really fun having you with us 😊
Nicholas :
i got home fine
Yuma :
yeah thanks for letting us drag you along!!
Nicholas :
you didn’t drag me
Yuma :
wait…
is that your way of saying you had fun?
Nicholas :
don’t get ahead of yourself
Harua :
oh my god
you did have fun!
I KNEW IT.
Yuma :
victory!
🥳
Nicholas:
it was fine
that’s all I’m saying
Harua :
“fine” is Nicholas-speak for
“I secretly had a great time.”
Nicholas :
i will block you
Yuma :
😂
okay, okay
we’ll stop teasing
for now…
Harua :
but seriously,
thanks for coming
it really meant a lot to us
Yuma :
yeah
it wouldn’t have been the same without you
Nicholas:
thanks
Yuma :
goodnight!!!!
Harua :
night, Nicho-chan!
sweet dreams of skeletons and haunted houses! 🎃👻
Nicholas :
😐
Harua:
hehe 😅
goodnight!
Nicholas fondly shook his head as he plugged his phone in to charge for the night and then crawled into bed, hoping for a solid night's sleep after today’s adventures and if he dreamed of oranges growing in evergreen trees, that was nobodies’ business but his own.